JP2024063857A - Dispensing container - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent an inside plug member and a dispensing cylindrical member, once removed from a mouth part, from being reattached to the mouth part.SOLUTION: A dispensing container comprises: a bottomed cylindrical container body 11 having a mouth part 21; an inside plug member 12 that is inserted inside the mouth part, and on which a communication hole 25 communicating with the inside of the container body is formed; a dispensing cylindrical member 13 that extends upward from the mouth part, and in which an upper end opening 28 communicates with the communication hole; and a ring member 31 held between an inner peripheral surface of the mouth part and an outer peripheral surface of the inside plug member. At a lower end part of the inside plug member, an engaging projection 32 projecting outward in a radial direction from a lower end opening of the ring member is formed, and force required to pull out the ring member upward from the inside of the mouth part is greater than force required to pull out the inside plug member upward from the inside of the ring member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a dispensing container.

Conventionally, as shown in, for example, Patent Document 1 below, there is known a pouring container that includes a bottomed, cylindrical container body having a mouth, and a pouring tube member that extends upward from the mouth and has an upper end opening that communicates with the inside of the container body.

Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 4-89754

With conventional pouring containers, when the contents are used up, the pouring tube member is removed from the mouth, the upper opening of the mouth is opened, and then, for example, other contents are poured into the container body through the mouth, and then the pouring tube member is attached to the mouth again for use, i.e., the pouring container may be reused.
In particular, when the contents in the container body are medicines such as cosmetics, there is a risk that proper use such as directions for use and dosage may be compromised, and there are concerns about the aforementioned reuse of the pouring container.

The present invention provides a pouring container in which the pouring tube member cannot be reattached to the mouth once it has been removed from the mouth.

The pouring container according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a bottomed cylindrical container body having a mouth, a middle plug member inserted into the mouth and having a through hole that communicates with the inside of the container body, a pouring tube member extending upward from the mouth and having an upper end opening that communicates with the through hole, and a ring member sandwiched between the inner circumferential surface of the mouth and the outer circumferential surface of the middle plug member, and an engagement protrusion is formed at the lower end of the middle plug member that protrudes radially outward from the lower end opening of the ring member, and the force required to pull the ring member upward from within the mouth is greater than the force required to pull the middle plug member upward from within the ring member.

Since the force required to pull the ring member upward from within the mouth portion is greater than the force required to pull the inner plug member upward from within the ring member, when the inner plug member is pulled up relative to the container body, the ring member can be left inside the mouth portion while the inner plug member is pulled out from the ring member and the mouth portion.
Furthermore, when an attempt is made to re-fit the inner plug member into the ring member, an engagement protrusion is formed at the lower end of the inner plug member that protrudes radially outward from the lower end opening of the ring member, so that the engagement protrusion abuts against the edge of the upper end opening of the ring member, making it impossible for the inner plug member and pouring tube member that have been removed from the mouth portion to be re-attached to the mouth portion.

The engagement protrusion may extend continuously over the entire circumferential length.

Since the engaging protrusion extends continuously along the entire circumferential length, when the ring member and the inner plug member are fitted into the ring member and then attached to the mouth portion, the relative positions of the ring member and the inner plug member in the up-down direction can be stabilized along the entire circumferential length, making it possible to easily attach the ring member and the inner plug member to the mouth portion.
Because the engaging protrusion extends continuously over the entire circumferential length, even if the engaging protrusion is formed, for example, by bending the lower end of a cylindrical inner plug member so that it extends radially outward, it is possible to prevent the engaging protrusion from deforming radially inward as it extends downward, and it is possible to reliably ensure that the inner plug member and dispensing tube member cannot be reattached to the mouth once they have been removed from the mouth.

The engagement protrusion may be spaced radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the mouth portion.

Since the engagement protrusion is spaced radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the mouth portion, it is possible to prevent the engagement protrusion from sliding on the inner circumferential surface of the mouth portion when attaching the ring member and the inner plug member to the mouth portion, and the ring member and the inner plug member can be attached to the mouth portion easily and accurately.

According to the above aspect of the present invention, once the inner plug member and the dispensing tube member are removed from the mouth, they cannot be reattached to the mouth.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a main part of a pouring container according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing the state in which the inner plug member has been pulled out from the ring member and the mouth portion in FIG. 1 .

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in Fig. 1, the dispensing container 1 of this embodiment includes a container body 11, an inner plug member 12, a dispensing tube member 13, an application member 14, and a cap 15. Contents contained in the container body 11 include, for example, medicines such as cosmetics. The container body 11 is formed of, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and the inner plug member 12, the dispensing tube member 13, and the application member 14 are formed of, for example, polypropylene (PP), low density polyethylene (LDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and the like.
In addition, the dispensing container 1 does not necessarily have to have the application member 14 and the cap 15.

The container body 11 is formed in a bottomed tubular shape having a mouth 21 and a bottom, the inner plug member 12 is formed in a tubular shape, and the pouring tube member 13, the application member 14, and the cap 15 are formed in a topped tubular shape. The container body 11, the inner plug member 12, the pouring tube member 13, the application member 14, and the cap 15 are arranged coaxially with a common axis O.
The mouth 21 side of the container body 11 along the common axis O is referred to as the upper side, and the bottom side of the container body 11 along the common axis O is referred to as the lower side. The direction along the common axis O is referred to as the up-down direction. The direction intersecting the common axis O when viewed from the up-down direction is referred to as the radial direction, and the direction going around the common axis O when viewed from the up-down direction is referred to as the circumferential direction.

Of the mouth 21 of the container body 11, the outer peripheral surface of the upper portion 21a is recessed radially inward from the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion 21b, which is located below the upper portion 21a. A male thread is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion 21b of the mouth 21. The cap 15 is removably screwed onto the male thread. The cap 15 may be removably fitted to the mouth 21.

The inner plug member 12 is inserted into the mouth portion 21. The inside of the cylindrical inner plug member 12 forms a communication hole 25 that communicates with the inside of the container body 11. The outer peripheral surface of the inner plug member 12 is spaced radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the mouth portion 21. A flange portion 22 is formed at the upper end of the inner plug member 12, protruding radially outward and extending continuously over the entire circumferential length. The outer peripheral edge of the lower surface of the flange portion 22 rests on the upper opening edge of the mouth portion 21. A connecting tube 23 that protrudes upward is formed at the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface of the flange portion 22. The connecting tube 23 is arranged coaxially with the common axis O.

The pouring tube member 13 is formed in a topped tube shape with a pouring top wall 26 and a pouring peripheral wall 27, and extends upward from the mouth 21.

The outlet peripheral wall 27 includes a lower cylinder 27a, an upper cylinder 27b, and a step portion 27c.
The lower tube 27 a is fitted onto the upper part 21 a of the mouth portion 21 .
The step 27c connects the upper end of the lower tube 27a and the lower end of the upper tube 27b to each other. In the illustrated example, the step 27c connects the upper edge of the lower tube 27a to a portion of the lower end of the upper tube 27b that is located above the lower edge of the upper tube 27b in the radial direction. A fitting groove 29 that opens downward and extends continuously over the entire circumferential length is defined by the lower surface of the step 27c, the inner circumferential surface of the upper end of the lower tube 27a, and the outer circumferential surface of the lower end of the upper tube 27b. The connecting tube 23 of the middle plug member 12 is fitted into the fitting groove 29. A pressing wall 15a provided in the cap 15 is pressed against the upper surface of the step 27c. The pressing wall 15a has front and back surfaces facing up and down and extends continuously over the entire circumferential length.
The upper cylinder 27b is formed with a smaller diameter than the lower cylinder 27a and extends upward from the radially inner end of the step 27c. The lower end of the upper cylinder 27b protrudes downward from the radially inner end of the step 27c. The pouring top wall 26 protrudes radially inward from the upper end of the upper cylinder 27b.

The pouring top wall 26 extends upward as it moves radially inward. A pouring hole (upper end opening) 28 that communicates with the communication hole 25 is formed in the pouring top wall 26. The pouring hole 28 is arranged coaxially with the common axis O. A pouring tube 26a that protrudes upward is formed on the peripheral edge of the opening of the pouring hole 28 on the upper surface of the pouring top wall 26. A seal projection 15b provided in the cap 15 is removably fitted onto the outer surface of the pouring tube 26a. The seal projection 15b extends continuously over the entire circumferential length.

The application member 14 includes an application plug 35 and a spring member 36. The application member 14 is made of a resin material and is integrally formed with the inner plug member 12.

The spring member 36 extends upward from the inner circumferential surface of the upper end of the communication hole 25 .
The application plug 35 is formed in a topped cylinder shape having an application top wall 35a and an application peripheral wall, and extends upward from the upper end of the spring member 36. The application plug 35 is inserted into the pouring hole 28 and the pouring tube 26a in an upwardly biased state so as to be movable downward. The application top wall 35a protrudes upward from the pouring tube 26a. The diameter of the lower end of the application peripheral wall is larger than the diameter of the upper part located above the lower end, and a second step portion 35b facing upward is formed at the connection part between the lower end and the upper part of the outer circumferential surface of the application peripheral wall. The second step portion 35b extends downward as it moves radially outward. The second step portion 35b abuts downward against the opening peripheral portion of the pouring hole 28 on the lower surface of the pouring top wall 26 so as to be separable, and blocks communication between the communication hole 25 and the pouring hole 28.

In this embodiment, a ring member 31 is provided, which is sandwiched between the inner circumferential surface of the mouth portion 21 and the outer circumferential surface of the inner plug member 12. The ring member 31 is fitted liquid-tightly into the upper portion 21a of the mouth portion 21, and is liquid-tightly fitted around the inner plug member 12. The inner diameter of the ring member 31 is constant over its entire length in the vertical direction.
The inner plug member 12 may be loosely fitted or tightly fitted into the ring member 31. A seal may be formed between the lower surface of the flange portion 22 and the upper opening edge of the mouth portion 21.

An engagement protrusion 32 is formed at the lower end of the inner plug member 12, protruding radially outward from the lower end opening of the ring member 31. The engagement protrusion 32 is formed by bending the lower end of the inner plug member 12 so as to extend radially outward as it extends downward.
The engaging protrusion 32 extends radially outward as it extends downward. The engaging protrusion 32 extends continuously over the entire circumferential length. The engaging protrusion 32 is spaced radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the mouth portion 21.

The engaging projection 32 is formed, for example, as follows.
First, the ring member 31 is fitted onto the inside plug member 12, which extends straight in the vertical direction over its entire length before the engagement protrusions 32 are formed, and then the lower end of the inside plug member 12 is bent radially outward to form the engagement protrusions 32. Thereafter, the ring member 31 is fitted into the mouth portion 21.

The force required to pull the ring member 31 upward from the mouth portion 21 is greater than the force required to pull the inner plug member 12 upward from the ring member 31.
In the illustrated example, a first rib 33 is formed on either the inner peripheral surface of the mouth portion 21 or the outer peripheral surface of the ring member 31, which is in pressure contact with the other. The first rib 33 extends continuously over the entire circumferential length, and a plurality of first ribs 33 are provided at intervals in the up-down direction. The first ribs 33 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the ring member 31, but may also be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the mouth portion 21.
A second rib 34 is formed on either the inner peripheral surface of the ring member 31 or the outer peripheral surface of the inside plug member 12, and is pressed against the other. The second rib 34 extends continuously over the entire circumferential length, and a plurality of second ribs 34 are provided at intervals in the up-down direction. The second ribs 34 are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inside plug member 12, but may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the ring member 31.
The number of the first ridges 33 is greater than the number of the second ridges 34 .

The force required to pull the spouting cylinder member 13 up against the inner plug member 12 and pull the connecting cylinder 23 out of the fitting groove 29 is greater than the force required to pull the inner plug member 12 upward from within the ring member 31.
The former force may be set to be equal to or smaller than the latter force.
In this case, when the pouring tube member 13 is pulled up relative to the inner plug member 12, the pouring tube member 13 is pulled out from the inner plug member 12 while the inner plug member 12 remains in the ring member 31. Therefore, unless the inner plug member 12 is pulled out again after removing the pouring tube member 13, the upper end opening of the mouth portion 21 cannot be opened, which tends to discourage users from pouring other contents into the container body 11 through the mouth portion 21 when the contents in the container body 11 are used up (refilling deterrent effect).

As described above, according to the dispensing container 1 of this embodiment, the force required to pull the ring member 31 upward from within the mouth 21 is greater than the force required to pull the inner plug member 12 upward from within the ring member 31, so when the inner plug member 12 is pulled up relative to the container body 11, the ring member 31 can be left in the mouth 21 while the inner plug member 12 can be pulled out from the ring member 31 and the mouth 21.
Furthermore, when an attempt is made to re-fit the inner plug member 12 into the ring member 31, the lower end of the inner plug member 12 has an engagement protrusion 32 formed thereon, which protrudes radially outward from the lower end opening of the ring member 31, so that the engagement protrusion 32 abuts against the edge of the upper end opening of the ring member 31, making it impossible for the inner plug member 12 and the pouring tube member 13, which have once been removed from the mouth portion 21, to be re-attached to the mouth portion 21.

Since the engagement projection 32 extends continuously over the entire circumferential length, when the ring member 31 and the inner plug member 12 are fitted into the ring member 31 and then attached to the mouth portion 21, the relative vertical positions of the ring member 31 and the inner plug member 12 can be stabilized over the entire circumferential length, making it easy to attach the ring member 31 and the inner plug member 12 to the mouth portion 21.

Since the engagement protrusions 32 extend continuously over the entire circumferential length, even if the engagement protrusions 32 are formed by bending the lower end of the tubular inner plug member 12 so that it extends radially outward, it is possible to prevent the engagement protrusions 32 from deforming radially inward as they extend downward, and it is possible to reliably ensure that the inner plug member 12 and the dispensing tube member 13 once removed from the mouth portion 21 cannot be reattached to the mouth portion 21.

Since the engagement protrusion 32 is spaced radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the mouth portion 21, it is possible to prevent the engagement protrusion 32 from sliding on the inner peripheral surface of the mouth portion 21 when attaching the ring member 31 and the inner plug member 12 to the mouth portion 21, and the ring member 31 and the inner plug member 12 can be attached to the mouth portion 21 easily and accurately.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, the engagement projection 32 may be provided at only one location in the circumferential direction of the inside plug member 12, or may be provided intermittently in the circumferential direction.
The engagement protrusion 32 may abut against the inner circumferential surface of the mouth portion 21 .
The fitting groove 29 may be formed in the inner plug member 12 and the connecting tube 23 may be formed in the pouring tube member 13, or the fitting groove 29 and the connecting tube 23 may not be provided and the inner plug member 12 may not be held in the pouring tube member 13. In the latter case, the refilling prevention effect described above can be achieved.
The pouring tube 26a does not necessarily have to be formed on the pouring top wall 26.

The configuration in which the force required to pull the ring member 31 upward from within the mouth portion 21 is greater than the force required to pull the inner plug member 12 upward from within the ring member 31 may be modified as appropriate, for example by making the clamping margin between the inner surface of the mouth portion 21 and the outer surface of the ring member 31 greater than the clamping margin between the inner surface of the ring member 31 and the outer surface of the inner plug member 12, or by making the surface roughness of the outer surface of the ring member 31 greater than the surface roughness of the inner surface of the ring member 31.

In addition, the components in the above embodiments may be replaced with well-known components as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the above embodiments and variations may be combined as appropriate.

Reference Signs List 1: Dispensing container 11: Container body 12: Inner plug member 13: Dispensing cylinder member 21: Mouth portion 25: Communication hole 28: Dispensing hole (upper end opening)
31 Ring member 32 Engagement projection

Claims (3)

A cylindrical container body having a bottom and a mouth portion;
an inner plug member that is inserted into the mouth portion and has a communication hole that communicates with the inside of the container body;
a pouring tube member extending upward from the mouth portion and having an upper end opening communicating with the communication hole;
a ring member sandwiched between an inner circumferential surface of the mouth portion and an outer circumferential surface of the inner plug member,
A lower end of the inner plug member is formed with an engagement protrusion protruding radially outward from a lower end opening of the ring member,
A pouring container, wherein the force required to pull the ring member upward from within the mouth portion is greater than the force required to pull the inner plug member upward from within the ring member. The pouring container according to claim 1, wherein the engagement protrusion extends continuously over the entire circumferential length. The pouring container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the engagement protrusion is spaced radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the mouth portion.

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