Spray container and spray product using same

Abstract

To provide an injection container and an injection product using the same, in which a tube is hardly detached or loosened during filling of an injection agent or ultrasonic welding, thereby facilitating manufacture.SOLUTION: An injection container 1 includes a container body 2 filled with a content C including a liquid concentrate and a propellant, and a lid 3 for sealing an opening 2d of the container body 2, in which a tube 11 and a liquid absorbing material 12 covering a lower end opening 11a of the tube 11 are attached to the lid 3, and the liquid absorbing material 12 is in contact with a bottom portion 2a of the container body 2. An injection product 10 is obtained by filling the injection container 1 with the content C.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a spray container and a spray product using the same, and more particularly to a spray container and a spray product using the same that can spray the contents even when the container is used facing downward or sideways. [Background technology]

[0002] Injection products, which are filled with liquid and pressurized gas to be injected into a container, have a tube (so-called dip tube) whose bottom end is immersed in the liquid and whose top end is connected to the injection nozzle in order to inject the liquid at the bottom of the container. Therefore, if the container is injected downward or sideways, the bottom opening of the tube communicates with the pressurized gas, so only the pressurized gas is sprayed unnecessarily and the remaining liquid cannot be sprayed.

[0003] To solve this problem, Patent Document 1 discloses an aerosol sprayer in which a tube (suction tube) is attached to a valve, and a porous liquid accumulator impregnated with the spray liquid is attached to the lower end of the tube so as to form a passage between the tube and the inner bottom of the container (can). Even when this aerosol sprayer is used in an inverted position, the liquid accumulator blocks the opening at the lower end of the suction tube, so pressurized gas is not wasted. The pressurized gas then pressurizes the liquid accumulator, allowing the spray liquid impregnated in the pressure accumulator to be sprayed to the outside through the tube.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a discharge container in which a lid without a valve is ultrasonically welded to the container. This discharge container is a double container, and does not use a tube. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 48-84013 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-19570 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The aerosol sprayer of Patent Document 1 forms a passage between the liquid reservoir and the inner bottom of the container. Therefore, when filling propellant through the stem, if filling pressure is applied to the tube, the lower end of which is blocked by the liquid reservoir, the tube is likely to become detached or loosen from the lid. This may result in the aerosol sprayer being unable to spray. Furthermore, when the tube with the liquid reservoir attached is suspended and inserted into the container, the liquid reservoir may become loose or detached. Furthermore, when the lid with the tube is fixed to the container by ultrasonic welding as described in Patent Document 2, the tube may become detached due to ultrasonic vibrations.

[0007] The technical object of the present invention is to provide a spray product in which the tube is unlikely to come off or loosen when filling the propellant, when ultrasonic welding, or when inserting the tube into a container, thereby making it easy to manufacture. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The spray containers 1, 1A, 1B of the present invention comprise a container body 2 filled with contents C including a concentrate and a propellant, and a lid body 3, 53 that seals the opening 2d of the container body 2, and are characterized in that a tube 11 and a liquid-absorbing material 12 that covers the lower end opening 11a of the tube 11 are attached to the lid body 3, 53, and the liquid-absorbing material 12 abuts against the inner bottom (bottom 2a) of the container body 2.

[0009] In such spray containers 1, 1A, it is preferable that the lid 3 is provided with a valve 5, 21, 31 for spraying the contents, and that the tube 11 is connected to the valve 5, 21, 31. In this case, it is preferable that the valve 21, 31 is a metered quantity valve 21, 31 that sprays the contents in the housing 15 with one spray operation, and that the amount of liquid absorbed by the liquid-absorbent material 12 is greater than the spray capacity of the metered quantity valve 21, 31.

[0010] Furthermore, the valve 31 is a pressurized valve 31 that pressurizes the contents C in the housing 34 and is attached to the lid 3 that is screwed onto the opening 2d of the container body 2, and it is preferable that the pressurized valve 31 does not have an air introduction hole 34h that introduces air from the outside, or that the air introduction hole 34h is closed (37a).

[0011] Alternatively, the lid 53 may be welded to the opening 2d of the container body 2, and the tube 11 may be attached to a tube connecting portion 53e provided on the lid 53 by fitting.

[0012] In any of the spray containers 1, 1A, and 1B, it is preferable that the liquid-absorbing material 12 has a bottom wall 12b that closes the lower end opening 11a of the tube 11, and a side wall 12a that extends upward from the periphery of the bottom wall 12b and fits onto the outer periphery of the tube 11, and that when the lid body 3 is attached to the container body 2, the tube 11 extends downward in a straight line.

[0013] The spray products 10, 20, 30, 50 of the present invention are characterized by comprising any one of the spray containers 1, 1A, 1B described above and contents C containing a concentrate and a propellant filled in the container body 2 of the spray container 1, 1A, 1B. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The spray container of the present invention is used as a spray product, with the container body filled with contents consisting of a propellant and a concentrate. This spray container has a liquid-absorbing material attached to the lower opening of the tube, so even when the spray product is held sideways or downward during spraying, the propellant does not escape and the contents can be sprayed. Furthermore, because the liquid-absorbing material abuts against the inner bottom of the container body, the tube is supported by the inner bottom even if it is pushed downward by the pressure of the propellant during manufacturing or if the tube is subjected to vibration. Therefore, the tube will not come off or loosen from the lid.

[0015] If the cap is equipped with a valve for spraying the contents and the tube is connected to the valve, the tube will not come off or loosen even when the propellant is filled through the valve. Furthermore, filling through the valve reduces the loss of propellant during manufacturing compared to filling through an under-cup.

[0016] The valve is a metered quantity valve that sprays the contents in the housing with a single spray operation, and if the amount of liquid absorbed by the absorbent material is greater than the spray capacity of the metered quantity valve, the specified amount determined by the metered quantity valve can be sprayed even if the spray is directed downward or sideways.

[0017] The valve is a pressurized valve that is screwed into the opening of the container body and pressurizes the contents inside the housing, and if the pressurized valve does not have an air inlet hole for introducing air from the outside or if the air inlet hole is closed, the tube will not come off or loosen when the valve is screwed in. Furthermore, even if the valve is sprayed downward or sideways, the contents inside the valve housing can be pressurized and sprayed without liquid leakage.

[0018] When the lid is welded to the opening of the container body and the tube is attached by fitting to a tube attachment portion provided on the lid, the tube will not fall off when the lid is welded.

[0019] The liquid-absorbent material has a bottom wall that closes the lower end opening of the tube and a side wall that extends upward from the periphery of the bottom wall and fits around the outer periphery of the tube, and when the lid is attached to the container, if the tube extends downward in a straight line, the lid with the attached tube can be easily attached to the container body. Furthermore, because the tube extends in a straight line, the tube is reliably supported by the inner bottom of the container body, making it even less likely to come off.

[0020] The spray product of the present invention has a liquid-absorbing material attached to the bottom opening of the tube, so the contents can be sprayed regardless of the orientation of the spray product. Furthermore, because the liquid-absorbing material abuts against the inner bottom of the container body, the tube is less likely to come off or loosen from the lid during manufacturing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the jetting product of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views showing the state of the jetting product when it is turned upside down and sideways. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the jet product of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing yet another embodiment of the jet product of the present invention together with a discharge member. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing yet another embodiment of the jet product of the present invention together with a discharge member. [Figure 6] FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing still another embodiment of the spray product of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a discharge member is attached to the spray container of FIG. 6A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Next, an embodiment of the spray product of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The spray product 10 in FIG. 1 comprises a spray container 1 and a content C filled in the spray container 1. The spray container 1 comprises a container body 2 and a lid 3 that seals an opening 2d at the top end of the container body 2. The spray container 1 is filled with a content C (aerosol composition) containing a concentrate and a propellant, and the content C is separated into a liquid phase L and a gas phase G within the container body 2. In this embodiment, liquefied gas is used as the propellant, with the liquid phase L consisting of the concentrate and liquid liquefied gas, and the gas phase G consisting of vaporized gas of the liquefied gas. Note that when compressed gas is used as the propellant, some of it dissolves in the concentrate (liquid phase L), and the majority exists in the gas phase G.

[0023] A valve 5 is attached to the lid 3, and a tube 11 is connected to the lower end of the housing 7 of the valve 5. A liquid-absorbent material 12 that is impregnated with and retains a liquid phase L (the liquid portion of the concentrate and propellant) is attached around the tube 11, and the liquid-absorbent material 12 closes an opening (introduction hole) 11a at the lower end of the tube 11. A spray member 15 such as a push button is attached to the valve 5. By pressing down the spray member 15, the contents C can be sprayed from the nozzle of the spray member 15.

[0024] The container body 2 is made of a metal such as aluminum or tinplate, and has a bottom 2a, a body 2b that rises from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom 2a, and a shoulder 2c that extends upward while gradually reducing in diameter from the upper end of the body 2b. An opening 2d is formed at the upper end of the shoulder 2c, and a bead 2e is formed on the inner periphery of the opening 2d, surrounding the opening 2d.

[0025] In this embodiment, the lid 3 comprises a bottom wall 3a, a peripheral wall 3b rising from the periphery of the bottom wall 3a, a curved flange 3c provided at the upper end of the peripheral wall 3b, and an inverted cup-shaped valve mounting portion 3d rising from the center of the bottom wall 3a. The curved flange 3c is fixed to the bead portion 2e via a gasket 4, and the peripheral wall 3b is clinched below the bead portion 2e. The lid 3 is made of metal, such as aluminum or tinplate.

[0026] The valve 5 has a stem 6 having a stem hole 6a on its side, the aforementioned housing 7 that accommodates the stem 6 so that it can move up and down, an elastic body (spring) 8 that constantly urges the stem 6 upward, and a roughly doughnut-shaped stem rubber 9 that closes the stem hole 6a with its inner circumferential surface when the stem 6 is raised upward and bends at its inner circumferential side to open the stem hole 6a when the stem 6 is pressed downward. The aforementioned cover 3 sandwiches and fixes the stem rubber 9 between itself and the housing 7, so it can also be considered a component (mounting cup) that makes up the valve 3.

[0027] The valve 5 is a so-called aerosol valve in which, when the stem 6 or spray member 15 is pressed down, the stem hole 6a opens and sprays the contents C. When the stem 6 is released, the stem 6 rises due to the biasing force of the elastic body 8, the stem rubber 9 returns to its original position, and the stem hole 6a is closed, stopping the spray. The lid 3 to which the valve 5 is attached tightly seals the opening 2d of the container body 2 by fitting the curved flange 3c over the bead portion 2e of the container body 2 via a gasket and crimping the peripheral wall 3b below the bead portion 2c.

[0028] The housing 7 includes a cylindrical storage portion 7a with a bottom that stores the stem 6 and the elastic body 8, and a generally cylindrical tube connection portion 7c that extends downward from the bottom portion 7b of the storage portion 7a. The bottom portion 7b of the storage portion 7a is provided with an introduction hole 7d that connects the storage portion 7a to the tube connection portion 7c. The lower end of the tube connection portion 7c is open, and the upper portion of the tube 11 is fitted into it. The upper portion of the storage portion 7a is open, and is closed by the stem rubber 9 and the stem 6.

[0029] The tube 11 is a conventionally known tube or pipe made of synthetic resin. It may also be made of metal. In this embodiment, it extends vertically in a straight line. The synthetic resin that makes up the tube 11 may be a soft or hard resin. However, it is preferable that the tube 11 be rigid enough to fit securely into the tube connection portion 7c of the lid 3 and to brace the bottom 2a of the container body 2 so that it does not come loose or come off from the tube connection portion 7c when gas is filled. For example, a tube made of polyolefin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, with an inner diameter of 0.5 to 5 mm and an outer diameter of 1 to 7 mm, and a length of 30 to 200 mm is preferable.

[0030] The liquid-absorbent material 12 has a bottomed, cylindrical shape consisting of a cylindrical side wall 12a and a bottom wall 12b that closes the bottom opening 11a of the tube 11. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, it is provided with a disk-shaped bottom plate 12c that extends annularly around the bottom wall 12b. Note that, in order to increase the amount of liquid L contained, multiple ribs extending in the lengthwise direction or circumferential direction may be provided, or a spiral rib may be provided. The liquid-absorbent material 12 is made of a fibrous material, foamed resin, or porous material that can be impregnated with and retain the liquid phase L.

[0031] Fibrous materials can be obtained by bundling synthetic fibers such as polyester, polyolefin, polyamide, acrylic, and aramid fibers, especially thermoplastic resin fibers, forming a fibrous body, heating and compressing the resulting fibrous body to compress and densify it, and then impregnating it with a resin liquid such as polyurethane resin, phenoxy resin, epoxy resin, or melamine resin, drying, and curing it. Natural fibers such as cotton, linen, and silk can also be used. The fibrous body can be formed into a desired shape by placing it in a mold during compression.

[0032] Examples of foamed resins that can be used include those produced by foaming polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polyacetal, polyester, polystyrene, etc., and molding them into a predetermined shape. Examples of porous materials that can be used include zeolite and activated carbon.

[0033] The thickness of the side wall 12a and the bottom wall 12b may be different, for example, the thickness of the bottom wall 12b may be about 0.1 to 10 times the thickness T of the side wall 12a. The liquid-absorbent material 12 may be formed by tying a bundle of fibers with thread, or may be tied with thread after covering the tube 11. Depending on the type of liquid phase L, a sponge-like porous material with open cells may be used.

[0034] The upper end of the tube 11 is connected to the tube connection portion 7c of the housing 7, and the lower end abuts against the bottom wall 12b of the liquid-absorbent material 12, which is then supported by the bottom wall 12b and attached to the bottom 2a of the container body 2. The liquid-absorbent material 12, except for its upper portion, is immersed in the liquid phase L. Therefore, even when the valve 5 is operated with the spray product 10 upside down (see FIG. 2A) or sideways (see FIG. 2B), the gas phase G is blocked by the liquid-absorbent material 12, which is impregnated with the liquid phase L, and does not enter the tube 11. Only the liquid phase L impregnated in the liquid-absorbent material 12 is introduced into the valve 5 via the tube 11, passes through the housing 7 and the stem 6, and is then ejected to the outside of the container body 2. Specifically, the liquid enters the tube 11 through the opening 11a at the lower end, passes through the inlet hole 7d of the housing 7, enters the storage section 7a, passes through the stem hole 6a, enters the stem 6, and then passes through the spray member 15 outside the container body 2 to be sprayed to the outside. Furthermore, as long as a part of the liquid-absorbing material 12 is in contact with the liquid phase L during discharge, the liquid phase L is always supplied to the opening 11a at the lower end of the tube 11. Therefore, it is not necessary for the opening 11a at the lower end of the tube 11 to be immersed in the liquid phase L.

[0035] When the remaining amount of liquid phase L decreases and the liquid level drops, the liquid-absorbent material 12 is exposed to the gas phase G by turning the container body 2 upside down or sideways (see Figures 2A and 2B). In this case, shaking the container body 2 allows the liquid phase L to come into contact with and impregnate the liquid-absorbent material 12, making it possible to spray again. The bottom plate 12c around the lower end of the liquid-absorbent material 12 is designed to increase the contact area with the liquid phase L when the container body 2 is upright, thereby increasing the amount of liquid absorbed. It also facilitates contact with the liquid phase L when the container body 2 is sideways. If the container body 2 is turned upside down or sideways and sprayed repeatedly, the liquid-absorbent material 12 dries out, and there is a concern that the gas phase G will eventually permeate the liquid-absorbent material 12 and be sprayed to the outside. However, since the container body 2 is usually returned to its upright position after each spray, the liquid-absorbent material 12 is again impregnated with the liquid phase L, ready for the next spray.

[0036] The spray product 20 shown in Figure 3 uses a metered dose valve 21 as the valve. Other parts are basically the same as the spray product 10 in Figure 1 except for the shape of the liquid-absorbent material 12. Therefore, the same parts are given the same reference numerals and their explanations will be omitted. The spray product 20 is a spray container 1 when not filled with the content C.

[0037] The housing 7 of the metered valve 21 is divided into an upper member 22 that houses the stem 6 and a lower member 23 that has a tube connection portion 7c. The upper member 22 is cylindrical and has a partition wall 24 with a stem insertion hole 24a provided in the middle between the top and bottom. The volume of the housing 7 is the amount of spray per shot, which varies depending on the ingredients of the liquid phase L, but is typically around 0.01 to 1 mL for personal products such as medicines, quasi-drugs, and cosmetics, and around 0.3 to 3 mL for airborne products such as insecticides, deodorizing air fresheners, and disinfectants.

[0038] The upper side of the lower member 23 fits into the inner periphery of the upper member 22. The periphery of a ring-shaped sealant 25 is sandwiched and fixed between the partition wall 24 of the upper member 22 and the upper end of the lower member 23. The sealant 25 has a flat periphery and a central truncated cone-shaped portion, with a stem fitting hole 25a formed in the center. When the stem 6 is raised, the central stem fitting hole 25a is open, and when the stem 6 is pushed down and fits into the stem fitting hole 25a, the sealant 25 is blocked from the top and bottom. Therefore, when the liquid phase L in the housing 7 runs out, spraying stops. This limits the amount of sprayed liquid per time to the capacity of the storage chamber of the housing 7, preventing overuse.

[0039] In this spray product 20, if the filling amount of the liquid phase L is set to less than 50% of the full amount, the liquid phase L is replenished into the liquid-absorbent material 12 in an upward position with the lid body 3 at the top, and it is sprayed in a downward position, the liquid-absorbent material 12 is in the gas phase G at the time of spraying and does not absorb the liquid phase L. Therefore, only the liquid phase L absorbed into the liquid-absorbent material 12 is sprayed, and no more liquid phase L is sprayed, and the gas phase G is also not sprayed due to the action of the metering valve 21. Therefore, it is suitable for pharmaceuticals, hair growth agents, and insecticides whose usage amount needs to be limited.

[0040] In the case of the spray product 1 of Figure 1, which uses a valve 5 that remains open while the stem is pressed, if spraying is continued while the product is upside down, or if spraying is performed repeatedly, the liquid phase L impregnated in the liquid-absorbent material 12 will disappear. This may cause the gas phase G to permeate the liquid-absorbent material 12 and escape to the outside. For this reason, the user should return the product to the upright position after each operation, and be careful not to spray for long periods of time while the product is upside down, so as not to lose the liquid phase L in the liquid-absorbent material 12.

[0041] In the spray product 20 of Figure 3, which uses a metering valve 21, it is preferable to set the liquid absorption capacity of the liquid-absorbent material 12 to be greater than the spray capacity of the metering valve 21. This allows the metering valve 21 to fully function and prevents unnecessary spraying of the gas phase G. In other words, if the liquid absorption capacity of the liquid-absorbent material 12 is less than the spray capacity of the metering valve 21, when liquid phase L is supplied into the metering valve 21, most of the liquid phase L impregnated in the liquid-absorbent material 12 will be lost. As described above, after the liquid phase L is lost, the gas phase G will be sucked in through the liquid-absorbent material 12. To avoid this situation, it is desirable to increase the liquid absorption capacity of the liquid-absorbent material 12, for example by making the liquid-absorbent material 12 sufficiently thick. The spray product 20 of Figure 3 does not have a bottom plate portion 12c that extends from the lower end of the liquid-absorbent material 12. However, it may be provided.

[0042] To increase the amount of liquid absorption, the thickness of the liquid-absorbent material 12 is increased. For example, the thickness T of the side wall 12a is preferably about 1 to 10 mm, and is preferably about 1 to 5 times the inner diameter of the tube 11. Even if the amount of liquid absorption is large, if the bottom wall 12b of the liquid-absorbent material 12 is compressed, the rate of suction into the tube 11 becomes limited. For this reason, the inner diameter of the tube 11 may be increased to 1 to 5 mm, or holes or slits may be formed in the side wall.

[0043] Figure 4 shows another embodiment of a spray product. The spray product 30 in Figure 4 consists of a spray container 1A and a content C filled in the spray container 1. The spray container 1A includes a container body 2 for filling with the content C, a screw-cap type lid 3 for closing the opening of the container body 2, and a pressurized valve 31 attached to the lid 3. The container body 2 is provided with a cylindrical neck 2f, and the inner periphery of the lid 3 is provided with a female thread that screws into the male thread 2g on the outer periphery of the neck 2f of the container 1. The valve 31 is fitted with a spray member 33 that is operated by depressing a stem 32.

[0044] The container body 2 is a pressure-resistant container for filling with the contents C, and includes a bottom 2a, a cylindrical body 2b, and a cylindrical neck 2f that is smaller in diameter than the body 2b and is integrally formed on the upper part of the body 2b. An opening 2d is formed at the upper end of the neck 2f. The container body 2 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, or polypropylene, or a metal such as aluminum or tinplate, but is not particularly limited thereto, and can be made of various materials.

[0045] The pressurized valve 31 is a component that normally seals the inside of the container body 2 and, when the spray member 33 is operated, communicates the inside of the container body 2 with the outside air and sprays the concentrate (liquid phase L) from the container body 2. It also serves to switch between a first spray mode in which the liquid phase L is sprayed by the pressure of compressed gas (propellant, gas phase G) and a second spray mode in which the liquid phase L is sprayed by the pressure of pump operation, and is, so to speak, a component that combines the functions of an aerosol valve and a pump. However, it is also possible to omit the aerosol valve function and have a pressurized valve that only has the pump function.

[0046] This pressurized valve 31 has a housing 34, a stem 32 housed within the housing 34 so as to be able to move up and down freely, a piston member 35 also housed within the housing 34 so as to be able to move up and down freely and which follows the downward movement of the stem 32 with some play, an elastic body (spring) 8 which urges the stem 32 upward, and a positioning member 36 which positions the ascending ends of the stem 32 and the piston member 35.

[0047] 4, the housing 34 is a cylindrical member with open upper and lower ends, and its internal space is divided into a first space S1 and a second space S2 by the piston member 35. The first space S1 is a space through which the liquid phase L taken in from the container body 2 passes or is temporarily stored, and is formed below the piston member 35. The second space S2 is a space in which the stem 32 can descend until it abuts against the piston member 35, and is formed above the piston member 35.

[0048] A flange portion 34a extending radially outward is provided around the upper end of the housing 34. The flange portion 34a is a portion for positioning the housing 34 on the container body 2, and the outer diameter of the flange portion 34a is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the mouth of the container body 2. An annular gasket 37 is provided between the lower surface of the flange portion 34a and the upper end of the neck portion 2f of the container body 2.

[0049] A spring support portion 34c having a smaller diameter than the body portion 34b of the housing 34 is formed near the lower end of the housing 34 to support the elastic body 8 in an inserted state. In addition, a tube connection portion 34d for connecting the tube 11 is formed below the spring support portion 34c. The upper portion of the tube 11 is fitted inside the tube connection portion 34d. The tube connection portion 34d has a smaller diameter than the spring support portion 34c. The spring support portion 34c and the tube connection portion 34d are in communication with each other via a liquid phase communication hole 34e. In the closed mode, this liquid phase communication hole 34e is closed by a ball valve B provided on the spring support portion 34c side.

[0050] The ball valve B is provided to form a valve mechanism (ball valve mechanism) that unidirectionally introduces the liquid phase L from the container body 2 into the first space S1. The ball valve mechanism is formed by dropping the ball valve B into a tapered portion, which is formed by a downwardly tapered portion of the inner circumferential surface near the boundary between the spring support portion 34c and the tube connection portion 34d. When the injection member 33 is not operated, the ball valve B closes the liquid phase communication hole 34e by its own weight, separating the first space S1 from the inside of the container body 2. On the other hand, in the first injection mode, the ball valve B is raised by the pressure of the compressed gas in the container body 2, connecting the first space S1 to the container body 2 and introducing the concentrate in the container body 2 into the first space S1. In the second injection mode, the piston member descends and presses the ball valve B against the tapered portion, isolating the first space S1 from the inside of the container body 2, and the concentrate in the first space S1 is pressurized and injected. When the piston member rises after the concentrate in the first space S1 has been sprayed, the ball valve B floats up, and the concentrate to be sprayed next time is introduced into the first space.

[0051] An introduction hole 34h is formed on the side of the barrel of the housing 34 for filling the container body 2 with a propellant such as compressed gas or liquefied gas via the stem 32. This introduction hole 34h is normally closed by a rubber packing 37a fitted around the housing 34. This packing 37a expands to allow the compressed gas or pressurizing agent (propellant) to be filled via the stem 32. Under normal conditions, it closes due to the contraction force of the packing 37a and the internal pressure within the container body 2, blocking the introduction hole 34h. In other words, the packing 37a and the introduction hole 34h act as a check valve. Therefore, even when the spray product 30 is sprayed downward or sideways, the contents C can be prevented from entering the second space S2 of the housing 34. The packing 37a can also be integrated with the gasket 37 that seals the gap between the container body 2 and the housing 34. The introduction hole 34h and the packing 37a can also be omitted. In this case, compressed gas or pressurizing agent (propellant) is filled using undercup filling or similar methods.

[0052] The pressurized valve 31 is a member for sending the liquid phase L taken in from the container body 2 to the injection member 33, and as described above, is equipped with a stem 32, a piston member 35, an elastic body (spring) 8, and a positioning member 36.

[0053] The stem 32 consists of an inner stem 32a and an outer stem 32b that is attached to the upper part of the inner stem 32a and protrudes from an opening formed at the upper end of the housing 34. The inner stem 32a and the outer stem 32b are coaxially arranged and connected, and are housed in the housing 34 so that they can move up and down as a unit. A piston member 35 is held between the inner stem 32a and the outer stem 32b so that it can move up and down within a predetermined range. An elastic body 8 constantly urges the stem 32 upward, and a positioning member 36 restricts the rising end of the stem 32.

[0054] In the spray product 30 of FIG. 4, the liquid-absorbent material 12 is also attached to the outer periphery of the tube 11. The liquid-absorbent material 12 is substantially the same as that of FIG. 3, and the attachment state is also substantially the same. Therefore, substantially the same effects are achieved. For example, the lower end of the tube 11 abuts against the bottom 2a of the container body 2 via the liquid-absorbent material 12. This configuration prevents the tube 11 from coming off or loosening when the lid 3 is screwed onto the container body 2. Therefore, even when the spray product 30 is sprayed facing downward, the contents C in the housing 34 can be sprayed without leakage from the gap between the tube 11 and the connecting portion 34d. Furthermore, as with the metered-dose valve, it is preferable that the amount of liquid absorbed by the liquid-absorbent material 12 be greater than the amount of liquid sprayed per spray from the pressurized valve 31. This prevents the amount of liquid absorbed from the metered-dose valve 30 from being limited by the amount of liquid absorbed.

[0055] The piston member 35 is a member for constantly dividing the internal space of the housing 34 into a first space S1 and a second space S2 while appropriately communicating the first space S1 with the outside air. The piston member 35 has an inner cylindrical portion 35a that engages with the inner stem 32a at its lower end and with the outer stem 32b at its upper end, an outer cylindrical portion 35b that is provided on the outside of the inner cylindrical portion 35a and slides along the inner surface of the housing 34, and a connecting portion 35c that connects the vicinity of the lower portion of the inner cylindrical portion 35a to the vicinity of the center of the outer cylindrical portion 35b.

[0056] When the remaining amount of propellant in the container body 2 is large and the internal pressure is high, the stem 32 can be slightly lowered to separate the lower end of the inner cylindrical portion 35a from the inner stem 32a, thereby connecting the first space S1 to the outside air and spraying the liquid phase L by the pressurizing force of the compressed gas (first spray mode, aerosol action).On the other hand, when the remaining amount of propellant is small and the internal pressure of the container body 2 is low, the trigger 42a can be pulled strongly to pressurize the stem 32, thereby pressing down the upper end of the inner cylindrical portion 35a with the lower end of the outer stem 32b, thereby pressurizing the liquid phase L in the first space S1 and spraying it to the outside (second spray mode, pump action).

[0057] The injection member 33 has an injection nozzle member 38 attached to the external stem 32b, an operating member 39 attached to the lid (screw cap) 3, and a guide member 40 that guides the injection nozzle member 38. The injection nozzle member 38 is an L-shaped cylindrical body, with a vertical member 38a serving as a stem connection portion connected to the upper part of the external stem 32b and a horizontal member 38b serving as a nozzle connection portion for attaching a tip nozzle 41. In addition, a rotation axis 38c that abuts against a bearing of a lever 42 (described later) is formed on the left and right sides of the outer peripheral surface of the upper end of the vertical member 38a.

[0058] The operating member 39 is a member for sliding the stem 32 and includes a lever support portion 39a attached to the mounting portion of the lid 3 and a lever 42 pivotally supported by the lever support portion 39a. A pivot shaft 39a1 is formed at the upper end of the lever support portion 39a to pivotally support the rear end of the lever 42. The lever 42 is operated by the user during spraying; one end is pivotally supported by the pivot shaft 39a1, and the other end forms a trigger 42a that the user places a finger on. A bearing corresponding to the rotation shaft 38c of the spray nozzle member 38 is provided near the center of the lever 42. Therefore, with this operating member 39, pulling the trigger 42a rotates the lever 42 downward, lowering the stem 32. When the force pulling the trigger 42a is reduced from that state, the lever 42 returns to its original position due to the biasing action of the elastic body 8 that pushes up the stem 32.

[0059] In the non-spraying state (closed mode) in which the lever 42 is not operated, the spray product 30 configured as described above maintains a state in which the lower end of the inner cylindrical portion 35a abuts against the step portion 32a1 of the inner stem 32a, as shown in Fig. 4, because the elastic body 8 biases the inner stem 32a upward. In other words, the lower end of the inner cylindrical portion 35a serves as a seal. Therefore, the liquid phase L is not sprayed.

[0060] In the first injection mode, that is, when the liquid phase L is injected by the pressure of compressed gas, the trigger 42a is pulled to rotate the lever 42 about the rotation axis 39a2, and the injection nozzle is pushed downward via the bearing 24a, which opens the seal between the piston member and the lower stem 32a as described above, and the liquid phase L is injected as an aerosol.

[0061] When the trigger 42a is pulled further from the first injection mode, the stem 32 moves further downward while maintaining the seal open. As a result, as described above, the lower end of the outer stem 32b abuts against the upper end of the inner cylindrical portion 35a, and the piston member 35 also begins to slide downward within the housing 34. Then, the first space S1 is pressurized, and the ball valve B prevents the liquid from returning to the container body 2, so that the liquid phase L within the first space S1 is pump-ejected.

[0062] Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the spray product and spray container, together with a discharge member that is detachably attached to the spray product. Spray product 50 in Figure 5 is not provided with a valve, but valve 52 is provided on discharge member 51. Spray product 50 is formed by filling container body 2 of spray container 1B with content C and sealing it with lid 53. When discharge member 51 is attached to spray product 50, lid 53 can be opened using opening portion 7g of housing 7 of valve 52.

[0063] The spray container 1B comprises a container body 2, a lid (sealing plate) 53 that seals the container body 2, a tube 11 attached to the underside of the lid 53, a liquid absorber 12 fitted around the tube 11, and a ball valve B housed between the lid 53 and the tube 11 so as to be movable up and down. The contents C consist of a liquid phase L and a gas phase G. The container body 2 comprises a bottom 2a, a cylindrical body 2b, a shoulder 2c, and a cylindrical neck 2f. A male thread 2g is formed on the outer periphery of the neck 2f. In this embodiment, the bottom 2a of the container body 2 comprises a downwardly protruding annular contact surface 2a1 and an upper surface of a dome portion 2a2 provided at the center thereof and protruding upward. The bottom 2a may be flat or may have a downwardly convex spherical shape.

[0064] The lower end of the tube 11 abuts against the bottom 2a of the container body 2, particularly the dome portion 2a2, via the liquid-absorbent material 12. Before the lid 53 is welded to the container body 2, a gap is maintained between the flange portion 53b of the lid 53 and the upper end surface of the container body 2. Furthermore, when a pressurizing agent (propellant) is filled and the lid 53 is pressed against the container body 2 while ultrasonic welding is performed, the tube 11 is supported to prevent it from descending and becoming detached or loosened from the lid 53. During ultrasonic welding, the tube 11 is prone to becoming detached or loosened due to vibrations. However, since the lower end of the tube 11 is supported by the bottom 2a of the container body 2 via the liquid-absorbent material 12, it is less likely to become detached or loosened. Furthermore, the dome portion 2a2 elastically deforms, pushing the tube 11 upward. This makes it even more difficult for the tube 11 to become detached from the lid 53. In this embodiment, the liquid-absorbent material 12 is submerged in the liquid phase L, and the upper end of the liquid-absorbent material 12 is below the liquid surface.

[0065] The container body 2 is made of a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, or nylon. The container body 2 can be manufactured, for example, by producing a preform for the container and blow-molding the area below the lower end of the neck 2f. In particular, injection blow molding, in which a preform of a predetermined shape is injection-molded and then blow-molded, is preferred. In the case of injection blow molding, the neck 2f is not stretched, so it is thick and strong. The area from the shoulder 2c to the body 2b is molded to be thinner than the neck 2f but have a pressure-resistant thickness (for example, 0.3 to 1 mm).

[0066] As shown in Figure 6A, the lid 53 comprises a cylindrical sealing portion 53a with a bottom that is inserted into the neck 2f of the container body 2, and an annular flange 53b that is continuous with the upper end of the sealing portion 53a. The flange 53b is ultrasonically welded to the upper end surface of the neck 2f of the container body 2. The sealing portion 53a extends downward, and a fitting cylindrical portion 53a1 is concentrically provided inside the peripheral wall of the sealing portion 53a. The upper end surface of the neck 2f of the container body 2 is provided with an annular welding rib with a triangular cross section to make it easier to weld the flange 53b. The inner surface of the neck 2f of the container body 2 is a smooth cylindrical surface.

[0067] The inside of fitting cylindrical portion 53a1 is closed by bottom portion 53c slightly above the lower end. The reason for the slightly higher position is to prevent the cutting line (thin portion 53f), which will be described later, from being broken by ultrasonic vibrations applied from the upper surface of the flange when ultrasonically welding lid 53 to container body 2. The lower end of sealing portion 53a and the lower end of fitting cylindrical portion 53a1 are connected by annular connecting portion 53a2.

[0068] A closing portion 53d that can be opened by breaking is provided in the center of the bottom portion 53c, and the closing portion 53d is surrounded by a thin-walled portion (breaking portion, weakened line) 53f that can be easily broken, such as an annular groove. A pressure-receiving portion 53d1 that is thicker than the surrounding area is provided on the upper surface of the closing portion 53d. The closing portion 53d and the pressure-receiving portion 53d1 are usually circular in plan view. However, other shapes, such as a rectangle, can also be used.

[0069] The pressure-receiving portion 53d1 is provided on substantially the entire upper surface of the closing portion 53d, and the thin-walled portion 53f is formed on the upper surface of the bottom portion 53c. The thin-walled portion 53f may also be formed on the lower surface. The thin-walled portion 53f may be, for example, a V-groove. The thin-walled portion 53f may be discontinuous and not provided in a part of the body so that the closing portion 53d does not fall when broken. Alternatively, the thin-walled portion 53f may be continuous around the entire outer periphery of the pressure-receiving portion 53d1 to allow the closing portion 53d to fall.

[0070] The material of the lid 53 is a thermoplastic resin that has high thermal bonding with the container body 2, and it is preferable to use the same material as the container body 2 to increase the welding strength. As shown in Figure 6A or 6B, the lid 53 seals the container body 2 and is welded to the container body 2, so that the contents C (liquid phase L and gas phase G) can be stored safely and leak-proof for a long period of time. The thin-walled portion 53f has a sufficient sealing function when unopened, and is shaped so that it can be easily broken.

[0071] A cylindrical tube connection portion 53e is provided on the underside of the lid 53, and the upper end of the tube 11 is fitted inside the tube connection portion 53e. The inner surface of the tube connection portion 53e has a portion with a large diameter at the bottom where the tube 11 is fitted, and a portion where the ball valve B is housed, and above that, a step portion 53e1 with an inner diameter smaller than that of the ball valve B is formed. The ball valve B is housed inside the tube connection portion 53e so that it can move up and down. The ball valve B has a diameter larger than the inner diameters of the tube 11 and the step portion 53e1. This ball valve B prevents the contents C from flying out when the discharge member 51 is removed while the contents C remain, as the pressure of the compressed gas causes the ball valve B to abut against the step portion 53e1.

[0072] The discharge member 51 in Fig. 5 comprises a cap (attachment part) 54 that screws onto the male thread 2g of the neck 2f of the container body 2, a valve 5 covered by the cap 54, and a spray member (operation member) 15 equipped with a discharge nozzle that is attached to the stem 6 of the valve 5. The spray member 15 may be a push button or an operation lever. As shown in Fig. 5, the cap 20 is a cylindrical cap with a bottom and a female thread formed on the inner circumferential surface, a so-called screw cap.

[0073] The cap 54 and the valve 5 are integrated, and the valve 5 moves within the fitting cylindrical portion 53a1 in conjunction with the tightness of the cap 54. That is, when the cap 54 is tightened in the attached state shown in Figure 6B, the valve 5 is pushed into the fitting cylindrical portion 53a1, and when the cap 54 is loosened, the valve 5 moves in a direction to be extracted from the fitting cylindrical portion 53a1. An opening 54a through which the stem 6 passes is formed in the center of the upper base of the cap 54. The cap 54 and the valve 5 without the injection member 15 attached are treated as a valve unit or valve assembly.

[0074] 6B, the valve 5 is made up of a cylindrical housing 7 with a bottom, a stem 6 housed therein so as to be able to move up and down, an elastic body (spring) 8 that urges the stem 6 upward, a stem rubber 9, and a valve holder 55 equipped with a cylindrical valve holding portion 55a that holds the upper part of the housing 7. The stem 6, elastic body 8, and stem rubber 9 constitute a valve mechanism that switches between a discharge state and a non-discharge state of the discharge contents, and the housing 7 and the valve holder 55 constitute an accommodation space that houses this valve mechanism.

[0075] In this embodiment, a cylindrical opening portion 7g that protrudes downward is provided at the lower end of the housing 7, and a sealing member 7h such as an O-ring is attached to the outer periphery of the lower part of the housing 7. This sealing member 7h seals between the inner circumferential surface of the fitting cylindrical portion 53a1 of the lid body 53 and the housing 7 during and after opening.

[0076] The housing 7 is provided with an introduction hole 7d that passes vertically through the bottom 7b of the housing 7 as a passage that communicates between the interior of the housing 7 and the inside of the container body 2. The height direction position of the bottom surface of the opening portion 7g is a position that abuts against the pressure-receiving portion 53d1 when the cap 54 is screwed onto the male thread 2g of the container body 2 about one or two times. Therefore, at the time of shipment or distribution, the cap 54 can be loosely screwed on so as not to rupture the closing portion 53d, and the discharge member 51 and the container body 2 can be temporarily joined in a sealed state.

[0077] The valve holder 55 comprises a valve holding portion 55a, an annular rubber retainer 55b extending inward from the upper end of the valve holding portion 55a, and a flange 55c extending outward, and a hole 55d through which the stem 6 is passed is formed in the center of the rubber retainer 55b.

[0078] When a user uses the purchased spray product 50, they first screw the cap 54 onto the male thread 2g of the container body 2. This causes the entire cap 54 and the valve 5 to descend, and the tear-off portion 7g pushes down the closing portion 53d. This breaks the thin-walled portion 53f, opening the container body 2. A portion of the closing portion 53d either remains connected to the bottom portion 53c (see FIG. 6B), or is torn off from the bottom portion 53c, separating and dropping off. The tear-off portion 7g then breaks through the bottom portion 53c of the fitting tubular portion 53a1, establishing communication between the inside of the housing 24 and the inside of the container body 2 (see FIG. 6B).

[0079] After attaching the discharge member 51, when the user presses the spray member 15 attached to the stem 6, the stem 6 descends, the stem rubber 9 bends, and the stem hole 6a opens. The concentrate inside the container body 2 is pressurized by compressed gas, so it is discharged to the outside via the opening portion 7g, the housing 34, the stem 32, and the operating member 15. When the user releases the operating member 15, the stem 6 rises and the discharge stops. The lower end opening 11a of the tube 11, which connects the inside and outside of the container body 2, is covered with the liquid-absorbing material 12, so that the concentrate held in the liquid-absorbing material 12 can be sprayed even when the container is turned downward or sideways during the spraying operation, and the compressed gas (gas phase G) is unlikely to leak to the outside.

[0080] After the entire amount of concentrate (liquid phase L) has been dispensed, the cap 54 is turned and the dispenser member 51 is removed from the container body 2. The removed dispenser member 51 is then attached to a new spray product 50. The spray product 50, from which the entire amount of liquid phase L has been dispensed, is prevented from releasing the gas phase G while the concentrate is retained in the liquid absorbent 12 and is wet, but when the liquid absorbent 12 dries, the gas phase G becomes more permeable and is released to the outside, and the inside of the container body 2 returns to atmospheric pressure. This allows for safe recycling. Furthermore, because the container body 2 and the lid 3 can be made of a single material, separation is not required during recycling, making them easy to recycle.

[0081] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be practiced with various modifications within the scope of the present invention. As the valve 5, in addition to the type that discharges by pushing down the stem 6, the type that discharges by tilting the stem 6 may also be used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0082] 10 injection products 1 injection container 2 Container body 2a bottom 2b Torso 2c Shoulder 2d aperture 2e Bead part 2f Neck 2g male thread 3 Lid 3a Bottom wall 3b Peripheral wall 3c Curved flange 3d Valve mounting part 4 gaskets C Contents G gas phase L liquid phase 5 valves 6 Stem 6a stem hole 7. Housing 7a Storage section 7b bottom 7c Tube connection 7d introduction hole 7f Spring support part 7g Opening 7h sealing material 8 Elastic body (spring) 9 Stem Rubber 11 tubes 11a Opening (introduction hole) 12 Liquid absorbing material 12a side wall 12b Bottom wall 12c bottom plate T (side wall) thickness 15 Injection member 20 injection products 21 Metering valve 22 Upper member 23 Lower member 24 Bulkhead 24a Stem insertion hole 25 Sealing material 25a Stem fitting hole 30 injection products 1A injection container 31 (Pressure) Valve 32 Stem 32a internal stem 32a1 Stepped section 32b external stem 33 Injection member 34 Housing 34a Flange 34b Torso 34c Spring support 34d Tube connection 34e Liquid phase communication hole 34h introduction hole B ball valve 35 Piston member 35a Inner cylindrical part 35b outer cylindrical part 35c connection part 36 Positioning member 37 Gasket 37a Gasket 38 Injection nozzle member 38a Vertical member 38b Cross member 38c Rotation axis 39 Operating member 39a Lever support 39a1 Rotating shaft 40 Guide member 41 Tip nozzle 42 Lever 42a Trigger 50 injection products 1B Injection container 2a1 ground plane 2a2 Dome section 51 Discharge member 52 Valve 53 Lid 53a Sealing part 53a1 Fitting cylinder part 53a2 Connecting part 53b flange 53c bottom 53d Closure 53d1 Pressure receiving part 53f Thin section 53e Tube connection 53e1 Stepped section 54 Cap 54a aperture 55 Valve holder 55a Valve holder 55b Rubber retainer 55c flange 55d hole

Claims

1. The container comprises a container body filled with contents including a concentrate and a propellant, and a lid body that seals the opening of the container body; A tube and a liquid-absorbing material covering a lower end opening of the tube are attached to the lid, the liquid-absorbent material has a bottom wall that closes the lower end opening of the tube, and a side wall that extends upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom wall and fits onto the outer periphery of the tube, When the lid is attached to the container body, the tube extends downward in a straight line. The liquid-absorbent material abuts against the inner bottom of the container body, The tube is stretched against the inner bottom of the container body via the bottom wall of the liquid-absorbent material. injection container.

2. 2. The spray container according to claim 1, wherein the lid is provided with a valve for spraying the contents, and the tube is connected to the valve.

3. The valve is a metered quantity valve that injects the contents in the housing with a single injection operation, The amount of liquid absorbed by the liquid-absorbing material is greater than the spray capacity of the metering valve. The spray container according to claim 2.

4. The valve is a pressure valve provided on a lid that is screwed onto the opening of the container body and that discharges the contents in the housing, The pressure valve does not have an air inlet for introducing air from the outside, or the air inlet is closed. The spray container according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The lid is welded to the opening of the container body, The tube is attached by fitting to a tube attachment portion provided on the lid. The spray container according to claim 1.

6. The liquid-absorbent material has a circular bottom plate extending annularly around the periphery of the bottom wall. The spray container according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A spray product comprising the spray container according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and a content filled in the spray container, the content containing the concentrate and a propellant.

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