Patent Publication Number: US-10328451-B2

Title: Gel-state content discharging applicator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean application No. 20-2014-0008861, filed on Dec. 3, 2014 with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a gel-state content discharging applicator and, more particularly, to a gel-state content discharging applicator wherein a pressurization button is formed on the lower end of a container such that, when the pressurization button is pressed, an inner container is pressurized, thereby pressurizing an inner container cap, which is coupled to the inner container, and a pump, which is coupled to the inner container cap; as a result, the gel-state content is discharged through a valve of the pump and through a discharge member such that a predetermined mount of gel-state content is always discharged easily; in addition, formation of the pressurization button on the lower end of the container guarantees that, when the container according to the present invention is used for tooth-related products among medications and sanitary aids, the content can be easily applied even to molar parts. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, cosmetics, or medicines and sanitary aids are often prepared in a gel-state form to allow the contents to be effectively absorbed for a long time after being applied to an application portion. 
     When the gel-state contents filled into a glass container or a tube container is used, a user has used the gel-state in such a manner that the gel-state contents are hand-held or squeezed from the tube container and then, the gel-state contents are applied with a tool such as a puff or a cotton swab, or a hand. 
     However, when the gel-state contents are applied with a tool such as a puff or a cotton swab as the related art, since the gel contents are stuck on the puff or cotton swab, the gel-state contents are wasted. When the user applies the gel-state contents with his hands, the contents of the gel are stuck on the hands every time that the gel-state contents are used, which is inconvenient in use since the hands must be washed each time. As described above, the hands on which the gel-state contents are stuck are washed so that the gel-state contents are lost. 
     To solve the problems, described above, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a product has been disclosed in Korean Registered Utility Model No. 20-0433672 issued to the applicant of the present application, where, when the user presses a side button provided outside a rubber pump formed of rubber, the rubber pump is pressed to discharge the gel-state contents filled in a container by the pressure, and since an application member is formed outside an outlet, any tools are not required and the gel-state contents may be used easily without being stuck on user&#39;s hands. 
     However, according to the related art described above, when the side button is pressed, the central portion of the rubber pump having a jar shape is pressed. In this case, since only the central portion of the rubber pump is pressed, the unpressurized portion of the rubber pump swells up, so that it is impossible to discharge the constant amount of contents. Thus, it is difficult to control the amount of contents to be discharged because the discharge amount of the contents is changed each time when the rubber pump is pressed. 
     In addition, according to the related art, since the side button is formed on an outside of an upper end of the container, when the container is used for tooth-related products among medications and sanitary aids, the side button is inserted into the mouth when applying the gel-state contents to the molar part, so that it is inconvenient to push the side button to discharge the contents. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     To solve the problems described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a gel-state content discharging applicator, wherein a pressurization button is formed on the lower end of a container such that, when the pressurization button is pressed, an inner container is pressurized, thereby pressurizing an inner container cap, which is coupled to the inner container, and a pump, which, is coupled to the inner container cap, as a result, the gel-state content is discharged through a valve of the pump and through a discharge member such that a predetermined amount of gel-state content is always discharged easily. 
     In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a gel-state content discharging applicator, in which a pressurization button is formed on a lower end of a container, such that the contents may be easily applied even to molar parts when a container according to the present invention is used for tooth-related products among medications and sanitary aids. 
     Technical Solution 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a gel-state content discharging applicator which includes: a container ( 10 ) including an inner container ( 11 ) having a content containing space ( 14 ) formed at an inside thereof and an outer container ( 12 ) formed outside the inner container ( 11 ); 
     a pressurization button ( 20 ) coupled to a lower end of the inner container ( 11 ) to move up and down within the outer container ( 12 ) together with the inner container ( 11 ); 
     a push plate ( 50 ) formed inside the content container ( 11 ); 
     an inner container cap ( 30 ) coupled to an upper side of the inner container ( 11 ) and formed on an upper portion thereof with a content suction hole ( 33 ); 
     a pump ( 40 ) installed on an upper portion of the inner container cap ( 30 ); 
     an outer container cap ( 60 ) coupled to an upper portion of the pump ( 40 ) and coupled to an upper side of the outer container ( 12 ); and 
     a discharge member ( 70 ) coupled to an upper side of the outer container cap ( 60 ) and formed on an end thereof with a discharge port ( 71 ), 
     wherein the pump ( 40 ) includes a pump bottom plate ( 41 ), a pump main body ( 42 ) integrally extending from, an upper side of the pump bottom plate ( 41 ), a valve body ( 43 ) coupled to an upper portion of the pump main body ( 42 ), and an elastic member ( 44 ) installed to an outside of the pump main body ( 42 ). 
     In addition, a middle container ( 13 ) may be further coupled between the inner container ( 11 ) and the outer container ( 12 ), and may be tightly fitted with the outer container ( 12 ), The middle container ( 13 ) may include an upper container ( 131 ) formed at upper side and a lower container ( 132 ) formed at a lower side and coupled to the upper container ( 131 ). 
     In addition, an outer container sill ( 121 ) and a lower container sill ( 135 ) are formed on lower ends of the outer container ( 12 ) and the lower container ( 132 ), respectively to prevent the pressurization button ( 20 ) from being separated. 
     In addition, the inner container cap ( 30 ) includes an inner wall ( 31 ) extending downwardly, an outer wall ( 32 ) spaced apart from the inner wall ( 31 ) by a predetermined interval, a content suction hole ( 33 ) formed at the upper center, a pump receiving groove ( 34 ) formed on an outside of the content suction hole ( 33 ) and an upper wall ( 35 ) extending upward from an outside of the pump receiving groove ( 34 ). 
     In addition, a suction valve ( 411 ) for selectively blocking the content suction hole ( 33 ) of the inner container cap ( 30 ) is formed at a center of a lower surface of the pump bottom plate ( 41 ), a pump receiving protrusion ( 412 ) inserted into the pump receiving groove ( 34 ) is formed at an outside of the suction valve ( 411 ), and a pump bottom plate horizontal extending piece ( 413 ) extends from an outside of the pump receiving protrusion ( 412 ). 
     In addition, the pump main body ( 42 ) is integrally formed on an upper portion of the pump bottom plate ( 41 ), and includes an elastic support ( 421 ) formed of an elastic material in a cylindrical shape and a valve ( 422 ) formed of an elastic material and extending upward from the elastic support ( 421 ), an upper extension piece ( 423 ) formed outside the valve ( 422 ) while being spaced apart from the valve ( 422 ) by a predetermined interval, and a pump body horizontal extension piece ( 424 ) extending horizontally from an end of the upper extension piece ( 423 ). 
     In addition, the valve body ( 43 ) includes a lower extension protrusion wheel ( 431 ) fitted between the valve ( 422 ) and the upper extension piece ( 423 ), a blocking plate ( 432 ) protruding toward a central low side thereof, a plurality of content discharge holes ( 433 ) formed on an outer peripheral surface of the blocking plate ( 432 ), and an upper extension protrusion wheel ( 434 ) formed on the lower extension protrusion wheel ( 431 ). 
     In addition, a discharge member coupling protrusion wheel ( 61 ) to which a discharge member ( 70 ) is coupled is formed at an upper side of the outer container cap ( 60 ), a valve body coupling protrusion wheel ( 62 ) coupled to the valve body ( 43 ) is formed at a lower side of the outer container cap ( 60 ), and a cover ( 63 ) is formed outside the valve body coupling protrusion wheel ( 62 ). 
     In addition, the discharge member ( 70 ) is formed therein with a discharge passage ( 72 ), and an upper end of the discharge member ( 70 ) is formed in a spherical or hemispherical shape to feel soft touch when rubbing against a skin. 
     In addition, the gel-state content discharging applicator further includes a lid ( 80 ) detachable coupled to the outer container cap ( 60 ). 
     In addition, preferably, the suction valve ( 411 ) of the pump bottom plate ( 41 ) and the elastic support ( 421 ) and the valve ( 422 ) of the pump main body ( 42 ) are formed of at least one of elastomer, silicone rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). 
     Advantageous Effects 
     According to the gel-state content discharging applicator of the present invention, the pressurization button is formed on the lower end of the container such that, when the pressurization button is pressed, the inner container is pressurized, thereby pressurizing the inner container cap, which is coupled to the inner container, and the pump, which is coupled to the inner container cap, as a result, the gel-state content is discharged through the valve of the pump and through the discharge member such that the predetermined mount of gel-state content is always discharged easily. 
     In addition, the pressurization button is formed on a lower end of a container, such that, the contents may be easily applied even to molar parts when a container according to the present invention is used for tooth-related products among medications and sanitary aids. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional view showing a container for discharging a constant amount of contents according to the related art. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a gel-state content discharging applicator according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a gel-state content discharging applicator according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view showing a gel-state content discharging applicator according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view showing a state in which the gel-state contents are filled in a gel-state content discharging applicator according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view showing a state in which the gel-state contents are discharged from a gel-state content discharging applicator according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view illustrating a state in which the gel-state contents of a gel-state content discharging applicator according to the present invention are sucked into a content temporary storage space (TR). 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE 
     Mode for Invention 
     Hereinafter, a gel-state content discharging applicator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a gel-state content discharging applicator according to the present invention.  FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a gel-state content discharging applicator according to the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a sectional view showing a gel-state content discharging applicator according to the present invention.  FIG. 5  is a sectional view showing a state in which the gel-state contents are filled in a gel-state content discharging applicator according to the present invention.  FIG. 6  is a sectional view showing a state in which the gel-state contents are discharged from a gel-state content discharging applicator according to the present invention.  FIG. 7  is a sectional view illustrating a state in which the gel-state contents of a gel-state content discharging applicator according to the present invention are sucked into a content temporary storage space (TR). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , a gel-state content discharging applicator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a container  10  including an inner container  11  having a content containing space  14  formed at an inside thereof and an outer container  12  formed outside the inner container  11 ; a pressurization button  20  coupled to a lower end of the inner container  11  to move up and down within the outer container  12  together with the inner container  11 ; a push plate  50  formed inside the content container  11 ; an inner container cap  30  coupled to an upper side of the inner container  11  and formed on an upper portion thereof with a content suction hole  33 ; a pump  40  installed on an upper portion of the inner container cap  30 ; an outer container cap  60  coupled to an upper portion of the pump  40  and coupled to an upper side of the outer container  12 ; and a discharge member  70  coupled to an upper side of the outer container cap  60  and formed on an end thereof with a discharge port  71 , 
     where the pump  40  includes a pump bottom plate  41 , a pump main body  42  integrally extending from an upper side of the pump bottom plate  41 , a valve body  43  coupled to an upper portion of the pump main body  42 , and an elastic member  44  installed to an outside of the pump main body  42 . 
     In addition, a middle container  13  may be further coupled between the inner container  11  and the outer container  12  and may be tightly fitted with the outer container  12 . The middle container  13  may include an upper container  131  formed at upper side and a lower container  132  formed at a lower side and coupled to the upper container  131 . 
     An inner container inlet part  111  and a middle container inlet  134  are formed on upper ends of the inner container  11  and the middle container  13 . An undercut or a thread are formed on outer peripheries of the inner container inlet part  111  and the middle container inlet  134 , respectively and are coupled to the inner container cap  30  and the outer container cap  60 . 
     An inner container shoulder  112  and a middle container shoulder  133  are formed on upper portions of the inner container  11  and the middle container  13 , respectively. The middle container shoulder  133  is formed to be upwardly spaced apart from the inner container shoulder  112  to secure a space in which the inner container  11  may move up and down inside the middle container  13 . 
     An outer container sill  121  and a lower container sill  135  are formed on lower ends of the outer container  12  and the lower container  132 , respectively to prevent the pressurization button  20  from being separated. 
     At a lower end of the inner container  11 , an insertion groove  113  into which an end of the pressurization button  20  is inserted is formed. 
     The pressurization button  20  includes an inner pressurization button  21  and an outer pressurization button  22  surrounding an outside of the inner pressurization button  21 , where an upper end of the inner pressurization button  21  is inserted into the insertion groove  113  of the inner container  11 . 
     The push plate  50  serves to push up the gel-state contents contained in the content receiving space  14  of the inner container  11 . A push plate blade  51  is integrally formed on the outer periphery of the push plate  51  and is tightly closed to an inner side surface of the inner container  11 . 
     The inner container cap  30  includes an inner wall  31  extending downwardly, an outer wall  32  spaced apart from the inner wall  31  by a predetermined interval, a content suction hole  33  formed at the upper center, a pump receiving groove  34  formed on an outside of the content suction hole  33  and an upper wall  35  extending upward from an outside of the pump receiving groove  34 . 
     An undercut or a thread is formed on an inner periphery of an outer wall of the inner container cap  30  and is coupled to an outer periphery of the inner container inlet part  111 . 
     The pump  40  includes a pump bottom plate  41 , a pump body  42 , a valve body  43  and an elastic member  44 . 
     A suction valve  411  for selectively blocking the content suction hole  33  of the inner container cap  30  is formed at a center of a lower surface of the pump bottom plate  41 , a pump receiving protrusion  412  inserted into the pump receiving groove  34  is formed at an outside of the suction valve  411 , and a pump bottom plate horizontal extending piece  413  extends from an outside of the pump receiving protrusion  412 . 
     The suction valve  411  is formed of a material having good elasticity to allow the suction value  411  to be lifted due to the vacuum pressure of a content temporary storage space TR and to be released when the vacuum pressure is removed. Preferably, the suction valve  411  is formed of at least one of elastomer, silicone rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). 
     The pump main body  42  is integrally formed on an upper portion of the pump bottom plate  41 , and includes an elastic support  421  formed of an elastic material in a cylindrical shape and a valve  422  formed of an elastic material and extending upward from the elastic support  421 , an upper extension piece  423  formed outside the valve  422  while being spaced apart from the valve  422  by a predetermined interval, and a pump body horizontal extension piece  424  extending horizontally from an end of the upper extension piece  423 . 
     The elastic support  421  is repeatedly folded and unfolded by the inner container  11  and the inner content cap  30  which move up and down together with the pressurization button  20  when the pressurization button  20  is pressed, thereby changing the volume of the content temporary storage space TR inside the pump  40 . To this end, preferably, the elastic support  421  is formed of at least one of elastomer, silicone rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). 
     The valve  422  is closed to or spaced apart from the outer surface of the blocking plate  432  of the valve body  43  to allow the content discharge hole  433  to be selectively opened or closed. To this end, preferably, the value  422  is formed of at least one of elastomer, silicone rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). 
     The valve body  43  includes a lower extension protrusion wheel  431  fitted between the valve  422  and the upper extension piece  423 , the blocking plate  432  protruding toward a central low side thereof, a plurality of content discharge holes  433  formed on an outer peripheral, surface of the blocking plate  432 , and an upper extension protrusion wheel  434  formed on the lower extension protrusion wheel  431 . 
     The elastic member  44  is installed between a pump bottom plate horizontal extension piece  413  of the pump bottom plate  41  and a pump body horizontal extension piece  424  of the pump body  42 . 
     A discharge member coupling protrusion wheel  61  to which a discharge member  70  is coupled is formed at an upper side of the outer container cap  60 , a valve body coupling protrusion wheel  62  coupled to the valve body  43  is formed at a lower side of the outer container cap  60 , and a cover  63  is formed outside the valve body coupling protrusion wheel  62 . 
     A discharge member coupling protrusion  64  is formed on an outer periphery of the discharge member coupling protrusion wheel  61  and an outer container cap coupling groove  73  is formed at a lower inner side of the discharge member  70 , such that the discharge member coupling protrusion  64  and the outer container cap coupling groove  73  are coupled to each other. 
     The discharge member ( 70 ) is formed therein with a discharge passage ( 72 ), and an upper end of the discharge member ( 70 ) is formed in a spherical or hemispherical shape to feel soft touch when rubbing against a skin. 
     A lid  80  detachably coupled to the outer container cap  60  may be further formed. 
     The lid  80  includes an inner lid  81  detachably undercut-coupled to the outer container cap  60  and an outer lid  82  forcibly fitted with an outside of the inner lid  81 . 
     Hereinafter, a method of assembling the gel-state content discharging applicator described above will be described. 
     First, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the push plate  50  is inserted into the inner container  11 . After the pressurization button  20  having the outer push button  22  and the inner push button  21  coupled to each other is coupled to the lower end of the inner container  11 , the outer container  12  is fitted from the lower side of the inner container  11 . 
     In a case where the middle container  13  is further coupled, the push plate  50  is inserted into the inner container  11 . After pressurization button  20  is installed on the lower end of the inner container  11 , the upper container  131  of the middle container  13  is fitted from the upper side of the inner container  11 . After the lower container  132  is fitted from the lower side of the inner container  11 , the outer container  12  is fitted from the lower side of the inner container  11  while covering the outer container  12  from the lower side of the middle container  13 . 
     Next, the contents are introduced through the inner container inlet part  111 , and the inner container cap  30  and the pump  40  are sequentially connected to the upper end of the inner container  11 . In detail, the inner container inlet part  111  is inserted into a space between the inner wall  31  and the outer wall  32  of the inner container cap  30 . After the pump bottom plate  41  which is integrally formed with the pump main body  42  and of which the elastic member  44  is placed in the pump receiving groove  34  of the inner container cap  30 , the lower extension protrusion wheel  431  of the valve body  43  is inserted between the valve  422  and the upper extension piece  423  of the pump main body  42 . 
     While the valve body coupling protrusion wheel  62  of the outer container cap  60  is inserted into the upper extension protrusion wheel  434  of the valve body  43 , the outer container cap  60  is coupled to the upper side of the outer container  12 . 
     Finally, the discharge member  70  is coupled to the discharge member coupling protrusion wheel  61  of the outer container cap  60 , and then, the lid  80  is coupled to the outer container cap  60 . 
     The operation of the gel-state content discharging applicator described above will be described as follows. 
     To use the gel-state content discharging applicator, the lid  80  is first separated from the container  10  as shown in  FIG. 5  and the pressurization button  20  coupled to the lower side of the container  10  is pressed as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     If the pressurization button  20  is pressed, the inner container  11  and the inner container cap  30  coupled to the inner container  11  are moved together. 
     The elastic support  421  of the pump main body  42  is folded while the pump bottom plate  41  of the pump  40  is pressed by the movement of the inner container cap  30 , and at the same time, the volume of the content temporary storage space TR is reduced. Thus, pressure is generated in the content temporary storage space TR, and the contents in the content temporary storage space TR are to be discharged to an outside due to the pressure, so that a discharge pressure is generated and the suction valve  411  of the pump bottom plate  41  blocks the content suction hole  33 . 
     At the same time, the contents of the contents temporary storage space TR allow the valve  422  of an elastic material tightly closed to the outer surface of the blocking plate  432  of the valve body  43  to be spaced apart from the blocking plate of the valve body  43 , so that the discharge hole  433  is opened. After the contents are discharged through the discharge hole  433 , the contents are discharged to an outside through the discharge passage  72  and the discharge port  71  of the discharge member  70 . 
     Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 7 , when the pressurization of the pressurization button  20  is released, the elasticity of the elastic member  44  and the elastic support  421  allows the pump bottom plate  41 , the inner container cap  30 , the inner container  11 , and the pressurization button  20  to move up, and the volume of the temporary provisional storage space TR is increased while the shape of the elastic support  421  of the pump main body  42  is restored, so that the vacuum pressure is generated. 
     Therefore, the valve  422  of the pump main body  42  is tightly closed to the blocking plate  432  of the valve body  43  to close the content discharge hole  433  and at the same time, while the suction valve  412  of the pump bottom plate  41  is lifted by the vacuum pressure generated in the content temporary storage space TR, the content suction hole  33  is opened. Thus, the contents contained in the content containing space  14  of the inner container  11  are introduced into the content temporary storage space TR through the content suction holes  33 . 
     As described above, the gel-state content discharging applicator described in the present invention is an illustrative purpose only, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Thus, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention and they will fall within the scope of the present invention. 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERAL 
       10 : Container 
       11 : Inner container 
       12 : Outer container 
       13 : Middle container 
       14 : Content containing space 
       111 : Inner container inlet part 
       112 : Inner container shoulder 
       113 : Inserting groove 
       121 : Outer container sill 
       131 : Upper container 
       132 : Lower container 
       133 : Middle container shoulder 
       134 : Middle container inlet 
       135 : Lower container sill 
       20 : Pressurization button 
       21 : Inner pressurization button 
       22 : Outer pressurization button 
       30 : Inner container cap 
       31 : Inner wall 
       32 : Outer wall 
       33 : Content suction hole 
       34 : Pump receiving groove 
       35 : Upper wall 
       40 : Pump 
       41 : Pump bottom plate 
       42 : Pump main body 
       43 : Valve body 
       44 ; Elastic member 
       411 : Suction valve 
       412 : Pump receiving protrusion 
       413 : Pump bottom plate horizontal extending piece 
       421 : Elastic support 
       422 : Valve 
       423 : Upper extension piece 
       424 : Pump body horizontal extension piece 
       431 : Lower extension protrusion wheel 
       432 : Blocking plate 
       433 : Content discharge hole 
       434 : tipper extension protrusion wheel 
       50 : Push plate 
       51 : Push plate blade 
       60 : Outer container cap 
       61 : Discharge member coupling protrusion wheel 
       62 : Valve body coupling protrusion wheel 
       63 : Cover 
       64 : Discharge member coupling protrusion 
       70 : Discharge member 
       71 : Discharge port 
       72 : Discharge passage 
       73 : Outer container cap coupling groove 
       80 : Lid 
       81 : Inner lid 
       82 : Outer lid