Dropper container

Abstract

To provide a syringe container capable of reducing the residual amount of contents.SOLUTION: A syringe container 1 comprises: a bottomed cylindrical container body 2; an inner cap 20 fitted to a mouth of the container body 2; an outer cap 30 rotatable about a container axis O with respect to the inner cap 20; an interlocking member 40 restricted in rotation about the container axis O with respect to the outer cap 30 and vertically moved following the rotation about the container axis O with respect to the inner cap 20; a syringe tube 80 restricted in rotation about the container axis O with respect to the interlocking member 40, vertically moved reversely to the vertical movement of the interlocking member 40 following the rotation about the container axis O with respect to the inner cap 20, and opened in the container body 2; and an elastic member 50 that forms an interlocking operation space S in the syringe tube 80.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, a dropper container having a dropper tube has been used as shown in Patent Document 1. In the configuration of Patent Document 1, when an outer cap (lid cover) is rotated relative to a container body, the outer cap rises relative to the container body and the contents are sucked up into the dropper tube. After that, the contents can be discharged by pressing an operating part (push button) against the outer cap. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-33056 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned conventional dropper container, the lower end of the dropper tube does not reach the bottom of the main container, so the contents cannot be sucked up to the end.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a dropper container that can reduce the amount of remaining content. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) A dropper container according to the present invention comprises a bottomed, cylindrical container body for containing contents, an inner cap attached to the mouth of the container body, an outer cap covering the inner cap and rotatable about a container axis relative to the inner cap, an interlocking member whose rotation about the container axis relative to the outer cap is restricted and which moves up and down in conjunction with the rotation about the container axis relative to the inner cap, a dropper tube whose rotation about the container axis relative to the interlocking member is restricted and which moves up and down in a direction opposite to the up and down movement of the interlocking member in conjunction with the rotation about the container axis relative to the inner cap, and which opens inside the container body, and an elastic member forming an operating space communicating with the inside of the dropper tube.

[0007] According to the dropper container of the present invention, when the outer cap is rotated around the container axis relative to the inner cap, the interlocking member whose rotation is restricted by the outer cap rotates relative to the inner cap. When the interlocking member rotates relative to the inner cap, the interlocking member moves up and down relative to the inner cap, and the dropper tube whose rotation is restricted by the interlocking member moves up and down in the opposite direction to the interlocking member relative to the inner cap. Here, when the interlocking member rises, the dropper tube descends and the lower end of the dropper tube approaches or abuts against the bottom surface of the container body. Also, when the interlocking member rises, the volume of the working space communicating with the inside of the dropper tube increases, and the inside of the working space becomes negative pressure. Then, the contents near the bottom surface of the container body are sucked up from the lower end of the dropper tube. After that, when the dropper tube is pulled up from the container body and the elastic member is pressed downward, the volume of the working space decreases, and the contents held in the dropper tube are discharged from the lower end of the dropper tube.

[0008] (2) An operating member may be provided above the elastic member and movable up and down relative to the outer cap.

[0009] In this case, since the elastic member is pushed in via the operating member, a stable pushing operation can be performed.

[0010] (3) A rotation restriction release mechanism may be provided that releases the restriction on rotation of the dropper tube about the container axis relative to the interlocking member when the lower end of the dropper tube is in contact with the bottom surface of the container body.

[0011] In this case, if the lower end of the dropper tube attempts to descend further after reaching the bottom surface of the container body due to molding variations or the like, the restriction on the rotation of the dropper tube relative to the interlocking member is released and the interlocking member rotates freely, thereby stopping the dropper tube from descending. This makes it possible to prevent scratches or indentations on the lower end of the dropper tube or the bottom surface of the container body. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the dropper container of the present invention, the amount of remaining content can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a dropper container according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a side view showing a rotation restriction release mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state before use of a dropper container according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating a state in which a dropper tube of a dropper container according to an embodiment of the present invention descends. [Figure 6] 1 is a diagram showing a state in which the lower end of a dropper tube of a dropper container according to an embodiment of the present invention abuts against the bottom surface of a container body and sucks up the liquid content. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, the dropper container of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the dropper container 1 includes a container body 2, a wiping piece 10, an inner cap 20, an outer cap 30, an interlocking member 40, an elastic member 50, a piston 60, an operating member 70, and a dropper tube 80.

[0015] The container body 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and contains the contents. The contents may be, for example, medicine or liquid cosmetics to be applied (discharged) to the human body (skin). The components of the dropper container 1 in this embodiment are made of a resin material. The dropper container 1 in this embodiment does not have any metal members (such as a coil spring).

[0016] The inner cap 20, the outer cap 30, the interlocking member 40, the elastic member 50, the piston 60, the operating member 70, and the dropper tube 80 constitute a dropper assembly 3. As will be described in detail later, when the dropper container 1 is to be used, the dropper assembly 3 is detached from the container body 2.

[0017] In this embodiment, the central axes of the container body 2 and the dropper assembly 3 are located on a common axis. 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, and along the vertical direction, the mouth 2a side of the container body 2 is referred to as the upper side, and the bottom side of the container body 2 is referred to as the lower side. In addition, in a plan view seen from the vertical direction, the direction intersecting the container axis O is referred to as the radial direction, and the direction going around the container axis O is referred to as the circumferential direction.

[0018] In addition, the rotation direction toward one side in the circumferential direction may be referred to as the “loosening direction.” The loosening direction is the direction in which the interlocking member 40 rises relative to the inner cap 20 when the outer cap 30 is rotated relative to the inner cap 20. Details will be described later, but the dropper container 1 of this embodiment is configured so that when the outer cap 30 is rotated in the loosening direction relative to the container body 2, the interlocking member 40 rises relative to the inner cap 20, and then the inner cap 20 rotates in the loosening direction relative to the container body 2.

[0019] The wiping piece 10 is fixed to the upper opening edge of the mouth 2a of the container body 2, and has a contact part 11 that contacts the outer circumferential surface of the dropper tube 80. The wiping piece 10 has the role of scraping off the contents adhering to the outer circumferential surface of the dropper tube 80 when the dropper tube 80 is removed upward from the container body 2.

[0020] The inner cap 20 includes an attachment tubular portion 21, a restricting tubular portion 22, an annular portion 23, a screw-engaging tubular portion 24, a connecting tubular portion 25, a holding tubular portion 26, and a sealing tubular portion 27. The attachment tubular portion 21 is attached to the mouth portion 2a of the container body 2. In this embodiment, a female screw portion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the attachment tubular portion 21 is screwed into a male screw portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 2a.

[0021] When the inner cap 20 rotates around the container axis O relative to the container body 2, the dropper assembly 3 can be removed from the mouth portion 2a of the container body 2 and reattached to the mouth portion 2a. The mounting tube portion 21 is covered from the radial outside by the cap peripheral wall 31 of the outer cap 30.

[0022] The restricting tube portion 22 is provided on the upper part of the mounting tube portion 21. The restricting tube portion 22 restricts the downward movement of the interlocking member 40. In this embodiment, the inner circumferential surface of the restricting tube portion 22 and the inner circumferential surface of the mounting tube portion 21 have approximately the same inner diameter, but the inner diameters of the restricting tube portion 22 and the mounting tube portion 21 may be different. Also, the upper end portion of the mounting tube portion 21 may be used as the restricting tube portion 22.

[0023] The annular portion 23 extends radially inward from the regulating tube portion 22 and is formed in an annular shape in a plan view. The screw-type tube portion 24 extends upward from the regulating tube portion 22. A male screw is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the screw-type tube portion 24. When the inner cap 20 and the interlocking member 40 rotate relatively around the container axis O, the interlocking member 40 moves up and down with respect to the inner cap 20.

[0024] The connecting tubular portion 25 extends upward from the inner peripheral edge of the annular portion 23. The outer diameter of the connecting tubular portion 25 decreases as it extends upward. The retaining tubular portion 26 protrudes upward from the inner peripheral edge at the upper end of the connecting tubular portion 25. A step is formed between the upper surface of the connecting tubular portion 25 and the outer peripheral surface of the retaining tubular portion 26, and an annular piston 60 is retained therein.

[0025] The sealing tube portion 27 extends downward from the connecting tube portion 25. The sealing tube portion 27 is inserted into the radially inner side of the squeezing piece 10. When the dropper container 1 is in a closed state, the sealing tube portion 27 is inserted into the inner side of the squeezing piece 10 and comes into close contact with it.

[0026] The outer cap 30 has a cylindrical cap peripheral wall 31 extending along the container axis O, and a cap top wall 32 extending radially inward from an upper end of the cap peripheral wall 31. The cap top wall 32 is annular in plan view. In other words, a through hole 32a is provided in the cap top wall 32. A part of the operating member 70 (button portion 71) is located inside the through hole 32a.

[0027] A vertical rib 33 extending in the up-down direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap peripheral wall 31. As shown in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 2, the vertical rib 33 protrudes radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the cap peripheral wall 31. The vertical ribs 33 are formed in pairs so as to sandwich the container axis O in the radial direction. In addition, a plurality of undercut projections 34 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap peripheral wall 31, protruding radially inward from below the vertical ribs 33. The undercut projections 34 are fitted in an undercut manner into the lower end of the mounting tube portion 21 of the inner cap 20.

[0028] The mounting tube portion 21 of the inner cap 20 is formed with locking protrusions 21a that lock with the vertical rib 33 in the circumferential direction. The locking protrusions 21a protrude radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the mounting tube portion 21. The locking protrusions 21a are formed in a pair so as to sandwich the container axis O in the radial direction. The vertical rib 33 is movable in the circumferential direction within an angle range of approximately 90° between the pair of locking protrusions 21a.

[0029] When the outer cap 30 is rotated around the container axis O relative to the inner cap 20 (container body 2), the outer cap 30 rotates idly relative to the inner cap 20 within the above-mentioned angle range (approximately 90°). When the outer cap 30 is rotated beyond the above-mentioned angle range relative to the container body 2, the vertical rib 33 comes into contact with the side surface (surface facing the circumferential direction) of the locking protrusion 21a, thereby restricting the relative rotation between the outer cap 30 and the inner cap 20. In this way, the vertical rib 33 and the locking protrusion 21a are configured to allow the outer cap 30 and the inner cap 20 to rotate idly within a predetermined angle range, and to restrict the relative rotation between them beyond the predetermined angle.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 1, the interlocking member 40 is disposed radially inside the outer cap 30 and above the inner cap 20. The interlocking member 40 has a screw-on tube portion 41, a top wall 42, a sliding tube portion 43, a fitting tube portion 44, an inner ring 45, and an outer ring 46. A female thread is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the screw-on tube portion 41 to screw into the male thread of the screw-on tube portion 24. The top wall 42 extends radially inward from the upper end of the screw-on tube portion 41. A plurality of air holes 42a are formed in the top wall 42.

[0031] The ventilation hole 42a penetrates the top wall 42 in the up-down direction. The ventilation hole 42a communicates the space inside the elastic member 50 with the space surrounded by the interlocking member 40 and the piston 60. The sliding cylinder portion 43 extends downward from the top wall 42 and is located radially inward of the screwing cylinder portion 41. The fitting cylinder portion 44 extends downward from the top wall 42 and is located radially inward of the sliding cylinder portion 43.

[0032] The inner ring 45 and the outer ring 46 protrude upward from the top wall 42. The inner ring 45 is located radially inward of the outer ring 46. A fixing portion 52 of an elastic member 50 is fixed between the inner ring 45 and the outer ring 46. The outer ring 46 is formed with a restricting protrusion 47 that protrudes radially outward.

[0033] Furthermore, the interlocking member 40 includes a rotation restricting portion 48. The rotation restricting portion 48 protrudes radially outward from the lower end of the screw-fitting tube portion 41 and extends downward. A recess 48a is formed in the rotation restricting portion 48. The recess 48a is recessed radially inward from the circumferential center of the outer peripheral surface of the rotation restricting portion 48. The recess 48a is formed over the entire length of the rotation restricting portion 48 in the up-down direction. The vertical rib 33 of the outer cap 30 is positioned inside the recess 48a, thereby restricting the relative rotation of the outer cap 30 and the interlocking member 40 around the container axis O.

[0034] In this embodiment, two each of the restricting protrusions 47 and the rotation restricting portions 48 are provided. The two restricting protrusions 47 are arranged so as to sandwich the container axis O therebetween in the radial direction. The two rotation restricting portions 48 are arranged so as to sandwich the container axis O therebetween in the radial direction. The rotation restricting portions 48 and the restricting protrusions 47 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. In other words, the direction in which the restricting protrusions 47 face each other intersects (e.g., is perpendicular to) the direction in which the rotation restricting portions 48 face each other.

[0035] The elastic member 50 has an elastic membrane 51 and a fixing portion 52. The elastic member 50 is formed as a whole from an elastic body such as rubber or elastomer. The fixing portion 52 is cylindrical and formed to be thicker than the elastic membrane 51. The elastic membrane 51 extends upward from the fixing portion 52. The elastic membrane 51 is formed in an upwardly convex curved shape (dome shape).

[0036] The piston 60 has a sliding contact portion that is in sliding contact with the sliding cylindrical portion 43 of the interlocking member 40. An operating space S is provided above the piston 60. The operating space S includes a space surrounded by the piston 60, the sliding cylindrical portion 43, and the top wall 42, and a space inside the elastic membrane 51 that communicates with the space S via the air hole 42a. When the elastic membrane 51 elastically deforms downward, the volume of the operating space S decreases.

[0037] The operating member 70 has a button portion 71, a button tube portion 72, an engagement tube portion 73, and a pressing portion 74. The button portion 71 is disk-shaped in a plan view. In the initial position, the upper surface of the button portion 71 is flush with the upper surface of the cap top wall 32. The button tube portion 72 extends downward from the outer circumferential edge of the button portion 71. The pressing portion 74 is a tubular portion extending downward from the button portion 71, and is located radially inside the button tube portion 72. The lower end of the pressing portion 74 abuts against the elastic membrane 51 of the elastic member 50. When the operating member 70 descends relative to the elastic member 50, the elastic membrane 51 pressed by the pressing portion 74 elastically deforms downward.

[0038] The engagement tube portion 73 extends downward from the button tube portion 72. The outer diameter of the engagement tube portion 73 is larger than the outer diameter of the button tube portion 72. An engagement portion 73a consisting of a recess or a slit extending in the vertical direction is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the engagement tube portion 73. The engagement portion 73a is formed over the entire length of the engagement tube portion 73 in the vertical direction.

[0039] The vertical rib 33 is positioned inside the engagement portion 73a, thereby restricting the relative rotation of the operating member 70 and the outer cap 30 around the container axis O. The vertical rib 33 slides against the engagement portion 73a and the recessed portion 48a, thereby allowing the operating member 70 and the interlocking member 40 to move vertically relative to the outer cap 30. Note that the engagement tube portion 73 is provided with a locked portion (not shown) at a circumferentially different position from the engagement portion 73a, which faces the restricting protrusion 47 in the vertical direction and restricts the operating member 70 from rising above a predetermined height relative to the interlocking member 40.

[0040] Specifically, four through holes are provided in the engaging tube portion 73 of the operating member 70. The through holes (engaged portions) into which the restricting protrusions 47 are inserted penetrate in the radial direction, and the lower edges of the holes engage with the restricting protrusions 47. The through holes (engaging portions 73a) into which the vertical ribs 33 are inserted penetrate in the radial direction and downward. The through holes (engaging portions 73a) into which the vertical ribs 33 are inserted may be recessed grooves recessed radially inward and extending downward.

[0041] The dropper tube 80 extends vertically along the container axis O. The upper end 81 of the dropper tube 80 is inserted into the inside of the connecting tube portion 25, the holding tube portion 26, and the sealing tube portion 27 of the inner cap 20. A female thread is formed on the inner wall surface of the connecting tube portion 25. Meanwhile, a male thread is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the upper end 81 of the dropper tube 80, which screws into the female thread of the connecting tube portion 25. The thread between the dropper tube 80 and the connecting tube portion 25 is a multiple thread, but may be a single thread.

[0042] The thread between the dropper tube 80 and the connecting tube 25 is in a reverse thread relationship with the thread between the screw-on tube 24 and the screw-on tube 41. In other words, when the interlocking member 40 rises relative to the inner cap 20, the dropper tube 80 descends relative to the inner cap 20. As shown in FIG. 4, a slotted notch 83a is provided at the lower end 83 of the dropper tube 80. This allows the contents to be sucked in even if the lower end 83 of the dropper tube 80 abuts against the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 1, the fitting tube portion 44 of the interlocking member 40 is fitted into the inside of the upper end portion 81 of the dropper tube 80. A slit-shaped sliding groove 82 is formed in the inner wall surface of the dropper tube 80 along the up-down direction. The sliding grooves 82 are formed in a pair on the inner wall surface of the dropper tube 80, sandwiching the container axis O therebetween. Meanwhile, fitting protrusions 44a are provided on the outer wall surface of the fitting tube portion 44 so as to protrude radially outward. The fitting protrusions 44a are formed in a pair on the outer wall surface of the fitting tube portion 44, sandwiching the container axis O therebetween.

[0044] The fitting protrusion 44a is positioned inside the sliding groove 82, thereby restricting the relative rotation between the interlocking member 40 and the dropper tube 80 around the container axis O. In addition, the fitting protrusion 44a slides up and down along the sliding groove 82, thereby allowing the dropper tube 80 to move up and down relative to the interlocking member 40 and the inner cap 20.

[0045] 3, the fitting tube portion 44 is provided with a rotation restriction release mechanism 90 that releases the restriction on rotation of the dropper tube 80 about the container axis O relative to the interlocking member 40. The rotation restriction release mechanism 90 of this embodiment is formed by a pair of slits 91 that extend upward in parallel from the lower end of the fitting tube portion 44 and separate the fitting protrusion 44a from other portions in the circumferential direction.

[0046] The fitting protrusion 44a can be elastically displaced radially inward by the pair of slits 91. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 6, when the rotational resistance of the dropper tube 80 increases with the lower end 83 of the dropper tube 80 abutting against the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2, the fitting protrusion 44a comes out of the sliding groove 82 and the interlocking member 40 rotates idly relative to the dropper tube 80. When the interlocking member 40 rotates idly and the circumferential phase of the fitting protrusion 44a and the sliding groove 82 match, the fitting protrusion 44a fits into the sliding groove 82 again, and the rotation is periodically restricted.

[0047] Next, the operation of the dropper container 1 configured as above will be described.

[0048] When the dropper container 1 is in an unused state (as shipped), the interlocking member 40 is located at the lowermost position relative to the inner cap 20, as shown in Fig. 4. When the outer cap 30 is rotated from this state in the loosening direction about the container axis O relative to the inner cap 20, the outer cap 30 rotates freely relative to the inner cap 20 within a predetermined angle range (approximately 90° in this embodiment), as shown in Fig. 2.

[0049] Within the above-mentioned angle range, the interlocking member 40, the operating member 70, and the dropper tube 80 rotate relative to the inner cap 20 together with the outer cap 30. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, when the outer cap 30 rotates relative to the inner cap 20, the interlocking member 40, whose rotation is restricted by the vertical rib 33 and the recessed portion 48a, rotates relative to the inner cap 20.

[0050] When the interlocking member 40 rotates relative to the inner cap 20, the interlocking member 40 that screws into the outside of the screw-on tube portion 24 is screwed upward, and the interlocking member 40 rises relative to the inner cap 20. At this time, the elastic member 50 fixed to the interlocking member 40 pushes up the pressing portion 74 of the operating member 70, causing the operating member 70 to also rise. As a result, the button portion 71 of the operating member 70 protrudes upward from the outer cap 30.

[0051] Furthermore, when the interlocking member 40 rotates relative to the inner cap 20, the dropper tube 80, whose rotation is restricted by the fitting protrusion 44a and the sliding groove 82, rotates relative to the inner cap 20. When the dropper tube 80 rotates relative to the inner cap 20, the dropper tube 80 that screws into the inside of the connecting tube portion 25 is screwed downward, and the dropper tube 80 descends relative to the inner cap 20.

[0052] 6, if the dropper tube 80 attempts to move further downward after the lower end 83 of the dropper tube 80 reaches the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2, the restriction on the rotation of the dropper tube 80 relative to the interlocking member 40 is released, and the dropper tube 80 rotates freely. Specifically, if the rotation resistance of the dropper tube 80 increases with the lower end 83 of the dropper tube 80 in contact with the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2, the fitting protrusions 44a move radially inward and are released from the sliding grooves 82. This stops the dropper tube 80 from moving downward.

[0053] When the interlocking member 40 rises, the sliding tube portion 43 slides upward relative to the piston 60, and the volume of the working space S increases, so that the inside of the dropper tube 80 becomes negative pressure through the gap between the fitting tube portion 44 and the dropper tube 80 (including the gap between the fitting protrusion 44a and the sliding groove 82). Then, the contents near the bottom surface 2b inside the container body 2 are sucked up from the lower end 83 or the cutout portion 83a of the dropper tube 80. The amount of the contents sucked up into the dropper tube 80 is determined by the amount of rise of the sliding tube portion 43 relative to the piston 60. Therefore, the dropper container 1 can hold an approximately fixed amount of the contents inside the dropper tube 80.

[0054] When the outer cap 30 is further rotated in the loosening direction relative to the container body 2 from the state shown in Fig. 6, the inner cap 20 rotates together with the outer cap 30. This is because the vertical rib 33 comes into contact with the side surface of the locking protrusion 21a facing the circumferential direction, as shown in Fig. 2. As the inner cap 20 rotates in the loosening direction relative to the container body 2, the dropper assembly 3 is detached upward from the container body 2. At this time, the contents adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the dropper tube 80 are scraped off by the scraping piece 10.

[0055] After removing the dropper assembly 3 from the container body 2, for example, when the button portion 71 is pressed while holding the outer cap 30, the pressing portion 74 presses the elastic membrane 51 downward. Then, the elastic member 50 is sandwiched between the pressing portion 74 and the interlocking member 40, the elastic membrane 51 is elastically deformed downward, and the volume of the working space S becomes smaller. As a result, the contents held in the dropper tube 80 are discharged from the lower end 83 of the dropper tube 80. Also, as described above, an approximately fixed amount of the contents is held in the dropper tube 80. Therefore, the user can apply an approximately fixed amount of the contents to a desired location by the above operation.

[0056] As described above, according to the dropper container 1 of this embodiment, when the outer cap 30 is rotated around the container axis O relative to the inner cap 20, the interlocking member 40, whose rotation is restricted by the outer cap 30, rotates relative to the inner cap 20. When the interlocking member 40 rotates relative to the inner cap 20, the interlocking member 40 moves up and down relative to the inner cap 20, and the dropper tube 80, whose rotation is restricted by the interlocking member 40, moves up and down relative to the inner cap 20 in the opposite direction to the interlocking member 40. Here, when the interlocking member 40 rises, the dropper tube 80 descends, and the lower end 83 of the dropper tube 80 approaches or abuts against the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2. In addition, when the interlocking member 40 rises, the volume of the working space S (the space surrounded by the piston 60, the sliding tube portion 43, and the top wall 42, excluding the inside of the elastic member 50) communicating with the inside of the dropper tube 80 increases, and the inside of the working space S becomes negative pressure. Then, the contents near the bottom surface 2b inside the container body 2 are sucked up from the lower end 83 of the dropper tube 80. Thereafter, when the dropper tube 80 is pulled up from the container body 2 and the operating member 70 is pushed downward, the volume of the working space S becomes smaller, and the contents held in the dropper tube 80 are discharged from the lower end 83 of the dropper tube 80.

[0057] Thus, the dropper container 1 of this embodiment includes a bottomed cylindrical container body 2 that contains the contents, an inner cap 20 attached to the mouth 2a of the container body 2, an outer cap 30 that covers the inner cap 20 and is rotatable around the container axis O relative to the inner cap 20, an interlocking member 40 whose rotation around the container axis O relative to the outer cap 30 is restricted and which moves up and down in association with the rotation around the container axis O relative to the inner cap 20, a dropper tube 80 whose rotation around the container axis O relative to the interlocking member 40 is restricted and which moves up and down in the opposite direction to the up and down movement of the interlocking member 40 in association with the rotation around the container axis O relative to the inner cap 20, and which opens in the container body 2, and an elastic member 50 that forms a working space S that communicates with the inside of the dropper tube 80. With this configuration, the contents near the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2 can be sucked in, and the remaining amount of the contents can be reduced.

[0058] Moreover, in this embodiment, an operating member 70 is provided above the elastic member 50 and is vertically movable with respect to the outer cap 30. According to this configuration, the elastic member 50 is pushed in via the operating member 70, so that a stable pushing operation can be performed.

[0059] In addition, in this embodiment, a rotation restriction release mechanism 90 is provided that releases the restriction on rotation of the dropper tube 80 about the container axis O relative to the interlocking member 40 when the lower end 83 of the dropper tube 80 is in contact with the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2. According to this configuration, if the dropper tube 80 attempts to move further downward after the lower end 83 of the dropper tube 80 reaches the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2 due to molding variations or the like, the restriction on rotation of the dropper tube 80 relative to the interlocking member 40 is released and the interlocking member 40 rotates freely, so that the descent of the dropper tube 80 can be stopped. This makes it possible to suppress scratches, indentations, and the like on the lower end 83 of the dropper tube 80 or the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2.

[0060] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0061] For example, in the above embodiment, the fitting protrusion 44a (convex portion) is provided on the interlocking member 40 side, and the sliding groove 82 (concave portion) is provided on the dropper tube 80 side, but the concave portion may be provided on the fitting cylinder portion 44 side, and the convex portion may be provided on the dropper tube 80 side. In this case, by making the convex portion of the dropper tube 80 elastically displaceable radially outward, the restriction on the rotation of the dropper tube 80 around the container axis O relative to the interlocking member 40 can be released. Furthermore, if molding variations and the like are not taken into consideration, the rotation restriction release mechanism 90 may be omitted. Also, the elastic member 50 may be directly pressed downward by the user's finger or the like, in which case the operating member 70 may not be provided.

[0062] In addition, within the scope of the spirit of the present invention, it is possible to replace the components in the above-described embodiments with well-known components as appropriate, and the above-described embodiments and variations may be combined as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1...dropper container, 2...container body, 2a...mouth portion, 2b...bottom surface, 3...dropper assembly, 10...piece, 11...contact portion, 20...inner cap, 21...mounting tube portion, 21a...locking protrusion portion, 22...regulating tube portion, 23...annular portion, 24...screwed tube portion, 25...connecting tube portion, 26...retaining tube portion, 27...sealing tube portion, 30...outer cap, 31...cap peripheral wall, 32...cap top wall, 32a...through hole, 33...vertical rib, 40...interlocking member, 41...screwed tube portion, 42...top wall, 42a...ventilation hole, 43...sliding tube portion , 44...fitting cylinder portion, 44a...fitting projection, 45...inner ring, 46...outer ring, 47...regulating projection, 48...rotation restricting portion, 48a...recess, 50...elastic member, 51...elastic membrane, 52...fixing portion, 60...piston, 70...operating member, 71...button portion, 72...button cylinder portion, 73...engaging cylinder portion, 73a...engaging portion, 74...pressing portion, 80...dropper tube, 81...upper end portion, 82...sliding groove, 83...lower end portion, 83a...notch portion, 90...rotation restricting release mechanism, 91...slit, O...container axis, S...operating space

Claims

1. A bottomed cylindrical container body for accommodating contents; An inner cap attached to the mouth of the container body; an outer cap that covers the inner cap and is rotatable relative to the inner cap about a container axis; a linking member whose rotation about a container axis relative to the outer cap is restricted and which moves up and down in response to the rotation about the container axis relative to the inner cap; a dropper tube whose rotation about a container axis relative to the interlocking member is restricted and which moves up and down in a direction opposite to the up and down movement of the interlocking member in response to the rotation about the container axis relative to the inner cap and which opens within the container body; and an elastic member that forms a working space that communicates with the inside of the dropper tube.

2. The dropper container according to claim 1 , further comprising an operating member provided above the elastic member and movable up and down relative to the outer cap.

3. 3. The dropper container according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation restriction release mechanism that releases the restriction on rotation of the dropper tube about the container axis relative to the interlocking member when the lower end of the dropper tube is in contact with the bottom surface of the container body.

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