Two-part liquid mixing container and ejection container

Abstract

To propose a two-part liquid mixing container allowed, before use, to positively receive two kinds of liquid chemicals separately.SOLUTION: A two-part liquid mixing container 10 comprises: a first container 1 that has a mouth 1c having an upper opening 1d and a first body portion 1e to have a first space S1 in which a first liquid chemical L1 is received; a second container 2 that has a second body portion 2a having a communication port 2h leading to the upper opening 1d, a plug portion 2k connected to the second body portion 2a through a weakened portion 2r inside the communication port 2h so as to close the communication port 2h and a first circumferential engaging portion 2p provided on the plug portion 2k to have a second space S2 in which a second liquid chemical L2 is received; and a rotating body 3 that has a second circumferential engaging portion 3e engaging with the first circumferential engaging portion 2p and held to rotate about a center axis O relatively to the second body portion 2a. When the rotating body 3 is rotated relatively to the second container 2, the weakened portion 2r is broken to open the communication port 2h.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a two-component mixing container and a spray container equipped with the two-component mixing container and a sprayer. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, some cosmetics, hair dyes, etc. produce a specific effect by mixing two types of liquid agents. To mix such liquid agents, for example, two containers containing the two types of liquid agents are prepared, and the liquid agents are transferred from one container to the other container, and then the two liquid agents are mixed in the transferred container.

[0003] When two such containers are used, there is a risk that the positions of the openings of one container may become misaligned while the liquid is flowing from the opening of the other container, causing the liquid to overflow.

[0004] On the other hand, Patent Document 1 shows a mixing container in which the mouths of two containers are connected to each other and a stopper closing one of the containers is removed when the containers are connected. With this mixing container, the stopper is removed after the mouths are connected to each other and the liquid agent does not overflow, thereby preventing the above-mentioned problem. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 2-144576 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, mixing containers using such stoppers can sometimes result in the container not being securely closed due to inconsistencies in operation, etc. Furthermore, if the container is subjected to a sudden impact, the stopper may come off, and the two liquids may unintentionally mix together.

[0007] The present invention aims to solve these problems and to propose a two-liquid mixing container that can reliably store two types of liquid medication separately before use, and a spray container that includes this two-liquid mixing container and a sprayer. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention provides a first container including: a first container having a mouth portion with an upper opening and a first body portion connected to the mouth portion, the first container having a first space between the mouth portion and the first body portion for accommodating a first liquid agent; a second container including: a second main body portion having a communication port communicating with the upper opening and held by the opening portion; a stopper portion connected to the second main body portion via a weakened portion inside the communication port and closing the communication port; and a first circumferential engagement portion provided on the stopper portion, the second container including a second space inside the second main body portion in which a second liquid agent is accommodated; a rotating body having a second circumferential engaging portion that engages with the first circumferential engaging portion and that is held rotatably about the central axis of the communication port relative to the second main body portion, This is a two-liquid mixing container in which, when the rotating body is rotated relative to the second container, the weakened portion breaks due to the action of rotational force through the second circumferential engaging portion and the first circumferential engaging portion, thereby opening the communication port.

[0009] The plug body portion has a pillar portion extending along the central axis and a first slide engagement portion, the rotating body has a holding portion that slidably holds the column portion, and a second slide engaging portion that is located below the first slide engaging portion before the weakened portion breaks, When the weakened portion breaks, the plug body portion moves downward along the central axis, while the first slide engagement portion engages with the second slide engagement portion, preferably preventing the plug body portion from coming off the rotating body.

[0010] The present invention also provides a spray container comprising the above-mentioned two-liquid mixing container and a sprayer that is attached to the mouth portion after the second container has been removed and sprays the first liquid agent and the second liquid agent that have been mixed in the first container. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the two-liquid mixing container of the present invention, the connecting port is securely closed by the stopper portion connected to the second main body portion via the weakened portion, so that two types of liquids can be reliably stored separately before use. When the rotor is rotated, the weakened portion breaks and the connecting port opens, allowing the second liquid to be introduced into the first container and mix the first and second liquids. Furthermore, because the first and second liquids can be mixed by simply rotating the rotor, the container is also easy to use. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1A] 1 is a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a two-liquid mixing container according to the present invention. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B is a partially enlarged view of part A shown in FIG. 1A. [Figure 1C] FIG. 1B is a partially enlarged view of part B shown in FIG. 1A. [Figure 2] 1B is a diagram showing a method for assembling the two-liquid mixing container shown in FIG. 1A. [Figure 3A] FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along CC shown in FIG. 1A. [Figure 3B] 3 is a view taken along the arrow D shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 3C] 3 is a view taken along the arrow E shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4A] 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the rotor is rotated to break the weakened portion, and the plug portion further moves downward so that the first slide engagement portion engages with the second slide engagement portion. FIG. [Figure 4B] FIG. 4B is a partially enlarged view of part F shown in FIG. 4A. [Figure 5] FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a spray container in which a sprayer is attached to the first container of the two-liquid mixing container shown in FIG. 1A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Hereinafter, a two-liquid mixing container 10, which is one embodiment of a two-liquid mixing container according to the present invention, will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification and the like, the up-down direction refers to the direction along the illustrated central axis O (the central axis of a communication port 2h, which will be described later). The radial direction refers to the direction perpendicular to the central axis O in a plane perpendicular to the central axis O, and the circumferential direction refers to the direction circumferentially around the central axis O in this plane.

[0014] 1A, the two-liquid mixing container 10 of this embodiment includes a first container 1, a second container 2, and a rotor 3. The two-liquid mixing container 10 contains, for example, cosmetics or hair dyes, and two liquid agents that exert a predetermined effect when mixed together. In this embodiment, the first container 1 contains a first liquid agent L1, and the second container 2 contains a second liquid agent L2.

[0015] In this embodiment, the first container 1 includes a plate-shaped bottom portion 1a that is elliptical in plan view, a body portion 1b that extends upward from the outer edge of the bottom portion 1a and then extends in an arc-like manner, tapering in diameter, and a cylindrical mouth portion 1c located above the body portion 1b and centered on a central axis O. Here, the opening located at the upper end of the mouth portion 1c is referred to as an upper opening 1d. The body portion 1b is flexible and can be squeezed when force is applied to it. Here, the bottom portion 1a and body portion 1b in this embodiment are collectively referred to as a first main body portion 1e.

[0016] A male thread portion 1f is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 1c, and a first anti-rotation protrusion 1g is provided at the location where the body portion 1b and the mouth portion 1c are connected to prevent the second container 2 attached to the first container 1 from unintentionally coming off.

[0017] In the first container 1, a space defined inside the bottom 1a, body 1b, and mouth 1c is referred to as a first space S1. A first liquid agent L1 is contained in the first space S1.

[0018] The second container 2 includes a second main body portion 2a. The second main body portion 2a in this embodiment includes an upper wall portion 2b extending horizontally above the opening portion 1c, a peripheral wall portion 2c extending upward from the outer edge of the upper wall portion 2b while linearly increasing in diameter and further extending upward with approximately the same outer diameter, and claw-shaped portions 2d extending upward from the upper end portion of the peripheral wall portion 2c and protruding radially outward.

[0019] The second body portion 2a has an annular wall 2e that surrounds the mouth portion 1c and an internally threaded portion 2f provided on the inner peripheral surface of the annular wall 2e. The internally threaded portion 2f is threadedly engaged with the externally threaded portion 1f, thereby holding the second body portion 2a in the mouth portion 1c. A second anti-rotation protrusion 2g that engages with the first anti-rotation protrusion 1g is provided below the internally threaded portion 2f on the inner peripheral surface of the annular wall 2e. For example, either the first anti-rotation protrusion 1g or the second anti-rotation protrusion 2g may be provided in pairs with a gap in the radial direction, and the other may fit into the gap when the internally threaded portion 2f is threadedly engaged with the externally threaded portion 1f. This prevents the second container 2 from accidentally rotating relative to the first container 1 and causing the second container 2 attached to the first container 1 to become unintentionally detached.

[0020] The second main body 2a also has a circular communication port 2h that penetrates the center of the upper wall 2b in the vertical direction and is centered on the central axis O. A ring-shaped sealing wall 2j extending downward is provided on the lower surface of the upper wall 2b, radially outside the communication port 2h. When the second container 2 is held in the first container 1, the outer peripheral surface of the sealing wall 2j comes into liquid-tight contact with the inner peripheral surface of the opening 1c.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1A, the second container 2 includes a stopper portion 2k located inside the communication port 2h. The stopper portion 2k is disc-shaped in a plan view and includes a plate-like portion 2m that slopes downward as it extends radially outward. As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 3A, and 3C, the stopper portion 2k also includes a cylindrical shaft portion 2n extending upward from the center of the plate-like portion 2m along the central axis O, and a pair of upward ribs 2p with a rectangular cross-section extending radially outward from the shaft portion 2n. An engagement portion (first slide engagement portion 2q) that bulges radially outward is provided at the upper end of the shaft portion 2n. The shaft portion 2n corresponds to the "pillar portion" in this specification, and the upward ribs 2p correspond to the "first circumferential engagement portion" in this specification.

[0022] 1C, the plug portion 2k is connected to the second main body portion 2a via a weakened portion 2r. As shown in the figure, the weakened portion 2r in this embodiment is thin-walled and thinner than the upper wall portion 2b and the plate-like portion 2m, and connects the plug portion 2k and the second main body portion 2a around the entire periphery.

[0023] In the second container 2, the space defined inside the second body portion 2a is referred to as a second space S2. The second space S2 contains a second liquid agent L2.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1A, the rotating body 3 has a plate-shaped top wall portion 3a located above the claw-shaped portions 2d. The outer edge of the top wall portion 3a is provided with claw-shaped circumferential wall portions 3b that extend downward and have portions of their inner circumferential surfaces that protrude radially inward. The claw-shaped circumferential wall portions 3b are rotatable about the central axis O relative to the claw-shaped portions 2d but cannot come loose. A ring-shaped seal wall (second seal wall 3c) extending downward is provided on the underside of the top wall portion 3a, radially inward of the claw-shaped circumferential wall portions 3b. When the claw-shaped circumferential wall portions 3b are engaged with the claw-shaped portions 2d, the outer circumferential surfaces of the second seal wall 3c come into liquid-tight contact with the inner circumferential surfaces of the claw-shaped portions 2d.

[0025] 1A, 1B, 3A, and 3B, the rotating body 3 includes a cylindrical tubular portion 3d extending downward from the center of the lower surface of the top wall portion 3a along the central axis O, and a pair of downward ribs 3e extending downward from a position radially outside the cylindrical portion 3d on the lower surface of the top wall portion 3a and having an arc-shaped cross section. An engagement portion (second slide engagement portion 3f) that bulges radially inward is provided at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 3d. The cylindrical portion 3d is a portion corresponding to the "retaining portion" in this specification, and the downward ribs 3e are a portion corresponding to the "second circumferential engagement portion" in this specification.

[0026] When the second container 2 and the rotor 3 are combined as shown in FIG. 1A, the shaft-shaped portion 2n is inserted into the cylindrical portion 3d. As shown in FIG. 1B, the second slide engagement portion 3f is located below the first slide engagement portion 2q. The outer diameter of the shaft-shaped portion 2n is smaller than the inner diameter of the second slide engagement portion 3f, and the outer diameter of the first slide engagement portion 2q is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 3d. As described below, when the weakened portion 2r breaks, the stopper portion 2k can slide downward relative to the rotor 3. The outer diameter of the first slide engagement portion 2q is larger than the inner diameter of the second slide engagement portion 3f, and when the stopper portion 2k slides downward relative to the shaft-shaped portion 2n, the first slide engagement portion 2q engages with the second slide engagement portion 3f.

[0027] To assemble the two-liquid mixing container 10 having such a configuration, the second liquid agent L2 is placed in the second space S2 of the second container 2, and the rotor 3 is attached to the second container 2, as shown in FIG. 2. To attach the rotor 3 to the second container 2, the rotor 3 is circumferentially aligned so that the upward rib 2p is inserted into the gap between the pair of downward ribs 3e, as shown in FIG. 3A, and the shaft-shaped portion 2n is inserted inside the cylindrical portion 3d, and the claw-shaped portions 2d and the claw-shaped peripheral wall portions 3b are engaged. This holds the rotor 3 rotatably and immovably in the second container 2. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the second seal wall 3c comes into liquid-tight contact with the inner peripheral surface of the claw-shaped portions 2d, thereby closing the second space S2.

[0028] After the first liquid agent L1 is placed in the first space S1, the female threaded portion 2f is screwed onto the male threaded portion 1f to attach the second container 2 to the first container 1. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the sealing wall 2j comes into liquid-tight contact with the inner peripheral surface of the opening portion 1c, thereby closing the first space S1.

[0029] To mix the first liquid L1 and the second liquid L2 in the two-liquid mixing container 10, the claw-shaped peripheral wall portion 3b is gripped and the rotor 3 is rotated around the central axis O relative to the second container 2. As a result, the downward ribs 3e of the rotor 3 come into contact with the upward ribs 2p as shown by the imaginary lines in FIG. 3A, and a rotational force about the central axis O is applied to the stopper portion 2k. As a result, the weak portion 2r, which has low strength, breaks and the communication port 2h opens, so that the second liquid L2 contained in the second space S2 is poured into the first space S1 through the communication port 2h. This allows the first liquid L1 and the second liquid L2 to be mixed in the first space S1.

[0030] As described above, the two-liquid mixing container 10 of this embodiment does not close the container by attaching a stopper as in conventional mixing containers, but rather closes the communication opening 2h with the stopper body portion 2k connected to the second main body portion 2a via the weakened portion 2r, so that the communication opening 2h can remain closed even when an unexpected impact is applied to the two-liquid mixing container 10. Furthermore, the first liquid agent L1 and the second liquid agent L2 can be mixed by the simple operation of simply rotating the rotor 3, which is also excellent in terms of operability during use.

[0031] 1B, in the two-liquid mixing container 10 of this embodiment, the outer diameter of the shaft-shaped portion 2n is smaller than the inner diameter of the second slide engagement portion 3f, and the outer diameter of the first slide engagement portion 2q is smaller than the inner diameter of the tubular portion 3d. That is, a downward force acts on the stopper portion 2k due to its own weight and the weight of the second liquid agent L2 contained in the second space S2. Therefore, when the weakened portion 2r breaks along its entire circumference, the stopper portion 2k moves downward so that the shaft-shaped portion 2n slides within the tubular portion 3d, as shown in FIG. 4A. This downward movement of the stopper portion 2k widens the communication port 2h, allowing the second liquid agent L2 contained in the second space S2 to be smoothly poured into the first space S1 through the communication port 2h.

[0032] In addition, the outer diameter of the first slide engagement portion 2q in this embodiment is larger than the inner diameter of the second slide engagement portion 3f. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, the first slide engagement portion 2q engages with the second slide engagement portion 3f and is held in place by the rotor 3, preventing the stopper body 2k from falling into the first container 1. That is, in conventional mixing containers in which the stopper falls into the container when mixing two types of liquid agents, for example, a user who is unfamiliar with such mixing containers may mistakenly believe that a part that should not come off has come off. However, the two-liquid mixing container 10 of this embodiment does not cause such a mistake.

[0033] The two-liquid mixing container 10 of this embodiment can be used as a spray container by mixing the first liquid agent L1 and the second liquid agent L2, removing the second container 2 from the first container 1, and then attaching the sprayer 20 shown in Fig. 5 to the first container 1. The sprayer 20 has a liquid inlet 27 and an air inlet 28, which will be described later, and sprays the liquid agent introduced from the liquid inlet 27 in a foamed state using air introduced from the air inlet 28.

[0034] The sprayer 20 of this embodiment includes a pipe 21, a hood 22, a cylinder 23, a foaming member 24, a check valve 25, and a nozzle cap 26. A liquid inlet 27 is provided at the tip of the pipe 21, and an air inlet 28 is provided inside the hood 22. The nozzle cap 26 is provided with an internal thread 26a that screws into the external thread 1f, and a nozzle 26c that has an outlet 26b at its tip. The foaming member 24 has a fine mesh, and can foam the liquid agent and air by passing through the mesh.

[0035] Such a sprayer 20 can be attached to the first container 1 by inserting the pipe 21 into the inside of the mouth portion 1c and threading the female thread portion 26a onto the male thread portion 1f.

[0036] When body portion 1b is squeezed, the pressure inside first container 1 increases because the air passage connecting first container 1 to the outside is closed by check valve 25, and as a result, first liquid agent L1 and second liquid agent L2 mixed in first space S1 are introduced into cylinder 23 from liquid inlet 27 through pipe 21. Air inside first container 1 is introduced into cylinder 23 from air inlet 28. These liquid agents and air mixed in cylinder 23 then pass through foaming member 24 and foam, and the foamed liquid agent can be passed through nozzle 26c and ejected from ejection port 26b.

[0037] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment, and unless otherwise limited in the above description, various modifications and variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims. For example, the configurations of the above-described embodiment may be added or deleted as appropriate, and the configurations of one embodiment may be incorporated into other embodiments. Furthermore, the effects of the above-described embodiment are merely examples of the effects resulting from the present invention, and do not mean that the effects of the present invention are limited to the above-described effects.

[0038] For example, the two-liquid mixing container 10 of this embodiment is configured so that the stopper portion 2k and the rotor 3 are engaged in the circumferential direction by the upward rib 2p (first circumferential engaging portion) and the downward rib 3e (second circumferential engaging portion), but the configuration for engaging the two in the circumferential direction is not limited to this, and for example, one may be a groove portion and the other a convex portion inserted into the groove. Also, in this embodiment, the second container 2 is provided with a solid shaft-like portion 2n (column portion), and the rotor 3 is provided with a hollow tubular portion 3d (retaining portion) into which the shaft-like portion 2n is inserted, but the second container 2 may be provided with a hollow portion, and the rotor 3 may be provided with a solid portion inserted into this hollow portion.

[0039] Furthermore, although the above-described sprayer 20 foams and sprays the liquid agent, the sprayer may be one that sprays the liquid agent stored in the first container 1 in liquid form. Furthermore, the two-liquid mixing container 10 is not limited to one to which such a sprayer can be attached, and may be one to which a pouring cap having a pouring outlet for pouring the liquid agent to the outside can be attached. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1: First container 1a: bottom 1b: Torso 1c: Mouth 1d: Upper opening 1e: First main body part 1f: Male thread 1g: First anti-rotation protrusion 2:Second container 2a: Second main body part 2b: Upper wall part 2c: Peripheral wall part 2d: Claw-shaped part 2e: Circular wall 2f: Female thread 2g: Second anti-rotation protrusion 2h: Communication port 2j:Seal wall 2k: Stopper body part 2m: Plate-shaped part 2n: Axial part (column part) 2p: Upward rib (first circumferential engagement portion) 2q: First slide engagement part 2r: Weakened part 3: Rotating body 3a:Top wall part 3b: Claw-shaped peripheral wall part 3c: Second sealing wall 3d: Cylindrical part (holding part) 3e: Downward rib (second circumferential engagement portion) 3f: Second slide engagement portion 10: Two-liquid mixing container 20: Squirt 21: Pipe 22: Food 23: Cylinder 24: Foam material 25: Check valve 26: Nozzle cap 26a: Female thread 26b: spout 26c: Nozzle 27: Liquid inlet 28:Air intake L1: First liquid L2: Second liquid O: Central axis S1: First space S2:Second space

Claims

1. a first container including a mouth portion having an upper opening and a first body portion connected to the mouth portion, the first container including a first space between the mouth portion and the first body portion for accommodating a first liquid agent; a second container including a second body portion having a communication port communicating with the upper opening and held in the mouth portion, a plug portion connected to the second body portion via a weakened portion inside the communication port and closing the communication port, and a first circumferential engagement portion provided on the plug portion, the second container including a second space inside the second body portion in which a second liquid agent is contained; a rotor having a second circumferential engaging portion that engages with the first circumferential engaging portion and is held rotatably about a central axis of the communication port relative to the second main body portion, A two-liquid mixing container in which, when the rotating body is rotated relative to the second container, the weakened portion breaks due to the action of a rotational force via the second circumferential engaging portion and the first circumferential engaging portion, thereby opening the communication port.

2. The plug body portion has a column portion extending along the central axis and a first slide engagement portion, The rotating body has a holding portion that slidably holds the column portion, and a second slide engaging portion that is located lower than the first slide engaging portion before the weakened portion is broken, A two-liquid mixing container as described in claim 1, wherein when the weakened portion breaks, the stopper body portion moves downward along the central axis, while the first slide engagement portion engages with the second slide engagement portion, thereby preventing the stopper body portion from coming off the rotating body.

3. 3. A spray container comprising: the two-liquid mixing container according to claim 1 or 2; and a sprayer that is attached to the mouth portion from which the second container is removed and sprays the first liquid agent and the second liquid agent mixed in the first container.

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