JP7795191B2 - Spray container and spray product using same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a spray container and a spray product using the same, and in particular to a spray container and a spray product using the same that can spray the contents even when the container is used facing downwards or sideways.

Injection products, which contain a container filled with liquid and pressurized gas, have a tube (known as a dip tube) with its bottom immersed in the liquid connected to the top of the nozzle in order to inject the liquid from the bottom of the container. Therefore, if the container is sprayed facing downwards or sideways, the bottom opening of the tube will be in communication with the pressurized gas, resulting in the wasted injection of only the pressurized gas and the failure to inject the remaining liquid.

To solve this problem, Patent Document 1 discloses an aerosol sprayer in which a tube (suction tube) is attached to a valve, and a porous liquid reservoir impregnated with the spray liquid is attached to the bottom end of the tube so that a passage is formed between the tube and the inner bottom of the container (can). Even when this aerosol sprayer is used in an inverted position, the liquid reservoir blocks the opening at the bottom end of the suction tube, so pressurized gas is not wasted. The pressurized gas then pressurizes the liquid reservoir, allowing the spray liquid impregnated in the pressure reservoir to be sprayed to the outside through the tube.

Patent Document 2 discloses a dispensing container in which a valve-free lid is ultrasonically welded to the container. This dispensing container is a double-walled container, so no tube is used.

Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 48-84013 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-19570

The aerosol sprayer of Patent Document 1 forms a passage between the liquid reservoir and the inner bottom of the container. Therefore, when filling propellant through the stem, if filling pressure is applied to the tube, the bottom end of which is blocked by the liquid reservoir, the tube is likely to become detached or loosen from the lid. This could result in the aerosol sprayer being unable to spray. Furthermore, when the tube with the liquid reservoir attached is suspended and inserted into the container, the liquid reservoir could become loose or detached. Furthermore, when the lid with the tube attached is fixed to the container by ultrasonic welding using Patent Document 2 as a reference, there is a risk that the tube could become detached due to ultrasonic vibrations.

The technical objective of this invention is to provide a spray product that is easy to manufacture, with a tube that is less likely to come off or loosen when filling the propellant, ultrasonic welding, or inserting the tube into the container.

The spray containers 1, 1A, and 1B of the present invention comprise a container body 2 filled with contents C containing concentrate and propellant, and a lid 3, 53 that seals the opening 2d of the container body 2. The lid 3, 53 is fitted with a tube 11 and a liquid-absorbing material 12 that covers the lower end opening 11a of the tube 11, and the liquid-absorbing material 12 abuts against the inner bottom (bottom 2a) of the container body 2.

In such spray containers 1, 1A, it is preferable that the lid 3 is equipped with a valve 5, 21, 31 for spraying the contents, and that the tube 11 is connected to the valve 5, 21, 31. In this case, it is preferable that the valve 21, 31 is a metered valve 21, 31 that sprays the contents in the housing 15 with a single spray operation, and that the amount of liquid absorbed by the liquid-absorbing material 12 is greater than the spray capacity of the metered valve 21, 31.

Furthermore, the valve 31 is a pressurizing valve 31 that pressurizes the contents C in the housing 34 and is attached to the lid 3 that is screwed onto the opening 2d of the container body 2, and it is preferable that the pressurizing valve 31 does not have an air inlet hole 34h for introducing air from the outside, or that the air inlet hole 34h is closed (37a).

Alternatively, the lid 53 may be welded to the opening 2d of the container body 2, and the tube 11 may be attached by fitting to a tube connection portion 53e provided on the lid 53.

In any of the spray containers 1, 1A, and 1B, the liquid-absorbing material 12 preferably has a bottom wall 12b that closes the lower end opening 11a of the tube 11, and a side wall 12a that extends upward from the periphery of the bottom wall 12b and fits onto the outer periphery of the tube 11, and when the lid 3 is attached to the container body 2, the tube 11 preferably extends downward in a straight line.

The spray products 10, 20, 30, and 50 of the present invention are characterized by comprising any one of the spray containers 1, 1A, and 1B described above, and contents C containing a concentrate and a propellant, filled into the container body 2 of the spray container 1, 1A, or 1B.

The spray container of the present invention is used as a spray product, with the container body filled with contents consisting of a propellant and concentrate. This spray container has a liquid-absorbing material attached to the bottom opening of the tube, so even if the spray product is held sideways or downwards during spraying, the propellant will not escape and the contents can be sprayed. Furthermore, because the liquid-absorbing material abuts against the inner bottom of the container body, the tube is supported by the inner bottom even if it is pushed downward by the pressure of the propellant during manufacturing, or if vibrations are applied to the tube. This prevents the tube from coming off or loosening from the lid.

If the lid is equipped with a valve for spraying the contents and the tube is connected to that valve, the tube will not come off or loosen from the valve even when the propellant is filled through the valve. Furthermore, filling through the valve reduces propellant loss during manufacturing compared to under-cup filling.

The valve is a metered valve that sprays the contents of the housing with a single spray operation, and if the amount of liquid absorbed by the absorbent material is greater than the spray capacity of the metered valve, the specified amount determined by the metered valve can be sprayed even when sprayed downward or sideways.

The valve is a pressurized valve that screws into the opening of the container body and pressurizes the contents inside the housing. If the pressurized valve does not have an air inlet hole for introducing air from the outside, or if the air inlet hole is closed, the tube will not come off or loosen when the valve is screwed on. Furthermore, even when spraying downward or sideways, the contents inside the valve housing can be pressurized and sprayed without any liquid leakage.

If the lid is welded to the opening of the container body and the tube is attached by fitting to the tube attachment portion on the lid, the tube will not fall off when the lid is welded.

The absorbent material has a bottom wall that closes the lower end opening of the tube, and a side wall that extends upward from the periphery of the bottom wall and fits around the outer periphery of the tube. When the lid is attached to the container, if the tube extends downward in a straight line, the lid with the attached tube can be easily attached to the container body. Furthermore, because the tube extends in a straight line, the tube is reliably supported by the inner bottom of the container body, making it even less likely to come off.

The spray product of the present invention has a liquid-absorbing material attached to the bottom opening of the tube, allowing the contents to be sprayed regardless of the orientation of the spray product. Furthermore, because the liquid-absorbing material abuts against the inner bottom of the container body, the tube is less likely to come off or loosen from the lid during manufacturing.

1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the jetting product of the present invention. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views showing the state of the jet product when it is turned upside down and sideways. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the jet product of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing yet another embodiment of the jet product of the present invention together with a discharge member. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing yet another embodiment of the jet product of the present invention together with a discharge member. FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing still another embodiment of the spray product of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a discharge member is attached to the spray container of FIG. 6A.

Next, an embodiment of the spray product of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The spray product 10 in Figure 1 comprises a spray container 1 and contents C filled within the spray container 1. The spray container 1 comprises a container body 2 and a lid 3 that seals the opening 2d at the top end of the container body 2. The spray container 1 is filled with contents (aerosol composition) C containing a concentrate and a propellant, and the contents C are separated into a liquid phase L and a gas phase G within the container body 2. In this embodiment, liquefied gas is used as the propellant, with the liquid phase L consisting of the concentrate and liquid liquefied gas, and the gas phase G consisting of vaporized gas of the liquefied gas. Note that when compressed gas is used as the propellant, some of it dissolves in the concentrate (liquid phase L), and the majority exists in the gas phase G.

A valve 5 is attached to the lid 3, and a tube 11 is connected to the lower end of the housing 7 of the valve 5. A liquid-absorbent material 12 that impregnates and retains the liquid phase L (the liquid portion of the concentrate and propellant) is attached around the tube 11, and the liquid-absorbent material 12 closes the opening (inlet hole) 11a at the lower end of the tube 11. A spray member 15 such as a push button is attached to the valve 5. By pressing down the spray member 15, the contents C can be sprayed from the nozzle of the spray member 15.

The container body 2 is made of metal, such as aluminum or tinplate, and comprises a bottom 2a, a body 2b that rises from the outer periphery of the bottom 2a, and a shoulder 2c that extends upward from the upper end of the body 2b while gradually reducing in diameter. An opening 2d is formed at the upper end of the shoulder 2c, and a bead 2e is formed on the inner periphery of the opening 2d, surrounding the opening 2d.

In this embodiment, the lid 3 consists of a bottom wall 3a, a peripheral wall 3b rising from the periphery of the bottom wall 3a, a curved flange 3c provided at the upper end of the peripheral wall 3b, and an inverted cup-shaped valve mounting portion 3d rising from the center of the bottom wall 3a. The curved flange 3c is fixed to the bead portion 2e via a gasket 4, and the peripheral wall 3b is clinched below the bead portion 2e. The lid 3 is made of metal, such as aluminum or tinplate.

The valve 5 comprises a stem 6 with a stem hole 6a on its side, the aforementioned housing 7 that accommodates the stem 6 so that it can move up and down, an elastic body (spring) 8 that constantly urges the stem 6 upward, and a roughly doughnut-shaped stem rubber 9 that closes the stem hole 6a with its inner surface when the stem 6 is raised and flexes its inner periphery to open the stem hole 6a when the stem 6 is pressed downward. The aforementioned lid 3 sandwiches and secures the stem rubber 9 between itself and the housing 7, so it can also be considered a component (mounting cup) that makes up the valve 3.

The valve 5 is a so-called aerosol valve in which the stem hole 6a opens when the stem 6 or spray member 15 is pressed down, spraying the contents C. When the stem 6 is released, the stem 6 rises due to the biasing force of the elastic body 8, the stem rubber 9 returns to its original position, and the stem hole 6a is closed, stopping the spray. The lid 3 to which the valve 5 is attached has its curved flange 3c covering the bead portion 2e of the container body 2 via a gasket, and the peripheral wall 3b crimped below the bead portion 2c, tightly sealing the opening 2d of the container body 2.

The housing 7 comprises a cylindrical storage section 7a with a bottom that houses the stem 6 and elastic body 8, and a generally cylindrical tube connection section 7c that extends downward from the bottom 7b of the storage section 7a. The bottom 7b of the storage section 7a is provided with an introduction hole 7d that connects the storage section 7a to the tube connection section 7c. The lower end of the tube connection section 7c is open and the upper part of the tube 11 fits into it. The top of the storage section 7a is open and is closed by the stem rubber 9 and the stem 6.

The tube 11 is a conventionally known tube or pipe made of synthetic resin. It may also be made of metal. In this embodiment, it extends straight up and down. The synthetic resin that makes up the tube 11 may be either soft or hard resin. However, it is preferable that the tube be rigid enough to fit securely into the tube connection portion 7c of the lid 3 and to brace the bottom 2a of the container body 2 so that it does not come loose or come off from the tube connection portion 7c when gas is filled. For example, a tube made of polyolefin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, with an inner diameter of 0.5 to 5 mm and an outer diameter of 1 to 7 mm, and a length of 30 to 200 mm is preferable.

The liquid-absorbent material 12 has a bottomed, cylindrical shape consisting of a cylindrical side wall 12a and a bottom wall 12b that closes the bottom opening 11a of the tube 11. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, it is provided with a disk-shaped bottom plate 12c that extends annularly around the bottom wall 12b. To increase the amount of liquid L contained, multiple ribs extending in the longitudinal direction or circumferential direction may be provided, or spiral ribs may be provided. The liquid-absorbent material 12 is made of a fibrous material, foamed resin, or porous material that can be impregnated with and retain the liquid phase L.

Fiber materials can be obtained by bundling synthetic fibers such as polyester fibers, polyolefin fibers, polyamide fibers, acrylic fibers, and aramid fibers, especially thermoplastic resin fibers, to form a fibrous body, which is then heated and compressed to make it dense, and then impregnated with a resin liquid such as polyurethane resin, phenoxy resin, epoxy resin, or melamine resin, followed by drying and curing. Natural fibers such as cotton, linen, and silk can also be used. The fibrous body can be formed into a desired shape by placing it in a mold when compressed.

Examples of foamed resins that can be used include those produced by foaming polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polyacetal, polyester, and polystyrene, and molding them into a desired shape. Examples of porous materials that can be used include zeolite and activated carbon.

The thickness of the side wall 12a and the bottom wall 12b may also be different, such as by making the thickness of the bottom wall 12b approximately 0.1 to 10 times the thickness T of the side wall 12a. The liquid-absorbent material 12 may be made by tying a bundle of fibers with thread, or it may be tied with thread after covering the tube 11. Depending on the type of liquid phase L, a sponge-like porous material with interconnected cells may also be used.

The upper end of the tube 11 is connected to the tube connection portion 7c of the housing 7, and the lower end abuts against the bottom wall 12b of the liquid-absorbent material 12, which is attached to the bottom 2a of the container body 2 via the bottom wall 12b. The liquid-absorbent material 12, except for its upper portion, is immersed in the liquid phase L. Therefore, even when the valve 5 is operated with the spray product 10 upside down (see Figure 2A) or sideways (see Figure 2B), the gas phase G is blocked by the liquid-absorbent material 12, which is impregnated with the liquid phase L, and does not enter the tube 11. Only the liquid phase L impregnated in the liquid-absorbent material 12 is introduced into the valve 5 via the tube 11, then passes through the housing 7 and stem 6 and is discharged to the outside of the container body 2. Specifically, the liquid enters the tube 11 through the opening 11a at the lower end, enters the storage section 7a through the inlet hole 7d of the housing 7, enters the stem 6 through the stem hole 6a, and is then sprayed to the outside via the spray member 15 outside the container body 2. Furthermore, as long as part of the liquid-absorbing material 12 is in contact with the liquid phase L during discharge, the liquid phase L is always supplied to the opening 11a at the lower end of the tube 11. Therefore, it is not necessary for the opening 11a at the lower end of the tube 11 to be immersed in the liquid phase L.

However, when the remaining amount of liquid phase L becomes low and the liquid level drops, the liquid-absorbent material 12 will be exposed to the gas phase G if the container body 2 is turned upside down or sideways (see Figures 2A and 2B). In this case, shaking the container body 2 will cause the liquid phase L to come into contact with and impregnate the liquid-absorbent material 12, making it possible to spray again. The bottom plate 12c around the lower end of the liquid-absorbent material 12 is designed to increase the contact area with the liquid phase L when the container body 2 is upright, thereby increasing the amount of liquid absorbed. It also facilitates contact with the liquid phase L when the container body 2 is sideways. If the container body 2 is turned upside down or sideways and sprayed repeatedly, the liquid-absorbent material 12 will dry out, and there is a concern that the gas phase G will eventually permeate the liquid-absorbent material 12 and be sprayed to the outside. However, since the container body 2 is usually returned to its upright position after each spray, the liquid-absorbent material 12 will again be impregnated with the liquid phase L, ready for the next spray.

The spray product 20 shown in Figure 3 uses a metered-dose valve 21 as the valve. Other parts are essentially the same as the spray product 10 in Figure 1, except for the shape of the liquid-absorbing material 12. Therefore, the same parts are given the same reference numerals and their explanations are omitted. When not filled with the contents C, the spray product 20 is the spray container 1.

The housing 7 of the metered dose valve 21 is divided into an upper member 22 that houses the stem 6 and a lower member 23 that has a tube connection portion 7c. The upper member 22 is cylindrical and has a partition 24 with a stem insertion hole 24a located midway between the top and bottom. The volume of the housing 7 is the amount sprayed per spray, which varies depending on the ingredients of the liquid phase L, but is typically around 0.01 to 1 mL for personal products such as pharmaceuticals, quasi-drugs, and cosmetics, and around 0.3 to 3 mL for airborne products such as insecticides, deodorizing air fresheners, and disinfectants.

The upper side of the lower member 23 fits into the inner periphery of the upper member 22. The periphery of a ring-shaped sealing material 25 is sandwiched and fixed between the partition wall 24 of the upper member 22 and the upper end of the lower member 23. The sealing material 25 has a flat periphery and a central truncated cone-shaped portion, with a stem fitting hole 25a formed in the center. When the stem 6 is raised, the central stem fitting hole 25a is open, and when the stem 6 is pushed down and fits into the stem fitting hole 25a, the top and bottom of the sealing material 25 are blocked. Therefore, when the liquid phase L in the housing 7 is depleted, spraying stops. This limits the amount of spray per time to the capacity of the storage chamber of the housing 7, preventing overuse.

In this spray product 20, the filling amount of liquid phase L is set to less than 50% of the full amount, and when the lid 3 is positioned at the top and facing upward, the liquid phase L is replenished into the liquid-absorbing material 12. When sprayed, the liquid-absorbing material 12 is in the gas phase G and does not absorb the liquid phase L. Therefore, only the liquid phase L absorbed into the liquid-absorbing material 12 is sprayed; no further liquid phase L is sprayed, and the action of the metering valve 21 prevents the gas phase G from being sprayed either. Therefore, it is suitable for pharmaceuticals, hair growth agents, and insecticides, where the amount used must be limited.

In the case of the spray product 1 shown in Figure 1, which uses a valve 5 that remains open while the stem is pressed, if spraying is continued while the device is upside down, or if spraying is done repeatedly, the liquid phase L impregnated in the liquid-absorbing material 12 will disappear. This can cause the gas phase G to permeate the liquid-absorbing material 12 and escape to the outside. For this reason, users should return the device to the upright position after each use to prevent the liquid phase L in the liquid-absorbing material 12 from disappearing, and should be careful not to spray for long periods of time while the device is upside down.

In the spray product 20 of Figure 3, which uses a metering valve 21, it is preferable to set the liquid absorption capacity of the liquid-absorbent material 12 to be greater than the spray capacity of the metering valve 21. This allows the metering valve 21 to fully function and prevents unnecessary spraying of gas phase G. In other words, if the liquid absorption capacity of the liquid-absorbent material 12 is less than the spray capacity of the metering valve 21, when liquid phase L is supplied into the metering valve 21, most of the liquid phase L impregnated in the liquid-absorbent material 12 will be lost. As mentioned above, after the liquid phase L is lost, gas phase G will be absorbed through the liquid-absorbent material 12. To avoid this situation, it is desirable to increase the liquid absorption capacity of the liquid-absorbent material 12, for example by making the liquid-absorbent material 12 sufficiently thick. The spray product 20 of Figure 3 does not have a bottom plate portion 12c that extends from the bottom end of the liquid-absorbent material 12. However, it may be provided.

To increase the amount of liquid absorbed, the thickness of the liquid-absorbent material 12 is increased. For example, the thickness T of the side wall 12a is preferably approximately 1 to 10 mm, and is preferably approximately 1 to 5 times the inner diameter of the tube 11. However, even if the amount of liquid absorbed is large, if the bottom wall 12b of the liquid-absorbent material 12 is compressed, it will be rate-limiting for suction into the tube 11. For this reason, the inner diameter of the tube 11 may be increased to 1 to 5 mm, or holes or slits may be formed in the side wall.

Figure 4 shows another embodiment of a spray product. The spray product 30 in Figure 4 consists of a spray container 1A and contents C filled in the spray container 1. The spray container 1A comprises a container body 2 for filling with contents C, a screw-cap type lid 3 for closing the opening of the container body 2, and a pressurized valve 31 attached to the lid 3. The container body 2 has a cylindrical neck 2f, and the inner periphery of the lid 3 has a female thread that screws into the male thread 2g on the outer periphery of the neck 2f of the container 1. The valve 31 is equipped with a spray member 33 that is operated by depressing a stem 32.

The container body 2 is a pressure-resistant container for filling with the contents C, and includes a bottom 2a, a cylindrical body 2b, and a cylindrical neck 2f that is smaller in diameter than the body 2b and is integrally formed at the top of the body 2b. An opening 2d is formed at the upper end of the neck 2f. The container body 2 is made of synthetic resins such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, or polypropylene, or metals such as aluminum or tinplate, but is not limited to these and can be made from a variety of materials.

The pressurized valve 31 normally seals the container body 2, and when the spray member 33 is operated, it connects the container body 2 to the outside air, spraying the concentrate (liquid phase L) from the container body 2. It also serves to switch between a first spray mode in which the liquid phase L is sprayed by the pressure of compressed gas (propellant, gas phase G), and a second spray mode in which the liquid phase L is sprayed by the pressure of pump operation. In other words, it functions as both an aerosol valve and a pump. However, it is also possible to omit the aerosol valve function and have a pressurized valve that only has pump function.

This pressurized valve 31 has a housing 34, a stem 32 housed within the housing 34 so that it can move up and down, a piston member 35 also housed within the housing 34 so that it can move up and down and follows the downward movement of the stem 32 with some play, an elastic body (spring) 8 that urges the stem 32 upward, and a positioning member 36 that positions the raised ends of the stem 32 and piston member 35.

As shown in Figure 4, the housing 34 is a cylindrical member with open upper and lower ends, and its internal space is divided into a first space S1 and a second space S2 by the piston member 35. The first space S1 is a space through which or where the liquid phase L taken in from the container body 2 passes or is temporarily stored, and is formed below the piston member 35. The second space S2 is a space in which the stem 32 can descend until it abuts against the piston member 35, and is formed above the piston member 35.

A flange portion 34a extending radially outward is provided around the upper end of the housing 34. The flange portion 34a is used to position the housing 34 on the container body 2, and the outer diameter of the flange portion 34a is approximately the same as the outer diameter of the mouth of the container body 2. An annular gasket 37 is provided between the underside of the flange portion 34a and the upper end of the neck portion 2f of the container body 2.

A spring support portion 34c with a smaller diameter than the body portion 34b of the housing 34 is formed near the lower end of the housing 34 to support the elastic body 8 while it is inserted. A tube connection portion 34d for connecting the tube 11 is formed below the spring support portion 34c. The upper portion of the tube 11 is fitted inside the tube connection portion 34d. The tube connection portion 34d has a smaller diameter than the spring support portion 34c. The spring support portion 34c and the tube connection portion 34d are in communication with each other via a liquid-phase communication hole 34e. In the closed mode, this liquid-phase communication hole 34e is closed by a ball valve B provided on the spring support portion 34c side.

Ball valve B is provided to form a valve mechanism (ball valve mechanism) that unilaterally introduces liquid phase L from the container body 2 into the first space S1. The ball valve mechanism is formed by dropping ball valve B into a tapered portion, where the inner circumferential surface near the boundary between the spring support portion 34c and the tube connection portion 34d tapers downward. When the injection member 33 is not being operated, ball valve B closes the liquid-phase communication hole 34e by its own weight, separating the first space S1 from the inside of the container body 2. On the other hand, in the first injection mode, the ball valve B is raised by the pressure of the compressed gas inside the container body 2, connecting the first space S1 to the container body 2 and introducing the concentrate inside the container body 2 into the first space S1. In the second injection mode, the piston member descends, pressing ball valve B against the tapered portion, separating the first space S1 from the inside of the container body 2, and the concentrate in the first space S1 is pressurized and injected. After the concentrate in the first space S1 is sprayed, the ball valve B floats up as the piston member rises, and the concentrate to be sprayed next is introduced into the first space.

An inlet hole 34h is formed on the side of the barrel of the housing 34 for filling the container body 2 with a propellant, such as compressed gas or liquefied gas, via the stem 32. This inlet hole 34h is normally closed by a rubber gasket 37a fitted around the housing 34. This gasket 37a expands to allow the compressed gas or pressurized agent (propellant) to be filled via the stem 32. Under normal conditions, it closes due to the contraction force of the gasket 37a and the internal pressure within the container body 2, blocking the inlet hole 34h. In other words, the gasket 37a and inlet hole 34h act as a check valve. This prevents the contents C from entering the second space S2 of the housing 34, even when the spray product 30 is sprayed downward or sideways. The gasket 37a can also be integrated with the gasket 37 that seals the gap between the container body 2 and the housing 34. The inlet hole 34h and the gasket 37a can also be omitted. In this case, compressed gas or a pressurizing agent (propellant) is filled using an undercup filling method.

The pressurized valve 31 is a component for sending the liquid phase L taken in from the container body 2 to the injection member 33, and as described above, is equipped with a stem 32, a piston member 35, an elastic body (spring) 8, and a positioning member 36.

The stem 32 consists of an internal stem 32a and an external stem 32b that is attached to the top of the internal stem 32a and protrudes from an opening formed at the top end of the housing 34. The internal stem 32a and external stem 32b are coaxially connected and housed within the housing 34 so that they can move up and down as a unit. The piston member 35 is held between the internal stem 32a and external stem 32b so that it can move up and down within a predetermined range. The elastic body 8 constantly urges the stem 32 upward, and the positioning member 36 restricts the raised end of the stem 32.

In the spray product 30 of Figure 4, the liquid-absorbent material 12 is also attached to the outer periphery of the tube 11. The liquid-absorbent material 12 is substantially the same as that of Figure 3, and the attachment state is also substantially the same. Therefore, substantially the same effects are achieved. For example, the lower end of the tube 11 abuts against the bottom 2a of the container body 2 via the liquid-absorbent material 12. This configuration prevents the tube 11 from coming off or loosening when the lid 3 is screwed onto the container body 2. Therefore, even when the spray product 30 is sprayed facing downward, the contents C in the housing 34 can be sprayed without leakage from the gap between the tube 11 and the connecting portion 34d. Furthermore, as with a metered valve, it is preferable that the amount of liquid absorbed by the liquid-absorbent material 12 be greater than the amount of liquid sprayed per spray from the pressurized valve 31. This prevents the amount of liquid absorbed from the metered valve from being limited by the amount of liquid absorbed.

The piston member 35 is a component that constantly divides the internal space of the housing 34 into a first space S1 and a second space S2, while also appropriately communicating the first space S1 with the outside air. The piston member 35 has an inner cylindrical portion 35a that engages with the inner stem 32a at its lower end and with the outer stem 32b at its upper end, an outer cylindrical portion 35b that is provided on the outside of the inner cylindrical portion 35a and slides along the inner surface of the housing 34, and a connecting portion 35c that connects the lower portion of the inner cylindrical portion 35a to the center of the outer cylindrical portion 35b.

When the remaining amount of propellant in the container body 2 is large and the internal pressure is high, the stem 32 can be slightly lowered to separate the lower end of the inner cylindrical portion 35a from the internal stem 32a, thereby connecting the first space S1 to the outside air and spraying the liquid phase L using the pressure of the compressed gas (first spray mode, aerosol action). On the other hand, when the remaining amount of propellant is small and the internal pressure of the container body 2 is low, the trigger 42a can be pulled firmly, the stem 32 is pressed down greatly, and the upper end of the inner cylindrical portion 35a is pressed down with the lower end of the external stem 32b, thereby pressurizing the liquid phase L in the first space S1 and spraying it to the outside (second spray mode, pump action).

The injection member 33 comprises an injection nozzle member 38 attached to the external stem 32b, an operating member 39 attached to the lid (screw cap) 3, and a guide member 40 that guides the injection nozzle member 38. The injection nozzle member 38 is an L-shaped cylindrical body, with the vertical member 38a serving as a stem connection portion that connects to the top of the external stem 32b, and the horizontal member 38b serving as a nozzle connection portion to which the tip nozzle 41 is attached. Furthermore, a rotation axis 38c that abuts against the bearing of the lever 42 (described below) is formed on the left and right sides of the outer surface of the upper end of the vertical member 38a.

The operating member 39 is a member for sliding the stem 32 and has a lever support portion 39a attached to the mounting portion of the lid body 3, and a lever 42 pivoted on the lever support portion 39a. A pivot 39a1 is formed at the upper end of the lever support portion 39a to pivot the rear end of the lever 42. The lever 42 is the part operated by the user during spraying; one end is pivoted on the pivot 39a1, and the other end forms a trigger 42a that the user places a finger on. A bearing corresponding to the rotation axis 38c of the spray nozzle member 38 is provided near the center of the lever 42. Therefore, with this operating member 39, pulling the trigger 42a rotates the lever 42 downward, lowering the stem 32. When the force pulling the trigger 42a is reduced from that state, the lever 42 returns to its original position due to the biasing action of the elastic body 8 that pushes up the stem 32.

When the spray product 30 configured as described above is in a non-spraying state (closed mode) where the lever 42 is not operated, as shown in Figure 4, the elastic body 8 biases the internal stem 32a upward, so that the lower end of the inner cylindrical portion 35a remains in contact with the step portion 32a1 of the internal stem 32a. In other words, the lower end of the inner cylindrical portion 35a forms a seal. Therefore, the liquid phase L is not sprayed.

In the first injection mode, i.e., when the liquid phase L is injected using the pressure of compressed gas, the trigger 42a is pulled, causing the lever 42 to rotate around the pivot 39a2 and pushing the injection nozzle downward via the bearing 24a. This opens the seal between the piston member and the lower stem 32a as described above, and the liquid phase L is injected as an aerosol.

When the trigger 42a is pulled further from the first injection mode, the stem 32 moves further downward while maintaining the seal open. As described above, the lower end of the external stem 32b then contacts the upper end of the inner cylindrical portion 35a, and the piston member 35 also begins to slide downward within the housing 34. The first space S1 is then pressurized, and the ball valve B prevents the liquid from returning to the container body 2, causing the liquid phase L within the first space S1 to be pump-ejected.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the spray product and spray container, along with a discharge member that is detachably attached to the spray product. The spray product 50 in Figure 5 does not have a valve, but a valve 52 is provided on the discharge member 51. The spray product 50 is created by filling the container body 2 of the spray container 1B with the contents C and sealing it with the lid 53. When the discharge member 51 is attached to the spray product 50, the lid 53 can be opened using the opening portion 7g of the housing 7 of the valve 52.

The spray container 1B comprises a container body 2, a lid (sealing plate) 53 that seals the container body 2, a tube 11 attached to the underside of the lid 53, a liquid absorber 12 fitted around the tube 11, and a ball valve B housed between the lid 53 and the tube 11 so that it can move up and down. The contents C consist of a liquid phase L and a gas phase G. The container body 2 comprises a bottom 2a, a cylindrical body 2b, a shoulder 2c, and a cylindrical neck 2f. A male thread 2g is formed on the outer periphery of the neck 2f. In this embodiment, the bottom 2a of the container body 2 comprises a downwardly protruding annular contact surface 2a1 and an upper surface of a dome portion 2a2 provided at the center and protruding upward. The bottom 2a may be flat or may have a downwardly convex spherical shape.

The lower end of the tube 11 abuts against the bottom 2a of the container body 2, particularly the dome portion 2a2, via the liquid-absorbent material 12. Before the lid 53 is welded to the container body 2, a gap is maintained between the flange portion 53b of the lid 53 and the upper end surface of the container body 2. Furthermore, when a pressurizing agent (propellant) is filled and the lid 53 is pressed against the container body 2 while ultrasonically welding, the tube 11 is supported to prevent it from dropping and becoming detached or loosened from the lid 53. During ultrasonic welding, the tube 11 is prone to becoming detached or loosened due to vibrations. However, since the lower end of the tube 11 is supported by the bottom 2a of the container body 2 via the liquid-absorbent material 12, this is less likely to occur. Furthermore, the dome portion 2a2 elastically deforms, pushing the tube 11 upward. This makes it even less likely for the tube 11 to become detached or loosened from the lid 53. In this embodiment, the liquid-absorbent material 12 is submerged in the liquid phase L, and the upper end of the liquid-absorbent material 12 is below the liquid surface.

The container body 2 is made of a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, or nylon. The container body 2 can be manufactured, for example, by producing a container preform and blow-molding the area below the bottom end of the neck 2f. In particular, injection blow molding, in which a preform of a predetermined shape is injection-molded and then blow-molded, is preferred. With injection blow molding, the neck 2f is not stretched, so it is thick and strong. The area from the shoulder 2c to the body 2b is molded to be thinner than the neck 2f, but thick enough to withstand pressure (for example, 0.3 to 1 mm).

As shown in Figure 6A, the lid 53 consists of a bottomed, cylindrical sealing portion 53a that is inserted into the neck 2f of the container body 2, and an annular flange 53b that connects to the upper end of the sealing portion 53a. The flange 53b is ultrasonically welded to the upper end surface of the neck 2f of the container body 2. The sealing portion 53a extends downward, and a fitting cylindrical portion 53a1 is concentrically provided on the inner side of the peripheral wall of the sealing portion 53a. The upper end surface of the neck 2f of the container body 2 is provided with an annular welding rib with a triangular cross section to make it easier to weld the flange 53b. The inner surface of the neck 2f of the container body 2 is a smooth cylindrical surface.

The interior of the fitting tubular portion 53a1 is closed by the bottom portion 53c, located slightly above the lower end. The reason for the slightly higher location is to prevent the cutting line (thin portion 53f), described below, from being broken by the ultrasonic vibrations applied from the top surface of the flange when the lid 53 is ultrasonically welded to the container body 2. The lower end of the sealing portion 53a and the lower end of the fitting tubular portion 53a1 are connected by the annular connecting portion 53a2.

A closing section 53d that can be opened by breaking is provided in the center of the bottom section 53c, and is surrounded by a thin-walled section (breaking section, weakened line) 53f that can be easily broken, such as an annular groove. A pressure-receiving section 53d1 that is thicker than the surrounding area is provided on the top surface of the closing section 53d. The closing section 53d and pressure-receiving section 53d1 are typically circular in plan view. However, other shapes, such as rectangular, can also be used.

The pressure-receiving portion 53d1 is provided over substantially the entire upper surface of the closing portion 53d, and the thin-walled portion 53f is formed on the upper surface of the bottom portion 53c. The thin-walled portion 53f may also be formed on the underside. The thin-walled portion 53f may, for example, be a V-groove. The thin-walled portion 53f may be discontinuous, being absent in part, to prevent the closing portion 53d from falling in the event of breakage. It may also be continuous around the entire outer periphery of the pressure-receiving portion 53d1, to allow the closing portion 53d to fall.

The lid 53 is made of a thermoplastic resin that has high thermal bonding with the container body 2, and it is preferable to use the same material as the container body 2 to increase the welding strength. As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the lid 53 seals the container body 2 and is welded to the container body 2, allowing the contents C (liquid phase L and gas phase G) to be stored safely and leak-proof for long periods of time. The thin-walled portion 53f has a shape that provides sufficient sealing function when unopened, yet can be easily torn.

A cylindrical tube connection portion 53e is provided on the underside of the lid 53, into which the upper end of the tube 11 fits. The inner surface of the tube connection portion 53e has a large diameter section at its lower end where it fits with the tube 11, followed by a section where the ball valve B is housed, with a step 53e1 formed above it with an inner diameter smaller than that of the ball valve B. The ball valve B is housed inside the tube connection portion 53e so that it can move up and down. The ball valve B has a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the tube 11 and the step 53e1. This ball valve B prevents the contents C from spilling out when the discharge member 51 is removed while the contents C remain, as the pressure of the compressed gas causes the ball valve B to abut against the step 53e1.

The discharge member 51 in Figure 5 consists of a cap (attachment part) 54 that screws onto the male thread 2g on the neck 2f of the container body 2, a valve 5 covered by the cap 54, and an injection member (operating member) 15 equipped with a discharge nozzle that is attached to the stem 6 of the valve 5. The injection member 15 can be a push button or an operating lever. As shown in Figure 5, the cap 20 is a cylindrical cap with a bottom and a female thread formed on its inner surface, a so-called screw cap.

The cap 54 and valve 5 are integrated, and the valve 5 moves within the fitting tubular portion 53a1 in conjunction with how tightly the cap 54 is tightened. That is, when the cap 54 is tightened in the attached state shown in Figure 6B, the valve 5 is pushed into the fitting tubular portion 53a1, and when the cap 54 is loosened, the valve 5 moves in the direction of being removed from the fitting tubular portion 53a1. An opening 54a through which the stem 6 passes is formed in the center of the top base of the cap 54. The cap 54 and valve 5 without the injection member 15 attached are treated as a valve unit or valve assembly.

As shown in Figure 6B, the valve 5 consists of a cylindrical housing 7 with a bottom, a stem 6 housed within it so that it can move up and down, an elastic body (spring) 8 that urges the stem 6 upward, a stem rubber 9, and a valve holder 55 equipped with a cylindrical valve holding portion 55a that holds the upper part of the housing 7. The stem 6, elastic body 8, and stem rubber 9 form a valve mechanism that switches between a dispensing state and a non-dispensing state of the contents to be dispensed, and the housing 7 and valve holder 55 form an accommodation space that houses this valve mechanism.

In this embodiment, a cylindrical opening portion 7g that protrudes downward is provided at the lower end of the housing 7, and a sealing member 7h such as an O-ring is attached to the outer periphery of the lower part of the housing 7. This sealing member 7h seals between the inner circumferential surface of the fitting cylindrical portion 53a1 of the lid body 53 and the housing 7 during and after opening.

The housing 7 has an introduction hole 7d that penetrates the bottom 7b of the housing 7 vertically, providing a passageway that connects the interior of the housing 7 with the interior of the container body 2. The height position of the bottom surface of the opening portion 7g is such that it abuts against the pressure-receiving portion 53d1 when the cap 54 is screwed onto the male threads 2g of the container body 2 one to two times. Therefore, during shipping and distribution, the cap 54 can be loosely screwed on without rupturing the closure portion 53d, allowing the discharge member 51 and container body 2 to be temporarily joined in a sealed state.

The valve holder 55 comprises a valve holding portion 55a, an annular rubber retainer 55b extending inward from the upper end of the valve holding portion 55a, and an outward-extending flange 55c. A hole 55d is formed in the center of the rubber retainer 55b through which the stem 6 passes.

When a user uses the purchased spray product 50, they first screw the cap 54 onto the male threads 2g of the container body 2. This causes the entire cap 54 and valve 5 to descend, and the opening portion 7g pushes down on the closing portion 53d. This breaks the thin-walled portion 53f and opens the container body 2. A portion of the closing portion 53d either remains connected to the bottom portion 53c (see Figure 6B), or is torn off from the bottom portion 53c and falls off. The opening portion 7g then breaks through the bottom portion 53c of the fitting tubular portion 53a1, establishing communication between the inside of the housing 24 and the inside of the container body 2 (see Figure 6B).

After attaching the discharge member 51, when the user presses the spray member 15 attached to the stem 6, the stem 6 descends, bending the stem rubber 9 and opening the stem hole 6a. The concentrate inside the container body 2 is pressurized by compressed gas and is discharged to the outside via the opening portion 7g, housing 34, stem 32 and operating member 15. When the user releases the operating member 15, the stem 6 rises and discharge stops. The lower end opening 11a of the tube 11, which connects the inside and outside of the container body 2, is covered with the liquid-absorbing material 12. Therefore, even when the container is turned downward or sideways during spraying, the concentrate held in the liquid-absorbing material 12 can be sprayed, and the compressed gas (gas phase G) is less likely to leak to the outside.

After the entire amount of concentrate (liquid phase L) has been dispensed, the cap 54 is turned and the dispenser member 51 is removed from the container body 2. The removed dispenser member 51 is then attached to a new spray product 50. Once the entire amount of liquid phase L has been dispensed, the spray product 50 is prevented from releasing the gas phase G while the concentrate is retained in the liquid absorber 12 and is wet. However, once the liquid absorber 12 dries, the gas phase G becomes more permeable and is released to the outside, and the interior of the container body 2 returns to atmospheric pressure. This allows for safe recycling. Furthermore, because the container body 2 and lid 3 can be made from a single material, they do not need to be separated during recycling, making them easy to recycle.

The above describes an embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be implemented with various modifications within the scope of the present invention. The valve 5 may be one that discharges by pushing down the stem 6, or one that discharges by tilting the stem 6.

10 Spray product 1 Spray container 2 Container body 2a Bottom 2b Body 2c Shoulder 2d Opening 2e Bead portion 2f Neck 2g Male thread portion 3 Lid 3a Bottom wall 3b Peripheral wall 3c Curved flange 3d Valve mounting portion 4 Gasket C Contents G Gas phase L Liquid phase 5 Valve 6 Stem 6a Stem hole 7 Housing 7a Storage portion 7b Bottom 7c Tube connection portion 7d Inlet hole 7f Spring support portion 7g Opening portion 7h Sealing member 8 Elastic body (spring)
9 Stem rubber 11 Tube 11a Opening (introduction hole)
12 Liquid-absorbing material 12a Side wall 12b Bottom wall 12c Bottom plate T (Side wall) thickness 15 Spray member 20 Spray product 21 Metering valve 22 Upper member 23 Lower member 24 Partition wall 24a Stem insertion hole 25 Sealing material 25a Stem fitting hole 30 Spray product 1A Spray container 31 (Pressurized) valve 32 Stem 32a Internal stem 32a1 Step portion 32b External stem 33 Spray member 34 Housing 34a Flange portion 34b Body portion 34c Spring support portion 34d Tube connection portion 34e Liquid phase communication hole 34h Introduction hole B Ball valve 35 Piston member 35a Inner cylindrical portion 35b Outer cylindrical portion 35c Connection portion 36 Positioning member 37 Gasket 37a Packing 38 Spray nozzle member 38a Vertical member 38b Horizontal member 38c Rotation shaft 39 Operation member 39a Lever support portion 39a1 Rotation shaft 40 Guide member 41 Tip nozzle 42 Lever 42a Trigger 50 Spray product 1B Spray container 2a1 Ground surface 2a2 Dome portion 51 Discharge member 52 Valve 53 Lid body 53a Sealing portion 53a1 Fitting cylinder portion 53a2 Connecting portion 53b Flange portion 53c Bottom portion 53d Closing portion 53d1 Pressure receiving portion 53f Thin portion 53e Tube connecting portion 53e1 Step portion 54 Cap 54a Opening 55 Valve holder 55a Valve holding portion 55b Rubber retainer 55c Flange 55d Hole

Claims (7)

The container comprises a container body filled with contents including a concentrate and a propellant, and a lid body that seals the opening of the container body;
A tube and a liquid-absorbing material covering a lower end opening of the tube are attached to the lid,
the liquid-absorbent material has a bottom wall that closes the lower end opening of the tube, and a side wall that extends upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom wall and fits onto the outer periphery of the tube,
When the lid is attached to the container body, the tube extends downward in a straight line.
The liquid-absorbent material abuts against the inner bottom of the container body ,
The tube is attached to the inner bottom of the container body via the bottom wall of the liquid-absorbent material . The spray container according to claim 1, wherein the lid is equipped with a valve for spraying the contents, and the tube is connected to the valve. The valve is a metered quantity valve that injects the contents in the housing with a single injection operation,
3. The spray container according to claim 2, wherein the amount of liquid absorbed by the liquid-absorbing material is greater than the spray capacity of the metering valve. The valve is a pressure valve provided on a lid that is screwed onto the opening of the container body and that discharges the contents in the housing,
4. The spray container according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the pressure valve does not have an air inlet for introducing air from the outside, or the air inlet is closed. The lid is welded to the opening of the container body,
2. The spray container according to claim 1, wherein the tube is attached by fitting to a tube attachment portion provided on the lid. The liquid-absorbent material has a circular bottom plate extending annularly around the periphery of the bottom wall.
The spray container according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A spray product comprising the spray container according to claims 1 to 6 and contents containing a concentrate and a propellant filled in the spray container.