Double container

Abstract

To provide a double container whose sealability is improved.SOLUTION: A double container 1A has: an inner container 2 capable of storing a content C; an outer container 3 capable of storing the container 2; and an annular seal member 4 arranged between the inner container 2 and the outer container 3. The inner container 2 has a mouth 21. The outer container 3 has: a mouth 31; a shoulder part 32 connected to the mouth 31; and a trunk part 33 connected to the shoulder part 32. The trunk part 33 is formed with a window part 34. The annular seal member 4 is arranged between an upper end of the mouth 21 of the inner container 2, and an inner face of the shoulder part 32 of the outer container 3. The inner container 2 and the outer container 3 each have an undercut engagement part 5 for engaging the inner container 2 with the outer container 3 in such a manner that the annular seal member 4 is compressed between the inner container 2 and the outer container 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Among conventional containers, there is a cosmetic container in which an applicator is provided on a cap that is detachable from the container body (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] On the other hand, cosmetic containers tend to place importance on decorativeness (design). Further, in a conventional container, since the container body is a single container, it is difficult to provide a window in the container body.

[0005] Therefore, the inventor of the present application considered using a so-called double container, in which a container for containing the content is used as an inner container and the inner container is housed in an outer container, as the container body.

[0006] However, such a double container had room for improvement in sealing performance.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a double container with improved sealing performance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The double container according to the present invention has an inner container capable of accommodating contents, an outer container capable of accommodating the inner container, and an annular seal member disposed between the inner container and the outer container. The inner container has a mouth portion, and the outer container has a mouth portion, a shoulder portion connected to the mouth portion, and a body portion connected to the shoulder portion. A window portion is formed in the body portion. The annular seal member is disposed between the upper end of the mouth portion of the inner container and the inner surface of the shoulder portion of the outer container. The inner container and the outer container each have an undercut fitting portion for locking the inner container and the outer container so that the annular seal member is compressed between the upper end of the mouth portion of the inner container and the inner surface of the shoulder portion of the outer container.

[0009] In the double container according to the present invention, it is preferable that the annular seal member has a fitting groove for fitting the mouth portion of the inner container.

[0010] The double container according to the present invention can further have a middle plug for sealing the inner surface of the mouth portion of the outer container.

[0011] The double container according to the present invention can further have a detachable cap on the mouth portion of the outer container and an applicator attached to the cap and penetrating the middle plug in a pluggable manner.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a double container with improved sealing performance.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the double container according to various embodiments of the present invention will be described together with a container with an applicator having the double container as a container body. In the following description, the axis О is the central axis of the container with an applicator. Each component of the container with an applicator shall have the axis О as the central axis. Also, in the following description, the "axial direction" means the direction along the axis О, the "axial perpendicular direction" means the direction perpendicular to the axis О, and in particular, the "radial direction" means the one among the axial perpendicular directions that is based on the axis О. Further, "up" may mean the direction in which the mouth of the container points, and "down" may mean the direction in which the bottom of the container points.

[0015] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1A is a double container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The double container 1A, together with the cap 7, constitutes a container with an applicator 10.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 2, the double container 1A has an inner container 2 capable of accommodating the content C, an outer container 3 capable of accommodating the inner container 2, and an annular seal member 4 disposed between the inner container 2 and the outer container 3.

[0017] The inner container 2 has a mouth portion 21. The inner container 2 also has a body portion 22 connected to the mouth portion 21. Further, the inner container 2 has a bottom portion 23 connected to the body portion 22. The bottom portion 23 is located on the side opposite to the mouth portion 21 in the axial direction and closes the lower end of the body portion 22. Inside the inner container 2, for example, a liquid content C is accommodated. In the present embodiment, the inner container 2 is a so-called wide-mouth container. Here, the wide-mouth container means a container having no shoulder between the mouth portion 21 and the body portion 22 as shown in FIG. 2. In the present embodiment, the inner container 2 is a container in which the inner diameter of the mouth portion 21 is the same as the inner diameter of the body portion 22. In the present embodiment, the inner container 2 is a transparent container. Thereby, the inner container 2 can show the content C through the inner container 2. However, according to the present invention, the inner container 2 can be a translucent or opaque container. The inner container 2 can be integrally formed of, for example, resin.

[0018] The outer container 3 has a mouth portion 31, a shoulder portion 32 connected to the mouth portion 31, and a body portion 33 connected to the shoulder portion 32. In the present embodiment, the lower end of the body portion 33 of the outer container 3 is open. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 2, the outer container 3 can accommodate the inner container 2 from the lower end opening of the outer container 3. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the body portion 33 is a container having a square shape (a square shape in this example) in plan view. Specifically, the body portion 33 is composed of four panel-shaped walls and has four surfaces: a front surface 33A, a rear surface 33B, a right surface 33C, and a left surface 33D. Although not shown, in the present embodiment, the inner container 2 is also a container having a square shape (a square shape in this example) in plan view. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 2, the inner container 2 can be accommodated inside the body portion 33 of the outer container 3 in accordance with the inner shape of the body portion 33 of the outer container 3.

[0019] In addition, a window portion 34 is provided in the body portion 33. The window portion 34 can be, for example, an opening (through hole) formed in the body portion 33. In the present embodiment, the window portion 34 is formed at the opposing positions of the front surfaces 33A and 33B. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the right surface 33C and the left surface 33D (not shown in FIG. 3. Also, in FIG. 3, the window portion 34 of the rear surface 33B is omitted.) are closed without having the window portion 34. However, according to the present invention, the window portion 34 can be provided on at least any one of the four surfaces (33A to 33D). Also, according to the present invention, at least one window portion 34 can be provided for one surface.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 4, the annular seal member 4 is disposed between the upper end 21e of the mouth portion 21 of the inner container 2 and the inner surface (lower surface) 32F of the shoulder portion 32 of the outer container 3. In the present embodiment, the annular seal member 4 is also an annular seal member having a square shape (a square shape in this example) in a plan view, as shown in FIG. 5. Also, referring to FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the annular seal member 4 has an inner seal portion 41, an outer seal portion 42, and a seal body portion 43. The inner seal portion 41 and the outer seal portion 42 are arranged at intervals in the axial direction. In the present embodiment, the seal body portion 43 connects the upper end of the inner seal portion 41 and the upper end of the outer seal portion 42. As a result, in the present embodiment, a fitting groove 4G partitioned by the inner seal portion 41 and the outer seal portion 42 together with the seal body portion 43 is formed below the seal body portion 43. In the present embodiment, the fitting groove 4G is a fitting groove having a square shape (a square shape in this example) in a bottom view (plan view), as shown in FIG. 6. The fitting groove 4G can fit the upper end portion 24 of the mouth portion of the inner container 2, which will be described later, as shown in FIG. 4. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, a seal projection 44 is provided on the seal body portion 43. In the present embodiment, the seal projection 44 projects radially outward and upward from the seal body portion 43. In the present embodiment, the seal projection 44 is also a seal projection having a square shape (a square shape in this example) in a plan view, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0021] Also, referring to FIG. 3, the inner container 2 and the outer container 3 each have an undercut fitting portion 5 for locking the inner container 2 and the outer container 3 such that an annular seal member 4 is compressed between the upper end (21e) of the mouth portion 21 of the inner container 2 and the inner surface (32F) of the shoulder portion 32 of the outer container 3. In the present embodiment, the undercut fitting portion 5 is constituted by a fitting convex portion 52 formed on the body portion 22 of the inner container 2 and a fitting concave portion 53 formed on the body portion 33 of the outer container 3. The fitting convex portion 52 fits in a state of being caught by the fitting concave portion 53 by pushing the inner container 2 into the outer container 3 along the upper side in the axial direction. That is, the fitting convex portion 52 can be undercut-fitted to the fitting concave portion 53. Thereby, the inner container 2 can be fixed inside the outer container 3 in a state where the annular seal member 4 is compressed. Since the content C is accommodated in the inner container 2, forming the fitting concave portion (53) of the undercut fitting portion 5 in the outer container 3 as in the present embodiment is preferable in terms of securing the content volume of the inner container 2. However, according to the present invention, the undercut fitting portion 5 can be constituted by a fitting concave portion (53) formed on the body portion 33 of the inner container 3 and a fitting convex portion (52) formed on the body portion 33 of the outer container 3. In the present embodiment, the undercut fitting portion 5 is disposed at two positions on the outer container 3, on the side of the front surface 33A of the body portion 33 and on the side of the rear surface 33B of the body portion 33 (in FIG. 3, the undercut fitting portion 5 on the side of the front surface 33A of the body portion 33 is not shown). Also, referring to FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the undercut fitting portion 5 is not disposed at two positions on the side of the right surface 33C of the body portion 33 and on the side of the left surface 33D of the body portion 33. That is, in the present embodiment, the undercut fitting portion 5 is disposed at two positions facing each other across the axis О. Thereby, the inner container 2 can be stably fixed to the outer container 3 while suppressing the number of the undercut fitting portions 5. However, according to the present invention, the undercut fitting portion 5 can be disposed on at least one of the four side surfaces of front, rear, left, and right.

[0022] In the case of a double container in which the inner container 2 is housed in the outer container 3, for example, by fixing the inner container 2 and the outer container 3 by ultrasonic welding, the performance (shape retention property) for maintaining the shape of the double container can be enhanced. However, in the case of adhesion such as ultrasonic welding, it is conceivable that sufficient airtightness (sealing property) cannot be ensured due to variations in adhesion. On the other hand, when sealing with an annular seal member such as a rubber packing, when the annular seal member seals the radial gap formed between the inner container 2 and the outer container 3, if the outer shape of the inner container 2 and the outer shape of the outer container 3 are not similar shapes (for example, similar circular shapes), it is difficult to perform the sealing.

[0023] In contrast, according to the double container 1A, as shown in FIG. 4, the annular seal member 4 seals between the inner container 2 and the outer container 3 by being compressed between the upper end 21e of the mouth portion 21 of the inner container 2 and the inner surface 32F of the shoulder portion 32 of the outer container 3. That is, according to the double container 1A, there is no need to seal between the inner container 2 and the outer container 3 by adhesion. For this reason, according to the double container 1A, there is no concern that the sealing performance deteriorates due to variations in adhesion. Further, according to the double container 1A, between the inner container 2 and the outer container 3, as shown in FIG. 4 and the like, sealing is performed in the axial direction. For this reason, even when there are variations in the outer dimensions or outer shape in the radial direction between the inner container 2 and the outer container 3, the sealing performance between the inner container 2 and the outer container 3 is ensured. Therefore, according to the double container 1A, the sealing performance between the inner container 2 and the outer container 3 can be improved.

[0024] Also, in the present embodiment, the annular seal member 4 has seal protrusions 44. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the seal protrusions 44 are firmly pressed against the inner surface 32F of the shoulder portion 32. According to this, according to the present embodiment, the sealing performance between the inner container 2 and the outer container 3 can be further improved. Also, in the present embodiment, seal protrusions 35 are also provided on the inner surface 32F of the shoulder portion 32 of the outer container 3. The seal protrusions 35 are arranged so as to be located radially inward of the seal protrusions 44 of the annular seal member 4 when the annular seal member 4 is compressed. The seal protrusions 35 protrude downward from the inner surface 32F of the shoulder portion 32 and are firmly pressed against the seal protrusions 44 as shown in FIG. 4. According to this, according to the present embodiment, the sealing performance between the inner container 2 and the outer container 3 can be further improved.

[0025] Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the double container 1A can assemble the annular seal member 4 between the inner container 2 and the outer container 3 in a compressed state by a simple operation of pushing the inner container 2 into the outer container 3 to achieve an undercut fit between the inner container 2 and the outer container 3. Therefore, according to the double container 1A, the double container 1A can be easily assembled.

[0026] Also, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the annular seal member 4 has a fitting groove 4G for fitting the mouth portion 21 of the inner container 2. When the mouth portion 2 of the inner container 2 is fitted into the fitting groove 4G, the annular seal member 4 can be easily attached to the mouth portion 21 of the inner container 2. Therefore, the setability when attaching the annular seal member 4 to the mouth portion 21 of the inner container 2 is improved. Further, in this case, since the annular seal member 4 is pre-attached to the mouth portion 21 of the inner container 2, the setability when setting the annular seal member 4 between the mouth portion 21 of the inner container 2 and the shoulder portion 32 of the outer container 3 is also improved. Furthermore, in this case, since the annular seal member 4 is pre-attached to the mouth portion 21 of the inner container 2, it is possible to prevent the annular seal member 4 from falling after being set. In addition, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the seal main body portion 43, the annular seal member 4 has an inner seal portion 41 that seals the inner surface of the inner container 2 and an outer seal portion 42 that seals the radial clearance between the inner container 2 and the outer container 3. Thus, according to the present embodiment, the sealing performance between the inner container 2 and the outer container 3 can be further improved.

[0027] In the present embodiment, a mouth upper end portion 24 is formed at the mouth portion 21 of the inner container 2. The mouth upper end portion 24 has a smaller radial width than the mouth portion 21. Specifically, the mouth upper end portion 24 is formed by a circumferential groove 2G that extends downward from the upper end 21e of the mouth portion 21 and extends annularly around the axis О. In the present embodiment, the circumferential groove 2G is formed on the outer surface of the mouth portion 21. In the present embodiment, the fitting groove 4G of the annular seal member 4 fits the mouth upper end portion 24. Thus, according to the present embodiment, even when the annular seal member 4 is configured to be fitted to the mouth portion 21, it is possible to suppress an increase in the radial clearance between the inner container 2 and the outer container 3. Therefore, the radial dimension of the double container 1A can be suppressed to be compact.

[0028] Further, the double container 1A according to the present embodiment further has a middle plug 6 that seals the inner surface of the mouth portion 31 of the outer container 3. The middle plug 6 is formed of an elastic material such as an elastomer, for example. In the present embodiment, the middle plug 6 is a squeezing member having a squeezing piece 6a. The middle plug 6 has a middle plug body 6b that seals the inner surface of the mouth portion 31 of the outer container 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the middle plug body 6b has an annular shape. The squeezing piece 6a is an annular elastic film formed inside the middle plug body 6b. An opening A6 is formed inside the squeezing piece 6a. Further, in the present embodiment, the middle plug 6 has a flange portion 6c that seals the upper end of the mouth portion 31 of the outer container 3.

[0029] Also, referring to FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the double container 1A further has a detachable cap 7 attached to the mouth portion 31 of the outer container 3 and an applicator 8 attached to the cap 7 and penetrating the middle plug 6 in a detachable manner. In the present embodiment, the cap 7 is removably screwed onto the mouth portion 31 of the outer container 3. In the present embodiment, the applicator 8 has an application portion 8a and a shaft member 8b. The shaft member 8b is fixed to the cap 7. The application portion 8a is fixed to the tip (lower end) of the shaft member 8b. The application portion 8a can be configured by, for example, a sponge, a pen, a comb, a spatula, etc. In the present embodiment, when the application portion 8a and the shaft member 8b penetrate the opening A6 of the middle plug 6 and are pulled out upward through the opening A6, they are squeezed by the squeezing piece 6a of the middle plug 6. In the present embodiment, the container 10 with an applicator has the cap 7 attached to the mouth portion 31 of the outer container 3. Moreover, the mouth portion 21 of the inner container 2 is held from coming off by the shoulder portion 32 of the outer container 3. Thus, even if the applicator 8 is pulled out from the middle plug 6 attached to the mouth portion 21 of the inner container 2 by removing the cap 7 from the outer container 3, the inner container 2 does not come out of the outer container 3.

[0030] FIG. 8 is a side view showing a container 10 with an applicator having a double container 1B according to the second embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to the C-C cross section of FIG. 1. The double container 1B according to the present embodiment is a rhombus-shaped container in which each of the front-rear, left-right directions coincides with the diagonal line in a plan view. The double container 1B has the same configuration as the other double containers 1A including the undercut fitting portion 5.

[0031] FIG. 9 is a plan view of a container 10 with an applicator having a double container 1C according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The double container 1C is a circular container in a plan view. The double container 1C also has the same configuration as the other double containers 1A and 1B including the undercut fitting portion 5. The E-E cross-sectional shape of the container 10 with an applicator according to the present embodiment is the same as that of FIG. 2 or FIG. 3. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an example of an annular seal member 4 related to the double container 1C from above. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the annular seal member 4 is an annular seal member having an annular shape in a plan view. The basic configuration of the annular seal member 4 is substantially the same as that of the annular seal member 4 according to other embodiments.

[0032] The above description has explained exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. In each of the above embodiments, the double container according to the present invention has been described as the container body of a container with an applicator for the purpose of applying cosmetics, for example, but is not limited to the container body of a container with an applicator. For example, the double container according to the present invention can be used as a beverage container having the opening A6 of the middle stopper 6 as a drinking spout. At this time, the squeezing piece 6a and the applicator 8 can be omitted. Further, the content C is not limited to cosmetics. Furthermore, the various configurations adopted in the above-described embodiments can be appropriately replaced with each other or combined with each other.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0033] 1A to 1C: Double container (container body), 2: Inner container, 21: Mouth part, 22: Barrel part, 23: Bottom part, 3: Outer container, 31: Mouth part, 32: Shoulder part, 33: Barrel part, 34: Window part, 4: Annular seal member, 41: Inner seal part, 42: Outer seal part, 43: Seal body part, 44: Seal protrusion, 5: Undercut fitting part, 52: Fitting convex part, 53: Fitting concave part, 6: Plug, 6a: Pressing piece, 6b: Plug body, 6c: Flange part, 7: Cap, 8: Applicator, 8a: Application part, 8b: Shaft member, A6: Opening of the plug, C: Contents

Claims

1. It has an inner container capable of containing the contents, an outer container capable of containing the inner container, and an annular seal member disposed between the inner container and the outer container, The inner container has a mouth portion, The outer container has a mouth portion, a shoulder portion connected to the mouth portion, and a body portion connected to the shoulder portion. A window portion is formed in the body portion, The annular seal member is disposed between the upper end of the mouth portion of the inner container and the inner surface of the shoulder portion of the outer container, The inner container and the outer container each have an undercut fitting portion for locking the inner container and the outer container so that the annular seal member is compressed between the upper end of the mouth portion of the inner container and the inner surface of the shoulder portion of the outer container. Double container.

2. The annular seal member has a fitting groove for fitting the mouth portion of the inner container. The double container according to claim 1.

3. The double container according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a stopper for sealing the inner surface of the mouth portion of the outer container.

4. The double container according to claim 3, further comprising a detachable cap on the mouth portion of the outer container and an applicator attached to the cap and penetrating the stopper in a pluggable manner.

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