Patent Publication Number: US-11648577-B1

Title: Cosmetic container and pumping member for cosmetic container

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0194275 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 31, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (a) Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to a cosmetic container and a pumping member provided in a cosmetic container to discharge contents. 
     (b) Description of the Related Art 
     For example, liquid cosmetics are accommodated in a cosmetic container and are discharged from the container at the time of need. The interior of the cosmetic container in which the liquid cosmetics as contents are accommodated is provided with a pumping device for pumping the contents to discharge the same to the outside. The pumping device is pressed by an external force applied by a user so that the contents are pumped to be discharged through an outlet of the container. 
     The pumping device of the cosmetic container has a complicated structure and a large number of constituent elements. This complicates an assembling process and increases the manufacturing costs of the cosmetic container. 
     In this regard, the present inventors have developed a cosmetic container having a reduced number of constituent elements and a simplified configuration and configured to be able to smoothly discharge a certain amount of contents, which is improved in configuration as compared with a cosmetic container in the related art. Korean Registration Patent Nos. 10-1805595, 10-1966742, and 10-2110708 as patent registration documents disclose a cosmetic container and a pumping device, which have been developed by the present inventors. 
     If the structure and shape of a pumping member are complex, it is difficult to injection-mold a cosmetic container with an eco-friendly material used for a typical cosmetic container. In addition, the pumping member may be injection-molded with a material that is not 100% eco-friendly material. However, such a material is not recyclable and may be deformed by the accommodated cosmetics. In addition, this may cause inconvenience of having to separate and collect the cosmetic container at the time of disposing. 
     In recent years, as the usage of the cosmetics gradually increases, there is an increasing requirement for a cosmetic container capable of sufficiently performing a pumping operation at a low manufacturing cost. Therefore, a demand has existed for the development of a pumping member capable of being easily manufactured with a simplified configuration and discharging liquid contents in an efficient manner, and a cosmetic container to which the pumping member is applied. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure is for the purpose of providing a cosmetic container which is easy to manufacture with a relatively simplified configuration, and a pumping member for the cosmetic container. 
     The present disclosure is also for the purpose of providing a cosmetic container and a pumping member for the cosmetic container, which are capable of being manufactured by performing an injection-molding with a material used for a general cosmetic container. 
     The present disclosure is also for the purpose of providing a cosmetic container and a pumping member for the cosmetic container, which are capable of being easily separated and collected for recycling after use. 
     The present disclosure is also for the purpose of providing a cosmetic container and a pumping member for the cosmetic container, which are capable of being deformed in various sizes according to an amount of discharged cosmetics. 
     A pumping member of an example embodiment may be made of a non-metallic elastic material, and may be provided between a container body configured to store contents of a cosmetic container and a discharge head configured to discharge the contents so as to transfer the contents, which is accommodated in an internal space of the pumping member, to the discharge head by a pumping operation implemented by being elastically compressed or expanded along an axial direction. 
     The pumping member may include a lower part coupled to the container body and in communication with the container body, and an upper part in communication with the discharge head, wherein the upper part and the lower part may be separated from each other and detachably coupled to each other. 
     A cosmetic container of another example embodiment may include: a container body in which contents are accommodated; a pumping device coupled to an opened upper end of the container body and configured to discharge the contents accommodated in the container body by a pumping operation based on an elasticity of the pumping device; a discharge head connected to the pumping device to apply a discharge pressure to the pumping device and having an outlet formed in one side to communicate with the pumping device and through which the contents are discharged. 
     The pumping device may include: a housing which is brought into close contact with the opened upper end of the container body and has a hole formed in a central portion of the housing to communicate with an interior of the container body; a pumping member provided inside the housing to be connected to the hole of the housing and having a content accommodation space defined therein, wherein the pumping member is elastically compressed or expanded along an axial direction to transfer the contents in one direction along the axial direction; and a nozzle member coupled to the pumping member and having an internal conduit formed therein to allow the contents to move, and configured to connect the pumping member and the outlet, compress the pumping member with an operation of the discharge head, and selectively open or close between the inner conduit and an internal space of the pumping member. 
     The pumping member may include a lower part connected to the hole of the housing, and an upper part coupled to the nozzle member, and the upper part and the lower part may be configured to be separated from each other and be detachably coupled to each other. 
     The lower part may include: a pressure portion having an internal space defined therein and configured to be compressed and elastically restored by an external force to vary a pressure of the internal space; a flange formed to protrude outward from a lower outer circumferential surface of the pressure portion so as to be brought into close contact with a stepped portion of the housing; a check valve formed integrally with a lower portion of the pressure portion and configured to selectively open or close the hole of the housing so as to allow the contents to flow from the container body into the pressure portion in the one direction; and a groove portion formed to extend upward from an upper end of the pressure portion so as to be coupled to the upper part. 
     The upper part may include: an insertion portion coupled to the nozzle member and in selective communication with an inner conduit of the nozzle member; a blocking member whose inner diameter is increased inside the insertion portion in an elastic manner to form a passage through which the contents are discharged, and configured to be brought into close contact with the nozzle member to block between the pressure portion and the inner conduit of the nozzle member; an extension/contraction portion formed in the insertion portion and configured to open or close between the blocking member and the nozzle member by extending or contracting the insertion portion in the elastic manner with a driving of the discharge head; and a ring portion formed at a lower end of the extension/contraction portion to be fitted into and coupled to the groove portion of the lower portion. 
     The pumping member may further include at least one intermediate part stacked between the upper part and the lower part. 
     The at least one intermediate part may have opened upper and lower ends and an internal space formed therein, and may be configured to connect the upper part and the lower part, wherein the ring portion, which is fitted into and coupled to the groove portion of the lower part, may be formed on the lower end of the intermediate part, the groove portion into and to which the ring portion is fitted and coupled may be formed in the upper end of the intermediate part, and a deformable portion, which is compressed and elastically restored by the external force to vary a pressure of the internal space, may be formed between the ring portion and the groove portion. 
     The pumping member may be formed of a material such as silicon, rubber or a synthetic resin. 
     The extension/contraction portion may have an elastic modulus relatively larger than that of the pressure portion, and may be configured to be deformed earlier than the pressure portion by an external force applied thereto. 
     The nozzle member may include: a nozzle body in which an inner conduit through which the contents are transferred is formed and which is fitted into and brought into close contact with an upper portion of the insertion portion of the pumping member; a connection pipe extending in the axial direction on an upper end of the nozzle body, in which the inner conduit is formed and to which the discharge head is coupled; a fitting portion formed on a lower end of the nozzle body to be inserted into the blocking member of the insertion portion; an inflow hole formed in a lateral surface of the fitting portion to communicate interiors of the inner conduit and the insertion portion with each other; and an extended portion formed to protrude outward from an outer circumferential surface of the lower end of the fitting portion to be brought into close contact with an inner surface of the blocking member so as to block between the insertion portion and the extension/contraction portion. 
     The cosmetic container may further include a piston member provided to be brought into close contact with the interior of the container body in a sliding manner, and configured to move as the contents are discharged and push the contents toward the opened upper end. 
     The nozzle member may be formed integrally with the discharge head. 
     The cosmetic container may further include an inflow tube connected to the pumping device and extending to the inner bottom of the container body, and into which the contents flow. 
     The cosmetic container may further include a skirt portion formed integrally with the lower outer circumferential surface of the pressure portion and having an outer diameter that becomes larger downward so that the skirt portion is brought into close contact with the inner surface of the cylinder chamber of the housing in an elastic manner. 
     At least one trench may be formed at an interval in the stepped portion of the housing to form a gap between the stepped portion and the flange at a portion in contact with the flange of the pumping member so that air allows to flow into the at least one trench through the gap. 
     The cosmetic container may further include an auxiliary check valve provided on the inner conduit to selectively block the inner conduit and configured to discharge the contents toward the discharge head in the one direction. 
     The cosmetic container may further include: a mounting groove formed to be depressed in a groove shape to receive the auxiliary check valve in the concave portion of the discharge head; and a cover detachably provided in the mounting groove and having a hole formed in a surface of the cover to discharge the contents therethrough, and configured to cover and protect the auxiliary check valve. 
     According to this example embodiment, by separating a pumping member, which is hard to injection-mold due to a complicated shape in the related art, into a plurality of parts and injection-molding for each of the plurality of parts, it is possible to more easily manufacture the pumping member and reduce a cost required to manufacture the pumping member, thus improving price competitiveness of the product. 
     Further, it is possible to variously change the size of a pumping member by stacking a plurality of parts to meet various types of cosmetic containers. This makes it possible to manufacture the pumping member of a desired size by assembling respective parts without additionally manufacturing pumping members adapted for the type or size of the cosmetic container, and an amount of discharged cosmetics. This eliminates a need to design and manufacture a pumping member adapted for each cosmetic container, which makes it possible to reduce a cost required for manufacturing the pumping member. 
     It is possible to manufacture a pumping member having a complicated structure with a general-purpose material used fora general cosmetic container. This makes it possible to prevent deformation of cosmetics. Furthermore, the pumping member may be collected and recycled together with the cosmetic container without separating the pumping member after use. This makes it possible to reduce the time and cost required for recycling treatment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic exploded perspective view of a cosmetic container according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container according to the example embodiment. 
         FIGS.  3  to  6    illustrate constituent elements of a pumping member according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, respectively. 
         FIGS.  7  to  10    are cross-sectional views illustrating a cosmetic container according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure, respectively. 
         FIGS.  11  to  14    are views illustrating constituent elements of the cosmetic container according to the example embodiment of  FIG.  10   , respectively. 
         FIGS.  15  to  18    are views illustrating constituent elements of a pumping member according to the example embodiment of  FIG.  10   , respectively. 
         FIGS.  19  to  22    illustrate a cosmetic container according to still another example embodiment of the present disclosure, respectively. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail. However, the example embodiments are exemplary in all respects and are not restrictive. The present disclosure is merely defined by the scope of the appended claims. The example embodiments described below may be modified in various forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. In all the accompanying drawings, the same or similar components will be denoted by the same reference numerals. 
     The technical terms used herein are merely referred to specific example embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. The singular terms used herein also include the plural terms unless the terms clearly represent the opposite meanings. The meaning of “includes” used herein refers to include certain characteristics, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components and does not mean that the presence or addition of other certain characteristics, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups is excluded. 
     Hereinafter, preferred example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. However, example embodiments described later are merely preferred example embodiments of the present disclosure and the present disclosure is not limited to the example embodiments described later. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates a cosmetic container according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG.  2    illustrates a cross-sectional structure of the cosmetic container. 
     In the following description, an axial direction refers to a direction in which the central axis line passes, and is defined as a Y-axis direction in  FIG.  2   . Above, an upper portion or an upward direction used herein refers to a direction oriented upward in the Y-axis direction when the cosmetic container is oriented upward as in  FIG.  2   , and below, a lower portion or a downward direction refers to a direction opposite the upward direction. 
     As illustrated in the figures, the cosmetic container according to the example embodiment may include a container body  100  in which contents are accommodated, a pumping device  200  coupled to an upper opening  110  of the container body  100  and configured to discharge the contents accommodated in the container body  100  by a pumping operation based on its own resilience, and a discharge head  300  connected to the pumping device  200  and configured to apply a discharge pressure to the pumping device  200 . The discharge head  300  includes an outlet  320  in communication with the pumping device  200  to discharge the contents therethrough. 
     The container body  100  may have a barrel structure with an internal space for accommodating contents therein. The internal space of the container body  100  may be filled with various kinds of cosmetics (hereinafter referred to as “contents”). The contents may be quasi-drugs such as disinfectant, or household items such as detergent, in addition to the cosmetics. The shape of the container body  100  may be variously modified. 
     The container body  100  has the upper opening  110  formed at the upper portion thereof. The upper opening  110  of the container body  100  is connected to the pumping device  200 . Thus, the contents accommodated in the container body  100  are discharged from the upper opening  110  by the pumping device  200  and discharged to the outside through the discharge head  300 . 
     Reference numeral  130  is an upper cap for covering and protecting the discharge head  300 . 
     The cosmetic container of the example embodiment may further include a piston member  120  provided inside the container body  100 . The piston member  120  is brought into close contact with an inner surface of the container body  100  and is provided to be slidable along the inner surface. As the contents in the container body  100  are discharged by the pumping device  200 , the piston member  120  is raised toward the upper opening  110 . At this time, since external air enters the container body  100  through a hole formed in the bottom of the container body  100 , the piston member  120  may be smoothly raised and the outer shape of the container body  100  may be maintained without any deformation. The piston member  120  is raised toward the upper opening  110  of the container body  100  by an amount of the contents discharged from the container body  100  so that an internal pressure of the container body  100  are kept constant. Further, the contents in the container body  100  is be biased toward the upper opening  110  by the piston member  120  and subsequently, is smoothly discharged through the upper opening  110 . 
     The pumping device  200  may be detachably coupled to the upper opening  110  of the container body  100 . For example, a male screw may be formed on an outer circumferential surface of the upper opening  110  of the container body  100  and a female screw may be formed on an inner circumferential surface of the pumping device  200  so that they are threadedly coupled to each other. The pumping device  200  may be coupled to the upper opening  110  of the container body  100  in various manners other than the threadedly-coupling manner, but is not particularly limited thereto. 
     The discharge head  300  is coupled to the pumping device  200  to drive the pumping device  200  by applying pressure to the pumping device  200 . In the example embodiment, the discharge head  300  may have a structure that is pressed upward and downward to drive the pumping device  200 . The discharge head  300  includes an inner conduit  310  formed to be connected to the pumping device  200 . A tip end of the discharge head  300  forms an outlet  320  through which the contents transferred through the conduit  310  is discharged. 
     With this configuration, when a user presses the discharge head  300 , the discharge head  300  applies the pressure to the pumping device  200  to drive the pumping device  200 . Thus, the contents discharged by the pumping device  200  are moved along the conduit  310  of the discharge head  300 , and are discharged through the outlet  320  of the tip end. The shape of the discharge head  300  may be variously modified. 
     The pumping device  200  is coupled to the upper opening  110  of the container body  100  to transfer the contents accommodated in the container body  100  to the discharge head  300  with the operation of the discharge head  300 . 
     The pumping device  200  itself has elasticity. Thus, the pumping device  200  may vary the internal pressure thereof due to its own elastic pumping operation, thereby discharging the contents in the container body  100 . 
     Each constituent element of the pumping device  200  will be described with reference to  FIGS.  2  to  6   . 
     The pumping device  200  may be brought into close contact with the upper opening  110  of the container body  100 . The pumping device  200  may be provided with: a housing  210  having a hole  211  formed at the central portion thereof to communicate with the interior of the container body  100 ; a pumping member  220  provided inside the housing  210  to be connected to the hole  211  of the housing  210  and having an internal space for accommodating the contents, wherein the pumping member  220  is elastically compressed or expanded along an axial direction of the housing  210  to transfer the contents in one direction along the axial direction; and a nozzle member  270  coupled to the pumping member  220  and including an inner conduit  271  formed to move the contents through, wherein the nozzle member  270  connects the pumping member  220  and the discharge head  300  to compress the pumping member  220  with the operation of the discharge head  300 , and selectively opens and closes an internal space between the inner conduit  271  and the pumping member  220 . 
     The housing  210  is coupled to the container body  100  to operably support each constituent element of the pumping device  200  inside the housing  210 . 
     The housing  210  may have a circular cylindrical structure with open upper and lower ends. The housing  210  is tightly mounted to the upper opening  110  of the container body  100 . For example, a female screw may be formed on an inner circumferential surface of the lower end of the housing  210  to be coupled to the upper opening  110  of the container body  100  in a threadedly-coupling manner. The hole  211  is formed in the central portion of the lower end of the housing  210  to be in communication with the container body  100 . 
     In the example embodiment, the housing  210  may have a structure having different inner diameters along the axial direction. Hereinafter, portions having the different inner diameters will be referred to as an operation chamber  212  and a cylinder chamber  214 , respectively. The operation chamber  212  is a chamber in which the pumping operation by the nozzle member  270  and the pumping member  220  is performed. The cylinder chamber  214 , which is defined below the operation chamber  212 , is a chamber with which a skirt portion of the pumping member  220  in a cosmetic container (to be described later) including an inflow tube  122  is brought into close contact. Details thereof will be described later. 
     Between the operation chamber  212  having a relatively large diameter and the cylinder chamber  214  below the operation chamber  212 , a horizontal stepped portion  216  is formed depending on such a difference in diameter. A flange  232  formed at the lower portion of the pumping member  220  may be fixed to the stepped portion  216  in a contact manner. 
     The pumping member  220  is provided inside the housing  210 . 
     The upper end of the pumping member  220  is provided with a nozzle member  270 , and the lower end thereof is connected to the hole  211  of the housing  210 . The pumping member  220  selectively connects the interior of the container body  100  and the inner conduit  271  of the nozzle member  270  to transfer the contents to the nozzle member  270 . 
     The pumping member  220  of the example embodiment may have a structure in which a plurality of individual parts is coupled to each other to make up a single body. 
     Specifically, the pumping member  220  of the example embodiment may include a lower part  230  connected to the hole  211  of the housing  210 , and an upper part  240  which is separately provided from the lower part  230  and coupled to the nozzle member  270 . The upper part  240  and the lower part  230  may be configured to be detachably coupled to each other. Hereinafter, the pumping member  220  may refer to the entire integrated constituent element obtained by coupling the lower part  230  and the upper part  240 . 
     With this configuration, by designing a pumping member in the related art, which has a complicated shape and is hard to mold, into a large number of separable parts, and molding the pumping member on the basis of each part, it is possible to more easily manufacture the pumping member. 
     The lower part  230  may include: a pressure portion  231  which defines an internal space therein and is compressed and elastically restored by an external force to vary a pressure of the internal space; the flange  232  which is formed to be protruded outward from a lower outer circumferential surface of the pressure portion  231  and is brought into close contact with the stepped portion  216  of the housing  210 ; a check valve  233  which is formed integrally with the lower portion of the pressure portion  231  to selectively open and close the holes  211  of the housing  210  and to cause the contents to flow from the container body  100  into the pressure portion  231  in one direction; and a groove portion  234  which is formed to extend upward from the upper end of the pressure portion  231  to be coupled to the upper part  240 . 
     The upper part  240  may include: an insertion portion  241  which is coupled to the nozzle member  270  and selectively communicates with the inner conduit  310  of the nozzle member  270 ; a blocking member  243  whose inner diameter is increased inside the insertion portion  241  in an elastic manner to form a passage  242  through which the contents are discharged, wherein the blocking member  243  is brought into close contact with the nozzle member  270  to block between the pressure portion  231  and the inner conduit  310  of the nozzle member  270 ; an extension/contraction portion  244  which is formed in the insertion portion  241  to extend or contract the insertion portion  241  in an elastic manner with the driving of the discharge head  300 , and open and close between the blocking member  243  and the nozzle member  270 ; and a ring portion  245  which is formed at a lower end of the extension/contraction portion  244  to be fitted into and coupled to the groove portion  234  of the lower portion  230 . 
     With this configuration, by fitting the ring portion  245  formed at the lower end of the upper part  240  into the groove portion  234  formed at the upper end of the lower part  230 , a single pumping member  220  may be formed. 
     The groove portion  234  of the lower part  230  may be brought into close contact with the ring portion  245  of the upper part  240  so that they are coupled to each other while being kept airtight. A lower stepped portion  235  is formed at an inner lower portion of the groove portion  234  to lock a lower end of the ring portion  245 . An upper stepped portion  236  is formed at an upper portion of the groove portion  234  to protrude inward of the groove portion  234  and be locked to an upper end of the ring portion  245 . The ring portion  245  may be provided to be fitted between the lower stepped portion  235  and the upper stepped portion  236 . Further, a protrusion  237  is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the groove portion  234  to protrude along the inner circumferential surface between the lower stepped portion  235  and the upper stepped portion  236  so that the protrusion  237  may be brought into close contact with the tip end of the ring portion  245  in a pressing manner. Further, the ring portion  245  may include a groove  246  formed along the periphery of the upper end of the ring portion  245  to be fitted into the upper stepped portion  236 . 
     In this configuration, by coupling the lower part  230  and the upper part  240 , the ring portion  245  is fitted between the upper stepped portion  236  and the lower stepped portion  235  of the groove portion  234 , and the groove  246  in the upper end of the groove portion  234  is tightly coupled to the upper stepped portion  236  while being engaged with the upper stepped portion  236 . The protrusion  237  formed on the inner circumferential surface of the groove portion  234  is brought into close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the ring portion  245  in a pressing manner so that a space between the groove portion  234  and the ring portion  245  are perfectly sealed. 
     Thus, the pumping member  220  of the example embodiment may prevent the contents from flowing out through the coupling portion between the upper part  240  and the lower part  230  even when they are coupled to each other. 
     The pumping member  220  itself is compressed or elastically returned to vary the pressure of the internal space, thereby transferring the contents in one direction. 
     The term “compression” means that the volume is reduced by being pressed by an external force from its original state. The term “expansion” means that the volume is increased in the compressed state and returns to its original state. As described above, the pressure portion  231  of the lower part  230  and the extension/contraction portion  244  of the upper part  240  have an elastically-deformable shape. In a state in which the pressure portion  231  and the extension/contraction portion  244  are elastically deformed due to an external force, when the external force is released, the pressure portion  231  and the extension/contraction portion  244  may be returned to its origin state by virtue of its own resilience. 
     The pumping member  220  may be made of an elastically compressible and expandable material. For example, the pumping member  220  may be made of a material such as rubber, silicone, or a synthetic resin. 
     In the example embodiment, the lower part  230  and the upper part  240  which constitute the pumping member  220  are separately provided and have a relatively simple structure as compared with the entire pumping member in which the lower part  230  and the upper part  240  are assembled. Thus, the lower part  230  and the upper part  240  of the pumping member  220  may be separately injection-molded. As an example, the lower part  230  and the upper part  240  may be fabricated by injection-molding with a 100% eco-friendly material used fora general-purpose cosmetic container. 
     In the case of a pumping member in which an upper part and a lower part are integrally connected to each other, the shape and structure of the pumping member are complicated. This makes it difficult to injection-mold the pumping member with an eco-friendly material used fora typical cosmetic container. As a result, deformation may occur due to interference between the cosmetic and the material of the pumping member, which may cause inconvenience of having to separate parts of the cosmetic container at the time of disposal. 
     The lower part  230  includes the pressure portion  231 , the check valve  233 , and the flange  232 . 
     The pressure portion  231  varies the pressure of the internal space by compression and expansion based on its own elasticity with the driving of the discharge head  300 . The compression portion  231  of the example embodiment is configured to be elastically deformed with the driving of the discharge head  300  to increase or decrease an axial length thereof. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the pressure portion  231  of the example embodiment may be formed to have a relatively thin thickness so as to be elastically deformable, and may be formed to have an inner diameter which becomes gradually smaller inward along the axial direction. Taking this into account, the injection-molding is more preferable. The internal space formed by the pressure portion  231  is in communication with the check valve  233  located immediately below the internal space. The contents introduced from the check valve  233  are accommodated in the internal space formed by the pressure portion  231 . 
     When the inclined portion of the pressure portion  231  is elastically deformed, the internal space is compressed or expanded to vary the pressure. In this way, the pumping operation is implemented. The pressure portion  231  is compressed by an external force for pressing the discharge head  300  to apply a discharge pressure to the contents. When the external force is released, the pressure portion  231  returns to its original state by virtue of its own resilience to apply a suction pressure with respect to the contents in the container body  100 . 
     When an external force is applied to the pumping member  220  with the driving of the discharge head  300 , the force is transmitted to the pressure portion  231  and thus the pressure portion  231  is elastically deformed so that the internal space is compressed. As the pressure portion  231  is continuously compressed, the pressure of the internal space of the pressure portion  231  is increased. When the pressure of the internal space becomes larger than that of the container body  100 , the check valve  233  comes into close contact with the hole  211 . The contents pressurized by the pressure portion  231  are finally discharged to the discharge head  300  through the nozzle member  270 . 
     When the external force applied to the pumping member  220  is released, the pressure portion  231  is expanded by virtue of its own resilience and returns to its original state. The pressure of the internal space becomes relatively lower than that of the container body  100  as the internal space of the pressure portion  231  expands. As a result, a gap between the check valve  233  and the hole  211  is expanded and opened so that the contents accommodated in the container body  100  are introduced into the internal space of the pressure portion  231  again and are filled into the internal space. 
     The check valve  233  is formed integrally inside the lower portion of the pressure portion  231  to cause the contents in the container body  100  to flow into the pressure portion  231  in one direction. 
     The check valve  233  is brought into close contact with or spaced apart from the hole  211  of the housing  210  by the pressure of the internal space of the pumping member  220  to perform opening or closing. In the example embodiment, the check valve  233  has a configuration in which a valve plate  238  covering the hole  211  is connected to a plurality of ribs  239 . The valve plate  238  is moved to open or close the hole  211  as the plurality of ribs  239  is elastically compressed and expanded. 
     The check valve  233  is opened and closed with a change in the pressure of the internal space of the pumping member  220  to transfer the contents in merely a direction from the container body  100  toward the pumping member  220 . That is, when the pressure of the internal space of the pumping member  220  is relatively low, the valve plate  238  of the check valve  233  opens the hole  211 . Thus, the contents in the container body  100  flow from the hole  211  into the pumping member  220  through the check valve  233 . Conversely, when the pressure of the internal space of the pumping member  220  is relatively high, the valve plate  238  is brought into close contact with the hole  211  due to the pressure exerted on the check valve  233 , thus blocking the hole  211 . This prevents the contents inside the pumping member  220  from being moved toward the container body  100 . 
     The flange  232  is formed integrally with the lower portion of the pressure portion  231 . 
     The flange  232  is formed to protrude outward from the outer circumferential surface of the pressure portion  231 . The flange  232  functions as a stopper which is locked to the stepped portion  216  of the housing  210  so as to support the pumping member  220  to the housing  210 . The flange  232  is brought into close contact with the stepped portion  216  of the housing  210 . 
     The flange  232  may be brought into close contact with the stepped portion  216  of the housing  210  in a pressing manner by virtue of the resilience of the pumping member  220 . 
     The upper part  240  includes the insertion portion  241 , the blocking member  243 , and the extension/contraction portion  244 . 
     The insertion portion  241  constitutes the upper end of the pumping member  220  and is fitted into and coupled to the nozzle member  270 . The insertion portion  241  may be provided to be in close contact with the nozzle member  270 . The insertion portion  241  is in selective communication with the inner conduit  271  of the nozzle member  270 . 
     The insertion portion  241  is formed in a cylindrical tube structure which extends along the axial direction to constitute the upper end portion of the pumping member  220 . The nozzle member  270  is provided to be inserted into the insertion portion  241  through an opened upper end of the insertion portion  241 . Uneven portions may be formed in an inner circumferential surface of the insertion portion  241  and an outer circumferential surface of the nozzle member  27  to be engaged with each other. Thus, the inner surface of the insertion portion  241  may be coupled to the outer surface of the nozzle member  270  while being brought into close contact with the outer surface of the nozzle member  270  in a pressing manner. 
     The blocking member  243  is formed inside the insertion portion  241 . 
     The blocking member  243  is formed to extend in the axial direction at the center of the insertion portion  241  to form the passage  242  through which the contents are transferred. The blocking member  243  is configured such that a lower end thereof constitutes a free end to be elastically expanded outward and be increased in inner diameter. 
     The blocking member  243  is brought into close contact with a fitting portion  274  of the nozzle member  270 , which is fitted into the passage  242 , to selectively block between the pressure portion  231  and the inner conduit  271  of the nozzle member  270 . 
     The blocking member  243  is brought into close contact with the fitting portion  274  of the nozzle member  270  in a resilient manner. This makes it possible to keep a gap between the pumping member  220  and the nozzle member  270  closed. 
     A gap between the blocking member  243  and the nozzle member  270  is opened or closed by the elastic deformation of the extension/contraction portion  244 . 
     The extension/contraction portion  244  of the example embodiment is formed integrally with the lower portion of the insertion portion  241  and is configured to be elastically deformed with the driving of the discharge head  300  to increase or decrease the axial length thereof. The extension/contraction portion  244  varies the pressure of the internal space by being compressed or expanded by virtue of its own elasticity with the driving of the discharge head  300 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  6   , the extension/contraction portion  244  of the example embodiment may be formed to have a relatively thin thickness so as to be elastically deformable, and may be formed to have an inner diameter which is gradually decreased as it goes inward along the axial direction. Taking this into account, the injection-molding is more preferable. 
     An upper portion of an internal space formed by the extension/contraction portion  244  is in communication with the passage  242  of the blocking member  243  positioned at the central portioner, and a lower portion thereof is in communication with the pressure portion  231  of the lower part  230 . The contents in the pressure portion  231  move to the internal space formed by the extension/contraction portion  244 . 
     An inclined portion of the extension/contraction portion  244  is elastically deformed to move the blocking member  243  upward, and compress or expand the internal space so as to vary a pressure of the internal space, thus opening or closing the gap between the blocking member  243  and the nozzle member  270 . 
     The extension/contraction portion  244  is elastically compressed by the external force for pressing the discharge head  300  so that the blocking member  243  is moved upward. Thus, the blocking member  243  is moved relative to the fitting portion  274  of the nozzle member  270  so that an extended portion  276  formed in the fitting portion  274  is spaced apart from the blocking member  243  to form a gap therebetween. Further, the pressure of the internal space is increased by the compression of the extension/contraction portion  244  and an outer diameter of the blocking member  243  is elastically increased expanded so that the gap is expanded. Thus, the contents may be discharged to the nozzle member  270  through the expanded gap. 
     When the external force applied to the pumping member  220  is released, the extension/contraction portion  244 , which was in the compressed state, returns to its original state by virtue of its own resilience, and the blocking member  243  is lowered to its original position so that the blocking member  243  is brought into close contact with the extended portion  276  formed in the fitting portion  274  of the nozzle member  270 . Thus, the gap between the fitting portion  274  of the nozzle member  270  and the blocking member  243  is closed, which blocking the discharge of the contents. 
     In the example embodiment, the extension/contraction portion  244  is configured to have an elastic modulus relatively larger than that of the pressure portion  231 . The extension/contraction portion  244  and the pressure portion  231  may are different in cross-sectional thickness to have different elastic moduli. For example, a cross-sectional thickness of the extension/contraction portion  244  may be formed thicker than that of the pressure portion  231  such that the elastic moduli of the extension/contraction portion  244  and the pressure portion  231  are different from each other. 
     With this configuration, when an external force is applied to the pumping member  220 , the pressure portion  231  having a relatively low elastic modulus may be compressed and deformed earlier than the extension/contraction part  244 . After the pressure portion  231  is elastically deformed, when the external force continues to be applied to the pumping member  220 , the extension/contraction part  244  having a relatively high elastic modulus compared with the pressure portion  231  is compressed and deformed. The extension/contraction part  244  is compressed and deformed and the blocking member  243  is moved. As a result, a gap is formed between the fitting portion  274  of the nozzle member  270  and the blocking member  243 . Thus, the contents which in a pressurized state by the pressure portion  231 , are discharged to the nozzle member  270  through the gap. 
     Conversely, when the external force applied to the pumping member  220  is released, the extension/contraction portion  244  having a relatively high elastic modulus is first expanded and deformed by virtue of its own resilience and returns to its original state. As the extension/contraction portion  244  returns to its original state, the gap between the blocking member  243  and the nozzle member  270  is first blocked. After the extension/contraction portion  244  is returned to its original state, the pressure portion  231  is expanded and deformed by virtue of its own resilience and returns to its origin state. When the pressure portion  231  is expanded and deformed, a negative pressure is formed in the internal space. Since the gap between the blocking member  243  and the nozzle member  270  remains blocked, the contents in the container body  100  are caused to flow into the internal space of the pressure portion  231  through the check valve  233  by the negative pressure of the pressure portion  231 . As described above, the pressure portion  231  and the extension/contraction portion  244  are sequentially driven so that the action of pumping the contents may be smoothly performed. 
     The nozzle member  270  may include: a nozzle body  272  in which the inner conduit  271  through which the contents are transferred is formed and which is fitted into and brought into close contact with the upper portion of the insertion portion  241  of the pumping member  220 ; a connection pipe  273  extending in the axial direction on an upper end of the nozzle body  272 , in which the inner conduit  271  is formed and to which the discharge head  300  is coupled; the fitting portion  274  which is formed on a lower end of the nozzle body  272  and is inserted into the blocking member  243  of the insertion portion  241 ; an inflow hole  275  which is formed in a lateral surface of the fitting portion  274  to communicate the interiors of the inner conduit  271  and the insertion portion  241  with each other; and the extended portion  276  which is formed to protrude outward from the lower end of the fitting portion  274  and is brought into close contact with the inner surface of the blocking member  243  to block between the insertion portion  241  and the extension/contraction portion  244 . 
     The nozzle member  270  is positioned in the operation chamber  212  which is located in the upper portion in the housing  210 . The upper end of the nozzle member  270  is connected to the discharge head  300  and the lower end thereof is coupled to the pumping member  220 . The inner conduit  271  through which the contents are transferred is formed inside the nozzle member  270 . The nozzle member  270  compresses the pumping member  220  with the operation of the discharge head  300  to selectively open or close between the inner conduit  271  and the internal space of the pumping member  220 . 
     The nozzle member  270  is coupled to the insertion portion  241  formed in the upper portion of the pumping member  220  so as to connect the pumping member  220  and the discharge head  300 . The nozzle member  270  forms a movement passage through which the contents are moved using the inner conduit  271  formed therein. The inner conduit  271  communicates with the outlet  320  through the interior of the discharge head  300 . 
     The nozzle member  270  applies a driving force of the discharge head  300  to the pumping member  220  so as to compress the pumping member  220 , and open or close the blocking member  243  of the extension/contraction portion  244 . 
     The connection pipe  273  is a tube structure formed integrally with the nozzle body  272  and extending upward. The conduit of the nozzle body  272  is formed to extend to the interior of the connection pipe  273 . The discharge head  300  is fitted into and coupled to the connection pipe  273 . The inner conduit  271  of the connection pipe  273  is connected to the outlet  320  of the discharge head  300 . 
     The nozzle body  272  is formed in a cylindrical shape having a diameter corresponding to the insertion portion  241 . The nozzle body  272  may be inserted into the insertion portion  241  in a pressing manner so as not to be separated outward. For example, uneven portions are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the insertion portion  241  and the outer circumferential surface of the nozzle body  272 , respectively. Thus, the insertion portion  241  and the nozzle body  272  may be engaged with each other through the uneven portions and are fixed to each other. 
     The fitting portion  274  is formed to extend integrally at the center of the lower end of the nozzle body  272 , and is fitted into and brought into close contact with the blocking member  243  of the insertion portion  241 . The inner conduit  271  is also formed inside the fitting portion  274 . 
     The inflow hole  275  may be formed in the lateral surface of the fitting portion  274 . At least one of inflow hole  275  may be formed along the outer circumferential surface of the fitting portion  274 . Thus, the contents introduced between the blocking member  243  and the fitting portion  274  may be moved to the inner conduit  271  through the inflow hole  275 . 
     The extended portion  276  is formed to protrude outward on the outer circumferential surface of the lower end of the fitting portion  274 . The extended portion  276 , which is a portion having an outer diameter relatively larger than that of the fitting portion  274 , is brought into close contact with the blocking member  243  to block the gap. 
     As described above, when the extension/contraction portion  244  is elastically deformed into a compressed state with the driving of the discharge head  300 , the blocking member  243  is moved upward with respect to the extended portion  276  whose position is relatively fixed, so that the gap is generated between the blocking portion  243  and the extended portion  276 . Thus, the contents inside the extension/contraction portion  241  may be moved to the inner conduit  271  of the nozzle member  270  through the gap. 
       FIG.  7    illustrates a cosmetic container according to another example embodiment, and  FIG.  8    illustrates a structure of an intermediate part  250 . 
     The cosmetic container of another example embodiment described with reference to  FIGS.  7  and  8    below is similar to the cosmetic container of the above-described example embodiment except that the pumping member  220  is configured to further include the intermediate part  250 . Thus, the same constituent element will be denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, the intermediate part  250  of the pumping member  220  will be described in detail. 
     As illustrated in the figures, the pumping member  220  of the example embodiment may further include at least one intermediate part  250  which is stacked between the upper part  240  and the lower part  230 . 
     The intermediate part  250  has a cylindrical shape in which an internal space is formed and at which upper and lower ends are opened, and connects the upper part  240  and the lower part  230 . 
     The ring portion  245 , which is fitted into and coupled to the groove portion  234  of the lower part  230 , is formed on the lower end of the intermediate part  250 . The groove portion  234  into and to which the ring portion  245  is fitted and coupled, is formed in the upper end of the intermediate part  250 . A deformable portion  251 , which is compressed and elastically restored by an external force to vary a pressure of the internal space, may be formed between the ring portion  245  and the groove portion  234 . 
     The structure of the ring portion  245  formed in the intermediate part  250  is the same as the ring portion  245  formed in the upper part  240 . Thus, the ring portion  245  of the intermediate part  250  may be mounted in the groove portion  234  of the lower part  230  as well as the groove portion  234  of another intermediate part. 
     The structure of the groove portion  234  formed in the intermediate part  250  is also the same as the groove portion  234  formed in the lower part  230 . Thus, the ring portion  245  of the upper part  240  may be fitted into the groove portion  234  of the intermediate part  250  as well as the ring portion  245  of another intermediate part. 
     The deformable portion  251  may be configured to be elastically deformed with the driving of the discharge head  300  to vary an axial length thereof. 
     The deformable portion  251  may act as the pressure portion  231  of the lower part  230 . With the driving of the discharge head  300 , the deformable portion  251  varies the pressure of the internal space by being deformed by compression and expansion based on its own elasticity like the pressure portion  231 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  8   , the deformable portion  251  of the example embodiment may have a relatively thin thickness so as to be elastically deformable, and may have an inclined portion which is obliquely formed such that an inner diameter thereof is gradually decreased inward along the axial direction. Thus, the injection-molding may be more easily implemented. 
     The internal space formed by the deformable portion  251  is in communication with the interior of the lower part  230  located just below the deformable portion  251  or another stacked intermediate part  250 . 
     When the inclined portion of the deformable portion  251  is elastically deformed, the deformable portion  251  compresses or expands the internal space to vary the pressure of the internal space, thus performing a pumping operation. The overall up-down stroke of the pumping member  220  may be increased by the intermediate part  250 . 
       FIG.  7    exemplarily illustrates the pumping member  220  in which at least one intermediate part  250  is sequentially stacked one above another between the lower part  230  and the upper part  240 . The number of stacked intermediate parts  250  is not limited to three but may be two or more. The overall up-down stroke of the pumping member  220  may be varied depending on the number of stacked intermediate parts  250 . 
     In this configuration, a plurality of intermediate parts  250  may be properly stacked to be suitable for various cosmetic containers from which amounts of discharged contents are different, which makes it possible to vary at various levels the up-down stroke of the pumping member  220 , that is, the amounts of discharged contents. 
     Accordingly, it is possible to provide a pumping member capable of discharging a desired amount of contents by stacking an appropriate number of intermediate parts without having to manufacture a separate pumping member corresponding to the type or size of a cosmetic container, an amount of contents to be discharged, or the like. 
       FIG.  9    illustrates a cosmetic container according to another example embodiment. 
     The cosmetic container according to another example embodiment described with reference  FIG.  9    is similar to the cosmetic container according to the example embodiment described above except for a configuration in which the contents are discharged through the inflow tube  122 . Thus, the same constituent element will be denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  9   , the cosmetic container may further include the inflow tube  122  connected to the pumping device  200  and extending toward the inner bottom of the container body  100  to allow the contents to flow thereinto. 
     The inflow tube  122  has an empty hollow tube structure such that the contents may be moved therethrough. The inflow tube  122  may be connected to the pumping device  200  to extend lengthwise to the inner bottom of the container body  100 . For example, the inflow tube  122  may be fitted into a support pipe  218  formed in the housing  210  to extend downward so as to communicate with the hole  211 . 
     With the driving of the pumping device  200 , the contents are suctioned into the inflow tube  122  and are moved to the pumping member  220  through the hole  211  of the housing  210 . 
     Further, the cosmetic container of the example embodiment is configured such that ambient air is allowed to flow into the container body  100  as the contents are discharged. 
     To do this, the cosmetic container of the example embodiment may further include a skirt portion  260  which is formed integrally with the lower portion of the pressure portion  231  to extend downward. The skirt portion  260  has an outer diameter that is increased as it goes downward so that the skirt portion  260  is brought into close contact with the inner surface of the cylinder chamber  214  of the housing  210  in an elastic manner. 
     The skirt portion  260  selectively opens or closes the cylinder chamber  214  if necessary. By the skirt portion  260 , the ambient air is allowed to flow into and filled into the container body  100 . As a result, the empty space of the container body  100  is filled with the ambient air as the contents in the container body  100  are discharged. Thus, an internal pressure of the container body  100  becomes approximately the same as atmospheric pressure so that the form of the container body  100  may be maintained constant. 
     The skirt portion  260  is formed continuously along an outer circumferential surface of the lower end of the pressure portion  231 . The skirt portion  260  may have a structure whose outer diameter becomes larger toward the lower end. The skirt portion  260  may be smaller in thickness toward the lower end so as to be more smoothly deformed. With this structure, the tip end of the skirt portion  260  may be easily elastically deformed outward to be brought into close contact with the inner surface of the cylinder chamber  214  of the housing  210 . This makes it possible to prevent the contents in the container body  100  from leaking through a gap between the skirt portion  260  and the cylinder chamber  214 . Further, the tip end of the skirt portion  260  may be easily elastically deformed inward to form the gap between the skirt portion  260  and the inner surface of the cylinder chamber  214  of the housing  210 . This makes it possible to allow the ambient air to flow into the container body  100  through the gap between the skirt portion  260  and the cylinder chamber  214 . 
     When the internal pressure of the container body  100  is relatively larger than the external pressure, the skirt portion  260  is brought into more close contact with the inner surface of the cylinder chamber  214  of the housing  210  while being expanded outward. Thus, when the pumping member  220  is in a compressed state or when the container body  100  is pressed so that the internal pressure is increased, the skirt portion  260  is brought into close contact with the cylinder chamber  214  of the housing  210  to block the gap. This prevents the contents from flowing out of the housing  210 . 
     Conversely, when the contents in the container body  100  flow into the pumping member  220  as the check valve  233  is opened with the operation of the pumping member  220 , the internal pressure of the container body  100  becomes smaller than the external pressure. 
     As a result, due to such a pressure difference, the ambient air in a relatively high pressure flows into the container body  100  in a relatively low pressure, and the skirt portion  260  is elastically deformed inward so that the gap between the inner surface of the cylinder chamber  214  of the housing  210  and the skirt portion  260  is expanded. Thus, the ambient air may flow into the housing  210  and flow into the container body  100  through the gap between the skirt portion  260  and the inner surface of the cylinder chamber  214 . 
     The ambient air is introduced into the container body  100  and is filled into the internal space of the container body  100  from which the contents was discharged. Thus, the container body  100  may be maintained at its original state without causing buckles. 
     As described above, it is possible to fully prevent the contents from flowing out of the container body  100  and allow the ambient air to flow into the container body  100  in a more simplified configuration and a relatively simple manner using the skirt portion  260  formed integrally with the pumping member  220 . 
     The pumping device  200  of the example embodiment is configured such that the ambient airflows into the container body  100  in a relatively smooth manner. To do this, at least one trench  262  for allowing air to flow therethrough may be further formed in the stepped portion  216  of the housing  210 , which is in contact with the flange  232  of the pumping member  220 . 
     A gap is formed between the stepped portion  216  and the flange  232  by the trench  262  to allow the air to flow therethrough. 
     The trench  262  may be formed to be depressed in a horizontal surface of the stepped portion  216  in contact with the flange  232  of the pumping member  220 . A plurality of trenches  262  may be formed at an interval along the circumferential direction. By the trench  262 , the gap may be formed between the horizontal surface of the stepped portion  216  and the flange  232  which have been brought into close contact with each other. The gap may act as an air introduction passage. 
     Furthermore, like the other example embodiments described above, even in the cosmetic container of the example embodiment with the inflow tube  122  illustrated in  FIG.  9   , the pumping member  220  may further include at least one intermediate parts  250  which is stacked one above another between the upper part  240  and the lower part  230 . 
       FIG.  10    illustrates a cosmetic container of a compact structure in which a powder or the like is received, according to still another example embodiment. 
     Constituent elements of the cosmetic container of still another example embodiment described with reference to  FIG.  10    below are similar in structure and operation to those in the example embodiments described above except that the shape of each constituent element is modified to meet a compact structure of a flat form. Thus, the same constituent element will be denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  10   , the cosmetic container of the example embodiment may include: a container body  100  in which contents are accommodated; a pumping device  200  coupled to an opened upper end of the container body  100  and configured to discharge the contents accommodated in the container body  100  by a pumping operation based on its own elasticity; a discharge head  300  connected to the pumping device  200  to apply a discharge pressure to the pumping device  200  and having an outlet  320  formed in one side to communicate with the pumping device  200  and through which the contents are discharged; a piston member  120  located inside the container body  100  and configured to move with the discharge of the contents; a lower case  140  configured to enclose the container body  100 ; and an upper cap  130  rotatably mounted to the lower case  140  to cover the discharge head  300 . 
     The cosmetic container of the example embodiment may further include a shoulder portion  160  provided on an upper end of the lower case  140  and configured to guide the discharge head  300  upward and downward. The shoulder portion  160  has a cylindrical shape whose upper and lower end are opened. The lower end of the shoulder portion  160  is fixedly installed to the lower case  140 , and the upper end thereof is formed to extend upward. The discharge head  300  is guided upward and downward while being fitted into an inner surface of the shoulder portion  160 . 
     Further, the pumping device  200  may include: a housing  210  which is brought into close contact with the opened upper end of the container body  100  and has a hole  211  formed in the central portion of the housing  210  to communicate with the interior of the container body  100 ; a pumping member  220  provided inside the housing  210  to be connected to the hole  211  of the housing  210  and having a content accommodation space defined therein, wherein the pumping member  220  is elastically compressed or expanded along an axial direction to transfer the contents in one direction along the axial direction; and a nozzle head  270  formed integrally with a lower end of the discharge head  300 . 
       FIGS.  11  and  12    illustrate the housing  210  of the example embodiment. 
     The housing  210  of the example embodiment may be a circular plate structure provided on the upper end of the container body  100 . The hole  211  is formed in the central portion of the lower end of the housing  210  to be in communication with the container body  100 . 
     A cylinder chamber  214  may be concavely formed in the central portion of the housing  210  to have different inner diameters along the axial direction. The hole  211  is formed in the center of the cylinder chamber  214 , and a stepped portion  216  is formed on the bottom surface of the cylinder chamber  214 . A flange  232  formed at the lower portion of the pumping member  220  may be brought into contact with and fixed to the stepped portion  216 . 
       FIGS.  13  and  14    illustrate the discharge head  300  of the example embodiment, respectively. 
     The discharge head  300 , which is a circular structure, may be fitted into the inner circumferential surface of the shoulder portion  160  to be movable upward and downward. A downwardly-depressed concave portion  330  is formed in an upper surface of the discharge head  300 . A makeup puff  150  may be placed in the concave portion  330 . 
     A plurality of outlets  320  from which the contents are discharged may be formed at an interval in the central portion of the discharge head  300 . The outlets  320  are in communication with the pumping member  200  to discharge the contents to the concave portion  330 . 
     The discharge head  300  of the example embodiment may be a structure formed integrally with the nozzle member  270 . This makes it easy to manufacture the discharge with a reduced number of parts, and makes it possible to reduce the inconvenience of separately manufacturing and assembling the discharge head and the nozzle member. 
     A nozzle body  272  and a fitting portion  274  of the nozzle member  270  may be formed integrally with the lower portion of the discharge head  300 . The nozzle body  272  may have a cylindrical shape. The insertion portion  241  of the pumping member  220  may be fitted into and coupled to the nozzle body  272 . An extended portion  276  may be formed on an outer circumferential surface of a lower end of the fitting portion  274  so as to be brought into close contact with a blocking member  243  of the pumping member  220 . 
     A cylindrical stopper member  350  may be formed outside the nozzle body  272  to extend downward on the lower end of the discharge head  300 . The stopper member  350  is lowered as the discharge head  300  is pressed and is brought into contact with the flange  232  fitted into the stepped portion  216  of the housing  210 , which makes it possible to limit a range of stroke of the discharge head  300 . 
       FIGS.  15  and  16    illustrate lower parts applied to the cosmetic container having a compact structure, respectively, and  FIGS.  17  and  18    illustrate upper parts, respectively. 
     The upper part  240  and the lower part  230  which constitute the cosmetic container having a compact structure are different in shape from each other, but structures and operations/effects thereof are the same as those of the upper part and the lower part described above. Thus, the same constituent element will be denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     In the cosmetic container of the example embodiment, the nozzle member  270  is formed integrally with the discharge head  300  so that the upper part  240  may be directly connected to the lower end of the discharge head  300 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  17  and  18   , the insertion portion  241  of the upper part  240  is fitted into and brought into close contact with the nozzle body  272  of a circular tube shape formed on the lower end of the discharge head  300 . 
     When the insertion portion  241  of the upper part  240  is fitted into and coupled to the nozzle body  272 , the fitting portion  274  formed in the discharge head  300  is inserted into the passage  242  and is brought into close contact with the inner surface of the blocking member  243 . Further, the outlet  320  formed in the discharge head  300  communicates with the internal space of the insertion portion  241 . 
     In this configuration, when the discharge head  300  is pressed, the pumping member  220  is compressed and the contents are discharged upward from the discharge head  300  through the outlet  320  in communication with the internal space of the insertion portion  241 . 
     Further, protrusions  247  may be formed at an interval along the circumferential direction on the upper end of the blocking member  243  to protrude upward. 
     When the blocking member  243  rises upward as the pumping member  220  is compressed, the protrusions  247  are brought into contact with the lower surface of the discharge head  300  so that the upper end of the blocking member  243  and the lower surface of the discharge head  300  are spaced apart from each other. 
     As a result, a gap is formed between the upper end of the blocking member  243  and the lower end of the discharge head  300 , and the contents allows to smoothly flow to the outlet  320  through the gap. 
     Although not shown in the figures, in the example embodiment of  FIG.  10   , at least one intermediate part may be further stacked one above another between the upper part and the lower part of the pumping member. Depending on the type of cosmetic container, the at least one intermediate part may be stacked between the upper part and the lower part as needed to vary the stroke of the pumping member and an amount of contents to be discharged from the pumping member. 
       FIGS.  19  to  22    illustrate a cosmetic container according to yet another example embodiment, respectively. 
     The cosmetic container of yet another example embodiment described with reference to  FIGS.  19  to  22    below is similar to the cosmetic container of the example embodiments described above except for a configuration in which an auxiliary check valve  280  is additionally provided in the nozzle member  270  to ensure airtightness. Thus, the same constituent element will be denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
       FIG.  19    illustrates the configuration in which the auxiliary check valve  280  is provided in the cosmetic container of the example embodiment illustrated in  FIG.  1   . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  19   , the cosmetic container of the example embodiment may have a configuration in which the auxiliary check valve  280  is provided on the inner conduit  271  of the nozzle member  270  to block the inner conduit  271  and to discharge the contents toward the discharge head  300  in one direction. 
     The auxiliary check valve  280  may be provided inside the connection tube  273  of the nozzle body  272  in which the inner conduit  271  is formed. The auxiliary check valve  280  is formed to have a size corresponding to the inner surface of the connection tube  273  to be brought into close contact with the connection tube  273 . 
     An inner diameter of the connection tube  273  of the example embodiment is set to such a magnitude that the auxiliary check valve  280  may be sufficiently inserted into the connection tube  273 . A stepped portion on which the auxiliary check valve  280  is placed, may be formed in an inner lower end of the connection tube  273 . The shape of the discharge head  300  which is coupled to the nozzle member  270 , may also be suitably modified in conformity to the structure of the nozzle member  270 . 
     Thus, the auxiliary check valve  280  may be tightly provided between the stepped portion inside the connection tube  273  and the lower end of the discharge head  300  which is fitted into the connection tube  273  in a pressing manner. 
       FIG.  20    illustrates a structure of the auxiliary check valve  280  provided on the inner conduit  271  of the nozzle member  270 . As illustrated in  FIG.  20   , the auxiliary check valve  280  is brought into close contact with or spaced apart from the upper end of the inner conduit  271  formed in the central portion of the connection pipe  273 . In this way, the opening and closing of the auxiliary check valve  280  is performed. The auxiliary check valve  280  is configured such that a valve plate  282  for closing the inner conduit  271  is connected to a plurality of ribs  284 . When the plurality of ribs  284  is elastically extended or contracted to move the valve plate  282 , the inner conduit  271  is opened or closed. 
     The auxiliary check valve  280  is opened or closed according to a change in pressure of the internal space of the pumping member  220  to transfer the contents from the pumping member  220  toward the discharge head  300  in one direction. That is, when the pressure of the internal space of the pumping member  220  is relatively high, the valve plate  282  of the auxiliary check valve  280  is lifted up to open the inner conduit  271 . As a result, the contents in the pumping member  220  flow into the discharge head  300  through the inner conduit  271 . Conversely, when the pressure of the internal space of the pumping member  220  becomes relatively smaller, the valve plate  282  of the auxiliary check valve  280  is brought into close contact with the upper end of the inner conduit  271  to block the inner conduit  271 . This prevents the ambient air from moving from the discharge head  300  toward the pumping member  220 . 
     As described above, by additionally providing the auxiliary check valve  280  on the inner conduit  271  of the nozzle member  270 , it becomes possible to block the outflow of the contents and more efficiently prevent the inflow of the ambient air. 
       FIG.  21    illustrates a configuration in which an auxiliary check valve  290  according to another example embodiment is provided in the cosmetic container having a compact structure for receiving a powder or the like, as illustrated in  FIG.  10   . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  21   , the cosmetic container of the example embodiment may be configured such that the auxiliary check valve  290  is provided in the fitting portion  274  of the discharge head  300  to block the outlet  320  and to discharge the contents toward the discharge head  300  in one direction. 
     The auxiliary check valve  290  may be configured to be coupled to the fitting portion  274  and brought into close contact with the upper end of the outlet  320  so as to selectively block the outlet  320 . 
     The discharge head  300  may be depressed in a groove shape to form a mounting groove  332  so that the auxiliary check valve  290  may be provided at the central portion of the concave portion  330 , that is, in the vicinity of the outlet  320 . The mounting groove  332  and the fitting portion  274  are formed to be in communication with each other. Thus, the auxiliary check valve  290  is mounted to the fitting portion  274  outside the concave portion  330  so that the auxiliary check valve  290  may be positioned in the mounting groove  332 . Therefore, the auxiliary check valve  290  may open or close the outlet  320  formed to penetrate through the concave portion  330 . 
     The shape or size of the mounting groove  332  formed in the discharge head  300  of the example embodiment may be appropriately changed according to the auxiliary check valve  290 . 
     A cover  360  for covering and protecting the auxiliary check valve  290  may further be provided on the mounting groove  332 . The cover  360 , which is a plate structure provided on the mounting groove  332 , may be provided on the mounting groove  332  to form a bottom surface of the concave portion  330 . A hole  362  may be formed in a surface of the cover  360  to be in communication with an internal space of the mounting groove  332 . The contents discharged through the outlet  320  may be discharged upward from the concave portion  330  through the hole  362 . 
     The cover  360  of the example embodiment may be detachably coupled to the mounting groove  332 . Various kinds of covers  360  in which shapes of the hole  362  are different, may be provided. By mounting the various kinds of covers  360  according to cosmetic contents or user&#39;s needs in this way, modes and conditions of discharging the contents may be implemented in different fashions. 
       FIG.  22    illustrates a structure of the auxiliary check valve  290  provided in the mounting groove  332 . As illustrated in  FIG.  22   , the auxiliary check valve  290  includes a shaft portion  292  which is fitted into the fitting portion  274  and a lid  294  which extends outward on an upper end of the shaft portion  292  to cover the outlet  320 . The lid  294  may be configured to elastically move upward or downward so as to be in close contact with or spaced apart from the upper end of the outlet  320 . In this way, the outlet  320  is opened or closed. 
     The shaft portion  292  may be formed to have a diameter corresponding to an inner diameter of the fitting portion  274 , and may be brought into close contact with the inner surface of the fitting portion  274  so that the shaft portion  292  and the fitting portion  274  may be coupled to each other in an airtight relationship. 
     The lid  294  is formed to be expanded outward while being formed integrally with the upper end of the shaft portion  292 . The lid  294  may be elastically deformed to be lifted up by an external force to open the outlet  320 . 
     In addition to the above-described structure, the auxiliary check valve may be configured as the check valve provided with the ribs and the valve plate described above. Similarly, the check valve having such a configuration may be provided in the mounting groove  332  so that the valve plate may open or close the outlet  320  to discharge the contents in one direction. An internal shape of the mounting groove  332  may be properly deformed depending on the structure of the check valve. 
     As described above, the auxiliary check valve  290  is opened or closed depending on the change in pressure of the internal space of the pumping member  220  so as to transfer the contents from the pumping member  220  toward the discharge head  300 . That is, when the pressure of the internal space of the pumping member  220  is relatively high, the lid  294  of the auxiliary check valve  290  is lifted up and the outlet  320  is opened. As a result, the contents in the pumping member  220  flow into the mounting groove  332  through the outlet  320  of the discharge head  300 . Subsequently, the contents are discharged to the concave portion  330  through the hole  362  of the cover  360  provided in the mounting groove  332 . Conversely, when the pressure of the internal space of the pumping member  220  is relatively low, the lid  294  of the auxiliary check valve  290  is brought into close contact with the upper end of the outlet  320  to close the outlet  320 . This prevents the ambient air from moving from the discharge head  300  toward the pumping member  220 . 
     In the example embodiment, the auxiliary check valve  290  is additionally provided on the outlet  320  of the discharge head  300 . Therefore, it is possible to block the outflow of the contents and more efficiently prevent the inflow of the ambient air. 
     While exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described as described above, various modifications and other embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art. Such modifications and other embodiments are all contemplated and included in the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 REFERENCE NUMERALS 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 100:  
                 Container body 
                 110:  
                 Opening 
               
               
                 120:  
                 Piston member 
                 122:  
                 Inflow tube 
               
               
                 130:  
                 Upper cap 
                 140:  
                 Lower case 
               
               
                 150:  
                 Puff 
                 160:  
                 Shoulder portion 
               
               
                 100:  
                 Pumping device 
                 210:  
                 Housing 
               
               
                 211:  
                 Hole 
                 212:  
                 Operation chamber 
               
               
                 214:  
                 Cylinder chamber 
                 216:  
                 Stepped portion 
               
               
                 218:  
                 Support pipe 
                 220:  
                 Pumping member 
               
               
                 230:  
                 Lower part 
                 231:  
                 Pressure portion 
               
               
                 232:  
                 Flange 
                 233:  
                 Check valve 
               
               
                 234:  
                 Groove portion 
                 235:  
                 Lower stepped portion 
               
               
                 240:  
                 Upper part 
                 241:  
                 Insertion portion 
               
               
                 242:  
                 Passage 
                 243:  
                 Blocking member 
               
               
                 244:  
                 Extension/contraction portion 
                 245:  
                 Ring portion 
               
               
                 247:  
                 Protrusion 
                 250:  
                 Intermediate part 
               
               
                 251:  
                 Deformable portion 
                 260:  
                 Skirt portion 
               
               
                 262:  
                 Trench 
                 270:  
                 Nozzle member 
               
               
                 271, 310: 
                 Conduit 
                 272:  
                 Nozzle body 
               
               
                 273:  
                 Connection pipe 
                 274:  
                 Fitting portion 
               
               
                 275:  
                 Inflow hole 
                 276:  
                 Extended portion 
               
               
                 280, 290:  
                 Auxiliary check valve 
                 292:  
                 Shaft portion 
               
               
                 294:  
                 Lid 
                 300:  
                 Discharge head 
               
               
                 320:  
                 Outlet 
                 330:  
                 Concave portion 
               
               
                 332:  
                 Mounting groove 
                 350:  
                 Stopper member 
               
               
                 360:  
                 Cover 
                 362:  
                 Hole