Patent Publication Number: US-2023148733-A1

Title: Cosmetic container

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0157582, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 16, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The invention relates to a cosmetic container capable of adjusting the amount of content dispensed. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A container for a liquid or gel type content (such as a cosmetic, shampoo, detergent, etc.) is generally used with a pump, corresponding to a discharging device, coupled to an upper part of the container. When a user presses down on an upper portion of the pump, the change in pressure and the opening of a valve within the pump allows the content to be dispensed through the pump to the outside. A pump such as described above provides the advantage of greater hygiene, as the content is not exposed to the outside and is thus prevented from spoiling. 
     The conventional pump, however, entails the problem that the amount of content dispensed is not consistent, as the amount varies according to the extent to which the pump is pressed down. That is, a greater downward force applied on the pump would cause the valve, etc., to move a greater distance and result in a larger amount of dispensing, whereas a smaller downward force applied on the pump would cause the valve, etc., to move a shorter distance and result in a smaller amount of dispensing. Thus, with the conventional pump, the user is unable to accurately adjust the amount of content dispensed. 
     Also known is a container that stores two types of contents separately within a single container and mixes the contents together at the time of use. This form of mixing container is mainly used in cases where a mixture of the two different types of contents provides a synergetic effect but where a premature mixing of the two different contents before the time of use causes the contents to spoil or exhibit a lowered performance after a prolonged period of distribution. 
     With this type of mixing container also, providing a constant mixing ratio between the two types of contents can maximize the effect of the mixing. Thus, with this type of mixing container also, there is a need for a function of adjusting the amounts of contents dispensed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An aspect of the invention, which was conceived to resolve the problems described above, is to provide a cosmetic container capable of adjusting the amount of content dispensed. 
     Other objectives of the invention will be more clearly understood from the embodiments set forth below. 
     A cosmetic container according to one aspect of the invention comprises: an outer container that holds a content; a handle that is rotatably coupled to an upper portion of the outer container; an adjustment member that is coupled to an upper portion of the handle to rotate as an integrated body with the handle and is provided with a downwardly protruding pressure protrusion; and a pump that is configured to suction and dispense the content held in the outer container and is configured such that a pressing on a portion thereof by the pressure protrusion changes an amount of content dispensed, where rotating the adjustment member adjusts a discharging amount of the pump by adjusting the extent to which the pressure protrusion presses the pump. 
     A cosmetic container according to an embodiment of the invention can include one or more of the following features. For example, the adjustment member can be provided with a guide hole through which the pump can move, and the pressure protrusion can be formed continuously at a lower portion of an inner perimeter of the guide hole. 
     Two guide holes can be formed symmetrically to each other, and the pressure protrusion can be formed with left-right symmetry. 
     The guide hole can intersect a line passing through the center of rotation of the adjustment member at two points, and the pressure protrusion can have the same length at the two points. 
     The pressure protrusion can be formed with the greatest length at one end of the guide hole, while the pressure protrusion may not be formed at the other end of the guide hole. 
     A shoulder can be coupled to an upper portion of the outer container, the handle can be rotatably coupled to an upper portion of the shoulder, a nozzle can be coupled to an upper portion of the adjustment member, and the nozzle can be connected with the pump to provide a channel for dispensing the content. 
     The pump can be provided with a pressing flange and a valve flange, the valve flange can be configured to be downwardly pressed by the pressure protrusion, and the valve flange can be configured to be caught on a guide top surface of the adjustment member. 
     Shoulder detent indentations can be formed in an outer perimeter of the shoulder, an indicator protrusion can be formed on an inner perimeter of the handle and configured to be insertable into the shoulder detent indentations, and the shoulder detent indentations can be formed in a multiple number to indicate the discharging amount of the pump. 
     The cosmetic container can include an inner container separably coupled within the outer container, where the content can be filled in the inside of the inner container, and an opening of the inner container can be connected to the pump when the inner container is coupled to the outer container. 
     A deep tube holder can be coupled to the inner container, and the pump can be inserted into the deep tube holder. 
     A partition wall can be formed within the outer container, and a multiple number of inner containers can be coupled within interior spaces divided by the partition wall. 
     Two pumps can be coupled to the outer container, and rotating the adjustment member can increase the dispensing amount of one pump while decreasing the dispensing amount of the other pump. 
     An embodiment of the invention having the features above can provide various advantageous effects including the following. However, an embodiment of the invention may not necessarily exhibit all of the effects below. 
     An embodiment of the invention can provide a cosmetic container with which the amount of content dispensed can be readily adjusted. 
     An embodiment of the invention can also provide a cosmetic container with which the content can be readily refilled. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a cosmetic container according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the cosmetic container in  FIG.  1    with the nozzle removed. 
         FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container in  FIG.  1    across line AA. 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view of an upper part of the cosmetic container in  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of the inner container. 
         FIG.  6    is a cross-sectional view of the inner container in  FIG.  5    across line CC. 
         FIG.  7    is a bottom view of the nozzle. 
         FIG.  8    and  FIG.  9    are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of the handle. 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of the shoulder. 
         FIG.  11    is a cross-sectional view of the shoulder in  FIG.  10    across line BB. 
         FIG.  12    and  FIG.  13    are a perspective view and a bottom view, respectively, of the adjustment member. 
         FIG.  14    and  FIG.  15    are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of the outer container. 
         FIG.  16    is a cross-sectional view of the pump. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As the invention allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the written description. However, this is not intended to limit the invention to particular modes of practice, and it is to be appreciated that all changes, equivalents, and substitutes that do not depart from the spirit and technical scope of the invention are encompassed by the present invention. In the description of the invention, certain detailed explanations of the related art are omitted if it is deemed that they may unnecessarily obscure the essence of the invention. 
     The terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe particular embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. An expression used in the singular encompasses the expression of the plural, unless it has a clearly different meaning in the context. In the present specification, it is to be understood that terms such as “including” or “having,” etc., are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof may exist or may be added. 
     While such terms as “first” and “second,” etc., can be used to describe various components, such components are not to be limited by the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one component from another. 
     Certain embodiments of the invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those components that are the same or are in correspondence are rendered the same reference numeral, and redundant descriptions are omitted. 
       FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a cosmetic container  100  according to an embodiment of the invention, and  FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the cosmetic container  100  in  FIG.  1    with the nozzle  140  removed.  FIG.  3    is a cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container  100  in  FIG.  1    across line AA, and  FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view of an upper part of the cosmetic container  100  in  FIG.  3   . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  to  4   , a cosmetic container  100  based on this embodiment may include two pumps  250 ,  270  for pumping and discharging two different types of contents and may be configured such that turning a handle  160  provided at an upper part of the container allows a relative adjustment of the discharging amounts of the pumps  250 ,  270 . Incidentally,  FIG.  2    illustrates a configuration that allows the two pumps  250 ,  270  to discharge equal amounts. 
     A cosmetic container  100  based on this embodiment may be used with replacements of the inner container  110  filled with a content. A cosmetic container  100  based on this embodiment is illustrated using an example that includes two inner containers  110 , where each inner container  110  can be filled with a different type of content. When the content filled in an inner container  110  is used up, the user can remove the existing inner container  110  and easily couple a new inner container (filled with a content) for use. 
     A cosmetic container  100  based on this embodiment may include two inner containers  110 , a nozzle  140 , a handle  160 , a shoulder  170 , an adjustment member  200 , an outer container  220 , a base  240 , and two pumps  250 ,  270 . A cosmetic container  100  based on an embodiment of the invention can further include an overcap (not shown) that covers an upper portion of the nozzle  140 . 
       FIG.  5    is a perspective view of the inner container  110 , and  FIG.  6    is a cross-sectional view of the inner container  110  in  FIG.  5    across line CC. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3  to  6   , a cosmetic container  100  based on this embodiment may include two inner containers  110  that can be filled with different types of contents. The contents filled in the inner containers  110  can be separately discharged by the pumps  250 ,  270  and mixed together subsequently. The two inner containers  110  can have the same shape and can be arranged symmetrically to each other. 
     The inner container  110  may include a container body  122  that is filled with a content. The container body  122  may have a semicircular horizontal cross section such that a flat face  128  is formed on the exterior. The two inner containers  110  may be arranged such that the faces  128  are opposite each other. Also, a coupling thread  124  may be formed at a lower portion of the inner container  110 . 
     A label  126  can be adhered to the face  128 , where the label  126  can be a detachably attached film and can indicate the type or amount, etc., of the content filled in the inner container  110 . The label  126  can be provided with a downwardly protruding tag  127 , to allow the user to easily separate the inner container  110  from the outer container  220  by pulling on the tag  127 . 
     On the inside of the inner container  110 , there may be provided a deep tube holder  114  and a deep tube  130 . 
     The deep tube holder  114  may be coupled to the inside through an opening of the inner container  110 . The deep tube holder  114  may have a structure similar to that of the housing  252  of the pump  250 ,  270  and may have the housing  252  inserted therein. The deep tube holder  114  may be provided with an outwardly protruding flange  116  at the upper end, and the flange  116  may be caught on the upper end of the inner container  110 . 
     The deep tube holder  114  may be provided with a downwardly protruding connector protrusion  118 . The deep tube  130  may be inserted into the connector protrusion  118 . As the connector protrusion  118  connects with the pump  250 ,  270  and the deep tube  130 , a content that is drawn through the deep tube  130  can be made to enter the pump  250 ,  270 . 
     The deep tube  130  may be a hollow tube and may correspond to a channel through which the content suctioned by the pump  250 ,  270  may move. The deep tube  130  can be arranged such that the lower end is adjacent to the bottom surface of the inner container  110 . 
     A cap  112  can be coupled to the upper opening of the container body  122 . The cap  112  may serve to prevent the content from leaking out and prevent any outside substances from leaking in. The cap  112  can be removed before the coupling to the outer container  220 . 
       FIG.  7    is a bottom view of the nozzle  140 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 ,  4 , and  7   , the nozzle  140  may be the part that is pressed down by the user and may include discharge holes  142 ,  144  through which the two types of contents are discharged. The two types of contents can be discharged, without mixing, through the two discharge holes  142 ,  144  provided in the nozzle  140 , to be mixed together for use by the user. 
     In the outer perimeter of the nozzle  140 , a first discharge hole  142  and a second discharge hole  144 , corresponding to channels for discharging the contents to the outside, may be provided adjacently to each other. The first discharge hole  142  and second discharge hole  144  may connect with a first channel  146  and a second channel  148  provided within the nozzle  140 . Also, the first channel  146  and second channel  148  may connect with a first protrusion  150  and second protrusion  152  that protrude downwards. The first protrusion  150  and second protrusion  152  may be inserted into the valves  264  of the pumps  250 ,  270  by way of press fitting. As a result, the nozzle  140  and the valves  264  of the pumps  250 ,  270  may move down and up together as an integrated body. 
     When the nozzle  140  is pressed down, the contents held in the inner containers  110  may be suctioned through the pumps  250 ,  270  and subsequently discharged independently through the first and second protrusions  150 ,  152 , the first and second channels  146 ,  148 , and the first and second discharge holes  142 ,  144 . When the external force is removed, the nozzle  140  may be moved back up to its original position by the elastic restoring forces of the springs  266  of the pumps  250 ,  270 . 
       FIG.  8    and  FIG.  9    are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of the handle  160 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  to  4    and  FIGS.  8  and  9   , the handle  160  may be located at a lower portion of the nozzle  140  and may be exposed to the exterior, corresponding to the part that is gripped and rotated by the user. When the handle  160  is rotated, the adjustment member  200  may be rotated together, and the amounts of contents discharged from the two pumps  250 ,  270  can be adjusted relatively. 
     The handle  160  can be a hollow tube of a particular length and can be structured such that the top and bottom are both open. The handle may have an outer perimeter  162  that is exposed to the exterior. An overcap, not shown, can be coupled onto the periphery of the outer perimeter  162 . An inwardly protruding upper curb  163  can be formed on the upper end of the outer perimeter  162 . The upper curb  163  may be the part where the lower end of the nozzle  140  is caught, whereby the nozzle  140  may not be separated from the handle  160 . 
     A handle detent indentation  166  may be provided in the inner perimeter of the handle  160 . Multiple handle detent indentations  166  can be provided in certain intervals. Adjustment protrusions  210  formed on the lower end of the adjustment member  200  may be inserted into the handle detent indentation  166 , whereby the handle  160  and the adjustment member  200  may rotate together as an integrated body. A handle  160  based on this embodiment can have three handle detent indentations  166  arranged in intervals of 120 degrees. 
     On the inner perimeter of the handle  160 , below the handle detent indentations  166 , there can be formed an indicator protrusion  168 . The indicator protrusion  168  may be caught on the shoulder detent indentations  180  formed on the outer perimeter of the shoulder  170 , allowing the user to perceive that the handle  160  was rotated by a particular angle. A shoulder  170  based on this embodiment can include three shoulder detent indentations  180 , where the shoulder detent indentations  180  can be arranged to correspond to three positions of the handle  160  (fully rotated in the clockwise direction, fully rotated in the counterclockwise direction, and middle position). 
     On the inner perimeter of the handle  160 , below the indicator protrusions  168 , there may be formed a rotary groove  164 . A detent protrusion  176  formed on the inside of an insertion groove  174  of the shoulder  170  may be inserted into the rotary groove  164 , whereby the handle  160  may be rotatably coupled to an upper portion of the shoulder  170 . 
       FIG.  10    is a perspective view of the shoulder  10 , and  FIG.  11    is a cross-sectional view of the shoulder  10  in  FIG.  10    across line BB. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3  to  4    and  FIGS.  10  to  11   , the shoulder  170  may be coupled to an upper portion of the outer container  220  and may rotatably support the handle  160  coupled to an upper portion the shoulder  170 . The shoulder  170  may be shaped as a cap having a shoulder upper surface  182  and may include a lower periphery element  172  and an upper periphery element  178 . Two pump holes  184 , through which the pumps  250 ,  270  may be inserted, may be formed in the shoulder upper surface  182 , and a center protrusion  186  may be formed in the center of the shoulder upper surface  182 . 
     The lower periphery element  172  may be the part that is inserted onto the periphery of a shoulder coupling element  222  formed on an upper portion of the outer container  220  and may have a diameter greater than that of the upper periphery element  178 . On the inner perimeter of the lower periphery element  172 , there may be formed a body coupler groove  188 . Shoulder coupler protrusions  224  formed on the outer perimeter on an upper portion of the outer container  220  may be inserted into the body coupler groove  188 , whereby the shoulder  170  may be coupled to the upper portion of the outer container  220 . On the inner perimeter of the lower periphery element  172 , anti-rotation protrusions  190  can be formed in a vertical direction. The anti-rotation protrusions  190  may be inserted into anti-rotation indentations  226  formed in the outer perimeter of the upper portion of the outer container  220 , whereby the shoulder  170  may be coupled to the upper portion of the outer container  220  in a nonrotatable manner. 
     An insertion groove  174  may be formed at the connecting portion between the lower periphery element  172  and the upper periphery element  178 . The detent protrusion  176  may be formed within the circularly shaped insertion groove  174 . The detent protrusion  176  may be inserted into the rotary groove  164  formed in the inner perimeter of the handle  160 , whereby the handle  160  may be rotatably coupled to the shoulder  170 . 
     The upper periphery element  178  may be the part that is rotatably coupled with the handle  160 . On the outer perimeter of the upper periphery element  178 , there can be formed a multiple number of (e.g., three) shoulder detent indentations  180 . The indicator protrusion  168  formed on the handle  160  can be inserted into the shoulder detent indentations  180 , allowing the user to perceive that the handle  160  is at a particular position or was rotated by a particular angle. 
     The shoulder  170  may be provided with a shoulder upper surface  182  formed on an upper portion of the upper periphery element  178 . The shoulder upper surface  182  may be a horizontal plate and may have a center protrusion  186  protruding upward from the center. The center protrusion  186  can be separably inserted into a coupling protrusion  212  protruding downward from the inside of the adjustment member  200 . The pump holes  184  may each be formed on either side of the center protrusion  186  in the shoulder upper surface  182 . The pump holes  184  may be formed to penetrate through the shoulder upper surface  182  and may have the same diameter. The pumps  250 ,  270  may be inserted through the respective pump holes  184 . 
       FIG.  12    and  FIG.  13    are a perspective view and a bottom view, respectively, of the adjustment member  200 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2  to  4    and  FIGS.  12  to  13   , the adjustment member  200  may be coupled to an upper portion of the handle  160  to rotate together with the handle  160  as an integrated body and may serve to adjust the amounts of contents discharged by the two pumps  250 ,  270 . The adjustment member  200  may be shaped as a cap having an open bottom, may have two guide holes  202  formed in the upper surface, and may be provided with a periphery element  206  having a particular height. 
     The guide holes  202  may be formed symmetrically about the center in the upper surface of the adjustment member  200  and may have arc-like shapes. A pressure protrusion  204  having a varying length may protrude downward from certain portions of the inner perimeters of the guide holes  202 . Also, as shown in  FIG.  13   , the pressure protrusion  204  may not be formed at other portions of the inner perimeters of the guide holes  202 . 
     The length of the pressure protrusion  204  can increase linearly at portions closer to the end of the guide hole  202 . Thus, in  FIG.  13   , the pressure protrusion  204  is not formed at all at one end of the guide holes  202  (where the pump  270  (marked in dotted lines) is located) but is formed the longest at the other end of the guide holes  202  (where the pump  250  (marked in dotted lines) is located). 
     At the inner perimeters of the guide holes  202 , the pressure protrusion  204  at two points b and c that lie on a line a that passes through the center of rotation (i.e., the center of the upper surface) of the adjustment member  200  can have the same length. Thus, the valve guide  262  of a pump  250 ,  270  that moves along the inner perimeter of a guide hole  202  can be downwardly pressed by the portions of the pressure protrusion  204  having the same length at the two points (i.e., b and c in  FIG.  13   ). 
     The pressure protrusion  204  may press down on the valve guides  262  of the pumps  250 ,  270 . Therefore, depending on the position of the pumps  250 ,  270  within the guide holes  202 , the distances by which the valve guides  262  are moved down by the pressure protrusion  204  can be different. For example, in  FIG.  13   , the pump  250  is located at a portion where the pressure protrusion  204  is formed the longest, so that its valve guide  262  would be pressed by the pressure protrusion  204  and positioned at the lowest height. Conversely, the pump  270  is located at a portion where the pressure protrusion  204  is not formed, so that its valve guide  262  would not be pressed and would be positioned at the greatest height. 
     Thus, before the pumps  250 ,  270  are pressed down by the nozzle  140 , the heights of the valve guides  262  of the pumps  250 ,  270  may be adjusted beforehand by the rotation of the adjustment member  200  (i.e., the rotation of the handle  160  by the user), so that the amounts of the contents discharged by the two pumps  250 ,  270  when pressed by the nozzle  140  may be adjusted. That is, the pump  270  of which the valve guide  262  is at the greatest height can discharge the greatest amount of content when pressed down by the nozzle  140 , and conversely, the pump  250  of which the valve guide  262  is at the lowest height can discharge the smallest amount of content when pressed down by the nozzle. 
     As a valve guide  262  is moved from one end of the guide hole  202  where the pressure protrusion  204  is not formed to the other end where the pressure protrusion  204  is formed the longest, the amount of downward movement by the valve guide  262  can be increased linearly. At the same time, the amount of upward movement by the valve guide  262  of the other pump can also be increased linearly. Thus, when the two pumps  250 ,  270  are located at the centers of the guide holes  202  as in  FIG.  2   , the heights of the valve guides  262  can be the same, whereby the amounts of contents discharged by the two pumps  250 ,  270  can also be the same. 
     From the state shown in  FIG.  13   , the positions of the pumps  250 ,  270  can be reversed by rotating the adjustment member  200  in a counterclockwise direction, upon which the pump  250  can discharge the greatest amount of content, and the pump  270  can discharge the smallest amount of content. 
     The valve guides  262  can be positioned at the centers of the two guide holes  202  simultaneously (as shown in  FIG.  2   ), in which case the pumps  250 ,  270  can both discharge the same amounts of contents. 
     Thus, with a cosmetic container  100  based on this embodiment, the user can readily determine the amounts of contents discharged by the pumps  250 ,  270  by turning the handle  160  to adjust the positions of the valve guides  262  of the pumps  250 ,  270  within the guide holes  202 . 
     The adjustment member  200  may be provided with a periphery element  206  having a certain height. Also, adjustment protrusions  210  may protrude outward from the lower end of the periphery element  206 . The adjustment protrusions  210  may be inserted into the handle detent indentations  166  formed in the inner perimeter of the handle  160 , whereby the handle  160  and the adjustment member  200  may rotate together as an integrated body. 
     In the center of the inner side of the adjustment member  200 , there may be a coupling protrusion  212  protruding downward. The coupling protrusion  212  may have the shape of a hollow cylinder and may receive the center protrusion  186  of the shoulder  170  when it is separably inserted therein. 
       FIG.  14    and  FIG.  15    are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of the outer container  220 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2  to  3    and  FIGS.  14  to  15   , the outer container  220  may form the exterior of the cosmetic container  100  and may receive a multiple number of inner containers  110 , which may be separably coupled therein. The outer container  220  may have the shoulder  170  coupled to an upper portion thereof and the base  240  coupled to a lower portion thereof. 
     The outer container  220  may have the shape of a hollow cylinder with a placement surface  228  formed at the top and an open bottom. Two container holes  230  may be formed in the placement surface  228 . The upper portions of the inner containers  110  may pass through the container holes  230  to be positioned protruding above the outer container  220 , and the pumps  250 ,  270  may be inserted into the protruding inner containers  110 . Thus, the container holes  230  formed in the placement surface  228  can be positioned on the same plane as the pump holes  184  formed in the shoulder upper surface  182 , to be connected with a particular gap in-between in the vertical direction. 
     From the center of the placement surface  228 , between the two container holes  230 , a coupling protrusion  231  may protrude upward. The coupling protrusion  231  can be inserted into a center indentation  187  formed on the inside of the shoulder  170 , whereby the shoulder  170  can be coupled to the upper portion of the outer container  220 . 
     On the outer perimeter of the upper portion of the outer container  220 , there may be formed a shoulder coupling element  222 . The shoulder coupling element  222  may be divided from the outer perimeter  221  of the outer container  220  by a step (no numeral assigned). The shoulder coupler protrusions  224  may be formed protruding outward from the shoulder coupling element  222 . Also, the anti-rotation indentations  226  may be formed in a vertical direction in the shoulder coupling element  222 . The anti-rotation indentations  226  may be positioned in-between the shoulder coupler protrusions  224 . 
     The shoulder coupler protrusions  224  may be inserted into the body coupler groove  188  formed in the inner perimeter of the shoulder  170 , whereby the shoulder  170  may be coupled to the upper portion of the outer container  220 . Also, the anti-rotation protrusions  190  formed in the inner perimeter of the shoulder  170  may be inserted into the anti-rotation indentations  226 , whereby the shoulder  170  coupled to the upper portion of the outer container  220  may be prevented from rotating. 
     On the inside of the outer container  220 , a partition wall  232  may be formed that divides the interior space in two. The inner containers  110  can be separably coupled to the respective interior spaces divided by the partition wall  232 . 
     On the outer perimeter of a lower portion of the outer container  220 , there may be formed a base coupling element  234 . The base coupling element  234  may be divided from the outer perimeter  221  of the outer container  220  by a step (no numeral assigned). Two base coupling elements  234 , each having an arced shape, can be arranged opposite each other with a particular gap in-between. Thus, the inner containers  110  inserted within the outer container  220  can have their lower ends exposed to the outside, allowing the user to easily grip the inner containers  110 . Threads  236  may be formed on the base coupling elements  234 , and the base  240  can be fastened to the lower portion of the outer container  220  by way of the threads  236 . 
     The base  240  may be a cap that covers the lower end of the outer container  220  and may serve to cover the inner containers  110  exposed to the outside and prevent the inner containers  110  from becoming detached. 
       FIG.  16    is a cross-sectional view of a pump  250 ,  270 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2 ,  3  and  16   , a cosmetic container  100  based on this embodiment may be provided with two inner containers  110  and thus may be provided with two pumps  250 ,  270  correspondingly. The two pumps  250 ,  270  can have the same structure and can be coupled to the upper portions of the respective inner containers  110  to independently discharge different contents. The discharging amounts of the pumps  250 ,  270  can be adjusted, as the upper portions of their valve guides  262  are pressed by the pressure protrusion  204  of the adjustment member  200 . 
     As the two pumps  250 ,  270  may have the same composition, the following provides a description for just one pump  250 . 
     The pump  250  may include a housing  252 . When an inner container  110  is coupled to the outer container  220 , the housing  252  may be inserted into the deep tube holder  114  coupled to an upper portion of the inner container  110 . The bottom surface of the housing  252  can be placed in tight contact with the bottom surface of the deep tube holder  114  such as to be capable of suctioning the content. Inside the housing  252 , a disk  254 , piston  256 , guide  258 , valve guide  262 , and valve  264  may be positioned such as to be moveable along the up-down direction. 
     On the outer perimeter on an upper portion of the housing  252 , an outwardly protruding housing flange  253  may be formed. The housing flange  253  may rest on the upper surface of the flange  116  of the deep tube holder  114 , whereby the pump  250  may be positioned on the upper portion of the deep tube holder  114 . 
     The disk  254  positioned inside the housing  252  may be positioned on the channel (no numeral assigned) through which the content is suctioned and to be opened or closed according to the pressure within the housing  252 . That is, when the nozzle  140  is pressed down so that the guide  258 , valve  264 , and valve guide  262  are moved down, the disk  254  may be closed (the inside of the housing  252  is at a higher pressure compared to the inner container  110 ). When the external force on the nozzle  140  is removed so that the guide  258 , valve  264 , and valve guide  262  are moved up by the elastic restoring force of the spring  266 , the disk  254  may be opened (the inside of the housing  252  is at a lower pressure compared to the inner container  110 ). 
     Since the disk  254  corresponds to known technology, as disclosed in Korean Registered Patent No. 1975847, the disk  254  will not be described here in further detail. 
     Also, since he composition and operation of the piston  256 , guide  258 , valve guide  262 , and valve  264  located inside the housing  252  are the same as or similar to those set forth in the prior art noted above, they will not be described here in further detail. 
     A housing cover  260  may be coupled to an upper portion of the housing  252 . Also, a spring  266  may be provided between the housing cover  260  and the pressing flange  263  of the valve guide  262 . The spring  266  may cause the valve guide  262 , valve  264 , and guide  258  to move upward when the external force on the nozzle  140  is removed. 
     The valve  264  can be located at the highest position in the pump  250 , and the first protrusion  150  of the nozzle  140  can be inserted into the open upper end of the valve  264 . Thus, the content suctioned through the pump  250  can be discharged to the outside through the first channel  146  connected with the first protrusion  150 . 
     On the outer perimeter of the upper end of the valve  264 , there may be formed a valve flange  265  that protrudes outward. The valve flange  265  may be separated by a particular gap from the pressing flange  263 , and the guide top surface  201  of the adjustment member  200  may be inserted in this gap. Thus, as illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the valve flange  265  can be exposed above the guide top surface  201 , while the pressing flange  263  can be positioned below the guide top surface  201  so as to be pressed downward by the pressure protrusion  204 . 
     From the state shown in  FIG.  2   , if the adjustment member  200  is rotated due to a rotation of the handle  160 , the valve  264  may not move down because of the valve flange  265  caught on the guide top surface  201 , and only the valve guide  262  may move down as the pressing flange  263  is pressed down by the pressure protrusion  204 . In this way, the downward movement of the valve guide  262  may cause a gap to be formed in the vertical direction between the valve  264  and the valve guide  262 , and the amount dispensed by the pump  250  when the nozzle  140  is pressed may be decreased in proportion to this gap. That is, since the valve guide  262  has been pressed and moved down by the adjustment member  200  (whereas the piston  256  has not moved down), the distance from the piston  256  has been decreased. In this state, when the pressing down on the nozzle  140  causes the valve guide  262  to be pressed further down, the valve guide  262  may press and move the piston  256  down sooner. As a result, the suction hole  259  formed in the guide  258  may be closed by the piston  256  sooner, and the amount of content suctioned may be decreased. 
     Although the above describes a cosmetic container  100  based on this embodiment as having two inner containers  110  coupled and correspondingly including two pumps  250 ,  270 , the present invention is not limited by the number of inner containers  110 . Thus, a cosmetic container based on another embodiment of the invention can have one inner container  100  coupled or three or more inner containers  100  coupled. 
     Although the above describes a cosmetic container  100  based on this embodiment as having a circular outer container  220  and correspondingly having inner containers  110  with semicircular cross sections, the present invention is not limited by the cross-sectional shapes of the outer container and inner containers. Thus, in a cosmetic container based on another embodiment of the invention, the outer container and inner containers can have cross sections of various shapes such as rectangular or elliptical shapes. 
     While the foregoing provides a description with reference to an embodiment of the invention, it should be appreciated that a person having ordinary skill in the relevant field of art would be able to make various modifications and alterations to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the scope of claims below.