Dispenser

Abstract

To inhibit a content liquid from dropping from a lower end of a pipe when the pipe is removed from a mouth part.SOLUTION: A connection member 20 includes a fixed cylinder 21, a movable cylinder 22, and a connection part 25. The movable cylinder includes a slide part 24 which is fitted in a cylinder 14 in such a manner that the slide part may slide vertically. The slide part includes window parts 24a which allow communication between the interior of the movable cylinder and the interior of a container body W. The movable cylinder is provided so as to be movable vertically between a communication position where the window parts are closed by the cylinder and an open position where the window parts are open toward the interior of the container body. Each connection part includes an upper arm part 26, a lower arm part 27, and a bending part 28, and the multiple connection parts are provided spaced apart from each other at an equal interval in a circumferential direction. When a pipe 16 is removed from a mouth part W1, the bending parts slidably contact with an inner peripheral surface of the container body and are pushed toward the radial inner side and the movable cylinder moves the communication position to the open position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a dispenser that includes a stem that is biased upward and can move downward, a push-down head attached to the upper end of the stem and having a discharge hole that discharges the liquid contents in the container body, a piston that links to the up and down movement of the stem, a cylinder into which the piston is fitted so that it can slide up and down and that is inserted into the mouth of the container body, an attachment cap that fixes the cylinder to the mouth, and a pipe that connects the inside of the cylinder to the inside of the container body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-85395 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with the conventional dispenser, when refilling the liquid contents into the container body, there is a risk that the liquid contents will drip from the lower end of the pipe when the attached cap is removed from the mouth and the pipe is pulled out from the mouth. After the liquid contents have been refilled into the container body, when the pipe is inserted into the liquid contents in the container body, the liquid level may rise and the liquid contents may overflow from the opening.

[0005] To provide a dispenser capable of preventing the content liquid from dripping from the lower end of a pipe when the pipe is pulled out from the mouth, and preventing the content liquid from overflowing from the mouth when the pipe is inserted into the content liquid in the container body after the content liquid has been refilled into the container body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] a piston connected to the upper end of the stem and having a discharge hole for discharging the liquid content in the container body; a piston connected to the up and down movement of the stem; a cylinder into which the piston is fitted so as to be able to slide up and down and which is inserted into the mouth of the container body; an attachment cap for fixing the cylinder to the mouth; a pipe connecting the inside of the cylinder to the inside of the container body; and a connecting member connecting the pipe and the cylinder to each other, wherein the lower end of the pipe abuts against the inner surface of the bottom of the container body; The movable cylinder is provided with a sliding part that is fitted to the cylinder so as to be able to slide up and down, and the sliding part has a window part that allows communication between the inside of the movable cylinder and the inside of the container body, and the movable cylinder is arranged to be able to move up and down between a communication position in which the window part is closed by the cylinder and an open position that is located below the communication position and in which the window part opens toward the inside of the container body, and the connecting part has an upper arm part that extends radially outward from the fixed cylinder, a lower arm part that extends radially outward from the movable cylinder, and a bendable and deformable folding part that connects the radial outer ends of the upper arm part and the lower arm part to each other, and a plurality of these are provided at equal intervals circumferentially, and when the pipe is removed from the mouth part, the folding part slides against the inner surface of the container body and is pushed radially inward, and the movable cylinder moves from the communication position to the open position.

[0007] When the attachment cap is removed from the mouth, the dispenser is raised relative to the container body, and the pipe is removed from the mouth, the bent portion of the connecting portion slides against the inner circumferential surface of the container body and is pushed radially inward, moving the movable cylinder from the communication position to the open position where the window is opened. This allows air to enter the upper end of the pipe through the window and the movable cylinder, and causes the contents in the pipe to flow down through the lower end of the pipe into the container body before the lower end of the pipe is removed from the mouth. This prevents the contents from dripping from the lower end of the pipe when the pipe is removed from the mouth. After the liquid contents have been refilled into the container body, when the pipe is inserted into the liquid contents in the container body with the movable cylinder still in the open position, the air inside the pipe is discharged from the upper end of the pipe through the movable cylinder and the window, while some of the liquid contents in the container body enters the pipe from the lower end of the pipe, making it possible to prevent the liquid level in the container body from rising and preventing the liquid contents from overflowing from the mouth. In this way, when the dispenser is attached to the container body, part of the liquid contents in the container body enters the pipe, so when the user dispenses the liquid contents for the first time after purchasing the product or refilling the container body with the liquid contents, the number of times the depression head needs to be pressed before the liquid is dispensed can be reduced. Since the lower end of the pipe abuts against the inner surface of the bottom of the container body, when attaching the dispenser to the container body, the movable cylinder can be moved from the open position to the communicating position without any other operation, and when removing the pipe from the mouth, the bent part slides against the inner surface of the container body and is pushed radially inward, so at this time the movable cylinder can be moved from the communicating position to the open position without any other operation, providing excellent operability.

[0008] When the movable barrel is located at the open position, one of the sliding portion and the cylinder may be inserted inside the other.

[0009] When the movable cylinder is in the open position, either the sliding part or the cylinder is inserted inside the other, so that when the dispenser is attached to the container body while the lower end of the pipe is abutted against the inner surface of the bottom of the container body, the movable cylinder can be smoothly moved from the open position to the communicating position without getting caught on the cylinder. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the liquid contents from dripping from the lower end of the pipe when the pipe is removed from the mouth, and to prevent the liquid contents from overflowing from the mouth when the pipe is inserted into the liquid contents in the container body after the liquid contents have been refilled into the container body. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the dispenser of the embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a top view of an embodiment of a connecting member. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a view showing the dispenser in the state of being raised relative to the container body in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a view showing the state in which the pipe is being inserted into the liquid content in the container body in FIG. 1. [Figure 5A] FIG. 10 is a half-longitudinal cross-sectional view of a modified connecting member. [Figure 5B] FIG. 10 is a top view of a modified connecting member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, a dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1, the dispenser 1 according to this embodiment includes a stem 11, a depression head 12, a piston 13, a cylinder 14, an attachment cap 15, a pipe 16, and a connecting member 20. The stem 11, the piston 13, the cylinder 14, the attachment cap 15, and the pipe 16 are arranged coaxially on a common axis.

[0013] Hereinafter, the common axis will be referred to as the central axis O, the side of the push-down head 12 along the central axis O will be referred to as the upper side, and the side of the pipe 16 along the central axis O will be referred to as the lower side, the direction along the central axis O will be referred to as the up-down direction, the direction that intersects with the central axis O when viewed from the up-down direction will be referred to as the radial direction, and the direction that rotates around the central axis O will be referred to as the circumferential direction.

[0014] The attachment cap 15 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a top and an annular top wall 15a. The attachment cap 15 has an inner peripheral surface formed with a female screw portion that is screwed onto the mouth W1 of the container body W. The container body W is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and is disposed coaxially with the central axis O. The cylinder 14 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom that extends vertically and is inserted into the opening W1. A lower end opening that communicates with the inside of the container body W is formed in the bottom wall of the cylinder 14. The cylinder 14 is formed with an attachment cylindrical portion 14c that extends downward from the bottom wall.

[0015] A flange portion 14a is formed on the top of the cylinder 14, protruding radially outward and extending continuously over the entire circumferential length. The flange portion 14a is fitted into the upper end of the attachment cap 15. The flange portion 14a is sandwiched vertically between the upper opening edge of the mouth portion W1 of the container body W and the underside of the top wall portion 15a of the attachment cap 15. This secures the cylinder 14 to the mouth portion W1. The upper end of the cylinder 14, located above the flange portion 14a, is inserted into the inside of the top wall portion 15a of the attachment cap 15.

[0016] The cylinder 14 is formed with an introduction hole 14b that opens radially and connects the inside of the container body W with the inside of the cylinder 14. The introduction hole 14b is located below the flange portion 14a. The introduction hole 14b is closed by the piston 13 in a standby state where the stem 11 and the push-down head 12 are located at their uppermost positions. A biasing means 18, such as a coil spring, that biases the stem 11 upward is provided within the cylinder 14.

[0017] The stem 11 is provided so as to be movable downward while being biased upward. The stem 11 protrudes upward from the inside of the cylinder 14. The lower part of the stem 11 is inserted into the cylinder 14. The push-down head 12 is attached to the upper end of the stem 11, and is formed with a discharge hole 12a for discharging the liquid content in the container body W. The push-down head 12 includes an attachment tube 12b attached to the stem 11, and a discharge tube 12c that protrudes radially outward from the attachment tube 12b and has the discharge hole 12a formed at its tip.

[0018] The piston 13 is formed in a cylindrical shape and fitted into the cylinder 14 so as to be able to slide up and down, and is linked to the up and down movement of the stem 11. A piston guide 17 extending in the up and down direction is inserted inside the piston 13. The upper part of the piston guide 17 is fitted into the lower part of the stem 11. The lower part of the piston guide 17 protrudes downward from the stem 11 and the piston 13. The lower end part of the piston guide 17 is supported by the upper end part of the biasing means 18. When the stem 11 is returned to its original position upward after the content liquid is discharged, the lower end part of the piston guide 17 engages with the lower end part of the piston 13, causing the piston 13 to return to its original position upward.

[0019] Here, a lower valve body 19 that opens and closes the lower end opening of the cylinder 14 is provided inside the cylinder 14 . Lower valve body 19 is disposed in cylinder 14 at a portion located below piston guide 17. Lower valve body 19 serves as a check valve that keeps the lower end opening of cylinder 14 closed when pressure is applied inside cylinder 14, and opens the lower end opening of cylinder 14 when pressure is applied inside cylinder 14. This prevents the liquid content in cylinder 14 from returning from the lower end opening of cylinder 14 into container body W when pressure is applied inside cylinder 14, and allows the liquid content in container body W to flow into cylinder 14 through pipe 16 when pressure is applied inside cylinder 14.

[0020] The pipe 16 extends in the vertical direction, and the lower end of the pipe 16 abuts against the inner surface W2 of the bottom of the container body W, with the interior of the lower end of the pipe 16 communicating with the interior of the container body W. A chamfered portion 16a is formed at the lower end of the pipe 16, spaced upward from the inner surface W2 of the bottom of the container body W. The interior of the lower end of the pipe 16 communicates with the interior of the container body W through the gap between the chamfered portion 16a and the inner surface W2 of the bottom of the container body W.

[0021] The connecting member 20 connects the pipe 16 and the cylinder 14 to each other. The connecting member 20 includes a fixed cylinder 21, a movable cylinder 22, and a connecting portion 25. The fixed cylinder 21 and the movable cylinder 22 are arranged coaxially with the central axis O.

[0022] The fixed barrel 21 is fitted onto and fixed to the mounting barrel portion 14c of the cylinder 14. A protrusion portion is formed at the lower end of the fixed barrel 21, which protrudes radially outward and extends continuously over the entire circumferential length. The upper end of the pipe 16 is fixed to the movable cylinder 22. The movable cylinder 22 connects the inside of the pipe 16 with the inside of the cylinder 14. The movable cylinder 22 includes a fitting portion 23 and a sliding portion 24. A protrusion is formed at the connection between the fitting portion 23 and the sliding portion 24, protruding radially outward and extending continuously over the entire circumferential length. This protrusion is located below the mounting cylinder portion 14c of the cylinder 14.

[0023] The upper end of the pipe 16 is fitted into the fitting portion 23 and fixed. The sliding portion 24 is provided above the fitting portion 23 and fitted so as to be vertically slidable within the mounting cylindrical portion 14c of the cylinder 14. Note that the sliding portion 24 may be fitted onto the outside of the mounting cylindrical portion 14c so as to be vertically slidable. The sliding part 24 has a window part 24a that allows communication between the inside of the movable cylinder 22 and the inside of the container body W. The window part 24a penetrates the upper part of the sliding part 24 in the radial direction and opens upward. A plurality of the window parts 24a are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction. The window parts 24a allow communication between the inside of the movable cylinder 22 and the inside of the container body W without passing through the inside of the pipe 16.

[0024] The movable cylinder 22 is arranged to be movable up and down between a communication position in which the window portion 24a is blocked by the cylinder 14, as shown in Figure 1, and an open position in which the window portion 24a is located below the communication position and opens toward the inside of the container body W, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

[0025] When the movable barrel 22 is in the communication position, the sliding portion 24 is liquid-tightly fitted into the mounting barrel portion 14c of the cylinder 14, and the window portion 24a is located above the edge of the lower opening of the mounting barrel portion 14c. At this time, the upper end of the sliding portion 24 is located above the lower end of the fixed barrel 21. When the movable barrel 22 is in the open position, the sliding part 24 is maintained inserted into the mounting barrel part 14c of the cylinder 14, and the lower part of the window part 24a is positioned below the lower end opening edge of the mounting barrel part 14c. This allows communication between the interior of the movable barrel 22 and the interior of the container body W through the window part 24a. At this time, a radial gap is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the sliding part 24 and the inner peripheral surface of the mounting barrel part 14c, and the upper end of the sliding part 24 is positioned below the lower end of the fixed barrel 21.

[0026] The connecting portion 25 connects the fixed barrel 21 and the movable barrel 22 to each other. The connecting portion 25 connects the lower surface of the protrusion portion of the fixed barrel 21 to the upper surface of the protrusion portion of the movable barrel 22. A plurality of connecting portions 25 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the connecting portion 25 is provided at a position approximately 90° away from the window portion 24a, with the central axis O as the center. Two connecting portions 25 and two window portions 24a are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction, and face each other across the central axis O in the radial direction.

[0027] The connecting portion 25 includes an upper arm portion 26, a lower arm portion 27, and a first bent portion (bent portion) .

[0028] The upper arm portion 26 extends radially outward from the fixed barrel 21. The upper arm portion 26 extends downward as it extends radially outward. The upper arm portion 26 is connected to the fixed barrel 21 via a second bent portion 26a. The lower arm portion 27 extends radially outward from the movable cylinder 22. The lower arm portion 27 extends upward as it extends radially outward. The lower arm portion 27 is connected to the movable cylinder 22 via a third bent portion 27a. The length of the lower arm portion 27 is longer than the length of the upper arm portion 26. First bent portion 28 connects the radially outer ends of upper arm portion 26 and lower arm portion 27. First bent portion 28, second bent portion 26a, and third bent portion 27a are formed thinner than upper arm portion 26 and lower arm portion 27, and are formed to be bendable. The radial distance between first bent portion 28 and central axis O is greater than the radius of the inner circumferential surface of mouth portion W1.

[0029] As described above, according to the dispenser 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, when the attachment cap 15 is removed from the mouth portion W1, the dispenser 1 is raised relative to the container body W, and the pipe 16 is pulled out from the mouth portion W1, the first bent portion 28 of the connecting portion 25 slides against the inner circumferential surface of the mouth portion W1 and is pushed radially inward, and the movable cylinder 22 moves from the communicating position to the open position where the window portion 24a is opened. This allows air A1 to enter the upper end of pipe 16 through window 24a and movable cylinder 22, and allows content liquid L1 in pipe 16 to flow down through the lower end of pipe 16 into container body W before the lower end of pipe 16 is pulled out from opening W1. Therefore, when pipe 16 is pulled out from opening W1, it is possible to prevent content liquid from dripping from the lower end of pipe 16.

[0030] Then, as shown in Figure 4, after the liquid contents have been refilled into the container body W, when the pipe 16 is inserted into the liquid contents in the container body W while the movable cylinder 22 is left in the open position, the air A2 inside the pipe 16 is discharged from the upper end of the pipe 16 through the movable cylinder 22 and the window portion 24a, while a portion L2 of the liquid contents in the container body W enters the pipe 16 from the lower end of the pipe 16, making it possible to prevent the liquid level of the liquid contents in the container body W from rising and to prevent the liquid contents from overflowing from the mouth portion W1. In this way, when the dispenser 1 is attached to the container body W, a portion L2 of the liquid contents in the container body W enters the pipe 16, and therefore, when the user dispenses the liquid contents for the first time after purchasing the product or refilling the container body W with the liquid contents, the number of times the depressing head 12 is required to dispense the liquid can be reduced.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, when the movable cylinder 22 is in the communication position, the lower end of the pipe 16 abuts against the inner surface W2 of the bottom of the container body W. Therefore, when attaching the dispenser 1 to the container body W, it is possible to move the movable cylinder 22 from the open position to the communication position without any other operation. Furthermore, when removing the pipe 16 from the mouth W1, the first bent portion 28 slides against the inner surface of the container body W and is pushed radially inward. Therefore, it is possible to move the movable cylinder 22 from the communication position to the open position without any other operation, thereby providing excellent operability.

[0032] When the movable cylinder 22 is positioned at the open position, the sliding part 24 is inserted into the cylinder 14, so when the dispenser 1 is attached to the container body W while the lower end of the pipe 16 is abutted against the inner surface W2 of the bottom of the container body W, the movable cylinder 22 can be smoothly moved from the open position to the communicating position without getting caught on the cylinder 14.

[0033] 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.

[0034] For example, instead of the connecting member 20, a connecting member 30 as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B may be employed. In this connecting member 30, the sliding portion 31 differs from the sliding portion 24 of the connecting member 20 in that the lower portion of the sliding portion 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the upper portion of the sliding portion 31 is composed of a plurality of flat plates 31a whose front and back surfaces face in the circumferential direction. The plurality of flat plates 31a are connected to one another on a central axis O. In the illustrated example, the upper portion of the sliding portion 31 has a cross shape when viewed from above. The spaces between the flat plates 31a adjacent in the circumferential direction are window portions 31b. In this connecting member 30, it is possible to ensure a wide window portion 31b, and the above-mentioned effects are reliably achieved even when the contents are relatively highly viscous, such as body soap and shampoo.

[0035] The connecting members 20, 30 do not necessarily have to be provided with the second bent portion 26a and the third bent portion 27a. When the movable barrel 22 is in the open position, the sliding portions 24 and 31 may be moved downward away from the mounting barrel portion 14c of the cylinder 14.

[0036] 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 the above-described variations may be combined as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1 Dispenser 11 Stem 12 Depressor head 12a Discharge hole 13 Piston 14 cylinders 15 Mounting cap 16 Pipe 20, 30 Connecting member 21 Fixed cylinder 22 Movable tube 23 Fitting part 24, 31 Sliding part 24a, 31b window section 25 Connecting part 26 Upper arm 27 Lower arm 28 1st bending part (bending part) W container body W1 Mouth W2 inner surface

Claims

1. a stem that is provided so as to be movable downward in an upward biased state; a push-down head attached to an upper end of the stem and having a discharge hole for discharging the liquid content in the container body; a piston linked to the up and down movement of the stem; a cylinder into which the piston is fitted so as to be vertically slidable and which is inserted into the mouth of the container body; an attachment cap that secures the cylinder to the mouth; a pipe communicating the inside of the cylinder with the inside of the container body; a connecting member that connects the pipe and the cylinder to each other, The lower end of the pipe abuts against the inner surface of the bottom of the container body, The connecting member is a fixed cylinder fitted onto the cylinder and fixed thereto; a movable cylinder to which an upper end of the pipe is fixed and which communicates between the inside of the pipe and the inside of the cylinder; a connecting portion that connects the fixed barrel and the movable barrel to each other, the movable cylinder includes a sliding portion fitted to the cylinder so as to be vertically slidable, the sliding portion includes a window portion that allows communication between the inside of the movable cylinder and the inside of the container body, the movable cylinder is provided so as to be movable up and down between a communication position where the window portion is closed by the cylinder and an open position where the window portion is located below the communication position and opens toward the inside of the container body, the connecting portion includes an upper arm portion extending radially outward from the fixed cylinder, a lower arm portion extending radially outward from the movable cylinder, and a bendable bending portion connecting radially outer ends of the upper arm portion and the lower arm portion to each other, and the connecting portion is provided in plurality at equal intervals in the circumferential direction; When the pipe is removed from the mouth, the bent portion slides against the inner peripheral surface of the container body and is pushed radially inward, causing the movable cylinder to move from the communicating position to the open position.

2. The dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein when the movable barrel is located at the open position, one of the sliding portion and the cylinder is inserted inside the other.

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