Container with spacer

Abstract

To provide a container with a spacer 10, which stably holds a spacer at the mouth of the container until use and makes it easy to attach and detach the spacer.SOLUTION: The container with a spacer includes a container 11, a connector 13 that is screwed into a threaded portion 11d on the outer periphery of a mouth portion 11c of the container 11, and a spacer 12 that is provided around the mouth portion 11c and supports the connector 13 from below. One or more engagement pieces 12b protrude inward from an inner wall portion 12a of the spacer 12, and the engagement pieces 12b engage with the threaded portion 11d. The engagement pieces 12b are elastically deformable to allow axial movement of the spacer 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a container with a spacer. [Background technology]

[0002] A container is known in which the opening for dispensing the contents is closed by a membrane, and the membrane must be opened before use. A cap having a piercing part for opening the membrane is screwed onto this container, and a spacer that prevents the membrane from opening before use is placed under the cap (Patent Document 1). Also known is a container in which this spacer is integrated with a dispenser in a breakable manner (Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Application Publication No. 2-19758 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-269388 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the spacer is loosely fitted to the neck of the container, so there is a risk that the spacer may move from its predetermined position, for example, during the process of attaching the spacer and cap to the container or before using the container. Furthermore, if the spacer and container are tightly fitted together, it becomes difficult to attach and remove the spacer. In Patent Document 2, the spacer does not move, but the structure becomes complicated and the degree of freedom in design is limited.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a container with a spacer that stably holds the spacer in a predetermined position on the container until use and that allows for easy attachment and detachment of the spacer. Another object of the present invention is to provide a container with a spacer that allows for a high degree of freedom in design. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the spacer-equipped containers 10, 10A, 10B, and 10C of the present invention comprise a container 11, connectors 13, 13A, and 13B that are screwed into a threaded portion 11d on the outer periphery of a mouth portion 11c of the container 11, and spacers 12 and 12A that are arranged around the mouth portion 11c and support the connectors 13, 13A, and 13B from below, and are characterized in that one or more engagement pieces 12b protrude inward from an inner wall portion 12a of the spacers 12 and 12A, and the engagement pieces 12b engage with the threaded portion 11d, and the engagement pieces 12b are elastically deformable to allow axial movement of the spacer 12 while engaging with the threaded portion 11d.

[0007] The thickness T of the engaging piece 12b is preferably smaller than the radial gap C between the inner wall portion 12a and the threaded portion 11d. The engaging piece 12b preferably extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis J of the mouth portion 11c in a static state without elastic deformation. The spacer 12 preferably has a shape that is substantially symmetrical up and down with respect to a plane passing through the engaging piece 12b and perpendicular to the axis J of the mouth portion 11c. The spacer 12 preferably has a ring shape surrounding the mouth portion 11c or a C-shape in top view with a discontinuous portion.

[0008] It is preferable that the container 11 has a membrane portion 11e that seals the mouth portion 11c, the connector 13 has a piercing portion 14d that opens a hole in the membrane portion 11e, and the piercing portion 14d is placed in a position that does not open a hole in the membrane portion 11e when the spacer 12 is present, and can be placed in a position that can open the membrane portion 11e when the spacer 12 is removed.

[0009] It is preferable that the connectors 13, 13A, 13B have a discharge port 14c1 that communicates with the piercing portion 14d. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the container with spacer of the present invention, the spacer is stably held in place after being attached to the container. Furthermore, since the spacer can be easily moved in the axial direction, the spacer is easily attached and removed. Furthermore, since the spacer engages with the threaded portion of the container, no special design is required to hold the spacer.

[0011] When the thickness of the engaging piece is smaller than the radial gap between the inner wall portion and the threaded portion, there is sufficient space for the engaging piece of the spacer to elastically deform, making it easy to attach and remove the spacer.

[0012] When the engaging piece extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the mouth in a stationary state where it is not elastically deformed, the engaging piece of the spacer does not extend circumferentially along the crest or root of the threaded portion, in other words, the engaging piece and the lead angle of the threaded portion intersect in a side view, making it easier for the engaging piece and the threaded portion to come into contact with each other and the spacer is stably held in the container.When the spacer has a shape that is substantially symmetrical up and down with respect to a plane passing through the engaging piece that is perpendicular to the axis of the mouth, it is not necessary to align the up and down orientation of the spacer, making it easier to attach to the container.

[0013] When the spacer is ring-shaped or C-shaped in top view with a discontinuous portion surrounding the mouth, the spacer is stably held in the container because the area surrounding the mouth is large. Furthermore, when the spacer is C-shaped in top view, the spacer can be moved not only in the axial direction but also in a direction perpendicular to the axis (lateral direction) when attaching or detaching the spacer.

[0014] If the container has a membrane that seals the mouth, the connector has a piercing part that opens a hole in the membrane, and the piercing part is positioned so that it does not open the membrane when a spacer is present and opens the membrane when the spacer is removed, the spacer can prevent the membrane of the container from opening before use, reducing the risk of accidentally opening the membrane. Then, by removing the spacer and pushing in the connector, the piercing part can pierce the membrane and open it.

[0015] When the connector has a discharge port that communicates with the piercing portion, the contents in the container can be discharged immediately after the membrane portion is opened. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] Figure 1A is a cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of a spacer-equipped container of the present invention, Figure 1B is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the container with the spacer removed and the membrane portion broken, and Figure 1C is a cross-sectional view with the base portion and lid portion removed. [Figure 2] FIG. 2A is a plan view of the spacer, and FIG. 2B is a partially cross-sectional side view of the spacer and the upper portion of the container. [Figure 3] 10A to 10C are cross-sectional views showing a procedure for attaching a spacer to the opening of a container. [Figure 4] FIG. 4A is a partially cross-sectional side view showing another embodiment of a container with a spacer of the present invention, FIG. 4B is a plan view of the spacer, and FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the connector with the lid open. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing still another embodiment of a spacer-equipped container of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing still another embodiment of a spacer-equipped container of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] [Embodiment 1] 1A comprises a container 11, a spacer 12 attached to the container 11, and a connector 13. The connector 13 comprises a base 14 that is screwed onto the container 11, and a lid 15 that is fitted onto the base 14. In this embodiment 1, the lid 15 is separate from the base 14.

[0019] The container 11 comprises a thin-walled, cylindrical body 11a, a thick, tapered shoulder 11b continuing from the upper end of the body 11a, and an even thicker, cylindrical mouth 11c protruding from the upper end of the shoulder 11b. The lower end 11a1 of the body 11a is closed by rolling or crimping after the contents are filled. A male threaded portion 11d is provided on the outer periphery of the mouth 11c (see FIG. 2B). The inside of the mouth 11c is a passage 11c1 through which the contents are dispensed.

[0020] A membrane portion 11e is provided at a predetermined position near the upper end of the mouth portion 11c, and the passage 11c1 is closed before use. The container 11 in FIG. 1A is a collapsible tube container. This collapsible tube container is formed by impact molding a metal material such as aluminum, so that the mouth portion 11c, shoulder portion 11b, body portion 11a, and membrane portion 11e are seamlessly integrated. However, the container 11 may be made of a metal-plastic composite material or a plastic material alone. The membrane portion 11e may be formed of a metal foil or a synthetic resin film and welded or bonded to the mouth portion 11c. The container 11 may have a seam. For example, the body portion 11a may be manufactured by rolling a laminate sheet into a cylindrical shape and welding the ends together. Furthermore, the container 11 is not limited to a tube container. It may also be a bottle container or the like.

[0021] The spacer 12 is disposed around the mouth 11c of the container 11 and rests on the shoulder 11b of the container 11. It supports the connector 13 from below. As shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the spacer 12 is ring-shaped in a top view, surrounding the mouth 11c 360 degrees, and has a predetermined height H in the axial direction. The spacer 12 is made of a resilient, flexible material such as synthetic resin. Figure 2B shows a cross section of only the left half of the spacer 12. The spacer 12 has an inner wall 12a facing the mouth 11c, and engagement pieces 12b protrude inward from the inner wall 12a. The inner tips of the engagement pieces 12b overlap the threaded portion 11d in a top view. Furthermore, the engagement pieces 12b are located approximately in the axial center of the inner wall 12a, and the axial positions of the three engagement pieces 12b are the same.

[0022] In this embodiment, the engagement pieces 12b extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis J of the mouth 11c. In other words, the engagement pieces 12b do not extend circumferentially along the crests or valleys of the threaded portion 11d. Specifically, when the engagement pieces 12b are not deflected (i.e., in a stationary state without elastic deformation), they extend radially in a top view and horizontally in a side view. On the other hand, the surfaces along the crests and valleys of the threaded portion 11d intersect with the axis J of the mouth 11c in a side view. Therefore, the horizontally extending engagement pieces 12b easily abut against the inclined surfaces of the crests of the threaded portion 11d, thereby stably holding the spacer 12 in the container 11. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the spacer 12 is formed in a shape that is substantially vertically symmetrical with respect to a plane passing through the engagement pieces 12b, which is perpendicular to the axis J of the mouth 11c. This eliminates the need to align the spacer 12 vertically, making it easier to attach it to the container 11.

[0023] In this embodiment, three engaging pieces 12b are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. However, there may be one engaging piece 12b, or there may be three or more. When two or more are provided, the engaging pieces 12b do not have to be at equal intervals. The shape of the engaging piece 12b is not particularly limited, but in the illustrated example, in a top view, the left and right ends are formed in a shape approximating a trapezoid that tapers toward the axis J of the mouth portion 11c (see FIG. 2A). The shape approximating this trapezoid may be an inverted trapezoid in which the left and right ends expand toward the axis J of the mouth portion 11c. Also, the shape may approximate a quadrilateral in which the left and right ends extend parallel to each other. The engaging piece 12b has a reduced thickness T (see FIG. 2B) so that the inner end portion can elastically bend vertically.

[0024] In the arrangement of the engaging piece 12b and the screw portion 11d, as shown in FIG. 2A, the length along the direction orthogonal to the axis J of the mouth portion 11c of the engaging piece 12b is defined as L, the thickness along the axis J of the mouth portion 11c of the engaging piece 12b is defined as T, and the gap (radial gap) along the direction orthogonal to the axis J of the mouth portion 11c between the inner wall portion 12a of the spacer 12 where the engaging piece 12b protrudes and the crest of the screw portion 11d is defined as C. Then, in the original shape state before elastic deformation, the engaging piece 12b has a length L longer than the gap C (L > C) and a thickness T smaller than the gap C (T < C). Thereby, in the original shape state (static state without elastic deformation) before elastic deformation, the engaging piece 12b gets caught (corresponding to L - C) with the screw portion 11d, so that the spacer 12 can be stably held in the container 11.

[0025] Also, since the thickness T of the engaging piece 12b is smaller than the gap C (radial gap) between the inner wall portion 12a of the spacer 12 and the crest of the screw portion 11d (T < C), the engaging piece 12b can elastically deform smoothly between the screw portion 11d and the inner wall portion 12a of the spacer 12 (see FIG. 3A). Therefore, the engagement between the engaging piece 12b and the screw portion 11d does not prevent the spacer 12 from moving in the axial direction.

[0026] Furthermore, the engaging piece 12b may be elastically deformed so as to be folded within the valley of the threaded portion 11d (in other words, the recess between any crest and the adjacent crest above or below). However, in order to prevent excessive force from being applied to the engaging piece 12b, the free end of the engaging piece 12b may be disposed so as to abut or be close to the valley of the threaded portion 11d when the engaging piece 12b is in its original state (a resting state without elastic deformation). In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the length L of the engaging piece 12b is approximately 1.1 mm, the thickness T is approximately 0.3 mm, and the gap C between the inner wall portion 12a of the spacer 12 and the crest of the threaded portion 11d is approximately 0.5 mm.

[0027] 2A, the engaging piece 12b has a width W extending in the circumferential direction, and this width W can be set appropriately within a range in which the effects of the present invention can be obtained. In the illustrated embodiment, the width W of the portion where the engaging piece 12b overlaps the threaded portion 11d, particularly the tip portion, is set to, for example, about 1.0 mm when viewed from above.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1C, connector 13 is divided into base 14, which is screwed onto container 11, and lid 15, which is fitted onto base 14. However, they may be integrally connected by a hinge or the like (see FIG. 4C). Base 14 has peripheral wall 14a and upper plate 14b that closes the upper end of peripheral wall 14a, and is cup-shaped overall. Upper plate 14b of base 14 is provided with cylindrical discharge portion 14c that protrudes upward and cylindrical piercing portion 14d that extends downward. A female screw portion 14a1 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of peripheral wall 14a of base 14, and is screwed onto thread portion 11d of container 11. A cutting blade-shaped opening portion 14d1 that opens a hole in membrane portion 11e of container 11 is protruded from the lower end of piercing portion 14d.

[0029] The upper opening inside discharge portion 14c is discharge port 14c1, which is connected to the inside of piercing portion 14d. This forms flow path 14c2 through which the contents inside container 11 pass from piercing portion 14d to discharge port 14c1. Opening portion 14d1 of piercing portion 14d faces axially downward. Base portion 14 can be molded from synthetic resin.

[0030] The lid 15 is cylindrical with a bottom and consists of a peripheral wall 15a and an upper plate 15b that closes the top of the peripheral wall 15a. The lower end of the peripheral wall 15a is detachably fitted into an annular step 14e formed on the upper surface of the base 14. A cylindrical portion 15c that fits around the discharge portion 14c is provided on the lower surface of the upper plate 15b, and the cylindrical portion 15c can seal the discharge port 14c1. The lid 15 can be molded from synthetic resin.

[0031] [The process of attaching the spacer to the opening] Next, the process of attaching the spacer 12 to the opening 11c of the container 11 will be described with reference to Figures 2B, 3A, and 3B. First, as shown in Figure 2B, the spacer 12 is placed above the container 11, and then moved straight down along the axial direction as shown in Figure 3A. At this time, the engagement piece 12b engages with the threaded portion 11d, but since it elastically deforms along the threaded portion 11d, the spacer 12 can move smoothly in the axial direction. Next, when the spacer 12 abuts against the shoulder portion 11b of the container 11 as shown in Figure 3B, the attachment of the spacer 12 is complete.

[0032] At this time, engaging piece 12b may be in a deformed state by contacting the crests or inclined surfaces of threaded portion 11d (see the left and right sides of FIG. 3A), or in an undeformed state without contacting threaded portion 11d (see the left side of FIG. 3B). In either case, engaging piece 12b overlaps threaded portion 11d in top view, so spacer 12 is stably held by threaded portion 11d and, ultimately, by opening portion 11c.

[0033] [Connector installation process] 1A, the connector 13 with the lid 15 attached is screwed onto the threaded portion 11d. The spacer 12 can also be moved axially while being rotated around its axis. In this case, the engaging piece 12b also elastically deforms along the threaded portion 11d. In this state, even if the screw of the connector 13 is tightened, the opening 14d1 of the piercing portion 14d does not reach the membrane portion 11e because the spacer 12 is interposed. Therefore, in this spacer-equipped container 10, the contents of the container 11 can be stored and transported while being protected from the outside air by the membrane portion 11e.

[0034] [How to use] A consumer who purchases the container 10 with spacer rotates the connector 13 from the pre-use state shown in FIG. 1Aa to unscrew it from the opening 11c. Next, the spacer 12 is removed from the opening 11c. At this time, the engaging piece 12b elastically deforms, so the spacer 12 can be pulled straight out along the axial direction even though the engaging piece 12b is engaged with the threaded portion 11d. This allows for easy removal. However, the spacer 12 can also be removed by rotating it around its axis.

[0035] After removing the spacer 12, as shown in FIG. 1B, the connector 13 is reattached to the container 11. In this case, the absence of the spacer 12 allows the connector 13 to be attached deep to the shoulder 11b. As a result, the opening 14d1 rotates, cutting through the membrane 11e, and the piercing portion 14d penetrates into the mouth 11c. At this time, the base 14 of the connector 13 abuts firmly against the upper end of the mouth 11c of the container 11, providing a seal. Furthermore, the membrane 11e is partially connected to the inner wall of the mouth 11c, and is maintained collapsed within the mouth 11c by the outer periphery of the piercing portion 14d. The lid 15 is then removed and the body 11a is compressed, allowing the contents to be dispensed through the dispensing port 14c1. After use, the lid 15 is reattached.

[0036] [Embodiment 2] In the spacer-equipped container 10A of the second embodiment shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the spacer 12A is C-shaped in top view so as to surround the mouth 11c of the container 11 at an angle θ of, for example, 230 to 280 degrees (see Figure 4B). However, like the spacer 12 of the first embodiment, the engagement pieces 12b are provided in three locations so that the spacer 12A is stably held in the container 11. This C-shaped spacer 12A has a discontinuous portion 12c in which a portion of the peripheral wall is open, allowing for easy elastic deformation. Therefore, this spacer 12A can be attached or detached in a direction perpendicular to the axis J of the mouth 11c, i.e., laterally.

[0037] To facilitate removal of spacer 12A, as shown in Fig. 4B, a gripping portion 12d for gripping with the fingertips may be provided on the opposite side of discontinuous portion 12c, for example, at a position approximately 180 degrees away. Also, as shown in Fig. 4B, shoulder portion 11b of container 11 may be provided with seat portion 11b1 that expands in a direction perpendicular to axis J of opening 11c, or a seat portion that slopes inward and downward along the axis. By providing such seat portion 11b1, spacer 12A is less likely to expand even when pressed downward, making it less likely to fall off container 11.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment 2, a hinge cap is employed as the connector 13A, connecting the base 14 and the lid 15 with a hinge 16. When the lid 15 is opened, it can be opened approximately 180 degrees as shown in FIG. 4C. This hinge cap is equipped with a known spring that biases the lid 15 in the opening direction when the lid 15 is opened to a certain angle and biases it in the closing direction when the lid 15 is closed to a certain angle. However, the angle at which the lid 15 opens may be less than 180 degrees, for example, 130 to 140 degrees, or may be greater than 180 degrees. When the lid 15 opens to an angle greater than 180 degrees, a means for maintaining the lid in an open state may be provided (not shown). The use of such a hinge cap makes it easier to open and close the lid 15, and reduces the likelihood of losing the lid 15.

[0039] Furthermore, in this spacer-equipped container 10A, the flow path 14c2 of the discharge portion 14c of the base portion 14 is tapered, widening toward the tip. This allows the contents to be pushed out slowly. The other configurations and usage methods are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same effects are achieved.

[0040] [Embodiment 3] The spacer-equipped container 10B of embodiment 3 shown in Figure 5 differs from the spacer-equipped container 10 of Figure 1A and the spacer-equipped container 10A of Figure 4A in that the discharge portion 14c protrudes high from the upper plate 14b of the base portion 14 and is nozzle-shaped, tapering towards the tip, the lid portion 15 is screwed onto a male thread at the base of the discharge portion 14c, and the lid portion 15 is elongated so as to fit over the elongated discharge portion 14c.

[0041] In connector 13B of spacer-equipped container 10B, base portion 14 having piercing portion 14d and discharge portion 14c can be considered as the first lid, and lid portion 15 can be considered as the second lid. The first lid and the second lid can be configured to be detachable with screws, or they can be configured to be detachable with means such as snaps.

[0042] Furthermore, the spacer-equipped container 10B of embodiment 3 shown in Figure 5 has a convex step 12f at the upper end of the spacer 12 and a concave step 14f at the lower end of the connector 13B that fits into the convex step 12f. In this case, the spacer 12 can be fitted into the connector 13B in advance, and then the two can be attached to the container 11 together. When removing the spacer 12 from the container 11, the spacer 12 can be removed from the connector 13B while still attached to it, and then the spacer 12 can be separated from the connector 13B, the connector 13B can be attached to the opening 11c, and the membrane 11e can be opened. However, the spacer 12 and the connector 13B may be attached and removed sequentially while separated, as in embodiments 1 and 2.

[0043] When spacer 12 and connector 13B are attached in order while separated, spacer 12 attached first is aligned with axis J of opening 11c so that concave step 14f of connector 13B fits securely into convex step 12f of spacer 12. At this time, gap C (see FIG. 2B) formed between inner wall 12a of spacer 12 and the threaded portion of threaded portion 11d may cause misalignment of spacer 12. However, by providing two or more engagement pieces 12b, preferably three or more, centering can be achieved.

[0044] [Embodiment 4] The connector 13 of the spacer-equipped container 10C of the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 6 omits the discharge portion 14c, the flow path 14c2, and the lid portion 15 of the base portion 14 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 5 , and has a configuration in which the base portion and the lid portion are combined. Alternatively, it can be considered as a third lid portion. In this case, the portion in which the membrane portion 11e is opened during use becomes the discharge port for the contents. Therefore, the contents are discharged to the outside from the opening portion 11c of the container 11 when the connector 13 is removed.

[0045] Although several embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to these and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the three engagement pieces 12b are aligned at the same height in the axial direction, but they may be offset in the axial direction. Furthermore, in all embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the engagement pieces 12b is a thin rectangle, but they may also be triangular or trapezoidal, tapering toward the tip. While the spacer 12A in FIG. 4 is not vertically symmetrical, this may be achieved by changing the position of the knob 12d, for example. This eliminates the need to align the spacer 12A vertically, making it easier to attach it to a container. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 10, 10A, 10B, 10C Container with spacer 11 Container 11a Torso 11a1 Lower end of the body 11b Shoulder 11b1 Seat 11c Mouth 11c1 aisle 11d Threaded part 11e Membrane part 12, 12A spacer 12a Inner wall 12b Engagement piece 12c Discontinuities 12d Knob J Mouth stem T (thickness of engaging piece) L (Length of the engaging piece) C Gap (between inner wall and ridge) θ Spacer expansion angle 13, 13A, 13B Connectors 14 Base Section 14a Peripheral wall 14a1 female thread 14b Upper board 14c Discharge part 14c1 (Base) outlet 14c2 Flow path 14d Pierce part 14d1 Opening part 14e Stepped section 15 Lid 15a Peripheral wall 15b Upper board 15c cylinder part 16 Hinge

Claims

1. The device includes a container, a connector that is screwed into a threaded portion on the outer periphery of a mouth of the container, and a spacer that is disposed around the mouth and supports the connector from below, One or more engagement pieces protrude inward from the inner wall of the spacer, and the engagement pieces engage with the threaded portion; The container with spacers, wherein the engaging piece is elastically deformable to allow axial movement of the spacer while engaging with the threaded portion.

2. 2. The container with spacers according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the engagement piece is smaller than the radial gap between the inner wall portion and the threaded portion.

3. 2. The container with spacers according to claim 1, wherein the engaging pieces extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the opening portion in a resting state where they are not elastically deformed.

4. 4. The container with spacers according to claim 3, wherein the spacers are shaped substantially symmetrically up and down with respect to a plane passing through the engaging pieces and perpendicular to the axis of the opening.

5. 5. The container with spacers according to claim 1, wherein the spacer has a ring shape surrounding the opening or a C-shape in top view with a portion being discontinuous.

6. A container with spacers as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the container has a membrane portion that seals the mouth portion, the connector has a piercing portion that opens a hole in the membrane portion, and the piercing portion can be placed in a position that does not open a hole in the membrane portion when the spacer is present, and can be placed in a position that opens a hole in the membrane portion when the spacer is removed.

7. 7. The container with spacers according to claim 6, wherein the connector has a discharge port communicating with the piercing portion.

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