JP7780980B2 - Application container - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an application container.

Patent Document 1 discloses an applicator container comprising a container body including an inner container for storing contents and an outer container in which the inner container is placed, and an inner stopper attached to the opening of the container body. In this applicator container, the inner container undergoes volumetric deformation as the contents decrease, and the outer container is capable of being squeezed. The outer container has an air intake hole that connects the outside of the container body with the inside of the outer container and draws air between the outer container and the inner container.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-209973

In the above-mentioned application container, there is a risk that the container may slightly deform after the contents are dispensed, allowing outside air to flow into the container. If outside air flows into the container, there may be concerns about deterioration or alteration of the contents, depending on the type of contents.

The present invention was made in light of these circumstances, and its purpose is to provide an applicator container that can prevent outside air from entering the inner container.

(1) The applicator container of the present invention comprises a container body including an inner container that accommodates contents and undergoes volume reduction as the contents decrease, an outer container in which the inner container is housed, and an outer container having an air intake hole for drawing in outside air between the inner container and the container body; an inner stopper member that is attached to the mouth of the container body and has a communication hole that communicates with the inside of the container body; a check valve that is removably fitted upward against the opening periphery of the communication hole in the inner stopper member; a discharge tube member that forms a storage chamber that communicates with the inside of the container body through the communication hole between the inner stopper member and the outer container, and has a discharge hole at its upper end that communicates with the storage chamber; and a valve that is connected to the storage chamber. and an applicator plug, the upper end of which protrudes from the discharge hole to the outside of the storage chamber. The applicator plug has a seal portion that is removably fitted downwardly against the periphery of the opening of the discharge hole in the discharge tube member, and is movable up and down between a blocking position that blocks communication between the discharge hole and the storage chamber, and an application position that is lower than the blocking position and allows communication between the discharge hole and the storage chamber. When the applicator plug is in the blocking position, an air exhaust passage is formed between the seal portion and the periphery of the opening of the discharge hole to exhaust air from the storage chamber to the outside via the discharge hole.

With the applicator container of the present invention, the inner container is compressed by pressing the outer container, causing the inner container to shrink and deform together with the outer container, increasing the internal pressure of the inner container and opening the check valve. This allows the communication hole in the inner plug member to communicate with the inside of the container body, allowing the contents to be filled through the communication hole into the storage chamber inside the discharge tube member. After the contents have been filled into the storage chamber, when pressure on the outer container is released, the check valve prevents the contents and outside air from flowing into the inner container through the communication hole. Outside air is introduced between the outer container and the inner container through an air intake hole in the outer container, allowing the outer container to return to its original shape while the inner container remains compressed and deformed. This allows the contents to be discharged from the inner container into the storage chamber without being replaced by outside air, thereby minimizing contact of the contents inside the inner container with air and preventing their deterioration or alteration.

To apply the contents filled in the storage chamber, the applicator container is turned from an upright position to an inverted position, and the applicator stopper is pressed against the area to be applied, thereby moving the applicator stopper from the blocking position to the application position. At this time, the applicator stopper elastically deforms and moves toward the inside of the storage chamber, causing the seal portion, which is in close contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole, to move away from the opening periphery. This places the storage chamber and the discharge hole in communication, and the contents of the storage chamber are discharged from the discharge hole to the outside of the container. When the applicator stopper is released from pressing against the area to be applied, it returns to its original shape and moves toward the outside of the storage chamber, causing the seal portion to come into close contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole. This blocks communication between the storage chamber and the discharge hole. This prevents the contents of the storage chamber from being further discharged from the discharge hole to the outside of the container.

In this applicator container, the contents are filled into a storage chamber formed inside the discharge tube member and sequentially discharged from the storage chamber. Even if the inner container undergoes a slight restoration deformation when the outer container recovers from a squeeze deformation, the contents in the storage chamber form a filling seal (a state in which the contents act as a wall to prevent air from passing through) and prevent outside air from entering the inner container through the communication hole. More specifically, when the contents are discharged by opening and closing the applicator stopper, the check valve is completely closed, preventing outside air from entering the inner container. However, when the squeeze operation is released, the inner container may slightly restore its original shape as if pulled by the restoration of the outer container. If the check valve is not completely seated when this restoration occurs, there is a concern that air may be sucked in. In this applicator container, since the storage chamber is filled with contents, even if any air is drawn into the inner container, it is the contents in the storage chamber, not air. Therefore, air inflow into the inner container can be prevented.
Furthermore, when the applicator stopper is in the shutoff position, an air exhaust path is formed between the seal portion and the opening periphery of the discharge hole, which exhausts air from the storage chamber to the outside through the discharge hole. Therefore, when the outer container is pressed to fill the storage chamber with the contents, the air inside the storage chamber can be pushed out from between the seal portion and the opening periphery of the discharge hole to the outside of the container. This allows the storage chamber to be filled with the contents while the air inside the storage chamber is pushed out to the outside of the container, with the communication between the storage chamber and the discharge hole blocked, and a filling seal with the contents can be formed.

(2) The air discharge passage may be formed by a textured surface provided on at least one of the sealing portion and the opening periphery of the discharge hole.

In this case, the fine irregularities on the textured surface create an air exhaust path that makes it difficult for the contents to pass through but allows air to pass through.

(3) The discharge tube member may have an air hole formed therein that connects the intake hole to the outside, and may be provided with an air valve that closes the air hole in an openable manner from the intake hole side of the discharge tube member, and the check valve, applicator plug, and air valve may be integrally molded.

In this case, the check valve, applicator plug, and air valve are molded as a single unit, reducing the number of parts and assembly costs.

The applicator container of the present invention can prevent outside air from entering the inner container.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a side surface of the application container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the application container shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of a coating container according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the applicator container according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1 , the applicator container 1 of the first embodiment includes a container body 2 and an applicator cap 3 .

The container body 2 comprises a highly flexible inner container 5 that accommodates contents (not shown) and undergoes volume-reducing deformation (shrinking deformation) as the contents decrease, and an outer container 4 in which the inner container 5 is housed. The outer container 4 is capable of being squeezed, and the inner container 5 undergoes volume-reducing deformation as the outer container 4 is squeezed. Therefore, at least the portion of the outer container 4 located in the barrel 2b of the container body 2 is capable of elastically deforming toward the inside of the container.

The container body 2 is formed by blow molding, and is a delaminating type container (delamination bottle) in which an inner container 5 is peelably laminated on the inner surface of an outer container 4 .
Specifically, it is formed by extrusion blow molding using a cylindrical parison formed by laminating a synthetic resin that forms the outer container 4 and a synthetic resin that forms the inner container 5 that has low compatibility with the outer container 4.
The materials of the inner container 5 and the outer container 4 are not particularly limited, but for example, the outer container 4 is made of polyethylene or polypropylene, and the inner container 5 is made of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer.
Alternatively, the container body 2 may be formed by forming a preform for the outer container 4 and a preform for the inner container 5 by injection molding or the like, combining these in a double layer (inner and outer), and then biaxially stretching blow molding the preform. Alternatively, the preform for the outer container 4 may be first biaxially stretching blow molded to form the outer container 4, and then the preform for the inner container 5 may be placed inside, and then the preform for the inner container 5 may be biaxially stretching blow molded to form the container body 2.

In this case, the materials for the inner container 5 and outer container 4 are not particularly limited, but are, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resin. However, the materials for the inner container 5 and outer container 4 may be the same or different, as long as they are a separable combination. Examples of synthetic resin materials include PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), nylon (polyamide), and EVOH (ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer). Of these synthetic resin materials, it is preferable to form the outer container 4 and inner container 5 from a combination that allows them to be separated (they are not compatible).

The container body 2 is formed into a cylindrical shape with a bottom, with a mouth 2a, a body 2b, and a bottom 2c arranged in this order from the top. The mouth 2a of this container body 2 is tilted forward relative to the body 2b.

Axis O1 shown in Figure 1 is the central axis of the bottom portion 2c. Axis O1 passes through the center of the bottom portion 2c and extends perpendicular to the bottom surface of the bottom portion 2c. Furthermore, axis O2 shown in Figure 1 is the central axis of the mouth portion 2a. Axis O2 passes through the center of the mouth portion 2a and coincides with the central axis of the applicator cap 3 attached to the mouth portion 2a.

As shown in Figure 1, when the application container 1 is in an upright position with the bottom surface of the bottom portion 2c resting on a horizontal surface, the axis O1 extends vertically. Furthermore, when the application container 1 is in an upright position, the axis O2 is inclined forward with respect to the axis O1 and extends obliquely upward and forward from the point of intersection with the axis O1.

In the following description, the side of the applicator cap 3 along the axis O2 is referred to as the upper side, and the opposite side as the lower side. Furthermore, in a plan view taken from the direction of the axis O2, the direction intersecting the axis O2 is referred to as the radial direction, and the direction going around the axis O2 is referred to as the circumferential direction.

As shown in Figure 2, the mouth 2a of the container body 2 is formed to extend upward along the axis O2. The mouth 2a of the container body 2 is configured by stacking the mouth of the inner container 5 and the mouth of the outer container 4. The upper end of the mouth of the inner container 5 is folded back into a ring shape that protrudes radially outward, and this folded back portion is positioned on the upper opening edge of the mouth of the outer container 4. Therefore, the mouth of the outer container 4 is closed by the inner container 5. A male thread portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth of the outer container 4.

An air intake hole 6 is formed at the mouth of the outer container 4 between the outer container 4 and the inner container 5 to draw in outside air. The air intake hole 6 may also be formed in the body 2b or bottom 2c (shown in Figure 1) of the outer container 4 other than the mouth 2a, allowing outside air to be drawn in directly. Furthermore, for example, if the air intake hole 6 is formed in the body 2b or bottom 2c, an air valve (check valve) may be provided in the body 2b or bottom 2c, allowing air to be drawn between the inner container 5 and the outer container 4 while preventing air from escaping between the inner container 5 and the outer container 4.

As shown in Figure 2, the applicator cap 3 comprises an attachment tube portion 10, an inner plug member 20, an applicator plug unit 30, a discharge tube member 40, and a lid body 50 (overcap).

The mounting tube 10 comprises a lower tube 11 that is threaded onto the mouth 2a of the container body 2, and an upper tube 12 that is connected to the upper end of the lower tube 11. The inner surface of the lower tube 11 is formed with a female thread that threads onto the male thread of the mouth 2a of the container body 2. The lower tube 11 radially surrounds the portion of the mouth 2a of the container body 2 where the air intake hole 6 is formed, and is in close contact with the outer surface of the mouth 2a around the entire circumference in a portion located below the air intake hole 6.

A male thread is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the upper cylindrical portion 12. The upper cylindrical portion 12 radially surrounds the center plug member 20, the applicator plug unit 30, and the discharge cylindrical member 40. The inner peripheral surface of the upper cylindrical portion 12 is formed with an annular step portion 13 that faces the upper end opening edge of the mouth portion 2a of the container body 2 in the vertical direction and vertically sandwiches the center plug member 20. Above the step portion 13 on the inner peripheral surface of the upper cylindrical portion 12, an abutment rib 14 protrudes radially inward, against which the flange portion 42 of the discharge cylindrical member 40 abuts from below. Multiple abutment ribs 14 extend vertically and are provided at intervals circumferentially.

Above the abutment rib 14 on the inner peripheral surface of the upper tubular portion 12, mating protrusions 15 that undercut-fit into the discharge tubular member 40 protrude radially inward. The mating protrusions 15 are spaced apart circumferentially, with outside air introduction grooves 15a formed in the gaps between them. The outside air introduction grooves 15a allow outside air to enter the gap between the upper tubular portion 12 and the discharge tubular member 40 through the gap between the upper end opening of the upper tubular portion 12 and the discharge tubular member 40.

The inner plug member 20 is attached to the mouth 2a of the container body 2 via the attachment tubular portion 10, and has a communication hole 21 that communicates with the inside of the container body 2. The inner plug member 20 comprises an annular base portion 22 positioned on the upper open end of the mouth 2a of the container body 2, a tubular clamped portion 23 that protrudes upward from the outer periphery of the base portion 22, and a capped, tubular communicating portion 24 that protrudes upward from the inner periphery of the base portion 22.

The upper end surface of the clamped portion 23 abuts against the step portion 13 of the upper tubular portion 12 of the mounting tubular portion 10 in the vertical direction. A slit 23a is formed in the clamped portion 23 from its upper end surface to its outer periphery. The slit 23a connects the space inside the clamped portion 23 with the space inside the lower tubular portion 11. A communication hole 21 that penetrates in the vertical direction is formed in the center of the top wall of the communicating tubular portion 24. The opening periphery of the communication hole 21 on the top wall of the communicating tubular portion 24 protrudes in a cylindrical shape and serves as a valve seat for the check valve 31.

A storage cylinder 25 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the base 22, radially outward from the communicating cylinder 24. The storing cylinder 25 surrounds the communicating cylinder 24 from the radially outward, with a gap between them. This creates an annular space that opens upward within the area surrounded by the base 22, communicating cylinder 24, and storing cylinder 25. Furthermore, a sealing cylinder 26 protrudes downward from the lower surface of the base 22, radially outward from the storing cylinder 25. The sealing cylinder 26 fits tightly against the inside of the mouth 2a of the container body 2, sealing the mouth 2a of the container body 2.

The applicator plug unit 30 is integrally molded from a check valve 31, applicator plug 32, and air valve 33 via a fitting tubular portion 34. The applicator plug unit 30 is integrally molded from an elastically deformable material (elastic material). The lower end of the fitting tubular portion 34 is fitted into the annular space surrounded by the base portion 22, communicating tubular portion 24, and accommodating tubular portion 25 of the inner plug member 20. The upper end of the fitting tubular portion 34 extends upward beyond the upper end of the communicating tubular portion 24. A check valve 31 is provided inside the upper end of the fitting tubular portion 34, which fits tightly against the opening periphery of the communicating hole 21 in the inner plug member 20 and can be separated upward.

The check valve 31 is formed, for example, in a circular shape in a plan view. The check valve 31 is connected to the inner circumferential surface of the fitting tubular portion 34 via multiple elastic arms 31a. The elastic arms 31a are formed, for example, to extend in the circumferential direction to ensure appropriate springiness, and their radially inner ends are connected to the outer circumferential edge of the check valve 31 and their radially outer ends are connected to the fitting tubular portion 34. When the contents inside the inner container 5 pass through the communicating hole 21 of the inner plug member 20, the elastic arms 31a elastically deform to move the check valve 31 upward, causing the check valve 31 to move away from the upper surface of the opening periphery of the communicating hole 21.
The configurations of the application plug 32 and the air valve 33 will be explained after the description of the discharge tube member 40.

The discharge tube member 40 is formed in a topped cylindrical shape that forms a storage chamber S between itself and the inner plug member 20, which communicates with the inside of the container body 2 through the communication hole 21. A discharge hole 41 that penetrates vertically and communicates with the storage chamber S is formed in the center of the upper end of the discharge tube member 40. An annular flange portion 42 that extends radially outward is formed at the lower end of the discharge tube member 40. The flange portion 42 abuts against the abutment rib 14 of the mounting tube portion 10 from below.

An air hole 42a that penetrates vertically is formed radially inward of the abutment portion of the flange portion 42 with the abutment rib 14. The air hole 42a connects the gap between the discharge tube member 40 and the upper tube portion 12 with the gap between the outer container 4 and the lower tube portion 11. This allows communication between the outside of the container and the intake hole 6 via the outside air introduction groove 15a, the gap between the discharge tube member 40 and the upper tube portion 12, the air hole 42a, the slit 23a, and the gap between the outer container 4 and the lower tube portion 11.

A ring-shaped recess 43 is formed on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the discharge tube member 40. This recess 43 faces the base portion 22 of the inner plug member 20 in the vertical direction and vertically sandwiches the fitting tube portion 34 between the base portion 22 and the recess 43. Furthermore, a ring-shaped protrusion 44 that protrudes radially outward is formed on the outer surface of the upper end of the peripheral wall of the discharge tube member 40. A ring-shaped groove 44a is formed in the outer surface of the ring-shaped protrusion 44 along the circumferential direction. The fitting protrusion 15 of the upper tube portion 12 is undercut-fit into the ring-shaped groove 44a.

The applicator plug 32 is located in the storage chamber S inside the discharge tube member 40, with its upper end protruding from the discharge hole 41 to the outside of the storage chamber S. The upper end of the applicator plug 32 is inserted into an applicator member 60 attached to the upper surface of the ceiling wall of the discharge tube member 40. An example of the applicator member 60 is an elastically deformable sponge. The applicator plug 32 is connected to the upper end of the fitting tube portion 34 in the storage chamber S via an elastic support member 32a. Two elastic support members 32a are provided, for example, and are bent in a crank shape so that the distance between them increases downward. Such elastic support members 32a can be formed, for example, by using a mold that is divided into two radially.

The applicator plug 32 has a seal portion 32b that fits tightly against the opening periphery of the discharge hole 41 in the discharge tube member 40 and can be separated downward. The seal portion 32b has a conical surface that expands in diameter downward more than the discharge hole 41. The applicator plug 32 is movable up and down between a blocking position (see Figure 2) that blocks communication between the discharge hole 41 and the storage chamber S, and an applicator position that is lower than the blocking position and allows communication between the discharge hole 41 and the storage chamber S. An air exhaust path A is formed between the seal portion 32b and the opening periphery of the discharge hole 41, which exhausts air from the storage chamber S through the discharge hole 41 to the outside when the applicator plug 32 is in the blocking position. In this embodiment, the air exhaust path A is formed by a textured surface (a surface with minute irregularities) provided on the outer surface of the seal portion 32b.

The air valve 33 is an elastically deformable valve element that protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the fitting tubular portion 34 in an annular shape and has a free outer end. The outer end of the air valve 33 abuts against the underside of the flange portion 42 from below over the entire circumference, allowing it to be released. This allows the air valve 33 to openably close the air hole 42a from the intake hole 6 side of the discharge tubular member 40. In other words, the air valve 33 allows outside air to flow in from the outside through the air hole 42a, and also functions as a check valve that prevents outside air from flowing out of the container through the intake hole 6 when the outer container 4 is squeezed and deformed.

The lid body 50 has a cylindrical shape with a top. A female thread is formed on the inner surface of the peripheral wall 51 of the lid body 50, which screws into the male thread of the upper cylindrical portion 12. A cover tube 53 is vertically attached to the underside of the top wall 52 of the lid body 50. The cover tube 53 is fitted radially outward from the upper end of the upper cylindrical portion 12.

To apply the contents from the application container 1 of this embodiment described above, first, as shown in Figure 2, remove the lid 50 from the mounting tube portion 10 to expose the application plug 32 and discharge tube member 40 to the outside of the container.

Next, the outer container 4 is pressed, causing the inner container 5 to shrink and deform together with the outer container 4, increasing the internal pressure of the inner container 5 and opening the check valve 31. This establishes communication between the connecting hole 21 of the inner stopper member 20 and the inside of the container body 2, allowing the contents to be filled through the connecting hole 21 into the storage chamber S inside the discharge tube member 40. After the contents have been filled into the storage chamber S, when pressure on the outer container 4 is released, the check valve 31 prevents the contents and outside air from flowing into the inner container 5 through the connecting hole 21. Outside air is introduced between the outer container 4 and the inner container 5 through the air intake hole 6 on the outer container 4, allowing the outer container 4 to restore its original shape while maintaining its volumetric deformation. Therefore, the contents are discharged from the inner container 5 into the storage chamber S without being replaced with outside air, which reduces the contact of the contents inside the inner container 5 with air and prevents deterioration or alteration.

To apply the contents filled in the storage chamber S, the application container 1 is turned from an upright position to an inverted position, and the application plug 32 is moved from the blocking position to the application position, for example by pressing the application plug 32 against the area to be applied. At this time, the application plug 32 elastically deforms and moves toward the inside of the storage chamber S, causing the seal portion 32b, which is in close contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole 41, to move away from the opening periphery. This places the storage chamber S in communication with the discharge hole 41, and the contents of the storage chamber S are discharged from the discharge hole 41 to the outside of the container. When the application plug 32 is released from pressing against the area to be applied, the application plug 32 returns to its original shape and moves toward the outside of the storage chamber S, causing the seal portion 32b to come into close contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole 41. This blocks communication between the storage chamber S and the discharge hole 41. This prevents the contents of the storage chamber S from being further discharged from the discharge hole 41 to the outside of the container.

In this way, in the applicator container 1, the contents are filled into the storage chamber S formed inside the discharge tube member 40 and sequentially discharged from the storage chamber S. Therefore, even if the inner container 5 undergoes a slight restoration deformation when the outer container 4 returns from the squeeze deformation, the filling seal formed by the contents in the storage chamber S (the contents form a wall that prevents air from passing through) can prevent outside air from entering the inner container 5 through the communication hole 21. More specifically, when the contents are discharged by opening and closing the applicator stopper 32, the check valve 31 is completely closed, so outside air does not enter the inner container 5. However, when the squeeze operation is released, the inner container 5 may slightly restore its original shape as if pulled by the restoration of the outer container 4. If the check valve 31 is not completely seated when this restoration of the inner container 5 occurs, there is a concern that air may be sucked in. In this applicator container 1, since the storage chamber S is filled with contents, even if air is drawn into the inner container 5, it is the contents in the storage chamber S, not air. Therefore, the inflow of air into the inner container 5 can be suppressed.
Furthermore, when the applicator plug 32 is in the blocking position, an air discharge path A is formed between the seal portion 32b and the opening periphery of the discharge hole 41, which discharges air from the storage chamber S to the outside via the discharge hole 41. Therefore, when the outer container 4 is pressed to fill the contents into the storage chamber S, the air inside the storage chamber S can be pushed out to the outside of the container from between the seal portion 32b and the opening periphery of the discharge hole 41. As a result, with the communication between the storage chamber S and the discharge hole 41 blocked, the contents can be filled into the storage chamber S while the air inside the storage chamber S is pushed out to the outside of the container, and a filling seal with the contents can be formed.

As described above, the applicator container 1 according to the first embodiment comprises the container body 2, which includes the inner container 5 that accommodates the contents and undergoes volumetric deformation as the contents decrease, the outer container 4 in which the inner container 5 is housed and which has an air intake hole 6 for drawing in outside air between the inner container 5 and the container body 2, the inner plug member 20 that is attached to the mouth 2a of the container body 2 and has a communication hole 21 that communicates with the interior of the container body 2, the check valve 31 that is removably fitted upward against the opening periphery of the communication hole 21 in the inner plug member 20, and the discharge tube member 4 that forms a storage chamber S that communicates with the interior of the container body 2 through the communication hole 21 between the inner plug member 20 and the discharge tube member 4, and has a discharge hole 41 at its upper end that communicates with the storage chamber S. 0, and an applicator plug 32 provided in the storage chamber S, the upper end of which protrudes outside the storage chamber S through the discharge hole 41. The applicator plug 32 has a seal portion 32b that fits tightly against the opening periphery of the discharge hole 41 in the discharge tube member 40 and can be separated downward. The applicator plug 32 is movable up and down between a blocking position that blocks communication between the discharge hole 41 and the storage chamber S and an application position that is lower than the blocking position and allows communication between the discharge hole 41 and the storage chamber S. When the applicator plug 32 is in the blocking position, an air exhaust path A is formed between the seal portion 32b and the opening periphery of the discharge hole 41, which exhausts air from the storage chamber S to the outside through the discharge hole 41. This configuration prevents outside air from entering the inner container 5.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the air discharge path A is formed by a textured surface provided on at least one of the seal portion 32b and the opening periphery of the discharge hole 41 (seal portion 32b in the first embodiment). With this configuration, the fine irregularities of the textured surface make it difficult for the contents to pass through, but it is possible to form an air discharge path A through which air can pass.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the discharge tube member 40 is formed with an air hole 42a that connects the intake hole 6 to the outside, and is equipped with an air valve 33 that closes the air hole 42a so that it can be opened from the intake hole 6 side of the discharge tube member 40, and the check valve 31, applicator plug 32, and air valve 33 are integrally molded. With this configuration, the check valve 31, applicator plug 32, and air valve 33 are integrally molded, which reduces the number of parts and assembly costs.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the same or equivalent components as those in the above-described embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

As shown in Figure 3, the second embodiment differs from the above embodiments in that the discharge tube member 40 and the applicator member 60 are integrally molded. The applicator member 60 shown in Figure 3 is, for example, a brush member attached to the upper surface of the ceiling wall of the discharge tube member 40. This configuration reduces the number of parts and assembly costs because the discharge tube member 40 and the applicator member 60 are integrally molded. The annular protrusion 44 of the discharge tube member 40 in the second embodiment is undercut-fitted with the mating protrusion 15 of the upper tube portion 12. A communication groove 44b extending in the vertical direction is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the annular protrusion 44, and communicates with the outside air intake groove 15a.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The embodiments can be implemented in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Examples of embodiments and their variations include those that would be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art, those that are substantially identical, and those that are equivalent.

For example, in each of the above embodiments, the container body is a peelable laminated container in which the inner container is peelably laminated to the inner surface of the outer container, but this is not limited to this, and the container may also be a double-layered container in which a gap is secured between the inner and outer containers.

Furthermore, the air valve 33 is not essential in each of the above embodiments and may not be provided. In this case, for example, the opening size of the outside air introduction groove 15a, air hole 42a, or air intake hole 6 may be reduced so that air between the outer container 4 and inner container 5 is less likely to leak to the outside when the outer container 4 is squeezed and deformed.

Furthermore, for example, in each of the above embodiments, the air discharge path A is described as being formed by a textured surface provided on at least one of the seal portion 32b and the opening periphery of the discharge hole 41. However, this is not limited to a textured surface, as long as it allows air to be discharged but prevents the contents from being discharged. For example, the air discharge path A may be formed by fine slits extending radially around the opening periphery of the discharge hole 41.

In addition, it is possible to replace the components in the above embodiments with well-known components as appropriate, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1...applicator container, 2...container body, 2a...mouth portion, 2b...body portion, 2c...bottom portion, 3...applicator cap, 4...outer container, 5...inner container, 6...air intake hole, 10...mounting tube portion, 11...lower tube portion, 12...upper tube portion, 13...step portion, 14...contact rib, 15...engaging protrusion, 15a...external air intake groove, 20...inner plug member, 21...communicating hole, 22...base portion, 23...held portion, 23a...slit, 24...communicating tube portion, 25...storing tube portion, 26...sealing tube portion, 30...applicator plug Unit, 31...check valve, 31a...elastic arm, 32...applicator plug, 32a...elastic support portion, 32b...seal portion, 33...air valve, 34...fitting cylinder portion, 40...discharge cylinder member, 41...discharge hole, 42...flange portion, 42a...air hole, 43...recess portion, 44...annular protrusion, 44a...annular groove, 44b...communicating groove, 50...lid, 51...peripheral wall, 52...top wall, 53...cover cylinder, 60...applicator member, A...air discharge passage, O1...axis, O2...axis, S...storage chamber

Claims (2)

a container body including an inner container that is accommodated with contents and that undergoes volume reduction deformation as the contents decrease, and an outer container that houses the inner container and has an air intake hole between the inner container and the outer container for drawing in outside air;
an inner plug member attached to the opening of the container body and having a communication hole communicating with the inside of the container body;
a check valve that is in close contact with an opening peripheral edge of the communication hole in the inner plug member so as to be able to separate upward;
a discharge tube member that defines a storage chamber communicating with the inside of the container body through the communication hole between the discharge tube member and the inner plug member, and that has a discharge hole formed at its upper end that communicates with the storage chamber;
an applicator plug provided in the storage chamber and having an upper end protruding from the discharge hole to the outside of the storage chamber;
The applicator plug has a seal portion that is in close contact with the opening periphery of the discharge hole in the discharge tube member so as to be able to separate downward, and is provided so as to be movable up and down between a blocking position that blocks communication between the discharge hole and the storage chamber, and an applicator position that is located below the blocking position and allows communication between the discharge hole and the storage chamber,
When the applicator plug is located at the blocking position, an air discharge path is formed between the seal portion and the opening periphery of the discharge hole, for discharging air from the storage chamber to the outside through the discharge hole ,
The discharge tube member has an air hole formed therein, which connects the air intake hole with the outside,
an air valve that closes the air hole so as to be releasable from the intake hole side of the discharge cylindrical member;
The application container, wherein the check valve, the application plug, and the air valve are integrally molded . The applicator container according to claim 1, wherein the air discharge path is formed by a textured surface provided on at least one of the seal portion and the opening periphery of the discharge hole.