eye drop container

Abstract

To provide an eye drop container that allows for easy dispensing of multiple types of eye drops without increasing weight or cost. [Solution] The container body has a storage space for containing eye drops and a mouth portion that opens from the storage space and extends in a first direction, and an inner stopper that can be attached to the mouth portion, wherein the inner stopper has a cylindrical nozzle portion that extends in the first direction and is flexible, and a discharge port provided at the tip of the nozzle portion for dispensing the eye drops, wherein the nozzle portion has thick-walled portions provided symmetrically on both sides of a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and thin-walled portions provided symmetrically on both sides of a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an eye drop container.

Background Art

[0002] An eye drop container squeezes (presses in the opposite direction) the vicinity of the central part of the body part in the container body with a plurality of fingers to compress the air in the bottle, and the eye drops are dropped from the discharge port of the middle stopper provided in the upper part of the container body. In squeezing the body part, depending on the combination of fingers for squeezing, the state of holding the container is different, and an unreasonable posture is required when instilling the eye drops. Due to the unreasonable posture, the orientation of the middle stopper cannot be stabilized, the aim is missed, and the eye drops cannot be put into the eye. When the container is emptied, since a very large amount of air needs to be compressed compared to the liquid volume, it is necessary to squeeze with a stronger force than at the start of use, and depending on the orientation of the middle stopper, air may also be pushed out from the middle stopper, so there may be variations in the liquid volume.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a liquid pouring container in which a nozzle cap (middle stopper) having a flexible pressing cylinder and a nozzle cylinder is provided on the container body. In the liquid pouring container of Patent Document 1, it is disclosed that a regulating member is arranged inside the pressing cylinder and a required amount of the content liquid is extruded by regulating the pressing amount of the pressing cylinder. Further, in the liquid pouring container of Patent Document 1, it is disclosed that the discharge amount of the content liquid is adjusted by varying the pressing amount according to the cross-sectional shape of the regulating member.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the liquid dispensing container described in Patent Document 1, a separate regulating member is required, which results in increased weight and cost.

[0006] This invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide an eye drop container that can easily dispense multiple types of eye drops without increasing weight or cost. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention has the following aspects. A container body having a storage space for containing eye drops, and a mouth portion that opens from the storage space and extends in a first direction, An inner stopper that can be attached to the aforementioned opening, Equipped with, The aforementioned stopper is A cylindrical nozzle portion that extends in the first direction and is flexible, The nozzle portion is provided at the tip of which an outlet is provided for dispensing the eye drops, It has, The nozzle portion is Thickened portions are provided symmetrically on both sides of a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, Thin-walled portions are provided symmetrically on both sides of a third direction that is perpendicular to both the first and second directions, An eye drop container having [a certain feature]. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The present invention provides an eye drop container that allows for easy dispensing of predetermined amounts of multiple types of eye drops without increasing weight or cost. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is an exploded perspective view of the eye drop container 1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a front cross-sectional view of the eye drop container 1 in an upright position. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of AA in Figure 1. [Figure 4]This is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the eye drop container 1 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view of the eye drop container 1 according to the first embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the eye drop container of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. The following embodiments represent one aspect of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. They can be modified at will within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention. Furthermore, in the following drawings, the scale and number of components in each structure differ from the actual structure in order to make the components easier to understand.

[0011] [First embodiment of an eye drop container] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the eye drop container 1 according to the first embodiment. Figure 2 is a front cross-sectional view of the eye drop container 1 in an upright position.

[0012] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the eye drop container 1 comprises a container body 10 and an inner stopper 30. The container body 10 is a rectangular parallelepiped with a storage space 11 inside. The container body 10 has a side surface 14 extending in the major axis direction and a side surface 15 extending in the minor axis direction. The container body 10 has a mouth 12. The mouth 12 is cylindrical, extending in a direction along the axis J. The direction along the axis J corresponds to a first direction. The mouth 12 is located on the upper side of the container body 10. The storage space 11 opens into the mouth 12. The storage space 11 may be a shape other than a rectangular parallelepiped, such as a cube, cylinder, or elliptical cylinder.

[0013] In the following description, the direction along axis J (first direction) will be defined as the up-and-down direction, and the shape or positional relationship of each part will be described with the mouth portion 12 side facing upwards relative to the container body 10. However, this definition of the up-and-down direction is merely for the sake of explanation and does not limit the orientation of the eye drop container 1 according to the present invention when in use.

[0014] The material of the container body 10 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include polyethylene terephthalate resin (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), high-density polyethylene resin (HDPE), low-density polyethylene resin (LDPE), polypropylene resin (PP), or glass, metal, etc. Further, the material of the container body 10 preferably has resistance to electron beam sterilization.

[0015] The inner stopper 30 can be attached to the mouth portion 12 of the container body 10. The inner stopper 30 has an introduction space 30a extending in the vertical direction inside. The introduction space 30a communicates with the accommodation space 11 when the inner stopper 30 is attached to the container body 10. The inner stopper 30 is formed of a material that exhibits flexibility. The inner stopper 30 has a press-fitting portion 31, a flange portion 32, a nozzle portion 33, and a discharge port 34. The press-fitting portion 31 is located at the lower end of the inner stopper 30. The press-fitting portion 31 is cylindrical and extends in the direction along the axis J. The press-fitting portion 31 is inserted into the mouth portion 12 from above and press-fitted onto the inner peripheral surface 12a of the mouth portion 12.

[0016] The flange portion 32 is provided at the upper end position of the press-fitting portion 31. The flange portion 32 is annular and protrudes entirely in the radial direction (hereinafter, simply referred to as the "radial direction") centered on the axis J from the outer peripheral surface of the press-fitting portion 31. The flange portion 32 engages with the upper end of the mouth portion 12 from above when the press-fitting portion 31 is press-fitted onto the inner peripheral surface 12a of the mouth portion 12. By press-fitting the press-fitting portion 31 onto the inner peripheral surface 12a of the mouth portion 12 and engaging the flange portion 32 with the upper end of the mouth portion 12, the inner stopper 30 is positioned and attached to the container body 10 in the vertical and radial directions.

[0017] The nozzle portion 33 is cylindrical and extends in the vertical direction. The nozzle portion 33 has a top portion 35, a flow path protrusion 36, a thick portion 41, and a thin portion 42. The top portion 35 is formed in a hemispherical shape and covers the upper end of the nozzle portion 33. The flow path protrusion 36 is cylindrical and extends downward from the top portion 35. The flow path protrusion 36 has a flow path portion 36a penetrating in the vertical direction. The flow path portion 36a communicates with the introduction space 30a at the lower end. The flow path portion 36a is open at the upper end. The flow path portion 36a that is open at the upper end forms the discharge port 34.

[0018] The thick-walled portion 41 and the thin-walled portion 42 are arranged at the same vertical position in the nozzle portion 33. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the inner peripheral surface 33a of the nozzle portion 33 is substantially elliptical with the short diameter direction (second direction) J2 of the side surface 15, which is orthogonal to the direction along the axis J, as the minor axis direction and the long diameter direction (third direction) J3, which is orthogonal to both the direction along the axis J and the short diameter direction, as the major axis direction.

[0019] Since the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle portion 33 is circular and the inner peripheral surface 33a is elliptical, both sides in the short diameter direction J2 across the axis J have the maximum wall thickness, and both sides in the long diameter direction J3 across the axis J have the minimum wall thickness. That is, the thick-walled portions 41 are provided symmetrically with respect to both sides in the short diameter direction J2. The thin-walled portions 42 are provided symmetrically with respect to both sides in the long diameter direction J3.

[0020] Furthermore, the thick-walled portion 41 has a first finger-hooking portion 43 that protrudes with an arcuate cross-section outward in the short diameter direction J2 from the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle portion 33. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first finger-hooking portions 43 are provided at intervals in the vertical direction, and a plurality (three in FIGS. 1 and 2) are provided. The circumferential length of the first finger-hooking portion 43 is formed such that the center is the longest in the vertical direction, and the upper and lower sides in the vertical direction are short. The first finger-hooking portion 43 may be a convex portion such as an arc or an elliptical arc when the eye drop container 1 is viewed from the front.

[0021] In the eye drop container 1 having the above-described configuration, with the discharge port 34 facing downward, by pressing and squeezing both sides of the thick-walled portion 41 or the thin-walled portion 42 across the axis J, for example, with the thumb and the index finger, eye drops corresponding to the deformation amount of the thick-walled portion 41 or the thin-walled portion 42 are dropped from the discharge port 34.

[0022] Since the thick-walled portion 41 or the thin-walled portion 42 is close to the discharge port 34, compression of air can be reduced, and volume change with respect to the dropping amount can be reduced. Therefore, the load required for dropping the eye drops can be reduced. In addition, it becomes possible to minimize the remaining amount of the eye drops accumulated near the discharge port 34 that can be extruded and used when the eye drops are used up.

[0023] When the thick-walled portion 41 is squeezed, the volume change for a given pressure is large, resulting in a faster drop-off time. On the other hand, when the thin-walled portion 42 is squeezed, the volume change for a given pressure is small, resulting in a slower drop-off time. Therefore, by selecting whether to squeeze the thick-walled portion 41 or the thin-walled portion 42, the timing of eye drop dispensing can be selected.

[0024] The flexible inner stopper 30 is made of a soft resin. Examples of soft resins include polyethylene, styrene elastomer, and silicone rubber, as shown in Table 1. High-density polyethylene resin (HDPE) has a relatively high elastic modulus, making it difficult to press even if the thickness of the nozzle portion 33 is made thin. Silicone rubber tends to adsorb the components of eye drops more easily than low-density polyethylene resin (LDPE) and styrene elastomer. Furthermore, it is preferable that the material of the inner stopper 30 has resistance to electron beam sterilization. For these reasons, low-density polyethylene resin (LDPE) and styrene elastomer are more preferable as soft resins.

[0025] [Table 1]

[0026] To facilitate pressing on the outer surface of the nozzle portion 33, two-color molding is possible, in which only the pressing portion is formed from soft resin and the other parts are formed from hard resin. However, two-color molding is a complex molding process and tends to increase packaging costs, so molding with soft resin only is preferable.

[0027] As described above, the eye drop container 1 of this embodiment has a flexible nozzle portion 33 which has thick-walled portions 41 provided symmetrically on both sides in the short-axis direction J2 and thin-walled portions 42 provided symmetrically on both sides in the long-axis direction J3. Since the timing of dispensing can be adjusted by using the difference in wall thickness, it is possible to select a dispensing timing suitable for the eye drop without having to provide a separate member to change the amount of pressure applied during squeezing. Therefore, the eye drop container 1 of this embodiment makes it possible to easily dispense multiple types of eye drops without increasing weight or cost.

[0028] Furthermore, in the eye drop container 1 of this embodiment, the first finger grip portion 43 is provided on the thick-walled portion 41, making it easy to operate by gripping the finger when squeezing the thick-walled portion 41, which has a large load when pressed. In addition, in the eye drop container 1 of this embodiment, the first finger grip portion 43 is provided only on the thick-walled portion 41, making it easy to distinguish between the thick-walled portion 41 and the thin-walled portion 42.

[0029] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4 as a modified example, the inner circumferential surface 33a of the nozzle portion 33 may be made into a substantially elliptical shape, with the minor axis direction J2 of the side surface 15 perpendicular to the direction along the axis J being the major axis direction, and the major axis direction J3 perpendicular to both the direction along the axis J and the aforementioned minor axis direction being the minor axis direction. This makes it possible to have a thin-walled section 42 in the short-axis direction J2 and a thick-walled section 41 in the long-axis direction J3.

[0030] [Second embodiment of the eye drop container] Next, a second embodiment of the eye drop container 1 will be described with reference to Figure 5. In this figure, elements identical to those in the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0031] In this embodiment, the nozzle portion 33 has a circular cross-section on its inner circumferential surface 33a. Furthermore, the nozzle portion 33 has a second finger grip portion 44 that is recessed inward in the long axis direction J3 from the outer peripheral surface. Because the nozzle portion 33 has a second finger grip portion 44 recessed inward in the long axis direction J3, the wall thickness is reduced on both sides of the long axis direction J3. Therefore, in this embodiment, by having a second finger grip portion 44 recessed inward in the long axis direction J3, thin-walled portions 42 are provided symmetrically on both sides of the long axis direction J3. The other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment described above.

[0032] In the eye drop container 1 of this embodiment, in addition to obtaining the same functions and effects as in the first embodiment, the cross-section of the inner circumferential surface 33a of the nozzle portion 33 is circular, so the cross-section of the mold member that forms the introduction space 30a in the mold for injection molding the nozzle portion 33 is also circular, making manufacturing easier. Furthermore, since the thin-walled portion 42 is formed by the second finger grip portion 44, it becomes easy to operate by gripping the thin-walled portion 42 with a finger when squeezing it.

[0033] Furthermore, in the eye drop container 1 of this embodiment, a convex first finger rest 43 is provided on the thick-walled portion 41, and a concave second finger rest 44 is provided on the thin-walled portion 42, making it easier to distinguish between the thick-walled portion 41 and the thin-walled portion 42.

[0034] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these examples. The shapes and combinations of the constituent members shown in the above examples are merely examples, and can be modified in various ways based on design requirements, etc., without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0035] For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, a configuration was illustrated in which thick-walled portions 41 are provided symmetrically on both sides in the minor axis direction J2, and thin-walled portions 42 are provided symmetrically on both sides in the major axis direction J3, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the configuration may include thin-walled portions 42 arranged symmetrically on both sides in the minor axis direction J2, and thick-walled portions 41 arranged symmetrically on both sides in the major axis direction J3.

[0036] This disclosure includes the following aspects: [1] An eye drop container comprising: a container body having a storage space for containing eye drops and a mouth portion that opens from the storage space and extends in a first direction; and an inner stopper that can be attached to the mouth portion, wherein the inner stopper has a cylindrical nozzle portion that extends in the first direction and is flexible, and a discharge port provided at the tip of the nozzle portion for dispensing the eye drops, wherein the nozzle portion has thick-walled portions provided symmetrically on both sides of a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and thin-walled portions provided symmetrically on both sides of a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions. [2] The eye drop container according to [1], wherein the thick-walled portion has a first finger grip portion that protrudes outward in the second direction from the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle portion, and the thin-walled portion has a second finger grip portion that is recessed inward in the third direction from the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle portion. [3] The eye drop container according to [1] or [2], wherein the inner stopper is made of a soft resin. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0037] 1…Eye drop container, 10…Container body, 11…Storage space, 12…Opening, 30…Inner stopper, 33…Nozzle, 34…Discharge port, 41…Thick-walled section, 42…Thin-walled section, 43…First finger rest, 44…Second finger rest, J…Direction along the axis (first direction), J2…Short axis direction (second direction), J3…Long axis direction (third direction)

Claims

1. A container body having a storage space for containing eye drops, and a mouth portion that opens up the storage space and extends in a first direction, An inner stopper that can be attached to the aforementioned opening, Equipped with, The aforementioned stopper is A cylindrical nozzle portion that extends in the first direction and is flexible, The nozzle portion is provided at the tip of which an outlet is provided for dispensing the eye drops, It has, The nozzle portion is Thickened portions are provided symmetrically on both sides of a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, Thin-walled portions are provided symmetrically on both sides of a third direction that is perpendicular to both the first and second directions, An eye drop container having [a certain feature].

2. The thickened portion has a first finger grip portion that protrudes outward in the second direction from the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle portion. The thin-walled portion has a second finger grip portion that is recessed inward in the third direction from the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle portion. An eye drop container according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned stopper is made of soft resin. An eye drop container according to claim 1 or 2.

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