Volatilization apparatus

Abstract

To provide a volatilization apparatus capable of enhancing volatilization efficiency of a medicine.SOLUTION: A volatilization apparatus 10 includes a container 2, an outer case 4 and a volatilization hole 6. The container 2 stores a gelatinous medicine Y having volatility. The outer case 4 stores the container 2. The volatilization hole 6 is provided by penetrating into an opposite region R1 of a top face part 42 of the outer case 4 facing an opening 3 of the container 2 stored in the outer case 4. The volatilization hole 6 includes a plurality of slits 611, 613, 621, 623, 625, 631, 633 intermittently provided in a first direction in a plurality of rows 61, 62, 63 extending in the first direction in a central region R2 inside the opposite region R1, and aligned separately in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. There are intermittent parts 612, 622, 624, 632 where the slits as a part of the top face part 42 do not exist, between the plurality of slits of the rows, and the intermittent parts in at least two rows adjacent in the second direction are in positions deviated in the first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a volatilization device that volatilizes a volatile agent such as a deodorant or an aromatic agent. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional volatilization device for volatilizing a deodorant includes, for example, a container containing a gel-type deodorant enclosed in an outer box. The outer box has a volatilization hole on the top surface opposite the opening of the container for volatilizing the deodorant. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Non-Patent Document 1] https: / / ps.carmate.co.jpccarairfreshenerairf-shd279 (Retrieved June 3, 2024) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the volatilization device in Non-Patent Document 1 has volatilization holes positioned on only one side of the top surface, so the deodorant is consumed unevenly starting from the side closest to the volatilization holes. As a result, not only is the amount of volatilized deodorant low immediately after use begins, but it is also expected that the volatilization efficiency will gradually decrease from the beginning to the end of the use period.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide a volatilization device that can increase the volatilization efficiency of pharmaceuticals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One embodiment of the volatilization device of the present invention includes a container, an outer box, and a volatilization hole. The container contains a volatile gel-like chemical. The outer box contains the container. The volatilization hole is provided through the top surface in an opposing region of the top surface of the outer box, facing an opening of the top surface that faces the opening of the container contained in the outer box. The volatilization hole includes a plurality of slits extending in a first direction within a central region inside the opposing region of the top surface and arranged at intervals in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the volatilization hole including a plurality of slits penetrating the top surface in each of the plurality of rows, the slits being provided intermittently in the first direction, between the plurality of slits in each row, there is an intermittent portion where no slit is present, which is part of the top surface, and the intermittent portions in at least two rows adjacent in the second direction are offset in the first direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a volatilization device can be provided that can increase the efficiency of volatilization of a drug. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a volatilization device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the container of the volatilization device of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the outer box of the volatilization device of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a development view showing a modified example of the volatilization hole of the outer box of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1, the volatilization device 10 according to the embodiment includes a container 2 containing a volatile gel-like chemical Y, and a rectangular outer box 4 that contains the container 2. For ease of explanation, Fig. 1 shows a state in which the seal 1 on the container 2 has been partially peeled off to partially open the opening 3, allowing part of the chemical Y to be seen through the opening 3. The outer box 4 is also shown with part of the container 2 inserted from one end in the longitudinal direction, and with the lid 5 open to expose the top surface 41.

[0010] In this embodiment, for example, a gel-like drug Y having deodorizing and fragrance functions is used. Drug Y is composed mainly of, for example, a gelling agent (1%), a fragrance (1% or less), a deodorant (1% or less), and water (85%). In addition, it may contain a surfactant (approximately 2%) for solubilization, a solvent (approximately 10%) that functions as a dispersant, a preservative (1% or less), a salt (1% or less) for gelation enhancement, a pigment (1% or less), etc. The gelling agent has thermoplastic properties, such as carrageenan, gellan gum, agar, gelatin, and pectin. Drug Y may also contain a disinfectant, an antibacterial agent, an antioxidant, an ultraviolet absorber, etc. Examples of deodorizing agents that can be used include flavonoid compounds, plant extracts such as catechins and polyphenols, or derivatives thereof, cyclodextrin or derivatives thereof, amine compounds, ionic compound deodorizing agents such as baking soda and citric acid, mineral-based deodorizing agents such as silica gel and zeolite, microporous deodorizing agents such as coconut shell activated carbon, and metal oxides such as titanium oxide and zinc oxide. Examples of fragrances that can be used include natural fragrances and synthetic fragrances.

[0011] As shown in Figure 2, the container 2 has a substantially rectangular bottom portion 21 and a substantially rectangular frame-shaped peripheral portion 22. The peripheral portion 22 has a lower end 23 that is integrally continuous with the outer periphery of the bottom portion 21 and an upper end 24 that is located at the opening 3. Outside the upper end 24 of the peripheral portion 22, i.e., outside the opening 3, there is an annular flange portion 25 that is disposed substantially parallel to the bottom portion 21. The container 2 can be formed, for example, from a transparent resin material so that the remaining amount of drug Y can be seen from the outside.

[0012] A predetermined amount of drug Y (Fig. 1) is contained in the container 2. The surface of the drug Y is a plane that is approximately parallel to the inner surface of the bottom portion 21. After the drug Y is contained, the opening 3 of the container 2 is closed by a seal 1 (Fig. 1) affixed to the upper surface 251 of the flange portion 25. When the volatilization device 10 is used, the seal 1 is peeled off from the upper surface 251 of the flange portion 25. The volatilization of the drug Y begins at the moment the seal 1 is peeled off.

[0013] The container 2 has two horizontal ribs 26 (first ribs) protruding substantially perpendicularly from the inner surface of the bottom portion 21. The horizontal ribs 26 extend in the short direction of the bottom portion 21, spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the bottom portion 21. The two horizontal ribs 26 are arranged substantially parallel to each other, and both ends of the bottom portion 21 along the short direction are connected to the inner surface of the peripheral portion 22. One of the horizontal ribs 26 is located approximately 1 / 4 of the total length in the longitudinal direction from one end of the bottom portion 21 of the container 2 in the longitudinal direction. The other horizontal rib 26 is located approximately 1 / 4 of the total length in the longitudinal direction from the other end of the bottom portion 21 of the container 2 in the longitudinal direction. The protruding height of the horizontal ribs 26 from the inner surface of the bottom portion 21 is approximately 30 to 40% of the height of the peripheral portion 22. Three or more horizontal ribs 26 may be provided spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the container 2, and the protruding height from the inner surface of the bottom portion 21 can also be changed as desired.

[0014] The container 2 has a plurality of (ten in this embodiment) vertical ribs 27 (second ribs) on the inner surface of the peripheral portion 22, extending from the inner surface of the bottom portion 21 toward the upper end 24 of the peripheral portion 22 (i.e., the opening 3). The lower ends of the vertical ribs 27 are connected to the inner surface of the bottom portion 21. The vertical length of the vertical ribs 27 is approximately 50 to 70% of the height of the peripheral portion 22. The vertical ribs 27 are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the peripheral portion 22. The vertical height of the vertical ribs 27 from the inner surface of the peripheral portion 22 is approximately 3 to 7 mm. The number of vertical ribs 27 can be changed as long as a plurality of vertical ribs 27 are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the peripheral portion 22.

[0015] The container 2 has two auxiliary ribs 28 in the center in the longitudinal direction. The auxiliary ribs 28 are L-shaped plates and are arranged at the corners where the inner surfaces of the bottom portion 21 and the peripheral portion 22 intersect. The two auxiliary ribs 28 are spaced apart in the short direction of the bottom portion 21 of the container 2. The protruding height of the portion of each auxiliary rib 28 protruding from the inner surface of the bottom portion 21 is approximately 5 to 10 mm. The protruding height of the portion of each auxiliary rib 28 protruding from the inner surface of the peripheral portion 22 is approximately the same as the protruding height of the vertical rib 27, and the length along the inner surface of the peripheral portion 22 is approximately the same as the vertical rib 27. The auxiliary ribs 28 are not limited to the shape shown in the figure and can have any shape. The plate thickness of each of the ribs 26, 27, and 28 is approximately the same as the thickness of the bottom portion 21 and the peripheral portion 22 of the container 2, but is not limited to the same plate thickness.

[0016] The outer box 4 can be assembled by folding a single sheet material 40 having the shape shown in Fig. 3 in the same direction (mountain folds with the front side of the figure convex) at multiple locations indicated by dotted lines and gluing some of the folded sections together. The sheet material 40 has an outer surface 401 (the surface facing the front of the paper in Fig. 3) and an inner surface 402. The sheet material 40 is, for example, card B paper with a water-resistant polypropylene layer on the inner surface 402 side (the back side of the paper in Fig. 3). The outer surface 401 is the surface that includes the top surface 41.

[0017] The outer box 4 (i.e., sheet material 40) has a rectangular top surface portion 42 having a top surface 41 shown in FIG. 1 , a bottom surface portion 43 that is substantially parallel to and faces the top surface portion 42 and has a shape congruent with the top surface portion 42, and a lid portion 5 that can be placed on top surface 41. The lid portion 5 has a similar shape and is slightly larger than the top surface portion 42. The sheet material 40 generally has a shape in which the top surface portion 42, the bottom surface portion 43, and the lid portion 5 are connected in this order in one direction, with two rectangular side surface portions 44, 45 sandwiched between them. The sheet material 40 has rectangular end surface portions 46, 47 connected to both ends of the top surface portion 42 in the longitudinal direction.

[0018] The top surface portion 42 has a vaporization hole 6 formed through the top surface portion 42 in an opposing region R1 (the region surrounded by a dashed line in FIG. 1 ) that faces the opening 3 of the container 2 when the container 2 is housed in the outer box 4. The vaporization hole 6 includes a plurality of slits 611, 613, 621, 623, 625, 631, 633 arranged in three rows 61, 62, 63 in a central region R2 (the region surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 ) inside the opposing region R1 of the top surface portion 42. The vaporization hole 6 also includes four sets of through holes 641, 642 (hereinafter, sometimes collectively referred to as through holes 64) arranged between the central region R2 and the four corners of the top surface portion 42. The shape and layout of the vaporization hole 6 formed in the top surface portion 42 will be described in detail later.

[0019] The sheet material 40 has a glue flap 421 on one side in the short direction of the top surface portion 42 (the lower end side in the figure). The glue flap 421 is connected to one long side along the longitudinal direction of the top surface portion 42, and has the same length as the longitudinal length of the top surface portion 42. The sheet material 40 has a side surface portion 44 on the other side in the short direction of the top surface portion 42 (the upper end side in the figure). The side surface portion 44 is connected to the other long side along the longitudinal direction of the top surface portion 42, and has the same length as the longitudinal length of the top surface portion 42.

[0020] The sheet material 40 has an end surface portion 46 at one end side (left end side in the figure) in the longitudinal direction of the top surface portion 42. The end surface portion 46 is connected to one short side (left side in the figure) along the short direction of the top surface portion 42, and has the same length as the length in the short direction of the top surface portion 42. The sheet material 40 has a flap 461 that is slightly shorter than the end surface portion 46 on the opposite side of the end surface portion 46 from the top surface portion 42.

[0021] The sheet material 40 has an end surface portion 47 at the other longitudinal end side (the right end side in the figure) of the top surface portion 42. The end surface portion 47 has the same shape as the end surface portion 46, except that it has a rectangular window hole 471 that penetrates the end surface portion 47. The end surface portion 47 is connected to the other short side (the right side in the figure) of the top surface portion 42 along the short direction. The sheet material 40 has a flap 472 that is slightly shorter than the end surface portion 47, on the side opposite the top surface portion 42 from the end surface portion 47.

[0022] The sheet material 40 has a bottom surface portion 43 on the opposite side (upper side in the figure) of the side surface portion 44 from the top surface portion 42. The bottom surface portion 43 is connected to the long side of the side surface portion 44 along the longitudinal direction (the long side opposite the top surface portion 42). The sheet material 40 has a flap 441 on one end side (left end side in the figure) of the side surface portion 44 in the longitudinal direction. The flap 441 is connected to one short side (left side in the figure) of the side surface portion 44 along the lateral direction. The sheet material 40 has a flap 442 on the other end side (right end side in the figure) of the side surface portion 44 in the longitudinal direction. The flap 442 is connected to the other short side (right side in the figure) of the side surface portion 44 along the lateral direction. The flap 442 has a rectangular notch 443 in a portion that overlaps with the window hole 471 of the end surface portion 47 when the outer box 4 is assembled.

[0023] The sheet material 40 has an engagement hole 435 formed between the side portion 44 and the bottom portion 43, penetrating the sheet material 40, for engaging an engagement claw portion 51 (described later) of the lid portion 5. The engagement hole 435 is provided in the center of the longitudinal direction of the bottom portion 43. The bottom portion 43 has a notch 431 on one of its short sides (the left side in the figure) along the short side direction, into which the user inserts their finger when opening an end surface portion 46 of the outer box 4. The notch 431 is provided in the center of the short side of the bottom portion 43.

[0024] The sheet material 40 has a side portion 45 on the opposite side of the bottom portion 43 from the side portion 44 (upper side in the figure). The side portion 45 is connected to a long side of the bottom portion 43 along the longitudinal direction (the long side opposite the side portion 44) and has the same length as the longitudinal length of the bottom portion 43. The sheet material 40 has a flap 451 at one end side of the side portion 45 along the longitudinal direction (left end side in the figure). The flap 451 is connected to one short side of the side portion 45 along the lateral direction (left side in the figure). The sheet material 40 has a flap 452 at the other end side of the side portion 45 along the longitudinal direction (right end side in the figure). The flap 452 is connected to the other short side of the side portion 45 along the lateral direction (right side in the figure).

[0025] The sheet material 40 has a rectangular lid portion 5 on the side portion 45 opposite the bottom portion 43 (upper side in the figure). The lid portion 5 is connected to the long side of the side portion 45 along the longitudinal direction (the long side opposite the bottom portion 43). A tear line L1 is present between the side portion 45 and the lid portion 5. The tear line L1 runs along the entire longitudinal length of the lid portion 5 (and the side portion 45) and is formed by a series of short, linear holes that penetrate the sheet material 40. The lid portion 5 has a tear line L2 that is identical to the tear line L1 but is spaced apart and parallel to the tear line L1. The tear line L2 also runs along the entire longitudinal length of the lid portion 5. Between the tear lines L1 and L2 is a strip portion 52 that can be separated from the sheet material 40. The lid portion 5 can be irreversibly separated from the outer box 4 by cutting the strip portion 52 along the tear lines L1 and L2.

[0026] The sheet material 40 has a flap 53 at one end (left end in the figure) in the longitudinal direction of the lid portion 5. The flap 53 is connected to one short side (left end side in the figure) along the short direction of the lid portion 5. The flap 53 is slightly shorter than the length of the lid portion 5 (including the strip portion 52) in the short direction. The flap 53 can be separated from the outer box 4 by cutting off the strip portion 52.

[0027] The sheet material 40 has a flap 54 on the side opposite (upper in the figure) to the side portion 45 of the lid portion 5. The flap 54 is connected to the long side of the lid portion 5 opposite to the side portion 45. The flap 54 has the same length as the longitudinal length of the lid portion 5. The aforementioned engaging claw portion 51 protrudes from the edge of the flap 54 opposite to the lid portion 5. The engaging claw portion 51 has a curved edge that bulges outward, and protrudes from the center of the flap 54 in the longitudinal direction.

[0028] Here, we will explain how to assemble the outer box 4 described above. The folding points of the sheet material 40 are shown by dashed lines in Figure 3, and the folding direction is a mountain fold with the front side of the page being convex. Furthermore, the folding angles at each part of the sheet material 40 are right angles, except for the folding angle of the flap 53. Therefore, we will not explain the folding directions and angles here.

[0029] First, the glue flap 421 and the side surface portion 44 are folded relative to the top surface portion 42, and the side surface portions 44 and 45 are folded relative to the bottom surface portion 43 to form a cylindrical shape. Then, glue is applied to the outer surface of the glue flap 421 and attached to the inner surface of the side surface portion 45 to form a cylindrical shape. Furthermore, end surface portions 46 and 47 at the axial end of this cylindrical body and multiple flaps 441, 442, 451, and 452 are folded to overlap the end surface portions 46 and 47 on the outside of the flaps 441, 442, 451, and 452, and the flaps 461 and 472 are each inserted into the end of the cylindrical body. In this state, the notch 443 of the flap 442 overlaps with the window hole 471 in the end surface portion 47.

[0030] Thereafter, the lid portion 5 is folded and placed on the top surface portion 42, the flap 54 is folded and placed on the outside of the side portion 44, and the engaging claw portion 51 is inserted into and engaged with the engaging hole 435. The flap 53 provided at the longitudinal end of the lid portion 5 is folded so as to form an obtuse angle with respect to the lid portion 5.

[0031] Next, a method of using the volatilization device 10 will be described. Before use, the container 2 containing the drug Y and with the opening 3 sealed with the seal 1 is housed in an outer box 4.

[0032] When starting use, first, the strip portion 52 is cut off along the cutting lines L1 and L2, the engaging claw portion 51 is removed from the engaging hole 435, and the lid portion 5 is separated.

[0033] After this, the user inserts his finger into the notch 431 to open one end surface portion 46 of the outer box 4, temporarily removes the container 2 from the outer box 4, peels off the seal 1, and then places the container 2 back into the outer box 4. In this state, outside air flows into the outer box 4 through the volatilization hole 6, and the volatilization of the drug Y begins.

[0034] In order to increase the volatilization efficiency of the chemical Y, it is desirable to make the surface area of ​​the chemical Y that comes into contact with the air as large as possible, and it is also desirable to keep the amount of chemical Y that volatilizes as constant as possible during the period from the start of use to the end of use. In this embodiment, the shape and layout of the volatilization holes 6 have been devised to increase the volatilization efficiency of the chemical Y. In addition, the horizontal ribs 26, vertical ribs 27, and auxiliary ribs 28 of the container 2 also contribute to improving the volatilization efficiency. Below, the shape and layout of the volatilization holes 6 will be explained together with their functions.

[0035] Of the three rows of slits provided in the central region R2 of the top surface portion 42 of the outer box 4, for example, the three slits 621, 623, and 625 in the central row 62 are arranged in a straight line at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction (first direction) of the top surface portion 42 at the center of the short-side direction (second direction) of the top surface portion 42. The three slits 621, 623, and 625 have the same length. The row 62 has an interrupted portion 622 where no slit exists between the slits 621 and 623, and an interrupted portion 624 where no slit exists between the slits 623 and 625. The two interrupted portions 622 and 624 have the same length along the row 62. The two interrupted portions 622 and 624 are part of the top surface portion 42.

[0036] The length of row 62 in which slit 621, interrupted portion 622, slit 623, interrupted portion 624, and slit 625 are arranged in a straight line, i.e., the distance between the outer ends of slits 621 and 625 at both ends in the longitudinal direction, is more than half the longitudinal length of top surface portion 42. On the other hand, the total length of three slits 621, 623, and 625 connected in a straight line without interrupted portions 622 and 624 between them is shorter than half the longitudinal length of top surface portion 42.

[0037] The adjacent, parallel row 61, spaced apart on one side (below in FIG. 3 ) of the central row 62, includes two slits 611 and 613 and an interrupted portion 612. The slits 611 and 613 are longer than the slits 621, 623, and 625 of the central row 62. The two slits 611 and 613 have the same length. The interrupted portion 612 between the two slits 611 and 613, where no slits are present, has the same length as the interrupted portions 622 and 624 of the central row 62. The interrupted portion 612 is part of the top surface portion 42. The length of the row 61, i.e., the distance between the outer ends of the slits 611 and 613, is the same as the length of the row 62. The total length of the two slits 611 and 613, excluding the interrupted portion 612, is shorter than half the longitudinal length of the top surface portion 42.

[0038] The remaining columns 63 have the same shape as the above-described column 61, and include two slits 631 and 633 and an interrupted portion 632. Column 63 is disposed on the opposite side of central column 62 from column 61, and is disposed parallel to and spaced apart from column 62 by the same distance as the distance between columns 61 and 62. Therefore, the slits 611, 613, 621, 623, 625, 631, and 633 disposed in the three columns 61, 62, and 63 have shapes that are line-symmetric with respect to an imaginary center line that passes through the center of the central slit 623 in central column 62 and extends in the short direction of the top surface portion 42. Furthermore, the slits 611, 613, 621, 623, 625, 631, and 633 have shapes that are point-symmetric with respect to the longitudinal center of central column 62, i.e., the imaginary center point of the top surface portion 42. In this embodiment, the slits 611, 613, 621, 623, 625, 631, and 633 have the same width in the short side direction, but the width of the slits may be set to any width for each row.

[0039] Note that, when attention is paid to the interrupted portions 612, 622, 624, and 632 of each of the rows 61, 62, and 63, the interrupted portions of any two rows (rows 61 and 62 or rows 62 and 63) adjacent in the short direction of the top surface portion 42 are arranged at positions offset in the long direction of the top surface portion 42. In this embodiment, all of the interrupted portions 612, 622, 624, and 632 of the top surface portion 42 are arranged alternately in a staggered pattern.

[0040] If each row 61, 62, 63 were formed by a single long slit without providing the interrupted portions 612, 622, 624, and 632, the rigidity of the top surface portion 42 would be reduced and it would be prone to bending. Because the opening 3 of the container 2 is closely opposed to the opposing region R1 of the top surface portion 42, it is conceivable that the evaporated drug Y would adhere to the top surface portion 42 in the opposing region R1 and cause it to swell. Providing the volatilization holes 6 in the top surface portion 42 reduces the rigidity of the top surface portion 42 and makes it prone to bending. However, in this embodiment, providing interrupted portions between the slits of the volatilization holes 6 prevents the rigidity of the top surface portion 42 from decreasing. Therefore, providing interrupted portions between the slits in each row is effective, allowing slits to be provided in the top surface portion 42 with a sufficiently large opening area while maintaining the rigidity of the top surface portion 42.

[0041] Furthermore, if the interrupted portions included in any two adjacent rows were positioned so as to overlap in the short direction of the top surface portion 42, the overlapping portion of the slits in the two adjacent rows in the short direction of the top surface portion 42 would be longer, which would also be a factor in reducing the rigidity of the top surface portion 42. Therefore, as in this embodiment, it is desirable to provide an interrupted portion in at least one location in each row, and it is desirable to have a layout in which the interrupted portions in two adjacent rows do not overlap. However, it is important to provide an interrupted portion at least between the slits, and it is not necessarily necessary to provide them alternately, and it is desirable to provide the interrupted portions alternately in at least any two adjacent rows.

[0042] The four sets of through holes 64 arranged near the four corners of the top surface portion 42 are, for example, a combination of a relatively short rectangular through hole 641 and a relatively long rectangular through hole 642. The four sets of through holes 64 have the same shape. The longer through hole 642 is arranged at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the slit, with the corner of the top surface portion 42 facing in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal direction. The shorter through hole 641 is arranged between the through hole 642 and the corner of the top surface portion 42 and is spaced apart from and parallel to the through hole 642. Both longitudinal ends of the through holes 641 and 642 are parallel to the two sides that make up each corner of the top surface portion 42.

[0043] The four sets of through holes 64 are arranged in positions that do not overlap with the slits 611, 613, 621, 623, 625, 631, and 633 provided in the opposing region R1 in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the top surface portion 42. Furthermore, each of the through holes 64 is provided in a position spaced apart inward from the periphery of the top surface portion 42. By arranging the slits 611, 613, 621, 623, 625, 631, and 633 in the central region R2, providing interrupted portions that are alternately laid out between the slits, and arranging the four sets of through holes 64 in the above-mentioned positions, it is possible to provide a volatilization hole 6 with a sufficiently large opening area, and it is possible to sufficiently increase the rigidity of the top surface portion 42, thereby suppressing deflection of the top surface portion 42 due to swelling of the drug Y.

[0044] The shape of the through holes 64 may be changed arbitrarily as long as it can maintain a certain degree of rigidity of the top surface portion 42 and increase the efficiency of vaporization of the chemical Y. For example, as in the modified example shown in Fig. 4, the four sets of through holes 64 may be replaced with L-shaped through holes 65. The modified example in Fig. 4 is the same as the embodiment described above except for the through holes 65, and therefore the same reference numerals are used and a description thereof will be omitted.

[0045] The volatilization holes 6, including the above-mentioned slits 611, 613, 621, 623, 625, 631, 633 and through-hole 64 (or through-hole 65), have a shape that is line-symmetrical with respect to an imaginary center line extending in the short direction of the top surface portion 42. Moreover, the volatilization holes 6, including the slits 611, 613, 621, 623, 625, 631, 633 and through-hole 64 (or through-hole 65), have a shape that is point-symmetrical with respect to an imaginary center point of the top surface portion 42. Therefore, when outside air is circulated inside the container 2, the volatilization holes 6 allow air to come into uniform contact with the surface of the medicine Y, making it possible to prevent local uneven consumption of the medicine Y and to uniformly volatilize the medicine Y. In other words, by providing the evaporation hole 6 of the above-mentioned shape in the opposing region R1 of the top surface portion 42, the surface of the drug Y contained in the container 2 can be lowered while maintaining a flat state, and the drug Y can always be exposed to air over approximately the same area as the opening 3, thereby increasing the evaporation efficiency of the drug Y.

[0046] The horizontal ribs 26 and vertical ribs 27 of the container 2 function as follows: The auxiliary ribs 28 function in the same manner as the horizontal ribs 26 and vertical ribs 27, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0047] When the seal 1 is peeled off to open the opening 3 of the container 2, air comes into contact with the surface of the drug Y, and the drug Y begins to volatilize. In the volatilization device 10 of this embodiment, the container 2 with the seal 1 peeled off is housed in the outer box 4 for use, and air flowing into the outer box 4 through the volatilization holes 6 flows over the surface of the drug Y through the opening 3 of the container 2. In this embodiment, as described above, the shape and layout of the volatilization holes 6 are devised, so that air passing through the volatilization holes 6 in the opposing region R1 of the outer box 4 opposite the opening 3 of the container 2 flows evenly over the surface of the drug Y. As a result, the drug Y is evenly reduced, and the surface of the drug Y moves toward the bottom portion 21 of the container 2 while maintaining its shape.

[0048] As the amount of drug Y contained in the container 2 decreases as described above, the surface of the drug Y gradually drops, and the thickness of the drug Y in the vertical direction gradually decreases. Since the gel-like drug Y volatilizes by shrinking from its surface toward the center, the drug Y tends to shrink toward the center as its thickness decreases. At the start of use, the surface of the drug Y gradually drops as the drug Y volatilizes, reaching the upper ends of the multiple vertical ribs 27 on the opening 3 side. The multiple vertical ribs 27 arranged in the circumferential direction function to hold the outer peripheral portion of the drug Y, which tends to shrink toward the center after thinning to a certain extent, and to keep the outer peripheral portion of the drug Y in contact with the vertical ribs 27 against the inner surface of the peripheral portion 22. In other words, the multiple vertical ribs 27 function to suppress shrinkage of the drug Y, which has thinned to a certain extent, and maintain the shape of the surface.

[0049] As the evaporation of the chemical Y progresses further, the chemical Y thins and becomes sheet-like, overlapping the two horizontal ribs 26, suppressing shrinkage of the chemical Y in the direction intersecting the horizontal ribs 26 (i.e., the longitudinal direction of the bottom portion 21 of the container 2). This makes it possible to suppress shrinkage of the surface of the chemical Y until just before the end of use, maintaining a sufficient area that can be exposed to air, and increasing evaporation efficiency.

[0050] Furthermore, the ribs 26, 27, and 28 of the container 2 function to suppress deformation of the container 2 when the drug Y is placed in the container 2. In other words, since the drug Y is placed in the resin container 2 in a molten state at a high temperature of about 50 to 70°C, there is a possibility that the container 2 may be deformed due to heat. For this reason, in this embodiment, the container 2 is provided with a plurality of ribs 26, 27, and 28 to suppress deformation of the container 2 due to heat.

[0051] Furthermore, the two horizontal ribs 26 function to prevent the chemical Y from shifting or separating when the container 2 containing the chemical Y is turned upright. For example, if the volatilization device 10 is turned upright and maintained in that position for a long period of time during distribution or while on display in a store, the gel-like chemical Y in the container 2 may move downward due to gravity. Therefore, in this embodiment, two horizontal ribs 26 are provided on the bottom portion 21 of the container 2 to prevent such deformation of the chemical Y.

[0052] The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0053] For example, in the above-described embodiment, three rows of slits 61, 62, and 63 are provided in the facing region R1 of the top surface portion 42 of the outer box 4, but two or four or more rows of slits may be provided. If the number of rows of slits is odd as in this embodiment, the volatilization holes 6 are point symmetric with respect to an imaginary center point of the top surface portion 42, but if the number of rows of slits is even, they are line symmetric with respect to the imaginary center line, allowing air to come into uniform contact with the surface of the drug Y through the opening 3 of the container 2. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1...seal, 2...container, 21...bottom portion, 22...peripheral portion, 25...flange portion, 26...horizontal rib, 27...vertical rib, 3...opening, 4...outer box, 40...sheet material, 401...outer surface, 402...inner surface, 41...top surface, 42...top portion, 43...bottom portion, 44, 45...side portions, 46, 47...end portions, 5...lid portion, 6...volatilization holes, 61, 62, 63...row, 611, 613, 621, 623, 625, 631, 633...slits, 612, 622, 624, 632...intermittent portions, 64, 65, 641, 642...through holes, 10...volatilization device, R1...opposing area, R2...central area, Y...drug.

Claims

1. a container containing a volatile gel-like drug; an outer box that houses the container; A volatilization hole is provided through the top surface portion of the outer box in a region facing the opening of the container contained in the outer box, the region facing the opening, The evaporation holes include a plurality of slits extending in a first direction within a central region inside the opposing region of the top surface portion and arranged in a plurality of rows spaced apart in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the slits penetrating the top surface portion and provided intermittently in the first direction, and between the plurality of slits in each row there is an intermittent portion where the slit is not present and is part of the top surface portion, and the intermittent portions in at least two rows adjacent to each other in the second direction are positioned offset in the first direction. Volatilization device.

2. The evaporation hole has a shape that is line-symmetrical with respect to an imaginary center line that passes through the center of the top surface portion and extends in the second direction. The volatilization device according to claim 1.

3. The volatilization hole has a shape that is point-symmetric with respect to an imaginary center point of the top surface portion, The volatilization device according to claim 1.

4. a length of each row of the plurality of slits intermittently arranged in the first direction exceeds half the length of the top surface portion in the first direction; The volatilization device according to claim 1.

5. a total length of the plurality of slits in each row excluding the discontinuous portions is shorter than half the length of the top surface portion in the first direction; The volatilization device according to claim 4.

6. The rows of the interrupted portions are staggered. The volatilization device according to claim 1.

7. The evaporation hole includes a through hole provided outside the central region and penetrating the top surface portion, The volatilization device according to claim 1.

8. The through-holes are located between the central region and the four corners of the top surface portion. The volatilization device according to claim 7.

9. The evaporation hole has a shape that is line-symmetrical with respect to an imaginary center line that passes through the center of the top surface portion and extends in the second direction. The volatilization device according to claim 8.

10. The volatilization hole has a shape that is point-symmetric with respect to an imaginary center point of the top surface portion, The volatilization device according to claim 9.

11. The container has a rectangular bottom portion and a rectangular frame-shaped peripheral portion having a lower end continuous with the outer periphery of the bottom portion and an upper end at the opening, and the inner surface of the bottom portion has a plurality of first ribs spaced apart in the first direction and extending in the second direction, and the inner surface of the peripheral portion has a plurality of second ribs spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction and extending from the inner surface of the bottom portion toward the opening. The volatilization device according to claim 1.

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