Refillable container

Abstract

To make a re-stuffing container stable relative to a main container when re-stuffing the main container with contents in a container body.SOLUTION: A re-stuffing container comprises a container body 11, an inside plug member 12 and a connection member 13, which is mounted on the container body or the inside plug member rotatably on a container axis O, and also has a pour-out hole 16 for contents and an air replacement passage 17 formed to be opened to the inner sides of the main container and the container body. The inside plug member is provided with a bottomed cylindrical closing plug 14 which blocks the communication between the pour-out hole and air replacement passage and the inside of the container body, and a lower-end opening of the air replacement passage is open toward the inner side of a closing plug, which separates from the inside plug member as the middle plug member and connection member rotates relatively on the container axis.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a refill container that includes a vertically extending container body that contains the contents to be refilled into the container, and a closure stopper that is removably fitted into the mouth of the container body, as shown in, for example, Patent Document 1. In this refill container, when the mouth of the container body is in an inverted position and connected to the mouth of the container, the closure stopper is detached from the mouth of the container body, and the contents in the container body are refilled into the container. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-143126 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with the conventional refill containers, when the contents of the container body are refilled into the main container, the refill containers may be unstable and unstable relative to the main container.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a refillable container that can be stabilized relative to the main container when the contents of the main container body are refilled into the main container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The refill container of the present invention comprises a container body extending in the vertical direction and containing contents to be refilled into the container; an inner plug member attached to the mouth of the container body in a state in which rotational movement about the container axis is restricted; and a connecting member that is attached and detached to the mouth of the container as the container rotates relative to the container about the container axis. The connecting member is rotatably attached to the container body or the inner plug member about the container axis. The connecting member is formed with a contents ejection hole and an air exchange passage that open toward the interior of the container and the container body, respectively. The inner plug member is provided with a bottomed, tubular closure plug that blocks communication between the ejection hole and the air exchange passage and the inside of the container body. The lower end opening of the air exchange passage opens toward the inside of the closure plug, and the closure plug is detached from the inner plug member as the inner plug member and the connecting member rotate relative to the container axis.

[0007] With the refill container in an inverted position, the connecting member is rotated relative to the main container about the container axis to secure the connecting member to the mouth of the main container, and then the container body and inner plug member are rotated relative to the connecting member and the main container about the container axis, causing the closure stopper to detach from the inner plug member. This allows the inside of the container body and the main container to communicate through the spout hole and the air replacement passage, and the air inside the container is discharged through the air replacement passage, while the contents of the container body flows into the container through the spout hole. As described above, when the contents of the container body are transferred into the main container, the refill container is not pushed in an inverted position toward the main container, but rather the refill container and the main container are rotated relative to each other around the container axis, making it less likely that the refill container will wobble relative to the main container. Since the lower end opening of the air replacement passage faces the inside of the occlusion plug, when the occlusion plug is removed from the inner plug member, the air inside the container that has passed through the air replacement passage enters the occlusion plug, making it easier for the occlusion plug to float up toward the inside of the container body, making it possible to prevent the occlusion plug from obstructing the flow of the content liquid and air, and allowing the contents to be refilled smoothly.

[0008] The air replacement passage may be located inside a cylindrical body extending in the vertical direction, and the cylindrical body may be inserted into the blocking plug.

[0009] Since the cylindrical body is inserted into the blocking plug, when the blocking plug is removed from the inner plug member, the air in the container that has passed through the air replacement passage can be reliably introduced into the blocking plug, making it easier to float the blocking plug.

[0010] A guide portion may be provided between the blocking plug and the connecting member to move the blocking plug toward the inside of the container body relative to the inner plug member as the inner plug member and the connecting member rotate relative to each other around the container axis.

[0011] A guide portion is provided between the occlusion plug and the connecting member, so that, as described above, after the connecting member is fixed to the mouth of the container, when the container body and the inner plug member are rotated relative to the connecting member and the container around the container axis, the occlusion plug is moved toward the inside of the container body relative to the inner plug member by the guide portion and released.

[0012] The occlusion plug is connected to the inner plug member via a frangible weakened portion, and a rotation prevention portion may be provided between the occlusion plug and the connecting member to prevent the occlusion plug and the connecting member from rotating relative to each other further around the container axis after the occlusion plug has moved toward the inside of the container body relative to the inner plug member by the guide portion.

[0013] Since a rotation prevention portion is provided between the occlusion plug and the connecting member, when the occlusion plug moves toward the inside of the container body relative to the inner plug member by the guide portion, even if the weakened portion is not broken, the relative rotation of the occlusion plug and the connecting member around the container axis is restricted, making it possible to rotate the inner plug member around the container axis relative to the occlusion plug, and ensuring that the weakened portion is broken. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to this invention, when the contents of the container body are refilled into the main container, the refill container can be stabilized relative to the main container. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a refill container shown as one embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is a view showing the refill container of FIG. 1 in an inverted position with the connecting member fixed to the opening of the container. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a view showing the state in which the occluding plug has been detached from the inner plug member in FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, a refill container according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1, the refillable container 1 according to this embodiment comprises a container body 11, an inner plug member 12, and a connecting member 13. The mouth portion 11a of the container body 11 and the connecting member 13 are covered with a film F.

[0017] The container body 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and contains the contents to be refilled into the container 10. The inner plug member 12 and the connecting member 13 are also formed in a cylindrical shape with a top. The container body 11, the inner plug member 12, and the connecting member 13 are arranged coaxially with a common axis (container axis) O. Hereinafter, the direction along the common axis O will be referred to as the vertical direction, the mouth 11a side of the container body 11 along the common axis O will be referred to as the upper side, and the bottom side of the container body 11 will be referred to as the lower side. When viewed from the vertical direction, the direction intersecting the common axis O will be referred to as the radial direction, and the direction going around the common axis O will be referred to as the circumferential direction.

[0018] The inside plug member 12 has a first top wall 21 and a first peripheral wall 22, and is attached to the opening portion 11a. The first peripheral wall 22 is fitted to the mouth portion 11a. Restricting portions 23 that abut against each other in the circumferential direction are formed separately on the inner peripheral surface of the first peripheral wall 22 and the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 11a. As a result, the inside plug member 12 is provided in the mouth portion 11a in a state where its rotational movement in the circumferential direction is restricted. The first top wall 21 is formed in an annular shape and is disposed on the upper opening edge of the mouth portion 11a. A first seal cylinder 21a is formed on the first top wall 21 and protrudes downward and is fitted into the mouth portion 11a. The first seal cylinder 21a protrudes downward from the opening periphery on the lower surface of the first top wall 21. The first seal cylinder 21a is disposed coaxially with the common axis O.

[0019] The inner plug member 12 is provided with a bottomed, cylindrical closure plug 14. The closure plug 14 is disposed coaxially with the common axis O. The closure plug 14 is connected to the inner plug member 12 via a breakable weakened portion 15.

[0020] The block plug 14 is disposed within the first seal tube 21a. The outer peripheral surface of the block plug 14 is radially spaced apart from the inner peripheral surface of the first seal tube 21a. The upper opening edge of the block plug 14 is located slightly below the upper surface of the first top wall 21. The lower portion of the block plug 14 protrudes downward from the lower opening of the first seal tube 21a. The bottom wall of the block plug 14 is formed into a downwardly protruding spherical shape. The outer peripheral surface of the block plug 14 is formed with a flange portion 14a that protrudes radially outward and extends continuously over the entire circumferential length. The flange portion 14a is located below the upper end of the block plug 14 and is located at the same vertical position as the lower opening of the first seal tube 21a. The weakened portion 15 radially connects the flange portion 14a to the first seal tube 21a. The weakened portion 15 is formed as a thin plate that extends continuously over the entire circumferential length. The block plug 14 blocks communication between the inside of the first seal cylinder 21a and the inside of the container body 11. It is also possible to provide no weakened portion 15 and instead provide block plug 14 so that it can be detached from first seal cylinder 21a.

[0021] The connecting member 13 has a second top wall 24 and a second peripheral wall 28, and is attached to the inside plug member 12. The connecting member 13 may also be attached to the opening 11a of the container body 11. The second peripheral wall 28 is rotatably mounted on the first peripheral wall 22 of the inside plug member 12 while being restricted from moving up and down. The second top wall 24 is formed in an annular shape and is disposed on the upper surface of the first top wall 21 of the inside plug member 12.

[0022] A connecting cylinder 25, a second seal cylinder 24a, and an insertion cylinder 26 are formed on the second top wall 24. The connecting cylinder 25, the second seal cylinder 24a, and the insertion cylinder 26 are arranged coaxially on a common axis O.

[0023] The connecting tube 25 extends upward from the upper surface of the second top wall 24 and is attached to the mouth 10a of the container 10 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The connecting tube 25 is fitted to the mouth 10a of the container 10. On the inner circumferential surface of the connecting tube 25, a second locking portion 25a is formed. The second locking portion 25a is attached to and detached from a first locking portion 10b formed on the outer circumferential surface of the mouth 10a of the container 10 as the connecting member 13 rotates circumferentially relative to the container 10. In the illustrated example, the first locking portion 10b and the second locking portion 25a are threaded. Note that the first locking portion 10b and the second locking portion 25a are not limited to threads and may be modified as appropriate.

[0024] Hereinafter, the circumferential direction in which the connecting member 13 is rotated relative to the container 10 to lock the second locking portion 25a to the first locking portion 10b will be referred to as the tightening side, and the opposite direction will be referred to as the loosening side.

[0025] The second seal cylinder 24a protrudes upward from the periphery of the opening on the upper surface of the second top wall 24. The second seal cylinder 24a is fitted into the mouth 10a of the container 10. The upper end of the second seal cylinder 24a is located below the upper end of the connecting cylinder 25. Insertion tube 26 extends downward from the periphery of the opening on the underside of second top wall 24 and is inserted between the outer circumferential surface of occlusion plug 14 and the inner circumferential surface of first seal tube 21a. The lower end of insertion tube 26 is located above flange portion 14a of occlusion plug 14.

[0026] In the illustrated example, a cylindrical body 27 extending in the vertical direction is provided inside the second top wall 24. The cylindrical body 27 protrudes upward and downward from the second top wall 24. The amount by which the cylindrical body 27 protrudes upward from the second top wall 24 is smaller than the amount by which the cylindrical body 27 protrudes downward from the second top wall 24. The upper end of the cylindrical body 27 is located below the upper end of the second seal cylinder 24a. The lower end of the cylindrical body 27 is located below the lower end of the insertion cylinder 26. A central axis L of cylindrical body 27 is radially spaced from common axis O. The outer peripheral surface of cylindrical body 27 is connected to the inner peripheral surface of second top wall 24 via connecting portion 13a. Connecting portion 13a is connected to a portion of the outer peripheral surface of cylindrical body 27 that is radially spaced from the inner peripheral surface of second top wall 24 by a small distance.

[0027] The connecting member 13 is formed with a content ejection hole 16 and an air replacement passage 17 that open toward the inside of the container 10 and the container body 11, respectively. In the illustrated example, the inside of cylindrical body 27 serves as air replacement passage 17, and the portion of second top wall 24 inside other than cylindrical body 27 and connecting portion 13a serves as spout hole 16. The flow path cross-sectional area of ​​spout hole 16 is larger than the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​air replacement passage 17. Spout hole 16 and air replacement passage 17 face block plug 14 in the vertical direction, and communication between spout hole 16 and air replacement passage 17 and the inside of container body 11 is blocked by block plug 14. The lower end opening of air replacement passage 17 faces the inside of block plug 14. Cylindrical body 27 is inserted into block plug 14.

[0028] A guide portion 18 and a rotation prevention portion 19 are provided between the blocking plug 14 and the connecting member 13 .

[0029] The guide portion 18 moves the closure plug 14 toward the inside of the container body 11 relative to the inner plug member 12 as the inner plug member 12 and the connecting member 13 rotate relative to each other in the circumferential direction. In the illustrated example, the guide portion 18 is composed of a protrusion 14b formed on the outer peripheral surface of the blocking plug 14 and an inclined surface 26a formed on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion tube 26 of the connecting member 13. Protrusion 14b is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped that is long in the vertical direction. Protrusion 14b extends continuously from the upper end of occlusion plug 14 to the upper surface of flange portion 14a. Multiple protrusions 14b are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction. The inclined surface 26a is part of the inner surface that defines the recess 26c formed on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion tube 26, and extends downward toward the tightening side. The recess 26c reaches the lower end opening edge of the insertion tube 26 and opens downward. The protrusion 14b is inserted into the recess 26c. The inclined surface 26a faces diagonally downward toward the loosening side. A plurality of inclined surfaces 26a are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction. The inclined surface 26a faces the protrusion 14b in the circumferential direction.

[0030] The anti-rotation portion 19 prevents the blocking plug 14 and the connecting member 13 from rotating relative to each other in the circumferential direction any further after the blocking plug 14 has been moved toward the inside of the container body 11 relative to the inner plug member 12 by the guide portion 18. In the illustrated example, the anti-rotation portion 19 is configured by the protrusion 14 b and a rising surface 26 b formed on the inner circumferential surface of the insertion tube 26 of the connecting member 13 . The protrusion 14b is the same as that of the guide portion 18. Note that a protrusion dedicated to the anti-rotation portion 19 may be provided. The upright surface 26b is part of the inner surface that defines the recess 26c formed on the inner circumferential surface of the insertion tube 26, and extends straight in the vertical direction. The upright surface 26b faces the loosening side. The upright surface 26b extends downward from the tightening side end of the inclined surface 26a.

[0031] Next, the operation of the refill container 1 will be described.

[0032] First, the refillable container 1, from which the film F has been removed, is placed in an inverted position, and the mouth 10a of the container 10 is inserted into the connecting tube 25 while the connecting member 13 is rotated toward the tightening side relative to the container 10, so that the second locking portion 25a locks with the first locking portion 10b. This secures the connecting member 13 to the mouth 10a of the container 10. At this time, the second sealing tube 24a of the connecting member 13 is fitted into the mouth 10a of the container 10, and the upper opening edge of the mouth 10a of the container 10 abuts against the upper surface of the second top wall 24.

[0033] Thereafter, when container body 11 is rotated in the same direction as the rotation, restricting portions 23 are formed separately on the inner circumferential surface of first peripheral wall 22 of inner plug member 12 and on the outer circumferential surface of mouth portion 11a of container body 11, and therefore inner plug member 12 and container body 11 rotate toward the tightening side relative to container 10 and connecting member 13. At this time, protrusion 14b on the outer circumferential surface of closure plug 14 slides along inclined surface 26a formed on the inner circumferential surface of insertion tube 26 of connecting member 13, causing closure plug 14 to move toward container body 11 relative to inner plug member 12, and applying a vertical tensile force to weakened portion 15.

[0034] Thereafter, as this rotation continues, if weakened portion 15 is not broken, protrusion 14b on the outer peripheral surface of occluding plug 14 will abut against raised surface 26b formed on the inner peripheral surface of insertion tube 26 of connecting member 13, causing inner plug member 12 to rotate in the tightening direction relative to occluding plug 14, and a circumferential tensile force will be applied to weakened portion 15. This will reliably break weakened portion 15, and occluding plug 14 will be released from inner plug member 12. As a result of the above, the inside of container body 11 and the inside of this container 10 are connected through pouring hole 16 and air replacement passage 17, and the air inside this container 10 is discharged through air replacement passage 17 while the contents inside container body 11 flows into this container 10 through pouring hole 16.

[0035] As described above, with the refillable container 1 of this embodiment, when the contents of the container body 11 are refilled into the main container 10, the refillable container 1 and the main container 10 are rotated relative to each other in the circumferential direction, rather than the refillable container 1 being held in an inverted position and pushed toward the main container 10, thereby making it less likely that the refillable container 1 will wobble relative to the main container 10.

[0036] Since the lower end opening of the air replacement passage 17 faces the inside of the occlusion plug 14, when the occlusion plug 14 is removed from the inner plug member 12, the air inside the container 10 that has passed through the air replacement passage 17 enters the occlusion plug 14, making it easier for the occlusion plug 14 to float up toward the inside of the container body 11, making it possible to prevent the occlusion plug 14 from obstructing the flow of the content liquid and air, and allowing the contents to be refilled smoothly.

[0037] Since the cylindrical body 27 is inserted into the block plug 14, when the block plug 14 is removed from the inner plug member 12, the air in the container 10 that has passed through the air replacement passage 17 can be reliably introduced into the block plug 14, making it easier to float the block plug 14. The bottom wall of the occluding plug 14 is formed in a spherical shape that protrudes downward, so that when the occluding plug 14 is removed from the inner plug member 12, the air inside the container 10 that has passed through the air replacement passage 17 can impart buoyancy to the bottom wall inside the occluding plug 14 with little bias, making it easier to reliably float the occluding plug 14.

[0038] Since a rotation prevention portion 19 is provided between the occlusion plug 14 and the connecting member 13, when the occlusion plug 14 moves toward the inside of the container body 11 relative to the inner plug member 12 by the guide portion 18, even if the weakened portion 15 is not broken, the relative rotation in the circumferential direction between the occlusion plug 14 and the connecting member 13 is restricted, making it possible to rotate the inner plug member 12 in the circumferential direction relative to the occlusion plug 14, and ensuring that the weakened portion 15 is broken.

[0039] 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.

[0040] For example, the inner plug member 12 may be formed integrally with the container body 11. The direction in which the connecting member 13 is rotated circumferentially relative to the container 10 in order to fix the connecting member 13 to the mouth portion 10a of the container 10 and the direction in which the container body 11 and the inner stopper member 12 are rotated circumferentially relative to the connecting member 13 and the container 10 in order to move the occlusion plug 14 toward the inside of the container body 11 relative to the inner stopper member 12 using the guide portion 18 may be opposite to each other.

[0041] The guide portion 18 and the anti-rotation portion 19 may not be provided. Block plug 14 may be provided with a tubular portion that is inserted between the outer circumferential surface of insertion tube 26 and the inner circumferential surface of first seal tube 21a, and a first protrusion may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of this tubular portion, while a second protrusion that abuts against the first protrusion from below may be formed on the inner circumferential surface of first seal tube 21a. In this configuration, for example, the outer circumferential surface of block plug 14 may abut against the inner circumferential surface of insertion tube 26, thereby restricting relative rotation between block plug 14 and connecting member 13.

[0042] 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]

[0043] 1 refill container 10-bottle container 10a Mouth of this container 11 Container body 11a Mouth of container body 12 Inner plug member 13 Connecting member 14 Occlusion 15 Weakened part 16 Pour hole 17 Air exchange passage 18 Information Department 19 Anti-rotation part 27 Cylinder O Common shaft (container shaft)

Claims

1. a container body extending in the vertical direction, in which contents to be refilled into the container are accommodated; an inner plug member provided at the opening of the container body in a state in which rotational movement around the container axis is restricted; a connecting member that is attached to and detached from the opening of the container in response to a relative rotation about the container axis with respect to the container; the connecting member is attached to the container body or the inner plug member so as to be rotatable around the container axis, The connecting member is formed with a content ejection hole and an air replacement passage that open toward the interior of the container and the container body, respectively; the inner plug member is provided with a bottomed, cylindrical blocking plug that blocks communication between the pouring hole and the air replacement passage and the inside of the container body; a lower end opening of the air replacement passageway facing inward of the blocking plug; The refillable container has a closure stopper that is detached from the inner stopper member as the inner stopper member and the connecting member rotate relative to each other about the container axis.

2. The air replacement passage is located inside a cylindrical body extending in the vertical direction, 2. The refill container of claim 1, wherein the barrel is inserted into the closure plug.

3. A refillable container as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein a guide portion is provided between the occlusion plug and the connecting member, which moves the occlusion plug toward the inside of the container body relative to the inner plug member as the inner plug member and the connecting member rotate relative to each other around the container axis.

4. the occlusion plug is connected to the inner plug member via a breakable weakened portion, A refillable container as described in claim 3, wherein a rotation prevention portion is provided between the occlusion plug and the connecting member to prevent the occlusion plug and the connecting member from rotating relative to each other around the container axis any further after the occlusion plug has moved toward the inside of the container body relative to the inner plug member by the guide portion.

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