JP7214425B2 - liquid container - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid container containing a liquid such as a fragrance.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, liquid containers are known that contain volatile liquids such as fragrances. A so-called PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle is widely used as this type of liquid container. If a drug such as a fragrance is stored in a container made of PET and a long period of time passes in a sealed state, the drug reacts with air, the internal pressure of the container decreases, and the container may become dented.

In order to obscure such dents over time, the rigidity of the main surfaces (front and back) of the container is increased and the container is slightly bulged, and the rigidity of the sides of the container is decreased to positively deform the sides. Containers are known that

JP 2009-40434 A

However, in the conventional container described above, although the dents on the main surface can be made inconspicuous, there are cases where the side surfaces are greatly dented, and the dents cannot be made inconspicuous as a whole container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid container in which dents during depressurization can be made inconspicuous.

One aspect of the liquid container of the present invention has a container body made of resin. The peripheral wall of the container body has a plurality of projections continuously arranged in the circumferential direction of the container body. The projection has a ridge extending vertically perpendicular to the bottom wall of the container body. The convex portion has a slant surface that is inclined from the valley portion to the ridge portion between other convex portions that are adjacent in the circumferential direction. The center of the ridge in the vertical direction bulges outward from both ends in the vertical direction. The thickness of the wall near the center of the ridge in the vertical direction is thicker than the other portions of the peripheral wall. The width of the slope along the circumferential direction of the container body is wider at the center in the vertical direction than at both ends in the vertical direction.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid container in which a dent during depressurization can be made inconspicuous.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a liquid container according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid container of FIG. 1 as seen along line F2-F2. 3 is a front view of the liquid container of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a side view of the liquid container of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a plan view of the liquid container of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid container of FIG. 3 as viewed along line F6-F6. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid container of FIG. 3 as seen along line F7-F7.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid container 100 has a container body 10 and a cover body 20. As shown in FIG. The container body 10 is a so-called PET bottle made of a resin made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The cover body 20 is made of resin, for example. The liquid container 100 of the present embodiment is used, for example, as a volatilization container for a volatile chemical Y such as an aromatic agent or a deodorant.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the container body 10 has a neck portion 11 and a shoulder portion 13 covered with a cover body 20 . The container body 10 is formed by blow molding, for example. When shipping the liquid container 100, the container body 10 is filled with the drug Y through the upper end opening 11a of the neck portion 11, and the upper end opening 11a is sealed with an inner cap (not shown). cover the

A disk-shaped volatilization body 19 is attached inside the cover body 20 . A plurality of support protrusions 21 are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cover body 20 so as to engage with and support the lower edge of the volatilization body 19 . That is, in a state where the cover body 20 is attached to the container body 10 as shown in FIG. ing. The volatilization body 19 is formed of a material capable of retaining and volatilizing the chemical Y, such as pulp, polyester fiber, or acrylic fiber.

When the liquid container 100 is to be used, the cover 20 is once removed and an inner cap (not shown) is removed from the upper end opening 11a to open the upper end opening 11a of the container main body 10 . Then, as shown in FIG. 2 , the container body 10 is covered with the cover body 20 supporting the volatilization body 19 , and the lower surface of the volatilization body 19 is brought into contact with the upper end of the wick 17 .

The suction wick 17 is formed in a columnar shape so as to be able to suck up liquid by capillary action, and is provided so as to penetrate through the center of the inner plug 15 . The wick 17 is made of a material such as polyester fiber, nylon fiber, or polyacetal resin, for example. The upper end of the wick 17 protrudes slightly upward from the upper end opening 11a of the neck portion 11 in the state shown in FIG. Therefore, when the cover body 20 supporting the volatilization body 19 is attached, the volatilization body 19 is slightly pushed up by the upper end of the wick 17, and the volatilization body 19 is slightly separated from the supporting projections 21 upward.

The cover body 20 is fitted and attached to the shoulder portion 13 so as to cover the neck portion 11 of the container body 10 . The cover body 20 has a plurality of volatilization holes 22 for volatilizing the aromatic agent. The drug Y volatilized through the upper end opening 11 a of the neck portion 11 of the container body 10 is volatilized through the plurality of volatilization holes 22 of the cover body 20 . As the medicine Y to be contained in the container main body 10, insecticides and the like may be contained in addition to the above-described aromatic agents and deodorants.

After a long period of time in a state in which a medicine Y such as an aromatic agent is contained in the container body 10 made of PET and the upper end opening 11a is sealed with an inner cap (not shown), the medicine Y contained in the container body 10 is released into the inside of the container. It reacts with the air to create a negative pressure inside the container body 10 . Moreover, since PET also has the property of permeating water over time, moisture may permeate the wall of the container body 10 and the internal pressure of the container body 10 may decrease.

When a negative pressure is generated inside the sealed container body 10 in this way, the wall of the container body 10 is recessed inward, resulting in a poor appearance. For this reason, the liquid container 100 of this embodiment has a structure for making the dent difficult to see even when the peripheral wall 12 of the container body 10 is dented.

The liquid container 100 of this embodiment is characterized by the structure of the peripheral wall 12 of the container body 10 . Therefore, detailed description of structures other than the peripheral wall 12 is omitted here. In other words, other than the structure of the peripheral wall 12, any structure may be used, and the present invention can be applied to liquid containers of any shape. The present invention is more effective when applied to the peripheral wall 12 of a PET bottle through which water permeates over time.

The container body 10 integrally has a cylindrical peripheral wall 12 and a bottom wall 14 closing the lower end of the peripheral wall 12 . The peripheral wall 12 may have any shape as long as it has a cylindrical shape, such as a cylindrical shape or a square cylindrical shape. The bottom wall 14 may be anything as long as it seals off the lower end of the peripheral wall 12 . In the present embodiment, the peripheral wall 12 is formed in a substantially rectangular tube shape that is close to a cylindrical shape by connecting four walls 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d. Of the four walls 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, two opposing walls 12a, 12b are circumferentially curved and the remaining two opposing walls 12c, 12d are flat.

As shown in FIG. 3, of the four walls of the peripheral wall 12, the curved front wall 12a has a plurality of (four in this embodiment) projections extending vertically in the figure perpendicular to the bottom wall 14. 2 is provided. The illustrated upper end of the projection 2 extends close to the shoulder 13 of the container body 10 . The illustrated lower end of the projection 2 extends close to the bottom wall 14 of the container body 10 . A plurality of protrusions 2 are continuously arranged side by side in the circumferential direction of the container body 10 (horizontal direction of the wall 12a in the drawing).

The protrusion 2 may be formed on at least one of the four walls 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d of the peripheral wall 12. As shown in FIG. The number of protrusions 2 can be set arbitrarily. In this embodiment, in addition to the front wall 12a, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plurality (four in this embodiment) of the same shape is also provided on the curved wall 12b on the back side facing the front wall 12a. ) is provided. For example, when the container body 10 has a substantially cylindrical shape, the convex portion 2 may be provided over the entire circumference of the container body 10 .

Each projection 2 has a ridge 3 extending vertically. The convex portion 2 is formed in the shape of a mountain protruding outward from the container body 10 toward the ridge portion 3 . In other words, the convex portion 2 has two slopes 5 extending from the boundary line 4 (hereinafter referred to as the valley portion 4) between the other convex portions 2 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the container body 10 to the ridge portion 3. , 6. A valley portion 4 between two circumferentially adjacent protrusions 2 extends linearly perpendicularly to the bottom wall 14 .

As shown in FIG. 3, the ridge 3 is curved in a substantially arcuate shape in which the center in the vertical direction protrudes to the right in the drawing. Therefore, the slope 5 on the left side of the ridge portion 3 in the drawing has a shape in which the vicinity of the center in the vertical direction bulges to the right side in the drawing. That is, the width of the inclined surface 5 along the circumferential direction of the container body 10 is wider at the center in the vertical direction than at both ends in the vertical direction. On the contrary, the inclined surface 6 on the right side of the ridge 3 in the drawing has a concave shape in which the center in the vertical direction is curved to the right side in the drawing. The area of the slope 5 is larger than the area of the slope 6 in one convex portion 2 . Therefore, the wall portion having the slanted surface 5 bulging at the center is larger than the wall portion having the slanted surface 6 , and is more likely to be recessed than the wall portion having the slanted surface 6 when a negative pressure is generated inside the container body 10 . The wall portion having the slope 5 functions as a deformation wall portion 8 that deforms so as to be recessed inward by negative pressure.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the ridge 3 is curved in a substantially arcuate shape so that the vertical center bulges outward from the container body 10 . Therefore, the slopes 5 and 6 on both sides of the ridge 3 in the circumferential direction are not flat surfaces but curved surfaces along the shape of the ridge 3 . That is, the deformed wall portion 8 is also a three-dimensionally curved wall.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, since the ridge 3 is curved so that the center protrudes outward from the container body 10, the vicinity of the vertical central portion of the projection 2 is located near the cap 20. It protrudes slightly outward from the peripheral wall 20a. In other words, the container body 10 as a whole has a shape in which the center in the vertical direction bulges outward from the shoulder portion 13 and the bottom wall 14 .

6 is a cross-sectional view of the container body 10 cut along line F6-F6 in FIG. 3, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the container body 10 cut along line F7-F7 in FIG. As described above, since the center of the ridge 3 of each projection 2 bulges outward in the vertical direction, each projection 2 is positioned near the shoulder 13 (and near the bottom wall 14) of the container body 10. ), the slopes 5 and 6 near the center in the vertical direction are steeper and have a prominent mountain shape. Each projection 2 (and valley 4) functions as a reinforcing rib for the wall 12a. Therefore, the front wall 12 a (and the rear wall 12 b ) of the container body 10 has increased rigidity near the center in the vertical direction due to the plurality of protrusions 2 .

Focusing on the thickness of the wall 12a, it can be seen that the thickness of the wall near the ridge 3 of each projection 2 is slightly thicker than the wall of other portions. When the container body 10 is formed by blow molding, the thickness of the wall near the ridge 3 becomes thick near the center in the vertical direction where the angle of inclination is steeper. This difference in wall thickness is related to the difference in the inclination angles of the slopes 5 and 6 of the projection 2 . That is, the steeper the slopes 5 and 6, the thicker the wall near the ridge 3. For this reason, the rigidity of the wall portion near the ridge 3 of each convex portion 2 is higher than that of other portions, and the rigidity of the container wall near the center in the vertical direction is particularly high.

On the other hand, since the vertical ends of each convex portion 2 are connected to the shoulder portion 13 and the bottom wall 14 of the container body 10, the rigidity of the wall 12a is sufficiently ensured near the vertical ends of each convex portion 2. ing. That is, in each convex portion 2, the rigidity near the center in the vertical direction is enhanced by the curvature of the ridge portion 3, and the rigidity at both ends in the vertical direction is sufficiently secured, so that each convex portion 2 is formed by the wall 12a. It will function as a reinforcing rib for the

Hereinafter, the function of the convex portion 2 described above will be described in more detail.
As described above, when the drug Y is contained in the container body 10 and sealed, the drug Y in the container body 10 may react with air over time, and the pressure in the container body 10 may decrease. In addition, moisture may permeate the wall of the container body 10 and the internal pressure of the container body 10 may decrease.

When the internal pressure of the container body 10 decreases to a negative pressure, a force acts on the walls 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d of the container body 10 in a direction in which the walls 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d are recessed inward. At this time, part of the wall of the container body 10 may be recessed inward. For this reason, in this embodiment, the deformed wall portions 8 of the plurality of protrusions 2 provided on the front wall 12a and the rear wall 12b of the container body 10 are actively recessed, and the other wall 12c of the container body 10 is deformed. , 12d and shoulders are prevented from being dented.

As a precondition for partially recessing the projection 2, the other walls 12c, 12d and the walls of the shoulder must have a hardness that is less deformable than the front wall 12a and the rear wall 12b. For example, the walls 12c and 12d are made thicker, the walls 12a and 12b are made thinner, and the curved shape of the ridges 3 of each convex portion 2 is adjusted to adjust the thickness of the other walls 12c and 12d and the shoulder portions. The walls can be less deformable than the front and back walls 12a, 12b.

When each convex portion 2 is partially deformed, the wall portion near the edge portion 3 is hardly deformed. That is, the wall portion near the ridge 3 functions as a reinforcing rib of the container body 10 as described above, and functions to suppress deformation of the walls 12a and 12b. However, the wall portion provided with the ridge 3 is not deformed at all, and the vicinity of the center in the vertical direction is slightly deformed inward of the container body 10 .

On the other hand, the wall portions including the slopes 5 and 6 arranged on both sides in the circumferential direction of the container body 10 with the ridge portion 3 interposed therebetween are greatly deformed compared to the wall portions near the ridge portion 3 . In other words, since the slopes 5 and 6 are curved surfaces as described above, they can flexibly move against the negative pressure and receive the force directed toward the inside of the container body 10 . In particular, the wall portion having the slope 5 having a larger area than the slope 6 functions as the deformation wall portion 8 and deforms more than the wall portion having the slope 6 . Therefore, even when a negative pressure is generated inside the container body 10 , it is possible to prevent the walls of the container body 10 other than the deformable wall portion 8 from being dented.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when a negative pressure is generated inside the container body 10, the deformable wall portion 8 of each convex portion 2 is actively deformed. It is possible to suppress the wall from denting. Further, in this case, the deformation of the wall portion near the ridge 3 of each projection 2 is also suppressed. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even when negative pressure is generated inside the container body 10, it is possible to prevent the appearance of the container body 10 as a whole from deteriorating.

When a negative pressure is generated inside the container body 10 and the deformable wall portion 8 of each convex portion 2 is deformed, the wall portion near the ridge portion 3 of each convex portion 2 is also slightly deformed inward. However, since the ridge 3 is curved so that the central portion in the vertical direction bulges outward when no negative pressure is generated, the wall portion near the ridge 3 is slightly deformed inward. However, the appearance of the container body 10 does not change significantly.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when a negative pressure is generated inside the container body 10, the deformation wall portion 8 of each convex portion 2 is greatly deformed, and the vicinity of the vertical center of the container body 10 is entirely inward. dent in. At this time, since the shape of the deformable wall portion 8 viewed from the front is curved so that the center in the vertical direction swells to one side in the circumferential direction, there is an effect that the center is less likely to appear concave.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since the troughs 4 that divide the plurality of projections 2 in the circumferential direction extend straight in the direction perpendicular to the bottom wall 14, when an external force acts on the container body 10 in the vertical direction, Strength can be increased.

Although the present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and of course various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the present invention. be.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, in each convex portion 2, the ridge portion 3 is curved in the circumferential direction to curve only one end side of the deformation wall portion 8 in the circumferential direction. The other circumferential end side of the deformable wall portion 8 on the valley portion 4 side may also be curved so that the center bulges.
The invention described in the scope of claims at the time of filing of the present application will be additionally described below.
[1]
Having a container body made of resin,
The peripheral wall of the container body has a plurality of protrusions continuously arranged in the circumferential direction of the container body,
The convex portion has a ridge portion extending in the vertical direction perpendicular to the bottom wall of the container body, and is inclined toward the ridge portion from a valley portion between other convex portions adjacent in the circumferential direction. having a slope,
The center of the ridge in the vertical direction bulges outward from both ends in the vertical direction,
liquid container.
[2]
Having a container body made of resin,
The peripheral wall of the container body has a plurality of protrusions continuously arranged in the circumferential direction of the container body,
The convex portion has a ridge portion extending in the vertical direction perpendicular to the bottom wall of the container body, and is inclined toward the ridge portion from a valley portion between other convex portions adjacent in the circumferential direction. having a slope,
The width of the slope along the circumferential direction of the container body is wider at the center in the vertical direction than at both ends in the vertical direction,
liquid container.
[3]
The valley extends linearly in the vertical direction,
The liquid container of [1] or [2].
[4]
The container body is made of a resin material made from polyethylene terephthalate,
The liquid container of [1] or [2].

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2... Convex part 3... Ridge part 4... Valley part 5, 6... Slope 8... Deformed wall part 10... Container main body 12... Peripheral wall 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d... Wall 13... Shoulder part , 14... Bottom wall, 15... Inner plug, 17... Suction core, 19... Volatilization body, 20... Cover body, 100... Liquid container, Y... Medicine.

Claims (3)

Having a container body made of resin,
The peripheral wall of the container body has a plurality of protrusions continuously arranged in the circumferential direction of the container body,
The convex portion has a ridge portion extending in the vertical direction perpendicular to the bottom wall of the container body, and is inclined toward the ridge portion from a valley portion between other convex portions adjacent in the circumferential direction. having a slope,
the center of the ridge in the vertical direction bulges outward from both ends in the vertical direction;
a thickness of a wall near the center of the ridge in the vertical direction is thicker than other portions of the peripheral wall;
The width of the slope along the circumferential direction of the container body is wider at the center in the vertical direction than at both ends in the vertical direction,
liquid container. The valley extends linearly in the vertical direction,
A liquid container according to claim 1. The container body is made of a resin material made from polyethylene terephthalate,
A liquid container according to claim 1.

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