Abstract
Disclosed is a synthetic resin container provided with an inverting, foldback bottom wall that can maintain a stable, self-supporting position while being able to minimize the amount of residual contents, and that can be formed by blow-molding, etc., and maintain the favorable producibility or low cost of the past. The synthetic resin container is provided with a bottom wall that forms the bottom of the container, and a drum section that is united to the perimeter of the bottom wall and forms a filling space M for contents on the inside, and is a synthetic resin container wherein a raised bottom is formed by inverting and folding back said bottom wall toward said drum section. Said drum section has a lower peripheral wall that touches or approaches the outer wall part of said bottom wall and forms a self-supporting base by the inversion and folding back of said bottom wall.
Claims
1. A synthetic resin container having a bottom wall for forming a bottom portion of the container, and a body portion connecting integrally with an outer periphery of the bottom wall to define a space for filling a content therein, the bottom wall being inverted and folded back toward the inside of the body portion to form a raised bottom, wherein: the body portion has a cylindrical or elliptically cylindrical shape; the synthetic resin container is configured so that, prior to inverting the bottom wall: an outer-side wall portion having the same cylindrical shape as the body portion has is provided so as to extend downward from a lower edge of the body portion; a wall for forming the raised bottom is provided so as to extend from a lower edge of the outer-side wall portion; and the outer-side wall portion is formed so as to be invertible upward so that the bottom wall can fold inwardly at the lower edge of the body portion; and the synthetic resin container is configured so that, when the outer-side wall portion is inverted upward: an inner surface of the outer-side wall portion is brought into liquid-tight contact with a lower end of an inner surface of the body portion to form a self-standing foot, the raised bottom, and a liquid pool at the central portion of the bottom wall; at least a lower end of the body portion has a polygon-cylinder-like shape; and the liquid-tight contact is formed so that liquid cannot enter the self-standing foot.
2. The synthetic resin container according to claim 1, wherein each corner region of the outer-side wall portion has a wall thickness thinner than the other portions thereof have.
3. The synthetic resin container according to claim 1, wherein each corner region of the outer-side wall portion is formed in an arcuately curved shape.
4. The synthetic resin container according to claim 1, wherein upper and lower edge portions of the outer-side wall portion are connected via a thin hinge with a lower edge of the body portion and a peripheral edge of the wall for forming the raised bottom, respectively.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a synthetic resin container according to the present invention.
(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective external view illustrating a bottom portion of the synthetic resin container illustrated in FIG. 1.
(3) FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a use state of the synthetic resin container illustrated in FIG. 1.
(4) FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a use state of another embodiment of the synthetic resin container according to the present invention.
(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective external view illustrating a bottom portion of the synthetic resin container illustrated in FIG. 4.
(6) FIG. 6 is a semi-sectional view illustrating a container having a discharging device attached thereto in another embodiment of the synthetic resin container according to the present invention.
(7) FIG. 7 is a semi-sectional view illustrating the synthetic resin container illustrated in FIG. 6 before the bottom portion of the container is inverted.
(8) FIG. 8 is a semi-sectional view illustrating a container having a discharging device attached thereto in another embodiment of the synthetic resin container according to the present invention.
(9) FIG. 9 is a semi-sectional view illustrating a container having a discharging device attached thereto in another embodiment of the synthetic resin container according to the present invention.
(10) FIG. 10 is a semi-sectional view illustrating a container having a discharging device attached thereto in another embodiment of the synthetic resin container according to the present invention.
(11) FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a container having a discharging device attached thereto in another embodiment of the synthetic resin container according to the present invention.
(12) FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the synthetic resin container illustrated in FIG. 11 before the bottom portion of the container is inverted.
(13) FIG. 13 is a main-portion expanded view illustrating the container having a discharging device attached to the synthetic resin container illustrated in FIG. 11.
(14) FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a container having a discharging device attached thereto in another embodiment of the synthetic resin container according to the present invention.
(15) FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the synthetic resin container illustrated in FIG. 14.
(16) FIG. 16 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the synthetic resin container illustrated in FIG. 14 before the bottom portion is inverted.
(17) FIG. 17 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line X-X in FIG. 16.
(18) FIG. 18 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a container having a discharging device attached thereto in the other embodiment of the synthetic resin container according to the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(19) Hereinbelow, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(20) FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a mode of a container having an inverted, folded back bottom portion according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an appearance of the container illustrated in FIG. 1 before a bottom wall thereof is inverted and folded back. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the container in a state where a raised bottom is formed by inverting and folding back the bottom wall thereof and a discharging device such as a pump is attached. For a container suitable for the present invention, a synthetic resin generally used for manufacturing a container is used, and is formed into a desirable shape by using a blow molding or injection molding.
(21) In FIGS. 1 through 3, reference number 1 represents a bottom wall having a circular, plate-like shape for forming a bottom portion of the container. This bottom wall 1 includes a slanting wall in which an edge portion of the bottom wall 1 is the highest position and the center region is the lowest position after it is inverted and folded back toward the upper and inner side, in other words, toward the inside of a body portion to form a raised bottom 1a. At the center region of the bottom wall 1, there is formed a recessed portion for forming a liquid pool 1a.sub.1 (see FIG. 3).
(22) Reference number 2 represents a cylindrical body portion standing from an outer periphery of the bottom wall 1, for forming a filling space of the content inside M thereof. The body portion 2 is connected integrally with the bottom wall 1. Reference number 3 represents a mouth and neck portion provided integrally to a top portion of the body portion 2, for forming a passage connected to the filling space M. The mouth and neck portion 3 has a cylindrical shape, and an outer peripheral wall thereof is provided with a threaded portion 3a for attaching the discharging device such as a pump (it may be possible to attach the discharging device by engagement using undercut).
(23) Reference number 4 represents a bending groove provided at a boundary between the bottom wall 1 and the body portion 2. The bending groove 4 is a groove from which the inverting and folding back of the bottom wall 1 starts, and has a cross-sectional shape protruding outward from the container after the bottom wall 1 is inverted and folded back as illustrated in FIG. 3. More specifically, the bending groove 4 has a U-shape or a square U-shape in its cross section.
(24) Reference number 5 represents a narrowed portion (recessed portion) provided to the lower peripheral wall of the body portion 2. The narrowed portion 5 includes an upper peripheral wall 5a whose diameter gradually increases toward the upward direction, and a lower peripheral wall 5b connected with a lower end of the upper peripheral wall 5a and whose diameter gradually increases toward the downward direction. Further, the narrowed portion 5 is formed around the entire circumference of the body portion 2, and is formed in a boomerang shape in its cross section in a shape that protrudes toward the inner direction of the body portion 2.
(25) Reference number 6 represents an annular rib provided at almost the middle portion of the bottom wall 1 in the radial direction and protruding inwardly (toward the inside of the body portion). The annular rib 6 sections the bottom wall 1 into an inner-side wall portion 1a.sub.2 and an outer-side wall portion 1c, and serves as a start portion for forming the shape of the bottom wall 1 at the time of inverting and folding back the bottom wall 1. Further, when the bottom wall 1 is inverted and folded back, the annular rib 6 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the lower peripheral wall 5b of the narrowed portion 5 to form a seal portion between them.
(26) Reference number 7 represents a priming-type discharging device attached to the mouth and neck portion 3 of the container. The discharging device 7 includes: a cylinder 7a passing through the mouth and neck portion 3 of the container and hung and supported at an upper portion of the filling space M; a base cap 7b for supporting the cylinder 7a and fixing the cylinder 7a to the mouth and neck portion 3 of the container; a hollow piston 7c disposed in the cylinder 7a so as to be able to reciprocatingly move; a hollow stem 7d connected integrally with the upper portion of the piston 7c and having a check valve in an inner-side passage of the piston 7c; a poppet (valve) 7e disposed on the inner side of the cylinder 7a; a pressing head 7f (including an operation portion 7f.sub.1 and discharging nozzle 7f.sub.2) having a cylindrical body connected with the upper portion of the hollow stem 7d and driving the piston 7c through the hollow stem 7d; a spring 7g disposed in the cylinder 7a and upwardly pressing (resiliently supporting) the pressing head 7f together with the piston 7c and the hollow stem 7d; and, a valve body (three-port valve and the like) 7h disposed at a sucking port 7a.sub.1 at the lower end of the cylinder 7a, and releasing the content only at the time of sucking. Further, a base portion 7a.sub.2 is fitted to the upper end portion of the cylinder, and the pressing head is screwed to the base portion.
(27) Further, reference number 8 represents a sucking pipe connected with the sucking port 7a.sub.1 of the cylinder 7a. The sucking pipe 8 has a straight shape, and the lower end thereof is located at the liquid pool 1a.sub.1 provided at the center region of the bottom wall 1. A gap is formed between the bottom wall 1 and the lower end of the sucking pipe 8 so as to reliably suck the content.
(28) The synthetic resin container according to the present invention has a shape as illustrated in FIG. 1 immediately after the molding. Then, by pressing a wall for forming the raised bottom (formed by the liquid pool 1a.sub.1 and the inner-side wall portion 1a.sub.2) toward the filling space M of the content, the portion for forming the raised bottom is inverted and folded back with the bending groove 4 for forming a boundary with the body portion 2 being the start point as illustrated in FIG. 3 to form the raised bottom 1a. As a result, the lower peripheral wall of the body portion 2 (corresponding to the lower outer surface 5b of the narrowed portion 5) and the outer-side wall portion 1c of the bottom wall 1 are brought into contact with each other or placed in proximity to each other, whereby a self-standing foot 9 having a truncated cone shape is formed at the lower end of the container, and at the same time, an annular hollow portion (hollow ring) 10 is formed at the boundary portion between the bottom wall 1 and the body portion 2.
(29) The annular hollow portion 10 is provided so as to correspond to a ground-contacting portion located at the lowest end of the self-standing foot portion 9, improving a cushioning property of the container and contributing to improvement in buckling strength.
(30) The bending groove 4 may be formed in a U-shape or a square U-shape in its cross section. Although description has been made of an example of the shape of the bending groove 4 in which the annular hollow portion 10 having a circular cross section is formed when the bottom wall 1 is inverted and folded back, the shape of the bending groove 4 is not particularly limited.
(31) As illustrated in FIG. 3, the hollow portion 10 preferably have a diameter D2 (diameter after inverting and folding back) larger than a diameter D1 of the body portion 2, which makes the self-standing position of the container further stable. Further, it is preferable to set the outer diameter t1 of the annular rib 6 provided to the bottom wall 1 to be a size almost equal to the inner diameter t2 of a portion of the narrowed portion 5 located at the smallest diameter. This makes it possible to reliably seal between the lower peripheral wall of the body portion 2 (lower peripheral wall 5b of the narrowed portion 5) and the outer-side wall portion 1c to prevent the content from entering.
(32) In particular, at the time of forming the container with a thin wall, there is a concern that the shape of the bottom wall 1 deforms due to the weight of the content, and a space is formed between the lower peripheral wall of the body portion 2 (lower peripheral wall 5b of the narrowed portion 5) and the outer-side wall portion 1c of the bottom wall 1. However, by forming the seal portion by the annular rib 6, it is possible to achieve the reliable seal. Although it has been described that the annular rib 6 has a U-shape in its cross section, it may be possible to change the shape of the annular rib 6, provided that the seal portion is reliably form.
(33) To discharge the content in the container by the discharging device 7, the connection between the operation portion 7f.sub.1 of the pressing head 7f and the base portion 7a.sub.2 is release (FIG. 1 illustrates a connection state with screw). Then, the pressing head 7f is pushed upward by the pressing force of the spring 7g.
(34) After the pressing head 7f is pushed upward by the spring 7g, the piston 7c and the hollow stem 7d are also pushed upward together with the pressing head 7f, which makes the inner side of the cylinder 7a negative pressure. This causes the content in the filling space M to be sucked through the sucking pipe 8 into the cylinder 7a.
(35) In this state, by pressing the pressing head 7f, the inner side of the cylinder 7a is pressurized and compressed; at the time when the pressure in the cylinder reaches a predetermined pressure, the pressurized and compressed content passes through a space formed between the piston 7c and the poppet 7e and the inner passage in the hollow stem 7d, and is discharged toward the external space from the nozzle portion 7f.sub.2 of the pressing head 7f. By repeating the pressing of the pressing head 7f and the recovery by the spring 7g several times, it is possible to continuously discharge the content.
(36) The synthetic resin container according to the present invention has the liquid pool 1a.sub.1 at the center region of the bottom wall 1, and hence, the content flows toward the center region of the bottom wall 1 regardless of the filling amount of the content. Therefore, it is possible to discharge almost all of the content in the container by the discharging device 7, achieving excellent usability.
(37) FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are diagrams illustrating another embodiment of the synthetic resin container according to the present invention. The drawings illustrate an example of the synthetic resin container having four ribs 11 disposed on a bottom wall 1 in a direction from the edge portion of the bottom wall 1 toward a liquid pool 1a.sub.1 at intervals of 90. Each of the ribs 11 has a protruding shape on the undersurface of the bottom wall 1, and a recessed shape on the top surface of the bottom wall 1. By disposing the ribs 11 on the bottom wall 4, it is possible to increase the rigidity of the bottom wall 1 and prevent the shape of the bottom wall 1 from deforming by the weight of the content. Further, the recessed portions of the ribs 11 function as groove portions. Therefore, the content in the container efficiently flows into the liquid pool 1a.sub.1 along the recessed shape, whereby it is possible to efficiently collect the content especially in a case where the remaining amount of the content is low.
(38) In the description above, the discharging device attached to the present invention employs the pressing head that moves vertically. However, it may be possible to employ a trigger-type discharging device and the like, and the type of the discharging device is not particularly limited.
(39) It is preferable that, before the inverting and folding back, angles (inclination angles) of the lower peripheral wall of a body portion 2 (corresponding to a lower peripheral wall 5b of a narrowed portion 5) and a outer-side wall portion 1c of the bottom wall 1 with respect to a horizontal plane are set in an angle that forms a gentle angle. This makes it easy to invert and fold back the bottom wall 1. Further, by setting an angle of the lower peripheral wall 5b of the narrowed portion 5 with respect to the horizontal plane at an equal angle, in inverted orientation, to an angle of the outer-side wall portion 1c of the bottom wall 1 with respect to the horizontal plane, the lower peripheral wall 5b of the narrowed portion 5 can be reliably brought into close contact with the outer-side wall portion 1c of the bottom wall 1 after the inverting and folding back.
(40) Next, with reference to FIG. 6 through FIG. 10, another embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described.
(41) FIG. 6 illustrates one example of a pump container P in which a discharging device 7 such as a pump is attached to a container body A. The container body A is formed integrally by the blow molding using synthetic resin, and stands upright from the upper end of a cylindrical body portion 2 via a shoulder portion 2e to a mouth and neck portion 3. The body portion 2 is configured such that an annular slanting wall 2a slanting downward toward the outside is provided at the lower portion of the body portion 2; with respect to a slanting wall 2a, a large-diameter portion 2b is formed below the slanting wall 2a, and a small-diameter portion 2c is formed above the slanting wall 2a; and the undersurface of the annular slanting wall 2a is configured as a wall surface f for pressure-contacting. Further, at the lower end portion of the body portion 2, a raised bottom 1a extends by way of an outer-side wall portion 1c.
(42) First, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the container body A includes a bottom wall 1 for forming the bottom portion of the container, and the body portion 2 connecting integrally with the outer periphery of the bottom wall 1, and the body portion 2 has a filling space for the content in the inner side thereof. More specifically, in FIG. 7, the container body A is configured such that the outer-side wall portion 1c is integrally installed downward from the lower edge of the body portion 2, in other words, from the lower edge of the large-diameter portion 2b, and, the wall for forming the raised bottom (formed by a liquid pool 1a.sub.1 and an inner-side wall portion 1a.sub.2) for closing the lower end opening of the outer-side wall portion 1c integrally extends from the lower edge of the outer-side wall portion 1c.
(43) As illustrated in FIG. 7, the outer-side wall portion 1c has the same cylindrical shape as the body portion 2 has, in other words, the outer-side wall portion 1c has a cylindrical shape, and is formed such that the outer surface of the outer-side wall portion 1c has substantially the same diameter as the inner surface of the lower end portion of the body portion 2 has, in other words, as the inner surface of the large-diameter portion 2b has. Further, a corner region 1d of the outer-side wall portion that connects the outer-side wall portion 1c with the wall for forming the raised bottom is formed in an arcuately curved surface, in other words, is formed in a curved surface. Yet further, the outer-side wall portion 1c and the corner region 1d of the outer-side wall portion are formed by a thinner wall as compared with the thickness of the wall for forming the raised bottom and the body portion 2, so as to be able to be easily inverted upward to the outer-side surface portion 1c. And, the outer-side wall portion 1c and the corner region 1d of the outer-side wall portion are configured such that, as illustrated in FIG. 6, when the outer-side wall portion 1c is inverted, the corner region 1d of the outer-side wall portion is also inverted upward, so as to form a curved surface obliquely protruding upward toward the outside.
(44) The wall for forming the raised bottom integrally extends from the lower edge of the outer-side wall portion 1c so as to close the lower end opening of the outer-side wall portion 1c. At the central portion, there is provided the liquid pool 1a.sub.1 having the circular shape similar to the peripheral edge portion and having a recessed shape; the circumference of the liquid pool 1a.sub.1 is formed at the inner-side wall portion 1a.sub.2 descending inward; and, the inner-side wall portion 1a.sub.2 is connected with the lower edge of the outer-side wall portion 1c so as to close the lower end opening of the outer-side wall portion 1c. When the outer-side wall portion 1c is inverted, the liquid pool 1a.sub.1 and the inner-side wall portion 1a.sub.2 are elevated, and the wall for forming the raised bottom becomes the raised bottom 1a.
(45) From the state illustrated in FIG. 7, by pushing the wall for forming the raised bottom upward with respect to the body portion 2, the outer-side wall portion 1c is inverted upward, and, a corner region 1d of the outer-side wall portion that connects the outer-side wall portion 1c with the raised bottom 1a is brought into pressure contact with the wall surface f for pressure-contacting as illustrated in FIG. 6. At this time, the wall for forming the raised bottom is elevated while keeping its state as it is, and forms the raised bottom 1a.
(46) The discharging device 7 is fixed to the container body A by a base cap 7b fitted to the outer periphery of a mouth and neck portion 3; a flange of a cylinder 7a attached on the mouth and neck portion 3 by way of a gasket p is fixed by a flange-like top plate of a base cap 7b; the lower portion of the cylinder 7a is installed vertically in the upper portion of the container body A; and, a pressing head 7f is fitted to the upper end of a stem (not shown) protruding at a position higher than the cylinder 7a in an energized state so as to be able to be pushed. Further, the lower end of a sucking pipe 8, upper end of which is fitted to the lower end portion of the cylinder 7a, is installed vertically in a manner that an opening portion at the lower end of the sucking pipe 8 is disposed in the vicinity of the upper surface of the liquid pool 1a.sub.1. Note that FIG. 6 illustrates a state where the pressing head 7f is depressed, and a state where the pressing head 7f is screwed to the base portion 7a.sub.2 fitted to the upper end portion of the cylinder 7a as illustrated in detail in FIG. 3.
(47) In the pump container P having the configuration described above, the screwed state of the pressing head 7f is released from the state illustrated in FIG. 6 to elevate the pressing head 7f, and then, the pressing head 7f is moved vertically from this state, whereby the liquid in the container body A is sucked from the opening at the lower end of the sucking pipe 8 using an operation of a built-in pump mechanism to discharge the liquid from a nozzle portion 7f.sub.2 of the pressing head 7f.
(48) FIG. 8 illustrates another example in which the annular slanting wall 2a is formed by the lower half of a recessed wall portion 1e provided at the lower end of the body portion 2 and recessed inward. The recessed wall portion 1e is formed such that a predetermined position at the lower portion of the body portion 2 is recessed toward the inside in a semicircular shape, and the undersurface of the recessed wall portion 1e is configured as a wall surface f for pressure-contacting. Therefore, portions other than the recessed wall portion 1e of the body portion 2 have the same diameter. Since the other configurations are the same as those illustrated in the example in FIG. 6, the same reference characters are attached and explanations thereof are omitted.
(49) In this case, as illustrated in the long dashed double-dotted line in FIG. 8, the bottom portion of the container body A is first formed in a shape that the outer-side wall portion 1c and the wall for forming the raised bottom protrude downward. Then, from this state, by pushing the wall for forming the raised bottom upward with respect to the body portion 2, the outer-side wall portion 1c is inverted upward, and the corner region 1d connecting the outer-side wall portion 1c and the raised bottom 1a is brought into pressure contact with the wall surface f for pressure-contacting. At this time, the wall for forming the raised bottom is elevated while keeping its state as it is to form the raised bottom 1a.
(50) FIG. 9 illustrates still another example. In this example, the lower end portion of a body portion 2 is formed at a skirt wall 2d slanting downward toward the outside, and the undersurface of the skirt wall 2d is configured as a wall surface f for pressure-contacting. Further, as illustrated in the long dashed double-dotted line in FIG. 9, an outer-side wall portion 1c having the inverted-skirt shape as opposed to the skirt wall 2d is provided so as to slant downward toward the inside from the lower edge of the skirt wall 2d, and, the wall for forming the raised bottom similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6 extends from the lower edge of the out-side wall portion 1c. Therefore, portions other than the skirt wall 2d of the body portion 2 have the same diameter. Since the other configurations are the same as those illustrated in the example in FIG. 6, the same reference characters are attached and explanations thereof are omitted.
(51) In this case, as illustrated in the long dashed double-dotted line in FIG. 9, the bottom portion of the container body A is first formed in a shape that the outer-side wall portion 1c and the wall for forming the raised bottom protrude downward. Then, from this state, by pushing the wall for forming the raised bottom upward with respect to the body portion 2, the outer-side wall portion 1c is inverted upward, and the outer surface of the outer-side wall portion 1c is brought into pressure contact with the wall surface f for pressure-contacting. At this time, the wall for forming the raised bottom is elevated while keeping its state as it is to form the raised bottom 1a.
(52) FIG. 10 illustrates still another example. In this example, an outer-side wall portion 1c having the same cylindrical shape as a body portion 2 has is provided so as to extend downward from the lower edge of the cylindrical body portion 2, and the wall for forming the raised bottom is provided so as to extend from the lower edge of the outer-side surface portion 1c similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6. The outer-side wall portion 1c has a wall thickness thinner than those of the body portion 2 and the wall for forming the raised bottom, and is formed so as to be able to be inverted upward with the lower edge of the body portion 2 being a center. Further, by inverting the outer-side wall portion 1c upward, the outer surface of the outer-side wall portion 1c is brought into contact with the lower end portion of the inner surface of the body portion 2, and the wall for forming the raised bottom is elevated to form the raised bottom 1a. In this example, after the inverting, the outer-side wall portion 1c and the lower end portion of the body portion 2 are fixed with each other by melting. As a method of fixing, it is possible to employ a known method such as a high-frequency bonding. Since the other configurations are the same as those illustrated in the example in FIG. 6, the same reference characters are attached and explanations thereof are omitted.
(53) In this case, as illustrated in the long dashed double-dotted line in FIG. 10, the bottom portion of the container body A is first formed in a shape that the outer-side wall portion 1c and the wall for forming the raised bottom protrude downward. Then, from this state, by pushing the wall for forming the raised bottom upward with respect to the body portion 2, the outer-side wall portion 1c is inverted, so that the outer surface of the outer-side wall portion 1c and the inner surface of the body portion 2 are brought into contact with each other. At this time, the wall for forming the raised bottom is elevated while keeping its state as it is to form the raised bottom 1a. Then, in a downstream process, the outer-side wall portion 1c and the lower end portion of the body portion 2 are fixed by melting. Note that embodiments according to the present invention include a case where the fixing by melting is not performed in this downstream process.
(54) Next, still another embodiment according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 11 through FIG. 13.
(55) FIG. 11 through FIG. 13 illustrate one example of a pump container P in which a discharging device 7 such as a pump is attached to a container body A. The container body A is formed integrally by the blow molding using synthetic resin, and stands upright from the upper end of a cylindrical body portion 2 via a shoulder portion 2e to a mouth and neck portion 3. At the lower end portion of the body portion 2, a raised-bottom-like slanting wall portion 1b extends by way of an outer-side wall portion 1c.
(56) As illustrated in FIG. 12, the container A first includes a bottom wall 1 forming the bottom portion of the container, and the body portion 2 integrally connecting with the outer periphery of the bottom wall 1 and having a filling space for the content in the inner side thereof. More specifically, in FIG. 12, in the container body A, the outer-side wall portion 1c extends downward integrally from the lower edge of the body portion 2, and the slanting wall portion 1b extends integrally from the lower edge of the outer-side wall portion 1c.
(57) As illustrated in FIG. 12, the outer-side wall portion 1c has a cylindrical shape, and is formed such that: a circular upper edge thereof has the same shape as the lower end edge of the body portion 2 has; a lower edge thereof has the same plan-view-shape as the lower end edge of the body portion 2 has and slants downward from one end portion of the lower end edge of the body portion 2 toward the opposing end portion; and, the outer surface thereof has substantially the same diameter as the inner surface of the lower end portion of the body portion 2 has. Further, the outer-side wall portion 1c has a thinner thickness than those of the body portion 2 and the slanting wall portion 1b.
(58) The slanting wall portion 1b is formed in a slanting-plate shape, extending integrally from the lower end edge of the outer-side wall portion 1c, and closing the lower end opening portion of the outer-side wall portion 1c. When the outer-side wall portion 1c is inverted, the slanting wall portion 1b is inverted symmetrically with respect to a plane passing through the lower end edge of the body portion 2 to form the slanting wall portion 1b into a raised-bottom shape.
(59) By pushing the rear portion of the slanting wall portion 1b upward from the state illustrated in FIG. 12, the outer-side wall portion 1c is inverted upward, and then, the outer surface of the outer-side wall portion 1c is inverted so as to be brought substantially into contact with the lower end portion of the inner surface of the body portion 2 as illustrated in FIG. 11. At this time, the slanting wall portion 1b pivots upward around the front end portion thereof to form the raised-bottom-like slanting wall portion 1b. Note that, when the slanting wall portion 1b is compared with the lower end opening of the body portion 2, the slanting wall portion 1b has a slightly larger size. However, by forcibly pushing the slanting wall portion 1b upward, it is possible to push the slanting wall portion 1b upward to the inverted position. As the container A made of the synthetic resin has resilience, such an operation can be easily performed.
(60) The discharging device 7 includes: a flange 7d.sub.1 extending at the upper portion of the outer periphery thereof; a cylinder 7a having an annular seal tube 7d.sub.2 vertically extending from the peripheral edge portion of the undersurface of the flange 7d.sub.1; and, a base cap 7d fitted and fixed on the outer periphery portion of the flange 7d.sub.1. The base cap 7b has a flange-like top plate 7b.sub.1 extending inward from the upper end thereof, and the flange-like top plate 7b.sub.1 is fitted and fixed to the flange 7d.sub.1 by an engagement means so as not to be movable. The pressing head 7f is fitted to the upper end of a stem protruding at a position higher than the cylinder 7a in an energized state so as to be able to be pushed. A sucking pipe 8, upper end of which is fitted to the lower end portion of the cylinder 7a, is installed vertically. The sucking pipe 8 is formed in a bent shape such that the middle portion thereof is bent. Note that, as illustrated in the enlarged view of FIG. 13, the engagement means for the flange-like top plate 7b.sub.1 and the flange 7d.sub.1 is formed by a large number of radial protrusions 7d.sub.3 provided in the circumferential direction on the peripheral edge portion of the upper surface of the flange 7d.sub.1, and a large number of radial recessed grooves 7b.sub.2 provided in the circumferential direction on the undersurface of the flange-like top plate 7b.sub.1. By fitting the protrusions and the recessed grooves together, they are fixed so as not to rotate relative to each other. However, in place of this engagement, the cylinder 7a and the base cap 7b may be formed integrally.
(61) Between a mouth and neck portion 3 and the base cap 7b, there is provided a positioning means for positioning, at the lowest position of the raised-like slanting wall portion 1b, an opening provided at the lower end of the bent sucking pipe 8 at the time of screwing the base cap 7b to the mouth and neck portion 3. The positioning means is formed by a part of a large number of vertical protrusions 3b provided at the lower end portion of the outer surface of the mouth and neck portion 3 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and a pair of engagement protrusions 7b.sub.3 protruding at an opposing position of the lower end portion of the inner surface of the base cap 7b. Note that the vertical protrusions 3b constituting the positioning means are merely a part of the large number of the vertical protrusions. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a large number of vertical protrusions 3b in the circumferential direction as described above, and it may be possible to set the vertical protrusions by the number corresponding to the number of the engagement protrusions.
(62) At the time of attaching the discharging device 7 to the container body A, the base cap 7b is screwed to the outer surface of the mouth and neck portion 3 of the container while the cylinder 7a and the sucking pipe 8 are being installed vertically in the container body A, and the seal tube 7d.sub.2 is tightly fitted on the inner surface of the mouth and neck portion 3. A liquid sealing property at this portion is achieved by the seal tube 7d.sub.2. Further, when the screwing of the base cap 7b is completed, the engagement protrusions 7b.sub.3 on the inner surface of the base cap 7b are engaged between predetermined vertical protrusions 3b on the outer surface of the mouth and neck portion 3, and at this time, the opening at the top end of the sucking pipe 8 is placed at the lowest position of the raised-like slanting wall portion 1b as illustrated in FIG. 11. Note that FIG. 11 illustrates a state where the pressing head 7f is depressed, and a state where the pressing head 7f is screwed to the base portion 7a.sub.2 fitted on the upper end portion of the cylinder 7a as illustrated in detail in FIG. 3.
(63) In the pump container having the configuration described above, the screwed state of the pressing head 7f is released from the state illustrated in FIG. 11 to elevate the pressing head 7f, and then, the pressing head 7f is moved vertically from this state, whereby the liquid in the container body A is sucked from the opening at the lower end of the sucking pipe 8 using an operation of a built-in pump mechanism to discharge the liquid from the nozzle portion 7f.sub.2 of the pressing head 7f.
(64) Next, still another embodiment according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 14 through FIG. 18.
(65) FIG. 14 through FIG. 18 illustrate one example of a pump container in which a discharging device 7 such as a pump is attached to a container body A. The container body A is formed integrally by the blow molding using synthetic resin, and stands upright from the upper end of a four-square-cylinder-like body portion 2 via a shoulder portion 2e to a mouth and neck portion 3. At the lower end portion of the body portion 2, a raised bottom 1b extends by way of an outer-side wall portion 1c.
(66) As illustrated in FIG. 16, the container A first includes a bottom wall 1 for forming a bottom portion of the container, and a body portion 2 integrally connecting with the outer periphery of the bottom wall 1 and having a filling space for the content in the inner side of the container. More specifically, in FIG. 16, in the container body A, the outer-side wall portion 1c extends downward integrally from the lower edge of the body portion 2, and a wall for forming a raised bottom (formed by a liquid pool 1a.sub.1 and an inner-side wall portion 1a.sub.2) extends integrally from the lower edge of the outer-side wall portion 1c.
(67) As illustrated in FIG. 17, the outer-side wall portion 1c has the same cylindrical shape as the body portion 2 has, in other words, has a four-square-cylinder-like shape, and the outer surface thereof has substantially the same diameter as the inner surface of the lower end portion of the body portion 2 has. Corner regions if are formed in a curved shape similar to corner regions of the body portion 2, and the corner regions 1f have a wall thickness thinner than the other portions of the outer-side wall portion 1c have. The outer-side wall portion 1c itself has a wall thickness thinner than a wall for forming a raised bottom has. A thin-thickness hinge 1g is annularly provided between the upper edge of the outer-side wall portion 1c and the lower edge of the wall for forming the raised bottom. Further, the thin-thickness hinge 1g is annularly provided between the lower edge of the outer-side wall portion 1c and the peripheral edge portion of the wall for forming the raised bottom.
(68) The wall for forming the raised bottom extends integrally from the lower edge of the outer-side wall portion 1c and closes the opening portion at the lower end of the outer-side wall portion 1c. At the central portion, there is provided a liquid pool 1a.sub.1 having a rectangular shape similar to the peripheral edge portion. Around the liquid pool 1a.sub.1, there is provided an inner-side wall portion 1a.sub.2 sloping down toward the inside. The inner-side wall portion 1a.sub.2 connects with the lower edge of the outer-side wall portion 1c, and closes the opening portion at the lower end of the outer-side wall portion 1c. When the outer-side wall portion 1c is inverted, the wall for forming the raised bottom is elevated to similarly form a raised bottom 1a having the liquid pool 1a.sub.1 and the inner-side wall portion 1a.sub.2.
(69) By pushing the wall for forming the raised bottom upward with respect to the body portion 2 from the state illustrated in FIG. 16, the outer-side wall portion 1c is inverted upward, and then, the outer surface of the outer-side wall portion 1c is inverted so as to be brought substantially into contact with the inner surface at the lower end portion of the body portion 2 as illustrated in FIG. 14. At this time, the wall for forming the raised bottom is elevated while keeping its state as it is to form the raised bottom 1a.
(70) A discharging device 7 is fixed to a container body A by a base cap 7b fitted to the outer periphery of a mouth and neck portion 3; a cylinder 7a whose upper end portion is fixed to the base cap 7b is installed vertically in the upper portion of the container body A; and, a pressing head 7f is fitted to the upper end of a hollow stem 7d protruding at a position higher than the cylinder 7a in an energized state so as to be able to be pushed. Further, the lower end of a sucking pipe 8, upper end of which is fitted to the lower end portion of the cylinder 7a, is installed vertically in a manner that an opening portion at the lower end of the sucking pipe 8 is disposed in the vicinity of the upper surface of the liquid pool 1a.sub.1. Note that C in the drawing represents a stopper for preventing the pressing head 7f from being unintentionally depressed.
(71) In the pump container having the configuration described above, the stopper C is removed from the state illustrated in FIG. 14, and the pressing head 7f is vertically moved, whereby the liquid in the container body A is sucked from the opening at the lower end of the sucking pipe 8 using an operation of a built-in pump mechanism to discharge the liquid as foam from a nozzle portion 7f.sub.2 of the pressing head 7f.
(72) FIG. 18 illustrates the other example, which is different from the example illustrated in FIG. 14 in that a wall for forming a raised bottom and a liquid pool 1a.sub.1 at the central portion of a raised bottom 1a form a recessed liquid pool portion. Since the other configurations are the same as those illustrated in the example in FIG. 14, the same reference characters are attached and explanations thereof are omitted.
(73) It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and it is possible to achieve the same effects as those described above even if constituting elements are mutually exchanged between the embodiments.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
(74) It is possible to provide a synthetic resin container including an inverting and folding back bottom wall and having an excellent usability capable of securing a stable self-standing position with high rigidity (especially buckling strength); completely discharging contents without accompanying complicated operations; being formed by a blow molding and the like; and maintaining the existing favorable productivity and low cost.
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS
(75) 1 Bottom wall
(76) 1a Raised bottom
(77) 1a.sub.1 Liquid pool
(78) 1a.sub.2 Inner-side wall portion
(79) 1b Slanting wall portion
(80) 1c Outer-side wall portion
(81) 2 Body portion
(82) 3 Mouth and neck portion
(83) 3a Threaded portion
(84) 4 Bending groove
(85) 5 Narrowed portion
(86) 5a Upper peripheral wall
(87) 5b Lower peripheral wall
(88) 6 Annular rib
(89) 7 Discharging device
(90) 7a Cylinder
(91) 7b Base cap
(92) 7c Piston
(93) 7d Hollow stem
(94) 7e Poppet
(95) 7f Pressing head
(96) 7g Spring
(97) 7h Valve body
(98) 8 Sucking pipe
(99) 9 Self-standing foot
(100) 10 Annular hollow portion
(101) 11 Rib
(102) M Filling space
