CONTAINER HAVING A BUILT-IN SPATULA

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0023213, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Feb. 19, 2024, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0052883, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Apr. 19, 2024, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a container for holding a content, more particularly to a spatula-mounted container that includes a built-in spatula.

2. Description of the Related Art

Foundation is a type of cosmetic that is applied on the facial area of the user and is used both to hide blemishes and to give the facial area an even color in a tone desired by the user. Depending on their types, cosmetics are provided in various forms and used in various ways. A cosmetic having a color, such as a foundation for example, is typically applied with a tool such as a powder puff or a spatula, so that the cosmetic does not get on the user's hand.

A spatula is a tool for applying a cosmetic such as a foundation onto the facial area and is used when the cosmetic is provided in the form of a cream, gel, liquid, etc. The user may first insert the spatula into the container holding a cosmetic liquid such that the cosmetic liquid adheres to the spatula and then may apply the cosmetic liquid on the spatula onto the facial area.

Typically, the spatula is carried separately from the cosmetic container, because the elongated shape of the spatula makes it difficult to hold the spatula within the cosmetic container. For example, if the spatula were to be mounted at a position that is separated from the compartment holding the content, there is a risk that the content remaining on the spatula after the use of the spatula may contaminate the cosmetic container and its surroundings. On the other hand, if the spatula were to be mounted within the same compartment holding the content, it would be difficult to seal the cosmetic container, so that the content may spill out from the container, and there would also always be an excessive amount of content on the spatula, so that the surplus content may drip during the use of the spatula to contaminate the user's clothing or other nearby objects. In addition, carrying the spatula separately from the cosmetic container also entails the inconvenience of having to keep the spatula in a designated container or bag to prevent the content remaining on the spatula from contaminating the surrounding area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the invention, which was conceived to resolve the problem described above, is to provide a spatula-mounted container that can hold a spatula and also keep the holding space for storing the content in a sealed state.

Another aspect of the invention is to provide a spatula-mounted container that can hold a spatula and also prevent the content from adhering on the spatula in an excessive amount.

Still another aspect of the invention is to provide a spatula-mounted container that can get a suitable amount of content adhered to the spatula even after the remaining amount of content held within the container has decreased.

Yet another aspect of the invention is to provide a spatula-mounted container that can prevent waste by allowing the user to use up the content almost completely.

Other objectives of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the embodiments set forth below.

A spatula-mounted container according to one aspect of the invention may include: a container body, on an inner side of which a holding space for holding a content is formed, and on an upper portion of which a neck is formed around an opening to the holding space; a wiper plug made from a flexible material and coupled to the neck to close the opening, where a wiper hole is formed in an inner side of the wiper plug in a size smaller than that of the opening, and a wiper member protrudes towards an inner side of the wiper hole; and a spatula separably coupled to the wiper plug and including a stick part and a grip part, where the stick part has an elongated shape, the grip part is formed on an end portion of the stick part, and the spatula is configured such that the grip part is unable to pass through the wiper hole but the stick part is able to pass through the wiper hole so as to be at least partially positioned within the holding space while the spatula is in a coupled state with respect to the wiper plug. The wiper member may be pressed against a non-coated surface of the stick part and not pressed against a coated surface of the stick part, so that the content may be wiped from the non-coated surface and be left remaining on the coated surface when the spatula is separated from the wiper plug.

A spatula-mounted container according to an embodiment of the present invention can include one or more of the following features. For example, the width of the wiper hole along the front-rear direction can be smaller than the length of the wiper hole along the left-right direction such that the wiper hole is implemented in the form of a slit that extends along the left-right direction, the thickness of the stick part along the front-rear direction can be smaller than the width of the stick part along the left-right direction such that the stick part has a cross section corresponding to that of the slit, and at least a portion of the non-coated surface can be formed on at least one of the front surface and rear surface of the stick part.

At least one of both side portions of the stick part can have a cross section corresponding to a polygon, and at least a portion of both end portions of the slit can have a shape corresponding to an arc.

A concave recess can be formed in at least one of the front surface and rear surface of the stick part. At least a portion of the non-coated surface can be formed in the concave recess.

The length of the container body along the front-rear direction can be greater than the width of the container body along the left-right direction.

A securing groove can be formed in at least one inner surface of the side wall of the container body, and at least one side portion of the stick part can be inserted in the securing groove.

The wiper member can be formed with a smaller length than that of the slit along the left-right direction such that at least a portion of the coated surface is formed on at least one of the front surface and the rear surface of the stick part.

A cut surface can be formed in at least one of the front surface and the rear surface of the stick part such that at least a portion of the coated surface is formed on the cut surface.

The wiper hole can be implemented in a circular shape, and the stick part can include: a rod extending down from a lower portion of the grip part and having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the wiper hole; and a blade extending down from a lower portion of the rod and having a width smaller than the inner diameter of the wiper hole along at least one direction within a horizontal plane. Here, at least a portion of the non-coated surface can be formed on an outer perimeter of the rod, and at least a portion of the coated surface can be formed on a surface of the blade.

A venting groove can be formed in the outer perimeter of the rod, the outer diameter of the rod can be smaller than the inner diameter of the wiper hole at a portion where the venting groove is formed, and the venting groove can be positioned below the wiper member while the spatula is in a coupled state with respect to the wiper plug.

The blade can have a flat shape with a rounded or chamfered edge, and the blade can include: a first side forming one side of the blade and extending along an up-down direction; a second side forming an opposite side of the blade and extending along the up-down direction to a length smaller than that of the first side; a third side extending inwardly in a sloped manner from the bottom of the second side; and a round point connecting the first side and the third side.

The spatula-mounted container can further include an overcap that is separably coupled to the container body. While the overcap is in a coupled state with respect to the container body, the overcap can contact an upper portion of the grip part. It is also possible to have the grip part coupled to the overcap.

The wiper member can be configured to incline inward towards the bottom.

The wiper member can have a smaller thickness than that of the remaining portion of the wiper plug.

The grip part can be configured such that a lower portion of the grip part completely closes the wiper hole.

The container body can be implemented in the form of a tube made from a flexible material.

An embodiment of the present invention having the features above can provide various advantageous effects including the following. However, an embodiment of the present invention may not necessarily exhibit all of the effects below.

A spatula-mounted container according to an embodiment of the invention can effectively seal the holding space in which the content is filled and can prevent the content that has got on the spatula from contaminating any surrounding object.

In a spatula-mounted container according to an embodiment of the invention, the holding space can be airtightly sealed when the content is not in use, but when the content is in use, the spatula-mounted container may permit air to enter from outside the holding space. This can prevent the problem of the user experiencing difficulty in coupling and separating the spatula due to a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the holding space.

Also, a spatula-mounted container according to an embodiment of the invention can prevent the content from adhering to the spatula in an excessive amount when the user uses the spatula and therefore can significantly lower the possibility of the content causing a mess in the surroundings due to flowing or dripping.

Also, a spatula-mounted container according to an embodiment of the invention can increase user convenience by allowing the content to adhere to the spatula in a suitable amount even after the amount of content remaining in the holding space has decreased.

Furthermore, a spatula-mounted container according to certain embodiments of the invention can allow the user to use up the content held in the holding space as much as possible, thereby reducing the amount of content wasted and also reducing environmental pollution incurred by the disposal of the content.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a spatula-mounted container according to a first disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the spatula-mounted container shown in FIG. 1 as cut along the front-rear direction.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 2 in greater detail.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the spatula-mounted container shown in FIG. 1 as cut along the left-right direction.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 4 in greater detail.

FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating the spatula for a spatula-mounted container according to the first disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating the spatula for a spatula-mounted container according to the first disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the spatula separated from the container body in a spatula-mounted container according to the first disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating the spatula for a spatula-mounted container according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a top view conceptually illustrating the shapes of the wiper hole and the stick part in a spatula-mounted container according to the first disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a top view conceptually illustrating the shapes of the wiper hole and the stick part in a spatula-mounted container according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a spatula-mounted container according to a second disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the spatula-mounted container shown in FIG. 12 as cut along the front-rear direction.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the spatula-mounted container shown in FIG. 12 as cut along the left-right direction.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating the wiper plug of a spatula-mounted container according to the second disclosed embodiment of the invention as seen from below.

FIG. 16 is a top view illustrating the wiper plug of a spatula-mounted container according to the second disclosed embodiment of the invention as seen from above.

FIG. 17 is a top view conceptually illustrating the shapes of the wiper hole and the stick part in a spatula-mounted container according to the second disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a spatula-mounted container according to a third disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the spatula-mounted container shown in FIG. 18 as cut along the front-rear direction.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the spatula-mounted container shown in FIG. 18 as cut along the left-right direction.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating the wiper plug in a spatula-mounted container according to the third disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view illustrating the spatula in a spatula-mounted container according to the third disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view illustrating a spatula-mounted container according to a fourth disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the spatula-mounted container shown in FIG. 23 as cut along the front-rear direction.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the spatula-mounted container shown in FIG. 23 as cut along the left-right direction.

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view conceptually illustrating a spatula-mounted container according to the fourth disclosed embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view conceptually illustrating a spatula-mounted container according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 28 is a top view conceptually illustrating the shapes of the wiper hole and the stick part in a spatula-mounted container according to the fourth disclosed embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As the invention allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the written description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to particular modes of practice, and it is to be appreciated that all changes, equivalents, and substitutes that do not depart from the spirit and technical scope of the present invention are encompassed by the present invention. In the description of the present invention, certain detailed explanations of the related art are omitted if it is deemed that they may unnecessarily obscure the essence of the invention.

The terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe particular embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. An expression used in the singular encompasses the expression of the plural, unless it has a clearly different meaning in the context. In the present specification, it is to be understood that terms such as “including” or “having,” etc., are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof may exist or may be added.

While such terms as “first” and “second,” etc., can be used to describe various components, such components are not to be limited by the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one component from another.

Certain embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those components that are the same or are in correspondence are rendered the same reference numeral, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

For convenience, the specification uses terms such as “left-right direction”, “front-rear direction”, “up-down direction”, “inner side”, and “outer side”. In the descriptions below, the “left-right direction” refers to the direction in which the stick part 550 or blade 570 of the spatula 500 is elongated within a horizontal plane, and the “front-rear direction” refers to the direction that is orthogonal to the left-right direction within the same horizontal plane. The “inner side” refers to the side that is closer to the interior of the spatula-mounted container 1100˜1400 or of the object being described, and the “outer side” refers to the side that is further from the interior of the spatula-mounted container 1100˜1400 or the object being described. The “up-down direction” refers to the vertical direction when the spatula-mounted container 1100˜1400 is oriented as in the drawings. Of course, when a spatula-mounted container 1100˜1400 according to an embodiment of the invention is actually in use, the directions mentioned in the specification may not coincide with the actual directions of the parts described.

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a spatula-mounted container 1100 according to a first disclosed embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the spatula-mounted container 1100 shown in FIG. 1 as cut along the front-rear direction, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 2 in greater detail. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the spatula-mounted container 1100 shown in FIG. 1 as cut along the left-right direction, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of FIG. 4 in greater detail. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are front views illustrating the spatula 500 for a spatula-mounted container 1100 according to certain embodiments of the invention, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the spatula 500 separated from the container body 100 in a spatula-mounted container 1100 according to the first disclosed embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 8, a spatula-mounted container 1100 according to the first disclosed embodiment of the invention can include a container body 100, a wiper plug 300, a spatula 500, and an overcap 700.

The container body 100 can include a bottom face 110 and a side wall 120, and these can form a holding space 105 on the inner side for holding the content. The content (not shown) stored in the holding space 105 can be of a type that requires the use of a spatula or is more convenient to use with a spatula. The content (not shown) stored in the holding space 105 can be provided, for example, in the form of liquid, cream, gel, powder, etc., and can be one of various types of cosmetics. Of course, the present invention is not limited by the type of content held in the holding space 105 of the container body 100.

A neck 130 can be provided at an upper portion of the container body 100. The neck 130 can be formed around the opening that connects to the holding space 105. The neck 130 can be shaped as a hollow cylinder, and the passageway on the inner side of the neck 130 can form the opening through which the holding space 105 is in communication with the outside. As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the neck 130 can be configured to have a size and shape that are different from those of the side wall 120 of the container body 100. In cases where the size of the neck 130 is smaller than the size of the remaining portion of the container body 100, a shoulder ledge 126 can be formed at the upper portion of the side wall 120. On the outer perimeter of the neck 130, one or more protrusions and/or indentations can be formed for coupling between the container body 100 and the overcap 700. For example, a male thread 132 can be provided on the outer perimeter of the neck 130, as in the example illustrated in FIG. 8.

The inner perimeter of the neck 130 can be configured to be sealed by the plug part 330 of the wiper plug 300. One or more contact grooves 134 can be formed in the inner perimeter of the neck 130. The contact grooves 134 can increase sealing performance by allowing the plug part 330 to press tightly against the inner perimeter of the neck 130 more fully and over a larger contact area.

The wiper plug 300 can be coupled to the neck 130 of the container body 100 to cover the opening to the holding space 105 while allowing the coupling of the spatula 500. The wiper plug 300 can include a cover part 310, a plug part 330, a passage part 350, and wiper members 360.

The cover part 310 can form the top of the wiper plug 300 and corresponds to the part that covers the opening of the container body 100. The cover part 310 can be shaped as a circular disk and can have an outer diameter larger than that of the plug part 330, so that the lower surface at the edge of the cover part 310 contacts the upper end of the neck 130.

A wiper hole 315 can be formed in the cover part 310. The wiper hole 315, which is the portion where the stick part 550 of the spatula 500 is inserted, can penetrate the cover part 310 along the up-down direction. In an embodiment of the invention, the width of the wiper hole 315 along the front-rear direction can be smaller than the length of the wiper hole 315 along the left-right direction, so that the wiper hole 315 can be implemented as a slit that extends in the left-right direction. In cases where the wiper hole 315 is implemented in the form of a slit as above, the width of the slit in the front-rear direction can correspond to the thickness of the stick part 550 of the spatula 500 in the front-rear direction.

The plug part 330 can extend down from a lower surface of the cover part 310 and can be formed in a position corresponding to the inner perimeter of the neck 130 of the container body 100 so as to seal the opening at the neck 130. As the opening is thus sealed by the cover part 310 and the plug part 330, the holding space 105 of the container body 100 can be accessed only through the wiper hole 315 of the cover part 310. In order that a tight seal may be provided between the plug part 330 and the neck 130, the plug part 330 can be formed from a material that permits a slight degree of elastic deformation.

The passage part 350 can extend inward from the cover part 310 and/or the plug part 330, extending both inward and downward along downwardly inclining directions. The passage part 350 can be formed at a position adjacent to the wiper hole 315, so that the wiper members 360 formed at the lower portion of the passage part 350 can be formed at a more inner position. In cases where the cross section of the passage part 350 is shaped as a closed loop, the space on the inner side of the passage part 350 may continue to the wiper hole 315 and thus can be regarded as an extension of the wiper hole 315. Although, in the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the passage part 350 extends downward and inward from the cover part 310, it is possible to have the passage part 350 extend downward and inward from the plug part 330 in certain other embodiments of the invention (as in the example illustrated in FIG. 19, for instance). In certain embodiments, the passage part 350 can be omitted, and the wiper members 360 can be formed directly on the cover part 310 and/or the plug part 330.

The passage part 350 can extend along the left-right direction, at positions adjacent to the wiper hole 315 with respect to the front-rear direction, to join the plug part 330 on both the left and right sides. In cases where the wiper members 360 are formed only on the passage part 350, the wiper members 360 can be positioned only on the front and/or rear side of the stick part 550 without being positioned at the left and right sides of the stick part 550, as in the example illustrated in FIG. 5. In such cases, the plug part 330 can be configured such that its outer perimeter presses against the inner perimeter of the neck 130 whereas its inner perimeter inclines inward towards the bottom. Of course, depending on the sizes of the cover part 310 and the wiper hole 315, portions connecting the front and rear sides of the passage part 350 and/or wiper members 360 can also be formed on the left and right sides of the stick part 550 in certain embodiments of the invention. In such cases, the inner surfaces of the portions connecting the front and rear sides of the passage part 350 and/or wiper members 360 can also incline inward towards the bottom.

The wiper members 360 can protrude inward from positions adjacent to the wiper hole 315 and can be configured to press against the stick part 550 that passes through the wiper hole 315. To this end, each wiper member 360 can extend from a position such as a lower portion of the passage part 350, a lower surface of the cover part 310, and the like, along a direction that inclines inward towards the bottom.

In cases where the wiper hole 315 is implemented in the form of a slit, the wiper members 360 can be formed at positions adjacent to the wiper hole 315 with respect to the front-rear direction. In such cases, the wiper members 360 can be configured to press against at least one of the front surface and rear surface of the stick part 550 of the spatula 500 when the spatula 500 is separated from the wiper plug 300. That is, in cases where a wiper member 360 is formed only on one side of the wiper hole 315 with respect to the front-rear direction, the wiper member 360 can press against the front surface or the rear surface of the stick part 550 of the spatula 500, and in cases where there are wiper members 360 formed on both sides of the wiper hole 315 with respect to the front-rear direction, the wiper members 360 can press against both the front surface and the rear surface of the stick part 550 of the spatula 500. The wiper members 360 can also be formed from a material that permits a slight degree of elastic deformation. In certain embodiments of the invention, the whole of the wiper plug 300, including the cover part 310, plug part 330, passage part 350, and wiper members 360, can be fabricated in an integrated form from the same material.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the wiper members 360 can incline inward towards the bottom. The wiper members 360 can have a smaller thickness than that of the remaining portions of the wiper plug 300. The left and right sides of the wiper member 360 can be separated from or be connected to the remaining portions of the wiper plug 300, including the passage part 350 and the plug part 330. Such a structure of the wiper members 360 allow the wiper members 360 to press against the non-coated surfaces of the stick part 550 without greatly hindering the movement of the stick part 550 as it passes through the wiper hole 315.

The spatula 500 corresponds to a tool with which the user applies the content of the spatula-mounted container 1100 and can be stored while in a coupled state with respect to the wiper plug 300. The spatula 500 can mainly include a grip part 510 and a stick part 550.

The grip part 510 corresponds to the part gripped by the user. The grip part 510 can be formed at an end portion of the stick part 550 and can have widths greater than those of the stick part 550 along the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The grip part 510 can be configured not to pass through the wiper hole 315 and preferably can be configured such that a lower portion of the grip part 510 completely closes the wiper hole 315.

For a secure coupling between the grip part 510 and the stick part 550, a coupling recess 515 can be formed on the inner side of the grip part 510, and coupling protrusions 516 can be provided on the inner surfaces of the grip part 510 facing the coupling recess 515. Also, supposing that the grip part 510 is arranged to point upward, a clearance recess 511 can be formed above the coupling recess 515 in a width smaller than that of the coupling recess 515. Due to the size difference between the clearance recess 511 and the coupling recess 515, a ledge 512 can be formed at the boundary of the clearance recess 511 and the coupling recess 515.

The stick part 550 can be used to scoop the content of the holding space 105 and apply the content to a target area. The stick part 550 can be coupled to the grip part 510, and the user can apply the content that has gotten on the stick part 550 while holding the grip part 510. Thus, the user can apply the content without getting the content on the user's hands. While the stick part 550 can be fabricated from a stainless steel material, the stick part 550 is not limited to a particular material and can be formed from various materials, including various types of metal and synthetic resin. In certain embodiments of the invention, the stick part 550 can be formed from the same synthetic resin material as that used for the grip part 510, and the stick part 550 and the grip part 510 can be fabricated as a single integrated member.

A coupling hole 555 can be formed in the end portion of the stick part 550 for coupling with the grip part 510. When the manufacturer inserts the end portion having the coupling hole 555 into the coupling recess 515 of the grip part 510 in order to couple the stick part 550 with the grip part 510, the end portion of the stick part 550 may first be caught on the coupling protrusions 516 of the grip part 510, but if the manufacturer exerts a greater force, the grip part 510 may experience a slight elastic deformation, and the end portion of the stick part 550 can move beyond the coupling protrusions 516. The clearance recess 511 of the grip part 510 can facilitate the elastic deformation required here. When the end portion of the stick part 550 moves beyond the coupling protrusions 516, the coupling protrusions 516 can then be inserted in and caught on the coupling hole 555 of the stick part 550, and the end portion of the stick part 550 can be supported on the ledge 512 on the inner side of the grip part 510, so that the stick part 550 may be secured to the grip part 510 along the up-down direction. Of course, any of a great variety of coupling structures can be used for the coupling between the grip part 510 and the stick part 550. Also, in certain embodiments of the invention, the grip part 510 and the stick part 550 can be fabricated in an integrated form, so that no coupling may be needed.

The stick part 550 can be configured to be capable of passing through the wiper hole 315. That is, the stick part 550 can have a horizontal cross section that does not cause the stick part 550 to be seriously caught on the wiper hole 315. The stick part 550 can be configured to press against the wiper member 360 while inserted in the wiper hole 315. In cases where the wiper hole 315 is implemented as a slit that extends along the left-right direction, the stick part 550 can also be formed such that the thickness along the front-right direction is smaller than the width along the left-right direction, thus having a cross section corresponding to the shape of the slit.

In a spatula-mounted container 1100˜1400 according to an embodiment of the invention, the wiper members 360 of the wiper plug 300 may press against portions of the stick part 550 of the spatula 500 so as to wipe off the content (not shown) from the corresponding portions. For the sake of convenience, the portions on the stick part 550 of the spatula 500 configured to be pressed against the wiper members 360 such that the content is wiped off are collectively referred to as a “non-coated surface”, while the portions configured not to be pressed against the wiper members 360 such that the content is left remaining are collectively referred to as a “coated surface”. Of course, the stick part 550 is not strictly divided into a coated surface and a non-coated surface. The coated surface where there is content on the stick part 550 and the non-coated surface where the content has been wiped off can be different for each embodiment, and in some cases, can be different for each round of use even for the same embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 8, the stick part 550 can include flat portions 552, which may form the front surface and the rear surface, and side portions 554, which may form the left and right portions. The flat portions 552 can have generally flat shapes, while the side portions 554 can connect the flat portions 552 of the front surface and rear surface.

When the user separates the spatula 500 from the wiper plug 300, the wiper members 360 of the wiper plug 300 can press against the flat portions 552 of the stick part 550 and thereby wipe off the content (not shown) that had got onto the flat portions 552. In contrast, the left and/or right side portions 554 of the stick part 550 may not contact the wiper plug 300, and therefore there may be content remaining on the left and/or right side portions 554 when the stick part 550 is pulled out. That is, at least a portion of the non-coated surface can be formed on the flat portions 552, and at least a portion of the coated surface can be formed on the side portions 554. In FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the hatched portions represent portions where the coated surface can be formed.

In the spatula 500 shown in FIG. 6, the side portions 554 on both sides include portions that do not contact the wiper plug 300, so that the content may remain on the side portions 554 of both sides. As regards the two side portions 554 on both sides of the spatula 500 shown in FIG. 7, the side portion 554′ on one side includes a portion that does not contact the wiper plug 300 and thus has content remaining on it, whereas the side portion 554″ on the other side does not include a portion that does not contact the wiper plug 300 and thus has the content wiped off. Such a structure can be implemented, for example, by forming the wiper hole 315 as a slit with the end portions having identical shapes and forming the side portion 554′ on one side in a shape and/or size that does not correspond to the end portion of the slit while forming the side portion 554″ on the other side in a shape that does correspond to the end portion of the slit. Alternatively, such a structure can be implemented by having a wiper member 360 or another separate component of the wiper plug 300 press against the side portion 554″ of the stick part 550 on the other side of the wiper hole 315.

In an embodiment of the invention, one or more concave recess 557 can be formed in the flat portions 552. A concave recess 557 can be a recess formed in the surface of a flat portion 552. When the spatula 500 is separated from the wiper plug 300, the inner side of a concave recess 557 formed in a flat portion 552 would not contact the wiper member 360, and therefore the content contained within the concave recess 557 may not be removed. Thus, at least a portion of the coated surface can be formed in the concave recess 557. In FIG. 9, the hatched portions represent portions where the coated surface can be formed.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the concave recess 557 is formed at a position close to the end portion of the stick part 550 corresponding to the opposite side of the grip part 510. This makes it possible to have content filled in the concave recess 557 even when there is little content remaining in the holding space 105. Also, it can be advantageous to have the concave recess 557 formed in a horizontal direction (i.e., the left-right direction in FIG. 9) rather than a vertical direction (i.e., the up-down direction in FIG. 9) in the stick part 550, since the content filled in the concave recess 557 would more easily flow down if the concave recess 557 is formed in a vertical direction. Of course, the shape and number of concave recesses 557 formed in the flat portions 552 can be varied as necessary.

The side portions 554 are portions formed on the left and right sides of the stick part 550. According to an embodiment of the invention, the stick part 550 can be configured such that at least one of the side portions 554 on both sides does not contact the wiper plug 300 and thus has content remaining when the spatula 500 is separated from the wiper plug 300.

To this end, in an embodiment of the invention, the length of the wiper hole 315 in the left-right direction can be greater than the length of the stick part 550 in the left-right direction. While the stick part 550 is inserted in the wiper hole 315, the flat portions 552 of the stick part 550 can contact the wiper members 360, etc., of the wiper plug 300, but at least one of the left side portion and right side portion can be formed not to contact any part of the wiper plug 300.

FIG. 10 is a top view conceptually illustrating the shapes of the wiper hole 315 and the stick part 550 in a spatula-mounted container 1100 according to the first disclosed embodiment of the invention. In the example illustrated in FIG. 10, the end portion of the wiper hole 315 is shaped as an arc, and the side portion 554 of the stick part 550 is also shaped as an arc. However, the radius of curvature of the arc formed by the side portion 554 of the stick part 550 is smaller than the radius of curvature of the arc formed by the end portion of the wiper hole 315. Thus, even though the length of the stick part 550 with respect to the left-right direction is the same as the length of the wiper hole 315 implemented as a slit, there are portions on the side portion 554 that do not contact the wiper plug 300, and therefore at least a portion of the coated surface can be formed on the side portion 554.

FIG. 11 is a top view conceptually illustrating the shapes of the wiper hole 315 and the stick part 550 in a spatula-mounted container 1100 according to another embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the two side portions on both sides can have a cross section corresponding to a polygon, and at least a portion of both end portions of the wiper hole 315 implemented as a slit can have a shape corresponding to an arc. Here, reference to the side portion 554 having a cross section corresponding to a polygon is intended to mean that the portion excluding the front and rear flat portions 552 forms a polygon, as is the case in FIG. 11. In cases where the end portion of the wiper hole 315 is at least partially shaped as an arc or some other curved figure while the side portion 554 is shaped as a polygon, the side portions 554 can include portions that do not contact the wiper hole 315, even if the left and right end portions of the stick part 550 do contact the wiper hole 315, and thus there can be content remaining on the portions of the side portion 554.

A structure such as that described above in which at least a portion of the side portion 554 does not contact the wiper plug 300 also makes it possible for air to enter and exit the holding space 105, so that the problem of the user experiencing difficulty in coupling and separating the spatula 500 due to a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the holding space 105 can be avoided.

The overcap 700 is a part that is separably coupled to the container body 100. When the content of the spatula-mounted container 1100 is not being used, the overcap 700 can be coupled to the container body 100 to aid the sealing of the holding space 105. When the user wishes to use the content, the user can separate the overcap 700 and expose the grip part 510 of the spatula 500. The overcap 700 can include an upper face 710 and a side wall 720. On the inner surface of the side wall 720, one or more indentations and/or protrusions can be formed for coupling with the container body 100. For instance, in the example illustrated in FIG. 2, a female thread 722 is formed in the inner surface of the overcap 700, so that the female thread 722 can mate with the male thread 132 of the container body 100.

The overall length of the overcap 700 with respect to the up-down direction can be designed such that, when the overcap 700 is fully coupled to the container body 100, the lower surface of the upper face 710 contacts the upper portion of the grip part 510 of the spatula 500. Thus, when the overcap 700 is coupled to the container body 100, the upper face 710 of the overcap 700 can press down on the grip part 510, and the grip part 510 can block the wiper hole 315 of the wiper plug 300 as it is pressed down by the cover part 310, thereby preventing any leakage of the content through the wiper hole 315.

In the following, a more detailed description is provided on a method of using a spatula-mounted container 1100 according to an embodiment of the invention.

As described above, the wiper plug 300 may seal the opening of the container body 100, and when the overcap 700 is in a coupled state, the overcap 700 may press down on the grip part 510 to seal the wiper hole 315. Therefore, while the overcap 700 is in a coupled state, the content within the holding space 105 may not leak to the outside. The stick part 550 of the spatula 500 may be positioned within the holding space 105 through the wiper hole 315, and the content in the holding space 105 may adhere to the surfaces of the stick part 550.

When the user wishes to use the content of the spatula-mounted container 1100, the user can first separate the overcap 700. When the overcap 700 is separated, the grip part 510 within can be exposed. The user can grip the grip part 510 and separate the spatula 500 from the wiper plug 300. Since the stick part 550 is inserted in the wiper hole 315, the user can separate the spatula 500 by pulling the spatula 500 up by a distance corresponding to the length of the stick part 550.

As the stick part 550 is thus being pulled up, the wiper members 360 of the wiper plug 300 may press against certain portions of the stick part 550, causing the content to be wiped off these portions, but may not press against certain other portions of the stick part 550, causing the content to remain on these portions. For example, the flat portions 552 formed on the front and/or rear sides of the stick part 550 may be pressed against the wiper members 360, so that the content may be wiped off from the flat portions 552, whereas at least a portion of the side portions 554 of the stick part 550 may not contact the wiper plug 300, so that the content may not be wiped off and may remain on the side portions 554.

Even if the wiper plug 300 does not directly contact the side portions 554 of the stick part 550, the wiper plug 300 can be positioned relatively close such that some of the content remaining on the side portions 554 can contact a portion around the wiper hole 315, etc., and be removed by surface tension. In cases where a concave recess 557 is formed in a flat portion 552 of the stick part 550, there may be remaining content present within the concave recess 557 also.

As described above, the stick part 550 can be configured such that the content remains on the side portions 554 of both sides or can be configured such that the content remains only on one of the side portions 554 of both sides. In cases where the content is to remain on the side portion 554 on one side only, the side portion 554 on one side can fully contact the wiper plug 300, whereas the side portion 554 on the other side can include a portion that does not contact the wiper plug 300.

When the user separates the spatula 500 from the wiper plug 300, there may not be much content adhered to the flat portions 552, which form the major parts of the stick part 550, and there may be content adhered only to the side portions 554 and concave recesses 557 of the stick part 550. The user can apply this slight amount of content to the target area, for example by spreading the content with a flat portion 552 of the stick part 550.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a spatula-mounted container 1200 according to a second disclosed embodiment of the invention. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the spatula-mounted container 1200 shown in FIG. 12 as cut along the front-rear direction, and FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the spatula-mounted container 1200 shown in FIG. 12 as cut along the left-right direction.

A spatula-mounted container 1200 based on the second disclosed embodiment of the invention may have many features in common with the spatula-mounted container 1100 based on the first disclosed embodiment described above. The descriptions below will focus more on the differences of the spatula-mounted container 1200 based on the second disclosed embodiment. Certain features described with reference to the first disclosed embodiment can just as well be applied to the second disclosed embodiment, and likewise certain features described with reference to the second disclosed embodiment can just as well be applied to the first disclosed embodiment. In describing the second disclosed embodiment, certain reference numerals are intended to indicate corresponding components of the components in the first disclosed embodiment to which said numerals are designated.

Referring to FIGS. 12 to 14, in a spatula-mounted container 1200 based on the second disclosed embodiment of the invention, the container body 100 can be implemented in the form of a tube made from a flexible material. In such cases, the container body 100 can include a neck 130 and a tube part 140 coupled together, and the holding space 105 can be formed on the inner side of the tube part 140.

Similarly to a common tube for a cosmetic, the tube part 140 can be fabricated from a material including a synthetic resin such as PE (polyethylene), a metal such as aluminum, or others, and can be fabricated in a thickness that can be deformed by a pressure exerted by the user. The neck 130 can be fabricated from a material such as PP (polypropylene), etc., that can provide a sufficient strength for supporting the wiper plug 300 in a stable manner and permitting a separable coupling of the overcap 700. The neck 130 can be coupled to an upper portion of the tube part 140.

A linearly shaped seam 142 can be formed on a lower portion of the tube part 140, in a manner similar to that of a common cosmetic tube. In cases where the wiper hole 315 is implemented in the form of a slit that extends along the left-right direction and the stick part 550 also has a cross section that extends more along the left-right direction compared to the front-rear direction in the spatula-mounted container 1200, it can be advantageous to have the seam 142 extend along the left-right direction as well. This would allow the front and rear surfaces of the tube part 140 to have a larger area than that of the side surfaces, as depicted in FIGS. 12 to 14, and would induce the user to press the front and rear surfaces of the tube part 140 when applying pressure on the tube part 140.

If the container body 100 is thus fabricated as a tube made from a flexible material, it can be easier to use the content even after the amount of content (not shown) remaining in the holding space 105 has become very little. For example, with a structure in which the container body 100 is made from a rigid material that cannot be deformed, it would be difficult to get the content onto the portions of the stick part 550 of the spatula 500 that are above the level of the content within the holding space 105. That is, if the level of the content in the holding space 105 only reaches 1/10 of the height of the holding space 105, then the content would not remain adhered to the stick part 550 at portions above the 1/10 height of the holding space 105 regardless of whether or not the surfaces of the stick part 550 contact the wiper plug 300.

In contrast, in cases where the container body 100 includes a tube part 140 that can be deformed by an applied pressure, the user can have the content adhered uniformly on the stick part 550, even when the level of content holding space 105 is relatively low, by slightly lifting the spatula 500 such that the grip part 510 does not fully close the wiper hole 315 and then pressing and compacting the tube part 140. If the user then pulls out the spatula 500, the surplus amount of content adhered to the stick part 550 can be wiped off onto the wiper members 360, and a suitable amount of content can be obtained on the coated surface of the stick part 550.

FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 illustrate the wiper plug 300 of a spatula-mounted container 1200 according to the second disclosed embodiment of the invention as seen from below and above, respectively.

A wiper plug 300 based on the second disclosed embodiment of the invention is generally similar to a wiper plug 300 based on the first disclosed embodiment described above and can include a cover part 310, a plug part 330, a passage part 350, and wiper members 360. Obviously, a wiper plug 300 based on the second disclosed embodiment can be used in a spatula-mounted container 1100 based on the first disclosed embodiment.

In the first disclosed embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, contact grooves 134 are formed in the inner perimeter of the neck 130 of the container body 100 so as to allow the plug part 330 to press against the inner perimeter of the neck 130 more fully and over a greater contact area for an increased sealing performance. To provide a similar function, in the second disclosed embodiment of the invention, the neck 130 of the container body 100 can have a smooth surface, and contact protrusions 334 can be formed on the outer perimeter of the plug part 330 of the wiper plug 300. As the plug part 330 includes the contact protrusions 334 and is fabricated from a flexible material, the contact protrusions 334 allow the plug part 330 to press against the inner perimeter of the neck 130 more tightly, thereby increasing the sealing performance. Of course, certain embodiments of the invention can have one or more contact grooves 134 formed in the inner perimeter of the neck 130 as well as one or more contact protrusions 334 provided on the outer perimeter of the plug part 330.

As described above, in cases where the wiper hole 315 is implemented in the form of a slit according to an embodiment of the invention, the wiper plug 300 can be formed such that at least one of the left and right side portions 554 of the stick part 550 does not contact the wiper plug 300. For this, a structure can be used in which the wiper members 360 and the wiper hole 315 have consistent shapes while the side portions 554 of the stick part 550 have shapes different from that of the wiper hole 315, as in the examples illustrated in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, or a structure can be used in which the wiper members 360 and the wiper hole 315 themselves have inconsistent shapes, as in the example illustrated in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16.

Referring to FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, in the wiper plug 300 of a spatula-mounted container 1200 based on the second disclosed embodiment of the invention, the wiper hole 315 may be formed on an inner side of the passage part 350, and the wiper members 360 may protrude inward from the inner side of the passage part 350, but the wiper members 360 may be formed in a length that is shorter than that of the slit forming the wiper hole 315 along the left-right direction.

FIG. 17 is a top view conceptually illustrating the shapes of the wiper hole 315 and the stick part 550 in such a structure. Since the length of the wiper members 360 along the left-right direction is smaller than the length of the wiper hole 315, there are portions of the wiper hole 315 that are not adjacent to the wiper members 360. When the spatula 500 is pulled out by the user, the parts on the surfaces of the stick part 550 that pass through such portions where there is no wiper member 360 would not have the content wiped off. That is, at least a portion of the coated surface, on which the content remains, can also be formed on at least one flat portion 552 on the front surface and rear surface of the stick part 550. In the example illustrated in FIG. 17, the coated surface would include the side portion 554 shown in the figure as well as the adjacent parts of the flat portions 552 on the front and rear surfaces.

The examples illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 17 depict the parts where the wiper members 360 are omitted as being positioned at the end portion of the wiper hole 315 on one side. However, in other embodiments of the invention not shown in the drawings, the part where the wiper members 360 are omitted can be positioned at a middle portion of the wiper hole 315.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a spatula-mounted container 1300 according to a third disclosed embodiment of the invention. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the spatula-mounted container 1300 shown in FIG. 18 as cut along the front-rear direction, and FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the spatula-mounted container 1300 shown in FIG. 18 as cut along the left-right direction. FIG. 21 illustrates the wiper plug 300 of the spatula-mounted container 1300, and FIG. 22 illustrates the spatula 500 of the spatula-mounted container 1300.

A spatula-mounted container 1300 based on the third disclosed embodiment of the invention may have many features in common with the spatula-mounted containers 1100, 1200 based on the first and second disclosed embodiments described above. The descriptions below will focus more on the differences of the spatula-mounted container 1300 based on the third disclosed embodiment. Certain features described with reference to the first or second disclosed embodiment can just as well be applied to the third disclosed embodiment, and likewise certain features described with reference to the third disclosed embodiment can just as well be applied to the first or second disclosed embodiment. In describing the third disclosed embodiment, certain reference numerals are intended to indicate corresponding components of the components in the first and/or second disclosed embodiment to which said numerals are designated.

A spatula-mounted container 1300 based on the third disclosed embodiment can be particularly useful in cases where the container 1300 is manufactured in a smaller size and the amount of content held in the holding space 105 is smaller compared to the containers 1100, 1200 based on the other embodiments described above. Referring to FIGS. 18 to 20, a spatula-mounted container 1300 according to the third disclosed embodiment of the invention can include a container body 100, a wiper plug 300, a spatula 500, and an overcap 700.

The side wall 120 of the container body 100 can be made from any of a variety of materials. In cases where a spatula-mounted cosmetic container 1300 according to an embodiment of the invention is for holding a colored content such as a concealer or a blush, etc., the side wall 120 of the container body 100 can be fabricated from a transparent material, so that the color of the content held inside can be perceived from the outside, and the cosmetic container 1300 can have a more aesthetic appearance.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 18, the part of the container body 100 corresponding to the neck 130 can have a shape different from that of the part corresponding to the side wall 120. That is, the neck 130 can be generally shaped as a cylinder, whereas the side wall 120 can be generally shaped similarly to a parallelepiped. Also, the neck 130 of the container body 100 can be formed with a width smaller than the width of the side wall 120. As a result, a ledge 126 can be formed at a lower portion of the neck 130 where the side wall 120 meets the neck 130. One or more stopper protrusions 128 that limit the range of rotation of the overcap 700 can be formed on the neck 130 of the container body 100.

The holding space 105 within the container body 100 can maintain a generally uniform shape on the inner sides of the neck 130 and the side wall 120 of the container body 100. That is, the inner diameter of the neck 130 and the inner diameter of the side wall 120 can be the same as or similar to each other. Of course, in certain embodiments, the opening on the inner side of the neck 130 can be narrower than the holding space 105 on the inner side of the side wall 120.

In a spatula-mounted container 1300 based on the third disclosed embodiment of the invention, the spatula 500 and the overcap 700 can be coupled together to be used in an integrated form. Therefore, in this embodiment, the grip part 510 of the spatula 500 may not be the part directly gripped by the user but rather can correspond to a part that is coupled with the overcap 700. When the user wishes to use the spatula 500, the user can grip the overcap 700, to which the grip part 510 is coupled. As illustrated in FIG. 22, the grip part 510 can include a head part 520, a flange 530, and a coupling part 540. Also, whereas the stick part 550 of the spatula 500 has a generally flat shape in the embodiments described above, the stick part 550 of the spatula 500 in a spatula-mounted container 1300 based on the third disclosed embodiment of the invention can be composed of a rod 560 and a blade 570, with only the blade 570 formed in a flat shape.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view illustrating the spatula 500 in a spatula-mounted container 1300 according to the third disclosed embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 22, a spatula 500 according to an embodiment of the invention can include a head part 520, a flange 530, a coupling part 540, a rod 560, and a blade 570. Here, the head part 520, flange 530, and coupling part 540 can form the grip part 510, while the rod 560 and the blade 570 can form the stick part 550.

The head part 520 can be formed on an upper portion of the rod 560 and can have a diameter larger than that of the wiper hole 315 of the wiper plug 300. A lower portion of the head part 520 can form an inclined part 522, which becomes narrower towards the bottom. While the spatula 500 is in a coupled state with respect to the wiper plug 300, the head part 520 can be positioned on the inner side of the plug part 330 of the wiper plug 300. In certain embodiments not shown in the drawings, the outer perimeter of the head part 520 can be pressed against the inner perimeter of the plug part 310. Also, in certain embodiments not shown in the drawings, the inclined part 522 forming the lower portion of the head part 520 can be pressed against the inner side of the passage part 350. In such structures, the spatula 500 can aid in sealing the wiper hole 315 more airtightly.

The flange 530 can protrude outward from an upper portion of the head part 520. When the overcap 700 coupled to the spatula 500 is coupled to the neck 130 of the container body 100, the flange 530 of the spatula 500 can press the flange 340 of the wiper plug 300 downward.

The coupling part 540 can protrude upward from the flange 530 and can be used for the coupling between the spatula 500 and the overcap 700. One or more indentations and/or protrusions can be formed on the coupling part 540 for the coupling with the overcap 700. In the example illustrated in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, a coupling protrusion 542 is formed on the outer surface of the coupling part 540, and a coupling groove 725 is formed in the inner surface of the overcap 700. The coupling protrusion 542 can be inserted into the coupling groove 725, so that the spatula 500 may be coupled to the overcap 700.

As in the example illustrated in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, the coupling groove 725 formed in the overcap 700 and the coupling protrusion 542 formed on the spatula 500 can be formed in an annular shape. This structure allows the grip part 510 of the spatula 500 to rotate relative to the overcap 700. When the user rotates the overcap 700 to separate the overcap 700 that is screw-joined onto the container body 100, the spatula 500 can thus be made to remain stationary without rotating if necessary. If the spatula 500 is unrotatably secured to the overcap 700 and hence is rotated together with the overcap 700, there is a risk of unnecessary friction at the points of contact between the rod 560 and the wiper member 360 or between the wiper plug 300 and the neck 130. Such friction can lower the sealing performance of the spatula-mounted container 1300 in sealing the holding space 105.

The rod 560, which is a portion of the stick part 550, can extend down from a lower portion of the grip part 510 and can have an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the wiper hole 315. That is, in the spatula-mounted container 1300 based on the third disclosed embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 18 to 21, the wiper hole 315 can be implemented in a circular shape, and the rod 560 can have a circular cross section in a shape and size corresponding to those of the wiper hole 315.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a venting groove 563 can be formed in the outer perimeter of the rod 560. The venting groove 563 can be formed along the outer perimeter of the rod 560 to have an annular shape, and at the part where the venting groove 563 is formed, the outer diameter of the rod 560 can be smaller than the inner diameter of the wiper hole 315. While the spatula 500 is in a coupled state with respect to the wiper plug 300, the venting groove 563 can be positioned below the wiper member 360.

Since the rod 560 has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the wiper hole 315, the rod 560 can seal the wiper hole 315 while the spatula 500 is in a coupled state with the wiper plug 300. In a structure where there is no venting groove 563 formed in the rod 560, when the user pulls out the spatula 500, the wiper hole 315 would remain sealed until the entire rod 560 is completely pulled out over the wiper hole 315. This would continuously decrease the pressure within the holding space 105 and make it gradually more difficult to pull out the spatula 500. In cases where a venting groove 563 is formed in the rod 560 according to an embodiment of the invention, a gap may be formed between the rod 560 and the wiper plug 300 when the venting groove 563 passes through the wiper hole 315, thus allowing air to enter the holding space 105 through the gap and allowing the interior of the holding space 105 to return to normal pressure.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the venting groove 563 can be formed directly below the wiper member 360. Specifically, the position of the venting groove 563 can be between the wiper member 360 and the surface level of the content (not shown) when the content (not shown) is first filled in the holding space 105. This can prevent the content from entering the venting groove 563 and being pulled out through the venting groove 563 when the spatula 500 is pulled out. Although the example illustrated in FIGS. 18 to 22 depict only one venting groove 563 formed in the rod 560 of the spatula 500, it is possible, in certain other embodiments of the invention, to have more than one venting groove 563 formed in the rod 560. However, in cases where the spatula-mounted container 1300 is provided in a small size, it can be sufficient to have just one venting groove 563 formed above the level of the content as described above.

In a lower portion of the rod 560, an insertion recess 565 can be formed for coupling the blade 570. This can be used in cases where the blade 570 and the rod 560 are fabricated separately and coupled together, for instance when they are made from different materials, etc. For example, in an embodiment of the invention, the rod 560 can be fabricated from a material such as PP, etc., and the blade 570 can be fabricated from a material such as stainless steel, etc., before the rod 560 and blade 570 are coupled to each other. Of course, in certain embodiments, the rod 560 and the blade 570 can both be fabricated from the same material, such as PP, etc., in which case the rod 560 and the blade 570 can be fabricated as a single integrated member.

The blade 570 can extend down from the bottom of the rod 560 and can have a width that is smaller than the inner diameter of the wiper hole 315 with respect to at least one direction within a horizontal plane. For instance, in the example illustrated in FIG. 19, which is a cross-sectional view of the spatula-mounted container 1300 as cut along the front-rear direction, the width of the blade 570 is smaller than the inner diameter of the wiper hole 315 with respect to the front-rear direction.

Incidentally, the width of the blade 570 along the left-right direction is also slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the wiper hole 315 in the example illustrated in FIG. 20, which is a cross-sectional view of the spatula-mounted container 1300 as cut along the left-right direction. However, as long as the blade 570 has a width smaller than the inner diameter of the wiper hole 315 along at least one direction within a horizontal plane, it can be possible for the blade 570 to pass through the wiper hole 315 even if the width of the blade 570 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the wiper hole 315 in another direction within the same horizontal plane, since the wiper member 360 of the wiper plug 300 may be made from an elastically deformable material.

In cases where the wiper hole 315 is formed in a circular shape as in the third disclosed embodiment of the invention, the wiper plug 300 can be structured slightly differently from the wiper plug 300 of the first and second disclosed embodiments in which the wiper hole 315 is formed in the shape of a slit.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional perspective view illustrating the wiper plug 300 in a spatula-mounted container 1300 according to the third disclosed embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 21, the wiper plug 300 can include a plug part 330, a flange 340, a passage part 350, and a wiper member 360.

In the third disclosed embodiment, the plug part 330 can form the main part of the wiper plug 300 and can be generally shaped as a hollow cylinder. The outer diameter of the plug part 330 can correspond to the inner diameter of the neck 130 of the container body 100. The plug part 330 can be formed from a flexible material such as PE, etc., and one or more contact protrusions 334 can be formed on the outer perimeter. When the wiper plug 300 is coupled to the neck 130 of the container body 100, the outer perimeter of the plug part 330 can press against the inner perimeter of the neck 130, and as slight elastic deformations occur at the contact protrusions 334, the interface at the wiper plug 300 and the neck 130 can be sealed with a high level of airtightness. The plug part 330 can be formed with a thickness that provides a sufficient level of strength such that no significant elastic deformations occur at portions other than the contact protrusions 334.

The flange 340 can protrude outward from an upper portion of the plug part 330. The flange 340 allows the wiper plug 300 to be more securely coupled to the neck 130 of the container body 100, while also allowing the user to grip the wiper plug 300 more easily when the user wishes to separate the wiper plug 300. The flange 340 may be similar to the cover part 310 in the wiper plug 300 of the first and second disclosed embodiments described above and can be regarded as a cover part 310 from which the portions on the inner side of the plug part 330 have been omitted.

The passage part 350 is a part having a decreasing diameter at a lower portion of the plug part 330. The passage part 350 can have a thickness that is generally the same as or similar to that of the plug part 330. The wiper member 360 portion may be formed with a smaller thickness relative to other portions of the wiper plug 300 and may form the wiper hole 315 on its inner side, which has a smaller inner diameter compared to the passageway of the plug part 330. The passage part 350 may maintain a sufficient strength while supporting the wiper member 360, so that the wiper member 360 may provide only a slight degree of elastic deformation within the required range. In certain embodiments of the invention, the passage part 350 can be omitted or replaced with a component of another shape.

The wiper member 360 is a part that protrudes inward from the plug part 330 to form the wiper hole 315 on its inner side. That is, the wiper member 360 can have a decreasing outer diameter and a decreasing inner diameter to protrude inward from the plug part 330. Although the example illustrated in FIGS. 19 to 21 has the wiper member 360 protruding inward from the bottom of the passage part 350, the wiper member 360 does not necessarily have to be provided on a lower portion of the wiper plug 300.

As illustrated in FIG. 21, the wiper member 360 can have a smaller thickness compared to the thicknesses of the plug part 330, flange 340, and passage part 350 and hence can better undergo elastic deformation. When the spatula 500 is coupled to the wiper plug 300, the rod 560 portion of the spatula 500 may pass through the wiper hole 315, at which time the wiper member 360 can press against the outer perimeter of the rod 560. As the plug part 330 of the wiper plug 300 presses against the neck 130 of the container body 100 and the wiper member 360 presses against the rod 560 of the spatula 500, the holding space 105 of the container body 100 can be sealed from the exterior in an airtight manner.

If the wiper hole 315 is formed in a circular shape, the rod has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the wiper hole 315, and the blade 570 has a width that is smaller than the inner diameter of the wiper hole 315 as in the third disclosed embodiment of the invention, the wiper member 360 may wipe off the content from the rod 560 but may not wipe off the content from the blade 570 when the user pulls out the spatula 500. That is, in this embodiment, at least a portion of the coated surface can be formed on the blade 570, and at least a portion of the non-coated surface can be formed on the rod 560.

Referring to FIG. 20 and FIG. 22, the blade 570 can have a flat shape with rounded or chamfered edges. When facing a flat portion 552 of the blade 570, the edges of the blade 570 can include a first side 571, a second side 572, a third side 573, and a round point 574.

The first side 571 on one side of the blade 570 can form a side portion 554 by itself. That is, the first side 571 can extend along the up-down direction while forming one side of the blade 570, as illustrated in FIG. 20 and FIG. 22. The second side 572 can form a side portion 554 together with the third side 573 at the other side of the blade 570. The second side 572 can extend along the up-down direction while forming the other side of the blade 570 and can extend to a length smaller than that of the first side 571. The third side 573 can extend inwardly in a sloped manner from the bottom of the second side 572. The third side 573 and the first side 571 can be joined at the round point 574.

As the blade 570 of the spatula 500 is shaped as above, the user can utilize the spatula 500 in various ways using different portions of the blade 570. For instance, in cases where the user wishes to spread the content over a relatively broad area, the user may apply the content onto a target area using the first side 571. In case where the user wishes to spread the content in a relatively narrow area, the user may apply the content onto a target area using the third side 573. In case where the user wishes to apply the content as a dot, the user may apply the content onto a target area using the round point 574.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view illustrating a spatula-mounted container 1400 according to a fourth disclosed embodiment of the invention. FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the spatula-mounted container 1400 as cut along the front-rear direction, and FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the spatula-mounted container 1400 as cut along the left-right direction.

A spatula-mounted container 1400 based on the fourth disclosed embodiment of the invention may have many features in common with the spatula-mounted containers 1100˜1300 based on the first, second, and third disclosed embodiments described above. The descriptions below will focus more on the differences of the spatula-mounted container 1400 based on the fourth disclosed embodiment. Certain features described with reference to the first, second, or third disclosed embodiment can just as well be applied to the fourth disclosed embodiment, and likewise certain features described with reference to the fourth disclosed embodiment can just as well be applied to the first, second, or third disclosed embodiment. In describing the fourth disclosed embodiment, certain reference numerals are intended to indicate corresponding components of the components in the first, second, and/or third disclosed embodiment to which said numerals are designated.

Referring to FIGS. 23 to 25, in spatula-mounted container 1400 based on the fourth disclosed embodiment of the invention, the container body 100 can be formed with a cross section that is elongated along a particular direction within a horizontal plane, having an elliptical shape in particular. Regarding the direction in which the stick part 550 of the spatula 500 is elongated within a horizontal plane as the left-right direction as described above, the container body 100 can be elongated along the front-rear direction. That is, the container body 100 can be formed such that the length along the front-rear direction is greater than the width along the left-right direction. In this case, the side wall 120 of the container body 100 can have a broadly curved face 122, which is curved with a relatively larger radius of curvature, formed on each of the left and right sides and a narrowly curved face 124, which is curved with a relatively smaller radius of curvature, formed on each of the front and rear surfaces.

In order to reinforce the container body 100 that is formed in an elliptical shape, the spatula-mounted container 1400 can further include a shoulder part 600. The shoulder part 600 can include a cover part 610 and a side wall 620 and can be coupled to an upper portion of the container body 100. A through hole 615 through which the neck 130 of the container body 100 may pass can be formed in the shoulder part 600, and indentations 613 through which the stopper protrusions 128 of the container body 100 may pass can also be formed as necessary, joined with the through hole 615.

In the spatula-mounted container 1400, the overcap 700 can also have an elongated shape along the front-rear direction in correspondence with the container body 100. In the example illustrated in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25, the overcap 700 is composed of an inner cap 800 and an outer cap 900 that are assembled together for easier manufacture.

The inner cap 800 can be coupled to the inner side of the outer cap 900. The inner cap 800 can include an upper part 810, a side wall 820, a lower part 830, and an outer flange 840. While the overcap 700 is in a fully coupled state with respect to the container body 100, the upper part 810 of the inner cap 800 can contact an upper portion of the grip part 510. The side wall 820 of the inner cap 800 can extend down from the upper part 810, and a protrusion such as a female thread 722, etc., can be formed on the inner surface of the side wall 820.

The lower part 830 of the inner cap 800 can extend outward from a lower portion of the side wall 820 and can form a lower portion of the overcap 700. Stopper protrusions 836 can be formed on the lower part 830 of the inner cap 800. When the overcap 700 is fully coupled to the container body 100, the stopper protrusions 836 of the inner cap 800 can be caught on the stopper protrusions 128 of the container body 100 so as to prevent any further rotation.

The outer flange 840 of the inner cap 800 can be used for the coupling between the inner cap 800 and the outer cap 900. The outer flange 840 can, for instance, be fitted into a coupling indentation 940 formed in the inner surface of the side wall 920 of the outer cap 900. Other indentations and/or protrusions for coupling the inner cap 800 with the outer cap 900 can additionally be formed on the outer flange 840.

The outer cap 900 can be coupled to an outer side of the inner cap 800 to form a part of the overcap 700 and a part of exterior of the entire container 1400. The outer cap 900 can include an upper part 910 and a side wall 920, where the side wall 920 of the outer cap 900 can have a shape corresponding to that of the side wall 120 of the container body 100, so that the spatula-mounted container 1400 may have a consistent exterior. As described above, a coupling indentation 940 can be formed in the side wall 920 of the outer cap 900 for coupling with the inner cap 800, and other indentations and/or protrusions for the same purpose can also be formed additionally.

In cases where the container body 100 is elongated in a particular direction as in an embodiment of the invention, there is the advantage that the container body 100 can be stored in a recumbent position. For example, FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view conceptually illustrating a spatula-mounted container 1400 according to the fourth disclosed embodiment of the invention. Whereas in FIGS. 23 to 25 the spatula-mounted container 1400 is oriented with the bottom face 110 facing downward, in FIG. 26 the spatula-mounted container 1400 is laid down with the side wall 120 facing downward, with a broadly curved face 122 of the side wall 120 in particular facing downward. As the container body 100 is in a recumbent position, the content 1 held within the holding space 105 may gather at the bottom of the recumbent container body 100.

If the container body 100 is formed such that its length along the front-rear direction is greater than its width along the left-right direction and the stick part 550 of the spatula 500 coupled to the wiper plug 300 is formed such that its length along the left-right direction is greater than its width along the front-rear direction, then when the container body 100 is laid down, one side of the stick part 550 can be stood erect such that the side portion 554 on one side faces down, as illustrated in FIG. 26. Therefore, even if the level of the content 1 becomes low within the holding space 105 after the content of the spatula-mounted container 1400 is used for prolonged periods, the content may still adhere to the entirety of a side portion 554, as the stick part 550 stands erect with said side portion 554 facing downward.

In particular, in cases where the container body 100 has an elliptical cross section as in the example illustrated in FIGS. 23 to 26, laying the container body 100 down would cause the broadly curved face 122 to face down rather than the narrowly curved face 124. Also, in cases where the holding space 105 inside the container body 100 also has an elliptical cross section as in the example illustrated in FIGS. 23 to 26, the content 1 may gather at the bottom to be collected near the stick part 550 positioned in the middle.

In a spatula-mounted container 1400 according to another embodiment of the invention, a securing groove 125 can be formed in the inner surface of the side wall 120 of the container body 100. For example, FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view conceptually illustrating a spatula-mounted container 1400 according to an embodiment of the invention. Similarly to the example illustrated in FIG. 26, the spatula-mounted container 1400 shown in FIG. 27 is also laid down with a broadly curved face 122 of the side wall 120 facing downward, and the content 1 held within the holding space 105 is gathered at the bottom of the recumbent container body 100.

In an embodiment of the invention, the securing groove 125 can be formed in the inner surface in a broadly curved face 122 of the side wall 120. The side wall 120 and neck 130 of the container body 100 as well as the wiper plug 300 can be designed such that a side portion 554 of the stick part 550 in the spatula 500 coupled to the wiper hole 315 may be inserted into the securing groove 125 formed in the side wall 120. For instance, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 27, the position of the neck 130 itself can be designed to be closer to the side wall 120 on one side compared to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 26, the wiper hole 315 formed in the wiper plug 300 can be designed to be closer to the side wall 120 on one side, or the holding space itself can be designed so as not to be aligned with the opening on the inner side of the neck 130.

This structure in which a side portion 554 of the stick part 550 on a spatula 500 coupled to the wiper hole 315 is inserted into a securing groove 125 can not only secure the spatula 500 in a more stable manner but can also cause the content to flow into the securing groove 125 when the container body 100 is laid down, thereby increasing the likelihood of the content 1 adhering to the corresponding side portion 554 of the stick part 550.

Referring to FIG. 23 and FIG. 26, in an embodiment of the invention, cut surfaces 556 can be formed in the stick part 550 of the spatula 500. One or more cut surfaces 556 can be formed in the front surface and/or rear surface of the stick part 550. A cut surface 556 refers to a surface having a decreasing thickness compared to the flat portion 552 of the stick part 550 and thus shaped as if a portion has been cut away. Here, the term “cut surface” is intended merely to depict the shape. That is, the stick part 550 may not necessarily undergo an actual cutting process and, for instance, can be molded into a shape that includes a cut surface.

FIG. 28 is a top view conceptually illustrating the shapes of the wiper hole 315 and the stick part 550 in a spatula-mounted container 1400 according to the fourth disclosed embodiment of the invention.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 28, the wiper hole 315 has a generally uniform width along the left-right direction, whereas a cut surface 556 is formed in the surface of the stick part 550. Since the thickness of the stick part 550 is decreased at the cut surface 556, the wiper member 360 may not contact the cut surface 556, and the content adhered to the cut surface 556 may not be wiped off by the wiper member 360. As a result, at least a portion of the coated surface can include the cut surfaces 556, while the non-coated surface can include the flat portions 552 where the cut surfaces 556 are not formed.

Although the example illustrated in FIG. 28 has the cut surface 556 formed only on one side at the end portion on one side of the stick part 550, it is possible to have the cut surface 556 formed at the end portions on both sides of the stick part 550 as in FIG. 26, and it is possible to have cut surfaces 556 formed on both surfaces at the end portion on one side. For instance, having a side portion 554 of the stick part 550 implemented in a polygonal shape, as depicted in FIG. 11, can also be regarded as having cut surfaces 556 formed in the stick part 550. Of course, certain embodiments can have the cut surfaces 556 formed in both surfaces at both end portions.

A spatula-mounted container 1100˜1400 based on an embodiment of the invention described above can effectively seal the holding space 105 in which the content is stored and can prevent the content that has adhered to the spatula 500 from contaminating other surrounding objects. When the content is not being used, the holding space 105 can be airtightly sealed, but when the content is being used, air may flow between the inside and outside of the holding space 105, so that the problem of the user experiencing difficulty in coupling and separating the spatula 500 due to a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the holding space 105 can be avoided.

Even though the stick part 550 of the spatula 500 is stored in the holding space 105 together with the content, the content may not adhere to the stick part 550 in an excessive amount when the user utilizes the spatula 500, so that the possibility of the content contaminating the surroundings by flowing or dripping may be significantly reduced. Conversely, the structure of a spatula-mounted container 1100˜1400 according to an embodiment of the invention can increase user convenience by allowing the content to adhere to the spatula 500 in a sufficient amount, even after the amount of content remaining in the holding space 105 has decreased.

Also, a spatula-mounted container 1100˜1400 according to certain embodiments of the invention allows the user to use up the content held in the holding space 105 as much as possible, to thereby prevent any waste of the content and reduce any environmental pollution incurred by the disposing of the remaining content.

While the foregoing provides a description with reference to an embodiment of the present invention, it should be appreciated that a person having ordinary skill in the relevant field of art would be able to make various modifications and alterations to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention set forth in the scope of claims below.