Ejector

Abstract

To propose a dispenser that is excellent in recyclability and has a simpler structure. [Solution] The dispenser 100 comprises a cylindrical wall 6a with an internal space S2 formed therein, a partition wall 1c that separates the storage space S1 and the internal space S2 and has a first opening 1d and a second opening 1e, an upper wall 9a that is elastically deformable and is held at the upper end of the cylindrical wall 6a, an elastic body 7 made of synthetic resin that is placed in the internal space S2, and an outside air check valve 3 that is placed outside the partition wall 1c, the elastic body 7 comprising a first base 7a, a second base 7b, an elastic portion 7d, a valve body 7f that is located inside the first base 7a and covers the first opening 1d, and an elastic piece 7g that connects the valve body 7f and the first base 7a together, and the outside air check valve 3 blocks the flow of air from the storage space S1 to the outside world when it comes into contact with the partition wall 1c, and allows the flow of air from the outside world to the storage space S1 when it moves away from the partition wall 1c.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dispenser for discharging a liquid contained in a container. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Known as a dispenser for discharging a liquid content contained in a container is one in which a head is pressed down to drive a pump, thereby discharging the liquid content from a nozzle provided on the head (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] As shown in Patent Document 1, a metal coil spring is provided inside such a dispenser to return the head, which has been moved toward the cap, to its initial position. While most of the components constituting the dispenser are made of synthetic resin, the coil spring is made of metal, meaning that it cannot be recycled as a resin product in its current state when disposed of after use. Furthermore, in general, in this type of dispenser, the components are firmly secured to each other, for example, by fitting, to prevent them from coming loose during normal use. Therefore, disassembling the dispenser to separate the coil spring from the other components requires a lot of effort.

[0004] To address these problems, Patent Document 2 discloses a dispenser in which an elastic piece is provided on the cap or head instead of a coil spring. In the dispenser of Patent Document 2, the elastic piece elastically deforms when the head is lowered toward the cap, and the elastically deformed elastic piece returns to its original shape, allowing the head to be raised in the same way as in the conventional dispenser. Furthermore, the dispenser of Patent Document 2 does not require separation of the coil spring when disposed of, and can be reused as a resin product as is, making it highly recyclable. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-31950 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2024-50382 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The dispensers described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 each include a ring-shaped piston that moves inside a cylinder and a rod that passes through the piston and seats on its lower end. The rod moves integrally with the head, and the piston moves within a predetermined range relative to the rod. When the head moves up and down, the rod moves with the head, while the piston moves laterally relative to the rod. The dispensers described above use this mechanism to pressurize the cylinder to dispense the liquid from the nozzle, depressurize the cylinder to draw the liquid from the container, and connect the cylinder to the outside world through a vent hole to draw outside air into the container and prevent deformation of the container. However, for a dispenser to operate in this way, the piston must move as intended, which requires, for example, strict control of the dimensions of the piston, rod, cylinder, etc. Therefore, there is a need for a dispenser with a simpler structure that replaces the piston and rod while taking into consideration recyclability, as in the dispenser described in Patent Document 2.

[0007] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser that is easy to recycle and has a simpler structure while still maintaining the functionality of the dispenser. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention provides a dispenser that is attached to the mouth of a container that stores liquid in a storage space, and that dispenses the liquid from a discharge port to the outside when an operating part is pressed, the dispenser comprising: a cylindrical wall that is held directly or indirectly against the mouth and that has an internal space therein; a partition wall that is located below the cylindrical wall and that separates the storage space from the internal space, the partition wall having a first opening that connects the storage space to the internal space and a second opening that connects the storage space to the outside; an upper wall that is elastically deformable and has an outer edge that is held by an upper end of the cylindrical wall; an elastic body made of synthetic resin that is placed in the internal space; and an outside air check valve that is placed outside the partition wall, the elastic body comprising: a first annular base that is placed on the partition wall; a second base that is spaced apart from the first base and that can move toward the first base when the operating part is pressed; an elastic part that is elastically deformable and connects the first base and the second base together; the valve body is located to the side of the first opening and covers the first opening, and an elastic piece that connects the valve body and the first base together, the outside air check valve covers the second opening and comes into contact with the partition wall, but is able to separate from the partition wall by elastic deformation, and when it comes into contact with the partition wall it blocks the flow of air from the storage space toward the outside world, and when it separates from the partition wall it allows the flow of air from the outside world toward the storage space, and when the operating unit is pressed, the upper wall elastically deforms downward with the valve body covering the first opening, the internal space is pressurized and the content liquid is discharged from the discharge port, and when the pressure on the operating unit is released, the elastic part restores to its original state, the operating unit rises and the upper wall restores to its original state, the internal space is depressurized, the valve body opens the first opening and the content liquid in the storage space is introduced into the internal space, and the outside air check valve opens the second opening and the external air is introduced into the storage space [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The dispenser of the present invention is simple in structure, being composed of the aforementioned cylindrical wall, partition wall, upper wall, etc. When the operating part is pressed, the upper wall elastically deforms, pressurizing the internal space and discharging the liquid contents to the outside. When pressure on the operating part is released, the elastic part returns to its original position, depressurizing the internal space and allowing the liquid contents to be introduced into the internal space. Furthermore, the outside air check valve opens and closes the second opening, which connects the container's storage space to the outside. Even if the liquid contents are discharged to the outside and the amount of liquid contained in the container decreases, outside air is drawn into the container, preventing deformation of the container. The elastic body is made of synthetic resin, eliminating the need for separation, as in conventional dispensers using metal coil springs, and can be reused as a resin product, resulting in excellent recyclability. Furthermore, the elastic part of the elastic body allows the operating part to be raised, and the valve element, etc., functions as a check valve for the first opening. In other words, the components used in the past to generate elastic force and the components acting as a check valve can be combined into a single component, contributing to a reduction in the number of parts. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a dispenser according to the present invention. [Figure 2A] 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the elastic body shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 2B] 2B is a bottom view of the elastic body shown in FIG. 2A. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the operation unit illustrated in FIG. 1 is pressed. FIG. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a state in which the pressed operating unit begins to rise. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the operation unit is further elevated than the state shown in FIG. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, one embodiment of a dispenser according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification and the like, the up-down direction refers to the direction along the illustrated axis O (the central axis of the cylindrical wall 6a, which will be described later), with the side on which the pipe 2 is located being the "bottom" and the side on which the elastic cover 9 is located being the "top." The radial direction is the direction perpendicular to the axis O in a plane perpendicular to the axis O, and the circumferential direction is the direction rotating around the axis O in this plane. The side from which the nozzle 10d extends (the left side in FIG. 1) will be referred to as the "front" side, and the opposite side (the right side in FIG. 1) will be referred to as the "rear" side.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a dispenser 100, which is one embodiment of the dispenser according to the present invention, and a container 50 to which the dispenser 100 is attached.

[0013] First, the container 50 will be described. The container 50 of this embodiment has a cylindrical mouth portion 50a extending along the axis O. A male thread portion 50b is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 50a. Below the mouth portion 50a, a hollow body portion 50c is provided, which extends radially outward and then downward, and a bottom portion (not shown) closes the lower end of the body portion 50c, giving the container 50 a bottle-like shape. A storage space S1 is provided inside the container 50 to store the content liquid. The container 50 of this embodiment is made of synthetic resin.

[0014] Next, the dispenser 100 will be described. The dispenser 100 of this embodiment is composed of a holder 1, a pipe 2, an outside air check valve 3, an attachment cap 4, a packing 5, an upper cylinder 6, an elastic body 7, an upper support 8, an elastic cover 9, and a nozzle head 10. Of the above components, the outside air check valve 3, the packing 5, the elastic body 7, and the elastic cover 9 are made of soft elastic materials (e.g., relatively soft synthetic resins such as polyethylene (LDPE, HDPE, and foamed PE), synthetic rubber, and elastomers), while the other components are made of hard materials (e.g., hard synthetic resins such as polypropylene (PP), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyacetal (POM), and polyketone (POK) resins). The upper support 8 and the nozzle head 10 are components that correspond to the "operating unit" in this specification.

[0015] The holder 1 has a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 1a located radially inward of the opening 50a when the dispenser 100 is attached to the container 50. An outward flange 1b extending radially outward is provided at the upper end of the outer peripheral wall 1a. A partition wall 1c extending radially inward is provided at the lower end of the outer peripheral wall 1a. The partition wall 1c separates the storage space S1 from an internal space S2, which will be described later.

[0016] The partition wall 1c has a first opening 1d that penetrates the partition wall 1c in a circular shape centered on the axis O. The storage space S1 and the internal space S2 are connected by the first opening 1d. Furthermore, the partition wall 1c has a second opening 1e that penetrates the partition wall 1c, radially outward from the first opening 1d and radially inward from the outer peripheral wall 1a. The second opening 1e is connected to a groove portion 1f that extends in the vertical direction and is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 1a. As will be described later, the groove portion 1f is connected to the outside. The storage space S1 is connected to the outside by the second opening 1e and the groove portion 1f.

[0017] A cylindrical inner peripheral wall 1g is provided on the upper surface of the partition wall 1c, extending upward radially inside the second opening 1e, and a cylindrical retaining tube 1h is provided on the lower surface of the partition wall 1c, surrounding the first opening 1d and extending downward.

[0018] The pipe 2 is hollow and extends linearly in this embodiment. One end of the pipe 2 is inserted into the retaining cylinder 1h and is fitted and held therein, opening toward the first opening 1d. The pipe 2 extends to near the bottom (not shown) of the container 50, and the other end of the pipe 2 opens toward the storage space S1 near the bottom of the container 50.

[0019] The outside air check valve 3 has an annular base 3a that is annular in shape. A thin, ring-shaped movable part 3b is provided radially outward of the annular base 3a. The movable part 3b has an inner edge that is integrally connected to the annular base 3a and is elastically deformable in the axial direction of the annular base 3a. A retaining cylinder 1h is inserted into the inside of the annular base 3a and fitted into the retaining cylinder 1h to hold the outside air check valve 3. When the annular base 3a is inserted all the way to the base of the retaining cylinder 1h, the outer edge of the movable part 3b contacts the underside of the partition wall 1c radially outward of the second opening 1e.

[0020] The mounting cap 4 has a cap top wall 4a that extends horizontally and has a circular through-hole in the center, and a cylindrical cap peripheral wall 4b that extends downward from the outer edge of the cap top wall 4a. The inner circumferential surface of the cap peripheral wall 4b is provided with a female thread 4c that screws into the male thread 50b.

[0021] The packing 5 is in the shape of an annular plate, and is inserted into and fitted to the outer peripheral wall 1a. When the female threaded portion 4c is screwed onto the male threaded portion 50b, the outward flange 1b is sandwiched between the upper end of the mouth portion 50a and the cap top wall 4a via the packing 5. Furthermore, because the packing 5 is in close contact with the upper end of the mouth portion 50a, problems such as the content liquid contained in the storage space S1 overflowing to the outside when the container 50 is displaced into an inverted position, for example, are prevented.

[0022] The upper cylinder 6 has a cylindrical wall 6a. Here, the space located inside the cylindrical wall 6a is referred to as the internal space S2. An annular support wall 6b extending radially outward is provided at the upper end of the cylindrical wall 6a. An outer peripheral wall 6d extending upward is provided at the outer edge of the support wall 6b, and an annular upper support wall 6e extending radially inward is provided at the upper end of the outer peripheral wall 6d, with a gap between it and the support wall 6b.

[0023] The above-mentioned cylindrical wall 6a is inserted between the outer peripheral wall 1a and the inner peripheral wall 1g of the holder 1, thereby being fitted and held by the outer peripheral wall 1a and the inner peripheral wall 1g. That is, in this embodiment, the cylindrical wall 6a is indirectly held by the mouth 50a of the container 50 via the holder 1. When fitted and held by the outer peripheral wall 1a and the inner peripheral wall 1g, the cylindrical wall 6a does not block the groove 1f provided on the inner surface of the outer peripheral wall 1a, and in this state, a gap is left between the cylindrical wall 6a and the support wall 6b and the cap top wall 4a. That is, when the upper cylinder 6 is held by the mouth 50a via the holder 1, the groove 1f is open to the outside.

[0024] The elastic body 7 includes a first base portion 7a having an annular shape centered on the axis O, a second base portion 7b having an annular shape centered on the axis O and provided at a distance in the up-down direction from the first base portion 7a, and a plurality of inner annular portions 7c (three in this embodiment) having an annular shape centered on the axis O and provided between the first base portion 7a and the second base portion 7b. The first base portion 7a, the second base portion 7b, and the plurality of inner annular portions 7c are provided at equal intervals in the up-down direction.

[0025] The elastic body 7 also includes an elastic portion 7d that is provided between the first base portion 7a, the second base portion 7b, and the multiple inner annular portions 7c and integrally connects them. The elastic portion 7d elastically deforms when a force is applied so that the first base portion 7a and the second base portion 7b move relatively closer together, and when the force is removed, the elastic portion 7d exerts an elastic force so that the first base portion 7a and the second base portion 7b move relatively farther apart. In this embodiment, the elastic portion 7d extends in an arc shape so as to fit within the width of the first base portion 7a, etc., in a plan view, and extends generally obliquely relative to the axis O while curving in a wavy shape in a side view. The elastic portion 7d also has a shape that is point-symmetrical about the point where it intersects with the axis O. Referring to FIG. 2A, the shape of the elastic portion 7d in a side view will be described in more detail. The elastic portion 7d extending from the first base portion 7a to the inner annular portion 7c located directly above it (the elastic portion 7d located at the bottom in FIG. 2A) is curved in a wave-like manner in a side view and extends diagonally generally upward to the right with respect to the axis O. Specifically, the elastic portion 7d has a first curved portion 7d1 that is curved in an arc shape convex upward and extends diagonally upward to the right from the first base portion 7a, a second curved portion 7d2 that is curved in an arc shape convex downward and extends diagonally upward to the right from the first curved portion 7d1, a third curved portion 7d3 that is curved in an arc shape convex upward and extends diagonally upward to the right from the second curved portion 7d2, and a fourth curved portion 7d4 that is curved in an arc shape convex downward and extends diagonally upward to the right from the third curved portion 7d3. 2A, the second elastic portion 7d from the bottom, which is located above the bottom elastic portion 7d, extends in the opposite direction to the bottom elastic portion 7d (extending generally diagonally upward to the left with respect to the axis O while curved in a wavy manner in side view), but is otherwise similar to the bottom elastic portion 7d, and includes a fifth curved portion 7d5, a sixth curved portion 7d6, a seventh curved portion 7d7, and an eighth curved portion 7d8 that have shapes similar to the first curved portion 7d1, the second curved portion 7d2, the third curved portion 7d3, and the fourth curved portion 7d4, respectively.Similarly to the bottommost elastic portion 7d, the second-lowest elastic portion 7d has a shape that is point-symmetrical about point P2, where the axis O intersects with the location where the sixth curved portion 7d6 and the seventh curved portion 7d7 are connected. Furthermore, in the elastic body 7 of this embodiment, the third-lowest elastic portion 7d has the same shape as the bottommost elastic portion 7d, and the topmost elastic portion 7d has the same shape as the second-lowest elastic portion 7d. Thus, the elastic body 7 of this embodiment is configured such that the elastic portions 7d are alternately arranged with opposite tilt directions, such as an elastic portion 7d extending diagonally upward to the right followed by an elastic portion 7d extending diagonally upward to the left. While the bottommost elastic portion 7d in this embodiment extends diagonally upward to the right, the bottommost elastic portion 7d may also extend diagonally upward to the left.

[0026] The shape of the elastic piece 7g is not limited to that shown in the figure. Examples of modified elastic pieces 7g include those with a different number of arcuate curved portions forming a wave shape, those with a linear connection between the second curved portion 7d2 and the third curved portion 7d3 and between the sixth curved portion 7d6 and the seventh curved portion 7d7, and those with curved portions only at the portions connecting the first base portion 7a, the second base portion 7b, and the inner annular portion 7c, with the intermediate portion connecting the two curved portions extending linearly. While the elastic body 7 of this embodiment includes three inner annular portions 7c in the illustrated example, the number can be changed as appropriate, and may be two or less, four or more, or may not include any inner annular portions 7c.

[0027] 2A and 2B, a disk-shaped valve element 7f and an elastic piece 7g are provided inside a through hole located in the center of the first base portion 7a. One end of the elastic piece 7g is integrally connected to the valve element 7f and the other end is integrally connected to the first base portion 7a. The cross-hatching in FIG. 2B indicates the through hole located around the elastic piece 7g, and the location of the elastic piece 7g is the white area excluding the cross-hatching in FIG. 2B. The elastic piece 7g of this embodiment extends radially outward from the valve element 7f, then extends in an arc, and then extends toward the first base portion 7a. The elastic body 7 of this embodiment has a total of three elastic pieces 7g of this shape around the valve element 7f.

[0028] As shown in the figure, the elastic body 7 is attached so that the first base portion 7a is positioned on the upper surface of the partition wall 1c radially inside the inner circumferential wall 1g. In this state, the valve element 7f is seated on the upper surface of the partition wall 1c, covering the first opening 1d. When the pressure in the internal space S2 becomes relatively lower than the pressure in the accommodation space S1, the elastic piece 7g of the valve element 7f elastically deforms and moves away from the upper surface of the partition wall 1c, thereby opening the first opening 1d. In other words, the first base portion 7a functions as a check valve.

[0029] In this embodiment, the upper support body 8 includes a support portion 8a having a cross-sectional shape curved in an arcuate shape, forming an overall dome shape, as shown in the figure. An upper peripheral wall 8b extending downward is provided on the underside of the support portion 8a, and a step portion 8c extending horizontally is provided on the radially inner side of the upper peripheral wall 8b. The second base portion 7b is inserted inside the upper peripheral wall 8b and is supported by the support portion 8a while in contact with the step portion 8c.

[0030] A cylindrical inner tube portion 8d extending upward is provided in the center of the support portion 8a. The passage provided inside the inner tube portion 8d is referred to as an inner passage S3. A communication port 8e is provided at the base of the inner tube portion 8d, penetrating the inner tube portion 8d and communicating with the inner passage S3.

[0031] The elastic cover 9 is elastically deformable and has an upper wall 9a that extends in an arc shape in cross section and covers the upper part of the upper support 8. The outer edge of the upper wall 9a is provided with a cover holding portion 9b that is held in a gap that is defined by the support wall 6b, the support wall outer edge wall 6d, and the support wall upper side wall 6e and has a U-shaped cross section.

[0032] The upper wall 9a of this embodiment has a through-hole 9c located in the center of the upper wall 9a and penetrating the upper wall 9a in the vertical direction, and an outer cylindrical portion 9d surrounding the through-hole 9c and standing upright from the upper wall 9a. The inner cylindrical portion 8d is inserted inside the through-hole 9c and the outer cylindrical portion 9d.

[0033] A convex first seal portion 9e that protrudes downward is provided on the underside of the upper wall 9a (see the partially enlarged view in FIG. 1). In the state shown in FIG. 1 (when the nozzle head 10 is moved to its upper limit by the elastic body 7), the first seal portion 9e is in liquid-tight contact with the upper surface of the support portion 8a. A convex second seal portion 9f that protrudes radially inward is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical portion 9d (see the partially enlarged view in FIG. 1). The second seal portion 9f is in slidable and liquid-tight contact with the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylindrical portion 8d. Note that in the partially enlarged view in FIG. 1, the first seal portion 9e and the second seal portion 9f are shown overlapping with their respective contacting counterparts, but in reality, the first seal portion 9e and the second seal portion 9f are elastically deformed so as to be crushed.

[0034] The nozzle head 10 includes a cylindrical connecting tube portion 10a into which the inner tube portion 8d is inserted and held by the inner tube portion 8d. In the state shown in FIG. 1, the lower end of the connecting tube portion 10a is located above the upper end of the outer tube portion 9d. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the connecting tube portion 10a is larger than the inner diameter of the outer tube portion 9d. Therefore, when the nozzle head 10 is pushed down, as shown in FIG. 3, the lower end of the connecting tube portion 10a contacts the upper end of the outer tube portion 9d, allowing the connecting tube portion 10a to push down the outer tube portion 9d. A top wall portion 10b is provided above the connecting tube portion 10a, and serves as a surface against which a finger is pressed when the nozzle head 10 is pushed down. A head outer periphery portion 10c is provided at the outer edge of the top wall portion 10b, extending downward and surrounding the connecting tube portion 10a. A cylindrical nozzle 10d is provided in front of the head outer periphery portion 10c, extending radially outward. The tip opening of the nozzle 10d is referred to as the discharge port 10e. The discharge port 10e communicates with the inner passage S3 described above via a passage provided inside the nozzle 10d.

[0035] Next, the procedure for discharging the liquid content from the dispenser 100 will be described. First, the nozzle head 10 is pressed downward against the dispenser 100 attached to the container 50. This causes the upper support 8 to move downward together with the nozzle head 10, so that the first seal portion 9e (see the enlarged partial view in FIG. 1) separates from the upper surface of the support portion 8a and the communication port 8e communicates with the internal space S2. The downwardly moving upper support 8 also presses down the second base portion 7b, causing the elastic portion 7d to elastically deform and compress as shown in FIG. 3. Then, after the lower end of the connecting tubular portion 10a contacts the upper end of the outer tubular portion 9d, the upper wall 9a is elastically deformed downward by the outer tubular portion 9d, which moves downward together with the nozzle head 10, thereby reducing the volume of the internal space S2. At this time, the first opening 1d, which connects the storage space S1 and the internal space S2, is closed by the valve body 7f, so that the internal space S2, whose volume decreases when the nozzle head 10 is pressed down, is pressurized. Therefore, the pressurized air in the internal space S2 (or the pressurized liquid content if the liquid content is already contained in the internal space S2) passes from the internal space S2 through the communication port 8e, passes through the inner passage S3, and is discharged from the discharge port 10e.

[0036] When the pressure on the nozzle head 10 is released, the elastically deformed elastic portion 7d returns to its original state, moving the upper support 8 upward, as shown in FIG. 4. This causes the first seal portion 9e (see the enlarged partial view in FIG. 1) to contact the upper surface of the support portion 8a, and the internal space S2 becomes disconnected from the inner passage S3. Furthermore, the upward movement of the support portion 8a causes the upper wall 9a, which had been elastically deformed downward, to gradually return to its original state. This increases the volume of the internal space S2, creating a reduced-pressure atmosphere in the internal space S2. At this time, the pressure in the storage space S1 becomes relatively higher than that in the internal space S2. Therefore, the valve element 7f, which had been closing the first opening 1d, elastically deforms the elastic piece 7g and moves away from the upper surface of the partition wall 1c, as shown in FIG. 5, opening the first opening 1d. The liquid contained in the storage space S1 then flows through the pipe 2 and the first opening 1d into the internal space S2.

[0037] When the liquid contained in the storage space S1 decreases due to the introduction of the liquid into the internal space S2, the space above the liquid level in the storage space S1 expands, creating a reduced-pressure atmosphere. At this time, the external pressure becomes relatively higher than the pressure in the storage space S1. Therefore, the movable part 3b, which covers the second opening 1e and contacts the lower surface of the partition wall 1c, elastically deforms downward, as shown in FIG. 5, and moves away from the lower surface of the partition wall 1c, opening the second opening 1e. Therefore, external air passes through the groove 1f and the second opening 1e and is introduced into the storage space S1. This causes the storage space S1, which had been in a reduced-pressure atmosphere, to have a pressure substantially equal to that of the outside. In other words, if the second opening 1e were not provided, the pressure in the storage space S1 would decrease as the liquid is discharged from the discharge port 10e and the liquid in the storage space S1 decreases, resulting in deformation of the container 50. However, the dispenser 100 of this embodiment prevents such deformation of the container 50. Furthermore, when the pressure in the storage space S1 becomes approximately the same as the outside pressure, the movable part 3b, which had moved away from the partition wall 1c, comes into contact with the partition wall 1c again and the second opening 1e is closed, thereby preventing problems such as water or the like from entering the storage space S1 through the second opening 1e and being mixed into the content liquid.

[0038] After that, when the nozzle head 10 is pressed again, the elastic portion 7d is elastically deformed so as to be compressed, and the liquid content in the internal space S2 is pressurized. The pressurized liquid content passes from the internal space S2 through the communication port 8e, passes through the inner passage S3, and is discharged to the outside world from the discharge port 10e.

[0039] Thereafter, when the ejection of the content liquid is completed and the pressing force on the nozzle head 10 is released, the elastically deformed elastic portion 7d returns to its original shape, and new content liquid is introduced into the internal space S2. Therefore, by repeatedly pressing and releasing the nozzle head 10, the content liquid contained in the storage space S1 can be ejected to the outside.

[0040] While one embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, this embodiment may be modified as follows. For example, while the cylindrical wall 6a described above is indirectly held by the opening 50a of the container 50 via the holder 1, the holder 1 may be omitted and the cylindrical wall 6a may be directly held by the opening 50a. In this embodiment, the elastic pieces 7g are arc-shaped as shown in FIG. 2B, and a total of three elastic pieces 7g are provided, but the shape and number can be modified as appropriate; for example, the number of elastic pieces 7g may be two or less or four or more.

[0041] In the above-described embodiment, the first seal portion 9e is provided on the upper wall 9a and is configured to contact the support portion 8a, but it may also be configured to be provided on the support portion 8a and contact the upper wall 9a. In the above-described embodiment, the second seal portion 9f is provided on the outer cylindrical portion 9d and is configured to contact the inner cylindrical portion 8d, but it may also be configured to be provided on the inner cylindrical portion 8d and contact the outer cylindrical portion 9d. In the above-described embodiment, the groove portion 1f is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 1a, but it may also be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall 6a.

[0042] The position in which the dispenser 100 is used is not limited to the orientation shown in the drawings, and it is also possible to use it in a position in which the nozzle head 10 and the elastic cover 9 face downward or to the side, for example.

[0043] (Addendum) This specification discloses the following technology in one aspect. Note that the reference numerals described below correspond to the reference numerals in the accompanying drawings, but are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the invention of this application.

[0044] (Technology 1) A dispenser (100) that is attached to a mouth (50a) of a container (50) that stores liquid in a storage space (S1), and that dispenses the liquid from a discharge port (10e) to the outside when an operating part is pressed, a cylindrical wall (6a) held directly or indirectly against the mouth portion (50a) and having an internal space (S2) formed therein; a partition wall (1c) located below the cylindrical wall (6a) to separate the storage space (S1) from the internal space (S2), the partition wall (1c) having a first opening (1d) that communicates the storage space (S1) with the internal space (S2) and a second opening (1e) that communicates the storage space (S1) with the outside world; an upper wall (9a) that is elastically deformable and whose outer edge is held by the upper end of the cylindrical wall (6a); an elastic body (7) made of synthetic resin arranged in the internal space (S2); and an outside air check valve (3) disposed outside the partition wall (1c), The elastic body (7) includes an annular first base portion (7a) placed on the partition wall (1c), a second base portion (7b) spaced apart from the first base portion (7a) and movable toward the first base portion (7a) when the operating portion is pressed, an elastic portion (7d) that is elastically deformable and integrally connects the first base portion (7a) and the second base portion (7b), a valve body (7f) located inside the first base portion (7a) and covering the first opening (1d), and an elastic piece (7g) that integrally connects the valve body (7f) and the first base portion (7a), the outside air check valve (3) covers the second opening (1e) and contacts the partition wall (1c), but is capable of moving away from the partition wall (1c) by elastic deformation, and when in contact with the partition wall (1c), blocks the flow of air from the storage space (S1) toward the outside, and when moving away from the partition wall (1c), allows the flow of air from the outside toward the storage space (S1); When the operating part is pressed, the upper wall (9a) elastically deforms downward with the valve body (7f) covering the first opening (1d), the internal space (S2) is pressurized, and the content liquid is discharged from the discharge port (10e), and when the pressure on the operating part is released, the elastic part (7d) restores to its original state, the operating part rises, and the upper wall (9a) restores to its original state, the internal space (S2) is depressurized, the valve body (7f) opens the first opening (1d), and the content liquid in the storage space (S1) is introduced into the internal space (S2), and the outside air check valve (3) opens the second opening (1e), and the outside air is introduced into the storage space (S1), in this dispenser (100).

[0045] With this technology, like conventional dispensers that use a piston or rod, the liquid contained in the container can be introduced into the dispenser and discharged from the discharge port to the outside. Even if the liquid contained in the container decreases, outside air can be drawn into the container, preventing deformation of the container. Furthermore, the structure is simpler than conventional dispensers. Furthermore, because the coil spring used in conventional dispensers is not used, there is no need to separate the coil spring when disposing of the device, making it highly recyclable. Furthermore, the component used in the conventional dispensers for obtaining elastic force and the component used as a check valve can be combined into a single component, reducing the number of parts.

[0046] (Technology 2) The upper wall (9a) has a through-hole (9c) penetrating the upper wall (9a) and an outer cylindrical portion (9d) surrounding the through-hole (9c) and standing upright from the upper wall (9a), the operating portion includes the discharge port (10e), a support portion (8a) that supports the second base portion (7b) inside the upper wall (9a), a cylindrical inner cylinder portion (8d) that extends upward from the support portion (8a) and is inserted into the outer cylinder portion (9d), and an inner passage (S3) that communicates with the discharge port (10e), and a communication port (8e) that penetrates the inner cylinder portion (8d) and communicates with the inner passage (S3), one of the upper wall (9a) and the support portion (8a) has a first seal portion (9e) that normally comes into liquid-tight contact with the other of the upper wall (9a) and the support portion (8a); one of the outer cylindrical portion (9d) and the inner cylindrical portion (8d) has a second seal portion (9f) above the communication port (8e) that is slidable relative to the other of the outer cylindrical portion (9d) and the inner cylindrical portion (8d) and is in liquid-tight contact with the other of the outer cylindrical portion (9d) and the inner cylindrical portion (8d); When the operating portion is pressed, the inner cylinder portion (8d) moves downward relative to the outer cylinder portion (9d), and the internal space (S2) and the inner passage (S3) communicate with each other through the communication port (8e).

[0047] This technology makes the configuration of the dispenser having a discharge port in the operating portion more suitable for mass production, making it easier to realize the present invention.

[0048] (Technology 3) a pipe (2) having one end opening toward the first opening (1d) and the other end opening toward the storage space (S1); a holding cylinder (1h) extending downward from the partition wall (1c) and holding the one end inserted therein; The outside air check valve (3) comprises an annular base (3a) held by the retaining tube (1h) inserted inside, and a movable part (3b) that is elastically deformable, has an inner edge integrally connected to the annular base (3a), and an outer edge that contacts the partition wall (1c), in the discharger (100) described in Technology 1.

[0049] This technology makes the structure of the outside air check valve more suitable for mass production, and also simplifies the structure because the outside air check valve can be held by the holding tube that holds the pipe.

[0050] (Technology 4) an inner peripheral wall (1g) extending upward from the partition wall (1c) inside the cylindrical wall (6a) and fittingly holding the cylindrical wall (6a); an outer peripheral wall (1a) extending upward from the partition wall (1c) outside the cylindrical wall (6a) and having an outward flange (1b) at its upper end; an attachment cap (4) that is attached to the mouth portion (50a) and directly or indirectly holds the outward flange (1b) between the mouth portion (50a) and the attachment cap (4); The dispenser (100) according to Technology 1, wherein one of the cylindrical wall (6a) and the outer peripheral wall (1a) has a groove portion (1f) whose one end communicates with the second opening (1e) and whose other end communicates with the outside.

[0051] This technique makes the structure for forming the air passage from the outside to the second opening more suitable for mass production, making it easier to realize the present invention.

[0052] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this specific embodiment, and unless otherwise limited in the above description, various modifications and variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims. For example, the configurations of the above-described embodiment may be added or deleted as appropriate, and the configurations of one embodiment may be incorporated into other embodiments. Furthermore, the effects of the above-described embodiment are merely examples of the effects that can be obtained from the present invention. In other words, the effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-described effects, and additional effects may be obtained in addition to the above-described effects. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1: Holder 1a: Outer wall 1b: Outward flange 1c: Partition wall 1d: First opening 1e: Second opening 1f: Groove 1g: Inner wall 1h: Holding cylinder 2: Pipe 3: Fresh air check valve 3a: Annular base 3b: Moving part 4: Mounting cap 4a: Cap top wall 4b: Cap peripheral wall 4c: Female thread 5: Packing 6: Upper cylinder 6a: Cylindrical wall 6b: Support wall 6d: Support wall outer edge wall 6e: Support wall upper wall 7: Elastic body 7a: First base 7b:Second base 7c: Inner annular part 7d: Elastic part 7d1: First curved part 7d2: Second curved part 7d3: Third curved part 7d4: Fourth curved part 7d5: Fifth curved part 7d6: Sixth curved part 7d7: Seventh curved part 7d8: Eighth curved part 7f: Valve body 7g: Elastic piece 8: Upper support (operation part) 8a: Support part 8b: Upper peripheral wall 8c:Dan section 8d: Inner cylinder part 8e: Communication port 9: Elastic cover 9a: Upper wall 9b: Cover holding part 9c: Penetration part 9d: Outer cylinder 9e: First seal part 9f: Second seal part 10: Nozzle head (operating part) 10a: Connecting cylinder part 10b: Ceiling wall part 10c: Head outer periphery 10d: Nozzle 10e: Discharge port 50: Container 50a: Mouth 50b: Male thread 50c: Body 100: Dispenser O: Axis line S1: Containment Space S2: Internal space S3: Inner passage

Claims

1. A dispenser that is attached to the mouth of a container that stores liquid in a storage space, and that dispenses the liquid from a discharge port to the outside when an operating part is pressed, A cylindrical wall that is directly or indirectly held against the mouth portion and has an internal space provided therein; a partition wall located below the cylindrical wall, separating the storage space from the internal space, the partition wall having a first opening that connects the storage space to the internal space and a second opening that connects the storage space to the outside; an upper wall that is elastically deformable and has an outer edge portion that is held by the upper end portion of the cylindrical wall; an elastic body made of synthetic resin disposed in the internal space; an outside air check valve disposed outside the partition wall, the elastic body includes a first annular base portion placed on the partition wall, a second base portion spaced apart from the first base portion and movable toward the first base portion when the operating portion is pressed, an elastic portion that is elastically deformable and integrally connects the first base portion and the second base portion, a valve body that is located inside the first base portion and covers the first opening, and an elastic piece that integrally connects the valve body and the first base portion, the outside air check valve covers the second opening and contacts the partition wall, but is capable of separating from the partition wall by elastic deformation, and when in contact with the partition wall, blocks the flow of air from the storage space toward the outside world, and when separated from the partition wall, allows the flow of air from the outside world toward the storage space, When the operating part is pressed, the upper wall elastically deforms downward with the valve body covering the first opening, the internal space is pressurized, and the content liquid is discharged from the discharge port, and when the pressure on the operating part is released, the elastic part restores to its original state, the operating part rises, and the upper wall restores to its original state, the internal space is depressurized, the valve body opens the first opening, and the content liquid in the storage space is introduced into the internal space, and the outside air check valve opens the second opening, and the outside air is introduced into the storage space.

2. the upper wall includes a through-hole that penetrates the upper wall and an outer tubular portion that surrounds the through-hole and stands up from the upper wall, the operating portion includes the discharge port, a support portion that supports the second base portion inside the upper wall, a cylindrical inner cylinder portion that extends upward from the support portion and is inserted into the outer cylinder portion, an inner passage communicating with the discharge port, and a communication port that penetrates the inner cylinder portion and communicates with the inner passage, one of the upper wall and the support portion has a first seal portion that normally comes into liquid-tight contact with the other of the upper wall and the support portion; one of the outer cylindrical portion and the inner cylindrical portion has a second seal portion above the communication port that is slidable relative to the other of the outer cylindrical portion and the inner cylindrical portion and that is in liquid-tight contact with the other of the outer cylindrical portion and the inner cylindrical portion; The dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein when the operating portion is pressed, the inner cylindrical portion moves downward relative to the outer cylindrical portion, and the internal space and the inner passage communicate with each other through the communication port.

3. a pipe having one end that opens toward the first opening and the other end that opens toward the accommodation space; a retaining cylinder extending downward from the partition wall and holding the one end inserted therein, 2. The discharge device according to claim 1, wherein the outside air check valve comprises an annular base portion held by the retaining tube inserted inside, and a movable portion that is elastically deformable and has an inner edge portion integrally connected to the annular base and an outer edge portion that contacts the partition wall.

4. an inner peripheral wall extending upward from the partition wall inside the cylindrical wall and fittingly holding the cylindrical wall; an outer peripheral wall extending upward from the partition wall outside the cylindrical wall and having an outward flange at an upper end thereof; an attachment cap that is attached to the mouth portion and that directly or indirectly holds the outward flange between the attachment cap and the mouth portion; The dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein one of the cylindrical wall and the outer peripheral wall has a groove portion whose one end communicates with the second opening and whose other end communicates with the outside.

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