INVERTED CONTAINER WITH AUTOMATIC CAP

Abstract

Proposed is an inverted container with an automatic cap that is configured to discharge an internal substance in a vessel body by an increase of the internal pressure of the vessel body that is generated when the vessel body is pressed and that is configured to be changed into an open mode or a close mode by a user rotating an up and down knob at 90? such that, in the open mode, when a user just holds and presses the vessel body, a discharge hole of the up and down knob automatically opens and the internal substance is very smoothly discharged, and when the force pressing the vessel body is removed, the discharge hole is automatically closed by elastic restoring force of an elastic member and leakage of the internal substance can be effectively prevented.

Claims

1. An inverted container with an automatic cap, comprising: a vessel body (110) that has a space (111) for accommodating an internal substance therein, has a first fastening portion (113) at the lower portion, and has a first outlet (115) for discharging the internal substance at the center of the first fastening portion (113); a support cap (120) that has a second fastening portion (123) therein to be separably coupled to the first fastening portion (113), has a second outlet (125) communicating with the first outlet (115) at the center, and has a flange (127) for supporting on the floor at the lower portion; an up and down knob (130) that is installed horizontally rotatably at a predetermined angle in the support cap (120) to be able to change into a vertically descending-possible state and is partially exposed outside the second outlet (125) to discharge an internal substance through a discharge hole (131) formed at the center by being vertically moved down by discharge pressure of the internal substance when a user presses the vessel body (110); an elastic member (140) that is installed in the support cap (120) to return the up and down knob (130) to the initial position by elastically supporting upward the up and down knob (130); and a close member (150) that is installed in the support cap (120) to selectively open/close the discharge hole (131) of the up and down knob (130) and is configured to close the discharge hole (131) when the up and down knob (130) is moved up and to open the discharge hole (131) when the up and down knob (130) is moved down, wherein an opening/closing guide rail (126) is formed on the inner surface of the second outlet (125) in the support cap (120) to change into a descending-possible state (unlocking mode) or a descending-impossible state (locking mode) by horizontally rotating the up and down knob (130), a down groove (128) for vertical descending of the up and down knob (130) is formed on a first side of the opening/closing guide rail (126), and a stopper (129) for limiting the horizontal rotation angle of the up and down knob (130) is formed on a second side of the opening/closing guide rail (126).

2. The inverted container of claim 1, wherein the close member (150) comprises: an annular close body (151) having a step (152) formed on the outer surface to be seated on a support rib (121) formed in the support cap (120); and a close rod (153) formed at the center of the close body (151) to open/close the discharge hole (131) of the up and down knob (130) and formed in a downwardly gradually tapered shape, and the up and down knob (130) comprises: a knob body (132) formed in a hollow structure, having a space therein in which the close rod (153) is inserted, and having a discharge hole (131) that is opened/closed by the close rod (152) at the lower end; a spring contact portion (133) formed at the upper end of the knob body (132) to be supported on the elastic member (140); an anti-internal substance leakage surface (134) formed on the outer surface of the middle portion of the knob body (132) to be in close contact with the inner surface of the second outlet (125); opening/closing guide protrusions (135) formed at both sides of the outer surface of the knob body (132) to move along the opening/closing guide rail (126); and handles (136) formed at both sides of the outer surface of the lower end of the knob body (132) exposed outside the second outlet (125) to rotate the knob body (132) at 90? counterclockwise or 90? clockwise.

3. The inverted container of claim 2, wherein an opening/closing indicator (122) showing an open mode or a close mode of the discharge hole (131) is formed on the bottom of the support cap (120), when a user changes the container into the open mode (or unlocking mode) by holding and rotating the up and down knob (130) at 90? counterclockwise and then presses the vessel body (110) to discharge an internal substance of the vessel body (110), the up and down knob (130) is moved down and opens the discharge hole (131) by an increase of discharge pressure in the vessel body (110) and the internal substance can be discharged through the discharge hole (131), and when the user stops the force pressing the vessel body (110 to stop discharge of the internal substance (when erecting or keeping the container), the vessel body (110 is restored into the initial shape by elastic restoration force of the vessel body (110, suction force is generated in the vessel body 110, the up and down knob (130) is moved up by elastic restoration force of the elastic member (140), and the discharge hole (131) is closed by a close rod (153) of the close member (150), whereby leakage of the internal substance is prevented; and when the user changes the container into the close mode (locking mode) by rotating the up and down knob (130) at 90? clockwise, a discharge hole (132) of the up and down knob (130) is not unexpectedly opened, so the internal substance does not unexpectedly leak even if the vessel body (110 is unexpectedly pressed in distributing, carrying, and keeping.

4. The inverted container of claim 2, wherein the elastic member (140) comprises: an annular lower base (141) supported on the bottom in the support cap (120); an annular upper base (142) being in contact with the spring contact portion (133); and a plurality of elastic portions (145) integrally formed between the lower base (141) and the upper base (142), disposed between the close body (151) and the knob body (132), and having a plurality of unit tension cells, which has a diamond-shaped tension rib (143) and a stretchable space (144) formed in the tension rib (143) and longitudinally extends, to generate elastic restoration force in the up-down direction when the unit cells are contracted and stretched in the up-down direction.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an inverted-type container of the related art.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the inverted-type container of the related art.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a liquid vessel of the related art.

[0040] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the cap part of the liquid vessel.

[0041] FIG. 5 is an assembled perspective view showing an inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] FIG. 7 is an exploded bottom view showing the inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] FIGS. 8A-8D are a view showing a support cap, an up and down knob, a close member, and an elastic member in the inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0045] FIGS. 9A-9B are an enlarged view showing the top and the bottom of the support cap in the inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] FIG. 10 is a view showing the up and down knob in the inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0047] FIGS. 11A-11B are an enlarged view showing the top and the bottom of the close member in the inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0048] FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view showing the elastic member in the inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] FIG. 13 is an enlarged front view showing the elastic member in the inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0050] FIGS. 14 and 16 are views showing a close state of a discharge hole of the up and down knob as cross-sectional views taken along line A-A in FIG. 5.

[0051] FIGS. 15 and 17 are views showing an open state of the discharge hole of the up and down knob when the internal pressure of a vessel body is increased by pressing the vessel body.

[0052] FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of FIG. 16.

[0053] FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of FIG. 17.

BEST MODE

[0054] Hereafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that those skilled in the art can easily achieve the present disclosure.

[0055] Technologies well known in the art and not directly relevant to the present disclosure are not described in the following description of this embodiment. This is for more clearly communicating the subject of the present disclosure without making the subject unclear by omitting unnecessary description.

[0056] Hereafter, an inverted container with an automatic cap according to the present disclosure is described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0057] FIG. 5 is an assembled perspective view showing an inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is an exploded bottom view showing the inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, FIGS. 8A-8B are a view showing a support cap, an up and down knob, a close member, and an elastic member in the inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, FIGS. 9A-9B are an enlarged view showing the top and the bottom of the support cap in the inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the up and down knob in the inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, FIGS. 11A-11B are an enlarged view showing the top and the bottom of the close member in the inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view showing the elastic member in the inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 13 is an enlarged front view showing the elastic member in the inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, FIGS. 14 and 16 are views showing a close state of a discharge hole of the up and down knob as cross-sectional views taken along line A-A in FIG. 5, FIGS. 15 and 17 are views showing an open state of the discharge hole of the up and down knob when the internal pressure of a vessel body is increased by pressing the vessel body, FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of FIG. 16, and FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of FIG. 17.

[0058] As shown in the figures, an inverted container 100 with an automatic cap according to the present disclosure includes: a vessel body 110 that is made of an elastic material, has a space 111 for accommodating an internal substance therein, has a first fastening portion 113 at the lower portion, and has a first outlet 115 for discharging the internal substance at the center of the first fastening portion 113; a support cap 120 that has a second fastening portion 123 therein to be separably coupled to the first fastening portion 113, has a second outlet 125 communicating with the first outlet 115 at the center, and has a flange 127 for supporting on the floor at the lower portion; an up and down knob 130 that is installed horizontally rotatably at a predetermined angle in the support cap 120 to be able to change into a vertically descending-possible state and is partially exposed outside the second outlet 125 to discharge an internal substance through a discharge hole 131 formed at the center by being vertically moved down by discharge pressure of the internal substance when a user presses the vessel body 110; an elastic member 140 that is installed in the support cap 120 to return the up and down knob 130 to the initial position by elastically supporting upward the up and down knob 130; and a close member 150 that is installed in the support cap 120 to selectively open/close the discharge hole 131 of the up and down knob 130 and is configured to close the discharge hole 131 when the up and down knob 130 is moved up and to open the discharge hole 131 when the up and down knob 130 is moved down.

[0059] Further, the inverted container 100 with an automatic cap according to the present disclosure is technologically characterized in that an opening/closing guide rail 126 is circumferentially formed on the inner surface of the second outlet 125 in the support cap 120, a down groove 128 for vertical descending of the up and down knob 130 is formed on a first side of the opening/closing guide rail 126, and a stopper 129 for limiting the horizontal rotation angle of the up and down knob 130 is formed on a second side of the opening/closing guide rail 126 such that the container is changed into an open mode or a close mode by rotting the up and down knob 130 horizontally by 90?, so, in the open mode, even though a user holds and presses the vessel body, the discharge hole of the up and down knob is automatically opened and the internal substance is smoothly discharged, and when the force pressing the vessel body is removed, the discharge hole is automatically closed by elastic restoration force of the elastic member, so it is possible to effectively prevent leakage of the internal substance, and particularly, in the close mode, the discharge hole of the up and down knob is not unexpectedly opened, so even if the vessel body is unexpectedly pressed in distributing, carrying, and keeping, the internal substance is not unexpectedly discharged, whereby it is possible to further increase reliability of the product.

[0060] Hereafter, the configuration of the inverted container 100 with an automatic cap is described in more detail.

[0061] First, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the vessel body 110, which may be an elastic container that can discharge an internal substance when being pressed by a user, is an elastic container that is filled with body products, such as a liquid-state cosmetic, a liquid-state detergent, a liquid-state shampoo, and a liquid-state rinse, and liquid sauces such as Ganjang or vinegar. The vessel body 110 has a space 111 for accommodating an internal substance therein,

[0062] a fastening portion (neck portion) 113 at the lower portion, and a first outlet 115 (see FIG. 7) for discharging the internal substance at the center of the first fastening portion 113.

[0063] Further, the support cap 120, which is coupled to the lower end of the vessel body 10 to keep the vessel body 110 erected on a table (not shown), is formed in a cylindrical shape with an open bottom and the top thereof is coupled to the bottom of the vessel body 110.

[0064] As shown in FIGS. 7, 8A-8D, and 9A-9B, the support cap 120 has a second fastening portion 123 therein to be separably coupled to the first fastening portion 113, a second outlet 125 communicating with the first outlet 115 at the center, and a flange 127 for supporting on the ground at the lower portion.

[0065] Further, the up and down knob 130 is installed to be horizontally rotatable at a predetermined angle in the support cap 120.

[0066] When a user holds and presses the vessel body 110, the internal pressure of the vessel body 110 is increased, that is, the discharge pressure of the internal substance is increased, so the up and down knob 130 is vertically moved down and positioned to be partially exposed outside the second outlet 125 such that the internal substance is discharged through the discharge hole 131 formed at the center.

[0067] Referring to FIGS. 8A-8D, the opening/closing guide rail 126 is formed on the inner surface of the second outlet 125 in the support cap 120 to change into a descending-possible state (open mode or unlocking mode) or a descending-impossible state (close mode or locking mode) by horizontally rotating the up and down knob 130.

[0068] A down groove 128 for vertical descending of the up and down knob 130 is formed on a first side of the opening/closing guide rail 126 and a stopper 129 for limiting the horizontal rotation angle of the up and down knob 130 is formed on the second side of the opening/closing guide rail 126.

[0069] Further, the elastic member 140 is installed in the support cap 120 to elastically support and return the up and down knob 130 to the initial position. That is, when an internal substance is discharged with the up and down knob 130 moved down and an exposure hole 132 open, the elastic member 140 is pressed (compressed) down by the discharge pressure, but when the internal substance stops being discharged, the elastic member 140 is elastically restored to the initial position.

[0070] The configuration of the elastic member 140 is described in more detail. The elastic member 140 includes: an annular lower base 141 supported on the bottom in the support cap 120;

[0071] an annular upper base 142 being in contact with a spring contact portion 133; and a plurality of elastic portions 145 integrally formed between the lower base 141 and the upper base 142, disposed between a close body 151 and a knob body 132, and having a plurality of unit tension cells, which has a diamond-shaped tension rib 143 and a stretchable space 144 formed in the tension rib 143 and longitudinally extends, to generate elastic restoration force in the up-down direction when the unit cells are contracted and stretched in the up-down direction.

[0072] The lower base 141 and the upper base 142 are each formed in a ring shape, and the lower base 141 is configured to be in contact with the bottom in the support cap 120 and the upper base 142 is configured to be in contact with the spring contact portion 133.

[0073] The elastic portions 145 are disposed between the close body 151 and the knob body 132, the tension ribs 143 are formed in diamond shapes between the lower base 141 and the upper base 142, the stretchable spaces 144 are formed in the tension ribs 143, and a plurality of unit cells longitudinally extends to generate elastic restoration force in the up-down direction when the unit cells are contracted and stretched in the up-down direction.

[0074] Further, the close member 150 is installed in the support cap 120 to selectively open/close the discharge hole 131 of the up and down knob 130 and is configured to close the discharge hole 131 when the up and down knob 130 is moved up and to open the discharge hole 131 when the up and down knob 130 is moved down.

[0075] The configuration of the close member 150 is described hereafter in more detail with FIG. 11.

[0076] The close member 150 includes: an annular close body 151 having a step 152 formed on the outer surface to be seated on a support rib 121 formed in the support cap 120; and a close rod 153 formed at the center of the close body 151 to open/close the discharge hole 131 of the up and down knob 130 and formed in a downwardly gradually tapered shape.

[0077] Prominences and recessions 157 are formed on the inner surface of the support rib 121 and the outer surface of the lower end portion of the close body 151 to firmly fix the close body 151.

[0078] A plurality of reinforcing ribs 154 is formed on the outer surface of the close rod 153, thereby increasing the durability of the close rod 153 itself and stably maintaining the position of the close rod 153.

[0079] That is, the ribs are configured such that the close rod 153 is positioned at a correct position and is accurately inserted into the discharge hole 131 when the up and down knob 130 is moved up and down.

[0080] A cross-shaped support bar 155 supporting the close rod 153 is formed at the upper portion of the close body 151 and an internal substance intake hole 156 is formed in the close rod support bar 155. A plurality of reinforcing ribs 154 is integrally formed at the lower portion of the cross-shaped support bar 155.

[0081] The configuration of the up and down knob 130 is described hereafter in more detail with FIGS. 10 and 11.

[0082] The up and down knob 130 includes: a knob body 132 formed in a hollow structure, having a space therein in which the close rod 153 is inserted, and having a discharge hole 131 that is opened/closed by the close rod 153 at the lower end; a spring contact portion 133 formed at the upper end of the knob body 132 to be supported on the elastic member 140; an anti-internal substance leakage surface 134 formed on the outer surface of the middle portion of the knob body 132 to be in close contact with the inner surface of the second outlet 125; opening/closing guide protrusions 135 formed at both sides of the outer surface of the knob body 132 to move along the opening/closing guide rail 126; and handles 136 formed at both sides of the outer surface of the lower end of the knob body 132 exposed outside the second outlet 125 (see FIGS. 9A-9D) to rotate the knob body 132 at 90? counterclockwise or 90? clockwise.

[0083] The knob body 132 is formed in a hollow structure, has a space therein in which the close rod 153 is inserted, and has a discharge hole 131 that is opened/closed by the close rod 152 at the lower end. It is preferable that an inclined surface 131a is formed on the inner surface of the discharge hole 131 so that the close rod 153 is smoothly inserted into the discharge hole 131.

[0084] The spring contact portion 133 is formed flat on the outer surface of the upper end of the knob body 132 to be supported on the elastic member 140.

[0085] The upper base 142 of the elastic member 140 is stably in contact with the spring contact portion 133, so the up and down knob 130 is more stably supported by the elastic member 140 and the up and down knob 130 does not shake left and right when moving up and down, whereby the close rod 153 is correctly positioned in the discharge hole 131 of the up and down knob 130, and accordingly, the problem of unexpected leakage of an internal substance through the discharge hole 131 is not generated.

[0086] The anti-internal substance leakage surface 134 is stepped on the outer surface of the middle portion of the knob body 131 to be in close contact with the inner surface of the second outlet 125.

[0087] The opening/closing guide protrusion 135 is formed at both sides of the outer surface of the knob body 132 to move along the opening/closing guide rail 126. That is, the opening/closing guide protrusion 135 is configured to move along the opening/closing guide rail 126 in contact with the opening/closing guide rail 126.

[0088] The handles 136 are formed at both sides of the outer surface of the lower end of the knob body 132 exposed outside the second outlet 125 to rotate the knob body 132 at 90? counterclockwise or 90? clockwise.

[0089] Further, an opening/closing indicator 122 (see FIGS. 9A-9B) showing the open mode or the close mode of the discharge hole 131 is formed on the bottom of the support cap 120, so when a user first changes the container into the open mode (or unlocking mode) by holding and rotating the handles 135 at 90? counterclockwise and then presses the vessel body 110 to discharge an internal substance, the up and down knob 130 is moved down and opens the discharge hole 131 by the discharge pressure of the internal substance, and in this case, the internal substance can be discharged through the discharge hole 131 (see FIG. 19).

[0090] On the other hand, when the user stops the force pressing the vessel body 110 to stop discharge of the internal substance (when erecting or keeping the container), the vessel body 110 is elastically restored and the up and down knob 130 is moved up by the internal suction force of the vessel body 10, and in this case, the discharge hole 131 is closed (blocked) by the close rod 153 of the close member 150, whereby leakage of the internal substance is prevented (see FIG. 18).

[0091] Thereafter, the user changes the container into the close mode (or locking mode) by holding and rotating the handles 135 at 90? clockwise, whereby the discharge hole of the up and down knob is not unexpectedly opened particularly in the close mode, so even if the vessel body 110 is unexpectedly pressed in distributing, carrying, and keeping, the internal substance does not unexpectedly leak, and accordingly, it is possible to further increase the reliability of the product.

[0092] Hereafter, the operation of the inverted container with an automatic cap according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to the drawings.

[0093] First, in order to discharge the internal substance of the vessel body 110, a user holds the handles 135, as in FIGS. 9A-9B, and rotates the up and down knob 130 at 90? counterclockwise in the direction of an arrow, thereby changing the container into the open mode (or unlocking mode) (see FIGS. 9A-9B).

[0094] Next, when the user holds and presses the vessel body 110, the up and down knob 130 is moved down and opens the discharge hole 131 by an increase of the internal discharge pressure of the vessel body 110, and in this case, the elastic member 140 is moved (compressed) down and the internal substance can be discharged through the discharge hole 131 (see FIG. 19).

[0095] On the other hand, when the user stops the force pressing the vessel body 110 to stop discharge of the internal substance (when erecting or keeping the container), the vessel body 110 is restored into the initial shape by elastic restoration force of the vessel body 110, and in this case, suction force is generated in the vessel body 110.

[0096] Further, the up and down knob 130 is moved up by the elastic restoration force of the elastic member 140, and in this case, the discharge hole 131 is closed (blocked) by the close rod 153 of the close member 150, whereby leakage of the internal substance is prevented (see FIG. 18).

[0097] Thereafter, the user changes the container into the close mode (or locking mode) by holding and rotating the up and down knob 130 at 90? clockwise (see FIGS. 9A-9B), whereby the discharge hole 132 of the up and down knob is not unexpectedly opened, so even if the vessel body 110 is unexpectedly pressed in distributing, carrying, and keeping, the internal substance does not unexpectedly leak, and accordingly, it is possible to further increase the reliability of the product.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0098] As described above, the present disclosure has the following effects. First, an opening/closing guide rail is formed along the inner surface of a second outlet in a support cap, a down groove for vertical descending of an up and down knob on a first side of the opening/closing guide rail, and a stopper for limiting the horizontal rotation angle of the up and down knob is formed on a second side of the opening/closing guide rail, so a user can change the container into an open mode or a close mode by rotating the up and down knob at 90?, whereby the discharge hole of the up and down knob is automatically opened and an internal substance is very smoothly discharged when a user only holds and presses a vessel body in the open mode, and when the user stops the force pressing the vessel body, the discharge hole is automatically closed by elastic restoration force of an elastic member and it is possible to effectively prevent leakage of the internal substance, and particularly, the discharge hole of the up and down knob is not unexpectedly opened in the close mode, so the internal substance does not unexpectedly leak even if the vessel body is unexpectedly pressed in distributing, carrying, and keeping, whereby it is possible to further increase the reliability of the product.

[0099] Second, an internal substance in the vessel body is discharged by an increase of pressure that is generated when the vessel body is pressed, and unlike the related art, the discharge hole of the up and down knob is automatically opened and the internal substance is discharged through the discharge hole even though the up and down knob is turned and moved down, and on the contrary, even though the up and down knob is not turned and moved up, unlike the related art, the up and down knob automatically closes the discharge hole while being moved up by elastic restoration force of the elastic member, whereby leakage of the internal substance is prevented, so there is an advantage that it is very easy to discharge the internal substance and prevent the internal substance from unexpectedly leaking even without a diaphragm of the related art.

[0100] Third, unlike the opening/closing devices of an automatic cap of a liquid container of the related art, the size of an opening/closing structure for preventing an internal substance from being discharged and from leaking is smaller than the inlet of the vessel body, the entire structure is simple, the number of parts is small, so there is an effect that assembly is easy and the manufacturing cost is reduced, and there is an advantage that it is very convenient to refill the container with an internal substance.