APPLICATION CONTAINER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-111263, filed on Jul. 6, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an application container for applying a drawing material.

Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2022-027171 describes a feeding container including a case body that feeds a solid content. The case body includes a cylindrical case main body unit extending along an axis and a cylindrical nozzle body fitted to an upper portion of the case main body unit. A lower end of the case main body unit is fitted with a bottom cap body that closes an opening at the lower end of the case main body unit.

A shaft body extending in a straight line along the axis is disposed within the case body. The shaft body includes, at an upper end thereof, a holding portion that holds the solid content. When the shaft body moves upward with respect to the case body, the solid content whose lower end side part is held by the holding portion moves upward together with the shaft body, and is fed outward from a feeding port formed at an upper end of the nozzle body.

The feeding container includes a window portion for checking a remaining amount, the window portion extending in an upward-downward direction in the case main body unit, and a remaining amount display portion that makes the shaft body visible from the outside through the window portion. The window portion is a slit-shaped hole that penetrates the case body from the inside to the outside. A dimension in the upward-downward direction of the window portion corresponds to an upward movable distance of the shaft body within the case body. The remaining amount display portion has a tubular shape that is enlarged in diameter from a lower end of the shaft body and that extends downward from the shaft body. The bottom cap body has a cylindrical inner wall extending upward from the bottom cap body. The inner wall is located on an inner side of the remaining amount display portion.

When the solid content is new and the shaft body is at an initial position as a lower stroke end position, a lower end of the remaining amount display portion is located slightly below a lower end of the window portion, and the whole of the window portion is closed by the remaining amount display portion. A user can confirm that the solid content is new because the whole of the window portion is closed by the remaining amount display portion.

Meanwhile, when the shaft body moves upward relative to the case main body unit as the solid content is fed, the remaining amount display portion relatively moves upward together with the shaft body. The inner wall located on the inner side of the remaining amount display portion thus starts to appear. The user can check a remaining amount of the solid content by visually checking the length of the remaining amount display portion exposed in the window portion and the length of the inner wall exposed in the window portion.

Further, when the shaft body moves to an upper stroke end position and the feedable solid content is exhausted, the lower end of the remaining amount display portion moves to above the window portion, and only the inner wall is exposed in the window portion. At this time, only the inner wall is visible from the window portion. The user can thus confirm that the solid content is exhausted.

SUMMARY

In the feeding container described above, the window portion is a slit-shaped hole that penetrates the case body from the inside to the outside, and the movable remaining amount display portion is disposed on the inner side of the hole. The inner wall is disposed further inward of the movable remaining amount display portion. Hence, because the remaining amount display portion located between the window portion and the inner wall is movable, there is a possibility of foreign matter such as dust entering a space between an edge of the window portion and the remaining amount display portion and a space between the remaining amount display portion and the inner wall as the remaining amount display portion moves. Since the dust or the like may be accumulated on the inner side of the window portion, there is thus room for improvement in terms of hygiene.

In some cases of an application container, a highly volatile drawing material may be used. However, in the case where the remaining amount display portion located on the inner side of the window portion penetrating from the inside to the outside is movable as in the feeding container described above, internal airtightness may not be maintained. Hence, it is desired to ensure airtightness.

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an application container that makes it possible to recognize the remaining amount of a drawing material, achieve hygiene, and ensure airtightness.

(1) An application container according to the present disclosure includes a leading tube that is configured to house a drawing material and that has an opening at a tip end of the leading tube, the opening allowing the drawing material to come out, an outer tubular member coupled to a side of the leading tube opposite to the opening, an inner tubular member fixed within the outer tubular member to the outer tubular member, and a push rod that is rotatable synchronously with the inner tubular member within the inner tubular member and that is configured to advance with respect to the inner tubular member and push the drawing material, so that the drawing material comes out from the opening. The outer tubular member has a through hole formed in a side surface of the outer tubular member. At least a part of the inner tubular member that is exposed from the through hole is a transparent portion through which an inside of the inner tubular member is visible. The push rod includes a visible portion that is visible from an outside of the inner tubular member through the transparent portion, so that a remaining amount of the drawing material is recognizable when a state of the visible portion that is visible through the transparent portion is visually checked.

According to the application container, it is possible to recognize the remaining amount of the drawing material when the visible portion of the push rod that is visible through the transparent portion is viewed. In this application container, the inner tubular member including the transparent portion is fixed to the outer tubular member, and the inner tubular member does not move with respect to the outer tubular member. Hence, because the inner tubular member, which is located between the through hole of the outer tubular member and the push rod, does not move, a possibility of foreign matter entering the inner side of the through hole can be reduced. A hygienic application container can therefore be provided. Further, because the inner tubular member is fixed on the inner side of the through hole to the outer tubular member, airtightness on the inner side of the through hole can be ensured.

(2) In the foregoing (1), the application container may further include a tubular female screw member that is rotatable synchronously with the leading tube within the leading tube and that internally has a female screw. The push rod may have a male screw configured to screw into the female screw. The outer tubular member may be rotatable relative to the leading tube. In response to a relative rotation of the outer tubular member with respect to the leading tube, a screwing action between the male screw and the female screw functions, so that the push rod may advance with respect to the female screw member. In this case, the push rod advances in response to the relative rotation of the outer tubular member with respect to the leading tube, and allows the drawing material to come out from the opening.

(3) In the foregoing (1) or (2), the inner tubular member may have a printed portion that is located on a side opposite to the through hole as viewed from the transparent portion. The remaining amount of the drawing material is recognizable when the printed portion is visually checked. In this case, a user using the application container can more directly recognize the remaining amount of the drawing material by visually checking the printed portion. Hence, the remaining amount of the drawing material can be more noticeable.

(4) In the foregoing (3), the inner tubular member may have an outer surface facing the outer tubular member and an inner surface facing the push rod. The transparent portion may have a first surface exposed from the through hole and a second surface facing in a direction opposite to the first surface. The second surface may include a protruding surface portion that protrudes inward of the inner tubular member with respect to an imaginary extension surface extending along the inner surface. In this case, because the second surface of the transparent portion protrudes inward, the transparent portion has a lens shape. Hence, the printed portion appears to be enlarged when the printed portion described above is visually checked through the transparent portion. The remaining amount of the drawing material can therefore be displayed in a more noticeable manner.

(5) In the foregoing (2), the application container may further include a ratchet mechanism that allows a relative rotation in one direction of the outer tubular member with respect to the leading tube and that restricts a relative rotation in a direction opposite to the one direction of the outer tubular member with respect to the leading tube. The push rod that is capable of only advancing in response to the relative rotation in the one direction of the outer tubular member with respect to the leading tube is visible through the transparent portion. In this case, since the push rod does not retract, the display of the remaining amount of the drawing material using the visible portion of the push rod can be more accurate. Hence, the remaining amount of the drawing material can be recognized more appropriately.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to recognize the remaining amount of the drawing material, achieve hygiene, and ensure airtightness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a side view illustrating an application container according to an embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3A is a side view illustrating an inner tubular member of the application container according to the embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a side view of the inner tubular member in FIG. 3A as viewed from a direction different from that of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 5A is a side view illustrating a push rod of the application container according to the embodiment, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a side view illustrating a female screw member of the application container according to the embodiment, and FIG. 6B is a side view illustrating the female screw member as viewed from a direction different from that of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E of FIG. 6B;

FIG. 8A is a side view illustrating the application container in a state in which a cap of the application container in FIG. 1A is removed and in which a drawing material is used up, and FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken along line F-F of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view taken along line G-G of FIG. 8A, and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view illustrating an application container according to a modification; and

FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D are views illustrating examples of a through hole, a transparent portion, or a visible portion of the application container according to the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, an application container according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Identical or equivalent elements in the description of the drawings are denoted by the same reference symbols, and repeated description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. The drawings may be partly depicted in a simplified or exaggerated manner in order to facilitate understanding, and dimensional ratios and the like are not limited to those depicted in the drawings.

FIG. 1A is a side view illustrating the application container according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1A. As illustrated in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, an application container 1 according to the present embodiment is, for example, a pencil that feeds (extrudes) a drawing material M housed within the application container 1 according to an operation of a user.

In the present embodiment, the drawing material M is a cosmetic material. The “cosmetic material” is, for example, a rouge, a lipstick, a lip liner, a lip gloss, an eyeliner, an eyebrow product, an eye shadow, a concealer, or a beauty stick. The “cosmetic material” may be a rod-shaped object including a flexible material (for example, a flexible material in a semisolid state, a soft solid state, a jelly state, or a mousse state, pastes including these, or the like). The drawing material M is volatile, for example. As an example, the drawing material M is a rod-shaped cosmetic material.

The application container 1 includes a leading tube 2 housing the drawing material M, a cap 3 for covering the leading tube 2, and an outer tubular member 4 located on a side of the leading tube 2 opposite to the cap 3. In the application container 1, some components including the leading tube 2, the cap 3, and the outer tubular member 4 are in a tubular shape. In the application container 1, an axis L of each of the components in a tubular shape extends in the same direction in a state in which the components are assembled. In the following, the direction in which the axis L extends will be referred to as an axial direction D1. The axial direction D1, for example, coincides with a longitudinal direction of the application container 1.

A “front,” a “front side,” and a “forward direction” represent a direction from the outer tubular member 4 to the leading tube 2 in the axial direction D1. A “rear,” a “rear side,” and a “rearward direction” represent a direction from the leading tube 2 to the outer tubular member 4 in the axial direction D1. A “radial direction” represents a direction orthogonal to the axis L. A “circumferential direction” represents a direction along a ring having the axis L as a center thereof (rotational direction). In the present embodiment, a direction of extruding the drawing material M is the forward direction (advancing direction), and a direction opposite thereto is the rearward direction.

The leading tube 2 has an opening 2b at a tip end (front end portion of the leading tube 2). The opening 2b allows the drawing material M to come out. The leading tube 2 includes a front side tubular portion 2A exposed when the cap 3 is removed, a rear side tubular portion 2B inserted inside the outer tubular member 4, and a flange portion 2C interposed between the front side tubular portion 2A and the rear side tubular portion 2B. The front side tubular portion 2A has the opening 2b located at one end in the axial direction D1 and a tapered surface 2c inclined such that the leading tube 2 is enlarged in diameter with increase in distance from the opening 2b.

The opening 2b is a part from which the drawing material M in the leading tube 2 is exposed. The drawing material M is protruded from the opening 2b, and the drawing material M is provided for usage. The tapered surface 2c extends, for example, from the opening 2b to a position beyond a center in the axial direction D1 of the leading tube 2. The front side tubular portion 2A has a protruding portion 2d located rearward of the tapered surface 2c. The protruding portion 2d engages with a recessed portion 3b of the cap 3 to be described later. The cap 3 is fitted to the leading tube 2 in a state in which an end surface 3c defining an opening of the cap 3 faces the flange portion 2C along the axial direction D1. The flange portion 2C is exposed in a state in which the cap 3 is fitted to the leading tube 2.

An internal space 2f of the leading tube 2 extends rearward from the opening 2b. The internal space 2f penetrates the leading tube 2 in the axial direction D1. The drawing material M, a piston 5, and a push rod 6 are housed in internal space 2f. The piston 5 has, for example, a first recessed portion 5b recessed at a front end and a second recessed portion 5c recessed at a rear end. The drawing material M, the piston 5, and the push rod 6 are arranged so as to be aligned in this order.

The rear side tubular portion 2B has an annular recessed portion 2g located on a rear side of the flange portion 2C, a first annular protruding portion 2h located rearward of the annular recessed portion 2g, and a second annular protruding portion 2j located rearward of the first annular protruding portion 2h. The first annular protruding portion 2h engages with an inner surface 4b of the outer tubular member 4 in the axial direction D1. With this configuration, the leading tube 2 is coupled to the outer tubular member 4 in an axially immovable and relatively rotatable manner.

The cap 3 includes an outer cap 3A in a bottomed cylindrical shape and an inner cap 3B in a stepped cylindrical shape that is held in a bottom portion of the outer cap 3A. The outer cap 3A is made of polypropylene (PP), for example. The inner cap 3B is made of thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE), for example. However, the material of the outer cap 3A and the material of the inner cap 3B are not limited to the above-described examples.

The outer tubular member 4 has, for example, a bottomed tubular shape (bottomed cylindrical shape as an example). The outer tubular member 4 is coupled to a side of the leading tube 2 opposite to the opening 2b. The outer tubular member 4 has a side surface 4c facing in a direction intersecting the axial direction D1. The outer tubular member 4 has a through hole 4d formed in the side surface 4c. For example, the through hole 4d extends from a center in the axial direction D1 of the outer tubular member 4 to an end portion (rear end portion) in the axial direction D1 of the outer tubular member 4.

The through hole 4d makes the inside and outside of the outer tubular member 4 communicate with each other. That is, the through hole 4d penetrates the outer tubular member 4 in a radial direction. The through hole 4d has, for example, a major axis 4f extending along the axial direction D1 and a minor axis 4g extending along a circumferential direction D2 of the outer tubular member 4. As an example, the through hole 4d is in a rectangular shape with rounded corners.

The through hole 4d is, for example, defined by linear portions 4h extending along the axial direction D1 and a pair of curved portions 4j curved in such a manner that the through hole 4d bulges outward at each of both ends of the linear portions 4h. In this case, the through hole 4d is defined by a pair of the linear portions 4h arranged along the circumferential direction D2 and the pair of curved portions 4j arranged along the axial direction D1.

The outer tubular member 4 has an opening 4r that a part of the leading tube 2 (rear side tubular portion 2B) enters. The outer tubular member 4 has, at the inner surface 4b of the outer tubular member 4, an annular recessed portion 4q recessed outward in the radial direction of the outer tubular member 4 and an annular protruding portion 4s located forward of the annular recessed portion 4q. The first annular protruding portion 2h of the leading tube 2 engages with the annular recessed portion 4q in the axial direction D1.

The application container 1 includes an inner tubular member 7 fixed within the outer tubular member 4 to the outer tubular member 4. The outer tubular member 4 has a protrusion 4p on the inner surface 4b of the outer tubular member 4. The protrusion 4p protrudes inward in the radial direction of the outer tubular member 4. The inner tubular member 7 engages with the protrusion 4p in the circumferential direction. With this configuration, the inner tubular member 7 engages with the outer tubular member 4 in a synchronously rotatable manner.

The push rod 6 is rotatable synchronously with the inner tubular member 7 within the inner tubular member 7. The push rod 6 advances with respect to the inner tubular member 7 and pushes the drawing material M, so that the drawing material M comes out from the opening 2b of the leading tube 2. The push rod 6 has a male screw 6b formed on a periphery of the push rod 6 and an engaging portion 6c that engages with the inner tubular member 7 in the circumferential direction D2. The male screw 6b and the engaging portion 6c are aligned along the axial direction D1. The male screw 6b is located forward of the engaging portion 6c.

The application container 1 includes a female screw member 8 in a tubular shape. The female screw member 8 is provided within the leading tube 2. More specifically, the female screw member 8 is housed in the rear side tubular portion 2B of the leading tube 2. For example, an end portion 8c in the axial direction D1 of the female screw member 8 projects from an opening 2p formed at one end in the axial direction D1 of the leading tube 2. The female screw member 8 is rotatable synchronously with the leading tube 2. The female screw member 8 internally has a female screw 8b. The male screw 6b of the push rod 6 screws into the female screw 8b. The push rod 6 and the female screw member 8 will be described later in detail.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 1A. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 2, the push rod 6 is housed in the inner tubular member 7, and the inner tubular member 7 is housed in the outer tubular member 4. A part of the inner tubular member 7 is exposed from the through hole 4d of the outer tubular member 4.

The inner tubular member 7 includes a transparent portion 7b. The “transparent portion” is a part or a component that is transparent. “Transparent” means having an average visible light transmittance of a certain value or more. The “certain value” is, for example, 60%, 80%, or 90%. “Transparent” may be colorless and transparent, colored and transparent, or translucent. In the present embodiment, the inside of the inner tubular member 7 is visible through the transparent portion 7b.

The inner tubular member 7 is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), for example. In the present embodiment, the inner tubular member 7 is made up of one or more transparent components. That is, the inner tubular member 7 is a transparent member. In this case, the transparent portion 7b is the whole of the inner tubular member 7. However, the transparent portion 7b may be a part of the inner tubular member 7. At least a part of the inner tubular member 7 that is exposed from the through hole 4d is the transparent portion 7b. Hence, the inside of the inner tubular member 7 is visible through the transparent portion 7b.

The outer tubular member 4 has, for example, a plurality of protrusions 4p. The inner tubular member 7 has, for example, a recessed portion 7c recessed inward in the radial direction of the inner tubular member 7. The plurality of protrusions 4p are arranged along the circumferential direction D2. The inner tubular member 7 has a plurality of recessed portions 7c. The plurality of recessed portions 7c are arranged along the circumferential direction D2. At least one of the plurality of protrusions 4p enters a recessed portion 7c.

In the example of FIG. 2, two of three protrusions 4p enter the recessed portions 7c. With this configuration, the outer tubular member 4 is fixed to the inner tubular member 7. Incidentally, in order to ensure airtightness within the application container 1, one of the inner surface 4b of the outer tubular member 4 and an outer surface 7d of the inner tubular member 7 may be provided with a projection for airtightness.

The push rod 6 includes a visible portion 6d that is visible from the outside of the inner tubular member 7 through the transparent portion 7b. The visible portion 6d is a part of the push rod 6 which part is visible from the outside of the inner tubular member 7 through the transparent portion 7b. The visible portion 6d includes, for example, a part (rear side portion) of the male screw 6b and the engaging portion 6c that engages with the inner tubular member 7.

The engaging portion 6c has a plurality of projections 6f that project outward in the radial direction of the push rod 6. The plurality of projections 6f are arranged along the circumferential direction D2. The inner tubular member 7 has a projection 7g on an inner surface 7f of the inner tubular member 7. The projection 7g projecting inward in the radial direction. For example, the inner tubular member 7 has a plurality of projections 7g arranged along the circumferential direction D2. The projections 7g each enters a space between two projections 6f arranged side by side along the circumferential direction D2.

The application container 1 includes a ratchet mechanism 9 located at a front end of the inner tubular member 7 and a rear end of the female screw member 8. The ratchet mechanism 9 allows a relative rotation in one direction of the outer tubular member 4 with respect to the leading tube 2, and restricts a relative rotation in a direction opposite to the one direction of the outer tubular member 4 with respect to the leading tube 2.

When the outer tubular member 4 is relatively rotated in the one direction with respect to the leading tube 2, the inner tubular member 7 and the push rod 6 are relatively rotated together with the outer tubular member 4 with respect to the leading tube 2 and the female screw member 8. The push rod 6 is thus relatively rotated with respect to the female screw member 8 and a screwing action between the male screw 6b and the female screw 8b functions, so that the push rod 6 advances with respect to the female screw member 8. Meanwhile, the push rod 6 does not retract because the outer tubular member 4 is prevented from being relatively rotated in the opposite direction with respect to the leading tube 2.

As described earlier, the push rod 6 advances with respect to the inner tubular member 7 and pushes the drawing material M. In the present embodiment, the push rod 6 is only allowed to advance with respect to the inner tubular member 7, and does not retract with respect to the inner tubular member 7. In an initial state, that is, when the drawing material M has not been used (when the drawing material M is unused), for example, the position in the axial direction D1 of a rear end 6g of the push rod 6 coincides with the position in the axial direction D1 of a rear end 4k of the through hole 4d.

Hence, in the initial state, the whole of the visible portion 6d of the push rod 6 is visible from the through hole 4d through the transparent portion 7b, and the visible portion 6d is visible in the whole in the axial direction D1 of the transparent portion 7b. Because the whole of the visible portion 6d is seen in the transparent portion 7b, the user of the application container 1 can recognize that the push rod 6 has not advanced and therefore the drawing material M has not been used.

When the push rod 6 advances and the drawing material M is used, the visible portion 6d advances in the transparent portion 7b, and the length in the axial direction D1 of the visible portion 6d that is visible decreases. By viewing the state in which the length of the visible portion 6d that can be seen through the transparent portion 7b is shortened, the user can recognize that the amount of the drawing material M has decreased.

When the drawing material M is further used and is about to be exhausted, the visible portion 6d further advances in the transparent portion 7b. Then, the position in the axial direction D1 of the rear end 6g of the push rod 6 and the position in the axial direction D1 of a front end 4t of the through hole 4d coincide with each other, and the visible portion 6d is no longer visible through the transparent portion 7b (see FIG. 8B). Because the visible portion 6d is no longer visible through the transparent portion 7b, the user can recognize that the drawing material M is about to be exhausted.

As described above, the remaining amount of the drawing material M is recognizable when the state of the visible portion 6d that is visible through the transparent portion 7b is visually checked. Incidentally, the visible portion 6d may be colored in order to make the display of the visible portion 6d through the transparent portion 7b easy to notice. In this case, with the length of the colored visible portion 6d visually checked the remaining amount of the drawing material M can be displayed in an easily noticeable manner.

Next, detailed structures of components of the application container 1 will be described. FIG. 3A is a side view illustrating the inner tubular member 7. FIG. 3B is a side view illustrating the inner tubular member 7 as viewed from a direction different from that of FIG. 3A. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 3A. As illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and FIG. 4, the inner tubular member 7 has, for example, a cylindrical shape extending along the axial direction D1.

The inner tubular member 7 has the recessed portions 7c extending along the axial direction D1 in the outer surface 7d, and a flat surface 7h formed in the outer surface 7d. The flat surface 7h is located on a side opposite to the part of the inner tubular member 7 exposed from the through hole 4d, as viewed from the center of the cross section of the inner tubular member 7 which cross section is orthogonal to the axial direction D1. The flat surface 7h, for example, faces one of the protrusions 4p of the outer tubular member 4. The flat surface 7h has a rectangular shape, for example, as viewed from the outside of the inner tubular member 7. The flat surface 7h extends from one end 7k in the axial direction D1 of the inner tubular member 7 to the vicinity of another end 7q in the axial direction D1 of the inner tubular member 7.

The recessed portions 7c extend from the one end 7k in the axial direction D1 of the inner tubular member 7 to the vicinity of a center in the axial direction D1 of the inner tubular member 7. The recessed portions 7c each include a widened portion 7j extending from the one end 7k in the axial direction D1 and a linear portion 7p extending from an end portion of the widened portion 7j on a side opposite to the one end 7k along the axial direction D1. The width (length in the circumferential direction D2) of the linear portion 7p is uniform. The width of the widened portion 7j increases from the linear portion 7p to the one end 7k.

The inner tubular member 7 has the projections 7g extending on the inner surface 7f from the one end 7k along the axial direction D1 and a protruding portion 7r extending from the other end 7q toward the one end 7k. The projections 7g extend linearly. The inner tubular member 7 has a plurality of protruding portions 7r. The plurality of protruding portions 7r are arranged along the circumferential direction D2. The plurality of protruding portions 7r constitute the ratchet mechanism 9. Functions of the ratchet mechanism 9 will be described later in detail.

FIG. 5A is a side view illustrating the push rod 6. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D of FIG. 5A. As illustrated in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, the push rod 6 includes the male screw 6b, the engaging portion 6c, an enlarged diameter portion 6h located at the rear end 6g, and a pressing portion 6k located at a front end 6j. The pressing portion 6k is a part that enters the second recessed portion 5c (see FIG. 1B) of the piston 5 and presses the piston 5 forward.

As described earlier, the engaging portion 6c has the projections 6f. The projections 6f each include a first part 6p extending from the enlarged diameter portion 6h along the axial direction D1 and a second part 6q extending from an end portion of the first part 6p opposite to the enlarged diameter portion 6h toward the male screw 6b. The projection height of the first part 6p projecting outward in the radial direction of the push rod 6 is, for example, higher than the projection height of the second part 6q projecting outward in the radial direction of the push rod 6.

FIG. 6A is a side view illustrating the female screw member 8. FIG. 6B is a side view illustrating the female screw member 8 as viewed from a direction different from that of FIG. 6A. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E of FIG. 6B. As illustrated in FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, and FIG. 7, the female screw member 8 includes a front side tubular portion 8d, a rear side tubular portion 8f, and a spring portion 8g located between the front side tubular portion 8d and the rear side tubular portion 8f.

The front side tubular portion 8d has a cylindrical shape, for example. The above-described female screw 8b of the female screw member 8 is, for example, formed inside the front side tubular portion 8d. The front side tubular portion 8d has a protruding portion 8j that protrudes outward in the radial direction of the female screw member 8 from an outer surface 8h of the front side tubular portion 8d and that extends along the axial direction D1. The protruding portion 8j engages with an inner surface 2q (see FIG. 1B) of the leading tube 2 in the circumferential direction D2. With this configuration, the female screw member 8 engages with the leading tube 2 so as to be rotatable synchronously with the leading tube 2 and movable in the axial direction D1 with respect to the leading tube 2.

The front side tubular portion 8d has a plurality of protruding portions 8j arranged along the circumferential direction D2. The plurality of protruding portions 8j include, for example, first protruding portions 8k and second protruding portions 8p having a longer length in the axial direction D1 than the first protruding portions 8k. The first protruding portions 8k and the second protruding portions 8p are disposed so as to be alternately arranged along the circumferential direction D2.

The spring portion 8g has a tubular portion 8q extending from the front side tubular portion 8d to the rear side tubular portion 8f, and a slit 8r that penetrates the tubular portion 8q in the radial direction of the female screw member 8 and that is formed in a helical manner. The outside diameter of the tubular portion 8q is, for example, smaller than the outside diameter of the front side tubular portion 8d and smaller than the outside diameter of the rear side tubular portion 8f. Because the spring portion 8g has the slit 8r formed in a helical manner in the tubular portion 8q, the spring portion 8g can be expanded and contracted in the axial direction D1.

The rear side tubular portion 8f has a cylindrical shape, for example. The rear side tubular portion 8f has a protruding portion 8t that protrudes outward in the radial direction of the female screw member 8 from an outer surface 8s of the rear side tubular portion 8f and that extends along the axial direction D1. As with the protruding portions 8j described above, the protruding portion 8t engages with the inner surface 2q of the leading tube 2 in the circumferential direction D2. The rear side tubular portion 8f has, for example, a plurality of protruding portions 8t arranged along the circumferential direction D2.

The female screw member 8 has a projecting portion 8v formed at one end thereof in the axial direction D1. The female screw member 8 has, for example, a plurality of projecting portions 8v. Each projecting portion 8v projects from the rear side tubular portion 8f in the axial direction D1. The projecting portion 8v is formed by an inclined surface 8w inclined with respect to both the axial direction D1 and the circumferential direction D2 and an abutment surface 8x extending in the axial direction D1 and the radial direction of the female screw member 8.

The plurality of projecting portions 8v are arranged along the circumferential direction D2. The abutment surface 8x extends in the forward direction from a rear end of the inclined surface 8w. The plurality of projecting portions 8v engage with the plurality of protruding portions 7r (see FIG. 4) of the inner tubular member 7 described earlier. The plurality of projecting portions 8v constitute the ratchet mechanism 9 together with the plurality of protruding portions 7r.

When the inner tubular member 7 is rotated relative to the female screw member 8 in a direction (one direction) in which the protruding portions 7r come into contact with the inclined surfaces 8w of the projecting portions 8v, the protruding portions 7r go over the inclined surfaces 8w in the circumferential direction D2, and the inner tubular member 7 and the push rod 6 are rotated relative to the female screw member 8. At this time, the screwing action described earlier functions, so that the push rod 6 advances with respect to the female screw member 8 and the drawing material M is pushed by the push rod 6 to be fed from the opening 2b of the leading tube 2.

On the other hand, when the inner tubular member 7 attempts to be rotated relative to the female screw member 8 in a direction (opposite direction) in which the protruding portions 7r come into contact with the abutment surfaces 8x of the projecting portions 8v, the protruding portions 7r do not go over the abutment surfaces 8x, and therefore, the inner tubular member 7 is not rotated relative to the female screw member 8. Hence, in the present embodiment, the push rod 6 does not retract with respect to the female screw member 8, and therefore, the drawing material M does not retract either. As described above, the ratchet mechanism 9 allows a relative rotation in the one direction of the inner tubular member 7 with respect to the female screw member 8, and restricts a relative rotation in the opposite direction of the inner tubular member 7 with respect to the female screw member 8.

Next, operation of parts of the application container 1 at the time of usage will be described. First, in the state illustrated in FIG. 1B, the cap 3 is removed from the leading tube 2 to expose the tapered surface 2c and the opening 2b of the leading tube 2. When the outer tubular member 4 is rotated in the one direction relative to the leading tube 2 in this state, the outer tubular member 4, the inner tubular member 7, and the push rod 6 are rotated in the one direction relative to the leading tube 2 and the female screw member 8. At this time, the screwing action between the female screw 8b and the male screw 6b functions and the push rod 6 advances with respect to the female screw member 8. The drawing material M is thus fed from the opening 2b of the leading tube 2, and the drawing material M is provided for usage.

As described earlier, when the drawing material M is used for the first time (in the initial state), the position in the axial direction D1 of the rear end 6g of the push rod 6 coincides with the position in the axial direction D1 of the rear end 4k of the through hole 4d. When the drawing material M is fed from the opening 2b of the leading tube 2 in this state, the visible portion 6d of the push rod 6 advances with respect to the transparent portion 7b of the inner tubular member 7, and the length of the part of the visible portion 6d which part is visible from the transparent portion 7b is shortened.

When the drawing material M is further used, the visible portion 6d further advances with respect to the transparent portion 7b as illustrated in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B. The position in the axial direction D1 of the rear end 6g of the push rod 6 coincides with the position in the axial direction D1 of the front end 4t of the through hole 4d when the drawing material M is about to be exhausted. At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 8B and FIG. 9A, the push rod 6 (visible portion 6d) ceases to be present on the inner side of the through hole 4d (inward with respect to the through hole 4d in the radial direction of the application container 1) due to the advancement of the push rod 6. The visible portion 6d is therefore no longer visible from the transparent portion 7b.

The inner tubular member 7, for example, has a printed portion 7s located on a side opposite to the through hole 4d, as viewed from the transparent portion 7b. As illustrated in FIG. 8B, FIG. 9A, and FIG. 10A, the printed portion 7s is, for example, provided at an end portion on a front side in an exposed portion 7t. The exposed portion 7t is a part of the inner tubular member 7 exposed from the through hole 4d.

The printed portion 7s is provided on the flat surface 7h. The printed portion 7s is formed by ink, for example. The printed portion 7s is character information. The printed portion 7s is, for example, a display to the effect that the drawing material M will soon be exhausted (characters “end” as an example). The printed portion 7s is hidden by the push rod 6 and is thus not visible when the push rod 6 is present on the inner side of the exposed portion 7t.

However, when the push rod 6 advances as the drawing material M is used and then the rear end 6g of the push rod 6 reaches a front end portion of the exposed portion 7t, the printed portion 7s that has been hidden by the push rod 6 starts to appear from its rear side. Further, when the rear end 6g advances beyond the front end portion of the exposed portion 7t, all of the printed portion 7s is visible. Accordingly, the user can recognize that the drawing material M is about to be exhausted.

FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view illustrating an inner tubular member 7A according to a modification. The inner tubular member 7A includes a transparent portion 7v having a shape different from that of the transparent portion 7b. A configuration of the inner tubular member 7A other than the transparent portion 7v is identical to that of the inner tubular member 7. Each of the inner tubular member 7 and the inner tubular member 7A has an outer surface 7w facing the outer tubular member 4 and an inner surface 7f facing the push rod 6.

Each of the transparent portion 7b and the transparent portion 7v has a first surface 7y exposed from the through hole 4d and a second surface 7z facing in a direction opposite to the first surface 7y. In a cross section orthogonal to the axial direction D1, the first surface 7y of the transparent portion 7b and the second surface 7z of the transparent portion 7b are formed in a circular arc shape and extend in parallel with each other.

In a cross section orthogonal to the axial direction D1, the first surface 7y of the transparent portion 7v is formed in a circular arc shape. In the cross section orthogonal to the axial direction D1, the second surface 7z of the transparent portion 7v includes a protruding surface portion 7z1 that protrudes inward of the inner tubular member 7A with respect to an imaginary extension surface S extending along the inner surface 7f.

The protruding surface portion 7z1, for example, has a flat shape extending in a direction orthogonal to the radial direction of the inner tubular member 7A. However, the protruding surface portion 7z1 may protrude inward in the radial direction of the inner tubular member 7A. Because the transparent portion 7v has the protruding surface portion 7z1, the printed portion 7s appears to be larger due to effects of a lens when the printed portion 7s is viewed from the through hole 4d than in a case where the protruding surface portion 7z1 is not provided.

Next, operational effects obtained from the application container 1 according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail. As illustrated in FIG. 1B and FIG. 8B, according to the application container 1, it is possible to recognize the remaining amount of the drawing material M when the visible portion 6d of the push rod 6 that is visible through the transparent portion 7b is viewed.

In the application container 1, the inner tubular member 7 including the transparent portion 7b is fixed to the outer tubular member 4, and the inner tubular member 7 does not move with respect to the outer tubular member 4. Hence, because the inner tubular member 7, which is located between the through hole 4d of the outer tubular member 4 and the push rod 6, does not move, a possibility of foreign matter entering the inner side of the through hole 4d can be reduced. A hygienic application container 1 can therefore be provided. Further, because the inner tubular member 7 is fixed on the inner side of the through hole 4d to the outer tubular member 4, airtightness on the inner side of the through hole 4d can be ensured.

In the present embodiment, the application container 1 includes the tubular female screw member 8 that is rotatable synchronously with the leading tube 2 within the leading tube 2 and that internally has the female screw 8b. The push rod 6 has the male screw 6b that screws into the female screw 8b. The outer tubular member 4 is rotatable relative to the leading tube 2. In response to a relative rotation of the outer tubular member 4 with respect to the leading tube 2, the screwing action between the male screw 6b and the female screw 8b functions, so that the push rod 6 advances with respect to the female screw member 8. In this case, when the outer tubular member 4 is relatively rotated with respect to the leading tube 2, the push rod 6 advances and the drawing material M can come out from the opening 2b by the push rod 6.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, and FIG. 10A, the inner tubular member 7 has the printed portion 7s located on a side opposite to the through hole 4d as viewed from the transparent portion 7b. The remaining amount of the drawing material M is recognizable when the printed portion 7s is visually checked. In this case, the user using the application container 1 can more directly recognize the remaining amount of the drawing material M by visually checking the printed portion 7s. In the case of the example illustrated in FIG. 10A, the user can recognize by viewing the printed portion 7s that the drawing material M is about to be exhausted. Hence, the remaining amount of the drawing material M is more noticeable.

As described earlier, the inner tubular member 7A has the outer surface 7w facing the outer tubular member 4 and the inner surface 7f facing the push rod 6, and the transparent portion 7v has the first surface 7y exposed from the through hole 4d and the second surface 7z facing in a direction opposite to the first surface 7y. The second surface 7z may have the protruding surface portion 7z1 that protrudes inward of the inner tubular member 7A with respect to the imaginary extension surface S extending along the inner surface 7f. In this case, because the second surface 7z of the transparent portion 7v protrudes inward, the transparent portion 7v has a lens shape. Hence, the printed portion 7s appears to be enlarged when the printed portion 7s is visually checked through the transparent portion 7v. The remaining amount of the drawing material M can therefore be displayed in a more noticeable manner.

In the present embodiment, the application container 1 includes the ratchet mechanism 9 that allows a relative rotation in the one direction of the outer tubular member 4 with respect to the leading tube 2 and that restricts a relative rotation in the direction opposite to the one direction of the outer tubular member 4 with respect to the leading tube 2. The push rod 6 that is capable of only advancing in response to the relative rotation in the one direction of the outer tubular member 4 with respect to the leading tube 2 is visible through the transparent portion 7b. In this case, since the push rod 6 does not retract, the display of the remaining amount of the drawing material M using the visible portion 6d of the push rod 6 can be more accurate. Hence, the remaining amount of the drawing material M can be recognized more appropriately.

The application containers according to the embodiment and the modification of the present disclosure have been described above. However, the application container according to the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment or the modification described above, and may be further modified within the scope of the spirit described in claims. That is, the shapes, sizes, materials, number, and arrangement of parts of the application container according to the present disclosure can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the spirit described above.

For example, the foregoing embodiment has described the printed portion 7s as character information formed at the end portion on the front side in the exposed portion 7t of the inner tubular member 7, as illustrated in FIG. 10A. However, the configuration of the printed portion is not limited to the example of FIG. 10A. As illustrated in FIG. 10B, the inner tubular member 7 may have a printed portion 17s that indicates a remaining amount rate of the drawing material M, in place of the printed portion 7s.

The printed portion 17s includes, for example, a first printed portion 17s1 located at a center in the axial direction D1 of the exposed portion 7t and a second printed portion 17s2 located at the end portion on the front side of the exposed portion 7t. The first printed portion 17s1 is character information indicating that the remaining amount of the drawing material M is approximately half (approximately 50%). The second printed portion 17s2 is character information indicating that the drawing material M is about to be exhausted (close to approximately 0%).

According to the application container including the inner tubular member having the printed portion 17s, the user can recognize the remaining amount of the drawing material M with higher accuracy by viewing the first printed portion 17s1 and the second printed portion 17s2 that gradually appear from the rearward direction as the drawing material M is used. Hence, the user can predict a timing of replacing the application container 1 with higher accuracy.

Incidentally, in the example of FIG. 10B, the first printed portion 17s1 displaying “50%” and the second printed portion 17s2 displaying “0%” have been described. However, printed portions displaying 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% may be provided in place of the first printed portion 17s1 and the second printed portion 17s2.

Further, the printed portions do not have to be character information such as “0%,” and may be, for example, a scale indicating the remaining amount rate of the drawing material M. Such scale may be formed on the transparent portion 7b, or may be formed at a position above or below the transparent portion 7b on the outer tubular member 4 as viewed from the side. Thus, the configuration of the printed portion indicating the remaining amount of the drawing material M can be modified as appropriate.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 10C and FIG. 10D, an application container including an inner tubular member not having the printed portion may be provided. In this case, a ratio of a length A2 of the visible portion 6d of the push rod 6 to a length A1 of the transparent portion 7b represents the remaining amount of the drawing material M. FIG. 10C indicates that the remaining amount of the drawing material M is approximately 90%. FIG. 10D indicates that the remaining amount of the drawing material M is approximately 5%. It is thus possible to omit the printed portion.

In the foregoing embodiment, description has been made of the application container 1 that includes the ratchet mechanism 9 allowing only a relative rotation in the one direction of the outer tubular member 4 with respect to the leading tube 2 and in which the push rod 6 that is capable of only advancing is visible. Alternatively, an application container not including the ratchet mechanism 9 may be provided. An application container may be provided which allows relative rotations in the one direction and the opposite direction of the outer tubular member with respect to the leading tube, and in which a push rod that is capable of advancing and retracting is visible. Also in this case, operational effects similar to those of the foregoing embodiment are obtained when the position of the push rod in a state in which a front end of the drawing material is exposed at the opening of the leading tube is viewed from the transparent portion.

In the foregoing embodiment, description has been made of the application container 1 including the inner tubular member 7 and the female screw member 8 having the female screw 8b and the spring portion 8g. Alternatively, the application container may include an inner tubular member having a female screw and a spring portion, in place of the inner tubular member 7 and the female screw member 8. In this case, the number of parts of the application container can be reduced.

In the foregoing embodiment, description has been made of the application container 1 that feeds the drawing material M by a relative rotation in the one direction of the outer tubular member 4 with respect to the leading tube 2. Alternatively, the application container may be an application container that does not use the relative rotation. That is, the application container may be one that has a mechanical extruding mechanism of a knock type or the like and that extrudes the drawing material by the extruding mechanism, or may be one that includes an extruding mechanism of a squeeze type.

In the foregoing embodiment, description has been made of the application container 1 provided with the drawing material M as a cosmetic material. Alternatively, the drawing material may be one other than a cosmetic material. For example, the drawing material may be a core material used in a writing instrument such as a crayon. Thus, the application container according to the present disclosure can be applied to not only cosmetic materials but also various drawing materials in writing instruments, stationery, and the like.

APPLICATION CONTAINER

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CPC

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Abstract

Description

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Priority Claims (1)