Patent Description:
Liquid seasoning such as soy sauce and toiletry products such as liquid detergents are, for example, stored in a packaging container made of a resin and consumed. Once a residual amount of the contents is decreased or depleted, the packaging container is refilled with the contents and the product is further used. With such products, a refilling container storing the contents for refilling is prepared separately from the packaging container. As the refilling container, various types have been proposed.

For example, the refilling container proposed in Patent Document <NUM> is designed to prevent the contents from coming into contact with outside air, in a spout portion. The refilling container described in Patent Document <NUM> is refilled with contents, allowing repeated use. The repeatedly used packaging container comprises a pouring unit for pouring the contents. The pouring unit is configured by including a pouring nozzle and a peripheral wall provided to a periphery of the pouring nozzle. The refilling container is configured to refill the packaging container with contents by coupling a pouring spout of the refilling container to the pouring unit of the packaging container thus configured.

Specifically, the refilling container described in Patent Document <NUM> comprises a sealing plate. This sealing plate prevents the contents from being exposed to outside air by closing a position of a pouring opening with a spout of the refilling container. The sealing plate has substantially the same shape as an outer periphery of the pouring nozzle of the packaging container, and is configured by forming a weak line for separating a planned opening part positioned on an inner side of the sealing plate from the sealing plate. According to this refilling container, when the pouring nozzle constituting the pouring unit of the packaging container is inserted into an interior of the pouring spout of the refilling container, the pouring nozzle breaks the sealing plate at the position of the weak line described above, separating the planned opening part, which is a region on the inner side, from the sealing plate. With the sealing plate separated, the refill container is configured to allow transfer of the contents filled in the interior of the refill container to the packaging container to refill the packaging container with the contents.

<CIT> discloses a spout for a refill container according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

<CIT> discloses a press-open type storage device with a prestressed to open closure, wherein a relative stable state relationship of the closure and one side of the storage device being connectedly attached by a flexible flake type structure is characterized in that when the closure is closed relative to the storage device, the connecting flake type structure is bent to appear in a prestressed status to an opening direction thereby keeping the closure to remain at a stable opening status after it is pressed to open.

Nevertheless, in the refilling container described in Patent Document <NUM>, the planned opening part is formed by forming a weak part in the sealing plate provided to the spout. That is, in the sealing plate, an inner side and an outer side of the weak part is configured by a single member. Thus, when the pouring nozzle is inserted, the sealing part may not allow the planned opening part to smoothly separate at the position of the weak part. When this happens, the pouring nozzle of the packaging container locally breaks through the sealing plate, forming a hole in the sealing plate. When the pouring nozzle of the packaging container locally breaks through the sealing plate, forming a hole in the sealing plate, broken pieces of the sealing plate may be produced. When broken pieces are produced, the broken pieces may enter the packaging container and clog the pouring nozzle of the packaging container.

The present invention is made to resolve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pouring spout for a refill container capable of communicating a channel formed in a tubular pouring part of a pouring spout without producing broken pieces or the like.

A pouring spout for a refill container according to the present invention for solving the above-described problems is as specified in claim <NUM>.

According to the present invention, the closing member that closes the one end side of the tubular pouring part is a separate body from the spout main body, and is fitted onto the inner circumferential surface of the tubular pouring part in such a manner that the closing member is removed by an external force from the inner circumferential surface of the tubular pouring part as specified in claim <NUM>, and thus the closing member is removed without damage thereto when the closing member is pressed upward by the nozzle constituting the pouring unit of the packaging container to be refilled with contents. Thus, when the closing member is removed from the inner side of the tubular pouring part, broken pieces are not produced. As a result, when the contents are transferred from the container into the packaging container, it is possible refill the packaging container with just the contents. Further, broken pieces are not produced, and thus the pouring unit of the packaging container is never blocked by the broken pieces.

In the pouring spout for a refill container according to the present invention, the closing member is connected by a coupling member to the spout main body.

According to the present invention, the closing member is connected by the coupling member to the spout main body, making it possible to keep the closing member coupled without separation from the spout main body when the closing member is removed from the inner side of the tubular pouring part. Thus, when the contents are transferred from the container into the packaging container, the closing member is never moved to the packaging container.

In the pouring spout for a refill container according to the present invention, the closing member, the coupling member, and the spout main body may be configured as an integrated object made of a same material.

Configuring the closing member, the coupling member, and the spout main body as an integrated object made of the same material makes it possible to integrally mold these using a manufacturing method such as injection molding. Thus, mass production of pouring spouts having identical quality is possible.

The pouring spout according to the present invention may optionally be as specified in claim <NUM>.

According to the present invention, it is possible to separate a closing member that closes a tubular pouring part of a pouring spout from a spout main body of the pouring spout and communicate a channel formed in the tubular pouring part of the pouring spout without producing broken pieces or the like.

An embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention includes inventions of the same technical idea as the modes set forth in the embodiments and drawings below, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to those described in the embodiments and drawings.

A pouring spout <NUM> for a refill container according to the present invention is as specified in claim <NUM>.

The pouring spout <NUM> for a refill container according to the present invention exhibits the particular effect of making it possible to separate the closing member <NUM> serving as a component that closes the tubular pouring part <NUM> of the pouring spout <NUM> from the spout main body 10A of the pouring spout <NUM>, and communicate a channel 10b formed in the tubular pouring part <NUM> of the pouring spout <NUM>, without producing broken pieces or the like.

The following describes an overview of a container provided with the pouring spout <NUM>, a specific configuration of the pouring spout <NUM>, an overview of a packaging container <NUM> used after being refilled with contents stored in the container, and the action of the pouring spout <NUM>. Note that, in the present specification, a mode in which the pouring spout <NUM> comprises the spout main body 10A, the closing member <NUM>, and a coupling member <NUM> is described. Further, "packaging container" refers to a container refilled with contents, and "container" refers to a container used as a refilling container or the like storing contents for refilling the packaging container with contents and provided with the pouring spout according to the present invention.

The container provided with the pouring spout <NUM> according to the present invention is mainly used as a refilling container for refilling the packaging container <NUM> used separately from this container with contents. The forms and types of the refilling container are not particularly limited. <FIG> shows a standing pouch <NUM> as an example of a refilling container. This standing pouch <NUM> comprises a pair of flat surface parts <NUM> facing each other, a bottom surface part <NUM> that closes a bottom part of the refilling container, and the pouring spout <NUM> according to the present invention.

The flat surface parts <NUM> are sealed together at an upper edge, and sealed together at both side edges. Lower edges of the pair of flat surface parts <NUM> are each sealed at an edge part of the bottom surface part <NUM> facing the lower edge of the flat surface part <NUM>. The bottom surface part <NUM> is folded in half at a crease <NUM> at a center thereof, and the crease <NUM> is folded toward an upper side of the standing pouch <NUM>. The bottom surface part <NUM> is configured to allow a bottom part of the standing pouch <NUM> to be unfolded by the unfolding of the bottom surface part <NUM> from the folded state in the directions in which the flat surface parts <NUM> of the standing pouch <NUM> are arranged.

The pouring spout <NUM> according to the present invention is attached to an upper edge of the standing pouch <NUM>. The pouring spout <NUM> is configured by the spout main body 10A and a cap <NUM> that freely opens and closes the spout main body 10A. Note that, in the present embodiment, a case where the pouring spout <NUM> is attached to a middle of an upper part of the standing pouch <NUM> is given as an example. However, while not particularly illustrated in the drawings, the pouring spout <NUM> may be provided in a position shifted to a side part in a width direction in the upper part of the standing pouch <NUM>. Further, the standing pouch <NUM> may be provided with an area communicated by an inclined part where the upper edge and the side edge are obliquely inclined, and the pouring spout <NUM> may be attached to the inclined part.

The standing pouch <NUM> is used as a refilling container for transferring the contents into the packaging container <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) prepared separately from the standing pouch <NUM>. When the contents are transferred into the packaging container <NUM>, the cap <NUM> that closes the pouring spout <NUM> is removed, and the standing pouch <NUM> is turned upside down. Then, the pouring spout <NUM> is inserted into a pouring unit <NUM> of the packaging container <NUM>, and the contents are transferred directly from the standing pouch <NUM> into the packaging container <NUM>. Note that this action is described in detail later.

The pouring spout <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, comprises the tubular pouring part <NUM> and the attached part <NUM>. The tubular pouring part <NUM> forms a cylinder. The attached part <NUM> is an area attached to the standing pouch <NUM> serving as a container provided with this pouring spout <NUM>, and is provided on the one end A side of the tubular pouring part <NUM> in the axial direction L. The tubular pouring part <NUM> is an area used when the contents of the standing pouch <NUM> provided with the pouring spout <NUM> are poured from the standing pouch <NUM>. The tubular pouring part <NUM> has a hollow interior, and both ends in the axial direction L are open in a circular shape. That is, the channel 10b is formed in the interior of the tubular pouring part <NUM>. Thus, the tubular pouring part <NUM> is configured to allow the inner side and the outer side of the standing pouch <NUM> to communicate.

A thread part <NUM> is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the tubular pouring part <NUM>. The thread part <NUM> extends in a circumferential direction, shifts position in the axial direction L, and has a spiral shape. This thread part <NUM> is an area that engages with a thread part (not illustrated) formed on an inner surface of the cap <NUM>. The tubular pouring part <NUM> is configured so that, with the thread part of the cap <NUM> engaged with the thread part <NUM>, the other end B side of the tubular pouring part <NUM> is closed and opened.

The attached part <NUM> has a so-called boat shape. A boat shape refers to a shape in which side surface parts <NUM> of the attached part <NUM> on both sides in a horizontal direction (direction denoted by reference sign Y in <FIG>) protrude toward the outer sides, and have acute angles that come to a point on both sides in a vertical direction (direction denoted by reference sign X in <FIG>). Heights of the side surface parts <NUM> are uniformly formed.

Each of the side surface parts <NUM> is configured by an inclined surface part 16a that inclines from a center toward the outer side in the Y direction, from both ends in the X direction toward the middle, and a curved part 16b that protrudes toward the outer sides in the Y direction in a center portion in the X direction. The curved part 16b, as illustrated in <FIG>, has an arc shape when the pouring spout <NUM> is viewed from the one end A side. Further, a plurality of protruding parts <NUM> extending in the vertical direction are formed on each of the side surface parts <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. A hole 10c that passes through this side surface part <NUM> in a height direction is formed in a center of the attached part <NUM>. This hole 10c partially constitutes the channel 10b formed in the interior of the tubular pouring part <NUM>.

In this pouring spout <NUM>, a flange <NUM> protruding toward the outer side in a radial direction is formed in a boundary portion between the tubular pouring part <NUM> and the attached part <NUM>. This flange <NUM> is an area extending along the upper edge of the standing pouch <NUM> when the pouring spout <NUM> is attached to the upper end of the standing pouch <NUM>.

The closing member <NUM> is a component for closing the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM>, and is configured as a separate body from the spout main body 10A. This closing member <NUM> has a disk shape. The closing member <NUM> closes the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM> by being fit onto the inner side of the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM> on the one end A side of the tubular pouring part <NUM> in the axial direction L, that is, on the attached part <NUM> side. On the other hand, the closing member <NUM> that closes the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM> is configured so that the closing member <NUM> is removed by an external force applied from the other end B side opposite to the one end A side of the tubular pouring part <NUM> in the axial direction L from the inner circumferential surface of the tubular pouring part <NUM>. Thus, a diameter of the closing member <NUM> is formed to the same size as or slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM>.

Note that the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM> of the present embodiment has a circular cross-sectional shape, and thus the closing member <NUM> fitted into the channel 10b also has a circular outer shape. However, the outer shape of the closing member <NUM> is formed into a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM>. For example, when the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM> has an elliptical cross-sectional shape, the outer shape of the closing member <NUM> is formed into an elliptical shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM>. With the outer shape of the closing member <NUM> formed into a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM>, the closing member <NUM> closes the channel 10b without forming a gap between the closing member <NUM> and the inner circumferential surface of the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM> when the closing member <NUM> is fit onto the inner side of the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM>.

The closing member <NUM> is connected to the spout main body 10A by the coupling member <NUM>. The coupling member <NUM> is made of a resin, and has a long, narrow string shape. Alternatively, this coupling member <NUM> can be formed into a strip shape as well. That is, the closing member <NUM> is connected by the coupling member <NUM> having a string shape or a strip shape to the spout main body 10A. One end of the coupling member <NUM> in the longitudinal direction is coupled to an end surface of the spout main body 10A on the one end A side. Specifically, one end of the coupling member <NUM> in the longitudinal direction is coupled to a lower end surface of the attached part <NUM>. This one end is coupled to the lower end surface of the attached part <NUM> at a position slightly shifted to the outer side in a radial direction from the peripheral part of the channel 10b. In contrast, the other end of the coupling member <NUM> in the longitudinal direction is coupled to a lower surface 20b of the closing member <NUM>. That is, the coupling member <NUM> couples the lower surface 20b of the closing member <NUM>, which is a surface facing the lower side in a mode of being fitted into the channel 10b, and the attached part <NUM>.

Note that an upper surface 20a of the closing member <NUM> is a surface facing the upper side in a mode in which the closing member <NUM> is fitted into the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM>. That is, the upper surface 20a of the closing member <NUM> is a surface facing the other end B side of the tubular pouring part <NUM> in the axial direction L in a mode in which the closing member <NUM> is fitted into the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM>. In contrast, the lower surface 20b of the closing member <NUM> is a surface facing the lower side in a mode in which the closing member <NUM> is fitted into the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM>. That is, the lower surface of the closing member <NUM> is a surface facing the interior of the container (standing pouch <NUM>) to which the pouring spout <NUM> is attached in a mode in which the closing member <NUM> is fitted into the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM>. The coupling member <NUM> couples the closing member <NUM> and the spout main body 10A in such a manner that a force is applied in a direction in which the closing member <NUM> is separated from the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM>.

Both ends of the coupling member <NUM> couple the spout main body 10A and the closing member <NUM> as described above, and thus the closing member <NUM> is fitted onto the inner side of the channel 10b without the coupling member <NUM> getting pinched between the closing member <NUM> and the channel 10b. Further, when the closing member <NUM> is removed from the inner side of the channel 10b, the closing member <NUM> is maintained in a state of connection to the pouring spout <NUM> without being separated from the spout main body 10A. The coupling member <NUM> couples the closing member <NUM> and the spout main body 10A in such a manner that a force is applied in a direction in which the closing member <NUM> is separated from the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM>, and thus the closing member <NUM> removed from the channel 10b is kept from blocking the channel 10b once again. As a result, it is possible to smoothly transfer contents from the standing pouch <NUM> into the packaging container <NUM>.

The pouring spout <NUM> described above is molded using a resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, ethylene-vinyl copolymer, and polyvinyl chloride. However, the material of the pouring spout <NUM> is not limited as long as the pouring spout is moldable. Further, examples of applicable raw materials of the resin include petroleum-derived materials, plant-derived materials, copolymers thereof, and blend resins thereof.

The packaging container <NUM> is a container used after being refilled with contents stored in the standing pouch <NUM>. The packaging container <NUM> is made of a resin or the like, for example. <FIG> shows an example of the packaging container <NUM>. The packaging container <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is configured by a container main body <NUM> provided with a handle <NUM>, and the pouring unit <NUM> for pouring the contents stored in the container main body <NUM>. This packaging container <NUM> is used by removing from the packaging container <NUM> the contents moved from the standing pouch <NUM> in an amount required when necessary.

The pouring unit <NUM> of the packaging container <NUM> is configured by a main body part <NUM>, and a cap <NUM> for opening and closing the main body part <NUM>. The main body part <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, comprises a peripheral wall surface <NUM>, and a nozzle <NUM> disposed on an inner side of this peripheral wall surface <NUM>. The peripheral wall surface <NUM> has a cylinder shape. The inner side of the peripheral wall surface <NUM> is hollow.

The nozzle <NUM> is disposed in a middle or substantial middle position of the main body part <NUM>. The nozzle <NUM> is connected to the peripheral wall surface <NUM>, and is integrated with the peripheral wall surface <NUM>. The nozzle <NUM> is configured to protrude toward an upper side of the main body part <NUM>, with a tip end thereof positioned on an upper side of the upper end of the peripheral wall surface <NUM>. <FIG> shows one example of the shape of the nozzle <NUM>, and the shape of the nozzle <NUM> is not particularly limited.

The pouring spout <NUM> can be manufactured by various manufacturing methods. However, when manufacturing efficiency, manufacturing cost, and quality are considered, the spout main body 10A, the closing member <NUM>, and the coupling member <NUM> are preferably integrally molded by injection-molding a resin. The manufacturing method for injection-molding a resin allows the spout main body 10A, the closing member <NUM>, and the coupling member <NUM> to be integrally molded using the same material, making it possible to increase the manufacturing efficiency and keep the manufacturing cost to a low level. Further, once a die is manufactured, products having the identical quality can be repeatedly manufactured.

The procedure for refilling the packaging container <NUM> with the contents stored in the standing pouch <NUM>, and the action of the pouring spout <NUM> of the present embodiment will now be described with reference to <FIG>. Note that, to make the action of the pouring spout <NUM> easy to understand, the standing pouch <NUM> and the container main body <NUM> of the packaging container <NUM> are not illustrated in <FIG>. However, the pouring spout <NUM> is attached to the standing pouch <NUM>, which is a refilling container, illustrated in <FIG>, and the pouring unit <NUM> is provided to the packaging container <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>.

First, the cap <NUM> is removed from the pouring spout <NUM>, the standing pouch <NUM> is turned upside down, and the pouring spout <NUM> is positioned on a lower side of the standing pouch <NUM>. The channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM> is closed by the closing member <NUM>, and thus the contents stored in the standing pouch <NUM> never spill out. Next, as illustrated in <FIG>, the pouring spout <NUM> is matched with the position of the pouring unit <NUM> of the packaging container <NUM> from which the cap <NUM> is removed, and the nozzle <NUM> of the pouring unit <NUM> is inserted into the channel 10b of the pouring spout <NUM>. That is, the nozzle <NUM> of the pouring unit <NUM> is inserted into the channel 10b configured on the inner side of the tubular pouring part <NUM> constituting the pouring spout <NUM>.

Next, with the nozzle <NUM> inserted into the tubular pouring part <NUM>, the pouring spout <NUM> is pressed further downward on the pouring unit <NUM> side. When the pouring spout <NUM> is pressed downward, the tip end of the nozzle <NUM> presses the closing member <NUM> upward. Thus, as illustrated in <FIG>, the closing member <NUM> is removed from the channel 10b constituting the inner side of the tubular pouring part <NUM>. That is, the closing member <NUM> is removed by an external force applied from the other end B side (tip end side of the cylindrical pouring part) opposite to the one end A side (end part side provided with the attached part <NUM>) of the tubular pouring part in the axial direction L from the inner circumferential surface of the tubular pouring part <NUM>. The closing member <NUM>, in a mode of removal from the inner circumferential surface, is fitted horizontally onto an inner circumferential surface of the tubular pouring part <NUM> on the one end A side thereof. At this time, the closing member <NUM> is configured as a separate body from the spout main body 10A, and is fitted into the channel 10b constituting the tubular pouring part <NUM>, simply closing the channel 10b, and thus is smoothly removed from the channel 10b without causing the closing member <NUM> itself to be damage by the nozzle <NUM>. As a result, simply the contents are moved into the packaging container <NUM> without producing broken pieces.

Further, as illustrated in <FIG>, the nozzle <NUM> is inserted into the interior of the tubular pouring part <NUM> and, when the closing member <NUM> is removed from the spout main body 10A, a tip end part 11a of the tubular pouring part <NUM> comes into contact with an outer circumferential surface of the nozzle. That is, in a mode in which the nozzle <NUM> is inserted into the tubular pouring part <NUM>, the tip end of the tubular pouring part <NUM> is formed to a size resulting in contact with the outer circumferential surface of a base portion of the nozzle <NUM>. Thus, the contents poured from the refill container <NUM> (standing pouch) are moved to the packaging container <NUM> through the nozzle <NUM> without leaking to the outer side of the nozzle <NUM>.

With regard to this point, in conventional products, the component for closing the channel and a pouring spout were integrally configured. When a component for closing was to be opened, a portion having a thin thickness was formed around the component for closing, and then the portion having a thin thickness was cut when the nozzle <NUM> pressed the component for closing upward. However, according to the configuration of the related art, even when the component for closing was pressed upward by the nozzle <NUM>, the portion formed with a thin thickness might not be fully cut, making formation of the channel incomplete. Further, when the component for closing was fully cut from the thinned portion by the nozzle <NUM>, a defect might occur in which the component for closing was moved along with the contents to the packaging container <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A pouring spout (<NUM>) for a refill container (<NUM>) in which contents for refilling the contents of a packaging container (<NUM>) are stored, the pouring spout (<NUM>) comprising:
a tubular pouring part (<NUM>);
an attached part (<NUM>) attachable to the refill container (<NUM>) on one end side of the tubular pouring part (<NUM>) in an axial direction; and
a closing member (<NUM>) for closing the one end side of the tubular pouring part (<NUM>), configured as a separate body from a spout main body (10A) of the pouring spout (<NUM>), and fitted onto an inner circumferential surface of the tubular pouring part (<NUM>) on the one end side thereof in such a manner that the closing member (<NUM>) is removed by an external force applied from the other end side opposite to the one end side in the axial direction from the inner circumferential surface of the tubular pouring part (<NUM>);
characterised in that:
the closing member (<NUM>) is connected by a coupling member (<NUM>) to the spout main body (10A);
the coupling member (<NUM>) is made of a resin and has a string shape or a strip shape, wherein one end of the coupling member (<NUM>) in the longitudinal direction is coupled to a lower end surface of the attached part (<NUM>) of the spout main body (10A) at a position slightly shifted to the outer side in a radial direction from a peripheral part of a channel (10b) of the pouring spout (<NUM>);
the other end of the coupling member (<NUM>) in the longitudinal direction is coupled to a lower surface (20b) of the closing member (<NUM>), which is a surface of the closing member (<NUM>) that is arranged to face an interior of the refill container (<NUM>) when the pouring spout (<NUM>) is attached to the refill container (<NUM>) in a mode in which the closing member (<NUM>) is fitted into the channel (10b) of the pouring spout (<NUM>);
the coupling member (<NUM>) couples the closing member (<NUM>) and the attached part (<NUM>) of the spout main body (10A) in such a manner that a force is applied in a direction in which the closing member (<NUM>) is separated from the channel (10b) of the pouring spout (<NUM>).