JP7486901B2 - Powder container - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a powder container.

A typical powder container for storing powders such as loose powder and baby powder is known to have a peripheral wall, a bottom wall, an openable top lid, and a partition wall on the inside of the peripheral wall that separates the powder storage space facing the bottom wall from the applicator storage space facing the top lid (see, for example, Figure 9 of Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-201530

When conventional powder containers like the one above are carried in a bag or the like, a lot of powder can get into the applicator housing. If used in this state, there is a risk that the powder will spill when opening the lid or removing the applicator, causing a mess on the surrounding area.

The present invention aims to solve these problems, and its objective is to provide a powder container that is less likely to spill powder when in use.

The powder container of the present invention has a peripheral wall, a bottom wall, a top lid, and a partition inside the peripheral wall separating a powder storage space facing the bottom wall from an applicator storage space facing the top lid, wherein the bottom wall has a button portion that rises when pressed and descends when the pressing operation is released, the partition has a powder passage opening that opens in conjunction with the rise of the button portion and closes in conjunction with the descent of the button portion, the partition has a first wall having a first cutout portion, and a second wall having a second cutout portion and rotates relative to one circumferential side relative to the first wall in conjunction with the rise of the button portion and rotates relative to the other circumferential side relative to the first wall in conjunction with the descent of the button portion, and the powder passage opening is formed by overlapping of the first cutout portion and the second cutout portion .

In the above configuration, the powder container of the present invention preferably has a biasing member that generates a biasing force that rotates the second wall relative to the first wall toward the other side in the circumferential direction until the powder passage opening is closed.

In the above configuration, the powder container of the present invention preferably has a rod member that is pushed up against the button portion by the pushing operation against the biasing force, and presses the second wall to one side in the circumferential direction.

In the powder container of the present invention, in the above configuration, it is preferable that at least one of the pressing portion of the rod member and the pressed portion of the second wall that is pressed against the pressing portion by the rise of the rod member has an inclined surface that slopes downward toward one side in the circumferential direction.

In the above configuration, the powder container of the present invention preferably has a first partition member that includes the first wall and is fixed to the peripheral wall, a second partition member that includes a second wall that is rotatably attached to the first partition member and the biasing member that is connected to the outer periphery of the second wall and is fixed to the first partition member, and a transmission member that is fixed to the first partition member and includes a holding member that holds the rod member so that it can be raised and lowered, and the rod member.

The present invention provides a powder container that is less likely to spill powder when in use.

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a powder container according to an embodiment of the present invention in a non-operated state. 2 is a top view of the second partition member in the state shown in FIG. 1 . 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. 2 is a top view showing the first partition member and the second partition member in the state shown in FIG. 1 . 5 is a diagram showing a state when the button portion is pressed from the state shown in FIG. 4 . FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the button portion is pressed from the state shown in FIG. 1 and the powder container is then shaken. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the top lid has been opened from the state shown in FIG. 1 and the powder container is being shaken by holding the applicator and the button portion. FIG.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the embodiment described below, the up-down direction means the direction in which the button portion 22 operates, the up-down direction coincides with the direction along the central axis O which is the center of rotation of the second wall 17, the up direction means the direction from the bottom wall 3 toward the top cover 5, the down direction means the opposite direction, the circumferential direction means the direction going around the central axis O, the radial direction means the direction along a straight line perpendicular to the central axis O, and the longitudinal section means a section including the central axis O.

As shown in FIG. 1, a powder container 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a container body 4 having a cylindrical peripheral wall 2 and a bottom wall 3 connected to the lower end of the peripheral wall 2, a top cover 5 detachable from the peripheral wall 2, a dish-shaped first partition member 6 fixed to the peripheral wall 2, a second partition member 7 attached to the first partition member 6, and a transmission member 8 attached to the first partition member 6. The first wall 14 of the first partition member 6 and the second wall 17 of the second partition member 7 form a partition 9 that separates the powder storage space S1 facing the bottom wall 3 from the applicator storage space S2 facing the top cover 5. The bottom wall 3 is composed of a bottom wall body 3a in the shape of a circular ring plate centered on the central axis O, and a bottom cover member 3b attached to the bottom wall body 3a. The container body 4 is composed of a main body member 4a composed of the peripheral wall 2 and the bottom wall body 3a, and a bottom cover member 3b.

The powder storage space S1 contains powder 10. The powder 10 is, for example, loose powder, baby powder, etc. The applicator storage space S2 contains the applicator 11, which is a puff. Note that the applicator 11 is not limited to a puff.

The main body member 4a, the top cover 5, the first partition member 6, the second partition member 7, and the transmission member 8 are each formed by injection molding of synthetic resin. The bottom cover member 3b is formed by injection molding of soft synthetic resin, elastomer, or rubber. Note that the materials and forming methods of these members are not limited to these. For example, the main body member 4a and the top cover 5 may be formed of glass or metal instead of synthetic resin.

The top cover 5 has a cylindrical tube wall 5a centered on the central axis O, and a top wall 5b closing the upper end of the tube wall 5a. The inner peripheral surface of the tube wall 5a is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the upper end of the peripheral wall 2 via a screw portion 12. The top cover 5 may be configured to be detachable from the peripheral wall 2 via a fitting portion other than the screw portion 12. In addition, the top cover 5 is not limited to being detachable from the peripheral wall 2 as long as it can open and close the applicator housing space S2.

The first partition member 6 has a first wall 14 with a first cutout portion 13, and a cylindrical mounting tube 15 centered on a central axis O that extends downward from the first wall 14.

The first wall 14 has a flat, annular bottom wall 14a centered on a central axis O and having a first cutout portion 13, a peripheral wall 14b extending upward from the outer periphery of the bottom wall 14a and fixed to the upper end of the peripheral wall 2 by fitting, and a cylindrical fitted tube 14c centered on the central axis O and extending downward from the inner periphery of the bottom wall 14a.

The dish peripheral wall 14b has a cylindrical shape centered on the central axis O and a dish peripheral wall main body 14d whose upper part is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 2, and a flange 14e that extends radially outward from the upper end of the dish peripheral wall main body 14d and is positioned on the upper end surface of the peripheral wall 2.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first cutout portion 13 is composed of a group of openings. This group of openings is composed of a first row of openings 13a, which are three openings arranged in a radial direction, arranged at a predetermined angular interval (45° in this embodiment) in the circumferential direction.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the second partition member 7 has a second wall 17 with a second cutout portion 16 and a biasing member 18.

The second wall 17 has a flat annular plate portion 17a having a second cutout portion 16 and centered on the central axis O, and a fitting portion 17b that is integrally connected to the inner peripheral edge of the annular plate portion 17a and fits rotatably around the central axis O into the fitted tube 14c.

The fitting portion 17b has an annular shape centered on the central axis O, and a circular annular groove 17c is provided on the upper surface thereof into which the fitted tube 14c is inserted. The fitting portion 17b is fitted in the annular groove 17c via a concave-convex shape so as to be rotatably held by the fitted tube 14c. The inner peripheral edge of the annular plate portion 17a is integrally connected to the upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion 17b. In addition, the inner peripheral surface of the fitting portion 17b is provided with a pressed portion 19 composed of a plurality of vertical ribs 19a arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, the number of vertical ribs 19a constituting the pressed portion 19 is three, but can be changed as appropriate together with the number of pressing pieces 20a constituting the pressing portion 20 described later. The pressed portion 19 may be composed of a single vertical rib 19a, and the pressing portion 20 may be composed of a single pressing piece 20a.

The second cutout portion 16 is composed of a group of openings. This group of openings is configured with a second row of openings 16a, which are three openings lined up in the radial direction, arranged at a predetermined angular interval (45° in this embodiment) in the circumferential direction.

The biasing member 18 has a ring-shaped frame 18a centered on the central axis O, which is positioned radially outward from the second wall 17, and a spring portion 18b connecting the frame 18a to the outer peripheral edge of the second wall 17.

The frame 18a is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the mounting tube 15 together with the retaining member 8a of the transmission member 8 by fitting. The frame 18a has a positioning portion 18c that fits into the first wall 14 for circumferential positioning with respect to the first wall 14. The positioning portion 18c is composed of a plurality of positioning recesses 18d arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction on the upper surface of the frame 18a. The lower surface of the first wall 14 is provided with positioning protrusions 14f that fit into the plurality of positioning recesses 18d one by one. The number of positioning recesses 18d that make up the positioning portion 18c can be changed as appropriate together with the number of positioning protrusions 14f. The positioning portion 18c may be composed of a single positioning recess 18d. The shapes, arrangements, etc. of the positioning recess 18d and the positioning protrusion 14f can also be changed as appropriate. The positioning portion 18c may be composed of at least one protrusion, and at least one recess that fits therein may be provided on the first wall 14.

The spring portion 18b is composed of a plurality of elastic pieces 18e arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, the number of elastic pieces 18e constituting the spring portion 18b is three, but this can be changed as appropriate. The spring portion 18b may be composed of a single elastic piece 18e. Each elastic piece 18e is configured to generate a biasing force that returns the second wall 17 to its original position when the second wall 17 rotates relative to the frame 18a in the circumferential direction. Each elastic piece 18e is a bent piece that bends in the circumferential direction. However, the shape, arrangement, etc. of the elastic piece 18e can be changed as appropriate.

1 and 4, in a free state where the pressed portion 19 is not pressed by the pressing portion 20 (i.e., a non-operated state described later), the rotational position of the second notch portion 16 is restricted by the biasing force of the biasing member 18 so that the second notch portion 16 returns to a position where it does not overlap with the first notch portion 13. More specifically, in the free state, the rotational position of the second row of openings 16a is restricted by the biasing force of the biasing member 18 so that the second row of openings 16a returns to a position shifted circumferentially by half a predetermined angular interval (22.5° in this embodiment) relative to the first row of openings 13a.

As shown in FIG. 1, the transmission member 8 has a rod member 8b and a holding member 8a that is fixed to the first partition member 6 and holds the rod member 8b so that it can be raised and lowered.

The rod member 8b extends in the vertical direction on the central axis O. The rod member 8b has a disk-shaped base 8c centered on the central axis O, a columnar portion 8d centered on the central axis O extending downward from the base 8c, and a plurality of pressing pieces 20a extending upward from the base 8c and positioned directly below the vertical ribs 19a in the natural state. The number of pressing pieces 20a is the same as the number of vertical ribs 19a. Therefore, in this embodiment, the number of pressing pieces 20a is three. The upper end of each pressing piece 20a has an inclined surface 21 that inclines downward toward one side in the circumferential direction (counterclockwise in the top view in this embodiment). Therefore, each pressing piece 20a can press the vertical rib 19a toward one side in the circumferential direction by pushing up the vertical rib 19a via the inclined surface 21. The pressing portion 20 is composed of a plurality of pressing pieces 20a. As mentioned above, the number of pressing pieces 20a that make up the pressing portion 20 can be changed as appropriate in accordance with the number of vertical ribs 19a.

The holding member 8a is an annular plate having an inner peripheral edge that is integral with the outer peripheral surface of the base 8c of the rod member 8b, and the outer peripheral edge is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the mounting tube 15 by fitting together with the frame 18a. Therefore, the holding member 8a prevents the rod member 8b from rotating in the circumferential direction. The holding member 8a also has a number of openings 8e that are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. Each opening 8e allows the powder 10 to pass through.

The bottom cover member 3b has a button portion 22 that is a downward dome-shaped button centered on the central axis O, and a bottom cover outer periphery 23 that fixes the outer periphery of the button portion 22 to the bottom wall body 3a by fitting. The bottom cover member 3b closes the bottom wall body 3a.

The button portion 22 can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction by elastic deformation. The bottom surface of the button portion 22 is an operated surface 22a that is pressed from below. The center of the top surface of the button portion 22 when viewed from above has a contact portion 22b that pushes up the bottom end of the column portion 8d of the rod member 8b when pressed.

Therefore, by pinching the button portion 22 and the top cover 5, the button portion 22 can be pressed against the biasing force of the biasing member 18. In addition, by the pressing operation, the button portion 22 pushes up the rod member 8b, which causes the pressing portion 20 to press the pressed portion 19 to one side in the circumferential direction, causing the second wall 17 to rotate to one side in the circumferential direction relative to the first wall 14, and the first cutout portion 13 and the second cutout portion 16 can be changed from a state in which they do not overlap as shown in FIG. 4 to a state in which they overlap as shown in FIG. 5. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, by shaking the powder container 1 as it is, the powder 10 in the powder storage space S1 can be attached to the underside of the applicator 11 through the powder passage port 24 formed by the overlap of the first cutout portion 13 and the second cutout portion 16. The powder 10 attached to the underside of the applicator 11 in this way can be used by removing the top cover 5 and taking out the applicator 11 from the applicator storage space S2.

As shown in FIG. 7, this pushing operation can also be performed by pinching the button portion 22 and the applicator 11 in the applicator housing space S2 with the top cover 5 removed. In this case, the powder 10 can be caused to adhere to the underside of the applicator 11 through the powder passage port 24 by shaking the powder container 1 in this state. The powder 10 thus adhered to the underside of the applicator 11 can be used by simply removing the applicator 11 from the applicator housing space S2.

When the button portion 22 is released, the second wall 17 rotates to the other circumferential side due to the biasing force of the biasing member 18, closing the powder passage opening 24, and the pressing portion 20 is pressed down by the pressed portion 19, which causes the rod member 8b to descend, and the button portion 22 is pressed down by the rod member 8b, or descends due to its self-restoring force due to elasticity. In this way, when the button portion 22 is not being pressed, the powder passage opening 24 is closed, so that it is possible to prevent the powder 10 from entering the applicator storage space S2 when the device is carried in a bag or the like. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the powder 10 from spilling when the top cover 5 is opened or the applicator 11 is removed.

In this manner, in this embodiment, the partition 9 has a powder passage opening 24 that opens in conjunction with the upward movement of the button portion 22 and closes in conjunction with the downward movement of the button portion 22. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the powder 10 from spilling during use.

In addition, in this embodiment, the powder passage opening 24 is formed by overlapping the first cutout portion 13 and the second cutout portion 16. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the powder passage opening 24 can be realized with a simple structure.

The number, shape, and arrangement of the openings constituting the first cutout portion 13 and the second cutout portion 16 are not limited to the above configuration and can be modified in various ways.

In addition, in this embodiment, the powder container 1 has a biasing member 18 that generates a biasing force that rotates the second wall 17 relative to the first wall 14 in the other circumferential direction until the powder passage opening 24 is closed. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the biasing member 18 can more reliably open and close the powder passage opening 24 in conjunction with the raising and lowering of the button portion 22.

In addition, in this embodiment, the powder container 1 has a rod member 8b that is pushed up by the button portion 22 when the powder container 1 is pushed against the biasing force of the biasing member 18, and presses the second wall 17 to one side in the circumferential direction. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the powder passage opening 24 can be opened and closed more reliably in conjunction with the rising and falling of the button portion 22 by the rod member 8b.

In addition, in this embodiment, the pressing portion 20 of the rod member 8b has an inclined surface 21 that slopes downward toward one side in the circumferential direction. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the inclined surface 21 allows the powder passage opening 24 to be opened and closed more reliably in conjunction with the elevation and lowering of the button portion 22.

The same effect can be obtained by providing such a downwardly inclined surface 21 inclined to one side in the circumferential direction on the pressed portion 19 of the second wall 17 instead of or in addition to the pressing portion 20 of the rod member 8b.

In addition, in this embodiment, the powder container 1 has a first partition member 6, a second partition member 7, and a transmission member 8. Therefore, according to this embodiment, a powder container 1 having a powder passage port 24 can be realized with a simple structure.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Therefore, the powder container 1 of the above embodiment can be modified in various ways, for example as described below.

The powder container 1 has a peripheral wall 2, a bottom wall 3, a top lid 5, and a partition 9 on the inside of the peripheral wall 2 that separates the powder storage space S1 facing the bottom wall 3 from the applicator storage space S2 facing the top lid 5. As long as the bottom wall 3 has a button portion 22 that rises when pressed and falls when the pressing operation is released, and the partition 9 has a powder passage opening 24 that opens in conjunction with the rise of the button portion 22 and closes in conjunction with the descent of the button portion 22, various modifications are possible.

However, the partition 9 has a first wall 14 with a first cutout portion 13, and a second wall 17 with a second cutout portion 16 that rotates relative to the first wall 14 in one circumferential direction in conjunction with the rise of the button portion 22, and rotates relative to the first wall 14 in the other circumferential direction in conjunction with the descent of the button portion 22, and the powder passage opening 24 is preferably formed by the overlap of the first cutout portion 13 and the second cutout portion 16.

In addition, it is preferable that the powder container 1 has a biasing member 18 that generates a biasing force that rotates the second wall 17 relative to the first wall 14 in the other circumferential direction until the powder passage opening 24 closes.

It is also preferable that the powder container 1 has a rod member 8b that is pushed up by the button portion 22 when pressed against the biasing force, and presses the second wall 17 to one side in the circumferential direction.

In addition, it is preferable that at least one of the pressing portion 20 of the rod member 8b and the pressed portion 19 of the second wall 17, which is pressed by the pressing portion 20 as the rod member 8b rises, has an inclined surface 21 that slopes downward toward one side in the circumferential direction.

The powder container 1 preferably also has a first partition member 6 having a first wall 14 and fixed to the peripheral wall 2, a second partition member 7 having a second wall 17 rotatably attached to the first partition member 6 and a biasing member 18 connected to the outer periphery of the second wall 17 and fixed to the first partition member 6, and a transmission member 8 fixed to the first partition member 6 and having a holding member 8a and a rod member 8b that hold the rod member 8b so that it can be raised and lowered.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Powder container 2 Peripheral wall 3 Bottom wall 3a Bottom wall main body 3b Bottom lid member 4 Container main body 4a Main body member 5 Top lid 5a Cylinder wall 5b Top wall 6 First partition member 7 Second partition member 8 Transmission member 8a Holding member 8b Rod member 8c Base 8d Pillar portion 8e Opening 9 Partition 10 Powder 11 Applicator 12 Screw-fitting portion 13 First cutout portion 13a First opening row 14 First wall 14a Dish bottom wall 14b Dish peripheral wall 14c Fitted cylinder 14d Dish peripheral wall main body 14e Flange 14f Positioning protrusion 15 Mounting cylinder 16 Second cutout portion 16a Second opening row 17 Second wall 17a Annular plate portion 17b Fitting portion 17c Annular groove 18 Urging member 18a Frame 18b Spring portion 18c Positioning portion 18d Positioning recess 18e Elastic piece 19 Pressed portion 19a Vertical rib 20 Pressing portion 20a Pressing piece 21 Inclined surface 22 Button portion 22a Operated surface 22b Contact portion 23 Bottom cover outer periphery 24 Powder passage opening O Central axis S1 Powder storage space S2 Applicator storage space

Claims (5)

The container has a peripheral wall, a bottom wall, a top lid, and a partition wall disposed inside the peripheral wall to separate a powder storage space facing the bottom wall from an applicator storage space facing the top lid,
the bottom wall has a button portion which rises when pressed and falls when the pressing operation is released,
the partition has a powder passage opening which opens in response to the upward movement of the button portion and closes in response to the downward movement of the button portion,
the partition has a first wall having a first cutout portion, and a second wall having a second cutout portion and rotating relative to the first wall in one circumferential direction in response to the rising of the button portion and rotating relative to the first wall in the other circumferential direction in response to the descending of the button portion,
The powder container , wherein the powder passage opening is formed by overlapping the first cutout portion and the second cutout portion . The powder container according to claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member that generates a biasing force that rotates the second wall relatively to the first wall in the other circumferential direction until the powder passage opening is closed. The powder container according to claim 2 , further comprising a rod member that is pushed up by the button portion when the container is pressed against the biasing force to press the second wall to one side in the circumferential direction. 4. The powder container according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the pressing portion of the rod member and the pressed portion of the second wall that is pressed by the pressing portion as the rod member rises has an inclined surface that slopes downward toward one side in the circumferential direction. a first partition member including the first wall and fixed to the peripheral wall;
a second partition member including a second wall rotatably attached to the first partition member and the biasing member connected to an outer periphery of the second wall and fixed to the first partition member;
5. The powder container according to claim 3 , further comprising: a holding member fixed to the first partition member and holding the rod member so that the rod member can be raised and lowered; and a transmission member including the rod member.

Images