Individual container and connected container

Abstract

To discharge a content little by little without sticking the content to a hand when discharging the content from a storage space.SOLUTION: The container includes a top wall 11 having front and rear surfaces facing in the vertical direction, a peripheral wall 12 extending downward from an outer peripheral edge of the top wall, and a seal member 13 sealing a lower end opening of an accommodation space surrounded by the top wall and the peripheral wall, and has a frustum shape, and a recessed portion 22 and a button portion 23 having a topped cylinder shape that protrudes upward from a bottom surface of the recessed portion and is elastically deformable in the vertical direction are provided on an upper surface of the top wall.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to individual containers and interconnected containers. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, disposable individual containers have been known, such as those shown in Patent Document 1 below, which include a container body having a storage space for storing a single-use amount of contents, and a sealing material that seals the opening of the storage space so that it can be opened. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-44682 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When peeling the seal material from the container body and dispensing the contents, it may be difficult to dispense the contents little by little without getting them on the hands.

[0005] The present invention provides an individual container and a connected container that can dispense contents from a storage space in small amounts without the contents sticking to hands. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An individual container according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a top wall whose front and back surfaces face in the vertical direction, a peripheral wall extending downward from the outer peripheral edge of the top wall, and a sealing material that seals the top wall and the lower end opening of the storage space surrounded by the peripheral wall, and is frustum-shaped, with a recess on the upper surface of the top wall and a topped, cylindrical button portion that protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the recess and is elastically deformable in the vertical direction.

[0007] A button protruding upward from the bottom of the recess is provided on the upper surface of the top wall, so that when the sealant is peeled off from the individual container and the bottom opening of the storage space is partially open, pressing the button to elastically deform downward causes the internal volume of the storage space to steadily reduce according to the amount the button is pressed, and by repeatedly pressing the button while restoring its original deformation, the contents of the storage space can be dispensed little by little. When dispensing the contents, after partially opening the bottom opening of the storage space, all that is required is to press the button on the top wall, which allows the user to keep their hands away from the dispensed contents and prevents the contents from sticking to their hands. Since the individual containers are frustum-shaped, it is possible to prevent the peripheral wall from buckling and deforming when the button is pressed, and it is also possible to ensure the volume of the storage space.

[0008] The peripheral wall may be formed with a plurality of vertical ribs extending in the circumferential direction.

[0009] Since multiple vertical ribs extending in the vertical direction are formed on the peripheral wall along the circumferential direction, it is possible to prevent the peripheral wall from deforming when the button is pressed, and since the peripheral wall also deforms when the button is pressed, it is possible to prevent a large amount of contents from being unintentionally ejected.

[0010] A flange portion is provided that surrounds the entire lower end opening of the storage space, the sealing material is attached to the underside of the flange portion, and a discharge recess is formed on the underside of the flange portion that is recessed upward and protrudes outward from the lower end opening of the storage space, and a portion of the sealing material that blocks the lower end opening of the storage space is fixed inseparably to the underside of the flange portion, and a portion of the sealing material that blocks the discharge recess can be separated from other portions and is removably attached to the underside of the flange portion.

[0011] The portion of the sealing material that blocks the lower end opening of the storage space is fixed inseparably to the underside of the flange portion, and the portion of the sealing material that blocks the discharge recess is separable from the other portions and is removably attached to the underside of the flange portion.Therefore, when discharging the contents, it is possible to easily and accurately open part of the lower end opening of the storage space, and it is possible to reliably discharge the contents in small amounts without them sticking to hands.

[0012] The peripheral wall may be formed by connecting a plurality of flat side walls in a circumferential direction, the individual containers may have a truncated pyramidal shape, and the discharge recess may be provided in a part of the flange portion that is connected to a corner portion between adjacent side walls in the circumferential direction.

[0013] The peripheral wall is composed of a plurality of side walls formed in a flat plate shape and connected in the circumferential direction, the individual containers are shaped like truncated pyramids, and the discharge recess is provided in a part of the flange portion that connects to the corner between adjacent side walls in the circumferential direction. Therefore, when the button portion is pressed, the contents of the storage space tend to flow along the inner surface of the side wall and move toward the discharge recess, making it easy to discharge the contents in small amounts.

[0014] A connected container according to one embodiment of the present invention is a connected container in which four individual containers according to one embodiment of the present invention are connected in the vertical direction and in another direction perpendicular to the one direction via breakable weakened portions extending in one direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, and the peripheral wall is composed of four flat side walls connected along the circumferential direction, and the individual containers have a quadrangular pyramid shape, and when viewed from the vertical direction, two of the four side walls extend in the one direction and the remaining two side walls extend in the other direction, and the individual containers adjacent to each other in the other direction are bent along the weakened portions, and when the side walls of one individual container and the side walls of the other individual container are abutting or close to each other, the external shape of the connected container is square when viewed from the one direction.

[0015] When adjacent individual containers in the other direction are folded along the weakened portions, and the side walls of one individual container and the other individual container are abutting or close to each other, the outer shape of the connected container is square when viewed from the one direction.Therefore, a connected container made up of four individual containers connected in the other direction via breakable weakened portions extending in the one direction can be folded compactly around an axis extending in the one direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to one aspect of the present invention, when the contents are discharged from the storage space, the contents can be discharged in small amounts without sticking to the hands. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an individual container according to an embodiment, viewed obliquely from above. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an individual container according to an embodiment, seen from diagonally below, with a portion of the sealing material removed. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connected container according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a view of the connected container shown in FIG. 3 when folded and viewed from one direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the individual containers 1a and the connected container 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. 1, each individual container 1a has a frustum shape and includes a top wall 11 formed in a plate shape with its front and back surfaces facing the vertical direction Z, a peripheral wall 12 extending downward from the outer periphery of the top wall 11, a sealant 13 that seals the lower opening of the storage space surrounded by the top wall 11 and the peripheral wall 12, a base portion 14, and a flange portion 15. The peripheral wall 12 is formed in a flared shape that widens in diameter as it extends downward from the outer periphery of the top wall 11. The storage space stores contents such as liquids, semi-liquids, etc. Examples of contents include soy sauce, sauce, ketchup, mustard, detergent, shampoo, etc. The individual container 1a may not necessarily have at least the base portion 14 out of the base portion 14 and the flange portion 15.

[0019] The top wall 11 has an angular shape when viewed from the vertical direction Z, and the peripheral wall 12 is configured by connecting a plurality of flat side walls 21 along the circumferential direction, so that the individual container 1a has a truncated pyramid shape. Note that the individual container 1a may have a configuration in which the top wall 11 has a circular or elliptical shape when viewed from the vertical direction Z, and the peripheral wall 12 has a truncated cone shape made up of arcuate surfaces.

[0020] In the illustrated example, the top wall 11 has a square shape when viewed from the vertical direction Z, the peripheral wall 12 is configured by four flat side walls 21 connected in the circumferential direction, and the individual container 1a has a quadrangular truncated pyramid shape. The inclination angle of the side walls 21 with respect to the vertical direction Z is approximately 45°. Note that the top wall 11 may have a rectangular shape, a pentagonal shape, etc. when viewed from the vertical direction Z, and the individual container 1a may have a pentagonal truncated pyramid shape, etc.

[0021] When viewed from the vertical direction Z, the direction in which two of the four sides defining the top wall 11 and two of the four side walls 21 extend is called one direction X, and the direction perpendicular to the one direction X when viewed from the vertical direction Z is called the other direction Y. The remaining two of the four sides defining the top wall 11 and the remaining two of the four side walls 21 each extend in the other direction Y when viewed from the vertical direction Z.

[0022] The top wall 11 has an upper surface provided with a recess 22 and a button portion 23 in the shape of a cylindrical cap that protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the recess 22 and is elastically deformable in the vertical direction Z. The recess 22 and the button portion 23 have a circular shape when viewed from the vertical direction Z. The button portion 23 is formed in the shape of a flattened cylinder with a top. The upper end of the button portion 23 is located above the upper surface of the top wall 11. The recess 22 and the button portion 23 are arranged coaxially with the top wall 11. The diameter of the recess 22 is slightly smaller than the length of one side of the top wall 11. The diameter of the button portion 23 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the recess 22. The recess 22 and the button 23 are not limited to being circular when viewed in the vertical direction Z, but may be polygonal or have other shapes. Furthermore, the recess 22 and the button portion 23 may have similar or different shapes when viewed from the vertical direction Z, and the recess 22 and / or the button portion 23 may have similar or different shapes to the top wall 11 when viewed from the vertical direction Z.

[0023] A plurality of vertical ribs 24 extending in the up-down direction Z are formed along the circumferential direction on the peripheral wall 12. The vertical ribs 24 are formed in a curved shape that bulges outward from the outer surface of the peripheral wall 12 in the normal direction, and extend in the up-down direction Z along the outer surface of the peripheral wall 12. The multiple vertical ribs 24 are arranged in a row in the circumferential direction. The multiple vertical ribs 24 may be provided at intervals in the circumferential direction, or may be recessed inward in the normal direction relative to the outer surface of the peripheral wall 12. The vertical ribs 24 do not necessarily have to be provided on the peripheral wall 12.

[0024] The base 14 and flange 15 are each formed in an annular shape and surround the entire lower opening of the storage space. The base 14 protrudes downward from the lower end of the peripheral wall 12, and the flange 15 protrudes from the lower end of the base 14 toward the outside of the storage space in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. A plurality of lower vertical ribs 14a extending in the up-down direction Z are formed along the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the base portion 14. It is not necessary to provide the lower vertical ribs 14a on the base portion 14. The circumferential size of the lower vertical ribs 14a is the same as the circumferential size of the vertical ribs 24. The circumferential centers of the lower vertical ribs 14a and the vertical ribs 24 are aligned. The upper end of the lower vertical ribs 14a is connected to the lower end of the vertical ribs 24. A seal material 13 is attached to the underside of the flange portion 15 .

[0025] The lower surface of the flange portion 15 is formed with a discharge recess 15a that is recessed upward and protrudes outward from the lower end opening of the accommodation space. Of the sealing material 13, a portion that closes the lower end opening of the storage space (hereinafter referred to as the fixed portion 13a) is inseparably fixed to the lower surface of the flange portion 15. Of the sealing material 13, a portion that closes the discharge recess 15a (hereinafter referred to as the detachable portion 13b) is detachable from the fixed portion 13a and is attached to the lower surface of the flange portion 15 in a releasable manner.

[0026] The discharge recess 15a is provided in the flange portion 15 at a portion that is continuous with one of the corner portions 21a between the side walls 21 that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. Here, the corner portion 21a extends along a diagonal direction intersecting one direction X and the other direction Y when viewed from the up-down direction Z. Discharge recess 15a is formed in a stripe shape extending along the diagonal direction. Discharge recess 15a is recessed upward on the underside of a portion of flange 15 that connects to corner 21a, and protrudes in the diagonal direction from the lower end opening of the storage space. Discharge recess 15a communicates with the storage space and is formed integrally with the underside of flange 15 and the inner surface of base 14.

[0027] 2, a breakable weakened line 13c extending in a direction perpendicular to the diagonal direction is formed at the boundary between the fixed portion 13a and the separated portion 13b of the sealing material 13. The weakened line 13c is located diagonally outward of the storage space and on the underside of the flange portion 15. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the flange portion 15 does not have a discharge recess 15a, and the sealing material 13 has a two-layer structure in part, with a through hole formed in the inner layer portion that communicates with the storage space, and the outer layer portion peelably adhered to the inner layer portion.

[0028] As shown in Figure 3, the connected container 1 is configured by four individual containers 1a connected in one direction X via first breakable weakened portions (weakened portions) 18 extending in the other direction Y. In the connected container 1, a plurality of individual containers 1a are also connected in one direction X via second breakable weakened portions 19 extending in the other direction Y. The first weakened portions 18 and second weakened portions 19 connect the flange portions 15 and the seal members 13 of the individual containers 1a to each other. The connected container 1 does not necessarily have to have the individual containers 1a connected in the one direction X via the second weakened portions 19.

[0029] 4, when adjacent individual containers 1a in the other direction Y are bent along the first weakened portions 18, and the side walls 21 of one individual container 1a and the other individual container 1a are in contact with or close to each other, the outer shape of the connected container 1 is square when viewed from the one direction X. In this case, the flange portions 15 adjacent to each other across the first weakened portions 18 and the base portions 14 connected to these flange portions 15 are square when viewed from the one direction X and define a space A extending in the one direction X.

[0030] As described above, according to the individual container 1a of this embodiment, the upper surface of the top wall 11 is provided with a button 23 that protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the recess 22. Therefore, when the sealing material 13 is peeled off from the individual container 1a and the bottom opening of the storage space is partially opened, pressing the button 23 downward to elastically deform it causes the internal volume of the storage space to steadily decrease in accordance with the amount that the button 23 is pressed, and the contents of the storage space can be dispensed little by little by repeatedly pressing the button 23 while deforming it to its original shape. When dispensing the contents, after partially opening the bottom opening of the storage space, the button 23 on the top wall 11 is simply pressed, which allows the user to keep their hands away from the dispensed contents and prevents the contents from sticking to their hands. Since the individual container 1a has a frustum shape, it is possible to prevent the peripheral wall 12 from buckling and deforming when the button portion 23 is pressed, and it is also possible to ensure the volume of the storage space.

[0031] Since a plurality of vertical ribs 24 extending in the vertical direction are formed on the peripheral wall 12 along the circumferential direction, it becomes possible to prevent the peripheral wall 12 from deforming when the button portion 23 is pressed, and since the peripheral wall 12 also deforms when the button portion 23 is pressed, it is possible to prevent a large amount of contents from being unintentionally discharged.

[0032] Of the sealing material 13, the fixed portion 13a that closes the lower end opening of the storage space is fixed inseparably to the underside of the flange portion 15, and of the sealing material 13, the detachable portion 13b that closes the discharge recess 15a is detachable from the fixed portion 13a and is removably attached to the underside of the flange portion 15. Therefore, when discharging the contents, part of the lower end opening of the storage space can be opened easily and accurately, and the contents can be reliably discharged in small amounts without sticking to the hands.

[0033] The peripheral wall 12 is composed of a plurality of side walls 21 formed in a flat plate shape and connected in the circumferential direction, the individual containers 1a are shaped like truncated pyramids, and the discharge recess 15a is provided in a part of the flange portion 15 that is connected to the corner portion 21a between the side walls 21 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. Therefore, when the button portion 23 is pressed, the contents of the storage space tend to flow along the inner surface of the side wall 21 and move toward the discharge recess 15a, making it easy to discharge the contents in small amounts.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 4, adjacent individual containers 1a in the other direction Y are folded along the first weakened portions 18, and the side walls 21 of one individual container 1a and the side walls 21 of the other individual container 1a are in contact with or close to each other, so that the external shape of the connected container 1 is square when viewed from the one direction X. Therefore, the connected container 1, which is made up of four individual containers 1a connected in the other direction Y via the breakable first weakened portions 18 extending in the one direction X, can be folded around the axis O extending in the one direction X to make it compact.

[0035] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0036] For example, the discharge recess 15a may be provided in a portion of the flange portion 15 that is spaced apart from the corner portion 21a in the circumferential direction.

[0037] In addition, within the scope of the spirit of the present invention, it is possible to replace the components in the above-described embodiments with well-known components as appropriate, and the above-described embodiments and the above-described variations may be combined as appropriate.

[0038] The aspects of the present invention are as follows, for example. <1> A top wall having a front and back surface facing up and down; a peripheral wall extending downward from an outer peripheral edge of the top wall; a sealing material that seals a lower end opening of a storage space surrounded by the top wall and the peripheral wall, and has a frustum shape; The individual container has a recess on the upper surface of the top wall, and a button portion in the shape of a cylindrical cap that protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the recess and is elastically deformable in the vertical direction. <2> A plurality of vertical ribs extending in the vertical direction are formed on the peripheral wall along the circumferential direction. <1> The individual container described in <3> A flange portion is provided that surrounds the entire lower end opening of the accommodation space, The sealing material is attached to the lower surface of the flange portion, a discharge recess formed on the lower surface of the flange portion, the discharge recess recessed upward and projecting outward from a lower end opening of the accommodation space; a portion of the sealing material that closes the lower end opening of the accommodation space is inseparably fixed to the lower surface of the flange portion; a portion of the sealing material that closes the discharge recess portion is separable from other portions and is removably attached to the lower surface of the flange portion; <1> or <2> The individual container described in <4> the peripheral wall is configured by a plurality of side walls formed in a flat plate shape and connected in a circumferential direction, and the individual containers are formed in a truncated pyramid shape, the discharge recess is provided in a portion of the flange portion that is continuous with a corner portion between the side walls that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction, <3> The individual container described in <5> The aforementioned <1> from <4> a connected container in which four individual containers according to any one of the preceding items are connected in the vertical direction and in another direction perpendicular to the one direction via breakable weakened portions extending in the vertical direction, The peripheral wall is configured by four flat side walls connected in a circumferential direction, and the individual containers are formed in a quadrangular pyramid shape, When viewed from the top-bottom direction, of the four side walls, two side walls extend in the one direction and the remaining two side walls extend in the other direction; The individual containers adjacent to each other in the other direction are folded along the weakened portion, and when the side walls of one individual container and the side walls of the other individual container are abutting or close to each other, the outer shape of the connected container is square when viewed from the one direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 Connected container 1a Individual container 11 Top wall 12 Surrounding wall 13 Sealing material 15 Flange 15a Discharge recess 18 1st weakened part (weakened part) 21 Side wall 21a corner part 22 recess 23 Button section 24 Vertical ribs X one direction Y other direction Z vertical direction

Claims

1. A top wall having a front and back surface facing up and down; a peripheral wall extending downward from an outer peripheral edge of the top wall; a sealing material that seals a lower end opening of a storage space surrounded by the top wall and the peripheral wall, and has a frustum shape; The individual container has a recess on the upper surface of the top wall, and a button portion in the shape of a cylindrical cap that protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the recess and is elastically deformable in the vertical direction.

2. The individual container according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral wall is formed with a plurality of vertical ribs extending in the circumferential direction.

3. A flange portion is provided that surrounds the entire lower end opening of the accommodation space, The sealing material is attached to the lower surface of the flange portion, a discharge recess formed on the lower surface of the flange portion, the discharge recess recessed upward and projecting outward from a lower end opening of the accommodation space; a portion of the sealing material that closes the lower end opening of the accommodation space is inseparably fixed to the lower surface of the flange portion; 3. The individual container according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the sealing material that closes the discharge recess is separable from other portions and is removably attached to the lower surface of the flange portion.

4. the peripheral wall is configured by a plurality of side walls formed in a flat plate shape and connected in a circumferential direction, and the individual containers are formed in a truncated pyramid shape, The individual container according to claim 3 , wherein the discharge recess is provided in a portion of the flange portion that is continuous with a corner portion between the side walls that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction.

5. A connected container in which four individual containers according to claim 1 or 2 are connected in the vertical direction and in another direction perpendicular to the one direction via breakable weakened portions extending in the vertical direction, The peripheral wall is configured by four flat side walls connected in a circumferential direction, and the individual containers are formed in a quadrangular pyramid shape, When viewed from the top-bottom direction, of the four side walls, two side walls extend in the one direction and the remaining two side walls extend in the other direction; The individual containers adjacent to each other in the other direction are folded along the weakened portion, and when the side walls of one individual container and the side walls of the other individual container are abutting or close to each other, the outer shape of the connected container is square when viewed from the one direction.

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