Container with grinder
The integrated design of the container with a mill reduces parts and enhances operability by allowing selective discharge of contents through a biasing member and locking mechanism, addressing the complexity of conventional designs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- YOSHINO KOGYOSHO CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-02-28
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-09
Smart Images

Figure 2026116097000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a container with a mill.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, for example, with the pushing operation of an operating member, while allowing the content to enter from inside the container body between a first tooth part and a second tooth part, the content is crushed and discharged by the first tooth part and the second tooth part. A container with a mill is known.
Prior Art Document
Patent Document
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] However, in the conventional container with a mill, there is room for improvement in suppressing the number of parts.
[0005] The present invention provides a container with a mill that can suppress the number of parts and improve the operability.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] A container with a mill according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: an outer cylindrical member having a radially opening window hole, which is attached to the mouth of a container body that contains contents and is in an inverted position; an inner member provided inside the outer cylindrical member and having a communicating cylinder facing the window hole radially; and an operating member provided in a storage chamber located inside the outer cylindrical member between the window hole and the communicating cylinder, wherein the upper end opening of the communicating cylinder opens into the mouth, and the lower parts of the outer cylindrical member and the operating member are respectively provided with a first tooth portion and a second tooth portion that are close to each other in the radial direction of the opening of the window hole, thereby openingly closing the lower end opening of the communicating cylinder, and the operating The lower part of the operating member is rotatably supported by at least one of the outer cylinder member and the inner member such that the upper part of the operating member extends and retracts radially through the window opening. When the upper part of the operating member is pushed inward into the containment chamber, the second teeth move downward in proximity to the first teeth, allowing contents to enter from the opening between the first and second teeth, while the contents are crushed and discharged by the first and second teeth. When the upper part of the operating member moves outward from the window opening, the second teeth move upward and apart from the first teeth, thereby opening the lower end opening of the communication cylinder.
[0007] When the upper part of the operating member is pushed inward towards the containment chamber, the contents are introduced from inside the opening between the first teeth of the outer cylinder member and the second teeth of the operating member, and are crushed and discharged by the first and second teeth. On the other hand, when the upper part of the operating member is moved outward through the window, the second teeth move upward and separate from the first teeth, opening the lower end opening of the communication cylinder that communicates with the inside of the opening, and the contents are discharged from the lower end opening of the communication cylinder without being crushed. Therefore, it becomes possible to select the form of the contents to be discharged depending on the direction in which the operating member is operated relative to the containment chamber, thereby improving operability. Since this type of mill-equipped container has one outer cylinder member, one inner member, and one operating member, the number of parts can be reduced.
[0008] The housing chamber is provided with a biasing member that biases the upper part of the operating member toward the outside of the housing chamber, and a locking portion may be formed on the upper part of the operating member that is detachably locked toward the outside of the housing chamber at the opening edge of the window hole on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder member.
[0009] Since the housing chamber is provided with a biasing member that biases the upper part of the operating member toward the outside of the housing chamber, when the upper part of the operating member is pushed toward the inside of the housing chamber, causing the biasing member to shrink and deform, and then this push is released, the biasing member returns to its original position as it deforms, thereby improving operability. A locking portion is formed on the upper part of the operating member, which is detachably locked toward the outside of the storage chamber at the periphery of the opening of the window hole on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder member. Therefore, the biasing member presses the locking portion against the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder member, thereby suppressing relative movement between the operating member and the outer cylinder member when the mill-equipped container is in standby mode.
[0010] A locking projection is formed on the upper end of the opening periphery of the window hole on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder member, projecting toward the inside of the housing chamber. The locking portion projects toward the outside of the housing chamber from the upper part of the operating member and engages with the locking projection from above. At least one of the locking projection and the locking portion may be provided so as to be elastically displaceable in the vertical direction.
[0011] A locking projection is formed on the upper end of the opening periphery of the window hole on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder member, projecting toward the inside of the containment chamber. The locking portion of the operating member engages with the locking projection from above, and at least one of the locking projection and the locking portion is provided to be elastically displaceable in the vertical direction. Therefore, when the operating member is rotated relative to the outer cylinder member and the inner member while being pulled down, the locking portion of the operating member moves over the locking projection of the outer cylinder member downwards, and the upper part of the operating member is pushed toward the outside of the containment chamber by the biasing member. This improves operability and reliably prevents the upper part of the operating member from unintentionally moving toward the outside of the containment chamber when the mill-equipped container is in standby mode.
[0012] The first tooth portion and the second tooth portion are each configured with a tooth tip portion and a tooth groove portion connected in the vertical direction, and a through hole extending in the opening direction may be formed in the tooth groove portion of at least one of the first tooth portion and the second tooth portion.
[0013] Since a through-hole extending in the opening direction is formed in the tooth groove of at least one of the first tooth portion and the second tooth portion, even if the contents crushed by the first tooth portion and the second tooth portion try to remain and accumulate in the tooth groove, these contents can be pushed out of the tooth groove through the through-hole by newly crushed contents, thereby preventing clogging. [Effects of the Invention]
[0014] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the number of parts can be reduced and operability can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0015] [Figure 1] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a container with a mill in one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 shows the operating member in a state where the upper part is pushed inward towards the inside of the storage chamber. [Figure 3] Figure 1 shows the state in which the upper part of the operating member has been moved outward from the window opening. [Figure 4] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a mill-equipped container in another embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0016] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figure 1, the mill-equipped container 1 of this embodiment comprises a container body 11, an outer cylindrical member 12, an inner member 13, an operating member 14, and a biasing member 15. These 11 to 15 are each integrally formed. The container body 11 and the outer cylindrical member 12 are arranged coaxially with the common axis.
[0017] Hereinafter, this common axis is referred to as the container axis O, the direction along the container axis O is referred to as the vertical direction, the direction intersecting the container axis O as viewed from the vertical direction is referred to as the radial direction, and the direction of orbiting around the container axis O as viewed from the vertical direction is referred to as the circumferential direction.
[0018] The container body 11 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a mouth portion 11a. A male screw portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 11a. The container body 11 contains contents. The container 1 with a mill is used in a state where the container body 11 is in an inverted posture such that the mouth portion 11a faces downward. Hereinafter, the bottom side of the container body 11 along the container axis O is referred to as the upper side, and the mouth portion 11a side along the container axis O is referred to as the lower side.
[0019] The outer cylinder member 12 is attached to the mouth portion 11a and extends downward from the mouth portion 11a. A lid body 29 is detachably fitted inside the lower end portion of the outer cylinder member 12. In the outer cylinder member 12, the upper end portion has a larger diameter than the lower portion located below the upper end portion. The upper end portion of the outer cylinder member 12 is externally fitted to the mouth portion 11a. A female screw portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the upper end portion of the outer cylinder member 12, and this female screw portion is screwed with the male screw portion of the mouth portion 11a. A window hole 12a that opens in the radial direction is formed in the outer cylinder member 12. The window hole 12a is formed in the lower portion of the outer cylinder member 12. The window hole 12a is located above the lower end opening edge of the outer cylinder member 12. A locking projection piece 23 that protrudes toward the inside of the accommodation chamber X is formed at the upper end portion of the opening peripheral edge portion of the window hole 12a on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder member 12.
[0020] Hereinafter, in the opening direction of the window hole 12a, the side where the window hole 12a is located with respect to the container axis O is referred to as the rear side (outside the accommodation chamber X), and the opposite side is referred to as the front side (inside the accommodation chamber X). In the radial direction, the direction orthogonal to the opening direction of the window hole 12a is referred to as the left-right direction.
[0021] The inner member 13 is provided and fixed inside the outer cylinder member 12. The inner member 13 has a communication cylinder 16 that extends in the vertical direction. The upper end opening of the communication cylinder 16 opens into the mouth portion 11a. The communication cylinder 16 faces the window hole 12a at a distance in front of it. The communication cylinder 16 abuts against the front end of the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder member 12, which faces the window hole 12a in the front-rear direction. In a vertical cross-sectional view along the vertical direction, the rear part of the upper end opening of the communication cylinder 16 extends downward as it moves forward. A support cylinder 28 extending towards the rear is formed at the lower part of the communication cylinder 16. The rear end opening edge of the support cylinder 28 is set forward from the window hole 12a. In a vertical cross-sectional view along the vertical direction, the rear end opening edge of the support cylinder 28 extends backward from the top to the bottom.
[0022] The operating member 14 is located inside the outer cylinder member 12 in a housing chamber X situated between the window hole 12a and the communication cylinder 16. A locking portion 21 is formed on the upper part of the operating member 14, which is detachably locked to the opening edge of the window hole 12a on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder member 12, with the locking portion 21 protruding rearward from the upper part of the operating member 14 and engaging with the locking projection 23 of the outer cylinder member 12 from above the locking projection 23. At least one of the locking projection 23 and the locking portion 21 is provided to be elastically displaceable in the vertical direction. The lower part of the operating member 14 is rotatably supported by at least one of the outer cylinder member 12 and the inner member 13, such that the upper part of the operating member 14 extends and retracts in the front-to-back direction through the window hole 12a.
[0023] The operating member 14 comprises a main plate portion 17, a side plate portion 18, and a connecting plate portion 19.
[0024] The main plate portion 17 is formed in a plate shape with its front and back surfaces facing in the front-to-back direction, and covers the entire area of the window hole 12a except for the upper end. The upper end of the main plate portion 17 is provided with a locking piece 22 that covers the upper end of the window hole 12a and has a locking portion 21. The locking piece 22 comprises a lower horizontal plate portion 22a extending forward from the upper end of the main plate portion 17, a front plate portion 22b extending upward from the front end of the lower horizontal plate portion 22a, an upper horizontal plate portion 22c extending backward from the upper end of the front plate portion 22b, and a rear plate portion 22d extending downward from the rear end of the upper horizontal plate portion 22c.
[0025] The locking portion 21 protrudes rearward from the connection point between the upper horizontal plate portion 22c and the rear plate portion 22d. The front surface of the lower end of the rear plate portion 22d faces the rear surface of the upper end of the main plate portion 17 in the front-rear direction. The connection point between the lower horizontal plate portion 22a and the front plate portion 22b has a curved shape that protrudes diagonally downward in a vertical cross-sectional view along the vertical direction, facing forward.
[0026] By pulling down the rear plate portion 22d, the locking piece 22 elastically deforms so that the locking portion 21 is elastically displaced downward. When the operating member 14 rotates around the rotation axis 18a, which will be described later, and the upper part of the operating member 14 moves forward, as shown in Figure 2, the connection between the front plate portion 22b and the upper horizontal plate portion 22c abuts against the rear end of the communication cylinder 16, thereby restricting the upper part of the operating member 14 from rotating further forward. At this time, the connection between the lower horizontal plate portion 22a and the front plate portion 22b is located above the support cylinder 28.
[0027] The side plate portion 18 is formed in a plate shape with its front and back surfaces facing left and right, and extends forward from the lower part of the main plate portion 17. The side plate portions 18 are provided separately at both ends of the main plate portion 17 in the left and right directions. The side plate portion 18 has a rotating shaft 18a that protrudes outward in the left and right directions and is rotatably supported by at least one of the outer cylinder member 12 and the inner member 13. The rotating shaft 18a is located in front of the locking portion 21.
[0028] The connecting plate portion 19 extends forward from the lower part of the main plate portion 17 and connects the left and right pair of side plate portions 18 in the left-right direction. The connecting plate portion 19 extends downward as it moves forward. In a vertical cross-sectional view along the vertical direction, the connecting plate portion 19 exhibits a curved shape that protrudes diagonally upward towards the front. The front and back surfaces of the lower end (plate portion) of the connecting plate portion 19 are oriented in the front-back direction.
[0029] The biasing member 15 is provided in the housing chamber X and biases the upper part of the operating member 14 toward the rear. In the illustrated example, the biasing member 15 biases the upper part of the operating member 14 toward the rear from a waiting state before pushing the upper part of the operating member 14 toward the front. The biasing member 15 is a coil spring extending in the front-rear direction. The rear end of the biasing member 15 is supported on the front surface of the main plate portion 17 of the operating member 14, above the connecting plate portion 19. The front end of the biasing member 15 is inserted into the support cylinder 28 and supported on the outer circumferential surface of the communication cylinder 16.
[0030] Here, the lower parts of the outer cylinder member 12 and the operating member 14 are respectively provided with a first tooth portion 24 and a second tooth portion 25 that are close to each other in the front-rear direction (the direction of opening of the window hole 12a in the radial direction), thereby closing the lower end opening of the communication cylinder 16 in an openable manner. The first tooth portion 24 and the second tooth portion 25 are each composed of tooth tip portions 24a, 25a and tooth groove portions 24b, 25b, which are connected in the vertical direction.
[0031] The first teeth 24 of the outer cylinder member 12 are formed on a protruding plate portion 26 that protrudes rearward from the front end of the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder member 12, specifically from the portion located below the lower end opening edge of the communication cylinder 16. The protruding plate portion 26 extends downward as it approaches the rear. The front and back surfaces of the lower end (plate portion) of the protruding plate portion 26 are oriented in the front-rear direction. The front end of the lower end opening edge of the communication cylinder 16 abuts against the upper end surface of the protruding plate portion 26. The first teeth 24 are formed on the rear surface of the lower end of the protruding plate portion 26. The first teeth 24 are opposite the lower end of the window hole 12a in the front-rear direction.
[0032] The second teeth 25 of the operating member 14 are formed on the front surface of the lower end of the connecting plate portion 19. The second teeth 25 are located in front of the rear end of the lower end opening of the communication cylinder 16. A regulating projection 27 is formed on the portion of the connecting plate portion 19 that is located above the second teeth 25 and protrudes forward. The regulating projection 27 abuts against the lower end of the support cylinder 28 when the operating member 14 rotates around the rotation axis 18a and the upper part of the operating member 14 protrudes rearward from the window hole 12a of the outer cylinder member 12, as shown in Figure 3, thereby restricting the upper part of the operating member 14 from rotating further rearward.
[0033] In the above configuration, after removing the lid 29 from inside the lower end of the outer cylinder member 12, when the upper part of the operating member 14 is pushed forward as shown in Figure 2, the operating member 14 rotates around the rotation axis 18a, and the second teeth 25 of the operating member 14 move downward in close proximity to the first teeth 24 of the outer cylinder member 12. This causes the contents to enter from inside the mouth 11a of the container body 11 between the first teeth 24 and the second teeth 25, and the contents are crushed and discharged by the first teeth 24 and the second teeth 25.
[0034] In this case, the connection between the front plate portion 22b and the upper horizontal plate portion 22c of the operating member 14 abuts against the rear end of the communication cylinder 16, restricting the upper part of the operating member 14 from rotating further forward. The biasing member 15 is compressed and deformed by being sandwiched in the front direction between the front surface of the main plate portion 17 of the operating member 14 and the outer circumferential surface of the communication cylinder 16. In addition, the front end of the restricting projection 27 approaches the portion of the protruding plate portion 26 that is located above the first tooth portion 24, thereby closing the lower end opening of the communication cylinder 16.
[0035] Subsequently, when the pressure on the operating member 14 is released, the operating member 14 rotates around the rotation axis 18a due to the restorative deformation of the biasing member 15, causing the upper part of the operating member 14 to move backward and return to the standby state shown in Figure 1.
[0036] In the standby state shown in Figure 1, when the rear plate portion 22d of the locking piece 22 of the operating member 14 is pulled down, the locking piece 22 elastically deforms, and the locking portion 21 elastically displaces downward, causing the locking portion 21 to move over the locking projection 23 of the outer cylinder member 12 downward. At this time, due to the rearward biasing force of the biasing member 15, as shown in Figure 3, the upper part of the operating member 14 protrudes rearward from the window hole 12a, and the second tooth portion 25 of the operating member 14 moves upward and separates from the first tooth portion 24 of the outer cylinder member 12, thereby opening the lower end opening of the communication cylinder 16. As a result, the contents inside the container body 11 are not crushed and are discharged while remaining contained within the container body 11.
[0037] Subsequently, while compressing and deforming the biasing member 15 in the front-rear direction, the upper part of the operating member 14 is pushed forward, and the locking portion 21 of the operating member 14 is elastically displaced downward and enters the storage chamber X through the window hole 12a. As a result, the locking portion 21 returns to its original position and displaces upward, engaging with the locking projection 23 of the outer cylinder member 12 from above, and returning to the standby state shown in Figure 1.
[0038] As described above, with the mill-equipped container 1 according to this embodiment, when the upper part of the operating member 14 is pushed inward toward the inside of the storage chamber X, the contents enter from inside the mouth 11a between the first teeth 24 of the outer cylinder member 12 and the second teeth 25 of the operating member 14, crushing the contents with the first teeth 24 and the second teeth 25 and discharging them. On the other hand, when the upper part of the operating member 14 is moved outward from the window hole 12a, the second teeth 25 moves upward and separates from the first teeth 24, opening the lower end opening of the communication cylinder 16 that communicates with the inside of the mouth 11a, and the contents are discharged from the lower end opening of the communication cylinder 16 without being crushed. Therefore, it is possible to select the form of the contents to be discharged depending on the direction in which the operating member 14 is operated toward the storage chamber X, thereby improving operability.
[0039] Since this mill-equipped container 1 includes one outer cylinder member 12, one inner member 13, and one operating member 14, the number of parts can be reduced.
[0040] Since the housing chamber X is provided with a biasing member 15 that biases the upper part of the operating member 14 toward the outside of the housing chamber X, when the upper part of the operating member 14 is pushed toward the inside of the housing chamber X, causing the biasing member 15 to shrink and deform, and then this push is released, the biasing member 15 returns to its original shape, thereby returning the operating member 14 to its original position and improving operability.
[0041] Since a locking portion 21 is formed on the upper part of the operating member 14 and is detachably locked toward the outside of the storage chamber X at the opening edge of the window hole 12a on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder member 12, the biasing member 15 presses the locking portion 21 against the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder member 12, thereby suppressing relative movement between the operating member 14 and the outer cylinder member 12 when the mill-equipped container 1 is in standby mode.
[0042] A locking projection 23 is formed on the upper end of the opening periphery of the window hole 12a on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder member 12, projecting toward the inside of the containment chamber X. The locking portion 21 of the operating member 14 engages with the locking projection 23 from above, and at least one of the locking projection 23 and the locking portion 21 is provided to be elastically displaceable in the vertical direction. Therefore, when the operating member 14 is rotated relative to the outer cylinder member 12 and the inner member 13 while being pulled down, the locking portion 21 of the operating member 14 moves over the locking projection 23 of the outer cylinder member 12 downwards, and the upper part of the operating member 14 is pushed toward the outside of the containment chamber X by the biasing member 15. This improves operability and reliably prevents the upper part of the operating member 14 from unintentionally moving toward the outside of the containment chamber X when the mill container 1 is in standby mode.
[0043] Next, a container 2 with a mill according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 4. In this embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for parts that are identical to those in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 3, and their descriptions are omitted. Only the differences will be described.
[0044] In the mill-equipped container 2 of this embodiment, through holes 31 extending in the front-rear direction are formed in at least one of the tooth grooves 24b and 25b of the first tooth portion 24 and the second tooth portion 25. In the illustrated example, through holes 31 are formed in all of the tooth grooves 25b of the second tooth portion 25, extending in the front-rear direction through the lower end of the connecting plate portion 19. Multiple through holes 31 are formed in each tooth groove 25b, spaced apart in the left-right direction. The through hole 31 may also be formed in the tooth groove 24b of the first tooth portion 24. In the illustrated example, the lower end of the rear plate portion 22d is located above the upper end of the main plate portion 17. A projection is formed at the lower end of the rear plate portion 22d, which protrudes toward the rear and extends outward from the outer cylinder member 12 through the window hole 12a. By manipulating this projection, the locking piece 22 can be easily elastically deformed so that the locking portion 21 is elastically displaced downward, thereby improving operability when discharging the contents without crushing them.
[0045] As described above, in the mill-equipped container 2 of this embodiment, since a through hole 31 is formed in the tooth groove 24b, 25b of at least one of the first tooth portion 24 and the second tooth portion 25, even if the contents crushed by the first tooth portion 24 and the second tooth portion 25 try to remain and accumulate in the tooth groove 24b, 25b, it is possible to push these contents out of the tooth groove 24b, 25b through the through hole 31 by newly crushed contents, thereby preventing clogging.
[0046] 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.
[0047] For example, the biasing member 15, the locking portion 21, and the locking projection 23 do not need to be provided.
[0048] 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]
[0049] 1, 2 Containers with mills 11 Container body 11a Mouth 12 Outer cylinder member 12a Window opening 13 Inner component 14 Operating Member 15. Biasing member 16 Communication tube 21 Locking part 23 Locking protrusion 24 1st tooth 24a, 25a Tooth tip 24b, 25b Tooth groove 25 2nd tooth 31 Through hole X Containment Chamber
Claims
1. An outer cylindrical member is attached to the mouth of the container body, which contains the contents and is in an inverted position, and has a radially opening window hole formed therein. An inner member provided inside the outer cylindrical member and having a communicating cylinder facing radially with respect to the window hole, The outer cylindrical member comprises an operating member provided in a housing chamber located between the window opening and the communication cylinder inside the outer cylindrical member, The upper end opening of the aforementioned communication cylinder opens into the mouth portion, At the lower part of the outer cylinder member and the operating member, a first tooth portion and a second tooth portion are separately provided, which are close to each other in the radial direction in which the window opening is located, thereby openingly closing the lower end opening of the communication cylinder. The lower part of the operating member is rotatably supported on at least one of the outer cylindrical member and the inner member such that the upper part of the operating member extends and retracts radially through the window hole. When the upper part of the operating member is pushed inward toward the inside of the containment chamber, the second tooth moves downward in close proximity to the first tooth, thereby allowing the contents to enter the space between the first and second teeth from inside the opening, and crushing and discharging the contents with the first and second teeth. A container with a mill, wherein when the upper part of the operating member moves outward from the window hole, the second tooth moves upward and separates from the first tooth, thereby opening the lower end opening of the communication cylinder.
2. The housing chamber is provided with a biasing member that biases the upper part of the operating member toward the outside of the housing chamber. The container with a mill according to claim 1, wherein a locking portion is formed on the upper part of the operating member, which is detachably locked toward the outside of the storage chamber at the opening edge of the window hole on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical member.
3. A locking projection is formed on the upper end of the opening periphery of the window hole on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical member, projecting toward the inside of the containment chamber. The locking portion protrudes from the upper part of the operating member toward the outside of the housing chamber and engages with the locking projection from above the locking projection. The mill container according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the locking projection and the locking portion is provided so as to be elastically displaceable in the vertical direction.
4. The first tooth portion and the second tooth portion are each configured with a tooth tip portion and a tooth groove portion connected in the vertical direction. A mill-equipped container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a through hole extending in the opening direction is formed in the tooth groove of at least one of the first tooth portion and the second tooth portion.