JP2017056994A - Structures and containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a structure capable of switching between reflection and transmission of light, and a container that can easily check the remaining amount of stored items even if it is light-shielding. A first transparent plate and a second transparent plate which are disposed so as to face and separate from each other, and the first transparent plate has a retroreflective structure on a surface facing the second transparent plate. The second transparent plate solves this problem by a structure having a function of filling the retroreflective structure on the surface facing the first transparent plate. [Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure that can switch between reflection and transmission of light, and a container that can easily check the remaining amount of contents using the structure.

Many cosmetics and medical products are deteriorated by light such as ultraviolet rays.
As described above, an opaque container having a light-shielding property is used for a container that accommodates what is deteriorated by light in order to prevent the content from being deteriorated.

However, in an opaque container, the contents cannot be seen from outside the container. That is, the user cannot determine the remaining amount of contents in the container.
Therefore, in cosmetics and the like using a light-shielding container, there is a problem that it is difficult for the user to properly grasp the timing of addition of contents or replacement of a new product.

As a method for solving such an inconvenience, it is conceivable to form a transparent window on the side surface of the light-shielding container and to check the remaining amount of contents from the transparent window.
However, when such a transparent window is formed, light such as ultraviolet rays always enters from here, and the contents are deteriorated by the light.

On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, a transparent window for judging the remaining amount of the contents can be formed on the side surface of the opaque container having a light shielding property, and this transparent window can be completely covered. An opaque container is described in which a label piece is detachably attached to the outside of a transparent window.
Patent Document 2 also includes an inner container having a transparent part (semi-transparent part) for storing the contents, a mounting cap attached to the mouth tube part of the inner container, and a rotationally attached to the mounting cap. A windowed container having an opaque outer container with a window at a position corresponding to the transparent part of the inner container into which the container is inserted is described.

JP 2005-119691 A JP 2006-273336 A

According to the opaque container described in Patent Document 1, the remaining amount of the contents can be confirmed by peeling the label piece as necessary while maintaining the light shielding property.
Similarly, the windowed container described in Patent Document 2 is usually kept light-shielding, and if necessary, the outer container is rotated so that the transparent part of the inner container and the window part of the outer container By matching, the contents can be confirmed.

  On the other hand, there are a wide variety of shapes and configurations of such light-shielding containers, and in addition to the known mechanisms described in these patent documents, the remaining amount of the contents of the light-shielding containers can be easily confirmed. The emergence of a new mechanism that can do this is desired.

  An object of the present invention is to solve such problems of the prior art, and a container capable of easily confirming the remaining amount of contents even if it is light-shielding, and such a container It is an object of the present invention to provide a structure that can switch between reflection and transmission of light.

In order to achieve such an object, the structure of the present invention has a first transparent plate and a second transparent plate, which are arranged to face each other and can be separated from each other, and
The first transparent plate has a retroreflective structure on the surface facing the second transparent plate,
A structure is provided in which the second transparent plate has a function of filling the retroreflective structure on the surface facing the first transparent plate.

In such a structure of the present invention, the elastic modulus of the portion of the second transparent plate that faces the first transparent plate is greater than the elastic modulus of the portion of the first transparent plate where the retroreflective structure is formed. By being low, it is preferable that the second transparent plate constitutes a function of filling the retroreflective structure.
Moreover, it is preferable that a 2nd transparent plate has a 1st layer used as an opposing surface with a 1st transparent plate, and a 2nd layer whose elastic modulus is higher than a 2nd layer.
In addition, the second transparent plate has a shape that allows the surface facing the first transparent plate in the second transparent plate to be in close contact with the surface of the retroreflective structure corresponding to the shape of the retroreflective structure. It is preferable to configure the function of filling the retroreflective structure.
Further, the retroreflective structure is preferably configured by arranging a plurality of at least one of a triangular prism and a cone.
Moreover, it is preferable that the apex angle of the triangular prism and the apex angle of the triangle perpendicular to the bottom surface passing through the apex of the cone are 80 to 100 °.
Further, it is preferable that the triangular prism is a triangular prism whose bottom surface is an isosceles triangle, and the cone is at least one of a regular pyramid and a cone.

  Moreover, the container of this invention provides the container equipped with the structure of this invention.

  In such a container of the present invention, it is preferable that the container has light shielding properties and the mounting position of the structure is transparent.

  According to the structure of the present invention, it is possible to easily switch between reflection and transmission of light. In addition, according to the container of the present invention, the remaining amount of the contents can be easily confirmed even if it is light-shielding by using the structure of the present invention.

(A) And (B) is a figure which shows notionally an example of the container of this invention using the structure of this invention. (A) And (B) is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the container of this invention. (A) And (B) is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the container of this invention. (A) And (B) is a figure which shows notionally another example of the container of this invention using the structure of this invention. It is a figure which shows notionally another example of the transparent plate utilized for the structure of this invention.

Hereinafter, the structure and container of the present invention will be described in detail based on the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
In the present specification, a numerical range expressed using “to” means a range including numerical values described before and after “to” as a lower limit value and an upper limit value.

1A and 1B conceptually show an example of the container of the present invention using the structure of the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the container 10 includes a container body 12, a lid body 14, and a remaining amount confirmation unit 16.
1A is a front view, and FIG. 1B is a side view. The front view is a view of the remaining amount confirmation portion 16 that is a feature of the present invention as viewed from the front, and the side view is 90 ° with respect to the front view of FIG. FIG. The vertical direction is a direction that becomes a vertical direction when the container 10 is placed in a normal state.

The container main body 12 is a substantially cylindrical thing which accommodates the content, and has the cylindrical discharge port for discharging | emitting a content at the upper part. In addition, a concave portion 12 a for mounting a remaining amount confirmation portion 16 to be described later is formed below the container body 12.
The lid 14 is for closing the discharge port of the container body 12 and is configured to be detachable from the cylindrical portion serving as the discharge port by a known means such as screwing or fitting using unevenness. Then, the outlet of the container body 12 is closed and opened.

The container 10 basically has various liquids such as cosmetics, medicines, foods and drinks, powders, granules, gels, and pastes, except for having the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 according to the structure of the present invention. It is a well-known container which accommodates various articles, such as a thing.
Accordingly, there is no limitation on the shape, size, configuration, forming material, and the like of the container body 12 and the lid body 14. Further, the container of the present invention is not limited to the one constituted by the container main body 12 and the lid body 14. For example, the container may have an inner lid and may discharge the contents by spraying. The opening may be opened and closed by a swinging lid that cannot be removed.

The container 10 is a container suitable for storing contents that are deteriorated by light such as ultraviolet rays, and the container body 12 has light shielding properties except for the recess 12a in which the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 is mounted. The lid 14 also has a light shielding property.
In addition, the method of making the container main body 12 and the lid 14 light-shielding is a method of applying a paint capable of imparting light-shielding properties to the container main body 12 and the lid 14. Various known methods such as a method of wrapping, a method of forming the container main body 12 and the lid 14 with a material that can ensure light shielding properties can be used.

A remaining amount confirmation unit 16 is attached below the container body 12. The remaining amount confirmation unit 16 relates to the structure of the present invention. A substantially rectangular parallelepiped recess 12 a is formed below the container body 12, and the remaining amount confirmation portion 16 is incorporated in the recess 12 a and attached to the container body 12.
As conceptually shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 in the illustrated example includes a first transparent plate 20, a second transparent plate 24, and a support member 26 having a protrusion 26a. And a guide member 30 having a long hole 30a and an urging member 32.
Moreover, in the container main body 12, in the recessed part 12a in which the residual amount confirmation part 16 is integrated, a part of side surface of the container main body 12 is the transparent part 12b. 2A and 2B, the light shielding portion of the container body 12 is hatched to clearly show the configuration.

In the example shown in FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B), the remaining amount confirmation portion 16 is inserted into the recess 12a provided in the container body 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. Not.
That is, in the container of the present invention, the remaining amount confirmation portion may be mounted on the side surface of the container body so as to be convex without providing the recess in the container body.

As an example, the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24 are transparent plates having a rectangular maximum surface, and are disposed so as to be capable of contacting and separating in the opposing direction with the maximum surface facing (facing).
The opposing surface 20a of the first transparent plate 20 facing the second transparent plate 24 has a retroreflective structure (retroreflective structure). In the illustrated example, the first transparent plate 20 is integrally molded. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a transparent retroreflective structure is attached to a transparent plate-like substrate. You may have the structure attached. In this regard, the same applies to the second transparent plate 24.
In the following description, the “facing surface 20a of the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24” is also simply referred to as “facing surface 20a” or “the facing surface 20a of the first transparent plate 20”.

As is well known, the retroreflective structure is a structure that reflects light so that incident light returns to the incident direction again.
In the illustrated example, the facing surface 20a has, as an example, a so-called prism sheet (prism structure) retroreflective structure in which long prisms (triangular prisms) are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the ridgeline. Specifically, the opposing surface 20a has a prism ridge line in the horizontal direction in FIG. 1A and in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIGS. 1B, 2A, and 2B. And a retroreflective structure in which prisms are arranged in the vertical direction in the figure. Further, the prism of the facing surface 20 a has, for example, an isosceles triangular bottom surface having an apex angle of 90 °, and is arranged with the apex angle directed toward the second transparent plate 24.
Hereinafter, the direction of the ridgeline of the prism forming the retroreflective structure, that is, the horizontal direction in FIG. 1A and the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG.

In FIG. 1A, in order to explain the retroreflective structure of the opposing surface 20a, the remaining edge confirmation unit 16 shows the ridge lines of the prisms that form the retroreflective structure on the opposing surface 20a with broken lines. .
However, as will be described later, the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 has a total reflection structure by retroreflection at normal times, and thus is visually a metallic gloss surface from the outside of the container. The first transparent plate 20 of the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 is transparent when confirming the remaining amount of contents stored in the container body 12.
Therefore, the retroreflective structure of the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 is basically not visually recognized by the user.

As described above, the second transparent plate 24 is also a transparent plate whose maximum surface is rectangular.
The opposing surface 24a of the second transparent plate 24 with respect to the first transparent plate 20 has a shape that can be in close contact with the surface of the retroreflective structure according to the shape of the retroreflective structure of the opposing surface 20a of the first transparent plate 20. Have.
In the following description, “the facing surface 24a of the second transparent plate 24 with respect to the first transparent plate 20” is also simply referred to as “the facing surface 24a” or “the facing surface 24a of the second transparent plate 24”.

As described above, the opposing surface 20a of the first transparent plate 20 has a prism sheet-like retroreflective structure in which long prisms having an apex angle of 90 ° are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the ridgeline (lateral direction). Have. Further, the ridge lines of the prisms coincide with the horizontal direction.
The opposing surface 24a of the second transparent plate 24 having a shape that can be brought into close contact with the surface of the retroreflective structure is a long prism having the same size and the same shape as the retroreflective structure of the first transparent plate 20. Are aligned in the direction perpendicular to the ridge line, and the ridge line of the prism is opposed to the first transparent plate 20 so that the concave portion and the convex portion of each other coincide with each other. The shape is shifted by a half pitch in the arrangement direction of the prisms with respect to the surface 20a. That is, the second transparent plate 24 has an opposing surface 24a on which the same retroreflective structure as the opposing surface 20a of the first transparent plate 20 is formed, and the concave and convex portions of each other coincide with each other. The retroreflective structure of the first transparent plate 20 is arranged with a half-pitch shift in the prism arrangement direction.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2B, the facing surface 24a of the second transparent plate 24 can be in close contact with the surface of the retroreflective structure of the facing surface 20a of the first transparent plate 20, and can be filled without a gap. .

The first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24 are arranged to face each other and are configured to be able to contact and separate in the facing direction so as to separate and closely contact the facing surface 20a and the facing surface 24a.
The second transparent plate 24 is fixed to the side surface of the recess 12 a of the container body 12. As described above, in the container body 12, the fixing portion of the second transparent plate 24 is the transparent portion 12b. The second transparent plate 24 can be fixed by various known methods as long as the transparency can be maintained, such as a method using a transparent adhesive or a method using a transparent double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet.

On the other hand, the first transparent plate 20 is supported by support members 26 on the upper and lower surfaces. The support member 26 is a plate-like member, and a protrusion 26a is provided on an end surface in the lateral direction.
Further, plate-like guide members 30 are provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the recess 12a of the container body 12 so as to sandwich the support member 26 in the lateral direction. The guide member 30 is formed with a long hole 30 a that is long in the opposing direction of the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24. A protrusion 26a of a support member 26 that supports the first transparent plate 20 on the upper and lower surfaces is inserted into the long hole 30a. Accordingly, the first transparent plate 20 is supported by the long hole 30a so as to be able to contact and separate in the opposing direction of the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24.

  Further, a biasing member such as a spring that biases the support member 26, that is, the first transparent plate 20 in a direction away from the second transparent plate 24, between the support member 26 and the side surface of the recess 12 a of the container body 12. 32 is provided. Accordingly, the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24 are normally separated from each other, and the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 20 are pressed by pressing the first transparent plate 20 with the finger of the user of the container 10 or the like. The transparent plate 24 can be in close contact.

  In this way, the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 in the illustrated example normally maintains the light shielding state, and switches between the light reflecting state and the light transmitting state, as necessary, in the light shielding container 10. The remaining amount of the object can be checked.

As an example, it is assumed that the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24 are made of the same glass having a refractive index of 1.5. As is well known, the refractive index of air is about 1.0.
As conceptually shown in FIG. 3A, in a normal state where the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24 are separated from each other, the opposing surface 20a of the first transparent plate 20, that is, the retroreflective structure is In contact with air. Therefore, in this state, the critical angle of light incident on the air from the first transparent plate 20 is 41.8 °.
As described above, the prism constituting the retroreflective structure of the facing surface 20a is an isosceles triangle having an apex angle of 90 °. Accordingly, for example, the incident angle of the light L incident on the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 from the front is 45 °, which is larger than the critical angle, so that the light L is totally reflected. That is, in the state shown in FIG. 3A, the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 is in a metallic gloss state in which the light L is totally reflected, and the light L from the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 to the inside of the container body 12. Can be prevented, and the light shielding property of the container 10 is maintained.
In the following description, the state in which the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 reflects light is also referred to as a “reflection state”.

On the other hand, when confirming the remaining amount of the contents accommodated in the container 10, the first transparent plate 20 is pressed against the first transparent plate 20 as conceptually shown in FIG. The retroreflection structure of the surface 20a and the opposing surface 24a of the second transparent plate 24 are brought into close contact with each other.
As described above, the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24 are made of the same glass. Therefore, in this state, the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24 are in the same state as having no interface. Therefore, for example, the light L having an incident angle of 45 ° incident on the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 from the front is transmitted through the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24 and the transparent portion 12b on the side surface of the container main body 12, thereby 12 is reached.
Therefore, in this state, the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 is in a transparent state that allows light to pass therethrough, and the user can visually recognize the inside of the container body 12 from the outside and confirm the remaining amount of the contents.
In the following description, the state in which the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 transmits light is also simply referred to as “transmission state”.

That is, the container 10 that uses the structure of the present invention as the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 normally maintains the light shielding property, and the user visually observes the inside from the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 as necessary. The remaining amount of the object can be confirmed, and after confirmation, it can be returned to the light shielding state again.
Moreover, according to the present invention, since the reflection state basically totally reflects the light L incident from the front, the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 looks like a metallic gloss surface, In the transmission state, basically, the light L incident from the front is substantially transmitted.
That is, according to the present invention, it is also preferable in that the contrast between the reflection state and the transmission state in the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 is high.

In the remaining amount confirmation unit 16, that is, the structure of the present invention, the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24 are transparent plate-like objects as described above.
The transparency of the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24 is not particularly limited as long as the contents contained in the container main body 12 can be visually recognized when the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 is in a transmissive state. In particular, it is only necessary that the liquid level of the contents stored in the container main body 12 can be visually recognized when the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 is in a transmissive state.

  Considering this point, the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24 are made of various glasses such as soda lime glass, borosilicate glass, optical glass, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), transparent polyimide. Examples thereof include transparent plates made of various resin materials such as polymethyl methacrylate resin (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC).

Further, in order to cause total reflection suitably in the retroreflective structure in the reflective state, the first transparent plate 20 has a refractive index somewhat larger than that of gas (refractive index is approximately 1.0). It is preferable to form with a material. This gas includes air.
Here, although it depends on the apex angle of the prism or the like in the retroreflective structure to be described later, considering the point that the apex angle is preferably 80 to 100 °, the forming material of the first transparent plate 20 is as follows. The refractive index is preferably 1.3 or more, and more preferably 1.5 or more.

Further, when the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24 are in close contact with each other, that is, in the transmissive state, the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24 are used in order for the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 to have sufficient light transmittance. It is preferable that the forming material has a small difference in refractive index.
Specifically, the material forming the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24 preferably has a refractive index difference of at least 0.3 or less, more preferably 0.2 or less. . Further, regarding the difference in refractive index between the forming materials of the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24, the elastic modulus of the opposing surface of the second transparent plate, which will be described later, is the recursiveness of the opposing surface of the first transparent plate. The same applies to a configuration lower than the reflecting structure.
With such a configuration, when the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24 are in close contact with each other, that is, in the transmission state, the light incident on the second transparent plate 24 from the first transparent plate 20 becomes greater than the critical angle. This can be prevented and the transmission state can be formed stably.

  Further, like the remaining amount confirmation part 16 of the container 10 in the illustrated example, the facing surface 24a of the second transparent plate 24 has a shape that can be in close contact with the surface of the retroreflective structure of the facing surface 20a of the first transparent plate 20. In the case of the configuration, it is preferable to form at least the opposing surfaces of the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24 with the same material.

In the illustrated container 10, the second transparent plate 24 is attached to the side surface of the container body 12, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, a configuration in which a part of the side surface of the container body 12 is transparent and has a shape that can be in close contact with the surface of the retroreflective structure of the first transparent plate 20 may be employed. That is, a part of the side surface of the container body 12 may be used as the second transparent plate.

In the facing surface 20a of the illustrated example, the retroreflective structure has a configuration in which long prisms whose bottom surface is an isosceles triangle having an apex angle of 90 ° are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the ridgeline.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the shape of the first transparent plate facing the second transparent plate is, for example, a recursion formed by regularly or irregularly arranging cones, spheres, or hemispheres. Various known retroreflective structures can be used as long as they have optical transparency such as a reflective structure.
In this case, the shape of the surface of the second transparent plate facing the first transparent plate is a recess having the same shape as the cone or hemisphere formed as the retroreflective structure of the first transparent plate, that is, the retroreflective structure. The concave portions that are in close contact with the surfaces of the cones and the like that can accommodate the cones and the like are arranged in the same manner as the retroreflective structure of the first transparent plate.

Among them, a retroreflective structure in which long prisms whose bottoms are isosceles triangles as shown in the example are arranged, and a retroreflective structure in which cones are regularly or irregularly arranged are suitable. Is exemplified.
Among them, in particular, a retroreflective structure in which long prisms whose bases are isosceles triangles are arranged as in the illustrated example, regular pyramids such as regular quadrangular pyramids and regular triangular pyramids are arranged regularly or irregularly. A retroreflective structure or a retroreflective structure in which cones are regularly or irregularly arranged is preferably used.
By using such a retroreflective structure, the light reflectivity of the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 in the reflection state can be improved, and the light shielding property of the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 can be further improved. This is preferable in that the design properties can be improved.

  In the retroreflective structure used in the present invention, if necessary, a plurality of different shapes, such as a combination of a prism and a regular quadrangular pyramid, a combination of a prism and a cone, are used in combination. It may be configured.

In the present invention, when the retroreflective structure has a configuration in which triangular prisms such as prisms are arranged, or in a configuration in which cones are arranged, the apex angle of the triangular prisms, that is, the first transparent plate 20. The angle of the apex angle facing the surface and the apex angle of the triangle perpendicular to the bottom surface passing through the apex of the cone is preferably 80 to 100 °, and more preferably 85 to 95 °.
By making the apex angle 80 ° or more, the incident angle of the light L becomes too large, so that the incident angle becomes more than the critical angle even in the transmission state and the light L is reflected to reduce transparency. It is preferable at the point which can prevent.
Further, by setting the apex angle to 100 ° or less, the incident angle of the light L becomes too small, so that the incident angle becomes less than the critical angle even in the reflection state, and the light L enters the container body 12. This is preferable in that it can be prevented.

As described above, the opposing surface 20a of the first transparent plate 20 in the illustrated example has long prisms arranged with the ridge line in the horizontal direction.
However, in the present invention, when the retroreflective structure is a structure in which long prisms are arranged, a structure in which long prisms are arranged with the ridge line in the vertical direction may be used.

  Further, the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24 have a retroreflective structure on the opposing surface 20a by sticking a commercially available prism sheet or a retroreflective sheet having light permeability to a transparent plate material. The structure provided with can also be used.

In the case of a configuration in which triangular prisms such as prisms are arranged, or in a configuration in which cones are arranged, the period p that is the formation period of the triangular prisms and cones, the height of the prisms or the like, that is, recursion Depending on the height h of the light-reflecting structure, the size of the remaining amount confirmation portion 16 (light control window or light control glass described later), the forming material of the first transparent plate 20 or the second transparent plate 24, etc. do it.
Here, considering productivity and the like, the period p is preferably 10 to 100 μm, and the height h is preferably 5 to 50 μm.

4 (A) and 4 (B) conceptually show another example of the remaining amount confirmation portion of the container of the present invention, that is, the structure of the present invention.
The remaining amount confirmation unit 40 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B has the same configuration as the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 except that the second transparent plate is different. The same reference numerals are given, and the following description mainly focuses on different parts.

In the remaining amount confirmation unit 16 shown in FIG. 2A and the like, the second transparent plate 24 has an opposing surface having a shape that can be in close contact with the opposing surface 20a of the first transparent plate 20, that is, the surface of the retroreflective structure. The retroreflective structure of the first transparent plate 20 is entirely filled.
On the other hand, the remaining amount confirmation unit 40 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B has an elastic modulus of the second transparent plate 42 of the retroreflective structure of the facing surface 20a of the first transparent plate 20. By making it lower than the elastic modulus, as shown in FIG. 4B, the second transparent plate 42 can completely fill the retroreflective structure of the first transparent plate.

In the remaining amount confirmation unit 40 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, as an example, the first transparent plate 20 is formed of a material having sufficient hardness such as glass, and the second transparent plate 42 is formed. Is formed of a transparent elastic body such as a transparent silicone resin.
As described above, the first transparent plate 20 is separated from the second transparent plate 42 in a normal state, as shown in FIG. In this state, as shown in FIG. 3A, the incident light is totally reflected by the retroreflective structure of the first transparent plate 20 that is in contact with air, as in the remaining amount confirmation unit 16, and the remaining amount. The confirmation unit 40 is in a reflective state like a metallic gloss surface.

On the other hand, since the 2nd transparent plate 42 is formed with an elastic body, the opposing surface 42a has a lower elastic modulus than the retroreflective structure (facing surface 20a) of the hard 1st transparent plate 20. FIG.
Therefore, when the first transparent plate 20 is pressed against the second transparent plate 42, the retroreflection structure of the facing surface 20a of the first transparent plate 20 bites into the second transparent plate 42 as shown in FIG. Finally, the entire surface of the retroreflective structure can be brought into close contact with the facing surface 42a of the second transparent plate 42.

Thus, by pressing the first transparent plate 20 against the second transparent plate 42, the retroreflective structure of the first transparent plate 20 has a higher refractive index than air, and preferably the first transparent plate as described above. The plate 20 is in close contact with the second transparent plate 42 having a refractive index difference of 0.3 or less.
Therefore, the light incident on the first transparent plate 20 from the outside enters the second transparent plate 24 from the first transparent plate 20 at an incident angle equal to or less than the critical angle. As a result, the light passes through the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 24 and the transparent portion 12 b on the side surface of the container body 12 and reaches the container body 12. Therefore, in this state, the remaining amount confirmation unit 40 is in a transparent state, and the user can visually recognize the inside of the container body 12 from the outside and confirm the remaining amount of the contents.
Accordingly, in the container using the remaining amount confirmation unit 40 shown in FIG. 4, the user visually observes the inside from the remaining amount confirmation unit 40 and keeps the light-shielding property as necessary. After confirming the remaining amount, it can be returned to the light-shielding state again. Further, as in the previous example, the contrast between the reflection state and the transmission state is high.

The forming material of the second transparent plate 42 may be any of various materials as long as the elastic modulus is lower than that of the first transparent plate 20 and the material has sufficient transparency according to the forming material of the first transparent plate 20. Is available.
Examples include silicone resins such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), highly transparent urethane rubber, acrylic rubber, butyl rubber, and the like.

It should be noted that the difference in elastic modulus between the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 42 is the retroreflective structure formed on the opposing surface 20a of the first transparent plate 20 and the opposing surface 42a of the second transparent plate 42. The difference in elastic modulus that can be filled in is appropriately set.
According to the study of the present inventor, the ratio of the elastic modulus of the second transparent plate 42 to the first transparent plate 20 is preferably 1/10 or less, and more preferably 1/100 or less.
By setting the ratio of the elastic modulus of the second transparent plate 42 to the first transparent plate 20 to be 1/10 or less, the retroreflection structure of the first transparent plate 20 can be more preferably filled with the second transparent plate 42. This is preferable.

The second transparent plate 42 preferably has an elastic modulus of 100 MPa or less, and more preferably 10 MPa or less.
By setting the elastic modulus of the second transparent plate 42 to 100 MPa or less, it is preferable in that it is possible to switch between the reflection state and the transmission state with a small force.

  Further, the thickness of the second transparent plate 42 depends on the height h of the retroreflective structure of the first transparent plate 20 and the difference in elastic modulus between the first transparent plate 20 and the second transparent plate 42. What is necessary is just to set suitably the thickness which closely_contact | adheres to the retroreflection structure of 1 transparent plate 20, and can fill a retroreflection structure.

At least one of the first transparent plate and the second transparent plate may have a multilayer structure such as a two-layer structure.
When at least one of the first transparent plate and the second transparent plate has a multi-layer configuration such as a two-layer configuration, the material for forming the layers that face each other is the elastic modulus condition and thickness described above. Satisfy the above conditions.

For example, like the second transparent plate 50 conceptually shown in FIG. 5, a base material 50a having a high elastic modulus and sufficient rigidity, and the base material 50a and the first transparent plate 20 supported by the base material 50a. The structure which has the elastic body 50b whose elastic modulus is lower than (retroreflective structure) is illustrated. When the second transparent plate 50 is used, the elastic body 50 b is set as a surface facing the first transparent plate 20.
This configuration is preferable in that the second transparent plate 50 can fill the retroreflective structure of the first transparent plate 20 while ensuring sufficient mechanical strength.

The above example is an example in which the structure of the present invention is used for a container such as cosmetics. However, the structure of the present invention contacts the first transparent plate and the second transparent plate to form the first transparent plate. The formed retroreflective structure is filled with the opposing surface of the second transparent substrate, and the first transparent plate and the second transparent plate are separated to quickly and easily switch between the reflective state and the transmissive state. Can be used for various purposes.
As an example, the use of the structure of the present invention is exemplified for a so-called dimming window or dimming glass capable of switching between a reflection state and a transmission state.

  As mentioned above, although the structure and container of this invention were demonstrated in detail, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned example, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, you may perform various improvement and a change. Of course.

  It can be suitably used for containers for storing cosmetics, light control glasses, light control windows, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Container 12 Container main body 12a Concave part 12b Transparent part 14 Lid body 16,40 Remaining amount confirmation part 20 1st transparent plate 24,42 2nd transparent plate 26 Support member 26a protrusion 30 Guide member 30a Long hole 32 Energizing member

Claims (9)

Having a first transparent plate and a second transparent plate which are arranged opposite to each other and can be separated from each other; and
The first transparent plate has a retroreflective structure on the surface facing the second transparent plate,
The second transparent plate has a function of burying the retroreflective structure on a surface facing the first transparent plate.   The second transparent plate has a lower elastic modulus at a portion facing the first transparent plate than a portion at which the retroreflective structure of the first transparent plate is formed. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the transparent plate constitutes a function of filling the retroreflective structure.   The structure according to claim 2, wherein the second transparent plate has a first layer that is a surface facing the first transparent plate, and a second layer that has a higher elastic modulus than the second layer.   A surface of the second transparent plate facing the first transparent plate has a shape that can be in close contact with the surface of the retroreflective structure, corresponding to the shape of the retroreflective structure, and thereby the second transparent plate. The structure according to claim 1, wherein a plate constitutes a function of filling the retroreflective structure.   The structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the retroreflective structure is configured by arranging a plurality of at least one of a triangular prism and a cone.   The structure according to claim 5, wherein an apex angle of the triangular prism and an apex angle of a triangle perpendicular to a bottom surface passing through the apex of the cone are 80 to 100 °.   The structure according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the triangular prism is a triangular prism having a bottom surface of an isosceles triangle, and the cone is at least one of a regular pyramid and a cone.   A container equipped with the structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7.   The container according to claim 8, which has a light shielding property, and the mounting position of the structure is transparent.

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