JP7699030B2 - liquid container - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a liquid container.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes technology relating to a container 1 for storing liquids such as pesticides (see Figure 16). According to the description in Patent Document 1, the container body 2 is a square prism shape with rounded corners and a roughly rectangular cross section, with a nozzle portion 3 provided at the top end and a hollow handle portion 7 extending vertically on one side. The nozzle portion 3 is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical line in the opposite direction to the handle portion 7.

Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 3-81867

In the container 1 described in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 16, the nozzle portion 3 is inclined toward the upper left. Therefore, in FIG. 16, the portion of the container body 2 that is located to the left of the base end of the nozzle portion 3 (left of the straight line DL shown by the dotted line in FIG. 16) is curved upward and to the right. Therefore, the volume of the container body 2 becomes small, and it is considered that the dimensions of the container body 2 become large in order to store a certain predetermined specified volume of liquid, and the size of the container 1 becomes large. If the size of the container 1 is large, the space is used less efficiently during storage, etc., and it becomes difficult for the user to use. Here, the specified volume is the volume of liquid injected into the container body 2 as a product using the container body 2.

When a user sprays the liquid contained in the container body 2, the user will likely hold the container body 2 by grasping the handle portion 7 of the container body 2. In the container 1 described in Patent Document 1, the handle portion 7 is relatively thin, making it difficult for the user to grip the handle portion 7 firmly. In particular, when the container body 2 contains liquid, the weight of the container body 2 containing the liquid becomes heavy, and a handle portion 7 that is difficult to grip firmly places a large burden on the user's hands, wrists, etc., making it difficult to use.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and one of its objectives is to improve user convenience.

In order to achieve the above object, the liquid container according to the present invention comprises:
A bottom portion including an internal storage space for storing liquid, and a body portion extending upward from an outer edge of the bottom portion;
a hollow mouth portion provided at an upper portion of the body portion and connecting the bottom and the outside of the body portion with the storage space;
A grip portion provided on one side of the body portion and held by a user;
A finger hook portion is a portion including projections and recesses on an opening surface portion of the grip portion that forms an opening between the grip portion and the body portion, and is contacted by four fingers of a user who holds the grip portion;
an auxiliary support portion provided above the body portion and at a position where the auxiliary support portion and the opening overlap at least partially when viewed from above, and protruding upward;
The grip portion is
It is configured symmetrically in the front-rear direction with respect to the center plane,
A virtual line passing through the upper end of the finger hook portion and the lower end of the finger hook portion on the central plane is provided along a grip axis inclined upward and outward,
When the bottom portion is placed on a flat placement surface, the grip axis is inclined at an angle of 5 degrees to 7 degrees with respect to an up-down axis perpendicular to the placement surface,
When viewed from above, the mouth portion is provided in a position such that the entire mouth portion is located inside the outer edge of the bottom portion and does not overlap with the opening,
The auxiliary support portion has a recess for hooking a finger at a portion opposite the opening.

The present invention makes it possible to improve user convenience.

1 is a front view of a liquid container according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid container according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above and rear on the left. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid container according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above and rear on the right side. 1 is an exploded front view showing a liquid container according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a front view of an outer lid according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an inner lid according to one embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a front view showing a liquid container with a cap removed according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a front view showing a container body with a cap removed according to an embodiment of the present invention; 9 is a cross-sectional view of the grip portion taken along line AA in FIG. 8. 1 is a front view showing an example of a state in which a liquid container according to an embodiment of the present invention is in use. FIG. 11 is a front view of a liquid container according to a first modified example. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a grip portion according to Modification 2. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a grip portion according to Modification 3. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a grip portion according to Modification 4. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a grip portion according to Modification 5. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional container.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The same elements are designated by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings.

(Configuration of liquid container 100 according to one embodiment)
A liquid container 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a container in which a liquid is contained. The liquid contained in the liquid container 100 may be any suitable liquid, such as a pesticide for gardening or agriculture, a cleaning agent for removing various stains, or oil for machinery. The liquid contained in the liquid container 100 may also be drinking water, soft drinks, fruit juice, syrup, oil, or other edible liquid.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the liquid container 100 comprises a container body 101 and an outer lid 102. As shown in Figure 4, the liquid container 100 further comprises an inner lid 103.

Here, FIG. 1 is a front view of the liquid container 100. FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the liquid container 100 as seen from a first direction and a second direction, respectively. FIG. 4 is an exploded front view of the liquid container 100.

The container body 101 has a storage space formed therein for storing liquid. The container body 101 includes a bottom portion 104, a body portion 105, a grip portion 106, a thumb contact portion 107, a mouth portion 108, an auxiliary support portion 109, and an upper portion 110, and is integrally molded, for example, from resin. The thickness of the container body 101 is, for example, about 1 mm (millimeter).

The material and thickness of the container body 101 may be any appropriate material depending on the chemical properties of the liquid, the strength required to hold the liquid, etc., and the material may be other than resin (e.g., metal).

The bottom portion 104 is a portion that forms the bottom of the container body 101, and includes a portion that comes into contact with a flat mounting surface MP when the container body 101 is placed on the mounting surface MP. By providing the bottom portion 104, the bottom portion 104 can be brought into contact with the mounting surface MP, allowing the liquid container 100 to be stably placed on the mounting surface MP.

The bottom 104 may be, for example, a plate-like structure with a flat lower surface, but a raised bottom structure is preferable. A raised bottom structure is a structure in which a portion of the bottom 104 is formed to be roughly flush with the surface, and the remaining portion protrudes slightly into the storage space.

One example of a bottom 104 with a bottom-raised structure is a structure in which a thin, band-shaped underside portion along the outer edge of the bottom 104 is formed to be roughly flush, and the portion surrounded by this underside portion protrudes slightly into the storage space. In this example, when the container body 101 is placed on a flat mounting surface MP, the thin, band-shaped underside portion comes into contact with the mounting surface MP.

Another example of the bottom 104 of the bottom-raised structure is a structure in which a number of small protrusions protruding downward are provided on the underside of a generally flat plate. In this case, the small protrusions are preferably provided so that the tops of their lower ends are positioned generally on a common plane. In this example, when the container body 101 is placed on a flat mounting surface MP, the tops of the lower ends of the small protrusions come into contact with the mounting surface MP.

Generally, the bottom 104 may bend and protrude outward due to the weight of the liquid or manufacturing errors, and a bottom 104 that is plate-shaped with a flat underside may reduce stability when the container body 101 is placed on a flat surface. By adopting a bottom-raised structure, even if the bottom 104 bends and protrudes outward, deformation of the outer edge is usually small, improving the stability of the container body 101 when placed on a flat surface. This makes it possible to improve convenience for users.

Hereinafter, the state in which the liquid container 100 is placed on the generally horizontal placement surface MP with the bottom 104 in contact is referred to as the "normal placement state" of the liquid container 100, and "upper" and "lower" are defined along the vertical direction in the normal placement state. Furthermore, the direction in which the grip portion 106 (described in detail later) is provided on the container body 101 in the normal placement state is defined as the "right side", and the opposite direction is defined as the "left side". Furthermore, "front" is defined such that "right side" and "left side" are the rightward and leftward directions, respectively, when the liquid container 100 in the normal placement state is viewed from that direction. "Rear" is defined as the opposite direction to "front". The liquid container 100 in this embodiment is configured to be generally symmetrical with respect to the center plane in the front-to-rear direction.

Note that the terms "upper," "lower," "right," "left," "forward," and "rearward" used herein are used for ease of explanation and are not intended to limit the present invention.

The body 105 extends upward from the outer edge of the bottom 104 and constitutes the side of the container body 101, excluding the grip portion 106. The side of the container body 101 refers to the front portion located in front of the container body 101, the rear portion located behind the container body 101, the left portion located to the left of the container body 101, and the right portion located to the right of the container body 101.

The grip portion 106 is a portion that is held by the user, and is hollow and tubular. The grip portion 106 is provided on the right side of the container body 101. In the vertical direction, the grip portion 106 is provided slightly below the center of the container body 101.

The grip portion 106 includes a finger hook 111 on the proximal surface, which is the surface closest to the body portion 105. The finger hook 111 is the part that comes into contact with the four fingers (index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger) of the user who is holding the grip portion 106.

The finger hook portion 111 includes projections and recesses. The projections and recesses of the finger hook portion 111 are composed of a number of small recesses that form a roughly spherical surface. The projections and recesses of the finger hook portion 111 may also be a number of grooves, ridges, protrusions, etc.

In this embodiment, an insertion hole 112 is formed penetrating the container body 101 in the front-rear direction. When viewed from the front, the insertion hole 112 has a narrow, approximately triangular shape that narrows from left to right toward the bottom as shown in FIG. 1, and has rounded corners. The grip portion 106 is configured to the right of the insertion hole 112. The user can hold the grip portion 106 by inserting four fingers into the insertion hole 112 and touching them to the finger hook portion 111.

Here, the grip portion 106 is tubular and extends along a grip axis GL that is inclined upward and outward. Inclining upward and outward means that it is inclined toward the outside of the container body 101 as it goes upward. The outside of the container body 101 means the direction away from the central axis C in the up-down direction that passes through the center of the bottom portion 104 when the container is placed upright.

The grip axis GL is an imaginary axis located in the front-to-rear center of the container body 101, and connects the upper and lower ends of the proximal surface of the grip portion 106 that comes into contact with the index finger and little finger when the user grips it (see FIG. 10). When the user grips the grip portion 106, the grip axis GL is roughly parallel to the inner surfaces of the four fingers.

The inclination angle θ of the grip axis GL relative to the central axis C may be determined as appropriate, but is, for example, 5 to 7 degrees.

The shape and dimensions of the grip portion 106 may be determined appropriately according to the size of an average person's hand. The grip portion 106 in this embodiment is characterized by a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the grip axis GL, the details of which will be described later.

The thumb contact portion 107 is a portion where the user who is holding the grip portion 106 can place his or her thumb. The thumb contact portion 107 is provided above the grip portion 106 on the right outer surface of the right side of the container body 101.

The thumb contact portion 107 includes projections and recesses. The projections and recesses of the thumb contact portion 107 are formed by multiple protrusions arranged in the vertical direction. Each of the protrusions is a low protrusion extending in the front-to-rear direction. The projections and recesses of the thumb contact portion 107 may be formed by multiple grooves extending in the front-to-rear direction arranged in the vertical direction, or may be formed by multiple projections or multiple small depressions having an approximately spherical shape.

The mouth 108 is a hollow cylindrical portion that connects the outside of the container body 101 with the storage space inside it, and is provided on the upper left side of the container body 101. The opening OP formed at the upper end of the mouth 108 is provided in a plane that is approximately perpendicular to the central axis C. In other words, the opening OP is approximately parallel to the flat mounting surface MP on which the bottom 104 is placed when placed upright.

The mouth portion 108 is generally cylindrical and includes an inner lid attachment portion 113, a male thread portion 114, and an annular groove portion 115 on its outer surface (see Figure 4).

The inner lid attachment portion 113 is the portion to which the inner lid 103 (described below) is attached, and is generally cylindrical in shape.

The male threaded portion 114 is a portion that connects to the lower end of the inner lid mounting portion 113, and is provided with a male thread that threadably engages with the outer lid 102.

The annular groove portion 115 is a portion that forms a groove provided along the circumferential direction below the male thread portion 114. The outer diameter of the annular groove portion 115 is the same as or smaller than the valley portion of the male thread portion 114.

The auxiliary support portion 109 is provided near the upper right side of the container body 101 and is a portion that protrudes upward. The auxiliary support portion 109 includes a recess 116 on its outer surface, with the lower left end recessed toward the right, and includes a space inside that forms part of the storage space. When a user places the fingers of the hand opposite the hand that grips the grip portion 106 in the recess 116, the user can easily hold the container body 101 containing liquid.

The upper end of the auxiliary support portion 109 is at the same vertical position as the upper surface of the outer lid 102. It is also desirable that the upper end of the auxiliary support portion 109 is configured to be flush with the upper surface of the outer lid 102. This allows the liquid containers 100 to be stably stacked in the vertical direction when, for example, the liquid containers 100 are packed in a box and transported.

The upper part 110 is a part that connects the upper ends of the front and rear parts of the body part 105 between the mouth part 108 and the auxiliary support part 109.

The outer lid 102 is a member that covers at least the upper end of the mouth portion 108. The outer lid 102 is integrally molded, for example, from resin. The thickness of the outer lid 102 is, for example, about 2 mm (millimeters). The material and thickness of the outer lid 102 may be appropriate according to the chemical properties of the liquid, the required strength, etc., and the material may be other than resin (for example, metal).

As shown in FIG. 5, the outer cover 102 includes a cap 117, a ring 118, and a number of connection portions 119.

The cap 117 is generally cylindrical with a cylindrical hollow that opens downward, and includes a female thread FS on its inner surface that screws into the male threaded portion 114. The female thread FS of the cap 117 is formed by a groove that is spirally provided from near the bottom end toward the top. By including such a female thread FS, the cap 117 can be removably attached to the mouth portion 108.

The ring 118 is an annular portion disposed below the cap 117, and is disposed so as to surround the annular groove portion 115. The ring 118 includes a number of locking claws 120 along the inner circumferential direction. Each of the locking claws 120 is provided on the inner surface of the ring 118, and is a protrusion that protrudes toward the center of the ring 118. The inner surface of the locking claws 120 (i.e., the surface facing the center of the ring 118) is inclined so that it protrudes gradually more toward the center of the ring 118 as it goes upward.

The inner diameter of the ring 118 excluding the locking claws 120 is larger than the nominal diameter of the male threaded portion 114. In addition, the inner diameter of the multiple locking claws 120 (i.e., the diameter of the circle connecting the tips of the locking claws 120 when viewed from above) is slightly smaller than the root diameter of the male threaded portion 114.

As described in detail below, this type of locking claw 120 allows the ring 118 to be positioned in the annular groove portion 115. Furthermore, when the ring 118 is positioned in the annular groove portion 115, the upper end of the locking claw 120 is locked to the lower end of the male thread portion 114, making it difficult to remove the ring 118 from the annular groove portion 115.

The outer diameter of the ring 118 may be any suitable size, for example, such that the outer peripheral surfaces of the ring 118 and the cap 117 are flush with each other.

The multiple connection parts 119 are parts that connect the lower end of the cap 117 and the upper end of the ring 118. Each of the multiple connection parts 119 has a strength sufficient to prevent it from being cut when the outer lid 102 is attached to the male threaded part 114. In addition, each of the multiple connection parts 119 has a strength sufficient to allow it to be cut when the cap 117 is removed, separating the cap 117 and the ring 118.

The inner lid 103 is a lid that is fitted onto the upper end of the mouth 108. The inner lid 103 is integrally molded, for example, from resin. The thickness of the inner lid 103 is, for example, about 1 mm (millimeter). The material and thickness of the inner lid 103 may be appropriate according to the chemical properties of the liquid, the required strength, etc., and the material may be other than resin (for example, metal).

As shown in FIG. 6, the inner lid 103 includes a disk-shaped spray surface 121 and an attachment portion 122 that extends downward from the outer edge of the spray surface 121.

The spray surface 121 is a portion that generally covers the flat spray surface formed at the upper end of the mouth 108, and includes a number of spray ports 123 that penetrate in the thickness direction. The multiple spray ports 123 connect the hollow of the mouth 108 to the outside. The spray surface 121 in this embodiment is flat and is provided so that its lower surface generally coincides with the spray surface, but may be modified to a shape other than flat, for example by being gently curved so as to protrude upward.

In addition, the upper outer surface of the outer lid 102 has multiple small protrusions P at positions corresponding to each of the multiple spray ports 123, allowing the user to know from the outside of the outer lid 102 that there are spray ports 123 inside.

The fitting portion 122 is a portion that is fitted into the inner lid mounting portion 113. The outer diameter of the fitting portion 122 is smaller than the root diameter of the male thread portion 114. The fitting portion 122 fits tightly enough that the inner lid 103 does not easily come off the inner lid mounting portion 113. Note that the fitting portion 122 and the inner lid mounting portion 113 may include a locking structure for locking them together so that the inner lid 103 does not easily come off the inner lid mounting portion 113.

So far, we have explained the structure of the liquid container 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. From here, we will explain the method of assembling the liquid container 100 according to this embodiment.

(Method of Assembling Liquid Container 100 According to One Embodiment)
A container body 101, an outer lid 102, and an inner lid 103 are prepared. A specified volume of liquid is poured into the container body 101 through an opening OP of a mouth portion 108. As a result, the storage space of the container body 101 contains the specified volume of liquid.

Here, the "specified volume" is the volume of liquid poured into the container body 101 as a product using the container body 101. In other words, the specified volume is the volume of liquid poured into the container body 101 at the time of shipping of the product.

For example, if the liquid container 100 is to be used as a container for selling liquid, a liquid container 100 having a full capacity equal to or greater than a predetermined specified capacity is selected.

"Full capacity" is the maximum amount of liquid that can be poured into the storage space from the mouth 108 in the upright position. In the case of the liquid container 100 according to this embodiment, when liquid is poured into the mouth 108, air does not escape from some or all of the space inside the auxiliary support part 109, and the liquid does not fill that part or all of it. Therefore, the full capacity of the liquid container 100 according to this embodiment is the volume of the storage space of the container body 101 excluding that part or all of the space inside the auxiliary support part 109.

The specified capacity is generally in the range of 60% to 100% of the full capacity. That is, for example, in the case of a liquid container 100 including a container body 101 with a full capacity of 5 liters, the specified capacity is approximately 3 liters to 5 liters.

The inner lid 103 is fitted into the inner lid attachment portion 113. This allows the inner lid 103 to be attached to the container body 101 so that it does not easily come off from the container body 101.

Next, the outer lid 102 is screwed onto the male thread portion 114 of the container body 101 by rotating the mouth portion 108 to which the inner lid 103 is attached in a predetermined attachment direction (e.g., clockwise).

As described above, the inner diameter of the multiple locking claws 120 is slightly smaller than the root diameter of the male thread portion 114. Therefore, when the outer lid 102 is screwed into the male thread portion 114, the locking claws 120 come into contact with the male thread portion 114. However, the inner surface of the locking claws 120 is inclined as described above. Therefore, when the outer lid 102 is screwed into the male thread portion 114, the force that the locking claws 120 receive from the male thread portion 114 is relatively small. In addition, the ring 118 has elasticity that allows it to deform so that its diameter increases when it receives a force from the male thread portion 114.

As a result, when the outer lid 102 is screwed into the male threaded portion 114, the multiple connection portions 119 can advance downward beyond the threads of the male threaded portion 114 without being cut off.

The outer lid 102 is screwed in until the upper end of the ring 118 is positioned below the lower end of the male thread portion 114, and the ring 118 is positioned in the annular groove portion 115. As a result, the outer lid 102 is attached to the container body 101 with the ring 118 and the cap 117 connected by multiple connecting portions 119. The liquid container 100 containing the specified volume of liquid is completed.

So far, we have explained how to assemble the liquid container 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. From here, we will explain how to use the liquid container 100 according to this embodiment.

(Method of using liquid container 100 according to one embodiment)
A user grips the cap 117 and rotates the cap 117 in a removal direction (e.g., counterclockwise) opposite to the attachment direction, which causes the cap 117 to move upward.

When the upper end of the ring 118 is positioned at the lower end of the male thread portion 114 by the movement of the cap 117, the upper ends of the multiple locking claws 120 come into contact with the lower end of the male thread portion 114 because the inner diameter of the multiple locking claws 120 is slightly smaller than the root diameter of the male thread portion 114 as described above. This prevents the ring 118 from moving upward. If the cap 117 is further rotated in the removal direction in this state, the multiple connection portions 119 are cut. This separates the cap 117 from the ring 118.

When the cap 117 is further rotated in the removal direction, as shown in the front view of FIG. 7, the cap 117 moves upward and is removed from the mouth 108. At this time, as shown in the same figure, the ring 118 remains attached to the container body 101 while being fitted into the annular groove portion 115.

The user grasps the grip portion 106 of the container body 101 (see the front view of FIG. 8) with the ring 118 attached. Then, by positioning the grip portion 106 vertically upward and laying the grip axis GL horizontally, the liquid flows out from the inside of the liquid container 100 to the outside through the spray port 123 due to its own weight.

Here, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a cross section of the grip portion 106 taken along line A-A in FIG. 8. As shown in the area surrounded by dotted line DC in the figure, the finger hook 111 according to this embodiment has a shape that protrudes toward the body portion 105 in a cross section perpendicular to the grip axis GL. As a result, a ridge line is formed on the proximal surface of the grip portion 106, roughly in the center in the front-to-rear direction, and the finger hook 111 includes at least a portion of the portion that forms the ridge line.

When a person grasps an object, it is generally said that, due to the structure of the human body, they can exert a particularly large gripping force by grasping the object in a manner known as a hammer grip. A hammer grip is a grip in which one side of the object is supported by rolling it up with the hand and fingers, while the opposite side is received by the palm of the hand. This grip is also known as a power grip.

By forming the finger hook portion 111 in a shape that protrudes toward the body portion 105 as described above, it is possible to make it easier to hold the grip portion 106 with a hammer grip. This makes it possible to improve convenience for the user.

Similarly to the proximal surface of the grip portion 106, the distal surface of the grip portion 106 also has a ridge line formed approximately in the center in the front-to-rear direction. It is desirable that the ridge line of the distal surface of the grip portion 106 and the ridge line of the proximal surface of the grip portion 106 are approximately parallel to each other. Here, the distal surface of the grip portion 106 is the surface farthest from the body portion 105.

In this way, by providing a ridge on the distal surface that is roughly parallel to the ridge on the proximal surface, it is possible to make it easier to hold the grip portion 106 with a hammer grip. This makes it possible to improve convenience for the user.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, in a cross section of the grip portion 106 perpendicular to the grip axis GL, the radius of curvature R1 near the ridgeline of the distal surface is greater than the radius of curvature R2 near the ridgeline of the proximal surface. In other words, in a cross section of the grip portion 106 perpendicular to the grip axis GL, the portion near the ridgeline of the distal surface is smoother than the portion near the ridgeline of the proximal surface.

As an example of the dimensions of the grip portion 106, in FIG. 9, the width W is 36 mm, the height H is 30 mm, the radius of curvature R1 is 25 mm, and the radius of curvature R2 is 10 mm.

When a person generally grasps a round bar, they can hold the bar stably by touching their thumb and index or middle finger together and gripping the bar in a way that surrounds it. With an average person's hand size, the diameter of a round bar that can be grasped in a way that surrounds it is 36 to 40 mm. Therefore, it is desirable for the cross section of the grip portion 106 to be large enough to be inscribed in a circle with a diameter of 36 to 40 mm.

The above dimensions of the grip portion 106 are an example of the size where the cross section of the grip portion 106 is inscribed in a circle with a diameter of 36 mm. This makes it easier to hold the grip portion 106. This makes it possible to improve convenience for the user.

In addition, because the finger hook portion 111 is shaped to protrude toward the body portion 105, when a user grasps the grip portion 106, the four fingers that come into contact with the finger hook portion 111 are caught on the finger hook portion 111. This also makes it easier to grasp the grip portion 106. Therefore, it is possible to improve the convenience for the user.

Furthermore, the apex of the portion that protrudes toward the body 105 is curved and rounded. Therefore, when weight is applied to the four fingers that are in contact with the finger hook 111, the four fingers are less likely to be hurt than if the apex of the portion were sharp. This also makes it easier to hold the grip portion 106. Therefore, it is possible to improve convenience for the user.

When spraying liquid, the spraying surface 121 is preferably tilted vertically downward by 8 to 12 degrees rather than perpendicular to the horizontal plane. That is, the angle α shown in FIG. 10 (the angle of the spraying surface 121 with respect to a vertical plane including the lower vertical end of the spraying surface 121) is preferably 8 to 12 degrees. By tilting the spraying surface 121 in this manner, the liquid flows out smoothly from within the liquid container 100. In addition, the weight balance of the liquid container 100 between the part located in front of the center of gravity G during spraying and the part located behind the center of gravity G during spraying is improved, making it easier for the user to hold the liquid container 100.

Here, as shown in FIG. 10, forward when spraying refers to the horizontal direction in which the spraying surface 121 is located relative to the overall center of gravity G of the container body 101 containing a specified volume of liquid. Backward when spraying refers to the opposite direction to forward when spraying, that is, the horizontal direction in which the bottom 104 is located relative to the center of gravity G. Also, downward when spraying as shown in the figure is vertically downward, and upward when spraying is vertically upward.

In the liquid container 100 according to this embodiment, the user can hold the grip portion 106 naturally with their wrist relaxed near the area where the liquid is to be sprayed. This causes the grip axis GL to lie flat and tilt slightly vertically downward rather than horizontally, as shown in FIG. 10. Because the grip axis GL is tilted with respect to the central axis C as described above, the spray surface portion 121 tilts vertically downward at an angle α of 8 degrees to 12 degrees.

In this way, because the grip axis GL is inclined relative to the central axis C as described above, the user can tilt the spraying surface 121 vertically downward simply by holding the grip portion 106 naturally without exerting too much force on the wrist, etc. This reduces fatigue in the user's hands, wrists, arms, etc. when spraying liquid. This therefore makes it possible to improve convenience for the user.

In particular, in this embodiment, the inclination angle θ of the grip axis GL with respect to the central axis C is 5 degrees to 7 degrees. This allows the spraying surface 121 to be tilted vertically downward simply by naturally gripping the grip portion 106, while preventing the width (length in the left-right direction) of the container body 101 from increasing. Since the size of the container body 101 is prevented from increasing, the efficiency of space usage during storage and transportation of the liquid container 100 can be improved. At the same time, fatigue in the user's hands, wrists, arms, etc. when spraying liquid can be reduced. This makes it possible to further improve convenience for the user.

When the spray surface 121 is tilted vertically downward, as described above, the liquid is sprayed by flowing out of the spray port 123. In this embodiment, the inner lid 103 having the spray port 123 is provided, so that the liquid can be sprayed over a relatively wide area.

After spraying in the desired area, the user can screw the cap 117 back onto the male threaded portion 114 to cover the spray port 123. This marks the end of use of the liquid container 100. Note that the inner lid 103 does not need to be provided when transferring liquid from the container body 101 to another container, etc.

Generally, as the spraying time increases, the hands, wrists, arms, etc. holding the grip portion 106 may become tired. In particular, when a large amount of liquid is contained in the container body 101, the hands, wrists, arms, etc. may become tired even in a relatively short time. In addition, when spraying liquid, the container body 101 may be shaken back and forth or left and right so that the liquid is sprayed to the desired area, and the movement required for this may also tire the hands, wrists, arms, etc.

As described above, in the liquid container 100 according to this embodiment, the grip portion 106 has an easy-to-grip shape, and the grip axis GL is inclined relative to the central axis C, which reduces fatigue in the user's hands, wrists, arms, etc. during spraying. In addition to these, the liquid container 100 has the following features to reduce fatigue in the user's hands, wrists, arms, etc. during use.

(Position of the grip portion 106 in the container body 101 and its action and effect)
The grip portion 106 includes a portion that is located above (i.e., vertically above) the center of gravity G during dispersion when the grip axis GL is oriented horizontally.

In particular, in this embodiment, when the grip portion 106 is held by a user and the grip axis GL is oriented horizontally, the portion of the grip portion 106 that is located vertically above the center of gravity G is located between the user's index finger and middle finger.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, when a user relaxes their wrists while gripping the grip portion 106 so that the grip axis GL is oriented slightly vertically downward rather than horizontally, the grip portion 106 is more likely to be positioned above the center of gravity G during spraying. Also, in the container body 101 containing a specified volume of liquid, the weight at the front and rear of the container body during spraying, via the center of gravity G, is roughly equal. This reduces the burden on the user's hands, wrists, arms, etc. during spraying. This makes it possible to improve convenience for the user.

(Actions and Effects of Thumb Contact Part 107)
When a user holds grip portion 106, the user can easily hold grip portion 106 with a hammer grip by bringing the thumb into contact with thumb contact portion 107 along the thumb. This reduces the burden on the user's hands, wrists, arms, etc. during spraying. This improves user convenience.

In this embodiment, the thumb contact portion 107 is provided with projections and recesses, which encourages the user to place the thumb in contact with the thumb contact portion 107 when gripping the grip portion 106. It is also possible to make the thumb less likely to slip when in contact with the thumb contact portion 107. This makes it easier for the user to hold the grip portion 106 with a hammer grip. This further reduces the strain on the user's hands, wrists, arms, etc. when spraying. This makes it possible to further improve convenience for the user.

(Actions and Effects of the Concave and Convex Shapes of the Finger Hook 106)
In this embodiment, the finger hook portion 106 is provided with projections and recesses, so that the four fingers that come into contact with the finger hook portion 106 are less likely to slip. This makes it easier for the user to hold the grip portion 106 with a hammer grip. This further reduces the burden on the user's hands, wrists, arms, etc., during spraying. This makes it possible to further improve the convenience for the user.

(Actions and Effects of Auxiliary Support Part 109)
In this embodiment, since the auxiliary support portion 109 is provided, the user can place the fingers of the hand opposite the hand gripping the grip portion 106 on the auxiliary support portion 109 during spraying. This allows the user to easily hold the container body 101 containing the liquid. This reduces the burden on the user's hands, wrists, arms, etc. during spraying. This makes it possible to improve the convenience for the user.

In addition, the auxiliary support portion 109 in this embodiment is provided with a recess 116. This makes it easier to hook the fingers of the hand opposite the hand gripping the grip portion 106 into the recess 116. This allows the user to more easily hold the container body 101 containing liquid. This further reduces the strain on the user's hands, wrists, arms, etc. when spraying. This makes it possible to further improve convenience for the user.

Furthermore, the auxiliary support part 109 in this embodiment is hollow. Therefore, the liquid flows into the auxiliary support part 109 during spraying.

For example, if a user wishes to increase the amount of liquid flowing out of the spray nozzle 123, tilting the grip axis GL so that the front faces vertically downward when spraying will cause more liquid to flow into the auxiliary support part 109. The liquid that flows into the auxiliary support part 109 acts to bias the overall weight balance of the container body 101 containing the liquid to the front when spraying. As a result, with a relatively small amount of force, the spray surface part 121 can be directed vertically downward at a larger angle α, increasing the amount of liquid flowing out of the spray nozzle 123.

The same is true, for example, when a user wants to reduce the amount of liquid flowing out of the spray nozzle 123. In this case, when the grip axis GL is tilted so that the front faces vertically upward during spraying, the liquid in the auxiliary support part 109 flows out. The liquid that flows out of the auxiliary support part 109 acts to bias the overall weight balance of the container body 101 containing the liquid to the rear during spraying. As a result, with a relatively small amount of force, the spray surface part 121 can be turned vertically downward at a smaller angle α, reducing the amount of liquid flowing out of the spray nozzle 123.

In this way, because the auxiliary support part 109 is hollow, the amount of liquid flowing out of the spray port 123 can be easily adjusted. This makes it possible to further improve convenience for the user.

So far, one embodiment of the present invention has been described.
According to liquid container 100 of the present embodiment, the features of each part described thus far make it possible to improve convenience for the user.

The above describes the embodiments and variations of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to these.

(Variation 1)
For example, the dimensional ratio of liquid container 100 may be appropriately changed as shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a front view of liquid container 100 according to Modification 1, and the same reference numerals as in the embodiment are used to designate parts corresponding to the respective parts of container body 100 according to the embodiment. This modification also provides the same effects as the embodiment.

(Variations 2 to 5)
Also, for example, the shape of the grip portion 106 may be changed as appropriate.

Figures 12 to 15 are cross-sectional views of grip portions 206, 306, 406, and 506 relating to variants 2 to 5, respectively, and correspond to the cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 8.

The grip sections 206, 306, 406, and 506 each include a finger hook 211, 311, 411, or 511 similar to the finger hook 111 of the grip section 106 according to the embodiment. That is, the finger hooks 211, 311, 411, or 511 are shaped to protrude toward the body section 105. As a result, a ridgeline is formed approximately in the center in the front-to-rear direction on the proximal surface of each of the grip sections 206, 306, 406, and 506, and the finger hooks 211, 311, 411, or 511 include at least a portion of the portion that forms the ridgeline.

As an example of the dimensions of the grip portion 206 in Modification 2, in FIG. 12 the width W is 36 mm, the height H is 28 mm, the radius of curvature R1 is 17 mm, and the radius of curvature R2 is 25.2 mm. As an example of the dimensions of the grip portion 306 in Modification 3, in FIG. 13 the width W is 36 mm, the height H is 28 mm, the radius of curvature R1 is 25.2 mm, and the radius of curvature R2 is 17 mm.

As an example of the dimensions of the grip portion 406 in Modification 4, in FIG. 14 the width W is 38.6 mm, the height H is 18.3 mm, the radius of curvature R1 is 28.4 mm, and the radius of curvature R2 is 53.4 mm. As an example of the dimensions of the grip portion 506 in FIG. 15 the width W is 31.0 mm, the height H is 32.0 mm, the radius of curvature R1 is 32.0 mm, and the radius of curvature R2 is 24.0 mm.

The liquid container 100 equipped with the grip portions 206, 306, 406, and 506 according to modifications 2 to 5, which replace the grip portion 106, also achieves the same effects as the embodiment.

The present invention includes forms that appropriately combine some or all of the embodiments and variations described thus far, and forms that appropriately modify those forms.

In addition, some or all of the means of the above-mentioned embodiment can be described as follows, but are not limited to the following:

1. A container body including an internal storage space for storing liquid;
a hollow mouth portion provided at an upper portion of the container body and connecting the outside of the container body to the storage space;
a grip portion provided on one side of the container body and held by a user;
The grip portion is provided along a grip axis that is inclined upward and outward.
2. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein the grip axis is inclined at an angle of 5 to 7 degrees with respect to a vertical axis perpendicular to a placement surface when the bottom of the container body is placed on the placement surface.
3. The liquid container according to 1 or 2 above, wherein an opening formed at an upper end of the mouth portion is generally parallel to the placement surface.
4. The container further includes an inner lid that is fitted to the upper end of the mouth portion,
4. The liquid container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inner lid includes a plurality of dispensing ports connecting the hollow of the mouth portion with the outside.
5. A cap that can be attached and detached to the mouth portion is further provided,
5. A liquid container as described in any one of 1 to 4 above, wherein the cap has a plurality of protrusions on an upper outer surface.
6. The liquid container according to any one of 1 to 5 above, wherein the grip portion includes a portion that is located vertically above the center of gravity of the entire liquid container containing 60% to 100% of the liquid at its full capacity when the spray surface formed at the upper end of the mouth portion is tilted vertically downward by 8 degrees to 12 degrees from a state perpendicular to the horizontal plane.
7. The liquid container according to claim 6, wherein when the user holds the grip portion and tilts the spray surface formed at the upper end of the mouth portion vertically downward by 8 to 12 degrees from a state perpendicular to the horizontal plane, the portion of the grip portion that is located vertically above the center of gravity of the entire liquid container containing 60% to 100% of the full capacity of the liquid is located between the index finger and middle finger of the user.
8. The liquid container according to any one of 1 to 7 above, further comprising a thumb contact portion provided above the grip portion on the outer surface of the one side portion of the container body and for a user holding the grip portion to contact with the thumb.
9. The liquid container according to claim 8, wherein the thumb contact portion includes projections and recesses.
10. The liquid container according to any one of 1 to 9 above, wherein the grip portion includes a finger hook portion on a proximal surface close to the barrel of the container body, where the four fingers of a user holding the grip portion come into contact.
11. The liquid container according to claim 10, wherein the finger hook portion includes projections and recesses.
12. The liquid container according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the finger hook portion includes a portion that protrudes toward the body portion in a cross section perpendicular to the grip axis.
13. The liquid container according to any one of 1 to 12 above, further comprising an auxiliary support portion provided on the upper portion of the container body and in the vicinity of the one side portion, and protruding upward.
14. The liquid container according to claim 13, wherein the auxiliary support portion includes a space therein that forms a part of the storage space.
15. The liquid container according to claim 13 or 14, wherein an upper end of the auxiliary support portion is configured to be flush with an upper surface of a cap that is attached so as to cover an upper end of the mouth portion.
16. A container body including an internal storage space for storing liquid;
a hollow mouth portion provided at an upper portion of the container body and connecting the outside of the container body to the storage space;
a grip portion provided on one side of the container body and held by a user;
The grip portion includes a portion that is located vertically above the center of gravity of the entire liquid container when the liquid container contains 60% to 100% of its full capacity when the spray surface formed at the upper end of the mouth portion is tilted vertically downward by 8 degrees to 12 degrees from a state perpendicular to the horizontal plane.
17. The liquid container according to claim 16, wherein when the user holds the grip portion and tilts the spray surface formed at the upper end of the mouth portion vertically downward by 8 to 12 degrees from a state perpendicular to the horizontal plane, the portion of the grip portion that is located vertically above the center of gravity of the entire liquid container containing 60% to 100% of the full capacity of the liquid is located between the index finger and middle finger of the user.
18. A container body including an internal storage space for storing liquid;
a hollow mouth portion provided at an upper portion of the container body and connecting the outside of the container body to the storage space;
A grip portion provided on one side of the container body and held by a user;
a thumb contact portion provided above the grip portion on an outer surface of the one side of the container body, for a user holding the grip portion to contact with their thumb.
19. The liquid container according to claim 18, wherein the thumb contact portion includes projections and recesses.
20. A container body including an internal storage space for storing liquid;
a hollow mouth portion provided at an upper portion of the container body and connecting the outside of the container body to the storage space;
a grip portion provided on one side of the container body and held by a user;
A liquid container, wherein the grip portion includes a finger hook portion on a proximal surface close to a barrel of the container body, the finger hook portion being contacted by four fingers of a user holding the grip portion.
21. The liquid container according to claim 20, wherein the finger hook portion includes projections and recesses.
22. The liquid container according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the finger hook portion includes a portion that protrudes toward the body portion in a cross section perpendicular to the grip axis.
23. A container body including an internal storage space for storing liquid;
a hollow mouth portion provided at an upper portion of the container body and connecting the outside of the container body to the storage space;
A grip portion provided on one side of the container body and held by a user;
a supporting portion provided on the upper portion of the container body and adjacent to the one side portion, the supporting portion protruding upward.
24. The liquid container according to claim 23, wherein the auxiliary support portion includes a space therein that forms a part of the storage space.
25. The liquid container according to claim 23 or 24, wherein an upper end of the auxiliary support portion is flush with an upper surface of a cap that is attached so as to cover an upper end of the mouth portion.

100 Liquid container 101 Container body 102 Outer lid 103 Inner lid 104 Bottom 105 Body 106 Grip portion 107 Thumb contact portion 108 Mouth portion 109 Auxiliary support portion 110 Upper portion 111 Finger hook portion 112 Insertion hole 113 Inner lid mounting portion 114 Male thread portion 115 Annular groove portion 116 Recess 117 Cap 118 Ring 119 Connection portion 120 Locking claw 121 Spray surface portion 122 Fitting portion 123 Spray port MP Placement surface GL Grip axis C Central axis OP Opening FS Female thread P Protrusion G Center of gravity

Claims (11)

A bottom portion including an internal storage space for storing liquid, and a body portion extending upward from an outer edge of the bottom portion;
a hollow mouth portion provided at an upper portion of the body portion and connecting the bottom and the outside of the body portion with the storage space;
A grip portion provided on one side of the body portion and held by a user;
A finger hook portion is a portion including projections and recesses on an opening surface portion of the grip portion that forms an opening between the grip portion and the body portion, and is contacted by four fingers of a user who holds the grip portion;
an auxiliary support portion provided above the body portion and at a position where the auxiliary support portion and the opening overlap at least partially when viewed from above, and protruding upward;
The grip portion is
It is configured symmetrically in the front-rear direction with respect to the center plane,
A virtual line passing through the upper end of the finger hook portion and the lower end of the finger hook portion on the central plane is provided along a grip axis inclined upward and outward,
When the bottom portion is placed on a flat placement surface, the grip axis is inclined at an angle of 5 degrees to 7 degrees with respect to an up-down axis perpendicular to the placement surface,
When viewed from above, the mouth portion is provided in a position such that the entire mouth portion is located inside the outer edge of the bottom portion and does not overlap with the opening,
The auxiliary support portion has a recess for hooking a finger at a portion opposite the opening of the liquid container. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein an opening formed at an upper end of the mouth portion is generally parallel to the placement surface. Further, an inner lid is provided which is fitted to the upper end of the mouth portion,
The liquid container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner lid includes a plurality of dispensing ports connecting the hollow of the mouth portion to the outside. Further comprising a removable cap on the mouth portion,
The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein the cap has a plurality of protrusions on an upper outer surface. A liquid container as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the grip portion includes a portion that is located vertically above the center of gravity of the entire liquid container when it contains 60% to 100% of the full capacity of the liquid, when the spray surface formed at the upper end of the mouth portion is tilted vertically downward by 8 degrees to 12 degrees from a state perpendicular to the horizontal plane. The liquid container according to claim 5, wherein when the grip portion is gripped by the user and the spray surface formed at the upper end of the mouth portion is tilted vertically downward by 8 to 12 degrees from a state perpendicular to the horizontal plane, the portion of the grip portion that is located vertically above the center of gravity of the entire liquid container containing 60% to 100% of the full capacity of the liquid is located between the user's index finger and middle finger. The liquid container according to claim 1 , further comprising a thumb contact portion provided above the grip portion on the outer surface of the one side of the body portion for a user holding the grip portion to contact with their thumb. The liquid container of claim 7 , wherein the thumb contact portion includes projections and recesses. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein the finger hook portion includes a portion that protrudes toward the body portion in a cross section perpendicular to the grip axis. The liquid container according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary support portion includes a space therein that forms a part of the storage space. 11. The liquid container according to claim 1, wherein an upper end of the auxiliary support portion is flush with an upper surface of a cap that is attached to cover an upper end of the mouth portion.

Images