EP3632260A1

EP3632260A1 - Fluid application container

Info

Publication number: EP3632260A1
Application number: EP17911028.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tomoaki Suzuki
Original assignee: Kotobuki and Co Ltd
Current assignee: Kotobuki and Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-05-25
Filing date: 2017-05-25
Publication date: 2020-04-08
Also published as: CN110650649A; JPWO2018216174A1; WO2018216174A1; US20200121059A1; KR20200010202A

Abstract

A fluid application container according to an embodiment includes a container main body having a tank that houses a fluid; a fluid discharging body that is coupled by a rear end portion thereof to the container main body, and that discharges the fluid through a discharge port formed in a front end portion thereof when the fluid flows into the interior thereof from the tank; an application body that covers the fluid discharging body and has a lower hardness than the fluid discharging body; and a plunger that includes an operating body and pushes the fluid in the tank into the fluid discharging body in response to an operation of the operating body, wherein the application body absorbs the fluid discharged through the discharge port of the fluid discharging body, and applies the absorbed fluid to an application surface when brought into contact with the application surface.

Description

FIELD

This disclosure relates to a fluid application container for applying a fluid to an application surface.

BACKGROUND

A conventional liquid application container includes a spatula having a tubular main body portion, an extension portion that extends frontward in a flattened shape from a front end portion of the main body portion, and a through hole that penetrates the main body portion from a rear end thereof toward the extension portion such that an applying liquid flows therethrough, wherein a cut-out recessed portion is formed in the extension portion, the cut-out recessed portion being cut out from the front end of the extension portion toward the through hole so as to define a front end opening of the through hole, front end pieces are formed in positions on left and right sides of the cut-out recessed portion so as to sandwich the cut-out recessed portion, and a rear end portion of a lower edge of the cut-out recessed portion is positioned frontward of a rear end portion of an upper edge thereof (see PTL 1 as mentioned below, for example). According to this liquid application container, applying liquid discharged through the front end opening of the through hole in the spatula can be held between the two front end pieces of the extension portion of the spatula, and therefore, when the front end pieces are placed on an application surface, for example an upper eyelid near the inner corner of the eye, and the spatula is moved along the upper eyelid toward the outer corner of the eye, the applying liquid held between the front end pieces can be applied to the fold of the upper eyelid while the front end pieces form a gap in the fold of the upper eyelid.
The following is the reference document.
[PTL 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-229094 (see paragraphs 0008 and 0015 and so on, for example)

DISCLOSURE

According to this conventional fluid application container, by pressing the discharged fluid onto an application surface such as the surface of the skin using an application body such as the spatula so that the fluid is applied to the application surface, the fluid can be applied to the application surface in a thin line. However, there is desired for the provision of a fluid application container that can apply a fluid using an application body that feels more comfortable than a conventional application body such as that described above.
This disclosure has been designed to provide a fluid application container that can apply a fluid using an application body that feels more comfortable than a conventional application body.

SUMMARY

In an aspect of the present invention, a fluid application container includes a container main body having a tank that houses a fluid; a fluid discharging body that is coupled by a rear end portion thereof to the container main body, and that discharges the fluid through an discharge port formed in a front end portion thereof when the fluid flows into the interior thereof from the tank; an application body that covers the fluid discharging body and has a lower hardness than the fluid discharging body; and a plunger that includes an operating body and pushes the fluid in the tank into the fluid discharging body in response to an operation of the operating body, wherein the application body absorbs the fluid discharged through the discharge port of the fluid discharging body, and applies the absorbed fluid to an application surface when brought into contact with the application surface.
In the aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a fluid application container that can apply a fluid using an application body that feels more comfortable than a conventional application body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a fluid application container according to a first embodiment, taken along a cross-section that includes an axis thereof;
Fig. 2 is a view illustrating a fluid discharging body provided in the fluid application container according to the first embodiment from the direction of a discharge port thereof;
Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the fluid discharging body of the fluid application container according to the first embodiment from the direction of an arrow A-A, taken along an A-A line in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the fluid discharging body of the fluid application container according to the first embodiment from the direction of a front end thereof;
Fig. 5 is a plan view of an applicator provided in the fluid application container according to the first embodiment;
Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the applicator of the fluid application container according to the first embodiment from the direction of an arrow B-B, taken along a B-B line in Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a front fitting provided in the fluid application container according to the first embodiment from an orthogonal direction to an axial direction thereof;
Fig. 8 is a sectional view illustrating the front fitting from the direction of an arrow C-C, taken along a C-C line in Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is a view illustrating the front fitting from the direction of an opening formed in a front end portion thereof;
Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a fluid application container according to a second embodiment, taken along a cross-section that includes an axis thereof;
Fig. 11 is a view illustrating a fluid discharging body provided in the fluid application container according to the second embodiment from an orthogonal direction to an axial direction thereof;
Fig. 12 is a sectional view illustrating the fluid discharging body of the fluid application container according to the second embodiment from the direction of an arrow D-D, taken along a D-D line in Fig. 11; and
Fig. 13 is a view illustrating the fluid discharging body of the fluid application container according to the second embodiment from the direction of a discharge port formed in a front end portion thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

<First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the figures. In this embodiment, a fluid application container 1 for applying liquid concealer, i.e. a cosmetic material, to skin serving as an application surface will be described. Note that a lengthwise direction central axis of the fluid application container 1 will be referred to simply as "the axis", and an extension direction of the axis will be referred to as "the axial direction". In the specification and figures, constituent elements having substantially identical functions have been allocated identical reference numerals, and duplicate description thereof has been omitted.
As illustrated in Fig. 1, the fluid application container 1 according to this embodiment includes a container main body 10 that is formed in a substantially columnar shape and includes a tank T that stores a fluid F constituted by a cosmetic material; an assembly 20 of a spatula 24 and an applicator 26, the spatula 24 forming a fluid discharging body for discharging the fluid F and the applicator 26 serving as an application body that covers the spatula 24; a front fitting 30 attached to a front end portion (a lower side in Fig. 1) of the container main body 10; a cap 40 attached detachably to the front fitting 30; and a plunger 50 disposed on a rear end portion of the container main body 10 in order to push the fluid F in the tank T into the fluid discharging body in response to rotation of a top crown 51 serving as an operating body. Hereafter, the cap 40 disposed side of the fluid application container 1, or in other words the lower side of Fig. 1, will be referred to as the front side of the axial direction, the top crown 51 disposed side, or in other words the upper side of Fig. 1, will be referred to as the rear side, respective front side end portions will be referred to as front end portions, and respective rear side end portions will be referred to as rear end portions. Note that in Fig. 1, for ease of illustration, a piston rod 53 alone is illustrated as seen from an orthogonal direction to the axial direction rather than in sectional form.

(Container main body 10)

The container main body 10 is an elongated member having a substantially hollow cylindrical shape and extending in the axial direction, and is formed from a resin material such as polypropylene. A front end portion of the container main body 10, which is positioned in front of the tank T housing the fluid F, is formed to have both a smaller inner diameter and a smaller outer diameter than other parts of the container main body 10. The fluid discharge body is fitted to an inner peripheral surface of the front end portion of the container main body 10, and the front fitting 30 is fitted to an outer peripheral surface of the front end portion of the container main body 10. The top crown 51 of the plunger 50 is fitted to a rear end portion of the container main body 10 to be capable of rotating relative to the container main body 10.

(Fluid discharging body)

The fluid discharging body according to this embodiment includes a holder 22 that forms a rear portion of the fluid discharging body and is fitted to the container main body 10, and the spatula 24 that forms a front portion of the fluid discharging body and is connected to a front end portion of the holder 22.
As illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4, the holder 22 is formed in a substantially hollow cylindrical shape, and configured such that when an outer peripheral wall 221 thereof is fitted to an inner peripheral wall of the front end portion of the container main body 10, a rear portion flow passage 222 serving as a hollow portion of the holder 22 communicates with the tank T. Two annular projections 223, 224 projecting radially outward so as to contact an inner peripheral surface of the front fitting 30 are formed a predetermined distance from each other in the axial direction on an outer peripheral surface of the holder 22 in substantially central positions in the axial direction. An annular projection 225 that projects radially outward and is formed in a tapered shape so as to press and latch the applicator 26 (see Fig. 1), to be described in detail below, is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the holder 22 in front of the annular projection 224. A connecting portion 226 that is formed to have a smaller outer diameter than a rear portion of the holder 22 and is connected to the spatula 24 is formed in front of the annular projection 225. An annular barb 227 for preventing the spatula 24 from dropping off frontward is formed on an edge portion of a front end of the connecting portion 226.
An outer peripheral surface of a rear portion 242 of the spatula 24 is formed in a substantially tubular shape having an outer diameter that decreases gently toward the front, and an inner peripheral groove is formed in an inner peripheral surface thereof. The inner peripheral groove in the rear portion 242 of the spatula 24 is connected to the barb 227 of the holder 22 to prevent the spatula 24 from falling off. A front portion flow passage 241 into which the fluid F flows from the rear portion flow passage 222 of the holder 22 is formed in the interior of the spatula 24. A front portion 243 of the spatula 24 is formed in a tapered plate shape having two curved surfaces 244a, 244b such that a thickness X (see Fig. 3) thereof decreases steadily toward the front. The curved surfaces 244a, 244b are formed such that the reduction in the thickness X is comparatively rapid at the rear, or in other words in the vicinity of the rear portion 242, and comparatively gentle at the front. A discharge port 245 that communicates with the front portion flow passage 241 is formed in a front side of the curved surface 244a. In accordance with the shapes of the rear portion 242 and the front portion 243, the front portion flow passage 241 is likewise formed such that the flow passage narrows steadily toward the front.
According to the configuration described above, the spatula 24 discharges the fluid F pushed forward by the plunger 50 through the discharge port 245 via the flow passages 222, 241. By forming the discharge port 245 in only one surface in this manner, the fluid F is discharged in a larger amount onto one of the applying surfaces from which the fluid F is applied to the application surface than onto the other applying surface, as will be described in detail below, and as a result, a larger amount of the fluid F can be absorbed by one of the applying surfaces than by the other applying surface. Accordingly, the amount of fluid F that is applied to the application surface can be adjusted by spreading the fluid F, absorbing the fluid F, and so on using the side of the other applying surface (the curved surface 244b) that has absorbed a comparatively small amount of the fluid F.
The spatula 24 is formed from an elastic material possessing elasticity, and a hardness of the elastic material is set to be lower than a hardness of the holder 22. According to this configuration, when the fluid F is applied, the spatula 24 supported by the holder 22 can be bent while the spatula 24 supports the applicator 26, which has an even lower hardness, as will be described in detail below, and as a result, a comfortable feeling on the skin and a comfortable use feeling can be imparted to a user. The spatula 24 is preferably formed from an elastic body such as a thermoplastic elastomer, and the holder 22 is preferably formed from a resin material such as polypropylene. In terms of type A durometer hardness defined by ISO 18517, for example, the hardness of the spatula 24 is preferably within a range of 10 to 100, more preferably within a range of 15 to 80, and even more preferably within a range of 15 to 50. In this embodiment, the holder 22 and the spatula 24 having different materials and different hardnesses to each other are formed integrally by composite molding (two-color molding or double molding). By employing this configuration, the holder 22 and the spatula 24 can be joined efficiently and securely. Note that in another embodiment, the spatula 24 may be fitted and attached to a connecting portion 226 of the holder 22.

(Applicator 26)

As illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the applicator 26 serving as the application body of this embodiment is formed in a bag shape by joining two plate materials each having a substantially elliptical planar form such that an interior space 262 into which the spatula 24 can be inserted is formed in the interior thereof. The applicator 26 according to this embodiment is formed in a bag shape by joining respective peripheral edges of the two plate materials by welding. However, the number of joined plate materials is not limited to two, and in another embodiment, the applicator may be formed in a bag shape by joining another desired plurality of plate materials. By forming the bag-shaped applicator 26 such that the spatula 24 can elastically deform freely in the interior thereof, a more favorable feeling on the skin can be imparted to the user than in a case where the fluid F is applied using the spatula 24 or the applicator 26 alone. The applicator 26 is formed from a porous material that can be impregnated with the fluid F, and is configured to have a predetermined elasticity and a lower hardness than the spatula 24. Sponge, for example, may be used as the porous material forming the applicator 26, and urethane sponge, which is durable and capable of imparting a comfortable feeling on the skin and a comfortable use feeling to the user, is particularly preferable. By configuring the applicator 26, which is formed in a bag shape and has a comparatively low hardness, to be capable of applying the fluid F while being supported by the spatula 24, which is formed in a tapered plate shape and has a comparatively high hardness, a comfortable feeling on the skin, as if the fluid F were being applied to the application surface by a human finger, can be imparted to the user. Further, one plate material of the applicator 26 that covers the discharge port 245 of the spatula 24 is preferably configured to be distinguishable from the other plate material. For example, by forming one plate material covering the discharge port 245 in a different color to the other plate material so as to be visually distinguishable, the user can easily ascertain the position of the discharge port 245 of the spatula 24 inside the bag-shaped applicator 26.

(Front fitting 30)

As illustrated in Fig. 7, the front fitting 30 is formed in a substantially hollow cylindrical shape, and an outer peripheral surface thereof is tapered toward the front end side so that the cap 40 can be fitted favorably thereon. An annular groove 301 recessed radially inward so as to be fitted to an annular projection formed on an inner peripheral surface of the cap 40 is formed in an outer peripheral surface of a rear portion of the front fitting 30. Two annular projections 302, 303 projecting radially inward are formed on an inner peripheral surface of the rear portion of the front fitting 30 so as to be fitted to annular grooves formed in an outer peripheral surface of the front end portion of the container main body 10. Annular grooves 304, 305 into which the two annular projections 223, 224 of the holder 22 are respectively fitted are formed in the inner peripheral surface of the front fitting 30 in front of the annular projection 303.
When the fluid discharging body is fitted into the container main body 10 (see Fig. 1), the front fitting 30 fixes the holder 22 of the fluid discharging body such that the spatula 24 covered by the applicator 26 projects frontward from a front end opening 306 in the front fitting 30. At this time, a rear portion of the applicator 26 is clamped in the radial direction between an inner peripheral surface 308 of a front end portion 307 of the front fitting 30 and the annular projection 225 of the holder 22 so as to be latched thereby. The applicator 26 can thus be prevented from falling off the spatula 24 frontward.

(Cap 40)

The cap 40 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having a lid plate on a front end thereof (see Fig. 1), and is configured to be capable of housing the applicator 26 in the interior thereof so as to protect the applicator 26 when fitted to the front fitting 30. An annular projection 402 projecting radially inward is formed on an inner peripheral surface of a rear portion of the cap 40, and by fitting the annular projection 402 to the annular groove 301 of the front fitting 30, the cap 40 is attached detachably to the front fitting 30.

(Plunger 50)

The plunger 50 includes the top crown 51, which is latched to the container main body 10 to be capable of rotating relative thereto, a piston 52 that can move forward by sliding through the tank T, the piston rod 53, which has an external screw 532 formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof and pushes the piston 52 forward, a rotation stopper 54 that has an internal screw formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof, the internal screw being screwed to the external screw 532 of the piston rod 53, and is fitted by an outer peripheral surface thereof to an inner peripheral surface of the container main body 10, and a top plug 55 serving as a lid that is fitted to a rear end opening of the top crown 51.
The rotation stopper 54 is formed in a substantially tubular shape such that a front end portion outer peripheral surface thereof has a slightly smaller diameter than a rear end portion outer peripheral surface, and an internal screw 542 is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the front end portion thereof. Contact surfaces 534 constituted by a pair of planes extending in the axial direction are formed at 180-degree circumferential direction intervals on an outer peripheral surface of the piston rod 53 so as to divide the internal screw 532 of the piston rod 53 into two in the circumferential direction. The top crown 51 is formed in a substantially tubular shape such that a front portion thereof has a smaller outer diameter than a rear portion, and the front portion is fitted into the rear end portion of the rotation stopper 54 and the rear end portion of the container main body 10 so as to be capable of rotating relative to each thereof. Contact surfaces 512 are formed opposite the contact surfaces 534 of the piston rod 53 on an inner peripheral surface of the front portion of the top crown 51 so as to contact the contact surfaces 534 slidably, with the result that the piston rod 53 is engaged to the top crown 51 so as to be capable of sliding in the axial direction relative thereto and rotating in the circumferential direction integrally therewith. An annular projection 514 that is fitted to an annular groove formed in an inner peripheral surface of the rear end portion of the container main body 10 so as to be capable of rotating relative thereto is formed on an outer peripheral surface of a rear end portion of a front portion of the top crown 51, with the result that the top crown 51 is engaged to the container main body 10 so as to be capable of rotating relative thereto in the circumferential direction but incapable of moving relative thereto in the axial direction.

(Assembly)

Assembly of the fluid application container 1 will now be described. The front end portion of the piston rod 53 is press-fitted into the piston 52, whereupon the rotation stopper 54 is screwed to the piston rod 53 such that the front end of the rotation stopper 54 contacts the rear end of the piston 52. Next, the rotation stopper 54, to which the piston rod 53 is screwed, is press-fitted into the container main body 10 from the rear such that the rotation stopper 54 is incapable of rotating relative to the container main body 10. Next, the top crown 51 having the top plug 55 fitted into the rear end thereof is fitted into the container main body 10 from the rear, whereupon the annular projection 514 of the top crown 51 is fitted to the annular groove in the container main body 10. When the contact surfaces 512 of the top crown 51 and the contact surfaces 534 of the piston rod 53 are engaged, the plunger 50 is incorporated into the container main body 10.
Next, the fluid F is injected into the tank T of the container main body 10 from the front, whereupon the fluid discharging body (the holder 22 and the spatula 24) is press-fitted into the front end opening of the container main body 10. Next, the front portion of the fluid discharging body (the holder 22 and the spatula 24) is covered by the applicator 26, whereupon the front fitting 30 is fitted into the front end portion outer periphery of the container main body 10 from the front. As a result, the applicator 26 is incorporated into the container main body 10. Finally, the cap 40 is fitted to the front fitting 30 from the front, whereby the fluid application container 1 is assembled.
Note that in another embodiment, other desired attachment structures such as screws may be employed to attach the respective constituent elements described above instead of fitting together projections and grooves and press-fitting components, as in this embodiment.

(Method of use)

A method of using the fluid application container 1 will now be described. When the top crown 51 is rotated relative to the container main body 10, the top crown 51 and the piston rod 53 rotate integrally relative to the container main body 10. Accordingly, the piston rod 53 rotates relative to the rotation stopper 54 fitted to the container main body 10 so as to move forward together with the piston 52, and as a result, the fluid F is pushed forward. The pushed fluid F is discharged through the discharge port 245 via the rear portion flow passage 222 in the holder 22 and the front portion flow passage 241 in the spatula 24, and absorbed by one of the plate materials of the bag-shaped applicator 26 formed by joining the two plate materials.
After a rotation operation is executed repeatedly on the top crown 51 as appropriate such that an appropriate amount of the fluid F is absorbed by the applicator 26, the user can apply the fluid F to the application surface by bringing the applicator 26 into contact with the application surface and stroking the application surface therewith. If a user needs so, the application amount can be adjusted by additionally stroking the application surface with the other plate material that absorbs a comparatively small amount of the fluid F, among the two plate material that are joined to form the bag-shaped applicator 26, so that the applied fluid F is spread over a wider application range, or by using the other plate material to absorb fluid F that has been applied excessively.
As described above, the spatula 24 covered by the applicator 26, which is formed from a soft material having the lowest hardness, is formed from a soft material having a lower hardness than the holder 22, and therefore the spatula 24 covered by the applicator 26 can bend to an appropriate degree so to impart to the user a comfortable feeling on the skin. The holder 22, which has the highest hardness among the holder 22, the spatula 24, and the applicator 26, can clamp and latch the applicator 26 in the radial direction together with the front fitting 30, and as a result, the applicator 26 can be fixed securely.

In the first embodiment, the fluid discharging body of the fluid application container 1 includes the spatula 24 having a substantially flat plate-shaped front end. This disclosure is not limited thereto, however, and a fluid application container according to another embodiment may include a fluid discharging body of another desired shape, such as a cylindrical shape, a triangular pyramid shape, or a prism shape. Similarly to the shape of the fluid discharging body, the applicator covering the fluid discharging body may also be formed in a desired shape. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the plunger 50 pushes the fluid F when operated by rotating the top crown 51. However, the plunger 50 is not limited to this configuration, and in another embodiment, the top crown may be provided with a clicking body as the operating body, and the fluid may be discharged by pushing down the clicking body. A fluid application container according to a second embodiment, which includes a cylindrical fluid discharging body and a plunger having a clicking body, will be described below.
As illustrated in Fig. 10, a fluid application container 1' according to this embodiment includes an assembly 20' of an applicator 26' and a fluid discharging body, and a plunger 60.

(Fluid discharging body)

The fluid discharging body according to this embodiment includes a holder 22' that is fitted into the front end opening of the container main body 10, and a discharge pipe 28 joined to a front end of the holder 22'. The applicator 26' covers a front end portion of the holder 22' and the discharge pipe 28.
As illustrated in Figs. 11 to 13, the holder 22' differs from the first embodiment in that the holder 22' does not include the annular projection 223 of the holder 22 according to the first embodiment, and instead, the outer peripheral wall 221 of the holder 22' includes an outer wall that is fitted to an inner peripheral wall of the front end portion of the container main body 10, and an inner wall that defines the rear portion flow passage 222. The holder 22' may thus be configured differently to the configuration described in the first embodiment. Apart from these differences, the holder 22' is configured similarly to the holder 22 according to the first embodiment, and therefore duplicate description thereof has been omitted.
The discharge pipe 28 is formed in a substantially hollow cylindrical shape having a front end plate, and a front portion flow passage 282 that communicates with the rear portion flow passage 222 of the holder 22' is formed in the interior thereof. An inner peripheral groove that is fitted to the barb 227, which is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the front portion of the holder 22', is formed in an inner peripheral surface of a rear portion of the discharge pipe 28. A recessed surface 284 is formed in a front end of the discharge pipe 28 so as to extend in an orthogonal direction to the axial direction thereof, and a plurality of holes that communicate with the front portion flow passage 282 and function as the discharge ports 286 for discharging the fluid F are formed in the recessed surface 284.
In this embodiment, the discharge pipe 28, similarly to the spatula 24 of the first embodiment, is formed from an elastic material possessing elasticity, and the hardness of the elastic material is set to be lower than the hardness of the holder 22'. According to this configuration, when the fluid F is applied, the discharge pipe 28 supported by the holder 22' can be bent while the discharge pipe 28 supports the applicator 26', which has an even lower hardness, as will be described in detail below, and as a result, a comfortable feeling on the skin and a comfortable use feeling can be imparted to the user. The discharge pipe 28 thus configured is preferably formed from an elastic body such as a thermoplastic elastomer, similarly to the spatula 24, and the hardness thereof is preferably set to be equal to the hardness of the spatula 24. In another embodiment, however, the discharge pipe 28 may be formed from an identical material to the holder 22' so as to be formed integrally therewith.

(Applicator 26')

As illustrated in Fig. 10, in the applicator 26' serving as the application body according to this embodiment, an outer peripheral surface serving as the applying surface of the applicator 26' is formed in a substantially spherical shape, and a space into which the discharge pipe 28 can be inserted is formed in the interior thereof. The applicator 26' is formed by applying a flocked finish to a base material molded integrally into a bag shape, but in another embodiment, a bag-shaped base material may be formed by joining a plurality of, i.e. two or more, plate-shaped base materials. The base material of the applicator 26' is formed from a porous material that can be impregnated with the fluid F, and a material having a predetermined elasticity and a lower hardness than the material forming the discharge pipe 28. Sponge, for example, may be used as the porous material forming the base material of the applicator 26', and urethane sponge, which is durable and capable of imparting to the user a comfortable feeling on the skin and a comfortable use feeling, is particularly preferable. In this embodiment, a flocked finish 264 covering the base material of the applicator 26' is applied to the surface of the base material, and the hardness of the surface of the applicator 26' is set to be even lower than the hardness of the base material. By employing this configuration, the hardness of the applicator can be set to be lower than the hardness of the fluid discharging body even more easily such that a comfortable feeling on the skin and a comfortable use feeling can be imparted to the user.

(Plunger 60)

As illustrated in Fig. 10, the plunger 60 includes a clicking body 61, a piston 62 that can move forward by sliding through the tank T, a piston rod 63 having an external screw formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof, a rotation cam 64 having an internal screw that is screwed to the external screw of the piston rod 63 formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof, whereby the rotation cam 64 is screwed to the piston rod 63 to be capable of rotating relative thereto, a swing cam 65 configured to be capable of swinging in order to drive the rotation cam 64 to rotate in a single rotational direction, a top crown 66 attached to the rear end portion of the container main body 10 in order to support the plunger 60, a return spring 67 that biases the clicking body 61 rearward, and a slide cam 68 coupled to the clicking body 61 so as to be attached to the swing cam 65.
The respective constituent elements of the plunger 60, as well as procedures for assembling these elements, will now be described in further detail. The rotation cam 64 has a frontward-projecting ratchet tooth on a front surface thereof, and a plurality of cam ridges extending in the circumferential direction are formed on a rear surface thereof. The swing cam 65 has a frontward-projecting ratchet tooth on a front surface thereof, and is attached to the rotation cam 64 so that the rear surface of the rotation cam 64 engages with the ratchet tooth of the swing cam 65, whereby the rotation cam 64 is driven in only one rotational direction. The return spring 67 and an assembly of the clicking body 61 and the slide cam 68, which is biased rearward relative to the swing cam 65 by the return spring 67, are also attached to the swing cam 65 attached to the rotation cam 64. The swing cam 65 and the slide cam 68 are attached in a mutually cam-engaged condition so that the slide cam 68 executes a reciprocating motion in the axial direction in conjunction with a reciprocating rotary motion executed by the swing cam 65 in the circumferential direction. An assembly obtained by assembling the clicking body 61, the rotation cam 64, the swing cam 65, the return spring 67, and the slide cam 68 in the manner described above serves as a clicking set.
Next, the clicking set is attached to the top crown 66 by being fitted into the rear end opening of the top crown 66 from the rear. A plurality of cam ridges extending in the circumferential direction are formed on a front portion inner peripheral surface of the top crown 66, and the plurality of cam ridges engage with the ratchet tooth of the rotation cam 64 so as to allow the rotation cam 64 to rotate in one rotational direction while preventing the rotation cam 64 from rotating in the other rotational direction. The piston 62 is fitted to a front end portion of the piston rod 63. Contact surfaces constituted by a pair of planes extending in the axial direction are formed at 180-degree circumferential direction intervals on an outer peripheral surface of the piston rod 63 so as to divide the external screw of the piston rod 63 into two in the circumferential direction. Contact surfaces are formed opposite the contact surfaces of the piston rod 63 on an inner peripheral surface of a front portion opening of the top crown 66 so as to contact the contact surfaces of the piston rod 63. When the contact surfaces of the top crown 66 contact the contact surfaces of the piston rod 63, the piston rod 63 is supported to be incapable of rotating but capable of moving in the axial direction relative to the top crown 66. The external screw of the piston rod 63 is screwed to the internal screw of the rotation cam 64. Thus, the plunger 60 is assembled.
Assembly of the fluid application container 1' will now be described further. The plunger 60 is incorporated into the container main body 10 by being press-fitted from the rear, whereupon the fluid F is injected into the tank T from the front of the container main body 10 and the fluid discharging body (the holder 22' and the discharge pipe 28) is press-fitted into the container main body 10 from the front. Next, the front portion of the fluid discharging body (the holder 22' and the discharge pipe 28) is covered by the applicator 26', whereupon the front fitting 30 is fitted into the outer peripheral surface of the front end portion of the container main body 10 from the front. As a result, the fluid discharging body (the holder 22' and the discharge pipe 28) and the applicator 26' are incorporated into the container main body 10. Finally, the cap 40 is fitted to the front fitting 30 from the front, whereby the fluid application container 1' is assembled.
Note that in another embodiment, other desired attachment structures such as screws may be employed to attach the respective constituent elements described above instead of fitting together projections and grooves and press-fitting components, as in this embodiment.

(Method of use)

A method of using the fluid application container 1' according to this embodiment will now be described. When the user removes the cap 40 from the front fitting 30 and pushes down the clicking body 61 against the biasing force of the return spring 67, the slide cam 68 coupled to the clicking body 61 moves forward relative to the swing cam 65. In response to this movement, the swing cam 65, which is cam-engaged to the slide cam 68, rotates in the circumferential direction, whereby the rotation cam 64 is driven to rotate in a single rotational direction. When the rotation cam 64 rotates, the piston rod 63 screwed to the rotation cam 64 moves forward, thereby pushing the piston 62 and the fluid F forward. The pushed fluid F is discharged through the discharge port 286 via the rear portion flow passage 222 in the holder 22' and the front portion flow passage 282 in the discharge pipe 28, and absorbed by the applicator 26'.
After a push-down operation is executed repeatedly on the clicking body 61 as appropriate such that an appropriate amount of the fluid F is absorbed by the applicator 26', the user can apply the fluid F by bringing the applicator 26' into contact with the application surface.
As described above, the discharge pipe 28 covered by the applicator 26', which is formed from a soft material having the lowest hardness, is formed from a soft material having a lower hardness than the holder 22', and therefore the discharge pipe 28 covered by the applicator 26' can bend to an appropriate degree so to impart to the user a comfortable feeling on the skin. Moreover, by applying the flocked finish 264 to the applicator 26', as in this embodiment, an even more comfortable feeling on the skin can be imparted to the user.
Note that in the embodiments described above, the fluid F housed in the tank T is a cosmetic material, but in another embodiment, another desired fluid, such as a fluid for stationery, may be housed in the tank T and discharged. In this case, the desired fluid can be applied to the application surface favorably, without damaging the application surface. The fluid may be any desired liquid, gel, or the like.
The present invention may be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or the main features thereof. Therefore, the above embodiments are in all respects merely examples, and are not to be interpreted as limiting the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and not restricted by the body of the specification. Moreover, all modifications and various amendments, substitutions, and improvements within a scope that is equivalent to the scope of the claims are assumed to be within the scope of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1, 1': Fluid application container
10: Container main body
20, 20': Assembly of fluid discharging body and application body
22, 22': Holder (fluid discharging body)
24: Spatula (fluid discharging body)
245: Discharge port
26, 26': Applicator (application body)
28: Discharge pipe (fluid discharging body)
286: Discharge port
30: Front fitting
50, 60: Plunger
51: Top crown
61: clicking body
T: Tank
F: Fluid

Claims

A fluid application container (1; 1') including:
a container main body (10) having a tank (T) that houses a fluid (F);

a fluid discharging body that is coupled by a rear end portion thereof to the container main body (10), and that discharges the fluid (F) through a discharge port (245;286) formed in a front end portion thereof when the fluid (F) flows into the interior thereof from the tank (T);

an application body (26;26') that covers the fluid discharging body (24;28) and has a lower hardness than the fluid discharging body; and

a plunger (50;60) that includes an operating body and pushes the fluid (F) in the tank (T) into the fluid discharging body in response to an operation of the operating body,

wherein the application body (26;26') absorbs the fluid (F) discharged through the discharge port (245;286) of the fluid discharging body, and applies the absorbed fluid (F) to an application surface when brought into contact with the application surface.
The fluid application container (1;1') according to claim 1, wherein a hardness of the front end portion of the fluid discharging body is lower than a hardness of the rear end portion of the fluid discharging body.
The fluid application container (1;1') according to claim 2, wherein the front end portion and the rear end portion of the fluid discharging body are formed integrally by composite molding.
The fluid application container (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the front end portion of the fluid discharging body is formed in a plate shape, and the discharge port (245) is formed in one surface of the front end portion.
The fluid application container (1; 1') according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the application body (26;26') is formed in a bag shape by joining a plurality of plate materials, and
one plate material that covers the discharge port (245;286) of the fluid discharging body, among the plurality of plate materials, is distinguishable from another plate material.
The fluid application container (1;1') according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an applying surface of the application body (26;26') is formed in a substantially spherical shape, and a flocked finish is applied to the applying surface.