Application container
The applicator container uses a check valve and applicator stopper to prevent outside air ingress, ensuring content integrity and reducing deterioration by controlling air flow.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2022029637
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-02-28
- Publication Date
- 2025-12-05
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-02-28
AI Technical Summary
Existing application containers fail to prevent air from entering the inner container, which may cause deterioration of contents due to outside air ingress.
The applicator container features a check valve and an applicator stopper to control air flow, preventing outside air from entering the inner container by using a check valve and an applicator stopper that blocks communication between the discharge hole and storage chamber.
Prevents outside air from entering the inner container, maintaining content integrity and reducing deterioration.
Smart Images

Figure 0007780980000001 
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Figure 0007780980000003
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to an application container. [Background technology]
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an application container comprising a container body including an inner container for accommodating contents and an outer container in which the inner container is fitted, and an inside stopper attached to the opening of the container body. In this application container, the inner container undergoes volumetric deformation as the contents decrease, and the outer container is capable of being squeezed and is provided with 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. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-209973 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] In the above-mentioned application container, after the content is dispensed, the inner container may undergo a slight restoration deformation, etc., which may allow outside air to flow into the inner container. If outside air flows into the inner container, there may be concerns about deterioration or alteration of the content depending on the type of content.
[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an applicator container that can prevent outside air from flowing into the inner container. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] (1) The applicator container according to the present invention comprises a container body including an inner container which is filled with contents and which undergoes volume reduction as the contents decrease, and an outer container in which the inner container is housed and which has an air intake hole between the inner container and the outer container for drawing in outside air; an inner plug member which is attached to the mouth of the container body and has a communication hole which communicates with the inside of the container body; a check valve which is separably fitted upward against the opening periphery of the communication hole in the inner plug member; a discharge tube member which forms a storage chamber which communicates with the inside of the container body through the communication hole between the inner plug member and the outer container and has a discharge hole at its upper end which communicates with the storage chamber; and an applicator stopper having an upper end protruding from the discharge hole to the outside of the storage chamber, the applicator stopper having a sealing portion that is in close contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole in the discharge tube member and is movable downwardly between a blocking position that blocks communication between the discharge hole and the storage chamber and an applicator position that is located below the blocking position and allows communication between the discharge hole and the storage chamber, and when the applicator stopper is in the blocking position, an air exhaust path is formed between the sealing portion and the opening periphery of the discharge hole to exhaust air from the storage chamber to the outside through the discharge hole.
[0007] According to the application container of the present invention, by pressing the outer container and thereby compressing and deforming the inner container together with the outer container, the internal pressure of the inner container can be increased and the check valve can be opened. This allows the communication hole of the inner plug member to communicate with the inside of the container body, and the contents can be filled into the storage chamber inside the discharge tube member through the communication hole. After the contents have been filled into the storage chamber, when the pressure on the outer container is released, the check valve prevents the contents and outside air from flowing into the inner container through the communication hole, and outside air can be introduced between the outer container and the inner container through an air intake hole provided in the outer container, allowing the outer container to restore its original shape while the volume of the inner container is compressed and deformed. This allows the contents to be discharged from the inner container into the storage chamber without being replaced with outside air, thereby reducing the contact of the contents inside the inner container with air and suppressing their deterioration and deterioration.
[0008] To apply the contents filled in the storage chamber, the application container is turned from an upright position to an inverted position, and the application stopper is moved from the blocking position to the application position by, for example, pressing the application stopper against the area to be applied. At this time, the application stopper elastically deforms and moves toward the inside of the storage chamber, and the seal portion, which is in close contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole, is separated from the opening periphery. This allows communication between the storage chamber and the discharge hole, and the contents of the storage chamber are discharged from the discharge hole to the outside of the container. When the application stopper is released from the area to be applied, the application stopper restores its original shape and moves toward the outside of the storage chamber, and the seal portion comes into close contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole. This blocks communication between the storage chamber and the discharge hole. This prevents the contents of the storage chamber from being further discharged from the discharge hole to the outside of the container.
[0009] In this applicator container, the contents are filled into a storage chamber formed inside the discharge tube member and sequentially discharged from the storage chamber. Even if the inner container undergoes a slight restoration deformation when the outer container recovers from a squeeze deformation, the contents in the storage chamber form a filling seal (a state in which the contents act as a wall to prevent air from passing through) and prevent outside air from entering the inner container through the communication hole. More specifically, when the contents are discharged by opening and closing the applicator stopper, the check valve is completely closed, preventing outside air from entering the inner container. However, when the squeeze operation is released, the inner container may slightly restore its original shape as if pulled by the restoration of the outer container. If the check valve is not completely seated when this restoration occurs, there is a concern that air may be sucked in. In this applicator container, since the storage chamber is filled with contents, even if any air is drawn into the inner container, it is the contents in the storage chamber, not air. Therefore, air inflow into the inner container can be prevented. Furthermore, when the applicator stopper is in the shutoff position, an air exhaust path is formed between the seal portion and the opening periphery of the discharge hole, which exhausts air from the storage chamber to the outside through the discharge hole. Therefore, when the outer container is pressed to fill the storage chamber with the contents, the air inside the storage chamber can be pushed out from between the seal portion and the opening periphery of the discharge hole to the outside of the container. This allows the storage chamber to be filled with the contents while the air inside the storage chamber is pushed out to the outside of the container, with the communication between the storage chamber and the discharge hole blocked, and a filling seal with the contents can be formed.
[0010] (2) The air discharge passage may be formed by a textured surface provided on at least one of the seal portion and the opening periphery of the discharge hole.
[0011] In this case, the fine irregularities on the grained surface form an air discharge path that is difficult for the contents to pass through but allows air to pass through.
[0012] (3) The discharge tube member may have an air hole formed therein that connects the intake hole with the outside, and may be provided with an air valve that closes the air hole so as to be releasable from the intake hole side of the discharge tube member, and the check valve, the applicator plug, and the air valve may be integrally molded.
[0013] In this case, the check valve, the application plug, and the air valve are integrally molded, so that the number of parts and the assembly cost can be reduced. [Effects of the Invention]
[0014] According to the application container of the present invention, it is possible to prevent outside air from flowing into the inner container. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the application container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the application container shown in FIG. [Figure 3]FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of an application container according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an application container according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0017] (First embodiment) As shown in FIG. 1, the applicator container 1 of the first embodiment includes a container body 2 and an applicator cap 3.
[0018] The container body 2 comprises a highly flexible inner container 5 that accommodates contents (not shown) and undergoes volume-reducing deformation (shrinking deformation) as the contents decrease, and an outer container 4 in which the inner container 5 is housed. The outer container 4 is capable of being squeezed, and the inner container 5 undergoes volume-reducing deformation as the outer container 4 is squeezed. Therefore, at least the portion of the outer container 4 that is located in the body portion 2b of the container body 2 is capable of elastically deforming toward the inside of the container.
[0019] The container body 2 is formed by blow molding, and is a delaminating container (delamination bottle) in which an inner container 5 is peelably laminated on the inner surface of an outer container 4. Specifically, it is formed by extrusion blow molding using a cylindrical parison formed by laminating a synthetic resin that forms the outer container 4 and a synthetic resin that forms the inner container 5, which has low compatibility with the outer container 4. The materials of the inner container 5 and the outer container 4 are not particularly limited, but for example, the outer container 4 is made of polyethylene or polypropylene, and the inner container 5 is made of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer. Alternatively, the container body 2 may be formed by forming a preform for the outer container 4 and a preform for the inner container 5 by injection molding or the like, combining these in a double layer (inner and outer), and then biaxially stretching blow molding the preform. Alternatively, the preform for the outer container 4 may be first biaxially stretching blow molded to form the outer container 4, and then the preform for the inner container 5 may be placed inside, and then the preform for the inner container 5 may be biaxially stretching blow molded to form the container body 2.
[0020] In this case, the materials of the inner container 5 and the outer container 4 are not particularly limited, but are, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resin. However, the materials of the inner container 5 and the outer container 4 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), and EVOH (ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer). Of these synthetic resin materials, it is preferable that the outer container 4 and the inner container 5 are formed from a combination that allows them to be separable (not compatible).
[0021] The container body 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, with a mouth 2a, a body 2b, and a bottom 2c arranged in this order from the top. The container body 2 has a shape in which the mouth 2a is inclined forward relative to the body 2b.
[0022] Axis O1 shown in Fig. 1 is the central axis of bottom portion 2c. Axis O1 passes through the center of bottom portion 2c and extends perpendicular to the bottom surface of bottom portion 2c. Axis O2 shown in Fig. 1 is the central axis of mouth portion 2a. Axis O2 passes through the center of mouth portion 2a and coincides with the central axis of applicator cap 3 attached to mouth portion 2a.
[0023] 1, in the upright position of the coating container 1 with the bottom surface of the bottom part 2c placed on a horizontal surface, the axis O1 extends in the vertical direction. In addition, in the upright position of the coating container 1, the axis O2 is inclined forward with respect to the axis O1 and extends obliquely upward and forward from the intersection with the axis O1.
[0024] In the following description, the side of the applicator cap 3 along the axis O2 is referred to as the upper side, and the opposite side is referred to as the lower side. In addition, in a plan view seen from the direction of the axis O2, a direction intersecting the axis O2 is referred to as the radial direction, and a direction going around the axis O2 is referred to as the circumferential direction.
[0025] As shown in Fig. 2, the mouth 2a of the container body 2 is formed to extend upward along the axis O2. The mouth 2a of the container body 2 is configured by stacking the mouth of the inner container 5 and the mouth of the outer container 4. The upper end of the mouth of the inner container 5 is folded back into an annular shape that protrudes radially outward, and this folded back portion is positioned on the upper opening edge of the mouth of the outer container 4. Therefore, the mouth of the outer container 4 is closed by the inner container 5. A male thread portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth of the outer container 4.
[0026] An air intake hole 6 is formed at the mouth of the outer container 4 between the outer container 4 and the inner container 5 to draw in outside air. Note that the air intake hole 6 may be formed in the body 2b or bottom 2c of the outer container 4 as shown in FIG. 1 other than the mouth 2a, to directly draw in outside air. Furthermore, for example, if the air intake hole 6 is formed in the body 2b or bottom 2c, an air valve (check valve) may be provided in the body 2b or bottom 2c to allow air to be drawn between the inner container 5 and the outer container 4 while restricting air from leaking out from between the inner container 5 and the outer container 4.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the applicator cap 3 includes an attachment tubular portion 10, an inner plug member 20, an applicator plug unit 30, a discharge tubular member 40, and a lid body 50 (overcap).
[0028] The mounting tube 10 comprises a lower tube 11 that is threaded onto the mouth 2a of the container body 2, and an upper tube 12 that is connected to the upper end of the lower tube 11. An internal thread is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the lower tube 11 to thread onto the external thread of the mouth 2a of the container body 2. The lower tube 11 radially surrounds the portion of the mouth 2a of the container body 2 where the air intake hole 6 is formed from the outside, and is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the mouth 2a around the entire circumference in a portion that is located below the air intake hole 6.
[0029] A male thread portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the upper cylindrical portion 12. The upper cylindrical portion 12 radially surrounds the inside plug member 20, the applicator plug unit 30, and the discharge cylindrical member 40. An annular step portion 13 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the upper cylindrical portion 12, facing the upper end opening edge of the mouth portion 2a of the container body 2 in the vertical direction and sandwiching the inside plug member 20 in the vertical direction. Above the step portion 13 on the inner peripheral surface of the upper cylindrical portion 12, a contact rib 14 that contacts the flange portion 42 of the discharge cylindrical member 40 from below is provided protruding radially inward. A plurality of contact ribs 14 extend in the vertical direction and are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction.
[0030] Above the contact rib 14 on the inner peripheral surface of the upper cylindrical portion 12, fitting protrusions 15 that fit into an undercut on the discharge cylindrical member 40 protrude radially inward. The fitting protrusions 15 are provided intermittently in the circumferential direction, and outside air introduction grooves 15a are formed in the gaps between them. The outside air introduction grooves 15a take in outside air from the gap between the upper end opening of the upper cylindrical portion 12 and the discharge cylindrical member 40 into the gap space between the upper cylindrical portion 12 and the discharge cylindrical member 40.
[0031] The inner plug member 20 is attached to the mouth 2a of the container body 2 via the attachment tubular portion 10, and has a communication hole 21 that communicates with the inside of the container body 2. The inner plug member 20 includes an annular base portion 22 that is disposed on the upper open end of the mouth 2a of the container body 2, a tubular clamped portion 23 that protrudes upward from the outer periphery of the base portion 22, and a topped tubular communicating tubular portion 24 that protrudes upward from the inner periphery of the base portion 22.
[0032] The upper end surface of the clamped portion 23 abuts against the step portion 13 of the upper cylindrical portion 12 of the mounting cylindrical portion 10 in the vertical direction. A slit 23a is formed in the clamped portion 23 from its upper end surface to its outer circumferential surface. The slit 23a connects the space inside the clamped portion 23 with the space inside the lower cylindrical portion 11. A communication hole 21 that penetrates in the vertical direction is formed in the center of the top wall of the communicating cylindrical portion 24. The opening periphery of the communication hole 21 on the top wall of the communicating cylindrical portion 24 protrudes in a cylindrical shape and serves as a valve seat for a check valve 31.
[0033] A tubular accommodating portion 25 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the base portion 22, radially outward from the communicating tubular portion 24. The tubular accommodating portion 25 surrounds the communicating tubular portion 24 from the radially outward side with a gap between them. This forms an annular space that is open upward, surrounded by the base portion 22, the communicating tubular portion 24, and the tubular accommodating portion 25. Furthermore, a tubular seal portion 26 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the base portion 22, radially outward from the tubular accommodating portion 25. The tubular seal portion 26 fits tightly into the inside of the mouth 2a of the container body 2, sealing the mouth 2a of the container body 2.
[0034] The applicator plug unit 30 is formed by integrally molding a check valve 31, an applicator plug 32, and an air valve 33 via a fitting tubular portion 34. The applicator plug unit 30 is integrally molded from an elastically deformable material (elastic material). The lower end of the fitting tubular portion 34 is fitted into an annular space surrounded by the base portion 22, the communicating tubular portion 24, and the accommodating tubular portion 25 of the inside plug member 20. The upper end of the fitting tubular portion 34 extends upward beyond the upper end of the communicating tubular portion 24. The check valve 31 is provided inside the upper end of the fitting tubular portion 34 and comes into close contact with the opening periphery of the communicating hole 21 in the inside plug member 20 so as to be able to move upward and separate.
[0035] The check valve 31 is formed, for example, in a circular shape in a plan view. The check valve 31 is connected to the inner circumferential surface of the tubular fitting portion 34 via multiple elastic arms 31a. The elastic arms 31a are formed, for example, to extend in the circumferential direction to ensure appropriate springiness, and their radially inner ends are connected to the outer circumferential edge of the check valve 31 and their radially outer ends are connected to the tubular fitting portion 34. When the contents inside the inner container 5 pass through the communicating hole 21 of the inner plug member 20, the elastic arms 31a elastically deform to move the check valve 31 upward, causing the check valve 31 to move away from the upper surface of the opening periphery of the communicating hole 21. The configurations of the application plug 32 and the air valve 33 will be explained after the description of the discharge cylindrical member 40.
[0036] The discharge tube member 40 is formed in a topped cylindrical shape that defines, between it and the inner plug member 20, a storage chamber S that communicates with the inside of the container body 2 through the communication hole 21. A discharge hole 41 that penetrates in the vertical direction and communicates with the storage chamber S is formed in the center of the upper end of the discharge tube member 40. An annular flange portion 42 that extends radially outward is formed at the lower end of the discharge tube member 40. The flange portion 42 abuts against the abutment rib 14 of the mounting tube portion 10 from below.
[0037] An air hole 42a penetrating in the vertical direction is formed radially inward of the abutting portion of the flange portion 42 with the abutment rib 14. The air hole 42a communicates the gap between the discharge tube member 40 and the upper tube portion 12 with the gap between the outer container 4 and the lower tube portion 11. This allows communication between the outside of the container and the intake hole 6 via the outside air introduction groove 15a, the gap between the discharge tube member 40 and the upper tube portion 12, the air hole 42a, the slit 23a, and the gap between the outer container 4 and the lower tube portion 11.
[0038] An annular recess 43 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the discharge tube member 40. The recess 43 faces the base portion 22 of the inside plug member 20 in the vertical direction and sandwiches the fitting tube portion 34 between the base portion 22 and the inner peripheral surface. An annular protrusion 44 that protrudes radially outward is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the upper end of the peripheral wall of the discharge tube member 40. An annular groove 44a is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the annular protrusion 44 along the circumferential direction. The fitting protrusion 15 of the upper tube portion 12 is undercut-fitted into the annular groove 44a.
[0039] The applicator plug 32 is provided in the storage chamber S inside the discharge tubular member 40, and its upper end protrudes from the discharge hole 41 to the outside of the storage chamber S. The upper end of the applicator plug 32 is inserted into an applicator member 60 attached to the upper surface of the ceiling wall of the discharge tubular member 40. An example of the applicator member 60 is an elastically deformable sponge body. The applicator plug 32 is connected to the upper end of the fitting tubular portion 34 in the storage chamber S via an elastic support portion 32a. Two elastic support portions 32a are provided, for example, and are bent in a crank shape so that the distance between them increases downward. Such elastic support portions 32a can be formed, for example, by using a mold that is divided into two in the radial direction.
[0040] The applicator plug 32 has a seal portion 32b that fits tightly against the opening periphery of the discharge hole 41 in the discharge tube member 40 so as to be able to move downward. The seal portion 32b has a conical surface that expands in diameter downward more than the discharge hole 41. The applicator plug 32 is provided so as to be movable up and down between a blocking position (see FIG. 2) that blocks communication between the discharge hole 41 and the storage chamber S and an applicator position that is located below the blocking position and allows communication between the discharge hole 41 and the storage chamber S. An air discharge path A is formed between the seal portion 32b and the opening periphery of the discharge hole 41, which discharges air from the storage chamber S through the discharge hole 41 to the outside when the applicator plug 32 is in the blocking position. In this embodiment, the air discharge path A is formed by a textured surface (a surface with minute irregularities) provided on the outer surface of the seal portion 32b.
[0041] The air valve 33 is an elastically deformable valve element that protrudes radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the fitting tubular portion 34 in an annular shape and has a free outer end. The outer end of the air valve 33 abuts against the lower surface of the flange portion 42 from below over the entire circumference so as to be releasable. As a result, the air valve 33 openably closes the air hole 42a from the air intake hole 6 side of the discharge tubular member 40. In other words, the air valve 33 allows outside air to flow in from the outside through the air hole 42a, and also functions as a check valve that prevents outside air from flowing out of the container through the air intake hole 6 when the outer container 4 is squeezed and deformed.
[0042] The lid 50 has a cylindrical shape with a top. An internal thread is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 51 of the lid 50, which threads onto the external thread of the upper tubular portion 12. A cover tube 53 is vertically attached to the underside of the top wall 52 of the lid 50. The cover tube 53 is fitted to the outer side of the upper end of the upper tubular portion 12 in the radial direction.
[0043] To apply the contents from the application container 1 of this embodiment described above, first, in FIG. 2, the cover body 50 is removed from the mounting tubular portion 10 to expose the application plug 32 and the discharge tubular member 40 to the outside of the container.
[0044] Next, the outer container 4 is pressed, causing the inner container 5 to shrink and deform together with the outer container 4, increasing the internal pressure of the inner container 5 and opening the check valve 31. This allows the communication hole 21 of the inner plug member 20 to communicate with the inside of the container body 2, allowing the contents to be filled through the communication hole 21 into the storage chamber S inside the discharge tube member 40. After the contents have been filled into the storage chamber S, when the pressure on the outer container 4 is released, the check valve 31 prevents the contents and outside air from flowing into the inner container 5 through the communication hole 21. Outside air is introduced between the outer container 4 and the inner container 5 through the air intake hole 6 provided in the outer container 4, allowing the outer container 4 to restore its original shape while maintaining its shrinkage. Therefore, the contents are discharged from the inner container 5 into the storage chamber S without being replaced with outside air, which reduces the contact of the contents inside the inner container 5 with air and suppresses their deterioration and deterioration.
[0045] To apply the contents filled in the storage chamber S, the application container 1 is turned from an upright position to an inverted position, and the application plug 32 is moved from the blocking position to the application position by, for example, pressing the application plug 32 against the area to be applied. At this time, the application plug 32 elastically deforms and moves toward the inside of the storage chamber S, and the seal portion 32b, which is in close contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole 41, is separated from the opening periphery. This allows communication between the storage chamber S and the discharge hole 41, and the contents of the storage chamber S are discharged from the discharge hole 41 to the outside of the container. When the application plug 32 is released from the area to be applied, the application plug 32 restores its original shape and moves toward the outside of the storage chamber S, and the seal portion 32b comes into close contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole 41. This blocks communication between the storage chamber S and the discharge hole 41. This prevents the contents of the storage chamber S from being further discharged from the discharge hole 41 to the outside of the container.
[0046] In this manner, in the applicator container 1, the contents are filled into the storage chamber S formed inside the discharge tube member 40 and sequentially discharged from the storage chamber S. Therefore, even if the inner container 5 undergoes a slight restoration deformation when the outer container 4 returns from the squeeze deformation, the contents in the storage chamber S form a filling seal (a state in which the contents act as a wall to prevent air from passing through) and prevent outside air from entering the inner container 5 through the communication hole 21. More specifically, when the contents are discharged by opening and closing the applicator plug 32, the check valve 31 is completely closed, so outside air does not enter the inner container 5. However, when the squeeze operation is released, the inner container 5 may slightly restore its original shape as if pulled by the restoration of the outer container 4. If the check valve 31 is not completely seated when this restoration of the inner container 5 occurs, there is a concern that air may be sucked in. In this applicator container 1, since the storage chamber S is filled with contents, even if any air is drawn into the inner container 5, it is the contents in the storage chamber S, not air. Therefore, the inflow of air into the inner container 5 can be suppressed. Furthermore, when applicator plug 32 is in the blocking position, an air discharge path A is formed between seal portion 32b and the opening periphery of discharge hole 41, which discharges air from storage chamber S to the outside via discharge hole 41. Therefore, when outer container 4 is pressed to fill storage chamber S with contents, air inside storage chamber S can be pushed out from between seal portion 32b and the opening periphery of discharge hole 41 to the outside of the container. As a result, with communication between storage chamber S and discharge hole 41 blocked, the contents can be filled into storage chamber S while the air inside storage chamber S is pushed out to the outside of the container, and a filling seal with the contents can be formed.
[0047] As described above, the applicator container 1 according to the first embodiment includes the container body 2 including the inner container 5 that accommodates the contents and undergoes volumetric deformation as the contents decrease, the outer container 4 in which the inner container 5 is housed and an air intake hole 6 is provided between the inner container 5 and the outer container 4 for drawing in outside air, the inner plug member 20 that is attached to the mouth 2a of the container body 2 and has a communication hole 21 that communicates with the inside of the container body 2, the check valve 31 that is separably fitted upward against the opening periphery of the communication hole 21 in the inner plug member 20, and the discharge tube member 4 that forms the storage chamber S that communicates with the inside of the container body 2 through the communication hole 21 between the inner plug member 20 and the discharge tube member 4 and has a discharge hole 41 that communicates with the storage chamber S at its upper end. and an applicator plug 32 that is provided in the storage chamber S and has an upper end that protrudes from the storage chamber S through a discharge hole 41, the applicator plug 32 having a seal portion 32b that is removably fitted downward against the periphery of the opening of the discharge hole 41 in the discharge cylindrical member 40, and is provided so as to be movable up and down between a blocking position that blocks communication between the discharge hole 41 and the storage chamber S and an applicator position that is lower than the blocking position and allows communication between the discharge hole 41 and the storage chamber S, and when the applicator plug 32 is in the blocking position, an air discharge path A is formed between the seal portion 32b and the periphery of the opening of the discharge hole 41, which discharges air from the storage chamber S to the outside through the discharge hole 41. This configuration makes it possible to prevent outside air from flowing into the inner container 5.
[0048] In the first embodiment, the air discharge path A is formed by a textured surface provided on at least one of the seal portion 32b and the opening periphery of the discharge hole 41 (the seal portion 32b in the first embodiment). With this configuration, the fine irregularities of the textured surface make it difficult for the contents to pass through, but it is possible to form an air discharge path A through which air can pass.
[0049] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, discharge cylindrical member 40 is formed with air hole 42a that connects intake hole 6 with the outside, and is provided with air valve 33 that closes air hole 42a in an openable manner from the intake hole 6 side of discharge cylindrical member 40, and check valve 31, applicator plug 32, and air valve 33 are integrally molded. With this configuration, check valve 31, applicator plug 32, and air valve 33 are integrally molded, making it possible to reduce the number of parts and assembly costs.
[0050] (Second embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the same or equivalent components as those in the above-described embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be simplified or omitted.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 3, the second embodiment differs from the above-described embodiments in that the discharge tube member 40 and the applicator member 60 are integrally molded. The applicator member 60 shown in FIG. 3 is, for example, a brush member provided on the upper surface of the top wall of the discharge tube member 40. This configuration reduces the number of parts and assembly costs because the discharge tube member 40 and the applicator member 60 are integrally molded. The annular protrusion 44 of the discharge tube member 40 of the second embodiment is undercut-fitted with the fitting protrusion 15 of the upper tube portion 12. A communication groove 44b extending in the vertical direction is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the annular protrusion 44, and communicates with the outside air intake groove 15a.
[0052] 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 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. The 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.
[0053] For example, in each of the above embodiments, the container body is a peelable laminated container in which the inner container is peelably laminated to the inner surface of the outer container, but this is not limited to this, and it may also be a double container in which a gap is secured between the inner container and the outer container.
[0054] Furthermore, the air valve 33 is not essential in the above embodiments and may be omitted. In this case, for example, the opening size of the outside air introduction groove 15a, the air hole 42a, or the air intake hole 6 may be reduced so that air between the outer container 4 and the inner container 5 is less likely to leak out when the outer container 4 is squeezed and deformed.
[0055] Furthermore, for example, in each of the above embodiments, it has been described that the air discharge path A is formed by a textured surface provided on at least one of the seal portion 32b and the opening periphery of the discharge hole 41, but it is not limited to a textured surface as long as it allows air to be discharged but prevents the contents from being discharged. For example, the air discharge path A may be formed by fine slits or the like extending radially around the opening periphery of the discharge hole 41.
[0056] In addition, it is possible to replace the components in the above-described embodiments with well-known components as appropriate, without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]
[0057] 1...applicator container, 2...container body, 2a...mouth portion, 2b...body portion, 2c...bottom, 3...applicator cap, 4...outer container, 5...inner container, 6...air intake hole, 10...mounting tube portion, 11...lower tube portion, 12...upper tube portion, 13...step portion, 14...contact rib, 15...fitting protrusion, 15a...outside air introduction groove, 20...inner plug member, 21...communicating hole, 22...base portion, 23...held portion, 23a...slit, 24...communicating tube portion, 25...storing tube portion, 26...sealing tube portion, 30...applicator Plug unit, 31...check valve, 31a...elastic arm, 32...applicator plug, 32a...elastic support portion, 32b...seal portion, 33...air valve, 34...fitting cylindrical portion, 40...discharge cylindrical member, 41...discharge hole, 42...flange portion, 42a...air hole, 43...recess portion, 44...annular protrusion, 44a...annular groove, 44b...communicating groove, 50...lid body, 51...peripheral wall, 52...top wall, 53...cover cylinder, 60...applicator member, A...air discharge path, O1...axis, O2...axis, S...storage chamber
Claims
1. a container body including an inner container that is accommodated with contents and that undergoes volume reduction deformation 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 check valve that is in close contact with an opening peripheral edge of the communication hole in the inner plug member so as to be able to separate upward; a discharge tube member that defines a storage chamber communicating with the inside of the container body through the communication hole between the discharge tube member and the inner plug member, and that has a discharge hole formed at its upper end that communicates with the storage chamber; an applicator plug provided in the storage chamber and having an upper end protruding from the discharge hole to the outside of the storage chamber; The applicator plug has a seal portion that is in close contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole in the discharge tube member so as to be able to separate downward, and is provided so as to be able to move up and down between a blocking position that blocks communication between the discharge hole and the storage chamber, and an applicator position that is located below the blocking position and allows communication between the discharge hole and the storage chamber, When the applicator plug is located at the blocking position, an air discharge path is formed between the seal portion and the opening periphery of the discharge hole, for discharging air from the storage chamber to the outside through the discharge hole, The discharge tube member has an air hole formed therein, which connects the air intake hole with the outside, an air valve that closes the air hole so as to be releasable from the intake hole side of the discharge cylindrical member; The application container, wherein the check valve, the application plug, and the air valve are integrally molded.
2. The applicator container according to claim 1 , wherein the air discharge path is formed by a textured surface provided on at least one of the seal portion and the opening periphery of the discharge hole.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Metering type coating container
JP2006117265A
Application container
JP2019209973A
Dispensing container
JP2020083462A