container

Abstract

To provide a container which enables easy refill operation and inhibits unintentional spill of a reloaded medical agent to the outside of the container.SOLUTION: A container 1 has a loading port 2, enables a storage object to be stored or reloaded therein, and includes multiple valves 15 which are connected to a peripheral edge of the loading port 2 and close the loading port 2. At least one of the valves 15 has a groove 16 at a connection part connected to the peripheral edge and has a rib 17 protruding to the outer side of the container 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a container, and more particularly to a container capable of refilling contents such as a drug.

Background Art

[0002] In the case of an air freshener or the like, when the drug or the like loaded in the container purchased for the first time has disappeared due to volatilization or elution, etc., it is known to continue using the container purchased for the first time by purchasing a refill drug without a container and refilling it into the container.

[0003] [[ID=1十五]] The container described in Patent Document 1 is composed of a tray and a lid that is detachably fitted thereto, and is configured such that an air freshener is loaded therein. When refilling the air freshener, the lid is removed from the tray, a new air freshener is placed at a predetermined position of the tray, and then the lid is attached again.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the container described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to remove the lid from the tray every time of refilling, and the refilling operation is complicated. In addition, in such a container, it is preferable that it is possible to suppress the refilled drug from accidentally deviating outside the container.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a container in which the refilling operation is simple and the refilled drug or the like is unlikely to accidentally deviate outside the container.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The present invention relates to a container having a loading opening, which can store and reload items inside. This container is connected to the periphery of the loading port and includes multiple valves that seal the loading port. At least one of the valves has a groove at the connection point with the periphery and a rib that protrudes outward from the container. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The container according to the present invention is easy to refill, and the refilled drug or other substance is less likely to unintentionally spill out of the container. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a container relating to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a plan view of the container. [Figure 3] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the container. [Figure 4] (a) and (b) are diagrams showing one step in the process of loading the target contents into the container. [Figure 5] This figure shows the valve of the container bent upwards. [Figure 6] (a) and (b) are diagrams showing modified examples of the ribs relating to the container. [Figure 7] This figure shows a modified example of the valve relating to the same container. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view showing a container according to a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view of the container. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a container 1 according to this embodiment. Figure 2 is a plan view of the container 1. The container 1 has a roughly spherical appearance and a flat bottom so that it can be placed stably. The container 1 has a loading opening 2 at the top, and is configured so that when the amount of pre-loaded medicine decreases or runs out, refill medicine can be added through the loading opening 2. The external shape of container 1 is not limited to the approximately spherical shape shown in the illustration, and can be any desired shape considering the assumed installation environment, etc.

[0011] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of container 1 along line II shown in Figure 2. Container 1 has a loading opening 2 and is composed of three members: a first member 10 which constitutes the upper part of container 1; a second member 30 which constitutes the lower part of container 1 and, together with the first member 10, defines the outer shape of container 1; and an inner cylinder 50 which is placed inside container 1.

[0012] The first member 10 and the second member 30 have a substantially hemispherical appearance. Because the first member 10 and the second member 30 are formed thinly, a space is secured inside the container 1 when the first member 10 and the second member 30 are combined. In this embodiment, the first member 10 has a plurality of slit-shaped holes 11 that communicate with the internal space, and is configured so that fluids such as water can flow into and out of the container 1. The hole 11 is of an arbitrary configuration and may not be provided at all. Alternatively, a hole similar to the hole 11 may be provided in the lower second member 30.

[0013] As shown in Figure 2, the loading port 2 of the first member 10 is largely blocked by three valves 15 connected to the first member 10. The plan view shape of each valve 15 is roughly a sector (one-third circle) with an interior angle of 120 degrees.

[0014] A groove 16 is formed at the connection point (base) between each valve 15 and the first member 10, along the periphery of the loading port 2, and this portion is thinner. At the center of each valve in the width direction, a rib 17 extending radially in a fan shape protrudes upward, i.e., outward from the container 1. The rib 17 extends radially in a fan shape. As shown in FIG. 3, the valve 15 extends obliquely downward from the base provided with the groove 16 to below the container 1 where the second member 30 is located. That is, the valve 15 approaches the second member 30 as it approaches the tip.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 3, inside the first member 10, near the periphery of the loading port 2, a first protrusion 21 that engages with the inner cylinder 50 protrudes.

[0016] The second member 30 has a basic shape in which the lower part of the hemisphere is horizontally cut off. In this embodiment, the second member 30 has a hole 32 in the lower part, but this is not essential, and the hole 32 may not be provided. The outer diameter of the upper part of the second member 30 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the lower part of the first member 10 and can enter the first member 10. As shown in FIG. 3, inside the second member 30, near the periphery of the hole 32, a second protrusion 33 that engages with the inner cylinder 50 protrudes.

[0017] The inner cylinder 50 is a bottomed cylindrical member, and target storage items such as drugs are stored in the internal space. A plurality of through holes are provided on the outer peripheral surface and the bottom surface of the inner cylinder, and the volatilized or melted target storage items can move out of the inner cylinder 50 through the through holes. These through holes are also of an arbitrary configuration and may not be provided depending on the type of the target storage item and the like. In the inner cylinder 50, a first claw 51 that engages with the first protrusion 21 is provided at the upper part that opens, and a second claw 52 that engages with the second protrusion is provided at the lower part with a bottom surface.

[0018] The container 1 can be manufactured by integrating the three members by engaging one of the first member 10 and the second member 30 with the inner cylinder 50 and then engaging the other of the first member 10 and the second member 30 with the inner cylinder 50 while causing the upper part of the second member 30 to enter the first member 10. In the completed container 1, since the engagement portions between the first member 10 and the second member 30 and the inner cylinder 50 are inside and not easily touched, situations such as the engagement being unintentionally released when the user touches it are suppressed.

[0019] The operation of container 1, configured as described above, will now be explained. In one example, container 1 is shipped and distributed in a state where the target contents are loaded into the inner cylinder 50, or in a state where it is packaged together with the target contents.

[0020] When initially loading the container during set packaging, or when refilling after the contents have been consumed, the user inserts the new contents into the container 1 through the loading opening 2. When inserting, as shown in Figure 4(a), the user brings the contents C into contact with the valve 15 and pushes it in, gradually inserting it while bending the valve 15 inward. Figure 4 shows the user pushing with a finger Fg, but this is just one example; the contents C can also be inserted by pinching it. If the contents C is wrapped in shrink film or the like, the user can insert it without directly touching the contents by grasping the shrink film or the like and pushing out the contents C while inserting it.

[0021] The valve 15 extends downwards at an angle, and the groove 16 thins the connection point with the first member 10, allowing it to bend inward without interfering with the object to be stored C. As a result, the user can smoothly load the object to be stored C. As shown in Figure 4(b), once the target storage item C is loaded all the way into the inner cylinder 50, when the hands or fingers are moved away from the loading port 2, each valve 15 returns to its initial position and closes the loading port 2 again.

[0022] When the orientation of container 1 changes, the contents C may push against valve 15 from the inside. Also, young children or others may try to lift valve 15 if they become interested in the contents C. In such a case, the tip of the valve 15 attempts to move upward, but when the valve 15 bends slightly upward at the groove 16, the upwardly protruding rib 17 interferes with the first member 10 on the periphery of the loading port 2, as shown in Figure 5, and it does not bend any further upward. As a result, even in the above case, the valve 15 is effectively kept in a state of blocking the loading port 2.

[0023] As described above, with the container 1 according to this embodiment, the refilling operation can be performed simply by pushing the target contents C into the loading opening, eliminating the need for complicated operations such as attaching and detaching the lid. Furthermore, the rib 17 protruding from the valve 15 interferes with the first member on the periphery of the loading opening 2, thereby effectively preventing the target contents C from unintentionally detaching after loading. In this embodiment, the rib 17 extends toward the tip of the valve 15, which prevents the tip of the valve 15 from curling upward after the rib 17 interferes with the periphery of the loading port 2. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent unintended displacement of the stored items after loading.

[0024] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and modifications and combinations of the configuration that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included. Some modifications are given below as examples, but these are not all, and other modifications are also possible. Two or more of these modifications may be combined as appropriate.

[0025] In this invention, the shape of the ribs can be set in various ways. The modified rib 17A shown in Figure 6(a) is provided near the groove 16 and along the groove 16. Even with such a rib, interference with the first member 10 can prevent unintended deviation after loading within a certain range. In the modified example shown in Figure 6(b), a rib 17B that interferes with the first member 10 when the valve 15 bends upward, and a rib 17C that prevents deformation of the tip side of the valve are provided separately. Even with such ribs, the same effect as the rib 17 described above is achieved.

[0026] The number and shape of the valves can be set as appropriate. Furthermore, not all valves have to be the same shape. In the modified example shown in Figure 7, the loading port 2 is closed by two relatively large main valves 18A and four auxiliary valves 18B that close the area without main valves. In this configuration, the loading port 2 can be easily opened by pushing in the main valves 18A, making it easier to remove items other than the target storage item C if they are accidentally inserted. In this configuration, the auxiliary valves 18B may not have grooves, or they may not have ribs, so that they do not bend when the target storage item C is loaded.

[0027] The valve may be formed integrally with the first member by injection molding of synthetic resin or the like.

[0028] • In the container according to the present invention, an inner cylinder is not essential. For example, if it is acceptable for the contents to move freely within the container, the container may be formed using only a first member and a second member having a valve.

[0029] The shape of the lower second member is not limited to the approximately hemispherical shape described above. For example, it may be cylindrical, as in the second member 130 of the modified container 1A shown in Figures 8 and 9. In container 1A, the inner cylinder 150 engages only with the upper first member. The container 1A can be placed on a table or the like in a more stable state due to the shape of the second component 130, and is particularly suitable when the contents are fragrances or the like. In the above modified example, the first and second members do not necessarily have to be separate entities and may be formed as a single unit. Furthermore, in this modified form, an inner cylinder is an essential component for holding the contents, but the effect of making it difficult to touch the engagement point between the first member and the inner cylinder is not necessarily achieved. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0030] 1, 1A container 2 loading port 15 valves 16 groove 17, 17A, 17B, 17C Ribs C. Items to be stored

Claims

[Claim 1] A container having a loading opening, which can store and reload items inside, It is connected to the periphery of the loading port and comprises a plurality of valves that close the loading port, The valve extends inward from the connection point with the periphery to the container, At least one of the aforementioned valves is The connection portion with the periphery has a groove, The container has ribs that protrude outward and extend from the vicinity of the groove toward the tip of the valve, When the valve having the rib bends upward, the rib interferes with the periphery, preventing further upward bending. container.

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