Pour-out tool for container

Abstract

To provide a pour-out tool for container capable of adjusting a pour-out flow rate of a content.SOLUTION: A pour-out tool 10 for container can adjust a pour-out flow rate of a content by pinching an elastic deformation cylindrical part 40 in a first radial direction X and deforming it. A pour-out cylindrical part 20 includes a first protrusion piece 50 and a second protrusion piece 60 protruding from an inner peripheral surface of the elastic deformation cylindrical part 40. In the pour-out tool 10 for container, an inner peripheral side end part 52 of the first protrusion piece 50 and an inner peripheral side end part 62 of the second protrusion piece 60 are formed to be deviated from each other in an axial direction Z of the pour-out cylindrical part 20 so that they face the inner peripheral surface of the elastic deformation cylindrical part 40 in the first radial direction X respectively.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dispensing device for a container. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in the field of refillable containers for storing detergent refills, large-capacity containers that store enough content for multiple refills have become popular (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-079982 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when using such a container, there are times when it is desired to adjust the flow rate of the contents, such as by temporarily stopping the pouring of the contents. However, in the case of a large-capacity container, the weight of the container is large, and there is a problem that it is difficult to adjust the pouring flow rate by adjusting the inclination of the pouring part.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention is devised to solve these problems, and has an object to provide a pouring tool for a container that has a simple structure and allows easy adjustment of the pouring flow rate of the contents. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention solves the above problem by providing a pouring tool for a container, which has an elastically deformable tubular portion formed in a pouring tubular portion that constitutes a pouring flow path for the contents, and which is capable of adjusting the pouring flow rate of the contents by pinching and deforming the elastically deformable tubular portion in a first radial direction, wherein the pouring tubular portion has a first protruding piece and a second protruding piece protruding from the inner surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion, the first protruding piece and the second protruding piece each have an outer peripheral base portion connected to the inner peripheral surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion and an inner peripheral end portion, and the inner peripheral end portion of the first protruding piece and the inner peripheral end portion of the second protruding piece are formed offset from each other in the axial direction of the pouring tubular portion so as to face the inner peripheral surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion in the first radial direction, respectively. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the pouring flow rate of the content can be easily adjusted with a simple configuration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a container dispensing tool according to an embodiment of the present invention cut in half. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the elastically deformable tubular portion is clamped and deformed. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a second modified example. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a container to which the container dispensing tool is attached. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE DISCLOSURE Below, a description will be given of a container spout 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

[0010] The container dispensing device 10 is removably attached to a spout S attached to a container C shown in Figure 6, and has an elastically deformable tubular portion 40 formed in the dispensing tubular portion 20 that constitutes a dispensing flow path for the contents, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, and the dispensing flow rate can be adjusted by deforming the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 by clamping it in the first radial direction X.

[0011] In this embodiment, the container pouring device 10 is configured to pour out the contents by tilting the container pouring device 10 in a second radial direction Y perpendicular to the first radial direction X, as shown by arrow D in Figure 2, when pouring out the contents. The first radial direction X and the second radial direction Y are directions perpendicular to the axial direction Z of the cylindrical pouring portion 20.

[0012] The specific configuration of the container dispensing tool 10 will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 3 to 5, the container spout 10 is shown in cross section to facilitate understanding of the invention.

[0013] First, the entire container dispensing tool 10 is formed from a flexible material such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), elastomer, etc., and as shown in Figure 1, has a dispensing tube portion 20 that forms a dispensing flow path for the contents, and an attachment portion 30 for attaching the container dispensing tool 10 to a spout S attached to a container C.

[0014] The pouring / discharging tubular portion 20 has an elastically deformable tubular portion 40, and a plate-like (flat plate-like in this embodiment) first protruding piece 50 and second protruding piece 60 protruding from the inner circumferential surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40.

[0015] The elastically deformable tubular portion 40 is formed as a part (middle portion) of the pouring / discharging tubular portion 20, and is formed to be elastically deformable at least in a first radial direction X (all radial directions in this embodiment) as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the cross-sectional shape of the inner surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 (the entire pouring tubular portion 20 in this embodiment) is formed into a flat shape whose inner diameter in the first radial direction X is shorter than its inner diameter in the second radial direction Y, and more specifically, is formed into an elliptical shape whose short diameter direction is parallel to the first radial direction X.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the first protruding piece 50 and the second protruding piece 60 each have an outer circumferential side base portion 51, 61 formed along the circumferential direction of the pouring / dispensing tubular portion 20 (perpendicular to the axial direction Z) and connected to the inner surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40, and an inner circumferential side end portion 52, 62. As shown in FIG. 1, the inner peripheral end portions 52, 62 are portions of the ends (edges) of the protruding pieces 50, 60 that are not connected to the inner peripheral surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40, and connect (in a straight line in this embodiment) both circumferential ends of the outer peripheral base portions 51, 61.

[0017] As shown in Figure 1, the first protruding piece 50 and the second protruding piece 60 are formed offset from each other in the axial direction Z, and the outer peripheral base portion 51 of the first protruding piece 50 is formed closer to the tip opening 21 of the pouring tube portion 20 than the outer peripheral base portion 61 of the second protruding piece 60. To explain more specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the outer peripheral base portion 51 of the first protruding piece 50 and the outer peripheral base portion 61 of the second protruding piece 60 are formed so as to be offset from each other in the axial direction Z, and the inner peripheral end portion 52 of the first protruding piece 50 and the inner peripheral end portion 62 of the second protruding piece 60 are formed so as to be offset from each other in the axial direction Z so as to face each other opposite the inner peripheral surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 in the first radial direction X.

[0018] From the viewpoint of streamlining the flow when the contents are poured out as described below, the outer peripheral base 51 of the first protruding piece 50 is formed in the axial direction Z at a distance from the tip opening 21 of the pouring tube portion 20 that is equal to or greater than the inner diameter in the first radial direction X of the tip opening 21 of the pouring tube portion 20 (in this embodiment, the entire pouring tube portion 20) (i.e., the distance between the farthest points in the first radial direction X on the inner surface of the pouring tube portion 20, the minor axis when the cross-sectional shape of the inner surface of the pouring tube portion 20 is formed into an ellipse).

[0019] In addition, when adjusting the pouring flow rate by pinching the elastically deformable tubular portion 40, it is preferable to set the separation distance in the axial direction Z between the outer circumferential base 51 of the first protruding piece 50 and the outer circumferential base 61 of the second protruding piece 60 to a range of 5 to 15 mm, taking into consideration the average thickness of a user's fingers, so that the portion located on the outer circumferential side of the outer circumferential base 51 and the portion located on the outer circumferential side of the outer circumferential base 61 can be pinched together with the user's fingers. In addition, on both sides of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 in the first radial direction X, as shown in FIG. 1, clamping guide portions 41 are formed to guide the position and direction of clamping by the user's fingers when clamping the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 to adjust the pouring flow rate.

[0020] As shown in Figure 2, the outer peripheral base 51 of the first protruding piece 50 and the outer peripheral base 61 of the second protruding piece 60 are each formed over a circumferential range of less than 180° of the pouring tubular portion 20, and are formed on opposite sides of the center of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 in the first radial direction X (specifically, at a position shifted by 180° in the circumferential direction of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40) as shown in Figures 1 and 2. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the first protrusion piece 50 and the second protrusion piece 60 are formed to have the same shape and size when viewed in the axial direction Z, and are formed to be linearly symmetrical with respect to a virtual line that passes through the center of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 and extends in the second radial direction Y. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the first protruding piece 50 and the second protruding piece 60 are formed so as not to overlap each other in the circumferential direction of the pouring tube portion 20 when viewed in the axial direction Z, and a gap is formed in the first radial direction X between the inner end portion 52 of the first protruding piece 50 and the inner end portion 62 of the second protruding piece 60.

[0021] The mounting portion 30 is a portion for attaching the container spout 10 to a spout S attached to a container C as shown in Figure 6, and in this embodiment is formed as a threaded portion that screws into a threaded portion (not shown) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the spout portion S2 of the spout S when the cap S1 is removed. In this embodiment, the container C is configured as a pouch formed into a bag shape by heat welding a resin film at predetermined locations, but the specific form of the container C is not limited to a pouch. Furthermore, the form of the attachment portion 30 is not limited to one that is screw-engaged, and the specific form may be any form that allows the container spout 10 to be attached to the spout S.

[0022] The container pouring device 10 of this embodiment obtained in this manner is formed such that the inner peripheral end 52 of the first protruding piece 50 and the inner peripheral end 62 of the second protruding piece 60 are offset from each other in the axial direction Z of the pouring tubular portion 20 so that they face the inner peripheral surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 in the first radial direction X. Therefore, when adjusting the pouring flow rate of the contents by deforming the elastically deformable tubular portion 40, the inner peripheral ends 52, 62 of each protruding piece 50, 60 can be abutted (or brought close to) against the inner peripheral surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 to narrow the pouring flow path. Therefore, even if some distortion occurs in the deformation of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40, the flow rate of the contents can be stably adjusted, such as by temporarily suspending pouring. That is, if the inner peripheral end portions 52, 62 of the protruding pieces 50, 60 are butted against each other to narrow the pouring flow path, it is assumed that the inner peripheral end portions 52, 62 may not be butted against each other well when the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 is distorted during flow rate adjustment, and there is a risk of misalignment due to local contact. In contrast, in this embodiment, the inner peripheral end portions 52, 62 of the protruding pieces 50, 60 are butted against (or approach) the inner peripheral surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 during flow rate adjustment to narrow the pouring flow path, so that the flow rate can be stably adjusted even if some distortion occurs in the deformation of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40, etc. Note that the protruding pieces 50, 60 are connected to the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 over the entire outer peripheral base portions 51, 61, so that the deformation in the axial direction Z is small, and interference between the protruding pieces 50, 60 can be suppressed. Furthermore, by forming the inner circumferential ends 52, 62 offset in the axial direction Z, it is easier to design the gap between the inner circumferential ends 52, 62 to be wider under normal conditions (when the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 is not deformed) compared to a configuration in which the inner circumferential ends 52, 62 of each protruding piece 50, 60 are butted together to narrow the pouring flow path, thereby ensuring smooth pouring under normal conditions.

[0023] Furthermore, since the protruding pieces 50, 60 are formed so as not to overlap each other in the circumferential direction of the pouring tube portion 20, when the container pouring device 10 is molded by injection molding, it can be easily released from the molding die, thereby reducing the manufacturing burden. In other words, if the protruding pieces 50, 60 had overlapping portions when viewed in the axial direction Z, it would be necessary to forcibly remove the mold portion located between the overlapping portions when releasing the mold; however, in this embodiment, the protruding pieces 50, 60 are formed so that they do not overlap with each other when viewed in the axial direction Z, so there is no need to perform such forcible removal, and release can be easily achieved.

[0024] Furthermore, since the outer circumferential base 51 of the first protruding piece 50 and the outer circumferential base 61 of the second protruding piece 60 are formed on opposite sides of the center of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 in the first radial direction X, even if gaps are formed between the inner surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 and the inner circumferential end 52, and between the inner surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 and the inner circumferential end 62, when viewed in the axial direction Z, the position of the gap between the inner surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 and the position of the gap between the inner surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 and the inner circumferential end 62 do not overlap with each other, so that the leakage path of the contents is bent in a complex manner, and leakage of the contents can be suppressed.

[0025] Furthermore, since the cross-sectional shape of the inner surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 is formed into a flat shape with an inner diameter in the first radial direction X that is shorter than the inner diameter in the second radial direction Y, only a small force is required to clamp and deform the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 in the first radial direction X when adjusting the flow rate, and therefore the pouring flow rate can be easily adjusted.

[0026] Furthermore, a gap is formed in the first radial direction X between the inner peripheral ends 52, 62 of the first protruding piece 50 and the inner peripheral ends 52, 62 of the second protruding piece 60 when viewed in the axial direction Z, thereby enabling the contents to be poured smoothly during normal pouring (i.e., when the contents are poured without deforming the elastically deformable tubular portion 40).

[0027] Furthermore, since the outer peripheral base 51 of the first protruding piece 50 is formed at a position in the axial direction Z away from the tip opening 21 of the pouring tube portion 20 by a distance equal to or greater than the inner diameter in the first radial direction X of the tip opening 21 of the pouring tube portion 20, even if some disturbance occurs in the flow of the contents due to the influence of the protruding pieces 50, 60 during normal pouring, the flow of the contents can be sufficiently straightened in the section toward the tip side of the first protruding piece 50. In order to satisfactorily obtain the above-mentioned flow straightening effect, it is preferable to set the distance in the axial direction Z from the tip opening 21 of the pouring tube portion 20 to the outer circumferential base portion 51 of the first projecting piece 50 to 10 mm or more.

[0028] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various design modifications can be made without departing from the present invention as described in the claims, such as forming a container spout 10 by any combination of the respective configurations of the above or following embodiments and modified examples.

[0029] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the container dispensing tool 10 is described as being configured to be removably attached to the spout S, but the specific aspect of the container dispensing tool 10 is not limited to this, and for example, the container dispensing tool 10 itself may be configured as a spout to be attached to the container C. In the above-described embodiment, the container dispensing tool 10 is described as being removably attached to the spout S, but the container dispensing tool 10 may also be configured so that it is non-removably attached (fixed) to the spout S.

[0030] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the entire container dispensing device 10 is described as being made from a flexible material such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and is formed to be elastically deformable, but only a portion of the container dispensing device 10, including the elastically deformable cylindrical portion 40, may be formed to be elastically deformable.

[0031] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the inner surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 is described as being formed in a flattened shape (specifically, an elliptical shape), but the specific form of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 is not limited to this, and for example, the cross-sectional shape of the inner surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 may be formed in a circular shape, a rectangular shape, etc.

[0032] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the container pouring device 10 is described as being configured to pour out the contents by tilting the container pouring device 10 in the second radial direction Y, as shown by arrow D in Figure 2, when pouring out the contents. However, the specific aspect of the container pouring device 10 is not limited to this, and the container pouring device 10 may be configured to pour out the contents by tilting it in another direction when pouring out the contents.

[0033] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the inner peripheral ends 52, 62 of the protruding pieces 50, 60 are formed in the shape of a plate extending straight in the left-right direction (second radial direction Y) when viewed in the first radial direction X, as shown in FIG. 1. However, as in the modified examples shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the inner peripheral ends 52, 62 of the protruding pieces 50, 60 may be formed curved so as to undulate in the axial direction Z. In this case, it becomes easier to smoothly deform the elastically deformable cylindrical portion 40 when adjusting the pouring flow rate. That is, when the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 is clamped and deformed in the first radial direction X, the inner diameter of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 becomes smaller in the first radial direction X and becomes larger in the second radial direction Y. However, by forming the inner circumferential ends 52, 62 of the protruding pieces 50, 60 to be curved as in the modified example shown in Figures 4 and 5, it is possible to smoothly deform the inner circumferential ends 52, 62 of the protruding pieces 50, 60 so that their width in the second radial direction Y increases as the inner diameter of the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 increases in the second radial direction Y, making it easier to deform the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 smoothly. 4 and 5, the outer circumferential base portions 51, 61 are formed along the circumferential direction of the pouring / discharging tubular portion 20 (perpendicular to the axial direction Z), and when the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 is deformed, the inner end portions 52, 62 are extended in the Y-axis direction, so that the curvature of the inner end portions 52, 62 is deformed in a direction approaching flat (straightened). Therefore, when they come into contact with the elastically deformable tubular portion 40, they come into contact with each other with only small deformation in the Z-axis direction, which reduces the risk of a large gap being generated between the elastically deformable tubular portion 40 and the inner end portions 52, 62. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 10 ... Container pouring tool 20 ··· Pour cylinder part 21...Tip opening 30 Mounting section 40 Elastically deformable cylindrical portion 41 ... Clamping guide part 50... 1st protruding piece 51 ..... Outer periphery base 52 Inner circumference end 60 ... 2nd protruding piece 61 ..... Outer periphery base 62 Inner circumference end X: First radial direction Y: Second radial direction Z... Axial direction C... Container S··· Spout S1: Cap part S2 ··· Pour cylinder part

Claims

1. A pouring tool for a container has an elastically deformable cylindrical portion formed in a pouring cylindrical portion that constitutes a pouring flow path for a content, and the pouring flow rate of the content can be adjusted by pinching and deforming the elastically deformable cylindrical portion in a first radial direction, The pouring tube portion has a first protruding piece and a second protruding piece protruding from an inner circumferential surface of the elastically deformable tube portion, each of the first protruding piece and the second protruding piece has an outer circumferential side base portion connected to an inner circumferential surface of the elastically deformable cylindrical portion and an inner circumferential side end portion; A pouring device for a container, characterized in that the inner peripheral end portion of the first protruding piece and the inner peripheral end portion of the second protruding piece are formed offset from each other in the axial direction of the pouring tubular portion so as to face the inner peripheral surface of the elastically deformable tubular portion in the first radial direction.

2. 2. The pouring tool for a container according to claim 1, wherein the first protruding piece and the second protruding piece are formed so as not to overlap with each other in the circumferential direction of the pouring tube portion.

3. The pouring tool for a container according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer peripheral base portion of the first protruding piece and the outer peripheral base portion of the second protruding piece are formed to be shifted from each other in the axial direction.

4. The pouring device for a container as described in claim 1, characterized in that the outer peripheral base portion of the first protruding piece and the outer peripheral base portion of the second protruding piece are formed on opposite sides in the first radial direction, sandwiching the center of the elastically deformable cylindrical portion.

5. The container spout described in claim 1, characterized in that the cross-sectional shape of the inner surface of the elastically deformable cylindrical portion is formed into a flat shape in which the inner diameter in the first radial direction is shorter than the inner diameter in a second radial direction perpendicular to the first radial direction.

6. The cross-sectional shape of the inner circumferential surface of the elastically deformable cylindrical portion is formed into an elliptical shape whose minor axis direction is parallel to the first radial direction, The container spouting device described in claim 5, characterized in that the outer peripheral base portion of the first protruding piece and the outer peripheral base portion of the second protruding piece are formed on opposite sides in the first radial direction, sandwiching the center of the elastically deformable cylindrical portion.

7. The container spout described in claim 1, characterized in that a gap is formed in the first radial direction between the inner end of the first protruding piece and the inner end of the second protruding piece when viewed in the axial direction.

8. The outer circumferential base portion of the first protruding piece is formed closer to the tip opening portion of the pouring tube portion than the outer circumferential base portion of the second protruding piece, The container pouring tool described in claim 1, characterized in that the outer peripheral base portion of the first protruding piece is formed at a position axially away from the tip opening of the pouring tube portion by a distance equal to or greater than the first radial inner diameter of the tip opening of the pouring tube portion.

9. The container spout described in claim 1, characterized in that the inner peripheral end portion of the first protruding piece and the inner peripheral end portion of the second protruding piece are curved when viewed in the first radial direction.

10. 2. The container spouting tool according to claim 1, further comprising an attachment portion for attaching the container spouting tool to a spout attached to the container.

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