Powder container

Abstract

To provide a powder container facilitating work of spreading powder on a whole application face of an applicator, and capable of retaining powder in an original storage space when carried.SOLUTION: A powder container 10 includes: a container body 1 having a peripheral wall 1b standing from a bottom wall 1a; and a partition wall 3c disposed inside the peripheral wall 1b, partitioning on a lower side a powder storage space S1 for storing powder P between itself and the bottom wall 1a, and partitioning on an upper side an applicator storage space S2 for storing an applicator D. The partition wall 3c has a plurality of slits 3d penetrating into the partition wall 3c in the thickness direction, and elastic pieces 3e positioned between the adjacent slits 3d, elastically deformable in the thickness direction of the partition wall 3c, and closing the slits 3d at a normal time.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1B

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Powder containers that contain powder (e.g., loose powder, baby powder, etc.) have been known for some time. For example, FIG. 9 of Patent Document 1 shows a powder container in which a partition plate with a plurality of through holes is provided inside the container body, powder is contained below the partition plate, and an applicator such as a puff is contained above the partition plate. This powder container can be adapted to allow powder that passes through the through holes to adhere to the applicator by displacing the container into an inverted position with the applicator placed on the partition plate. Then, after displacing the container back to its original upright position, the applied powder can be spread over the entire application surface of the applicator by, for example, rotating the applicator on the partition plate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-201530 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, because the through-holes in the conventional powder containers described above are relatively large, the powder that has been applied to the applicator can fall out of the through-hole when the applicator is moved over the partition, making it necessary to turn the container upside down again to re-apply the powder to the applicator. On the other hand, if the size of the through-hole is reduced to prevent this problem, it becomes difficult for the powder that should be applied to the applicator to pass through the through-hole.

[0005] Furthermore, when this powder container is carried in a bag or the like, vibrations or the like can cause the powder to pass through the through-hole and move into the space housing the applicator, resulting in the powder adhering to the underside of the lid attached to the container body or scattering to the surrounding area when the lid is removed from the container body.In addition, Patent Document 1 discloses a container that addresses these problems by further providing a tray that can house the applicator and is attached above the partition plate, but this requires the tray to be removed from the container body when in use, and a place to store the removed tray must be secured, making it difficult to use.

[0006] In view of these points, the present invention aims to propose a powder container that makes it easy to spread the powder over the entire application surface of the applicator and also keeps the powder in its original storage space when carried around. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The powder container of the present invention comprises a container body having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall rising from the bottom wall, and a partition wall provided inside the peripheral wall, which defines a powder storage space between the bottom wall and the container body at the bottom to store powder, and defines an applicator storage space at the top to store an applicator, the partition wall having a plurality of slits penetrating the partition wall in the thickness direction, and elastic pieces located between adjacent slits, which are elastically deformable in the thickness direction of the partition wall and which normally close the slits. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the powder container of the present invention, when the partition wall is pressed with an applicator or the like, the elastic piece is elastically deformed, thereby opening the slit. Therefore, for example, by shaking the container body up and down or displacing the container body into an inverted position, the powder in the powder storage space passes through the slit and can be attached to the applicator. When the pressure on the applicator is released, the elastic piece returns to its original shape and the slit closes. In this state, by rotating the applicator on the partition wall, for example, the powder attached to the applicator can be distributed over the entire application surface of the applicator without falling into the powder storage space. Furthermore, because the slit is closed when the container is being carried, overflow of powder from the powder storage space can be prevented.

[0009] In this specification, the state in which the slit is closed does not only mean a state in which the slit is completely closed with no gaps, but also a state in which there is a minute gap to the extent that the ingress and egress of powder is sufficiently suppressed in actual use when the present invention is embodied. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1A] 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of a powder container according to the present invention, with a lid and an applicator removed. FIG. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B is a half cross-sectional view of the state shown in FIG. 1A (with the lid and applicator attached). [Figure 2A] 1B is a plan view of the tray shown in FIG. 1A before it is attached to the inside plug. FIG. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B is a half cross-sectional view taken along line AA shown in FIG. 2A. [Figure 2C] FIG. 2B is a bottom view of the tray shown in FIG. 2A. [Figure 3] 1B is a diagram showing the state in which the tray shown in FIG. 1A is attached to the inside plug. FIG. [Figure 4A] 4B is a plan view of the powder container shown in FIG. 1A with the slit open (the state shown in FIG. 4B). [Figure 4B] 1B is a cross-sectional view of the powder container shown in FIG. 1A in a state where the applicator is pressed and the slit is opened. FIG. [Figure 5A] FIG. 5C is a plan view of the state in which the applicator is rotated on the partition to distribute the powder over the entire application surface of the applicator (the state shown in FIG. 5B). [Figure 5B] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the state shown in FIG. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, one embodiment of a powder container according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification, the up-down direction refers to the direction when the powder container is in an upright position (the direction along the central axis O shown in FIG. 1B). The radial direction refers to a direction perpendicular to the central axis O within a plane perpendicular to the central axis O, and the circumferential direction refers to a direction circumferentially around the central axis O within this plane.

[0012] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a powder container 10, which is one embodiment of a powder container according to the present invention. The powder container 10 comprises a container body 1, an inner stopper 2, a tray 3, and a lid 4. The container body 1, the inner stopper 2, the tray 3, and the lid 4 are all made of synthetic resin. The powder container 10 contains powder P as its contents and an applicator D (e.g., a puff) for applying the powder P to a target.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the container body 1 has a bottom wall 1a that is disk-shaped and centered on a central axis O. A cylindrical peripheral wall 1b that stands upward is provided on the outer edge of the bottom wall 1a. The vertically intermediate portion of the peripheral wall 1b has a smaller diameter than the lower portion of the peripheral wall 1b. A male thread portion 1c is provided on the outer circumferential surface of this intermediate portion. The upper portion of the peripheral wall 1b is shaped as a claw-like portion 1d whose tip protrudes radially outward.

[0014] The inside plug 2 includes a cylindrical wall 2a extending along the inner circumferential surface of the peripheral wall 1b and centered on the central axis O. The upper portion of the cylindrical wall 2a is provided with a retaining portion 2b, which extends radially outward and then downward and is engaged and retained by the claw-shaped portion 1d. As shown in FIG. 3 , the lower portion of the cylindrical wall 2a is provided with an annular inclined portion that slopes upward radially inward and extends around the entire circumference centered on the central axis O. This inclined portion supports a partition wall 3c of the receiving tray 3 from below, as described below. Hereinafter, this inclined portion will be referred to as the support portion 2c. Furthermore, at the portion where the cylindrical wall 2a and the support portion 2c are connected, a notch portion 2d is provided, cutting out the cylindrical wall 2a and the support portion 2c. In this embodiment, the notch portions 2d are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0015] When assembled into the powder container 10, the tray 3 has the configuration shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The tray 3 extends along the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 2a and has a cylindrical inner cylindrical wall 3a centered on the central axis O. As shown in FIG. 2B, the inner cylindrical wall 3a has a plurality of cutouts formed from below, and between adjacent cutouts are provided claw-shaped tray engagement portions 3b that are elastically deformable radially inward and have their lower ends protruding radially outward. The tray engagement portions 3b are portions that engage with the cutout portions 2d formed in the inside plug 2.

[0016] The tray 3 also has a partition wall 3c provided radially inward of the inner cylindrical wall 3a. When assembled into the powder container 10 as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the partition wall 3c is disk-shaped and extends horizontally. Here, as shown in FIG. 1B, the space defined below the partition wall 3c and between it and the bottom wall is referred to as a powder storage space S1, and the space above the partition wall 3c and between it and the lid 4 is referred to as an applicator storage space S2. Powder P is stored in the powder storage space S1, and an applicator D is stored in the applicator storage space S2.

[0017] The partition wall 3c has multiple slits 3d penetrating it in the thickness direction. In this embodiment, eight slits 3d extend in a plan view as shown in FIG. 1A . Specifically, if the origin is the position of the central axis O in a plan view, the horizontal axis passing through the origin is the X axis, and the vertical axis passing through the origin is the Y axis, the first slit 3d extends from the origin in the +X direction to just before the inner cylindrical wall 3a. The second slit 3d extends from the origin in the +Y direction to just before the inner cylindrical wall 3a. The third slit 3d extends from the origin in the −X direction to just before the inner cylindrical wall 3a. The fourth slit 3d extends from the origin in the −Y direction to just before the inner cylindrical wall 3a. The fifth slit 3d starts from a point offset from the origin in the +X direction, curves in an arc, and extends in the +Y direction, then tilts at 45 degrees relative to the +X direction, until it reaches just before the inner cylindrical wall 3a. The sixth slit 3d starts from a point offset from the origin in the +Y direction, curves in an arc, and extends in the −X direction, then tilts at 45 degrees relative to the +Y direction, until it reaches just before the inner cylindrical wall 3a. The seventh slit 3d starts from a point offset from the origin in the −X direction, curves in an arc, and extends in the −Y direction, then tilts at 45 degrees relative to the −X direction, until it reaches just before the inner cylindrical wall 3a. The eighth slit 3d starts from a point offset from the origin in the −Y direction, curves in an arc, and extends in the +X direction, then tilts at 45 degrees relative to the −Y direction, until it reaches just before the inner cylindrical wall 3a.

[0018] Because the partition wall 3c is relatively thin and has multiple slits 3d as described above, the portions between adjacent slits 3d are elastically deformable in the thickness direction of the partition wall 3c, such that the side closer to the center of the partition wall 3c moves downward. Hereinafter, the portions between adjacent slits 3d are referred to as elastic pieces 3e. The partition wall 3c of this embodiment includes eight elastic pieces 3e. As shown in FIG. 1A, each of the eight elastic pieces 3e has a generally triangular shape in plan view, but the sides closer to the center of the partition wall 3c are composed of first elastic pieces 3f and second elastic pieces 3g, which have different shapes. The first elastic pieces 3f and second elastic pieces 3g are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction around the central axis O. Herein, the portion of the first elastic piece 3f located toward the center of the partition wall 3c is referred to as a first tip portion 3h, and the portion of the second elastic piece 3g located toward the center of the partition wall 3c is referred to as a second tip portion 3j. As shown in the figure, the first tip portion 3h is located near the center of the partition wall 3c, and the second tip portion 3j is located radially outward of the first tip portion 3h.

[0019] 1A and 1B, the slit 3d is closed under normal conditions (when the partition 3c is not pressed and the first elastic piece 3f and the second elastic piece 3g are not elastically deformed in the thickness direction). That is, under normal conditions, the partition 3c is in a state where the edges of the adjacent first elastic piece 3f and second elastic piece 3g are in contact with each other, or where a minute gap is formed between the edges of the first elastic piece 3f and the second elastic piece 3g, which is large enough to sufficiently prevent the powder P from passing in and out.

[0020] The tray 3 has the shape described above when assembled into the powder container 10, but when molded in a mold (before being assembled into the powder container 10), it has the shape shown in Figures 2A to 2C.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 2B, the partition wall 3c has a bent portion 3k that locally reduces the thickness of the partition wall 3c. The bent portion 3k extends so as to linearly connect the end points of adjacent slits 3d and is provided so as to form a regular octagon as a whole relative to the partition wall 3c. Here, a portion of the partition wall 3c that is positioned radially outward from the bent portion 3k is referred to as a partition wall outer edge portion 3m.

[0022] Furthermore, when molded in a mold, the first elastic piece 3f and the second elastic piece 3g are inclined downward radially inward from the bent portion 3k. The edges of adjacent first elastic pieces 3f and second elastic pieces 3g are spaced apart as shown in Figures 2A and 2C. In other words, when molding the tray 3 using a mold, it is difficult to close the slit 3d as shown in Figures 1A and 1B. However, when the edges of adjacent first elastic pieces 3f and second elastic pieces 3g are spaced apart as shown in Figures 2A to 2C, the tray 3 can be easily molded using a mold.

[0023] The molded tray 3 can be inserted into the inside plug 2 from above, as shown in Figure 3, to mate the two. When the tray 3 is inserted into the inside plug 2, the tray engagement portion 3b engages with the notch portion 2d. Furthermore, the first elastic piece 3f and the second elastic piece 3g, which are tilted downward toward the inside of the radial direction, are pushed up from below by the support portion 2c, causing the first elastic piece 3f and the second elastic piece 3g to swing from the bent portion 3k as a starting point and become oriented horizontally, as shown in Figure 1B. At this time, the edges of the adjacent first elastic piece 3f and second elastic piece 3g approach each other, closing the slit 3d.

[0024] The assembled inside plug 2 and saucer 3 are attached to the container body 1 by inserting the cylindrical wall 2a inside the peripheral wall 1b and engaging the holding portion 2b with the claw-like portion 1d as shown in FIG. 1B.

[0025] 1A and 1B, the lid 4 has a disk-shaped top wall 4a centered on a central axis O. A cylindrical lid peripheral wall 4b extending downward is provided on the outer edge of the top wall 4a. An internal thread 4c is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the lid peripheral wall 4b, and the lid 4 is attached to the container body 1 by threading the internal thread 4c into the external thread 1c.

[0026] With the powder container 10 configured in this manner, the slit 3d is closed in the state shown in Figure 1B, so that even when the powder container 10 is carried in a bag or the like, the powder P contained in the powder containing space S1 can be prevented from moving into the applicator containing space S2.

[0027] To apply the powder P contained in the powder container 10 to a target, the lid 4 is removed from the container body 1, and the applicator D is pressed against the partition wall 3c as shown in Fig. 4B, and the container body 1 is then shaken up and down, for example. When the applicator D is pressed against the partition wall 3c, the elastic piece 3e (first elastic piece 3f and second elastic piece 3g) elastically deforms downward, opening the slit 3d as shown in Fig. 4A. Therefore, when the container body 1 is shaken up and down, the powder P contained in the powder storage space S1 passes through the slit 3d, allowing the powder P to adhere to the underside of the applicator D.

[0028] After the powder P is applied to the underside of the applicator D, the pressure on the applicator D is released. This causes the elastic pieces 3e (the first elastic piece 3f and the second elastic piece 3g) that were elastically deformed downward to return to their original shape, thereby closing the slit 3d again. In this embodiment, the first elastic piece 3f and the second elastic piece 3g that make up the elastic piece 3e have different shapes. Furthermore, the second tip end 3j of the second elastic piece 3g is located radially outward of the first tip end 3h of the first elastic piece 3f. If all the elastic pieces 3e were identical in shape, the elastically deformed elastic pieces 3e would likely return to their original shape in the same way. This could result in the elastic pieces 3e overlapping one another during the restoration process, preventing the slit 3d from closing. In particular, the tip ends of the elastic pieces 3e are prone to overlapping due to their short circumferential length, low rigidity, and large deformation. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the first elastic piece 3f and the second elastic piece 3g have different shapes, and the second tip portion 3j is located radially outward from the first tip portion 3h, so the above-mentioned overlap is suppressed and the slit 3d can be closed stably.

[0029] Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 5B, the applied powder P can be spread over the entire underside of the applicator D by, for example, rotating the applicator D on the partition wall 3c. In the state shown in Fig. 5B, the slit 3d is closed, so that the powder P applied to the applicator D can be prevented from falling into the powder containing space S1.

[0030] While one embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, this embodiment may be modified as follows. For example, the number of slits 3d is merely an example and may be more or less than that shown in the drawings. The shape of the slits 3d in plan view can also be modified as appropriate. The number of elastic pieces 3e may be one to seven, or nine or more. The elastic pieces 3e may all have the same shape, or may be three or more different shapes. The inside plug 2 and the tray 3 may be integrally formed. When the inside plug 2 and the tray 3 are integrally formed, the slits 3d can be formed, for example, by post-processing.

[0031] (Addendum) In one aspect, the present specification discloses the following technology.

[0032] (Technology 1) a container body having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall standing upright from the bottom wall; a partition wall provided inside the peripheral wall, which defines a powder storage space for storing powder between the peripheral wall and the bottom wall at a lower portion and defines an applicator storage space for storing an applicator at an upper portion, The partition has a plurality of slits penetrating the partition in the thickness direction, and elastic pieces positioned between adjacent slits that are elastically deformable in the thickness direction of the partition and normally close the slits.

[0033] With this technology, when the partition wall is pressed with an applicator or the like, the elastic piece elastically deforms, opening the slit, allowing the powder to adhere to the applicator. When the pressing force on the applicator or the like is released, the elastic piece returns to its original shape and the slit closes. In this state, by rotating the applicator on the partition wall, the powder adhered to the applicator can be distributed over the entire application surface of the applicator without falling into the powder storage space. Furthermore, because the slit is closed when the device is being carried, overflow of powder from the powder storage space can be prevented.

[0034] (Technology 2) The elastic piece is composed of a first elastic piece and a second elastic piece, the first elastic pieces and the second elastic pieces are alternately provided in a circumferential direction around the center of the partition wall, the first elastic piece has a first tip portion located on the center side, the second elastic piece has a second tip portion located on the center side, The powder container according to Technology 1, wherein the first tip portion is located near the center portion, and the second tip portion is located radially outward of the first tip portion.

[0035] This technique effectively prevents the first elastic piece and the second elastic piece from overlapping one another when they are restored to their original shape after elastic deformation, thereby enabling the slit to be closed stably.

[0036] (Technology 3) an inner plug attached to the peripheral wall; and a receiving tray having the partition wall and attached to the inner plug, Before the tray is attached to the inside plug, the elastic pieces are inclined downward toward the inside in the radial direction, and the slits are open, The powder container according to Technology 1, wherein the inner plug has a support part that supports the elastic piece from below when the tray is attached to the inner plug, directs the elastic piece in the horizontal direction, and closes the slit.

[0037] This technique allows the saucer to be easily shaped using a mold.

[0038] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this specific embodiment, and unless otherwise limited in the above description, various modifications and variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims. For example, the configurations of the above-described embodiment may be added or deleted as appropriate, and the configurations of one embodiment may be incorporated into other embodiments. Furthermore, the effects of the above-described embodiment are merely examples of the effects that can be obtained from the present invention. In other words, the effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-described effects, and additional effects may be obtained in addition to the above-described effects. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1: Container body 1a: Bottom wall 1b: Surrounding wall 2: Inner stopper 2c: Support part 3: Saucer 3c: Bulkhead 3d:Slit 3e: Elastic piece 3f: First elastic piece 3g: Second elastic piece 3h: First tip 3j: Second tip 10: Powder container D: Applicator P: Powder S1: Powder storage space S2: Applicator storage space

Claims

1. a container body having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall standing upright from the bottom wall; a partition wall provided inside the peripheral wall, which defines a powder storage space for storing powder between the peripheral wall and the bottom wall at a lower portion and defines an applicator storage space for storing an applicator at an upper portion, The partition has a plurality of slits penetrating the partition in the thickness direction, and elastic pieces positioned between adjacent slits that are elastically deformable in the thickness direction of the partition and normally close the slits.

2. The elastic piece is composed of a first elastic piece and a second elastic piece, the first elastic pieces and the second elastic pieces are alternately provided in a circumferential direction around the center of the partition wall, the first elastic piece has a first tip portion located on the center side, the second elastic piece has a second tip portion located on the center side, The powder container according to claim 1 , wherein the first tip is located near the center, and the second tip is located radially outward of the first tip.

3. an inner plug attached to the peripheral wall; and a receiving tray having the partition wall and attached to the inner plug, Before the tray is attached to the inside plug, the elastic pieces are inclined downward toward the inside in the radial direction, and the slits are open, 2. The powder container according to claim 1, wherein the inside plug has a support portion that supports the elastic piece from below when the tray is attached to the inside plug, directs the elastic piece in a horizontal direction, and closes the slit.

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