U.S. patent application number 15/755295 was filed with the patent office on 2018-07-26 for spout-equipped container and refilling method.
This patent application is currently assigned to KAO CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is FUJI SEAL INTERNATIONAL, INC., KAO CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Yoshinori INAGAWA, Mitsugu IWATSUBO, Fumihito SUZUKI, Shinji WATANABE.
Application Number | 20180208337 15/755295 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58188713 |
Filed Date | 2018-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180208337 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WATANABE; Shinji ; et
al. |
July 26, 2018 |
SPOUT-EQUIPPED CONTAINER AND REFILLING METHOD
Abstract
A spout-equipped container (100) that is used to refill a
refillable container with a content material includes a refill
container spout (1) and a flexible container body portion (2). The
container body portion (2) contains the content material. The
refill container spout (1) includes a tubular nozzle portion (11)
that brings the inside and outside of the container body portion
(2) into communication with each other, and a fixing portion (19)
that is fixedly attached to the container body portion (2). The
nozzle portion (11) includes a throttle projection (14) that
protrudes toward a center of the nozzle portion (11) on an inner
surface (11c) side in a lower portion (C) that is one of three
equal parts obtained by dividing the nozzle portion in a height
direction of the nozzle portion. The throttle projection (14)
forms, on a leading end side in a protrusion direction of the
throttle projection (14), a flow path through which the content
material passes. The throttle projection (14) extends along the
circumferential direction of the nozzle portion (11), and has a
length more than 50% of a total inner circumferential length of the
nozzle portion (11). The container body portion (2) includes a top
surface portion, a front surface portion, a back surface portion,
and a bottom portion. The fixing portion (19) of the refill
container spout is fixedly attached to the top surface portion.
Inventors: |
WATANABE; Shinji; (Frankfurt
am Main, DE) ; INAGAWA; Yoshinori; (Chiba-shi,
JP) ; SUZUKI; Fumihito; (Chiba-shi, JP) ;
IWATSUBO; Mitsugu; (Tama-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KAO CORPORATION
FUJI SEAL INTERNATIONAL, INC. |
Tokyo
Osaka-shi |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
KAO CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
FUJI SEAL INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Osaka-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
58188713 |
Appl. No.: |
15/755295 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
August 29, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2016/075250 |
371 Date: |
February 26, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 75/5866 20130101;
B65D 75/5877 20130101; B65D 75/008 20130101; B65B 3/12
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65B 3/12 20060101
B65B003/12; B65D 75/00 20060101 B65D075/00; B65D 75/58 20060101
B65D075/58 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 31, 2015 |
JP |
2015-170136 |
Claims
1. A spout-equipped container that is configured to refill a
refillable container with a content material, the spout-equipped
container comprising: a refill container spout; and a flexible
container body portion, the container body portion configured to
contain the content material, wherein the refill container spout
includes a tubular nozzle portion that brings the inside and
outside of the container body portion into communication with each
other, and a plate-like fixing portion that is fixedly attached to
the container body portion, when the nozzle portion is divided in a
height direction of the nozzle portion into three equal parts, and
the three equal parts are respectively defined as an upper portion
that includes a discharge-side opening portion, an intermediate
portion, and a lower portion, the nozzle portion includes, on an
inner surface side in the lower portion, a throttle projection that
protrudes toward a center of the nozzle portion, the throttle
projection forms, on a leading end side in a protrusion direction
of the throttle projection, a flow path configured for the content
material to pass through, and the throttle projection extends along
a circumferential direction of the nozzle portion, and has a length
more than 50% of a total circumferential length of an inner surface
of the nozzle portion, the container body portion includes a top
surface portion, a front surface portion, a back surface portion,
and a bottom portion, the fixing portion of the refill container
spout is fixedly attached to the top surface portion, and the
refillable container is configured to be refilled with the content
material in a state that the nozzle portion is inserted into a
container opening of the refillable container.
2. The spout-equipped container according to claim 1, wherein the
content material has a viscosity of 10,000 to 65,000 mPas.
3. The spout-equipped container according to claim 1, wherein the
fixing portion of the refill container spout is fixed with an upper
surface of the fixing portion being fixedly attached to a lower
surface of the top surface portion, and the refillable container is
configured to be refilled with the content material in a state that
a portion of the top surface portion overlapping with the fixing
portion abuts the leading end of the container opening of the
refillable container.
4. The spout-equipped container according to claim 1, wherein the
throttle projection is formed on an end portion on the container
body portion side of the nozzle portion.
5. The spout-equipped container according to claim 1, wherein an
annular extending portion is provided in an outer circumferential
portion of the nozzle portion.
6. The spout-equipped container according to any one of claim 1,
wherein the throttle projection has an inclination angle .theta.1
of 120.degree. or less, the inclination angle .theta.1 being an
inclination angle of a surface that is on the discharge-side
opening portion side of the nozzle portion with respect to the
inner surface of the nozzle portion.
7. A refilling method for refilling a refillable container with a
content material contained in the spout-equipped container
according to claim 1, the method comprising inserting the nozzle
portion of the spout-equipped container into a container opening of
the refillable container and injecting the content material into
the refillable container, with the spout-equipped container being
held upside down.
8. The spout-equipped container according to claim 1, further
comprising instructions for a refilling method displayed on the
spout-equipped container.
9. The spout-equipped container according to claim 1, wherein the
refillable container is configured to be refilled with the content
material in a state that the nozzle portion is inserted into a
container opening of the refillable container such that the fixing
portion is placed on a leading end of the container opening.
10. The spout-equipped container according to claim 1, wherein the
refillable container is configured to be refilled with the content
material in a state that the nozzle portion is inserted into a
container opening of the refillable container such that the fixing
portion is above a leading end of the container opening.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a spout-equipped container,
and a refilling method.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Dispensing containers (dispenser containers) are known that
contain a content material, such as shampoo, hair rinse, or
conditioner, and dispense the content liquid through a discharge
opening formed in a press head through operation of a pump
mechanism by pressing the press head. Also, discharging containers
with a discharge nozzle-equipped cap are widely used for liquid
detergents such as laundry detergent and dish washing detergent,
liquid food products such as soy sauce and other sauces, and the
like.
[0003] Dispensing containers and discharging containers as
described above are often commercially available in the form of
disposable packages containing a content material. In recent years,
however, from the viewpoint of saving resources, these containers
are increasingly being provided as containers to be refilled so
that they can be used repeatedly by being refilled with a content
liquid from a refill container.
[0004] Under these circumstances, from the viewpoint of preventing
the loss of content liquid when refilling a refillable container,
such as a dispensing container or a discharging container, with a
content material that is contained in a refill container, there is
demand to reduce the amount of content material that remains in the
refill container as much as possible.
[0005] Patent Literature 1 discloses, although it does not relate
to a technique for refilling a refillable container with a content
material that is contained in a refill container, a cap-equipped
container and a filling nozzle. In order to prevent the content
material to be used for filling from adhering to a leading end
portion of a container opening of a container body of the
cap-equipped container when the container body of the cap-equipped
container is refilled with the content material from the filling
nozzle, a configuration is used in which a ring-shaped protruding
portion is provided within the container opening. With this
configuration, the content material can be injected, with the
filling nozzle being inserted to the position of the protruding
portion within the container opening of the refillable
container.
[0006] Patent Literature 2 discloses a configuration in which ribs
are provided in a protruding manner so as to extend along a flow
path on the inner surface side of a nozzle portion of a refill
container.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0007] Patent Literature 1: JP 2015-24848A
[0008] Patent Literature 2: JP 2006-89133A
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0009] The present invention relates to a spout-equipped container
that is used to refill a refillable container with a content
material. The spout-equipped container includes: a refill container
spout; and a flexible container body portion, the container body
portion containing the content material. The refill container spout
includes a tubular nozzle portion that brings the inside and
outside of the container body portion into communication with each
other, and a fixing portion that is fixedly attached to the
container body portion. When the nozzle portion is divided in a
height direction of the nozzle portion into three equal parts, and
the three equal parts are respectively defined as an upper portion
that includes a discharge-side opening portion, an intermediate
portion, and a lower portion, the nozzle portion includes, on an
inner surface side in the lower portion, a throttle projection that
protrudes toward a center of the nozzle portion. The throttle
projection forms, on a leading end side in a protrusion direction
of the throttle projection, a flow path through which the content
material passes, and the throttle projection extends along a
circumferential direction of the nozzle portion, and has a length
more than 50% of a total circumferential length of an inner surface
of the nozzle portion. The container body portion includes a top
surface portion, a front surface portion, a back surface portion,
and a bottom portion.
[0010] The fixing portion of the refill container spout is fixedly
attached to the top surface portion.
[0011] Also, the present invention relates to a refilling method
for refilling a refillable container with a content material by
using the spout-equipped container as described above. The method
includes the step of inserting the nozzle portion of the
spout-equipped container into a container opening of the refillable
container and injecting the content material into the refillable
container, with the spout-equipped container being held upside
down.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a spout-equipped container
according to an embodiment of the present invention that is a
refill container.
[0013] FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c) are diagrams showing a refill container
spout that is attached to the spout-equipped container shown in
FIG. 1, with FIG. 2(a) being a perspective view, FIG. 2(b) being a
cross sectional view taken along the line II-II shown in FIG. 2(c),
and FIG. 2(c) being a plan view.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the
vicinity of a nozzle portion when the spout-equipped container
shown in FIG. 1 is capped.
[0015] FIG. 4(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a
state immediately after refilling has been started when a
refillable container is refilled with a content material from the
spout-equipped container shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4(b) is a
schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross section
corresponding to FIG. 4(a) after completion of refilling.
[0016] FIG. 5(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a
state immediately after refilling has been started when a
refillable container is refilled with a content material from a
spout-equipped container that does not include a throttle
projection, and FIG. 5(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view
showing a cross section corresponding to FIG. 5(a) after completion
of refilling.
[0017] FIGS. 6(a) to 6(d) are illustrative diagrams showing
throttle projections according to preferred embodiments, each
showing a schematic cross-sectional view showing a vertical cross
section taken along a plane including the central axis of the
nozzle portion.
[0018] FIGS. 7(a) to 7(e) are illustrative diagrams showing
throttle projections according to other preferred embodiments, each
showing a schematic cross-sectional view showing a vertical cross
section taken along the plane including the central axis of the
nozzle portion.
[0019] FIGS. 8(a) to 8(c) are diagrams showing other examples of
throttle portions that are each formed in the nozzle portion by the
throttle projection (corresponding to FIG. 2(c)).
[0020] FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a refill
container spout according to another embodiment.
[0021] FIGS. 10(a) to 10(d) are schematic diagrams showing a
refilling process of refilling a refillable container with a
content material from the spout-equipped container shown in FIG.
1.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0022] The protruding portion disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is
formed within the container opening of the refillable container
into which the content material is filled through the filling
nozzle, rather than within the nozzle portion of the refill
container, and Patent Literature 1 does not disclose a
configuration for reducing the amount of content material that
remains in the nozzle portion of the refill container as much as
possible. Also, the protruding ribs provided on the inner surface
of the nozzle portion disclosed in Patent Literature 2 are ribs
that extend along the flow path, and thus there is no or minimal
effect of reducing the amount of content material that remains in
the nozzle portion.
[0023] It is an object of the present invention to solve the
problems encountered in the conventional techniques described
above.
[0024] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described by way
of preferred embodiments.
[0025] A spout-equipped container 100 shown in FIG. 1 is a
spout-equipped container according to an embodiment of the present
invention that is a refill container, and includes a refill
container spout 1 configured as shown in FIG. 2(a) to FIG.
2(c).
[0026] The spout-equipped container 100 according to the present
embodiment includes the refill container spout 1, a container body
portion 2, and a cap 3.
[0027] As a result of the refill container spout 1 being fixed to
the container body portion 2 that has a bag shape, it is possible
to obtain a spout-equipped container 100 that includes a nozzle
portion 11 that is internally provided with a content material
discharging path 12A. In the spout-equipped container 100 shown in
FIG. 1, the refill container spout 1 shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c) is
fixedly attached to the container body portion 2 that is made of a
soft packaging material.
[0028] The refill container spout 1 according to the present
embodiment (hereinafter also referred to simply as "container spout
1") includes, as shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c), the nozzle portion 11
that has a tubular shape and brings the inside and outside of the
container into communication with each other, and a fixing portion
19 that is fixedly attached to the container body portion 2.
[0029] The nozzle portion 11 of the container spout 1 has a
cylindrical shape with openings at its upper and lower ends. The
nozzle portion 11 includes a discharge-side opening portion 12 that
serves as a discharge opening for discharging a content material 5
during a refilling operation, and a container body-side opening
portion 13 that is located on the opposite side of the
discharge-side opening portion 12. Also, the nozzle portion 11
includes an outer surface 11a that forms an outer circumferential
surface of the cylinder, an upper end portion 11b that forms a
circumferential edge portion of the discharge-side opening portion
12, an inner surface 11c that forms an inner circumferential
surface of the cylinder, and a lower end portion 11d that forms a
circumferential edge portion of the container body-side opening
portion 13.
[0030] The fixing portion 19 is provided continuously with the
nozzle portion 11 so as to extend horizontally outward from the
lower end portion of the nozzle portion 11. The fixing portion 19
shown in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c) is an annular plate-like body that has
a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, but the shape of
the fixing portion 19 can be changed to any shape. For example, the
fixing portion 19 may be an annular plate-like body that extends
substantially horizontally outward from the outer surface of the
nozzle portion 11, and the shape of its outer edge as viewed in
plan view may be a circular shape, an elliptic shape, a hexagonal
shape, or the like.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, the container body portion 2 of the
spout-equipped container 100 includes a top surface sheet portion
21, a front surface sheet portion 22, a back surface sheet portion
23, and a bottom surface sheet portion 24. A top surface portion is
formed by the top surface sheet portion 21, a front surface portion
is formed by the front surface sheet portion 22, a back surface
portion is formed by the back surface sheet portion 23, and a
bottom portion is formed by the bottom surface sheet portion 24. In
the container body portion 2, side edge portions 22s and 22s on
both lateral sides of the front surface sheet portion 22 and side
edge portions 23s and 23s on both lateral sides of the back surface
sheet portion 23 are bonded together, and a lower end portion of a
tubular body that is composed of the front surface sheet portion 22
and the back surface sheet portion 23 and a circumferential edge
portion of the bottom surface sheet portion 24 are bonded together.
In an upper portion of the container body portion 2, an upper end
edge 22t of the front surface sheet portion 22 and a front
surface-side edge 21s of the top surface sheet portion 21 are
bonded together, and an upper end edge 23t of the back surface
sheet portion 23 and a back surface-side edge 21s' of the top
surface sheet portion 21 are bonded together. In this way, the
container body portion 2 according to the present embodiment is
formed so as to have a bag shape by bonding together the respective
portions of the top surface sheet portion 21, the front surface
sheet portion 22, the back surface sheet portion 23, and the bottom
surface sheet portion 24, thereby forming a container portion 25
that is capable of containing a liquid content material. The
spout-equipped container 100 according to the present embodiment is
a pouch container in which the container body portion 2 is made of
a flexible sheet material. The spout-equipped container according
to the present invention is not limited to a self-standing
container, but the spout-equipped container 100 according to the
present embodiment is a self-standing container at least while it
contains a content material.
[0032] The front surface portion, the bottom surface portion, the
back surface portion, and the top surface portion that constitute
the container body portion 2 may be made of a single continuous
sheet material. For example, the container body portion 2 can be
produced by using the production method and apparatus disclosed in
WO 2008/096392. It is also possible to form any two or three
portions of the front surface portion, the bottom surface portion,
the back surface portion, and the top surface portion by using a
single continuous sheet, and form the remaining portions by using
another sheet. It is also possible to form the front surface
portion, the bottom surface portion, the back surface portion, and
the top surface portion by using separate sheets.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, the container body portion 2 includes,
in the top surface portion that is composed of the top surface
sheet portion 21, a through hole 21a for attaching a spout, and the
container spout 1 described above is fixedly attached to the
container body portion 2 by bonding an upper surface of the
plate-like fixing portion 19 to a lower surface of the top surface
portion, more specifically, the lower surface of the top surface
sheet portion 21, with the nozzle portion 11 being inserted into
the through hole 21a.
[0034] With this configuration, when refilling a refillable
container with the content material contained in the container body
portion 2, the content material moves along the lower surface of
the fixing portion 19 and smoothly flows into the nozzle portion
11. Accordingly, the amount of content material that remains in the
container body portion 2 and the nozzle portion 11 can be more
reliably reduced.
[0035] As the bonding method for bonding the sheet portions that
constitute the container body portion 2, and the bonding method for
fixedly attaching the fixing portion 19 to the container body
portion 2, various types of known methods can be used such as heat
sealing, ultrasonic sealing, high frequency sealing, and using an
adhesive.
[0036] In the nozzle portion 11 of the container spout 1 according
to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2(b), where a central
axis L of the nozzle portion 11 is set to be parallel to the
vertical direction, with the discharge-side opening portion 12 of
the nozzle portion 11 facing vertically upward, the nozzle portion
11 is divided in a height direction Y that extends along the
vertical direction into three equal parts, and the three equal
parts are respectively defined as an upper portion A that includes
the discharge-side opening portion 12, an intermediate portion B,
and a lower portion C, the nozzle portion 11 includes, on the inner
surface 11c side in the lower portion C, a throttle projection 14
that protrudes toward the center of the nozzle portion 11. More
specifically, the throttle projection 14 protrudes in the
horizontal direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the
central axis L of the nozzle portion 11, so as to approach the
central axis L.
[0037] The throttle projection 14 is provided to reduce the
horizontal cross sectional area of the space in the nozzle portion
11, as well as limiting the horizontal cross sectional area of the
content material 5 that flows through the nozzle portion 11 to part
of or the entire area of the lower portion C of the nozzle portion
11 in the height direction, and preferably to part of the lower
portion C. To rephrase, the throttle projection 14 forms a throttle
portion 12A' within the nozzle portion 11, the throttle portion
12A' being a member that partially reduces the horizontal cross
sectional area of the space in the nozzle portion 11.
[0038] Also, the throttle projection 14 according to the present
embodiment forms, on a leading end side in a protrusion direction
of the throttle projection 14, a flow path through which the
content material passes. In the present invention, it is sufficient
that the throttle projection 14 is formed so as to form a main flow
path on the leading end side in the protrusion direction of the
throttle projection 14 within the nozzle portion 11. It is also
possible to form the throttle projection 14 such that a throttle
projection 14-free portion that is provided in a portion of the
inner surface of the nozzle portion 11 in the circumferential
direction forms a part of the flow path.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 2(c), the throttle projection 14 according
to the present embodiment is formed in an annular shape on the
inner surface 11c side of the nozzle portion 11, and the throttle
projection 14 has a length that is more than 50% of the total
circumferential length of the inner surface of the nozzle portion
11. To be more specific, the throttle projection 14 have the same
length as the circumferential length of the nozzle portion 11,
specifically, the total circumferential length of the inner surface
of the nozzle portion 11, or in other words, the throttle
projection 14 have a length equal to 100% of the total
circumferential length of the inner surface of the nozzle portion
11.
[0040] The nozzle portion 11 according to the present invention may
include a throttle projection 14-free portion in a portion of the
inner surface of the nozzle portion 11 in the circumferential
direction, as in refill container spouts shown in Table 1 used in
Examples 2 to 4, which will be described later. Alternatively, the
nozzle portion 11 according to the present invention may include a
throttle projection 14 that is composed of a plurality of segments
that are provided spaced apart in the circumferential direction of
the nozzle portion 11, as in refill container spouts shown in Table
1 used in Examples 3 and 4, and Comparative Example 1.
[0041] The throttle projection 14 according to the present
invention has a length more than 50% and 100% or less of the total
circumferential length of the inner surface of the nozzle portion
11, preferably 60% or more and 100% or less, and more preferably 85
to 100%.
[0042] As used herein, "the circumferential length of the inner
surface of the nozzle portion 11" refers to the length of the
nozzle portion 11 that extends along the circumferential direction,
and is obtained through measurement along the inner surface of the
nozzle portion 11. Also, in the case where the throttle projection
14 is composed of a plurality of segments that are provided spaced
apart in the circumferential direction of the nozzle portion 11,
the total value of the length of each of the plurality of segments
of the throttle projection 14, the length extending along the
circumferential direction of the inner surface of the nozzle
portion, is referred to as "the length of the throttle projection
14".
[0043] Also, the length of the throttle projection 14 means the
length at a base end portion of the throttle projection 14 in the
protrusion direction, or in other words, the length at a boundary
between the throttle projection 14 and the inner surface 11c of the
nozzle portion 11, and is obtained by measuring the inner surface
11c of the nozzle portion 11 along the circumferential
direction.
[0044] With respect to the refill container spout and the nozzle
portion, as shown in FIG. 2, the terms "upper side", "above",
"horizontal direction", and "height direction" are directions that
are, in a state in which the central line L of the tubular nozzle
portion 11 is set to be parallel to the vertical direction Y, with
the discharge-side opening portion 12 facing vertically upward,
parallel to the upper side in the vertical direction, vertically
upside, the horizontal direction (the direction perpendicular to
the vertical direction), and the vertical direction Y
[0045] The spout-equipped container 100 according to the present
embodiment is preferably used as a refill container that is used to
refill or top up a refillable container such as a dispensing
container (dispenser container), or a discharging container that
includes a discharge nozzle-equipped cap with a content material 5
to be discharged or dispensed.
[0046] With the container spout 1 and the spout-equipped container
100 according to the present embodiment, as shown in, for example,
FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), when a refillable container 4 is refilled with
the content material 5 from the spout-equipped container 100, the
amount of the content material 5 that remains in the nozzle portion
11 after the refillable container 4 has been refilled with the
content material 5 can be reduced significantly.
[0047] The reason is presumably as follows.
[0048] That is, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the content material 5 that
has flowed into the nozzle portion 11 through the container
body-side opening portion 13 flows toward the discharge-side
opening portion 12, with the cross-sectional area of the flow of
the content material 5 being throttled by the throttle projection
14. Then, the content material 5 is injected into the refillable
container 4 through the discharge-side opening portion 12. With
this configuration, the extent to which the content material 5
comes into contact with the inner surface 11c of the nozzle portion
11 is reduced, which minimizes the amount of the content material 5
that remains in the nozzle portion 11 after refilling has been
performed.
[0049] In contrast, in the case where the nozzle portion 11 does
not include the throttle projection 14, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the
content material 5 that has flowed into the nozzle portion 11
through the container body-side opening portion 13 flows toward the
discharge-side opening portion 12 while coming into contact with a
wide area of the inner surface 11c of the nozzle portion 11. Then,
the content material 5 is injected into the refillable container 4
through the discharge-side opening portion 12. Accordingly, as
shown in FIG. 5(b), a large amount of the content material 5 is
likely to remain in the nozzle portion 11 after refilling has been
performed. The container spout 1B shown in FIG. 5 has the same
configuration as the container spout 1 shown in FIG. 2, except that
the throttle projection 14 is not provided on the inner surface
side of the nozzle portion 11.
[0050] The refillable container 4 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 includes a
tubular container opening portion 41 at an upper end portion of a
body portion 42 such that the content material 5 can be injected
into the refillable container 4, with the container spout 1 and the
nozzle portion 11 of the spout-equipped container 100 according to
the present embodiment being inserted into the container opening
portion 41. The refillable container 4 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 can
be used as a dispensing container or a discharging container by
detachably attaching a dispenser-equipped cap or a discharge
nozzle-equipped cap to the container opening portion 41.
[0051] The refilling method according to the present invention is a
method for refilling a refillable container with a content material
by using the above-described spout-equipped container.
[0052] The refilling method according to the present invention
includes the step of inserting the nozzle portion of the
spout-equipped container into a container opening of the refillable
container and injecting the content material into the refillable
container, with the spout-equipped container being held upside
down. To be more specific, the procedure includes, for example, the
following steps:
[0053] step 1 of holding the spout-equipped container 100 according
to the present invention with one hand, and the refillable
container 4 with the other hand (see FIG. 10(a));
[0054] step 2 of inserting the nozzle portion 11 of the
spout-equipped container 100 into the container opening portion 41
of the refillable container 4 (see FIG. 10(a));
[0055] step 3 of placing the refillable container 4 on a table to
be substantially vertical with respect to the mounting surface,
together with the spout-equipped container 100 that is held upside
down (see FIG. 10(b));
[0056] step 4 of injecting the content material 5 into the
refillable container 4 while squeezing the container body portion 2
of the spout-equipped container 100 that is held upside down, in a
direction from the bottom surface portion toward the nozzle portion
11 (see FIG. 10(c)), and as the method for squeezing the container
body portion 2 in a direction from the bottom surface portion
toward the nozzle portion 11, it is preferable to inwardly roll the
bottom surface portion so as to fold the front surface portion and
the back surface portion once or more times toward the front
surface portion side or the back surface portion side, with the
inner surfaces of the front surface portion and the back surface
portion being brought into contact or close proximity with each
other; and
[0057] step 5 of squeezing out the content material 5 from the
spout-equipped container 100 while the container body portion 2 is
held flat (see FIG. 10(d)).
[0058] Also, the refilling method described above may be displayed
on any portion of the spout-equipped container. The refilling
method is preferably displayed on the container body portion, and
is preferably displayed on the front surface portion or the back
surface portion. As the method for displaying the refilling method,
any method can be used such as attaching a label, or direct
printing or transfer thereof onto the container body portion.
[0059] As the refilling method that is shown, it is sufficient to
simply display the step of inserting the nozzle portion of the
spout-equipped container into a container opening of the refillable
container and injecting the content material into the refillable
container, with the spout-equipped container being held upside
down.
[0060] Examples of the liquid content material 5 to be injected
into the refillable container 4 include: liquid hair care agents
such as shampoo, hair conditioner, hair rinse; liquid soaps such as
body soap and hand soap; liquid detergents such as laundry
detergent and dish washing detergent; softening agents; bleaching
agents; liquid cleaning agents for cleaning bathrooms and floors;
liquid cosmetics; and liquid pharmaceuticals.
[0061] In particular, a highly viscous liquid such as conditioner
or hair rinse is likely to adhere to the inner surface of the
nozzle portion 11 of the refill container and remain in the nozzle
portion 11. Accordingly, the present invention provides an even
greater advantage.
[0062] As a highly viscous liquid, liquids such as those with a
viscosity of 10,000 mPaS or more and 65,000 mPaS or less measured
using the method described below are examples. Even a liquid having
a viscosity within the above range is unlikely to remain in the
nozzle portion 11 as shown in FIG. 4(b).
Method for Measuring Viscosity
[0063] Viscosity at a temperature of 30.degree. C. is measured by
using a BR-type viscometer (TVB-10 available from Toki Sangyo Co.,
Ltd.) that is a B-type viscometer, and a rotor No. T-C (10 rpm, 1
minute).
[0064] From the viewpoint of further preventing the content
material from remaining in the nozzle portion 11, as shown in FIG.
2(b) and FIGS. 6(a) to 6(d), the throttle projection 14 is
preferably formed on a container body portion-side end portion of
the nozzle portion 11. As used herein, the container body
portion-side end portion of the nozzle portion 11 refers to the end
portion of the nozzle portion 11 that is on the container body-side
opening portion 13 side in the height direction Y.
[0065] From the viewpoint of further preventing the content
material from remaining in the nozzle portion 11, a distance Tu
from an upper end 14u of the maximum protruding portion of the
throttle projection 14 to the upper end portion 11b of the nozzle
portion (see FIG. 2(b)) is preferably 85% or more of the height T
of the nozzle portion 11, and more preferably 90% or more, and
preferably 98% or less, and more preferably 95% or less, and
preferably 85% or more and 98% or less, and more preferably 90% or
more and 95% or less. From the same viewpoint, the distance Tu is
preferably 110% or more of an inner diameter L1 (equivalent circle
diameter in the case where the cross section is non-circular) of
the nozzle portion 11, and more preferably 116% or more, and
preferably 127% or less, and more preferably 123% or less, and
preferably 110% or more and 127% or less, and more preferably 116%
or more and 123% or less.
[0066] There is no particular limitation on the height T and the
inner diameter L1 of the nozzle portion 11, but from the viewpoint
of achieving ease of refilling the refillable container with the
content material, the height T of the nozzle portion 11 is, for
example, preferably 15 mm or more and 30 mm or less, and more
preferably 20 mm or more and 25 mm or less. On the other hand, the
inner diameter L1 of the nozzle portion 11 is, for example,
preferably 12 mm or more and 24 mm or less, and more preferably 16
mm or more and 20 mm or less from the viewpoint of achieving ease
of refilling the refillable container with the content material
even when the content material is highly viscous, and further
reducing the amount of the content material that remains in the
nozzle portion. The inner diameter L1 of the nozzle portion 11 is
obtained by measuring the inner diameter L1 at a throttle
projection-free area of the nozzle portion 11 in the height
direction of the nozzle portion 11, and preferably at a central
position of the nozzle portion 11 in the height direction.
[0067] From the viewpoint of further preventing the content
material from remaining in the nozzle portion 11, the throttle
projection 14 has a protruding height T3 (see FIG. 2(b)) of
preferably 1 mm or more, and more preferably 2 mm or more, and
preferably 4 mm or less, and more preferably 3 mm or less, and
preferably 1 mm or more and 4 mm or less, and more preferably 2 mm
or more 3 mm or less. In FIG. 6, the X direction is the direction
in which the throttle projection 14 protrudes.
[0068] Also, the protruding height T3 is preferably 4% or more of
the inner diameter L1 (equivalent circle diameter in the case where
the cross section is non-circular) of the nozzle portion 11, and
more preferably 10% or more, and preferably 17% or less, and more
preferably 13% or less, and preferably 4% or more and 17% or less,
and more preferably 10% or more and 13% or less.
[0069] Also, from the viewpoint of further preventing the content
material from remaining in the nozzle portion 11, the throttle
projection 14 has an inclination angle .theta.1 of preferably
120.degree. or less, more preferably 100.degree. or less, and even
more preferably 95.degree. or less, and preferably 30.degree. or
more, more preferably 60.degree. or more, and even more preferably
85.degree. or more, the inclination angle .theta.1 being an
inclination angle of a surface 14a that is on the discharge-side
opening portion 12 side of the nozzle portion 11 with respect to
the inner surface 11c of the nozzle portion.
[0070] On the other hand, the throttle projection 14 can have an
inclination angle .theta.2 in a range above 0.degree. and less than
180, and preferably 90.degree. or more and 150.degree. or less, the
inclination angle .theta.2 being an inclination angle of a surface
14b that is on the container body portion side of the nozzle
portion 11 with respect to the inner surface 11c of the nozzle
portion 11.
[0071] As shown in FIG. 2(b) and FIGS. 6(a) to 6(d), the
inclination angle .theta.1 and the inclination angle .theta.2 are
measured on a vertical cross section taken along a plane passing
through the central axis L of the nozzle portion. In the throttle
projection 14 shown in FIG. 6(a), the inclination angle .theta.1
and the inclination angle .theta.2 are both set to 90.degree.. In
the throttle projection 14 shown in FIG. 6(b), the inclination
angle .theta.1 is set to 45.degree., and the inclination angle
.theta.2 is set to 120.degree.. As shown in FIGS. 6(a), 6(c), and
6(d), the surface 14a of the throttle projection 14 that is on the
discharge-side opening portion 12 side is preferably substantially
vertical to the inner surface 11c of the nozzle portion 11. In this
case, the inclination angle .theta.1 is 85.degree. or more and
95.degree. or less.
[0072] In each of FIGS. 6(a) to 6(d), the arrow F indicates the
direction of movement of the content liquid when the refillable
container is refilled with the content liquid in the refill
container via the nozzle portion 11.
[0073] In the throttle projection 14 according to the present
invention, as shown in FIGS. 6(b), 6(c), and 6(d), the surface 14b
that is on the container body portion side of the nozzle portion 11
is preferably inclined toward the discharge-side opening portion 12
of the nozzle portion 11.
[0074] Also, as shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable that a leading
end 14t of the throttle projection 14 is chamfered along the
circumference of the container body-side opening portion 13 of the
nozzle portion 11.
[0075] As described above, with the configuration in which in the
entire area or a leading end portion of the throttle projection 14
in the protrusion direction X, the surface 14b that is on the
container body portion side of the nozzle portion 11 is inclined
toward the discharge-side opening portion 12 of the nozzle portion
11, when the refillable container is refilled with the content
material contained in the container body portion 2, the content
material flows more smoothly into the nozzle portion 11, and it is
therefore possible to even more reliably reduce the amount of
content material that remains in the container body portion 2 and
the nozzle portion 11.
[0076] The throttle projections 14 that have the cross-sectional
shapes shown in FIGS. 6(a) to 6(d) are also formed so as to extend
along the total circumferential length of the inner surface of the
nozzle portion, but may be formed in a portion of the nozzle
portion in the circumferential direction or may be formed by a
plurality of segments separately provided in the circumferential
direction.
[0077] As shown in FIG. 3, with the spout-equipped container 100
according to the present embodiment, by screwing the cap 3 into the
nozzle portion 11, the discharge-side opening portion 12 can be
sealed in a liquid-tight manner. More specifically, the container
spout 1 includes, on the outer circumferential surface of the
nozzle portion 11, threads 15 for threaded engagement with the cap.
The cap 3 includes threads 33 for threaded engagement with the
threads 15, on an inner circumferential surface 32a of a tubular
portion 32 that extends downward from an edge portion of a top
surface portion 31. The cap 3 includes an annular inner ring 35
that is suspended from the top surface portion 31 at a position
spaced apart from the tubular portion 32 in the top surface portion
31, and thus the sealing properties when the spout-equipped
container is capped are improved.
[0078] The refill container spout 1 according to the present
invention is preferably made of a synthetic resin. Also, the
throttle projection 14 is preferably molded into one unit with the
nozzle portion 11. Also, the nozzle portion 11 and the fixing
portion 19 are preferably molded into one unit through injection
molding of a synthetic resin. Examples of the synthetic resin that
constitutes the refill container spout include: polyolefins such as
polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polybutene; polyesters
such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polyamides; polyvinyl
chloride; polystyrene; and polylactic acid. The cap 3 is also
preferably made of a synthetic resin.
[0079] Although the refill container spout 1 and the cap 3 are
preferably made of a synthetic resin, they may be made of a metal
such as aluminum or a ceramic.
[0080] Also, the flexible sheet that forms the container body
portion 2 according to the embodiment described above can be, but
is not limited to, a monolayer or multilayer film or a stacked
sheet made of a synthetic resin such as a polyolefin, a polyester,
or a polyamide, or a combination thereof, a stacked sheet obtained
by adding a metal deposition layer made of aluminum to the
monolayer or multilayer film or the stacked sheet described above,
or the like.
[0081] The spout-equipped container and the refilling method
according to the present invention are not limited to the
embodiment given above, and can be changed as appropriate.
[0082] For example, the flexible container body portion 2 to which
the refill container spout 1 is attached may be a flexible bag-like
container or a thin-walled container (for example, a container that
has a thickness of 700 .mu.m or less, and more preferably 500 .mu.m
or less) formed through blow molding, such as the bag-like
container disclosed in JP 2009-280228A. As a result of the
container body portion 2 being flexible, even when the content
material is a highly viscous liquid (for example, a liquid that has
a viscosity of 10,000 mPaS or more as described above), the content
material 5 can be injected into the refillable container 4 while
squeezing the container body portion 2 of the spout-equipped
container 100 that is held upside down from the bottom surface
portion toward the nozzle portion 11 as described above.
[0083] Also, as the throttle projection provided on the nozzle
portion of the refill container spout, only one annular throttle
projection as shown in FIG. 2 may be provided. Alternatively, as in
the container spouts used in Examples 3 and 4 which will be
described later, a plurality of throttle projections that have the
same length or different lengths, the length extending in the
circumferential direction of the nozzle portion, may be provided in
the circumferential direction of the nozzle portion so as to form
an annular shape.
[0084] The throttle projection may be configured as any one of the
projections that have the shapes shown in FIGS. 7(a) to 7(e). In
the examples shown in FIGS. 7(a) to 7(e) as well, the inclination
angle .theta.1 is set to 90.
[0085] Also, with respect to the throttle portion 12A' that is a
flow path that is formed on the leading end side in the protrusion
direction of the throttle projection within the nozzle portion 11
by the throttle projection 14, the shape as viewed in plan view may
be, in addition to a circular or a substantially circular shape as
shown in FIG. 2(c), other shapes such as a rectangular shape, a
triangular shape, and a star shape as shown in FIGS. 8(a) to
8(c).
[0086] Also, in order to facilitate transfer of the refill
container spout 1 between processes in the production line of the
spout-equipped container 100, two upper and lower annular extending
portions 16 and 17 are provided on the outer circumference of the
nozzle portion 11 of the refill container spout 1 according to the
embodiment shown in FIG. 2. As a result of the annular extending
portions 16 and 17 being provided, when the nozzle portion 11 of
the spout-equipped container 100 is inserted into the container
opening portion 41 of the refillable container 4, the outer
circumferences of the annular extending portions 16 and 17 come
into contact with the inner circumference of the container opening
portion 41. Accordingly, the orientation of the spout-equipped
container 100 can be thereby stabilized, and the content material
can be injected into the refillable container more easily. From
this viewpoint, it is preferable to provide either one or both of
the annular extending portions 16 and 17. However, if it is
unnecessary to take into consideration the above viewpoint, it is
also possible to omit both of the annular extending portions 16 and
17.
[0087] Also, the nozzle portion may have, instead of the circular
tubular shape, a rectangular tubular shape. Also, the refill
container spout according to the present invention may be
configured as in the refill container spout shown in FIG. 8 such
that the throttle projection 14 is formed at a position spaced
apart from the lower end portion 11d of the tubular nozzle portion
11.
[0088] Also, the refill container spout according to the present
invention may be configured as in the refill container spout shown
in FIG. 9 such that the throttle projection 14 is formed at a
position spaced apart from the lower end portion 11d of the tubular
nozzle portion 11.
[0089] Also, the central axis L of the nozzle portion of the refill
container spout 1 according to the present invention may be
non-parallel to the vertical direction as long as advantageous
effects of the present invention can be obtained.
[0090] With regard to the above-described embodiments, the present
invention further discloses the following spout-equipped container
and refilling method.
<1> A spout-equipped container that is used to refill a
refillable container with a content material, the spout-equipped
container comprising:
[0091] a refill container spout; and
[0092] a flexible container body portion, the container body
portion containing the content material,
[0093] wherein the refill container spout includes a tubular nozzle
portion that brings the inside and outside of the container body
portion into communication with each other, and a fixing portion
that is fixedly attached to the container body portion,
[0094] when the nozzle portion is divided in a height direction of
the nozzle portion into three equal parts, and the three equal
parts are respectively defined as an upper portion that includes a
discharge-side opening portion, an intermediate portion, and a
lower portion, the nozzle portion includes, on an inner surface
side in the lower portion, a throttle projection that protrudes
toward a center of the nozzle portion,
[0095] the throttle projection forms, on a leading end side in a
protrusion direction of the throttle projection, a flow path
through which the content material passes, and the throttle
projection extends along a circumferential direction of the nozzle
portion, and has a length more than 50% of a total circumferential
length of an inner surface of the nozzle portion,
[0096] the container body portion includes a top surface portion, a
front surface portion, a back surface portion, and a bottom
portion, and
[0097] the fixing portion of the refill container spout is fixedly
attached to the top surface portion.
<2> The spout-equipped container as set forth in clause
<1>, wherein the content material has a viscosity of 10,000
mPas or more and 65,000 mPas or less. <3> The spout-equipped
container as set forth in clause <1> or <2>, wherein
the fixing portion of the refill container spout is fixed with an
upper surface of the fixing portion being fixedly attached to a
lower surface of the top surface portion. <4> The
spout-equipped container as set forth in any one of clauses
<1> to <3>, wherein the throttle projection is formed
on an end portion on the container body portion side of the nozzle
portion. <5> The spout-equipped container as set forth in any
one of clauses <1> to <4>, wherein an annular extending
portion is provided in an outer circumferential portion of the
nozzle portion. <6> The spout-equipped container as set forth
in any one of clauses <1> to <5>, wherein the throttle
projection has an inclination angle .theta.1 of 120.degree. or
less, the inclination angle .theta.1 being an inclination angle of
a surface that is on the discharge-side opening portion side of the
nozzle portion with respect to the inner surface of the nozzle
portion. <7> The spout-equipped container as set forth in any
one of clauses <1> to <6>, wherein the top surface
portion includes a through hole, and the spout is fixedly attached
to the container body portion, with the nozzle portion being
inserted into the through hole. <8> The spout-equipped
container as set forth in any one of clauses <1> to
<7>, wherein the throttle projection has a length equal to
85% to 100% of a total circumferential length of the inner surface
of the nozzle portion. <9> The spout-equipped container as
set forth in any one of clauses <1> to <8>, wherein the
throttle projection is configured such that a surface of an entire
area or a leading end portion in the protrusion direction, the
surface being on the container body portion side of the nozzle
portion, is inclined toward the discharge-side opening portion side
of the nozzle portion. <10> The spout-equipped container as
set forth in any one of clauses <1> to <9>, wherein a
leading end of the throttle projection is chamfered along a
circumference of an opening portion on the container body portion
side of the nozzle portion. <11> A refilling method for
refilling a refillable container with a content material by using
the spout-equipped container according to any one of claims
<1> to <10>, the method comprising the step of
[0098] inserting the nozzle portion of the spout-equipped container
into a container opening of the refillable container and injecting
the content material into the refillable container, with the
spout-equipped container being held upside down.
<12> The spout-equipped container as set forth in any one of
clauses <1> to <10>, wherein the refilling method as
set forth in clause <11> is displayed on the spout-equipped
container.
EXAMPLES
[0099] Hereinafter, the present invention will be further described
by way of examples. It is to be noted, however, that the present
invention is not limited to the examples given below.
Example 1
[0100] A spout-equipped container with the configuration shown in
FIG. 1 was produced. As the refill container spout, a refill
container spout that was made of a high density polyethylene and
had the mode shown in FIG. 2 was used. The throttle projection 14
of the refill container spout had an inclination angle .theta.1 of
90.degree., an inclination angle .theta.2 of 90.degree., and a
protruding height T3 of 2 mm, the inclination angle .theta.1 being
an inclination angle of the surface 14a on the discharge-side
opening portion side, and the inclination angle .theta.2 being an
inclination angle of the surface 14b on the container body 2 side.
Also, the throttle projection 14 had an annular shape extending
along the inner circumferential surface of the nozzle portion, and
the percentage of the length of the throttle projection in the
circumferential direction of the nozzle portion 11 with respect to
the total length of the inner circumference of the nozzle portion
was 100%. The height T and the inner diameter L1 of the nozzle
portion 11 were 22 mm and 17 mm, respectively.
Examples 2 to 4 and Comparative Example 1
[0101] Refill containers that had the same configuration as that of
the refill container of Example 1 were produced except that the
percentage (indicated as "Percentage" in Table 1) of the length of
the throttle projection in the circumferential direction of the
nozzle portion 11 with respect to the total length of the inner
circumference of the nozzle portion was changed to 87.5% (Example
2), 75.0% (Example 3), 62.5% (Example 3), and 50.0% (Comparative
Example 1) respectively by removing one or a plurality of portions
of the throttle projection in the circumferential direction of the
throttle projection.
Evaluation
[0102] Each of the produced refill containers was filled with 340 g
of commercially available hair conditioner (Essential Rich Damage
Care Conditioner with a viscosity of about 33000 mPaS available
from Kao Corporation), and each of the spout-equipped containers
was used as a refill container, and a refillable container was
refilled with hair conditioner serving as the content material by
holding the spout-equipped container upside down as shown in FIG.
4. The viscosity was measured at a temperature of 30.degree. C. by
using the BR-type viscometer (TVB-10 available from Toki Sangyo
Co., Ltd.) and the rotor No. T-C (10 rpm, 1 minute) that were
mentioned above. As the refillable container, a synthetic resin
container that had a sufficient capacity to contain 340 g of hair
conditioner was used. The test was performed at room temperature
(20 to 25.degree. C.), and the viscosity of the hair conditioner
was measured at a temperature of 30.degree. C. by using the
viscosity measurement method described above.
[0103] Table 1 shows each nozzle portion before refilling and the
nozzle portion after refilling.
[0104] The nozzle portion after refilling was visually observed,
and the state of the content liquid that remained in the nozzle
portion was evaluated based on the following evaluation criteria.
The results are shown in Table 1.
[0105] A: Almost no content material remaining in the nozzle
portion.
[0106] B: A small amount of content material remaining on the
container body-side opening portion of the nozzle portion.
[0107] C: Content material remaining in the nozzle portion
completely covering the inside of the nozzle portion.
[0108] As can be seen from the results shown in Table 1, by setting
the length of the throttle projection to more than 50% of the total
circumferential length of the nozzle portion as in Examples 1 to 4,
the amount of content material that remains in the nozzle portion
can be reduced significantly.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0109] With the spout-equipped container according to the present
invention, it is possible to significantly reduce the amount of
content material that remains in the nozzle portion after the
refillable container has been refilled with the content
material.
[0110] With the refilling method according to the present
invention, it is possible to facilitate the refilling operation of
refilling the refillable container with the content material. It is
also possible to significantly reduce the amount of the content
material that remains in the nozzle portion after refilling the
refillable container with the content material.
* * * * *