Dropper container

Abstract

The present invention provides a dropper container that prevents the contents from drying out when the dropper is removed from the container body, and also prevents the contents from spilling out when the container body is tipped over. [Solution] The dropper container 1 comprises a bottomed cylindrical container body 2 for containing contents 100, an insertion tube 3 attached to the mouth 2a of the container body 2 and extending toward the bottom of the container body 2, and a dropper 4 housed in the insertion tube 3 so as to be insertable and removable. The insertion tube 3 comprises a communication hole 3a that connects the inside of the insertion tube 3 to the inside of the container body 2, a valve seat 55 provided on the lower opening periphery of the communication hole 3a, a valve body 61 that abuts the valve seat 55 so as to be able to move away from it from below, and a sealing portion (seal cylinder 56) that is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the dropper 4. On the upper surface of the valve body 61, a protrusion 64 is formed on the inside of the portion that abuts the valve seat 55 when the dropper 4 is housed in the insertion tube 3, abutting the lower end opening edge of the dropper 4 and forming a gap S2 between the valve seat 55 and the valve body 61.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, a dropper container having a dropper has been used. This dropper container has a container body having a mouth portion, a cap detachably attached to the mouth portion, and a dropper attached to the cap.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the above conventional dropper container, when the dropper is removed from the container body and the contents in the container body are in contact with the outside air for a long time, the contents may dry out. Further, when the container body falls over with the dropper removed from the container body, there is a risk that the contents will spill out.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a dropper container that can suppress drying of the contents when the dropper is removed from the container body and can also suppress spilling of the contents due to tipping over of the container body.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] (1) The dropper container according to the present invention comprises a bottomed cylindrical container body for containing contents, an insertion tube attached to the mouth of the container body and extending toward the bottom of the container body, and a dropper housed in the insertion tube so as to be insertable and removable, wherein the insertion tube comprises a communication hole that connects the inside of the insertion tube to the inside of the container body, a valve seat provided on the lower opening periphery of the communication hole, a valve body that abuts the valve seat so as to be able to move away from below, and a sealing portion that is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the dropper, wherein at least one of the inner side of the portion that abuts the valve seat on the upper surface of the valve body and the lower end opening edge of the dropper has a protrusion formed thereon that abuts the other of the inner side of the portion that abuts the valve seat on the upper surface of the valve body and the lower end opening edge of the dropper when the dropper is housed in the insertion tube, thereby forming a gap between the valve seat and the valve body.

[0007] According to the dropper container of the present invention, when a dropper is inserted into the insertion tube attached to the mouth of the container body, the lower end of the dropper pushes down the valve body inside the insertion tube, opening the communication hole. At this time, a gap is formed between the dropper and the valve body by a protrusion, and the lower end opening of the dropper is not blocked by the valve body, so the dropper can draw up the contents from the container body through the communication hole. When the dropper used to draw up the contents is pulled up, the valve body contacts the valve seat from below, closing the communication hole. This prevents outside air from coming into contact with the contents inside the container even after the dropper is removed from the container body. This prevents the contents inside the container body from drying out. Furthermore, even if the container body is tipped over in this state, spillage of the contents can be prevented.

[0008] (2) The sealing portion may be composed of a sealing cylinder that extends upward from the upper opening periphery of the communication hole and is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the lower end of the dropper.

[0009] In this case, the sealing cylinder closely fits the outer surface of the lower end of the dropper, limiting the flow path from the container body to the dropper, and more reliably suppressing contact between the outside air (air) inside the insertion tube (between the insertion tube and the dropper tube) and the contents. Furthermore, the tight seal of the cylinder prevents the contents from adhering to the outer surface of the dropper other than the lower end, making it less likely to contaminate the surrounding area when inserting or removing the dropper. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The dropper container according to the present invention suppresses the drying of the contents when the dropper is removed from the container body, and also suppresses the spillage of the contents when the container body is tipped over. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a dropper container according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the process of removing the dropper from the container body in a dropper container according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] The following describes a dropper container according to one embodiment, based on the drawings.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the dropper container 1 comprises a bottomed cylindrical container body 2 for containing the contents 100, an insertion tube 3 attached to the mouth 2a of the container body 2 and extending toward the bottom of the container body 2, and a dropper 4 housed in the insertion tube 3 so as to be insertable and removable. The dropper 4 comprises a dropper tube 10, an operating member 20, a cap 30, and a first sealing member 40.

[0014] The components of the dropper container 1 in this embodiment are made of resin material. In other words, the dropper container 1 in this embodiment does not have any metal members. The container body 2 contains, for example, contents 100 that do not want to come into contact with air. Examples of these contents 100 include drugs applied to the human body (skin), liquid cosmetics, etc.

[0015] In this embodiment, the central axes of the container body 2, the insertion tube 3, and the dropper 4 are located on a common axis. Hereinafter, this common axis will be referred to as the container axis O, the bottom side of the container body 2 along the direction of the container axis (the lower side in Figure 1) will be referred to as the lower side, and the mouth 2a side of the container body 2 along the direction of the container axis (the upper side in Figure 1) will be referred to as the upper side. When viewed from the direction of the container axis, the direction intersecting the container axis O will be referred to as the radial direction, and the direction revolving around the container axis O will be referred to as the circumferential direction.

[0016] As shown in Figure 1, the dropper tube 10 extends vertically along the container axis O. An annular projection 11 is formed at the upper end of the dropper tube 10, projecting radially outward and fitting into the operating member 20. The upper end of the dropper tube 10 is located above the upper opening of the insertion tube 3. The lower end of the dropper tube 10 is located inside the insertion tube 3.

[0017] The operating member 20 is formed in a top-cylindrical shape. An annular groove 21 is formed on the inner wall surface of the lower end of the operating member 20, into which the annular projection 11 of the dropper tube 10 fits. The operating member 20 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer. The operating member 20 forms an operating space S1 that communicates with the inside of the dropper tube 10. A flange 22 extending radially outward is formed at the lower end of the operating member 20.

[0018] The cap 30 has a cylindrical cap circumferential wall 31 extending along the container axis O, and a cap top wall 32 extending radially inward from the upper end of the cap circumferential wall 31. The cap circumferential wall 31 is attached to a threaded cylinder portion 52 provided at the upper end of the insertion tube 3. In this embodiment, the female thread portion formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cap circumferential wall 31 is screwed onto the male thread portion formed on the outer circumferential surface of the threaded cylinder portion 52.

[0019] The cap top wall 32 is annular in plan view. In other words, the cap top wall 32 is provided with a through-hole penetrating in the vertical direction. Inside the through-hole, the operation member 20 is inserted. At the inner edge of the cap top wall 32, a contact portion 33 is provided which contacts the upper surface of the flange 22 of the operation member 20 from above.

[0020] The first seal member 40 is formed in a disc shape, and the dropper tube 10 is inserted through the center thereof. The first seal member 40 fits on the inner wall surface of the cap peripheral wall 31 above the female screw portion and contacts the lower surface of the flange 22 from below. The flange 22 is sandwiched vertically between the cap top wall 32 and the first seal member 40. Thereby, the dropper tube 10, the operation member 20, the cap 30, and the first seal member 40 are integrated and can be inserted into and removed from the insertion tube 3.

[0021] The insertion tube 3 includes a mounting cylinder portion 50, an annular portion 51, a screwing cylinder portion 52, and a main body cylinder portion 53. The mounting cylinder portion 50 is mounted on the mouth portion 2a of the container body 2. The mounting cylinder portion 50 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending along the container axis O and is undercut and fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 2a. The annular portion 51 extends radially inward from the upper end portion of the mounting cylinder portion 50.

[0022] The annular portion 51 is disposed on the upper end opening edge of the mouth portion 2a inside the container body 2. A second seal member 41 is provided on the lower surface of the annular portion 51. The second seal member 41 is sandwiched vertically between the lower surface of the annular portion 51 and the upper end opening edge of the mouth portion 2a inside the container body 2. The screwing cylinder portion 52 extends upward from the inner peripheral edge of the annular portion 51. A male screw to which the cap 30 is screwed is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the screwing cylinder portion 52.

[0023] The main body cylindrical portion 53 extends downward from the inner peripheral edge of the annular portion 51 toward the bottom of the container body 2. A plurality of vertical ribs for guiding the dropper tube 10 are provided on the inner wall surface of the main body cylindrical portion 53. A partition wall 54 extending radially inward is provided on the inner wall surface of the lower end portion of the main body cylindrical portion 53. A communication hole 3a for communicating the inside of the insertion tube 3 and the inside of the container body 2 is formed at the central portion of the partition wall 54.

[0024] A valve seat 55 is provided at the peripheral edge of the lower opening of the communication hole 3a. The valve seat 55 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending downward from the lower surface of the partition wall 54. Also, a seal portion (seal cylinder 56) that is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the dropper 4 (dropper tube 10) is provided at the peripheral edge of the upper opening of the communication hole 3a. The seal cylinder 56 extends upward from the upper surface of the partition wall 54, and its inner wall surface is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lower end portion of the dropper tube 10. The inner wall surface of the seal cylinder 56 has a tapered shape that tapers downward.

[0025] A valve member 60 is provided below the partition wall 54 of the main body cylindrical portion 53. The valve member 60 includes a valve body 61, elastic arms 62, and a fitting cylinder 63. The fitting cylinder 63 is fitted to the inner wall surface below the partition wall 54 within the main body cylindrical portion 53. A plurality of elastic arms 62 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction on the inner wall surface of the fitting cylinder 63. The elastic arms 62 are connected to the outer peripheral edge of the valve body 61 at intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0026] Thus, the valve member 60 of the present embodiment is a multi-point valve (for example, a three-point valve) having a plurality of elastic arms 62. However, the valve member 60 is not limited to a multi-point valve, and a known valve structure (check valve) may be appropriately adopted. The valve body 61 is formed in a disc shape in a plan view and closes the communication hole 3a in a manner that can be opened by seating so as to be separable from the valve seat 55 from below.

[0027] On the upper surface of the valve body 61, a protrusion 64 is formed on the inside of the contact portion (ring portion) with the valve seat 55, creating a gap S2 between the valve seat 55 and the valve body 61. Multiple protrusions 64 (for example, three) are formed circumferentially at intervals on the portion facing the lower end opening edge of the dropper tube 10 in the vertical direction. By attaching the cap circumferential wall 31 of the dropper 4 to the threaded cylindrical portion 52 of the insertion tube 3, the lower end opening edge of the dropper tube 10 comes into contact with the protrusions 64, and the valve body 61 is pushed down against the valve seat 55, creating a gap S2. At this time, the lower end opening of the dropper tube 10 is not closed by the upper surface of the valve body 61, and the inside of the container body 2 and the inside of the dropper tube 10 are connected via the circumferentially adjacent protrusions 64. The protrusions 64 may also be provided on the lower end opening edge of the dropper tube 10. Furthermore, the shape and number of protrusions 64 are not particularly limited.

[0028] Next, we will explain the operation of the dropper container 1 configured as described above.

[0029] Before using the dropper container 1, as shown in Figure 1, the lower end of the dropper tube 10 is located inside the sealing cylinder 56, and the lower end of the dropper tube 10 is sealed all around. Also, the lower end of the dropper tube 10 is in contact with the protrusion 64, and a gap S2 is formed between the valve seat 55 and the valve body 61.

[0030] To use this dropper container 1, first, the operating member 20 is compressed. This reduces the volume of the working space S1, and the air held in the dropper tube 10 is introduced into the container body 2 through the gap S2 between the valve seat 55 and the valve body 61. When the operating member 20 returns to its original shape, the volume of the working space S1 increases, and this time the contents 100 in the container body 2 are drawn up through the gap S2 between the valve seat 55 and the valve body 61. In this way, the air in the dropper tube 10 can be replaced with the contents 100 in the container body 2. Because only a limited amount of air is introduced into the container body 2 through this replacement, even if the contents 100 come into contact with this small amount of air, deterioration such as oxidation will be limited.

[0031] When the cap 30 is rotated in the loosening direction relative to the container body 2, the dropper tube 10 rises together with the cap 30. As a result, as shown in Figure 2, the valve body 61 seats on the valve seat 55 due to the biasing force of the elastic arm 62. At this time, the protrusion 64 is positioned on the upper surface of the valve body 61, inside the contact portion with the valve seat 55, and therefore does not obstruct the seating of the valve body 61. This ensures that the communication hole 3a is reliably closed. Therefore, after the dropper 4 is removed from the container body 2, it is possible to prevent the contents 100 inside the container body 2 from being exposed to the outside air.

[0032] As described above, with the dropper container 1 of this embodiment, when the dropper 4 is inserted into the insertion tube 3 attached to the mouth 2a of the container body 2, the lower end of the dropper 4 pushes down the valve body 61 inside the insertion tube 3, opening the communication hole 3a. At this time, a gap S2 is formed between the dropper 4 and the valve body 61 by the protrusion 64, and the lower end opening of the dropper 4 is not blocked by the valve body 61, so the dropper 4 can draw up the contents 100 from the container body 2 through the communication hole 3a. When the dropper 4, which has drawn up the contents 100, is pulled up, the valve body 61 contacts the valve seat 55 from below, closing the communication hole 3a. Therefore, even if the dropper 4 is removed from the container body 2, it is possible to prevent outside air (air) inside the insertion tube 3 from coming into contact with the contents 100 inside the container body 2. This prevents the contents 100 inside the container body 2 from drying out. Furthermore, even if the container body 2 is knocked over in this state, spillage of the contents 100 can be prevented.

[0033] Thus, the dropper container 1 comprises a bottomed cylindrical container body 2 for containing the contents 100, an insertion tube 3 attached to the mouth 2a of the container body 2 and extending toward the bottom inside the container body 2, and a dropper 4 housed in the insertion tube 3 so as to be insertable and removable. The insertion tube 3 has a communication hole 3a that connects the inside of the insertion tube 3 to the inside of the container body 2, a valve seat 55 provided on the lower opening periphery of the communication hole 3a, and a valve body 61 that abuts the valve seat 55 so as to be able to move away from it from below, and The pipette 4 is equipped with a sealing portion (sealing cylinder 56) that is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the pipette 4. On the upper surface of the valve body 61, at least one of the contact portion with the valve seat 55 and the lower end opening edge of the pipette 4 has a protrusion 64 that contacts the other of the two when the pipette 4 is housed in the insertion tube 3, forming a gap between the valve seat 55 and the valve body 61. This configuration suppresses the drying of the contents 100 when the pipette 4 is removed from the container body 2, and also suppresses the spillage of the contents 100 when the container body 2 is tipped over.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the sealing portion is composed of a sealing cylinder 56 that extends upward from the upper opening periphery of the communication hole 3a and is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the lower end of the dropper 4. With this configuration, the sealing cylinder 56 is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the lower end of the dropper 4, which limits the flow path from inside the container body 2 to inside the dropper 4, and more reliably suppresses contact between the outside air (air) inside the insertion tube 3 (between the insertion tube 3 and the dropper tube 10) and the contents 100. In addition, because the contents 100 does not adhere to the outer circumferential surface of the dropper 4 other than the lower end due to the close contact of the sealing cylinder 56, it becomes less likely to contaminate the surroundings when inserting or removing the dropper 4.

[0035] 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.

[0036] For example, in the above embodiment, a sealing cylinder 56 was exemplified as the sealing portion, but the configuration is not limited to this. The sealing portion may be, for example, an elastic film or elastic piece that closely contacts the outer circumferential surface of the central portion in the vertical direction of the dropper tube 10, or a sealing ring that closely contacts the outer circumferential edge of the lower end surface of the dropper tube 10 from below, radially outward from the protrusion 64. Furthermore, for example, the dropper container 1 may be equipped with an automatic suction mechanism for the contents 100, as described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2024-033938.

[0037] Furthermore, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, the components in the above-described embodiments may be replaced with well-known components as appropriate, and the above-described embodiments and modifications may be combined as appropriate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 1 Dropper container 2. Container body 2a Mouth 3. Insertion tube 3a Communication hole 4. Dropper 10 Dropper tubes 11 Annular projection 20 Operating members 21 Annular groove 22 Flange 30 caps 31 Cap surrounding wall 32 Cap top wall 33 Contact part 40 First sealing member 41 Second sealing member 50 Mounting cylinder part 51 Ring section 52 Threaded tube part 53 Main body cylindrical section 54 Bulkhead 55 valve seats 56. Sealing section (sealing tube) 60 Valve member 61 Valve body 62 Elastic Arms 63 Fitting cylinder 64 Convex part 100 Contents O Container axis S1 Working Space S2 Gap

Claims

1. A bottomed cylindrical container body for holding the contents, An insertion tube is attached to the mouth of the container body and extends toward the bottom inside the container body, The insertion tube includes a dropper that is removably housed within it, The aforementioned insertion tube is A communication hole that connects the inside of the insertion tube and the inside of the container body, A valve seat provided at the lower opening periphery of the communication hole, A valve body that abuts the valve seat from below so as to be able to move away from it, The dropper is equipped with a sealing portion that is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface, On the upper surface of the valve body, at least one of the inner side of the contact portion with the valve seat and the lower end opening edge of the dropper is formed a protrusion that, when the dropper is housed in the insertion tube, contacts the other of the inner side of the contact portion with the valve seat on the upper surface of the valve body and the lower end opening edge of the dropper, thereby forming a gap between the valve seat and the valve body. Dropper container.

2. The sealing portion is composed of a sealing cylinder that extends upward from the upper opening periphery of the communication hole and is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the lower end of the dropper. The dropper container according to claim 1.

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