Dispensing member

Abstract

To provide a dispensing member which can achieve both of operability of a dispensing operation and an injection operation.SOLUTION: A nozzle part 30 included in a dispensing member 2 has a back side part 30, and a pair of lateral surface parts 33S, 33S which face each other with the back side part 30b interposed therebetween. The nozzle part 30 has a lower part 32 positioned a bottom wall part 28 side in a height direction Z, and an upper part 31 positioned above the lower part 32. In the upper part 31, a distance between the pair of lateral surface parts gradually decreases toward the top. A notch 34, of which a part in a circumferential direction is notched along a height direction, is formed in the nozzle part 30, and a width of the notch 34 becomes maximum at an upper end of the lower part 32 in the height direction or at a position lower than the upper end.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pouring member attached to the neck portion of a container body.

Background Art

[0002] A container for containing a liquid such as a liquid detergent generally includes a pouring member having a nozzle portion for pouring out the liquid. This pouring member is attached to and used at the neck portion of a container body for containing a liquid. As the above-mentioned pouring member, Patent Document 1 discloses a member having a nozzle portion with an opening formed in the circumferential direction, and a degassing hole in a groove serving as a bottom portion connected to the lower end edge of the nozzle portion. Patent Document 2 discloses a cap including a nozzle base having a pouring opening hole in the bottom surface portion, and a nozzle portion erected on the bottom surface portion so as to surround at least a part of the pouring opening hole, and an outflow restricting portion provided inside the nozzle portion. Further, the applicant has previously proposed a pouring member having a pouring cylinder having a first recess between the outer cylinder portion, and a protruding nozzle portion formed inside the pouring cylinder and having a second recess between the pouring cylinder, and an inner pouring hole penetrating in the height direction is formed in the protruding nozzle portion (Patent Document 3).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Through the nozzle portion of the dispensing member, the liquid in the container body is dispensed to the outside such as a cap. At this time, if a large amount of liquid is dispensed at once, it becomes difficult to measure the liquid in a desired amount. Also, from the viewpoint of reducing environmental load, a container provided with a dispensing member may be repeatedly used by refilling the liquid in the container body. When refilling the liquid into the container body, the user of the container injects the liquid into the container body through a dispensing opening such as a notch portion provided in the nozzle portion. In order to facilitate such a liquid injection operation, if the dispensing opening of the nozzle portion is enlarged, a large amount of liquid is likely to be dispensed during the dispensing operation. On the other hand, in order to facilitate the control of the dispensing amount, if the dispensing opening of the nozzle portion is reduced, it becomes difficult to inject the liquid into the container body. There is room for improvement in the dispensing members of Patent Documents 1 to 3 in terms of achieving both the operability of the dispensing operation and the injection operation.

[0005] The present invention relates to a dispensing member capable of achieving both the operability of the dispensing operation and the injection operation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention relates to a dispensing member attached to the mouth-neck portion of a container body. As one embodiment, the dispensing member preferably has an outer cylinder portion having an attachment portion for the mouth-neck portion, a nozzle portion formed inside the outer cylinder portion in the radial direction, an inner cylinder portion located between the outer cylinder portion and the nozzle portion, and a bottom wall portion connecting the lower end edges of the inner cylinder portion and the nozzle portion. As one embodiment, the nozzle portion preferably has a back side portion and a pair of side surface portions facing each other with the back side portion interposed therebetween. As one embodiment, the nozzle portion has a lower portion located on the bottom wall portion side in the height direction of the nozzle portion and an upper portion located above the lower portion, and in the upper portion, it is preferable that the distance between the pair of side surface portions gradually decreases upward. As one embodiment, a notch portion is formed in a part of the circumferential direction of the nozzle portion along the height direction, and it is preferable that the width of the notch portion is maximum at the upper end of the lower portion in the height direction or at a position below the upper end.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the dispensing member of the present invention, it is possible to achieve both the operability of the dispensing operation and the injection operation.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, the pouring member of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings based on its preferred embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a container 1 provided with an embodiment of the pouring member of the present invention. The container 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a container body 10 in which a liquid is stored, a pouring member 2 attached to the neck portion 14 of the container body 10, and a lid cap 6 detachably attached to the pouring member 2. The container 1 of the present embodiment is a bottle container, and the container body 10 includes a body portion 13 having a bottom and a neck portion 14 having a through-hole (liquid flow path) communicating with the inside of the body portion 13. The body portion 13 of the present embodiment includes a gripping through-hole 12 penetrating the body portion 13 at a position away from the central axis of the neck portion 14, and a gripping portion 11 forming the outer peripheral edge of the gripping through-hole 12.

[0010] The container body 10 of the present embodiment has a liquid storage space inside the body portion 13 including the gripping portion 11. The body portion 13 has a bottom, and by grounding the bottom on a horizontal plane, the container body 10 (container 1) can be made to stand independently. In the standing state, the height direction (central axis direction) of the container 1 coincides with the vertical direction, the neck portion 14 is located above in the vertical direction, and is disposed opposite to the bottom of the body portion 13 in the same direction. In the container 1 of the present embodiment, the central axis of the neck portion 14 has an angle with respect to the vertical direction in the standing state, but the central axis of the neck portion 14 of the container 1 may be parallel to the vertical direction in the standing state. In the former case, the central axis of the neck portion 14 has an angle with respect to the central axis of the body portion 13, and in the latter case, the central axis of the neck portion 14 coincides with the central axis of the body portion 13. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the description of the container 1 in the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and subsequent figures will be a description of the container 1 in the standing state. Also, the height direction (vertical direction) of the container 1 substantially coincides with the protruding direction of the nozzle portion 30 described later. The description of the pouring member 2 will be a description in a state where the protruding direction of the nozzle portion 30 described later is made to coincide with the vertical direction. The protruding direction of this nozzle portion 30 is defined as the height direction Z of the pouring member 2.

[0011] The type of liquid contained in the container 1 of this embodiment is not particularly limited. Examples of such liquids include liquid hair care products such as shampoo, hair conditioner, and hair rinse; liquid soaps such as body soap and hand soap; liquid detergents for clothes and tableware; fabric softeners and bleaches; liquid detergents for bathroom and floor cleaning; liquid cosmetics; liquid beverages; foods; pharmaceuticals; engine oil, etc. Further, a liquid with a high viscosity such as cream may also be used. The liquid is stored in the storage space inside the container body 10.

[0012] The mouth neck portion 14 is a cylindrical portion having a liquid flow path inside, and is provided at the upper end portion of the container body 10. The flow path communicates with the inside of the body portion 13 of the container body 10. On the outer peripheral surface of the mouth neck portion 14, a container-side thread portion 14a is formed (see FIG. 2). The container-side thread portion 14a and a lower thread portion 22a formed on the inner peripheral surface of a lower outer cylinder portion 22 described later are made to be threadable. Thereby, the pouring member 2 is detachably attached to the mouth neck portion 14.

[0013] In the pouring member 2 of this embodiment, a lid cap 6 is detachably attached (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The lid cap 6 of this embodiment is a measuring cap for measuring a liquid. This lid cap 6 includes a bottomed cylindrical cap body 60 extending in the height direction Z in a state of being attached to the pouring member 2, and an annular flange portion 62 projecting outward in the radial direction of the cap body 60. On the outer peripheral surface of the lid cap 6 at an end portion opposite to the bottom portion 61 of the cap body 60 in the height direction Z, that is, at an end portion on the opening side of the bottomed cylinder, a cap-side thread portion 63 is formed. The cap-side thread portion 63 and an upper thread portion 21a formed on the inner peripheral surface of an upper outer cylinder portion 21 described later are made to be threadable. Thereby, the lid cap 6 is detachably attached to the pouring member 2. In the container 1 of this embodiment, the liquid stored in the container body 10 can be injected into the lid cap 6 through a nozzle portion 30 described later and measured. The measured liquid is usually discharged to another place such as a washing machine.

[0014] The pouring member 2 of the present embodiment includes an outer cylinder portion 20 having an attachment portion for the neck portion 14, a nozzle portion 30 formed inside the outer cylinder portion 20 in the radial direction, an inner cylinder portion 23 located between the outer cylinder portion 20 and the nozzle portion 30, and a bottom wall portion 28 connecting the lower end edges of the inner cylinder portion 23 and the nozzle portion 30 (see FIGS. 1 to 9).

[0015] The outer cylinder portion 20 of the present embodiment forms the outer peripheral portion of the pouring member 2 and includes an upper outer cylinder portion 21 and a lower outer cylinder portion 22. Each of the upper outer cylinder portion 21 and the lower outer cylinder portion 22 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the lower outer cylinder portion 22 is connected to the lower end of the upper outer cylinder portion 21. The upper edge portion of the upper outer cylinder portion 21 forms an annular shape in plan view, and the outer diameter of the upper edge portion corresponds to the outer diameter of the annular flange portion 62 of the lid cap 6. An upper thread portion 21a that engages with the cap-side thread portion 63 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the upper outer cylinder portion 21. The inner diameter of the upper outer cylinder portion 21 corresponds to the outer diameter of the cap body 60. The pouring member 2 inserts the end portion on the opening side of the cap body 60 inside the upper outer cylinder portion 21 and engages the cap-side thread portion 63 and the upper thread portion 21a, whereby the lid cap 6 is attached to the upper outer cylinder portion 21.

[0016] In the lower outer cylinder portion 22 of the present embodiment, the outer diameter and the inner diameter gradually increase as going downward in the height direction Z, and the lower portion of the lower outer cylinder portion 22 projects radially outward from the upper outer cylinder portion 21 in the plan view of the pouring member 2 (see FIG. 3). A lower thread portion 22a that engages with the container-side thread portion 14a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the lower outer cylinder portion 22. The inner diameter of the lower outer cylinder portion 22 corresponds to the outer diameter of the neck portion 14. The pouring member 2 inserts the neck portion 14 inside the lower outer cylinder portion 22 and engages the container-side thread portion 14a and the lower thread portion 22a, whereby the neck portion 14 is attached to the lower outer cylinder portion 22. That is, the lower thread portion 22a of the lower outer cylinder portion 22 serves as an attachment portion for the neck portion 14.

[0017] The inner cylinder part 23 of the present embodiment has a substantially cylindrical shape with a lower end opening inclined obliquely with respect to the horizontal direction, and is located inside the outer cylinder part 20 in the radial direction. The lower end of this inner cylinder part 23 has a height position on the side opposite to the notch part 34 of the nozzle part 30 described later in the circumferential direction that is higher than the height position on the side where the notch part 34 is located (see FIG. 2). Further, in the inner cylinder part 23, the height of the part on the side opposite to the notch part 34 of the nozzle part 30 in the circumferential direction is lower than the part on the side where the notch part 34 is located (see FIG. 2). In the inner cylinder part 23, the side where the notch part 34 is located in the circumferential direction protrudes downward from the lower outer cylinder part 22 (see FIG. 4).

[0018] The upper edge part 24 of the inner cylinder part 23 is connected to the outer cylinder part 20 located outside the inner cylinder part 23 in the radial direction. The inner diameter of the inner cylinder part 23 corresponds to the outer diameter of the end part on the opening side of the lid cap 6, and in a state where the lid cap 6 is attached to the pouring member 2, the end part of the lid cap 6 is inserted and arranged inside the inner cylinder part 23 (see FIG. 2). The outer diameter of the inner cylinder part 23 corresponds to the inner diameter of the neck part 14. In a state where the pouring member 2 is attached to the neck part 14, the neck part 14 is arranged between the lower outer cylinder part 22 of the outer cylinder part 20 and the inner cylinder part 23, and the inner cylinder part 23 is inserted and arranged inside the neck part 14. In this attached state, the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder part 23 is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the neck part 14. In the pouring member 2 of the present embodiment, in the attached state, the outer peripheral surface on the upper end side of the inner cylinder part 23 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the neck part 14, thereby further improving the liquid sealing property.

[0019] The bottom wall portion 28 is located between the inner cylinder portion 23 and the nozzle portion 30 positioned radially inward of the inner cylinder portion 23 (see FIGS. 3 and 5). The bottom wall portion 28 connects the lower end edges of the inner cylinder portion 23 and the nozzle portion 30 and defines the nozzle lower end opening 29 of the nozzle portion 30 (see FIG. 6). The bottom wall portion 28 of the present embodiment is inclined obliquely with respect to the horizontal direction. This bottom wall portion 28 has a substantially annular shape in a bottom view as viewed from below, and a liquid return opening 27 is formed at a portion where the notch portion 34 is located in the circumferential direction. The liquid return opening 27 is preferably formed at the lowest position in the bottom wall portion 28. The liquid return opening 27 is continuous with the notch portion 34 and the nozzle lower end opening 29.

[0020] The nozzle portion 30 is a cylindrical portion located radially inward of the inner cylinder portion 23 and protruding upward from the bottom wall portion 28, and functions as a flow path for the liquid in the pouring member 2. That is, the nozzle portion 30 is used to pour the liquid into the lid cap 6 which is a metering cap. The nozzle portion 30 of the present embodiment extends beyond the inner cylinder portion 23 and further protrudes upward from the upper outer cylinder portion 21. A nozzle lower end opening 29 is disposed at the lower end of the nozzle portion 30, and the space inside the nozzle portion 30 communicates with the inside of the container body 10 (neck portion 14) through the nozzle lower end opening 29. The nozzle portion 30 is formed so as to surround the peripheral edge of the nozzle lower end opening 29.

[0021] The nozzle portion 30 has a nozzle lower end opening 29 at the lower end and a nozzle upper end opening at the upper end, and has a cylindrical shape in which both openings communicate with each other. The nozzle portion 30 of the present embodiment has a notch portion 34 formed along the height direction Z of the nozzle portion 30 in a part of the circumferential direction of the nozzle portion 30. In the present embodiment, the notch portion 34 and the nozzle upper end opening are continuous (see FIG. 5).

[0022] The nozzle portion 30 of the present embodiment has a vertex P that is the highest in the height direction Z on the side opposite to the notch portion 34 in the circumferential direction (see FIG. 7). In the plan view of the pouring member 2, the vertical center line CLa that bisects the width of the notch portion 34 passes through the vertex P of the nozzle portion 30 (see FIG. 3). The nozzle portion 30 has a nozzle back side portion 30b having the vertex P and a pair of side surface portions 33S, 33S that face each other with the back side portion 30b interposed therebetween. When the container 1 is tilted to pour the liquid, the liquid flows along the inner surface of the nozzle back side portion 30b and toward the upper end opening of the nozzle. That is, the nozzle back side portion 30b serves as the main flow path through which the liquid flows in the pouring member 2. The nozzle back side portion 30b is within a range of 30° or less within an angular range centered on the vertical center line CLa passing through the vertex P. In the circumferential direction of the nozzle portion 30, the nozzle back side portion 30b is disposed opposite to the notch portion 34. Further, in the circumferential direction of the nozzle portion 30, the nozzle back side portion 30b and the pair of side surface portions 33S, 33S are connected in a U shape (see FIGS. 3 and 8). The side edge portions of the pair of side surface portions 33S, 33S define the notch portion 34 and the upper end opening of the nozzle.

[0023] The nozzle portion 30 has a lower portion 32 located on the bottom wall portion 28 side in the height direction Z of the nozzle portion 30 and an upper portion 31 located above the lower portion 32 (see FIG. 8). In the upper portion 31, the distance D1 between the pair of side surface portions 33S, 33S gradually decreases upward in the height direction Z (see FIG. 9). With such a configuration, the upper portion 31 has a tapered shape in which the horizontal cross-sectional area gradually decreases as it approaches the vertex P. Further, since the upper portion 31 is more tapered than the lower portion 32, a ridge line 30c is formed at the boundary between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 32 (see FIG. 4). In FIG. 9, the outer cylinder portion 20 is not shown for ease of explanation. On the one hand, in the lower part 32 of the present embodiment, the distance D2 between the pair of side surfaces 33S, 33S in the height direction Z is constant (see FIG. 9). The distances D1 and D2 between the pair of side surfaces 33S, 33S in the upper part 31 and the lower part 32 are along the horizontal center line CLb that passes through the center of the pouring member 2 in plan view and bisects the pouring member 2 into the notch part 34 side and the nozzle back part 30b side. When the pouring member 2 is viewed in cross section (hereinafter, also referred to as "horizontal center cross-sectional view"), the distances D1 and D2 between the pair of side surfaces 33S, 33S are set (see FIG. 9). The horizontal center cross-sectional view is a plane along the horizontal center line CLb and is a state in which the pouring member 2 is viewed in cross section along the height direction Z.

[0024] The width of the notch part 34 is different in the height direction Z. The width of the notch part 34 is the largest at the upper end of the lower part 32 in the height direction Z or at a position below the upper end. In the present embodiment, the width of the notch part 34 is the largest at the position of the upper end of the lower part 32 in the height direction Z (see FIG. 5). The part where the width of the notch part 34 is the largest in the height direction Z is also referred to as the "maximum width part 35".

[0025] The container 1 provided with the pouring member 2 of the present embodiment tilts the container 1 to pour out a liquid such as a liquid detergent accommodated in the container body 10. In the pouring member 2 of the present embodiment, since the upper part 31 where the distance D1 between the pair of side surfaces 33S, 33S gradually decreases upward constricts the liquid flow path, it is possible to suppress a large amount of liquid from being poured out from the nozzle part 30 at once during the pouring operation. Such an effect is also referred to as a pouring control effect. Also, since the notch portion 34 has the maximum width portion 35 at the position of the upper end of the lower portion 32 in the height direction Z or at a position below the upper end, the nozzle lower end opening 29 can be easily visually recognized through the notch portion 34 including the maximum width portion 35, and the inside of the neck portion 14 to which the pouring member 2 is attached can also be easily visually recognized. Such an effect is also referred to as an internal visual recognition effect. Thereby, when replacing the liquid, it becomes easy to grasp the amount of the liquid S in the container body 10 through the notch portion 34 (see FIGS. 10(a) and (b)). As a result, it is possible to effectively suppress a situation where an excessive amount of liquid exceeding the capacity of the container body 10 is injected and the liquid overflows from the pouring member 2. Further, since it becomes easy to insert the pouring port of the container for replacement into the notch portion 34 having the maximum width portion 35, the injection operation can be stably performed. As described above, the pouring member 2 of the present embodiment can achieve both the operability of the pouring operation and the injection operation.

[0026] In the notch portion 34 of the present embodiment, the width of the notch portion 34 gradually decreases upward from the maximum width portion 35 (see FIG. 8). More specifically, from the maximum width portion 35 toward the apex P, the width of the continuous opening formed by the notch portion 34 and the nozzle upper end opening gradually decreases. With such a configuration, the pouring control effect can be further improved. When a plane passing through the apex P and bisecting the width of the notch portion 34 with respect to the nozzle portion 30 is defined as the height center plane CLc, in the nozzle portion 30, it is preferable that the side edges of the pair of side portions 33S, 33S defining the continuous opening gradually decrease in the inclination angle with respect to the height center plane CLc upward (see FIG. 8). Thereby, the pouring control effect can be further improved. The side edges of the pair of side portions 33S, 33S may gradually decrease in a stepped or continuous manner in the inclination angle with respect to the height center plane CLc upward.

[0027] The notch portion 34 of the present embodiment reaches the lower end of the nozzle portion 30 and is continuous with the nozzle lower end opening 29. The notch portion 34 may have a constant width below the position of the maximum width portion 35 in the height direction Z. From the viewpoint of further improving the pouring control effect, it is preferable that the notch portion 34 gradually decreases in width downward from the position of the maximum width portion 35 in the height direction Z (see Fig. 8). Thereby, it is possible to further suppress the outflow of the liquid from the notch portion 34 at a position below the maximum width portion 35, for example, the notch portion 34 in the lower portion 32. From the same viewpoint as above, when the width of the notch portion 34 below the position of the maximum width portion 35 in the height direction Z changes, for the notch portion 34, the minimum width W3 is preferably 5% or more, more preferably 25% or more, of the maximum width W1 (the width of the maximum width portion 35), and is preferably 75% or less, more preferably 50% or less. Considering such a point, for the notch portion 34, the minimum width W3 is preferably 5% or more and 75% or less, more preferably 25% or more and 50% or less, of the maximum width W1 (the width of the maximum width portion 35). The width of these notch portions 34 is the distance between the pair of side surface portions 33S, 33S. From the same viewpoint as above, the minimum width W3 of the notch portion 34 is preferably 5 mm or more, more preferably 7 mm or more, and is preferably 15 mm or less, more preferably 12 mm or less. Considering such a point, the minimum width W3 of the notch portion 34 is preferably 5 mm or more and 15 mm or less, more preferably 7 mm or more and 12 mm or less. From the viewpoint of further improving the internal visual recognition effect, the maximum width W1 of the notch portion 34 is preferably 15 mm or more, more preferably 20 mm or more, and is preferably 35 mm or less, more preferably 30 mm or less. Considering such a point, the maximum width W1 of the notch portion 34 is preferably 15 mm or more and 35 mm or less, more preferably 20 mm or more and 30 mm or less.

[0028] From the viewpoint of further improving either one or both of the internal visual recognition effect and the pouring control effect, the dimensions of each part of the nozzle portion 30 are preferably within the following ranges. The height H1 of the upper part 31 (see Fig. 8) is preferably 30% or more, more preferably 35% or more, of the height H5 of the nozzle part 30 (see Fig. 7), and is preferably 50% or less, more preferably 40% or less. Considering such a point, the height H1 of the upper part 31 (see Fig. 8) is preferably 30% or more and 50% or less, more preferably 35% or more and 40% or less, of the height H5 of the nozzle part 30 (see Fig. 7). The height H5 of the nozzle part 30 is the maximum length of the nozzle part 30 in the height direction Z. The height H1 of the upper part 31 (see Fig. 8) is preferably 5 mm or more, more preferably 15 mm or more, and is preferably 25 mm or less, more preferably 20 mm or less. Considering such a point, the height H1 of the upper part 31 is preferably 5 mm or more and 25 mm or less, more preferably 15 mm or more and 20 mm or less. The height H2 of the lower part 32 (see Fig. 8) is preferably 35 mm or more, more preferably 40 mm or more, and is preferably 50 mm or less, more preferably 45 mm or less. Considering such a point, the height H2 of the lower part 32 is preferably 35 mm or more and 50 mm or less, more preferably 40 mm or more and 45 mm or less. The height H2 of the lower part 32 is the maximum length of the lower part 32 in the height direction Z.

[0029] From the viewpoint of improving the internal visual recognition effect, the area of the nozzle lower end opening 29 is preferably within the following range. The area of the nozzle lower end opening 29 is preferably 45% or more, more preferably 50% or more, of the area of the lower end opening of the lower outer cylinder part 22, and is preferably 80% or less, more preferably 70% or less. Considering such a point, the area of the nozzle lower end opening 29 is preferably 45% or more and 80% or less, more preferably 50% or more and 70% or less, of the area of the lower end opening of the lower outer cylinder part 22. The lower end opening of the outer cylinder part 22 is an opening defined by the lower end 22b of the lower outer cylinder part 22. The area of the nozzle lower end opening 29 is preferably 400 mm 2 or more, more preferably 700 mm 2 or more, and is preferably 950 mm 2is as follows, more preferably 900 mm 2 is as follows. Considering such a point, the area of the lower nozzle opening 29 is preferably 400 mm 2 or more and 950 mm 2 or less, more preferably 700 mm 2 or more and 900 mm 2 or less. When the lower nozzle opening 29 is inclined obliquely with respect to the horizontal direction, it is the area in the inclined state. The opening area of the horizontal cross-section at the position of the maximum width portion 35 of the nozzle portion 30 is preferably 50% or more, more preferably 60% or more of the area of the lower nozzle opening 29, and preferably 75% or less, more preferably 70% or less. Considering such a point, the opening area of the horizontal cross-section at the position of the maximum width portion 35 of the nozzle portion 30 is preferably 50% or more and 75% or less, more preferably 60% or more and 70% or less of the area of the lower nozzle opening 29. The opening area of the said horizontal cross-section shall be the opening area in the state where the axial direction of the nozzle portion 30 is made to coincide with the vertical direction.

[0030] From the viewpoint of further improving the pouring control effect, in a horizontal center cross-sectional view, the inclination angle θ1 (see FIG. 9) of the inner peripheral surface of the upper portion 31 with respect to the horizontal direction is preferably 40° or more, more preferably 50° or more, and preferably 85° or less, more preferably 70° or less. Considering such a point, in a horizontal center cross-sectional view, the inclination angle θ1 of the inner peripheral surface of the upper portion 31 with respect to the horizontal direction is preferably 40° or more and 85° or less, more preferably 50° or more and 70° or less. In the present embodiment, the inclination angle θ1 is synonymous with the angle of the side surface portion 33S of the upper portion 31 with respect to the horizontal direction in a horizontal center cross-sectional view.

[0031] Next, another embodiment of the pouring member according to the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, for another embodiment, mainly the constituent parts different from those of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 will be described, and the same constituent parts will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. For the constituent parts not particularly described, the description for the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 is appropriately applied.

[0032] From the viewpoint of obtaining an internal visual recognition effect, in a horizontal central cross-sectional view, the inclination angle θ2 (FIG. 11) of the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion 32 with respect to the horizontal direction may be larger than the inclination angle θ1 of the inner peripheral surface of the upper portion 31 with respect to the horizontal direction (θ2 > θ1). That is, if θ2 > θ1, the distance D2 between the pair of side surfaces 33S, 33S in the height direction Z of the lower portion 32 may be constant (see FIG. 9), or may gradually decrease upward (see FIG. 11). In the latter case, from the viewpoint of further improving the internal visual recognition effect and the pouring control effect, in a horizontal central cross-sectional view, the inclination angle θ2 (see FIG. 11) of the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion 32 with respect to the horizontal direction is preferably 15° or more larger, more preferably 20° or more larger, and preferably 35° or less larger, more preferably 30° or less larger than the inclination angle θ1 (see FIG. 11) of the inner peripheral surface of the upper portion 31 with respect to the horizontal direction. Considering such a point, in a horizontal central cross-sectional view, the inclination angle θ2 (see FIG. 11) of the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion 32 with respect to the horizontal direction is preferably 15° or more and 35° or less larger than the inclination angle θ1 (see FIG. 11) of the inner peripheral surface of the upper portion 31 with respect to the horizontal direction, and more preferably 20° or more and 30° or less larger. The inclination angle θ2 (see FIG. 11) of the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion 32 with respect to the horizontal direction is preferably 80° or more, 90° or less, and preferably 85° or more, more preferably 90° or less. Considering such a point, the inclination angle θ2 of the inner peripheral surface of the lower portion 32 with respect to the horizontal direction is preferably 80° or more and 90° or less, and more preferably 85° or more and 90° or less.

[0033] In the pouring member 2 of the above-described embodiment, in the height direction Z, the maximum width portion 35 of the notch portion 34 was located at the upper end of the lower portion 32, but the maximum width portion 35 may be located below the upper end of the lower portion 32 (see FIG. 12). In this case, from the viewpoint of further improving the internal visual recognition effect, the height H6 (see FIG. 12) of the maximum width portion 35 in the height direction Z is preferably 75% or more, more preferably 90% or more, and preferably 99% or less, and more preferably 95% or less of the height H2 (see FIG. 8) of the lower portion 32. Considering such a point, the height H6 of the maximum width portion 35 in the height direction Z is preferably 75% or more and 99% or less, more preferably 90% or more and 95% or less of the height H2 of the lower portion 32. The height H5 of the maximum width portion 35 in the height direction Z is the maximum height of the maximum width portion 35 in the height direction Z. Also, in the notch portion 34 of the above-described embodiment, the width gradually decreased downward from the maximum width portion 35 in the height direction Z, but the width may be constant in the height direction Z (see FIG. 12).

[0034] The pouring member 2 of each of the above-described embodiments is a mold-formed product using a synthetic resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene, or a biodegradable plastic such as polylactic acid, and is preferably formed by an injection molding method. Also, the container body 10 can be manufactured by blow molding using a synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, or high-density polyethylene.

[0035] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be appropriately changed. Also, the above-described embodiments may be combined. For example, the pouring member 2 of the above-described embodiment was attached to the neck portion 14 by screwing, but it may be attached to the neck portion 14 by a plugging method. In this case, engaging ribs that engage with each other are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the lower outer cylinder portion 22 and the outer peripheral surface of the neck portion 14 instead of the thread portions. Also, the bottom wall portion 28 of the above-described embodiment was inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, but the bottom wall portion 28 may be parallel to the horizontal direction.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0036] 1 Container 10 Container body 11 Gripping part 12 Gripping through-hole 13 Barrel part 14 Mouth and head part 14a Container-side thread part 2 Pouring member 20 Outer cylinder part 21 Upper outer cylinder part 21a Upper thread part 22 Lower outer cylinder part 22a Lower thread part 23 Inner cylinder part 24 Upper edge part 27 Liquid return opening 28 Bottom wall part 29 Nozzle lower end opening 30 Nozzle part 30b Nozzle back side part 30c Ridge line 31 Upper part 32 Lower part 33S Side face part 34 Notch part 35 Maximum width part 6 Lid cap 60 Cap body 61 Bottom part 62 Annular flange part 63 Cap-side thread part Z Height direction

Claims

1. A pouring member attached to the neck portion of a container body, comprising: an outer cylinder portion having an attachment portion for the neck portion, a nozzle portion formed inside the outer cylinder portion in the radial direction, an inner cylinder portion positioned between the outer cylinder portion and the nozzle portion, and a bottom wall portion connecting the lower end edges of the inner cylinder portion and the nozzle portion; the nozzle portion has a back side portion and a pair of side face portions facing each other with the back side portion interposed therebetween; the nozzle portion has a lower portion positioned on the bottom wall portion side in the height direction of the nozzle portion and an upper portion positioned above the lower portion, and in the upper portion, the distance between the pair of side face portions gradually decreases upward; a notch portion is formed by cutting out a part of the circumferential direction of the nozzle portion along the height direction, and the width of the notch portion is maximum at the upper end of the lower portion in the height direction or at a position below the upper end, the pouring member.

2. The pouring member according to claim 1, wherein the width of the notch portion gradually decreases upward from the position in the height direction where the width of the notch portion is maximum.

3. The pouring member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the width of the notch portion gradually decreases downward from the position in the height direction where the width of the notch portion is maximum.

4. The pouring member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the height of the upper portion is 30% or more and 50% or less of the height of the nozzle portion.

5. The pouring member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the area of the lower end opening of the nozzle portion is 50% or more and 80% or less of the area of the lower end opening of the outer cylinder portion.

6. The pouring member according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder portion is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the neck portion and attached to the neck portion.

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