JP2018184181A - container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container allowing clear view of a liquid level, without depending on an observation angle.SOLUTION: A container 10 stores liquid L, in which a liquid level display part 20 displaying a position of a liquid surface S of the liquid L stored in the container 10 is provided on a side face part 25 of the container 10 so as to be extended in the height direction of the side face part 25. Hue, brightness or chroma of the liquid level display part 20 varies at the liquid surface S as a boundary, and thereby the position of the liquid surface S is displayed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a container for storing a liquid.

  In a container that stores a liquid such as water, when the liquid level and amount of the stored liquid are confirmed, if the liquid is transparent, the liquid level and amount of the liquid are difficult to visually recognize.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an inner pot including a water surface display unit having a cavity formed between a fluorine coating film and a base material of the inner pot. The water surface display unit has an underwater part located underwater and a water part located above water, and the water surface display part tries to visually recognize the position of the water surface because the way they are seen differs from each other. In other words, when the observer looks down at the inner surface of the inner pot, the color of the base material surface (gray or black) of the inner pot is visible in the water part, while the rice in the inner pot is reflected in the underwater part. Looks crowded.

JP 2013-106784 A

  Patent document 1 makes visible the reflection of the rice in the inner pot in the underwater part of a water surface display part by utilizing the total reflection in the interface between a fluorine coating film and a cavity (air). . Total reflection is based on Snell's law. When light is incident on a cavity (air) with a small refractive index from a fluorine coating film with a large refractive index, the incident light does not pass through the boundary surface, and all the incident light passes through the boundary surface. It is a phenomenon reflected by Patent Document 1 describes that the critical angle at which total reflection occurs is 61.3 °, and total reflection does not occur at an incident angle larger than the critical angle (corresponding to the observation angle when the observer looks down). Thus, in Patent Document 1, when the observation angle is larger than the critical angle (61.3 °), total reflection does not occur, and the reflection of rice in the inner pot does not occur. Therefore, the liquid level of the liquid (water) stored in the container cannot be visually recognized. In Patent Document 1 using total reflection, the liquid level may not be visible because the visibility of the liquid level depends on the observation angle.

  Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a container in which the liquid level can be clearly visually recognized without depending on the observation angle.

  In order to solve the above technical problem, according to the present invention, the following containers are provided.

That is, the container according to the present invention is
A container for storing liquid,
A liquid level display unit for displaying the position of the liquid level of the liquid stored in the container is provided on the side surface part so as to extend in the height direction of the side surface part of the container;
The position of the liquid level is displayed by changing the hue, brightness, or saturation of the liquid level display section with the liquid level as a boundary.

  In this invention, since the hue, lightness, or saturation of the liquid level display portion extending in the height direction of the side surface portion of the container changes with the liquid surface as a boundary, the liquid level display portion does not depend on the observation angle. The position, that is, the liquid level can be clearly seen.

  It is preferable that the liquid level display unit is a color developing unit in which a light-interfering color forming body including a base material that reflects incident light and a light-transmitting coating unit that covers the base material is arranged. If it does in this way, a color development part will color by interference with the reflected light in a base material, and the reflected light in a coating part. By changing the refractive index and thickness of the coating portion, the hue, brightness, or saturation of the color to be developed can be changed.

  It is preferable that the base material of the light coherent color former has a flat scale shape. By doing so, the ratio of the portion that contributes to the reflection of light in the coloring portion is increased and the reflection efficiency is increased, so that the liquid level display portion is vividly colored.

  It is preferable that the thickness of the coloring portion is smaller than the maximum length of the scale-shaped substrate. By doing so, the light-interfering color former is easily oriented in the color development portion, and the reflection efficiency is increased, so that the liquid level display portion is vividly colored.

  It is preferable that the coloring portion is covered with a top coat layer. In this way, the coloring portion can be protected.

  It is preferable that the coloring portion is formed on a base material forming the container or a base coat layer formed on the base material, and the base material or the base coat layer has low lightness. In this way, the reflection of light by the base material or the base coat layer is suppressed, and the liquid level display portion is vividly colored.

  It is preferable that the liquid level display unit is provided on the inner surface side of the container in the form of a painted product, a printed product, a film, or a seal body. If it does in this way, a liquid level display part can be easily provided in the inner surface side of a container.

  It is preferable that the container is light transmissive and the liquid level display unit is provided on the outer surface side of the container in the form of a painted product, a printed product, a film, or a seal body. If it does in this way, a liquid level display part can be easily provided in the outer surface side of a container.

  The container is a molded body obtained by adding a light-interfering color former including a base material that reflects incident light and a light-transmitting coating portion that covers the base material to a base material, and the liquid level display portion It is preferable that it is the said side part of the said container. If it does in this way, the side part of a container can be utilized as a liquid level display part, and cost can be reduced rather than the case where a liquid level display part is provided separately.

  It is preferable that the liquid level display unit is formed in the form of a measurement scale that displays the amount of the liquid stored in the container. In this way, the amount of liquid stored in the container can be measured.

  In the container of the present invention, since the hue, brightness, or saturation of the liquid level display portion extending in the height direction of the side surface portion of the container changes with the liquid surface as a boundary, the liquid level display portion does not depend on the observation angle. The position can be clearly seen.

The schematic diagram which shows the container which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. The figure explaining a liquid level display part. The figure explaining the color development principle in a liquid level display part. The schematic diagram of the liquid level scale which functions as a liquid level display part. Schematic diagram of a liquid level scale that develops colors with different hues at the liquid level. The schematic diagram which shows the container which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The schematic diagram which shows the container which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. The photograph which shows the hue change of a liquid level display part.

[First Embodiment]
Below, the container which concerns on 1st Embodiment is demonstrated in detail, referring FIGS. 1-5 and FIG.

(Composition of inner pot)
FIG. 1 shows an inner pot 10 as an example of the container 10. The inner pot 10 is used for cooking an appropriate amount of liquid L (water) and a solid heated object (rice) in the inner pot 10 and using a rice cooker (not shown). The inner pot 10 has a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape having a side surface portion 25 and a bottom surface portion 26. A liquid level display unit 20 is provided on the inner surface side of the side surface portion 25 of the inner pot 10. The liquid level display unit 20 extends in the height direction of the side surface portion 25 of the inner pot 10 so that the liquid level of the liquid L stored in the inner pot 10 can be displayed from a predetermined minimum storage level to a maximum storage level. ing.

  The liquid level display part 20 is provided in the inner surface side of the base material 12 with the form of a coating thing, printed matter, a film, or a sealing body. In this way, the liquid level display unit 20 can be easily provided on the inner surface side of the substrate 12.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the side surface portion 25 and the bottom surface portion 26 of the inner pot 10 include the base material 12 that forms the outer shape of the side surface portion 25 and the bottom surface portion 26, and the laminated portion 13 formed on the base material 12. Prepare. The laminated portion 13 is composed of a plurality of thin layers such as a base coat layer 14, a color developing layer (color developing portion) 16, and a top coat layer 18 in the thickness direction of the inner pot 10 on the inner surface side of the substrate 12.

  The base material 12 consists of metal materials, such as aluminum, stainless steel, and iron, and has comprised the bottomed cylinder shape. Since the base material 12 is made of a metal material, it is light-impermeable. The base material 12 is configured to have a low lightness, for example, gray or greenish black. Since the lightness of the base material 12 corresponding to the background of the color forming layer 16 is low, reflection of light on the base material 12 is suppressed, so that the liquid level display unit 20 is vividly colored.

  The base coat layer 14 is also called a primer layer, and is a resin layer formed of a heat-resistant resin such as polyethersulfone or PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), a fluororesin, and a pigment, and has a thickness of about 10 μm to about 20 μm. is there. The base coat layer 14 is provided in order to improve adhesion between the inner surface of the container 10 and the coloring layer 16 and the top coat layer 18. The base coat layer 14 is configured to have low brightness, for example, black or blackish gray. Since the lightness of the base coat layer 14 that is the background of the color forming layer 16 is low, reflection of light on the base coat layer 14 is suppressed, so that the liquid level display section 20 is vividly colored.

  The color forming layer 16 includes, for example, a resin portion 22 made of the same material as the base coat layer 14 and a light interference color forming body 30 blended in the resin portion 22. The thickness of the coloring layer 16 is, for example, about 1 μm to about 30 μm. As will be described later in detail, the color forming layer 16 displays the position of the liquid surface S, that is, the liquid level S by changing the hue, lightness, or saturation of the color developing layer 16 with respect to the liquid surface S. Since it can, it functions as the liquid level display unit 20.

  The topcoat layer 18 is a transparent resin layer made of a fluororesin such as PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) or PFA (perfluoroalkoxy). The thickness of the top coat layer 18 is, for example, about 30 μm to about 50 μm. The top coat layer 18 is provided to protect the coloring layer 16 and to provide characteristics such as non-adhesiveness, heat resistance, and chemical resistance to the inner surface side of the inner pot 10.

(Structure of coloring layer)
A plurality of light-interfering color bodies 30 are arranged in the resin layer 22 of the color forming layer 16 in the direction perpendicular to the thickness of the color forming layer 16. As shown in the enlarged portion of FIG. 2, the light-interfering color body 30 includes a flat scale-shaped (flaky) base material 32 and a thin film coating portion 34 that covers the base material 32. Therefore, the light coherent color body 30 has a scale shape (flakes) reflecting the shape of the base material 32. The light-interfering color body 30 having a scale shape (flakes) has two surfaces (a front surface and a back surface) extending in a direction perpendicular to the thickness, and the two surfaces (a front surface and a back surface). Contributes to the reflection of light.

  The base material 32 has two surfaces (a front surface and a back surface) extending in the direction perpendicular to the thickness, and the two surfaces (a front surface and a back surface) reflect light. The two surfaces (the front surface and the back surface) may have irregularities, but are preferably flat. The base material 32 is, for example, particles made of natural or synthetic mica, aluminum flakes, alumina flakes, silica flakes, glass flakes, and the like. The thickness of the base material 32 is, for example, about 0.1 μm to about 1 μm, and the particle size in the longitudinal direction is about 5 μm to about 60 μm. The base material 32 can be a light-transmitting material that allows incident light to pass therethrough or a light-reflecting material that reflects incident light (light-impermeable).

  The coating portion 34 is a thin film that allows light to pass through (has light transparency) and reflects light at the surface (having light reflectivity). The coating portion 34 is made of, for example, zirconium oxide, cerium oxide, titanium dioxide, iron oxide, zinc sulfide, magnesium fluoride, aluminum fluoride, sodium fluoride, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, or the like. The coating part 34 consists of a single or a plurality of thin films, and the refractive index and thickness of the material of the thin film are determined so that a desired hue is developed by the light interference action. The thickness of the coating portion 34 is, for example, about 20 nm to about 200 nm. A plurality of thin films can exhibit a brighter (higher saturation) color than a single thin film.

(Color development principle)
The principle of coloring by the light coherent color body 30 will be briefly described with reference to an enlarged view of the light coherent color body 30 shown on the right side of FIG.

  As described above, the light coherent color body 30 includes the base material 32 that reflects light and the coating portion 34 that transmits and reflects light. When incident light A1 and B1 strikes the optical coherent color former 30, the incident light B1 is reflected by the surface of the coating portion 34 and becomes reflected light B1-1. After the incident light A1 is incident from the surface of the coating portion 34, the transmitted light A2 is transmitted through the coating portion 34 while being refracted and reflected at the boundary surface with the base material 32. The transmitted / reflected light A2 reflected at the interface with the base material 32 passes through the coating portion 34 while being refracted, and then exits from the surface of the coating portion 34 to become reflected light A2-1. On the surface of the coating portion 34, the reflected light B <b> 1-1 and the reflected light A <b> 2-1 interfere with each other due to the phase difference of the light due to the optical path length difference in the coating portion 34, and have a certain wavelength enhanced by the light interference action. The interference light C1 reaches the observer's eyes E. Then, the optical path length difference in the coating portion 34 differs depending on the refractive index and thickness of the coating portion 34, and the wavelength of the interference light C1, that is, the hue visually recognized by the observer is defined.

  Therefore, when white light including light of various wavelengths strikes the light coherent color forming body 30 of the color forming layer 16, the reflected light B1-1 reflected on the surface of the coating portion 34 and the reflection reflected on the surface of the base material 32 are reflected. The light A2-1 causes an optical interference effect, and the interference light C1 corresponding to the enhanced wavelength, that is, the color of a certain hue is visually recognized by the observer.

  In the color forming layer 16, a plurality of light coherent color bodies 30 are disposed in a dispersed manner in the resin portion 22, but most of the light coherent color bodies 30 are formed in the color layer 16 as shown on the left side of FIG. 2. Are arranged in the thickness orthogonal direction. Further, since the light-interfering color body 30 has a scale shape, the ratio of the portion that contributes to light reflection in the color forming layer 16 is increased and the reflection efficiency is increased, so that the liquid level display unit 20 is vividly colored. To do. Accordingly, the interference light C1 having a certain hue is efficiently delivered to the observer's eye E, and the color of the certain hue is visually recognized by the observer (with high saturation).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the thickness t of the color forming layer 16 is configured to be smaller than the maximum length H of the scale-shaped optical coherent color forming body 30. According to this configuration, the light-interfering color developing body 30 is easily oriented in the color forming layer 16 and the reflection efficiency is increased, so that the liquid level display unit 20 is vividly colored.

(Liquid level display principle)
Next, the principle of displaying the liquid level S when the hue of the liquid level display unit 20 changes with the liquid surface S as a boundary will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion where the liquid level display unit 20 and the liquid level S intersect in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the liquid level S is a boundary surface between the gas G and the liquid L. P is the light from the liquid level u located above the liquid level S in the liquid level display unit 20, Q is the light from the liquid level point w located below the liquid level S in the liquid level display unit 20, R is the refracted light that the light Q is refracted at the liquid level S, K is the light at the virtual image point j, which is a virtual image of the liquid point w, and X is the intersection where the light Q intersects the liquid surface S. Θ1 is the liquid incident angle of the light Q traveling in the liquid L, θ2 is the gas incident angle of the light P traveling in the gas G, and θ3 is the refraction angle of the refracted light R. Note that θ1 corresponds to the observation angle at the submerged point w (the liquid lower portion 29 side), and θ2 corresponds to the observation angle at the liquid upper point u (the liquid upper portion 28 side).

  The observer's eye E is on the gas G side and is in a position overlooking the inner surface of the inner pot 10. The observation angle when the observer looks down is equal to the gas incident angle θ2 of the light P traveling in the gas G. Normally, since the refractive index of the liquid L is larger than the refractive index of the gas G, the light Q traveling in the liquid L is refracted according to Snell's law on the liquid surface S that is the boundary surface between the liquid L and the gas G. Thus, the refracted light R travels through the gas G at the refraction angle θ3. In addition, since the change in the color of the liquid level display unit 20 at the boundary of the liquid level S uses the light refraction / transmission action in the liquid L, the liquid L stored in the container 10 needs to have light transmittance. There is.

  The light P from the liquid point u travels straight through the gas G at a gas incident angle (observation angle on the liquid upper side 28) θ2 and is directly recognized by the eyes E of the observer.

  The light Q from the submerged point w travels through the liquid L at the liquid incident angle θ1 and passes through the intersection point X. Thereafter, the light Q is refracted according to Snell's law, travels through the gas G at a refraction angle (θ3), and is viewed by the observer's eyes E as refracted light R. When the submerged point w is viewed from the observer's eye E on the gas G side, the image appears as a virtual image at a virtual image point j of the light K that is in line with the refracted light R.

  When the eye E of the observer on the gas G side looks at the liquid level display unit 20, the portion located on the gas G side and above the liquid surface S (hereinafter referred to as the liquid upper portion 28). The light P traveling straight in the gas G will be seen. On the other hand, the observer's eyes E have a light Q traveling in the liquid L for a portion located on the liquid L side and below the liquid surface S (hereinafter referred to as a liquid lower portion 29). The refracted light R traveling through the gas G after being refracted at the liquid level S is seen. When the liquid level display unit 20 is partially immersed in the liquid L, the liquid level display unit 20 has a liquid level S between the liquid upper part 28 on the gas G side and a liquid lower part 29 on the liquid L side. Divided into two parts.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, since the refractive index of the liquid L is larger than the refractive index of the gas G, the liquid incident angle θ1 of the light Q traveling in the liquid L is the light incident angle θ1 of the light P traveling in the gas G according to Snell's law. It becomes smaller than the gas incident angle θ2. The difference between the incident angle and the liquid incident angle θ1 <the gas incident angle θ2 is that the optical path length of the light Q traveling through the coating portion 34 on the liquid L side is that of the light P traveling through the coating portion 34 on the gas G side. It means that it is longer than the optical path length. That is, even if the coating portion 34 of the light coherent color body 30 has a certain thickness, the incident angle of light at the coating portion 34 is different such that θ1 <θ2 across the liquid surface S. This means that the optical path lengths of the light traveling through the coating portion 34 are different. The difference in the incident angle at the coating part 34 has substantially the same action and effect as the change in the thickness of the coating part 34 in the liquid level display part 20 that develops color by the light interference action.

  The optical path length difference between the coating part 34 on the gas G side and the coating part 34 on the liquid L side is the wavelength of the interference light C1, which is strengthened by the above-described optical interference action, that is, the optical coherent color body 30. Change the hue of. That is, the liquid upper part 28 of the liquid level display unit 20 develops a color with a certain hue, and the liquid lower part 29 of the liquid level display unit 20 develops a color with a different hue from a certain hue on the liquid upper part 28. In the coloring layer 16 that has developed a certain hue by the light interference action, the hue above the liquid level S and the hue below the liquid level S are different from each other at the liquid level S in the inner pot 10. Therefore, the eyes E of the observer located at the gas G side and looking down on the inner surface of the inner pot 10 by changing the hue of the liquid level display unit 20 observed with the liquid level S as a boundary, The liquid level S of the liquid L stored in the inner pot 10 can be clearly seen.

  The above-mentioned action / effect is that the incident angle at the coating part 34 in the liquid upper part 28 is different from the incident angle at the coating part 34 in the liquid lower part 29 (between the liquid upper part 28 and the liquid lower part 29). Therefore, it does not depend on the incident angle (observation angle θ2 on the liquid top 28 side) itself (the absolute value of the incident angle). Therefore, the change of the hue of the liquid level display unit 20 with the liquid surface S as a boundary does not depend on the observation angle θ2 on the liquid upper part 28 side.

  In short, when the liquid level display unit 20 having the light coherent color body 30 is provided on the side surface portion 25 of the container 10, the refraction action of the liquid L is added to the liquid lower portion 29 side located below the liquid surface S. The same operation and effect are obtained as if the observation angle θ2 on the liquid upper part 28 side is changed to the observation angle θ1 on the liquid lower part 29 side. As a result, the hue of the liquid level display unit 20 observed differs from the liquid level S, and the liquid level S of the liquid L can be clearly visually recognized. The change in the hue at the liquid level display unit 20 to be observed does not depend on the observation angle θ2 at the liquid upper part 28.

(Configuration of liquid level scale)
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the liquid level display unit 20 is provided in the form of a liquid level scale 40 on the inner surface of the inner pot 10. The liquid level scale 40 is a scale indicating the liquid level S of the liquid L (water) according to the amount (total number) of the object to be heated (rice). The liquid level scale 40 extends in the height direction of the side surface portion 25 of the inner pot 10 and is positioned between the minimum rice cooking capacity and the maximum rice cooking capacity.

  The liquid level scale 40 includes a scale line 42, a vertical line 44, and a numerical value part 46. The scale line 42 includes a plurality of line segments that extend in the horizontal direction and are spaced apart in the vertical direction, and quantitatively inform the liquid level S. The vertical line 44 is a line segment extending in the vertical direction so as to connect the plurality of scale lines 42 and qualitatively informs the liquid level S. The numerical value section 46 is a numerical value that displays the amount of the liquid L that is located in the vicinity of the scale line 42 and is stored in the inner pot 10, and makes the amount of the liquid L known quantitatively and specifically. Therefore, the liquid level scale 40 functions as a measurement scale for measuring the amount of the liquid L (water) stored in the inner pot 10.

  In the liquid level scale 40, the vertical line 44 is configured so that the line width thereof is larger than the line width of each scale line 42. Since the vertical line 44 extending in the vertical direction has a large line width, the visibility of the liquid level S is improved.

  Since the liquid level scale 40 has the color developing layer 16 that develops a certain hue by the light interference action, the color that develops on the liquid level scale 40 is different from the liquid level S in the inner pot 10. Therefore, as schematically shown in FIG. 5, the liquid level scale 40 is formed between the liquid upper part 28 located above the liquid level S and the liquid lower part 29 located below the liquid level S. Are displayed in white and the latter are displayed in cross-hatching, so that the colors to be developed are different.

  In FIG. 8, the hue change of the liquid level scale 40 in the inner pot 10 containing water and rice is shown by a gray scale photograph. Because of the gray scale, it is difficult to see the hue change at the liquid level scale 40, but in the center of FIG. 8, three whitish thick lines extending in the vertical direction located below the liquid surface S (water surface), and the liquid surface Three blackish thick lines that are located above S (water surface) and extend upward in the vertical direction from the whitish thick lines are shown. The three thick white lines and the three thick black lines correspond to the liquid level scale 40. From the photograph in FIG. 8, it can also be seen that the hue of the thick line corresponding to the liquid level scale 40 is clearly distinct from the liquid surface S (water surface). In the actual hue, the thick line shown whitish in FIG. 8 is yellow-green, and the thick line shown black in FIG. 8 is orange. The fact that the hue of the liquid level scale 40 actually shown is yellow-green and orange is merely an example, and other hues may be used.

  By providing the inner pan 10 with a liquid level scale 40 whose hue changes with the liquid level S (water surface) as a boundary, while watching the hue change at the liquid level scale 40, the liquid L (water) in the inner pot 10 The storage condition can be easily determined.

  Therefore, in 1st Embodiment, since the hue of the liquid level display part 20 extended in the height direction of the side part 25 of the inner pot 10 changes on the boundary of the liquid level S, it depends on observation angle (theta) 2. The liquid level S is clearly visible.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the liquid level scale 40 can be of a plurality of types according to the type of rice such as “white rice” and “brown rice”. The liquid level scale 40 can be of a plurality of types according to the rice cooking menu such as “rice porridge”. The specific shape and display of the liquid level scale 40 are not limited to those illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. For example, the liquid level scale 40 may be provided in the form of a vertical line 44 extending in the vertical direction from the lower end to the upper end of the side surface portion 25 in order to use it as a mark qualitatively indicating the liquid level S.

[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a light transmissive container 60 as the second embodiment. The light transmissive container 60 of the second embodiment is characterized in that the side surface portion 65 has light transmittance and the liquid level display portion 20 is provided on the outer surface side of the side surface portion 65.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the light transmissive container 60 has a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape having a side surface portion 65 and a bottom surface portion 66. The side surface portion 65 is composed of a light transmissive base material 62. On the outer surface side of the side surface portion 65, a liquid level display portion 20 is provided. The light transmissive base material 62 is made of, for example, a resin material or a glass material. The side surface portion 65 has light transparency at least in a portion where the liquid level display portion 20 is provided. In addition, as for the side part 65, parts other than the part in which the liquid level display part 20 is provided, or the whole base material 62 may have light transmittance.

  The liquid level display unit 20 is provided on the outer surface side of the light transmissive container 60 in the form of a painted product, a printed product, a film, or a seal body. In this way, the liquid level display unit 20 can be easily provided on the outer surface side of the substrate 12.

  The observer's eye E is on the gas G side and is in a position overlooking the inner surface of the light transmissive container 60. The observer's eye E on the gas G side displays the liquid level display unit 20 provided on the outer surface side of the side surface portion 65 from the inner surface side of the light transmissive container 60 through the light transmissive base material 62. Will see. When the observer's eye E on the gas G side looks at the liquid level display unit 20, the light upper part 28 of the liquid level display unit 20 is refracted by the light-transmitting base material 62 and then travels through the gas G. Will see. On the other hand, the observer's eye E sees the light traveling through the gas G after being refracted by the light-transmitting base material 62 and refracted by the liquid L with respect to the liquid lower portion 29 of the liquid level display unit 20. Become.

  Similarly to the color development principle with different hues shown in FIG. 3, in the second embodiment, the liquid level display unit 20 develops colors with different hues with the liquid surface S as a boundary. That is, in the second embodiment, in comparison with the configuration shown in FIG. 3, it is added that light from the liquid level display unit 20 passes through the light-transmitting base material 62 while being refracted. . However, since light is refracted and transmitted through the light-transmitting base material 62 in the liquid upper portion 28 and the liquid lower portion 29 of the liquid level display unit 20, it is between the liquid upper portion 28 and the liquid lower portion 29. Thus, there is no difference in the optical path length based on the light transmissive base material 62. Therefore, similarly to FIG. 3, due to the refraction action by the liquid L, the optical path length of the coating part 34 in the liquid lower part 29 becomes longer than the optical path length of the coating part 34 in the liquid upper part 28, and the former liquid incident angle θ1 becomes the latter. Is smaller than the gas incident angle θ2.

  Similar to the first embodiment, even if the coating portion 34 of the light coherent color forming body 30 has a certain thickness, the incident angle of light at the coating portion 34 with respect to the liquid surface S is the boundary. The difference corresponds to the thickness of the coating portion 34 being different between the liquid upper part 28 and the liquid lower part 29. Therefore, in the liquid level display unit 20, the hue of the liquid upper part 28 and the hue of the liquid lower part 29 are different. As described above, in the second embodiment as well, as in the first embodiment, the liquid level display unit 20 is colored with different hues with the liquid level S as a boundary, and thus depends on the observation angle θ2 (shown in FIG. 3). The liquid level S can be clearly recognized without doing this.

[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a light transmissive container 70 as the third embodiment. The light transmissive container 70 according to the third embodiment is characterized in that the side surface portion 75 has light transmittance and the liquid level display portion 20 is inherent in the side surface portion 75.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the light transmissive container 70 has a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape having a side surface portion 75 and a bottom surface portion 76. The side surface portion 75 is composed of a light transmissive base material 72. In the base material 72, the light coherent coloring body 30 is inherent. The base material 72 is made of a light transmissive material (for example, a resin material or a glass material). The base material 72 has light transmittance in at least a portion of the side surface portion 75 that functions as the liquid level display unit 20, but the base material 72 is a portion other than the portion that functions as the liquid level display unit 20, or the base material 72. In the whole, you may have a light transmittance.

  The light transmissive container 70 is formed of a molded body obtained by molding a molded body including the light coherent coloring body 30. That is, the light-transmitting container 70 is obtained by molding a molded object obtained by adding the light-interfering color developing body 30 to the material of the light-transmitting base material 72 with a mold. The optical coherent color body 30 includes a base material 32 that reflects incident light and a light-transmitting coating portion 34 that covers the base material 32. When the entire light-transmitting container 70 is formed by molding, the light-interfering color former 30 is inherent in the entire light-transmitting container 70. Since the side surface portion 72 in which the light coherent color forming body 30 is present functions as the liquid level display portion 20, it is the same as providing the liquid level display portion 20 on the side surface portion 75. Therefore, the side surface portion 75 of the light transmissive container 70 is used as the liquid level display portion 20.

  For the liquid level display unit 20, it is not essential that the light coherent coloring body 30 is inherently present in the bottom surface part 76. However, since the entire light transmissive container 70 is formed by molding, The color body 30 is inevitably inherent in the bottom surface portion 76. Of the light transmissive container 70, the side surface portion 75 corresponding to the liquid level display unit 20 is prepared in advance by molding, and the light transmissive container 70 is formed by combining the side surface portion 75 and other portions integrally. May be.

  In the side surface portion 75, some of the optical coherent color bodies 30 inherent in the side surface portion 75 are arranged in the direction perpendicular to the thickness of the side surface portion 75. The side portions 75 are colored with a certain hue by the light coherent color bodies 30 arranged in the direction perpendicular to the thickness of the side portions 75 in the side portions 75. Therefore, as in the above embodiment, the side surface portion 75 functions as a color developing portion.

  Since the orientation of the light coherent color former 30 at the side surface 75 is low, the saturation of the color developed from the light coherent color former 30 is lowered, but interference light of a certain hue is observed by the observer. Since it is delivered to the eye E, the color of a certain hue is visually recognized by the observer. In the liquid level display unit 20, the hue of the liquid upper part 28 and the hue of the liquid lower part 29 are different, and the liquid level display part 20 is colored with a different hue with the liquid surface S as a boundary. The liquid level S can be clearly recognized without depending on the figure. Since the side surface portion 75 functions as the liquid level display unit 20, the liquid level display unit 20 is provided integrally with the light transmissive container 70 as a part of the light transmissive container 70.

  Therefore, in the third embodiment, the side surface portion 75 of the light transmissive container 70 including the light coherent color former 30 can be used as the liquid level display unit 20, and the cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the liquid level display unit 20 is provided separately. .

  In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, the description has been made using specific configurations and numbers, but the present invention is not limited to the specific configurations and numbers of the above-described embodiments, Various modifications that can be considered without departing from the scope of the claims can be included.

  For example, the light-interfering color body 30 is not limited to the scale shape, and may be a structural color body having a circular shape, an elliptical shape, a triangular shape, a quadrangular shape, or a polygonal shape in plan view.

  Although it has been described that the liquid level S is clearly displayed when the hue of the liquid level display unit 20 changes with the liquid level S as a boundary, the lightness or saturation of the liquid level display unit 20 changes. In addition, the liquid level S can be displayed. When the refractive index of the coating part 34 is increased, the difference in the optical path length of the light incident on the coating part 34 is reduced, so that the hue change width in the liquid level display part 20 is reduced and so-called color flop property is reduced. Instead, the liquid level display unit 20 visually recognizes that the brightness or saturation of a certain color is changing. Therefore, the liquid level S can be clearly recognized by changing the brightness or saturation of the liquid level display unit 20 with the liquid level S as a boundary.

  A color is defined by three elements: hue, brightness, and saturation. For example, there are red, green, and blue as hues that define the hue, and there are orange and yellow-green as changes in hue, for example, as described in the first embodiment. Examples of changes in brightness that define the degree of color brightness include light blue (light blue) and dark blue (dark blue). Examples of changes in saturation that define color vividness include vivid red and There is dull red.

  Further, a cholesteric liquid crystal polymer having a helical structure having a period of about the optical wavelength can be used as the light coherent color former 30. The cholesteric liquid crystal polymer is colored based on the light reflected by the molecular arrangement having a helical periodic structure, and light of a certain hue corresponding to the helical pitch length is selectively reflected, and the color depends on the angle of the reflected light. It has a characteristic that the brightness or saturation of the color changes. Since the light traveling from the liquid L to the gas G is refracted due to the difference in refractive index between the gas G and the liquid L, the angle of the reflected light is different. Therefore, since the lightness or saturation of color development of the light coherent color former 30 containing the cholesteric liquid crystal polymer is different depending on the angle of the reflected light, the liquid level display unit 20 has a liquid level 28 between the liquid upper part 28 and the liquid lower part 29. Colors with different brightness or saturation. The cholesteric liquid crystal polymer is fixed to have a certain helical pitch length by photopolymerization. The immobilized cholesteric liquid crystal polymer develops color with a certain hue corresponding to the helical pitch length.

  Further, the cholesteric liquid crystal polymer can be used as the light-interfering color former 30 by enclosing it in a light-transmitting microcapsule or the like. In this case, the liquid level display unit 20 has a characteristic that the cholesteric liquid crystal polymer develops colors with different hues with a slight difference in temperature, and the temperature of the liquid L and the gas G in the container 10 are slightly different. Develops with different hues between the upper part 28 and the lower part 29. In particular, immediately after pouring the liquid L (for example, tap water) into the container 10, the temperature difference between the liquid L and the gas G may increase. In this case, the liquid level display unit 20 using a cholesteric liquid crystal polymer is The liquid surface S is used as a boundary to develop a color with a distinctly different hue.

  The container of one embodiment of the present invention is a container that stores at least the liquid L, and may store solid matter and the liquid L. Although a container has a side part and a bottom part like the said embodiment, the reverse cone shape comprised only by a side part like a funnel may be sufficient, for example.

  Such containers include, for example, electric kettles and electric pots, water tanks in humidifiers and dehumidifiers, water tanks in irons, tanks that contain moisture such as coffee makers, mixers and juicers, bread making machines and moisturizers. Containers for heating and cooking with water and solid objects to be cooked, as well as pots for cooking water, pots such as hot pots and oden, and liquids such as drugs and gels other than water, such as drug tanks The present invention is applicable to containers such as containers, measuring cups, beakers, and graduated cylinders, or general containers such as cups, cups, and bowls.

  The liquid level display unit 20 can be provided in the form of a painted product, a printed product, a film, or a seal body.

10 inner pot (container)
12, 62, 72 Base material 13 Laminating part 14 Base coat layer 16 Coloring layer (coloring part)
18 Top coat layer 20 Liquid level display part 22 Resin part 25, 65, 75 Side face part 26, 66, 76 Bottom part 28 Liquid upper part 29 Liquid lower part 30 Optical coherence color former 32 Base material 34 Coating part 40 Liquid level scale 42 Scale Line 44 Vertical line 46 Numerical value part 60, 70 Light transmissive container (container)
E Eye of observer G Gas H Maximum length of base material L Liquid S Liquid surface (position of liquid surface: liquid level)
j Virtual image point t Thickness of color developing part u Liquid point w Liquid point θ1 Liquid incident angle (observation angle on the lower liquid side)
θ2 Gas incident angle (observation angle at the top of the liquid)
θ3 Refraction angle

Claims (10)

A container for storing liquid,
A liquid level display unit for displaying the position of the liquid level of the liquid stored in the container is provided on the side surface part so as to extend in the height direction of the side surface part of the container;
A container in which the position of the liquid level is displayed by changing the hue, lightness, or saturation of the liquid level display section with respect to the liquid level.   2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid level display unit is a color developing unit in which a light-interfering color forming body including a base material that reflects incident light and a light-transmitting coating unit that covers the base material is arranged. .   The container according to claim 2, wherein the base material of the light-interfering color former has a flat scale shape.   The container according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a thickness of the coloring portion is smaller than a maximum length of the base material.   The container according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the coloring portion is covered with a topcoat layer.   In any 1 item | term of the Claims 2-5, the said color development part is formed with respect to the base material which forms the base material which forms the external shape of the said side part, or this base material, The said base material or A container in which the lightness of the base coat layer is low.   The container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the liquid level display unit is provided on the inner surface side of the container in the form of a painted product, a printed product, a film, or a seal body.   6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is light transmissive, and the liquid level indicator is provided on the outer surface side of the container in the form of a paint, a printed material, a film, or a seal body. Container.   The container according to claim 1, wherein the container is a molded body obtained by adding a light-interfering color former including a base material that reflects incident light and a light-transmitting coating portion that covers the base material to a base material, A container, wherein the liquid level display part is the side part of the container.   10. The container according to claim 1, wherein the liquid level display unit is formed in the form of a weighing scale that displays the amount of the liquid stored in the container.