Applicator and container

Abstract

To provide an applicator capable of changing a form according to a position where a content is applied, a finishing method, etc., and application container including the applicator.SOLUTION: An applicator 30 comprises an application body 50 for applying an applying object to a tip of a shaft body 40, where the shaft body 40 includes a tubular outer shaft body 41, and an inner shaft body 42 that is rotatably inserted inside the outer shaft body 41 and whose tip projects from a tip of the outer shaft body 41. Further, the application body includes an application part 51 to which the applying object is attached and that is configured to be elastically deformable, a base end 52 for connecting the application body 51 to the tip of the outer shaft body 41, and a tip 53 for connecting the application part 51 to the tip of the inner shaft body 42. Furthermore, the application container 100 includes a cap 20 with the applicator 30 that is demountably mounted on a container body 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an applicator and an application container for applying a content liquid. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, applicator containers equipped with an applicator for applying the content liquid to eyelashes are used as containers that contain eyelash cosmetics such as mascara as the content liquid. A widely used applicator container has a shaft part on a cap attached to the container, and an applicator part on the tip of the shaft part (see, for example, "Patent Document 1").

[0003] There are various types of eyelash cosmetics, such as volume-type mascara, length-type mascara containing fibers, mascara for point application such as colored mascara, mascara base for improving curl retention, etc. Users can select eyelash cosmetics from these various products according to their purpose.

[0004] Incidentally, upper eyelashes are longer and thicker than lower eyelashes. Therefore, the amount and method of application of eyelash cosmetics differ between upper eyelashes and lower eyelashes. In addition, it is preferable to change the amount and method of application of eyelash cosmetics depending on the desired finishing method, such as when emphasizing eye power or when a natural finish is desired. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-159005 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, the conventional applicator containers described above could basically only be equipped with one type of applicator, so if a user wanted to use multiple types of applicators depending on the application position or the desired finishing method, it was necessary to prepare multiple products equipped with the desired applicators.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an applicator whose shape can be changed depending on the position to which the contents are to be applied, the finishing method, etc., and an applicator container equipped with the applicator. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the applicator according to the present invention is an applicator provided with an applicator body for applying an object to a tip of a shaft, the shaft having a cylindrical outer shaft and an inner shaft which is rotatably inserted inside the outer shaft and has a tip protruding from the tip of the outer shaft; The applicator body has an applicator section to which the object to be applied is attached and which is configured to be elastically deformable, a base end section that connects the applicator section to the tip of the outer shaft body, and a tip section that connects the applicator section to the tip of the inner shaft body. The cap body is provided with a cap body that is detachably attached to the mouth of a container body that contains the object to be coated as a content, and a rotary operating body that is rotatably provided with respect to the cap body, the outer shaft body is provided on the cap body, the inner shaft body is provided on the rotary operating body and rotates integrally with the rotary operating body, the cap body includes a cylindrical body into which a base end of the inner shaft body is inserted, the application part is composed of a spiral body in which a groove that holds the object to be coated is provided in a spiral shape, the application part is twisted and elastically deformed so that the outer diameter becomes smaller by the rotation of the inner shaft body due to the rotation operation of the rotary operating body, and a locking mechanism is provided that restricts the rotation of the inner shaft body so that the application part is maintained in a twisted state, and the locking mechanism restricts the rotation of the inner shaft body by engagement between a protrusion and a recess that are provided between an outer circumferential surface of the inner shaft body and an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body. The present invention is characterized by the above.

[0010] In the applicator according to the present invention, it is preferable that the applicator part is a linearly wound body obtained by spirally winding a wire at a predetermined pitch, and that the object to be applied is held in a groove between the wound wire.

[0011] In the applicator according to the present invention, the inner shaft is moved from a first position to the outer shaft. The application part is maintained in a twisted state. The second position is rotatable between the first position and the second position. The locking mechanism includes: It is preferable that the inner shaft is fixed to the outer shaft so as to be switchable between the first position and the second position.

[0012] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an applicator container comprising the above applicator and Description The main body and ,of Preparation R It is characterized by: Effect of the Invention

[0013] The applicator according to the present invention includes an applicator body for applying a substance to the tip of the shaft, and can apply the substance to a site by attaching the substance to the applicator body. In the applicator according to the present invention, the shaft is configured such that the inner shaft is rotatably inserted into the cylindrical outer shaft, and the tip of the inner shaft protrudes from the tip of the outer shaft. The applicator body has an applicator part to which the substance to be applied is attached and which can be elastically deformed. The applicator part is connected to the tip of the outer shaft by the base end and to the tip of the inner shaft by the tip. When the inner shaft is rotated relative to the outer shaft, the applicator part is elastically deformable, so that the tip side is twisted relative to the base end side, and the outer diameter is reduced. When the rotation is released, the applicator part returns to its original shape and the outer diameter is increased. Thus, according to the applicator of the present invention, the outer diameter of the applicator body can be changed by rotating the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft.

[0014] Since the applicator part is elastically deformable, it can be reversibly changed between a shape with a large outer diameter and a shape with a small outer diameter. For example, when the content is an eyelash cosmetic, the applicator part can be a thick brush shape with a large outer diameter when the application position is the upper eyelashes, and can be a thin brush shape with a small outer diameter when the application position is the lower eyelashes. In this way, according to the applicator of the present invention, the shape of the applicator can be changed according to the application position of the object to be applied, the finishing method, etc., by rotating the inner shaft body relative to the outer shaft body. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of an applicator container equipped with an applicator according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] With regard to the applicator shown in Figure 1, (a) is a front view showing the appearance of the applicator body, (b) is a partial cross-sectional view showing the tip portion of the shaft body to which the applicator body is provided, (c) is a partial cross-sectional view showing the tip portion of the outer shaft body, and (d) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of Figures 1 and 2(b). [Diagram 3]Regarding the applicator shown in FIG. 1, (a) is a cross-sectional view showing a first form of the applicator body, and (b) is a cross-sectional view showing a second form of the applicator body. [Figure 4] With regard to the application container shown in FIG. 1, (a) is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the cap, and (b) is a partial cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the fixing portion of the inner shaft. [Diagram 5] Regarding the applicator shown in Figure 1, (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Figures 1 and 5(b) when the applicator body is in a first form, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the cap and the applicator when in the first form. [Figure 6] Regarding the applicator shown in Figure 1, (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Figure 6(b) when the applicator body is in the second form, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the cap and the applicator when in the second form. [Figure 7] 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating a method of using the applicator shown in FIG. 1, where (a) is a diagram illustrating an example of a method of using the applicator when the applicator body is in a first form, and (b) is a diagram illustrating an example of a method of using the applicator when the applicator body is in a second form. [Figure 8] 1. FIG. 4 is another view for explaining a method of using the applicator shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an applicator and an applicator container according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows an applicator container 100 of this embodiment. In the applicator container 100 shown in Fig. 1, a cap 20 is removably attached to a mouth portion 11 of a container body 10 in which a content C (subject to be applied) (see Fig. 2(b) and the like) is accommodated. The cap 20 is configured as an applicator-equipped cap 80 equipped with an applicator 30. When the cap 20 is removed from the container body 10, the content C can be applied to the area to be applied by the applicator 30.

[0017] The application container 100 in this embodiment can contain various contents C such as cosmetics, detergents, medicines, adhesives, etc. The contents C may be in various states such as liquid, gel, cream, etc., and may contain fibers, etc. As described above, the type and state of the contents are not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, an example will be described in which the container body 10 contains eyelash cosmetics such as mascara or mascara base as the contents C, and the area to be applied is the eyelashes.

[0018] In this specification, "upper" and "lower" indicate relative positional relationships, and in a state where the application container 100 is arranged in an upright position as shown in Fig. 1, the side where the container body 10 is located in the axial direction along the central axis O of the mouth part 11 of the container body 10 is referred to as "lower", and the side where the cap 20 is located is referred to as "upper". In addition, in the state shown in Fig. 1, when the application container 100 is divided by a plane including the central axis O, the front side of the paper surface is referred to as the "front" side of the application container 100, and the back side of the paper surface is referred to as the "rear" side of the application container 100.

[0019] First, the configuration of the container body 10 side will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The container body 10 comprises a bottomed cylindrical body 12 in which contents C (not shown in Fig. 1) are accommodated, and a shoulder portion 13 connecting the body 12 and the mouth portion 11. The mouth portion 11 is formed to have a smaller diameter than the body portion 12, and a threaded portion 14 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the mouth portion 11. A threaded portion 22c on the cap body 21 side is screwed into this threaded portion 14, and the cap 20 is detachably attached to the mouth portion 11. In addition, a squeezing member 15 is provided inside the mouth portion 11.

[0020] The squeezing member 15 is formed from an elastically deformable material such as polypropylene resin (PP), HDPE (high density polyethylene resin), LDPE (low density polyethylene resin), LLDPE (linear low density polyethylene resin), rubber, a thermoplastic resin elastomer, or a thermosetting resin elastomer.

[0021] The wiping member 15 includes a wiping piece for the shaft 15a for scraping off the contents C adhering to the surface of the shaft 40, and a wiping piece for the applicator 15b for scraping off the contents C adhering to the surface of the applicator 50. When the cap 20 is removed from the container body 10, the applicator 30 attached to the cap 20 passes through the mouth 11 with the shaft 40 and the applicator 50 in close contact with the wiping piece for the shaft 15a and the wiping piece for the applicator 15b, respectively. Therefore, the contents C that are excessively attached to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 40 and the applicator 50 are scraped off by the wiping member 15, and an appropriate amount of contents C adheres to the applicator 50.

[0022] Next, the main configuration of the cap 20 and the applicator 30 will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, the cap 20 includes a cap body 21 that is removably attached to the mouth 11 of the container body 10, and a rotation operation body 25 that is configured in a cylindrical shape with a top and is rotatably fitted around the cap body 21.

[0023] As described above, the applicator 30 has the shaft body 40 and the applicator body 50 provided at the tip of the shaft body 40. The shaft body 40 has a cylindrical outer shaft body 41 and an inner shaft body 42 rotatably inserted inside the outer shaft body 41, and the tip of the inner shaft body 42 protrudes downward from the tip of the outer shaft body 41. In this embodiment, the outer shaft body 41 is molded integrally with the cap body 21. Moreover, the inner shaft body 42 is non-rotatably attached to the inner circumferential surface of the rotary operation body 25 via a fixing portion 43.

[0024] Applicator body 50 comprises applicator section 51 to which content C is attached and which is configured to be elastically deformable, base end section 52 which connects applicator section 51 to the tip of outer shaft body 41, and tip section 53 which connects to the tip of inner shaft body 42. In the present embodiment, applicator body 50 is provided at its tip with a plurality of short comb-like protrusions 54.

[0025] In this embodiment, the applicator 51 is configured as a linear wound body obtained by spirally winding a resin wire 51a at a predetermined pitch as shown in Fig. 2(a). One end of the wire 51a is connected to a base end 52, and the other end is connected to a tip end 53.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2(b), the inner shaft 42 is inserted inside the applicator 51, and there is a gap between the outer circumferential surface of the inner shaft 42 and the wire 51a. By winding the wire 51a to form the applicator 51 into a spiral body with grooves in a spiral shape, the contents C can be held in the grooves between the wires 51a. At the same time, the spirally wound wire 51a can function as a brush or comb for applying the contents C to the eyelashes. FIG. 2(b) shows a state in which an appropriate amount of the contents C is attached to the applicator 51.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2(a), the base end 52 of the applicator 50 is configured in a substantially short cylindrical shape, and as shown in FIG. 2(b), an axially long groove 52a is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the applicator 50 on each side in the radial direction. As shown in FIG. 2(c), an outer shaft rotation stopper 41a is provided on each side in the radial direction on the outer peripheral surface of the outer shaft 41, protruding radially outward at a position corresponding to the groove 52a. As shown in FIG. 2(b), when the tip of the outer shaft 41 is inserted into the base end 52 of the applicator 50, the outer shaft rotation stopper 41a is engaged with the groove 52a. The outer shaft rotation stopper 41a is engaged with the groove 52a, so that the base end 52 of the applicator 50 is non-rotatably connected to the tip of the outer shaft 41. Note that FIG. 2(c) is a cross-sectional view showing only the shaft 40, and shows the tip portion of the outer shaft 41.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 2(a), tip portion 53 of applicator body 50 is generally frustum-shaped, with the tip side having a smaller diameter than the base end side. Inside tip portion 53, fitting hole 53a having a rectangular cross section is provided as shown in Fig. 2(d). Tip portion 42a of inner shaft body 42 is also formed in a square rod shape having a rectangular cross section as shown in Fig. 2(d). Tip portion 42a of inner shaft body 42 is fitted into fitting hole 53a provided in tip portion 53 of applicator body 50, whereby inner shaft body 42 is non-rotatably connected to tip portion 53 of applicator body 50.

[0029] In this embodiment, by configuring the applicator-equipped cap 80 (cap 20 and applicator 30) as described above, when the rotary operation body 25 is rotated by a predetermined angle (approximately 180° in this embodiment) with the central axis O as the center of rotation relative to the cap body 21, the inner shaft body 42 rotates by the predetermined angle from the first position (initial position) shown in FIG. 1 (and FIG. 5) relative to the outer shaft body 41. The position at which the inner shaft body 42 has rotated by the predetermined angle is referred to as the second position (see FIG. 6). Note that the direction of rotation from the first position to the second position is referred to as the forward direction, and the direction of rotation from the second position to the first position is referred to as the reverse direction, and the winding direction of the wire 51a is assumed to coincide with the forward direction.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 2(b) etc., base end 52 of applicator 50 is non-rotatably connected to the tip of outer shaft 41, whereas tip end 53 of applicator 50 is non-rotatably connected to the tip of inner shaft 42. Therefore, applicator 51 attempts to rotate in the forward direction together with inner shaft 42, but cannot rotate because base end 52 connected to outer shaft 41 is fixed, and a torsional force is applied to applicator 51. The application of a torsional force in the forward direction to applicator 51 results in a state in which wire 51a is tightly wound around inner shaft 42, as shown in Fig. 3(b).

[0031] Here, the state of applicator body 50 corresponding to the first position of inner shaft body 42 is referred to as the first form (Figures 2(b), 3(a), etc.), and the state of applicator body 50 corresponding to the second position of inner shaft body 42 is referred to as the second form (Figure 3(b), etc.). Hereinafter, a description will be given with reference to FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3(a), in the first form, since no twisting force is applied to the applicator 50, the pitch width at which the wire 51a is wound is the first pitch width P1 in the initial state, and the outer diameter (width) of the applicator 51 is the first outer diameter W1 in the initial state. In the second form, since the wire 51a is tightly wound around the inner shaft 42, the pitch width of the wire 51a narrows from the first pitch width P1 to the second pitch width P2, and the outer diameter of the applicator 51 also narrows from the first outer diameter W1 shown in FIG. 3(a) to the second outer diameter W2 shown in FIG. 3(b). As described above, since the applicator 51 is elastically deformable, when the twisting force caused by the rotation is released, the wire 51a loosens and the applicator 50 returns to its original shape.

[0032] In this way, by configuring applicator body 50 to be reversibly changeable between the first form and the second form, in the first form applicator body 50 can function like a thick brush with a large outer diameter and pitch width, and in the second form applicator body 50 can function like a thin brush with a narrow outer diameter and pitch width.

[0033] Incidentally, when the contents C are applied to the eyelashes using the applicator cap 80 with an appropriate amount of the contents C attached thereto in the first form as shown in Fig. 2(b), the contents C move toward the eyelashes, and the amount of the contents C attached to the applicator part 51 decreases. Fig. 3(a) shows the applicator body 50 after the contents C has been applied to the eyelashes in the first form. In the state shown in Fig. 3(a), the amount of the contents C attached is small and the contents C remains only at the bottom of the grooves between the wires 51a, so that it is difficult to apply the contents C to the eyelashes even if the eyelashes are inserted between the wires 51a.

[0034] However, when applicator body 50 is changed from the first form to the second form at this time, wire 51a is tightly wound around inner shaft body 42 as described above. As a result, as shown by the outline arrow in Fig. 3(b), wire 51a tightly wound around inner shaft body 42 pushes the eyelash cosmetic outward from wire 51a, and in the second form, a sufficient amount of the content C can be applied to the eyelashes. That is, by rotating rotary operating body 25 after using applicator body 50 in the first form, not only can applicator body 50 be changed from a thick brush shape to a thin brush shape, but applicator 30 can also be used without adding additional content C.

[0035] Next, the configuration of applicator-equipped cap 80 (cap 20 and applicator 30) of this embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 4 to 6. Here, Fig. 4(a) is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of cap 20 of applicator container 100 shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4(b) is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of fixing portion 43 for fixing inner shaft body 42 to rotation operation body 25 of cap 20. Fig. 5 shows a state in which rotation operation body 25 is in a first position and applicator body 50 is in a first form. Fig. 6 shows a state in which rotation operation body 25 is in a second position and applicator body 50 is in a second form.

[0036] First, the detailed configuration of the cap 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4(a), the cap body 21 includes a lower cylinder 22 that covers the mouth 11 of the container body 10, an outer upper cylinder 23 on a top wall surface 22a of the lower cylinder 22, and an inner upper cylinder 24. The inner peripheral surface of the lower cylinder 22 is provided with a threaded portion 22c that is screwed into the threaded portion 14 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth 11. The outer shaft 41 is provided on the lower surface side of the top wall surface 22a of the lower cylinder 22 so as to protrude downward. An insertion hole 22b is provided at approximately the center of the top wall surface 22a, which communicates with the cylindrical outer shaft 41 and through which the inner shaft 42 is inserted. As described above, the cap body 21 (the lower cylinder 22, the outer upper cylinder 23, and the inner upper cylinder 24) and the outer shaft 41 are integrally molded from a resin material or the like.

[0037] The outer upper cylinder body 23 has a smaller diameter than the lower cylinder body 22 and is shaped like a short cylinder with the top wall surface 22a as its lower surface. An annular protrusion 23a that protrudes radially outward is provided at the lower part of the outer peripheral surface of the outer upper cylinder body 23. An annular recess 25a that fits into the annular protrusion 23a is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the rotation driver 25. The rotation driver 25 is rotatably fitted onto the outer upper cylinder body 23 by these means and is prevented from coming off.

[0038] The inner upper cylinder body 24 has an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the insertion hole 22b, and the base end portion 42b of the inner shaft body 42 is rotatably inserted into the inner upper cylinder body 24. Here, prior to describing the inner upper cylinder body 24, the configuration of the inner shaft body 42 will be described.

[0039] As shown in Figures 5(a) and 6(a), the inner shaft 42 is formed into a long round bar shape having a substantially circular cross section. As described above, the inner shaft 42 is rotatably inserted into the outer shaft 41, and protrudes downward from the tip of the outer shaft 41 (see Figures 5(b) and 6(b)). Moreover, as described above, the inner shaft 42 is inserted inside the applicator part 51 and fitted into the tip part 53 of the applicator body 50.

[0040] The base end 42b of the inner shaft 42 has an expanded diameter, and is rotatably housed within the inner upper cylinder body 24. As shown in Figures 4(b), 5(a), and 6(a), an inner shaft locking portion 42c that protrudes radially outward is provided on one side of the outer circumferential surface of the base end 42b of the inner shaft 42.

[0041] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 4(a), Fig. 5(a) and Fig. 6(a), a semi-cylindrical semi-cylindrical portion 24a is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the inner upper cylinder body 24. By providing the semi-cylindrical portion 24a on the inner peripheral surface of the inner upper cylinder body 24, as shown in Fig. 5(a) and Fig. 6(a), the wall thickness of the inner upper cylinder body 24 is configured so that the inner side is thicker than the front side when divided by a plane including the central axis O. The base end portion 42b of the inner shaft body 42 includes the inner shaft lock portion 42c, and the inner shaft lock portion 42c abuts against the semi-cylindrical portion 24a. Therefore, when the inner shaft body 42 is rotated relative to the outer shaft body 41, the inner shaft lock portion 42c can only rotate within a range where the semi-cylindrical portion 24a is not provided, that is, within a range of approximately 180° on the front side.

[0042] A more detailed description will be given with reference to Figures 4(a) and 4(b). As shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the "inner radius R1 of the inner upper cylinder body 24" is configured to be larger than the sum "r3 = (r1 + r2)" of the "maximum outer radius r1 of the base end 42b of the inner shaft body 42" and the "projection length r2 of the inner shaft locking part 42c from the outer surface of the base end 42b". On the other hand, the "inner radius R2 of the semi-cylindrical portion 24a" is configured to be smaller than the sum "r3" of the "maximum outer radius r1 of the base end 42b of the inner shaft body 42" and the "protrusion length r2 of the inner shaft lock portion 42c from the outer surface of the base end 42b of the inner shaft body 42". Therefore, the base end 42b of the inner shaft body 42 is rotatably housed within the inner upper cylinder body 24, but since the base end 42b of the inner shaft body 42 is provided with the inner shaft lock portion 42c, when the inner shaft lock portion 42c abuts against the end of the semi-cylindrical portion 24a, the rotation of the inner shaft body 42 is restricted. Therefore, the rotatable range of the inner shaft body 42 is limited to the above-mentioned predetermined angle (approximately 180°), which is the rotatable range of the inner shaft lock portion 42c.

[0043] Next, the lock mechanism of the present invention will be described. As shown in Fig. 5(a) and Fig. 6(a), the inner peripheral surface of the inner upper cylinder body 24 is provided with locking portions 24b (not shown in Fig. 4(a)) protruding radially inward at a predetermined distance from both end surfaces of the semi-cylindrical portion 24a. The locking portions 24b are so-called undercuts, and are formed as long protrusions in the axial direction. As shown in Fig. 5(a) and Fig. 6(a), the corners of the locking portions 24b are rounded. Therefore, when the rotary operation body 25 is rotated strongly, the inner shaft locking portion 42c can overcome the locking portions 24b located on the rotation direction side.

[0044] Here, as shown in FIG. 5(a) and FIG. 6(a), each locking portion 24b is disposed so as to be spaced apart from the end of the semi-cylindrical portion 24a by a predetermined distance. Therefore, a long recess is formed in the axial direction between the end of the semi-cylindrical portion 24a and the locking portion 24b. Hereinafter, the recess is referred to as the lock groove 24c. When the rotation operation body 25 is rotated strongly and the inner shaft locking portion 42c passes over the locking portion 24b, the inner shaft locking portion 42c is accommodated in the lock groove 24c. Even if the rotation operation body 25 is rotated in the same direction in this state, the inner shaft body 42 and the rotation operation body 25 cannot be rotated any further by the inner shaft locking portion 42c on the semi-cylindrical portion 24a as described above. At that time, when the rotation operation of the rotation operation body 25 is stopped, the rotation operation body 25 and the inner shaft body 42 are fixed in that position unless a force is applied to the rotation operation body 25. That is, in the initial state, the inner shaft body 42 can be fixed at the first position, and when the rotation operation body 25 is rotated in the forward direction from the initial state, the inner shaft body 42 can be fixed at the second position. In this way, the semi-cylindrical portion 24a, the engaging portion 24b, and the lock groove 24c provided on the inner upper cylinder body 24, and the inner shaft lock portion 42c provided on the inner shaft body 42, can function as a locking mechanism that restricts the rotation range of the inner shaft body 42 and fixes the inner shaft body 42 from the first position to the second position.

[0045] The rotary driver 25 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a top as shown in Fig. 4(a). On its inner peripheral surface, two grooves 25b are provided, which are formed by axially long vertical ribs protruding radially inward. The fixed portion 43 of the inner shaft body 42 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom. On the inner peripheral surface of the fixed portion 43, two rotation stop ridges 43a are provided at positions corresponding to the grooves 25b, and the rotation stop ridges 43a are engaged with the respective grooves, so that the inner shaft body 42 is attached to the rotary driver 25 so as to be unable to rotate.

[0046] Next, examples of use of the applicator-equipped cap 80 will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. Note that some reference numerals are omitted in Figures 7 and 8. Note that in the applicator-equipped cap 80, the cap 20 portion can be used as a gripping portion for the applicator 30.

[0047] FIG. 7(a) is a diagram showing a state in which the cap 20 is removed from the applicator container 100 and the contents C is applied to the upper eyelashes by the applicator 30 in a state in which the cap 20 is held with fingers. However, fingers are not shown. In FIG. 7(a), the applicator body 50 of the applicator 30 is in a first form and is in a thick brush shape having a first outer diameter W1 (see FIG. 3(a)). Therefore, the contents C can be applied to the upper eyelashes in a state in which a sufficient amount of the contents C is attached to the applicator part 51 (for example, the state shown in FIG. 2(b)). At this time, since the pitch width at which the wire 51a is wound is a wide first pitch width P1, multiple eyelashes can be inserted into the grooves between the wires 51a. By gradually changing the position of the applicator part 51 relative to the upper eyelashes and combing the upper eyelashes while lifting them upward with the applicator part 51, the contents C can be applied to the upper eyelashes without clumping.

[0048] FIG. 7(b) is a diagram showing the state in which the contents C are applied to the lower eyelashes by the applicator 30. After the contents C are applied to the upper eyelashes, the amount of the contents C attached thereto decreases, for example, as shown in FIG. 3(a). However, as described above, by changing the applicator 50 into the second form to have a fine brush shape, the contents C attached to the applicator part 51 can be applied to the lower eyelashes without inserting the applicator 30 into the container body 10 and adding the contents C. In the second form, the pitch width of the wire 51a is set to the narrow second pitch width P2, so that the lower eyelashes, which have a smaller amount of hair and a lower density than the upper eyelashes, can be easily inserted into the grooves between the wires 51a. In addition, because the grooves are narrow, it is possible to prevent an unnatural amount of the contents C from adhering to the lower eyelashes, and to apply an appropriate amount to the lower eyelashes. Furthermore, since the amount of the contents C adhered to the application part 51 is appropriate, when applying the contents C to the lower eyelashes, it is possible to prevent the contents C from adhering to unintended locations such as the cheeks.

[0049] In this embodiment, comb-tooth-shaped protrusions 54 protruding downward are provided at the tip of applicator body 50. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 8, contents C can be applied to each and every lower eyelash (or upper eyelash), etc., and workability is good when applying contents C to small areas such as point makeup.

[0050] As described above, according to the applicator-equipped cap 80 and the applicator container 100 of this embodiment, the applicator 50 can be reversibly changed between a thick brush-like first form and a thin brush-like second form by rotating the rotary operating body 25 relative to the cap body 21. Therefore, by using the thick brush-like first form when applying the contents C to the upper eyelashes and the thin brush-like second form when applying the contents C to the lower eyelashes, it is possible to apply an appropriate amount of the contents C to the upper eyelashes and the lower eyelashes, respectively. In addition, when a natural finish is desired for the upper eyelashes, the thin brush-like second form may be used, and the form of the applicator 50 can be changed depending on the position to which the contents C is applied, the finishing method, etc.

[0051] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and may of course be modified as appropriate within the scope of the gist of the present invention. Furthermore, the effects of the above embodiment are merely examples of the effects resulting from the present invention, and do not mean that the effects of the present invention are limited to the above effects.

[0052] For example, in the above embodiment, applicator 50 is configured as a linearly wound body obtained by winding resin wire 51a in a spiral shape at a predetermined pitch, but applicator 50 in the applicator and applicator container according to the present invention is not limited to this. Wire 51a does not need to be actually wound, and may be molded into the shape. Also, applicator 51 or applicator 50 as a whole may be configured by a molded body in which grooves are formed in a spiral shape using an elastically deformable material such as silicone. Also, when the contents are liquid, applicator 51 may be configured by an elastically deformable porous absorbent, for example, so that the contents are squeezed out when a torsional force is applied to applicator 51 as described above.

[0053] In addition, the above-mentioned applicator 30 is configured as an applicator-equipped cap 80 provided on the applicator container 100, and the cap 20 detachably attached to the container body 10 is used as the grip of the applicator 30. However, the applicator 30 is not limited to this configuration. The applicator according to the present invention includes an applicator 50 for applying an object to be applied (contents C, etc.) to the tip of a shaft 40, the shaft 40 having a cylindrical outer shaft 41 and an inner shaft 42 rotatably inserted inside the outer shaft 41 and having its tip protruding from the tip of the outer shaft 41, and the applicator 50 has an applicator section 51 to which the object to be applied is attached and configured to be elastically deformable, a base end 52 connecting the applicator section 51 and the tip of the outer shaft 41, and a tip end 53 connecting the applicator section 51 and the tip of the inner shaft 42, so long as the applicator 50 has the applicator section 51 to which the object to be applied is attached and is configured to be elastically deformable, a base end 52 connecting the applicator section 51 and the tip of the outer shaft 41, and a tip end 53 connecting the applicator section 51 and the tip of the inner shaft 42, the specific configuration for rotating the inner shaft 42 relative to the outer shaft 41 is not particularly limited. Furthermore, the specific configurations of shaft body 40 and applicator body 50 are not limited to those in the above embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 10: Container body 11: Mouth 12: Torso 13:Shoulder 14: Threaded section 15: Ironing material 15a: Ironing piece for shaft 15b: Squeezing piece for application body 20: Cap 21: Cap body 22: Lower barrel 22a: Ceiling wall surface 22b: Insertion hole 22c: Threaded section 23: Outer upper cylinder 23a: Annular protrusion 24: Inner upper cylinder 24a: Half cylinder part 24b: Locking part 24c: Lock groove 25: Rotating operation body 25a: Annular recess 25b: Concave groove 30: Applicator 40: Shaft body 41: Outer shaft body 41a: outer shaft rotation stopper 42: Inner shaft 42a: Tip 42b: Proximal end 42c: Inner shaft locking part 43:Fixed part 43a: Rotation stop convex portion 50: Application body 51: Application section 51a: Wire rod 52: Proximal end 52a:Groove 53:Tip 53a: Fitting hole 54: Comb-shaped protrusion 80: Cap with applicator 100: Application container C:Contents O: Central axis P1: First pitch width P2: Second pitch width R1: Inner radius R2: Inner radius W1: First outer diameter W2: Second outer diameter r1: Maximum outer radius r2:Protrusion length

Claims

1. An applicator having an applicator body for applying an application to a subject at a tip of a shaft, The shaft body includes a cylindrical outer shaft body and an inner shaft body that is rotatably inserted inside the outer shaft body and has a tip end that protrudes from a tip end of the outer shaft body, the applicator body has an applicator section to which the object to be applied is attached and which is configured to be elastically deformable, a base end section connecting the applicator section and the tip of the outer shaft body, and a tip section connecting the applicator section and the tip of the inner shaft body, a cap body that is detachably attached to an opening of a container body that contains the application target as a content, and a rotation operation body that is rotatably provided with respect to the cap body, the outer shaft body is provided in the cap body, the inner shaft body is provided in the rotary operation body and rotates integrally with the rotary operation body, the cap body includes a cylindrical body into which a base end portion of the inner shaft is inserted, The coating unit is composed of a spiral body having a groove for holding the object to be coated formed in a spiral shape, When the inner shaft body is rotated by the rotation operation of the rotary operation body, the application part is twisted and elastically deformed so that the outer diameter becomes smaller, a lock mechanism is provided that restricts rotation of the inner shaft body so that the application part is maintained in a twisted state; The locking mechanism restricts rotation of the inner shaft by engagement between a protrusion and a recess provided between an outer peripheral surface of the inner shaft and an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body.

2. 2. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator section is a linearly wound body obtained by spirally winding a wire at a predetermined pitch, and the object to be coated is held in grooves between the wound wire.

3. 3. The applicator according to claim 1, wherein the inner shaft is rotatable relative to the outer shaft between a first position and a second position in which the applicator part is maintained in a twisted state, and the locking mechanism fixes the inner shaft to the outer shaft in a switchable manner between the first position and the second position.

4. An applicator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, An application container comprising the container body.

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