Medicament container

Abstract

To obtain a chemical container for a dehumidifying agent which improves the loading efficiency of a transport vehicle when it is not used and improves convenience when it is used.SOLUTION: When the release film 18 is peeled off at the time of use, the peripheral wall portion 24 is expanded in the vertical direction by the pressure of the gas (air) that has passed through the moisture permeable and water impermeable sheet 16 and entered the inside of the container body 12, thereby increasing the volume of the container body 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Due to the recent trend towards energy conservation, there has been an increase in highly airtight homes where gaps are tightly sealed and outside air is less likely to get in. However, because these homes are so airtight, natural ventilation within the home is hindered, and moisture can accumulate in certain areas, which can lead to the development of mold and pests.

[0003] Mechanical dehumidifiers are sometimes used to combat humidity in homes and other areas, but dehumidifiers containing deliquescent chemicals are often used to remove moisture in specific areas such as closets and drawers. For example, a chemical container for storing such a dehumidifying agent is one that is composed of a hollow container body made of a highly rigid resin, a moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet (breathable sheet) that covers the top opening of the container body, and a release film that covers the entire top area of ​​the container body, including this moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet (see Patent Document 1). In a dehumidifier such as that described in Patent Document 1, when the release film is peeled off during use, the moisture in the air that has passed through the moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet is absorbed by the chemical, causing the chemical to gradually deliquesce, and eventually the container is filled with an aqueous solution of the chemical (deliquescent liquid).

[0004] However, the dehumidifier of Patent Document 1 uses a chemical container with high rigidity as described above, and therefore becomes bulky when the unused product is distributed, which puts a strain on the loading efficiency of transport vehicles. For example, there is a dehumidifier that has an expandable section formed in the drug container, which can be contracted to make it smaller when not in use, and when in use, the expandable section is extended to stretch the drug container, thereby expanding the internal space of the container and ensuring volume (see Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-274985 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-24240 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in the dehumidifier of the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, the user must peel off the release film when using the dehumidifier, and then stretch the medicine container to the desired size, which is time-consuming. The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a drug container that improves the loading efficiency of transport vehicles by maintaining the container body in a contracted state when not in use, and that improves convenience by increasing the volume of the container body simply by peeling off the release film when in use. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one embodiment of the present invention comprises a container body composed of an upper end wall portion having an opening, a bottom wall portion, and a peripheral wall portion formed of a flexible material that connects the periphery of the upper end wall portion with the periphery of the bottom wall portion and is foldable in the vertical direction; a drug contained inside the container body; a breathable sheet that allows gas to pass through and covers the opening; and a peel-off film that prevents gas from passing through and covers the opening from above the breathable sheet; when not in use, the entire vertical length of the peripheral wall portion is folded in the vertical direction, creating a reduced pressure state sufficient to maintain the container body in a contracted state in which it is contracted in the vertical direction; and when the peel-off film is peeled off during use, the pressure of the gas that has passed through the breathable sheet and entered the container body causes the peripheral wall portion to expand in the vertical direction, increasing the volume of the container body. Furthermore, one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the air permeability of the breathable sheet is adjusted so that, when the release film is peeled off, the peripheral wall portion is stretched in the vertical direction at a predetermined speed, allowing an amount of gas to pass through that gradually increases the volume of the container body. In addition, one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that, in plan view, the outline of the bottom wall portion is larger than the outline of the upper end wall portion. In one embodiment of the present invention, the entire length of the peripheral wall portion in the vertical direction is formed by a cross fold or a twist fold. In one embodiment of the present invention, the breathable sheet is a moisture-permeable, water-impermeable sheet, and the chemical is a deliquescent chemical. In addition, one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the deliquescent drug is granular, and the contracted state of the peripheral wall portion when not in use is such that the granular deliquescent drug is not crushed by the bottom wall portion and the peripheral wall portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention, when not in use, the entire vertical length of the peripheral wall is folded vertically, creating a reduced pressure state sufficient to maintain the container body in a contracted state in which it is contracted vertically; when the release film is peeled off during use, the pressure of the gas that has passed through the breathable sheet and entered the container body causes the peripheral wall to expand vertically, increasing the volume of the container body. This improves the loading efficiency of transport vehicles by maintaining the container body in a contracted state when not in use, and is advantageous in that the volume of the container body can be increased by simply peeling off the release film when in use, thereby improving convenience. Furthermore, if the ventilation rate of the breathable sheet is adjusted so that when the release film is peeled off, the peripheral wall portion expands in the vertical direction at a predetermined speed, allowing an amount of gas to pass through that gradually increases the volume of the container body, it is advantageous to simply peel off the release film when in use so that the peripheral wall portion can expand at the desired speed. Furthermore, if the contour of the bottom wall portion is configured to be larger than the contour of the upper end wall portion when viewed in a plane, this is advantageous in suppressing shaking when the drug container is placed on it and improving stability. Furthermore, if the entire vertical length of the peripheral wall is formed using a Sogame fold or a twist fold, it will be less likely to dent or bend due to a horizontal impact, which will suppress deformation and improve the design, thereby increasing purchasing desire. Furthermore, if the breathable sheet is made of a moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet and the chemical is made of a deliquescent chemical, this will improve the loading efficiency of the transport vehicle and will be advantageous in obtaining a dehumidifying agent container that is more convenient. Furthermore, if the peripheral wall portion is configured to shrink when not in use to a degree that prevents the granular deliquescent drug from being crushed by the bottom wall portion and the peripheral wall portion, the container body can be shrunk as much as possible without crushing the deliquescent drug, which is advantageous for maintaining the quality of the deliquescent drug and improving the loading efficiency of transport vehicles. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of an unused dehumidifying agent using a chemical container according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the dehumidifying agent in use using the chemical container according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drug container according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a drug container according to a first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a side view of a drug container according to a first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the drug container according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a side view of an unused dehumidifying agent using a chemical container according to a second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a side view of the dehumidifying agent in use using the chemical container according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a drug container according to a second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a drug container according to a second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a side view of a drug container according to a second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the drug container according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] (First embodiment) Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, an example of using the chemical container of the present invention as a dehumidifier will be described, but it can also be used as a container for various conventionally known chemicals such as air fresheners, deodorizers, insect repellents, and insecticides, which do not exert their effects when they are blocked from contact with gases such as air, but exert their effects when they come into contact with gases.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the drug container 10A of this embodiment is composed of a container body 12, a deliquescent drug (drug) 14, a moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet (breathable sheet) 16, and a release film 18. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the container body 12 is composed of an upper end wall portion 20, a bottom wall portion 22, and a peripheral wall portion . The container body 12 is formed from a transparent or translucent, flexible, and elastic material that is impermeable to gas (air) and deliquescent drug 14. While the material varies depending on the type of drug to be contained, various conventionally known materials can be used, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, olefin-based elastomers, and silicone.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper end wall portion 20 has an opening 2002 and is formed of a plate-like flange portion that extends radially outward from the upper end of the peripheral wall portion 24. In plan view, the upper end wall portion 20 of this embodiment has an outer periphery formed in a regular octagonal shape, and has a regular octagonal opening 2002 . The outer periphery of the upper end wall portion 20 is not limited to a regular octagonal shape, but may be formed in any shape such as a circle, a rectangle, or a polygon other than an octagon.

[0013] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the bottom wall portion 22 is composed of a lower surface portion 2202 and a folded portion 2204, and as shown in Figure 4, when viewed in a plane, the outline of the bottom wall portion 22 is formed to be larger than the outline of the upper end wall portion 20. Specifically, the lower surface portion 2202 is formed of a plate-like member facing the upper end wall portion 20. The folded portion 2204 is formed in a shape such that the lower portion of the peripheral wall portion 24 is folded back by pressing the lower surface portion 2202 toward the upper end wall portion 20. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5 , the outer periphery of the folded portion 2204 forms the lowest end of the container body 12. In this embodiment, the lower surface portion 2202 is formed of a regular octagonal plate-like member.

[0014] The peripheral wall portion 24 is formed so as to be foldable in the vertical direction, connecting the periphery of the upper end wall portion 20 and the periphery of the bottom wall portion 22. In this embodiment, the peripheral wall portion 24 connects the inner periphery of the upper end wall portion 20 and the outer periphery of the bottom wall portion 22. In this embodiment, the entire length of peripheral wall 24 in the vertical direction is formed in a ten-fold pattern as shown in Figures 3 to 5, and when compressed in the vertical direction, it is folded in the vertical direction at predetermined creases as shown in Figure 1, and drug container 10A enters a contracted state in which it is contracted in the vertical direction. At this time, drug container 10A has release film 18, which is gas-impermeable, attached to upper end wall 20, and the inside of container body 12 is maintained in a reduced pressure state. The Togame folding technique is the name of a special folding method that allows a structure to be folded vertically, and when contracted vertically, the radial dimensions become smaller than the radial dimensions in the extended state (see, for example, "Journal of the Architectural Institute of Japan, Planning Series, No. 527, pp. 149-154, January 2000" and "Kimachi and Morita, Mechanical Engineering Journal, Vol. 4, No. 6 (2017)"). When the release film 18 is peeled off, the reduced pressure inside the container body 12 is released, and a force acts to return the container body 12 from its folded, contracted state to its unfolded state, and the pressure of the gas (air) that has entered the container body 12 causes the peripheral wall portion 24 to stretch in the vertical direction, increasing the volume of the container body 12 and creating a space inside the container body 12. The peripheral wall portion 24 is formed so that the horizontal cross section thereof changes in size from the upper end wall portion 20 to the bottom wall portion 22. The peripheral wall portion 24 has a portion of its lower part folded back to form the above-mentioned folded portion 2204, so that the outline of the bottom wall portion 22 is larger than the outline of the upper end wall portion 20, as described above, which is advantageous for stably placing the drug container 10A. The upper part of peripheral wall 24 has a cylindrical side surface 2402 that has a regular octagonal horizontal cross section and extends in the vertical direction, and as shown in Figures 3 and 5, upper end wall 20 is provided extending radially outward from the upper end of cylindrical side surface 2402. By having the upper part of peripheral wall 24 have such a structure, it is possible to prevent leakage of the deliquescent liquid by separating the deliquescent liquid described below from moisture-permeable, water-impermeable sheet 16, and also makes drug container 10A easier to grip.

[0015] The deliquescent drug 14 absorbs moisture in the air and deliquesces to become an aqueous solution (deliquescent liquid), and is contained inside the container body 12 as shown in FIGS. The deliquescent drug 14 is composed of deliquescent salts such as calcium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, manganese sulfate, citric acid, potassium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, tetraphosphorus decaoxide, phosphoric acid, etc. The deliquescent drug 14 may be in any form, such as solid, granular, powdery, or gel-like, but in this embodiment, a granular deliquescent drug 14 formed as a sphere is used. If necessary, other additives that have been conventionally used can be mixed into the deliquescent drug 14. Examples of other additives include fragrances, deodorants, antifungal agents, antibacterial agents, insect repellents, insecticides, antioxidants, thickeners, and colorants. Furthermore, although the present embodiment shows an example in which a granular deliquescent chemical used as a dehumidifying agent is used as the chemical, various conventionally known solid or liquid chemicals such as air fresheners, deodorizers, and insect repellents, which do not exert their effects when blocked from contact with air but exert their effects when exposed to air, can also be used.

[0016] The moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet (breathable sheet) 16 is a sheet that allows gaseous water to pass through but does not easily allow liquid water to pass through. The moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet 16 also allows air (gas) to pass through, and the amount of air that can pass through (airflow rate) is adjusted. Adjustment of the airflow rate will be described later. The moisture-permeable, water-impermeable sheet 16 is attached to the upper end wall 20 provided on the outside of the opening 2002 so as to cover the opening 2002 in the upper end wall 20 by heat pressing, fusion or other adhesive means. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet 16 of this embodiment is formed into a regular octagon to fit the outer periphery of the upper end wall portion 20, and is formed in a size such that the outer periphery is located slightly outside the outer periphery of the upper end wall portion 20. The moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet 16 is generally a sheet having fine pores of several microns or less, and may be commercially available under the trade names of, for example, Celpore (Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.), NF Sheet (Tokuyama Soda Co., Ltd.), and Breathlon (Nitto Denko Corporation), or a urethane film that allows moisture to penetrate and pass through the membrane (sheet) itself.

[0017] The release film 18 is a film that does not allow air (gas) to pass through. Before use of the dehumidifying agent, the release film 18 is attached to the moisture-permeable, water-impermeable sheet 16 so as to cover the opening 2002, and is peeled off at the time of use. In other words, at the time of distribution in the market (before use), the deliquescent drug 14 contained in the drug container 10A is in a state where it does not come into contact with moisture or water. As shown in Figure 1, the release film 18 in this embodiment is formed into a regular octagon to fit the outer periphery of the upper end wall portion 20, and is attached so as to cover the entire upper surface and end surfaces of the moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet 16 to prevent it from coming into contact with air. The release film 18 also has a tab 1802 extending from a part of the outer periphery to be gripped with fingers when peeling. The release film 18 is made of a material that does not allow gas (air) to pass through or the deliquescent drug 14 to pass through. The material varies depending on the type of drug to be contained, but various conventionally known materials can be used, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, or films on which metals such as aluminum, alumina, or silica, metal oxides, or other inorganic oxides are vapor-deposited, or films on which metal foil is attached, or films made by attaching multiple of these materials together.

[0018] Next, a method for manufacturing the drug container 10A will be described. The container body 12 is manufactured, for example, by blow molding. That is, a heated and softened material is extruded into a pipe shape, and then compressed air is blown into the pipe while it is sandwiched between dies whose inner wall surfaces are formed with a Ten-fold shape. The air pressure causes the material to adhere to the dies, transferring the Ten-fold shape. The dies are then cut away, leaving a flange that will become the upper end wall 20, to produce a container with a peripheral wall 24 formed with Ten-fold shapes. In this embodiment, blow molding is performed using a mold in which the shape of bottom wall portion 22, consisting of lower surface portion 2202 and folded portion 2204, is formed in advance on the inner wall surface. This is advantageous in suppressing shaking when drug container 12 is placed, thereby improving stability (see FIG. 5).

[0019] The deliquescent drug 14 is placed in the obtained container body 12, and the container body 12 is compressed in the vertical direction to a desired compressed state (for example, a compressed state to the extent that the granular deliquescent drug 14 is not crushed by the bottom wall portion 22 and the peripheral wall portion 24). Then, a moisture-permeable, water-impermeable sheet 16 is attached to the upper surface of the upper end wall portion 20 of the compressed container body 12, and a release film 18 covering the opening 2002 is attached from above the moisture-permeable, water-impermeable sheet 16. Then, the elasticity of the container body 12 causes it to expand slightly in the vertical direction, slightly increasing the internal volume of the container body 12, and as a result, the inside of the container body 12 is maintained in a reduced pressure state. This produces an unused drug container 10A, as shown in Figure 1, in which the entire vertical length of the peripheral wall portion 24 is folded vertically and the container body 12 is in a reduced pressure state sufficient to maintain the contracted state contracted vertically. Furthermore, the entire drug container 10A is covered with film, paper, or other packaging material (not shown) to become a commercial product for sale.

[0020] Next, a method of using the drug container 10A will be described. When using drug container 10A, after removing the film or other packaging material that covers the entire container, grip handle 1802 to peel off release film 18, and place drug container 10A in a desired location from which moisture is to be removed, such as a closet or shoe cabinet. When the release film 18 is peeled off, the pressure of the air (gas) that has passed through the moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet 16 and entered the inside of the container body 12 causes the peripheral wall portion 24 to stretch in the vertical direction, increasing the volume of the container body 12, resulting in a drug container 10A in which the cross-folds of the peripheral wall portion 24 are stretched, as shown in Figure 2.

[0021] As described above, the amount of air that can pass through (air permeability) is adjusted in the moisture-permeable, water-impermeable sheet 16. The air permeability of the moisture-permeable, water-impermeable sheet 16 of this embodiment is adjusted so that, when the release film 18 is peeled off, the peripheral wall portion 24 expands in the vertical direction at a predetermined speed, and an amount of air (gas) that gradually increases the volume of the container body 12 passes through. When the drug container 10A is placed, moisture in the air that has passed through the moisture-permeable, water-impermeable sheet 16 is absorbed by the deliquescent drug 14, causing the deliquescent drug 14 to gradually deliquesce. The deliquescent drug 14 eventually becomes an aqueous solution (deliquescent liquid) of the deliquescent drug 14, which fills the inside of the drug container 10A.

[0022] Thus, according to the drug container 10A of this embodiment, when not in use, almost the entire length of the peripheral wall portion 24 in the vertical direction, in other words, almost the entire area of ​​the peripheral wall portion 24 (more specifically, the entire area of ​​the peripheral wall portion 24 excluding the cylindrical side portion 2402), is folded up and down, and the container body 12 is placed in a decompressed state sufficient to maintain the container body 12 in a contracted state contracted in the vertical direction, and when the release film 18 is peeled off during use, the pressure of the air (gas) that has passed through the moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet 16 and entered the inside of the container body 12 causes the peripheral wall portion 24 to expand in the vertical direction, increasing the volume of the container body 12. Therefore, since the container body 12 is maintained in a contracted state when not in use, this improves the loading efficiency of the transport vehicle, and is advantageous in that the volume of the container body 12 can be increased by simply peeling off the release film 18 when in use, thereby improving convenience. According to the drug container 10A of this embodiment, the height of the drug container 10A when unused and with the peripheral wall portion 24 in a contracted state can be reduced to approximately 1 / 2 to 1 / 5 of the height of the drug container 10A when the peripheral wall portion 24 is at its maximum extension in the vertical direction, which is advantageous for efficient transportation and also for displaying in stores as it does not take up much space.

[0023] Furthermore, the air permeability of the moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet 16 is adjusted so that when the release film 18 is peeled off, the peripheral wall portion 24 is stretched in the vertical direction at a predetermined speed, allowing an amount of gas to pass through that gradually increases the volume of the container body 12. Therefore, simply peeling off the release film 18 at the time of use is advantageous in allowing the peripheral wall portion 24 to stretch at the desired speed. Furthermore, by adjusting the amount of air permeability of the moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet 16, the rate at which the peripheral wall 24 expands can be adjusted to match the rate at which the deliquescent drug 14 becomes a deliquescent liquid. This allows the deliquescent drug 14 and the moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet 16 to be kept within a specified distance, and allows viewers to enjoy the Togame fold pattern applied to the peripheral wall 24 by watching the gradual expansion of the peripheral wall 24.

[0024] Furthermore, in plan view, the contour of bottom wall portion 22 is configured to be larger than the contour of top wall portion 20, which is advantageous in suppressing shaking when drug container 10A is placed and improving stability. Suppressing shaking of drug container 10A can suppress leakage of the deliquescent liquid when drug container 10A falls over. Furthermore, because the entire vertical length of peripheral wall 24 is formed using a Ten-fold fold, dents and bends are less likely to occur when subjected to horizontal impact, which reduces deformation and improves design, and is advantageous in increasing purchasing power. Reducing deformation of drug container 10A reduces the risk of leakage of deliquescent liquid due to tipping or deformation of drug container 10A.

[0025] Furthermore, when the deliquescent chemical 14 is placed in a dedicated cup attached to the inside of the container body 12, the chemical container 10A can always maintain a distance between the moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet 16 and the deliquescent chemical 14, thereby improving the dehumidifying function. However, if the deliquescent chemical 14 is directly placed inside the container body 12 without using a dedicated cup, as in the present embodiment, this is advantageous in terms of reducing costs. Furthermore, when the entire vertical length of the peripheral wall portion 24 is formed using a Ten-fold fold, the outer diameter of the container body 12 near the center in the vertical direction from the upper end wall portion 20 to the lower surface portion 2202 becomes larger than the outer diameter near the upper end wall portion 20 or the lower surface portion 2202. However, when the peripheral wall portion 24 is folded in the vertical direction and the container body 12 is held in a contracted state when not in use, not only the vertical size but also the outer diameter near the center becomes slightly smaller, which is advantageous for further improving loading efficiency.

[0026] (Second embodiment) In the first embodiment, the entire vertical length of the peripheral wall portion is formed by a cross fold, whereas in the second embodiment, the entire vertical length of the peripheral wall portion is formed by a twist fold. In the following description of the embodiment, the same parts and members as those in the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted, and the description will focus on the parts that are different from the first embodiment.

[0027] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the drug container 10B of this embodiment is composed of a container body 32, a deliquescent drug (drug) 14, a moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet (breathable sheet) 16, and a release film 18. As shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, the container body 32 is made up of an upper end wall portion 20, a bottom wall portion 42, and a peripheral wall portion 44, and is made of the same material as in the first embodiment.

[0028] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the bottom wall portion 42 is formed of a plate-shaped member that faces the upper end wall portion 20, and as shown in Figure 10, when viewed in a plane, the outline of the bottom wall portion 42 is formed to be larger than the outline of the upper end wall portion 20. In this embodiment, the bottom wall portion 42 is formed of a regular octagonal plate-like member.

[0029] The peripheral wall portion 44 is made of a flexible material, connects the periphery of the upper end wall portion 20 and the periphery of the bottom wall portion 42, and is formed so as to be foldable in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the peripheral wall portion 44 connects the inner periphery of the upper end wall portion 20 and the outer periphery of the bottom wall portion 42. In this embodiment, the entire length of peripheral wall 44 in the vertical direction is formed by twist folding as shown in Figures 9 to 11, and when compressed in the vertical direction, it is folded in the vertical direction at predetermined creases as shown in Figure 7, and drug container 10B enters a contracted state in which it is contracted in the vertical direction. At this time, drug container 10B has release film 18, which is gas-impermeable, attached to upper end wall 20, and the inside of container body 32 is maintained in a reduced pressure state. Twist folding is the name of a special folding technique that allows the material to be folded in both the vertical and horizontal directions, and when extended from a contracted state, it is twisted in a spiral shape (see, for example, Transactions of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (Series C), Vol. 66, No. 647, pp. 2463-2469). When the release film 18 is peeled off, the reduced pressure inside the container body 32 is released, and a force acts to return the container body 32 from its folded, contracted state to its unfolded state. At the same time, the pressure of the gas (air) that has entered the container body 32 causes the peripheral wall portion 44 to expand in the vertical direction, increasing the volume of the container body 32 and creating a space inside the container body 32. The peripheral wall portion 44 is formed so that the horizontal cross section thereof changes in size from the upper end wall portion 20 toward the bottom wall portion 42. The upper part of peripheral wall 44 has a cylindrical side surface 4402 that has a regular octagonal horizontal cross section and extends in the vertical direction, and as shown in Figures 9 and 11, upper end wall 20 is provided extending radially outward from the upper end of cylindrical side surface 4402. By having the upper part of peripheral wall 44 have such a structure, the deliquescent liquid and moisture-permeable, water-impermeable sheet 16 are separated, preventing leakage of the deliquescent liquid and making drug container 10B easier to grip.

[0030] Next, a method for manufacturing the drug container 10B will be described. The container body 32 is manufactured by, for example, blow molding, as in the first embodiment, using a mold in which a twisted folded shape is formed on the inner wall surface. The deliquescent drug 14 is placed in the obtained container body 32, and the container body 32 is compressed in the vertical direction to a desired compressed state (for example, a compressed state to the extent that the granular deliquescent drug 14 is not crushed by the bottom wall portion 42 and the peripheral wall portion 44). Then, a moisture-permeable, water-impermeable sheet 16 is attached to the upper surface of the upper end wall portion 20 of the compressed container body 32, and a release film 18 covering the opening 2002 is attached from above the moisture-permeable, water-impermeable sheet 16. Then, the elasticity of the container body 32 causes it to expand slightly in the vertical direction, slightly increasing the internal volume of the container body 32, and as a result, the inside of the container body 32 is maintained in a reduced pressure state. This produces an unused drug container 10B, as shown in Figure 7, in which the entire vertical length of the peripheral wall portion 44 is folded vertically and the container body 32 is in a reduced pressure state sufficient to maintain the contracted state contracted vertically.

[0031] Next, a method of using the drug container 10B will be described. When using the drug container 10B, as in the first embodiment, the packaging material such as the film that covers the entire container is removed, then the release film 18 is peeled off by grasping the handle 1802, and the container is placed in a desired location from which moisture is to be removed, such as a closet or a shoe cabinet. When the release film 18 is peeled off, the pressure of the air (gas) that has passed through the moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet 16 and entered the inside of the container body 32 causes the peripheral wall portion 44 to stretch in the vertical direction, increasing the volume of the container body 32, resulting in a drug container 10B in which the twisted folds of the peripheral wall portion 44 are stretched, as shown in Figure 8. The moisture-permeable / water-impermeable sheet 16 has an adjusted air permeability, similar to that of the first embodiment. When the drug container 10B is placed, the moisture in the air that has passed through the moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet 16 is absorbed by the deliquescent drug 14, causing the deliquescent drug 14 to gradually deliquesce, eventually becoming an aqueous solution of the deliquescent drug 14 (deliquescent liquid), which fills the inside of the drug container 10B.

[0032] Thus, according to the drug container 10B of this embodiment, when not in use, the entire vertical length of the peripheral wall portion 44 is folded vertically, and the container body 32 is placed in a decompressed state sufficient to maintain the container body 32 in a contracted state in the vertical direction; when the release film 18 is peeled off during use, the pressure of the air (gas) that has passed through the moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet 16 and entered the container body 32 causes the peripheral wall portion 44 to expand vertically, increasing the volume of the container body 32. Therefore, since the container body 32 is maintained in a contracted state when not in use, this improves the loading efficiency of the transport vehicle, and when in use, the volume of the container body 32 can be increased by simply peeling off the release film 18, which is advantageous in improving convenience.

[0033] Furthermore, the air permeability of the moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet 16 is adjusted so that when the release film 18 is peeled off, the peripheral wall portion 44 is stretched in the vertical direction at a predetermined speed, allowing an amount of gas to pass through that gradually increases the volume of the container body 32. Therefore, simply peeling off the release film 18 at the time of use is advantageous in allowing the peripheral wall portion 44 to stretch at the desired speed. Furthermore, by adjusting the air permeability of the moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet 16, the rate at which the peripheral wall 44 expands can be adjusted to match the rate at which the deliquescent drug 14 becomes a deliquescent liquid. This allows the deliquescent drug 14 and the moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet 16 to be kept within a specified distance, and allows viewers to enjoy the twisted folds made on the peripheral wall 44 as they watch the peripheral wall 44 gradually expand.

[0034] Furthermore, in plan view, the contour of bottom wall portion 42 is configured to be larger than the contour of top wall portion 20, which is advantageous in suppressing shaking when drug container 10B is placed and improving stability. Suppressing shaking of drug container 10B can suppress leakage of the deliquescent liquid when drug container 10B falls over. Furthermore, because the entire vertical length of peripheral wall 44 is formed by twist folding, dents and bends are less likely to occur when subjected to horizontal impact, deformation can be suppressed, and this is advantageous in improving design and increasing purchasing desire. Suppressing deformation of drug container 10B can suppress leakage of deliquescent liquid due to tipping or deformation of drug container 10B.

[0035] Furthermore, when the deliquescent chemical 14 is placed in a dedicated cup attached to the inside of the container body 32, the chemical container 10B can always maintain a distance between the moisture-permeable, non-water-permeable sheet 16 and the deliquescent chemical 14, thereby improving the dehumidifying function. However, if the deliquescent chemical 14 is directly placed inside the container body 32 without using a dedicated cup, as in the present embodiment, this is advantageous in terms of reducing costs. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 10A, 10B Drug container 12, 32 Container body 14 Deliquescent drugs (drugs) 16 Breathable, non-water-permeable sheet (breathable sheet) 18 Release film 1802 Knob 20 Upper end wall 2002 Opening 22, 42 Bottom wall 2202 Bottom part 2204 Folded part 24, 44 Peripheral wall part 2402, 4402 Cylindrical side part

Claims

1. a container body including an upper end wall portion having an opening, a bottom wall portion, and a peripheral wall portion formed of a flexible material, connecting the periphery of the upper end wall portion with the periphery of the bottom wall portion, and being foldable in the vertical direction; A medicine contained inside the container body; an air-permeable sheet that allows gas to pass through and covers the opening; a release film that prevents gas from passing through and covers the opening from above the breathable sheet, When not in use, the entire length of the peripheral wall portion in the vertical direction is folded up in the vertical direction, and the container body is kept in a decompressed state sufficient to be kept in a contracted state contracted in the vertical direction, When the release film is peeled off during use, the pressure of the gas that has passed through the breathable sheet and entered the container body causes the peripheral wall portion to expand in the vertical direction, thereby increasing the volume of the container body. A drug container characterized by:

2. The air permeability of the breathable sheet is adjusted so that, when the release film is peeled off, the peripheral wall portion is expanded in the vertical direction at a predetermined speed, and an amount of gas that gradually increases the volume of the container body passes through.

2. The desiccant container according to claim 1.

3. When viewed from above, the outline of the bottom wall portion is larger than the outline of the upper end wall portion.

2. The drug container according to claim 1.

4. The entire length of the peripheral wall portion in the vertical direction is formed by a cross-fold or twist fold.

2. The drug container according to claim 1.

5. The breathable sheet is a moisture-permeable, water-impermeable sheet, The drug is a deliquescent drug.

2. The drug container according to claim 1.

6. The deliquescent drug is in a granular form, The contracted state of the peripheral wall portion when not in use is a contracted state to such an extent that the granular deliquescent drug is not crushed by the bottom wall portion and the peripheral wall portion.

6. The drug container according to claim 5.

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