Airless type cosmetics vessel

An airless type cosmetics vessel, in which, in order to suck a gel type cosmetic from a vessel body into a cylinder chamber, an axial valve primarily opens an inlet passage and closes an outlet passage according to stepwise upward movement of a piston and an axial valve, and the piston is further moved upwards, thus sucking the cosmetic into the cylinder chamber, and, in order to discharge the cosmetic from the cylinder chamber, the axial valve is primarily moved downwards so as to close the inlet passage and open the outlet passage, and the piston is further moved downwards, thus compressing the cosmetic in the cylinder chamber and discharging the cosmetic from the chamber, so that a precise cosmetic suction and discharge operation can be executed by the stepwise suction and discharge actions of the axial valve and the piston, separately provided, without malfunctioning.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in general, to an airless type cosmetics vessel from which a cosmetic can be discharged by the action of pushing and releasing a push button.

More particularly, the present invention relates to an airless type cosmetics vessel, from which can be discharged a cosmetic by the stepwise and continuous actions of a piston and an axial valve without any malfunctions thereof occurring during the discharge of the cosmetic from the vessel body, thus realizing reliability of a product, and which can be precisely operated while the cosmetic is being discharged because of the precise operation of a control nozzle, thus realizing operational precision and being convenient for users, and a discharge port of the nozzle of which can automatically be closed after the cosmetic has been discharged therefrom, thus preventing leakage of the cosmetic and allowing the users to safely carry the cosmetics vessel, thereby preventing the cosmetics from becoming contaminated and the quality of the cosmetic from being changed.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a conventional airless type cosmetics vessel discharges a liquid (gel) cosmetic from a vessel body by operation of a pumping mechanism, the pumping mechanism being installed in a cap mounted to an upper end of the vessel body and being moved downwards by an action of a push button so as to discharge the cosmetic from the cylinder.

Airless type cosmetics vessels have been typically classified into two types.

A first type of cosmetics vessel is provided with a movable discharge port (a movable nozzle). To operate the vessel, a cap (functioning as a push button) having the discharge port therein is moved downwards, thus moving the discharge port and discharging a cosmetic from a pumping mechanism.

A second type of cosmetics vessel is provided with a fixed discharge port (fixed nozzle). To operate the vessel, a push button, which is placed next to the fixed discharge port and is movable separately from the fixed discharge port, is pushed downwards, so that a pumping mechanism is operated in conjunction with the push button, thus sucking a cosmetic therein and discharging the cosmetic therefrom through the fixed nozzle.

The movable nozzle (movable discharge port) type of cosmetics vessel is problematic in that the discharge port (nozzle) is movable upwards and downwards, so that it is almost impossible to apply a gel type cosmetic onto a precise location on the skin.

The fixed nozzle type of cosmetics vessel is advantageous in that, even when the push button is pushed downwards, the nozzle (discharge port) for discharging the gel type cosmetic does not move, so that it is possible to apply the cosmetic to a desired area on the skin without ever failing.

The present invention relates to the fixed nozzle type of cosmetics vessels.

An example of the fixed nozzle type of cosmetics vessels is an “ejection container” disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 10-120054 (published on May 12, 1998 and, hereinbelow, referred to simply as “related art 1”).

Related art 1 discloses a container, in which a fluid is compressed by a pump means installed in an outer container and compresses an inner container, thus discharging contents from the chamber of the inner container through an ejection port. Therefore, the container disclosed in the related art 1 is problematic in that the inner container must be made of a compressible material and the space defined between the inner container and the outer container must be sealed, and a check valve structure for maintaining the fluid compression force formed by the pump means and for preventing an undesired introduction of air into the inner container in a normal state must be provided, so that the ejection container has a complicated structure.

Related art 2 is configured such that a liquid can be sucked and discharged both by a first elastic valve cylinder having a suction valve at the lower end of a first leg cylinder, which is vertically movable in contact with the inner circumferential surface of a small-diameter cylinder, and by a second elastic valve cylinder having a discharge valve at the lower end of a second leg cylinder, which is vertically movable and is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of a large-diameter cylinder and the outer circumferential surface of the small-diameter cylinder. Thus, when the container is repeatedly used over a lengthy period of time, the container may be deformed and watertightness thereof may be reduced, thus reducing the amount of liquid discharged therefrom.

Particularly, in the liquid discharging container, the liquid, which has been pumped up by a central pumping pipe, is discharged through a nozzle after having passed through the first and second leg cylinders of a top plate and the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the small-diameter cylinder in a zigzag passing pattern. Thus, the container is problematic in that the top plate is overloaded by pressure, so that a user must push the top plate with a large force when pushing the top plate with a hand.

Related art 3 is problematic in that an airtight piece, which protrudes from the upper end of an inner pipe of a pressing body so as to vertically move inside a nozzle pipe in an airtight state, is easily abraded, thus causing contents to leak through a space between the airtight piece and an outer pipe. Further, movement of an axial center of the pressing body is supported only by an annular protrusion provided in the upper portion of the inner surface of an outer cylinder, so that a large space is required to be provided in order to allow the axial center to move. The large space easily causes eccentric movement of the axial center of the pressing body and causes eccentric abrasion of the pressing body, thus reducing the life span of the pump dispenser.

Further, Korean Utility Model registration No. 20-311496 discloses a “dispenser vessel” (hereinbelow, referred to simply as “related art 4”).

As shown inFIG. 1of the accompanying drawings, related art 4 is configured such that a pumping stem44coupled to a push button70is moved in a vertical direction so as to open and close a check valve30of a cylinder20, so that a gel type cosmetic can be discharged from the vessel through a nozzle62of a discharge head60after having passed through a central passage defined in the pumping stem44.

However, the related art 4 is problematic in that the push button70is eccentrically coupled to the pumping stem44, so that a finger operating space defined in the top of the vessel at a location around the push button70is too narrow. Thus, a user may not apply a pushing force to the push button70which is strong enough to realize the desired pumping action of the push button70and discharge the cosmetic from the vessel. Further, the pumping stem44is moved upwards and downwards by a pushing action of the push button70, which is eccentric from the axis “O” of the pumping stem44, so that the pumping stem44may not execute precise movement along the axis thereof. Thus, when the pumping stem44repeatedly executes the eccentric upward and downward movement over a lengthy period of time, an eccentric abrasion may be formed in the pumping stem and cause the cosmetic to leak through the eccentrically abraded part of the pumping stem44. Further, due to the eccentric arrangement of the push button70relative to the pumping stem44, an eccentric load acts on the junction between the pumping stem44and the push button70, so that the junction may be easily deformed. In the above state, the push button70may create noises during the pushing operation and may fail to execute a smooth pushing action.

Further, in related art 4, when the piston rod40and the pumping stem44are moved upwards, the gel type cosmetic can be sucked into the cylinder20by an action of the check valve30. When the piston rod40and the pumping stem44are moved downwards, the cosmetic flows upwards both through an outlet port42of the piston rod40and through the central passage of the pumping stem44prior to being discharged from the vessel through the nozzle62. Thus, related art 4 is problematic in that a high pushing pressure must be applied to the push button and furthermore because a return spring24of the check valve30, as a result of being repeatedly compressed in a state in which the cosmetic has been sucked into and contained in the cylinder20, may lose elasticity, so that the spring24may fail to elastically move the push button70upwards and the operational reliability of the product is reduced.

Further, in the same manner as was described in related arts 1, 2 and 3, related art 4 is configured such that the sucked cosmetic must be pumped upwards through the central passage of the pumping stem44according to a downward moving distance of the piston rod40and the pumping stem44, prior to being discharged from the vessel. Thus, a high pushing force must be applied onto the piston rod40and the pumping stern44in order to discharge the cosmetic.

In an effort to solve the problem of related art 4, Korean. Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-40633 (published on Apr. 27, 2009) discloses a “pump for liquid cosmetic receptacle” (hereinbelow, referred to simply as “related art 5”).

As shown inFIG. 2of the accompanying drawings, related art 5 comprises a pump body10having a cylinder11and a discharge passage14a, and a valve body30having an inner valve part32and an outer valve part35. The inner and outer valve parts32and35oppositely open and close respective passages according to an operation of a pump piston22, which is operated in conjunction with the operation of a push button23.

In the related art 5, the pump piston22coupled to the push button23is provided with a sealing skirt part functioning as a piston, so that the cosmetic can be sucked into an intermediate storage chamber (cylinder chamber)11bof the cylinder11by upward movement of the pump piston22and can be discharged from the cylinder chamber by compressing the cylinder11.

When the push button23in the related art 5 is pushed downwards, the valve body30and the pump piston22are simultaneously moved downwards, so that the inner valve part32closes a cosmetic inlet port34formed in the lower end of the cylinder chamber (intermediate storage chamber)11b. Further, in the above state, the discharge passage14a, which was closed by the outer valve part35, is opened and the cosmetic is discharged under pressure from the cylinder chamber11bthrough the nozzle hole of a nozzle14.

Described in brief, when the pump piston22in related art 5 is elastically moved upwards by a restoring spring24, the cosmetic contained in a vessel body201is sucked into the cylinder chamber11b. When the pump piston22is pushed downwards and compresses the cylinder chamber11b, the cosmetic can be discharged under pressure from the cylinder chamber11bthrough the nozzle14.

However, related art 5 is problematic in that, during upward movement of the pump piston22, a suction force is applied both to the cosmetic contained in the discharge passage14aand to the cosmetic contained in the vessel body201within a time interval between the time the discharge passage14ais closed by the outer valve part35and the time the cosmetic inlet port34of the inner valve part32opens. Further, during downward movement of the pump piston22, a compression force for discharging the cosmetic is applied both to the cosmetic in the discharge passage14aand to the cosmetic in the vessel body201within a time interval between the time of closing the cosmetic inlet port34by the inner valve part32and the time the discharge passage14aby the outer valve part35opens. In other words, even when the push button23is pushed downwards and is elastically moved upwards, the pump of related art 5 cannot execute a precise cosmetic suction and discharge operation.

Brief described, related art 5 is problematic in that the action of the push button23cannot realize a precise cosmetic suction and discharge operation, so that it is almost impossible to use related art 5 practically.

Further, related art 5 is not provided with a safety unit for preventing the cosmetic from leaking through the discharge passage after the gel type cosmetic has been discharged through the discharge port (nozzle), so that, when the cosmetic vessel is carried in a handbag by a user after having used the vessel, the gel type cosmetic may be discharged from the discharge passage, thus contaminating both the interior of the handbag and the interior of the cosmetic vessel.

Further, Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-282746 (registered on Jul. 23, 2002 and, hereinbelow, referred to simply as “related art 6”) discloses an “apparatus for opening and shutting nozzle of cosmetic case”, in which, after a gel type cosmetic has been discharged through a nozzle, the discharge port of the nozzle is closed, thus realizing safe carrying of the cosmetics vessel.

The related art 6 proposes a nozzle control means, which comprises a spring-biased tip valve provided in a nozzle pipe having a nozzle hole such that the tip valve is normally biased forwards by a spring. To operate, a cosmetic is compressed by actuating a push button and then flows under pressure into the nozzle pipe, thus compressing the spring, which has elastically biased the tip valve forwards and has closed the nozzle hole. When the spring is compressed backwards, the tip valve is moved backwards and opens the nozzle hole.

However, related art 6 is problematic in that the spring used for elastically biasing the tip valve is a metal compression spring, so that the cosmetic is in contact with the metal spring, thus causing the quality of the cosmetic to change. Further, when the apparatus is repeatedly used over a lengthy period of time, the thin metal spring may lose elasticity and be made to malfunction. In the above state, the spring fails to reliably open or close the nozzle hole.

Further, related art 6 uses a movable nozzle instead of a fixed nozzle and is configured such that the nozzle pipe moves in conjunction with the operation of the push button and discharges the cosmetic. Thus, the apparatus of related art 6 may fail to discharge the cosmetic onto a precise area of the skin of a user.

Particularly, in related art 6, the cosmetic, which was compressed by the action of the push button, flows upwards through a narrow outlet passage defined between the piston and the piston valve, and the spring is compressed backwards by the pressure of the cosmetic, thus opening the nozzle hole and discharging the cosmetic through the nozzle pipe. Therefore, a strong pushing force must be used on the push button of related art 6, thus reducing the operational reliability of the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and the present invention is intended to propose an airless type cosmetics vessel, in which, in order to suck a gel type cosmetic from a vessel body into a cylinder chamber, an axial valve primarily opens an inlet passage and closes an outlet passage according to stepwise upward movement of a piston and an axial valve, and the piston is further moved upwards, thus sucking the cosmetic into the cylinder chamber, and, in order to discharge the cosmetic from the cylinder chamber, the axial valve is primarily moved downwards so as to close the inlet passage and open the outlet passage, and the piston is further moved downwards, thus compressing the cosmetic in the cylinder chamber and discharging the cosmetic from the chamber, so that a precise cosmetic suction and discharge operation can be executed by the stepwise suction and discharge actions of the axial valve and the piston, separately provided, without malfunctioning.

Further, the present invention is intended to propose an airless type cosmetics vessel, in which a discharge port of a nozzle pipe is opened by action of a control nozzle operated in conjunction with downward movement of a push button, thus discharging the gel type cosmetic, and, after the cosmetic has been discharged, the discharge port of the nozzle pipe closing in response to a restoring action (upward movement) of the push button, thus preventing the remaining cosmetic from leaking through a discharge cap and preventing contamination of a handbag or contamination of the cosmetic remaining in the cosmetics vessel while the cosmetics vessel is being carried by a user, and which does not use a metal spring, thus preventing changing the quality of the cosmetic, and which can reliably close the discharge port of the nozzle pipe, thus realizing the desired reliability of a product.

In order to achieve the above objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an airless type cosmetics vessel, in which the axial valve and the piston, operated in conjunction with an action of the push button, are stepwisely moved in vertical directions, so that a gel type cosmetic can be sucked into the cylinder chamber and can be discharged under pressure from the cylinder chamber through the nozzle pipe of the control nozzle.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides an airless type cosmetics vessel comprising: a discharge cap mounted to the vessel body and defining a discharge passage therein and receiving a control nozzle in the discharge passage, a push button placed in the discharge cap so as to move upwards and downwards and elastically biased upwards by a compression spring, a cylinder mounted to the discharge cap, a piston unit axially connected to the push button and being movable upwards or downwards so as to suck a cosmetic from the vessel body into the cylinder and to discharge the cosmetic from the cylinder through the discharge passage, and a cylinder bushing mounted to the discharge cap and receiving the cylinder therein and defining a guide passage communicating with the discharge passage and having a cosmetic inlet port in a lower end thereof, wherein the discharge cap comprises: an outer cap part and an inner cap part placed inside the outer cap part, wherein the outer cap part includes: a button seat formed in an upper portion of the upper cap part; a coupling pipe extending downwards through the button seat; and a nozzle installation hole formed through the button seat in a horizontal direction; and the inner cap part includes: a threaded pipe part mounted to the coupling pipe of the outer cap part; a support piece part extending upwards from a part of an upper end of the threaded pipe part and passing through and assembled with the button seat such that the support piece part is in close contact with an inner surface of the nozzle installation hole, the support piece part being hollow and having the discharge passage communicating with an interior of the threaded pipe part, with an airtight nozzle hole formed through the support piece part such that the airtight nozzle hole reaches the button seat and is aligned with the nozzle installation hole; and an axial guide pipe extending downwards from a horizontal end plate of the threaded pipe part; the control nozzle installed both through the nozzle installation hole and through the airtight nozzle hole such that the control nozzle reaches the button seat; and the piston unit comprises: a piston rod connected to the coupling pipe coupled to the push button; and a piston coupled to the piston rod and moved upwards and downwards between the coupling pipe and the piston rod, wherein the piston rod movably receives therein an axial valve, the axial valve comprising a valve stem and a valve body provided at a lower end of the valve stem so as to open or close a guide passage, wherein when the push button is moved upwards, the axial valve is primarily moved upwards, so that the valve body closes the guide passage and, at the same time, opens the cosmetic inlet port of the cylinder bushing, and the piston rod is secondarily moved upwards, thus sucking the cosmetic into a cylinder chamber; and when the push button is pushed downwards, the axial valve is moved downwards, so that the valve body closes the cosmetic inlet port of the cylinder bushing and opens the guide passage, and the piston rod is secondarily moved downwards, so that the piston coupled to the piston rod compresses the cylinder chamber and the cosmetic is discharged from the cylinder chamber through the discharge passage after passing through the guide passage and the discharge passage.

Thus, the present invention can suck from the vessel body into the cylinder chamber and discharge the cosmetic from the cylinder chamber without malfunction.

In the present invention, the control nozzle opens the discharge port of the nozzle pipe in response to downward movement (a compressing action) of the push button, thus discharging the cosmetic from the cylinder chamber under pressure, and the discharge cap automatically prevents the cosmetic from leaking through the discharge passage and the nozzle pipe in response to upward movement (a restoring action) of the push button.

In other words, the control nozzle of the present invention is configured such that, in response to downward movement (the compressing action) of the push button coupled to the control rod installed inside the nozzle pipe, the control rod is guided along the guide slot of the push button and is forcibly moved backwards, thus opening the discharge port of the nozzle pipe, and, in response to upward movement (the restoring action) of the push button, the control rod is guided along the guide slot of the push button and is forcibly moved forwards, thus closing the discharge port of the nozzle pipe, so that the control rod can prevent contact from being made with the air and leakage of the remaining cosmetic through either of the discharge passage of the discharge cap or the nozzle pipe after using the vessel, thus realizing safe carrying of the cosmetics vessel by a user and preventing the quality of the cosmetic from changing.

The airless type cosmetics vessel according to the present invention is advantageous in that the axial valve and the piston are stepwisely moved in a vertical direction in response to vertical movement of the push button, thus primarily opening or closing the guide passage defined between the cylinder and the cylinder bushing, and the piston is secondarily moved in the same direction, thus realizing precision sucking of the cosmetic from the vessel body into the cylinder chamber and precision discharging of the cosmetic from the cylinder chamber without malfunctions, thereby providing a product having high operational reliability.

Further, when the cosmetics vessel is being carried by a user after having been used, the discharge cap prevents the cosmetic from leaking out of the discharge passage or the nozzle pipe and prevents the cosmetic from making contact with the air. Therefore, the present invention is advantageous in that it is possible to prevent contamination of a bag having the vessel therein and prevent a change in quality of the cosmetic.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is characterized as follows. When a push button is moved upwards to suck a cosmetic, a piston, which is axially and movably coupled to an axial valve, primarily closes a guide passage defined between a cylinder and a cylinder bushing. When the axial valve is moved upwards in a state in which a cosmetic inlet port of the cylinder bushing is opened, the piston is secondarily moved upwards and sucks the cosmetic into the cylinder.

When the push button is pushed downwards to discharge the cosmetic, the axial valve primarily opens the guide passage defined between the cylinder and the cylinder bushing. When the axial valve is moved downwards in a state in which the cosmetic inlet port of the cylinder bushing is closed, the piston is secondarily moved downwards, thus compressing the cosmetic in the cylinder chamber and discharging the cosmetic from the cylinder chamber. Therefore, the cosmetics vessel of the present invention precisely realizes the operation of discharging a cosmetic.

Further, the nozzle pipe of the control nozzle can be opened or closed in conjunction with vertical movement of the push button so as to discharge the cosmetic, so that it is possible to prevent the cosmetic from undesirably flowing out of the nozzle pipe after use and to prevent the cosmetic from coming into contact with the air, thus preventing the quality of the cosmetic from changing. Even when the cosmetics vessel of the present invention is repeatedly used over a lengthy period of time, the control nozzle executes a precise operation.

The embodiment and construction of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings will be described for illustrative purposes.

Hereinbelow, the construction and operation of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompany drawings.

FIG. 3is a perspective view showing the appearance of an airless type cosmetics vessel according to the present invention.FIG. 4is an exploded perspective view of the cosmetics vessel of the present invention.

As shown inFIG. 4, the airless type cosmetics vessel the present invention comprises a vessel body100containing a gel type cosmetic therein, a discharge cap200mounted to the vessel body100, a control nozzle280installed in the discharge cap200in a horizontal direction so as to communicate with a discharge passage225of the discharge cap200, a push button300movably installed in the discharge cap200and actuating the control nozzle280, a piston unit450including a piston rod400connected to the push button300and a piston500coupled to the piston rod400, an axial valve600axially coupled to the piston rod400and executing frictional movement relative to the piston rod400, a cylinder700defining a cylinder chamber710therein with the piston500and the axial valve600received in the chamber710, and a cylinder bushing800fitted over the cylinder700.

FIG. 5is an exploded, sectioned perspective view of the airless type cosmetics vessel according to the present invention.FIG. 8is a sectional view showing the assembled cosmetics vessel of the present invention in an initial state before the suction of a cosmetic into the cylinder chamber or in the state in which the cosmetic has moved into the cylinder chamber by downward movement and restoring action (upward movement) of the push button.

The vessel body100is provided with a vacuum piston150on an inner surface of the bottom thereof. When a gel type cosmetic contained in the vessel body100is pumped up by compressing (a downward movement) and releasing (an upward movement) the push button300, the vacuum piston150is moved upwards so as to reduce the interior volume of the vessel body100in response to the amount of cosmetic which moved into the cylinder chamber710of the cylinder700. The construction and operation of the vacuum piston150is well known to those skilled in the art and further explanation is thus not deemed necessary.

FIG. 6is an exploded sectional view of the discharge cap and the push button constituting the airless type cosmetics vessel according to the present invention. The discharge cap200comprises an outer cap part210and an inner cap part220provided inside the outer cap part210.

The outer cap part210includes a button seat211in an upper portion thereof, a coupling pipe212extending downwards through the button seat211and a nozzle installation hole213formed through the button seat211in a horizontal direction.

The inner cap part220includes a threaded pipe part221securely mounted to the coupling pipe212of the outer cap part210, and a support piece part222extending upwards from a part of the upper end of the threaded pipe part221and passing through and assembled with the button seat211such that the support piece part222is in close contact with the inner surface of the nozzle installation hole213,

Here, the threaded pipe part221is provided with internal threads on an inner circumferential surface thereof and is tightened to the externally threaded mouth of the vessel body100at the internal threads. An axial guide pipe224extends downwards from a horizontal end plate223of the threaded pipe part221.

Further, the support piece part222is configured as a hollow piece having a discharge passage225communicating with the interior of the threaded pipe part221. An airtight nozzle hole226is formed through the support piece part222such that the nozzle hole226reaches the button seat211and is aligned with the nozzle installation hole213.

Here, the airtight nozzle hole226is provided with an elastic ring227, which protrudes from the rear portion of the inner circumferential surface of the nozzle hole226.

In the discharge cap200, the control nozzle280is installed both through the nozzle installation hole213of the outer cap part210and through the airtight nozzle hole226of the inner cap part220such that the nozzle280reaches the button seat211.

As shown both in the sectional view ofFIG. 9and in the enlarged view ofFIG. 10, the control nozzle280comprises an outer nozzle pipe270installed through the nozzle installation hole213and the airtight nozzle hole226. A control rod281is movably received in the nozzle pipe270such that the rod281passes through the airtight nozzle hole226so as to reach the button seat211and can axially move forwards and backwards, thus opening or closing the discharge port271.

The nozzle pipe270is provided with a plurality of radial guide pieces272around the inner circumferential surface thereof at positions near the discharge port271, thus supporting the front portion of the outer circumferential surface of the control rod281and realizing stable axial movement of the control rod281.

Further, the control rod281comprises an elastic seal ring282, which is formed at a rear portion thereof spaced apart by a predetermined distance from the front end that comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the discharge port271, a connection part283extending from the seal ring282and having a small diameter, and a contact ring284connected to the rear end of the connection part283.

The seal ring282is closely fitted into the elastic ring227of the airtight nozzle hole226, thus sealing the junction between the button seat211and the discharge passage225during movement of the control rod281. The seal ring282and the contact ring284have respective inclined surfaces, which are inclined upwards in opposite directions from the connection part283.

The control rod281is installed in the nozzle pipe270in a state in which the front end of the rod281is in close contact with and closes the discharge port271and both the connection part283and the contact ring284are projected into the button seat211.

As shown in the exploded sectional view ofFIG. 6, an end of a coupling pipe310is closely fitted over a fitting pipe301of the push button300. As shown in the sectional view ofFIG. 8, the coupling pipe310is movably inserted into the axial guide pipe224of the inner cap part220, so that the pipe310can be moved in the button seat211and can guide axial movement of the push button300.

The push button300is elastically biased upwards by a compression spring350, which is fitted over the coupling pipe310and is stopped both by the lower surface of the push button300and by the upper surface of the horizontal end plate223of the inner cap part220at both ends thereof. The coupling pipe310has an annular stopper310aat a lower end thereof, so that, when the coupling pipe310is elastically moved upwards by the spring350, the coupling pipe310can be stopped by the lower end of the axial guide pipe224and the push button300can be prevented from being removed from cosmetics vessel.

Here, a guide slot311is vertically formed in the sidewall of the push button300. When the control rod281is assembled with the push button300, the connection part283between the seal ring282and the contact ring284of the control rod281is fitted in the guide slot311.

As shown inFIG. 9andFIG. 10, the sidewall of the push button300having the guide slot311is provided with a guide contact part312, which is a part inclined inwards and upwards. When the push button300is in an uppermost position, the inclined front surface of the contact ring284of the control rod281is in close contact with the inner surface of an inward inclined portion of the guide contact part312.

The length and diameter of the connection part283, which is defined between the seal ring282and the contact ring284of the control rod281, are determined to be equal to the thickness of the sidewall having the guide slot311and the width of the guide slot311, respectively. Thus, when the push button300is moved upwards or downwards, the control rod281can be stably moved with the connection part283guided by the guide contact part312of the guide slot311.

As shown in the sectional views ofFIG. 8andFIG. 11, the coupling pipe310has a stepped locking bore320comprising a small-diameter bore part defined in the upper part of the bore320and a large-diameter bore part defined in the lower part of the bore320. The piston rod400is tightly fitted into the small-diameter bore part of the locking bore320, thus being locked thereto.

The coupling of the piston rod400to the coupling pipe310is realized by the engagement between a locking groove formed around the outer surface of the piston rod400and a locking ring formed on the inner surface of the coupling pipe310.

The piston unit450comprises the piston rod400and the piston500, which is fitted over the piston rod400such that the piston500can be moved along the piston rod400in an axial direction.

The piston rod400is a hollow rod having both a flange410and a valve guide hole420. The flange410is provided around the lower end of the outer circumferential surface of the piston rod400. The valve guide hole420is axially formed through the piston rod400from the lower end to the upper end of the rod400, with a friction ring420aprovided around the inner circumferential surface of the valve guide hole420at a predetermined location.

The piston500is fitted over the piston rod400such that the piston500can be moved along the piston rod400in the axial direction. During movement of the piston500along the piston rod400, downward movement of the piston500is stopped by the flange410of the piston rod400, so that the piston500can be prevented from being removed downwards from the piston rod400. Further, upward movement of the piston500is stopped by the lower end of the axial guide pipe224of the inner cap part220of the discharge cap200(seeFIG. 12).

The piston500comprises an inner ring510, an outer ring520and a connection web530, which connects the middle portions of the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the inner and outer rings510and520to each other. The outer circumferential surface of the outer ring520is curved inwards around the middle portion thereof, thus forming a concaved surface. The concaved structure of the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring520increases airtightness at the junction between the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring520and the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder chamber710of the cylinder700during axial movement of the piston500.

The piston500is movably fitted over the piston rod400such that the piston500can axially move within a predetermined range between the lower end of the coupling pipe310and the flange410of the piston rod400.

In other words, the upper end of the outer ring510of the piston500is stopped by the lower end of the axial guide pipe224, so that upper movement of the piston500can be controlled. Further, the upper end of the inner ring520is placed in an annular space defined between the outer circumferential surface of the piston rod400and the inner circumferential surface of the large-diameter bore part of the locking bore320of the coupling pipe310. Thus, the piston500can be prevented from being moved downwards until the lower end of the coupling pipe310operated in conjunction with the push button300comes into contact with the upper surface of the connection web530, which connects the inner and outer rings510and520to each other.

The above-mentioned limitations in the axial movement of the piston500are intended to realize the compressive discharge of the cosmetic executed by downward movement of the piston500and the suction of the cosmetic executed by upward movement of the piston500after an axial valve600, which will be described later herein, opens or closes the inlet end of a guide passage “a”, which is defined between the lower end of the cylinder chamber710of the cylinder700and the cylinder bushing800and extends to the discharge passage225.

As shown in the enlarged sectional view ofFIG. 13, the axial valve600comprises a valve stem610, which is inserted into the valve guide hole420of the piston rod400, and a valve body620, which is provided at the lower end of the valve stem610.

As shown in the enlarged view ofFIG. 12, the axial valve600can be moved upwards and downwards by frictional contact between the outer circumferential surface of the valve stem610and the friction ring420aformed around the inner circumferential surface of the valve guide hole420of the piston rod400.

The valve body620comprises an inner valve hub620aand an outer valve ring620b, which are concentrically spaced apart from each other and are connected to each other by a plurality of radial connection ribs620c. Radial openings are defined between the radial connection ribs620cand allow the gel type cosmetic to flow through the valve body620in an axial direction.

Further, a stop protrusion620dis formed on the outer circumferential surface of the outer valve ring620b.

The cylinder700is provided with an upper flange740. The upper flange740is formed around the upper end of the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder700. A plurality of discharge holes750are formed through the upper flange740such that the holes750communicate with the discharge passage225of the discharge cap200. The lower end of the cylinder700is provided with a small-diameter pipe720, which extends downwards from an internal step shoulder731and defines a suction port730therein.

The small-diameter pipe720of the cylinder700is a pipe, which has a step720aon the inner circumferential surface thereof and is repeatedly, axially notched around the lower end thereof, thus defining a plurality of openings721spaced apart from each other at regular intervals.

The upper end of the cylinder chamber710of the cylinder700is closely fitted over the axial guide pipe224of the inner cap part220.

Further, the outer valve ring620bof the axial valve600is inserted into the suction port730of the cylinder700such that the outer valve ring620bis in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the suction port730and can be moved within a predetermined range in an axial direction.

Here, when the axial valve600is moved upwards, the stop protrusion620dof the outer valve ring620bis stopped by the step720a, so that the upward movement of the axial valve600can be limited. In the above state, the outer valve ring620bcloses the openings721. However, when the axial valve600is moved downwards, the openings721are opened. In the above state, the piston500is moved downwards and compresses the cosmetic in the cylinder chamber710, thus discharging the cosmetic from the cylinder chamber710through the openings721until the lower end of the flange410of the piston rod400comes into contact with the internal step shoulder731of the small-diameter pipe720of the cylinder700.

In other words, the axial valve600is moved downwards and upwards, so that the valve600can open and close the guide passage “a” defined between the cylinder700and an internal chamber810of the cylinder bushing800.

The cylinder bushing800has a locking flange820around the upper end thereof and is fitted into the inner circumferential surface of the threaded pipe part221of the inner cap part220at the locking flange820. In the above state, the upper flange740of the cylinder700is received in the upper end of the internal chamber810inside the locking flange820such that the guide passage “a” is defined between the cylinder bushing800and the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder700.

The cylinder bushing800further includes a stepped bottom pipe830, which extends downwards from the internal chamber810. The stepped bottom pipe830is closely fitted over the outer circumferential surface of the small-diameter pipe720of the cylinder700, thus maintaining a predetermined width of the guide passage “a”. The stepped bottom pipe830also has an internal ring831, which extends upwards from the lower end of the stepped bottom pipe830while defining an annular guide groove831a, and receives the valve body620of the axial valve600in the annular guide groove831a. In other words, the stepped bottom pipe830receives the lower end of the outer valve ring620bin the annular guide groove831asuch that the outer valve ring620bcan be moved upwards and downwards within a predetermined range. The stepped bottom pipe830further includes a control seat832, which extends inwardly from the upper end of the internal ring831. When the inner valve hub620ahas been moved downwards to the lowermost position, the lower end of the inner valve hub620acomes into close contact with the control seat832, thus closing a cosmetic inlet port850of the cylinder bushing800.

In other words, the outer valve ring620bof the axial valve600is fitted at the upper portion thereof into the small-diameter pipe720of the cylinder700and is fitted at the lower portion thereof into the annular guide groove831a, which is defined by the internal ring831of the cylinder bushing800. In the above state, the outer valve ring620bcan be moved downwards and upwards within the predetermined range, thus opening and closing the guide passage “a” defined between the cylinder700and the cylinder bushing800.

When the inner valve hub620ais moved upwards and downwards, the valve hub620acan be seated on the control seat832of the internal ring831of the stepped bottom pipe830, thus opening or closing the cosmetic inlet port850of the cylinder bushing800.

A seal ring “P” is fitted over the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder bushing800at a location below the locking flange820. When the threaded pipe part221of the inner cap part220is tightened to the externally threaded mouth of the vessel body100, the mouth of the vessel body100can communicate with the interior of the discharge cap200in a state in which the interior of the vessel body100is airtightly sealed from the atmosphere by the seal ring “P”.

The operation of the cosmetics vessel according to the present invention will be described hereinbelow.

FIG. 11shows a state in which the push button300is in an initial position or the cosmetic has moved into the cylinder700. When the pushing force is removed from the push button300after the push button300had been pushed downwards, the piston rod400of the piston unit450, which is assembled with the coupling pipe310of the push button300, is elastically moved upwards by the restoring force of the compression spring350.

When the piston rod400is elastically moved upwards as described above, the axial valve600concentrically coupled to the piston rod400is primarily moved upwards, so that the valve body620closes the guide passage “a” defined between the cylinder700and the cylinder bushing800and, at the same time, opens the cosmetic inlet port850of the cylinder bushing800.

Described in detail, the piston rod400of the piston unit450can be elastically moved upwards by the restoring force of the compression spring350elastically biasing the push button300upwards in a state in which the lower end of the piston500is in contact with the upper surface of the flange410. In the above state, the valve stem610of the axial valve600, which is fitted into the valve guide hole420of the piston rod400, can be moved upwards by frictional contact between the outer circumferential surface of the valve stem610and the friction ring420aformed in the valve guide hole420.

In other words, when the axial valve600is moved upwards, the outer valve ring620bof the valve body620is moved upwards and closes the guide passage “a” and, at the same time, the inner valve hub620a, which has been in contact with the control seat832of the cylinder bushing800and has closed the cosmetic inlet port850, is moved upwards, thus opening the cosmetic inlet port850.

In the above state, the stop protrusion620d, which protrudes on the outer circumferential surface of the outer valve ring620b, is stopped by the step720aof the small-diameter pipe720of the cylinder700, so that the upper end of the outer valve ring620bis inserted into the suction port730of the cylinder700and is moved upwards, thus closing the radial openings721of the small-diameter pipe720. Therefore, the guide passage “a” is closed (seeFIG. 13).

Due to the upward movement of the push button300, the piston rod400secondarily moves the piston500upwards inside the cylinder700.

When the piston500is moved upwards inside the cylinder700, the piston500is put in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder chamber710, thus creating a suction force in the chamber710. Therefore, a predetermined amount of cosmetic “c” is introduced from the vessel body100into the cylinder chamber710sequentially through the cosmetic inlet port850of the cylinder bushing800, the openings defined between the connection ribs620cconnecting the inner valve hub620aand the outer valve ring620bof the valve body620, and the suction port730of the cylinder700.

In the above state, the control nozzle280, which communicates with the discharge passage225of the discharge cap200, is maintained in a closed state.

In other words, the control nozzle280is closed by force during the upward movement of the push button300.

In the above state, the control rod281of the control nozzle280, which has the connection part283formed between the seal ring282and the contact ring284and is movably inserted in the guide slot311of the push button300, remains in the fully ejected state in which the inclined front surface of the contact ring284is in close contact with the inner surface of the inward inclined portion of the guide contact part312defining the guide slot311. Thus, the front end of the control rod281closes the discharge port271of the nozzle pipe270.

When the push button300is pushed downwards, the cosmetic can be discharged from the cylinder chamber710of the cylinder700which is under pressure.

FIG. 14shows a state in which the axial valve600is primarily moved downwards by initial downward movement of the push button300, thus closing the cosmetic inlet port850of the cylinder bushing800.

When the push button300is moved downwards, the piston rod400, which is fitted into the locking bore320of the coupling pipe310, is moved downwards.

Therefore, the axial valve600is primarily moved downwards due to frictional contact between the valve600and the friction ring420aformed on the inner circumferential surface of the valve guide hole420of the piston rod400.

Due to the primary downward movement of the axial valve600, the outer valve ring620bof the valve body620is moved downwards into the annular guide groove831aof the cylinder bushing800, so that the openings721of the small-diameter pipe720are opened and the guide passage “a” defined between the cylinder700and the cylinder bushing800is opened, as shown inFIG. 16. Further, the inner valve hub620ais seated onto the control seat832of the cylinder bushing800, thus closing the cosmetic inlet port850.

As shown inFIG. 15, the annular stopper310aformed around the lower end of the coupling pipe310assembled with the push button300is in contact with the upper surface of the connection web530, which is formed between the inner ring510and the outer ring520of the piston500. Here, the piston500is movably fitted over the piston rod400.

As shown inFIG. 17andFIG. 18, when the push button300is pushed downwards, the guide contact part312of the push button300is moved downwards, so that the contact ring284of the control rod281movably fitted into the guide slot311of the push button300is moved backwards by the inward inclined portion of the guide contact part312. Therefore, the discharge port271of the nozzle pipe270of the control nozzle280is opened.

In other words, when the push button300is moved downwards, the control rod281of the control nozzle280is moved backwards. In the above state, the contact ring284is guided by the guide slot311and is located on the inner surface of an upper vertical portion extending upwards from the inward inclined portion of the guide contact part312. Thus, the discharge port271of the nozzle pipe270is opened.

When the push button300is further pushed downwards to the lowermost position, the piston500is secondarily moved downwards and discharges the cosmetic “c” from the cylinder chamber710of the cylinder700through the control nozzle280.

FIG. 19shows a state in which the push button300is fully pushed downwards and the piston500is further moved downwards to the lowermost position, thus compressing the cosmetic “c” in the cylinder chamber710and discharging the cosmetic “c” through the control nozzle280.FIG. 20is an enlarged view ofFIG. 19.

When the push button300is pushed further downwards, the piston500is secondarily moved downwards by force just before the lower end of the flange410of the piston rod400comes into contact with the internal step shoulder731of the small-diameter pipe720of the cylinder700.

During the secondary downward movement of the piston500, the piston500is put in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder chamber710of the cylinder700, thus compressing the cosmetic “c” in the cylinder chamber710and discharging a predetermined amount of cosmetic “c” sequentially through the suction port730, the openings721of the small-diameter pipe720, the guide passage “a”, the discharge passage750, the discharge passage225of the discharge cap200, and the discharge port271of the nozzle pipe270of the control nozzle280.

Described in brief, during the operation of the cosmetics vessel according to the present invention, the push button300is pushed downwards and is elastically moved upwards, thus sucking and discharging a cosmetic “c”. During the operation, the piston rod400and the piston500of the piston unit450and the axial valve600movably coupled to the piston rod400are sequentially moved, thus realizing a precise operation without malfunctioning. The control nozzle280is opened and closed in conjunction with operation of other parts, so that it is possible to prevent the cosmetic from leaking after the cosmetics vessel has been used. Thus, the present invention prevents the cosmetics vessel from being contaminated when a user is carrying the vessel, and prevents the cosmetic “c” contained in nozzle pipe270from making contact with the air, thus preventing the quality of the cosmetic from changing.