Dropper container

Abstract

To prevent an operating member from suddenly rising against the dropper tube without providing a separate stopper.SOLUTION: An operating member seals the upper end opening of a dropper tube 60, a to-be-surmounted protrusion 55 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of an inner cap 50, and a surmounting protrusion 13 capable of circumferentially surmounting the to-be-surmounted protrusion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of an outer cap 10. When the outer cap reaches the end of the tightening side Y from the loosening side X against the inner cap and the operating member is located at the lowering end position against the inner cap as well, the surmounting projection surmounts the to-be- surmounted projection to the tightening side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a dropper container.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, a dropper container having a dropper tube has been used. In the configuration of Patent Document 1, an operating member seals the upper end opening of the dropper tube. When the outer cap (lid cover) is rotated with the operating member with respect to the container body, the operating member rises with respect to the container body to open the upper end opening of the dropper tube, and the content is sucked up into the dropper tube. Thereafter, by pressing an operating member (push button) against the operating member, the content can be discharged from the dropper tube.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a conventional dropper container, due to vibrations, impacts, etc. during transportation, there is a possibility that the operating member may unexpectedly rise with respect to the dropper tube, and the sealing of the upper end opening of the dropper tube may be released. In order to solve such a problem, it is conceivable to provide a stopper that restricts the relative movement of the outer cap and the container body. However, in this case, for example, new problems such as an increase in the number of parts, deterioration of assemblability, and deterioration of appearance may occur.

[0005] The present invention provides a dropper container capable of suppressing the unexpected rise of the operating member with respect to the dropper tube without providing a stopper as a separate member.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A pipette container according to one aspect of the present invention includes a bottomed cylindrical container body for containing a content, an inner cap detachably attached to the mouth of the container body and detached from the mouth as it rotates around the container axis, a pipette tube extending downward from the inner cap with the lower end opening located inside the container body, an outer cap rotatably attached to the inner cap in a state where rotation in the loosening side, which is one side in the circumferential direction along the container axis by a predetermined amount or more, is restricted, an operating member provided inside the outer cap, the rotation of which around the container axis with respect to the outer cap is restricted and which moves up and down with respect to the inner cap by rotating around the container axis, and an operating member attached to the operating member and defining an expansion and contraction space communicating with the upper end opening of the pipette tube therebetween. A sliding cylinder portion that forms a part of a partition wall of an operating space extending in the vertical direction and communicating with the upper end opening of the pipette tube is provided on either one of the inner cap and the operating member. A piston that expands and contracts the operating space by sliding on the inner peripheral surface or the outer peripheral surface of the sliding cylinder portion as the operating member moves up and down with respect to the inner cap is provided on the other of the inner cap and the operating member. The operating member seals the upper end opening of the pipette tube. An overriding protrusion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cap. An overriding protrusion that can override the overriding protrusion in the circumferential direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cap. When the outer cap reaches the tightening side end, which is the other side in the circumferential direction from the loosening side, with respect to the inner cap and the operating member is located at the lower end position with respect to the inner cap, the overriding protrusion overrides the overriding protrusion toward the tightening side.

[0007] According to the above aspect, when the outer cap is rotated around the container axis on the loosening side, which is one side in the circumferential direction along the container axis, with respect to the container body, the outer cap rotates with respect to the inner cap within a predetermined range. At this time, the operating member whose rotation with respect to the outer cap is restricted also rises while rotating with respect to the inner cap. As a result, the upper end opening of the dropper tube is opened, the piston and the sliding cylinder portion come into sliding contact with each other, and the inside of the operating space becomes negative pressure as the volume of the operating space increases. Therefore, the inside of the dropper tube communicating with the operating space also becomes negative pressure, and the content in the container body can be sucked up from the lower end opening of the dropper tube. At this time, since the increased amount of the volume of the operating space is determined based on the relative movement amount in the vertical direction of the piston and the sliding cylinder portion, a substantially fixed amount of the content can be sucked up into the dropper tube by operating to rotate the outer cap by a predetermined amount with respect to the inner cap. After that, when the rotation of the outer cap toward the loosening side is further continued, the outer cap and the inner cap will rotate integrally with respect to the container body, the inner cap will be detached from the mouth portion of the container body, and the dropper tube will be pulled out from the inside of the container body. When the outer cap reaches the tightening side end, which is the other side in the circumferential direction from the loosening side, with respect to the inner cap, and the operating member is located at the descending end position with respect to the inner cap (sealing state), the overhanging protrusion overrides the overridden protrusion toward the tightening side. Therefore, in the sealing state, the overhanging protrusion and the overridden protrusion can be brought into contact with each other, and it is possible to suppress the outer cap from unexpectedly moving from the tightening side end to the loosening side with respect to the inner cap due to vibrations, impacts, etc. during transportation. As a result, even without providing a stopper of a separate member, it is possible to suppress the operating member located at the descending end position from unexpectedly rising with respect to the dropper tube and releasing the sealing of the upper end opening of the dropper tube. When changing from the opened state to the sealed state, the overhanging protrusion overrides the overridden protrusion toward the tightening side. Therefore, for example, compared with a case where the overhanging protrusion and the overridden protrusion are pressed against each other in the radial direction when the sealed state is reached, it is possible to make it difficult for the overhanging protrusion and the overridden protrusion to cause, for example, wear or indentations, and it is possible to easily let the user recognize that the state has changed from the opened state to the sealed state by a clicking feeling.

[0008] On the outer peripheral surface of the inner cap, a regulating surface may be formed where the overhanging protrusion abuts in the circumferential direction when the overhanging protrusion gets over the protrusion to be overcome toward the tightening side.

[0009] Since the regulating surface is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cap, in the sealed state, the overhanging protrusion will be sandwiched in the circumferential direction by the regulating surface and the protrusion to be overcome, and it is possible to reliably prevent the outer cap from unexpectedly moving from the end on the tightening side to the loosening side with respect to the inner cap. Since the regulating surface is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cap, when the overhanging protrusion gets over the protrusion to be overcome from the loosening side to the tightening side, the overhanging protrusion will abut against the regulating surface, enabling the user to surely recognize that the state has changed from the opened state to the sealed state.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to the above aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the operating member from unexpectedly rising with respect to the syringe tube without providing a stopper of a separate member.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, the dropper container of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the dropper container 1 includes a container body 2, an outer cap 10, a push button 20, an operating member 30, an operating member 40, an inner cap 50, a dropper tube 60, a squeezer cylinder member 70, and a piston 80. Note that the squeezer cylinder member 70 may not be provided.

[0013] The container body 2 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and the content is stored in the container body 2. A male screw portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 2a of the container body 2. Examples of the content include a chemical solution and a liquid cosmetic. The components of the dropper container 1 in the present embodiment are formed of a resin material. The dropper container 1 of the present embodiment does not have a metal member (such as a coil spring).

[0014] The outer cap 10, the push button 20, the operating member 30, the operating member 40, the inner cap 50, the dropper tube 60, and the piston 80 constitute a dropper assembly 3 that is detachably attached to the container body 2.

[0015] (Direction definition) The central axis of each of the container body 2 and the dropper tube 60 is located on a common axis. Hereinafter, this axis is referred to as the container axis O, the direction along the container axis O is referred to as the vertical direction, and along the vertical direction, the mouth portion 2a side of the container body 2 is the upper side and the bottom side of the container body 2 is the lower side. The direction intersecting the container axis O as viewed from the vertical direction is referred to as the radial direction, and the direction of orbiting around the container axis O as viewed from the vertical direction is referred to as the circumferential direction. One side along the circumferential direction may be referred to as the "loosening side X". When the operating member 30 is rotated in the loosening side X with respect to the inner cap 50, the operating member 30 rises with respect to the inner cap 50, and when the inner cap 50 is rotated in the loosening side X with respect to the mouth portion 2a, the inner cap 50 rises with respect to the mouth portion 2a. When the other side along the circumferential direction is referred to as the "tightening side Y", when the operating member 30 is rotated in the tightening side Y with respect to the inner cap 50, the operating member 30 descends with respect to the inner cap 50, and when the inner cap 50 is rotated in the tightening side Y with respect to the mouth portion 2a, the inner cap 50 descends with respect to the mouth portion 2a.

[0016] In FIGS. 1 and 6, the figure on the right side and the figure on the left side with respect to the container axis O represent respective portions that are 90° apart from each other around the container axis O.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the inner cap 50 is formed in a toped cylindrical shape having an annular inner cap top wall 53 and an inner cap peripheral wall 51, and is disposed coaxially with the container axis O. The inner cap 50 is detachably mounted on the mouth portion 2a and is detached from the mouth portion 2a as it rotates around the container axis O. In the illustrated example, a female screw portion that engages with a male screw portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 2a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the inner cap peripheral wall 51. An insertion cylinder 54, a holding cylinder portion 57, and a communication cylinder portion 58 are formed on the inner cap top wall 53. The insertion cylinder 54, the holding cylinder portion 57, and the communication cylinder portion 58 are disposed coaxially with the container axis O. The insertion cylinder 54 extends upward from the inner cap top wall 53. The communication cylinder portion 58 extends downward from the inner peripheral edge portion of the inner cap top wall 53. The holding cylinder portion 57 extends upward from the inner peripheral edge portion of the inner cap top wall 53.

[0018] On the outer peripheral surface of the upper portion of the inner cap peripheral wall 51, two release recesses 51b are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. The release recesses 51b open to the upper surface of the inner cap top wall 53. The release recesses 51b exhibit a rectangular shape that is long in the circumferential direction when viewed from the outer side in the radial direction. Of the inner surfaces of the release recesses 51b, the bottom surface facing the outer side in the radial direction is located radially inside a downward regulation portion 25 described later.

[0019] On the outer peripheral surface of the lower part of the inner cap peripheral wall 51, two circumferential regulation recesses 51a are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. The central parts in the circumferential direction of the circumferential regulation recess 51a and the release recess 51b coincide with each other. The circumferential length of the circumferential regulation recess 51a is shorter than the circumferential length of the release recess 51b. The radial depth of the circumferential regulation recess 51a is shallower than the radial depth of the release recess 51b. The circumferential regulation recess 51a opens to the surface facing upward and located at the lower end among the inner surfaces of the release recess 51b. The circumferential regulation recess 51a is provided over an angular range of about 90° centered on the container axis O.

[0020] On the outer peripheral surface of the inner cap peripheral wall 51, an over-riding projection 55 is formed. The over-riding projection 55 projects radially outward from the bottom surface facing the outer side in the radial direction among the inner surfaces of the circumferential regulation recess 51a. The over-riding projection 55 is provided at the end on the tightening side Y at the bottom surface of the circumferential regulation recess 51a. The over-riding projection 55 is provided with a circumferential gap between it and the end surface on the tightening side Y facing the loosening side X (hereinafter referred to as the regulation surface 56) among the inner surfaces of the circumferential regulation recess 51a. The radial size of the over-riding projection 55 is smaller than the radial depth of the circumferential regulation recess 51a. The over-riding projection 55 is provided over the entire vertical length at the bottom surface of the circumferential regulation recess 51a.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the piston 80 is formed in an annular shape and is externally fitted and fixed to the upper end portion of the holding cylinder portion 57. An annular sliding contact portion 81 that projects radially outward is formed on the piston 80.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the actuating member 30 is formed in a toped cylindrical shape having an actuating top wall 32 and an actuating peripheral wall 31, and is arranged coaxially with the container axis O. The actuating top wall 32 covers and seals the upper end opening of the spout tube 60 from above. For this reason, for example, compared with a configuration in which the actuating member 30 has a seal cylinder that seals the upper end opening of the spout tube 60 by fitting, due to vibrations, impacts, etc. during transportation, the actuating member 30 is likely to unexpectedly rise with respect to the spout tube 60. Therefore, the actuating member 30 located at the lower end position has a remarkable effect of suppressing the unexpected rise with respect to the spout tube 60.

[0023] The insertion cylinder 54 of the inner cap 50 is inserted into the actuating peripheral wall 31. An engaging protrusion 31a is formed on either the inner peripheral surface of the actuating peripheral wall 31 or the outer peripheral surface of the insertion cylinder 54 so as to be movably inserted along the guide groove 54a formed on the other. As the actuating member 30 rotates around the container axis O with respect to the inner cap 50, the engaging protrusion 31a moves relatively along the guide groove 54a, causing the actuating member 30 to move up and down with respect to the inner cap 50.

[0024] The guide groove 54a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion cylinder 54, and the engaging protrusion 31a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the actuating peripheral wall 31. Note that the guide groove 54a may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the actuating peripheral wall 31, and the engaging protrusion 31a may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the insertion cylinder 54. The guide groove 54a and the engaging protrusion 31a each extend downward as they go from the loosening side X to the tightening side Y along the circumferential direction. The guide groove 54a is formed with a restraining portion 54b and a flat surface 54c. Note that the restraining portion 54b and the flat surface 54c do not necessarily have to be formed in the guide groove 54a.

[0025] When the actuating member 30 is located at the lower end position and seals the upper end opening of the spout tube 60, the restraining portion 54b detachably locks the engaging projection 31a to restrain the upward movement of the actuating member 30. The restraining portion 54b is provided at the end of the tightening side Y along the circumferential direction in the guide groove 54a. The restraining portion 54b is a protrusion formed on the inner surface of the guide groove 54a, and the groove depth of the guide groove 54a is made shallower. When the engaging projection 31a abuts most strongly against the restraining portion 54b on the inner surface of the guide groove 54a, the upward movement of the actuating member 30 is restrained.

[0026] The flat surface 54c is formed at a portion where the engaging projection 31a abuts in the vertical direction when a pressing force is applied to the actuating member 30 located at the upper end position on the inner surface of the guide groove 54a, extends in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, and faces the vertical direction. In the illustrated example, the flat surface 54c faces upward. At the flat surface 54c, when the actuating member 30 is located at the upper end position, the end of the engaging projection 31a along the tightening side Y in the circumferential direction abuts. The flat surface 54c is provided at the end of the loosening side X along the circumferential direction in the guide groove 54a. Note that the guide groove 54a may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the actuating peripheral wall 31, the flat surface 54c may face downward, and the flat surface 54c may be provided at the end of the tightening side Y along the circumferential direction in the guide groove 54a.

[0027] The actuating top wall 32 includes a seal projection 34, a sliding cylinder portion 33, a plurality of ventilation holes 32a, and a fixing groove 35, and seals the upper end opening of the spout tube 60.

[0028] The seal projection 34 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the actuating top wall 32 and is in liquid-tight contact with the upper end opening edge of the piston 80 continuously over the entire circumference. Thereby, the actuating top wall 32 directly seals the upper end opening of the holding cylinder portion 57. Here, since the inside of the holding cylinder portion 57 communicates with the upper end opening of the spout tube 60 through the inside of the communicating cylinder portion 58, the upper end opening of the spout tube 60 is covered and sealed from above by the actuating top wall 32. Note that the holding cylinder portion 57 and the communicating cylinder portion 58 may be formed integrally with the spout tube 60. The sliding cylinder part 33 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the operating top wall 32 and is inserted between the outer peripheral surface of the piston 80 and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion cylinder 54 of the inner cap 50. The sliding cylinder part 33 forms a part of the partition wall of the operating space S communicating with the upper end opening of the spout pipe 60. In the illustrated example, the radially inner side in the sliding cylinder part 33 is the operating space S. The sliding contact part 81 of the piston 80 is in airtight contact with the inner peripheral surface of the sliding cylinder part 33 so as to be vertically slidable. Accordingly, as the operating member 30 moves up and down with respect to the inner cap 50, the sliding contact part 81 of the piston 80 slides on the inner peripheral surface of the sliding cylinder part 33 to expand and contract the operating space S. The operating space S is the portion located above the piston 80 within the sliding cylinder part 33. The vent hole 32a penetrates the operating top wall 32 in the vertical direction and opens to the operating space S. The vent hole 32a is located radially outside the seal protrusion 34 and radially inside the sliding cylinder part 33. The fixing groove 35 is formed at the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface of the operating top wall 32 and extends continuously over the entire circumferential length.

[0029] The operating member 30 has a regulating protrusion 36a and a rotation regulating part 37. The regulating protrusion 36a protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the upper end of the operating peripheral wall 31. Two regulating protrusions 36a are provided, one on each side sandwiching the container axis O in the radial direction. The rotation regulating part 37 protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the operating peripheral wall 31. Two rotation regulating parts 37 are provided, one on each side sandwiching the container axis O in the radial direction. An operating longitudinal groove 37a extending continuously over the entire vertical length is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotation regulating part 37. The regulating protrusion 36a and the rotation regulating part 37 are arranged with different circumferential positions. The regulating protrusion 36a and the rotation regulating part 37 are provided at positions separated by about 90° around the container axis O.

[0030] The operating member 40 has an elastic film 41 and a fixing portion 42, and is formed of an elastic body such as rubber or elastomer. The fixing portion 42 is formed in a ring shape and is thicker than the elastic film 41. The fixing portion 42 is fitted and fixed in the fixing groove 35 of the operating member 30. The elastic film 41 is formed in a convex curved surface shape (dome shape) upward and bulges upward from the fixing portion 42. The elastic film 41 covers the upper surface of the operating top wall 32. From the above, the operating member 40 is attached to the operating member 30, and a contraction and expansion space K communicating with the upper end opening of the spout tube 60 is defined between the operating member 40 and the operating member 30. The contraction and expansion space K communicates with the upper end opening of the spout tube 60 through the ventilation hole 32a and the operating space S.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the push button 20 is formed in a toped cylindrical shape having a button top wall 21 and a button peripheral wall 24, and is disposed coaxially with the container axis O. A cylindrical pressing portion 23 extending downward is formed on the lower surface of the button top wall 21. The lower end portion of the pressing portion 23 is in contact with the upper surface of the elastic film 41 of the operating member 40. Among the button peripheral walls 24, the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the lower portion are larger than the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the upper portion. A button flat surface 24a extending continuously over the entire length in the vertical direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion of the button peripheral wall 24. Two button flat surfaces 24a are provided, one on each side sandwiching the container axis O in the radial direction.

[0032] An engaging hole 24b and a slit 24c are formed in the lower portion of the button peripheral wall 24. The engaging hole 24b and the slit 24c penetrate the button peripheral wall 24 in the radial direction. Two engaging holes 24b and two slits 24c are provided respectively, one on each side sandwiching the container axis O in the radial direction. The slit 24c extends downward from the intermediate portion in the circumferential direction of the engaging hole 24b. The width of the slit 24c in the circumferential direction is smaller than the width of the engaging hole 24b in the circumferential direction. The button flat surface 24a, the engagement hole 24b, and the slit 24c are arranged with different circumferential positions from each other. The button flat surface 24a, the engagement hole 24b, and the slit 24c are provided at positions separated by 90° around the container axis O.

[0033] Inside the lower part of the button peripheral wall 24, the operating peripheral wall 31 of the operating member 30 is inserted so as to be vertically movable. Inside the engagement hole 24b, a regulating projection 36a provided on the operating peripheral wall 31 is inserted so as to be vertically movable. The regulating projection 36a abuts or is close to the upper end edge facing upward among the inner peripheral surfaces of the engagement hole 24b. In the vertical direction, the dimension of the engagement hole 24b is equal to or larger than the dimension of the regulating projection 36a.

[0034] The push button 20 has two downward regulating portions 25 provided at intervals in the circumferential direction. The downward regulating portion 25 protrudes downward from the lower end opening edge of the button peripheral wall 24 and extends in the circumferential direction. The two downward regulating portions 25 face each other in the radial direction. The lower end edge of the downward regulating portion 25 abuts or is close to the upper surface of the inner cap top wall 53. Thereby, the downward movement of the push button 20 with respect to the inner cap 50 is regulated. The downward regulating portion 25 is provided at a position separated from the button flat surface 24a, the engagement hole 24b, and the slit 24c in the circumferential direction.

[0035] The outer cap 10 is formed in a toped cylindrical shape having an outer cap peripheral wall 11 and an outer cap top wall 12. The outer cap 10 is arranged coaxially with the container axis O. The outer cap top wall 12 is formed in an annular shape. Inside the outer cap top wall 12, the button top wall 21 is inserted. The outer cap peripheral wall 11 surrounds the push button 20, the operating member 30, and the inner cap 50 from the outside in the radial direction. On the inner peripheral surface of the outer cap peripheral wall 11, an overstep projection 13 (see FIG. 5), a locking projection 14, and an auxiliary projection 15 are formed. The overstep projection 13, the locking projection 14, and the auxiliary projection 15 protrude from the inner peripheral surface of the outer cap peripheral wall 11 toward the inside in the radial direction.

[0036] The locking projection 14 is located below the overstep projection 13 and the auxiliary projection 15. The inner cap peripheral wall 51 is locked to the locking projection 14 from below the inner cap peripheral wall 51. Thereby, the inner cap 50 is restricted from detaching downward from the outer cap 10.

[0037] The overstep projection 13 and the auxiliary projection 15 are provided in this order toward the loosening side X and are adjacent to each other with an interval in the circumferential direction. The overstep projection 13 and the auxiliary projection 15 each extend in the vertical direction and are provided in pairs. The two overstep projections 13 face each other across the container axis O in the radial direction. The two auxiliary projections 15 face each other across the container axis O in the radial direction. The overstep projection 13 and the auxiliary projection 15 are integrally inserted into the operating vertical groove 37a of the operating member 30 and the circumferential restricting recess 51a of the inner cap 50, and are in contact with or close to the button plane 24a of the push button 20 in the radial direction. The circumferential size of the entire overstep projection 13 and the auxiliary projection 15 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction is equal to the groove width (circumferential size) of the operating vertical groove 37a. The rotation of the push button 20 and the operating member 30 around the container axis O with respect to the outer cap 10 is restricted. The overstep projection 13 and the auxiliary projection 15 are inserted into the operating vertical groove 37a so as to be vertically movable. As shown in FIG. 5, the circumferential size of the circumferential restricting recess 51a is larger than the circumferential size of the entire overstep projection 13 and the auxiliary projection 15 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, and the overstep projection 13 and the auxiliary projection 15 are located at the end on the tightening side Y among the both ends in the circumferential direction in the circumferential restricting recess 51a. The overstep projection 13 and the auxiliary projection 15 sandwich the overstepped projection 55 of the inner cap 50 in the circumferential direction. The overstepped projection 55 and the restricting surface 56 sandwich the overstep projection 13 in the circumferential direction.

[0038] When the outer cap 10 is rotated toward the loosening side X along the circumferential direction, the overhanging projection 13 climbs over the overhangable projection 55 toward the loosening side X, and the overhanging projection 13 and the auxiliary projection 15 move along the circumferential direction toward the loosening side X within the circumferential regulation recess 51a, and the outer cap 10 rotates relative to the inner cap 50 together with the push button 20 and the operating member 30. Thereafter, as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5, the overhanging projection 13 and the auxiliary projection 15 reach the end of the circumferential loosening side X in the circumferential regulation recess 51a, and when the auxiliary projection 15 abuts against the end face of the loosening side X facing the tightening side Y (hereinafter referred to as the abutting face 59) of the inner surface of the circumferential regulation recess 51a, the rotational movement of the outer cap 10 relative to the inner cap 50 is restricted. That is, the outer cap 10 is externally mounted so as to be rotatable about the container axis O with respect to the inner cap 50 in a state where rotation about the container axis O by a predetermined amount or more is restricted. When the outer cap 10 is rotated toward the tightening side Y along the circumferential direction, and the outer cap 10 reaches the end of the tightening side Y from the loosening side X with respect to the inner cap 50, and the operating member 30 is positioned at the lower end position with respect to the inner cap 50, the overhanging projection 13 climbs over the overhangable projection 55 toward the tightening side Y and abuts against the regulating surface 56 of the inner cap 50.

[0039] The dropper tube 60 extends downward from the inner cap 50, and the lower end opening is located inside the container body 2. The communication cylinder portion 58 of the inner cap 50 is fitted inside the upper end portion of the dropper tube 60. The upper end opening of the dropper tube 60 can communicate with the operating space S and the expansion and contraction space K through the inside of the communication cylinder portion 58 and the holding cylinder portion 57. A flange portion 61 protruding radially outward is formed at the upper end portion of the dropper tube 60. The flange portion 61 is fitted and fixed inside the upper portion of the inner cap peripheral wall 51.

[0040] The squeezing cylinder member 70 is fixed to the mouth portion 2a, and the dropper tube 60 is inserted through the squeezing cylinder member 70. A radial gap is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the squeezing cylinder member 70 and the outer peripheral surface of the dropper tube 60. On the inner peripheral surface of the pressing cylinder member 70, there is formed a pressing protrusion piece 71 that protrudes radially inward and abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the dropper tube 60. The pressing protrusion piece 71 is formed at the lower end portion of the pressing cylinder member 70. Among the inner peripheral surface of the pressing cylinder member 70, the portion located below the pressing protrusion piece 71 extends radially inward as it goes upward.

[0041] The pressing protrusion piece 71 is located below the lower end portion of the inner cap peripheral wall 51 or at an equivalent position in the vertical direction. Among the gaps between the inner peripheral surface of the pressing cylinder member 70 and the outer peripheral surface of the dropper tube 60, a wide volume of the portion A located above the pressing protrusion piece 71 is ensured.

[0042] Next, the operation of the dropper container 1 configured as described above will be explained.

[0043] When the outer cap 10 is rotated in the loosening side X along the circumferential direction with respect to the container body 2, since the overstep protrusion 13 and the auxiliary protrusion 15 are inserted into the operation vertical groove 37a and the regulating protrusion 36a is inserted into the engaging hole 24b, the operating member 30 and the push button 20 rotate with the outer cap 10 with respect to the container body 2. At this time, until the overstep protrusion 13 and the auxiliary protrusion 15 reach the end portion on the loosening side X along the circumferential direction in the circumferential regulation recess 51a of the inner cap 50, the outer cap 10 idles with respect to the inner cap 50. Thereby, until the overstep protrusion 13 and the auxiliary protrusion 15 reach the end portion on the loosening side X along the circumferential direction in the circumferential regulation recess 51a of the inner cap 50, the outer cap 10, the push button 20, and the operating member 30 rotate with respect to the inner cap 50.

[0044] When the actuating member 30 rotates with respect to the inner cap 50, since the engaging protrusion 31a is inserted into the guide groove 54a so as to be movable along the guide groove 54a, the actuating member 30 rises with respect to the inner cap 50. At this time, the operating member 40 fixed to the actuating member 30 pushes up the pressing portion 23 of the push button 20, so that the push button 20 also rises. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the button top wall 21 protrudes upward from the outer cap top wall 12, and the seal protrusion 34 of the actuating member 30 separates upward from the upper end opening edge of the piston 80. Further, as the sliding cylinder portion 33 of the actuating member 30 rises while sliding on the sliding contact portion 81 of the piston 80, the volume of the operating space S increases, and the inside of the operating space S becomes a negative pressure. For this reason, the contents in the container body 2 are sucked up from the lower end opening of the spout tube 60. The amount of the contents sucked up into the spout tube 60 is determined by the relative movement amount in the vertical direction of the piston 80 and the sliding cylinder portion 33. Therefore, the spout container 1 can suck up a substantially fixed amount of the contents into the spout tube 60. At this time, the state in which the engaging protrusion 31a is inserted into the guide groove 54a is maintained.

[0045] When the climbing-over protrusion 13 and the auxiliary protrusion 15 reach the end on the loose side X along the circumferential direction in the circumferential restriction recess 51a of the inner cap 50, the lowering restriction portion 25 of the push button 20 faces the release recess 51b of the inner cap 50 in the vertical direction. Thereby, when the push button 20 is pressed down, the lowering restriction portion 25 enters the release recess 51b, and the downward movement of the push button 20 with respect to the inner cap 50 is permitted.

[0046] When the auxiliary protrusion 15 that has reached the end on the loosening side X along the circumferential direction in the circumferential restriction recess 51a is abutted against the abutting surface 59 of the circumferential restriction recess 51a and then the outer cap 10 is further rotated toward the loosening side X along the circumferential direction with respect to the container body 2, the inner cap 50 rotates together with the outer cap 10. As a result, the inner cap 50 rotates toward the loosening side X along the circumferential direction with respect to the container body 2, and the spatula assembly 3 can be detached upward from the container body 2. Then, when the spatula assembly 3 is pulled up with respect to the container body 2, the squeezing protrusion piece 71 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the squeezing cylinder member 70 slidably contacts the outer circumferential surface of the spatula tube 60, thereby squeezing off the content adhering to the outer circumferential surface of the spatula tube 60.

[0047] After the spatula assembly 3 is removed from the container body 2, for example, when the button top wall 21 is pushed in while holding the outer cap 10, the pressing portion 23 presses the elastic film 41 downward. The operating member 40 is sandwiched in the vertical direction between the pressing portion 23 and the operating member 30, the elastic film 41 is elastically deformed downward, and the volume of the expansion and contraction space K becomes smaller. As a result, the air in the expansion and contraction space K flows into the upper end opening of the spatula tube 60 through the ventilation hole 32a and the operating space S, so that the content held in the spatula tube 60 is discharged from the lower end opening of the spatula tube 60.

[0048] Here, the spatula container 1 is designed such that the amount of the content sucked into the spatula tube 60 before the operating member 30 reaches the ascending end position is larger than the amount of the content discharged when the operating member 40 is pressed with a normal force (hereinafter referred to as the specified amount). Therefore, a specified amount of the content can be stably discharged from the spatula tube 60. Note that the spatula container may be designed such that the former amount is the same as the latter specified amount.

[0049] As described above, in the spatula container 1 of the present embodiment, when the outer cap 10 reaches the end portion on the tightening side Y from the loosening side X with respect to the inner cap 50, and the operating member 30 is in the lowered end position with respect to the inner cap 50 (sealed state), the overhanging protrusion 13 overrides the overridden protrusion 55 to the tightening side Y. Therefore, in the sealed state, the overhanging protrusion 13 and the overridden protrusion 55 can be brought into contact with each other, and it is possible to suppress the outer cap 10 from unexpectedly moving from the end portion on the tightening side Y to the loosening side X with respect to the inner cap 50 due to vibrations, impacts, etc. during transportation. As a result, even without providing a stopper of a separate member, it is possible to suppress the operating member 30 located at the lowered end position from unexpectedly rising with respect to the spatula tube 60 and releasing the sealing of the upper end opening of the spatula tube 60.

[0050] When changing from the opened state to the sealed state, the overhanging protrusion 13 overrides the overridden protrusion 55 to the tightening side Y. Therefore, for example, compared to a case where the overhanging protrusion and the overridden protrusion are pressed against each other in the radial direction when the sealed state is reached, it is possible to make it difficult for the overhanging protrusion 13 and the overridden protrusion 55 to cause, for example, wear or indentations, and it is possible to easily make the user recognize the change from the opened state to the sealed state by a clicking feeling.

[0051] Since the restricting surface 56 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cap 50, in the sealed state, the overhanging protrusion 13 is sandwiched in the circumferential direction by the restricting surface 56 and the overridden protrusion 55, and it is possible to surely suppress the outer cap 10 from unexpectedly moving from the end portion on the tightening side Y to the loosening side X with respect to the inner cap 50. Since the restricting surface 56 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cap 50, when the overhanging protrusion 13 overrides the overridden protrusion 55 from the loosening side X to the tightening side Y, it hits the restricting surface 56, and it is possible to surely make the user recognize the change from the opened state to the sealed state.

[0052] Note that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0053] For example, a sliding cylinder portion 33 may be provided on the inner cap 50, a piston 80 may be provided on the actuating member 30, and as the actuating member 30 moves up and down with respect to the inner cap 50, the piston 80 may slide on the outer peripheral surface of the sliding cylinder portion 33. The actuating member 30 may not have the seal projection 34. The inner cap 50 may not be provided with the release recess 51b. A sealing material that is pressed downward by the lower surface of the actuating top wall 32 and seals the upper end opening of the spout tube 60 may be provided between the lower surface of the actuating top wall 32 and the upper end opening of the spout tube 60. This sealing material may be formed of a material softer than the material forming the actuating member 30. Further, this sealing material may be pressed by the lower surface of the actuating top wall 32 against the upper end opening edge of the piston 80 or the upper end opening edge of the holding cylinder portion 57.

[0054] In addition, without departing from the gist of the present invention, it is possible to appropriately replace the components in the above-described embodiments with well-known components, and the above-described embodiments and modification examples may be appropriately combined.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0055] 1 Syringe Container 2 Container Body 2a Mouth Portion 10 Outer Cap 13 Override Projection 15 Auxiliary Projection 30 Actuating Member 33 Sliding Cylinder Portion 40 Operating Member 50 Inner Cap 55 Overridden Projection 56 Regulation Surface 60 Spout Tube 80 Piston K Expansion / Contraction Space O Container Axis S Actuating Space X Loosening Side Y Tightening Side

Claims

1. A bottomed cylindrical container body for containing the contents, an inner cap that is detachably attached to the mouth of the container body and is attached and detached to the mouth as it rotates around the container axis, a dropper tube that extends downward from the inner cap and has a lower end opening located inside the container body, an outer cap that is rotatably mounted around the container axis on the inner cap in a state where rotation in one circumferential direction along the container axis, which is the loosening side, by a predetermined amount or more is restricted, an operating member provided inside the outer cap, whose rotation around the container axis with respect to the outer cap is restricted and which moves up and down with respect to the inner cap by rotating around the container axis with respect to the inner cap, an operating member attached to the operating member and defining a telescopic space communicating with the upper end opening of the dropper tube between the operating member and the operating member, One of the inner cap and the operating member is provided with a sliding cylinder portion that extends in the vertical direction and forms a part of a partition wall of an operating space communicating with the upper end opening of the dropper tube, and the other of the inner cap and the operating member is provided with a piston that slides on the inner peripheral surface or the outer peripheral surface of the sliding cylinder portion to expand and contract the operating space as the operating member moves up and down with respect to the inner cap, The operating member seals the upper end opening of the dropper tube, An over-riding protrusion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cap, An over-riding protrusion that can over-ride the over-riding protrusion in the circumferential direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cap, A dropper container in which when the outer cap reaches the end on the tightening side, which is the other side in the circumferential direction from the loosening side, with respect to the inner cap, and the operating member is located at the lower end position with respect to the inner cap, the over-riding protrusion over-rides the over-riding protrusion to the tightening side.

2. The dropper container according to claim 1, wherein a regulating surface is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cap, against which the over-riding protrusion abuts in the circumferential direction when the over-riding protrusion has over-ridden the over-riding protrusion to the tightening side.

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