JP7741766B2 - Dispensing container - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a dispensing container.

Dispensing containers are known that hold stick-shaped contents such as lipstick, lip balm, or stick-type glue, and that allow the inner tray to be raised by rotating a lower operating body, dispensing the stick-shaped contents held by the inner tray from an upper opening (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

In this type of dispensing container, the inner tray is usually shaped like a bottomed cylinder, with a bottom wall that supports the bottom of the contents and a peripheral wall that surrounds the bottom wall and holds the lower outer periphery of the contents, so that it can securely hold the rod-shaped contents.

Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 63-062016 JP 2013-208154 A

In this type of dispensing container, the height of the contents gradually decreases with continued use. However, once it reaches the top edge of the peripheral wall, it becomes difficult to use any more contents, and a relatively large amount of contents remains inside the peripheral wall.

In light of these issues, the present invention aims to provide a dispensing container that can reduce the amount of unused contents remaining.

The present invention includes an outer cylinder body and
a support body having a tray portion for supporting the contents on a flat upper surface, a hole portion penetrating the tray portion, and a first cylindrical portion connected to the tray portion and having a first spiral groove on an inner peripheral surface, the support body being disposed inside the outer cylindrical body and movable along the central axis of the outer cylindrical body but restricted in rotation about the central axis;
an operating body having a first engaging portion that engages with the first spiral groove and is held rotatably around the central axis relative to the outer cylindrical body;
a holder having a protrusion that is inserted through the hole and protrudes from the receiving tray to hold the contents, and a stopper that engages with the operating body, and is movable along the central axis until the stopper engages,
When the operating body is rotated relative to the outer cylinder body, the support body rises, causing the contents and the holding body to rise, and when the stopper engages with the operating body, the support body rises, leaving the holding body behind, causing the convex portion to sink into the receiving tray portion.This is a dispensing container configured to do this.

It is preferable that an opening be provided on the side of the convex portion so that the contents can enter inside the convex portion while protruding from the receiving tray.

The support body has a filling hole portion that penetrates the receiving tray portion,
It is preferable that there is an inner space between the receiving tray portion of the lowered support body and the outer cylinder body, which is connected to the filling hole portion and in which the contents are formed by solidifying the raw material filled through the filling hole portion.

The operating body is
a rotor that includes a second cylindrical portion located radially inside the first cylindrical portion and a second engagement portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion, and is held rotatably around the central axis relative to the outer cylindrical body;
It is preferable that the device further comprises a movable cylindrical body that is disposed between the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion, has the first engagement portion on its outer peripheral surface, and has a second spiral groove that engages with the second engagement portion on its inner peripheral surface.

As described above, the dispensing container of the present invention holds the contents by a protrusion that passes through a hole in the receiving tray. When the operating body is rotated relative to the outer barrel, the support rises, causing the contents and the holding body to rise. When the stopper engages with the operating body, the support rises, leaving the holding body behind, allowing the protrusion to sink into the receiving tray. In other words, the height of the protrusion that protrudes from the top surface of the receiving tray is reduced, reducing the amount of unused contents remaining.

1 is a half cross-sectional side view showing one embodiment of a dispensing container according to the present invention. 2A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a view showing the retaining rib as viewed from the radially inner side toward the radially outer side. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the internal space is filled with ingredients for the contents. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the stopper engages with the operating body and the lifting of the holding body is stopped. FIG. FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which the support is further raised from the state shown in FIG. 4 .

One embodiment of a dispensing container (dispensing container 10) according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in this specification, "upper" refers to the side on which the cover top wall 7a is located, based on the direction along the central axis O of the outer barrel 1 shown in Figure 1, and "lower" refers to the opposite side.

The dispensing container 10 of this embodiment dispenses the contents C and is composed of an outer cylinder 1, a support 2, an operating body 3 (composed of a rotating body 4 and a movable cylinder 5), a holding body 6, and a cover 7. The components that make up the dispensing container 10 can be made from a variety of materials, but in this embodiment they are made from synthetic resin. The detailed configuration of each component will be described later, but the center of each component coincides with the central axis O.

The outer cylinder body 1 has a cylindrical outer cylinder wall 1a centered on the central axis O. The lower inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder wall 1a is provided with a retaining recess 1b that is concave radially outward. The inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder wall 1a is provided with a rotation-preventing protrusion 1c that protrudes radially inward and extends vertically from the vertical middle to the upper end. As shown in Figure 2(a), a pair of rotation-preventing protrusions 1c are provided facing each other across the central axis O. As shown in Figure 1, the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder wall 1a is shaped so that the upper portion has a smaller diameter than the vertical middle portion.

The support body 2 has a disk-shaped tray portion 2a with a flat upper surface. The tray portion 2a has a hole portion 2b that penetrates the tray portion 2a in the vertical direction. As shown in Figure 2(a), the hole portion 2b is rectangular in plan view. There are multiple holes 2b (four in this embodiment), which are arranged at equal intervals around the central axis O. In addition, a hole (filling hole portion 2c) that is circular in plan view and penetrates the tray portion 2a is provided in the center of the tray portion 2a.

A cylindrical first tube portion 2d extending downward is provided on the outer edge of the underside of the tray portion 2a. A vertically concave anti-rotation recess 2e is provided on the outer peripheral surfaces of the tray portion 2a and the first tube portion 2d, engaging with the anti-rotation projection 1c. A first spiral groove 2g extending spirally around the central axis O is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the first tube portion 2d. As shown in Figures 1 and 2(b), a first retaining rib 2f is provided at the bottom of the first spiral groove 2g, protruding radially inward from the groove bottom of the first spiral groove 2g. Furthermore, a protrusion (overcoming protrusion 2h) protruding radially inward is provided on the upper inner peripheral surface of the first tube portion 2d.

The rotating body 4 is cylindrical and includes an operating cylinder wall 4a located below the outer cylinder wall 1a. A cylindrical intermediate cylinder wall 4b with a smaller diameter than the operating cylinder wall 4a is provided at the upper end of the operating cylinder wall 4a. The outer surface of the intermediate cylinder wall 4b is provided with a retaining protrusion 4c that engages with the retaining recess 1b. By engaging the retaining protrusion 4c with the retaining recess 1b, the rotating body 4 is held rotatably and unable to come loose from the outer cylinder 1.

A connecting wall 4d extending radially inward is provided at the upper end of the intermediate cylindrical wall 4b, and a cylindrical second cylindrical portion 4e extending upward is provided at the inner edge of the connecting wall 4d. A portion (second engagement portion 4f) protruding radially outward is provided on the upper outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 4e. A disc-shaped central wall 4g is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 4e, and a hole (rotor communicating hole 4h) is provided in the central wall 4g that passes through it in the vertical direction.

The movable cylindrical body 5 includes a cylindrical movable cylindrical wall 5a. The movable cylindrical wall 5a has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the first cylindrical portion 2d and an inner diameter larger than the second cylindrical portion 4e, and is disposed between the first cylindrical portion 2d and the second cylindrical portion 4e. The upper outer peripheral surface of the movable cylindrical wall 5a is provided with a portion (first engagement portion 5b) that protrudes radially outward. As shown, the first engagement portion 5b engages with the first helical groove 2g. The inner peripheral surface of the movable cylindrical wall 5a is provided with a second helical groove 5c that extends spirally around the central axis O and engages with the second engagement portion 4f. A second retaining rib 5d having a configuration similar to the first retaining rib 2f is provided below the second helical groove 5c. The movable cylindrical wall 5a also includes a movable cylindrical body-side engagement portion 5e that protrudes radially inward from a portion located above the second cylindrical portion 4e, beyond the second cylindrical portion 4e.

The holder 6 is cylindrical and includes a holder cylindrical wall 6a located radially inward of the movable cylinder side engagement portion 5e. Here, the through hole located radially inward of the holder cylindrical wall 6a is referred to as the holder communication hole 6b. A holder side engagement portion 6c (stopper) that protrudes radially outward is provided on the lower outer peripheral surface of the holder cylindrical wall 6a. A ring-shaped upper wall 6d that extends radially outward is provided on the upper end of the holder cylindrical wall 6a.

The upper wall 6d is provided with a cylindrical, capped protrusion 6e that protrudes upward. In this embodiment, the protrusion 6e is rectangular in plan view, as shown in Figure 2(a). A total of four protrusions 6e are provided in this embodiment, and each protrusion 6e is inserted into the hole 2b. In addition, an opening 6f is provided on the side of the protrusion 6e, which opens above the receiving tray 2a when the protrusion 6e inserted into the hole 2b protrudes from the receiving tray 2a.

As shown in Figure 1, the cover 7 has a cover top wall 7a with an arc-shaped cross section. A peripheral cover wall 7b extends downward from the outer edge of the cover top wall 7a and is inserted into the upper part of the outer tube wall 1a. The cover 7 is removably held on the outer tube body 1 with the peripheral cover wall 7b inserted into the upper part of the outer tube wall 1a.

In this embodiment, the contents C are provided using the filling hole 2c provided in the receiving tray 2a. This will be explained with reference to Figures 1 and 3. First, as shown in Figure 1, the support 2 is lowered (with the lower end of the first tubular portion 2d approaching the connecting wall 4d). In this state, a space (internal space N) is defined between the receiving tray 2a and the outer tube wall 1a surrounding it. Next, the cover 7 is removed from the outer tube 1, and the cap 8 shown in Figure 3 is attached to the outer tube wall 1a. The cap 8 has a cylindrical wall 8b provided on the outer periphery of the disk-shaped wall 8a, and is held to the outer tube 1 by inserting the cylindrical wall 8b into the outer tube wall 1a. Then, the dispensing container 10 is shifted to an inverted position so that the cap 8 is positioned downward, as shown in Figure 3.

Furthermore, the raw material for the contents C (the contents C are formed by solidifying this raw material) is loaded into a filling machine or the like (not shown). The nozzle of this filling machine is then inserted into the rotor connecting hole 4h and the holder connecting hole 6b, and the internal space N is filled through the filling hole 2c. The raw material is then solidified in the internal space N by, for example, heating. This allows the dispensing container 10 to provide the rod-shaped contents C as shown in FIG. 1. When the raw material is filled into the internal space N, the raw material penetrates the inside of the convex portion 6e through the opening 6f, so the solidified contents C are inside the convex portion 6e. The cap 8 is needed until the raw material filled through the filling hole 2c solidifies, and is removed as appropriate after the raw material has solidified.

The contents C in the present invention are not limited to being provided by the above method. For example, the filling hole 2c may be eliminated, and the dispensing container 10 may be displaced into an upright position and the raw material filled into the internal space N from above, as shown in Figure 1. It is also possible to provide the contents C by preparing a semi-solidified raw material, forcing it into the internal space N, and allowing it to solidify.

To use the dispensing container 10 configured as described above, the cover 7 is removed and the rotor 4 is rotated relative to the outer barrel 1. Here, the second engagement portion 4f provided on the rotor 4 engages with the second spiral groove 5c provided on the movable barrel 5. The movable barrel 5 is also provided with a first engagement portion 5b, which engages with the first spiral groove 2g. Therefore, when the rotor 4 is rotated, the second engagement portion 4f engages with the second spiral groove 5c, causing both the rotor 4 and the movable barrel 5 to rotate, and the first engagement portion 5b then rotates relative to the first spiral groove 2g, thereby lifting the support 2 relative to the movable barrel 5 (first lifting pattern). Alternatively, the second engagement portion 4f rotates relative to the second spiral groove 5c, causing the movable barrel 5 to lift relative to the rotor 4, thereby lifting the support 2 (second lifting pattern). Alternatively, the support 2 is lifted by a combination of the first and second lifting patterns. Whether the first or second rising pattern occurs first depends on, for example, the greater frictional force between the first engagement portion 5b and the first spiral groove 2g or the greater frictional force between the second engagement portion 4f and the second spiral groove 5c. Thus, in either the first or second rising pattern, the support 2 rises. When the support 2 rises, the contents C supported in the receiving tray 2a also rise. Furthermore, because the convex portion 6e is fitted into the contents C, the holder 6 also rises along with the contents C. Thus, by rotating the rotating body 4 relative to the outer tube 1, the contents C can be dispensed from the upper end of the outer tube 1, allowing the contents C to be applied to the application destination. Furthermore, because the convex portion 6e is fitted into the contents C, the contents C can be prevented from coming off the receiving tray 2a even if a lateral force acts on the contents C during application. In particular, in this embodiment, the contents C are contained inside the protrusion 6e, which more effectively prevents the contents C from falling out of the tray portion 2a.

After use, by rotating the rotor 4 in the opposite direction, the support 2 can be lowered in the opposite direction to the first or second rising pattern described above, allowing the contents C to be stored inside the outer cylinder 1.

When the rotor 4 is further rotated to further dispense the contents C, which become lower in height with use, the movable cylinder 5, support 2, contents C, and holder 6 rise to the position shown in Figure 4. In this state, the second engagement portion 4f of the rotor 4 is prevented from advancing along the second spiral groove 5c by the second retaining rib 5d, so the rise of the movable cylinder 5 relative to the rotor 4 stops. Also in this state, the holder side engagement portion 6c engages with the movable cylinder side engagement portion 5e, so the rise of the holder 6 stops. In this embodiment, the height at which the raised holder 6 stops is set at a position where the upper surface of the convex portion 6e is approximately aligned with the upper surface of the outer cylinder 1.

In the state shown in Figure 4, the first engagement portion 5b is not engaged with the first anti-slip rib 2f provided on the first spiral groove 2g, and the support 2 is able to rise relative to the movable cylinder 5. Note that the movable cylinder 5, support 2, contents C, and holder 6 rise not only in the second rising pattern described above but also in the first rising pattern. Therefore, in a situation where the first rising pattern prevails, it is possible that the first engagement portion 5b and the first anti-slip rib 2f engage before the second engagement portion 4f and the second anti-slip rib 5d engage (i.e., the support 2 rises relative to the holder 6 when the movable cylinder 5 is at a lower height than shown in Figure 4, resulting in the receptacle portion 2a rising relative to the protrusion 6e). However, because the protrusion 6e is embedded in the contents C, a relatively large resistance acts when the protrusion 6e moves relative to the contents C. Therefore, even in a situation where the first rising pattern prevails, the movable cylinder 5 can be fully raised before the support 2 rises relative to the holder 6, as shown in Figure 4. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the support body 2 is provided with an overhanging protrusion 2h, and when the support body 2 rises relative to the holder 6, resistance is applied as the upper wall 6d climbs over the overhanging protrusion 2h. Therefore, the movable cylinder 5 can be reliably raised to the end before the support body 2 rises relative to the holder 6.

Further rotation of the rotor 4 from the state shown in Figure 4 causes the movable cylinder 5 to rotate along with the rotor 4, causing the first engagement portion 5b to rotate relative to the first spiral groove 2g, lifting the support 2 relative to the movable cylinder 5. At this time, the holder 6's engagement portion 6c is engaged with the movable cylinder engagement portion 5e, preventing it from rising, so the support 2 lifts relative to the holder 6. As a result, the protrusion 6e protruding from the tray 2a sinks into the tray 2a, as shown in Figure 5. This reduces the height difference between the upper surfaces of the tray 2a and the upper surface of the outer cylinder 1, thereby reducing the amount of contents C remaining on the upper surface of the tray 2a. In this embodiment, the height at which the first engagement portion 5b engages with the first anti-slip rib 2f and the lifting of the support 2 stops is set at a position where the upper surface of the tray 2a is approximately flush with the upper surface of the outer cylinder 1. That is, as shown in Figure 5, the upper surface of the sunken protrusion 6e and the upper surface of the tray portion 2a are at approximately the same height, and these are also at approximately the same height as the upper surface of the outer cylinder 1, so the remaining amount of content C can be further reduced.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this specific embodiment, and unless otherwise specified in the above description, various modifications and variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims. Furthermore, the effects of the above embodiment are merely examples of the effects that can be obtained from the present invention, and do not mean that the effects of the present invention are limited to the above-mentioned effects.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, by configuring the operating body 3 with a rotating body 4 and a movable cylindrical body 5, it is possible to reduce the height of the dispensing container 10 while ensuring the amount of lift of the support body 2 (i.e., while ensuring the length of the contents C and maintaining sufficient capacity), but it is also possible to use an operating body 3 in which the rotating body 4 and movable cylindrical body 5 are integrally formed.

1: Outer cylinder body 1a: Outer cylinder wall 1b: Retaining recess 1c: Anti-rotation protrusion 2: Support body 2a: Receptacle portion 2b: Hole portion 2c: Filling hole portion 2d: First cylinder portion 2e: Anti-rotation recess 2f: First retaining rib 2g: First spiral groove 2h: Overcoming protrusion 3: Operating body 4: Rotating body 4a: Operating cylinder wall 4b: Intermediate cylinder wall 4c: Retaining protrusion 4d: Connecting wall 4e: Second cylinder portion 4f: Second engaging portion 4g: Central wall 4h: Rotating body communicating hole 5: Movable cylinder body 5a: Movable cylinder wall 5b: First engaging portion 5c: Second spiral groove 5d: Second retaining rib 5e: Movable cylinder side engaging portion 6: Holding body 6a: Holding body cylindrical wall 6b: Holding body communicating hole 6c: Holding body side engaging portion (stopper)
6d: Upper wall 6e: Convex portion 6f: Opening 7: Cover 7a: Cover top wall 7b: Cover peripheral wall 8: Cap 8a: Disk-shaped wall 8b: Cylindrical wall 10: Dispensing container C: Contents N: Internal space O: Central axis

Claims (4)

An outer cylinder body;
a support body having a tray portion for supporting the contents on a flat upper surface, a hole portion penetrating the tray portion, and a first cylindrical portion connected to the tray portion and having a first spiral groove on an inner peripheral surface, the support body being disposed inside the outer cylindrical body and movable along the central axis of the outer cylindrical body but restricted in rotation about the central axis;
an operating body having a first engaging portion that engages with the first spiral groove and is held rotatably around the central axis relative to the outer cylindrical body;
a holder having a protrusion that is inserted through the hole and protrudes from the receiving tray to hold the contents, and a stopper that engages with the operating body, and is movable along the central axis until the stopper engages,
When the operating body is rotated relative to the outer cylinder body, the contents and the holding body rise along with the rise of the support body, and when the stopper engages with the operating body, the support body rises, leaving the holding body behind, causing the convex portion to sink into the receiving tray portion. The dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein an opening is provided on the side of the convex portion, allowing the contents to enter inside the convex portion while protruding from the receiving tray. The support body has a filling hole portion that penetrates the receiving tray portion,
2. The dispensing container according to claim 1, wherein an inner space is provided between the receiving tray portion of the lowered support body and the outer cylinder body, the inner space being connected to the filling hole portion, and in which the contents are formed by solidifying the raw material filled through the filling hole portion. The operating body is
a rotor that includes a second cylindrical portion located radially inside the first cylindrical portion and a second engagement portion provided on an outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion, and is held rotatably around the central axis relative to the outer cylindrical body;
the dispensing container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a movable cylindrical body that is disposed between the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion, the movable cylindrical body having the first engagement portion on its outer peripheral surface and a second spiral groove that engages with the second engagement portion on its inner peripheral surface.