Dropper container

Abstract

To provide a dropper container that can reduce the amount of content remaining.SOLUTION: A dropper container 1 of the present invention includes: a bottomed cylindrical container body 2 for containing a content; a cap body 3 detachably mounted on a mouth of the container body 2; a dropper tube 4 having a length that can abut a bottom surface 2b in the container body 2 and provided so as to be slidably movable in a vertical direction relative to the cap body 3; and an operating member 50 that forms an operation space that communicates with the inside of the dropper tube 4 and is capable of reducing volume of the operation space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

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

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-33056 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, thick-bottomed containers, which are often used for cosmetics, tend to have large dimensional errors, and if the lower end of the dropper tube hits the bottom of the container body too hard, the lower end of the dropper tube may be damaged or an indentation may be left on the bottom of the container body. For this reason, in the above-mentioned conventional dropper container, the lower end of the dropper tube does not reach the bottom of the main container, making it impossible to suck up the contents to the last dropper tube.

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

[0006] (1) The dropper container of the present invention comprises a cylindrical container body with a bottom for containing the contents, a cap body removably attached to the mouth of the container body, a dropper tube having a length sufficient to contact the bottom surface of the container body and slidable in the vertical direction relative to the cap body, and an actuating member that forms an operating space communicating with the dropper tube and is capable of reducing the volume of the operating space.

[0007] According to the dropper container of the present invention, when the lower end of the dropper tube abuts the bottom surface of the container body, the dropper tube slides upward relative to the cap body attached to the opening of the container body. This allows the contents near the bottom surface of the container body to be drawn up from the lower end of the dropper tube while the lower end of the dropper tube abuts the bottom surface of the container body. Even if there is a dimensional error in the molding of the container body that causes the lower end of the dropper tube to abut forcefully against the bottom surface of the container body, the dropper tube moves upward upon abutting the bottom surface of the container body, thereby preventing damage to the lower end of the dropper tube or the occurrence of indentations on the bottom surface of the container body.

[0008] (2) A soft member that is softer than the main body of the dropper tube may be provided at the lower end of the dropper tube.

[0009] In this case, even if the lower end of the dropper tube comes into contact with the bottom surface of the container body, the impact is mitigated by the deformation of the soft member, thereby more reliably preventing damage to the lower end of the dropper tube or the occurrence of indentations on the bottom surface of the container body.

[0010] (3) The cap body may include an inner cap attached to the mouth of the container body, an outer cap that covers the inner cap and is rotatable around the container axis relative to the inner cap, and a linking cylindrical member that supports the operating member, whose rotation around the container axis relative to the outer cap is restricted, and which moves up and down in accordance with the rotation around the container axis relative to the inner cap.

[0011] In this case, when the outer cap is rotated around the container axis relative to the inner cap, the interlocking tubular member, whose rotation is restricted by the outer cap, rotates relative to the inner cap. When the interlocking tubular member rotates relative to the inner cap, the interlocking tubular member moves up and down relative to the inner cap. The interlocking tubular member supports the actuating member, and when the interlocking tubular member rises, the volume of the working space connected to the dropper tube increases, creating a negative pressure within the working space. This automatically sucks up the contents near the bottom of the container body from the lower end of the dropper tube. Then, when the dropper tube is pulled up from the container body and the elastic portion of the actuating member is pressed downward, the volume of the working space decreases, and the contents held in the dropper tube are expelled from the lower end of the dropper tube.

[0012] (4) The container body may be fixed to the upper opening edge of the mouth portion and may include a squeezing tube member that abuts against the outer peripheral surface of the dropper tube, and the dropper tube may be provided with an upper sliding tube that slides against the interlocking tube member and a lower sliding tube that slides against the squeezing tube member.

[0013] In this case, even if the dropper tube slides up and down relative to the cap body, the upper sliding tube is in sliding contact with the interlocking tube member and the lower sliding tube is in sliding contact with the squeezing tube member, so the airtightness of the operating space can be ensured and the contents can be automatically sucked up into the dropper tube when the cap body is removed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the dropper container of the present invention, the amount of remaining content can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a dropper container according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a dropper container according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state before use. [Figure 4]1 is a diagram showing a state in which a dropper container according to an embodiment of the present invention sucks up contents. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, the dropper container of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the dropper container 1 includes a container body 2, a cap body 3, a dropper tube 4, and an actuating member 50.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, which will be described later, the container body 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and contains the contents. The contents may be, for example, medicines or liquid cosmetics to be applied (discharged) to the human body (skin). The components of the dropper container 1 in this embodiment are made of a resin material. The container body 2 may also be made of a glass bottle or the like.

[0018] 1, the cap body 3, the dropper tube 4, and the actuation member 50 constitute a dropper assembly. As will be described in detail later, when the dropper container 1 is to be used, the dropper assembly is removed from the container body 2.

[0019] In this embodiment, the central axes of the container body 2 and the dropper assembly are located on a common axis. Hereinafter, this common axis will be referred to as the container axis O, the direction along the container axis O will be referred to as the vertical direction, and along the vertical direction, the mouth 2a side of the container body 2 will be referred to as the upper side, and the bottom side of the container body 2 will be referred to as the lower side. In addition, in a plan view seen from the vertical direction, 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] The rotation direction toward one side in the circumferential direction may also be referred to as the “loosening direction.” The loosening direction is the direction in which the cap body 3 rises relative to the container body 2 when the cap body 3 is rotated relative to the container body 2. Details will be described later, but the cap body 3 of this embodiment comprises an inner cap 20, an outer cap 30, and an interlocking cylindrical member 40, and is configured so that when the outer cap 30 is rotated in the loosening direction relative to the container body 2, the interlocking cylindrical member 40 rises relative to the inner cap 20, and then the inner cap 20 rotates in the loosening direction relative to the container body 2.

[0021] The container body 2 is equipped with a squeezing tube member 10. The squeezing tube member 10 is fixed to the upper opening edge of the mouth portion 2a of the container body 2, and is equipped with an abutting portion 11 that abuts against the outer circumferential surface of the dropper tube 4. The squeezing tube member 10 serves to scrape off the contents adhering to the outer circumferential surface of the dropper tube 4 when the dropper tube 4 is removed upward from the container body 2.

[0022] The cap body 3 includes an inner cap 20, an outer cap 30, an interlocking tubular member 40, and an operating member 70. The inner cap 20 includes an attachment tubular portion 21, a restricting tubular portion 22, an annular plate portion 23, and a threaded tubular portion 24. The attachment tubular portion 21 is attached to the mouth portion 2a of the container body 2. In this embodiment, a female screw portion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the attachment tubular portion 21 is screwed into a male screw portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 2a.

[0023] When inner cap 20 is rotated around container axis O relative to container body 2, the dropper assembly can be removed from or reattached to mouth 2a of container body 2. Mounting tube 21 is covered from the radially outer side by cap peripheral wall 31 of outer cap 30.

[0024] The restricting tube portion 22 is connected to the upper end of the mounting tube portion 21. The restricting tube portion 22 restricts the downward movement of the interlocking tube member 40. In this embodiment, the inner circumferential surface of the restricting tube portion 22 and the inner circumferential surface of the mounting tube portion 21 have approximately the same inner diameter, but the inner diameters of the restricting tube portion 22 and the mounting tube portion 21 may be different. Also, the upper end of the mounting tube portion 21 may be used as the restricting tube portion 22.

[0025] The annular plate portion 23 extends radially inward from the restricting cylindrical portion 22 and is formed in a circular ring shape in a plan view. The threaded cylindrical portion 24 extends upward from the restricting cylindrical portion 22. A male thread is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the threaded cylindrical portion 24. When the inner cap 20 and the interlocking cylindrical member 40 rotate relative to each other around the container axis O, the interlocking cylindrical member 40 moves up and down relative to the inner cap 20.

[0026] Engagement ribs 24a are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the threaded tube portion 24. The engagement ribs 24a extend in the vertical direction along the inner peripheral surface of the threaded tube portion 24, and are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. The engagement ribs 24a are engaged with the flange 81 of the dropper tube 4 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction.

[0027] The outer cap 30 has a cylindrical cap peripheral wall 31 extending along the container axis O, and a cap top wall 32 extending radially inward from the upper end of the cap peripheral wall 31. The cap top wall 32 has an annular shape in a plan view. In other words, a through hole 32a is provided in the cap top wall 32. A part of the operating member 70 (button portion 71) is located inside the through hole 32a.

[0028] Vertical ribs 33 extending in the up-down direction are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap peripheral wall 31. As shown in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 2, the vertical ribs 33 protrude radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the cap peripheral wall 31. The vertical ribs 33 are formed in pairs so as to sandwich the container axis O in the radial direction. Also, as shown in Fig. 1, the inner peripheral surface of the cap peripheral wall 31 is formed with a plurality of undercut protrusions 34 that protrude radially inward from below the vertical ribs 33. The undercut protrusions 34 are fitted into the lower end of the mounting tube portion 21 of the inner cap 20 via an undercut.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 2, the mounting tubular portion 21 of the inner cap 20 is formed with locking protrusions 21a that lock onto the vertical ribs 33 in the circumferential direction. The locking protrusions 21a protrude radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the mounting tubular portion 21. A pair of locking protrusions 21a are formed to sandwich the container axis O in the radial direction. The vertical rib 33 is movable in the circumferential direction within an angle range of approximately 90° between the pair of locking protrusions 21a.

[0030] When the outer cap 30 is rotated around the container axis O relative to the inner cap 20 (container body 2), the outer cap 30 rotates freely relative to the inner cap 20 within the above-mentioned angle range (approximately 90°). When the outer cap 30 is rotated relative to the container body 2 beyond the above-mentioned angle range, the vertical rib 33 abuts against the side surface (the surface facing the circumferential direction) of the locking protrusion 21a, thereby restricting the relative rotation between the outer cap 30 and the inner cap 20. In this way, the vertical rib 33 and the locking protrusion 21a are configured to allow the outer cap 30 and the inner cap 20 to rotate freely within a predetermined angle range and to restrict the relative rotation between them beyond the predetermined angle.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1 , the interlocking tubular member 40 is disposed radially inward of the outer cap 30 and above the inner cap 20. The interlocking tubular member 40 has a threaded tubular portion 41, a top wall 42, a sliding tubular portion 43, an inner ring 44, and an outer ring 45. An internal thread is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the threaded tubular portion 41 to thread onto the external thread of the threaded tubular portion 24. The top wall 42 extends radially inward from the upper end of the threaded tubular portion 41. The top wall 42 has an annular shape in a plan view.

[0032] The sliding cylinder portion 43 is connected to the radially inner edge of the top wall 42 and is located radially inward of the threaded cylinder portion 41. The sliding cylinder portion 43 extends in the vertical direction, and an upper sliding cylinder 60 (piston) attached to the dropper tube 4 is in sliding contact with its inner circumferential surface. The lower end of the sliding cylinder portion 43 faces a flange 81 of the dropper tube 4 with a gap therebetween in the vertical direction. When the interlocking cylinder member 40 is lowered to its lowest position, the lower end of the sliding cylinder portion 43 is positioned so as to overlap with the engaging rib 24a in the vertical direction.

[0033] The inner ring 44 and the outer ring 45 protrude upward from the top wall 42. The inner ring 44 is located radially inward of the outer ring 45. A convex portion 44a is formed at the upper end of the inner ring 44, protruding radially inward and restricting the upper sliding cylinder 60 from slipping out upward. A fixing portion 52 of the operating member 50 is fixed between the inner ring 44 and the outer ring 45. The outer ring 45 is formed with a restricting protrusion 47 that protrudes radially outward.

[0034] Furthermore, the interlocking cylindrical member 40 is equipped with a rotation restricting portion 48. The rotation restricting portion 48 protrudes radially outward from the lower end of the threaded cylindrical portion 41 and extends downward. A recess 48a is formed in the rotation restricting portion 48. The recess 48a is recessed radially inward from the circumferential center of the outer peripheral surface of the rotation restricting portion 48. The recess 48a is formed over the entire length of the rotation restricting portion 48 in the up-down direction. The vertical rib 33 of the outer cap 30 is positioned inside the recess 48a, thereby restricting relative rotation between the outer cap 30 and the interlocking cylindrical member 40 around the container axis O.

[0035] In this embodiment, two restricting protrusions 47 and two rotation restricting portions 48 are provided. The two restricting protrusions 47 are arranged so as to sandwich the container axis O therebetween in the radial direction. Furthermore, the two rotation restricting portions 48 are arranged so as to sandwich the container axis O therebetween in the radial direction. The rotation restricting portions 48 and the restricting protrusions 47 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. In other words, the direction in which the restricting protrusions 47 face each other intersects (for example, is perpendicular to) the direction in which the rotation restricting portions 48 face each other.

[0036] The actuating member 50 has an elastic membrane 51 and a fixed portion 52. The actuating member 50 is formed as a whole from an elastic body such as rubber or elastomer. The fixed portion 52 is cylindrical and is formed to be thicker than the elastic membrane 51. The elastic membrane 51 extends upward from the fixed portion 52. The elastic membrane 51 is formed in an upwardly convex curved shape (dome shape).

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

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

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

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

[0041] Dropper tube 4 is disposed along container axis O. Upper end 4a of dropper tube 4 is inserted into actuating member 50. A working space S is formed inside actuating member 50. Working space S includes a space surrounded by upper sliding cylinder 60 attached to dropper tube 4, the outer peripheral surface of dropper tube 4 above upper sliding cylinder 60, and sliding cylinder portion 43 of interlocking cylinder member 40, as well as a space inside elastic membrane 51 that communicates with this space. When elastic membrane 51 elastically deforms downward, the volume of working space S decreases.

[0042] The dropper tube 4 includes a cylindrical tube body 80 extending vertically along the container axis O. A disk-shaped flange 81 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the tube body 80 so as to protrude radially outward. The flange 81 is disposed above the annular plate portion 23 of the inner cap 20. The outer peripheral edge of the flange 81 engages with the aforementioned engaging rib 24a.

[0043] The engagement between flange 81 and engagement rib 24a may be adjusted to provide resistance that prevents dropper tube 4 from easily sliding up and down. Dropper tube 4 is slidable within the range in the up and down direction from the upper surface of annular plate portion 23 to the point where flange 81 abuts against the lower end of sliding tube portion 43.

[0044] The dropper tube 4 is provided with an upper sliding tube 60 that slides against the interlocking tube member 40, and a lower sliding tube 90 that slides against the squeezing tube member 10. The upper sliding tube 60 is fitted onto the tube main body 80 while being supported by a support base 82 formed on the upper surface of a flange 81. The upper sliding tube 60 has a sliding contact portion that extends radially outward and slides against the inner circumferential surface of the sliding tube portion 43. The working space S described above is formed above the upper sliding tube 60.

[0045] The lower sliding cylinder 90 is fitted onto the pipe main body 80 with its upper end abutting the underside of the flange 81. The lower end of the lower sliding cylinder 90 is vertically engaged with a protrusion 83 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the pipe main body 80. The outer peripheral side of the lower end of the lower sliding cylinder 90 has a sliding portion that extends downward from the protrusion 83 and slightly outward in the radial direction, and that comes into sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the ironing cylinder member 10 above the abutment portion 11.

[0046] As will be described later, when the dropper tube 4 rises and the flange 81 moves away from the upper surface of the annular plate portion 23, the lower sliding tube 90 prevents the contents in the container body 2 from entering the space above the flange 81 (the space surrounded by the tube body 80, the upper sliding tube 60, the interlocking tube member 40, and the inner cap 20).

[0047] 3 shows a state in which the lower end 4b of the dropper tube 4 abuts against the bottom surface 2b inside the container body 2, and the dropper tube 4 has slid upward by a distance D. In this way, the dropper tube 4 has a length that allows it to abut against the bottom surface 2b inside the container body 2. A soft member 84 that is softer than the tube body 80 of the dropper tube 4 is provided at the lower end of the dropper tube 4. The soft member 84 forms the lower end 4b of the dropper tube 4.

[0048] The soft member 84 is provided with a slotted cutout 84a. This allows the contents to be sucked in even when the lower end 4b of the dropper tube 4 abuts against the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2. The soft member 84 is preferably made of a material that is harder than the actuating member 50, for example, so that the cutout 84a does not deform. Specifically, the soft member 84 is preferably made of a material that is softer than the tube body 80, such as soft polyethylene. The soft member 84 is not limited to soft polyethylene, as long as it is softer than the tube body 80.

[0049] Next, the operation of the dropper container 1 configured as above will be described.

[0050] When dropper container 1 is in an unused state (as shipped), as shown in Fig. 3, lower end 4b of dropper tube 4 abuts against bottom surface 2b inside container body 2, and dropper tube 4 slides upward by a distance D. Specifically, dropper tube 4 has a length that allows it to abut against bottom surface 2b inside container body 2. In Fig. 3, the position of lower end 4b before dropper tube 4 slides upward (initial state) is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0051] For this reason, when the contents are filled into the container body 2 and the cap body 3 is attached to the container body 2, the lower end 4b of the dropper tube 4 always abuts against the bottom surface 2b inside the container body 2. When the lower end 4b of the dropper tube 4 abuts against the bottom surface 2b inside the container body 2, the dropper tube 4 receives a reaction force and slides upward. The dropper tube 4 moves upward until the cap body 3 is completely tightened. The flange 81 and engagement rib 24a shown in FIG. 1 maintain the state in which the lower end 4b of the dropper tube 4 abuts against the bottom surface 2b inside the container body 2.

[0052] When the dropper container 1 is capped, the interlocking cylindrical member 40 is located at the lowest position relative to the inner cap 20. From this state, when the outer cap 30 is rotated relative to the inner cap 20 in the loosening direction about the container axis O as shown in Fig. 4, the outer cap 30 rotates freely relative to the inner cap 20 within a predetermined angle range (approximately 90° in this embodiment) as shown in Fig. 2.

[0053] Within the above-mentioned angle range, the interlocking cylindrical member 40 and the operating member 70 rotate relative to the inner cap 20 together with the outer cap 30. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, when the outer cap 30 rotates relative to the inner cap 20, the interlocking cylindrical member 40, whose rotation is restricted by the vertical rib 33 and the recess 48a, rotates relative to the inner cap 20.

[0054] When the interlocking cylindrical member 40 rotates relative to the inner cap 20, the interlocking cylindrical member 40, which screws onto the outside of the threaded cylindrical portion 24, is screwed upward, and the interlocking cylindrical member 40 rises relative to the inner cap 20. At this time, the actuating member 50 supported by the interlocking cylindrical member 40 pushes up the pressing portion 74 of the operating member 70, causing the operating member 70 to also rise. As a result, the button portion 71 of the operating member 70 protrudes upward from the outer cap 30.

[0055] Furthermore, when interlocking cylinder member 40 rises, sliding cylinder portion 43 slides upward relative to upper sliding cylinder 60, increasing the volume of working space S, and creating a negative pressure inside dropper tube 4, which communicates with working space S. This causes the contents near bottom surface 2b inside container body 2 to be sucked up through notch 84a formed in lower end 4b of dropper tube 4. The amount of contents sucked up into dropper tube 4 is determined by the amount of rise of sliding cylinder portion 43 relative to upper sliding cylinder 60. Therefore, dropper container 1 can hold a substantially fixed amount of contents inside dropper tube 4.

[0056] When the outer cap 30 is further rotated in the loosening direction relative to the container body 2 from the state shown in FIG. 4, the inner cap 20 rotates together with the outer cap 30. This is because the vertical rib 33 abuts against the circumferentially facing side surface of the locking protrusion 21a, as shown in FIG. 2. As the inner cap 20 rotates in the loosening direction relative to the container body 2, the cap body 3 is released upward from the container body 2. At this time, the contents adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the dropper tube 4 are scraped off by the squeezing tube member 10.

[0057] After removing cap body 3 from container body 2, for example, if button portion 71 is pressed while gripping outer cap 30, pressing portion 74 presses elastic membrane 51 downward. This causes elastic membrane 51 to elastically deform downward by pressing portion 74, reducing the volume of working space S. As a result, the contents held in dropper tube 4 are expelled from lower end 4b of dropper tube 4. Furthermore, as described above, a roughly fixed amount of contents is held in dropper tube 4. Therefore, the user can apply a roughly fixed amount of contents to a desired location by performing the above-described operation.

[0058] As described above, according to the dropper container 1 of this embodiment, the dropper tube 4 has a length that allows it to abut against the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2, and when the lower end 4b of the dropper tube 4 abuts against the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2, the dropper tube 4 slides upward relative to the cap body 3 attached to the opening 2a of the container body 2. As a result, with the lower end 4b of the dropper tube 4 abutting against the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2, the contents near the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2 can be sucked up from the lower end 4b of the dropper tube 4. Furthermore, even if there is a dimensional error such that the lower end 4b of the dropper tube 4 abuts strongly against the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2 due to molding variations or the like in the container body 2, the dropper tube 4 moves upward upon abutting against the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2, thereby preventing damage to the lower end 4b of the dropper tube 4 or the occurrence of indentations on the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2. In particular, when the bottom of the container body 2 is formed to be thick, and further when the container body 2 is formed from glass, the vertical dimensional error of the bottom tends to be large. In other words, when the container body 2 is a glass bottle, the dimensional error is larger than when it is a resin container. Even in such a case, the dropper container 1 according to this embodiment is particularly effective because the dropper tube 4 moves in the vertical direction to absorb the dimensional error.

[0059] As described above, the dropper container 1 according to this embodiment includes a cylindrical container body 2 with a bottom that accommodates the contents, a cap body 3 that is detachably attached to the mouth 2a of the container body 2, a dropper tube 4 that has a length that allows it to abut against the bottom surface 2b inside the container body 2 and is provided so as to be slidable up and down relative to the cap body 3, and an actuating member 50 that forms an operating space S that communicates with the inside of the dropper tube 4 and can reduce the volume of the operating space S. This configuration allows the remaining amount of the contents to be reduced.

[0060] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a soft member 84 that is softer than the tube body 80 of the dropper tube 4 is provided at the lower end of the dropper tube 4. With this configuration, even if the lower end 4b of the dropper tube 4 abuts against the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2, the impact is absorbed by the deformation of the soft member 84, so that damage to the lower end 4b of the dropper tube 4 or the occurrence of an indentation on the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2 can be more reliably prevented.

[0061] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cap body 3 includes an inner cap 20 attached to the opening 2a of the container body 2, an outer cap 30 that covers the inner cap 20 and is rotatable about the container axis O relative to the inner cap 20, and an interlocking cylindrical member 40 that supports the operating member 50, is restricted in its rotation about the container axis O relative to the outer cap 30, and moves up and down in response to the rotation about the container axis O relative to the inner cap 20. According to this configuration, when the outer cap 30 is rotated about the container axis O relative to the inner cap 20, the interlocking cylindrical member 40, whose rotation is restricted by the outer cap 30, rotates relative to the inner cap 20. When the interlocking cylindrical member 40 rotates relative to the inner cap 20, the interlocking cylindrical member 40 moves up and down relative to the inner cap 20. The interlocking cylindrical member 40 supports the operating member 50, and when the interlocking cylindrical member 40 rises, the volume of the working space S that is connected to the inside of the dropper tube 4 increases, and negative pressure is created within the working space S. This automatically sucks up the contents near the bottom surface 2b inside the container body 2 from the lower end 4b of the dropper tube 4. Thereafter, when the dropper tube 4 is pulled up from the container body 2 and the elastic membrane 51 of the actuating member 50 is pressed downward, the volume of the operating space S decreases, and the contents held in the dropper tube 4 are expelled from the lower end 4b of the dropper tube 4.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, container body 2 is fixed to the upper opening edge of mouth portion 2a and includes a squeezing tube member 10 that abuts against the outer circumferential surface of dropper tube 4, and dropper tube 4 is provided with an upper sliding tube 60 that slides against interlocking tube member 40 and a lower sliding tube 90 that slides against squeezing tube member 10. With this configuration, even when dropper tube 4 slides up and down relative to cap body 3, upper sliding tube 60 slides against interlocking tube member 40 and lower sliding tube 90 slides against squeezing tube member 10, ensuring airtightness of working space S and allowing the contents to be automatically sucked up into dropper tube 4 when cap body 3 is removed.

[0063] 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.

[0064] For example, in the above embodiment, the cap body 3 includes the inner cap 20, the outer cap 30, and the interlocking cylindrical member 40, and the cap body 3 is configured such that the contents in the container body 2 are automatically sucked up from the lower end 4b of the dropper tube 4 when the cap body 3 is removed. However, the cap body 3 may be a single cap having a simple cylindrical shape with a top. Even in this case, as long as the dropper tube 4 can slide up and down relative to the cap body 3, the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0065] Furthermore, for example, in the above embodiment, a soft member 84 that is softer than the tube body 80 of the dropper tube 4 is provided at the lower end of the dropper tube 4, but the soft member 84 does not have to be provided as long as it is configured so as not to damage the lower end of the dropper tube 4 or the bottom surface 2b of the container body 2, etc.

[0066] Also, for example, the configuration may be such that the user directly presses the operating member 50 downward with a finger or the like, in which case the operating member 70 may not be provided. Furthermore, although the elastic portion (elastic membrane 51) of the actuating member 50 forms the working space S, the elastic portion does not have to form the working space S. For example, the actuating member 50 itself may form the working space S, and the working space S may be reduced in volume by operating this actuating member 50.

[0067] In addition, it is possible to replace the components in the above-described embodiments with well-known components as appropriate, and the above-described embodiments and variations may be combined as appropriate, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1...dropper container, 2...container body, 2a...mouth portion, 2b...bottom surface, 3...cap body, 4...dropper tube, 4a...upper end portion, 4b...lower end portion, 10...tubular member, 11...contact portion, 20...inner cap, 21...mounting tubular portion, 21a...locking protrusion portion, 22...regulating tubular portion, 23...annular plate portion, 24...screw-engaging tubular portion, 24a...engaging rib, 30...outer cap, 31...cap peripheral wall, 32...cap top wall, 32a...through hole, 33...vertical rib, 34...undercut protrusion, 40...interlocking tubular member, 41...screw-engaging tubular portion, 42... Top wall, 43...sliding cylinder portion, 44...inner ring, 44a...convex portion, 45...outer ring, 47...regulating protrusion, 48...rotation restricting portion, 48a...recess, 50...actuating member, 51...elastic membrane, 52...fixing portion, 60...upper sliding cylinder, 70...operating member, 71...button portion, 72...button cylinder portion, 73...engaging cylinder portion, 73a...engaging portion, 74...pressing portion, 80...tube body, 81...flange, 82...support base, 83...projection portion, 84...soft member, 84a...notch portion, 90...lower sliding cylinder, D...distance, O...container axis, S...operating space

Claims

1. a cylindrical container body with a bottom that accommodates contents; a cap body detachably attached to the opening of the container body; a dropper tube having a length capable of contacting a bottom surface inside the container body and being slidable in the up and down direction relative to the cap body; an actuating member that forms an operating space that communicates with the inside of the dropper tube and is capable of reducing the volume of the operating space, The dropper tube is a cylindrical pipe body extending in the vertical direction; a soft member that covers the lower end opening edge of the tube body and is softer than the tube body.

2. The cap body is an inner cap attached to the mouth of the container body; an outer cap that covers the inner cap and is rotatable relative to the inner cap around the container axis; 2. The dropper container according to claim 1, further comprising: a linkage tube member that supports the actuating member, is restricted in rotation about the container axis relative to the outer cap, and moves up and down in response to rotation about the container axis relative to the inner cap.

3. the container body includes a squeezing tube member fixed to an upper opening edge of the mouth portion and abutting against an outer circumferential surface of the dropper tube; 3. The dropper container according to claim 2, wherein the dropper tube is provided with an upper sliding cylinder that is in sliding contact with the interlocking cylinder member, and a lower sliding cylinder that is in sliding contact with the squeezing cylinder member.

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