JP2012131573A - Foaming container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a squeezable container which stably dispenses fine foam.SOLUTION: A foaming container includes a squeezable container body 1 having a content filling space M, and a nozzle 2 fixedly held at a mouth 1a of the container body 1 and forming a dispensing path r communicating with the filling space M. The filling space M is provided with an inner container 3 having a body portion inflated or deflated with squeezing operation, and internally filled with air, and a tube body 4 having an air flow passage communicating with the body portion of the inner container 3, positioned within the dispensing path r of the nozzle, and forming an annular space t between the tube body and the inner wall of the nozzle 2, and further the filling space is disposed with foaming members 6a and 6b in the annular space t. On the inlet side of the foaming members 6a and 6b, a bypass 7 is formed which opens toward the inlet side, reverses the flow of the content at least once, and guides the content toward the foaming members 6a and 6b. The tube body 4 is provided with a through-hole 8 ejecting air passing through the air flow passage h toward the foaming members 6a and 6b, between the foaming members 6a and 6b and the bypass 7.

Description

  The present invention relates to a foam ejection container that foams and discharges fluid contents (liquid, gel, etc.) by squeezing the body of the container.

  For products that contain various liquid detergents such as shampoos, body soaps, hand soaps, facial cleansers, etc. and hair conditioners such as set lotions, the inside of the dispensing pump from the viewpoint of simplifying use by omitting the foaming action There are many products that incorporate foaming mechanisms and make the contents foamy immediately before pouring.

  This type of product is usually intended for large stationary containers, but recently it has also been applied to small containers that are convenient to carry. A squeeze-type foam ejector that mixes and foams liquid and air by squeezing the body into an air container body having a squeezable body part and squeezing the body part of the air container body is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  By the way, the above-mentioned conventional foam ejector can more stably discharge fine foam with fine texture (smoothness), reduce the amount of materials used, further reduce the size of the container, There was still room for improvement when considering refilling the container filled with the contents.

Japanese Patent No. 3761140

  An object of the present invention is to propose a novel foam ejection container that can discharge the contents having fluidity as fine-textured foam and make the container itself more compact.

The present invention includes a container body having a squeezable body portion, the inside of which is a filling space for contents, and a nozzle that is fixedly held at the mouth portion of the container body and that forms a discharge path leading to the filling space. With
Inside the container main body, there is a body part that can be expanded and contracted in the same manner as a squeeze operation, an inner container that is filled with air, and an air flow passage that is connected to the body part of the inner container. A tubular body that is located in the discharge path and forms an annular gap with the inner wall of the nozzle;
The annular gap is provided with a foaming member that allows the contents in the container body and the air in the inner container to pass through, foam and discharge from the tip of the nozzle,
On the entry side of the foam member, an opening is formed toward the entry side of the foam member, and a detour for guiding the contents toward the foam member by reversing the flow of the contents at least once is formed.
The foam jet container is characterized in that a through-opening is provided in the pipe body for jetting air passing through an air flow path toward the foam member between the foam member and the bypass.

  In the foam ejection container having the above-described configuration, the tube body is configured to allow air to flow when the squeeze operation is released, and is adapted to fit the valve seat of the air flow path when discharging the contents, A stop valve can be provided.

  Moreover, it is preferable to apply a mesh as the foamed member.

  A foaming member is arranged in an annular gap formed in the nozzle, and the discharge of the content is suppressed (reduces the momentum) by a detour before this foaming member, and the mixture of air and the content is foamed by the foaming member. Therefore, mixing of the contents and air is stabilized, and fine foam is stably generated on the outlet side of the foamed member.

  Further, when the contents are discharged, the air flow passage is surely blocked by the check valve, so that the mixing ratio of the contents and air becomes constant, and a stable quality bubble is obtained.

It is the figure which showed embodiment of the foam ejection container according to this invention in the cross section. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a content discharge procedure for the container shown in FIG. It is the figure which showed other embodiment of the foam ejection container according to this invention in the cross section. It is the figure which showed other embodiment of the foam ejection container according to this invention in the cross section. It is the figure which showed other embodiment of the foam ejection container according to this invention in the cross section.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a foam ejection container according to the present invention.

  Reference numeral 1 in the figure has a squeezable body part, and the inside of the container body has a content (liquid) filling space M, and 2 is a nozzle fixedly held in the mouth part 1 a of the container body 1. The nozzle 2 includes a base portion 2a and a cylindrical body 2b provided integrally with the base portion 2a. The base 2a can be detachably linked to the mouth 1a of the container body 1 by screwing as shown in the figure (engagement means such as an undercut may be applied, or it may be opened to prevent tampering. The cylinder 2b has a discharge path r connected to the filling space M.

  Reference numeral 3 denotes an air-filling inner container that is suspended and held in a tube body in the filling space M. The inner container 3 is shown as an example of a thin bottle formed by biaxial stretch blow molding, and a mouth portion 3b that is relatively thick is provided on the upper portion of the body portion 3a.

  4 has an air flow passage h connected to the body portion 3a of the inner container 3 on the inside, and a tube body that is located in the discharge passage r of the nozzle 2 and forms an annular gap t between the inner wall of the nozzle 2 It is.

  The tube body 4 has a base 4a that engages with the mouth 3b of the inner container 3 by an undercut or the like (or can be engaged with a screw) at its inner recess e, and a back surface of the base 2a of the nozzle 2 at the top of the base 4a. And a cylindrical body 4c erected on the outer peripheral edge of the base 4a.

Reference numeral 5 denotes a check valve disposed inside the main body portion 4b of the tube body 4. This check valve 5 is held by the pin S provided at the upper end of the base 4a when the container body 1 is in a stationary state (standing position) or in a state in which the squeeze operation is released, so that air can flow. (A gap is formed between the valve and the passage). When the contents are discharged (squeeze operation), or when the container is tilted or in an inverted position, the check valve 5 is connected to the valve seat 4b ₁ Fit and block air flow (see Figure 2). Although the ball valve is exemplified as the check valve 5, a resin valve may be employed in which an elastic piece is integrally provided on the upper portion of the pin S and attached in an upward biased state via the elastic piece.

Reference numerals 6a and 6b denote foam members disposed in the annular gap t. The foam members 6a and 6b are composed of rings 6a ₁ and 6b ₁ which are fitted and fixed in the annular gap t, and meshes 6a ₂ and 6b ₂ installed on the end faces of the rings 6a ₁ and 6b _{1, and} are made of air. The mixed contents are foamed by passing through the foamed members 6a and 6b.

  Here, the foaming members 6a and 6b can be increased in the number of installed members, or the mesh size can be further reduced to increase the resistance in passage of contents, and mixing with air is ensured. As a result, fine foam can be generated and dripping of the contents (drip) can be avoided. As the foamed members 6a and 6b, a porous body made of a sintered body, a foamed body, or the like can be used instead of the ring having a mesh.

  Reference numeral 7 denotes a bypass route provided in the pipe body 4. The bypass 7 is connected to the base hole of the main body portion 4b of the tube body 4 at the top and bottom of the vertical hole 7a (a plurality of holes are provided around the base at intervals) and the lower end of the vertical hole 7a. The gap 7b (the gap 7b can be formed by vertical ribs or the like formed on the inner wall of the cylinder 4c). The gap 7b communicates with the filling space M of the container body 1, and the vertical hole 7a communicates with the entry side of the foam members 6a and 6b. The contents in the filling space M are passed through the bypass 7 to the foam members 6a and 6b. (See the arrow in Fig. 2).

  Reference numeral 8 denotes a through hole formed in the main body portion 4 b of the tube body 4. This through-hole 8 is for ejecting the air passing through the air flow passage h during the squeeze operation from the entry side to the exit side of the foam members 6a and 6b, and is spaced along the body portion 4b. A plurality are provided with a gap. Reference numeral 9 denotes a screw-type cap that is detachably attached to the tip of the nozzle 2.

  When discharging the contents in the container body 1, as shown in FIG. 2, the container body 1 itself is tilted or inverted to narrow its body (squeeze). The contents in the container main body 1 reach the entry side of the foamed members 6a and 6b through the detour path 7, that is, the gap 7b and the vertical hole 7a, while the air in the inner container 3 flows into the mouth by the narrowing of the body part. 3b, the air flow passage h of the pipe body 4 and the through hole 8 reach the entry side of the foam members 6a and 6b.

  The air ejected from the through-hole 8 is introduced into the foam members 6a and 6b together with the contents, and is discharged from the discharge path r of the nozzle 2 as fine foam until reaching the outlet side. It will be.

  By releasing the squeeze operation, air is introduced into the container body 1 through the discharge path r, the foamed members 6a and 6b, and the bypass path 7, and the body part is restored to its original state. Air is introduced into the vessel 3 to restore the body 3a to its original state.

  In the foam ejector according to the present invention, the discharge of the contents is suppressed (reduces momentum) by the bypass 7 provided in front of the foam members 6a and 6b, so that the mixing of the contents and air is stabilized. After passing through the foaming members 6a and 6b, fine foam is generated.

  FIG. 3 is a view showing another embodiment of the foam ejector according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a protective cylinder that is linked to the base 2a of the nozzle 2 and is suspended in the filling space M. The protective cylinder 10 is arranged so as to surround the inner container 3, and a plurality of window holes 10a (including a slit-like shape are arbitrarily set) are provided on the wall surface. All or part of the window hole 10a forms a path for feeding the contents to the discharge path r of the nozzle 2.

  By disposing the protective cylinder 10 around the inner container 3 for supplying air, the inner container 3 is prevented from being damaged when the contents are filled, refilled, replaced, and the like. The protective cylinder 10 functions as a stopper that restricts the amount of squeezing of the body part during the squeeze operation (the body part of the container body 1 is reduced). When it is pushed in, the wall part constituting the body part of the container body contacts the protective cylinder 10 and the body part cannot be pushed any further. Therefore, quantitative discharge and stable squeeze are possible.

  The protective cylinder 10 is illustrated as having its bottom opened, but a cylinder having a bottom wall may be applied.

  By placing the inner container 3 in the container body 1 together with the protective cylinder 10, it is possible to make effective use of the internal space, and for the container body 1 filled with contents, a refill that allows the container to be replaced It can be a type of container.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, a thin blow-molded bottle is shown as an example of the inner container 3, but as shown in FIG. 4, a pouch-type container (bag-shaped container) provided with a spout 3c or FIG. It is also possible to use a thin-walled sleeve tube as shown, and the cap 9 may be fitted with a fitting type cap.

  Further, the foamed members 6a and 6b are illustrated with respect to the case where a mesh is used, but when using a porous body such as a sintered body or a foamed body, the through-hole 8 is a body portion of the porous body. It can also be provided so as to face the (side wall surface), and the form of air ejection to the foaming members 6a and 6b can be changed as appropriate, and is not limited to the illustrated one.

  A compact squeeze-type foam ejection container capable of stably discharging fine foam can be provided.

1 Container body
1a mouth
2 nozzles
2a base
2b tube
3 Inner container
3a trunk
3b mouth
4 tube
4a base
4b Body part
5 Check valve
6a, 6b Foam member
7 Detour
7a Vertical hole
7b Clearance
8 Through hole
9 cap
10 Protective cylinder
10a Window hole
r Discharge route
h Air passage
M filling space
S pin

Claims (3)

A container main body having a squeezable body, the inside of which is a filling space for contents, and a nozzle that is fixedly held in the mouth of the container main body and forms a discharge path that leads to the filling space;
Inside the container main body, there is a body part that can be expanded and contracted in the same manner as a squeeze operation, an inner container that is filled with air, and an air flow passage that is connected to the body part of the inner container. A tubular body that is located in the discharge path and forms an annular gap with the inner wall of the nozzle;
The annular gap is provided with a foaming member that allows the contents in the container body and the air in the inner container to pass through, foam and discharge from the tip of the nozzle,
On the entry side of the foam member, an opening is formed toward the entry side of the foam member, and a detour for guiding the contents toward the foam member by reversing the flow of the contents at least once is formed.
A bubble ejection container, wherein the tube body is provided with a through-hole for ejecting air passing through an air flow path toward the foam member between the foam member and the bypass.     2. The foam jet according to claim 1, wherein the tubular body has a check valve that allows air to flow when releasing the squeeze operation and that is adapted to a valve seat of the air flow path when the contents are discharged to block the air flow. container.   The foam ejection container according to claim 1, wherein the foam member is made of a mesh fixedly held on a ring.