JP2002326044A - Push-down head of pump - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a spouting head which is a push-down head fitted to a pump and has a stem 2 erected to be thrust in an upward pressing state, is capable of spouting liquid regularly and stably, which has excellent liquid cut and excellent sealing property of a spouting port, in which the push-down of the head is easy, which is usable for any pump and is capable of spouting the liquid stably even in the long time operation. SOLUTION: The push-down head of the pump is provided with a fitting cylinder member 3 having a slide cylinder 9 provided to be erected and communicating with the inside of the stem 2, a main body 4 provided with a valve chamber A having a spouting port to be opened at the tip at the upper part of a cylinder 11 fitted to outer periphery of the slide cylinder 9 and provided to be pushed down to the fitting cylinder part, a valve member 5 closing the spouting port in the forward pressing state and forming a flow passage from a communicating port 19 communicating with the inside of the cylinder 11 to the spouting port and a lever member 6 having a special structure for opening the valve by the push-down of the head linked with the valve member 5 and is constituted so that the push-down drag of the main body to the stem is smaller than that of the stem itself.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pressing head for a pump, and more particularly, to a pump which can be easily depressed when a liquid is jetted out, without liquid clogging in the head, etc. Press head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a pressing head of a pump, there has been known a pressing head which is fitted to an upper end of a protruding stem which can be pushed in an upwardly biased state. These are configured such that the liquid in the container body attached by pushing is ejected from the ejection port through the stem, and in a general press head,
A vertical cylinder fitted to the stem, and a horizontal cylinder having a base end opened at the upper part of the vertical cylinder and communicating with the ejection port at the distal end are provided. Also,
It has been proposed to improve such a simple structure, provide a valve member urged by an elastic body so as to close the jet port, and configure the jet port to be open when pressed down. JP-A-9-155254).

The press head is used by being fitted to a stem of a pump, and communicates with the inside of the stem at the upper end of a mounting cylinder fitted to the stem in a top-covered cylindrical cover having an open lower end. A valve member urged forward by a coil spring is disposed in the horizontal tube, and the distal end of the valve member is pressed against and closed by an ejection port opened on the front surface of the peripheral wall. In addition, a tongue piece is formed to be elastically swingable at a rear upper portion of the skirt portion which is vertically provided concentrically with the peripheral wall from the back surface of the top wall in a manner to hold a valve member rear end portion protruding from the horizontal cylinder rear portion. There is a projection on the lower part of the inner surface of the tongue. When the head is pushed down, the protrusion comes into contact with the upper surface of the rear peripheral portion of the pump, and the upper portion of the tongue piece is elastically deformed inclining rearward, whereby the valve member moves rearward, and the ejection port opens. It is configured as follows.

[0004]

The above-mentioned conventional head has the following problems.
The nozzle is always closed when not in use, so there is no inconvenience that the liquid stored inside solidifies, but the head is pressed down harder when ejecting the liquid, making it more difficult to push down. There is. In addition, since the operation of the valve member is constituted by the tongue piece provided on the head and a part of the pump as described above, the form of the head itself and the pump to be mounted is significantly limited, and the versatility is poor. is there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and enables stable ejection of a liquid at all times, good drainage, excellent sealing of an ejection port, and easy depression of a head. The present invention proposes an ejection head of a pump. Another object of the present invention is to provide a pump ejection head that can be used for any pump and that can eject a liquid that is sufficiently stable for long-term use. Further, the present invention proposes a jet head of a pump that can reduce the number of members as much as possible, and as a result, can be easily manufactured and cost can be reduced.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pressing head for mounting a stem on an upright pump so that the stem can be pushed in an upwardly biased state. A mounting cylinder member 3 having a mounting cylinder 7 fitted to the upper end thereof is vertically provided from the lower surface of the top plate 8, and a sliding cylinder 9 communicating with the inside of the stem 2 is provided upright on the top plate 8. A body 4 having a valve chamber A having a spout 12 opened at its tip above the cylinder 11 fitted slidably and downwardly, and provided so as to be able to be pushed down with respect to the mounting cylinder member.
A flow path from the communication port 19 communicating with the inside of the cylinder to the jet port 12 while the rear port outer circumference is slidably fitted to the inner circumference of the valve chamber A and the front port is closed. And the upper end is linked to the rear end of the valve member 5 and the lower end is abutted and locked on the upper surface of the top plate 8,
And a lever member 6 pivotably pivotably attached to pull out the valve member rearward when the main body is pressed against the mounting cylinder member,
The pressing head of the pump is characterized in that the pressing resistance of the main body against the stem 2 is smaller than the pressing resistance of the stem itself.

Further, in the pressing head according to the second aspect of the present invention, the valve member 5 has an inverted skirt portion 21 extending from the rear edge of the skirt portion 20 extending rearward from the outer periphery, and the valve member 5 has an inverted skirt. The pressing head of the pump according to claim 1, which is a valve member in which the outer peripheral edge of the shape portion 21 is slidably fitted to the rear portion inside the valve chamber A.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the pressing head, instead of the valve member 5, a fitting cylindrical portion 35 fitted in a liquid-tight manner at the rear end of the inner periphery of the valve chamber A is provided via a flange-like elastic wall portion 36. Extends from the outer circumference, and is ejected by the forward urging force of the elastic wall portion 36
2. A valve member 5A formed of a flexible and resilient material, which closes 12 and defines a flow path from a communication port 19 communicating with the inside of the cylinder to the jet port 12. The pump was configured as a press head.

In the pressing head according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, instead of the valve member 5, a fitting cylindrical portion 35 fitted in a liquid-tight manner at the rear end of the inner periphery of the valve chamber A is provided via a flange-like elastic wall portion. An elastic member 39 formed of a flexible and highly elastic material extending from the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 41 having a closed distal end, and a front portion fitted and fixed in the cylindrical portion 41 to project a rear end portion rearward. The core 40 is made of a rigid material and is provided by the elastic wall 36.
2. The press-down head of a pump according to claim 1, further comprising a valve member (5B) that closes (12) and defines a flow path from the communication port (19) communicating with the inside of the cylinder to the jet port (12).

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the pressing head, the cylindrical member 3 and the main body 4 are provided with a detent mechanism which is vertically movable and non-rotatable with respect to each other. The press-down head of the pump according to any one of the above.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The press head 1 of the present invention is used by fitting it to the upper end of the stem 2 of the pump. The form of the attached pump is
It can be adopted as long as the liquid in the pump is ejected from the stem by pushing down the stem, for example,
A pump having a general pump structure having a cylinder and a piston, or an aerosol-type pump can be employed.

The pressing head 1 according to the present invention includes a mounting cylinder member 3, a main body 4, a valve member 5, and a lever member 6.

The mounting cylinder member 3 has a mounting cylinder 7 fitted to the upper end of the outer periphery of the stem 2 suspended from the back surface of the top plate 8, and a sliding cylinder 9 communicating with the inside of the stem 2 at the center of the top plate 8. Has been established. Further, a guide tube 10 is provided vertically from the peripheral portion of the top plate 8.

The main body 4 is connected to the stem 2 via a mounting cylinder member 3 so as to be able to be pushed down. exit
A valve chamber A having an opening 12 is provided, and is provided so as to be able to be pressed against the mounting cylinder member 3. In the illustrated example, a cylindrical cover portion 13 having a lower end opening formed by extending a top wall 13b from an upper end edge of a peripheral wall 13a.
A valve chamber A is provided at the front part of the top wall 13b on the back surface of the cover part 13 with a gap B at the rear part.
11 are hanging.

The valve chamber A is formed integrally with the top wall 13b at the front portion of the rear surface of the rear wall 13b while sharing a part with the top wall, and has a front opening at the front portion of the peripheral wall 13a and a window hole 15 at the center of the rear wall 14a. Horizontal tube 14
A nozzle tube 16 fitted to the distal end of the horizontal tube 14 and opening the ejection port 12 at the distal end, and a sliding portion described later of the valve member 5 fitted to the rear portion inside the horizontal tube 14 so as to be slidable. It is defined by a cylinder tube 18 forming a cylinder portion 17.

The valve member 5 has its rear outer periphery slidably fitted to the inner periphery of the valve chamber A, and closes the jet port 12 in a forward biased state. Further, a communication port 19 communicating with the inside of the cylinder 11 is provided in the valve chamber A. In the illustrated example, the shape is a horizontal bar,
The front end is pressed against the spout 12 to close it, the rear end protrudes from the window hole 15, and the skirt portion 20 extends rearward from the middle part in the front-rear direction of the outer periphery.
The outer peripheral edge of the inverted skirt-shaped portion 21 folded back from the rear end edge is slidably fitted to the inner periphery of the cylinder portion 17. Thus, a liquid flow path from the inside of the cylinder 11 to the ejection port 12 via the communication port 19 is defined. The coil spring 22 is urged forward by a coil spring 22 interposed between the front surface of the rear wall of the cylinder tube 18 and the branch portion of the skirt portion 20. Further, the rear end protrudes from the window hole 15, and the protruding portion has an annular concave portion for lever member engagement.
23 is recessed.

The lever member 6 has an upper end linked to the rear end of the valve member 5 and has a lower end abuttingly engaged with the upper surface of the top plate 8. It is pivotally attached so that it can be pulled backward.

In the illustrated example, the lever member 6 has a bifurcated inclined plate portion 25 extending forward from a lower end portion of a vertical plate portion 24 having an upper end portion linked to a rear end portion of the valve member 5. Plate 25
Are abutted and locked on the upper surface of the top plate 8 on both sides of the sliding cylinder 9. In this embodiment, the linkage between the lever member 6 and the valve member 5 is such that the annular concave portion 23 of the valve member 5 is fitted into a notch 26 provided at the center of the upper end of the vertical plate portion 24. More specifically, a rectangular concave portion 27 as viewed from the front is provided at the upper end of the rear surface of the vertical plate portion 24, and a cutout portion 26 communicating with the concave portion 27 is formed.

Further, pivot shafts 28 projecting from both sides of the bending portion are provided.
Are rotatably fitted to the bearings 29 on both sides, respectively. The bearing 29 in the present embodiment is a pair of bearings that are vertically suspended at a predetermined interval from the rear of the lower surface of the mounting plate 30 fitted directly below the horizontal cylinder 14, and each of the bearings 29 has a tapered shape that is wider than the lower end of the inner surface. A bearing recess 31 is provided via the recess. Also,
The mounting plate 30 includes a fitting hole into which the cylinder 11 is fitted, and a window hole through which the vertical plate portion 24 of the lever member 6 is swingably inserted. The lower surface of the peripheral portion protrudes from the inner periphery of the main body peripheral wall 13a. It is engaged over the engaging ridge 32 and has a notch 33
Is engaged with a locking rib 34 protruding at a predetermined position on the main body peripheral wall 13a to prevent rotation. The bearing is not limited to the one provided separately from the main body as in this embodiment, but may be a bearing provided integrally with the main body as shown in FIG.
May be pivotally connected to the above-described state so as to be swingable.

The upper part of the vertical plate portion 24 is always urged forward by the valve member 5 urged forward by the coil spring 22. When the main body 4 is pushed down, the top plate 8 of the mounting cylinder member 3 is moved. Push up the inclined plate part 25 to lift the lever member 6
Is rotated so that the valve member 5 is pulled backward against the forward biasing force of the coil spring 22.

According to the present invention, in such a pressing head, the pressing resistance of the main body 4 against the stem 2 is smaller than the pressing resistance of the stem itself. In order to configure in this manner, basically, if the elastic force of the elastic material for urging the valve member 5 forward is selected to be smaller than the elastic material for urging the stem of the pump to be mounted upward. These may be selected in consideration of the frictional force between the sliding cylinder and the cylinder, the frictional force when the lever member swings, and the like.

The pressing head 1 configured as described above is similar to the pressing head 1 shown in FIG.
When the cover portion 13 is pushed down from the state described above, the pushing resistance of the stem 2 itself is larger than the pushing resistance of the main body 4 against the stem 2, so that the stem 2 does not first lower and the main body 4 descends with respect to the mounting cylinder member 3. . At this time, the lower end of the lever member 6 is pushed up on the upper surface of the top plate 8 of the mounting tubular member 3 and pivots around the pivot shaft 28, and the upper end thereof pivots rearward to move the valve member 5 to the coil spring 22. To move backward against the resilience of
Spout 12 opens. Next, the stem 2 is lowered, and the liquid in the pump is discharged from the stem 2 through the cylinder 11 through the communication port 19 to the outside through the outlet port 12 through the flow path due to the lowered stem.

Next, when the pressing of the cover 13 is released, the head is first raised by the upward biasing force of the stem. On this occasion,
For example, the stem is raised before the hand pressing the upper surface of the cover portion 13 is released, and the ejection port 12 is kept open. Therefore, at this time, the inside of the valve chamber A is in a negative pressure state. Next, there is room to release, and the coil spring 22
The valve member 5 shifts forward due to the resilience of the valve member and closes the ejection port 12, whereby the main body 4 is attached to the mounting cylinder member 3 by the lever member 6.
, And return to the original state.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention. The pressing head 1 in this embodiment is an example in which the bearing 29 is provided integrally with the main body 4 in the embodiment of FIG. In this embodiment, in place of the mounting plate 30 and the bearing 29, a vertically long bearing 29 is vertically suspended at a predetermined position at the rear of the top wall 13 b of the main body 4, and the pivot shaft 28 is attached to the bearing recess 31 of the bearing 29. It is fitted rotatably. The other configuration is substantially the same as that of the embodiment of FIG.

FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a pressing head 1 is provided with a valve member 5A instead of the valve member 5 in the embodiment of FIG. ing.

The valve member 5A is entirely formed of a flexible and highly elastic material such as an elastomer, and a fitting cylindrical portion 35 fitted in a liquid-tight manner at the rear end of the inner periphery of the valve chamber A is provided with a flange-like elastic wall portion 36. Along with extending from the outer periphery through, the front wall of the elastic wall portion 36 closes the jet port 12 with the urging force, and defines a flow path from the communication port 19 communicating with the inside of the cylinder 11 to the jet port 12. I have.

Also in this case, the main body 4 with respect to the stem 2 is also provided.
Of the pump itself is smaller than the pushing resistance of the stem itself, and in order to make such a configuration, basically, the valve is more elastic than the elastic material for urging the stem of the pump to be mounted upward. The elastic restoring force of the elastic wall portion 36 for urging the member 5A forward may be selected to be small, and may be selected in consideration of the frictional force or the like when the lever member swings.

In the case of this embodiment, the cylinder cylinder 18 in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is omitted, and the valve chamber A is defined by the horizontal cylinder 14 and the nozzle cylinder 16. Fitting tube at rear end of inner circumference
35 is liquid-tightly fitted and fixed. Further, since the front urging force is applied by the flange-like elastic wall portion 36, the coil spring is eliminated. The configuration of the rear end is the same as that of the embodiment of FIG.

In this embodiment, the cylinder member 3 and the main body 4 are provided with a rotation preventing mechanism which is configured to be vertically movable and non-rotatable.

The rotation stopping mechanism in the illustrated example is a peripheral wall of the main body.
A vertical protrusion 37 is vertically provided on the inner surface of the inner surface 13a, and a vertical groove 38 in which the vertical protrusion 37 is vertically movably fitted in the guide tube 10 of the mounting tube member 3 is provided. Each of these vertical ridges 37 and vertical concave grooves 38 may be provided at one place or may be provided at a plurality of places,
In the illustrated example, vertical ridges 37 are provided at the front and left and right three places, and vertical ridges 38 are provided at four front, rear, left and right places. The other parts are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof will be omitted. still,
The anti-rotation mechanism is provided in the embodiment of FIG. 1 or in FIG.
The present invention can be applied to the embodiment.

Pressing head 1 using such a valve member 5A
When the cover 13 is pushed down from the state of FIG. 5, the main body 4 is lowered with respect to the mounting cylinder member 3 as in the embodiment of FIG.
Similarly, the upper end of the lever member 6 rotates rearward to shift the valve member 5A rearward against the elastic force of the flange-like elastic wall portion 36,
The spout 12 opens and the liquid in the pump spouts from the spout 12 to the outside.

Next, when the pressing of the cover 13 is released, the head rises in the same manner with the ejection port 12 kept open, and then, when there is room for releasing the hand, the elastic restoring force of the elastic wall 36 is released. As a result, the valve member 5A moves forward to close the ejection port 12, and accordingly, the main body 4 is pushed upward by the lever member 6 with respect to the mounting cylinder member 3 to return to the original state.

FIG. 6 shows still another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a pressing head 1 is provided with a valve member 5B instead of the valve member 5 in the embodiment of FIG. ing.

The valve member 5B comprises an elastic member 39 formed of a flexible and highly elastic material such as an elastomer, and a core member 40 formed of a rigid material such as a synthetic resin.

The elastic member 39 is constructed by extending a fitting cylindrical portion 35 which is fitted in a liquid-tight manner at the rear end of the inner periphery of the valve chamber A from the outer periphery of the closed cylindrical portion 41 via a flange-like elastic wall portion 36. And core material 40
Is configured such that a front portion is fitted and fixed in a cylindrical portion 41 and a rear end portion is protruded rearward. In addition, a communication port that closes the ejection port 12 by the urging force of the elastic wall portion 36 and communicates with the inside of the cylinder 11.
A flow path from 19 to the outlet 12 is defined.

The core member 40 can be fixed in the cylindrical portion 41 by various methods as long as it can be prevented from coming off. For example, bonding with an adhesive, welding, or as shown in the example shown in FIG. An uneven engagement means may be provided between the material 40 and the outer peripheral surface.
In the illustrated example, a ridge 42 is provided around the outer periphery of the tip of the core material 40, and a concave groove 43 is provided around the inner peripheral tip of the cylindrical portion 41, and the ridge 42 is fitted into the concave groove 43. I have. In this case, the fitting of the core material 40 to the cylindrical portion 41 can be performed by forcibly fitting the core material 40 into the cylindrical portion 41 using the elasticity of the elastic material 39, but it is possible to perform insert molding. It is also possible to form by. Also, in the former case, it is easier to fit the air replacement groove along the longitudinal direction of the core material 40 in the transverse direction, and also in the latter case, the resin is filled in the groove 44. This has the effect of reliably preventing mutual rotation.

In this embodiment as well, the cylinder tube 18 is omitted as in the embodiment of FIG. 5, and the valve chamber A is defined by the horizontal cylinder 14 and the nozzle cylinder 16. The fitting cylindrical portion 35 is fitted and fixed to the portion in a liquid-tight manner. Similarly, the coil spring is eliminated. Further, the above-mentioned rotation stopping means is provided. The configuration and operation of the other parts are also substantially the same as those of the embodiment of FIG.

Each of the above members is mainly formed of a synthetic resin unless otherwise specified, and may be formed by using a metal, an elastomer or the like as needed.

[0039]

As described above, the pressing head according to the present invention has a good liquid shortage after the liquid is jetted out, and the liquid is clogged in the head.
There is no danger of solidification or the like, and the spout can be easily pushed down and spouted without hardening even though the spout is closed. Further, since it can be used without being influenced by the form of the pump and the like, it has excellent versatility and can be applied to many types of pumps. Further, since the valve member is opened and closed by the lever member, the durability is excellent and the operation can be constantly performed for a long period of time.

In the head according to the second aspect of the present invention, the sliding portion of the valve member can slide back and forth stably with respect to vertical deflection, and when the valve member is moved backward by the lever member. However, even if there is a slight change in the vertical direction, sufficient airtightness can be maintained.

In the head according to the third aspect of the present invention, the number of members can be reduced as much as possible, which has the advantage of cost reduction and also has the advantage of simplifying assembly.

In the head according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the number of members can be reduced and the assembling can be simplified. In addition, since the linking portion with the lever member 6 has rigidity, the portion is not deformed. There is no danger of occurrence, and there is also an advantage that a smoother operation can be performed.

In the head according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the head 1 does not rotate with respect to the mounting cylinder member 3, an undesired force such as twisting is applied to the lever member 6 linked to the upper surface of the mounting cylinder member. And has the advantage of smoother operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a pressed state of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lever member of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... stem, 3 ... mounting cylinder member, 4 ... body, 5 ... valve member,
6 ... lever member, 7 ... mounting cylinder, 8 ... top plate, 9 ... sliding cylinder, 11 ...
Cylinder, 12 ... Spout, 19 ... Connection port, 20 ... Skirt-shaped part, 21 ... Reverse skirt-shaped part, 35 ... Fitting cylinder part, 36 ... Elastic wall part, 39 ... Elastic material, 40 ... Core material, 41 ... Tube part, A… Valve room,

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takayuki Goto 3-2-6 Oshima, Koto-ku, Tokyo F-term in Yoshino Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Reference) 3E014 PA01 PB01 PB02 PD11 PE06 PE09 PF10

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pressing head mounted on a pump in which a stem 2 can be pushed in an upwardly urged state, wherein the stem 2 is mounted on the pump.
A mounting cylinder 7 fitted to the upper end is vertically provided from the lower surface of the top plate 8, and a sliding cylinder 9 communicating with the inside of the stem 2 is mounted upright on the top plate 8. Above the cylinder 11 fitted slidably and downwardly, there is provided a valve chamber A having an ejection port 12 opened at the tip, and a main body 4 provided so as to be able to be pushed down with respect to the mounting cylinder member. The outer periphery of the rear part is slidably fitted, and the ejection port is urged forward.
The valve member 5 which closes 12 and defines a flow path from the communication port 19 communicating with the inside of the cylinder to the jet port 12, and the upper end is linked to the rear end of the valve member 5, and the lower end is A lever member 6 which is abutted and locked on the upper surface of the top plate 8 and is pivotally pivotally connected so as to pull out the valve member rearward when the main body is pressed against the mounting tubular member. A pressing head of a pump, wherein the pressing resistance is smaller than a pressing resistance of the stem itself. 2. An inverted skirt portion 21 which is folded back from a rear edge of a skirt portion 20 extending rearward from the outer periphery.
And the outer peripheral edge of the inverted skirt portion 21 is attached to the valve chamber A.
2. The pump head according to claim 1, wherein the valve head is a valve member slidably fitted to the inner rear portion. 3. In place of the valve member 5, a fitting cylindrical portion 35, which is fitted in a liquid-tight manner at the rear end of the inner periphery of the valve chamber A, extends from the outer periphery through a flange-like elastic wall portion 36 and has an elastic wall. A valve formed of a flexible and resilient material, which closes the ejection port 12 by the forward urging force of the portion 36 and defines a flow path from the communication port 19 communicating with the inside of the cylinder to the ejection port 12. The press-down head of a pump according to claim 1, further comprising a member (5A). 4. In place of the valve member 5, a fitting cylindrical portion 35, which is fitted in a liquid-tight manner at the rear end of the inner periphery of the valve chamber A, extends from the outer periphery of the closed cylindrical portion 41 via a flange-like elastic wall portion 36. An elastic member 39 formed of a flexible and highly elastic material, and a core formed of a rigid material having a front portion fitted and fixed in the cylindrical portion 41 and a rear end portion protruding rearward. The valve member 5B, which is made of a material 40 and closes the ejection port 12 by the forward urging force of the elastic wall portion 36, and defines a flow path from the communication port 19 communicating with the inside of the cylinder to the ejection port 12. The pump press head according to claim 1, further comprising: 5. The pump according to claim 1, wherein said cylinder member 3 and said main body 4 are provided with a rotation preventing mechanism configured to be vertically movable and non-rotatable with respect to each other. head.