U.S. patent application number 11/658557 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-11 for squeeze bottle and eye dropper using the same.
Invention is credited to Hartmut Loth-Krausser.
Application Number | 20080302830 11/658557 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35786222 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080302830 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Loth-Krausser; Hartmut |
December 11, 2008 |
Squeeze Bottle and Eye Dropper Using the Same
Abstract
To provide a squeeze bottle with reduced pressing force required
to delivery a liquid, and particularly a squeeze bottle wherein the
pressing force is reduced to such an extent that allows easy
control of the discharge of liquid drops even when a valve operated
by the liquid pressure is provided. In a squeeze bottle comprising
the bottle body 10 for containing a liquid, and a neck 11 that
leads to the opening end 10a of the bottle body 10, the bottle body
10 has a bellows 12 which is contracted and expanded in the
direction y generally perpendicular to the direction x of
delivering liquid. The bellows 12 has a plurality of pleated
portions 13 disposed in the direction of delivery x. The pleated
portions 13 are disposed at intervals in the direction of
contraction y. Further, the width of the convex edge of the pleated
portion 13 in the direction of width Z, that is, the distance
between the both edges 14, is made to decrease from the middle to
the both ends in the direction of contraction y. With respect to
the concave edge of the pleated portion 13, the distance between
the both edges 18 in the direction of width z is also made to
decrease from the middle to the both ends in the direction of
contraction y.
Inventors: |
Loth-Krausser; Hartmut;
(Stockstadt am Rhein, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FINNEGAN, HENDERSON, FARABOW, GARRETT & DUNNER;LLP
901 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20001-4413
US
|
Family ID: |
35786222 |
Appl. No.: |
11/658557 |
Filed: |
July 26, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
July 26, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP05/13638 |
371 Date: |
January 25, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/215 ;
222/212; 222/420; 222/494 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 1/32 20130101; A61F
9/0008 20130101; B65D 47/2031 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/215 ;
222/420; 222/212; 222/494 |
International
Class: |
B65D 37/00 20060101
B65D037/00; B65D 47/18 20060101 B65D047/18; B65D 35/38 20060101
B65D035/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 23, 2004 |
DE |
10 2004 063 350.9 |
Claims
1. A squeeze bottle comprising a bottle body for containing a
liquid, and a neck that leads to an opening end of the bottle body,
wherein the bottle body has a bellows that contracts and expands in
a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of delivery of
the liquid that is discharged through the neck, the bellows has a
plurality of pleated portions disposed in the direction of
delivery, each of the pleated portions is disposed at intervals
from each other in the direction of contraction, a width of the
pleated portion at a convex edge in a direction perpendicular to
the direction of contraction is made to decrease from a middle to
both ends in the direction of contraction, and a width of the
pleated portion at a concave edge in the direction perpendicular to
the direction of contraction is made to decrease from the middle to
the both ends in the direction of contraction.
2. The squeeze bottle according to claim 1, wherein the both edges
at the convex edges of the pleated portion in the direction
perpendicular to the direction of contraction are disposed
generally along a circle when viewed in the direction of delivery,
and the both edges at the concave edges of the pleated portion in
the direction perpendicular to the direction of contraction are
disposed along a generally concentric circle of a radius smaller
than that of the former circle when viewed in the direction of
delivery.
3. The squeeze bottle according to claim 1, wherein the bottle body
has a cylindrical portion that adjoins the bellows in the direction
of delivery, the both edges at the convex edges of the pleated
portion in the direction perpendicular to the direction of
contraction are disposed along a circumferential surface of the
cylindrical portion when viewed in the direction of delivery, and
the both edges at the concave edges of the pleated portion in the
direction perpendicular to the direction of contraction are
disposed along a generally concentric circle of a radius smaller
than the circumference of the cylindrical portion when viewed in
the direction of delivery.
4. The squeeze bottle according to claim 1 that is formed by blow
molding.
5. The squeeze bottle according to claim 1, which is provided with
a delivery member that is connected detachably to the neck and has
a valve operated by liquid pressure.
6. An eye dropper that utilizes the squeeze bottle according to
claim 1.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a squeeze bottle with
reduced pressing force required to delivery a liquid, and to an eye
dropper that uses the same.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] An ophthalmic solution contained in an eye dropper includes
an antiseptic agent added therein so as to prevent the liquid from
becoming corrupt, degenerating or otherwise degrading. However,
there are such problems that some types of ophthalmic solution
prohibit the addition of an antiseptic agent, and that the
antiseptic agent may become an allergen. Accordingly, it has been
called for to either discontinue the use of the antiseptic agent or
significantly reduce the quantity thereof.
[0003] The present applicant previously proposed a delivery
container provided with, at a mouth of the container body, a
delivery port having a valve that operates in response to liquid
pressure (Patent Document 1). With this container, when the
container body is pressed so as to deform the valve that blocks the
delivery port by means of liquid pressure, a liquid drop is
delivered. When the pressure applied to the container body is
removed, the valve restores itself to the original shape and the
delivery port is blocked up, so that backflow of the discharged
liquid and infiltration of microorganisms and the like from the
outside of the container can be prevented. Accordingly, use of this
container as an eye dropper enables it to either discontinue the
use of the antiseptic agent or significantly reduce the quantity
thereof.
[0004] Meanwhile there is a demand for such a container having a
delivery port with a valve, to reduce the pressing force required
to discharge a liquid drop. Moreover, there is such a demand that
it should be easy to control the force of pressing the container
body so as to freely control the discharge of liquid drops,
specifically, it should be easy to control the liquid drop to be
delivered one by one, while preventing the problem of continuous
flow of the liquid under an excessive force.
[0005] However, for example, in the case of a cylindrical squeeze
bottle 90, since a width Wa of plane of projection of a bottle body
91 when the bottle body 91 is pressed and deformed is larger than a
width Wb of the plane of projection before the bottle body 91 is
pressed (FIG. 8), the force which fingers f receive (reactive
force) significantly increases as the bottle body 91 is deformed.
As a result, in case the squeeze bottle 90 such as shown in FIG. 8
is provided with the delivery port having the valve described
above, the bottle is pressed until the activating pressure of the
valve is attained, thus inevitably resulting in the state of
Wa>Wb. Therefore, in this case, it is difficult to reduce the
force required to press the bottle body.
[0006] On the other hand, patent document 2 describes an
application tool having at least one bellows that has folding lines
running vertically, provided on a side surface of the container
body.
[Patent Document 1] WO2004/011345 A1
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
2000-107673
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0007] In the container body of the application tool described in
Patent Document 2, the pressing surface of the pleated portions
disposed on both ends of the bellows in the contracting direction
thereof are formed with a width comparable to that of the container
body, so that projection of the pleated portion that constitutes
the pressing surface onto a plane perpendicular to the direction of
contraction substantially coincides with the projection of the
container body onto a plane perpendicular to the direction of
contraction (refer to FIGS. 1 to 8 of said Patent Document).
Therefore, the problem that the force which fingers receive
increases as the container body is deformed when the container body
is pressed with fingers can be prevented.
[0008] However, in the application tool described in Patent
Document 2, a width of the pleated portion, which forms the
bellows, in direction perpendicular to the contracting direction of
the bellows, is substantially constant between the middle and ends
along the contracting direction. As a result, when the container
body is pressed for compression, pleated portions are put one on
another, thus generating a large reactive force.
[0009] Further, in case the container body is formed by blow
molding, a parison 92 is expanded with greatly different expansion
ratios depending on the portion thereof that would make different
wall portions 94 of the container body 93 (refer to FIG. 9 of the
present invention). This results in such problems as wall thickness
of the container body varies from one portion to another or it
becomes difficult to form the container body by blow molding.
[0010] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to
provide a squeeze bottle with reduced force of pressing the
container body required to deliver a liquid, and particularly a
squeeze bottle that allows it to easily control the discharge of
liquid drops, even when a valve operated by the liquid pressure is
provided in the delivery port of the container that utilizes the
squeeze bottle.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0011] In order to achieve the object described above, the present
invention provides the following devices:
[0012] (1) a squeeze bottle comprising a bottle body for containing
a liquid, and a neck that leads to an opening end of the bottle
body, wherein the bottle body has a bellows that contracts and
expands in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of
delivering the liquid that is discharged through the neck, the
bellows has a plurality of pleated portions disposed in the
direction of delivery, each pleated portion is disposed at
intervals from each other in the direction of contraction, the
width of the pleated portion at the convex edge in a direction
perpendicular to the direction of contraction is made to decrease
from the middle to the both ends in the direction of contraction,
and
[0013] the width of the pleated portion at the concave edge in the
direction perpendicular to the direction of contraction is made to
decrease from the middle to the both ends in the direction of
contraction;
[0014] (2) the squeeze bottle according to above (1), wherein the
both edges at the convex edges of the pleated portion in the
direction perpendicular to the contracting direction are disposed
generally along a circle when viewed in the direction of delivery,
and the both edges at the concave edges of the pleated portion in
the direction perpendicular to the contracting direction are
disposed along a generally concentric circle of a radius smaller
than that of the former circle when viewed in the direction of
delivery;
[0015] (3) the squeeze bottle according to above (1), wherein the
bottle body has a cylindrical portion that adjoins the bellows in
the direction of delivery, the both edges at the convex edges of
the pleated portion in the direction perpendicular to the
contracting direction are disposed along the circumferential
surface of the cylindrical portion when viewed in the direction of
delivery, and the both edges at the concave edges of the pleated
portion in the direction perpendicular to the contracting direction
are disposed along a generally concentric circle of a radius
smaller than the circumference of the cylindrical portion when
viewed in the direction of delivery;
[0016] (4) the squeeze bottle according to above (1) that is formed
by blow molding;
[0017] (5) the squeeze bottle according to above (1), which is
provided with a delivery member that is connected detachably to the
neck and has a valve operated by liquid pressure; and
[0018] (6) an eye dropper that utilizes the squeeze bottle
according to above (1).
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0019] With the squeeze bottle of the present invention, since the
bottle body is provided with the bellows, fingers that press the
bottle body do not receive reactive force from the entire bottle
body.
[0020] The bellows has a plurality of pleated portions disposed in
the direction of delivery of the squeeze bottle, while the widths
of the convex edges of the pleated portions perpendicular to the
contracting direction decreases from the middle toward the both
ends in the contracting direction, and widths of the concave edges
of the pleated portions perpendicular to the contracting direction
also decreases from the middle toward the both ends in the
contracting direction, so that the pleated portions are not put one
on another so much when the container body is pressed to deform,
thus reducing the reactive force received by the fingers. Moreover,
with the constitution described above, since the projection of the
pleated portion, located at both ends among the pleated portions in
the direction of contraction, onto a plane perpendicular to the
direction of contraction falls within the projection of a pleated
portion, other than the pleated portions located at the both ends,
onto a plane perpendicular to the direction of contraction, the
pressing force required to deliver the liquid from the squeeze
bottle can be greatly reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] [FIG. 1] One embodiment of the squeeze bottle according to
the present invention, (a) being a partially cut-away front view,
(b) being a side view and (c) being a sectional view taken along
lines A-A in (a).
[0022] [FIG. 2] A front view of the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 1
having a delivery member provided with a valve.
[0023] [FIG. 3] A front view showing an example of modifying the
design of the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 1.
[0024] [FIG. 4] Another embodiment of the squeeze bottle according
to the present invention, (a) being a partially cut-away front
view, (b) being a side view and (c) being a bottom view.
[0025] [FIG. 5] A front view of the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 4
having a delivery member provided with a valve.
[0026] [FIG. 6] A further another embodiment of the squeeze bottle
according to the present invention, (a) being a partially cut-away
front view, (b) being a side view and (c) being a sectional view
taken along lines B-B in (a).
[0027] [FIG. 7] A front view of the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 6
having a delivery member provided with a valve.
[0028] [FIG. 8] (a) is a perspective view showing an example of
conventional squeeze bottle, and (b) is a schematic diagram showing
a body of the squeeze bottle being pressed.
[0029] [FIG. 9] A schematic cross sectional view showing the
relationship between a conventional container having a bellows and
a parison used in forming the same.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0030] 10, 20, 30: Bottle body [0031] 10a, 20a, 30a: Opening end
[0032] 11, 21, 31: Neck [0033] 12, 22, 32: Bellows [0034] 13, 23,
33: Pleated portion [0035] 14, 24, 34: Both edges [0036] 16, 36:
Cylindrical portion [0037] 17, 37: Circumferential surface [0038]
80, 80': Delivery member [0039] 81: Valve
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0040] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0041] FIG. 1(a) to FIG. 1(c) show a first embodiment of the
squeeze bottle according to the present invention. The squeeze
bottle shown in FIG. 1 comprises a bottle body 10 for containing a
liquid, and a neck 11 that leads to an opening end 10a of the
bottle body.
[0042] The bottle body 10 has a bellows 12 which can be freely
contracted and expanded in a direction (direction of contraction y)
generally perpendicular to the direction x of delivering liquid
from the neck 11 of the bottle body 10. The bellows 12 has a
plurality of pleated portions 13 disposed in the direction of
delivery x. The pleated portions 13 are disposed at intervals in
the direction of contraction y of the bellows 12. The bottle body
10 further comprises a cylindrical portion 16 that is disposed
adjacent to the bellows 12 in the direction of delivery x.
[0043] In the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 1, the projection of the
pleated portions 13a, located at both ends in the direction of
contraction y among the pleated portions 13 that form the bellows
12, onto a plane perpendicular to the direction of contraction y
falls within the projection of any pleated portion 13b, other than
the pleated portions 13a onto a plane perpendicular to the
direction of contraction y.
[0044] Moreover, both edges 14 at the convex edge of the pleated
portion 13 in a direction (direction of width) z perpendicular to
the direction of contraction y are disposed along the
circumferential surface 17 of the cylindrical portion 16, and width
of the convex edge in the direction of width z, namely the distance
between the both edges 14 is made to decrease from the middle to
the ends in the direction of contraction y.
[0045] Both edges 18 at the concave edge of the pleated portion 13
in the direction of width z are also disposed substantially along a
circle 19 shown in FIG. 1, and the distance between the both edges
18 is made to decrease from the middle to the ends in the direction
of contraction y.
[0046] Therefore, in the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 1, projection
A (indicated by hatching in FIG. 1(b)) of a pair of surfaces 15
(hereinafter referred to as pressing surface) of the bellows 12
located at both ends thereof in the direction of contraction y,
which serves as the pressing surface of the squeeze bottle, onto a
plane perpendicular to the direction of contraction y is made
smaller than the projection B of any pleated portion 13b (not
shown), other than the pleated portion 13a located at both ends in
the direction of contraction y, onto a plane perpendicular to the
direction of contraction y.
[0047] While width of the projection A is denoted by W.sub.A and
width of the projection B which has the largest area is denoted by
W.sub.B in FIG. 1(b), width of the projection A of the pressing
surface 15 is smaller than the width of the projection B as can be
seen from the drawing and, furthermore, the projection A is smaller
than the projection of the cylindrical portion 16 onto a plane
perpendicular to the direction of contraction y.
[0048] As a result, area of the pressing surface 15 can be
prevented from increasing when the pressing surface 15 is pressed
so as to deform the bottle body 10, and the pressing force required
to deform the bottle body 10 can also be restricted from
increasing.
[0049] Further, according to the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 1,
the both edges 18 at the concave edges of the pleated portions 13
are not to be put one on another so much when the pressing surface
15 is pressed to deform, thus reducing the reactive force received
by the fingers.
[0050] Moreover, according to the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 1,
since widths of the convex edges and concave edges of the pleated
portions 13 in the direction (direction of width) z perpendicular
to the direction of contraction y is made to decrease from the
middle to the ends in the direction of contraction y, as described
above, it is prevented that difference in expansion ratios of a
parison and difference in wall thickness after molding depending on
the wall portion of the container body are made, when the container
body is formed by blow molding. Therefore, the squeeze bottle shown
in FIG. 1 is advantageously formed by blow molding.
[0051] FIG. 2 shows the neck 11 of the squeeze bottle shown in FIG.
1 provided with a delivery member 80 having a valve 81 operated by
the liquid pressure connected detachably thereto.
[0052] While there are no limitations on the shape, structure,
method of operation and the like of the valve 81 of the delivery
member 80, various known valves including, for example, the valve
described in Patent Document 1 may be used. In the case of the
delivery member 80 shown in FIG. 1, the valve 81 normally makes
contact with a valve support member 82 to block a delivery orifice
83. On the other hand, when the bottle body 10 is pressed to apply
a liquid pressure to the valve 81, the valve 81 opens toward the
outside so that a clearance is formed in relation to the valve
support member 82. As a result, the liquid drop can be delivered
through the delivery orifice 83. When the liquid pressure applied
to the valve 81 is removed, the valve 81 restores the original
shape to close the delivery orifice 83, thereby preventing the back
flow of the liquid.
[0053] In the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 2, the delivery member
80 is fastened by being screwed onto a threaded portion 11a formed
on the neck 11 of the bottle body 10. The means of fastening the
delivery member is not limited to this, and it may be fastened by
simply engaging the delivery member and the neck of the bottle to
each other.
[0054] According to the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 2, while the
delivery member 80 having the valve 81 operated by the liquid
pressure is provided, liquid drops can be delivered with a small
force that can be freely controlled. Further, when the squeeze
bottle shown in FIG. 2 is used as an eye dropper, the ophthalmic
solution can be easily delivered with a small pressure by means of
two fingers, for example, a thumb and an index finger, while the
quantity of the liquid delivered can be easily controlled.
[0055] FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of modifying the
design of the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 1. In the first
embodiment described above, length of a bellows 12' in the
direction of delivery x is not restricted, but a pleated portion
13' may extend to near the bottom of the bottle body (cylindrical
portion 16') shown in FIG. 3.
[0056] FIG. 4(a) to FIG. 4(c) show a second embodiment of the
squeeze bottle according to the present invention. As shown in FIG.
4, the squeeze bottle is provided with a bottle body 20 for
containing a liquid, and a neck 21 that leads to an opening end 20a
of the bottle body 20, similarly to the first embodiment.
[0057] The bottle body 20 has a bellows 22 which can be freely
contracted and expanded in the direction (direction of contraction
y) generally perpendicular to the direction x of delivering liquid
from the neck 21 of the bottle body 20. The bellows 22 has a
plurality of pleated portions 23 disposed in the direction of
delivery x. The pleated portions 23 are disposed at intervals in
the direction of contraction y of the bellows 22.
[0058] In the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 4, projection of the
pleated portion 23a, located at both ends in the direction of
contraction y, among the pleated portions 23 that form the bellows
22, onto a plane perpendicular to the direction of contraction y
falls within the projection of any pleated portion 23b, other than
the pleated portion 23a, onto a plane perpendicular to the
direction of contraction y.
[0059] Moreover, distance between the both edges 24 at the convex
edge of the pleated portions 23 in the direction (direction of
width) z perpendicular to the contracting direction y is made to
decrease from the middle to the ends in the direction of
contraction y, and distance between the both edges at the concave
edge of the pleated portions 23 is also made to decrease from the
middle to the ends in the direction of contraction y.
[0060] Therefore, in the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 4, projection
C (indicated by hatching in FIG. 4(b)) of a pair of surfaces 25
(hereinafter referred to as pressing surface) of the bellows 22
located at both ends thereof in the direction of contraction y,
which serves as the pressing surface of the squeeze bottle, onto a
plane perpendicular to the direction of contraction y is smaller
than the projection D (not shown) of any pleated portion 23b, other
than pleated portion 23a located at both ends in the direction of
contraction y, onto a plane perpendicular to the direction of
contraction y.
[0061] While width of the projection C is denoted by W.sub.c and
width of the projection D which has the largest area is denoted by
W.sub.D in FIG. 4(b), width of the projection C of the pressing
surface 25 is smaller than the width of the projection D, as is
clear from this figure.
[0062] As a result, area of the pressing surface 25 can be
restricted from increasing when the pressing surface 25 is pressed
to deform the bottle body 20, and the pressing force required to
deform the bottle body 20 can also be restricted from
increasing.
[0063] Further, according to the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 4,
both edges at the concave edges of the pleated portions 23 are not
likely to be put one on another so much when the pressing surface
25 is pressed to deform, thus reducing the reactive force received
by the fingers.
[0064] Moreover, according to the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 4,
since widths of the convex edges and concave edges of the pleated
portions 23 in the direction (direction of width) z perpendicular
to the direction of contraction y is made to decrease from the
middle to the ends in the direction of contraction y, as described
above, it is prevented that difference in expansion ratios of a
parison and difference in wall thickness after molding depending on
the wall portion of the container body are made, when the container
body is formed by blow molding. Therefore, the squeeze bottle shown
in FIG. 4 is advantageously formed by blow molding.
[0065] FIG. 5 shows the neck 21 of the squeeze bottle shown in FIG.
4 provided with a delivery member 80' having the valve 81 operated
by the liquid pressure connected detachably thereto.
[0066] The shape, structure, method of operation and the like of
the valve 81 of the delivery port 80' are similar to those of the
first embodiment.
[0067] In the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 5, the delivery member
80' is fastened by fitting an engagement portion 21a provided on
the neck 21 of the bottle body 20 with a protruding portion formed
on the inner circumference of the delivery portion 80'.
[0068] According to the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 5, while the
delivery member 80 having the valve 81 operated by the liquid
pressure is provided, liquid drops can be delivered with a small
force that can be freely controlled. Further, when the squeeze
bottle shown in FIG. 5 is used as eye dropper, the ophthalmic
solution can be easily delivered with a small pressure by means of
two fingers, for example, a thumb and an index finger, while the
quantity of the liquid delivered can be easily controlled.
[0069] FIG. 6(a) to FIG. 6(c) show a third embodiment of the
squeeze bottle according to the present invention. As shown in FIG.
6, the squeeze bottle is provided with the bottle body 30 for
containing a liquid, and a neck 31 that leads to an opening end 30a
of the bottle body 30, similarly to the first and second
embodiment.
[0070] The bottle body 30 has a bellows 32 which can be freely
contracted and expanded in the direction (direction of contraction
y) generally perpendicular to the direction x of delivering liquid
from the neck 31 of the bottle body 30. The bellows 32 has a
plurality of pleated portions 33 disposed in the direction of
delivery x. The pleated portions 33 are disposed at intervals in
the direction of contraction y of the bellows 32.
[0071] In the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 6, projection of the
pleated portion 33a, located at both ends in the direction of
contraction y, among the pleated portions 33 that form the bellows
32, onto a plane perpendicular to the direction of contraction y
falls within the projection of any pleated portion 33b, other than
the pleated portion 33a, onto a plane perpendicular to the
direction of contraction y.
[0072] Moreover, the both edges 34 of the pleated portions 33 at
the convex edge in the direction (direction of width) z
perpendicular to the direction of contraction y are disposed along
circumferential surface 37 of the cylindrical portion 36, and width
of the convex edge in the direction of width z, namely the distance
between the both edges 34, is made to decrease from the middle to
the both ends in the direction of contraction y.
[0073] The both edges 38 of the pleated portions 33 at the concave
edge in the direction of width z are also disposed along a circle
39 shown in FIG. 6, and the distance between the both edges 38 is
made to decrease from the middle to the ends in the direction of
contraction y.
[0074] Therefore, in the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 6, projection
E (indicated by hatching in FIG. 6(b)) of a pair of surfaces 35
(hereinafter referred to as pressing surface) of the bellows 32
located at both ends thereof in the direction of contraction y,
which serves as the pressing surface of the squeeze bottle, onto a
plane perpendicular to the direction of contraction y is smaller
than the projection F (not shown) of any pleated portion 33b, other
than pleated portion 33a located at both ends in the direction of
contraction y, onto a plane perpendicular to the direction of
contraction y.
[0075] While width of the projection E is denoted by W.sub.E and
width of the projection F which has the largest area is denoted by
W.sub.F in FIG. 6(b), width W.sub.E of the projection E of the
pressing surface 35 is smaller than the width W.sub.F of the
projection F, as is clear from this figure.
[0076] As a result, area of the pressing surface 35 can be
restricted from increasing when the pressing surface 35 is pressed
to deform the bottle body 30, and the pressing force required to
deform the bottle 30 can also be restricted from increasing.
[0077] Further, according to the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 6,
both edges 38 at the concave edges of the pleated portions 33 are
not to be put one on another so much when the pressing surface 35
is pressed to deform, thus reducing the reactive force received by
the fingers.
[0078] Moreover, according to the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 6,
since widths of the convex edges and the concave edges of the
pleated portions 33 in the direction (direction of width) z
perpendicular to the direction of contraction y is made to decrease
from the middle to the both ends in the direction of contraction y,
as described above, it is prevented that difference in expansion
ratios of a parison and difference in wall thickness after molding
depending on the wall portion of the container body are made, when
the container body is formed by blow molding. Therefore, the
squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 6 is advantageously formed by blow
molding.
[0079] FIG. 7 shows the neck 31 of the squeeze bottle shown in FIG.
6 provided with the delivery member 80 having the valve 81 operated
by the liquid pressure connected detachably thereto.
[0080] The shape, structure, method of operation and the like of
the valve 81 of the delivery member 80 are similar to those of the
first embodiment. Further, the delivery member 80 is fastened by
being screwed onto a threaded portion 31a formed on the neck 31 of
the bottle 30, similarly to the first embodiment.
[0081] According to the squeeze bottle shown in FIG. 7, while the
delivery member 80 having the valve 81 operated by the liquid
pressure is provided, liquid drops can be delivered with a small
force that can be freely controlled. When the squeeze bottle shown
in FIG. 7 is used as an eye dropper, the ophthalmic solution can be
easily delivered with a small pressure by means of two fingers, for
example, a thumb and an index finger, while the quantity of the
liquid delivered can be easily controlled.
[0082] While there is no restriction on the material used to form
the bottle body of the squeeze bottle according to the present
invention, a thermoplastic resin is preferably used in order to
form the entire bottle body including the bellows and the neck as a
single piece. In case a liquid medicine such as ophthalmic medicine
is contained in the bottle body, it is preferable to form the
bottle body from a polyolefin such as polyethylene or polypropylene
that is approved for use in medical applications.
[0083] There are no particular requirements on a liquid contained
in the bottle, except that the liquid should have fluidity,
specifically the liquid must be able to move from within the bottle
toward the valve when the pressing surface of the squeeze bottle is
pressed, so that liquid pressure can be applied to the valve in the
delivery member whereby the liquid is delivered through the
delivery orifice to the outside of the squeeze bottle. Further,
there are no restriction on the composition and physical properties
including the viscosity of the liquid. Specific examples of the
liquid include, but are not limited to, liquid medicines such as
eye drop and nasal drop.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0084] The squeeze bottle can be used in such applications as eye
dropper, by providing the neck of the squeeze bottle with the
delivery member having a valve operated by the liquid pressure that
allows liquid drops to be delivered with a small force that can be
freely controlled.
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