Liquid containers

Abstract

To provide a liquid container that improves the operational feel when discharging the liquid content. [Solution] A liquid container (1) having a container body (10) with a cylindrical mouth portion, a shoulder portion (12) connected to the lower end of the mouth portion, and a body portion (11) connected to the shoulder portion (12), a nozzle (20) connected to the upper part of the mouth portion, and an outer cylinder (30) provided radially outside the nozzle (20) and defining a liquid recovery flow path between the nozzle (20) and the outer cylinder (30) that communicates with the storage space of the container body (10), wherein the container body (10), nozzle (20) and outer cylinder (30) are formed by integral molding, and characterized in that a cylindrical skirt portion (40) that covers the mouth portion from the radially outside is provided integrally and connected to the lower end of the outer cylinder (30).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid container for containing a liquid. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a container for storing relatively viscous liquid contents such as liquid laundry detergent or fabric softener has been known that has a configuration formed by integral molding of a container body with a storage space for the liquid contents, a nozzle connected to the upper part of the mouth of the container body, and an outer cylinder that is provided radially outside the nozzle and defines a liquid recovery flow path between the nozzle and the outer cylinder that communicates with the storage space (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Such a liquid container can prevent liquid from dripping from the nozzle to the outside, and can be easily disposed of separately after use. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-20458 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the conventional liquid containers described above have a narrow shape with a mouth that is smaller in diameter than the container body and an outer tube located radially outside the nozzle, so when the body of the container body is held in the hand, the distance to the tip of the nozzle feels far, and there is a problem in that the operation feel when discharging the contents from the nozzle is not good.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid container that provides an improved operational feel when discharging the liquid contained therein. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The liquid container of the present invention comprises a container body having a cylindrical mouth, a shoulder connected to the lower end of the mouth, and a body connected to the shoulder, a nozzle connected to the upper part of the mouth, and an outer cylinder arranged radially outside the nozzle and defining a liquid recovery flow path between the nozzle and the outer cylinder that communicates with the storage space of the container body, and is characterized in that the container body, nozzle, and outer cylinder are formed by integral molding, and a cylindrical skirt portion that covers the mouth from the radial outside is integrally formed and connected to the lower end of the outer cylinder.

[0008] In the liquid container of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration, it is preferable that the lower end of the skirt portion contacts the shoulder portion.

[0009] In the liquid container of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, it is preferable that a reinforcing rib is integrally provided between the mouth portion and the skirt portion.

[0010] In the liquid container of the present invention, in the above configuration, it is preferable that the liquid recovery flow path is inclined downward in the circumferential direction, and that a communication passage is provided at the lower end of the liquid recovery flow path to connect the liquid recovery flow path to the storage space. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid container that provides an improved operational feel when discharging the liquid contained therein. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of a liquid container according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the liquid container shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 2 is a front half cross-sectional view of a preform used to manufacture the liquid container shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 of a liquid container according to a modified example. [Figure 6]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a plurality of reinforcing ribs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A liquid container according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] 1 is suitable for storing relatively viscous liquids such as liquid laundry detergents and fabric softeners. Liquid container 1 is made of synthetic resins such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0015] The liquid container 1 has a container body 10, a nozzle 20, an outer cylinder 30, and a skirt portion 40.

[0016] In this specification, claims, and drawings, the side of container body 10 on which nozzle 20 is located is referred to as the upper side (upper side in FIG. 1), and the opposite side is referred to as the lower side (lower side in FIG. 1). In this specification, claims, and drawings, "radially outward" means a direction away from axis O along a straight line passing through axis O of liquid container 1 extending in the up-down direction in FIG. 1 and perpendicular to axis O, and "radially inward" means a direction toward axis O along that straight line.

[0017] The container body 10 includes a body portion 11. The body portion 11 is a cylindrical shape with a bottom, including a cylindrical body main body portion 11a and a bottom portion 11b that closes the lower end of the body main body portion 11a. As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the body main body portion 11a is cylindrical, i.e., the body portion 11 is cylindrical with a bottom. Note that the body portion 11 is not limited to a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and may have other shapes, such as a rectangular cylinder with a bottom or an elliptical shape with a bottom, as long as it is cylindrical with a bottom.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 3, a cylindrical mouth portion 13 is integrally provided on the upper end of the body portion 11 via a shoulder portion 12 .

[0019] In this embodiment, the shoulder 12 has a shape including an outer peripheral wall portion 12a that is integrally connected to the upper end of the body 11 and extends upward while decreasing in diameter, and an inner peripheral wall portion 12b that is integrally connected to the upper end of the outer peripheral wall portion 12a and extends radially inward. However, the shape of the shoulder 12 is not limited to this.

[0020] The mouth portion 13 is cylindrical and centered on the axis O, and is integrally connected to the radially inner end of the inner circumferential wall portion 12b and extends upward from that end. The mouth portion 13 is configured to have a step portion 13a in a predetermined range extending downward from the upper end, the step portion 13a having a larger outer diameter than the lower end portion, but it may also be configured without the step portion 13a. Note that the shape of the mouth portion 13 is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and it may have any other cylindrical shape, such as an elliptical cylindrical shape or a rectangular cylindrical shape.

[0021] As described above, the container body 10 has a bottle shape with a body 11, a shoulder 12, and a mouth 13. The interior of the container body 10 forms a storage space 14, and the container body 10 can store a liquid content (not shown) in the storage space 14.

[0022] The nozzle 20 is provided integrally with and connected to the upper end of the mouth portion 13 of the container body 10 .

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , in this embodiment, the nozzle 20 is formed in a C-shaped cross section, i.e., a gutter-like shape, with a notch 22 extending from one end to the other along the axis O at one location in the circumferential direction of a substantially cylindrical nozzle wall 21. The nozzle 20 protrudes upward from the upper end of the mouth 13. The upper end portion of the nozzle wall 21 is provided with a chamfered portion 23 formed obliquely so that the notch 22 is at its lowest point. With this configuration, the nozzle 20 can easily eject the content liquid contained in the storage space 14 of the container body 10 through the nozzle 20 to a desired location. Note that the shape of the nozzle 20 is not limited to the above, and various shapes are possible as long as the nozzle 20 is connected to the upper end of the mouth 13 and can eject the content liquid.

[0024] 1, 2, and 3, the outer cylinder 30 is provided radially outward of the nozzle 20. Like the nozzle 20, the outer cylinder 30 is provided integrally with the upper end of the mouth portion 13 of the container body 10. In this embodiment, the outer cylinder 30 has a cylindrical peripheral wall 31 and a bottom wall 32 that is integrally connected to the lower end of the peripheral wall 31 and extends downward while reducing in diameter to be integrally connected to the upper end of the mouth portion 13. The outer cylinder 30 is configured such that a male thread portion 33 and an annular protrusion 34 for detachably attaching a cap (not shown) are provided integrally on the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 31, but the male thread portion 33 and the annular protrusion 34 may not be provided.

[0025] Between the outer cylinder 30 and the nozzle 20, a liquid recovery flow path 35 is defined, which is in communication with the storage space 14 of the container body 10. In other words, the area surrounded by the nozzle wall 21 of the nozzle 20, the peripheral wall 31 of the outer cylinder 30, and the bottom wall 32 of the outer cylinder 30 forms the liquid recovery flow path 35, which returns the content liquid that has leaked outward in the radial direction of the nozzle 20 to the inside of the storage space 14.

[0026] In this embodiment, the upper surface of the bottom wall 32 is sloped downward from the radially outer side toward the radially inner side, with the left end being the highest and the right end, where the cutout portion 22 is provided, being the lowest, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3 . The bottom wall 32 has a portion extending clockwise from the left end to the right end along the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle wall 21, and a portion extending counterclockwise from the left end to the right end along the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle wall 21, both of which slope gradually downward from the left end to the right end. Because the bottom wall 32 is sloped as described above, the liquid recovery channel 35 has its lowest lower end at the position where the cutout portion 22 is provided. A communication passage 36 is provided at the lower end of the liquid recovery channel 35, connecting the liquid recovery channel 35 to the storage space 14. That is, the lower end of the cutout portion 22 of the nozzle 20 serves as the communication passage 36, connecting the liquid recovery channel 35 to the storage space 14. The liquid contents that leak out radially outside the nozzle 20 enter the liquid recovery flow path 35, flow downward from the left end to the right end of the bottom wall 32 in Figures 2 and 3, and are returned to the storage space 14 of the container body 10 through the connecting passage 36.

[0027] In this embodiment, the bottom wall 32 is configured so that its thickness in the vertical direction gradually decreases from the left end toward the right end in FIGS. 2 and 3, thereby providing the inclined configuration described above.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the skirt portion 40 is cylindrical, is provided integrally with the lower end of the outer cylinder 30, and covers the mouth portion 13 from the radially outer side.

[0029] In this embodiment, the skirt portion 40 has a truncated conical shape centered on the axis O and gradually increases in diameter from the lower end of the outer tube 30 toward the lower end 41. The lower end 41 of the skirt portion 40 is in contact with the shoulder portion 12. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 , the inner circumferential wall portion 12b of the shoulder portion 12 is provided with an annular abutment surface 12c centered on the axis O adjacent to the upper end of the outer circumferential wall portion 12a. The skirt portion 40 is in contact with the abutment surface 12c of the shoulder portion 12 around the entire circumference at its lower end 41. As a result, the skirt portion 40 is smoothly and flush with the outer circumferential wall portion 12a of the shoulder portion 12 without any steps.

[0030] The liquid container 1 is provided with a skirt portion 40 that is integrally connected to the lower end of the outer cylinder 30 and covers the mouth portion 13 from the radially outer side, so that the mouth portion 13, which has a smaller diameter than the barrel portion 11 of the container body 10 and the outer cylinder 30 and therefore has a narrow shape, is not visible from the outside. As a result, the liquid container 1 has an external shape in which the skirt portion 40 smoothly connects the barrel portion 11 or shoulder portion 12 of the container body 10 with the outer cylinder 30.

[0031] Liquid container 1 is configured such that container body 10, nozzle 20, and outer cylinder 30 are integrally molded, and skirt portion 40 is also integrally molded with container body 10, nozzle 20, and outer cylinder 30.

[0032] In this specification, claims, and drawings, "integral molding" refers to molding as an integral part within a mold by blow molding, injection molding, etc., and includes parts molded as an integral part by insert molding, two-color molding, etc., but does not include parts molded in separate molds that are integrated by a post-process that does not involve resin molding, such as bonding.

[0033] The liquid container 1 of this embodiment can be formed, for example, by integrally molding a synthetic resin preform 50 shown in Figure 4 by injection molding or the like, and then placing this preform 50 in a blow molding mold and performing biaxial stretch blow molding.

[0034] More specifically, the preform 50 has a test-tube-shaped stretched portion 51 and a non-stretched portion 52 integrally molded at the upper end of the stretched portion 51. The stretched portion 51 is stretched by biaxial stretch blow molding to form the portion below the mouth portion 13 of the container body 10, i.e., the shoulder portion 12 and the body portion 11. The non-stretched portion 52 is not stretched by biaxial stretch blow molding. Therefore, the non-stretched portion 52 has the same shape as the mouth portion 13 and the portion above the mouth portion 13 of the liquid container 1, i.e., a shape including the nozzle 20, the outer cylinder 30, and the skirt portion 40. The portion of the non-stretched portion 52 corresponding to the mouth portion 13 is a cylindrical portion above the lower end of the portion corresponding to the skirt portion 40. Therefore, by biaxially stretch blow molding the preform 50, a liquid container 1 can be formed in which the container body 10, the nozzle 20, the outer cylinder 30, and the skirt portion 40 are integrally molded.

[0035] A step 13a is provided in the portion of the non-stretched portion 52 that corresponds to the mouth portion 13. This ensures that when the preform 50 is biaxially stretch blow molded, the cylindrical mouth portion 13 is formed between the shoulder portion 12 and the nozzle 20 after molding.

[0036] The liquid container 1 is not limited to being formed by biaxially stretched blow molding using the preform 50 described above, but may also be formed by other methods, such as injection molding, as long as the container body 10, nozzle 20, outer tube 30, and skirt portion 40 can be integrally molded.

[0037] The liquid container 1 having the above configuration can eject the liquid contained inside the storage space 14 to the outside from the nozzle 20 by tilting it from an upright position in which the tip of the nozzle 20 faces upward to an inclined position in which the cutout portion 22 faces upward.

[0038] At this time, as described above, liquid container 1 has skirt portion 40 integrally formed at the lower end of outer cylinder 30, which covers mouth portion 13 from the radially outer side, and therefore has an external shape in which skirt portion 40 smoothly connects body portion 11 or shoulder portion 12 of container body 10 to outer cylinder 30, and there is no constricted shape between body 11 and nozzle 20, so that when a user grips body portion 11 of container body 10 with their hand to dispense the liquid content, the user does not feel that the distance to the tip of nozzle 20 is far. In other words, liquid container 1 has a shape similar to that of a normal bottle that does not have a constricted portion, because skirt portion 40 smoothly connects body portion 11 or shoulder portion 12 of container body 10 to outer cylinder 30, so that when a user grips body portion 11 of container body 10 with their hand to dispense the liquid content, the user does not feel that the distance to the tip of nozzle 20 is far due to the strange shape of the container.

[0039] In this way, in the liquid container 1 of this embodiment, a skirt portion 40 that covers the mouth portion 13 from the radially outer side is integrally formed at the lower end of the outer tube 30, thereby improving the operability when ejecting the content liquid from the nozzle 20.

[0040] Furthermore, in the liquid container 1 according to this embodiment, the lower end 41 of the skirt portion 40 is in contact with the shoulder portion 12, and the released lower end 41 of the skirt portion 40 is supported by the shoulder portion 12, thereby increasing the strength of the skirt portion 40. As a result, if the liquid container 1 is dropped, for example, and the skirt portion 40 receives an impact, the external force received by the skirt portion 40 can be distributed to the shoulder portion 12, thereby preventing damage to the skirt portion 40.

[0041] Furthermore, with the liquid container 1 according to this embodiment, even if the liquid adhering to the nozzle 20 drips down the outer circumferential surface of the nozzle 20 when the container body 10 is returned to the upright position after discharging the liquid content, the liquid content can be recovered in the liquid recovery flow path 35 and returned to the storage space 14 of the container body 10 through the communication path 36 without dripping outside the outer cylinder 30. Therefore, with the liquid container 1 according to this embodiment, the liquid content can be discharged from the nozzle 20 while preventing the liquid content from dripping outside.

[0042] Furthermore, in the liquid container 1 of this embodiment, the container body 10, nozzle 20, outer tube 30 and skirt portion 40 are molded as a single unit, which reduces the amount of synthetic resin material used to form the liquid container 1 and also eliminates the need to separate the nozzle cap and container body after use, making it easier to separate and dispose of them.

[0043] Furthermore, in the liquid container 1 according to this embodiment, the liquid recovery flow path 35 is configured to be inclined downward in the circumferential direction, and a communication passage 36 is provided at the lower end of the liquid recovery flow path 35 to connect the liquid recovery flow path 35 to the storage space 14, so that the liquid contents that leak outside the nozzle 20 can be efficiently returned to the storage space 14 by utilizing the inclined surface of the liquid recovery flow path 35.

[0044] As shown as a modified example in Figures 5 and 6, the liquid container 1 according to this embodiment can also be configured such that reinforcing ribs 60 are integrally provided between the mouth 13 and the skirt portion 40. In the example shown in Figures 5 and 6, a plurality of (eight) plate-shaped reinforcing ribs 60 extending radially about the axis O are provided between the upper portion of the mouth 13 and the upper portion of the inner surface 42 of the skirt portion 40, which faces radially inward. These reinforcing ribs 60 are also integrally connected to the bottom wall 32 of the outer cylinder 30. These reinforcing ribs 60 are also integrally formed by being molded integrally with the container body 10, nozzle 20, outer cylinder 30, and skirt portion 40.

[0045] In this way, by providing the reinforcing rib 60 integrally between the mouth 13 and the skirt 40, the skirt 40 is supported by the mouth 13 by the reinforcing rib 60, thereby increasing the strength of the skirt 40. As a result, if the liquid container 1 is dropped and the skirt 40 receives an impact, the external force received by the skirt 40 is dispersed to the mouth 13 via the reinforcing rib 60, thereby preventing the skirt 40 from being damaged.

[0046] The number, shape, etc. of the reinforcing ribs 60 can be changed as appropriate as long as they are provided integrally between the mouth portion 13 and the skirt portion 40.

[0047] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0048] For example, in the above embodiment, the shape of the skirt portion 40 is a truncated cone centered on the axis O, which gradually widens in diameter from the lower end of the outer tube 30 toward the lower end 41, but this is not limited to this, and various shapes may be used as long as the skirt portion 40 is formed in a cylindrical shape and can cover the mouth portion 13 from the radially outer side.

[0049] In the above embodiment, the skirt portion 40 is configured so that its lower end 41 contacts the shoulder portion 12 , but this is not limiting, and the lower end 41 may be configured so as to be spaced apart from the shoulder portion 12 . [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1 liquid container 10 Container body 11 Torso 11a Body 11b Bottom 12 Shoulder 12a Outer wall section 12b Inner peripheral wall part 12c Contact surface 13 Mouth 13a Stepped section 14 Containment Space 20 nozzles 21 Nozzle wall 22 Notch 23 Chamfered part 30 outer cylinder 31 Peripheral wall 32 Bottom wall 33 Male thread 34 Annular protrusion 35 Liquid collection channel 36 Communication path 40 Skirt Section 41 Bottom end 42 Inner surface 50 preforms 51 Stretching section 52 Non-stretched part 60 Reinforcing rib O axis

Claims

1. a container body including a cylindrical mouth portion, a shoulder portion connected to a lower end of the mouth portion, and a body portion connected to the shoulder portion; a nozzle connected to an upper portion of the mouth; an outer cylinder provided radially outside the nozzle and defining a liquid recovery flow path between the nozzle and the outer cylinder and communicating with the accommodation space of the container body; A liquid container in which the container body, the nozzle, and the outer cylinder are integrally formed, A liquid container characterized in that a cylindrical skirt portion that covers the opening from the outside in the radial direction is provided integrally and continuously at the lower end of the outer cylinder.

2. 2. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein a lower end of the skirt portion contacts the shoulder portion.

3. 3. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing rib is integrally provided between said mouth portion and said skirt portion.

4. the liquid recovery channel is inclined downward in the circumferential direction, 3. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein a communication passage is provided at a lower end of the liquid recovery channel, for communicating the liquid recovery channel with the storage space.

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