Fixed amount discharge mechanism and product provided with said fixed amount discharge mechanism

Abstract

In a fixed amount discharge mechanism which is for a liquid content and in which a measurement mode and a discharge mode are switched by an operation, prevention of content leakage, enhancement of design flexibility, and reduction in manufacturing costs are facilitated.　A fixed amount chamber A is demarcated by: an upstream-side cylindrical inner circumferential surface 13d which is provided to a movable plug 13, and a downstream-side cylindrical inner circumferential surface 13f which is continuous to the upstream-side cylindrical inner circumferential surface; and an upstream-side piston 12d which is provided to a shoulder cover 12, slides along the upstream-side cylindrical inner circumferential surface 13d, and has a downstream-side surface with a bulging center, and a downstream-side skirt part 12h which slides along the downstream-side cylindrical inner circumferential surface 13f. An upstream-side skirt part 13e, which is provided to an edge part of the upstream-side cylindrical inner circumferential surface 13d, and the upstream-side piston 12d constitute an upstream valve of the fixed amount chamber A. A groove part 13g, which is provided in the downstream-side cylindrical inner circumferential surface 13f, and the downstream-side skirt part 12h constitute a downstream valve of the fixed amount chamber. The need for a configuration which enables relative movement from the fixed amount chamber A to the periphery of a discharge port 13b is eliminated.

Description

Fixed-volume dispensing mechanism and product equipped with this fixed-volume dispensing mechanism

[0001] The present invention relates to a metering and dispensing mechanism that is provided on the top of a container and is capable of measuring and dispensing a fixed amount of liquid content with each operation.

[0002] In particular, this relates to a metering and dispensing mechanism in which the user switches the metering and dispensing mechanism to metering mode, then turns the entire mechanism including the container upside down to allow the contents to flow into the metering chamber, and then switches it to dispensing mode to make the contents of the metering chamber ready for dispensing.

[0003] In this specification, for the sake of convenience, the state in which the bottom of the bottle-shaped container body is facing downwards is referred to as "upright," and the state in which the bottom of the container body is facing upwards is referred to as "inverted." That is, Figure 1 shows a metered dispensing container in an upright state, and Figure 3 shows a metered dispensing container in an inverted state. In the explanation of each figure, the upper direction of the figure is referred to as "up," and the lower direction is referred to as "down."

[0004] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, various container products have been used for applying a predetermined amount of medicinal liquid to the skin of the head, feet, etc.

[0005] With such products, the user removes the cap protecting the discharge part from the container, pulls out the discharge part, and switches to metering mode. After turning the container upside down with the bottom facing up, the user presses the discharge part against the surface to be coated, which switches to discharge mode and causes only a predetermined amount of liquid medicine to be discharged from the discharge outlet of the discharge part (see Patent Document 2).

[0006] The valve in the metering chamber that measures the contents is activated by removing the cap and pressing the discharge part against the surface to be coated, so users can use the product without having to worry about any special operations for measuring.

[0007] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-018086

[0008] However, in the metering mode after removing the cap, the cylindrical part around the discharge part is pulled out from the internal mechanism where the contents are located and is exposed to the outside, and when the user presses the discharge part against the surface to be coated, there are problems such as the contents adhering to the cylindrical part being transferred to unintended areas, or the contents contaminated by contact with hair or fingers being drawn into the internal mechanism as the mode shifts to discharge mode, contaminating the contents inside the container.

[0009] Furthermore, since the discharge part drives the piston valve in the metering chamber, the discharge part that drives the piston valve needs to be thinner than the cross section of the housing or cylinder in which it is housed. In order to enlarge the contact part that presses against the surface to be coated, a separate component must be attached to the discharge part, which poses a cost problem.

[0010] In addition, the discharge valve, which is located at the tip of the discharge part independently of the valve in the metering chamber, remains closed unless the user presses it against the surface to be coated. Therefore, the volume of the space between the discharge valve and the valve upstream of it changes depending on the operation of the upstream side, which can cause the contents to leak from gaps in each part and easily contaminate the surrounding area.

[0011] Therefore, in this invention, the downstream valve of the metering chamber is composed of a movable cylindrical inner surface on the discharge portion side and a piston contained within this and fixed to the container body side, and the opening and closing states are switched by separating and bringing them into close contact with each other, thereby aiming to prevent leakage of contents from the downstream valve to the discharge port.

[0012] Furthermore, since the movable discharge portion side is the cylindrical inner peripheral surface, i.e., the cylinder side, restrictions on the shape of the outer peripheral portion are eliminated, thereby improving design freedom and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0013] In addition, in the case of a device equipped with a discharge valve, the discharge valve is opened when the device is switched to the metering mode, thereby reducing the pressure difference between the space between the discharge valve and the downstream valve and the external space, thereby preventing backflow of the contents and reducing contamination of the contents.

[0014] The present invention solves the above problems as follows.

[0015] (1) A container body (for example, the container body 11 described later) in which liquid contents are accommodated, a fixed stopper (for example, the shoulder cover 12 described later) provided at the opening of the container body, a metering chamber (for example, the metering chamber A described later) having a discharge port (for example, the discharge port 13b described later) for the contents and provided in a liquid-tight and linearly movable manner on the fixed stopper, for measuring the contents between the fixed stopper and the fixed stopper, an upstream valve (for example, the cylindrical outer peripheral surface 12f, the upstream skirt 12b described later) for controlling communication between the inside of the container body and the metering chamber, a downstream valve (e.g., a downstream skirt portion 12h, a downstream cylindrical inner peripheral surface 13f, and a groove portion 13g, which will be described later) that controls communication between the metering chamber and a passage to the discharge port, and a movable stopper (e.g., a movable stopper 13, which will be described later) that can be switched between a metering mode in which the upstream valve is open and the downstream valve is closed and a discharge mode in which the upstream valve is closed and the downstream valve is open, depending on the relative position of the movable stopper operated by a user with respect to the fixed stopper, the metering chamber is partitioned by an upstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface (e.g., upstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface 13d described below) provided on the movable stopper and a downstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface (e.g., downstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface 13f described below) connected thereto, an upstream piston (e.g., upstream piston 12d described below) provided on the fixed stopper and sliding on the upstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface with a bulged center on the downstream surface, and a downstream piston (e.g., downstream skirt portion 12h described below) sliding on the downstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface, the upstream valve is composed of the upstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface and the upstream piston, which are in a closed state when they come into liquid-tight contact with each other and in an open state when they are partly or entirely separated, and the downstream valve is composed of the downstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface and the downstream piston, which are in a closed state when they come into liquid-tight contact with each other and in an open state when they are partly or entirely separated, and the discharge port is The device has a contact portion (e.g., contact portion 13a described later) around it that the user presses against the surface to be coated (e.g., surface B to be coated described later) to operate it, and when switching from the discharge mode to the metering mode, the downstream valve is closed before the upstream valve is opened, and when switching from the metering mode to the discharge mode, the upstream valve is closed before the downstream valve is opened.(2) In (1) above, the upstream piston comprises a bowl-shaped portion (e.g., bowl-shaped portion 12e described below) that bulges downstream and a cylindrical outer peripheral surface (e.g., cylindrical outer peripheral surface 12f described below) that extends from the periphery to the upstream side, the upstream cylindrical inner peripheral surface has an annular seal portion (e.g., upstream skirt portion 13e described below) at its upstream end that can contact the cylindrical outer peripheral surface in the discharge mode, and the downstream cylindrical inner peripheral surface has a groove portion (e.g., groove portion 13g described below) that separates a portion from the downstream piston to allow the contents to pass through in the discharge mode. (3) In (1) and (2) above, the downstream piston is connected integrally to the downstream center of the upstream piston. (4) In (1) to (3) above, the cross-sectional area of ​​the upstream piston and the cross-sectional area of ​​the downstream piston are the same. (5) In the above (1) to (3), a configuration is used in which the cross-sectional area of ​​the downstream piston is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the upstream piston. (6) In the above (1) to (5), a configuration is used in which a cap (e.g., cap 14 described later) covering the movable stopper has a pull-up engagement portion (e.g., pull-up engagement portion 14b described later) that detachably engages with the movable stopper, when the cap is attached to the container body or the fixed stopper, the pull-up engagement portion engages with the movable stopper, and when the cap is removed from the container body or the fixed stopper, the pull-up engagement portion shifts the movable stopper to the metering mode and then disengages from the movable stopper. (7) In (6) above, the cap and the container body or the fixed stopper each have a threaded portion (for example, an outward threaded portion 11b or an inward threaded portion 14a described below) that connects them to each other, and when the threaded portions are released, the pull-up engagement portion disengages from the movable stopper after the movable stopper has been switched to the metering mode. (8) In (6) above, the pull-up engagement portion engages with the inner surface of the discharge port. (9) In (1) to (8) above, the upstream piston and the downstream piston are integrally molded.(10) In the above (1) to (9), a discharge valve is provided at the downstream end of the downstream cylindrical inner peripheral surface, the discharge valve comprising a discharge valve seat (for example, discharge valve seat 13m described below) continuing to the discharge port and a discharge valve body (for example, discharge valve body 12m described below) connected to the downstream piston via an elastic portion (for example, elastic portion 12n described below), in the metering mode, the discharge valve body and the discharge valve seat are separated and the discharge valve is in an open state, by switching to the discharge mode, the discharge valve body abuts against the discharge valve seat and the discharge valve is in a closed state, and when a user presses the discharge port against a surface to be coated, the discharge valve body exposed from the discharge port moves against the bias of the elastic portion and the discharge valve is in an open state. (11) In the above (1) to (10), the movable plug has a cylindrical portion (e.g., an outer cylindrical portion 13j described later) on the outer circumferential side of the upstream-side cylindrical inner circumferential surface, with an annular space sandwiched therebetween, and the fixed plug has an outward-facing skirt portion (e.g., an outer skirt portion 12k described later) on the outside of the upstream-side piston, which slides liquid-tightly against the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion.

[0016] The present invention is directed to a metered dose release mechanism having such a configuration and a product using the same.

[0017] By adopting the above-described configuration, the present invention can prevent leakage of contents, improve design freedom, and reduce manufacturing costs.

[0018]

[0023] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the unused mode of the metered dispensing mechanism of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the metered dispensing mechanism has shifted to the metering mode during the process of removing the cap of the metered dispensing mechanism of FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the metered dispensing mechanism in an inverted state with the cap removed and the mechanism turned upside down.

[0026] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the metered dispensing mechanism of FIG. 3 has completed metering of the contents by pressing the periphery of the discharge port against the surface to be coated.

[0027] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the discharge mode in which the periphery of the discharge port of the metered dispensing mechanism of FIG. 4 is further pressed against the surface to be coated so that the contents can flow out from the discharge port.

[0028] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the unused mode of the metered dispensing mechanism equipped with the nozzle tip of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the unused mode of the metered dispensing mechanism equipped with the discharge valve of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the metered dispensing mechanism of FIG. 7 has shifted to the metering mode by removing the cap.

[0029] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the unused mode of the metered dispensing mechanism with the fixed stopper integrally molded with the present invention.

[0029] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the unused mode of the slender metering and dispensing mechanism of the present invention, which is integrally molded with a fixed plug. FIG.

[0019] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11. FIG.

[0020] In addition, the components with alphabetical reference symbols below (for example, the annular protrusion 11a) are, in principle, part of the component (for example, the container body 11) indicated by the numerical portion of the reference symbol.

[0021] 1 to 11, 11 denotes a bottle-shaped container body that contains liquid contents; 11a denotes an annular convex portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the opening of the container body 11; 11b denotes an outwardly threaded portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the opening of the container body 11; 12 denotes a shoulder cover that engages liquid-tight with the opening of the container body 11 to serve as a passage for the contents to be dispensed; 12a denotes an annular concave portion that engages with the annular convex portion 11a of the container body 11 to resist external forces that accompany removal of a cap 14, which will be described later; 12b denotes a hanging tubular portion that engages liquid-tight with the inner peripheral surface of the opening of the container body 11; 12c denotes a communication port that is provided in the partition between the upstream and downstream sides and that communicates between the interior of the container body 11 and the upstream valve; 12d denotes an upstream piston that is provided in the center of the partition and bulges out from the container body 11 side toward the downstream side; 12e is a bulging bowl-shaped portion that is the downstream portion of the upstream piston 12d; 12f is a cylindrical outer peripheral surface that continues upstream from the bowl-shaped portion 12e of the upstream piston 12d and constitutes an upstream valve; 12g is a center rod that rises downstream from the apex of the bowl-shaped portion 12e; 12h is a downstream skirt portion that is provided around the tip of the center rod 12g and constitutes a downstream valve; 12i is inward locking portions that are provided intermittently on the inside of the outer peripheral wall of the shoulder cover 12; 12j is an outer cylindrical portion that rises from the partition portion and provides a liquid-tight seal with the movable plug 13 (FIGS. 1 to 9); and 12k is an outer skirt portion that is provided at the end of the cylindrical portion that rises from the partition portion and provides a liquid-tight seal with the movable plug 13 (FIGS. 10 and 11). 12m is a discharge valve body (FIG. 7) provided at the tip of the center rod 12g and constituting a discharge valve seat 13m and a discharge valve, which will be described later; 12n is an elastic portion (FIG. 7) provided between the center rod 12g and the discharge valve body 12m and biasing the discharge valve body 12m against the discharge valve seat 13m; 13 is a movable stopper that slides up and down relative to the shoulder cover 12; 13a is an operation portion for shifting to the discharge mode, and is a contact portion that the user presses against the object to be applied; 13b is a discharge port for the contents; 13c is a flange portion whose outer circumferential step engages with a lift-up engagement portion 14b, which will be described later; 13d is an upstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface provided at the upstream end of the upstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface 13d; 13e is an upstream skirt portion that constitutes the upstream valve; 13f is a downstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface that is provided in a manner continuous with the upstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface 13d and constitutes the downstream valve; 13g is a groove portion that constitutes the downstream valve;13h is an outward locking portion that abuts against the inward locking portion 12i to prevent the movable stopper 13 from coming off (FIGS. 1 to 5, 9 to 11); 13i is an outer skirt portion that provides a liquid-tight seal between the shoulder cover 12 and the movable stopper 13 (FIGS. 1 to 9); 13j is an outer cylindrical portion that provides a liquid-tight seal between the shoulder cover 12 and the movable stopper 13 (FIGS. 10 and 11); 13k is a nozzle tip (FIGS. 6 to 8) having a conical cup-shaped bottom with a discharge port 13b at the center of the bottom and its outer periphery serving as a contact portion 13a; 13m is a discharge valve seat (FIGS. 7 and 8) that is provided upstream of the discharge port 13b of the nozzle tip 13k and forms a discharge valve; 13n is a raised annular protrusion (FIGS. 7 and 8) provided on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion of the nozzle tip 13k; 14 is a sheath-shaped cap that screws onto the container body 11; Reference numeral 14a denotes an inward threaded portion provided on the lower end of the inner circumferential surface of the cap 14, which threads into the outward threaded portion 11b of the container body 11; 14b denotes a lifting engagement portion provided on the ceiling surface of the cap 14, which moves the movable stopper 13 together when the cap 14 is removed from the container body 11, thereby transitioning to a metering mode; A denotes a metering chamber defined by an upstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface 13d provided on the movable stopper 13 and a downstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface 13f connected thereto, an upstream piston 12d provided on the fixed stopper, which slides on the upstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface 13d and has a bulged center on the downstream surface, and a downstream skirt portion 12h which slides on the downstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface 13f; and B denotes a surface to be coated against which the abutting portion 13a is pressed.

[0022] The shoulder cover 12, the movable plug 13, the center rod 12g, the discharge valve body 12m and the cap 14 are made of plastic, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyacetal, nylon or polybutylene terephthalate.

[0023] The container body 11 is made of, for example, plastic, metal, or glass, and the elastic portion 12n is made of, for example, plastic or metal.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows the non-use mode of the metered dispensing mechanism.

[0025] The cap 14 is screwed onto the container body 11, pressing the movable stopper 13 against the shoulder cover 12. The cylindrical outer surface 12f of the upstream piston 12d, which constitutes the upstream valve between the container body 11 and the metering chamber A, and the upstream skirt portion 13e of the upstream cylindrical inner surface 13d are in liquid-tight contact, keeping the upstream valve closed. The downstream skirt portion 12h, which constitutes the downstream valve between the metering chamber A and the discharge port 13b, is in contact with the downstream cylindrical inner surface 13 having the groove 13g, so that the groove 13g bypasses the top and bottom of the downstream skirt portion 12h, opening the downstream valve. The lifting engagement portion 14b of the cap 14 engages the underside of the flange portion 13c.

[0026] The positional relationship between the shoulder cover 12 and the movable plug 13 is the same as that in the discharge mode shown in FIG.

[0027] In this state, the contents contained in the container body 11 do not flow into the metered chamber A. Furthermore, even if the downstream valve is open, the discharge port 13b is closed by the cap 14 abutting against the abutment portion 13a, so the contents remaining inside the discharge port 13b or in the metered chamber A do not flow out from the discharge port 13b or leak through the gap between the cap 14 and the container body 11 and contaminate the outside.

[0028] When the cap 14 is rotated from this state relative to the container body 11 as shown by the arrow in the figure, the action of the outward threaded portion 11b and the inward threaded portion 14a causes the cap 14 to move upward and detach from the container body 11. At this time, the action of the lifting engagement portion 14b engaging with the flange portion 13c causes the movable stopper 13 to move upward together with the cap 14.

[0029] The dimensions and volumes of each part of the metering and dispensing mechanism in Figure 1 are, for example: the diameter of the downstream cylindrical inner surface 13f is 10.6 mm; the diameter of the cylindrical outer surface 12f is the same as that of the downstream cylindrical inner surface 13f; the movable distance between the shoulder cover 12 and the movable stopper 13 is 6 mm; the distance from when the shoulder cover 12 and the movable stopper 13 are in the metering mode and are at their farthest apart to when the upstream valve of the metering chamber A is closed is 3 mm; the distance from when the downstream valve of the metering chamber A is in the open state to when the shoulder cover 12 and the movable stopper 13 are in vertical contact is 3 mm; and the maximum volume of the metering chamber A is approximately 1 milliliter.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows the measuring mode in which the user rotates the cap 14 of the measuring and dispensing mechanism of FIG. 1 relative to the container body 11, and the cap 14 moves up together with the movable plug 13.

[0031] From this state, if the cap 14 is further rotated as shown by the arrow in the figure, it will move upward and completely disengage from the container body 11, but the movable stopper 13 will no longer be able to move upward as the inward engaging portion 12i and the outward engaging portion 13h abut, and the engagement between the flange portion 13c and the lifting engaging portion 14b will be released.

[0032] Therefore, the engagement between the annular projection 11a and the annular recess 12a is set to be less likely to come off than the engagement between the flange 13c and the lifting engagement portion 14b.

[0033] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the metering and dispensing mechanism of FIG. 2 in an inverted state with the cap removed and turned upside down.

[0034] The contents of the container body 11 flow into the metering chamber A as shown by the solid arrow through the communication port 12c, the cylindrical outer surface 12f which is the upstream valve, and the upstream skirt portion 13e, and the air in the metering chamber A flows out into the container body 11 in the opposite direction to the contents as shown by the dashed arrow.

[0035] The underside of the upstream piston 12d forms a bowl-shaped portion 12e that bulges downward, and the upper end of the uppermost upstream cylindrical inner surface 13d that defines the metering chamber A is open, so that as the air rises, it is pushed to the periphery by the bowl-shaped portion 12e and is naturally guided to this upper end and discharged from the metering chamber A.

[0036] Furthermore, the center rod 12g is also provided at the center of the most bulging underside of the bowl-shaped portion 12e, so that it does not hinder the air from floating up.

[0037] In this way, when the container is inverted, the air in the metering chamber A is reliably replaced with the contents of the container body 11, so that only the contents are stored in the metering chamber A, ensuring the quantitativeness of the contents dispensed for each measurement.

[0038] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the contact portion 13a of the metering and dispensing mechanism of FIG. 3 is pressed against the application target surface B and the metering of the contents is completed.

[0039] In this state, both the upstream valve and the downstream valve are closed, and the metering chamber A becomes a space area independent from the inside of the container body 11 and the discharge port 13b, thereby ensuring reliable metering of the contents.

[0040] Furthermore, since the upstream valve and downstream valve are not simultaneously open, the contents do not flow directly from the container body 11 through the metering chamber A to the discharge port 13b.

[0041] Furthermore, because the cross-sectional area of ​​the downstream cylindrical inner peripheral surface 13f is approximately the same as the cross-sectional area of ​​the cylindrical outer peripheral surface 12f, the volume of the metering chamber A does not change even if the upstream piston 12d or the downstream skirt portion 12h moves while both the upstream valve and the downstream valve are closed. Therefore, the distance that the movable plug 13 can move relative to the shoulder cover 12 can be set long when both the upstream valve and the downstream valve are closed, thereby improving the durability of the valves against deterioration.

[0042] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a dispensing mode in which the contact portion 13a of the metered dispensing mechanism shown in FIG. 4 is further pressed against the application target surface B, allowing the contents to flow out from the dispensing opening.

[0043] In this state, the downstream valve is open, and the content of metering chamber A can flow out to the discharge port 13b through the groove 13g as shown by the solid arrow in the figure. The user can apply the content of metering chamber A by shaking the metering mechanism up and down or by touching the contact part 13a to the application target surface B.

[0044] Since the downstream valve is housed inside the cylindrical portion provided with the downstream cylindrical inner peripheral surface 13f, the contents do not come into direct contact with the outer peripheral side of this cylindrical portion and do not leak. In addition, since the outer peripheral side of this cylindrical portion does not function as a sealing surface, it can be freely shaped.

[0045] Thereafter, the measuring and dispensing mechanism is returned to the upright position, and the cap 14 is screwed onto the container body 11, thereby returning to the non-use mode of FIG.

[0046] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the non-use mode of the metering and dispensing mechanism equipped with the nozzle tip of the present invention.

[0047] A nozzle tip 13k is provided in place of the flange portion 13c in FIG. 1, and the nozzle tip 13k is provided with a contact portion 13a and a discharge port 13b.

[0048] Since the inner periphery of the discharge port 13b is engaged with the lifting engagement portion 14b, by appropriately setting the diameter of the inserted lifting engagement portion 14b, the discharge port 13b can be stably closed without being pressed by the cap 14.

[0049] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the unused mode of the metering and dispensing mechanism equipped with the dispensing valve of the present invention.

[0050] In addition to the configuration of the metering and discharging mechanism shown in FIG. 6, a raised annular convex portion 13n is provided on the nozzle tip 13k, and an elastic portion 12n and a discharge valve body 12m are provided on the downstream skirt portion 12h, which, together with the discharge valve seat 13m of the nozzle tip 13k, form a discharge valve at the discharge port 13b.

[0051] In this unused mode or in the discharge mode in which the shoulder cover 12 and the movable plug 13 are in the same relative positions, the discharge valve element 12m abuts against the discharge valve seat 13m due to the biasing force of the elastic portion 12n, and the discharge valve is in a closed state.

[0052] In this state, when the user presses the contact portion 13a against the surface B to be coated, it protrudes from the discharge port 13b, pushing in the discharge valve body 12m, and separating from the discharge valve seat 13m, opening the discharge valve and enabling the contents to be discharged.

[0053] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the cap of the metering and dispensing mechanism of FIG. 7 has been removed and the mode has shifted to the metering mode.

[0054] When the movable plug 13 moves slightly upward from the state shown in FIG. 7, the elastic portion 12n does not stretch any further, and the discharge valve body 12m separates from the discharge valve seat 13m, and the discharge valve enters an open state.

[0055] If the user discontinues use in this measuring mode, attaches the cap 14 to the container body 11, and moves the movable stopper 13 downward, the discharge valve remains open, so the space between the downstream valve and the discharge valve is not compressed. As a result, the movement of the movable stopper 13 is not impeded, and the remaining contents do not suddenly flow back when the downstream valve opens.

[0056] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the unused mode of the metering and dispensing mechanism with the fixed plug integrally molded according to the present invention, in which the center rod 12g of FIG. 1 is integrally molded with the upstream piston 12d.

[0057] Since the center rod 12g is integrally molded with the upstream piston 12d, manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0058] Furthermore, since the cross-sectional area of ​​the downstream cylindrical inner surface 13f is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the cylindrical outer surface 12f, when the abutment portion 13a is pressed against the surface to be coated B, the downstream valve opens and the movable stopper 13 moves, reducing the volume of the metering chamber A, so that a fixed amount is dispensed onto the surface to be coated B without the user having to shake it out.

[0059] By reducing the cross-sectional area of ​​the downstream cylindrical inner peripheral surface 13f, it becomes easier to integrally mold the center rod 12g and the downstream skirt portion 12h when manufacturing the shoulder cover 12.

[0060] The dimensions and volumes of each part of the metering and dispensing mechanism in Figure 9 are, for example: the diameter of the downstream cylindrical inner surface 13f is 5.2 mm; the diameter of the cylindrical outer surface 12f is 10.7 mm; the movable distance between the shoulder cover 12 and the movable stopper 13 is 6 mm; the distance from when the shoulder cover 12 and the movable stopper 13 are at their furthest apart in metering mode to when the upstream valve of metering chamber A is closed is 3 mm; the distance from when the downstream valve of metering chamber A is open to when the shoulder cover 12 and the movable stopper 13 are in vertical contact is 3 mm; and the maximum volume of metering chamber A is approximately 1 milliliter.

[0061] As a result, 1 milliliter of the contents is measured into metering chamber A, and by the time the contact portion 13a is pressed by the application target surface B or the like and the shoulder cover 12 and the movable stopper 13 come into contact in the vertical direction, 0.2 milliliters, which is one-fifth of the total amount, is dispensed due to the change in volume of metering chamber A. After that, the remaining 0.8 milliliters is dispensed from metering chamber A by shaking the metering mechanism up and down, etc.

[0062] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the unused mode of the slim metering and dispensing mechanism of the present invention, in which an outer skirt portion 12k and an outer cylindrical portion 13j are provided instead of the outer cylindrical portion 12j and the outer skirt portion 13i of FIG.

[0063] In FIG. 1, two sealing skirt portions, the upstream skirt portion 13e and the outer skirt portion 13i, are provided adjacent to each other on the inner and outer peripheries of the movable plug 13. While this has the advantage of allowing the lubricant application process to be shared, it is difficult to make the skirt portions any narrower while maintaining functionality.

[0064] However, by providing the outer skirt portion 13i as the outer skirt portion 12k on the shoulder cover 12 as shown in Figure 10, it is possible to narrow the gap between the upstream skirt portion 13e and the outer skirt portion 12k and have the outer periphery of the movable plug 13 serve as the outer cylindrical portion 13j, thereby making it possible to slim down the metering and dispensing mechanism.

[0065] FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing the unused mode of the slim metering and dispensing mechanism of the present invention, which has an integrally molded fixed plug.

[0066] As in Figure 9, the center rod 12g is molded integrally with the upstream piston 12d, and as in Figure 10, an outer skirt portion 12k and an outer cylindrical portion 13j are provided, thereby providing the features of both a reduced number of parts and a slimmer metering and dispensing mechanism.

[0067] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the following may be adopted: (11) the outward threaded portion 11b is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the shoulder cover 12 instead of the container body 11; (12) the width or number of the grooves 13g in the circumferential direction of the downstream cylindrical inner peripheral surface 13f is increased to make the downstream cylindrical inner peripheral surface 13f between the grooves 13g ribbed; (13) a flexible container such as a tube-shaped container or a pouch container is used instead of the bottle-shaped container body 11; (14) the top surface of the cap 14 is used as the bottom, or the container body 11 is hung so that the container body 11 is always used in an inverted position with its upper side facing up relative to the shoulder cover 12.

[0068] Products to which the present invention can be applied include detergents, cleaning agents, antiperspirants, cooling agents, muscle anti-inflammatory agents, hair styling agents, hair treatment agents, hair dyes, hair growth agents, cosmetics, shaving foam, foods, pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, paints, gardening agents, repellents (insecticides), cleaners, deodorizers, laundry starch, urethane foam, fire extinguishers, adhesives, and lubricants.

[0069] The contents to be contained in the container body 11 are in liquid form. The components to be blended into the contents include, for example, powders, oil components, alcohols, surfactants, polymer compounds, active ingredients according to the intended use, water, etc.

[0070] The powdery material may be a metal salt powder, an inorganic powder, a resin powder, etc. For example, talc, kaolin, aluminum hydroxychloride (aluminum salt), calcium alginate, gold powder, silver powder, mica, carbonate, barium sulfate, cellulose, or a mixture thereof.

[0071] As the oil component, silicone oil, palm oil, eucalyptus oil, camellia oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, paraffin oil, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, etc. are used.

[0072] As the alcohol, a monohydric lower alcohol such as ethanol, a monohydric higher alcohol such as lauryl alcohol, or a polyhydric alcohol such as ethylene glycol, glycerin, or 1,3-butylene glycol can be used.

[0073] Examples of surfactants that can be used include anionic surfactants such as sodium lauryl sulfate, nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene oleyl ether, amphoteric surfactants such as lauryl dimethylaminoacetate betaine, and cationic surfactants such as alkyltrimethylammonium chloride.

[0074] Examples of polymer compounds that can be used include methyl cellulose, gelatin, starch, casein, hydroxyethyl cellulose, xanthan gum, and carboxyvinyl polymers.

[0075] Active ingredients appropriate for each application include anti-inflammatory analgesics such as methyl salicylate and indomethacin, disinfectants such as sodium benzoate and cresol, insect repellents such as pyrethroids and diethyltoluamide, antiperspirants such as zinc paraphenolsulfonate, cooling agents such as camphor and menthol, antiasthmatics such as ephedrine and adrenaline, sweeteners such as sucralose and aspartame, adhesives and paints such as epoxy resins and urethanes, dyes such as paraphenylenediamine and aminophenols, oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide, and fire extinguishers such as ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and sodium / potassium bicarbonate.

[0076] Furthermore, in addition to the above ingredients, suspending agents, ultraviolet absorbers, emulsifiers, moisturizing agents, antioxidants, sequestering agents, etc. may also be used.

[0077] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11: Container body 11a: Annular convex portion 11b: Outwardly facing screw portion 12: Shoulder cover 12a: Annular concave portion 12b: Downwardly facing cylindrical portion 12c: Communication port 12d: Upstream piston 12e: Bowl-shaped portion 12f: Cylindrical outer peripheral surface 12g: Center rod 12h: Downstream skirt portion 12i: Inwardly facing locking portion 12j: Outer cylindrical portion 12k: Outer skirt portion 12m: Discharge valve body 12n: Elastic portion 13: Movable stopper 13a: Contact portion 13b: Discharge port 13c: Flange portion 13d: Upstream cylindrical inner peripheral surface 13e: Upstream skirt portion 13f: Downstream cylindrical inner peripheral surface 13g: Groove portion 13h: Outwardly facing locking portion 13i: Outer skirt portion 13j: Outer cylindrical portion 13k: Nozzle tip 13m: Discharge valve seat 13n: Pull-up annular protrusion 14: Cap 14a: Inwardly threaded portion 14b: Pull-up engagement portion A: Metering chamber B: Surface to be coated

Claims

1. A metering and dispensing mechanism comprising: a container body for containing liquid contents; a fixed stopper provided at the opening of the container body; a metering chamber having a discharge outlet for the contents and provided liquid-tightly and linearly movable on the fixed stopper, and for measuring the contents between the fixed stopper and the metering chamber; an upstream valve controlling communication between the interior of the container body and the metering chamber; and a downstream valve controlling communication between the metering chamber and a passage to the discharge outlet, and a movable stopper that can be switched between a metering mode in which the upstream valve is open and the downstream valve is closed and a dispensing mode in which the upstream valve is closed and the downstream valve is open depending on the relative position with respect to the fixed stopper operated by a user; the metering chamber is partitioned by an upstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface provided on the movable stopper and a downstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface continuous therewith; an upstream piston provided on the fixed stopper that slides on the upstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface and has a bulge at the center of its downstream surface; and a downstream piston that slides on the downstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface; and the upstream valve is a metering and dispensing container comprising the upstream cylindrical inner peripheral surface and the upstream piston, which are in a closed state when they come into liquid-tight contact with each other and in an open state when they are partially or completely separated; the downstream valve is composed of the downstream cylindrical inner peripheral surface and the downstream piston, which are in a closed state when they come into liquid-tight contact with each other and in an open state when they are partially or completely separated; the discharge port has a contact part around it that a user presses against a surface to be coated to operate it; when transitioning from the discharge mode to the metering mode, the downstream valve is in a closed state before the upstream valve is in an open state; and when transitioning from the metering mode to the discharge mode, the upstream valve is in a closed state before the downstream valve is in an open state.

2. A metering and dispensing mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that the upstream piston comprises a bowl-shaped portion that bulges downstream and a cylindrical outer peripheral surface that continues upstream from the periphery of the bowl-shaped portion, the upstream cylindrical inner peripheral surface having an annular seal portion at its upstream end that can come into contact with the cylindrical outer peripheral surface in the dispensing mode, and the downstream cylindrical inner peripheral surface having a groove portion that separates a portion from the downstream piston in the dispensing mode to allow the contents to pass through.

3. The metering and dispensing mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the downstream piston is integrally connected to the center of the downstream side of the upstream piston.

4. The metering and dispensing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​the upstream piston is the same as the cross-sectional area of ​​the downstream piston.

5. The metering and dispensing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​the downstream piston is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the upstream piston.

6. A metering and dispensing mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a cap covering the movable stopper, the cap having a lifting engagement portion that detachably engages with the movable stopper, the lifting engagement portion engages with the movable stopper when the cap is attached to the container body or the fixed stopper, and the lifting engagement portion transitions the movable stopper to the metering mode before disengaging from the movable stopper when the cap is removed from the container body or the fixed stopper.

7. The measuring and dispensing mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that the cap and the container body or the fixed stopper each have a threaded portion that connects with each other, and when the threaded portion is released from the connection, the lifting engagement portion shifts the movable stopper to the measuring mode and then disengages from the movable stopper.

8. The metering and dispensing mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the lifting engagement portion engages with the inner surface of the discharge port.

9. The metering and dispensing mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the upstream piston and the downstream piston are integrally molded.

10. A metering and dispensing mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that a discharge valve is provided at the downstream end of the downstream cylindrical inner peripheral surface, the discharge valve comprising a discharge valve seat continuing to the discharge outlet and a discharge valve body connected to the downstream piston via an elastic part, wherein in the metering mode the discharge valve body and the discharge valve seat are separated and the discharge valve is in an open state, when the device is switched to the discharge mode the discharge valve body abuts against the discharge valve seat and the discharge valve is in a closed state, and when a user presses the discharge outlet against a surface to be coated, the discharge valve body exposed from the discharge outlet moves against the biasing force of the elastic part and the discharge valve is in an open state.

11. A metering and dispensing mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that the movable plug has a cylindrical portion on the outer circumferential side of the upstream cylindrical inner circumferential surface, with an annular space between them, and the fixed plug has an outward-facing skirt portion on the outside of the upstream piston that slides liquid-tightly against the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion.

12. A product comprising a measuring and dispensing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 11, and containing liquid contents in a container body.

Images