Paired container, inner container, and frame body

Abstract

The present invention provides a paired container which is constituted by an inner container and a frame body and which has a structure that can strengthen an engagement state thereof. Provided is a paired container (1) which has an inner container (10), a frame body (20), and a nozzle (2) that is for discharging the contents of the inner container and in which the inner container (10) can be attached to or detached from the frame body (20), wherein: the frame body (20) has an attachment recessed portion (22) to or from which the inner container (10) is attached or detached and a strengthening protrusion (24) which protrudes from the attachment recessed portion; the inner container (10) has a camouflage portion (14) which complements the recess of the attachment recessed portion when the inner container (10) is attached to the attachment recessed portion; and a joined state of the inner container, the frame body, and the nozzle can be strengthened by fastening the strengthening protrusion together with a neck portion (11) of the inner container using a screw cap (2b) of the nozzle.

Description

Pair container, inner container, and frame

[0001] The present invention relates to a pair container having an inner container and a frame made of plastic, the inner container constituting the pair container, and the frame.

[0002] There are pair containers composed of two members in which an inner container is provided inside an outer container among packaging containers. The first aspect of this pair container is mainly intended for the inner container to contain the contents and is used as a refill container manufactured on the premise of replacement. On the other hand, the outer container is used as a stand for the inner container and can be reused, so that the container members can be saved. Another second aspect is a pair container with a double structure in which the inner container has a rounded shape at the bottom and the outer container that is transparent and allows the inner container to be visible are integrally molded in order to improve the designability of the container and enable the contents to be taken out without leaving any.

[0003] As the former technology, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-51981 (Patent Document 1) can be cited, and as the latter technology, for example, Japanese Patent No. 4911401 (Patent Document 2) can be cited.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-51981 Japanese Patent No. 4911401

[0005] The pair container of the first aspect is premised on replacing the inner container, and the designability of the entire inner container and outer container is inferior. The inner container is dedicated to replacement, and the image and function of the outer container as a stand for the inner container are fixed. On the other hand, although the pair container of the second aspect has the feature that the shape of the inner container can be visually recognized, the inner container and the outer container are combined and cannot be separated from each other, and it is a container representing one design aspect of a single container.

[0006] One aspect of this disclosure aims to provide a pair of containers, or an inner container or frame comprising them, in which the inner container can be removed from the frame serving as a stand, regardless of whether the inner container is a refillable container or not, while maintaining excellent integration between the inner container and the frame. Another aspect of this disclosure aims to provide a pair of containers, or an inner container or frame comprising them, that at first glance appear to be a single container rather than a pair of containers. Another aspect of this disclosure aims to provide a pair of containers, or an inner container or frame comprising them, in which the attachment portion of the inner container is highly secure when the inner container is attached to the frame. Another aspect of this disclosure aims to provide a pair of containers, or an inner container or frame comprising them, in which the design is excellent.

[0007] Furthermore, the description of these issues does not preclude the existence of other issues. Also, one aspect of this disclosure is not required to solve all of these issues. Moreover, it is possible to extract other issues from the description, drawings, and claims.

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a pair of containers comprising an inner container, a frame, and a nozzle for dispensing the contents of the inner container, wherein the inner container is detachable from the frame, the frame having a mounting recess into which the inner container is attached and detached, and a reinforcing projection protruding from the mounting recess, the inner container having a camouflage portion that complements the recess of the mounting recess when mounted in the mounting recess, and the connection between the inner container, frame, and nozzle can be strengthened by tightening the reinforcing projection together with the neck of the inner container using the screw cap of the nozzle.

[0009] One aspect of this disclosure is a pair of containers comprising an inner container, a frame, and a nozzle for dispensing the contents of the inner container, wherein the inner container is detachable from the frame, the frame having a mounting recess into which the inner container is attached and detached, and a reinforcing projection protruding from the mounting recess, the inner container having a camouflage portion that complements the recess of the mounting recess when attached to the inner container, and the pair of containers in which the inner container, frame, and nozzle can be strengthened by tightening the reinforcing projection together with the neck portion of the inner container with the screw cap of the nozzle, so that when the inner container is attached to the frame, the mounting recess formed in the frame is complemented by the camouflage portion formed in the inner container, so that it appears as if there is no mounting recess, and the pair of containers in which the inner container and frame are highly integrated. Furthermore, the reinforcing projection strengthens the bond between the inner container and the frame, preventing the inner container from easily coming off the frame during use. Therefore, it is a pair of containers that is easy to use despite being a pair of containers.

[0010] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a pair of containers comprising an inner container and a frame, wherein the inner container is detachable from the frame, the frame having a mounting recess for attaching and detaching the inner container, and the inner container having a camouflage portion that complements the recess of the mounting recess when mounted in the mounting recess. One aspect of the present disclosure provides a pair of containers comprising an inner container and a frame, wherein the inner container is detachable from the frame, the frame having a mounting recess for attaching and detaching the inner container, and the inner container having a camouflage portion that complements the recess of the mounting recess when mounted in the mounting recess. As a result, when the inner container is attached to the frame, the mounting recess formed in the frame is complemented by the camouflage portion formed in the inner container, making it appear as if there is no mounting recess, and providing a pair of containers with excellent integration between the inner container and the frame.

[0011] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a pair of containers in which the camouflage portion extends from the neck of the inner container toward the opening of the mounting recess, and its end is formed in a shape that smoothly connects the outer frame lines of the frames on both sides of the camouflage portion. In one aspect of the present disclosure, since the camouflage portion extends from the neck of the inner container toward the opening of the mounting recess, and its end is formed in a shape that smoothly connects the outer frame lines of the frames on both sides of the camouflage portion, even if the outer frame lines of the frames are cut out by the formation of the mounting recess, the camouflage portion fills the cut-out portion, making the outer frame lines of the frames appear continuous, and the pair of containers has excellent integration between the inner container and the frames.

[0012] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a pair of containers in which the frame has a support portion for supporting the inner container, and the camouflage portion has a mounting portion having an engagement portion for the support portion. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the pair of containers is such that the frame has a support portion for supporting the inner container, and the camouflage portion has a mounting portion having an engagement portion for the support portion. Because the engagement portion is located on the camouflage portion which extends beyond the neck portion and is longer than the diameter of the neck portion, a wider engagement area can be obtained than when the frame is engaged only with the portion corresponding to the neck portion. Therefore, the support of the inner container can be made more secure.

[0013] One aspect of this disclosure provides a pair of containers in which the support portion of the frame is formed as a projection protruding from the wall surface of the frame, and the engagement portion of the inner container is formed as a groove from the wall surface of the mounting portion. In one aspect of this disclosure, the support portion of the frame is formed as a projection protruding from the wall surface of the frame, and the engagement portion of the inner container is formed as a groove from the wall surface of the mounting portion, so the engagement structure or support structure between the inner container and the frame is such that the projection portion of the frame is fitted into the groove portion of the inner container. With this structure, the inner container can be firmly engaged with the frame, and the support performance for supporting the inner container can be improved. In addition, although the frame, which does not need to be replaced, is generally considered to have a longer lifespan than the inner container, the projection shape of the support portion of the frame makes it less likely for dirt to adhere to it compared to when it is formed as a groove, and even if dirt adheres, it is easier to remove. Therefore, it is easier to keep the frame, which tends to accumulate dirt over long periods of use, clean.

[0014] One aspect of the present disclosure provides an inner container for use in a pair of containers in which the inner container is detachable from a frame, and the inner container has a camouflage portion that complements the recess of the mounting recess when the inner container is attached to a frame having a mounting recess into which the inner container is attached. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the inner container for use in a pair of containers in which the inner container is detachable from a frame, and the inner container has a camouflage portion that complements the recess of the mounting recess when the inner container is attached to a frame having a mounting recess into which the inner container is attached, so when the inner container is attached to the frame, the mounting recess formed in the frame is complemented by the camouflage portion formed in the inner container, so it appears as if there is no mounting recess, and a pair of containers with excellent integration between the inner container and the frame can be made.

[0015] One aspect of the present disclosure provides a frame used in a pair of containers in which the inner container is detachable from the frame, the frame having a mounting recess into which the inner container is attached and detached, and a reinforcing projection protruding from the mounting recess, and the frame being able to strengthen the connection between the inner container, the frame, and the nozzle by tightening the reinforcing projection together with the neck of the inner container with a screw cap of a nozzle that discharges the contents from the inner container.

[0016] One aspect of this disclosure is a frame used in a pair of containers in which the inner container can be attached to and detached from the frame, the frame having a mounting recess into which the inner container is attached and detached, and a reinforcing projection protruding from the mounting recess, and the reinforcing projection can be tightened together with the neck of the inner container with the screw cap of the nozzle that dispenses the contents from the inner container to strengthen the connection between the inner container, the frame, and the nozzle, thereby strengthening the connection between the inner container and the frame with the reinforcing projection, and preventing the inner container from easily coming off the frame during use. As a result, it is possible to create a pair of containers that are easy to use despite being a pair of containers.

[0017] One aspect of this disclosure is a pair of containers, or an inner container or frame comprising them, in which the inner container can be removed from the frame, whether or not the inner container is a refillable container, while the inner container and frame have excellent integration. Another aspect of this disclosure is a pair of containers, or an inner container or frame comprising them, that at first glance appear to be a single container rather than a pair of containers. Another aspect of this disclosure is a pair of containers, or an inner container or frame comprising them, in which the attachment portion of the inner container is highly secure when the inner container is attached to the frame. Another aspect of this disclosure is a pair of containers, or an inner container or frame comprising them, with excellent design.

[0018] This is a perspective view of a pair of containers according to one aspect of the present disclosure. This is a front view of Figure 1. This is a left side view of Figure 1. This is a top view of Figure 1. This is a perspective view of the frame of Figure 1. This is a top view of the frame of Figure 1. This is a right side view of the inner container of Figure 1. This is a top view of the inner container of Figure 1. Figures 9A to 9E are schematic right side views of the inner container according to another aspect of the present disclosure. Figures 10A and 10B are schematic left side views of the frame according to another aspect of the present disclosure. Figures 11A and 11B are central cross-sectional views of the frame in a front view according to another aspect of the present disclosure.

[0019] The pair container of this disclosure will be described in more detail based on embodiments. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the pair container 1 made of plastic in use, Figure 2 shows its front view, Figure 3 shows its left side view, and Figure 4 shows its top view. The pair container 1 shown in these figures is composed of an inner container 10 which is roughly egg-shaped and a frame 20 which has a shape like a roughly elliptical ring with depth standing upright on its depth surface. The inner container 10 is housed inside the frame 20 and is used with the nozzle (dispenser) 2 attached to the inner container 10.

[0020] The pair container 1 may be considered to consist of at least an inner container 10 and a frame 20, or it may be considered to consist of these with a nozzle 2. This pair container 1 is used as a packaging container in which shampoo, conditioner, etc. are filled into the inner container 10. Next, the parts that make up the pair container 1 will be described.

[0021] <Frame 20>: First, the frame 20 will be explained. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the frame 20, and Figure 6 is a plan view of the frame 20. The frame 20 has the function of supporting the inner container 10, which will be described later and cannot stand on its own, and is positioned to partially cover the outside of the inner container 10. The shape of the frame 20 shown in Figures 5 and 6 is just one embodiment, and as long as it has a part that supports the inner container 10 and a bottom 25 that can be placed on a shampoo rack or the like, there is a great deal of freedom in the shape and design of the other parts, and it can be formed into any shape with excellent design.

[0022] The top portion 21 of the frame 20 has a roughly U-shaped mounting recess 22 into which the neck portion 11 of the inner container 10 is inserted. The outer peripheral edge of this mounting recess 22 has a support portion 23 that engages with the inner container 10 and supports the inner container 10. More specifically, the shape of the support portion 23 is formed along the wall surface 22a of the mounting recess 22, with a projection extending outward from the wall surface 22a of the mounting recess 22. The groove portion 14b of the inner container 10 fits into this support portion 23, thereby supporting the inner container 10.

[0023] Furthermore, a reinforcing projection 24 is formed at the U-shaped central position 22b of the mounting recess 22, which strengthens the connection between the inner container 10 and the frame 20. This reinforcing projection 24 is shaped to protrude upward from the wall surface of the central part of the mounting recess 22. When the nozzle 2 is attached to the neck portion 11 of the inner container 10 after the inner container 10 has been fitted into the frame 20, the screw cap 2b of the nozzle 2 (see Figures 1 and 2) engages with this reinforcing projection 24 along with the neck portion 11 of the inner container 10, thereby fixing the nozzle 2 to the inner container 10 and simultaneously fixing the frame 20.

[0024] The reinforced projection 24 having these functions can have a shape in which a portion protrudes upward from the wall surface of the mounting recess 22, or a shape in which a portion further protrudes outward from the upwardly protruding portion. In the former case, the portion protruding upward can be held down by the screw cap 2b of the nozzle 2, and in the latter case, the portion protruding outward can be sandwiched between the threads of the screw cap 2b.

[0025] A bottom 25 is formed at the lower part of the frame 20, and a flat surface is formed thereon that allows the pair of containers 1 to be placed on a shampoo stand or shelf.

[0026] The shape of the frame 20 was described as being like a roughly elliptical ring with depth, standing upright on its depth surface. As shown in Figure 3, the frame 20 is shaped such that, when viewed from the side, the middle section 26 gradually narrows compared to the top 21 and bottom 25, so that the egg-shaped roundness of the inner container 10 is not hidden and is more visible when viewed from the side. Also, as shown in Figure 2, when viewed from the front, the frame 20 is shaped to enclose the outside of the egg-shaped inner container 10 with a predetermined gap, so that the suspended form of the inner container 10 is revealed.

[0027] The frame 20 is preferably made of a hard resin such as polycarbonate, PET, polystyrene, polyethylene, or polypropylene. This is because it is easy to mold, lightweight, and has the hardness to maintain the shape of the inner container 10 containing the contents. However, the material of the frame 20 is not limited to these resins, and other materials such as metal or ceramic can also be used.

[0028] <Inner container 10>: Next, the inner container 10 will be described. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the inner container 10, and Figure 8 is a plan view of the inner container 10.

[0029] The inner container 10 is responsible for containing the contents, such as shampoo, and together with the frame 20, it forms part of the pair container 1. Since the inner container 10 is detachable from the frame 20, when its contents are consumed, it can be replaced with another inner container 10 filled with contents. In that sense, it can also be a refillable container. Alternatively, regardless of whether the contents are consumed, the container can be replaced with an inner container of a different design, or an inner container containing shampoo can be replaced with one containing conditioner, etc., allowing for various ways of use as appropriate.

[0030] The main body 12 of the inner container 10, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, is egg-shaped, which is innovative and aesthetically pleasing. At the same time, it is highly practical because the nozzle 2 can suck up any remaining contents that tend to accumulate at the bottom of the main body 12 as the contents decrease during use. The neck 11 of the inner container 10 is the connection point to the nozzle 2, and has a screw thread 11a for securing the nozzle 2. In addition, a mounting portion 13 is formed at the base of the neck 11, i.e., near the boundary with the main body 12.

[0031] The mounting portion 13 is a connecting portion for attaching the inner container 10 to the frame 20. The shape of the mounting portion 13 is not particularly limited, but the mounting portion 13 is shaped to conform to the mounting recess 22 of the frame 20, and the mounting portion 13 shown in Figure 8 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. The mounting portion 13 has a groove portion 13b that engages with the support portion 23 of the frame 20 and plays the role of supporting the inner container 10 on the frame 20. The inner container 10 is incorporated into the frame 20 by fitting the support portion 23 of the frame 20 into this groove portion 13b.

[0032] The camouflage portion 14 is the part that fills the cutout portion of the mounting recess 22 when the inner container 10 is fitted into the mounting recess 22 of the frame 20. In other words, referring to Figures 5 and 1, the outer frame line 27 that forms a smooth curve at the top 21 of the frame 20 is formed such that the outer frame line 14a of the camouflage portion 14 complements the cutout portion where the mounting recess 22 is formed, thus maintaining the smooth curve and ensuring the continuity of the outer shape.

[0033] Furthermore, since both the inner container 10 and the frame 20 can be handled and traded independently, the corners of the mounting recess 22 and the corners of the camouflage part 14 are chamfered to a minimum extent to prevent accidents. Therefore, as long as sharp corners are not created, the continuity of the container's outer shape may be impaired, and when considering the container as a whole, the camouflage part 14 complements the cutout portion created by the mounting recess 22, thus maintaining the continuity of the container's outer shape.

[0034] Furthermore, in Figure 7, the groove portion that engages with the support portion 23 of the frame 20 is not only the groove portion 13b located within the width of the neck portion 11, but also a groove portion 14b that communicates with the groove portion 13b is provided within the camouflage portion 14 that protrudes beyond the width of the neck portion 11. Therefore, it can be said that the groove portion 13b is extended by the length of the groove portion 14b provided in the camouflage portion 14, and as a result, the area that engages with the support portion 23 of the frame 20 is increased compared to the case where the frame 20 engages only around the neck portion 11, so that the inner container 10 can be supported by the frame 20 more stably.

[0035] Having these camouflage parts 14 allows the inner container 10 to be fitted into the frame 20, filling the recessed portion in the mounting recess 22. This enhances the integration of the inner container 10 and the frame 20, giving the impression of a single container even though they are a pair of containers 1.

[0036] The inner container 10 can also be made of a rigid resin, but if it is to be used as a refill container, the main body 12 can be made of a thin, deformable film-like material, except for the neck portion 11 and the camouflage portion 14 which require strength. It can also be made of a transparent resin to indicate the remaining amount of contents.

[0037] <Nozzle (Dispenser) 2>: The nozzle 2 is a component that seals the opening of the neck portion 11 of the inner container 10 and also a component that dispenses the contents from inside the inner container 10. The nozzle 2 comprises a dispensing portion 2a having a dispensing port for the contents and a screw cap 2b that is attached to the inner container 10. The inner surface of the screw cap 2b has screw grooves (not shown) that screw into the screw threads 11 provided on the neck portion 11 of the inner container 10.

[0038] To use the pair container 1, remove the nozzle 2 from the inner container 10 to which it is attached, and fit the inner container 10 into the mounting recess 22 of the frame 20. Then, reattach the nozzle 2 to the inner container 10. At this point, the inner container 10 and the frame 20 are joined not only by the engagement of their respective engagement parts, but also because the nozzle 2 connects the neck portion 11 of the inner container 10 to the reinforcing projection 24 of the frame 20. As a result, the nozzle 2, inner container 10, and frame 20 are all sufficiently joined and become one unit. Therefore, although it has an inner container 10 and a frame 20, it can be used as a single container overall.

[0039] A typical form of the inner container 10 and frame 20 has been described, but its size and shape are not particularly limited. As long as the neck portion 11 fits into the mounting recess 22, the grooves 31b and 14b engage with the support portion 23, the inner container 10 is assembled to the frame 20, and the bottom 25 of the frame 20 can stand upright stably when placed on the floor or the like in that state, it is acceptable.

[0040] Figure 9 shows inner containers 10a to 10e with different external shapes. Figure 10 also shows frame types 20a and 20b with different external shapes. Furthermore, Figure 11 shows frame types 20c and 20d with different external shapes. The external shapes shown in these figures are just examples of inner containers 10 and frame types 20.

[0041] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention as described in the claims.

[0042] 1 Pair container 2 Nozzle (dispenser) 2a Dispensing part 2b Screw cap 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e Inner container 11 Neck part 11a Screw thread 12 Main body part 13 Mounting part 13b Groove part (of mounting part) 14 Camouflage part 14a Outer frame line (of camouflage part) 14b Groove part 20, 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d Frame body 21 Top part 22 Mounting recess 22a Wall surface (of mounting recess) 22b Center position (of mounting recess) 23 Support part 24 Reinforcement projection 25 Bottom 26 Middle part 27 Outer frame line (of frame body)

Claims

1. A pair of containers comprising an inner container, a frame, and a nozzle for dispensing the contents of the inner container, wherein the inner container is detachable from the frame, the frame having a mounting recess into which the inner container is attached and detached, and a reinforcing projection protruding from the mounting recess, the inner container having a camouflage portion that compensates for the recess of the mounting recess when mounted in the inner container, and the connection between the inner container, frame, and nozzle can be strengthened by tightening the reinforcing projection together with the neck of the inner container using the screw cap of the nozzle.

2. A pair of containers comprising an inner container and a frame, wherein the inner container is detachable from the frame, the frame having a mounting recess into which the inner container is attached and detached, and the inner container having a camouflage portion that complements the recess of the mounting recess when attached to the mounting recess.

3. The pair container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the camouflage portion extends from the neck of the inner container toward the opening of the mounting recess, and its end is formed in a shape that smoothly connects with the outer frame lines of the frame bodies on both sides of the camouflage portion.

4. The pair container according to claim 3, wherein the frame has a support portion for supporting the inner container, and the disguised portion has a mounting portion having an engagement portion for the support portion.

5. The pair container according to claim 4, wherein the support portion of the frame is formed in the shape of a projection that protrudes from the wall surface of the frame, and the engagement portion of the inner container is formed in the shape of a groove from the wall surface of the mounting portion.

6. An inner container used in a pair of containers in which the inner container can be attached to and detached from a frame, the inner container having a camouflage portion that complements the recess of the mounting recess when the inner container is attached to a frame having a mounting recess into which the inner container can be attached and detached.

7. A frame used in a pair of containers in which the inner container can be attached to and detached from the frame, the frame having a mounting recess into which the inner container is attached and detached, and a reinforcing projection protruding from the mounting recess, wherein the connection between the inner container, the frame, and the nozzle can be strengthened by tightening the reinforcing projection together with the neck of the inner container with the screw cap of the nozzle that dispenses the contents from the inner container.

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