Patent Publication Number: US-2012024862-A1

Title: Before-use mixing container

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a before-use mixing container in which two types of medicinal solutions are stored in a separated state in one container, and these are mixed inside the container in use, and extracted for use. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     There are many medicinal solutions such as eye drops, which are chemically unstable in a mixed state or a dissolved state, and in case of use of such a medicinal solution, it is necessary to perform a mixing operation immediately before use. There is a before-use mixing container as a container in which two types of medicinal solutions are stored in a separated state, and these are mixed in the container in use, and extracted for use. 
     As a before-use mixing container, for example, there has been known a container adopting a system that one medicinal solution and another medicinal solution are respectively contained in a first container body and a second container body in a separated state by use of isolation members in which one member having an opening portion and the other member having an opening portion are slidably fit into each other so that their opening portions do not face each other, and the both opening portions are made to face each other by a sliding operation of the isolation members, to mix the two types of medicinal solutions (refer to Patent Document 1). 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     
         
         [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 3228376 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     However, since an uncovering operation is accompanied at the time of mixing the two types of medicinal solutions in the before-use mixing container in Patent Document 1, there is, for example, a concern that the medicinal solutions may spill out when an uncovering operation is performed in a state in which the container is turned upside down by mistake. Accordingly, it is necessary to adopt a mixing method independent of an uncovering operation in order to mix two types of medicinal solutions even when such an erroneous operation is performed. 
     The present invention has been achieved in consideration of the above-described circumstances. It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a before-use mixing container in which it is possible to perform a mixing operation for two types of medicinal solutions in the container independently of an uncovering operation for a cap or the like. 
     Means for Solving the Problem 
     That is, the scope of the present invention is as follows. 
     [1] A before-use mixing container including 
     a movable body which has a bottomed cylindrical tube section, a ceiled cylindrical inner tube which is consecutively installed upright on an inner side in a circumferential direction from an inner surface of the tube section, that partitions an internal space of the tube section into two upper and lower chambers, and a first opening portion drilled in a ceiling plane of the inner tube, and in which a first medicinal solution is contained in the lower chamber, 
     an adapter which has a hollow cylindrical fit-in tube section which is tightly fit into the upper chamber of the movable body to be assembled so as to be rotatable with respect to the movable body, a partition wall surface which is provided on an inner surface of the fit-in tube section, and is tightly attached to the ceiling plane of the inner tube of the movable body in a state in which the partition wall is assembled to the movable body, and a second opening portion which is drilled in the partition wall surface so as not to overlap the first opening portion, and 
     a container main body which has a lower mouth tube section which is tightly fit into the upper chamber surrounded by an upper surface of the partition wall surface of the adapter and the inner surface of the fit-in tube section, to be assembled so as not to be rotatable with respect to the adapter, and in which a second medicinal solution is contained, and in the container, 
     when the movable body is relatively rotated with respect to the container main body, the first opening portion of the movable body and the second opening portion of the adapter are overlapped, and the container is capable of mixing the first medicinal solution and the second medicinal solution before use. 
     [2] In the before-use mixing container according to [1], 
     the fit-in tube section of the adapter is provided with a large diameter section and a small diameter section having circular arc shapes in plan view, and in a state in which the fit-in tube section of the adapter is assembled to the upper chamber of the movable body, the large diameter section and the small diameter section of the fit-in tube section are respectively spaced from the inner surface of the tube section of the movable body to generate gaps, and 
     a vertical line with a height exceeding a spaced distance between the inner surface of the tube section and the large diameter section, and with a height which does not exceed a spaced distance between the inner surface of the tube section and the small diameter section is provided on the inner surface of the tube section of the movable body, and the longitudinal vertical line faces the small diameter section. 
     [3] In the before-use mixing container according to [2], when the movable body is relatively rotated with respect to the container main body and the vertical line provided on the inner surface of the tube section of the movable body reaches a boundary portion between the small diameter section and the large diameter section of the fit-in tube section, the first opening portion and the second opening portion are overlapped. 
     Effects of the Invention 
     According to the before-use mixing container of the present invention, since the container main body and the adapter are assembled so as not to be relatively rotatable, the adapter and the movable body are assembled so as to be relatively rotatable, and the two types of medicinal solutions are mixed by merely relatively rotating the movable body with respect to the container main body, it is possible to perform a mixing operation for the two types of medicinal solutions in the container independently of an uncovering operation for a cap or the like. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a before-use mixing container showing an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view for explanation of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3A  is a plan view of a movable body of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A thereof, and  FIG. 3C  is a bottom view thereof. 
         FIG. 4A  is a plan view of an adapter of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 4B  is a front view thereof,  FIG. 4C  is a bottom view thereof, and  FIG. 4D  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B thereof. 
         FIG. 5A  is a front view of a container main body of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C thereof. 
         FIG. 6  are views for explanation in a mixing operation.  FIG. 6A  is a view showing a state before the mixing operation, and  FIG. 6B  is a view showing a state after the mixing operation. 
     
    
    
     EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, am embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.  FIGS. 1 to 6  show the embodiment of the present invention. A before-use mixing container of the present invention is configured so that a bottom cover, a movable body, an adapter, a container main body, a nozzle, and a cap are integrally assembled. 
     A movable body  1  is an injection-molded part made of synthetic resin. As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the movable body  1  has a cylindrical tube section  11 , an inner ledge  12  installed around so as to be inclined upward to a certain extent, and a ceiled short cylindrical inner tube  13  which is consecutively installed upright from the inner ledge  12 , on an inner side in a circumferential direction from an inner surface of the tube section  11 , and a first opening portion  13   b  is drilled in a ceiling plane  13   a  of the inner tube  13  and a locking groove line  14  is installed around in the inner surface of the lower end opening portion of the tube section  11 . A bottom cover  2  is an injection-molded part made of synthetic resin. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a bottom plate  22  blocking up the lower end opening portion of the fit-into tube section  21  is provided at the lower end of a short cylindrical fit-into tube section  21 , and an outer ledge  23  is formed so as to protrude outward in its radial direction from the peripheral edge of the bottom plate  22 . 
     Then, the fit-into tube section  21  of the bottom cover  2  is tightly fit into the inner surface of the lower end opening portion of the tube section  11  of the movable body  1 , and the outer ledge  23  of the bottom cover  2  is fit into the locking groove line  14  of the movable body  1 , thereby making the bottom cover  2  fit into to be attached to the movable body  1  (refer to  FIG. 2 ). As shown in  FIG. 3 , the inner ledge  12  and the inner tube  13  of the movable body  1  compose a partition section that partitions the internal space of the tube section  11  into two upper and lower chambers, and four locking protruding lines  15  are consecutively installed along its circumferential direction, and positioning protruding lines  16  ( 16   a  and  16   b ) are provided so as to protrude upward from substantially the central portion of the two locking protruding lines  15  facing each other on the inner surface of the tube section  11  composing the upper chamber above the partition section. Then, a first medicinal solution A is contained in the lower chamber under the partition section. 
     The adapter  3  is an inj ection-molded part made of synthetic resin. As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 , a hollow cylindrical fit-in tube section  31  is a primary member thereof, and the outer diameter of the fit-in tube section  31  is designed in size to have a diameter smaller to a certain extent than the inner diameter of the tube section  11  composing the upper chamber of the movable body  1 . Two locking protruding lines  32  with a length which is approximately the half circle of the fit-in tube section  31  are consecutively installed so as to go around the fit-in tube section  31  on the outer surface of the fit-in tube section  31 , and in the case in which the adapter  3  is tightly fit into the upper chamber of the movable body  1 , these locking protruding lines  32  are locked with the locking protruding lines  15  of the movable body  1  in the axial line direction, thereby making the adapter  3  be assembled so as not to be allowed to be fit and removed and to be rotatable with respect to the movable body  1 . In addition, at the time of assembling the adapter  3  to the movable body  1 , it is recommended that groove portions  32   a  and  32   b  as gaps between the two locking protruding lines  32  and  32  be respectively fit into the positioning protruding lines  16   a  and  16   b  of the movable body  1 , and the adapter  3  be pushed downward along the positioning protruding lines  16   a  and  16   b.    
     On the other hand, a large number of longitudinal locking vertical lines  33  are provided so as to protrude at regular intervals along the circumferential direction starting from the upper end opening portion on the inner surface of the fit-in tube section  31 , and locking protrusions  34  for locking are provided so as to protrude on the distal ends of the respective longitudinal locking vertical lines  33 . Then, a partition wall surface  35  that partitions the internal space of the fit-in tube section  31  into two upper and lower chambers is provided on the lower side of the locking protrusions  34 , and a short cylindrical airtight cap tube section  36  with a diameter shorter than that of the fit-in tube section  31  is provided upright on the peripheral edge of the partition wall surface  35 , and a second opening portion  35   a  is drilled in the inner side of the airtight cap tube section  36  in the partition wall surface  35 . The second opening portion  35   a  is disposed so as not to overlap the first opening portion  13   b  of the movable body  1  in a state in which the adapter  3  is assembled to the movable body  1 , and is provided at a position at which the second opening portion  35   a  overlaps the first opening portion  13   b  when the movable body  1  is made to slide with respect to the adapter  3  to rotate around the center of axis. Then, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the adapter  3  and the movable body  1  are assembled in a state in which the partition wall surface  35  of the adapter  3  and the fit-in tube section  31  on the side lower than the partition wall surface  35  are fit at the outside of the inner tube  13  of the movable body  1  to be tightly attached in a liquid-tight manner. 
     A container main body  4  is a blow molded article made of synthetic resin. As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  5 , a second medicinal solution B is contained in the container main body  4 , and a lower mouth tube section  42  is consecutively installed upright via its shoulder portion on the lower end of a cylindrical body section  41 , and an upper mouth tube section  43  on which a screw portion  43   a  is carved is consecutively installed upright via the shoulder portion on the upper end of the body section  41 . Four longitudinal locking vertical lines  42   a  are provided so as to protrude at regular intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer surface of the lower mouth tube section  42 , and a peripheral protrusion line  42   b  is installed around on the outer surface of the lower end of the lower mouth tube section  42 . In a state in which the lower mouth tube section  42  is tightly fit into the upper chamber surrounded by the upper surface of the partition wall surface  35  and the inner surface of the fit-in tube section  31  of the adapter  3 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , the locking vertical lines  42   a  of the lower mouth tube section  42  are fit into between the locking vertical line  33  and the locking vertical line  33  on the inner surface of the fit-in tube section  31 , thereby the container main body  4  and the adapter  3  are assembled so as not to be rotatable with respect to each other, and the peripheral protrusion line  42   b  of the lower mouth tube section  42  is locked in the axial line direction with the locking protrusion  34  on the inner surface of the fit-in tube section  31 , thereby the container main body  4  and the adapter  3  are assembled so as not to be allowed to be fit and removed. 
     The nozzle  5  is an injection-molded part made of synthetic resin. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the nozzle  5  is provided with a short cylindrical airtight cap tube section  51  which is tightly fit into the inner surface of the upper end opening portion of the upper mouth tube section  43  of the container main body  4 , a ceiling plane  52  having an outer ledge  52   a  that blocks up the upper end opening portion of the airtight cap tube section  51 , and which is formed so as to protrude outward in a radial direction of the airtight cap tube section, and tightly touches the end face of the upper end opening portion of the upper mouth tube section  43  of the container main body  4  in a liquid-tight manner, and a nozzle section  53  which is formed so as to swell out on the central portion of the ceiling plane  52 . An extracting orifice  53   a  is provided in the apical portion of the nozzle section  53 , and the extracting orifice  53   a  is configured to have a depressed orifice wall in an inverted circular truncated cone shape from the apical portion of the nozzle section  53  up to the ceiling plane  52 , and is configured to be communicated with the internal space of the airtight cap tube section  51  through an extracting hole  53   b  drilled in the lower end of the extracting orifice  53   a  of the nozzle section  53 . 
     The cap  6  is an injection-molded part made of synthetic resin. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cap  6  is composed of a ceiling plane  61 , an upper tube body  62  in a tapered cylindrical shape whose diameter is extended gently downward from the peripheral edge of the ceiling plane  61 , and a lower tube body  63  in a tapered cylindrical shape whose diameter is extended gently downward via the shoulder portion from the upper tube body  62 . A screw portion  63   a  screwed in the screw portion  43   a  provided on the upper mouth tube section  43  of the container main body  4  is provided on the inner surface of the lower tube body  63 , and a convex portion  61   a  which is tightly attached to the opening edge of the extracting orifice  53   a  is provided on the lower surface of the ceiling plane  61  in a liquid-tight manner. Further, an antislip knurl  64  is formed on the outer surface of the lower tube body  63 . 
     That is, the before-use mixing container of the present invention is configured so that the bottom cover  2 , the movable body  1 , the adapter  3 , the container main body  4 , the nozzle  5 , and the cap  6  are integrally assembled, and by use of the ceiling plane  13   a  of the inner tube  13  of the movable body  1  and the partition wall surface  35  of the adapter  3  as partition walls, the first medicinal solution A is contained in the lower chamber of the movable body  1  and the second medicinal solution B is contained in the container main body  4 . Then, regarding the possibility of rotation between the above-described respective members with each other, the movable body  1  and the adapter  3  are assembled so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to each other, and the adapter  3  and the container main body  4  are assembled so as not to be relatively rotatable with respect to each other. 
     In use of the before-use mixing container of the present invention, a mixing operation for the first medicinal solution A and the second medicinal solution B, and an extraction operation for the mixed liquid are required. Regarding the former operation, as shown in  FIG. 6A , the movable body  1  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction until the first opening portion  13   b  overlaps the second opening portion  35   a  in a state in which the container is turned upside down while grasping the container main body  4 . Then, as shown in  FIG. 6B , the first medicinal solution A contained in the movable body  1  falls into the container main body  4 , thereby achieving mixing of the first medicinal solution A and the second medicinal solution B. Next, at the time of extracting the mixed liquid, provided that the container is returned to be in the original vertical direction, and the cap  6  is screwed out and the container is turned upside down, the mixed liquid passes through the extracting hole  53   b  to be extracted from the extracting orifice  53   a . That is, it is possible to perform a mixing operation for the first medicinal solution A and the second medicinal solution B independently of an extraction operation in the present invention. 
     In the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a large diameter section  31   a  and a small diameter section  31   b  which are in substantially circular arc shapes in plan view are formed under the locking protruding lines  32  on the outer surface of the fit-in tube section  31  of the adapter  3 , and in a state in which the fit-in tube section  31  of the adapter  3  is assembled to the upper chamber of the movable body  1 , the large diameter section  31   a  and the small diameter section  31   b  of the fit-in tube section  31  are respectively spaced from the inner surface of the tube section  11  of the movable body  1  to generate gaps. Further, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a longitudinal vertical line  17  with a height exceeding a spaced distance between the inner surface of the tube section  11  and the large diameter section  31   a , and with a height which does not exceed a spaced distance between the inner surface of the tube section  11  and small diameter section  31   b  is provided so as to protrude on the inner surface of the tube section  11  of the movable body  1 , and this vertical line  17  faces the small diameter section  31   b . With such a configuration, it is difficult to make the vertical line  17  on the inner surface of the tube section  11  of the movable body  1  climb over the large diameter section  31   a  rotate, and therefore, it is possible to keep the vertical line  17  to always face the small diameter section  31   b.    
     Further, in the present embodiment, protrusion lines  31   c  and  31   d  are respectively provided in a longitudinal direction in the vicinity of one end side and in the vicinity of the other end side in the circumferential direction of the small diameter section  31   b  of the adapter  3 , and locking groove lines  31   e  and  31   f  are respectively formed between the protrusion line  31   c  in the vicinity of the one end side in the circumferential direction of the small diameter section  31   b  and the other end side in the circumferential direction of the large diameter section  31   a  (the right end portion of the large diameter section in  FIG. 4C ), and between the protrusion line  31   d  in the vicinity of the other end side in the circumferential direction of the small diameter section  31   b  and the one end side in the circumferential direction of the large diameter section  31   a  (the left end portion of the large diameter section in  FIG. 4C ). 
     Then, in manufacturing of the container, at the time of making the fit-in tube section  31  of the adapter  3  be tightly fit into the upper chamber of the movable body  1 , provided that the locking groove line  31   e  of the adapter  3  corresponding to a rotation starting position is fit into the vertical line  17  on the inner surface of the tube section  11  of the movable body  1  to make the adapter  3  be assembled to the movable body  1 , in a mixing operation, when the movable body  1  is made to relatively rotate in the direction of an arrow in  FIG. 6A  with respect to the container main body  4 , and the vertical line  17  climbs over the protrusion line  31   c  to pass through the small diameter section  31   b , and climbs over the protrusion line  31   d  to be engaged with the locking groove line  31   f , the movable body  1  is no longer able to be rotated, which terminates the rotation operation. That is, the locking groove lines  31   e  and  31   f  function as positioning respectively indicating the start and the end of rotation. Moreover, in the present embodiment, since the container is configured so that the first opening portion  13   b  and the second opening portion  35   a  are overlapped at the end of rotation, it is possible for a user to reliably perform a mixing operation. 
     The synthetic resins used for the above-described respective members are not particularly limited in type. For example, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and the like may be appropriately combined for use. In particular, in order to improve the liquid-tight performance between the respective members, it is preferable that LDPE or LLDPE is used for the bottom cover  2  and HDPE is used for the movable body  1  in order to improve the liquid-tight performance between the bottom cover  2  and the movable body  1 . Further, it is preferable that HDPE is used for the movable body  1  and PP is used for the adapter  3  in order to improve the liquid-tight performance between the movable body  1  and the adapter  3 . As a result of study by the present inventors, a combination of synthetic resins in which the liquid-tight performance between the respective members is maximized is, from a comprehensive point of view, in the case in which LLDPE is used for the bottom cover, HDPE is used for the movable body, PP is used for the adapter, PP is used for the container main body, LDPE is used for the nozzle, and PP is used for the cap. 
     The embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6 . However, modes of the respective members may be appropriately modified within a range which does not deviate from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the ceiling plane  13   a  and the partition wall surface  35  are used as partition walls for the first medicinal solution A and the second medicinal solution B, and the first opening portion  13   b  and the second opening portion  35   a  are respectively provided therein. However, unless the opening portions provided in the upper and lower partition walls are not overlapped before mixing, to separate the first medicinal solution A and the second medicinal solution B, a plurality of opening portions in the upper and lower partition walls may be provided. 
     EMBODIMENT 
     The components of the container of the present invention were manufactured by use of synthetic resins shown in Table 1, test samples (A to D) in which the movable bodies and the container main bodies filled with medicinal solutions were assembled into products were prepared, and the liquid-tight performance between the respective components of these test samples were evaluated. The evaluations of the liquid-tight performance were carried out so that the test samples were overturned to be left in a state in which normal pressure was reduced by 70 kPa, and after the pressure was returned to normal pressure ten minutes later, it was visually confirmed whether or not there was liquid leakage from the gaps between the fitting portions of the respective components. In addition, the test samples having shapes according to those in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , and in which its total height is 100 mm and the diameter of the tube section of the movable body is 22 mm were used. The results are shown in Table 2. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Bottom 
                 Movable 
                   
                 Container 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Test sample 
                 cover 
                 body 
                 Adapter 
                 main body 
                 Nozzle 
                 Cap 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 A 
                 LLDPE 
                 LDPE 
                 HDPE 
                 PP 
                 LDPE 
                 PP 
               
               
                 B 
                 LDPE 
                 HDPE 
                 HDPE 
               
               
                 C 
                 LDPE 
                 LDPE 
                 PP 
               
               
                 D 
                 LLDPE 
                 HDPE 
                 PP 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 PP: Polypropylene 
               
               
                 LLDPE: Linear low-density polyethylene 
               
               
                 HDPE: High-density polyethylene 
               
               
                 LDPE: Low-density polyethylene 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Bottom 
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 cover 
                 Movable 
                 Adapter 
                 Container 
               
               
                 Test 
                 Movable 
                 body 
                 Container 
                 main body 
                 Nozzle 
               
               
                 sample 
                 body 
                 Adapter 
                 main body 
                 Nozzle 
                 Cap 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 A 
                 x 
                 x 
                 ∘ 
                 ∘ 
                 ∘ 
               
               
                 B 
                 ∘ 
                 x 
                 ∘ 
               
               
                 C 
                 x 
                 x 
                 ∘ 
               
               
                 D 
                 ∘ 
                 ▴ 
                 ∘ 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 ∘: No leakage, 
               
               
                 ▴: Slight exudation, 
               
               
                 x: Leakage 
               
            
           
         
       
     
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention may have broad applicability as a before-use mixing container in which it is possible to perform a mixing operation for two types of medicinal solutions in its container independently of an uncovering operation for a cap or the like. 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               1  Movable body 
               3  Adapter 
               4  Container main body 
               11  Tube section 
               13  Inner tube 
               13   a  Ceiling plane 
               13   b  First opening portion 
               17  Vertical line 
               31  Fit-in tube section 
               31   a  Large diameter section 
               31   b  Small diameter section 
               35  Partition wall surface 
               35   a  Second opening portion 
               42  Lower mouth tube section 
             A First medicinal solution 
             B Second medicinal solution