Application container

Abstract

The objective is to create a coating container that reduces the number of coating operations by increasing the coating area per operation. [Solution] The container comprises a container body 10 containing the liquid contents, a stopper member 20 having a discharge hole 22 and attached to the mouth portion 13 of the container body 10, a roller 30 rotatably mounted on the stopper member 20, a flexible member 40 attached to the outer circumferential surface of the roller 30 and positioned opposite the discharge hole 22, and an overcap 50 covering the upper part of the container body 10 and housing the flexible member 40, roller 30 and stopper member 20. The stopper member 20 has a bearing 26 with a shaft hole 26a that rotatably supports the shaft portion 32 of the roller 30, and an eccentric mechanism E is provided that moves the flexible member 40 and the roller 30 back and forth in the vertical direction to open and close the discharge hole 22 when the roller 30 with the flexible member 40 attached is rolled.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a roller-type applicator container.

Background Art

[0002] As a container for applying a liquid content such as an antiperspirant or a lotion to human skin, a roll-on type applicator container is known in which an applicator ball is rotatably held in the upper half of a vertical holding cylinder communicating with the mouth and neck portion of the container body, leaving the upper portion of the ball exposed (for example, Patent Document 1). This applicator container can apply the liquid content by rolling the applicator ball while keeping it in contact with the skin when the applicator container is in an inverted posture.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the applicator container shown in Patent Document 1, the upper end portion of the holding cylinder is formed to have an inner diameter smaller than that of the applicator ball in order to prevent the applicator ball from coming off. For this reason, the area in contact with the skin is small, and the range that can be applied in a single application operation is narrow, so there is a problem that the user needs to repeat the application operation many times to spread the liquid content.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to create an applicator container that can reduce the number of application operations by expanding the application area per operation, in order to solve the above-described problems in the prior art.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] Among the means for solving the above problems, the first means of the present invention is: A coating container comprising: a container body containing liquid contents; an inner stopper member having a discharge hole and fitted to the mouth portion of the container body; a roller rotatably mounted on the inner stopper member; a flexible member fitted to the outer circumferential surface of the roller and positioned opposite the discharge hole; and an overcap covering the upper part of the container body and housing the flexible member, the roller, and the inner stopper member, The aforementioned plug member has a bearing with a shaft hole that rotatably supports the shaft portion of the roller, The invention is characterized by having an eccentric mechanism that moves the soft member and the roller back and forth in the vertical direction to open and close the discharge hole when the roller to which the soft member is attached is rolled. In the first means of the present invention, when the flexible member is moved while pressed against the surface to be coated, the roller and the flexible member roll in conjunction, allowing the liquid to be applied along the surface to be coated, thereby increasing the coating area per operation.

[0007] Furthermore, a second means of the present invention is added to the first means described above, wherein the eccentric mechanism is composed of a convex rib formed on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion and a projection arranged on the inner surface of the bearing opposite to the convex rib, and capable of being overcome by the convex rib when the shaft portion rotates. In the above-described method, the roller's shaft can be rotated eccentrically, which allows the soft member and the roller to move back and forth in the vertical direction, thereby opening and closing the discharge hole.

[0008] Furthermore, a third means of the present invention is added to the first means described above, wherein the eccentric mechanism is composed of a plurality of beams connecting the roller body and the shaft, one of which is axially arranged and has a longer radial dimension, and the other of which has a shorter radial dimension. In the above-described method, the roller shaft can be rotated eccentrically, thereby allowing the soft member and roller to move back and forth in the vertical direction to open and close the discharge hole.

[0009] Furthermore, a fourth means of the present invention is to add to any of the above means that the soft member is formed of silicone resin. The above method can improve the feel on the skin and make it easier to spread the liquid.

[0010] Furthermore, a fifth means of the present invention is to add to any of the above means that a pressing projection is formed on the inner surface of the overcap for pressing down on the roller to which the soft member is attached. With the above method, the roller fitted with the soft member can be pressed down, thereby sealing the discharge hole when the lid is closed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] In this invention, by using a roller-type coating container, the coating area per operation can be increased, and the number of coating operations can be reduced. Furthermore, when the flexible component is pressed against the surface to be coated and moved, the roller and the flexible component roll, causing the discharge hole to open and close, thus allowing an appropriate amount of the liquid to be applied to the surface to be coated. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a partial cross-sectional view of a coating container as a first embodiment of the present invention, taken from the front. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in Figure 1. [Figure 4] The shaft and bearing are shown in enlarged view, with (a) being an enlarged cross-sectional view of part A in Figure 1, (b) being a cross-sectional view with the lid closed, taken from the direction of the arrow aa in (a), (c) being a cross-sectional view with the lid open, similar to (b), and (d) being a cross-sectional view with the lid rotated, similar to (b). [Figure 5] This is a partial cross-sectional view showing a coating container as a second embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the side. [Figure 6] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of Figure 5, where (a) shows the closed state and (b) shows the open state.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the applicator container as the first embodiment of the present invention from the front direction, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in Figure 1 in the arrow direction, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in Figure 1 in the arrow direction, Figure 4 is an enlarged view showing the shaft portion and the bearing, where Figure 4(a) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of part A in Figure 1, Figure 4(b) is a cross-sectional view in the closed lid state as viewed from the direction of the a-a line arrow in Figure 4(a), Figure 4(c) is a cross-sectional view in the open lid state similar to Figure 4(b), and Figure 4(d) is a cross-sectional view in the rotating state similar to Figure 4(b).

[0014] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the applicator container 1 is configured to include a container body 10 that stores a content liquid such as an antiperspirant or a lotion, an inner plug member 20, a roller 30 rotatably provided on the upper part of the inner plug member 20, a soft member 40 mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the roller 30, and an overcap 50. In the following description, the direction along the container axis O passing through the center of the applicator container 1 is referred to as the axial direction, the vertical direction, or the height direction, and the direction perpendicular to the container axis O is referred to as the radial direction.

[0015] The container body 10 is an integrally molded synthetic resin member in which a cylindrical mouth cylinder portion 13 is erected on the upper part of a body portion 11 continuously provided from a bottom portion (not shown) via a stepped shoulder portion 12. A male thread 14 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth cylinder portion 13, and an engaged portion 15 is formed at the upper end of the mouth cylinder portion 13.

[0016] The inner plug member 20 is integrally molded of synthetic resin, and includes: a top wall 21 formed with a discharge hole 22 bored along the container axis O at the center, and a valve seat 23 protruding upward in a short cylindrical shape around the discharge hole 22; a fitting cylinder portion 24 hanging from the outer peripheral edge of the top wall 21 and fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the mouth cylinder portion 13; an outer cylinder portion 25 continuously provided on the outer side of the fitting cylinder portion 24 and having an engaging portion 25a that engages with the engaged portion 15 of the container body 10; and a pair of bearings 26 erected on the upper surface of the top wall 21 at positions that are axisymmetric with respect to the container axis O. The pair of bearings 26 are each formed with a shaft hole 26a opening along the radial direction. The inner diameter of the shaft hole 26a is formed to be sufficiently larger than the outer diameter of the shaft portion 32 of the roller 30 described later.

[0017] The roller 30 is integrally formed of synthetic resin, and includes: a cylindrical roller body 31 to which the soft member 40 is attached; a shaft portion 32 provided at the center of the roller body 31; and a plurality of (four in this embodiment) beam portions 33 continuously provided from the inner peripheral surface of the roller body 31 toward the shaft portion 32 to support the shaft portion 32. Both ends of the shaft portion 32 protrude outward from both end faces of the roller body 31, respectively. Ring-shaped locking portions 34 are provided to protrude circumferentially at both ends of the outer peripheral surface of the roller body 31, and the four beam portions 33 are respectively formed on the inner peripheral surface of the roller body 31 at predetermined angles (90 degrees in this embodiment) in the circumferential direction.

[0018] As shown in Figs. 4(a) to 4(d), a pair of convex ribs 35 are provided to protrude on the outer peripheral surface near the root of the shaft portion 32 at positions axisymmetric with respect to the axis P, and the convex ribs 35 extend to a position that is not inserted into the shaft hole 26a when the shaft portion 32 is inserted into the shaft hole 26a. Further, near the lower end of the shaft hole 26a and on the radial inner surface of the bearing 26, there is formed a protrusion 27 having a tip portion with a substantially triangular shape in cross-sectional view, arranged to face the rotating shaft portion 32 and allowing the pair of rotated convex ribs 35 to climb over it.

[0019] The soft member 40 is a cylindrical member formed from, for example, a silicone resin with excellent texture, and is provided with thin-walled ring-shaped locking portions 41 at both ends of its inner circumferential surface. The soft member 40 is attached to the outer circumferential surface of the roller body 31 by inserting the roller 30 inside it. At this time, the locking portion 34 is fitted onto the locking portion 41 to prevent the soft member 40 from easily detaching from the roller body 31.

[0020] The overcap 50 is a top-mounted cylindrical member in which a cylindrical peripheral wall 52 is integrally attached to the outer peripheral edge of the top wall 51. A short cylindrical pressing projection 53 is provided on the inner surface of the top wall 51, and a female thread 54 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the lower end of the peripheral wall 52, which is screwed into the male thread 14 on the container body 10 side.

[0021] In the coating container 1, the roller 30, which has a soft member 40 attached to the outer surface of the roller body 31, is attached to the inner plug member 20 in a state where it is rotatably supported between a pair of bearings 26 by inserting the shaft portion 32 through the shaft hole 26a. The discharge hole 22 and valve seat 23 are located opposite each other directly below the soft member 40.

[0022] In the coating container 1, the stopper member 20 to which the roller 30 is attached is assembled by fitting its fitting cylindrical portion 24 into the mouth cylindrical portion 13 of the container body 10 which contains the liquid contents, and engaging the engaging portion 25a of the stopper member 20 with the engaged portion 15 of the container body 10. Furthermore, the coating container 1 has an overcap 50 attached to the top of the container body 10, and at this time the female thread 54 is screwed onto the male thread 14, so that the roller 30 with the soft material 40 attached and the inner stopper material 20 are housed inside the overcap 50 (closed lid state), and in this state it is placed in the distribution stage.

[0023] Next, the effects and benefits of the coating container having the above configuration will be explained. (1) Closed state In the coating container 1, when the overcap 50 is attached to the top of the container body 10 to close the lid, the pressing projection 53 formed on the inner surface of the top wall 51 of the overcap 50 comes into contact with the outer surface of the soft member 40, and the entire roller 30 is pushed downward (see Figures 1 and 2). At the same time, as shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the outer surface of the shaft portion 32 comes into contact with the projection 27, and furthermore, the outer surface of the lower side of the soft member 40 comes into contact with the tip of the valve seat 23, thereby setting the discharge hole 22 to a closed state (sealed state) (see Figures 1 and 2). Furthermore, even when the convex rib 35 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion 32 is in contact with the tip of the projection 27 and is lifted (see Figure 4(d)), when the overcap 50 is attached and the pressing projection 53 forcibly pushes down the outer circumferential surface of the soft member 40, the convex rib 35 detaches from the tip of the triangular projection 27 in cross-sectional view, making it possible to set the coating container 1 in a closed lid state (sealed state).

[0024] (2) Open state Next, when the user rotates the overcap 50 in the opening direction and removes it from the top of the container body 10, the pressing projection 53 that was pressing down on the soft member 40 is no longer present, allowing the roller 30 to rotate, and the outer surface of the soft member 40 and the tip of the valve seat 23 are set to be in contact or close to each other.

[0025] (3) Application procedure Next, the user tilts the application container 1 they are holding, so that the roller 30 side is facing downwards, and presses the flexible member 40 against the surface to be coated (the skin area to which the liquid contents are to be applied) (not shown). As a result, the liquid contents inside the container body 10 pass through the discharge hole 22 and reach the outer surface of the flexible member 40.

[0026] Furthermore, when the coating container 1 is moved while the flexible member 40 is pressed against the surface to be coated, the roller 30 and the flexible member 40 roll accordingly, allowing the liquid contents to be applied along the surface to be coated (coating operation). Moreover, by using the roller 30, it is possible to increase the coating area per operation compared to when using the conventional coating ball described above, and the number of coating operations can be reduced.

[0027] Furthermore, the soft member 40 made of silicone resin is preferable because it has a pleasant feel and makes it easy to spread the liquid inside. In addition, since the silicone resin is flexible and can be pressed against the valve seat 23, it is also preferable because it can improve the sealing performance of the discharge hole 22 when it is blocked.

[0028] Here, as the roller 30 rolls, the pair of convex ribs 35 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion 32 also rotate and repeatedly overcome the protrusion 27, causing the axis P of the shaft portion 32 to be eccentric in the vertical direction each time. At this time, the roller 30 and the soft member 40 move back and forth in the vertical direction, and the outer circumferential surface of the soft member 40 moves downward and contacts the tip of the valve seat 23 to close the valve seat 23, and moves upward away from the tip to open the valve seat 23, repeating this action. As a result, the discharge hole 22 can be repeatedly opened and closed in accordance with the rolling of the roller 30 and the soft member 40 (see Figures 4(a) to (d)). In this way, the liquid contents flow to the soft member 40 through the opening and closing discharge hole 22, so that an appropriate amount of liquid contents can be applied to the surface to be coated. Thus, the pair of convex ribs 35 and protrusions 27 constitute an eccentricity mechanism E that causes the shaft portion 32 to be eccentric in the vertical direction in response to the rolling of the roller 30 and the soft member 40.

[0029] Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a coating container as a second embodiment of the present invention from the side, and Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of Figure 5, with Figure 6(a) showing the closed state and Figure 6(b) showing the open state. The coating container 1 shown in the second embodiment differs from the coating container 1 of the first embodiment in the configuration of the eccentric mechanism E; the other configurations and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the following description, the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals, focusing mainly on the differences from the first embodiment.

[0030] As shown in Figure 5, in the coating container 1 shown in the second embodiment, the eccentric mechanism E employs a structure in which the radial length of a pair of beam sections 33 that are axially symmetrical among the four beam sections 33 that support the shaft section 32 is changed. More specifically, the eccentric mechanism E is composed of one beam section 33a with a longer radial dimension and the other beam section 33b with a shorter radial dimension, which are arranged axially, thereby shifting the position of the axis P of the shaft section 32 radially to one side from the axis Q before eccentricity.

[0031] In the second embodiment as well, when the soft member 40 is pressed against the coating surface and the roller 30 to which the soft member 40 is attached is rolled, as shown in Figures 6(a) and (b), the roller 30 and the soft member 40 can be repeatedly moved back and forth in the vertical direction each time the eccentric shaft portion 32 rotates. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the discharge hole 22 opens and closes in accordance with the coating operation, so that an appropriate amount of liquid can be applied to the surface to be coated.

[0032] The configuration and effects of the present invention have been described above in accordance with the examples, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above examples. For example, in the first embodiment described above, a case was shown in which a pair of convex ribs 35 are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion 32, but it is also possible to have a configuration in which three or more convex ribs 35 are provided.

[0033] Furthermore, although silicone resin was used as the soft member 40 in the above embodiment, it may be made of other materials as long as it has a pleasant feel to the touch. [Industrial applicability]

[0034] This invention can expand the range of applications in the field of coating containers to an even broader area. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0035] 1: Application container 3: Cylindrical section 10: Container body 11: Torso 12:Shoulder 13: Mouth part 14: Male screw 15: Engaged part 20: Inner plug component 21: Top Wall 22:Discharge hole 23: Alveolar seat 24: Fitting cylinder part 25: Outer cylinder part 25a: Engagement part 26: Bearings 26a: Shaft hole 27: Protrusion 30: Roller 31: Roller body 32: Shaft 33:Beam part 33a: One beam section 33b: The other beam section 34: Locking ring 35: Convex Rib 40: Soft material 41: Stepped section 50: Overcap 51: Ceiling Wall 52: Peripheral wall 53: Pressing part 54: Female thread E: Eccentric mechanism O: Container axis P: Axial center Q: Axis before eccentricity

Claims

1. A coating container comprising: a container body (10) containing liquid contents; an inner stopper member (20) having a discharge hole (22) and fitted to the mouth portion (13) of the container body (10); a roller (30) rotatably mounted on the inner stopper member (20); a flexible member (40) attached to the outer circumferential surface of the roller (30) and positioned opposite the discharge hole (22); and an overcap (50) covering the upper part of the container body (10) and housing the flexible member (40), the roller (30), and the inner stopper member (20), The plug member (20) has a bearing (26) with a shaft hole (26a) that rotatably supports the shaft portion (32) of the roller (30), A coating container characterized by comprising an eccentric mechanism (E) that moves the soft member (40) and the roller (30) back and forth in the vertical direction to open and close the discharge hole (22) when the roller (30) to which the soft member (40) is attached is rolled.

2. The coating container according to claim 1, wherein the eccentric mechanism (E) comprises a convex rib (35) formed on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion (32) and a projection (27) arranged on the inner surface of the bearing (26) opposite to the convex rib (35) and capable of being overcome by the convex rib (35) when the shaft portion (32) rotates.

3. The coating container according to claim 1, wherein the eccentric mechanism (E) is composed of a plurality of beam portions (33) connected between the roller body (31) and the shaft portion (32), one beam portion (33a) having a longer radial dimension and the other beam portion (33b) having a shorter radial dimension, which are arranged axially.

4. The coating container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the soft member (40) is made of silicone resin.

5. The coating container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a pressing projection (53) is formed on the inner surface of the overcap (50) for pressing down on the roller (30) to which the soft member (40) is attached.

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