Application container

Abstract

To provide an application container capable of performing a small amount application and excellent in operability while maintaining a high value added for maintaining a quality of a content.SOLUTION: An application container 1 includes: a container body 2 comprising an inner container 8 and an outer container 9 whose volume decreases as a content decreases; an inner plug member 3 having a communication hole 23 that communicates with an inside of the container body; a discharge member 4 having a discharge hole 5; and an application plug 6 arranged in a communication space R1, the applicator plug includes: an elastic barrel 60 whose internal space is a storage chamber R2 communicating with the communication hole; an applicator part 61 that protrudes above the discharge hole; and a seal part 62 that comes into close contact with a periphery edge part of an opening of the discharge hole, the elastic barrel is elastically deformable from a closing position P1 in which the discharge hole is closed by close contact with a seal part toward an application position in which the discharge hole is opened, a seal valve 64 is formed in the elastic barrel, and a valve body 70 is provided in the storage chamber to switch communication between the container body and the storage chamber through the communication hole, and to shut off the communication depending on an internal pressure of the storage chamber.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an application container. [Background technology]

[0002] As an example of this type of application container, Patent Document 1 discloses a known application container that includes a container body having an inner container in which the contents are stored and an outer container in which the inner container is housed, and an inner stopper attached to the mouth of the container body. The inner plug comprises a cylindrical retaining portion having a communication port communicating with the interior of the inner container, and a rotary applicator rotatably held within the cylindrical retaining portion. The inner container is deformed by shrinking its volume as the contents decrease, and the outer container is deformable by squeezing. Furthermore, the outer container has an air intake hole that connects the outside of the container body with the inside of the outer container and draws air between the outer container and the inner container.

[0003] When using this applicator container, the outer container is squeezed to deform. This causes the inner container to deform together with the outer container, reducing its volume, and the internal pressure of the inner container increases. This allows the contents in the inner container to flow into the cylindrical holding part through the communication port, and the rotation of the rotating applicator makes it possible to apply the contents to the area to be applied. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-209973 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When the container body (e.g., a delaminated bottle) is provided, as in the conventional application container described above, in which the inner container deforms and reduces in volume as the outer container is squeezed, it is difficult to adjust the amount of squeeze deformation when squeezing the outer container, making it difficult to apply a small amount of the contents to the application area by slightly squeezing the outer container. In particular, when the contents are medicine or the like, it is often necessary to apply a small amount to the affected area, but it is difficult to meet such needs, and there have been issues with operability (usability).

[0006] On the other hand, in the case of a container body with an inner container that shrinks and deforms as the contents decrease, such as a delaminating bottle, the inflow of outside air into the inner container can be suppressed. This provides the added value of suppressing oxidation of the contents and maintaining the quality of the contents. Therefore, there is still a need to maintain this added value.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an application container that is easy to use and capable of applying small amounts of liquid while maintaining the high added value of maintaining the quality of the contents. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] (1) The application container according to the present invention comprises: an inner container that stores contents and reduces in volume as the contents decrease; a container body that includes an outer container in which the inner container is housed and an air intake hole that draws in outside air between the inner container and the outer container; an inner plug member that is attached to the opening of the container body and has a communication hole that communicates with the inside of the container body; a connecting tube that fits inside the inner plug member; a discharge member that defines a communication space that communicates with the inside of the container body through the communication hole between itself and the inner plug member, and that has a discharge hole formed therein for discharging the contents; and an applicator plug that is disposed within the communication space, The discharge member is prevented from coming off upward by a connecting member combined with the inner plug member, and is positioned in the up-down direction,The applicator plug comprises an elastic cylindrical portion formed in a topped cylindrical shape, the internal space of which serves as a reservoir chamber communicating with the communication hole; an applicator portion formed at the top of the elastic cylindrical portion and projecting upward beyond the discharge hole through the discharge hole; and a seal portion formed at the lower end of the applicator portion and coming into close contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole from below so as to be separable from the bottom. The elastic cylindrical portion urges the seal portion upward to bring the seal portion into close contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole, and the seal portion can be moved downward from a closing position where the seal portion closes the discharge hole due to the close contact. The elastic cylindrical portion is elastically deformable toward an application position where it opens the discharge hole by moving away from the elastic cylindrical portion, and a slit-shaped seal valve is formed in the elastic cylindrical portion which connects the inside of the storage chamber with the inside of the discharge hole when it is located at the application position and blocks the communication between the inside of the storage chamber and the inside of the discharge hole when it is located at the closing position, and a valve body is provided in the storage chamber which closes the communication hole so as to be able to move upward and which switches between communication between the inside of the container body and the storage chamber through the communication hole and blocking the communication depending on the internal pressure of the storage chamber.

[0009] In the applicator container according to the present invention, when applying the contents, for example, the applicator container can be turned from an upright position to an inverted position, and then the applicator portion of the applicator stopper can be pressed against the area to be applied, thereby pushing the applicator portion in. This allows the elastic cylindrical portion to be displaced from the closed position to the application position while elastically deforming. This allows the seal portion, which has been pressed against the opening periphery of the discharge hole, to be separated from the discharge hole, thereby opening the discharge hole. Furthermore, as the elastic cylindrical portion is displaced to the application position while elastically deforming, the seal valve can be opened, allowing communication between the reservoir chamber and the discharge hole through the seal valve. By pressing the applicator part while elastically deforming the elastic cylindrical part, the internal pressure of the storage chamber can be increased, and the contents stored in the storage chamber can be discharged to the outside through the seal valve and the discharge hole. Therefore, the dispensed contents can be applied to the application part using the applicator part.

[0010] When the contents are dispensed, the internal pressure of the storage chamber is increased, causing the valve body to maintain a closed state with the communication hole blocked. This blocks communication between the inside of the container body and the storage chamber through the communication hole. This allows only the amount of contents stored in the storage chamber to be dispensed by pressing the applicator.

[0011] Next, when the pressure of the applicator portion against the application target portion is released, the elastic tubular portion undergoes elastic restoration deformation, displacing from the application position to the blocking position. This allows the applicator portion to return to its pre-pressure state, and also allows the seal portion to be brought into tight contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole, thereby blocking the discharge hole. Furthermore, as the elastic tubular portion displaces to the blocking position, the seal valve can be closed, thereby blocking communication between the reservoir chamber and the discharge hole through the seal valve. Therefore, the elastic restoration deformation of the elastic tubular portion can create a negative pressure within the reservoir chamber. Therefore, the valve body can be opened by moving away from the communication hole, and communication between the container body and the reservoir chamber can be established through the communication hole. This allows the contents to flow from the container body into the reservoir chamber, storing the contents in preparation for the next discharge.

[0012] Furthermore, as the contents flow from the container body into the storage chamber, the inner container deforms radially inward as the contents decrease, reducing its volume. This creates a negative pressure between the inner container and the outer container, which allows outside air to flow between the inner container and the outer container through the air intake hole. This allows the inner container to remain in its reduced-volume deformed state. As a result, the contents can be discharged while the inner container gradually reduces its volume. This prevents oxidation, deterioration, and alteration of the contents, maintaining the added value of maintaining the quality of the contents. In particular, for example, without having to squeeze and deform the outer container as in the conventional case, the content stored in the storage chamber can be discharged and applied by pressing the applicator part, so that small amounts of content can be applied stably. Therefore, it is possible to provide an applicator container with excellent operability.

[0013] (2) The valve body may be formed integrally with the elastic cylindrical portion.

[0014] In this case, since the valve body and the elastic cylindrical portion are integrally formed, the number of parts can be reduced, assembly costs can be reduced, and assembly efficiency can be improved. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an application container that is excellent in operability and that can apply small amounts of liquid while maintaining the high added value of maintaining the quality of the contents. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of an application container according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the applicator plug shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a top view of the applicator plug shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the applicator container shown in FIG. 1 is inverted and then the applicator part is pressed down to displace the elastic cylindrical part to the application position. FIG. [Figure 5] 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which the elastic cylindrical portion has returned to the closed position from the state shown in FIG. 4. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an application container according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figure 1, the application container 1 of this embodiment includes a container body 2 that contains contents (not shown), an inner plug member 3 that is attached to a mouth 10 of the container body 2 and closes the mouth 10 of the container body 2, a discharge member 4 that is combined with the inner plug member 3 and has a discharge hole 5 for discharging the contents, an application plug 6 that is arranged inside the discharge member 4, and a lid cap 7 that is removably attached to the mouth 10 of the container body 2.

[0018] The contents contained in the container body 2 are not particularly limited, but may suitably be, for example, liquid medicines such as anti-inflammatory analgesics. However, the present invention is not limited to this case, and can also be applied to, for example, liquid foods or liquid cosmetics having fluidity.

[0019] 1, the central axes of the container body 2, inner plug member 3, discharge member 4, applicator plug 6, and lid cap 7 are arranged on a common axis. Hereinafter, this common axis will be referred to as the container axis O, with the lid cap 7 side along the container axis O being referred to as the upper side, and the opposite side, the container body 2 side, being referred to as the lower side. Furthermore, in a plan view seen from the direction of the container axis O, the direction intersecting the container axis O will be referred to as the radial direction, and the direction going around the container axis O will be referred to as the circumferential direction.

[0020] (Container body) The container body 2 includes an inner container 8 that is highly flexible and that accommodates the contents and undergoes volume-reducing deformation (shrinkage deformation) as the contents decrease, and an outer container 9 in which the inner container 8 is housed. The container body 2 is, for example, a delaminating container (delamination bottle) in which the inner container 8 is peelably laminated on the inner surface of the outer container 9. Specifically, it is formed by extrusion blow molding using a cylindrical parison formed by laminating a synthetic resin forming the outer container 9 and a synthetic resin of the inner container 8 that has low compatibility with the outer container 9. The materials of the inner container 8 and the outer container 9 are not particularly limited, but for example, the outer container 9 is made of polyethylene or polypropylene, and the inner container 8 is made of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer.

[0021] Alternatively, a preform for the outer container 9 and a preform for the inner container 8 may be formed by injection molding or the like, and these may be combined in a double layer (inner and outer) and then biaxially stretched and blow molded to form the container body 2. Furthermore, the preform for the outer container 9 may first be biaxially stretched and blow molded to form the outer container 9, and then the preform for the inner container 8 may be placed inside, and then the preform for the inner container 8 may be biaxially stretched and blow molded to form the container body 2.

[0022] Even in such a case, the material of the inner container 8 and the outer container 9 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resin. However, the materials of the inner container 8 and the outer container 9 may be the same or different as long as they are a separable combination. Examples of synthetic resin materials include PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), nylon (polyamide), EVOH (ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer), etc. Among these synthetic resin materials, it is preferable that the outer container 9 and the inner container 8 are formed from a single material or a multi-layer structure of two or more materials in a combination that allows them to be separated (not miscible).

[0023] The container body 2 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with a mouth 10, a shoulder 11, a body (not shown), and a bottom (not shown) that are connected in this order from the top. The outer container 9 constituting the container body 2 of this embodiment is formed to have a certain rigidity, and is configured to be resistant to squeeze deformation even when the body of the outer container 9 is pressed radially inward (toward the inside of the container).

[0024] The mouth 10 of the container body 2 is formed to extend upward from the upper opening of the shoulder portion 11. The mouth 10 of the container body 2 is composed of the mouth 8a of the inner container 8 and the mouth 9a of the outer container 9. The upper end of the mouth 8a of the inner container 8 is stacked on the upper end of the mouth 9a of the outer container 9, with the upper open end of the mouth 9a of the outer container 9 being blocked from above.

[0025] The outer container 9 has an external thread 12 formed on its outer circumferential surface. However, this is not limited to the case where the male thread portion 12 is formed, and for example, an engaging protrusion protruding radially outward may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer container 9 instead of the male thread portion 12. In this case, the engaging protrusion may be formed in a ring shape extending around the entire circumference of the mouth portion 10 of the outer container 9, or multiple engaging protrusions may be formed at intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0026] In the container body 2 configured as described above, an air intake hole (not shown) is formed in the outer container 9 to introduce outside air between the outer container 9 and the inner container 8. The position of the air intake hole is not particularly limited, but it may be formed, for example, in a portion located at the bottom of the container body 2. Specifically, a slit in a pinch-off portion formed in the bottom during blow molding can be used as the air intake hole.

[0027] (Inner plug component) The inner plug member 3 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape and includes a sealing tube 20 that is tightly fitted inside the mouth 10 of the container body 2 (specifically, inside the mouth 10 of the inner container 8), and a blocking wall 21 that is integrally formed at the lower end of the sealing tube 20 so as to block the lower opening of the sealing tube 20 and close the inside of the mouth 10 of the container body 2.

[0028] The upper end of the sealing tube 20 is formed to protrude above the upper open end of the mouth 10 of the container body 2. Furthermore, an annular flange 22 protruding radially outward is formed on the outer peripheral surface of a portion of the sealing tube 20 located above the mouth 10 of the container body 2. The flange 22 contacts the upper open edge of the mouth 10 of the container body 2 from above. This allows the entire inside plug member 3 to be fitted to the mouth 10 of the container body 2 in a state where it is prevented from falling off downward.

[0029] The blocking wall 21 includes an annular outer blocking wall 21a whose outer peripheral edge is connected to the lower end of the sealing tube 20, and an inner blocking wall 21b that is circular in plan view and is located below the outer blocking wall 21a and connected to the inner peripheral edge of the outer blocking wall 21a. As a result, the blocking wall 21 is formed in a two-step shape, with the inner blocking wall 21b located lower than the outer blocking wall 21a. A communication hole 23 is formed in the center of the inner closing wall 21b, penetrating the inner closing wall 21b in the vertical direction. In the illustrated example, the communication hole 23 is formed in a circular shape in a plan view and is arranged coaxially with the container axis O. As a result, the inside of the inner plug member 3 communicates with the inside of the container body 2 through the communication hole 23.

[0030] (Discharge member) The discharge member 4 is disposed above the blocking wall 21 of the inner plug member 3 and is combined with the inner plug member 3 as a single unit. The discharge member 4 is formed in the shape of a topped cylinder, and includes a connecting tube 30 that fits tightly inside the inner plug member 3, and a discharge wall 31 that is integrally formed at the upper end of the connecting tube 30 so as to close the upper opening of the connecting tube 30 and block the inside of the inner plug member 3 from above.

[0031] The lower end of the connecting tube 30 is in contact with or close to the outer blocking wall 21a of the inner plug member 3 from above. Furthermore, the connecting tube 30 is formed so as to protrude upward beyond the sealing tube 20 of the inner plug member 3. An annular protrusion 32 protruding radially outward is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the portion of the connecting tube 30 that protrudes upward beyond the sealing tube 20.

[0032] The lower end of the annular protrusion 32 contacts from above with the edge of the upper end opening of the sealing tube 20. As a result, the entire discharge member 4 is assembled to the inner plug member 3 in a state where it is prevented from falling off downward. Furthermore, an annular groove 33 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the annular protrusion 32, recessed radially inward along the entire circumference. An engagement protrusion 34 that protrudes radially inward is formed at the lower end of the connecting tube 30. In the illustrated example, the engagement protrusion 34 is formed in a ring shape that extends around the entire circumference of the connecting tube 30. However, the engagement protrusion 34 does not have to be formed in a ring shape, and multiple engagement protrusions 34 may be formed at intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0033] A discharge hole 5 for discharging the contents is formed in the center of the discharge wall 31 so as to penetrate the discharge wall 31 in the vertical direction. In the illustrated example, the discharge hole 5 is formed in a circular shape in a plan view and is arranged coaxially with the container axis O.

[0034] The internal space of the discharge member 4 configured as described above is a communication space R1 that communicates with the inside of the container body 2 through the communication hole 23 between the inner plug member 3 and the discharge member 4. The applicator plug 6 is disposed in the communication space R1.

[0035] (Connecting member) The discharge member 4 is prevented from coming off upward and is positioned in the up-down direction by a connecting member 40 combined with the inner plug member 3. The connecting member 40 includes a surrounding tube 41 that radially surrounds the flange portion 22 of the inside plug member 3 and the annular protrusion 32 of the discharge member 4. The lower end of the surrounding tube 41 is fixed in contact with the outer peripheral edge of the flange portion 22 from the radially outer side and in contact with the upper surface of the flange portion 22 from above. A protrusion 42 is formed at the upper end of the surrounding cylinder 41, protruding radially inward and fitting in an undercut manner into the annular groove 33 formed in the annular protrusion 32. The protrusion 42 is formed around the entire circumference of the surrounding cylinder 41 and is fitted in an undercut manner into the annular groove 33 around the entire circumference. As a result, the entire discharge member 4 is prevented from coming off upward by the connecting member 40, and is positioned in the up-down direction.

[0036] (coating material) Furthermore, an applicator 50 is attached to the discharge member 4, covering the discharge member 4 from above. The applicator 50 is, for example, an elastically deformable sponge body. The applicator 50 is attached so as to surround the annular protrusion 32 of the discharge member 4 from the outside in the radial direction, and is sandwiched between the annular groove 33 and the protrusion 42, for example. However, the application member 50 is not essential and may not be provided.

[0037] (application plug) Applicator plug 6 is disposed within communication space R1, and a portion of it protrudes upward through discharge hole 5. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, applicator plug 6 includes an elastic cylindrical portion 60 formed in the shape of a closed-topped cylinder, an applicator portion 61 formed at the top of elastic cylindrical portion 60, and a sealing surface (sealing portion according to the present invention) 62 formed at the lower end of applicator portion 61.

[0038] The elastic cylindrical portion 60 is disposed within the communication space R1. A ring-shaped flange 63 that protrudes radially outward is formed at the lower end of the elastic cylindrical portion 60. The flange 63 contacts the outer blocking wall 21a of the inner plug member 3 from above. Furthermore, the outer peripheral edge of the flange 63 is fitted into the inside of the connecting tube 30 of the discharge member 4, and is undercut-fitted with the engaging projection 34 formed on the connecting tube 30. As a result, the elastic cylindrical portion 60 is supported from below by the outer blocking wall 21a, and is arranged in a state where it is prevented from coming off upward.

[0039] In particular, the internal space of the elastic cylindrical portion 60 functions as a storage chamber R2 that communicates with the communication hole 23. Therefore, it is possible to store the contents that flow from the container body 2 (inner container 8) through the communication hole 23 in the storage chamber R2.

[0040] The applicator part 61 is formed in a cylindrical shape so as to extend upward from the top of the elastic tubular part 60, and is arranged coaxially with the container axis O. As a result, a part of the applicator part 61 protrudes upward through the discharge hole 5. The upper end of the applicator part 61 is inserted into the applicator member 50. Therefore, the upper end of the applicator part 61 is covered and protected by the applicator member 50.

[0041] The lower end of the applicator part 61, which is connected to the top of the elastic cylindrical part 60, is formed with an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the discharge hole 5. The sealing surface 62 is formed with a tapered cross section on the upper surface of the lower end of the applicator part 61, and is in close contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole 5 so as to be able to separate from below. As a result, when the sealing surface 62 is in close contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole 5, the discharge hole 5 is in a closed state.

[0042] The elastic cylindrical portion 60 configured as described above constantly urges the applicator portion 61 upward and is elastically deformable in the vertical direction. As a result, the elastic cylindrical portion 60 urges the applicator portion 61 upward during normal operation when the applicator portion 61 is not being pressed in. This causes the sealing surface 62 to be in close contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole 5. On the other hand, when the applicator part 61 is pushed in, the elastic cylinder part 60 is elastically deformed so as to be crushed downward as a whole, and the sealing surface 62 moves away from the discharge hole 5 (see FIG. 4). This makes it possible to open the discharge hole 5. The elastic cylindrical portion 60 is made of a material such as soft resin, elastomer, or silicone rubber.

[0043] 1, the position of the elastic tubular portion 60 in a state where the sealing surface 62 is in close contact with the periphery of the opening of the discharge hole 5 is referred to as a closing position P1. On the other hand, the position of the elastic tubular portion 60 in a state where the sealing surface 62 is separated from the discharge hole 5 due to elastic deformation, opening the discharge hole 5, is referred to as an application position P2 (see FIG. 4).

[0044] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the elastic cylindrical portion 60 is formed with a slit-shaped seal valve 64 that connects the inside of the storage chamber R2 to the inside of the discharge hole 5 when positioned at the application position P2, and blocks communication between the inside of the storage chamber R2 and the inside of the discharge hole 5 when positioned at the blocking position P1. In the illustrated example, the sealing valve 64 is formed at the connecting portion between the top of the elastic cylindrical portion 60 and the applicator portion 61. Furthermore, the sealing valve 64 is formed so as to extend in an arc shape in the circumferential direction in a plan view seen from the direction of the container axis O, and a pair of sealing valves 64 are formed so as to face each other in the radial direction with the container axis O in between. However, the formation position, number, length, etc. of the slit-shaped sealing valves 64 may be changed as appropriate.

[0045] (Valve body) 1 and 2, a valve body (check valve) 70 is provided within the storage chamber R2. The valve body 70 closes the communication hole 23 in an upwardly removably manner and switches between communication between the inside of the container body 2 (inner container 8) and the inside of the storage chamber R2 via the communication hole 23 and blocking this communication depending on the internal pressure of the storage chamber R2. The valve body 70 in this embodiment is formed integrally with the elastic cylindrical portion 60. Therefore, the applicator plug 6 in this embodiment is a molded product into which the valve body 70 is molded integrally.

[0046] The valve element 70 is integrally connected to the lower end of the elastic cylindrical portion 60 via a hinge portion 71, and is in contact with the inner blocking wall 21b so as to block the communication hole 23 from above. The valve element 70 is formed in a circular shape in a plan view, with a diameter larger than the diameter of the communication hole 23. As a result, at least the outer peripheral edge portion of the valve element 70 is in contact with the upper surface of the inner blocking wall 21b over the entire circumference.

[0047] The hinge portion 71 is connected to a part of the outer peripheral edge of the valve body 70 and is also connected to a part of the lower end of the elastic tubular portion 60. This allows the valve body 70 to rotate (elastically deform) so as to be lifted upward around the hinge portion 71, thereby opening the communication hole 23 (see FIG. 5).

[0048] When the internal pressure of the storage chamber R2 increases, the valve body 70 configured in this manner is pressed against the inner blocking wall 21b, and is therefore in a closed state in which communication between the inside of the container body 2 (inner container 8) and the inside of the storage chamber R2 is blocked through the communication hole 23. Conversely, when the internal pressure of the storage chamber R2 decreases, the valve body 70 elastically deforms so as to rise upward around the hinge portion 71, and is in an open state in which communication between the inside of the container body 2 (inner container 8) and the inside of the storage chamber R2 is permitted through the communication hole 23.

[0049] (lid cap) As shown in Figure 1, the lid cap 7 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a top, having a cap peripheral wall 80 that surrounds the mouth portion 10 of the container body 2 and the connecting member 40 from the radial outside, and a cap top wall 81 that is connected to the cap peripheral wall 80 and covers the applicator member 50 from above. An internal thread portion 82 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap peripheral wall 80, and is threadedly engaged with the external thread portion 12 formed on the opening 10 of the container body 2. This allows the lid cap 7 to be attached to the opening 10 of the container body 2 by threaded connection.

[0050] However, the method of attaching the lid cap 7 is not limited to screw connection. For example, if an engaging protrusion protruding radially outward is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer container 9 instead of the male thread portion 12, the lid cap 7 may be attached to the opening 10 of the container body 2 by undercut fitting with the engaging protrusion.

[0051] (Action of application container) Next, a case where the contents are applied to a target portion (not shown) using the application container 1 configured as described above will be described. Note that, in the initial state, the contents are stored in the storage chamber R2.

[0052] First, to apply the contents, the lid cap 7 shown in Figure 1 is removed to expose the applicator member 50 to the outside. At this stage, the elastic cylindrical portion 60 is located in the closed position P1, so the applicator portion 61 is urged upward, causing the sealing surface 62 to be in tight contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole 5. This closes the discharge hole 5. Furthermore, because the slit-shaped sealing valve 64 is closed, the contents stored in the storage chamber R2 do not leak out of the storage chamber R2.

[0053] This prevents the contents from leaking to the outside through the discharge hole 5 even when the applicator container 1 is changed, for example, from an upright position in which the applicator stopper 6 faces upward to an inverted position in which the applicator stopper 6 faces downward. Therefore, the quality of the applicator container 1 can be maintained during product distribution and storage.

[0054] Next, when applying the contents, for example, as shown in Figure 4, after the application container 1 is inverted, the application portion 61 of the application plug 6 is pressed against the application target portion via the application member 50. As a result, as shown by arrow F in Figure 4, the application portion 61 can be pushed toward the reservoir chamber R2, and the elastic cylindrical portion 60 can be displaced from the closed position P1 to the application position P2 while elastically deforming so as to be crushed in the vertical direction. Therefore, the sealing surface 62 that has been pressed against the opening periphery of the discharge hole 5 can be separated from the discharge hole 5, and the discharge hole 5 can be opened.

[0055] Furthermore, as the elastic cylindrical portion 60 is displaced to the application position P2 while elastically deforming, the seal valve 64 can be opened, and the inside of the reservoir chamber R2 can be communicated with the inside of the discharge hole 5 through the seal valve 64. Furthermore, by pushing the application portion 61 while elastically deforming the elastic cylindrical portion 60, the internal pressure of the reservoir chamber R2 can be increased. Therefore, the content stored in the reservoir chamber R2 can be discharged to the outside through the seal valve 64 and the discharge hole 5, as shown by the arrow N1 in FIG. 4. Therefore, the application part 61 and the application member 50 can be used to apply the discharged contents to the application target part.

[0056] Furthermore, when the contents are discharged, the internal pressure of the storage chamber R2 is increased, so that the valve body 70 maintains a closed state in which the communication hole 23 is blocked. This blocks communication between the inside of the container body 2 and the inside of the storage chamber R2 through the communication hole 23. This allows only the amount of contents stored in the storage chamber R2 to be applied by pressing the applicator part 61.

[0057] Next, when the pressing of the applicator part 61 against the part to be applied is released, the elastic cylindrical part 60 elastically deforms to restore and displaces from the application position P2 to the blocking position P1, as shown in Figure 5. This allows the applicator part 61 to return to the state it was in before being pressed, and also allows the sealing surface 62 to be brought into tight contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole 5, thereby blocking the discharge hole 5.

[0058] Furthermore, as the elastic tubular portion 60 is displaced to the closed position P1, the seal valve 64 can be closed, thereby blocking communication between the storage chamber R2 and the discharge hole 5. Therefore, the elastic tubular portion 60 undergoes elastic restoration deformation, thereby making the internal pressure of the storage chamber R2 negative. Therefore, the valve body 70 can be opened so as to move away from the discharge hole 5 around the hinge portion 71, thereby establishing communication between the container body 2 and the storage chamber R2 through the communication hole 23. This allows new content to flow from the container body 2 into the storage chamber R2, as indicated by arrow N2 in FIG. 5, and the content can be stored in preparation for the next discharge.

[0059] As the contents flow from the container body 2 into the storage chamber R2, the inner container 8 deforms radially inward as the contents decrease, reducing its volume. This creates a negative pressure between the inner container 8 and the outer container 9, which allows outside air to flow between the inner container 8 and the outer container 9 through the air intake hole. This allows the inner container 8 to remain in its volume-reduced, deformed state. As a result, the contents can be discharged while gradually reducing the volume of the inner container 8. This makes it possible to prevent oxidation, deterioration, and alteration of the contents, thereby maintaining the added value of maintaining the quality of the contents.

[0060] In particular, according to the applicator container 1 of this embodiment, the amount of content stored in the storage chamber R2 can be discharged and applied by pressing the applicator part 61, without having to squeeze and deform the outer container 9 as in the conventional case. Therefore, a small amount of content can be applied stably. Therefore, the applicator container 1 can be made to be easy to operate. In particular, when a liquid medicine such as an anti-inflammatory analgesic is used as the content, a small amount of the liquid medicine can be applied to the affected area in a single application operation, making it easy to use and highly convenient.

[0061] As described above, according to the applicator container 1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to maintain the high added value of maintaining the quality of the content, while also being able to apply smaller amounts and providing excellent operability, making it possible to provide an applicator container 1. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the valve body 70 and the elastic cylindrical portion 60 are integrally formed, which makes it possible to reduce the number of parts, reduce assembly costs, and improve assembly work efficiency.

[0062] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The present embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the present embodiments and their modifications include, for example, those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art, those that are substantially the same, and those that are equivalent.

[0063] For example, in the above embodiment, a laminated peelable container in which the inner container 8 is peelably laminated on the inner surface of the outer container 9 is used as an example, but this is not limited to this case, and for example, a double container in which a gap is secured between the inner container 8 and the outer container 9 may also be used as the container body 2. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the air intake hole is formed at the bottom of the container body 2, but this is not limited to this case, and it may be formed at the mouth 9a or body of the outer container 9, for example.

[0064] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the valve element 70 is formed integrally with the applicator plug 6, but it may be formed separately, or a multi-point valve such as a three-point valve may be used. In any case, various valve structures can be used for the valve element 70 as long as it functions as a so-called check valve.

[0065] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the body of the outer container 9 may be configured to be deformable by squeezing. Even in this case, by using the above embodiment, it is possible to apply a small amount of the contents, and it is also possible to forcibly open the valve body 70 and apply additional contents (apply a large amount) by squeezing the outer container 9 while, for example, pressing the application part 61. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] P1…Occluded position P2: Application position R1…Communication space R2…Storage chamber 1... Application container 2...Container body 3...Inner plug member 4...Discharge member 5...Discharge hole 6...Application plug 8…Inner container 9…Outer container 10...mouth of container body 23…Communication hole 60...Elastic cylindrical part 61...application part 62...Seal surface (seal part) 64...Seal valve 70...Valve body

Claims

1. a container body including an inner container that accommodates contents and reduces in volume as the contents decrease, and an outer container that houses the inner container and has an air intake hole between the inner container and the outer container for drawing in outside air; an inner plug member attached to the opening of the container body and having a communication hole communicating with the inside of the container body; a discharge member having a connecting tube fitted inside the inner plug member, defining a communication space between the inner plug member and the container body through the communication hole, and having a discharge hole formed therein for discharging the contents; an application plug disposed in the communication space, The discharge member is prevented from coming off upward by a connecting member combined with the inner plug member, and is positioned in the up-down direction, The application plug is an elastic cylindrical portion formed in a cylindrical shape with a top, the internal space of which serves as a storage chamber communicating with the communication hole; an application part formed on the top of the elastic cylindrical part and protruding upward through the discharge hole; a seal portion formed at a lower end of the application portion and removably fitted to a peripheral edge of the opening of the discharge hole from below, the elastic cylindrical portion urges the sealing portion upward to bring the sealing portion into close contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole, and is elastically deformable from a closing position where the sealing portion closes the discharge hole due to the close contact, to an application position where the sealing portion moves downwardly from the discharge hole to open the discharge hole, a slit-shaped seal valve is formed in the elastic cylindrical portion, which allows communication between the inside of the storage chamber and the inside of the discharge hole when the elastic cylindrical portion is located at the application position, and blocks communication between the inside of the storage chamber and the inside of the discharge hole when the elastic cylindrical portion is located at the closing position; The application container is characterized in that a valve body is provided within the storage chamber that closes the communication hole in an upwardly removably manner and switches between communication between the inside of the container body and the inside of the storage chamber through the communication hole and blocking the communication depending on the internal pressure of the storage chamber.

2. The application container according to claim 1, The valve body is integrally formed with the elastic cylindrical portion.

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