JP7507588B2 - Container with applicator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a container with an applicator.

Patent Document 1 discloses a container with an applicator that includes a container body that contains the contents and an applicator inserted into the container body, and is configured so that the contents attached to the applicator can be applied to the area to be applied.

JP 2017-64013 A

When applying the contents to the target area, there was a need to be able to switch between applying the contents over a wide area and applying it over a narrow area.

The present invention was made in consideration of these circumstances, and aims to provide a container with an applicator that allows the range over which the contents are applied to be changed.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a container with an applicator according to one aspect of the present invention includes a container body that contains contents and is deformable when pressed, an attachment cap attached to an opening of the container body, an axis member that is fixed to the attachment cap and has a communication passage that communicates with the inside of the container body, a first applicator held at a lower end of the axis member inside the container body, a second applicator that is located above the container body and to which the contents are supplied through the communication passage , an opening/closing member that is capable of opening and closing a flow path between the communication passage and the second applicator, and a discharge member that is axially movable relative to the attachment cap, and and a holding member that holds a second applicator, wherein the discharge member has a discharge hole that supplies the contents to the second applicator, the opening and closing member has a peripheral wall portion and an opening and closing hole formed in the peripheral wall portion, and its vertical movement relative to the attachment cap is regulated, the discharge member has a discharge tube that closes the opening and closing hole from the radially inside, and the opening and closing hole is opened and closed as the discharge member moves axially relative to the attachment cap, and the holding member and the attachment cap are screwed together, causing the discharge member to rise relative to the opening and closing member, and the blockage of the opening and closing hole by the discharge tube is released .

According to the above aspect, when the first applicator is used, the attachment cap is removed from the mouth portion and the first applicator is taken out of the container body. When the second applicator is used, the attachment cap is attached to the mouth portion, and the container body is pressed and deformed to supply the contents to the second applicator through the communication passage. In this way, the contents can be applied to the application portion by selectively using the first applicator or the second applicator. Therefore, it is possible to switch the range to which the contents are applied, for example, by using the first applicator when applying the contents to a wide range and using the second applicator when applying the contents to a narrower range. In addition, it is possible to prevent the contents from being unexpectedly supplied to the second applicator and leaking out.

The first applicator and the second applicator may be of different types.

In this case, it becomes easier to change the area to which the contents are applied.

The lower part of the shaft member may be configured to be displaceable within the container body.

In this case, when the second applicator is used, the lower part of the shaft member is moved to the side within the container body, making it easier for the container body to be deformed by pressure. Also, when the first applicator is used, the lower part of the shaft member can be displaced relative to the attached cap, etc., to adjust the lower part of the shaft member to any angle that suits the user's preferences. Furthermore, when the amount of content remaining in the container body is low, the lower part of the shaft member can be displaced within the container body, allowing the first applicator to scoop up the content that has accumulated around the bottom of the container body. This allows the content to be used up more efficiently.

According to the above aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a container with an applicator that allows the range over which the contents are applied to be changed.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the applicator-equipped container according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of FIG. 1A. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the second applicator of FIG. 1B in use; FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an applicator-equipped container according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an applicator-equipped container according to a third embodiment.

First Embodiment
Hereinafter, an applicator-equipped container according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in Fig. 1, the container with applicator 1 includes a container body 2, a first applicator 3, a second applicator 4, a lid body 5, an axis member 10, a wiping piece 20, an attachment cap 30, a holding member 40, a connecting member 50, a discharge member 60, and an opening/closing member 70. The container body 2 is formed by tube molding, and contains contents therein. The contents are not particularly limited, and may be liquids such as cosmetic liquid, medicinal liquid, adhesive liquid, and cleaning liquid.

(Direction definition)
In this embodiment, the central axis of the container body 2 is referred to as the container axis O, and the direction along the container axis O is referred to as the vertical direction. In the vertical direction, the bottom 2c side of the container body 2 is referred to as the lower side, and the mouth 2a side is referred to as the upper side. When viewed from the vertical direction, the direction intersecting the container axis O is referred to as the radial direction, and the direction going around the container axis O is referred to as the circumferential direction.

The container body 2 has a mouth 2a, a body 2b, and a bottom 2c. The container body 2 is made of a soft material such as resin, and at least the body 2b can be deformed by pressure. The mouth 2a is thicker than the body 2b, and a male screw is formed on the outer circumferential surface.

The first applicator 3 has an applicator body 3a and an attachment portion 3b. In this embodiment, the applicator body 3a is a sponge. The attachment portion 3b is rod-shaped and extends upward from the applicator body 3a. The first applicator 3 is fixed to the lower end of the shaft member 10.

The shaft member 10 has a main body 11, a communication passage 12, a protrusion 13, an annular portion 14, and a fixing portion 15. The main body 11 extends in the vertical direction. The lower portion of the main body 11 is located inside the container body 2, and the upper portion of the main body 11 protrudes upward from the mouth portion 2a of the container body 2. An attachment hole 11a extending upward is formed at the lower end of the main body 11. The attachment portion 3b of the first applicator 3 is inserted into and engaged with the attachment hole 11a, thereby fixing the first applicator 3 to the shaft member 10.

The communication passage 12 is composed of a plurality of horizontal holes 12a and vertical holes 12b. The horizontal holes 12a extend radially in a portion of the main body 11 located within the container 2, and are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. Each horizontal hole 12a opens into the container 2. The vertical hole 12b extends downward from the upper end surface of the main body 11 and reaches the horizontal hole 12a. The communication passage 12 communicates between the inside of the container 2 and the space above the shaft member 10.
The protrusion 13 protrudes radially outward from the body 11. The protrusion 13 is located above the horizontal hole 12a.

The annular portion 14 protrudes radially outward from the main body portion 11. The annular portion 14 is formed in a ring shape when viewed from the top-bottom direction. The fixing portion 15 extends upward from the radial outer end of the annular portion 14 and is formed in a cylindrical shape. The annular portion 14 and the fixing portion 15 are formed above the horizontal hole 12a and are located outside the container body 2. The fixing portion 15 is connected to the main body portion 11 by the annular portion 14.

The squeezing piece 20 is fixed to the mouth portion 2a. The squeezing piece 20 has a fitting tube portion 21, a locking portion 22, and an abutment portion 23. The fitting tube portion 21 is fitted inside the mouth portion 2a. The locking portion 22 extends radially outward from the upper end of the fitting tube portion 21 and abuts against the upper end surface of the mouth portion 2a from above. The abutment portion 23 extends radially inward from the middle portion of the fitting tube portion 21 in the vertical direction, and is inclined downward as it moves radially inward. The abutment portion 23 is formed in a cylindrical shape that is inclined in the vertical direction. The abutment portion 23 is formed to be elastically deformable and abuts against the outer circumferential surface of the main body portion 11 of the shaft member 10.

The attachment cap 30 has a lower tube portion 31, an upper tube portion 32, a connecting portion 33, a middle tube portion 34, and a locking portion 35. A female thread portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the lower tube portion 31, which screws into the male thread portion of the mouth portion 2a. This allows the attachment cap 30 to be detachably attached to the mouth portion 2a. The fixing portion 15 of the shaft member 10 fits above the portion of the lower tube portion 31 where the female thread portion is formed. This allows the shaft member 10 to be fixed to the attachment cap 30.

The upper tube portion 32 is located above the lower tube portion 31. A male thread portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the upper tube portion 32. The connection portion 33 extends radially inward from the upper tube portion 32 and is formed in a ring shape when viewed from the top to bottom. The middle tube portion 34 extends upward from the radial inner end of the connection portion 33 and is formed in a cylindrical shape. The locking portion 35 extends radially inward from the upper end of the middle tube portion 34 and is formed in a ring shape when viewed from the top to top.

The holding member 40 has an operating portion 41, a surrounding tube portion 42, and a holding portion 43. The operating portion 41 is formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding the upper tube portion 32, and a female screw portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface. The female screw portion of the operating portion 41 is screwed into the male screw portion of the upper tube portion 32, so that when the holding member 40 rotates around the container axis O relative to the mounting cap 30, the holding member 40 moves up and down relative to the mounting cap 30. The surrounding tube portion 42 is located above the operating portion 41. The holding portion 43 extends upward from the surrounding tube portion 42 and is formed in a cylindrical shape that decreases in diameter as it goes upward. The holding portion 43 holds the second applicator 4 from the radial outside.

The connecting member 50 connects the holding member 40 and the discharge member 60. The connecting member 50 has a fixed tube portion 51, an annular portion 52, and a holding tube portion 53. The fixed tube portion 51 is fitted inside the surrounding tube portion 42, thereby fixing the connecting member 50 to the holding member 40. The annular portion 52 extends radially inward from the fixed tube portion 51 and is formed in a ring shape when viewed from the top and bottom. The holding tube portion 53 extends upward from the radial inner end of the annular portion 52 and is formed in a cylindrical shape whose diameter decreases as it extends upward. The holding tube portion 53 holds the discharge member 60 from the radial outside.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the discharge member 60 has a discharge tube 61 and a flange portion 62. The discharge tube 61 is formed in a cylindrical shape that decreases in diameter as it extends upward. The flange portion 62 protrudes radially outward from the middle portion of the discharge tube 61 in the vertical direction, and is formed in a ring shape when viewed from the vertical direction. The fixed tube portion 51 of the connecting member 50 is formed with a fitting protrusion that fits into the flange portion 62 in an undercut, thereby fixing the discharge member 60 to the connecting member 50. The upper end opening of the discharge tube 61 is formed as a discharge hole 61a through which the contents are discharged when the contents are supplied to the second applicator 4.

In this embodiment, the holding member 40, the connecting member 50, and the discharge member 60 are each separate, but the holding member 40 and the connecting member 50 may be integrated, or the connecting member 50 and the discharge member 60 may be integrated. Alternatively, the holding member 40, the connecting member 50, and the discharge member 60 may be formed as a single unit.

The opening/closing member 70 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a peripheral wall portion 71 and a bottom wall portion 72. The peripheral wall portion 71 surrounds the portion of the discharge tube 61 of the discharge member 60 below the flange portion 62 from the radially outer side. The peripheral wall portion 71 is formed with a plurality of opening/closing holes 71a and fitting protrusions 71b. The plurality of opening/closing holes 71a penetrate the peripheral wall portion 71 in the radial direction and are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. As shown in FIG. 1B, when the holding member 40 is in the lowered end position (the position where the operating portion 41 abuts against the lower tube portion 31), the opening/closing holes 71a are blocked from the radially inner side by the discharge tube 61.

The bottom wall portion 72 is formed with a support protrusion 72a that protrudes upward. The support protrusion 72a is formed in an annular shape when viewed from the top-bottom direction, and supports the lower end of the discharge tube 61 from the inside in the radial direction. The upper end of the bottom wall portion 72 is formed with a flange portion 73 that protrudes radially outward. The flange portion 73 contacts the locking portion 35 from above. The flange portion 73 and the fitting protrusion 71b sandwich the locking portion 35 in the vertical direction, thereby restricting the vertical movement of the opening/closing member 70 relative to the mounting cap 30.

The lid body 5 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a top, and covers the second applicator 4. The lower end of the peripheral wall of the lid body 5 is externally fitted onto the surrounding cylindrical portion 42 of the holding member 40 in a detachable manner.
The second applicator 4 is located above the container body 2. The second applicator 4 of this embodiment is a brush with a thin tip, and is capable of applying the contents over a narrower area than the first applicator 3. In this way, the first applicator 3 and the second applicator 4 are different in type. A bristle bundle is arranged between the fixed tube portion 51 and the holding tube portion 53 of the connecting member 50, and the bristle tip at the upper end portion is moved radially inward by the holding portion 43 to form the second applicator 4, which is a brush, and is held by the holding member 40 and the connecting member 50. Inside the second applicator 4, the discharge hole 61a of the discharge member 60 is opened.

Next, we will explain the operation of the applicator container 1 configured as described above.

When applying the contents to the application area using the first applicator 3, the attachment cap 30 is rotated around the container axis O relative to the container body 2 with the lid 5 attached. This causes the female thread of the lower tube 31 to screw into the male thread of the mouth 2a, and the attachment cap 30 rises relative to the container body 2. At this time, the shaft member 10 fixed to the attachment cap 30 also rises, but since the squeezing piece 20 is fixed to the mouth 2a, the shaft member 10 rises relative to the squeezing piece 20. This allows the abutment portion 23 to slide on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 11 of the shaft member 10, and excess contents adhering to the main body 11 can be squeezed off. After the first applicator 3 is released upward from the container body 2, the first applicator 3 can be placed against the application area to apply the contents.

When applying the contents to a target area using the second applicator 4, the holding member 40 is rotated around the container axis O relative to the attachment cap 30, for example by gripping the lower tube portion 31 and the operating portion 41 with both hands. This causes the male thread of the upper tube portion 32 to screw into the female thread of the operating portion 41, and the holding member 40 rises relative to the attachment cap 30. At this time, the discharge member 60 fixed to the holding member 40 via the connecting member 50 also rises, but since the opening/closing member 70 is fixed to the attachment cap 30, the discharge member 60 rises relative to the opening/closing member 70. This releases the blockage of the opening/closing hole 71a by the discharge tube 61, as shown in FIG. 2.

When the body 2b of the container body 2 is compressed and deformed by gripping it while the opening/closing hole 71a is open, the internal pressure of the container body 2 increases, and the contents flow upwards to the shaft member 10 through the communication passage 12. The contents then pass through the gap between the peripheral wall portion 71 and the middle tube portion 34, the opening/closing hole 71a, and the inside of the discharge tube 61, and are discharged from the discharge hole 61a. The contents discharged from the discharge hole 61a impregnate or adhere to the second applicator 4. Therefore, the contents can be applied by removing the lid body 5 and applying the second applicator 4 to the area to be applied. The timing of removing the lid body 5 may be changed as appropriate.

As described above, the container with applicator 1 of this embodiment includes a container body 2 that contains the contents and is deformable by pressure, an attachment cap 30 attached to the mouth portion 2a of the container body 2, an axial member 10 that is fixed to the attachment cap 30 and has a communication passage 12 that communicates with the inside of the container body 2, a first applicator 3 held at the lower end of the axial member 10 inside the container body 2, and a second applicator 4 that is located above the container body 2 and to which the contents are supplied through the communication passage 12. When using the first applicator 3, the attachment cap 30 is removed from the mouth portion 2a and the first applicator 3 is taken out of the container body 2. When using the second applicator 4, the container body 2 is elastically deformed while the attachment cap 30 is attached to the mouth portion 2a, and the contents are supplied to the second applicator 4 through the communication passage 12. Thus, according to this embodiment, the contents can be selectively applied to the application part by using the first applicator 3 or the second applicator 4. Therefore, it is possible to switch the area to which the contents are applied; for example, the sponge-like first applicator 3 is used when applying the contents to a wide area, and the brush-like second applicator 4 is used when applying the contents to a narrower area.

The container 1 with applicator also includes an opening/closing member 70 that can open and close the flow path between the communication passage 12 and the second applicator 4. This prevents the contents from being accidentally supplied to the second applicator 4 and leaking out when the second applicator 4 is not in use.

In addition, since the first applicator 3 and the second applicator 4 are different types, it is easier to switch the area to which the contents are applied.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described, but the basic configuration is similar to that of the first embodiment. Therefore, the same components are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted, and only the differences will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the applicator-equipped container 1A of this embodiment has an opening/closing member 80 instead of the opening/closing member 70 in the first embodiment. In addition, a part of the attached cap 30 is made into a second applicator 36, and the shapes of the lid body 5 and the shaft member 10 are different from those of the first embodiment.

The second applicator 36 is formed to close the upper end of the upper tube portion 32. The second applicator 36 has an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the container axis O. The second applicator 36 is formed with a discharge hole 36a and a fitting portion 36b. The discharge hole 36a penetrates the second applicator 36 from top to bottom. The columnar portion 5a extending downward from the top wall of the lid body 5 is inserted into the discharge hole 36a from above. The fitting portion 36b is formed in a cylindrical shape extending downward from the second applicator 36, and is located radially inside the upper tube portion 32.

The opening/closing member 80 has a mounting cylinder portion 81, a valve body 82, and a connecting portion 83. The mounting cylinder portion 81 is inserted from below into the gap between the upper cylinder portion 32 and the fitting portion 36b, and is fitted onto the fitting portion 36b. This allows the opening/closing member 80 to be attached to the mounting cap 30. The valve body 82 is formed in a plate shape that closes the upper end opening of the vertical hole 12b. The valve body 82 and the mounting cylinder portion 81 are connected by a connecting portion 83. The opening/closing member 80 is configured such that when the internal pressure of the communication passage 12 increases, the valve body 82 swings upward around the connecting portion 83 to open the vertical hole 12b. That is, the opening/closing member 80 of this embodiment is also capable of opening and closing the flow path between the communication passage 12 and the discharge hole 36a.

In the shaft member 10 of this embodiment, the main body 11 is formed by dividing it into a lower part 16 and an upper part 17. A ball joint 16a is provided at the upper end of the lower part 16, and a support part 17a that rotatably supports the ball joint 16a is provided at the lower end of the upper part 17. With this configuration, the lower part 16 can rotate around the ball joint 16a. The communication passage 12 (horizontal hole 12a and vertical hole 12b) is formed in the upper part 17. In addition, a bottomed cylindrical valve seat part 18 is formed at the upper end of the upper part 17. A vertical hole 12b opens in the radial center of the valve seat part 18, and the valve body 82 of the opening and closing member 80 contacts the valve seat part 18 from above. The valve seat part 18 is fitted into the lower cylindrical part 31, whereby the upper part 17 is fixed to the mounting cap 30. The ball joint 16a and the support 17a allow the lower part 16 to be displaced within the container body 2 while the upper part 17 is fixed to the mounting cap 30 and the container body 2.

When applying the contents to the part to be coated using the second applicator 36, the lid 5 is removed and the body 2b of the container body 2 is pressed to increase the internal pressure. This causes the contents flowing through the communication passage 12 to push up the valve body 82, opening the flow path between the communication passage 12 and the discharge hole 36a, and the contents are discharged from the discharge hole 36a. Therefore, the contents can be applied by placing the second applicator 36 against the part to be coated.

As described above, the container with applicator 1A of this embodiment also includes a container body 2 that contains the contents and is deformable when pressed, an attachment cap 30 attached to the mouth 2a of the container body 2, an axial member 10 that is fixed to the attachment cap 30 and has a communication passage 12 that communicates with the inside of the container body 2, a first applicator 3 held at the lower end of the axial member 10 inside the container body 2, and a second applicator 36 that is located above the container body 2 and to which the contents are supplied via the communication passage 12. This makes it possible to switch the range over which the contents are applied, just like the first embodiment.

The container 1A with applicator also includes an opening/closing member 80 that can open and close the flow path between the communication passage 12 and the second applicator 36. This prevents the contents from being accidentally supplied to the second applicator 36 and leaking out when the second applicator 36 is not in use.

In addition, in this embodiment, the lower portion 16 of the shaft member 10 is configured to be displaceable within the container body 2. As a result, when the second applicator 4 is used, the lower portion 16 of the shaft member 10 is moved to the side within the container body 2, making it easier to deform the container body 2 by pressing it. Also, when the first applicator 3 is used, the lower portion 16 can be adjusted to any angle according to the user's preference by displacing the lower portion 16 relative to the lid body 5 or the attached cap 30. Furthermore, when the remaining amount of the contents in the container body 2 is low, the lower portion 16 of the shaft member 10 can be displaced within the container body 2, so that the contents accumulated around the bottom 2c of the container body 2 can be scooped up by the first applicator 3. Therefore, the contents can be used up more efficiently.

Third Embodiment
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described, which has the same basic configuration as the second embodiment, and therefore the same components are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted, and only the differences will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the applicator-equipped container 1B of this embodiment includes an outer container 90. In addition, it does not include an opening/closing member 80, and the main body 11 of the shaft member 10 is inserted into the fitting portion 36b of the attachment cap 30 from below.

The outer container 90 has an outer container body 91 and a button 92. The outer container body 91 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, and the body 2b and bottom 2c of the container body 2 are housed inside it. The mouth 2a of the container body 2 protrudes upward from the outer container body 91. The button 92 is provided so as to be movable radially relative to the outer container body 91. When pressed radially inward, the button 92 is configured to compress the body 2b of the container body 2 and reduce the internal volume of the container body 2.

In this embodiment, when the lid 5 is removed and the button 92 is pressed, the internal pressure of the container 2 increases, and the contents are discharged from the discharge hole 36a through the communication passage 12. Therefore, the user can apply the contents to the application area using the second applicator 36.

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.

Specifically, in the first embodiment, the applicator body 3a of the first applicator 3 is sponge-like, and the second applicator 4 is a brush, but the types of the first applicator 3 and the second applicator 4 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the first applicator 3 may be a brush that can apply the contents over a wider area than the second applicator 4.
Furthermore, the main body 11 of the shaft member 10 may be tubular and extend in the vertical direction.
In the first to third embodiments, the first applicator may be configured to apply the contents over a narrower area than the second applicator.

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

1, 1A, 1B...container with applicator 2...container body 2a...mouth 3...first applicator 4, 36...second applicator 10...shaft member 12...connection passage 30...attaching cap 36a, 61a...discharge hole 70, 80...opening/closing member

Claims (3)

A container body that contains contents and is deformable by pressure;
An attachment cap attached to the mouth of the container body;
a shaft member fixed to the mounting cap and having a communication passage formed therein that communicates with the inside of the container body;
a first applicator held at a lower end of the shaft member inside the container body;
a second applicator located above the container body and receiving the content through the communication passage;
an opening/closing member capable of opening and closing a flow path between the communication passage and the second applicator;
a discharge member axially movable relative to the mounting cap;
a holding member for holding the second applicator,
the discharge member has a discharge hole for supplying the content to the second applicator,
the opening/closing member has a peripheral wall portion and an opening/closing hole formed in the peripheral wall portion , and vertical movement of the opening/closing member with respect to the mounting cap is restricted;
the discharge member has a discharge tube that closes the opening/closing hole from a radially inner side,
The discharge member moves in an axial direction relative to the mounting cap to open and close the opening and closing hole ,
When the holding member and the attachment cap are screwed together, the discharge member rises relative to the opening/closing member, and the closing of the opening/closing hole by the discharge tube is released . The container with applicator according to claim 1, wherein the first applicator and the second applicator are different types from each other. The container with applicator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lower part of the shaft member is configured to be displaceable within the container body.

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