Liquid discharge actuators, liquid discharge containers, and liquid discharge products

Abstract

To provide liquid discharge actuators, liquid discharge containers, and liquid discharge products that can be applied to various liquid discharge containers and can almost surely prevent afterdraw.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to an actuator for discharging a liquid contained in a container, which is mounted on the container and discharges the liquid contained in the container, the actuator is equipped with a nozzle portion having an internal flow path for flowing the liquid and a discharge port for discharging the liquid, and a back suction mechanism capable of sucking the liquid in the internal flow path. The back suction mechanism is configured to discharge the liquid discharged from the container through the internal flow path by moving the nozzle section. The back suction mechanism is equipped with a liquid suction chamber communicating with the internal flow path of the nozzle portion. At least a portion of the liquid suction chamber is deformed by the movement of the nozzle portion and the deformed portion is formed to be restorable with the return to the state before the movement of the nozzle part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid discharge actuator, a liquid discharge container, and a liquid discharge product. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, containers used in fields such as food, household goods, and cosmetics that release liquid contained inside the container to the outside include, for example, aerosol containers that can release liquid contained inside the container in the form of a mist by gas pressure, pump foamer containers that release liquid inside the container in the form of a foam without using gas, liquid pump containers that release liquid inside the container as a liquid using a pump without using gas, and airless containers that release liquid inside the container as a liquid using a pump without using gas.

[0003] The aerosol containers among the above-mentioned containers can be broadly classified into two types: one in which an inner bag containing the liquid to be discharged is fitted inside a metal container body made of aluminum plate, steel plate, etc., and a propellant such as compressed gas or liquefied petroleum gas is filled between the inner bag and the container body, causing the inner bag to contract and the liquid to be discharged by the pressure of the propellant (hereinafter referred to as the "inner bag compression type"), and another in which the container body is filled with the undiluted liquid to be discharged and a propellant such as liquefied petroleum gas such as butane or propane, or dimethyl ether, and the undiluted liquid is discharged in a foamy form by the action of the propellant (hereinafter referred to as the "liquefied gas type") (Patent Document 1). In this specification, the terms "discharge" and "release" are used, but they are used with almost the same meaning, or the concept of discharge is interpreted as being included in "discharge".

[0004] In recent years, an aerosol container has been known that is equipped with an actuator comprising a nozzle that dispenses liquid from an outlet at the tip, a handle located on the opposite side of the nozzle from the outlet, and a pressing part located above the handle, and is configured such that when the pressing part is pressed, the liquid inside the container body is dispensed through the nozzle (Patent Document 2).

[0005] Pump-former containers generally have the function of releasing the liquid inside the container in a foamy form without using gas. Specifically, in a pump-former container, the liquid contained inside the container is mixed with air inside a pump attached to the container, and then pushed through a mesh to release the liquid contained inside the container to the outside (Non-Patent Document 1).

[0006] A liquid pump container has the function of releasing the liquid inside the container as a liquid using a pump without using gas. Specifically, in a liquid pump container, when the lever of the pump attached to the container is pressed, the piston connected to the pump is lowered, increasing the pressure inside the pump, and a valve (water intake valve) attached to the bottom of the pump is closed. As a result of this valve closing, the liquid inside the pump is pushed up and released to the outside (Non-Patent Literature 2).

[0007] Airless containers have the function of releasing liquid from inside the container as liquid using a pump without using gas. Specifically, in an airless container, pressing down on the pump attached to the container causes a piston installed inside the container to rise, discharging the liquid inside the container to the outside (Non-Patent Document 3). [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-110764 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2019-51958 [Non-patent literature]

[0009] [Non-Patent Document 1] Kao Corporation, webpage titled "Q. Please explain the mechanism and proper use of foam-dispensing pump containers?" [online] [Accessed November 25, 2021], Internet<URL:https: / / www.kao.com / jp / qa / detail / 16581 / > [Non-Patent Document 2] A webpage titled "Dismantling Classroom" and "Pump for Plastic Bottles (4)," created by an unknown author, [online], [searched November 25, 2021], Internet. <URL:https: / / www.yumeginga.jp / 720_directors_room / monokowashis / monokowashi / pump / pump4.html> [Non-Patent Document 3] Medical Lab Co., Ltd., webpage titled "Our Commitment to Containers," [online], [searched November 25, 2021], Internet<https: / / www.medical-lab.jp / service / container / > [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0010] The inventors have found that when using the various containers described above, there is a tendency for so-called after-draw to occur, where liquid remaining inside the nozzle after the liquid inside is released or discharged drips from the nozzle's outlet. For example, in the case of aerosol containers, in the case of an inner bag compression type aerosol container, the propellant permeates the inner bag and dissolves into the liquid, and this dissolved propellant expands in the liquid remaining inside the nozzle after discharge, which is thought to easily cause dripping (after-draw) from the nozzle's outlet. In the case of a liquefied gas type aerosol container, it is thought that after-draw is likely to occur because the liquefied gas mixed with the liquid expands inside the nozzle.

[0011] The aerosol dispensing container described in Patent Document 2 has a handle, which allows the user to press the pressing part without holding the container body. Therefore, even if liquid adheres to the container body due to after-draw and makes it slippery, the pressing part can be pressed stably. However, the aerosol dispensing container described in Patent Document 2 does not suppress the occurrence of after-draw, so there is a possibility that the surrounding area may be soiled by after-draw. For this reason, there is room for improvement in the aerosol dispensing container described in Patent Document 2 from the standpoint of suppressing the occurrence of after-draw.

[0012] Furthermore, the so-called after-draw phenomenon, where liquid remaining inside the nozzle after the internal liquid is released or dispensed drips from the nozzle's outlet, occurs not only in aerosol containers but also in various other containers such as pump-former containers, liquid pump containers, and airless containers—specifically, in all types of containers where liquid remains inside the nozzle after release or dispensement—and therefore needs to be improved.

[0013] The present invention relates to a liquid discharge actuator, a liquid discharge container, and a liquid discharge product that can be applied to various liquid discharge containers and can reliably prevent after-draw. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] The present invention relates to a liquid discharge actuator that is attached to a container containing a liquid and discharges the liquid contained in the container, comprising a nozzle portion having an internal flow path for the liquid to flow and a discharge port for the liquid to be discharged, and a back suction mechanism capable of sucking up the liquid in the internal flow path, wherein by moving the nozzle portion, the liquid discharged from the container is discharged from the discharge port via the internal flow path, and the back suction mechanism comprises a liquid suction chamber communicating with the internal flow path of the nozzle portion, and at least a part of the liquid suction chamber is formed to deform with the movement of the nozzle portion and to be restorable when the nozzle portion returns to its state before the movement.

[0015] The present invention also relates to a liquid discharge container including the liquid discharge actuator and a container capable of discharging the liquid stored therein.

[0016] The present invention also relates to a liquid discharge container, wherein the liquid discharge container is any one of an aerosol container, a pump former container, a liquid pump container, and an airless container.

[0017] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a liquid discharge product including the liquid discharge container and the liquid stored in the liquid discharge container.

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] The liquid discharge actuator, the liquid discharge container, and the liquid discharge product according to the present invention can almost surely prevent after-drip in various liquid discharge containers.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] It is a view showing an aerosol type liquid discharge container according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] It is an exploded view of an aerosol type liquid discharge container. [Figure 3] It is a cross-sectional view of an aerosol container. [Figure 4] It is a cross-sectional view showing a part of an aerosol type liquid discharge container in an enlarged manner. [Figure 5] It is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the liquid discharge actuator in an enlarged manner. [Figure 6] It is a cross-sectional view showing a state immediately before receiving a pressing operation by a user. [Figure 7] It is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a movable nozzle member is pressed down by a pressing operation of a user and liquid is discharged. [Figure 8] It is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the movable nozzle member rises by releasing the pressing operation of the user, the discharge of the liquid is stopped, and a back suction function is exhibited. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are not intended to limit the invention as described in each claim, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential for solving the problem of the invention. Furthermore, although the following embodiments will be described using an aerosol container as an example, the present invention is not limited to aerosol containers and can be applied to all containers that produce liquid dripping (after-draw) from the nozzle outlet. Examples of such containers include, in addition to aerosol containers, pump-former containers, liquid pump containers, and airless containers.

[0021] [Overall configuration of the liquid discharge container according to this embodiment] First, the liquid discharge container according to this embodiment will be described using Figures 1 to 5. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the liquid discharge container according to this embodiment is an aerosol-type liquid discharge container 1 comprising an aerosol container 10 capable of discharging liquid contained inside by gas pressure, a liquid discharge actuator (hereinafter referred to as "actuator 20") configured to allow the liquid to be discharged from the aerosol container 10 by a user's pressing operation, and a connecting member 30 that connects the aerosol container 10 and the actuator 20.

[0022] In this specification, the direction of liquid discharge from the actuator 20 is described as "forward," and the opposite direction is described as "rearward." Furthermore, the direction from the aerosol container 10 toward the actuator 20 is described as "upward," and the opposite direction is described as "downward." However, the up and down directions used here are merely defined for the sake of explanation and do not necessarily correspond to the up and down directions in actual use.

[0023] [Aerosol container] As shown in Figure 3, the aerosol container 10 comprises a container body 100 for containing liquid and an aerosol valve 110 located at the opening of the container body 100.

[0024] [Aerosol container: Container body] The container body 100 comprises a bottomed cylindrical outer casing 102, a bottomed cylindrical inner bag 104 provided inside the outer casing 102, and a mountain cup 106 that closes the openings of the outer casing 102 and the inner bag 104. In this specification, "bottomed cylindrical" refers to a cylindrical shape having a bottom at one end and an opening at the other end. In this specification, "cylindrical" is not limited to a circular cross-section (cylindrical), but also includes a rectangular cross-section (rectangular cylindrical).

[0025] The inner bag 104 contains the liquid to be released. Furthermore, a propellant capable of applying gas pressure to the inner bag 104 is filled between the outer casing 102 and the inner bag 104. Examples of such propellants include, but are not limited to, compressed gas.

[0026] The outer casing 102 is a can member formed from a metal material such as an aluminum plate, and has rigidity that prevents deformation due to the gas pressure of the propellant. The inner bag 104 is impermeable to liquids and flexible enough to be deformable due to the gas pressure of the propellant. Examples of materials for the inner bag 104 include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and ethylene-vinyl alcohol resin (EVOH), but is not limited to these. The inner bag 104 may be composed of a single layer or multiple layers. If the inner bag 104 is composed of multiple layers, it may be provided as an intermediate layer with a barrier layer capable of preventing oxygen permeation, and this barrier layer may be made of ethylene-vinyl alcohol resin (EVOH), etc.

[0027] Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), ethylene-vinyl alcohol resin (EVOH), etc., are materials that allow propellant (compressed gas) to permeate. As a result, the propellant dissolves into the liquid inside the inner bag 104, and this dissolved propellant expands in the liquid remaining in the nozzle section 222 after discharge, making it easy for dripping (after-draw) to occur from the discharge port 223 of the nozzle section 222. However, the aerosol-type liquid discharge container 1 according to this embodiment is equipped with a back suction mechanism 240, which will be described later, making it possible to prevent such after-draw almost reliably.

[0028] The mountain cup 106 is configured to form a closed space for containing liquid inside the inner bag 104 by closing the openings of the outer casing 102 and the inner bag 104, and also to form a closed space for filling propellant between the outer casing 102 and the inner bag 104. The mountain cup 106 also has an opening that communicates with the inside of the inner bag 104, and an aerosol valve 110 is positioned to close this opening.

[0029] In this embodiment, the container body 100 consists of an outer casing 102 and an inner bag 104, and the inner bag 104 is compressed by a propellant (compressed gas) filled between them, releasing the liquid inside the inner bag 104. However, the invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, an aerosol container may contain both the liquid to be released (concentrate) and a propellant capable of applying gas pressure to the liquid. In this case, liquefied gases such as butane and porropane may be used as the propellant. The liquid (concentrate) and liquefied gas may be contained within the inner bag 104, or they may be contained within the outer casing 102 without an inner bag 104. When contained within the inner bag 104, an intermediate layer such as an aluminum layer (AL layer) may be provided in the inner bag 104. Thus, even when liquefied gas is used as a propellant, the propellant expands in the liquid remaining in the nozzle section 222, making it easy for dripping (afterdraw) to occur from the discharge port 223 of the nozzle section 222. However, since the aerosol-type liquid discharge container 1 according to this embodiment is equipped with a back suction mechanism 240, which will be described later, it is possible to prevent such afterdraw with almost complete certainty.

[0030] [Aerosol container: Aerosol valve] As shown in Figure 4, the aerosol valve 110 comprises a housing 111, a stem portion 112 inserted into the housing 111, and a stem biasing portion 113 provided between the bottom of the housing 111 and the bottom of the stem portion 112, which biases the stem portion 112 in a direction away from the container body 100 (outward direction).

[0031] The stem portion 112 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a flow path through which liquid can flow, and a stem hole 112a is formed in its outer wall to connect the flow path inside the stem portion 112 to the inside of the housing 111. The housing 111 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and a communication hole 111a is formed at the bottom to connect the inside of the housing 11 to the inside of the inner bag 104. The housing 111 is also provided with a gasket 114 that airtightly seals the stem hole 112a when the stem portion 112 is biased by the stem biasing portion 113 (non-use state).

[0032] The stem biasing portion 113 is configured to compress when the stem portion 112 is pushed into the container body 100 in response to the user's pressing operation on the actuator 20, and to be able to return to its original state when the pressing operation is released. Examples of the stem biasing portion 113 include, but are not limited to, a coil spring.

[0033] It is preferable that the stem biasing portion 113 is configured to recover faster than the elastic portion 241 of the actuator 20, which will be described later. Specifically, it is preferable that the stem biasing portion 113 has an elastic modulus that is 100 to 1000 times greater than that of the elastic portion 241 of the actuator 20, and more preferably about 500 times greater than that of the elastic portion 241. In this way, because the elastic modulus of the stem biasing portion 113 is greater than that of the elastic portion 241 of the actuator 20, it is possible to recover the stem biasing portion 113 faster than the elastic portion 241 of the actuator 20. As a result, after the release of liquid from the aerosol container 10 into the internal flow path 230 is stopped by the recovery of the stem biasing portion 113, it is possible to draw the liquid near the outlet 223 into the internal flow path 230 by the recovery of the elastic portion 241. As a result, it is possible to almost certainly prevent so-called after-draw, where liquid drips from the outlet 223 of the nozzle portion 222 after use.

[0034] The stem portion 112 is configured to release the liquid inside the inner bag 104 when it is pushed against the container body 100. Specifically, in the operating state when the stem portion 112 is pushed against the container body 100 against the biasing force of the stem biasing portion 113 by the actuator 20, the stem hole 112a is opened to the inside of the housing 111, and the flow path inside the stem portion 112 is configured to communicate with the inside of the inner bag 104 via the inside of the housing 111.

[0035] In this embodiment, the aerosol container 10 is configured such that the flow path within the stem portion 112 communicates with the inside of the inner bag 104, causing the internal pressure of the inner bag 104 to become lower than the pressure of the propellant (compressed gas) filled between the outer casing 102 and the inner bag 104. This pressure difference compresses the inner bag 104, causing the liquid inside the inner bag 104 to be released into the actuator 20 through the flow path in the housing 111 and the stem portion 112.

[0036] [Connecting members] The connecting member 30 is a member that connects the aerosol container 10 and the actuator 20, and is formed in a cylindrical shape as shown in Figures 2 and 4. Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, the connecting member 30 has an annular groove 310 at its lower end that can be fitted into the annular projection 106a of the mountain cup 106, and is configured to be attachable to the aerosol container 10 by fitting the annular groove 310 into the annular projection 106a of the mountain cup 106. In addition, the connecting member 30 has a threaded portion 320 on its outer circumference that can be screwed into the threaded portion 213 of the actuator 20 (described later), and is configured to be detachable from the actuator 20 by screwing the threaded portion 320 into the threaded portion 213 of the actuator 20.

[0037] As shown in Figure 4, the connecting member 30 has a positioning portion 311 on its inner wall that protrudes radially inward. The positioning portion 311 has a through hole 330 through which the stem connecting portion 226 of the actuator 20, described later, can be inserted when the aerosol container 10 and the actuator 20 are connected. The through hole 330 is configured to position the stem connecting portion 226 inserted into the through hole 330 at a position that aligns with the stem portion 112 (specifically, on the central axis of the stem portion 112).

[0038] Furthermore, when the aerosol container 10 and the actuator 20 are connected, the connecting member 30 has a skirt portion 340 that covers the connection between the annular groove 310 and the annular projection 106a of the mountain cup 106. The annular groove 310, the threaded portion 320, the positioning portion 311, and the skirt portion 340 may be formed over the entire circumferential area, intermittently along the circumferential direction, or formed only on a part of the circumferential direction. The connecting member 30 may be made of metal or synthetic resin.

[0039] [actuator] The actuator 20 is a server-type dispenser that is mounted on the top of the aerosol container 10 via a connecting member 30 and is pressed in a direction approaching the aerosol container 10 (downward). Specifically, the actuator 20 includes a base 210 mounted on the connecting member 30, a handle portion 250 that can be grasped by the user, a rotating portion 260 that receives the user's pressing operation, a movable nozzle member 220 configured to approach the aerosol container 10 and release liquid from the aerosol container 10 in response to the user's pressing operation, and a back suction mechanism 240 to prevent so-called after-draw, where liquid drips from the discharge port 223 of the nozzle portion 222 (described later) after the liquid has been released. The actuator 20 may also be further equipped with a lock pin (not shown) to prevent the contents from being released against the user's intention when in standby mode.

[0040] [Actuator: Base] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the base 210 is formed in a cylindrical shape with an upper surface 211a and a circumferential surface 211b. The circumferential surface 211b has a double-wall structure including an inner wall portion 212 having a threaded portion 213 that can be screwed into the threaded portion 320 of the connecting member 30, and an outer wall portion 214 arranged radially outward from the inner wall portion 212. The outer wall portion 214 is configured to cover the connecting portion between the connecting member 30 and the inner wall portion 212.

[0041] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the upper surface 211a of the base 210 has an insertion hole 215 through which the stem connecting portion 226 of the movable nozzle member 220, which will be described later, can be inserted. The insertion hole 215 is located on the central axis of the aerosol container 10 and, in conjunction with the positioning portion 311 of the connecting member 30, is configured to position the stem connecting portion 226 of the movable nozzle member 220 in a position that aligns with the stem portion 112 (specifically, on the central axis of the stem portion 112).

[0042] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, the upper surface 211a is provided with a widthwise guide portion 216 and a rear guide portion 217 for guiding the vertical movement of the movable nozzle member 220. The widthwise guide portion 216 extends vertically from both sides in the widthwise direction of the insertion hole 215 and has a vertical hole (opening) in the vertical direction through which the side plate portion 227 of the movable nozzle member 220 (described later) slides. The rear guide portion 217 extends vertically from the rear side of the insertion hole 215 and has a vertical hole (opening) in the vertical direction through which the rear plate portion 228 of the movable nozzle member 220 (described later) slides. These widthwise guide portion 216 and rear guide portion 217 cooperate with each other to guide the reciprocating movement of the movable nozzle member 220 along the central axis of the aerosol container 10 (specifically, along the central axis of the stem portion 112).

[0043] [Actuator: Handle section] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the handle portion 250 is positioned radially opposite to the discharge port 223 of the nozzle portion 222. Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, the handle portion 250 has a rearward extension region 252 that extends rearward from the rear outer peripheral wall of the base 210, and a downward extension region 254 that extends from the end of the rearward extension region 252 in a direction away from the pressing region (pressing portion 261) (i.e., downward). The rearward extension region 252 and the downward extension region 254 form a finger-holding region 256. The finger-holding region 256 is an area where the user's fingers (e.g., index finger and middle finger, etc.) are expected to rest. The user can support the aerosol container 10 by gripping the handle portion 250 with their fingers on the finger-holding region 256.

[0044] As shown in Figure 4, the rear extension region 252 has a length such that when the user's fingers (e.g., index finger and middle finger) are placed on the finger-hook region 256, the pressing portion 261 of the rotating portion 260 (described later) is positioned above the user's fingers. Furthermore, the rear extension region 252 is configured to rise overall as it moves away from the base 210. The connection portion (bent portion) between the rear extension region 252 and the downward extension region 254 has a curved shape that is concave downwards, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and is configured to properly guide the user's fingers (e.g., thumb). The downward extension region 254 has a length that allows one to three of the user's fingers (e.g., index finger, middle finger, and ring finger) to be hooked onto it.

[0045] [Actuator: Rotating part] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rotating part 260 has a pressing part 261 that receives a pressing operation from the user and is rotatably connected to the base 210. Specifically, the rotating part 260 has a connection part 263 to the base 210 at the end on the discharge port 223 side, and a pressing part 261 at the end on the radially opposite side of the connection part 263. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, the rotating part 260 includes a pair of rotation restricting hooks 264 that restrict the rotation range of the rotating part 260 by engaging with the insertion hole 215 of the base 210, and a contact part 266 that abuts against the side plate portion 227 of the movable nozzle member 220.

[0046] The connection portion 263 between the rotating portion 260 and the base 210 is formed by a pair of flexible thin-walled portions, and the rotating portion 260 is configured to rotate around these thin-walled portions in a direction toward or toward the base 210. Specifically, the connection portion 263 is configured such that, starting from a state where the rotating portion 260 is positioned on the movable nozzle member 220, the rotating portion 260 is rotated around the connection portion 263 in a direction toward the base 210 (towards the aerosol container 10), thereby moving (pushing down) the movable nozzle member 220 toward the aerosol container 10 between the connection portion 263 and the pressing portion 261, as shown in Figure 7. Furthermore, the connecting portion 263 is configured such that, starting from a state where the rotating portion 260 is close to the base 210, the movable nozzle member 220 is pushed up by the biasing force (restoring force) of the stem biasing portion 113 of the aerosol container 10, thereby rotating the rotating portion 260 in a direction away from the base 210, as shown in Figure 8.

[0047] Furthermore, the connecting portion 263 is configured such that, from a state where the rotating portion 260 is positioned on the movable nozzle member 220, the engagement between the locking claw of the rotation restricting hook 264 (described later) and the edge of the insertion hole 215 of the base 210 is released, and the rotating portion 260 is rotated around the connecting portion 263 in a direction away from the base 210 (towards the discharge port 223), thereby exposing the movable nozzle member 220 as shown in Figure 2. Note that the connecting portion 263 is not limited to a thin-walled configuration, and any configuration that allows the rotating portion 260 to be rotatably connected to the base 210 is acceptable, such as a hinge mechanism.

[0048] The pressing portion 261 is located above the handle portion 250 and is the area where the user applies force with their fingers (e.g., thumb) to push the movable nozzle member 220 toward the aerosol container 10. The pressing portion 261 is located above the connecting portion 263 and is configured to reduce the pressing force required for the rotation of the rotating portion 260.

[0049] The pressing portion 261 has a guide portion 262 formed therein to guide the user's pressing on the pressing area. In the illustrated example, the guide portion 262 has a configuration in which three concentric circular arcs are convex within a recess, but is not limited to this, and may be one or more combinations selected from recesses, protrusions, display portions (for example, portions that display characters, symbols, or patterns), pattern forming portions, embossing portions, and rough surface portions. The guide portion 262 may also be constructed by attaching other members to the surface of the rotating portion 260. Preferably, the guide portion 262 can also function as an anti-slip measure to suppress slippage of the user's fingers when pressing the pressing portion 261.

[0050] The top surface of the rotating part 260, on which the pressing part 261 is provided, is approximately flush with the top surface of the nozzle part 222 of the movable nozzle member 220. In other words, when the aerosol liquid dispensing container 1 is viewed from a rear-upper viewpoint, there is no structure obstructing the view between the user's viewpoint and the tip of the nozzle part 222. Therefore, when using the aerosol liquid dispensing container 1, the user can easily determine the direction of liquid discharge by visually observing the tip of the nozzle part 222.

[0051] As shown in Figure 2, the rotation restricting hook 264 extends toward the base 210 from a position closer to the connection portion 263 than the contact portion 266. The pair of rotation restricting hooks 264 are spaced apart along the width direction, and each rotation restricting hook 264 has a locking claw formed at its tip, facing the other. The locking claws of the rotation restricting hook 264 are configured to lock onto the edge of the insertion hole 215 of the base 210, and the engagement between the locking claws of the rotation restricting hook 264 and the edge of the insertion hole 215 of the base 210 restricts the rotation of the rotating portion 260 away from the base 210.

[0052] The contact portion 266 is the part that comes into contact with the side plate portion 227 of the movable nozzle member 220 when the movable nozzle member 220 is moved (pushed down) toward the aerosol container 10 by the rotating portion 260. As a result, the point of contact between the contact portion 266 and the side plate portion 227 of the movable nozzle member 220 becomes the point of application of the force applied to the pressing portion 261. As shown in Figure 2, the contact portion 266 is formed in an arc shape that is recessed away from the side plate portion 227 of the movable nozzle member 220.

[0053] [Actuator: Movable nozzle component] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the movable nozzle member 220 comprises a nozzle portion 222 having an outlet 223 for discharging liquid, and a stem connecting portion 226 extending from the base end of the nozzle portion 222 toward the aerosol container 10. Specifically, the movable nozzle member 220 is formed in an inverted L shape overall, with the vertical portion of the movable nozzle member 220 extending toward the aerosol container 10 constituting the stem connecting portion 226, and the horizontal portion extending forward from the upper end of the vertical portion constituting the nozzle portion 222.

[0054] As shown in Figure 5, the movable nozzle member 220 has an internal flow path 230 formed from the lower end of the stem connecting portion 226 to the tip of the nozzle portion 222 for flowing the liquid released from the aerosol container 10, and a discharge port 223 is formed at the tip of the nozzle portion 222 for releasing the liquid flowing in the internal flow path 230 to the outside. The internal flow path 230 comprises a container-side flow path portion 231 formed in the stem connecting portion 226 and a discharge-side flow path portion 233 formed in the nozzle portion 222. Details of the internal flow path 230 will be described later.

[0055] These nozzle portion 222 and stem connecting portion 226 are configured to move together downward (towards the aerosol container 10) when pressed by the user, and to discharge the liquid released from the aerosol container 10 through the internal flow path 230 to the outlet 223. Furthermore, the nozzle portion 222 and stem connecting portion 226 are configured to move together upward (away from the aerosol container 10) when the stem biasing portion 113 returns to its original position after the pressing operation is released.

[0056] The nozzle portion 222 extends horizontally (in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the stem connecting portion 226) from the upper end of the stem connecting portion 226 and has a discharge-side flow path portion 233 for flowing liquid and a discharge port 223 for discharging liquid. When the actuator 20 is attached to the aerosol container 10, it is preferable that the nozzle portion 222 has a length such that the discharge port 223 is located radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the aerosol container 10. With this configuration, the aerosol container 10 is less likely to interfere when receiving the liquid discharged from the discharge port 223 in the palm of the hand, and even if after-draw occurs, it is possible to suppress the adhesion of liquid to the aerosol container 10.

[0057] The stem connecting portion 226 is formed in a cylindrical shape that extends linearly downward (towards the aerosol container 10) from the base end side of the nozzle portion 222, and has a diameter that allows it to pass through the insertion hole 215 of the base 210 and the through hole 330 of the connecting member 30. The lower end of the stem connecting portion 226 is configured to be fitted onto the upper end of the stem portion 112. When the actuator 20 is attached to the aerosol container 10, the stem connecting portion 226 is configured to push the stem portion 112 of the aerosol container 10 into the housing 111 when the movable nozzle member 220 is pushed toward the aerosol container 10, thereby opening the stem portion 112, that is, allowing the liquid inside the aerosol container 10 to be released from the stem portion 112.

[0058] As shown in Figure 2, the stem connecting portion 226 has a pair of lateral plate portions 227 that extend in a direction (lateral) intersecting the extension direction (forward) of the nozzle portion 222, and a rear plate portion 228 that extends in the opposite direction (rearward) to the extension direction of the nozzle portion 222.

[0059] The side plate portion 227 extends from both sides of the stem connecting portion 226 in the width direction and is configured to slide along the width direction guide portion 216 of the base 210. The upper end of the side plate portion 227 abuts against the contact portion 266 of the rotating portion 260 and is configured to lower the entire movable nozzle member 220 when the rotating portion 260 is pressed down, and to push up the rotating portion 260 when the stem biasing portion 113 returns to its original position.

[0060] The rear plate portion 228 is configured to slide along the rear guide portion 217 of the base 210, and a locking claw 229 protruding rearward is formed at its lower end. The locking claw 229 is configured to lock onto the edge of the rear guide portion 217, thereby allowing relative movement of the movable nozzle member 220 with respect to the base 210, while restricting the movable nozzle member 220 from coming out of the base 210.

[0061] [Actuator: Internal flow path] As shown in Figure 5, the internal flow path 230 comprises a container-side flow path section 231 formed in the stem connecting section 226 and a discharge-side flow path section 233 formed in the nozzle section 222. The container-side flow path section 231 is a hollow section that extends vertically along the direction of movement (up and down direction) of the movable nozzle member 220, and its upper end (the end opposite to the end connected to the stem section 112) communicates with the discharge-side flow path section 233. The discharge-side flow path section 233 is a hollow section that extends horizontally radially outward from the upper end of the container-side flow path section 231, and a discharge port 223 is formed at its tip. In other words, the internal flow path 230 is formed in a substantially inverted L-shape, with a connection port to the stem section 112 formed at one end and a discharge port 223 formed at the other end.

[0062] The volume of the container side flow path portion 231 is preferably set to be smaller than the volumes of the pump chamber and the container side flow path portion in the dispenser with a built-in pump mechanism. From such a perspective, the volume of the container side flow path portion 231 is, for example, 100 mm 3 or more, preferably 150 mm 3 or more, more preferably 200 mm 3 or more, still more preferably, and preferably 500 mm 3 or less, more preferably 300 mm 3 or less, still more preferably 250 mm 3 or less. By setting the volume of the container side flow path portion 231 within the above numerical range, when the liquid is sucked by the back suction mechanism 240, it becomes possible to suck the liquid in the discharge side flow path portion 233 preferentially over the liquid in the container side flow path portion 231, which has the advantage of improving the back suction function and more reliably preventing after-drip.

[0063] To achieve such a volume, the length of the container side flow path portion 231 in its extending direction is preferably 10 mm or more, more preferably 15 mm or more, still more preferably 20 mm or more, and preferably 50 mm or less, more preferably 40 mm or less, still more preferably 30 mm or less. Also, the average cross-sectional area of the container side flow path portion 231 is preferably 5 mm 2 or more, more preferably 8 mm 2 or more, and preferably 20 mm 2 or less, more preferably 15 mm 2 or less, still more preferably 10 mm 2 or less. Here, the "average cross-sectional area" of the container side flow path portion 231 refers to the average value of the cross-sectional areas in the region from the lower end to the upper end (the communication portion with the discharge side flow path portion 233) of the stem connection portion 226.

[0064] As shown in Figure 5, it is preferable that the discharge-side flow path section 233 is configured such that the flow path cross-sectional area A2 at the communication section with the container-side flow path section 231 is smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area A1 of the container-side flow path section 231 at the communication section. Specifically, the flow path cross-sectional area A2 of the discharge-side flow path section 233 at the communication section is preferably 50% or less, more preferably 35% or less, and even more preferably 25% or less of the flow path cross-sectional area A1 of the container-side flow path section 231 at the communication section. By having such a structure, the discharge-side flow path section 233 makes it possible to make the flow velocity of the liquid flowing through the discharge-side flow path section 233 faster than the flow velocity of the liquid flowing through the container-side flow path section 231 when the liquid is sucked in by the back suction mechanism 240. As a result, the liquid in the discharge-side flow path section 233 can be sucked into the nozzle section 222 with priority over the liquid in the container-side flow path section 231, thereby improving the back suction function and making it possible to more reliably prevent afterdraw.

[0065] Here, "communication section" refers to the portion where the container-side flow path section 231 and the discharge-side flow path section 233 communicate with each other, and in this embodiment, it refers to the bent portion of the internal flow path 230 from the container-side flow path section 231 to the discharge-side flow path section 233. Furthermore, "flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the discharge-side flow path section at the communication section" refers to the cross-sectional area of ​​the vertical section of the discharge-side flow path section at the communication section, that is, the opening area at the end of the discharge-side flow path section 233 on the container-side flow path section 231 side, and "flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the container-side flow path section at the communication section" refers to the cross-sectional area of ​​the horizontal section of the container-side flow path section 231 at the communication section.

[0066] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the flow path cross-sectional area A3 on the discharge port 223 side of the discharge port 223 is preferably less than or equal to the flow path cross-sectional area A1 of the container-side flow path 231 in the communication section, and more preferably smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area A1 of the container-side flow path 231 in the communication section. More specifically, the flow path cross-sectional area A3 at the discharge port 223 is preferably 100% or less of the flow path cross-sectional area A1 of the container-side flow path 231 in the communication section, more preferably 70% or less, and even more preferably 50% or less.

[0067] This configuration makes it possible to relatively reduce the amount of liquid stored near the outlet 223, thereby increasing the liquid return distance (the distance drawn into the internal flow path 230) when the back suction function is activated, and making it possible to more reliably prevent afterdraw. Here, "flow path cross-sectional area A3 at the outlet" refers to the opening area of ​​the outlet 223 when the outlet 223 is an opening that coincides with the vertical direction, and, as shown in Figure 5, when the outlet 223 is an opening that is inclined with respect to the vertical direction, it refers to the cross-sectional area of ​​the vertical cross section at the part closest to the outlet 223.

[0068] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, it is preferable that the discharge-side flow channel 233 has an upward-facing shape in which the discharge port 223 is located above the communication portion with the container-side flow channel 231. Having such a shape allows the liquid in the discharge-side flow channel 233 to flow towards the communication portion due to its own gravity, thereby further preventing after-draw.

[0069] [Back suction mechanism] The back suction mechanism 240 includes a liquid suction chamber 243 that communicates with the internal flow path 230 of the nozzle portion 222, and at least a portion of the liquid suction chamber 243 is formed to deform with the movement of the nozzle portion 222 and to be able to return to its state before the movement of the nozzle portion 222. Specifically, the back suction mechanism 240 is provided on the movable nozzle member 220 and is configured to suck up and store the liquid in the internal flow path 230 when the user's pressing operation is released. More specifically, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the back suction mechanism 240 includes an elastic part 241 that deforms due to the movement of the movable nozzle member 220 (nozzle part 222) in response to the user's pressing operation and can be restored when the pressing operation is released, a liquid suction chamber 243 capable of sucking and storing liquid in the internal flow path 230, and a suction port 244 that connects the internal flow path 230 and the liquid suction chamber 243, and is configured to exert a back suction effect by changing the volume of the liquid suction chamber 243 in conjunction with the user's pressing operation.

[0070] The elastic portion 241 consists of an elastically deformable bottomed cylindrical elastic cup member (suction cup member), and is configured to form a liquid suction chamber 243 inside, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The elastic portion 241 is positioned between the lower surface of the nozzle portion 222 and the upper surface 211a of the base 210, and is provided in a position that aligns with the suction port 244 on the lower surface of the nozzle portion 222. In a vertical cross-sectional view along the front-rear direction, the elastic portion 241 has a curved surface (dome shape) that is convex downwards. It is preferable that the elastic portion 241 be provided in a position close to the stem connecting portion 226, and it is more preferable that the centroid of the elastic portion 241 be located closer to the stem connecting portion 226 than the midpoint of the overall length of the nozzle portion 222 along the front-rear direction. By positioning the elastic portion 241 close to the stem connecting portion 226, the elastic portion 241 can be efficiently elastically deformed by the external force applied by the user's pressing operation, making it possible to efficiently achieve a back suction effect with a small pressing force.

[0071] The elastic portion 241 is configured to change the volume of the liquid suction chamber 243 by elastic deformation accompanying the downward movement of the movable nozzle member 220 and by its restoration (elastic return) accompanying the upward movement of the movable nozzle member 220 (return to the state before downward movement).

[0072] Specifically, the elastic part 241 is pressed against the upper surface 211a of the base 210 when the movable nozzle member 220 moves toward the base 210 (downward) due to the user's pressing operation. The elastic part 241 is elastically deformed by the reaction force (pressure) from the upper surface 211a, thereby reducing the internal volume of the liquid suction chamber 243 and discharging the liquid (gas in initial use) in the liquid suction chamber 243 into the internal flow path 230 via the suction port 244. In Figures 4 and 5, the elastic part 241 is shown not in contact with the upper surface 211a of the base 210 (a gap is formed between them) before the user's pressing operation (non-discharge state), but this is not limited to this, and the elastic part 241 and the upper surface 211a of the base 210 may be in contact in the non-discharge state.

[0073] Furthermore, when the pressing operation is released and the movable nozzle member 220 moves in a direction away from the base 210 (upward), the elastic part 241 is released from the reaction force (pressure) from the upper surface 211a of the base 210 and returns to its original shape, thereby expanding the internal volume of the liquid suction chamber 243 and generating negative pressure within the liquid suction chamber 243, causing the liquid in the internal flow path 230 to be sucked into the liquid suction chamber 243 through the suction port 244.

[0074] In this case, it is preferable that the elastic portion 241 is configured to complete its restoration approximately simultaneously with or after the restoration of the stem biasing portion 113. Specifically, it is preferable that the elastic portion 241 has a lower modulus of elasticity than the stem biasing portion 113. More specifically, it is preferable that the elastic portion 241 has a modulus of elasticity of 0.001 times (0.1%) or more and 0.01 times (1%) or less the modulus of elasticity of the stem biasing portion 113, and more preferably has a modulus of elasticity of about 0.05 times (5%) the modulus of elasticity of the stem biasing portion 113. With this configuration, the elastic part 241 can be restored after the stem biasing part 113 has finished restoring. As a result, after the release of liquid from the aerosol container 10 into the internal flow path 230 is stopped by the restoration of the stem biasing part 113, the restoration of the elastic part 241 allows the liquid near the outlet 223 to be drawn into the internal flow path 230. Consequently, it becomes possible to almost certainly prevent so-called after-draw, where liquid drips from the outlet 223 of the nozzle part 222 after use.

[0075] The elastic portion 241 is formed from, for example, rubber, elastomer, polyolefin, or an elastically deformable synthetic resin such as silicone resin. Suitable polyolefins include, but are not limited to, low-density polyethylene (LDPE, LLDPE) and ethylene-vinyl alcohol resin (EVOH). Furthermore, the elastic portion 241 may be formed separately from the nozzle portion 222, or it may be formed integrally with the nozzle portion 222 by a molding method such as two-color molding.

[0076] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the liquid suction chamber 243 is a closed space formed inside the elastic part 241 and is in communication with the internal flow path 230 via the suction port 244. The volume change of the liquid suction chamber 243, which fluctuates due to the user's pressing operation and release, is an amount sufficient to draw liquid near the discharge port 223 into the liquid suction chamber 243 to the extent that after-draw does not occur from the discharge port 223 of the nozzle part 222. Specifically, the volume change of the liquid suction chamber 243 is 100 mm in order for the elastic part 241 to deform sufficiently and exert the back-suction effect. 3 Preferably, it should be 150 mm or more. 3 It is more preferable that it be greater than or equal to 200 mm 3 It is even more preferable that the above is true. Also, from the viewpoint of the elastic part 241 sucking back at a sufficient speed, 500 mm 3 Preferably, it is 400 mm 3 The following is more preferable: 300 mm 3 The following is even more preferable. Here, "volume change of the liquid suction chamber 243" means the difference between the volume of the liquid suction chamber 243 in the normal state before the elastic part 241 is deformed (maximum volume) and the volume of the liquid suction chamber 243 in the state when the movable nozzle member 220 is pushed down to its limit in response to the user's pressing operation and the elastic part 241 is deformed (minimum volume when compressed). In other words, it means the amount of volume reduction due to the elastic deformation of the elastic part 241 in response to the user's pressing operation (= the amount of volume expansion due to the restoration of the elastic part 241 when the pressing operation is released), and this volume change becomes the design volume of the back suction function.

[0077] The suction port 244 has an opening area such that the liquid contained in the liquid suction chamber 243 does not leak into the internal flow path 230 due to surface tension or the like. Preferably, the opening area of ​​the suction port 244 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the elastic part 241. Specifically, the opening area of ​​the suction port 244 is preferably 50% or less of the cross-sectional area of ​​the elastic part 241, more preferably 30% or less, and even more preferably 20% or less. More specifically, the opening area of ​​the suction port 244 is 10 mm² from the viewpoint of sufficiently aspirating the liquid in the internal flow path 230. 2 Preferably, it is 20 mm or more.2 It is more preferable that it be 30 mm 2 It is even more preferable that the following is the case. Having such a structure makes it possible to increase the flow velocity of the liquid near the suction port 244 of the back suction mechanism 240 when the liquid is sucked in by the back suction mechanism 240. This increases the suction force applied to the liquid during back suction, making it possible to effectively guide the liquid into the liquid suction chamber 243. In addition, this improves the back suction function and makes it possible to more reliably prevent afterdraw.

[0078] From the viewpoint of efficiently drawing the liquid from the discharge-side flow path 233 into the liquid suction chamber 243 and effectively preventing after-draw, the suction port 244 is preferably directly connected to the discharge-side flow path 233 or formed near the communication point between the container-side flow path 231 and the discharge-side flow path 233. In the illustrated example, the suction port 244 is directly connected to the discharge-side flow path 233, but it is not limited to this, and can be formed in any location as long as it is possible to draw the liquid in the internal flow path 230 into the liquid suction chamber 243 and prevent after-draw.

[0079] [Liquid (liquid content)] Examples of liquids (contents) contained in the aerosol-type liquid dispensing container 1 according to this embodiment include, but are not limited to, shampoo, rinse, conditioner, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, body soap, liquid detergents for clothing and dishes, fabric softeners for clothing, and bleach. The liquid contained in the aerosol-type liquid dispensing container 1 according to this embodiment preferably has a viscosity of 500 to 50,000 mPa·s (measured with a B-type viscometer) at 30°C. A liquid dispensing product is manufactured by containing such a liquid in the aerosol-type liquid dispensing container 1 according to this embodiment. That is, the liquid dispensing product according to this embodiment comprises the liquid dispensing container described above and the liquid contained in the liquid dispensing container.

[0080] [Operation of the aerosol-type liquid discharge container according to this embodiment] Next, the operation of the aerosol-type liquid dispensing container 1 according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figures 6 to 8. When dispensing liquid using the aerosol-type liquid dispensing container 1 according to this embodiment, first, as shown in Figure 6, the user grasps the handle portion 250 of the aerosol-type liquid dispensing container 1 with their fingers (for example, their index finger and middle finger) and places a part of their fingers (for example, their thumb) on the pressing portion 261 of the rotating portion 260. At this time, since the pressing portion 261 is provided with a guide portion 262, the user's fingers are appropriately guided onto the pressing portion 261.

[0081] Subsequently, with the user's fingers positioned on the pressing portion 261, the user's pressing operation by pushing down with their fingers causes the rotating portion 260 to begin rotating around the connecting portion 263 in a direction toward the base 210. As the rotating portion 260 rotates, the contact portion 266 of the rotating portion 260 pushes down the movable nozzle member 220 via the lateral plate portion 227, thereby applying pressure exceeding the biasing force to the stem biasing portion 113 via the stem connecting portion 226 and the stem portion 112, compressing the stem biasing portion 113, and as shown in Figure 7, the stem portion 112 is pushed down by the stem connecting portion 226 of the movable nozzle member 220.

[0082] As the stem portion 112 is pushed down, the stem hole 112a of the stem portion 112 is opened to the inside of the housing 111, and the flow path inside the stem portion 112 communicates with the inside of the inner bag 104 via the inside of the housing 111. As a result, the internal pressure of the inner bag 104 becomes less than the pressure of the propellant (compressed gas) filled between the outer casing 102 and the inner bag 104, and the inner bag 104 is compressed by this pressure difference, causing the liquid inside the inner bag 104 to be released into the container-side flow path portion 231 of the internal flow path 230 of the movable nozzle member 220 via the inside of the housing 111 and the flow path of the stem portion 112, and is continuously released from the outlet 223 via the discharge-side flow path portion 233 of the internal flow path 230.

[0083] In this liquid discharge state, the elastic part 241 of the back suction mechanism 240 deforms by pressing against the upper surface 211a of the base 210, causing the volume of the liquid suction chamber 243 to decrease compared to normal conditions.

[0084] Then, after the desired amount of liquid has been released by the user, the user releases the pressure on the pressing part 261, causing the movable nozzle member 220 to separate from the aerosol container 10 and stopping the release of liquid. Almost simultaneously or shortly thereafter, a back suction effect is achieved in which the liquid near the discharge port 223 is drawn into the liquid suction chamber 243 through the suction port 244.

[0085] Specifically, when the pressing force from the user falls below the biasing force of the stem biasing part 113, as shown in Figure 8, the stem biasing part 113 immediately returns to its original position due to the restoring force of the stem biasing part 113 and the pressure of the liquid in the inner bag 104, the stem hole 112a of the stem part 112 is sealed by the gasket 114, and the release of liquid from the aerosol container 10 into the internal flow path 230 is stopped. At this time, because the restoring stroke of the stem biasing part 113 is extremely short, the timing of the user reducing the pressing force and the timing of the liquid release stopping are almost simultaneous.

[0086] Then, as the stem biasing portion 113 returns to its original position, the movable nozzle member 220 is pushed up, releasing the elastic portion 241 of the back suction mechanism 240 from the pressure on the upper surface 211a of the base 210 and restoring it to its original shape. This expands the volume of the liquid suction chamber 243 to its normal volume. As a result, negative pressure is generated in the liquid suction chamber 243, and the liquid near the discharge port 223 is drawn into the liquid suction chamber 243 through the suction port 244. At this time, the end of the container-side flow path 231 on the stem portion 112 side is closed, while the discharge-side flow path 233 has an open discharge port 223. Therefore, the liquid in the discharge-side flow path 233 is drawn in preferentially over the liquid in the container-side flow path 231. As a result, the accumulation of liquid near the discharge port 223 is eliminated or reduced, thus suppressing so-called after-draw, where liquid drips from the discharge port 223 of the nozzle portion 222 after use.

[0087] Furthermore, the restoration of the stem biasing portion 113 pushes up the movable nozzle member 220, causing the side plate portion 227 of the movable nozzle member 220 to push up the contact portion 266 of the rotating portion 260. Consequently, the rotating portion 260 rotates around the connection portion 263 in a direction away from the base 210 (upward). As a result, the actuator 20 returns to its standby state.

[0088] [Advantages of the liquid dispensing actuator and aerosol-type liquid dispensing container according to this embodiment] As described above, the liquid discharge actuator (actuator 20) according to this embodiment comprises a nozzle portion 222 having an internal flow path 230 for flowing liquid and a discharge port 223 for discharging liquid, a pressing portion 261 that receives a pressing operation from the user, and a back suction mechanism 240 capable of sucking up the liquid in the internal flow path 230. The nozzle portion 222 is configured to move toward the aerosol container 10 when the pressing portion 261 is pressed, and to discharge the liquid discharged from the aerosol container 10 through the internal flow path 230 and out of the discharge port 223. The back suction mechanism 240 comprises a liquid suction chamber 243 that communicates with the internal flow path 230 of the nozzle portion 222, and at least a part of the liquid suction chamber 243 is formed of an elastic portion 241 that deforms due to the movement of the nozzle portion 222 accompanying the user's pressing operation and can be restored when the pressing operation is released.

[0089] With the actuator 20 having such a configuration, after the discharge of liquid from the aerosol container 10 into the internal flow path 230 is stopped, the elastic part 241 restores itself, drawing the liquid near the discharge port 223 into the liquid suction chamber 243. This makes it possible to almost certainly prevent so-called after-draw, where liquid drips from the discharge port 223 of the nozzle part 222 after use. Furthermore, with the actuator 20 according to this embodiment, by drawing the liquid near the discharge port 223 into the liquid suction chamber 243, solidification of the liquid near the discharge port 223 can be suppressed, preventing clogging of the discharge port 223. Moreover, with the actuator 20 according to this embodiment, by providing a liquid suction chamber 243 separately from the internal flow path 230, it is possible to perform a back suction function without reducing the flow path area of ​​the internal flow path 230, that is, without affecting the liquid discharge performance, compared to the case where the elastic part is directly provided in the internal flow path 230 without providing a liquid suction chamber 243. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the actuator 20 has an elastic cup member in which the elastic portion 241 is capable of forming a liquid suction chamber 243 inside, thereby enabling the realization of a back suction mechanism 240 with a simple structure.

[0090] Furthermore, the liquid dispensing actuator (actuator 20) according to this embodiment further includes a handle portion 250 positioned radially opposite to the discharge port 223 of the nozzle portion 222, and a pressing portion 261 positioned above the handle portion 250. With an actuator 20 having such a configuration, the user can press the pressing portion 261 while gripping the handle portion 250 without holding the aerosol container 10, which has the advantage that the pressing portion 261 can be pressed stably even if the aerosol container 10 is wet and slippery.

[0091] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the actuator 20 has an elastic portion 241 on the side of the nozzle portion 222 facing the aerosol container 10. This makes it possible to efficiently convert the force with which the nozzle portion 222 approaches the aerosol container 10, i.e., the pressing force due to the user's pressing operation, into the deformation pressure of the elastic portion 241. As a result, it is possible to release liquid with light force while exhibiting a back suction effect.

[0092] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the actuator 20 has an elastic portion 241 which is made of a suction cup member capable of forming a liquid suction chamber 243 inside, thereby enabling the realization of a back suction mechanism 240 with a simple structure.

[0093] Furthermore, the actuator 20 according to this embodiment includes a movable nozzle member 220 having a nozzle portion 222 and a stem connecting portion 226 extending from the base end of the nozzle portion 222 toward the aerosol container 10, a base 210 having an insertion hole 215 through which the stem connecting portion 226 of the movable nozzle member 220 can be inserted, and a rotating portion 260 rotatably connected to the base 210 and having a pressing portion 261. The rotating portion 260 is configured to rotate around a connection portion 263 with the base 210 when the pressing portion 261 is pressed toward the aerosol container 10, thereby moving the movable nozzle member 220 toward the aerosol container 10. With an actuator 20 having such a configuration, a back-suction function actuator capable of exhibiting a high back-suction effect can be realized inexpensively with a simple structure combining the movable nozzle member 220, the base 210, and the rotating portion 260.

[0094] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the actuator 20 has a rotating portion 260 which has a connecting portion 263 at the end on the discharge port 223 side and a pressing portion 261 at the end on the radially opposite side of the connecting portion 263, and is configured to move the movable nozzle member 220 toward the aerosol container 10 between the connecting portion 263 and the pressing portion 261. With an actuator 20 having such a configuration, the pressing force applied to the pressing portion 261 by the user's pressing operation can be efficiently transmitted to the movable nozzle member 220 by the lever principle, making it possible to release liquid with even less force while exhibiting a back suction effect.

[0095] Furthermore, the actuator 20 according to this embodiment has an internal flow path 230 comprising a container-side flow path 231 formed in the stem connecting portion 226 and a discharge-side flow path 233 formed in the nozzle portion 222, wherein the discharge-side flow path 233 has a flow path cross-sectional area A3 on the discharge port 223 side that is smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area A1 of the container-side flow path 231. With an actuator 20 having such a configuration, it is possible to relatively reduce the amount of liquid stored near the discharge port 223, so that the liquid return distance (distance drawn into the internal flow path 230) when the back suction function is activated can be increased, and afterdraw can be prevented more reliably.

[0096] Furthermore, the aerosol-type liquid dispensing container 1 according to this embodiment includes both the actuator 20 described above and an aerosol container 10 capable of dispensing the liquid contained inside by gas pressure, thereby effectively preventing after-draw even in aerosol containers 10 that are prone to after-draw. In other words, in the case of aerosol containers that use a propellant such as compressed gas, as in the aerosol-type liquid dispensing container 1 according to this embodiment, the propellant dissolved in the liquid via the inner bag 104 expands in the nozzle section 222, making it easy for liquid to drip (after-draw) from the discharge port 223. This presents a new problem not present in conventional pump-type containers, but the aerosol-type liquid dispensing container 1 according to this embodiment makes it possible to prevent such after-draw almost reliably. These advantages are also true when liquefied gas is used as the propellant.

[0097] Furthermore, the aerosol-type liquid dispensing container 1 according to this embodiment has the advantage of excellent operability during continuous dispensing, as it can continuously dispense liquid until the user reaches their desired liquid volume, and does not require repeated pressing (finger pressure) operations like a pump-type container.

[0098] The present invention is applicable to various liquid dispensing containers such as aerosol containers, pump-former containers, liquid pump containers, and airless containers equipped with the back suction mechanism described above. Furthermore, the present invention also encompasses these liquid dispensing containers and the final product (liquid dispensing product) containing the liquid (such as food, soapy water, lotion, insecticide, hair dye, disinfectant, etc.) contained in these liquid dispensing containers.

[0099] [Differentiation] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications or improvements can be made to each of the above embodiments.

[0100] For example, in the embodiment described above, a connecting member 30 is provided to easily attach the actuator 20 to the aerosol container 10. However, the invention is not limited to this, and for example, an annular groove that can be fitted into the annular projection 106a of the mountain cup 106 may be formed in the base 210 of the actuator 20, so that the actuator 20 can be directly attached to the aerosol container 10 without the need for a connecting member 30.

[0101] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment assumed that the container holding the liquid was an aerosol container, it is not limited to this. Any container that produces liquid dripping (after-draw) from the nozzle outlet is acceptable, and various containers such as pump-former containers, liquid pump containers, or airless containers can be used.

[0102] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment was explained as being formed entirely by the elastic portion 241, the invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which only a part of the liquid suction chamber 243 is formed by the elastic portion 241 is also possible.

[0103] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment was explained in which the elastic portion 241 of the back suction mechanism 240 is in direct contact with the upper surface 211a of the base 210, the invention is not limited to this, and a columnar pressing body or the like may be provided on the upper surface 211a of the base 210, and the elastic portion 241 may be elastically deformed by pressing the elastic portion 241 against the pressing body.

[0104] Furthermore, although the above-described embodiment was explained in which the actuator 20 is provided with a handle portion 250, it is not limited to this, and a configuration without a handle portion 250 is also possible.

[0105] It is clear from the claims that the above-mentioned modifications are included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0106] 1: Aerosol-type liquid discharge container 10: Aerosol container 11: Housing 20: Actuator (Actuator for liquid discharge) 30: Connecting member 100: Container body 102: Outer shell 104: Inner bag 106: Mountain Cup 106a: Annular projection 110: Aerosol valve 111: Housing 111a: Communication hole 112: Stem part 112a: Stem hole 113: Stem biasing section 114: Gasket 210: Base 211a:Top surface 211b: Peripheral surface 212: Interior wall section 213: Threaded section 214: External wall part 215: Through hole 216: Width direction guide section 217: Rear guide section 220: Movable nozzle component 222: Nozzle part 223: Outlet 226: Stem connection part 227: Lateral plate part 228: Rear plate part 229: Locking claw 230: Internal flow path 231: Container side flow path section 233: Release side flow path section 240: Back suction mechanism 241: Elastic part 242: Induction part 243:Liquid suction chamber 244: Suction port 250: Handle section 252: Rear extension area 254: Downward extension area 256: Finger area 260: Rotating part 261: Pressing part 262: Induction part 263: Connection part 264: Rotation Restriction Hook 266: Contact part 310: Ring groove 311: Positioning unit 320: Threaded section 330: Through hole 340: Skirt part

Claims

1. A liquid discharge actuator, which is attached to a container containing a liquid and discharges the liquid contained in the container, A movable nozzle member having a nozzle section having an internal flow path for flowing liquid and a discharge port for releasing liquid, and a stem connecting section extending from the base end of the nozzle section toward the container side, A back suction mechanism capable of sucking up the liquid in the internal channel, A base having an insertion hole formed through which the stem connecting portion of the movable nozzle member can be inserted, A rotating part that is rotatably connected to the base and has a pressing part that receives a pressing operation from the user, Equipped with, The nozzle portion is moved to cause the liquid released from the container to be discharged through the internal flow path and out of the outlet. The back suction mechanism includes a liquid suction chamber that communicates with the internal flow path of the nozzle section, At least a portion of the liquid suction chamber is formed to deform due to the movement of the nozzle portion and to be reversible when the nozzle portion returns to its state before the movement. The rotating part is configured to rotate around the connection point with the base when the pressing part is pressed toward the container, thereby moving the movable nozzle member toward the container. The pressing portion is formed with a guide portion that guides the user to press on the pressing area. Liquid discharge actuator.

2. The liquid suction chamber is provided on the container-side surface of the nozzle portion. The liquid discharge actuator according to claim 1.

3. The liquid suction chamber is formed inside the elastic part. The liquid discharge actuator according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A liquid discharge actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A container capable of releasing the liquid contained inside A liquid discharge container equipped with the following features.

5. The liquid dispensing container is one of the following: an aerosol container, a pump-foamer container, a liquid pump container, or an airless container. The liquid discharge container according to claim 4.

6. A liquid discharge container according to claim 4 or 5, The liquid contained in the liquid discharge container and A liquid-discharging product equipped with the following features.

Images