Discharge container

Abstract

To take an outside air into a container body when discharging contents.SOLUTION: A dispense container 10 comprises: a container body 11 having a mounting mouth portion 28; a lower support portion 12 disposed on the mounting mouth portion 28; a cylinder 14 disposed on the lower support portion 12, having an interior that can communicate with the interior of the container body 11, and elastically deformable in a vertical direction; and a pushing head 15 disposed on the cylinder 14 and having discharge holes 49, wherein the lower support portion 12 is arranged in the mounting mouth portion 28 so as to be vertically movable with respect to the mounting mouth portion 28, an outer air introduction channel 51 is provided between an inner peripheral surface of the mounting mouth portion 28 and an outer peripheral surface of the lower support portion 12, one of the inner peripheral surface of the mounting mouth portion 28 and the outer peripheral surface of the lower support portion 12 is provided with a seal portion 53 that contacts the other and blocks the outer air introduction channel 51, and the sealing portion 53 blocks a communication through the outside air introduction channel 51 when the pushing head 15 is in an ascending end position, and allows the communication when the pushing head 15 is lowered from the ascending end position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a discharge container.

Background Art

[0002] For example, the discharge container described in the following Patent Document 1 is known. This discharge container includes: a container body that stores contents and has a mounting opening; a lower support portion disposed at the mounting opening; a cylinder that is disposed on the lower support portion, has an interior communicable with the inside of the container body, and is elastically deformable in the vertical direction; and a push-down head that is disposed on the cylinder and has a discharge hole.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a discharge container that can take outside air into the container body when discharging the contents.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0005] In order to solve the above problem, the present invention proposes the following means. <1> A discharge container according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a container body containing contents and having a mounting opening; a lower support portion disposed at the mounting opening; a cylinder disposed at the lower support portion, whose interior is able to communicate with the container body and which is elastically deformable in the vertical direction; and a push head disposed at the cylinder and having a discharge hole communicating with the cylinder, wherein the lower support portion is disposed within the mounting opening portion so as to be vertically movable relative to the mounting opening portion, and an outside air introduction passage is provided between the inner circumferential surface of the mounting opening portion and the outer circumferential surface of the lower support portion to communicate the inside and outside of the container body and introduce outside air into the container body, and a seal portion is provided on one of the inner circumferential surface of the mounting opening portion and the outer circumferential surface of the lower support portion to contact the other and block the outside air introduction passage, and the seal portion blocks communication between the inside and outside of the container body through the outside air introduction passage when the push head is in the raised end position, and allows the communication when the push head descends from the raised end position and the lower support portion descends. Furthermore, the mounting opening is provided with a restricting portion that contacts the lower support portion from below to restrict the lower support portion from descending. As the pressing head descends from its raised end position, the lower support portion descends, and after the lower support portion's descent is restricted by the restricting portion, when the pressing head descends further, the cylinder is elastically compressed between the pressing head and the lower support portion. .

[0006] In the initial state of the discharge container, the push head is in the raised position. At this time, the seal prevents communication between the inside of the container body and the outside through the outside air intake passage. Therefore, leakage of the contents of the container body through the outside air intake passage is suppressed. When a user dispenses contents from a discharge container, the user presses the push head while the cylinder is filled with contents. At this time, the push head descends from its raised end position, causing the lower support to also descend, and the seal allows communication between the inside of the container body and the outside through the outside air intake passage. Furthermore, as the push head descends from its raised end position, the cylinder is elastically compressed between the push head and the lower support. This increases the internal pressure of the cylinder, sending the contents inside the cylinder to the discharge hole and discharging them from there. After the contents are dispensed, the user releases the pressure on the push head. The cylinder then extends due to its elastic restoring force. At this time, the internal pressure of the cylinder decreases, and the contents of the container are drawn into the cylinder while outside air is drawn into the container through the outside air intake passage. For example, if the pressing head is displaced to its upper end position due to the elastic restoring force of the cylinder or a forced external force applied to the pressing head, the seal will block communication between the inside of the container body and the outside through the outside air intake passage. As described above, this dispensing container allows outside air to be drawn into the container body when the contents are dispensed.

[0007] <2> <1> In the discharge container relating to the present invention, a configuration may be adopted in which the pressing force required to lower the pressing head from the upper end position to the lower end position is greater than the pressing force required to compress the cylinder from the most extended state to the most compressed state than the pressing force required to move the lower support portion from the state in which the seal portion blocks communication to the state in which communication is permitted.

[0008] In this case, when the user presses the push head, it is easier to release the blockage of communication by the seal before the cylinder completes its compression deformation. Because the blockage of communication by the seal is released before the cylinder completes its compression deformation, even if the user releases the push head before pressing it to its lowered end position, the blockage of communication by the seal is released when the contents of the container body are drawn into the cylinder, and outside air is drawn into the container body through the outside air intake passage.

[0009] <3> <1> or <2> In the discharge container relating to the present invention, a valve may be further provided to switch between communicating and blocking communication between the inside of the cylinder and the discharge hole, wherein when the push head is in the raised end position, the valve blocks communication between the inside of the cylinder and the discharge hole, and after the push head descends from the raised end position and the seal portion allows communication between the inside of the container body and the outside through the outside air intake passage, the valve may be configured to communicate between the inside of the cylinder and the discharge hole.

[0010] When the push head is in the raised position, the valve blocks communication between the inside of the cylinder and the discharge hole. This prevents the contents of the cylinder from being unintentionally discharged from the discharge hole when the push head is in the raised position. After the push head descends from its raised end position and the seal allows communication between the inside of the container body and the outside through the outside air intake passage, the valve connects the inside of the cylinder to the discharge hole. Therefore, it is also possible to prevent the discharge of contents from the discharge hole from being obstructed by the valve.

[0011] <4> <1> from <3> In a discharge container according to any one of the above embodiments, the cylinder may be bellows-shaped with peaks and valleys arranged alternately in the vertical direction, and the peaks and valleys may be configured to form a spiral that revolves around the container axis.

[0012] The cylinder has a bellows-like structure with alternating peaks and valleys arranged vertically, forming a spiral that revolves around the container axis. This spiral, bellows-like structure enhances the cylinder's self-restoring performance. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, outside air can be drawn into the container body when the contents are dispensed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the initial state of a discharge container according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the dispensing container with the push-down head pressed down. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the dispensing container with the push head further pressed down. [Figure 4] Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the state in which the push head of the discharge container has been further pushed down, specifically the state in which the push head has been pushed down to its lowest position. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Hereinafter, a discharge container 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The discharge container 10 discharges a liquid content accommodated therein. Each member of the discharge container 10 is made of, for example, synthetic resin. The discharge container 10 includes a container body 11, a lower support portion 12, a pipe 13, a cylinder 14, a pressing head 15, a stopper 16, a check valve 17, and a poppet valve 18 (valve).

[0016] In the present embodiment, the container body 11, the lower support portion 12, the pipe 13, the cylinder 14, the pressing head 15, the stopper 16, the check valve 17, and the poppet valve 18 are coaxially arranged. Each central axis of the container body 11, the lower support portion 12, the pipe 13, the cylinder 14, the pressing head 15, the stopper 16, the check valve 17, and the poppet valve 18 is located on a common axis. Hereinafter, this common axis is referred to as the container axis O. The direction of the container axis O is referred to as the up-down direction, the side of the pressing head 15 along the up-down direction is referred to as the upper side, and the side of the container body 11 along the up-down direction is referred to as the lower side. When viewed from the up-down direction, a direction intersecting the container axis O is referred to as the radial direction, and a direction rotating around the container axis O is referred to as the circumferential direction.

[0017] Hereinafter, the state before the operation of the discharge container 10 is referred to as an initial state. In the initial state, in the discharge container 10 in an upright posture, the downward movement of the pressing head 15 is restricted by the stopper 16, the cylinder 14 is in the most extended state, and the pressing head 15 is located at the upper end position.

[0018] The content is accommodated in the container body 11. The container body 11 includes a container body 21 and a mounting cap 22. The container body 21 is, for example, a single-layer container. The container body 21 has a bottomed cylindrical shape. The container body 21 includes a mouth portion 21a. The mounting cap 22 is screwed onto the mouth portion 21a.

[0019] The mounting cap 22 has a double cylindrical shape. The mounting cap 22 includes a first outer cylinder 23, a first inner cylinder 24, and a first connecting portion 25. The first outer cylinder 23 is screwed onto the mouth portion 21a from the radially outer side. The first inner cylinder 24 is disposed within the mouth portion 21a. The first connecting portion 25 connects the upper end of the first outer cylinder 23 and the upper end of the first inner cylinder 24. The first connecting portion 25 is annular. In the illustrated example, the first connecting portion 25 is disposed on the upper end of the mouth portion 21a via a packing 26.

[0020] A guide cylinder 27 is provided on the first connecting portion 25. The guide cylinder 27 is disposed coaxially with the container axis O. The guide cylinder 27 extends upward from the first connecting portion 25. The guide cylinder 27 is integrally molded with the mounting cap 22.

[0021] In the present embodiment, the mouth portion 21a and the mounting cap 22 constitute a mounting mouth portion 28. The inner peripheral surface of the mounting mouth portion 28 is the inner peripheral surface of the first inner cylinder 24. However, for example, the mounting cap 22 may be omitted, and in this case, the inner peripheral surface of the mouth portion 21a may function as the inner peripheral surface of the mounting mouth portion 28.

[0022] A restricting portion 29 is provided on the mounting mouth portion 28. The restricting portion 29 restricts the downward movement of the lower support portion 12 by coming into contact with the lower support portion 12 from below. The restricting portion 29 protrudes radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the mounting mouth portion 28. The restricting portion 29 is integrally molded with the mounting cap 22.

[0023] The restricting portion 29 includes a flange 30 and a guide cylinder 31. The flange 30 extends radially inward from the lower end of the first inner cylinder 24. The flange 30 is annular. The guide cylinder 31 extends upward from the radially inner end of the flange 30. The guide cylinder 31 is disposed within the first inner cylinder 24. The upper end of the guide cylinder 31 is located below the upper end of the first inner cylinder 24.

[0024] The regulating section 29 is provided with air holes 32. The air holes 32 penetrate the regulating section 29 in the vertical direction. Multiple air holes 32 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. First grooves 33 are connected to the air holes 32. The first grooves 33 are located on the inner circumferential surface of the first inner cylinder 24. The first grooves 33 are, for example, vertical grooves. The first grooves 33 extend upward from the radially outer ends of the air holes 32. The upper end of the first grooves 33 is located below the upper end of the guide cylinder 31.

[0025] The lower support portion 12 supports the cylinder 14 from below. The lower support portion 12 is located in the mounting opening portion 28. The lower support portion 12 is positioned within the mounting opening portion 28 so as to be vertically movable relative to the mounting opening portion 28. The lower support portion 12 is cylindrical. The inside of the lower support portion 12 is able to communicate with the inside of the container body 11. The lower support portion 12 comprises a cup 34 and a flow path tube 35. The cup 34 and the flow path tube 35 are molded separately and assembled together.

[0026] The cup 34 is a double-walled cylindrical shape. The cup 34 comprises a second outer cylinder 36, a second inner cylinder 37, and a second connecting portion 38. The lower end of the second outer cylinder 36 is positioned between the first inner cylinder 24 and the guide cylinder 31. The upper end of the second outer cylinder 36 is positioned above the upper end of the guide cylinder 31.

[0027] The second inner cylinder 37 is located inside the guide cylinder 31. The second inner cylinder 37 is larger than the guide cylinder 31 in the vertical direction. The upper end of the second inner cylinder 37 is located above the upper end of the guide cylinder 31. The lower end of the second inner cylinder 37 is located below the lower end of the guide cylinder 31. In the illustrated example, an annular first valve seat 39 is provided in the vertical center of the second inner cylinder 37. The first valve seat 39 is a valve seat for the check valve 17.

[0028] The second connecting portion 38 connects the upper end of the second outer cylinder 36 to the upper end of the second inner cylinder 37. The second connecting portion 38 is annular in shape. In the illustrated example, the second connecting portion 38 faces the upper end of the guide cylinder 31 from above.

[0029] The lower end of the flow channel cylinder 35 is fitted into the upper end of the cup 34. The upper end of the flow channel cylinder 35 protrudes upward from the cup 34. A claw 40 is provided at the upper end of the flow channel cylinder 35. The claw 40 protrudes radially inward. A flange 41 and a flow channel hole 35a are provided at the vertical center of the flow channel cylinder 35. The flange 41 extends radially outward from the flow channel cylinder 35. The flange 41 is located on the second connecting portion 38. The flow channel hole 35a penetrates the flow channel cylinder 35 radially. The flow channel hole 35a opens above the flange 41.

[0030] The pipe 13 extends downward from the lower support portion 12. The pipe 13 connects the lower support portion 12 to the inside of the container body 11. The upper end of the pipe 13 is fitted into the lower end of the second inner cylinder 37. Note that the pipe 13 is optional.

[0031] The cylinder 14 is positioned on the lower support portion 12. The cylinder 14 extends upward from the flange 41. In this embodiment, the cylinder 14 is integrally molded with the lower support portion 12 (flow channel 35). However, the cylinder 14 may be molded separately from the lower support portion 12 and assembled to the lower support portion 12. The inside of the cylinder 14 is connected to the inside of the container body 11. In this embodiment, the inside of the cylinder 14 is connected to the inside of the container body 11 through the inside of the lower support portion 12 and the inside of the pipe 13.

[0032] The cylinder 14 is elastically deformable in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the cylinder 14 is bellows-shaped. From the viewpoint of resilience, it is preferable for the cylinder 14 to be helical bellows-shaped, but it may also be a simple bellows shape without a helix. Here, when the cylinder 14 is bellows-shaped with peaks 14a and valleys 14b arranged alternately in the vertical direction, the cylinder 14 being helical bellows-shaped means that the peaks 14a and valleys 14b form a helix that circulates around the container axis O. Furthermore, the shape of the cylinder 14 is not limited to bellows-shaped, and other shapes that are elastically deformable in the vertical direction can be appropriately adopted as the shape of the cylinder 14.

[0033] The pressing head 15 is positioned on the cylinder 14. The pressing head 15 is supported from below by the cylinder 14. The pressing head 15 comprises a head body 42 and a mounting body 43. The head body 42 and the mounting body 43 are molded separately and assembled together.

[0034] The head body 42 is cylindrical with a top. The head body 42 comprises a top wall portion 44, a peripheral wall portion 45, a relay tube 46, a nozzle tube 47, and longitudinal ribs 48. The intermediate cylinder 46 has a smaller diameter than the peripheral wall portion 45. The intermediate cylinder 46 extends downward from the top wall portion 44. The lower end of the intermediate cylinder 46 is located above the lower end of the peripheral wall portion 45. The nozzle cylinder 47 extends radially outward from the upper end of the intermediate cylinder 46. The nozzle cylinder 47 penetrates the peripheral wall portion 45 radially. The inside of the nozzle cylinder 47 communicates with the inside of the intermediate cylinder 46. The tip of the nozzle cylinder 47 is a discharge hole 49. The discharge hole 49 communicates with the inside of the cylinder 14 through the inside of the nozzle cylinder 47 and the intermediate cylinder 46.

[0035] The vertical ribs 48 are provided inside the intermediate cylinder 46. The vertical ribs 48 protrude radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the intermediate cylinder 46. The vertical ribs 48 are provided in the intermediate cylinder 46 on the opposite side of the nozzle cylinder 47, with the container axis O in between. The upper end of the vertical ribs 48 is connected to the top wall portion 44. The lower end of the vertical ribs 48 is located above the lower end of the intermediate cylinder 46.

[0036] The mounting body 43 is cylindrical. The upper end of the mounting body 43 is attached to the lower end of the intermediate cylinder 46 from the radially outer side. The upper end of the cylinder 14 is attached to the upper end of the mounting body 43 from the radially outer side. The lower end of the mounting body 43 is located below the lower end of the intermediate cylinder 46 and above the lower end of the peripheral wall portion 45. The lower end of the mounting body 43 is the second valve seat 50. The second valve seat 50 is the valve seat for the poppet valve 18. The diameter of the second valve seat 50 decreases as it goes downwards.

[0037] The stopper 16 is detachably positioned between the mounting opening 28 and the pressing head 15. In this embodiment, the stopper 16 is mounted on the guide cylinder 27. The stopper 16 is, for example, a C-shaped member when viewed from above. The lower end of the stopper 16 is located on the first connecting portion 25. The lower end of the peripheral wall portion 45 is located on the upper end of the stopper 16. The stopper 16 restricts the downward movement of the pressing head 15 from its raised end position.

[0038] The check valve 17 allows the contents to flow from the container body 11 into the cylinder 14. The check valve 17 restricts the outflow of contents from the cylinder 14 into the container body 11. The check valve 17 is located within the lower support portion 12. The check valve 17 is seated detachably on the first valve seat 39. The check valve 17 is, for example, a so-called three-point valve.

[0039] The poppet valve 18 switches between opening and closing the communication between the inside of the cylinder 14 and the discharge hole 49. As shown in Figure 1, when the push head 15 is in the raised position, the poppet valve 18 closes the communication between the inside of the cylinder 14 and the discharge hole 49. As shown in Figure 3, after the push head 15 descends from the raised position and the seal portion 53 (described later) allows communication between the inside of the container body 11 and the outside through the outside air intake passage 51, the poppet valve 18 opens the communication between the inside of the cylinder 14 and the discharge hole 49.

[0040] As shown in Figure 1, the poppet valve 18 is positioned within the cylinder 14 so as to be vertically movable relative to the lower support portion 12. In the illustrated example, the poppet valve 18 is a bottomed cylindrical shape. However, the poppet valve 18 may also be, for example, a solid rod shape. The upper and lower ends of the poppet valve 18 are larger in diameter than the center of the poppet valve 18.

[0041] The upper end of the poppet valve 18 is positioned within the lower end of the mounting body 43. The upper end of the poppet valve 18 seats onto the second valve seat 50 from above. The poppet valve 18 blocks communication between the inside of the nozzle cylinder 47 and the inside of the cylinder 14. The lower end of the poppet valve 18 is positioned within the upper end of the flow channel 35. A claw 40 is detachably locked to the lower end of the poppet valve 18. This prevents the poppet valve 18 from coming out upward from the flow channel 35.

[0042] In this embodiment, an outside air introduction passage 51 is provided between the inner circumferential surface of the mounting opening 28 and the outer circumferential surface of the lower support portion 12. The outside air introduction passage 51 connects the inside of the container body 11 to the outside and introduces outside air into the container body 11. In this embodiment, the outside air introduction passage 51 includes a second groove 52. The second groove 52 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the lower support portion 12. The second groove 52 is, for example, a vertical groove. Multiple second grooves 52 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. The second grooves 52 open upward. In this embodiment, the outside air introduction passage 51 connects the inside of the container body 11 to the outside by connecting the second groove 52 to the first groove 33.

[0043] A sealing portion 53 is provided on one of the outer surfaces of the mounting opening 28 and the lower support portion 12, in contact with the other to block the outside air intake passage 51. In this embodiment, the sealing portion 53 is provided on the outer surface of the lower support portion 12. The sealing portion 53 protrudes radially outward from the outer surface of the lower support portion 12. The sealing portion 53 is in contact with the inner surface of the mounting opening 28. When the push head 15 is in the raised end position, the sealing portion 53 blocks communication between the inside of the container body 11 and the outside through the outside air intake passage 51. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 2, when the push head 15 descends from the raised end position and the lower support portion 12 descends, the sealing portion 53 allows the communication to be blocked. The sealing portion 53 switches between blocking and allowing the communication.

[0044] Next, we will explain how to use the dispensing container 10. As shown in Figure 1, in the initial state of the discharge container 10, the push head 15 is in the raised end position. At this time, the seal portion 53 blocks communication between the inside of the container body 11 and the outside through the outside air intake passage 51. Therefore, leakage of the contents of the container body 11 from the outside air intake passage 51 is suppressed. In this embodiment, the poppet valve 18 also blocks communication between the inside of the cylinder 14 and the discharge hole 49. Therefore, leakage of the contents from the discharge hole 49 is also suppressed.

[0045] When a user dispenses contents from the discharge container 10, the user removes the stopper 16 and presses down the push head 15. At this time, as shown in Figure 2, the push head 15 descends from its raised end position, the lower support portion 12 descends, and the seal portion 53 allows communication between the inside of the container body 11 and the outside through the outside air intake passage 51. In this embodiment, when the seal portion 53 descends to below the upper end of the first groove 33, the outside air intake passage 51 (second groove 52) communicates with the first groove 33. As a result, the inside of the container body 11 and the outside communicate through the air hole 32, the first groove 33, the outside air intake passage 51 (second groove 52), the space between the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder 14 and the inner circumferential surface of the guide cylinder 27, and the space between the outer circumferential surface of the guide cylinder 27 and the inner circumferential surface of the peripheral wall portion 45. In this embodiment, the cylinder 14 is not compressed, but it may be compressed to some extent. Also, in this embodiment, the lower support portion 12 descends until its descent is restricted by the restricting portion 29.

[0046] After the lower support portion 12 is restricted from descending by the restricting portion 29, the pressing head 15 descends further from its upper end position, causing the cylinder 14 to be elastically compressed between the pressing head 15 and the lower support portion 12, as shown in Figure 3. At this time, the poppet valve 18 opens first, and the inside of the cylinder 14 and the discharge hole 49 communicate through the intermediate cylinder 46 and the nozzle cylinder 47. Meanwhile, the check valve 17 remains closed, increasing the internal pressure of the cylinder 14. Therefore, if the cylinder 14 is filled with contents, the contents inside the cylinder 14 are sent to the discharge hole 49 and discharged from the discharge hole 49.

[0047] In this embodiment, as the cylinder 14 compresses, the longitudinal ribs 48 of the push head 15 come into contact with the poppet valve 18. If the user further presses the push head 15 in this state, the poppet valve 18 descends together with the push head 15, as shown in Figure 4. When the lower end of the peripheral wall portion 45 of the push head 15 abuts against the first connecting portion 25 of the mounting cap 22, the descent of the push head 15 is restricted. At this time, the push head 15 is in the lowest position, and the cylinder 14 is in its most compressed state.

[0048] After the contents are dispensed, the user releases the pressure on the push head 15. The cylinder 14 then extends due to its elastic restoring force. At this time, the push head 15 rises, and the second valve seat 50 of the push head 15 engages with the upper end of the poppet valve 18, causing the poppet valve 18 to seat on the second valve seat 50. As the cylinder 14 extends further, the internal pressure of the cylinder 14 decreases, and this negative pressure acts on the check valve 17 through the lower support part 12, causing the check valve 17 to open. As a result, the contents of the container body 11 are drawn into the cylinder 14, while outside air is drawn into the container body 11 through the outside air intake passage 51. If the cylinder 14 is not filled with contents in the initial state, the contents will not be discharged during the process described above. However, at this time, the contents of the container body 11 will be drawn into the cylinder 14, filling the cylinder 14 with contents. Therefore, the contents will be discharged during the next operation.

[0049] For example, when the pressing head 15 is displaced to its upper end position due to the elastic restoring force of the cylinder 14 or a forced external force applied to the pressing head 15, the seal portion 53 blocks communication between the inside of the container body 11 and the outside through the outside air intake passage 51. Examples of the forced external force applied to the pressing head 15 include the external force applied to the pressing head 15 when the nozzle cylinder 47 is lifted, or the external force applied to the pressing head 15 when the stopper 16 is installed between the mounting cap 22 and the pressing head 15.

[0050] As described above, according to the discharge container 10 of this embodiment, outside air can be taken into the container body 11 when the contents are discharged.

[0051] When the push head 15 is in the raised position, the poppet valve 18 blocks communication between the inside of the cylinder 14 and the discharge hole 49. This prevents the contents of the cylinder 14 from being unintentionally discharged from the discharge hole 49 when the push head 15 is in the raised position. After the push head 15 descends from its raised end position and the seal portion 53 allows communication between the inside of the container body 11 and the outside through the outside air intake passage 51, the poppet valve 18 connects the inside of the cylinder 14 and the discharge hole 49. Therefore, it is also possible to prevent the discharge of contents from the discharge hole 49 from being obstructed by the poppet valve 18.

[0052] The stopper 16 is detachably positioned between the mounting opening 28 and the pressing head 15, restricting the downward movement of the pressing head 15 from its upper end position. This prevents, for example, the contents from being unintentionally discharged from the discharge hole 49 before the user operates the device. This also makes the device portable. Furthermore, after the user has released the stopper 16 and discharged the contents, during the process of the pressing head 15 returning to its upper end position, the user can, for example, reattach the stopper 16 between the mounting opening 28 and the pressing head 15, thereby forcibly moving the pressing head 15 to its upper end position.

[0053] The restricting portion 29 contacts the lower support portion 12 from below, thereby restricting the downward movement of the lower support portion 12. This ensures that the downward movement of the lower support portion 12 is reliably restricted. The sealing portion 53 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the lower support portion 12 and protrudes radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the lower support portion 12. Therefore, when the lower support portion 12 is lowered, the sealing portion 53 is lowered together with the lower support portion 12. This makes it easy to accurately switch between blocking and allowing communication by the sealing portion 53.

[0054] In this embodiment, of the pressing forces required to lower the pressing head 15 from the raised end position to the lowered end position, it is preferable that the pressing force required to compress the cylinder 14 from its most extended state to its most compressed state (hereinafter referred to as the first pressing force) is greater than the pressing force required to move the lower support portion 12 from the state in which the seal portion 53 blocks the aforementioned communication to the state in which the aforementioned communication is permitted (hereinafter referred to as the second pressing force).

[0055] In this case, when the user presses the push head 15, it is easier to release the blockage of communication by the seal portion 53 before the cylinder 14 completes its compression deformation. By releasing the blockage of communication by the seal portion 53 before the compression deformation of the cylinder 14 is complete, even if the user releases the push head 15 before pressing it to its lowered end position, the blockage of communication by the seal portion 53 is released when the contents of the container body 11 are drawn into the cylinder 14, and outside air is drawn into the container body 11 through the outside air intake passage 51.

[0056] Here, the first pressing force purely refers to the pressing force required to compress the cylinder 14 from its most extended state to its most compressed state. When actually used as a discharge container 10, when the pressing head 15 is pressed to compress the cylinder 14 from its most extended state to its most compressed state, a portion of the pressing force applied to the pressing head 15 is also used, for example, to lower the lower support part 12. However, the magnitude of forces used for purposes other than compressing the cylinder 14 is not considered in the first pressing force. The first pressing force can be measured, for example, by removing the pressing head 15, cylinder 14, and lower support part 12 from the discharge container 10 as a single component and pressing the pressing head 15 of this component while the lower support part 12 is fixed. Similarly, the second pressing force purely refers to the pressing force required to move the lower support part 12 from a state in which the seal part 53 is blocked from communication to a state in which communication is permitted. The second pressing force can be measured, for example, by pressing the pressing head 15 with cylinder 14 replaced by another cylinder that is substantially incompressible in the vertical direction.

[0057] It should be noted that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0058] For example, some or all of the pipe 13, stopper 16, check valve 17, poppet valve 18, and regulating section 29 may be omitted. The sealing portion 53 may be provided on the inner circumferential surface of the mounting opening portion 28 and may be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the lower support portion 12.

[0059] Furthermore, without departing from the spirit of the present invention, the components in the above embodiments may be replaced with well-known components as appropriate, and the above-described modifications may be combined as appropriate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0060] 10 Discharge container 11 Container body 12 Lower support part 14 cylinders 14a Yamabe 14b Tanibe 15 Press head 16 Stopper 28 Mounting opening 29 Regulatory Department 49 Discharge hole 51 Outside air intake 53 Seal part

Claims

1. A container body that contains contents and has an opening for insertion, A lower support portion is positioned at the aforementioned mounting opening, A cylinder is positioned in the lower support portion, its interior is open to the container body, and it is elastically deformable in the vertical direction. A discharge container comprising a push head positioned in the cylinder and having a discharge hole communicating with the inside of the cylinder, The lower support portion is arranged within the mounting opening so as to be movable up and down relative to the mounting opening. Between the inner circumferential surface of the mounting opening and the outer circumferential surface of the lower support, an outside air introduction passage is provided to connect the inside and outside of the container body and to introduce outside air into the container body. A sealing portion is provided on one of the inner circumferential surface of the mounting opening and the outer circumferential surface of the lower support portion, in contact with the other and blocking the outside air intake passage. The sealing portion blocks communication between the inside and outside of the container body through the outside air intake passage when the pressing head is in the raised end position, and allows communication when the pressing head descends from the raised end position and the lower support portion descends. The mounting opening is provided with a restricting portion that contacts the lower support portion from below to restrict the lower support portion from descending. A discharge container in which, as the pressing head descends from its raised end position, the lower support portion descends, and after the lower support portion's descent is restricted by the restricting portion, the cylinder is elastically compressed between the pressing head and the lower support portion as the pressing head descends further.

2. The discharge container according to claim 1, wherein, of the pressing force required to lower the pressing head from the raised end position to the lowered end position, the pressing force required to compress the cylinder from the most extended state to the most compressed state is greater than the pressing force required to move the lower support portion from the state in which the seal portion blocks communication to the state in which communication is permitted.

3. The system further includes a valve that switches between communication and shutoff between the inside of the cylinder and the discharge hole, When the push head is in the raised position, the valve blocks communication between the inside of the cylinder and the discharge hole. The discharge container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pressing head descends from the raised end position and the sealing portion allows communication between the inside of the container body and the outside through the outside air intake passage, and then the valve connects the inside of the cylinder with the discharge hole.

4. The cylinder has a bellows-like shape with peaks and valleys arranged alternately in the vertical direction. The discharge container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the peaks and valleys form a spiral that revolves around the container axis.

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