Abstract:
The present invention disclosed herein relates to a rotary open/close-type tube container. The container is configured in such a manner that when rotating an over cap in the open direction or the close direction, a rotary cap rotates together up to a certain section and a contents movement hole formed on a seal cap is opened/closed by raising/lowering the seal cap, whereby the contents movement hole is automatically opened/closed by a simple operation of opening/closing the over cap, thus providing a user convenience.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention disclosed herein relates to a rotary open/close-type tube container. The container is configured in such a manner that when rotating an over cap in the open direction or the close direction, a rotary cap rotates together up to a certain section and a contents movement hole formed on a seal cap is opened/closed by raising/lowering the seal cap, whereby the contents movement hole is automatically opened/closed by a simple operation of opening/closing the over cap, thus providing a user convenience. 
         [0002]    Generally, cosmetic containers contain skin, lotion, eye cream, and so forth. Particularly, tubular cosmetic containers, which are simple to use and are inexpensive, are widely used for gel-type cosmetics such as lotion or eye cream. Among such typical cosmetic containers, there are various cosmetic containers with an applicator provided on a discharge port thereof so as to enable cosmetics to be more conveniently applied to the skin of a user. 
         [0003]    However, such a typical tubular cosmetic container having an applicator is problematic in that if an appropriate opening and closing unit is not present, cosmetics may leak out when a tubular container body is unintentionally compressed during storage. 
         [0004]    To overcome the above-mentioned problem, a technique was proposed in Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 10-2012-0029728 (hereinafter, referred to as a published patent, which was filed by the applicant of the present invention on Sep. 17, 2010 and registered for a patent, entitled “Turning type Cosmetic Tube with Brush”. 
         [0005]    The published patent provides a tubular cosmetic container in which cosmetics are discharged from a discharge hole ( 111 ) when the tube container ( 110 ) is compressed. 
         [0006]    The tubular cosmetic container includes a fixed body ( 120 ), a sealing cap ( 140 ), a rotating cap ( 150 ), a brush nozzle ( 160 ) and an over cap ( 170 ). The fixed body ( 120 ) is fitted into a front end of the tube container ( 110 ) and has a closing protrusion ( 122 ) on a central portion thereof. A content-passing hole ( 121 ) is formed in a lower portion of the closing protrusion ( 122 ). Spiral grooves ( 130 ) are formed at both sides of the outer circumferential surface of the fixed body ( 120 ). The spiral groove ( 130 ) extends from an upper end of the fixed body ( 120 ) to a medial portion thereof. The sealing cap ( 140 ) has a content-passing hole ( 141 ) in a central portion thereof so that cosmetics are discharged through the content-passing hole ( 141 ). When the sealing cap ( 140 ) moves downwards, the closing protrusion ( 122 ) is inserted into a lower end of the content-passing hole ( 141 ) so as to close the content-passing hole ( 141 ). Coupling protrusions ( 142 ) are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the sealing cap ( 140 ) and are inserted into the spiral grooves ( 130 ). The rotating cap ( 150 ) has, in an upper end thereof, an insert hole ( 151 ) into which the sealing cap ( 140 ) is detachably inserted. A vertical guide groove ( 152 ) engaging with the coupling protrusion ( 142 ) is formed in the rotating cap ( 150 ). A brush nozzle seating part ( 153 ) is formed on an upper portion of the rotating cap ( 150 ). The rotating cap ( 150 ) is rotatably coupled to the outer circumferential surface of the fixed body ( 120 ) so that the sealing cap ( 140 ) moves upwards or downwards in response to the rotation of the rotating cap ( 150 ). The brush nozzle ( 160 ) is inserted into and fixed to the brush nozzle seating part ( 153 ) and includes one or more nozzles ( 161 ) which are disposed in a brush ( 163 ). The over cap ( 170 ) is detachably attached to the fixed body ( 120 ). 
         [0007]    The technique according to the published patent is configured such that when the rotating cap ( 150 ) rotates, the sealing cap ( 140 ) moves upwards or downwards to open or close the content-passing hole ( 141 ). Thus, the content-passing hole ( 141 ) is closed under normal conditions, and only when the tubular cosmetic container is being used can the content-passing hole ( 141 ) open. Therefore, even when the tube container is unintentionally compressed during storage, the cosmetics can be prevented from leaking out. However, there is still a problem in that if the user carelessly closes the over cap ( 170 ) with the content-passing hole ( 141 ) open, the contents may leak out. 
         [0008]    Furthermore, the technique according to the published patent has a structure such that after the over cap ( 170 ) has been removed from the rotating cap ( 150 ), an operation of rotating the rotating cap ( 150 ) must be performed in order to open the content-passing hole ( 141 ). As such, because both the operation of removing the over cap ( 170 ) and the operation of rotating the rotating cap ( 150 ) to open the content-passing hole ( 141 ) must be conducted, these operations may inconvenience the user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    An object of the present invention is to provide a rotary open/close tube container which is configured such that when an over cap rotates in an opening or closing direction, a rotating cap rotates along with the over cap throughout a predetermined section and rotates a sealing cap upwards or downwards so that a content-passing hole formed in the sealing cap opens or closes, whereby an operation of opening or closing the content-passing hole is automatically implemented via a simple manipulation of opening or closing the over cap, thus providing a user convenience. 
         [0010]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a rotary open/close tube container including: a container body configured to store contents therein, with a discharge part provided on an upper portion of the container body so that the contents are discharged through the discharge part, the container body including: an extension part extending upward from an upper portion of the discharge part and having a pair of perpendicular guide grooves formed at both sides of the extension part; a closing protrusion protruding upwards from an inner central portion of the discharge part; and a plurality of through holes formed in the discharge part and arranged to enclose the closing protrusion so that the contents are allowed to pass through the through holes; a rotating cap rotatably coupled to the upper portion of the container body and including a first thread formed in an outer circumferential surface of the rotating cap, and a pair of spiral grooves formed at both sides of an inner circumferential surface of the rotating cap, with a discharge hole formed in a central portion of the rotating cap so that the contents are discharged through the discharge hole; a sealing cap provided in the rotating cap and configured to move upwards or downwards depending on rotation of the rotating cap, with a content-passing hole formed in a central portion of the sealing cap and configured to be opened/closed by the closing protrusion, and guide protrusions provided on an outer circumferential surface of the sealing cap and configured to be inserted into the perpendicular guide grooves and the spiral grooves; and an over cap including a second thread in an inner circumferential surface thereof, the second thread engaging with the first thread of the rotating cap, wherein, during a process of rotating and opening the over cap, the content-passing hole of the sealing cap opens before the over cap opens. 
         [0011]    In a process of rotating and opening the over cap, the over cap is configured to be opened after a content-passing hole of the seal cap is opened. 
         [0012]    A rotating protrusion may be provided at an inside of the over cap so that, when the over cap rotates in an opening direction and thus the threaded coupling between the over cap and the rotating cap is released, the rotating cap rotates along with the over cap, and a support protrusion is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating cap and configured to engage with the rotating protrusion. 
         [0013]    When the over cap rotates in the opening direction, the rotating protrusion may engage with the support protrusion so that the rotating cap rotates along with the over cap. During a process in which the guide protrusions are moved from bottom dead point of the spiral grooves to top dead point thereof by the rotation of the rotating cap, after the sealing cap is moved upwards away from the closing protrusion and the content-passing hole is thus opened, the over cap may independently rotate and the threaded coupling between the over cap and the rotating cap may be released. 
         [0014]    When the over cap rotates in a closing direction, the first and second threads may engage with each other so that the rotating cap rotates along with the over cap. During a process in which the guide protrusions are moved from top dead point of the spiral grooves to bottom dead point thereof by the rotation of the rotating cap, after the sealing cap moves downwards and the content-passing hole is thus closed by the closing protrusion, the over cap may be independently rotated and threadedly coupled to the rotating cap. 
         [0015]    The rotary open/close tube container may further include an applicator coupled to an upper portion of the rotating cap and configured to apply the contents to a skin of a user. 
         [0016]    An applicator support part may be coupled to the upper portion of the rotating cap and is configured to support the applicator. 
         [0017]    As described above, a rotary open/close tube container according to the present invention is configured such that when an over cap rotates in an opening or closing direction, a rotating cap rotates along with the over cap throughout a predetermined section and rotates a sealing cap upwards or downwards so that a content-passing hole formed in the sealing cap opens or is closed. Consequently, an operation of opening or closing the content-passing hole is automatically implemented via a simple manipulation of opening or closing the over cap. Thus, the present invention can provide ease of use for a user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of a rotary open/close tube container according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is an assembled perspective view illustrating the configuration of the rotary open/close tube container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the rotary open/close tube container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 4 to 6  are views illustrating the usage of the rotary open/close tube container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 7 to 10  are cross-sectional views illustrating the configurations of rotary open/close tube containers according to second, third, fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to designate the same or similar components. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating the configuration of a rotary open/close tube container according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is an assembled perspective view illustrating the assembled configuration of the rotary open/close tube container according to the first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the rotary open/close tube container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the rotary open/close tube container according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a container body  100 , a rotating cap  200 , a sealing cap  300 , an applicator  400 , and an over cap  500 . 
         [0026]    The container body  100  stores contents therein and has in an upper portion thereof a discharge part  110  through which the contents are discharged to the outside. The container body  100  is made of a soft tube material and changed in shape by the compressing force when a user compresses the container body  100 , and thus the contents stored therein are discharged to the outside. 
         [0027]    The present invention is characterized in that an extension part  120  extending from the discharge part  110  upwards and having a pair of perpendicular guide grooves  121  at both sides thereof is provided on the upper portion of the container body  100 . Guide protrusions  320  of the sealing cap  300 , which will be described later herein, are inserted into the perpendicular guide grooves  121 . When the rotating cap  200  rotates, the perpendicular guide grooves  121  guide the vertical movement of the guide protrusions  320 . 
         [0028]    Furthermore, a closing protrusion  130  is provided in a central portion of the discharge part  110  and protrudes upwards from the discharge part  110  so as to open or close a content-passing hole  310  formed in the sealing cap  300 . When the sealing cap  300  moves upwards, the closing protrusion  130  moves away from the content-passing hole  310  and opens the content-passing hole  310 , thus allowing the contents to be discharged to the outside. When the sealing cap  300  moves downwards, the closing protrusion  130  makes close contact with a lower portion of the content-passing hole  310  and closes the content-passing hole  310 , thus blocking the discharge of the contents. 
         [0029]    A plurality of through holes  140  allowing the contents stored in the tube body  100  to pass therethrough is formed in the discharge part  110  and arranged in such a way that they enclose the closing protrusion  130 . 
         [0030]    The rotating cap  200  is rotatably coupled to the upper portion of the container body  100 . A discharge hole  230  through which the contents are discharged is formed in a central portion of the rotating cap  200 . A first thread  210  for threaded coupling with the over cap  500  is formed in an outer circumferential surface of the rotating cap  200 . 
         [0031]    The present invention is characterized in that a pair of spiral grooves  220  is formed at both sides of an inner circumferential surface of the rotating cap  200 . The guide protrusions  320  of the sealing cap  300 , which will be described later herein, are inserted into the spiral grooves  220 . The spiral grooves  220  guide the guide protrusions  320  such that when the rotating cap  200  rotates in an opening direction, each guide protrusion  320  moves from a bottom dead point of the spiral grooves  220  to a top dead point thereof, and when the rotating cap  200  rotates in a closing direction, the guide protrusion  320  moves from the top dead point of the spiral groove  220  to the bottom dead point thereof. In this way, the upwards and downwards movement of the sealing cap  300  is guided. 
         [0032]    Meanwhile, a support protrusion  240  is provided on the outer surface of the rotating cap  200  so that when the over cap  500  rotates, a rotating protrusion  520  of the over cap  500  engages with the support protrusion  240 . When the over cap  500  rotates in the opening direction, the support protrusion  240  is compressed by the rotating protrusion  520 , thus making it possible for the rotating cap  200  to rotate along with the over cap  500 . As the rotating cap  200  rotates, the guide protrusions  320  on the sealing cap  300  move from the bottom dead point of the spiral grooves  220  to the top dead point thereof, whereby the sealing cap  300  can be moved upwards. 
         [0033]    The sealing cap  300  is moved upwards or downwards in the rotating cap  200  by the rotation of the rotating cap  200 , and forms a passage along which the contents move. The content-passing hole  310  is formed in the central portion of the sealing cap  300 . The content-passing hole  310  is opened or closed by the closing protrusion  130  and provides a passage along which the contents move. The guide protrusions  320  are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the sealing cap  300 . The guide protrusions  320  are inserted into the perpendicular guide grooves  121  and the spiral grooves  220  and move along the perpendicular guide grooves  121  and the spiral grooves  220 . 
         [0034]    In order to enable the contents that move through the through holes  140  to move to the content-passing hole  310  in the sealing cap  300 , the sealing cap  300  preferably includes in a lower portion thereof a piston  330  which comes into close contact with an inner circumferential surface of the discharge part  110 . 
         [0035]    The applicator  400  is coupled to an upper portion of the rotating cap  200  and functions to apply contents to the skin of the user. The applicator  400  absorbs contents discharged from the discharge hole  230  and makes it possible for the contents to be applied to the skin of the user, thus providing ease of use. 
         [0036]    An applicator support part  410  is coupled to a lower portion of the applicator  400  to make it possible for the applicator  400  to be fixed to the rotating cap  200 . 
         [0037]    The over cap  500  is threadedly coupled to the rotating cap  200  so as to be removable therefrom. A second thread  510 , to be threadedly coupled with the first thread  210 , is formed in an inner circumferential surface of the over cap  500 . 
         [0038]    The present invention is characterized in that when the over cap  500  is rotated in the opening direction so as to release the threaded coupling with the rotating cap  200 , the over cap  500  rotates along with the rotating cap  200  throughout a predetermined section, and thereafter the over cap  500  independently rotates so that the threaded coupling with the rotating cap  200  is released. For this, the rotating protrusion  520  is provided on the inner surface of the over cap  500  so that when the over cap  500  is rotated in the opening direction to release the threaded coupling the rotating cap  200 , the rotating protrusion  520  engages with the support protrusion  240 , whereby the rotating cap  200  can rotate along with the over cap  500 . 
         [0039]    When the over cap  500  rotates in the opening direction, the rotating protrusion  520  pressurizes the support protrusion  240 , whereby the rotating cap  200  is rotated. Here, the rotating cap  200  is rotated while the guide protrusions  320  move from the bottom dead point of the spiral grooves  220  to the top dead point thereof. If the over cap  500  rotates further after the guide protrusions  320  have been moved all the way to the top dead point of the spiral grooves  220 , in other words, after the sealing cap  300  has been moved upwards and spaced apart from the closing protrusion  130  and the content-passing hole  310  has thus opened, the rotating protrusion  520  moves over the support protrusion  240 , and the over cap  500  thus independently rotates. Thereby, the threaded coupling between the over cap  500  and the rotating cap  200  is released. Finally, the over cap  500  is removed from the rotating cap  200 . 
         [0040]    That is, the present invention is characterized in that, during a process of opening the over cap  500 , the sealing cap  300  moves upwards and the content-passing hole  310  automatically opens first before the over cap  500  opens. After the over cap  500  has opened, there is no need for separate manipulation to open the content-passing hole  310 . Therefore, the present invention can provide a user convenience. 
         [0041]    When the over cap  500  is rotated in the closing direction, the first and second threads  210  and  510  engage with each other, whereby the rotating cap  200  is rotated. Here, the rotating cap  200  is rotated while the guide protrusions  320  move from the top dead point of the spiral grooves  220  to the bottom dead point thereof. If the over cap  500  is rotated further after the guide protrusions  320  have moved all the way to the bottom dead point of the spiral grooves  220 , in other words, after the sealing cap  300  has moved downwards and come into contact with the closing protrusion  130 , whereby the content-passing hole  310  is closed, the over cap  500  rotates independently. Thereby, the over cap  500  is threadedly coupled with the rotating cap  200 . 
         [0042]    In the above, the description has been made for the case where the rotating cap  200  rotates after a first and a second threads  210 ,  510  engage with each other when the over cap  500  rotates in the closing direction. however, possible is the configuration where, after the threaded coupling between a first and a second threads  210 ,  510  is first implemented according to the frictional force between the first and second threads  210 ,  510  and the frictional force between the guide protrusions  320  and the spiral grooves  220 , the rotating cap  200  begins to rotate from the point when the rotating protrusion  520  makes contact with the support protrusion  240 , and thereby the guide protrusions  320  move from the top dead point of the spiral grooves  220  to the bottom dead point thereof, so that the sealing cap  300  moves downwards. 
         [0043]    Meanwhile, the rotating protrusion  520  of the over cap  500  moves over the support protrusion  240  from the point when the threaded coupling between the over cap  500  and the rotating cap  200  is completed, and therefore, the user can discern whether the over cap  500  has been completely coupled with the rotating cap  200  when hearing the sound that is generated at the moment that the rotating protrusion  520  moves over the support protrusion  240 . 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIGS. 7 to 10 , rotary open/close tube containers according to second, third, fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention can employ various applicators  400 , such as a brush, a silicon member, a puff, an applicator for lipstick, and an applicator for mascara. In the case where the applicator  400  is an applicator for mascara, a wiper  530  may be preferably provided at the over cap  500  so that when the over cap  500  is removed, some contents still clinging to a mascara brush can be wiped out therefrom. 
         [0045]    The functions and configurations of the other components are the same as those of the first embodiment of the present invention; therefore, a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. 
         [0046]    Hereinafter, the operation of the rotary open/close tube container according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 6 .  FIGS. 4 to 6  are views illustrating the usage of the rotary open/close tube container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 6 , in the rotary open/close tube container according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in the state in which the over cap  500  is threadedly coupled to the rotating cap  200 , the content-passing hole  310  is closed by the closing protrusion  130 . In this state, when the over cap  50  is rotated in the opening direction, the rotating protrusion  52  pressurizes the support protrusion  240  of the rotating cap  200 , whereby the rotating cap  20  is rotated along with the over cap  500 . 
         [0048]    In this way, when the rotating cap  200  is rotated, the guide protrusions  320  of the sealing cap  300  move from the bottom dead point of the spiral grooves  220  to the top dead point. Thereby, the sealing cap  300  moves upwards away from the closing protrusion  130 . Consequently, the content-passing hole  310  is opened. 
         [0049]    From the points at which the guide protrusions  320  have moved all the way to the top dead point of the spiral grooves  220  and come into contact with the other end of the spiral grooves  220 , the rotating cap  200  no longer rotates. At this moment, if the over cap  500  rotates further, the rotating protrusion  520  moves over the support protrusion  240 , and the over cap  500  independently rotates, whereby the threaded coupling between the over cap  500  and the rotating cap  200  is released, and thus the over cap  500  is removed from the rotating cap  200 . 
         [0050]    After the over cap  500  has been removed from the rotating cap  200  through the above-mentioned process, the content-passing hole  310  is in an open state. In this state, when the container body  100  is compressed, the contents stored in the container body  100  pass through the through holes  140 , move to the content-passing hole  310 , and are then discharged to the applicator  400  through the discharge hole  230 , thus making it possible for the user to apply the contents to his/her skin using the applicator  400 . 
         [0051]    Subsequently, after the use of the contents has been completed, the over cap  500  is rotated in the closing direction and threadedly coupled to the rotating cap  200 . When the over cap  500  rotates in the closing direction, the first and second threads  210  and  510  engage with each other and thus the rotating cap  200  rotates. 
         [0052]    As such, when the rotating cap  200  rotates, the guide protrusions  320  of the sealing cap  300  move from the top dead point of the spiral grooves  220  to the bottom dead point. Thereby, the sealing cap  300  moves downwards and comes into contact with the closing protrusion  130 . Consequently, the content-passing hole  310  is closed. 
         [0053]    After the guide protrusions  320  have moved all the way to the bottom dead point of the spiral grooves  220  and come into contact with first ends of the spiral grooves  220 , the rotating cap  200  no longer rotates. Thereafter, if the over cap  500  is rotated further, the over cap  500  independently rotates, and the over cap  500  is threadedly coupled to the rotating cap  200 . 
         [0054]    As described above, the present invention is configured such that, during the process of opening or closing the over cap  500 , the sealing cap  300  moves upwards or downwards and thus the content-passing hole  310  first opens before the over cap  500  is opened or closed. Therefore, not only can the present invention prevent a problem of leakage of contents which may be caused when the user carelessly closes the over cap  500  with the content-passing hole  310  open, but also, no separate manipulation is required to open the content-passing hole  310  after the over cap  500  is opened, thus providing a. 
         [0055]    As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described examples are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.