Refillable container

Abstract

To provide a refilling container which is excellent in usability, and in which breakage of a pour-out member hardly occurs.SOLUTION: A refilling container 1 is a refilling container for refilling a container to be refilled with a content. A volume of the refilling container 1 is greater than a volume of the container to be refilled. The refilling container 1 is formed of a sheet material, and includes indications 5, 6a, 6b indicating fixing portions to fix a pour-out member 2 for pouring out a content. Preferably, the refilling container 1 comprises a plurality of fixing portions for fixing the pour-out member 2. Preferably, the plurality of fixing portions have mutually different positions in a height direction Z of the refilling container 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a refill container having a capacity larger than that of a refillable container.

Background Art

[0002] Refill containers for refilling contents into a refillable container are known. From the viewpoint of facilitating refilling using a refill container, refill containers equipped with a pouring member that can be attached to the refill container and reused have been proposed. For example, Patent Documents 1 to 3 disclose pouring stoppers attached to an opening formed by cutting off a corner of a bag. This pouring stopper includes a pouring cylinder, an insertion part located below the pouring cylinder and inserted into the opening, and a fixing member that sandwiches and fixes the insertion part to the pouch. The fixing member of Patent Document 1 has a V-shaped shape, the fixing member of Patent Document 2 has a clip shape with a U-shaped cross section, and the fixing member of Patent Document 3 includes a pair of sandwiching plates located on the front sheet and the back sheet of the bag body, respectively, and an elastic piece that connects the sandwiching plates and the insertion part. By bending the elastic piece, the pair of sandwiching plates sandwich the front sheet and the back sheet.

[0003] The applicant of the present application previously disclosed a refill pouch provided with a pouring protrusion in which a pouring opening is formed by cutting off a tip portion, and the pouring flow path in the pouring protrusion has a tapered shape (Patent Document 4). In addition, the applicant of the present application previously disclosed a refill mouth member made of a detachable member inside the pouring outlet portion (Patent Document 5). This refill mouth member has a shape-retaining rigidity for holding the pouring outlet in a cylindrical three-dimensional shape and has a tapered cylindrical shape.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

[0005] From the perspective of reducing the amount of packaging waste, the use of larger capacity refillable containers is being promoted. However, if a refillable container is dropped and a load is placed on the dispensing member attached to the container, the dispensing member may break. Large-capacity refillable containers, in particular, are prone to damage to the dispensing member when dropped. In addition, as the capacity of refillable containers increases, their weight tends to reduce their ease of use. The technologies described in Patent Documents 1 to 5 do not solve the problems specific to large-capacity refillable containers as described above.

[0006] The present invention relates to providing a refillable container that is easy to use and less prone to damage to the dispensing component. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to a refillable container for transferring contents into a refillable container. The capacity of the refill container is preferably larger than the capacity of the container to be refilled. Preferably, the refillable container is made of a sheet material and has markings indicating a fixing point for fixing a dispensing member for dispensing the contents.

[0008] The present invention also relates to a method for using a refillable container to refill a container with its contents. The capacity of the refill container is preferably larger than the capacity of the container to be refilled. Preferably, the refillable container comprises a container body made of sheet material, and the container body has multiple markings indicating fixing points for fixing a dispensing member for dispensing the contents. In the above-mentioned method of use, it is preferable to move the dispensing member from one of the fixed locations to another of the fixed locations. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the refillable container of the present invention, convenience is high and damage to the dispensing component is less likely to occur. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the refillable container of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the usage state of the refill container shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3(a) is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the refillable container of the present invention, and Figure 3(b) is a perspective view showing the container with a portion of the main body removed. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing yet another embodiment of the refillable container of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figures 5(a) to 5(c) are perspective views showing one embodiment of a dispensing member attached to the refillable container of the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of the dispensing member attached to the refillable container of the present invention. [Figure 7] Figures 7(a) and 7(b) are cross-sectional views illustrating the operation of the dispensing member shown in Figure 6. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The refillable container of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, based on a preferred embodiment thereof. Figures 1 and 2 show one embodiment of the refillable container of the present invention. The refill container 1 is a container for refilling a container to be refilled (not shown) with contents, and includes a container body 10 having an accommodation space for the contents inside. The refill container 1 and the container to be refilled contain the same contents. When using the contents, the container to be refilled is mainly used. The contents contained in the refill container 1 are not particularly limited. The contents may be, for example, a liquid or a powder. Examples of the liquid contents include liquid hair care agents such as shampoo, hair conditioner, and hair rinse, liquid soaps such as body soap and hand soap, liquid detergents for clothes and dishes, softeners, bleaching agents, liquid detergents for toilets and floors, liquid cosmetics, liquid beverages, foods, pharmaceuticals, engine oil, and the like. Also, a liquid with a high viscosity such as cream may be used. When the contents are a powder, examples include powdered soap and powdered bleaching agent.

[0012] The capacity of the refill container 1, that is, the capacity of the accommodation space of the container body 10, is larger than the capacity of the container to be refilled. From the viewpoint of more surely achieving the effect of suppressing damage to the pouring member, it is preferable that the capacity of the refill container 1 has a capacity that can be refilled a plurality of times with respect to the capacity of the container to be refilled. For example, the capacity of the refill container 1 is preferably more than 1 times and less than 10 times, more preferably 1.2 times or more and 8 times or less, still more preferably more than 2 times and 8 times or less, and even more preferably more than 3 times and 8 times or less the capacity of the container to be refilled. From the same viewpoint as above, the capacity of the refill container 1 is preferably 100 mL or more and 5000 mL or less, more preferably 120 mL or more and 4000 mL or less, still more preferably 1000 mL or more and 4000 mL or less, and even more preferably 2000 mL or more and 4000 mL or less.

[0013] The container body 10 of the present embodiment is a pouch container and has a pair of side walls 11a, 11b and a gusset portion 14 connecting the side walls 11a, 11b (see FIG. 1). This container body 10 has a gusset portion 14 only on one end side in the height direction Z of the refill container 1, and the gusset portion 14 serves as the bottom of the refill container 1.

[0014] The container body 10 of this embodiment can stand on its own by grounding the crotch portion 14, which is the bottom, on a horizontal plane. In such a standing state, the height direction Z of the container body 10 coincides with the vertical direction. That is, the bottom (crotch portion 14) of the container body 10 is downward, and the opposite side of the bottom (crotch portion 14) in the height direction Z is upward. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the description of the container body 10 (container 1) of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 shall be the description of the container body 10 (container 1) in the standing state. The container body 10 of this embodiment has a width direction X that is in the left-right direction with respect to the side walls 11a and 11b, and a depth direction Y that is orthogonal to the width direction X. Hereinafter, for the sake of convenience of explanation, one of the pair of side walls 11a and 11b is also referred to as the "front side wall 11a", and the other is referred to as the "rear side wall 11b". The pair of side walls 11a and 11b of the container body 10 are arranged opposite to each other in the depth direction Y (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0015] The container body 10 is formed of a sheet material. The container body 10 of this embodiment is formed of side wall forming sheets that form the pair of side walls 11a and 11b, respectively, and a crotch portion forming sheet that forms the crotch portion 14 serving as the bottom. These side wall forming sheets and crotch portion forming sheets are flexible sheets.

[0016] The sheet material (in this embodiment, the side wall forming sheet and the crotch portion forming sheet) that forms the container body 10 is composed of a sheet material containing a resin layer. As the forming material of the resin layer, a known single-layer or multi-layer synthetic resin film can be used. Examples of the constituent resin of the synthetic resin film include known constituent resins such as polyolefin-based resins, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer-based resins, polyester-based resins, and polyamide-based resins.

[0017] Examples of polyolefin resins include polyethylene resins such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), medium-density polyethylene (MDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), ultra-low-density polyethylene (ULDPE), uniaxially oriented polyethylene (OPE), biaxially oriented polyethylene (BOPE), and ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), which are derived from stretching any of these; ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer resins; and polypropylene resins such as polypropylene, homopolypropylene, and random copolymer polypropylene. From the viewpoint of further improving recyclability, polyethylene resins are preferred among these. Examples of polyester resins include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (amorphous PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polybutylene naphthalate (PBN), and polylactic acid (PLA). Examples of polyamide resins include nylon 6, nylon 66, and aromatic nylon.

[0018] From the viewpoint of further improving the recyclability of the refill container 1, it is preferable that the sheet material forming the container body 10 includes a resin layer made of a single material resin. In particular, it is more preferable that the resin layer includes a resin layer made of a single type of polyolefin as the single material resin. "Single material resin" refers to a single type of resin and is synonymous with so-called monomaterial. For example, if the resin layer has a laminated structure in which multiple layers are stacked, it is preferable that the two or more constituent resins that make up each of these layers are of a single type, and it is even more preferable that all layers are of a single type. The type of resin can be the polyolefin resin, polyester resin, polyamide resin, etc. as described above, but from the viewpoint of further improving recyclability, a polyolefin resin is more preferable. From the same viewpoint as above, it is preferable that the resin layer constituting the sheet material substantially contains no constituent resins other than polyolefin resins. "Substantially contained" means less than 1% by mass, preferably less than 0.5%, and most preferably 0%. For example, if the resin layer is composed of a single type of polyethylene resin, even if the polyethylene resin has a laminated structure in which multiple layers of different types of resin are stacked, the resin layer can be recovered as a single material (single type of resin) without separating it layer by layer, thus offering excellent recyclability.

[0019] From the viewpoint of reducing environmental impact, it is preferable that the sheet material forming the container body 10 is composed of biomass-derived materials. Biomass-derived materials are renewable organic resources of biological origin. Examples of biomass-derived materials include plant-derived materials such as paper, natural polymers such as cellulose, biomass-derived polyester resins such as bio-PET and bio-PLA, and biomass-derived polyolefin resins such as bio-polyethylene and bio-polypropylene. The aforementioned paper includes cardboard such as corrugated cardboard, coated cardboard, chipboard, and kraft cardboard. If the sheet material forming the container body 10 contains biomass-derived material, the sheet material may be composed of biomass-derived material and non-biomass-derived material, or it may consist solely of biomass-derived material. An example of the former is a form in which the sheet material consists of a paper layer and a non-biomass-derived resin layer. An example of the latter is a form in which the sheet material consists of a biomass-derived resin layer such as biopolyethylene, or a form consisting of a paper layer and a biomass-derived resin layer. Non-biomass-derived materials are materials derived from fossil resources such as petroleum and coal.

[0020] As mentioned above, the sheet material forming the container body 10 may include a paper layer as a biomass-derived material. For example, the sheet material may include a paper layer forming the outer surface and a resin layer disposed on the inner side of the paper layer. In such a configuration, from the viewpoint of further improving recyclability, it is preferable that the paper layer and the resin layer are joined in a separable manner. In this case, the paper layer and the resin layer are joined by an adhesive such as a heat-activated adhesive or an easy-open resin. Examples of heat-activated adhesives include acrylic two-component cross-linking adhesives. Examples of acrylic two-component cross-linking adhesives include the product name "BPS6458" (manufactured by Toyo Chem Co., Ltd.) and the product name "BPS6017" (manufactured by Toyo Chem Co., Ltd.). Easy-open resin is a resin capable of forming a sealant film layer that can be joined by heat sealing or the like, and furthermore, a resin that can be peeled off at the sealant film layer by a physical force exceeding the bonding force. Easy-open resins include interfacial peeling type, which peels off at the bonding interface of the sealant film layer; cohesive peeling type, which peels off near the bonding interface accompanied by cohesive failure (failure of the material itself); and interlayer peeling type, in which the layers of the sealant film layer, which is composed of a multilayer film, peel off from between the layers.

[0021] From the viewpoint of effective resource utilization, it is preferable that the sheet material forming the container body 10 is composed of recycled materials. Recycled materials are materials that have been reused (horizontally recycled), or recycled materials that have been recycled through mechanical recycling or material recycling. Recycled materials include recycled paper and recycled resin. Recycled resin is a recycled material such as resin pellets obtained by crushing and remelting articles made of resin such as PET bottles, molding them into a predetermined shape, cooling them, and then cutting them into pellets. Examples include recycled PET from recycled PET bottles, and mechanically recycled materials such as recycled PE (recycled polyethylene) and recycled PP (recycled polypropylene). Note that the resin that has been crushed and remelted as described above may also be directly molded into a product without going through the pellet stage. Examples of recycled resins include mechanically recycled materials obtained by solvent methods, which involve extracting only the desired resin components using a solvent, and chemically recycled materials obtained by subjecting recovered resins to chemical decomposition treatments, such as oil conversion, to return them to monomers.

[0022] If the sheet material forming the container body 10 is composed of recycled material, the sheet material may be composed of recycled material along with unrecycled material (virgin raw material), or it may be composed solely of recycled material. For example, the sheet material forming the container body 10 may be composed of a mixed resin obtained by mixing virgin raw material and recycled resin. That is, if the sheet material forming the container body 10 is composed of a resin layer, the resin layer may contain recycled resin.

[0023] The container body 10 of this embodiment has a sealing portion that joins the periphery of a pair of side wall forming sheets. Specifically, it has side sealing portions 16, 16 that join both side edges of the pair of side wall forming sheets, and an upper edge sealing portion 12 that joins the upper edges of the pair of side wall forming sheets. In addition, the container body 10 of this embodiment has a lower end sealing portion (not shown) that joins the lower edge of the pair of side wall forming sheets to the periphery of the gusset forming sheet. These sealing portions form a cylindrical portion with the upper edge of the pair of side walls 11a, 11b sealed, and the inside of this cylindrical portion forms a storage space for the contents of the refill container 1.

[0024] The refillable container 1 allows the contents to be dispensed to the outside by fixing a dispensing member 2 for dispensing the contents to the container body 10. The dispensing member 2 fixed to the refillable container 1 can be any type capable of dispensing contents and is not particularly limited. Details of the dispensing member will be described later.

[0025] The refillable container 1 has markings on the surface of the container body 10 indicating the fixing points for fixing the dispensing member 2 (hereinafter also referred to as "fixing point markings"). In this embodiment, the container body 10 has a corner portion 19 formed by obliquely cutting out one corner on the upper edge side of a pair of side walls 11a, 11b, and has a fixing location indicator 5 along the edge of the corner portion 19. When the dispensing member 2 is fixed to the fixing location indicator 5, the direction of outflow of the contents from the dispensing member 2 intersects with the height direction Z of the container body 10. Such fixing location indicator 5 will hereinafter also be simply referred to as "upper indicator 5". Furthermore, the container body 10 in this embodiment has fixing location indicators 6a, 6b on the surface of the front side wall 11a. When the dispensing member 2 is fixed to the fixing location indicators 6a, 6b, the direction of outflow of the contents from the dispensing member 2 substantially coincides with the direction perpendicular to the height direction Z of the container body 10, i.e., the horizontal direction. Such fixing location indicators 6a, 6b will hereinafter also be simply referred to as "wall surface indicators 6a, 6b". The container body 10 of this embodiment has a first wall surface marking 6a located near the center of the height of the container body 10, and a second wall surface marking 6b located on the bottom (grommet 14) side of the wall surface marking 6a. In the following explanation, the term "fixing point" will be used interchangeably with "fixing point" for the dispensing member 2 on the container body 10.

[0026] The method for fixing the dispensing member 2 to the fixing location indicators 5, 6a, and 6b is by fixing means such as the mounting mechanism provided on the dispensing member 2. In fixing in this manner, the container body 10 may be cut in the portion where the fixing location indicators 5, 6a, and 6b are located, or the portion may be pierced, or a through hole communicating with the contents storage space may be provided in the portion. The user of the refill container 1 is responsible for fixing the dispensing member 2 to the fixing location indicators 5, 6a, and 6b. Since the container body 10 of this embodiment is made of a flexible sheet material, the user can easily cut or create a through hole. In other words, fixing (attaching) the dispensing member 2 is easy.

[0027] In this embodiment, the refillable container 1 is used with the dispensing member 2 fixed to the fixing point indicators 5, 6a, and 6b. That is, the contents can be dispensed through the fixed dispensing member 2, thereby enabling the refilling of the container to be refilled. The refillable container 1 is used by attaching the dispensing member 2 to the container body 10, which does not originally have a dispensing member 2. This prevents the weight of the refillable container 1, which has a larger capacity than the container to be refilled, from being applied to the dispensing member 2 before use, and effectively suppresses damage to the dispensing member 2. Furthermore, during the distribution process of refillable containers, they are transported and stored in a stacked state. In this case, the refillable container is pressurized by the weight of the stacked containers. If a dispensing member of another refillable container bites into the pressurized container body, the container body may be damaged and the contents may leak. Since the refillable container 1 of this embodiment does not have a dispensing member 2, damage to the container body 10 by the dispensing member can be suppressed even when stacked. Furthermore, by not including the dispensing member 2, the amount of resin used can be reduced compared to containers that include the dispensing member, and the container body 10, which is made of sheet material, can be manufactured efficiently.

[0028] The refillable container 1 of this embodiment has fixing point indicators 5, 6a, and 6b, so that the attachment point of the dispensing member 2 can be easily identified, and the user can freely select the form of the dispensing member 2 to be used (diameter of the discharge port, etc.). In other words, the refillable container 1 of this embodiment allows the user to use different dispensing members 2 depending on the remaining amount and physical properties of the contents and the form of the container to be refilled, so even if it is heavy, it is easy to use when dispensing the contents.

[0029] The container body 10 of this embodiment has multiple fixing points for the dispensing member 2, and also has multiple fixing point indicators 5, 6a, and 6b to indicate these fixing points. In this case, the fixing points of the dispensing member 2 can be varied, providing a high degree of freedom regarding the method of dispensing the contents. For example, in the refillable container 1 of this embodiment, if the dispensing member 2 is fixed to either the first or second wall indicators 6a or 6b, the contents can be dispensed while the refillable container 1 is standing upright. This allows the contents to be dispensed without lifting the refillable container 1, making refilling easier even if the volume (remaining amount) of the contents is large. This effect is effective in that even elderly people and other users with low physical function can perform refilling smoothly, demonstrating excellent universal design. As described above, the provision of multiple fixing point indicators 5, 6a, and 6b allows the method of dispensing the contents to be tailored to the user's desired conditions. For example, if you want to increase the flow rate when dispensing the contents of the refill container 1 shown in Figure 1, you can select the position of the first wall marking 6a as the fixing point for the dispensing member 2. Also, for example, if you are performing the refilling work with both hands, you can select the position of the upper marking 5 as the fixing point for the dispensing member 2 from the viewpoint of improving operability.

[0030] From the viewpoint of more reliably achieving the above effects, it is preferable that the markings indicating multiple fixing points on the refill container 1 differ from each other in at least one of the positions in the height Z direction and the horizontal direction of the refill container 1. The refillable container 1 of this embodiment has fixed position indicators at different heights for the top indicator 5 and the first and second wall indicators 6a and 6b. That is, the multiple fixed position indicators 5, 6a and 6b are at different positions in the height direction Z of the container body 10. With such a refillable container 1, when the contents are filled to the brim, the dispensing member 2 can be fixed and used at the position of the top indicator 5. When the remaining amount of contents is about 2 / 3, the dispensing member 2 can be fixed and used at the position of the first wall indicator 6a (see Figure 2), and when the remaining amount of contents is about 1 / 3, the dispensing member 2 can be fixed and used at the position of the second wall indicator 6b. Thus, if the refillable container 1 has multiple fixing point markings, it becomes possible to switch the attachment point of the dispensing member 2 from one fixing point marking to another based on the fixing point markings. This makes it possible to change the fixing point of the dispensing member 2 according to, for example, the remaining amount of contents, thus making the refilling process easier. This effect is more pronounced the larger the capacity of the refillable container 1.

[0031] The number of fixed location indicators on the refill container 1 is not particularly limited and may be two or more, or three or more. Furthermore, the position of the fixing point indicator on the container body 10 is not particularly limited. From the viewpoint of making it easier to remove the contents, it is preferable that the positions of the wall indicators 6a and 6b are lower than the central position that bisects the height of the container body 10.

[0032] The container body 10 of this embodiment is designed to allow adjustment of its internal volume according to the remaining amount of contents. "Adjustable internal volume" means that the storage volume inside the container body 10 can be changed, and specifically, the storage volume can be reduced by deforming or partially separating the container body 10. Since the container body 10 of this embodiment is made of a flexible sheet material, it is foldable. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the container body 10 can be partially folded to adjust its internal volume. This makes it possible to reduce the volume of the refill container 1 according to the remaining amount of contents, even if the capacity of the refill container 1 is large, thus making the large-capacity refill container 1 more compact, and making the refilling process easier. In addition, since the refill container 1 can be gradually reduced in size according to the remaining amount of contents, the flexibility of where the refill container 1 can be placed can be improved. When the dispensing member 2 is fixed at the position of the upper indicator 5 and then re-fixed at another fixing location indicator, it is preferable that the container body 10 of this embodiment is partially folded, as shown in Figure 3, so that the contents do not leak out of the container body 10 from the opening made to fix the dispensing member 2 at the position of the upper indicator 5.

[0033] From the viewpoint of making the container body 10 more compact according to the remaining amount of contents, and making it easier to grasp the remaining amount, it is preferable that the refill container 1 is divided or separable into a plurality of small capacity sections s, each having a capacity equivalent to the amount to be refilled once for the container being refilled (hereinafter also simply referred to as "refill capacity"). In this configuration, the refill container 1 of this embodiment has two dividing lines 17a and 17b displayed on the front side wall 11a of the container body 10, extending in the width direction X. The two dividing lines 17a and 17b extend across the entire width of the front side wall 11a, and their positions in the height direction Z are different from each other. By folding the container body 10 along these two dividing lines 17a and 17b, the internal volume of the container body 10 can be divided into three small capacity sections s. In other words, these two dividing lines 17a and 17b allow the internal volume of the container body 10 to be divided into three refill capacities. In this embodiment, the container body 10 has adjacent small-capacity portions s whose storage spaces are continuous via dividing lines 17a and 17b.

[0034] From the standpoint of facilitating recycling, it is preferable that the container body 10 has markings on its surface indicating the recycling method or sorting method for the refill container 1. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the container body 10 of this embodiment has markings 9 (hereinafter also referred to as "recycling markings 9") on the lower end of the front side wall 11a indicating the recycling method or sorting method. The recycling markings 9 represent recycling information using characters, figures, pictograms, or images. The recycling information includes information that the container body 10 is recyclable, the recycling method for the container body 10, and the classification when the container body 10 is disposed of separately.

[0035] As mentioned above, if the sheet material forming the container body 10 is made of a single resin material, it is preferable to have a recycling label 9 indicating recycling information such as "monomaterial recyclable". Furthermore, if the sheet material forming the container body 10 is made up of multiple resin layers and these layers are peelable, it is preferable to have a recycling label 9 indicating how to peel off these layers and dispose of them separately. Such recycling labels 9 enable more efficient and advanced recycling of the container body 10 according to its forming material.

[0036] The refillable container 1 of the present invention is not limited to the forms shown in Figures 1 and 2, but may take on other forms. Another embodiment of the refillable container 1 according to the present invention will be described below. In the following, the components of the other embodiment will be mainly described in relation to the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, while similar components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted. For components that are not specifically described, the description of the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2 will be applied as appropriate.

[0037] Figures 3 and 4 show another embodiment of the refillable container of the present invention. The refillable container 1a shown in Figure 3(a) has wall markings 6a and 6b on the lower part of the container body 10a. These wall markings 6a and 6b are located on the small capacity sections s on either side of the partition seal section 15b that extends in the height direction Z, which will be described later. The horizontal positions of these wall markings 6a and 6b are different from each other. Furthermore, the container body 10a of this embodiment has two partition seals 15a and 15b that divide the internal volume of the container body 10a into three small capacity sections s. The partition seals 15a and 15b are joined together from two side wall forming sheets, separating the storage spaces of each small capacity section s in the container body 10a. These two partition seals 15a and 15b are arranged in a T-shape, dividing the container body 10a into an upper small capacity section s and two small capacity sections s located on either side of the partition seal 15b that extends in the height direction Z. In other words, the internal volume of the container body 10a is divided into three refill capacities.

[0038] The partition seal portions 15a and 15b of this embodiment have a cut line within the width of the seal portions 15a and 15b. The cut line is formed by through holes that penetrate the two side wall forming sheets, which are intermittently arranged in the direction in which the seal portions 15a and 15b extend, and the container body 10 can be separated along the cut line. For example, the upper small-capacity portion s can be separated from the container body 10 along the cut line of the partition seal portion 15b that extends in the width direction X [see Figure 3(b)]. This makes the container body 10a more compact and makes it easier to determine the remaining amount of contents.

[0039] The refillable container 1b shown in Figure 4 has multiple wall markings, and a tap-type dispensing member 2e is fixed to the container body 10b by an attachment mechanism (not shown) attached to one of these markings. The refillable container 1b shown in Figure 4 has a container body 10b which includes a bottom 14b, a front side wall 11c and a rear side wall 11d that rise up from the bottom 14b and are opposite to each other, and a pair of opposing side walls 13b, 13b located between the front side wall 11c and the rear side wall 11d. The pair of side walls 13b, 13b also rise up from the bottom 14b. The upper portions of the pair of side walls 13b, 13b are folded between the front side wall 11c and the rear side wall 11d, and the upper part of the side wall 13b has a tapered mountain shape (gable roof shape). The container body 10b shown in Figure 4 has wall markings 6a and 6b at two locations, above and below one side wall 13, and another wall marking 6c on the lower side of one side of the front side wall 11c in the width direction X.

[0040] The refillable container 1b shown in Figure 4 is in the form of a gusset. The gusset container of this embodiment is formed by folding two opposing sheet materials, joined at both side edges, into a three-dimensional shape. It comprises opposing front side walls 11c and rear side walls 11d, a pair of side walls 13b, 13b located between these front side walls 11c and rear side walls 11d, and a bottom portion 14b, with a V-shaped portion (not shown) continuous with the bottom portion 14b folded towards the side walls. Such a container can be obtained by punching out and cutting thin sheet material and assembling the blanks into a three-dimensional shape.

[0041] The refillable container of the present invention may have a container body 10 in the form of a pillow. Examples of pillow containers include those in which a sheet material is formed into a cylindrical shape and the two openings of the cylindrical shape are sealed by heat sealing or the like, those in which the sheet material is folded and the three opposing peripheral edges are sealed by heat sealing or the like, and those in which the four opposing peripheral edges of two sheet materials are sealed by heat sealing or the like.

[0042] The refillable container of the present invention described above can be suitably used in a refill set, which is combined with a dispensing member with an attachment mechanism. The dispensing member can be detachably attached to the position indicated by the attachment mechanism. In such a refill set, the dispensing member is not fixed to the container body of the refillable container, but is fixed to the container body at the indicated position when in use.

[0043] Next, the dispensing member used in the refillable container or refillable set of the present invention will be described in detail. The form of the dispensing member is not particularly limited, and one having a mounting mechanism that is fixed to the container body of the refillable container can be used. Figures 5 to 7 show one embodiment of the dispensing member used in the refillable container of the present invention. Each dispensing member has an axial direction that coincides with the direction of discharge when the contents are discharged from the container body 10 to the outside. Hereinafter, the direction of discharge of the contents in the dispensing member will also be simply referred to as the "discharge direction V". Unless otherwise specified in the following description, the dispensing member will be described with its axial direction coinciding with the vertical direction, and the base end of the discharge direction V facing downwards. In this state, the tip side (outer side) of the discharge direction V will be the "upper side" or "upward", and the base end side (inner side) of the discharge direction V will be the "lower side" or "downward".

[0044] The dispensing member 2a shown in Figure 5(a) comprises a dispensing section 20a for dispensing the contents to the outside of the container body 10, and a mounting mechanism 30 for fixing the dispensing section 20a to the container body 10. The dispensing section 20a shown in Figure 5(a) has an outflow pipe that serves as a flow path for the contents, and a cap that closes the outflow opening of the outflow pipe. The dispensing section 20a is fixed to the central plate 22, passing through the central plate 22. The mounting mechanism 30 shown in Figure 5(a) is equipped with a pair of rod-shaped clamping sections 31 and 32 on the lower end side of the central plate 22. This "lower end side" is the inward side in the outflow direction V of the contents. The pair of rod-shaped clamping sections 31 and 32 each have a shape that is elongated in one direction, with one end fixed to the central plate 22, and are rotatable horizontally around that end. In this embodiment, the dispensing member 2a can rotate its pair of rod-shaped clamping portions 31 and 32 toward each other. This allows the container body 10 to be clamped between the pair of rod-shaped clamping portions 31 and 32, thereby fixing the dispensing member 2a to the container body 10.

[0045] The specific method of attaching (fixing) the dispensing member 2a shown in Figure 5(a) is described below. First, a part of the container body 10 is cut open, and the lower end portion of the dispensing part 20a is inserted into the opening [see Figure 5(a)]. At this time, the center plate 22 is positioned outside the opening of the container body 10. Next, the pair of rod-shaped clamping parts 31 and 32 are rotated to sandwich the container body 10 between the pair of rod-shaped clamping parts 31 and 32, thereby closing the opening of the container body 10. When discharging the contents to the outside of the container body 10 via the discharging member 2a shown in Figure 5(a), the cap of the discharging section 20a is removed to release the blockage of the outlet opening in the outlet cylinder.

[0046] The dispensing member 2b shown in Figure 5(b) comprises a cylindrical upper dispensing section 25b for dispensing contents to the outside of the container body 10, a cylindrical base (not shown) for fixing the upper dispensing section 25b to the container body 10, and an openable and closable annular mounting mechanism 30b for fixing the cylindrical base to the container body 10. The annular mounting mechanism 30b can be in an open and closed ring state, and in the closed ring state, it is fitted and fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical base. By sandwiching the sheet material forming the container body 10 between the annular mounting mechanism 30b and the cylindrical base, the mounting mechanism 30b and the cylindrical base are fixed to the container body 10. Multiple threads are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the upper end of the annular mounting mechanism 30b, and by screwing these threads with the threads formed on the inner circumferential surface of the upper dispensing section 25b, the upper dispensing section 25b can be fixed to the annular mounting mechanism 30b. The "upper end side" of the mounting mechanism 30b is the outward side in the direction of the contents' outflow. The upper dispensing section 20b shown in Figure 5(b) has an outflow tube that serves as the flow path for the contents and a cap that closes the outflow opening of the outflow tube.

[0047] The specific method of attaching (fixing) the dispensing member 2b shown in Figure 5(b) is described below. First, a part of the container body 10 is cut open, and the entire cylindrical base is inserted into the opening. At this time, the position of the upper end of the cylindrical base is aligned with the position of the opening end of the container body 10. Next, the annular mounting mechanism 30b is fitted and fixed from the outer surface of the part of the container body 10 where the cylindrical base is placed. This sandwiches the part of the container body 10 that forms the opening between the outer surface of the cylindrical base and the inner surface of the annular mounting mechanism 30b. Next, the upper dispensing part 20b is fixed to the annular mounting mechanism 30b by screwing it in. When the contents are to be discharged to the outside of the container body 10 via the dispensing member 2b shown in Figure 5(b), the cap of the upper dispensing section 20b is removed, and the contents are discharged through the flow path formed by the upper dispensing section 20b and the cylindrical base.

[0048] The dispensing member 2c shown in Figure 5(c) comprises a dispensing section 20c for dispensing the contents to the outside of the container body 10, and a clip-shaped mounting mechanism 30c for fixing the dispensing section 20c to the container body 10. The dispensing section 20c shown in Figure 5(c) has an outlet pipe that serves as a flow path for the contents, and a cap that closes the outlet opening of the outlet pipe. The dispensing section 20c has a cylindrical shape with a rectangular horizontal cross-section. The clip-shaped mounting mechanism 30c shown in Figure 5(c) comprises a pair of plate-shaped clamping sections 35 and 36 that are elongated in one direction. The plate-shaped clamping sections 35 and 36 are fixed to each other at one end and are rotatable horizontally around the fixed part. Furthermore, the central portion of each of the pair of plate-shaped clamping sections 35 and 36 is curved in a direction away from each other in the longitudinal direction, and the dispensing section 20c can be inserted and fixed into the opening formed by the curved portion. Furthermore, each of the pair of plate-shaped clamping portions 35 and 36 has an engaging portion 37 at its other end that engages with each other. This dispensing member 2c can be fixed to the container body 10 by clamping the container body 10 between the pair of plate-shaped clamping portions 35 and 36 like a clip.

[0049] The specific method of attaching (fixing) the dispensing member 2c shown in Figure 5(c) is described below. First, a part of the container body 10 is cut open, and the lower end portion of the dispensing part 20c is inserted into the opening [see Figure 5(c)]. Next, the container body 10, including the dispensing part 20c, is sandwiched between a pair of plate-shaped clamping parts 35 and 36 to close the opening of the container body 10 [see Figure 5(c)]. When discharging the contents to the outside of the container body 10 via the dispensing member 2c shown in Figure 5(c), the cap of the dispensing section 20c is removed to release the blockage of the outlet opening in the outlet cylinder.

[0050] The dispensing member 2d shown in Figures 6 and 7 is fixed to the container body 10 by a separate mounting mechanism. The form of the separate mounting mechanism is not particularly limited, and for example, the mounting mechanisms shown in Figures 5(a) to (c) can be used. For ease of explanation, the mounting mechanism is not shown in Figures 6 and 7. The dispensing member 2d in this embodiment comprises a spout body 210 and a discharge cap 200 attached to the spout body 210. The spout body 210 consists of a cylindrical outflow tube 211 and a stopper 212. The dispensing member 2d is attached to the container body 10 (not shown) by fixing the base end 211d of the outflow tube 211 into the container body 10 using an attachment mechanism.

[0051] In the spout body 210, the outlet pipe 211 is a component for discharging the contents contained in the container body to the discharge cap 200. The outlet pipe 211 has a circular horizontal cross-sectional shape at its tip portion 211c, i.e., the upper portion. On the other hand, the spout body 210 has a polygonal horizontal cross-sectional shape, more specifically an octagonal shape, at its base portion 211d. This configuration makes it easier to grasp the base portion 211d of the spout body 210 with your fingers, and also makes it easier to rotate the discharge cap 200 circumferentially relative to the outlet pipe 211 at the tip portion 11c.

[0052] A male thread projection 211e is formed on the outer circumferential surface 211a of the outflow pipe 211, except for the base end portion 211d. The male thread projection 211e can be screwed into a female thread projection 223c (see Figure 7) formed on the inner circumferential surface of the discharge cap 200. By screwing the male thread projection 211e and the female thread projection 223c together, the discharge cap 200 is attached along the outer circumferential surface of the tip portion 211c of the spout body 210.

[0053] A liquid-tight portion 211f is formed at the tip edge of the outlet pipe 211, bulging radially inward. The liquid-tight portion 211f is in close contact with the outer circumferential surface 225a of the inner cylindrical portion 225 of the discharge cap 200, which will be described later, and prevents the contents of the outlet pipe 211 from leaking to the outside. In addition, the liquid-tight portion 211f contacts a stopper portion 225b formed on the inner cylindrical portion 225, restricting the discharge cap 200 from sliding upward (sliding in the direction of travel) [see Figure 7(b)].

[0054] As shown in Figure 6, the stopper body 212 has a circular plate shape and an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter at the tip edge (liquid-tight portion 211f) of the outlet pipe 211. The stopper body 212 is supported by rod-shaped support portions 213, maintaining a gap between it and the inner circumferential surface 211b of the outlet pipe 211 for the contents to flow. One end of each support portion 213 is connected to the lower surface of the stopper body 212, while the other end is connected to the inner circumferential surface 211b of the outlet pipe 211. The support portion 213 extends radially outward from one end to the other, supporting the stopper body 212 from below. The other end of the support portion 213, which is connected to the inner circumferential surface 211b of the outlet pipe 211, is positioned spaced apart from the tip edge of the outlet pipe 211 in the axial direction of the outlet pipe 211. With this configuration, it is easier to secure the space formed between the plug body 212 and the base end opening 224a of the nozzle portion 224 (see Figures 7(a) and (b)), and by sliding the discharge cap 200 to adjust the size (volume) of this space, the amount of contents discharged can be adjusted more easily.

[0055] In this embodiment, the plug 212 is supported by a plurality of rod-shaped support parts 213. The number of support parts 213 is not particularly limited. The discharge cap 200 is a component for discharging (leaking out) the contents that have flowed into the discharge cap 200 via the outflow pipe 211 to the outside. As shown in Figure 7, the discharge cap 200 has a main body portion 221, a nozzle portion 224, and an inner cylindrical portion 225. The main body portion 221 of the discharge cap 200 has a top-cylindrical shape and includes a substantially circular plate-shaped top portion 222 and a cylindrical sliding portion 223 connected to the peripheral edge portion 222a of the top portion 222. In the discharge cap 200, a cylindrical nozzle portion 224 is formed in the central part of the top surface portion 222, protruding from the central part on the opposite side from the slide cylinder portion 223. That is, the nozzle portion 224 protrudes toward the front end in the outflow direction V, and the slide cylinder portion 223 protrudes toward the base end in the outflow direction V.

[0056] On the base end side in the outflow direction V, a female thread projection 223c is formed on the inner circumferential surface 223a of the slide cylinder portion 223, which can be screwed with the male thread projection 211e of the spout body 210. The discharge cap 200 is attached to the spout body 210 by inserting the spout body 210 into the discharge cap 200 and rotating the discharge cap 200 relative to the outflow cylinder 211 to screw the male thread projection 211e of the spout body 210 with the female thread projection 223c of the discharge cap 200.

[0057] The nozzle portion 224 has a cylindrical shape and includes a base opening 224a located on the base end side in the outflow direction V, and a tip discharge portion 224b located on the tip side in the outflow direction V and for discharging the contents to the outside. The inner circumferential surface 224c of the nozzle portion 224 is continuous with the inner surface 222b of the top surface portion 222. Furthermore, the nozzle portion 224 has an inner diameter that is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the plug body 212, and the plug body 212 is designed to be fitted into the base end opening 224a in a liquid-tight manner (see Figure 7(a)). In this fitted state, the outer circumferential surface of the plug body 212 and the inner circumferential surface of the nozzle portion 224 are in close contact, and the base end opening 224a of the nozzle portion 224 is closed. As a result, the internal space of the spout body 210 (outlet cylinder 211) and the internal space of the nozzle portion 224 are not in communication, and the outflow (discharge) of contents from the tip discharge portion 224b is blocked.

[0058] The inner cylindrical portion 225 has a cylindrical shape and an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the base end opening 224a of the nozzle portion 224. The inner cylindrical portion 225 protrudes downward from the inner surface 222b of the top surface portion 222 and is positioned inside the slide cylindrical portion 223 with a certain gap D between it and the inner circumferential surface 223b of the slide cylindrical portion 223 [see Figures 7(a) and (b)]. The tip portion 211c of the outflow cylinder 211 is inserted into the space D between the slide cylindrical portion 223 and the inner cylindrical portion 225, with the discharge cap 200 attached to the spout body 210 (hereinafter also simply referred to as the "attached state").

[0059] A stopper portion 225b is formed at the lower end edge of the inner cylindrical portion 225, bulging radially outward. When the discharge cap 200 is rotated and slid relative to the outlet pipe 211, this stopper portion 225b comes into contact with the liquid-tight portion 211f of the outlet pipe 211, thereby restricting the discharge cap 200 from sliding upward [see Figure 7(b)].

[0060] The slide cylinder portion 223 has an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the tip portion 211c of the outflow cylinder 211, and is a cylindrical portion that protrudes downward from the periphery of the top surface portion 222. The sliding cylindrical portion 223 has an inner circumferential surface shape that allows it to slide circumferentially and in the forward and backward directions along the outer circumferential surface of the outflow pipe 211. In the mounting state in which the discharge cap 200 is attached to the spout body 210, the sliding cylindrical portion 223 is arranged along the outer circumferential surface of the tip portion 211c of the outflow pipe 211, and the inner cylindrical portion 225 is arranged along the inner circumferential surface of the tip portion 211c of the outflow pipe 211. In this mounting state, the inner cylindrical portion 225 is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the outlet pipe 211 so as to be slidable in the forward and backward direction relative to the tip portion 211c of the outlet pipe 211. More specifically, the stopper portion 225b of the inner cylindrical portion 225 is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the tip portion 211c of the outlet pipe 211, and when the discharge cap 200 slides, the stopper portion 225b slides along the inner circumferential surface.

[0061] In this embodiment, the discharge cap 200 can be slid in the forward and backward directions by rotating it counterclockwise in the axial direction. Rotating the discharge cap 200 causes it to move up and down (forward and backward). That is, the length of the dispensing member 2d can change in the outflow direction V. The upward sliding movement of the discharge cap 200 is restricted by contact between the liquid-tight portion 211f and the stopper portion 225b, as described above. From the viewpoint of making such restriction more reliable, it is preferable that the liquid-tight portion 211f and the stopper portion 225b each have a hook-shaped cross-sectional shape along the axial direction of the dispensing member 2d. Furthermore, the downward sliding movement of the discharge cap 200 is restricted by contact between the top surface 222 of the discharge cap 200 and the leading edge of the outlet pipe 211.

[0062] Hereinafter, the height position of the upper edge of the discharge cap 200 when the discharge cap 200 cannot move any further downward, that is, the height position of the upper edge of the discharge cap 200 when the total length of the dispensing member 2d is at its shortest, is referred to as the "shut-off position P1" [see Figure 7(a)]. Also, the height position of the upper edge of the discharge cap 200 when the discharge cap 200 cannot move any further upward, that is, the height position of the upper edge of the discharge cap 200 when the total length of the dispensing member 2d is at its longest, is referred to as the "maximum open position P2" [see Figure 7(b)]. In this embodiment, when displacing the height of the upper edge of the discharge cap 200 from the shut-off position P1 to the maximum open position P2, the discharge cap 200 is rotated counterclockwise. On the other hand, when displacing it from the maximum open position P2 to the shut-off position P1, the discharge cap 200 is rotated clockwise.

[0063] When the upper edge of the discharge cap 200 is in the blocked position P1, the stopper 212 is in close contact with the base end opening 224a of the nozzle portion 224, blocking the flow of contents to the nozzle portion 224 (see Figure 7(a)). When the blockage of the base end opening 224a by the stopper 212, i.e., the blockage of the flow of contents by the stopper 212, is released, the flow of contents from the outlet cylinder 211 to the nozzle portion 224 is opened. This makes it possible to discharge the contents via the dispensing member 2d.

[0064] When discharging the contents contained in the container body 10 from the tip discharge portion 224b of the dispensing member 2d, the container body 10 is tilted so that the tip discharge portion 224b faces downward in the vertical direction. In this state, the discharge cap 200 is operated to slide the sliding cylinder portion 223 circumferentially and in the forward and backward directions relative to the outflow cylinder 211. Specifically, the discharge cap 200 is rotated counterclockwise relative to the spout body 210 (outflow cylinder 211), and the discharge cap 200 is slid upward, gradually moving the upper edge of the cap 200 upward from the blocked position P1 [see Figure 7(a)]. As a result, the base opening 224a gradually moves upward away from the stopper 212, and the blockage of the base opening 224a by the stopper 212 is released. Then, the internal space of the spout body 210 (outlet cylinder 211) and the internal space of the discharge cap 200 switch from a non-communicating state to a communicative state. In this way, the flow of contents to the nozzle section 224 is opened, changing the state to one in which the contents can be discharged, and the contents contained in the container body 10 are discharged from the tip discharge section 224b. To slide the discharge cap 200 downward and move the upper edge of the cap 200 to the shut-off position P1, perform the operation in the reverse order of the above-described procedure (rotate the discharge cap 200 clockwise).

[0065] In the operation of sliding the discharge cap 200 upward as described above, if the discharge cap 200 is further rotated counterclockwise and slid so that the upper edge of the cap 200 reaches the maximum open position P2, the base opening 224a moves farther away from the stopper 212, and the volume of the space between the base opening 224a and the stopper 212 increases. The amount of contents discharged from the tip discharge section 224b can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing this space volume. Specifically, if the space volume between the base opening 224a and the stopper 212 increases, the amount of contents flowing into the space increases, and the amount of contents discharged increases. On the other hand, if the space volume between the base opening 224a and the stopper 212 decreases, the amount of contents flowing into the space decreases, and the amount of contents discharged decreases. In other words, by sliding the discharge cap 200 so that its upper edge approaches the maximum open position P2, the amount of contents discharged can be increased, and by sliding the discharge cap 200 so that its upper edge moves away from the maximum open position P2, the amount of contents discharged can be decreased.

[0066] As described above, the dispensing member 2d allows adjustment of the amount of contents dispensed by moving the dispensing cap 200 relative to the outflow cylinder 211. The adjustment mechanism provided by the dispensing member 2d is not limited to this form. For example, the outflow cylinder 211 may have an engaging projection on its outer circumferential surface, and the sliding cylinder portion 223 may have a notched guide groove with a groove width that the engaging projection can fit into. In this form, the dispensing cap 200 is rotated or moved forward and backward (up and down) relative to the outflow cylinder 211 so as to move the engaging projection along the notched guide groove. This operation allows control of the dispensing of contents and the amount of contents dispensed.

[0067] Furthermore, although the plug body 212 shown in Figure 6 had a circular plate shape, it is not limited to this form. For example, it may have a bullet shape that tapers towards the tip, or it may have a cylindrical shape.

[0068] The dispensing member 2d shown in Figures 6 and 7 was capable of adjusting the amount of contents dispensed by its structure, but the dispensing member used in the refillable container of the present invention may be capable of adjusting the amount of contents dispensed by other means. For example, the device may be equipped with means for electrically controlling the amount of contents discharged from the dispensing member. Such means include detecting the amount of contents discharged from the dispensing member using a flow sensor or the like, and automatically shutting off the flow path of the contents in the dispensing member with a valve or the like when the discharge amount reaches a predetermined value. Machine learning may also be used to control such discharge amount.

[0069] The dispensing members in each embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 7 above are molded products made from synthetic resins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, or biomass-derived resins (bioplastics) such as polylactic acid, and are preferably formed by injection molding.

[0070] The dispensing members of each embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 7 above may have a flexible valve in the dispensing section that closes the outflow tube, which is the flow path for the contents, and has a slit in the center. This flexible valve is pressed and deformed outward in the direction of outflow by the internal pressure of the container body 10, and due to the flexibility of the valve, it can resist the opening of the slit and maintain the closed state of the outflow tube until the internal pressure becomes sufficiently high. That is, until the internal pressure of the container body 10 exceeds a predetermined level and the slit opens, the flexible valve blocks the flow path of the contents in the outflow tube. The flexible valve is made of an elastically deformable material such as rubber. Examples of flexible valves include those described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-530253, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-533986, or Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-530482. If the dispensing member is equipped with a flexible valve, the flexible valve may be provided in an opening outward in the outflow direction V of the outflow pipe, or inward in the outflow direction V, or it may be provided between these two openings.

[0071] The form of the contents discharged through the dispensing member may be a liquid or a non-liquid. For example, it may be in the form of foam or mist. If it is in the form of foam or mist, the dispensing member is equipped with means (pump, trigger, etc.) to change into that form.

[0072] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be modified as appropriate. Furthermore, the embodiments described above may be combined. For example, the container body 10 shown in Figure 1 was a pouch having corners 19, but it may also be a pouch without such corners. The container body 10 shown in Figure 1 was a pouch with a gusset only at the bottom, but it may also be a pouch with gussets at both the top and bottom. The refillable container of the present invention may be an inner container housed in a rigid outer container such as cardboard. Such a refillable container is in the form of a so-called bag-in-box. The refillable container of the present invention may have labels such as eye-catching labels affixed to its outer surface. Furthermore, the outer surface of the container body may or may not have designs or other prints. It may also have partial printing. For example, the outer surface of the container body may be printed in such a way that it has transparent areas. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1,1a,1b container 2,2a,2b,2c,2d Pouring parts 5,6a,6b,6c Fixed location indication 9. Recycling label 10, 10a, 10b Container body 11a,11b,11c,11d Side wall 12 Upper edge sealing portion 13,13c side wall 14,14b bottom 15a, 15b Separation seal section 16 Side seal section 17a,17b Separator line 19 Corner 20a,20b,20c Pour part 22 Center board 25b Upper spout 30, 30b, 30c Mounting mechanism 31,32 Rod-shaped clamping part 35,36 Plate-shaped clamping part 37 Engaging part 200 Discharge Cap 210 Spout body 211 Outflow tube 212 Plug body 213 Support part 221 Main body 222 Top section 223 Slide barrel section 224 Nozzle section 224a Proximal opening 224b Tip discharge part 225 Inner cylinder part D interval P1 Blocking position P2 Maximum open position s Small volume part V outflow direction X Width direction Y (depth direction) Z (height direction)

Claims

1. A refill container for transferring contents into a refillable container, The capacity of the refill container is greater than the capacity of the container to be refilled. The refillable container comprises a container body formed of a sheet material, and the container body has a plurality of side walls along the height direction of the refillable container. The container body has markings on at least one of its side walls indicating a fixing point for fixing a dispensing member for dispensing the contents, A refillable container in which the dispensing member is fixed to the fixing point on the wall surface such that the direction of outflow of the contents from the dispensing member substantially coincides with the horizontal direction.

2. A refill container for refilling a container to be refilled, The capacity of the refill container is greater than the capacity of the container to be refilled. It is made of sheet material and has multiple markings indicating fixing points for fixing a dispensing member for dispensing the contents, A refillable container having multiple small-capacity sections, each having a capacity equivalent to a single refill of the aforementioned refillable container, which are divisible or separable.

3. The refillable container according to claim 1, having multiple indicators showing the aforementioned fixing points.

4. The refill container according to claim 3, wherein the multiple fixing points differ from each other in at least one of their positions in the height direction and the horizontal direction of the refill container.

5. A refillable container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the internal volume can be adjusted according to the remaining amount of contents.

6. A refillable container according to claim 5, which is foldable.

7. The refillable container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sheet material comprises a resin layer made of a single resin material.

8. The refillable container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sheet material is composed of a biomass-derived material.

9. The refillable container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sheet material is composed of recycled materials.

10. A refillable container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the surface is marked with an indication of a method for recycling or sorting the refillable container.

11. The refill container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the form of the refill container is one of a pouch, a gusset, and a pillow.

12. A refill set comprising a refill container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and a dispensing member with a mounting mechanism that can be detachably attached to the position of the marking indicating the fixing location.

13. A method for using a refill container to transfer contents into a refillable container, The capacity of the refill container is greater than the capacity of the container to be refilled. The refillable container comprises a container body formed of a sheet material, and the container body has a plurality of side walls along the height direction of the refillable container. The container body has multiple markings on at least one side wall surface indicating a fixing point for fixing a dispensing member for dispensing the contents, A method for using a refillable container, comprising replacing the dispensing member from one of the indicated locations to another of the indicated locations such that the direction of outflow of the contents from the dispensing member substantially coincides with the horizontal direction.

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