Temporarily placing material for eye lotion cap

Abstract

To securely prevent various germs from adhering to an open side edge surface 52 of a cap 5 separated from a body container when temporarily placing the separable cap of an eye lotion.SOLUTION: A temporarily placing material 1 is composed of two parts of a receiving part 2 whose upper surface 21 is formed in a recessed surface shape, and on which a cap 5 is placed, and a locked part 3 continuous to the axial direction of the receiving part 2, and permitting contact of a closing side tip portion 51 in the axial direction of the cap 5. The upper surface 21 of the receiving part 2 is downward inclined from a distance side from the locked part 3 to the locked part 3 side to make a width direction center 21a lowest, and is gradually inclined upward to both sides in the width direction from the center 21a, and an outer peripheral surface 53 excluding both axial direction edge surfaces of the cap 5 is brought into line contact or surface contact in a direction along a line (generating line) from an open side edge surface 52 to the closing side tip portion 51 so as to support the cap 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a temporary eye drop cap retainer used for temporarily retaining a detachable eye drop cap. [Background technology]

[0002] When using eye drops (eye drops), if the cap that is detachably connected to the main container cannot be held by hand, the cap should be placed in a clean place. However, if the cap is not held by hand and there is no convenient place to temporarily place the cap, the cap will be carelessly placed on a horizontal surface such as the floor or table.

[0003] However, since the closed end of the cap is often not shaped to be able to stand on a horizontal surface, the open end is likely to be placed directly on the horizontal surface. In this case, if the horizontal surface is not kept clean, there is a high possibility that germs will adhere to the open end. If germs adhere to the open end of the cap, when the cap is connected (returned) to the main container, the germs will adhere to the surface of the connecting part of the main container, and as the cap is repeatedly attached and removed, there is a possibility that the germs will spread to the tip of the connecting part of the main container.

[0004] There is an eye drop container in which the cap is not detachable from the main container, but is connected to the main container so as to be rotatable around a support shaft or slidable (see Patent Document 1). However, this is an example of an eye drop container with a special structure, and does not provide a solution for cases where the cap is detachable from the main container.

[0005] Other examples include a structure in which the cap is made longer in the axial direction to make it easier to attach and remove the cap (see Patent Document 2), a structure that allows eye drops to be administered while the cap remains connected to the main container (see Patent Documents 3 and 4), and a structure in which the cap (adapter) is reconnected in the opposite direction to its original connection (see Patent Document 5). However, like Patent Document 1, none of these structures provide a solution in which the cap can be freely separated from the main container.

[0006] In fields other than eye drops, there is a configuration in which a groove is formed on the surface of the cap of a capped writing instrument, so that when the need arises while the writing instrument is in use, the writing instrument body can be temporarily placed on the groove of the cap (see Patent Document 6), but this does not allow for the temporary placement of a cap that has been separated from the writing instrument body.

[0007] There is also a box-shaped temporary storage stand that has partitions on both sides of the length, one of which has a groove large enough for a cap to fit into (see Patent Document 7), but this cannot be used to temporarily store a cap that has been separated from the writing instrument body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-144123 A (paragraphs 0010 to 0018, Figures 1 to 7) [Patent Document 2] JP 64-58671 A (page 1, right column, line 6 to page 2, left column, line 10, Figures 1 and 2) [Patent Document 3] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 5-20738 (paragraphs 0015-0018, figures 1-5) [Patent Document 4] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 7-5644 (paragraphs 0009-0015, figures 1-6) [Patent Document 5] JP 2001-129054 A (Claim 1, paragraphs 0018 to 0034, Figures 1 to 8) [Patent Document 6] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 63-100287 (specification, page 2, line 16 to page 3, line 9, Figures 1 to 5) [Patent Document 7] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 4-69192 (specification, page 3, line 20 to page 5, line 20, Figures 1 to 8) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] As described above, neither the prior art documents on capped eye drops nor the prior art documents on capped writing instruments are able to reliably prevent bacteria from adhering to the open end surface of a cap when the cap is temporarily placed after being separated from the main container.

[0010] In view of the above background, the present invention proposes a temporary placement material for eye drop caps that has the function of reliably preventing the adhesion of germs to the open end surface of the cap when it is separated from the main container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present invention relates to a temporary cap placement material for eye drops, the temporary cap placement material being for temporarily placing an eye drop cap that is provided with a main container and a cap that is detachably connected to the main container when the main container is in use, a receiving portion having a concave upper surface on which the cap is placed, and a locking portion that is continuous with the receiving portion in the axial direction and faces the closing side tip portion of the cap in the axial direction and can come into contact with the closing side tip portion; The upper surface of the receiving portion slopes downward from the side farther from the engaged portion toward the engaged portion, with the center in the width direction being the lowest and gradually sloping upward from this center to both sides in the width direction, and supports the cap by making line contact or surface contact with the outer peripheral surface other than both axial end faces of the cap in a direction along a line from the open side end face of that surface toward the closed side tip end.

[0012] The term "receiving part having a concave upper surface" refers to the receiving part 2 having an upper surface 21 that is curved with an upward concave shape or that is part of a polyhedron with an upward concave shape, as shown in Fig. 3-(a) to (c). The term "an engaged part that is continuous with the receiving part in the axial direction and that faces the closed-side tip of the cap in the axial direction and that may come into contact with the closed-side tip" refers to the engaged part 3 that is continuous with one side of the receiving part 2 in the axial direction (length direction), as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4, and when the cap 5 is placed on the receiving part 2, the closed-side tip 51 of the cap 5 faces the side surface 31 of the engaged part 3 on the cap 5 side. The receiving part 2 and the engaged part 3 may be integrated, or may be separate bodies that are connected to be integrated.

[0013] Since cap 5 has a shape of a body of revolution formed mainly by rotating a straight line or curve around an axis (center), or a polygonal truncated pyramid shape similar thereto, "the axial direction of the cap" refers to the direction of the axis of the body of revolution, etc., and can also be said to be the length direction. One side of cap 5 in the axial direction is closed and the other side is open, so "closed side tip 51 in the axial direction" refers to the end of cap 5 on the closed side. The surface of the opposite end becomes open side end face 52 of cap 5.

[0014] "The upper surface of the receiving part is inclined downward from the side farther from the locked part toward the locked part" means that the upper surface 21 of the receiving part 2 as a whole is inclined downward from the side farther from the locked part 3 (the open side end face 52 side) toward the locked part 3 side (the closed side tip 51 side). When the cap 5 is placed on the upper surface 21 of the receiving part 2, if the cap 5 tends to slip in the axial direction of the receiving part 2, the cap 5 is inclined so as to move toward the locked part 3 side. The upper surface 21 of the receiving part 2 may be flat, curved, or a mixture of both.

[0015] By slanting the upper surface 21 of the receiving part 2 downward so that the cap 5 faces the locked part 3, the cap 5 placed on the receiving part 2 moves along the slanted surfaces 21b, 21b to the opposite side of the locked part 3, and is less likely to come off the end of the receiving part 2. As a result, it becomes easier to prevent the open end surface 52 of the cap 5 from dropping onto the floor surface or the like on which the temporary placement material 1 is placed, and it becomes easier to prevent bacteria from adhering to the open end surface 52 of the cap 5.

[0016] "The upper surface of the receiving part is lowest at the center in the width direction, and gradually slopes upward from this center to both sides in the width direction" means that when the receiving part 2 is viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction (when viewed in the axial direction), as shown in Figures 3-(a) to (c), the center 21 in the width direction of the receiving part upper surface 21 is at the lowest position in the installed state of the temporary placement material 1, and the upper surface 21 has inclined surfaces 21b, 21b that slope upward from the center 21 to both sides in the width direction. The "inclined surfaces 21b, 21b in the width direction" can be flat or curved.

[0017] "The outer peripheral surface other than both axial end faces of the cap" refers to the outer peripheral surface 53 of the cap 5 excluding the closed side tip portion 51 and the open side end face 52. In the example of the cap 5 shown by the two-dot chain line in Figures 1 and 2, "the closed side tip portion 51" refers to the knob-shaped portion with a small diameter other than the closed side outer peripheral surface 53. "The locked portion which the closed side tip portion may come into contact with" refers to the axial end face 51a of the closed side tip portion 51 which may come into contact with the locked portion 3.

[0018] The "line from the open-side end face of the outer circumferential surface other than both axial end faces of the cap to the closed-side tip end" refers to a generatrix or a line equivalent to a generatrix when the cap 5 has a shape of a solid of revolution or a polygonal truncated pyramid shape similar thereto. When the cap 5 does not have a shape of a solid of revolution or the like, the line refers to the shortest line, particularly a straight line, along the axis from the open-side end face 52 to the closed-side tip end 51.

[0019] "The upper surface of the receiving portion supports the cap by making line contact or surface contact with the outer peripheral surface other than both axial end surfaces of the cap in a direction along a line from the open side end surface of that surface toward the closed side tip end" means the following.

[0020] In other words, it means that the outer peripheral surface 53 of the cap 5, excluding the closed side tip portion 51 and the open side end face 52, contacts the upper surface 21 of the receiving part 2 along a line such as a generatrix along the axial direction of the cap 5, or contacts with a band-like curved surface along the generatrix that has a width in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 53, thereby supporting the receiving part 2 with the cap 5. The "line contact" does not have to be a continuous line in the axial direction of the receiving part 2, and may be an intermittent line, and the "surface contact" may also be intermittent.

[0021] The widthwise center 21a of the receiving portion upper surface 21 is the lowest and gradually slopes upward from the center 21a to both sides in the widthwise direction, and the upper surface 21 of the receiving portion 2 is in line contact or surface contact with the outer peripheral surface 53 of the cap 5 other than both axial end surfaces, which means the following:

[0022] 3-(a), when the lowest point of the outer peripheral surface 53 when viewed in the axial direction, or a circumferential line including the lowest point, comes into contact with the receiving part upper surface 21 while the upper surface 21 of the receiving part 2 supports the cap 5, the cap 5 will attempt to stabilize in a state where the lowest point of the outer peripheral surface 53, or a line including the lowest point, is in contact with the receiving part upper surface 21. Although the cap 5 is in a state where it may vibrate (roll) in the circumferential direction, it will ultimately attempt to stabilize in a state where the lowest point or a line including the lowest point is in contact with the receiving part upper surface 21, so the stability of the cap 5 is ensured unless an external force is applied to the cap 5.

[0023] By reducing the possibility of the cap 5 falling off the receiving part 2 due to circumferential vibration (rolling), the cap 5 is less likely to come into contact with the floor surface, etc. due to falling caused by vibration while supported by the receiving part 2, which also makes it easier to avoid the adhesion of germs to the open end face 52 of the cap 5 due to falling.

[0024] In particular, when the upper surface 21 of the receiving part 2 makes line contact with the outer peripheral surface 53 of the cap 5 other than both axial end surfaces at at least two lines along the generatrix (claim 2), the stability against circumferential rolling of the cap 5 in the supported state is improved compared to the case of surface contact and the case of line contact with one line. "Two lines" refers to, for example, two lines that contact the cap 5 on both sides of the width center 21a of the receiving part upper surface 21 as shown in Figures 3-(b) and (c), and means that the cap 5 is in contact with the receiving part upper surface 21 at two points (two contact points) located on both sides of the width center 21 when the cap 5 is viewed in the axial direction.

[0025] When the cap 5 makes line contact with the upper surface 21 along a single line as shown in Figure 3-(a) or when it makes contact with a curved surface, when the cap 5 tries to roll in the circumferential direction, no force is generated on the upper surface 21 of the receiving part 2 to prevent the cap 5 from rolling, so the cap 5 becomes prone to rolling when touched (receives force).

[0026] 3-(a), when cap 5 is viewed in the axial direction, if receiving portion upper surface 21 forms a curved surface with a curvature smaller than that of outer peripheral surface 53 of cap 5, the acting direction of vertically upward reaction force P from receiving portion upper surface 21 is a direction perpendicular (normal direction) to the tangent at the contact point of the curved surface of cap 5 with receiving portion upper surface 21, so no component force is generated in the tangent direction of the curved surface. In other words, the reaction force from receiving portion upper surface 21 does not have a component that directs cap 5 toward the radial center of receiving portion 2, so no force is generated that directs cap 5 toward center 21a of receiving portion upper surface 21.

[0027] 3-(b) and 3-(c), in the case where the receiving portion upper surface 21 is in line contact at two lines on both sides of the center 21a, when the cap 5 tries to roll in the circumferential direction, a force is generated that prevents the cap 5 from rolling, making it difficult for the cap 5 to roll. In other words, the cap 5 is supported by the receiving portion 2 so as to be sandwiched in the circumferential direction at two points located on both sides of the center 21a on a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0028] The state in which the upper surface 21 of the receiving part 2 comes into line contact with at least two lines of the outer peripheral surface 53 of the cap 5 mainly takes the form of inclined surfaces 21b, 21b that gradually slope upward from the center 21a of the upper surface 21 to both sides, as shown in Figure 3-(b), or when the cap 5 is viewed in the axial direction, the upper surface 21 forms a curved surface with a greater curvature than the outer peripheral surface 53 of the cap 5, as shown in (c).

[0029] 3-(b) specifically shows an example in which a concave ridgeline (valley) is formed continuously in the axial direction of the receiving portion 2 at the center 21a of the upper surface 21, and at least one (singular and plural) inclined surfaces (flat and curved surfaces) 21b, 21b are formed, which gradually slope upward from this concave ridgeline (center 21a) to both sides in the width direction. In FIG. 3-(c), the center 21a of the upper surface 21 is the lowest, and the inclined surfaces 21b, 21b slope upward gradually from this center 21a to both sides in the width direction, forming a curved surface with a greater curvature than the outer peripheral surface 53 of the cap 5.

[0030] In both cases of Figures 3-(b) and (c), the tangent direction at the contact point with the upper surface 21 of the cap 5 is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, and the contact point is located on either side of the center 21a of the upper surface 21 in the width direction, so that a component P1 perpendicular to the tangent direction of the curve on the cross section is generated in the cap 5 due to a vertical upward reaction force from the upper surface 21.

[0031] 3-(b), in which the top surface 21 (inclined surface 21b) is a plane that slopes upward from the center 21a to both sides, if the load of the cap 5 acting on each inclined surface 21b on one side of the center 21a on the cross section is W (2W for two surfaces) and the inclination angle of the top surface 21 (inclined surface 21b) with respect to the horizontal plane is α, then the component P1 of the reaction force from the receiving part top surface 21 acting on the cap 5 that is perpendicular to the top surface 21 is P1=Wcosα. This force P1 is directed toward the center of the cap 5 on the cross section, and therefore has a horizontal component Wcosα·sinα that faces the center 21a of the top surface 21.

[0032] 3-(c), in which top surface 21 (inclined surface 21b) forms a curved surface with a greater curvature than outer peripheral surface 53 of cap 5, if the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal plane at the contact point between cap 5 and top surface 21 on the cross section is β, then the component P2 perpendicular to top surface 21 of the reaction force from receiving part top surface 21 acting on cap 5 is P2 = Wcosβ. This force P2 also faces toward the center of cap 5 on the cross section, and therefore has a horizontal component Wcosβ sinβ facing the center 21a of top surface 21.

[0033] Since the upper surface 21 of the receiving part 2 is thus concave (concave upwards), the component perpendicular to the tangential direction of the reaction force from the upper surface 21 faces a point on the vertical line of the center 21a on the cross section, or the center of curvature of the curve drawn by the outer peripheral surface 53, so that when viewed in cross section, a horizontal component is included in the component perpendicular to the tangential direction of the reaction force received at the contact points on both sides of the upper surface 21. Since this horizontal component faces the center 21a of the upper surface 21, the cap 5 receives a force pushing it toward the center 21a of the upper surface 21 from each contact point. Since this force facing the center acts from both sides of the center 21a of the upper surface 21, the cap 5 is restrained from movement in a direction away from the center 21a, making it easier to stabilize.

[0034] The stability of the cap 5 placed on the receiving part 2 against falling is further improved by forming wing parts 4, 4 which are continuous (extending) to both sides in the width direction of the receiving part 2 at a distance in the axial direction of the receiving part 2 from a position close to the locked part 3 of the receiving part 2 as shown in Fig. 4, and have an upper surface 41 which is continuous with the upper surface 21 of the receiving part 2 (inclined surfaces 41b, 41b) (claim 3). "The upper surface is continuous with the upper surface of the receiving part" means that the upper surface 41 of the wing part 4 forms a surface (inclined surface 41b) which is continuous with the upper surface 21 of the receiving part 2. The surfaces may be flat or curved.

[0035] The "portion spaced apart in the axial direction of the receiving part" is not limited to the axial end of the receiving part 2, and the wings 4, 4 may be formed in the axial middle of the receiving part 2. Regardless of the position where the wings 4 are formed, by having the upper surface 41 have inclined surfaces 41b, 41b that form a concave shape continuous with the upper surface 21 of the receiving part 2, the wings 4 have the ability to prevent the cap 5 from rolling and falling when the cap 5 tries to roll in the circumferential direction, thereby improving safety against the cap 5 rolling and falling. Effect of the Invention

[0036] The receiving part has a concave upper surface and an engaging part that is continuous with the receiving part in the axial direction and faces the closed side tip of the cap in the axial direction.The upper surface of the receiving part is inclined downward from the side farther from the engaging part toward the engaging part.This makes it less likely that a cap placed on the receiving part will fall from the receiving part along the inclined surface onto the floor surface on which the temporary placement material is placed, thereby preventing the adhesion of germs to the open side end surface of the cap.

[0037] In addition, the receiving portion supports the cap by making line or surface contact with the outer peripheral surface other than both axial end surfaces of the cap in a direction along a line from the open side end surface of that surface toward the closed side tip end. As a result, the cap can be stabilized in a state where the lowest point of the cap is in contact with the upper surface of the receiving portion. As a result, the cap is less likely to come into contact with the floor surface due to falling, and the adhesion of germs to the open side end surface of the cap due to falling can be avoided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0038] [Figure 1] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an example of a basic temporary placement material. [Diagram 2] 1, (b) is a plan view of (a), (c) is a view taken along line xx in (b), and (d) is a view taken along line yy in (b). [Diagram 3] 1A is a schematic end view showing the reaction force acting on the cap when the upper surface of the receiving portion is curved with a curvature smaller than the outer peripheral surface of the cap; FIG. 1B is a schematic end view showing the normal component of the reaction force acting on the cap when an inclined surface is formed that slopes upward from the center of the width of the upper surface of the receiving portion to both sides; and FIG. 1C is a schematic end view showing the normal component of the reaction force acting on the cap when the upper surface of the receiving portion is curved with a curvature larger than the outer peripheral surface of the cap. [Figure 4] 13 is a perspective view showing an example of a temporary placement material in which a wing portion is formed at a distance in the axial direction from a position of the receiving portion closer to the engaged portion. FIG. [Diagram 5] 4, (b) is a plan view of FIG. 4, and (c) is a view taken along line xx in (b). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] 1 and 2 show an example of a temporary storage material 1 used to temporarily store the cap 5 of an eye drop product, which has a main container and a cap 5 that is detachably connected to the main container, when the main container is in use. The temporary storage material 1 is made of, for example, synthetic resin, synthetic rubber, wood, metal, glass, etc., but the material is not particularly limited.

[0040] The temporary placement material 1 has a concave upper surface 21, and is provided with a receiving portion 2 on which a cap 5 is placed, and at least two portions, a locked portion 3 that is continuous with the receiving portion 2 in the axial direction, faces the closing side tip portion 51 of the cap 5 in the axial direction, and can come into contact with the closing side tip portion 51. The main container is not shown in the drawings. "At least two portions" means that in addition to the two portions, the receiving portion 2 and the locked portion 3, it may have "wing portions 4" described below.

[0041] The upper surface 21 of the receiving portion 2 has inclined surfaces 21b, 21b that are generally inclined downward from the side farther from the locked portion 3 toward the locked portion 3, with the center 21a in the width direction being the lowest and gradually inclining upward from the center 21a to both sides in the width direction. In other words, the inclined surfaces 21b, 21b as a whole incline upward from the locked portion 3 side to the opposite side, and also incline upward from the center 21a to both sides in the width direction. The inclined surface 21b may be flat or curved, or may include a curved surface.

[0042] 1 and 2 show an example in which there is no boundary between the inclined surfaces 21b, 21b on both sides of the center 21a in the width direction and the center 21a, and both inclined surfaces 21b, 21b including the center 21a form a curved surface with a constant curvature. In this case, the center 21a does not appear as a clear concave ridge. Here, an example is shown in which the outer peripheral surface 53 of the cap 5 other than both axial end surfaces has a revolution shape, particularly a truncated cone shape, but FIG. 2 also shows an example in which the curvature of the outer peripheral surface 53 when the cap 5 or the receiving part 2 is viewed in the axial direction is greater than the curvature of the inclined surfaces 21b, 21b, as shown in (c). The axial direction of the receiving part 2 is also the direction of the center 21a when viewed in a plane.

[0043] In the drawings, the side surface 31 of the engaged portion 3 on the receiving portion 2 (cap 5) side forms a surface parallel to the end surface 51a so that the axial end surface 51a of the closed side tip portion 51 can be received by the surface when the cap 5 is placed on the upper surface 21 of the receiving portion 2, but this is not necessarily required. If the side surface 31 is parallel to the end surface 51a, there is an advantage in that when the end surface 51a of the cap 51 comes into contact with the side surface 31, stability against axial movement of the cap 5 is ensured.

[0044] 1 and 2 also show an example in which the end of the receiving part 2 opposite the locked part 3 has an axial length that is aligned with the open end face 52 of the cap 5, but in terms of ease of handling when removing the cap 5 from the state in which it is placed on the receiving part 2, it is better for the length to be such that the open end face 52 of the cap 5 protrudes from the receiving part 2, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The open end of the cap 5 is connected to the end of the main container on the cap 5 side by screwing or the like.

[0045] 4 and 5 show an example of the production of a temporary placement material 1 in which wing portions 4, 4 are formed at a portion spaced in the axial direction of the receiving portion 2 from a position closer to the locked portion 3 of the receiving portion 2, which continue (extend) to both sides in the width direction of the receiving portion 2 and have an upper surface 41 that is continuous with the upper surface 21 of the receiving portion 2. In the example shown here, the inclined surfaces 21b, 21b are flat surfaces that slope upward from the center 21a to both sides in the width direction, and the center 21a clearly appears as a concave ridge (valley). The inclined surface 21b may be or may include a curved surface.

[0046] 4 and 5 show an example in which the wings 4, 4 are formed on the end of the receiving part 2 opposite the locked part 3, but the wings 4, 4 may also be formed in the axial middle part of the receiving part 2. In that case too, the upper surface 41 forms a surface that is continuous with the upper surface 21 of the receiving part 2.

[0047] Since the upper surface 41 of the wing portion 4 forms a surface continuous with the upper surface 21 of the receiving portion 2, when the upper surface 21 is a planar inclined surface 21b, 21b inclined upward from the center 21a to both sides in the width direction as shown in the figure, the upper surface 41 also has a center 41a that draws a straight line continuous with the center 21a, and inclined surfaces 41b, 41b such as planar surfaces continuous with the inclined surfaces 21b, 21b. The inclined surface 41b may also include a curved surface. If the inclined surfaces 21b, 21b are curved surfaces, the inclined surfaces 41b, 41b will also be curved surfaces continuous with the inclined surface 21b.

[0048] Fig. 3-(a) shows the reaction force P from the upper surface 21 due to the weight of the cap 5 acting on the contact surface between the outer circumferential surface 53 of the cap 5 and the upper surface 21 when the cap 5 is placed on the upper surface 21 of the receiving part 2 of the temporary placement material 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. "The weight of the cap 5" refers to the load of the cap 5 acting on any cross section when the cap 5 or the receiving part 2 is viewed in the axial direction (when viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction of the receiving part 2).

[0049] In this case, the cap 5 contacts the upper surface 21 at the lowest position of the outer circumferential surface 53, so that when viewed in the axial direction of the cap 5 or the axial direction of the receiving portion 2, the outer circumferential surface 53 contacts the center 21a of the upper surface 21. The reaction force P from the receiving portion 2 acts in a direction perpendicular (normal direction) to the tangent direction at the contact surface (contact point) of the outer circumferential surface 53 of the cap 5 with the upper surface 21 (center 21a), so it acts vertically upward and has no horizontal component. If the vertically downward load of the cap 5 acting from the cap 5 to the receiving portion upper surface 21 on the cross section is 2W, then the reaction force P is P=2W.

[0050] Fig. 3-(b) shows the state of reaction force P1 from each of the inclined surfaces 21b, 21b due to the weight of the cap 5 acting on the contact point when viewed in the axial direction of the receiving part 2 when the cap 5 is placed on the upper surface 21 of the receiving part 2 of the temporary placement material 1 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 in a form excluding the wing parts 4, 4, and the outer peripheral surface 53 of the cap 5 comes into line contact with each of the inclined surfaces 21b, 21b. The "line contact" may be intermittent.

[0051] In this case, reaction force P1 from receiving portion 2 also acts in a direction perpendicular (normal direction) to the tangent at the contact point of outer peripheral surface 53 of cap 5 with inclined surface 21b, and therefore faces the center of curvature of outer peripheral surface 53 when viewed in the axial direction of receiving portion 2. If the vertically downward load of cap 5 acting on each inclined surface 21b on the cross section is W, then the vertically upward reaction force is W, and reaction force P1 is P1=Wcosα. Therefore, reaction force P1 has a horizontal component Wcosα·sinα that faces toward center 21a of upper surface 21 in the horizontal direction, and this horizontal component acts to push cap 5 toward center 21a.

[0052] 3-(c) shows the reaction force P2 from the upper surface 21 due to the weight of the cap 5 in the case where the curvature of the upper surface 21 when the receiving part 2 is viewed in the axial direction is larger than the curvature of the outer circumferential surface 53 when the cap 5 is viewed in the axial direction, which is the opposite of the example in (a). In this case, the upper surface 21 contacts the outer circumferential surface 53 of the cap 5 at two points on both ends in the width direction, so that the reaction force P2 acts on the outer circumferential surface 53 of the cap 5 from these two points.

[0053] In this case, reaction force P2 from receiving portion 2 acts in a direction perpendicular to the tangent of outer peripheral surface 53 of cap 5 at the contact point with inclined surface 21b, and therefore faces the center of curvature of outer peripheral surface 53 when viewed in the axial direction of receiving portion 2. If the vertically downward load of cap 5 acting on the end of each inclined surface 21b in the width direction (circumferential direction) on the cross section is W, reaction force P2 is P2 = Wcosβ. Therefore, this reaction force P2 also has a horizontal component Wcosβ sinβ in the horizontal direction that faces toward center 21a of upper surface 21, and this horizontal component acts to push cap 5 toward center 21a. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1...Temporary storage material, 2: receiving portion, 21: upper surface, 21a: (width direction) center, 21b: inclined surface, 3...Locked part, 31...Side surface, 4...Wing part, 41...Top surface, 41a...(width direction) center, 41b...Slope surface, 5: cap; 51: closed end portion; 51a: end surface; 52: open end surface; 53: outer circumferential surface.

Claims

1. A temporary placement material for temporarily placing the cap of an eye drop comprising a main container and a cap detachably connected to the main container when the main container is in use, a receiving portion having a concave upper surface on which the cap is placed, and a locking portion that is continuous with the receiving portion in the axial direction and faces the closing side tip portion of the cap in the axial direction and can come into contact with the closing side tip portion; The upper surface of the receiving portion slopes downward from the side farther from the engaged portion toward the engaged portion, with the center in the width direction being the lowest and gradually sloping upward from this center to both sides in the width direction, and supports the cap by making line contact or surface contact with the outer peripheral surface other than both axial end surfaces of the cap in a direction along a line from the open side end face of that surface toward the closed side tip end.

2. The temporary holding material for eye drop caps described in claim 1, characterized in that the upper surface of the receiving portion supports the cap by making line contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cap other than both axial end surfaces along at least two lines in a direction along a line from the open side end surface of the surface toward the closed side tip portion.

3. A temporary placement material for eye drop caps as described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a wing portion is formed in a portion of the receiving portion spaced axially from a position of the receiving portion closer to the engaged portion, the wing portion being continuous in the width direction of the receiving portion and having an upper surface continuous with the upper surface of the receiving portion.

Images