Coating stopper and coating container

Abstract

To provide a coating plug and a coating container in which dripping of the content liquid is suppressed.SOLUTION: A coating container 1 has a coating plug 2 and a container body 10. The coating plug 2 includes: a base cap 3; a slide member 4; and a coating member 5. The base 3 is equipped with a liquid inlet portion 6 and an air inlet portion 7. The slide member 4 is equipped with a check valve 8. The slide member 4 can slide upward to form a filling space S2 of the mixed liquid between the base 3 and the slide member 4 by the pressure of the mixed liquid. The slide member 4 is equipped with a supply hole 9 for supplying the mixed liquid of the filling space S2 to the coating member 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an application stopper and an application container.

Background Art

[0002] Conventional application stoppers are known in which an application member is disposed above a cap base attached to a container body, and the content liquid poured out through the cap base is supplied to the application member (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the conventional application stopper, the content liquid may not stay on the application member and may drip down.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an application stopper and an application container in which dripping of the content liquid is suppressed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] (1) The coating stopper according to the present invention comprises a base cap that can be attached to the mouth of a container, a slide member disposed above the base cap and equipped with an outside air introduction passage, and a coating member disposed above the slide member, wherein the base cap is equipped with a liquid contents introduction section and an air introduction section that lead to the storage space of the container, the slide member is equipped with a check valve that prevents the pouring out of the mixed liquid of the liquid contents from the liquid contents introduction section and the air from the air introduction section through the outside air introduction passage, while allowing the introduction of outside air through the outside air introduction passage, and furthermore, the slide member is slidable upward so as to form a filling space for the mixed liquid between the base cap and the slide member by the pressure of the mixed liquid, and in addition, the slide member is equipped with a supply hole for supplying the mixed liquid from the filling space to the coating member.

[0007] (2) In the coating plug of (1) above, it is preferable that the supply holes are arranged in multiple locations in the radial direction, and that the diameter of the supply holes increases towards the radially outward direction.

[0008] (3) In the coating plug of (1) or (2) above, the check valve is preferably a ball valve located in the outside air intake passage of the slide member.

[0009] (4) In any one of the coating plugs described in (1) to (3) above, it is preferable that the coating member is made of a porous synthetic resin.

[0010] (5) The coating container according to the present invention comprises one of the coating plugs described in (1) to (4) above, and a container body having a mouth portion to which the coating plug is attached, and a body portion that is deformable and can be restored. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a coating stopper and a coating container in which the dripping of the liquid contents is suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a partial cross-sectional view schematically showing a coating container according to one embodiment of the present invention, the coating container being equipped with a coating stopper according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a partially cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the main part of the coating container in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing the path through which the liquid contents are supplied to the coating member of the coating container. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state in which the liquid contents are being applied to the target area using the application container. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] The following description will refer to the drawings and explain an embodiment of the present invention concerning a coating stopper and a coating container. However, the terms used herein are defined as follows.

[0014] "Upper side" includes meaning the coating surface side of the coating stopper or the mouth side of the container body. "Lower side" also includes meaning the side on which the applicator is attached to the mouth of the container body or the bottom side of the container body (coating container).

[0015] The symbol O represents the central axis of the coating container. In this embodiment, the central axis of the coating stopper and the container body is coaxial with the central axis O of the coating container (hereinafter also simply referred to as "axis O"). The direction in which axis O extends is also called the "axial direction". The direction perpendicular to the axial direction is also called the "radial direction". Furthermore, the side of the radial direction closer to axis O is also called the "inner radial direction". And the side of the radial direction further from axis O is also called the "outer radial direction".

[0016] Figure 1 schematically shows a coating container 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention in a partial cross-section. The coating container 1 is equipped with a coating stopper 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 1, the coating container 1 is shown as a cross-section of a plane containing the central axis O around the coating stopper 2.

[0017] The coating container 1 basically includes a coating plug 2 and a container body 10. In this embodiment, the container body 10 includes a mouth portion 11 to which the coating plug 2 is attached and a body portion 14 that can be deformed and restored.

[0018] The container body 10 has an accommodation space S1 inside the container body 10 that can accommodate the content liquid. Specifically, the container body 10 includes a mouth portion 11 having an opening leading to the accommodation space S1, a neck portion 12 connected to the mouth portion 11, a shoulder portion 13 connected to the neck portion 12, a body portion 14 connected to the shoulder portion 13, and a bottom portion 15 that closes the lower end of the body portion 14. The container body 10 is made of an elastic synthetic resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, for example. The container body 10 can be deformed by, for example, squeezing its body portion 14. And when the squeezing is released, the shape of the container body 10 can be restored to its original shape. That is, in this embodiment, the container body 10 is a so-called squeeze-type container body. [[ID=J]]

[0019] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the coating container 1 includes an overcap 18 that covers the coating plug 2. The overcap 18 can be detachably attached to the neck portion 12 of the container body 10. In this embodiment, the overcap 18 is detachably screwed to the neck portion 12. However, the attachment means of the overcap 18 to the container body 10 is not limited to screwing. The overcap 18 is made of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene, for example.

[0020] The coating plug 2 includes a base cap 3 that can be attached to the mouth portion 11 of the container body 10, a slide member 4 that is disposed above the base cap 3 and has an outside air introduction passage R4, and a coating member 5 that is disposed above the slide member 4.

[0021] The base cap 3 includes a content liquid introduction portion 6 and an air introduction portion 7 that lead to the accommodation space S1 of the container body 10.

[0022] The base cap 3 is disposed above the mouth portion 11 of the container body 10 and includes a partition wall 31 that partitions the accommodation space S1 and the outside world, a mounting cylinder 32 that is disposed radially outside the mouth portion 11 of the container body 10 and is attached to the mouth portion 11, a sealing cylinder 33 that is disposed radially inside the mouth portion 11 of the container body 10 and seals the inner peripheral surface of the mouth portion 11, a pipe attachment cylinder 34 to which a pipe 17 extending into the accommodation space S1 of the container body 10 is attached, and a holding cylinder 35 that holds the coating member 5 together with the slide member 4. The base cap 3 is made of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene, for example.

[0023] The partition wall 31 is disposed at the upper end of the mouth portion 11 and closes the opening formed in the mouth portion 11 when the base cap 3 is attached to the mouth portion 11 of the container body 10. The air introduction portion 7 is a through hole formed in the partition wall 31. The air introduction portion 7 can introduce the air existing in the accommodation space S1 of the container body 10 to the slide member 4 side. In the present embodiment, the base cap 3 includes a plurality of air introduction portions 7. The plurality of air introduction portions 7 are arranged at intervals around the pipe attachment cylinder 34 (circumferentially around the axis О of the pipe attachment cylinder 34). It is preferable to provide a plurality of air introduction portions 7, but at least one may be provided.

[0024] The mounting cylinder 32 extends downward from the outer edge of the partition wall 31. A locking projection 36 is provided on the radially inner side of the mounting cylinder 32. The locking projection 36 is locked by engaging with a locking projection 16 provided radially outside the mouth portion 11 of the container body 10 in the vertical direction. Thereby, the base cap 3 is firmly fixed to the mouth portion 11 of the container body 10. However, the means for fixing the mounting cylinder 32 to the mouth portion 11 of the container body 10 is not limited to the engagement of the projections.

[0025] The sealing cylinder 33 is disposed radially inside the mounting cylinder 32 and extends downward from the partition wall 31. The sealing cylinder 33 seals the inner peripheral surface of the mouth portion 11 when the base cap � is attached to the mouth portion 11 of the container body 10.

[0026] The pipe mounting cylinder 34 is positioned radially inward from the seal cylinder 33 and extends downward from the partition wall 31. The pipe 17 is attached to the inside of the pipe mounting cylinder 34. The liquid contents introduction section 6 is positioned inside the pipe mounting cylinder 34 and is a through-hole formed in the partition wall 31. The liquid contents introduction section 6 can introduce the liquid contents of the containment space S1, which has been pressurized through the pipe 17, to the slide member 4 side. In this embodiment, the partition wall 31 has a merging opening A3 that brings the liquid contents introduction section 6 and the air introduction section 7 together. As a result, the liquid contents introduction section 6 and the air introduction section 7 are in communication with each other via the merging opening A3.

[0027] The retaining cylinder 35 extends upward from the outer edge of the partition wall 31. The upper end of the retaining cylinder 35 is provided with a retaining projection 38 that protrudes radially inward. The retaining projection 38 prevents the slide member 4 from falling out by catching on the outer edge of the support wall 41 of the slide member 4, which will be described later, when the slide member 4 slides upward. In this embodiment, the retaining projection 38 is an annular retaining projection that extends in an annular manner in the circumferential direction around the axis O. However, there only needs to be at least one retaining projection 38 locally. Also, in this embodiment, the retaining projection 38 has the same diameter as the mounting cylinder 32, so that it forms a single cylinder together with the mounting cylinder 32. However, the retaining cylinder 35 can have a different diameter from the mounting cylinder 32.

[0028] The slide member 4 is equipped with a check valve 8. The check valve 8 prevents the mixture of liquid from the liquid inlet 6 and air from the air inlet 7 from being dispensed through the outside air inlet passage R4, while allowing outside air to be introduced through the outside air inlet passage R4.

[0029] Furthermore, the slide member 4 is slidable vertically along the retaining cylinder 35 of the base cap 3. In addition, the slide member 4 is equipped with a supply hole 9 for supplying the mixed liquid to the coating member 5.

[0030] The slide member 4 comprises a support wall 41 that supports the coating member 5, and an outside air intake pipe 42 that extends upward from the center of the support wall 41. The slide member 4 is made of a synthetic resin, such as polypropylene.

[0031] The support wall 41 is a circular support wall that can slide vertically along the inner circumferential surface of the retaining cylinder 35 of the base cap 3. The supply hole 9 is a through hole that penetrates the support wall 41. The support wall 41 has a plurality of supply holes 9.

[0032] Figure 2 shows a magnified view of the main part of the coating container 1.

[0033] In this embodiment, multiple supply holes 9 are arranged in the radial direction. The diameter of the supply holes 9 increases as it moves radially outward.

[0034] In this embodiment, the supply holes 9 are arranged radially around the outside air intake pipe 42 in a plan view (axial view). That is, in this embodiment, the supply holes 9 are arranged in an annular pattern around the outside air intake pipe 42 at intervals in the circumferential direction in a plan view, and multiple such annular supply holes 9 are arranged concentrically in the radial direction. However, various arrangements of the supply holes 9 can be selected. Also, in this embodiment, the supply holes 9 are round holes (cylindrical holes). In this embodiment, the diameter of the supply holes 9 increases as they move radially outward from the outside air intake pipe 42. Referring to Figure 2, the diameter B of the supply hole 9 furthest radially from the outside air intake pipe 42 is larger than the diameter of the supply hole 9 closest radially from the outside air intake pipe 42. In other words, the further the supply hole 9 is from the outside air intake pipe 42, the greater the amount of the mixed liquid that can be supplied to the coating member 5.

[0035] An external air intake passage R4 is formed inside the external air intake cylinder 42, penetrating in the vertical direction. The external air intake passage R4 communicates with the liquid contents intake section 6 and the air intake section 7 via a confluence opening A3. In this embodiment, the external air intake cylinder 42 is composed of a large-diameter section 43 connected to the support wall 41, a constricted section 44 connected to the large-diameter section 43, and a small-diameter section 45 connected to the constricted section 44. The constricted section 44 is radially tapered inward as it moves from the large-diameter section 43 side towards the small-diameter section 45 side (upward).

[0036] The check valve 8 is a ball valve positioned in the outside air intake passage R4 of the slide member 4. In this embodiment, the check valve 8 is positioned in the outside air intake passage R4 located inside the throttling section 44. Multiple retaining ribs 46 are provided on the inner circumferential surfaces of the large diameter section 43 and the throttling section 44 to support the check valve 8 so that it can move up and down. The retaining ribs 46 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction around the axis O. When the check valve 8 moves upward, it seals the opening of the outside air intake passage R4 located at the boundary between the throttling section 43 and the small diameter section 45 (the lower end of the small diameter section 45), thereby preventing the inflow of outside air through the outside air intake passage R4 and the discharge of the mixed liquid through the outside air intake passage R4. On the other hand, when the check valve 8 moves downward, it opens the opening of the outside air intake passage R4 located at the lower end of the small diameter portion 45, thereby allowing outside air to flow in through the outside air intake passage R4 and the mixed liquid to be drawn in through the outside air intake passage R4.

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the base cap 3 is provided with an upper contour portion 37 that frames the confluence opening A3. The upper contour portion 37 is a conical recess that slopes downward toward the axis O. In addition, in this embodiment, the slide member 4 is provided with a lower contour portion 47 that frames the outside air intake passage R4. The lower contour portion 47 is a conical projection that slopes downward toward the axis O. In this embodiment, the upper contour portion 37 of the base cap 3 and the lower contour portion 47 of the slide member 4 can be brought into contact in the initial state when the slide member 4 is not sliding, as shown in Figure 2.

[0038] The coating member 5 is a cylindrical member that extends annularly in the circumferential direction around the axis O of the outside air intake pipe 42 of the slide member 4. The coating member 5 can be made of, for example, a water-absorbing nonwoven fabric such as felt, a water-absorbing porous synthetic resin such as foamed plastic (e.g., sponge), or a water-absorbing sintered body. In this embodiment, the coating member 5 is made of a porous synthetic resin.

[0039] Figure 3 schematically shows the path through which the liquid contents are supplied to the coating member 5 of the coating container 1.

[0040] As shown in Figure 3, the slide member 4 is slidable upward by the pressure of the mixed liquid so as to form a filled space S2 for the mixed liquid between the base cap 3 and the slide member 4.

[0041] Here, we will explain an example of how to use the coating container 1.

[0042] First, as shown in Figure 1, the user removes the overcap 18 with the applicator stopper 2 facing upwards. Next, the body 14 of the container 10 is pressed inwards.

[0043] Figure 3 shows the state when the body portion 14 of the container body 10 is crushed inward. The liquid contents contained in the storage space S1 of the container body 10 are pumped through the pipe 17 to the liquid contents introduction section 6 by the crushing of the body portion 14, as indicated by the bold arrow. At the same time, the air contained in the storage space S1 is also pumped to the air introduction section 7 by the crushing of the body portion 14, as indicated by the dashed arrow. The liquid contents introduced from the liquid contents introduction section 6 and the air introduced from the air introduction section 7 merge at the confluence opening A3 and are pumped upward toward the slide member 4 as a mixture of liquid contents and air.

[0044] The mixed liquid, then pumped from the confluence opening A3, pushes up the check valve 8, sealing the outside air intake passage R4. This further pushes the slide member 4 upward relative to the base cap 3. As a result, the pressure of the mixed liquid forms a filled space S2 between the base cap 3 and the slide member 4. At this time, the mixed liquid is efficiently pumped relatively early after the slide member 4 begins to slide, due to the conical gap formed between the upper contour portion 37 of the base cap 3 and the lower contour portion 47 of the slide member 4 on the support wall 41 of the slide member 4. The sliding of the slide member 4 is restricted by the retaining projection 38 provided on the retaining cylinder 35 of the base cap 3 catching and locking onto the upper surface of the radially outer edge of the support wall 41 of the slide member 4. This prevents the slide member 4 from falling off the base cap 3.

[0045] The mixed liquid filled in the filling space S2 is then pumped to the coating member 5 through the supply hole 9, allowing it to be efficiently impregnated into the interior of the coating member 5. At this time, the mixed liquid supplied to the coating member 5 is not just a liquid, but a foamy liquid containing air. In other words, a foamy liquid containing air, rather than just a liquid, seeps out onto the coating surface of the coating member 5. As a result, the liquid impregnated into the coating member 5 is less likely to drip off.

[0046] Figure 4 schematically shows the state in which the liquid contents have been applied to the target area 100 using the application container 1.

[0047] In Figure 4, the liquid contents are applied to the area to be coated 100 with the coating container 1 inverted. As shown in Figure 4, foamy liquid contents seep out onto the coating surface of the coating member 5. Therefore, as shown in Figure 4, even with the coating container 1 inverted, the liquid contents impregnated into the coating member 5 can be applied to the area to be coated 100 without dripping from the coating member 5. At this time, the slide member 4 slides against the base cap 3 by pressing the coating member 5 against the area to be coated 100. This sliding continues until the upper contour portion 37 of the base cap 3 and the lower contour portion 47 of the slide member 4 come into contact. In other words, the slide member 4 can be returned to its initial position by pressing the coating member 5 against the area to be coated 100.

[0048] After use, when the coating container 1 is stood upright with the coating stopper 2 facing upwards, the check valve 8 falls towards the large-diameter section 43, as shown in Figure 1, opening the outside air intake passage R4. This allows outside air to be drawn in through the outside air intake passage R4. The outside air drawn in through the outside air intake passage R4 is introduced into the storage space S1 of the container body 10 through the confluence opening A3 and the air intake section 7. As a result, when the body 14 of the container body 10 is squeezed again, the foamy liquid contents can be impregnated into the coating member 5.

[0049] As described above, with the coating container 1 equipped with the coating stopper 2, the liquid content that seeps out onto the coating surface of the coating member 5 becomes a foamy liquid content. Therefore, according to this embodiment, a coating stopper and coating container can be obtained in which the dripping of the liquid content is suppressed. In addition, it is common to supply the foamy liquid content to the coating member 5 through a mesh. In contrast, with the coating stopper 2, there is no need to separately provide a foam-generating element such as a mesh.

[0050] In particular, in this embodiment, the diameter of the supply holes 9 increases as it extends radially outward. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the foamy liquid can be supplied evenly to the entire coating member 5 through each supply hole 9, from the radially inner side to the radially outer side.

[0051] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the check valve 8 is a ball valve located in the outside air intake passage R4 of the slide member 4. In this case, a simple configuration can be used to suppress the dripping of the liquid contents.

[0052] In addition, in this embodiment, the coating member 5 is made of a porous synthetic resin. In this case, it is easier to impregnate it with more of the liquid content, and the application feel is also good.

[0053] Although an applicator stopper and applicator container according to one embodiment of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be modified in various ways within the scope described in the claims. For example, according to the present invention, the overcap 18 may not be included in the applicator container 1. The applicator stopper and applicator container can be used, for example, for medical products such as anti-itch liquids, or for household products such as anti-fogging liquids for glass. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1: Coating container, 2: Coating stopper, 3: Base cap, 4: Sliding member, 41: Support wall, 42: Outside air intake pipe, 43: Large diameter section, 44: Constriction section, 45: Small diameter section, 5: Coating member, 6: Content liquid introduction section, 7: Air introduction section, 8: Check valve, 9: Supply hole, 10: Container body, 11: Mouth of container body, 12: Neck of container body, 13: Shoulder of container body, 14: Body of container body, 15: Bottom of container body, 16: Locking projection, 17: Pipe, 31: Partition wall, 32: Mounting cylinder, 33: Seal cylinder, 34: Pipe mounting cylinder, 35: Retaining cylinder 35, 36: Locking projection, A3: Confluence opening, O: Axis (central axis of coating container), R4: Outside air intake passage, S1: Storage space in the container body, S2: Filling space for the mixed liquid

Claims

1. It comprises a base cap that can be attached to the mouth of a container, a slide member positioned above the base cap and having an outside air intake passage, and a coating member positioned above the slide member. The base cap is equipped with a liquid content introduction section and an air introduction section that lead to the container's storage space. The slide member is equipped with a check valve that prevents the mixture of the liquid contents from the liquid contents introduction section and the air from the air introduction section from being discharged from the outside air introduction passage, while allowing the introduction of outside air from the outside air introduction passage, and further, The sliding member is slidable upward by the pressure of the mixed liquid to form a space for the mixed liquid between the base cap and the sliding member, and in addition, The sliding member is a coating plug having a supply hole for supplying the mixed liquid from the filling space to the coating member.

2. The coating plug according to claim 1, wherein the supply holes are arranged in multiple locations in the radial direction, and the diameter of the supply holes arranged in multiple locations in the radial direction increases as the position of the supply holes moves radially outward.

3. The coating plug according to claim 1, wherein the check valve is a ball valve disposed in the outside air intake passage of the slide member.

4. The coating plug according to claim 1, wherein the coating member is made of a porous synthetic resin.

5. A coating plug according to any one of claims 1 to 4, A coating container comprising a container body having a mouth portion to which the coating plug is attached, and a body portion that is deformable and resilient.

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