Mixing container

Abstract

Do not open the cap until the first and second components have been mixed. [Solution] At least a portion of the peripheral wall of the second housing is a deformable portion that can be elastically deformed in the vertical direction, a plug body is detachably fitted into a through hole formed in the bottom wall of the first housing, a pushing member is provided in the bottom wall of the second housing that pushes the plug body upward to open the through hole when the deformable portion is reduced in the vertical direction, thereby connecting the inside of the first housing and the inside of the second housing, a first restricting portion and a second restricting portion are separately provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cover cylinder and the upper portion of the inner member located above the deformable portion, such that when the upper portion is at the raised end position relative to the cover cylinder, they abut each other in the vertical direction, restricting further upward movement of the upper portion, and the cap is surrounded by the cover cylinder from the outside in the radial direction over its entire vertical length, and protrudes upward from inside the cover cylinder with the first restricting portion and the second restricting portion abutting each other in the vertical direction.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a mixing container.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as shown in, for example, Patent Document 1 below (particularly FIGS. 5 and 6), a bottomed cylindrical first storage portion that stores a first agent, a second storage portion that is connected to the first storage portion from below the first storage portion and stores a second agent, and a cap that closes the upper end opening of the first storage portion in an openable manner. When the first storage portion and the second storage portion are relatively moved closer to each other in the vertical direction, a mixing container is known in which the inside of the first storage portion and the inside of the second storage portion communicate with each other and the first agent and the second agent are mixed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in a conventional mixing container, before mixing the first agent and the second agent, the cap can be operated to open the upper end opening of the first storage portion, and there is a possibility that the mixed agent of the first agent and the second agent cannot be used.

[0005] The present invention provides a mixing container in which the cap cannot be opened unless the first agent and the second agent are mixed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A mixing container according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a cover cylinder extending in the vertical direction and an inner member inserted into the cover cylinder so as to be movable in the vertical direction, wherein the inner member comprises a bottomed cylindrical first housing portion in which a first agent is contained inside, a bottomed cylindrical second housing portion extending downward from the bottom wall of the first housing portion in which a second agent is contained inside, a cap that opens and closes the upper end opening of the first housing portion, and a button extending downward from the bottom wall of the second housing portion, wherein at least a part of the peripheral wall of the second housing portion is a deformable portion that is elastically deformable in the vertical direction, a through hole is formed in the bottom wall of the first housing portion that penetrates in the vertical direction, a stopper is detachably fitted into the through hole, and the deformable portion of the second housing portion is formed in the bottom wall of the second housing portion A pushing member is provided that pushes the plug upward to open the through hole when the part deforms in the vertical direction, thereby connecting the inside of the first housing part and the inside of the second housing part. The inner circumferential surface of the cover cylinder and the upper part of the inner member located above the deformed part are provided with a first restricting part and a second restricting part, respectively, which abut each other in the vertical direction when the upper part of the inner member is at the raised end position relative to the cover cylinder, thereby restricting further upward movement of the upper part of the inner member. The cap is surrounded by the cover cylinder from the outside in the radial direction over its entire vertical length, and protrudes upward from inside the cover cylinder with the first restricting part and the second restricting part abutting each other in the vertical direction.

[0007] Before the button is pressed inward towards the inside of the cover cylinder, the cap cannot be operated and the upper opening of the first housing cannot be opened because the cap is surrounded radially from the outside by the cover cylinder along its entire vertical length. When the button is pressed inward towards the inside of the cover cylinder, the entire inner component rises relative to the cover cylinder until the first and second restricting parts abut each other in the vertical direction, causing the cap to protrude upward from inside the cover cylinder. If the button is pushed further inward towards the inside of the cover cylinder from this state, the deformed portion of the peripheral wall of the second housing section will shrink vertically, and the push member provided on the bottom wall of the second housing section will push the stopper towards the first housing section, opening the through hole formed in the bottom wall of the first housing section. As a result, the inside of the first housing section and the inside of the second housing section will communicate with each other, and if the mixing container is inverted at this time, the second agent in the second housing section will flow into the first housing section through the through hole, and the first and second agents will be mixed in the first housing section. When the button is released, the deformed portion of the peripheral wall of the second housing section will return to its original shape vertically. Next, by opening the cap protruding from inside the cover cylinder, the inside of the first housing section will be opened, and then the button will be pushed in, shrinking the deformed portion of the peripheral wall of the second housing section vertically. Pressurized air in the second housing section will flow into the first housing section through the through hole, and the mixture of the first and second agents in the first housing section will be discharged.

[0008] The button may be rotatably provided within the cover cylinder so as to be able to move upward relative to the cover cylinder between a restricted position in which upward movement relative to the cover cylinder is restricted and a release position in which upward movement relative to the cover cylinder is possible.

[0009] The button is rotatable around the central axis of the cover cylinder, between a restricted position where upward movement relative to the cover cylinder is restricted and a released position where upward movement relative to the cover cylinder is permitted. Therefore, even if an unexpected external force is applied to the button in the restricted position, the button is pushed inward towards the cover cylinder, preventing the first and second agents from mixing.

[0010] The aforementioned button has a first locking projection that protrudes radially outward, A second locking projection is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cover cylinder, projecting radially inward, and allowing the first locking projection to move over it upward. The mixing container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cap protrudes upward from the inside of the cover cylinder, and the first locking projection is capable of contacting the second locking projection from below the first locking projection.

[0011] With the cap protruding from inside the cover cylinder, the first locking projection of the button can contact the second locking projection of the cover cylinder from below the first locking projection. Therefore, even if the cap protruding from inside the cover cylinder is pushed inward towards the inside of the cover cylinder, the first and second locking projections will contact each other in the vertical direction. This prevents the cap from being surrounded radially from the outside by the cover cylinder along its entire vertical length, as it was before mixing. For example, the cap can be opened and closed repeatedly to dispense the mixture of the first and second agents multiple times. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, the cap does not need to be opened until the first agent and the second agent have been mixed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a mixing container shown as one embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a bottom view of Figure 1. [Figure 3] This figure shows the mixing container from Figure 1 inverted to mix the first and second agents. [Figure 4] This figure shows the mixing container from Figure 1 inverted, with the first locking projection and the second locking projection engaged with each other. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] A mixing vessel according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figure 1, the mixing container 1 according to this embodiment comprises a cover cylinder 11 and an inner member 12. The inner member 12 comprises a bottomed cylindrical first housing section 13, a bottomed cylindrical second housing section 14, a cap 15, and a bottomed cylindrical button 16. The cover cylinder 11, the first housing section 13, the second housing section 14, and the button 16 are arranged coaxially with the common axis.

[0015] Hereinafter, this common axis is referred to as the central axis line O, the direction along the central axis line O is referred to as the vertical direction, the direction intersecting the central axis line O as viewed from the vertical direction is referred to as the radial direction, and the direction circling around the central axis line O is referred to as the circumferential direction. The side of the button 16 along the vertical direction is referred to as the lower side, and the side of the cap 15 along the vertical direction is referred to as the upper side.

[0016] The cover cylinder 11 extends in the vertical direction, and an inner member 12 is inserted into the cover cylinder 11 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. At the upper part of the inner peripheral surface of the cover cylinder 11, a first regulating portion 18 protruding inward in the radial direction is provided. At the lower part of the inner peripheral surface of the cover cylinder 11, a second locking protrusion 21 protruding inward in the radial direction is formed.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an annular groove 11b that is recessed upward and opens inward in the radial direction is formed at the lower end opening edge 11a of the cover cylinder 11. The annular groove 11b is continuously provided over the entire circumference of the lower end opening edge 11a of the cover cylinder 11. A groove portion 11d extending in the circumferential direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface 11c facing the inner side in the radial direction of the inner surface of the annular groove 11b. The groove portion 11d is located above the lower end opening edge 11a of the cover cylinder 11. A plurality of groove portions 11d are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction. Two groove portions 11d are provided, and are provided one by one at positions facing each other in the radial direction.

[0018] A vertical groove 11f that is recessed upward and opens inward in the radial direction is formed on the top surface 11e of the annular groove 11b. A plurality of vertical grooves 11f are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction. Two vertical grooves 11f are provided, and are provided one by one at positions facing each other in the radial direction. The vertical groove 11f is located in a part of the region along the circumferential direction where the groove portion 11d is provided on the inner surface of the annular groove 11b.

[0019] At the opening peripheral edge of the vertical groove 11f on the top surface 11e, when the first locking projection 19 (described later) of the button 16 moves from a state of abutting against the top surface 11e in the vertical direction (a regulation position described later) to a state of facing the vertical groove 11f in the vertical direction (a release position described later), an overriding projection 11g for overriding in the circumferential direction is formed. The second locking projection 21 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the inner surface of the vertical groove 11f that faces the inner side in the radial direction. The second locking projection 21 is formed at the central portion in the vertical direction on the inner peripheral surface of the vertical groove 11f.

[0020] The button 16 extends downward from the bottom wall of the second housing portion 14 and protrudes downward from the lower end opening of the cover cylinder 11. The peripheral wall of the button 16 is formed in a double cylinder shape having an inner cylinder 16a and an outer cylinder 16b. The inner cylinder 16a is connected to the bottom wall of the second housing portion 14, and the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 16b abuts or is close to the inner peripheral surface of the cover cylinder 11.

[0021] On the button 16, a first locking projection 19 protruding outward in the radial direction is formed. The first locking projection 19 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 16b. A plurality of first locking projections 19 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction. Two first locking projections 19 are provided, and one is provided at a position facing each other in the radial direction. The first locking projection 19 abuts against the top surface 11e of the annular groove 11b of the cover cylinder 11. The radially outer end portion of the first locking projection 19 is inserted into the groove portion 11d so as to be movable in the circumferential direction.

[0022] The button 16 is provided rotatably around the central axis O within the cover cylinder 11 between a regulation position where upward movement with respect to the cover cylinder 11 is regulated and a release position where upward movement with respect to the cover cylinder 11 is possible. In the regulation position, the first locking projection 19 abuts against the top surface 11e of the annular groove 11b of the cover cylinder 11. In the release position, the first locking projection 19 faces the vertical groove 11f in the vertical direction. When the button 16 moves from the regulation position to the release position, the first locking projection 19 overrides the overriding projection 11g in the circumferential direction. In the above process, the radially outer end portion of the first locking projection 19 is inserted into the groove portion 11d.

[0023] With button 16 in the release position, when button 16 is pushed inward toward the inside of the cover cylinder 11, the first locking projection 19 enters the vertical groove 11f, and the first locking projection 19 moves over the second locking projection 21. As shown in Figure 4, when the mixing container 1 is inverted, the cap 15 protrudes downward from inside the cover cylinder 11, and the first locking projection 19 can contact the second locking projection 21 from above.

[0024] The second containment section 14 extends downward from the bottom wall of the first containment section 13. The second agent X2 is contained inside the second containment section 14. At least a portion of the peripheral wall of the second housing section 14 is a deformable section 22 that is elastically deformable in the vertical direction. The deformable section 22 is formed in a bellows shape, but may be formed smoothly. The deformable section 22 is located at the lower part of the peripheral wall of the second housing section 14. The upper part of the peripheral wall of the second housing section 14 is formed thicker than the deformable section 22 and is substantially immobile. The upper part of the peripheral wall of the second housing section 14 is connected to the bottom wall of the first housing section 13.

[0025] A second fixing cylinder 14a is formed on the bottom wall of the second housing section 14, protruding downward and fitted into and fixed to the inner cylinder 16a of the button 16. The second fixing cylinder 14a is arranged coaxially with the central axis O. The bottom wall of the second housing section 14 is provided with a pressing member 25 that, when the deformable portion 22 of the second housing section 14 is deformed in the vertical direction, pushes a plug 23 (described later) upward, opening a through hole 24 formed in the bottom wall of the first housing section 13, thereby connecting the inside of the first housing section 13 and the inside of the second housing section 14. The pressing member 25 is formed in the shape of a top-ended cylinder extending upward from the bottom wall of the second housing section 14 and is arranged coaxially with the central axis O.

[0026] The first agent X1 is housed inside the first housing section 13. A through hole 24 is formed in the bottom wall of the first housing section 13, extending vertically, and a plug 23 is detachably fitted into the through hole 24. The through hole 24 and the plug 23 are arranged coaxially with the central axis O. The plug 23 is formed in the shape of a solid rod. Multiple locking projections 23a are formed at circumferential intervals on the lower end of the plug 23, extending upward as they extend radially outward. A first fixed cylinder 13a is formed on the bottom wall of the first housing section 13, protruding downward and connected to the upper part of the peripheral wall of the second housing section 14.

[0027] Here, the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall of the first housing section 13 is located radially outward from the peripheral wall of the first housing section 13, and the first fixing cylinder 13a extends downward from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall of the first housing section 13. The upper surface of the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall of the first housing section 13 is located below and faces in the vertical direction relative to the first regulating section 18 provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cover cylinder 11. As a result, when the upper portion of the inner member 12 located above the deformable portion 22 is at the upper end position relative to the cover cylinder 11, the upper surface of the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall of the first housing portion 13 abuts against the first restricting portion 18 of the cover cylinder 11 in the vertical direction, restricting further upward movement of the upper portion of the inner member 12. In other words, the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall of the first housing portion 13 is provided on the upper portion of the inner member 12 located above the deformable portion 22, and when the upper portion of the inner member 12 is at the upper end position relative to the cover cylinder 11, it abuts against the first restricting portion 18 of the cover cylinder 11 in the vertical direction, forming a second restricting portion 26 that restricts further upward movement of the upper portion of the inner member 12. The second restricting portion 26 is located radially outward from the peripheral wall of the cap body 27, which will be described later.

[0028] The cap 15 is retractable and closes the upper end opening of the first housing section 13. The cap 15 comprises a cap body 27 and a lid 29. The cap body 27 is formed in a top-cylindrical shape and is fitted over the first housing section 13. The lower end opening edge of the peripheral wall of the cap body 27 abuts against or is close to the upper surface of the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall of the first housing section 13. A discharge hole 15a is formed in the top wall of the cap body 27, which closes the upper end opening of the first housing section 13, and penetrates vertically, opening toward the upper end opening of the first housing section 13. The lid 29 is connected to the cap body 27 via a hinge portion 28 and closes the discharge hole 15a in a way that allows it to be opened. The upper surface of the lid 29 is located at the same vertical position as the upper end opening edge of the cover cylinder 11. The cap 15 may be screwed onto the first housing 13.

[0029] As shown in Figure 1, the cap 15 is surrounded radially from the outside by the cover cylinder 11 over its entire vertical length, and as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first restricting portion 18 and the second restricting portion 26 protrude outward from inside the cover cylinder 11 with them abutting each other in the vertical direction. In the illustrated example, the first restricting portion 18 and the second restricting portion 26 are abutting each other in the vertical direction, and with the button 16 released, the first locking projection 19 is in contact with the second locking projection 21 from above. However, the first locking projection 19 may be separated downward from the second locking projection 21 when the first restricting portion 18 and the second restricting portion 26 are abutting each other in the vertical direction and with the button 16 released.

[0030] Next, we will explain the function of mixing container 1.

[0031] First, the button 16, which is located in the restricted position, is rotated circumferentially relative to the cover cylinder 11 to reach the release position. In this process, the first locking projection 19 slides circumferentially along the top surface 11e of the annular groove 11b, overcomes the overcoming projection 11g in the circumferential direction, and faces the vertical groove 11f in the vertical direction. Next, the button 16 is pushed inward towards the inside of the cover cylinder 11, causing the first locking projection 19 to enter the vertical groove 11f. During this process, the entire inner member 12 rises relative to the cover cylinder 11, with the first locking projection 19 moving upward over the second locking projection 21 in the vertical groove 11f, until the first restricting portion 18 and the second restricting portion 26 abut each other in the vertical direction. When the first restricting portion 18 and the second restricting portion 26 abut each other in the vertical direction, the cap 15 protrudes outward from inside the cover cylinder 11.

[0032] From this state, as shown in Figure 3, when the button 16 is pushed inward toward the inside of the cover cylinder 11, the deformable portion 22 of the peripheral wall of the second housing section 14 deforms in the vertical direction, the pressing member 25 provided on the bottom wall of the second housing section 14 pushes the plug body 23 toward the first housing section 13, and the through hole 24 formed in the bottom wall of the first housing section 13 is opened. As a result, the first containment section 13 and the second containment section 14 are in communication with each other. When the mixing container 1 is inverted, the second agent X2 in the second containment section 14 flows into the first containment section 13 through the through hole 24, and the first agent X1 and the second agent X2 are mixed in the first containment section 13.

[0033] Then, when the button 16 is released, the deformed portion 22 of the peripheral wall of the second housing portion 14 returns to its original shape in the vertical direction, as shown in Figure 4. At this time, with the cap 15 protruding outward from inside the cover cylinder 11, the first locking projection 19 is in contact with the second locking projection 21 from above.

[0034] Next, the lid 29 of the cap 15 protruding from inside the cover cylinder 11 is rotated around the hinge portion 28 to open the discharge hole 15a. Then, the button 16 is pushed inward towards the cover cylinder 11, causing the deformable portion 22 of the peripheral wall of the second housing portion 14 to shrink vertically. This allows pressurized air inside the second housing portion 14 to flow into the first housing portion 13 through the through hole 24, causing the mixture of the first agent X1 and the second agent X2 inside the first housing portion 13 to be discharged from the discharge hole 15a.

[0035] As explained above, with the mixing container 1 according to this embodiment, before the button 16 is pressed inward towards the inside of the cover cylinder 11, the cap 15 is surrounded radially from the outside by the cover cylinder 11 along its entire vertical length, so it is not possible to open the cap 15. Therefore, before the button 16 is pressed inward towards the inside of the cover cylinder 11, that is, before the first agent X1 and the second agent X2 are mixed, the upper end opening of the first housing section 13 cannot be opened. After the button 16 is pressed inward towards the inside of the cover cylinder 11, causing the cap 15 to protrude outward from inside the cover cylinder 11, and the first agent X1 and the second agent X2 are mixed, the cap 15 can be opened because it is protruding outward from inside the cover cylinder 11. Based on the above, it is possible to reliably use the mixture of Agent 1 X1 and Agent 2 X2.

[0036] Since the button 16 is rotatably positioned within the cover cylinder 11 so as to be able to move circumferentially between a restricted position in which upward movement relative to the cover cylinder 11 is restricted and a released position in which upward movement relative to the cover cylinder 11 is possible, even if an unexpected external force is applied to the button 16 in the restricted position, the button 16 is pushed inward towards the cover cylinder 11, preventing the mixing of the first agent X1 and the second agent X2.

[0037] When the mixing container 1 is inverted, as shown in Figure 4, the cap 15 protrudes from inside the cover cylinder 11, and the first locking projection 19 of the button 16 can contact the second locking projection 21 of the cover cylinder 11 from above the first locking projection 19. Therefore, even if the cap 15 protruding from inside the cover cylinder 11 is pushed inward towards the inside of the cover cylinder 11, the first locking projection 19 and the second locking projection 21 will contact each other in the vertical direction, preventing the cap 15 from being surrounded radially from the outside by the cover cylinder 11 along its entire vertical length, as it was before mixing. For example, the cap 15 can be opened and closed repeatedly to dispense the mixture of the first agent X1 and the second agent X2 multiple times.

[0038] Furthermore, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0039] For example, the button 16 may be mounted so as not to rotate relative to the cover cylinder 11. The first locking projection 19 does not need to be formed on the button 16, nor does the second locking projection 21 need to be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cover cylinder 11. The button 16 may be formed integrally with the second housing 14.

[0040] Furthermore, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, the components in the above embodiments may be replaced with well-known components as appropriate, and the above embodiments and modifications may be combined as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1 mixing container 11 Cover tube 12 Inner members 13. First Detention Unit 14. Second Detention Unit 15 caps 16 buttons 18. First Regulatory Department 19 1st locking protrusion 21 Second locking protrusion 22 Deformed part 23 Plug body 24 Through holes 25 Push member 26 Second Regulatory Section X1 First Agent X2 Second Agent

Claims

1. A cover tube that extends vertically, The cover cylinder comprises an inner member that is inserted so as to be movable in the vertical direction, The inner member is, A bottomed cylindrical first housing section in which the first agent is contained, A second container is a bottomed cylindrical container that extends downward from the bottom wall of the first container and contains the second agent inside, A cap that allows the upper end opening of the first housing to be opened and closed, The second storage compartment comprises a button extending downward from the bottom wall, At least a portion of the peripheral wall of the second housing is a deformable portion that can be elastically deformed in the vertical direction. A through hole is formed in the bottom wall of the first housing section, extending vertically. The plug body is detachably fitted into the through hole. The bottom wall of the second housing is provided with a pressing member that, when the deformable portion of the second housing shrinks vertically, pushes the plug upward to open the through hole and connects the inside of the first housing and the inside of the second housing. The inner circumferential surface of the cover cylinder and the upper portion of the inner member located above the deformed portion are provided with a first restricting portion and a second restricting portion, respectively, which abut each other in the vertical direction when the upper portion of the inner member is at the raised end position relative to the cover cylinder, thereby restricting further upward movement of the upper portion of the inner member. A mixing container wherein the cap is surrounded radially from the outside by the cover cylinder over its entire length in the vertical direction, and the first restricting portion and the second restricting portion protrude upward from inside the cover cylinder with the cap abutting against each other in the vertical direction.

2. The mixing container according to claim 1, wherein the button is provided within the cover cylinder so as to be rotatable around the central axis of the cover cylinder, which extends vertically, between a restricted position in which upward movement relative to the cover cylinder is restricted and a release position in which upward movement relative to the cover cylinder is permitted.

3. The aforementioned button has a first locking projection that protrudes radially outward, A second locking projection is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cover cylinder, projecting radially inward, and allowing the first locking projection to move over it upward. The mixing container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cap protrudes upward from the inside of the cover cylinder, and the first locking projection is capable of contacting the second locking projection from below the first locking projection.

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