Double container for airless pump, discharge product, cartridge, discharge member, and discharge device

Abstract

To provide a double container, a discharge product, a cartridge, and a discharge device in which entry of air into a stock solution storage chamber is prevented, the content is stably stored, idling does not executed by pump operation, and which is easy to use for a consumer and is safe and environmentally friendly.SOLUTION: A double container 11 comprises an outer bottle 13, a flexible inner bottle 14 stored therein, and a plug 15 for sealing an opening part of the inner bottle 14. The inside of the inner bottle 14 is a stock solution storage chamber, and a space S between the outer bottle 13 and the inner bottle 14 is communicated with the outside via an air introduction part 14f. The plug 15 has a bottomed cylindrical pump storage part 15a, and a bottom part 15c of the pump storage part 15a has an unsealing part 15d to be broken and opened by a lower end of an airless pump 21. The double container 11 filled with stock solution C is a discharge product 11a, and the discharge product 11a mounted with a discharge member 12 is a discharge device 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dual container, a dispensing product, a cartridge, a dispensing member and a dispensing device for an airless pump. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a dispensing container comprising an inner container having a bottomed cylindrical main body for accommodating contents, a dispenser having a discharge hole for dispensing the contents, an attachment cap fixed to the dispenser and screwed to the mouth of the inner container, and a bottomless outer container covering the upper part and periphery of the inner container, in which rotation of the inner container around the container axis relative to the outer container is restricted, while rotation of the attachment cap around the container axis relative to the outer container is permitted, and the outer container is attached to the attachment cap so as to be movable in the container axial direction between an upper end position and a lower end position. The inner container of this dispensing container is provided with a seal portion that is opened when the attachment cap is screwed to the mouth.

[0003] FIG. 11 of Patent Document 2 discloses a content storage container that includes a container body having an opening at the top end, and a valve storage part that closes the opening and is fixed to the container body, the valve storage part having a cylindrical housing part and an opening part that fits detachably into a hole formed in the bottom surface of the housing part. FIG. 7 of Patent Document 2 discloses a content storage container that has a closing part that is opened by breaking at the bottom of the valve storage part. These containers are used by detachably storing a pump valve or an aerosol valve in the valve storage part and fixing it with a screw cap, and then using a dip tube to drop the opening part or break the closing part. Therefore, the valve can be used repeatedly, and the content storage container has the advantage of being inexpensive to manufacture.

[0004] Patent Document 3 discloses a two-layer discharge container that includes an outer bottle, an inner bottle contained in the outer bottle, and a valve assembly that closes the outer bottle and the inner bottle. Patent Document 3 describes a technique in which the inner bottle is filled with a concentrate and a pressurizing agent is filled between the inner bottle and the outer bottle.

[0005] Patent document 4 describes an ejection device that contributes to resource conservation, in which an ejection member equipped with a valve is detachable from a double pressurized container, and after the contents have been ejected, the ejection member can be removed from the used double pressurized container and attached to a new double pressurized container for reuse. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-104837 [Patent Document 2] WO2015 / 80252 publication [Patent Document 3] JP 2016-16896 A [Patent Document 4] JP 2020-19570 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In the discharge container of Patent Document 1, as shown in Fig. 2, the seal is broken by attaching a discharge unit D to the inner container, and the contents can be discharged by operating the pump. As the contents are discharged, the inner container contracts as shown in Fig. 6. However, if the inner container is left in a contracted state for a long period of time, air may get into the inner container and create an air pocket. In order to expel this air and discharge the contents, it is necessary to operate the pump (empty pumping) multiple times, which is time-consuming. In addition, the contents are easily oxidized by the air that has entered.

[0008] The content storage container of Patent Document 2 is opened by screwing a valve equipped with a dip tube, so the tip of the dip tube is easily displaced from the position of the opening part due to the bending of the dip tube. In addition, since the dip tube is made of a soft material, it is easily bent when opening, making the opening operation difficult. Furthermore, if the container is accidentally turned upside down and discharged, only the pressurizing agent will be discharged and the remaining concentrate will not be discharged. If the container is made of synthetic resin, it may break when dropped during distribution during transportation, storage in a warehouse, or display in a store, causing the pressurizing agent or concentrate to leak.

[0009] In the two-layer discharge container of Patent Document 3, the concentrate and the pressurizing agent are filled separately, so there is no need to use a dip tube and the discharge member is simple. However, since the valve protrudes from the discharge container, it is necessary to strictly protect the valve so that it does not operate during distribution. Furthermore, since it is distributed with the valve attached, there is a possibility that the contents will leak through the valve.

[0010] The double pressurized product of Patent Document 4 is easy to use because the pressurized gas for pressurizing the concentrate is filled between the outer container and the inner container, but is complicated to manufacture. In addition, the operation of discharging the pressurized gas when disposing of the product is complicated.

[0011] The technical objective of the present invention is to provide a double container, a dispensing product, a dispensing member and a dispensing device for an airless pump which prevent air from entering the concentrate storage chamber, can stably store the contents, does not result in empty pumping when operating the pump, is easy for consumers to use, and is easy to manufacture and environmentally friendly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The double container 11 for the airless pump of the present invention comprises an outer bottle 13, a flexible inner bottle 14 housed inside the outer bottle 13 and contracting by the suction force of an airless pump 21, and a plug 15 that seals the opening of the inner bottle 14, the inside of the inner bottle 14 being a concentrate storage chamber for filling with concentrate C, the space S between the outer bottle 13 and the inner bottle 14 being connected to the outside via an air inlet portion 14f that introduces air, the plug 15 comprising a flange 15b welded to the upper end of the inner bottle 14 and a bottomed, tubular pump storage portion 15a that is inserted into the neck portion 14d of the inner bottle 14, and the bottom 15c of the pump storage portion 15a being provided with an openable portion 15d that is broken and opened by the lower end of the airless pump 21.

[0013] In such a double container 11 for an airless pump, it is preferable that the inner bottle 14 is insertable into and removable from the outer bottle 13. In this case, it is more preferable that the inner bottle 14 is inserted into the outer bottle 13 in a state where it is filled with the concentrate C and sealed by welding the plug 15.

[0014] The airless pump discharge product 11a of the present invention is characterized by comprising the above-mentioned airless pump type double container 11 and concentrate C filled in an inner bottle 14. The cartridge 11b of the present invention is a cartridge used for the above-mentioned airless pump double container 11, and is characterized by comprising an inner bottle 14, a plug 15 that seals the opening of the inner bottle 14, and concentrate C filled in the inner bottle 14.

[0015] The discharge member 12 of the present invention is a discharge member used in the discharge product 11a for the airless pump described above, and comprises an attachment part (cap 20) that is detachably attached to the outer bottle 13, and an airless pump 21 housed in the pump housing part 15a. The airless pump 21 is characterized by having a housing 24 fixed by the attachment part (20), a piston 22a that is housed in the housing 24 in airtight contact with the inner surface thereof and is capable of sliding freely, a stem 22 that moves the piston 22a up and down, a spring 22b that urges the piston 22a upward, a check valve 25 that allows the concentrate C to pass inside the housing 24 but does not allow it to pass downward from the inside, and an opening protrusion 27 that protrudes from the lower end of the housing 24 and opens the openable part 15d of the plug 15.

[0016] The discharge device 10, 10A of the present invention is characterized by comprising the above-mentioned discharge product 11a for an airless pump and the above-mentioned discharge member 12. Effect of the Invention

[0017] The double container for an airless pump of the present invention is sold and distributed as a replacement discharge product (replacement bottle) after the concentrate is filled in the inner bottle and sealed with a plug. In this way, the double container itself does not have a valve or pump, and is not filled with a pressurizing agent, so it is easy to manufacture and can be manufactured at low cost. A consumer who purchases the discharge product uses it by opening the unsealable part at the bottom of the plug by attaching a discharge member equipped with an airless pump. Since the concentrate in the inner bottle does not come into contact with air, it is difficult to oxidize and can be stored stably. Since the discharge member can be used repeatedly, it is resource-saving. Since the unsealable part is provided at the bottom of the plug, it cannot be discharged without a dedicated discharge member. Therefore, it is not discharged erroneously during distribution, and it is highly safe.

[0018] If the inner bottle can be inserted into and removed from the outer bottle, the outer bottle can be reused after removing the inner bottle after use of the discharged product. This is further beneficial for resource conservation. Furthermore, if the inner bottle can be inserted into the outer bottle while filled with concentrate and sealed with a plug, the inner bottle filled with concentrate and sealed with a plug can be distributed as a cartridge. Consumers place the purchased cartridge in the original outer bottle and use it by attaching the discharge member. This is easy to distribute and convenient to use.

[0019] The discharge product for the airless pump of the present invention is easy to manufacture and can be manufactured at low cost because it does not have a valve or a pump and is not filled with a pressurizing agent. A consumer who purchases the discharge product attaches a discharge member equipped with an airless pump to open the openable part and uses it. In addition, the concentrate is isolated by the inner bottle from the air between the outer bottle and the inner bottle, especially from the outside air that enters the space, so it is protected from air and the outside air and is not easily deteriorated.

[0020] The cartridge of the present invention does not have an outer bottle, so it has a simple structure and can be easily made of a single material, and does not require separation of other materials, making it easy to recycle. Therefore, it can meet the demand for resource conservation and can be manufactured at low cost.

[0021] The discharge member of the present invention is provided with an unsealing protrusion protruding from the lower end of the housing, so that the unsealed portion of the plug can be unsealed by simply attaching it to the discharge product for the airless pump. After unsealing, when the user presses down the stem, the concentrate is pressurized by the piston and is discharged to the outside via the stem. The check valve prevents the concentrate from flowing downward from the housing. When the pressed-down stem is released, the stem and the piston rise due to the biasing force of the spring, and the concentrate in the inner bottle is sucked up into the housing. At this time, the inner bottle has flexibility that allows it to shrink due to the suction force of the airless pump, so the inner bottle shrinks by the amount of the concentrate sucked up. Therefore, the concentrate can be smoothly discharged. In addition, since the inner bottle is sealed by welding with the plug, outside air does not enter the concentrate storage chamber when the inner bottle shrinks or even if it is left stationary for a long period of time after shrinking, and the concentrate can be stored stably without being oxidized.

[0022] The discharge device of the present invention can achieve the effects of the above-mentioned discharge product and discharge member for the airless pump. Since the airless pump sucks the contents into the housing and discharges them to the outside, it can also handle high-viscosity concentrates. It can also discharge the liquid upside down. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of a discharge device of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of a cartridge used in the discharge device. [Diagram 2] 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of the airless pump in the discharge device of FIG. 1 before and during a depression operation. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of reuse of a part of the discharge device of FIG. [Figure 4] 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views showing another embodiment of a discharge device of the present invention, showing a discharge member before and after mounting. [Diagram 5] 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views of the discharge device of FIG. 4 when it is partially used and after it has been completely used. [Figure 6] FIG. 4C is an explanatory diagram of reuse of a portion of the discharge device of FIG. 4B. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] First, an embodiment of the discharge device of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1A and 1B. The airless pump type discharge device 10 shown in Fig. 1A (hereinafter, simply referred to as the discharge device, omitting "airless pump type") comprises a double container 11, a discharge member 12, and the concentrate C filled in the double container 11. The double container 11 filled with the concentrate C is the discharge product 11a. The discharge product 11a and the discharge member 12 are sold as a set before assembly, or in a semi-assembled, unopened state. The discharge product 11a is sold together with the discharge member 12, and is also sold separately as a replacement. The discharge member 12 may also be sold separately. Furthermore, the inner bottle 14 filled with the concentrate C and sealed by welding the plug 15 is the cartridge 11b sold as a replacement (see Fig. 1B). It can also be interpreted as the discharge product 11a without the outer bottle 13.

[0025] The double container 11 comprises an outer bottle 13, a flexible inner bottle 14 housed inside the outer bottle 13 so as to be freely inserted and removed, and a plug 15 which seals the inner bottle 14. No pump is provided. The inside of the inner bottle 14 is a concentrate storage chamber which is filled with concentrate C and is sealed by the plug 15. The space S between the outer bottle 13 and the inner bottle 14 is an air chamber which communicates with the outside air via an air inlet 14f.

[0026] The outer bottle 13 is composed of a substantially flat bottom 13a, a cylindrical body 13b continuing from the outer periphery of the bottom 13a, a shoulder 13c continuing from the upper end of the bottom 13a, and a thick cylindrical neck 13d protruding upward from the upper end of the bottom 13a. In this embodiment, the inner diameter of the neck 13d is about 65% of the inner diameter of the body 13b, but since the outer bottle 13 is not pressurized (communicates with the outside air), there is no particular limitation, and the neck 13d is 10 to 100% (the same diameter) of the body 13b. A male thread 13e is formed on the outer periphery of the neck 13d. The upper end surface of the neck 13d is made substantially flat so that the flange 14e of the inner bottle 14 can be engaged therewith.

[0027] The inner bottle 14 is composed of a bottom 14a, a body 14b rising from the periphery of the bottom 14a, and a neck 14d extending upward from the upper end of the body 14b. In this embodiment, the diameter of the neck 14d is approximately the same as or somewhat larger than the diameter of the body 14b. There is no shoulder between the body 14b and the neck 14d. A flange 14e is provided at the upper end of the neck 14d of the inner bottle 14, which engages with the upper end surface of the neck 13d of the outer bottle 13. An air introduction section (introduction groove) 14f that communicates between the air chamber (space S) and the outside air is formed at the lower surface of the flange 14e. A gap through which air passes is provided between the outer surface of the neck 14d of the inner bottle 14 and the inner surface of the neck 13d of the outer bottle 13, and the air introduction section 14f and the space S are communicated by the gap. The bottom 14a of the inner bottle 14 protrudes in a substantially spherical shape and is separated from the bottom 13a of the outer bottle 13. However, it may be in contact with the bottom 13a. The air inlet 14f may be provided at another position, such as the center of the bottom 13a.

[0028] Both the outer bottle 13 and the inner bottle 14 are made of synthetic resin, particularly thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene, or polypropylene. The outer bottle 13 can be manufactured by injection molding. The outer bottle 13 can be made thick-walled to give it a luxurious feel and durability. The inner bottle 14 can be manufactured by injection blow molding, in which a preform of a predetermined shape is injection molded and then blow molded. The inner bottle 14 is made thin-walled to give it flexibility or breakability so that it shrinks under negative pressure from a pump member. The outer bottle 13 may be manufactured by injection blow molding in the same way as the inner bottle 14.

[0029] 1B shows a replacement cartridge 11b sold for use with the discharge device 10. The cartridge 11b is composed of the inner bottle 14 described above, concentrate C filled in the inner bottle 14, and a plug 15 that seals the upper opening of the inner bottle 14. When the cartridge 11b is housed in the outer bottle 13, it becomes the discharge product 11a described above.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1B, the plug 15 is composed of a bottomed cylindrical pump housing portion 15a inserted into the neck portion 14d of the inner bottle 14, and an annular flange 15b continuous with the upper end of the pump housing portion 15a. The flange 15b of the plug 15 is engaged with and welded to the flange 14e of the inner bottle 14. Reference numeral 15b1 denotes a welded portion, and welding is facilitated by providing an annular rib having a triangular cross section on the lower surface of the flange 15b of the plug 15 or on the upper surface of the flange 14e of the inner bottle 14. Since the outer peripheral end of the flange 15b of the plug 15 is shorter (smaller diameter) in the radial direction than the outer peripheral end of the flange 14e of the inner bottle 14, when the plug 15 is welded to the inner bottle 14, the resin that melts and protrudes between them is prevented from adhering to the air introduction portion 14f, thereby preventing the introduction of air into the space S from being hindered. A cylindrical portion 15c1 having a smaller diameter than the pump housing portion 15a protrudes downward from the bottom portion 15c of the pump housing portion 15a. The openable portion 15d is formed on the bottom plate 15c2 of the cylindrical portion 15c1. The openable portion 15d is a weakened line, such as an annular thin portion or annular groove, which is broken by the pressure of the opening protrusion 27 of the discharge member 12, and the area surrounded by the weakened line. The weakened line can be formed, for example, as a V-groove. The inside of the weakened line is a pressing portion 15e that is somewhat thicker than the surrounding area. Since the pressing portion 15e is difficult to deform, the weakened line is easy to break. Note that the pressing portion 15e is not necessarily provided.

[0031] The outer peripheral surface of the pump housing 15a is fitted to the inner surface of the neck 14d of the inner bottle 14, and it is preferable that the fitting state between the two is such that air can be discharged from the inner bottle 14 when the plug 15 is attached to the neck 14d of the inner bottle 14, and the concentrate C in the inner bottle 14 can be liquid-sealed. In the state where the concentrate C is filled and the plug 15 is welded, air should be prevented from remaining in the inner bottle 14 as much as possible. Note that if the air in the inner bottle 14 is replaced with a compressed gas, such as carbon dioxide gas, which has a higher solubility in the concentrate C than air, after the inner bottle 14 is filled with the concentrate C and then the plug 15 is welded, the compressed gas dissolves in the concentrate C over time after the plug 15 is welded, and the gas phase can be eliminated. The inner peripheral surface of the tubular portion c1 of the pump housing portion 15a is preferably a smooth cylindrical surface that forms a seal with the housing 24 of the airless pump 21 when the openable portion 15d is opened to prevent the concentrate from leaking, and may be tapered downward as shown in Fig. 4A. A sealant may be provided between the inner peripheral surface of the pump housing portion 15a and the outer peripheral surface of the housing 24, in which case it is possible to further prevent air from entering the concentrate storage chamber. After filling with the concentrate C, the flange 15b of the plug 15 is fixed to the upper surface of the flange 14e of the inner bottle 14 by ultrasonic welding, laser welding, high-frequency welding, or the like, and is simultaneously sealed.

[0032] The plug 15 is made of a thermoplastic resin that has high thermal adhesion to the inner bottle 14, and when the plug 15 is fixed by welding, it is preferable to use the same material as the inner bottle 14, which makes it easier to make the cartridge 11b out of a single material and easier to recycle. By sealing the concentrate storage chamber with the plug 15 and welding it to the inner bottle 14, the concentrate C can be isolated from the air and stored stably and without leaking for a long period of time. Even if the concentrate C is discharged by pumping and the inner bottle 14 is stored in a contracted state, it is possible to prevent air from entering the inner bottle 14 and discharge the concentrate C without emptying the pump.

[0033] Examples of the concentrate C include skin care products such as lotion, beauty essence, anti-aging care, moisturizing, UV protection, anti-fever, antiperspirant, body cologne, hand disinfectant, and insect repellent, hair care products such as treatment, styling, cleansing, shampoo, and hair dye, foods such as whipped cream, soy sauce, mayonnaise, and margarine, and household products such as deodorants, fragrances, insect repellents, pollen removers, and disinfectants. The form of the concentrate C is not particularly limited, and may be lotion, milky lotion, cream, gel, mist, etc. However, the use is not limited to these. The concentrate C is brought into contact with the inner side of the openable portion 15d. As a result, the openable portion 15d is cooled by the concentrate C when the plug 15 and the inner bottle 14 are welded together. This solves the problem of the openable portion 15d melting due to heat caused by vibration.

[0034] As described above, the double container 11 has a small number of parts and does not have any moving parts such as valves, so it can be manufactured inexpensively. The cartridge 11b, which is a consumable item, has even fewer parts, so it can be manufactured even more easily and inexpensively. Since the double container 11 is not filled with a pressurizing agent, the shape of the outer bottle 13 has a greater degree of freedom than an aerosol product, and it is possible to make the mouth larger, make it into a shape like a jar container with a large outer diameter and a low height, or make it into an asymmetric shape for ease of holding. Also, in the unlikely event that the outer bottle 13 cracks, the concentrate C will not leak because of the inner bottle 14. This makes it even safer.

[0035] The discharge member 12 comprises a cap (attachment portion) 20 that screws into the male thread 13e of the neck portion 13d of the outer bottle 13, an airless pump 21 held by the cap 20, and an operation button (operation portion) 23 that is attached to a stem 22 of the airless pump 21. The cap 20 is cylindrical with a bottom, and has a female thread formed on its inner circumferential surface that screws into the male thread 13e of the outer bottle 13. A pump holding member 20b that holds an upper portion of a housing 24 of the airless pump 21 is attached to the upper bottom 20a. The pump holding member 20b comprises a disk portion 20c that is attached to the lower surface of the cap 20 and a cylindrical portion 20d that holds the housing 24, and has a hole 20e formed in the center through which the stem 22 passes.

[0036] The airless pump 21 comprises a cylindrical housing 24 with a bottom, a stem 22 housed therein so as to be movable up and down, an annular piston 22a fixed to the bottom of the stem 22, a spring 22b for biasing the stem 22 upward, a check valve 25 provided at the bottom of the housing 24, and a seal member 26 interposed between the valve holding member 20b and the plug 15. The inside of the stem 22 is a discharge passage 22c, which communicates with the space below the piston 22a. The operation button 23 is operated by pressing down the stem 22, and is provided with a nozzle for discharging the concentrate C in a desired form such as mist, cream, gel, or emulsion.

[0037] The check valve 25 is composed of a ball holding portion 24a provided at the bottom of the housing 24, tapered toward the bottom, and a ball 25a housed inside the ball holding portion 24a. A spring may be provided to bias the ball 25a against the ball holding portion 24a. A generally cylindrical opening protrusion 27 protruding downward is provided at the bottom end of the housing 24, and an outlet hole 24b communicating between the inside and outside of the housing 24 is formed in the lower side wall of the housing 24 slightly above the opening protrusion 27. The outlet hole 24b may be provided in the vertical direction as long as it does not interfere with the function of the opening protrusion 27. The opening protrusion 27 may be shaped like a truncated cone, for example.

[0038] The double container 11 and the discharge member 12 are temporarily joined together by attaching the cap 20 to the outer bottle 13 and loosely screwing the opening protrusion 27 to such an extent that the opening protrusion 27 does not break the openable portion 15d. This allows the consumer who purchased the product to easily open the product. The discharge product 11a and the discharge member 12 may be sold or distributed as a set without being assembled, or separately. The cartridge 11b, the outer bottle 13, and the discharge member 12 may be sold separately, or the outer bottle 13 and the discharge member 12 may be sold as a set, and the cartridge 11b may be sold alone.

[0039] When a user purchases and uses the discharge device 10, as shown in the first step S1 of Fig. 3, the user inserts the cartridge 11b into the outer bottle 13, then attaches the discharge member 12, and screws the cap 20 onto the outer bottle 13. This causes the lower end of the opening projection 27 of the housing 24 to break through the open portion 15d of the plug 15, thereby communicating the inside of the housing 24 with the concentrate storage chamber that is inside the inner bottle 14 (the second step S2 of Fig. 3).

[0040] When the openable portion 15d is broken, the concentrate C may leak from the gap between the inner periphery of the openable portion 15d and the outer periphery of the openable projection 27. However, since the gap between the flange 15b of the plug 15 and the pump holding member 20b is sealed with the sealing member 26, even if the concentrate C leaks, it remains within the pump accommodating portion 15a and does not leak to the outside.

[0041] After attaching the discharge member 12, when the user presses down the operation button 23 attached to the stem 22 against the biasing force of the spring 22b and the outflow resistance of the concentrate C, the stem 22 descends and the piston 22a compresses the space below the housing 24. At that time, the concentrate C in the space below is pressurized due to the presence of the check valve 25. Therefore, the concentrate C in the housing 24 is discharged to the outside from the operation button 23 via the passage in the stem 22. Once the concentrate C in the space below the piston 22a has been discharged, no more concentrate C is discharged.

[0042] Next, when the user releases his / her finger from the operation button 23, the stem 22 rises due to the biasing force of the spring 22b, and at that time, negative pressure is generated in the space below the piston 22a. This opens the check valve 25, and the concentrate C in the inner bottle 14 is sucked up into the housing 24. The inner bottle 14 then contracts by the amount of the concentrate C sucked up, and air is introduced from the outside into the space S between the inner bottle 14 and the outer bottle 13 via the air introduction part 14f, thereby preparing for the next discharge.

[0043] After the entire amount of concentrate C in the inner bottle 14 has been dispensed, as shown in the third step S3 of Fig. 3, the cap 20 is loosened to remove the discharge member 12 from the outer bottle 13, and then the empty cartridge 11b (inner bottle and plug) is removed. Since no pressurized gas is used in the double container 11, the removal process is easy. The removed inner bottle 14 is crushed to reduce its volume and is collected for recycling or discarded. The outer bottle 13 and discharge member 12 can be reused by attaching a new cartridge 11b as shown in the first step S1. This helps conserve resources.

[0044] Next, another embodiment of the discharge device will be described with reference to Figures 4A and 4B. The double container 11 of the discharge device 10A in Figure 4A has the same basic structure as the double container 11 in Figures 1A and 1B, with some modifications. The discharge member 12 is the same as the discharge member 12 in Figures 1A and 2A. In both cases, the same reference numerals are used for corresponding parts, and only the different parts will be described, and the same parts will not be described. The double container 11 filled with the concentrate is the discharge product 11a, and when the discharge member 12 is attached to the discharge product 11a, it becomes the discharge device 10A in Figure 4B.

[0045] In this embodiment, the body 13b of the outer bottle 13 is cylindrical at the bottom and tapers slightly upward at the top. The shoulder 13c is slightly inclined upward toward the center. The neck 13d is thicker than the body 13b, and the upper end is flattened so that the flange 14e of the inner bottle 14 can engage with it.

[0046] In this embodiment, the inner bottle 14 has almost the same shape as the outer bottle 13. That is, the bottom 14a of the inner bottle 14 is almost the same as the bottom 13a of the outer bottle 13, and the lower part of the body 14b is cylindrical and the upper part tapers slightly upward. The neck 14d is narrower than the body 14b, and a shoulder 14c is provided between them. This shoulder 14c is also the same shape as the shoulder 13c of the outer bottle 13. A space S for admitting air is provided between the body 13b of the outer bottle 13 and the body 14b of the inner bottle 14, and a gap is provided between the shoulders 13c and 14c to allow air to pass through.

[0047] The neck 14d of the inner bottle 14 is cylindrical at the top and slightly smaller in diameter at the bottom, with the two continuing smoothly. The bottom of the neck 14d also continues smoothly into the shoulder 14c. In this embodiment, the outer bottle 13 and the inner bottle 14 have almost the same shape, so they can be manufactured by double blow molding. However, it is preferable to shrink the inner bottle 14 somewhat to provide a space S in advance.

[0048] The flange 14e of the inner bottle 14 covers the upper end of the outer bottle 13, and a radially extending air inlet portion 14f is formed on the underside of the flange 14e of the inner bottle 14. Furthermore, a vertical groove 14f1 that is continuous with the air inlet portion 14f is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the neck portion 14d of the inner bottle 14.

[0049] The plug 15 of this embodiment is composed of a bottomed cylindrical pump housing portion 15a inserted into the neck portion 14d of the inner bottle 14, and an annular flange 15b continuous with the upper end of the pump housing portion 15a. The flange 15b of the plug 15 is engaged with the flange 14e of the inner bottle 14 and further welded. Reference symbol 15b1 denotes a welded portion. Since the outer peripheral end of the flange 15b of the plug 15 is shorter than the outer peripheral end of the flange 14e of the inner bottle 14, when the plug 15 is welded to the inner bottle 14, the resin that melts and protrudes between them is prevented from adhering to the air introduction portion 14f and hindering the introduction of air into the space S. It is preferable that the inner surface of the neck portion 14d of the inner bottle 14 and the outer surface of the pump housing portion 15a are in a fitted state that allows air to be discharged from the inner bottle 14 when the plug 15 is attached to the neck portion 14d of the inner bottle 14. A cylindrical fitting portion 15g is provided at the center of the bottom portion 15c of the pump housing portion 15a, protruding upward. The fitting portion 15g can house the housing 24 of the discharge member 12 in a tightly fitted manner therein. A sealant may be provided between the inner peripheral surface of the fitting portion 15g and the outer peripheral surface of the housing 24.

[0050] The bottom 15g1 of the fitting tubular portion 15g is slightly higher than the bottom 15c of the pump housing portion 15a. The openable portion 15d is provided at the center of the bottom 15g1 of the fitting tubular portion 15g. The reason that the bottom 15g1 of the fitting tubular portion 15g is provided slightly higher than the lower surface of the bottom 15c of the pump housing portion 15a is to increase the rigidity of the openable portion 15d and make it easier to break the weakened line.

[0051] In the above embodiment, a plug 15 different from that of the double container 11 in FIG. 1A is used, but the same plug may also be employed.

[0052] The double container 11 configured as described above is different from the double container of FIG. 1A in that the outer diameter of the body 14b of the inner bottle 14 is larger than the inner diameter of the neck 13d of the outer bottle 13. Therefore, the inner bottle 14 filled with the concentrate C cannot be assembled to the outer bottle 13 as in the inner bottle 14 of FIG. 1A. Therefore, it cannot be sold or distributed in the cartridge 11b as in FIG. 1B. To manufacture the discharged product 11a, the inner bottle 14 is accommodated in the outer bottle 13 in advance, the concentrate C is filled in the inner bottle 14 in that state, and then the plug 15 is welded to the inner bottle 14. Therefore, it is difficult to reuse the outer bottle 13, and the discharged product 11a in which the concentrate C is filled in the double container 11 is sold and distributed as in the first step S1 of FIG. 6.

[0053] The discharge member 12 comprises a cap 20, a pump holding member 20b held by the cap 20, an airless pump 21, and an operation button 23 attached to a stem 22 of the airless pump 21. As described above, these are substantially the same as those in the embodiment of Figures 1A and 1B, so only different parts will be described, and the same parts will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

[0054] In this embodiment, the ball holding portion 24a at the lower end of the housing 24 of the airless pump 21 is a substantially cylindrical projection, which holds the ball 25a on the inner side and the outer side is the unsealing projection 27 as it is. It may be a substantially truncated cone shape. The outer diameter of the housing 24 is sized to fit with the inner surface of the fitting tube portion 15g of the plug 15. The lower end of the housing 24 is provided with a cylindrical portion and the aforementioned unsealing projection 27 that closes the lower end, and an outlet hole (see reference symbol 24b in FIG. 2A) is formed in the side wall of the cylindrical portion. The position of the lower surface of this unsealing projection 27 is a position that abuts against the unsealed portion 15d when the cap 20 is screwed onto the male thread 13e of the outer bottle 13 about 1 to 2 times. Therefore, at the time of shipment, the cap 20 is loosely screwed on to prevent the unsealed portion 15d from being broken, and the discharge member 12 and the double container 11 can be combined in a sealed state.

[0055] When a user uses the cap 20, the cap 20 can be opened by simply rotating it a few times. When the cap 20 is rotated, the entire cap 20 and the airless pump 21 descend, and as shown in FIG. 4B, the lower end of the opening protrusion 27 breaks the openable portion 15d. If the weakened line is not formed in only one place, or if the V-groove is shallow, the openable portion 15d does not fall off when the cap is opened, and remains hanging from the bottom 15g1 of the fitting tube portion 15g. This has the advantage that the communication hole is not blocked by the openable portion 15d. If multiple communication holes are provided, even if one is blocked, the other communication holes can be used to communicate.

[0056] In the discharge device 10A of FIG. 4B, the operation button 23 is pressed to operate the airless pump 21, and the concentrate C is discharged to the outside. At that time, air enters the space S between the inner bottle 14 and the outer bottle 13 from the outside through the air introduction part 14f, so the inner bottle 14 gradually shrinks as shown in FIG. 5A. Then, when all the concentrate C is discharged, the walls of the body part 14b of the inner bottle 14 come into close contact as shown in FIG. 5B, and the volume is reduced. After that, the user opens the cap 20 and removes the discharge member 12 (see the third step S3 in FIG. 6), and replaces it with a new discharge product 11a (first step S1). The empty double container 11 is easy to make into a single material, so it is easy to recycle.

[0057] However, since the empty inner bottle 14 will be crushed flat as shown in FIG. 5B, it is possible to pull the inner bottle 14 out of the outer bottle 13, recycle only the inner bottle 14, and return the outer bottle 13 to the manufacturer for reuse.

[0058] In the outer bottle 13 of the double container 11 in Fig. 4A, the bottom 13a, the body 13b, the shoulder 13c, and the neck 13d are integrally molded, but the shoulder 13c and the neck 13d may be manufactured separately from the body 13b and detachably connected with screws, etc. In that case, as with the double container in Fig. 1A, the consumer can assemble the inner bottle 14 filled with the concentrate C to the outer bottle 13, and the consumer can reuse the outer bottle 13 at hand.

[0059] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention. In the above-mentioned embodiments, the plug is welded to the inner bottle, but it is also possible to simply seal it with an O-ring or the like. In addition, in the embodiment of FIG. 4A, the inner bottle 14 and the outer bottle 13 can be manufactured by blow molding at the same time, but they may be manufactured separately and then the inner bottle 14 may be housed inside the outer bottle 13, or the inner bottle 14 may be blow molded inside the molded outer bottle 13. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 10, 10A discharge device 11 Double container 11a Discharge product 11b Cartridge 12 Discharge member C stock solution 13 Outer Bottle 13a bottom 13b Torso 13c Shoulder 13d neck 13e Male thread 14 Inner Bottle 14a bottom 14b Torso 14c Shoulder 14d Neck 14e flange 14f Air intake section 14f1 vertical groove S Space between the outer and inner bottles 15 Plug 15a Pump housing 15b flange 15b1 Welded part 15c bottom 15c1 Cylinder part 15c2 bottom plate 15d Opened part 15e Pressing part 15g Fitting cylinder part 15g1 bottom 20 Cap 20a upper bottom 20b Pump holding member 20c Disc section 20d Cylindrical section 20e hole 21 Airless Pump 22 Stem 22a Piston 22b Spring 22c Discharge passage 23 Operation buttons 24 Housing 24a Ball holding part 24b Outlet hole 25 Check valve 25a Ball 26 Sealing material 27 Opening protrusion (opening part)

Claims

1. Outer bottle and a flexible inner bottle that is accommodated inside the outer bottle and that contracts by the suction force of an airless pump; and a plug for sealing the opening of the inner bottle. The inside of the inner bottle is a concentrate storage chamber for filling the concentrate, The space between the outer bottle and the inner bottle is in communication with the outside via an air inlet for introducing air, the plug comprises a flange welded to an upper end of the inner bottle and a bottomed tubular pump housing portion inserted into a neck portion of the inner bottle; The bottom of the pump housing portion is provided with an openable portion that is broken and opened by the lower end of the airless pump. Double container for airless pump.

2. 2. The double container for an airless pump according to claim 1, wherein the inner bottle is insertable into and removable from the outer bottle.

3. 3. The double container for an airless pump according to claim 2, wherein the inner bottle can be inserted into the outer bottle in a state where the inner bottle is filled with concentrate and sealed by welding a plug.

4. 2. A dispensing product for an airless pump, comprising the double container for an airless pump according to claim 1 and a concentrate filled in an inner bottle.

5. A cartridge for use in a dual container for an airless pump according to claim 1, The cartridge comprises an inner bottle, a plug welded to the inner bottle to seal the opening, and a concentrate filled in the inner bottle.

6. A discharge member for use in the discharge product for an airless pump according to claim 4, An attachment part that is detachably attached to the outer bottle; An airless pump accommodated in a pump accommodating section, The airless pump has a housing fixed to the outer bottle by an attachment part, a piston accommodated in the housing in an airtight contact and slidable manner, a stem for moving the piston up and down, a spring for biasing the piston upward, a check valve for allowing the concentrate to pass inside the housing but not downward from the inside, and an opening protrusion for opening the openable part of the plug protruding from the lower end of the housing. Discharge member.

7. A discharge device comprising the discharge product for an airless pump according to claim 4 and the discharge member according to claim 6.

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