JP2005152789A - Knock type cap of aerosol container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a knock type cap of an aerosol container with which continuous jetting can be performed even if a button is not kept pressed with a hand and with which the jetting and stopping can be repeated as many times as desired with a simple operation. <P>SOLUTION: The knock type cap (1) of an aerosol container (100) is equipped with a jet valve (120) for jetting the content with depression of a stem (121) down to its jetting position, wherein the cap (1) fitted into the upper part of the aerosol container is provided with a knock mechanism (200) including a press button to lock the stem to the jetting position with the first depression and release operation of the press button and to release the lock with the second depression and release operation of the press button. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a knock type cap for an aerosol container that can be continuously sprayed and stopped by pressing a button.

  In general, when a button on the cap body is pressed, this type of cap opens the aerosol container's injection valve, sprays the medicine in the container from the stem into the air, and releases the button to release the injection valve. It is configured to close and stop the spraying of the medicine. However, in this configuration, the medicine cannot be continuously sprayed unless the button is kept pressed.

Therefore, the cap body is provided with a means for locking the button in the pressed down position so that the medicine can be continuously sprayed without having to hold down the button by hand. Is elastically deformed and pushed down to the lock position (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In order to hold the stem in the injection position, the button should be locked with the screw in the pressed down position, and when injecting continuously, the button should be stopped with the screw in the pressed down position, and when injection is interrupted, the screw should be removed. (Patent Document 2).

JP 2001-55285 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-80079

However, since the technique described in Patent Document 1 is intended for continuous injection of the entire amount, once the button is pushed down to the lock position, it cannot be easily returned to the original position. Therefore, injection and stop are performed as necessary. It is not suitable for usage that repeats many times.
In the technique described in Patent Document 2, it is necessary to tighten the screw and hold the button in the depressed position in the case of continuous injection, and to remove the screw and return the button to the original position when the injection is interrupted. Therefore, the operability is poor when the usage is such that the injection and the stop are repeated many times.

  In consideration of the above circumstances, the present invention is capable of continuous injection without pressing the button by hand, and can be performed with simple operation even when injection and stop are repeated many times. An object is to provide a knock type cap for a container.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is an aerosol container cap provided with an injection valve for injecting contents by pushing down a stem to an injection position,
A knock mechanism including a push button is provided on the cap fitted to the upper part of the aerosol container, and the stem is locked at the injection position by the first push and release operation of the push button, and the push button is pushed and released for the second time. The lock is released by an operation.

In the invention according to claim 2, the knock mechanism is pushed down from the initial level by pushing down the push button, and in the pushed down state, the first position in the direction intersecting the push-down direction and the second position A mover that can be moved alternately to the position,
A return spring that biases the moving element toward an initial level;
Drive means for moving the mover to the first position by depressing a first button and moving the mover to the second position by depressing a second button;
When the moving element attempts to return to the initial level from the first position by the force of the return spring as the button is released, the moving element is moved to a lower position that holds the stem in the injection position. Engage to prevent return to the initial level and allow the mover to return to the initial level when the mover attempts to return to the initial level from the second position by the force of the return spring. Engagement means,
The moving element is connected to the stem.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the return spring is provided separately from the valve spring provided in the injection valve and has a spring force stronger than that of the valve spring.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a knock mechanism that locks the stem in the injection position by the first pressing and releasing operation of the pressing button that presses the stem and releases the lock by the second pressing and releasing operation of the pressing button. Therefore, simply by pressing the push button, the injection and the stop can be repeated many times, and the operation is easy.

  According to the invention of claim 2, since the knock mechanism is mechanically constituted by the moving element, the return spring, the driving means, and the engaging means, the structure is simple and the product can be commercialized at low cost.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the return spring is provided separately from the valve spring in the injection valve, it is possible to increase the push-down stroke of the button and to ensure good operability.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the knock type cap 1 of the present invention is fitted to the upper part of an aerosol container 100.
The aerosol container 100 includes an injection valve 120 that injects the contents (medicine and gas) enclosed in the container main body 101 to the outside by pushing down the stem 121, and the cap 1 includes the injection valve 120. The mountain cup 102 of the aerosol container 100 is fitted so as to cover the stem 121.
In FIG. 1, the hatched part is the knock type cap part of the present invention,
The other part is an aerosol device similar to the conventional one.

2A is an exploded side cross-sectional view of the cap 1, and FIG. 2B is a side view showing only the cam portion of the parts constituting the cap 1. FIG.
The knock type cap 1 of this embodiment includes a cap main body 10, a button 20 attached to the cap main body 10, a rotor (corresponding to a moving element) 30 disposed below the button 20, The inner button 40 is fitted to the upper end of the stem 121 on the lower side, and the return spring 50 is disposed between the inner button 40 and the rotor 30.
Among these components, the cap body 10, the button 20, the rotor 30, and the return spring 50 lock the stem 121 in the injection position by the first pressing and releasing operation of the button 20.
And the knock mechanism 200 which cancels | releases the said lock | rock by the 2nd depression and releasing operation of the button 20 is comprised.

The cap body 10 has a shape that covers the upper end of the aerosol container 100 as a whole, a cover portion 11 that has a lower end fitted to the mountain cup 102 of the aerosol container 100, and a cylindrical shape that is positioned at the upper center of the cover portion 11. Button housing boss portion 12 and a partially cylindrical inner button housing portion 13 with a partly cut-out side surface.
The cover portion 11 is also provided with an opening portion 14 corresponding to the notch of the inner button accommodating portion 13 for the chemical injection.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the button housing boss portion 12 of the cap body 10, and FIG. 3A is a side view showing the configuration of the engagement cam 15 portion provided on the inner periphery of the button housing boss portion 12. ) Is a side sectional view of the button housing boss portion 12, and FIG. 5C is a bottom view of the button housing boss portion 12. 4A and 4B are configuration diagrams of the button 20. FIG. 4A is a top view, FIG. 4B is an external side view, FIG. 4C is a side sectional view, and FIG.
5 is a configuration diagram of the rotor 30, wherein (a) is a top view, (b) is a side view, and (c) is a side sectional view.

6-9 is explanatory drawing which shows order for the operation | movement state of the cap 1 of embodiment later on, (a) of each figure is a sectional side view which shows the upper part of the aerosol container 100 and the structure of the cap 1, (b). FIG. 3 is a side view showing an engagement portion of a cam.
FIG. 10 is an operation explanatory view showing only the meshing portion of the cam. (A) is a standby state, (b) is a button pressed state, (c) is a holding state at a pressed position, and (d) is released. It is a figure which shows the state which pushed down the button for each.
FIGS. 10A to 10D correspond to operation states of FIGS. 6 to 9 described later.

First, the injection valve 120 of the aerosol container 100 to be covered with the cap 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 6, the container main body (can) 101 is filled with a medicine and gas as contents not shown.
A mounting cup 102 is fixed to the upper end opening of the container main body 101, and an injection valve 120 is attached to the center of the mounting cup 102.

  The injection valve 120 includes a valve housing 122 fixed to the inside of the mounting cup 102, a stem rubber 123 sandwiched between the mounting cup 102 and the valve housing 122, and a stem 121 inserted through the center hole of the stem rubber 123. A valve spring 124 which is built in the valve housing 122 and biases the stem 121 upward, and a spring receiving member 125 provided in the valve housing 122.

A fluid introduction port 127 communicating with the internal space 126 of the valve housing 122 is provided at the lower end of the valve housing 122, and the upper end of a dip tube (not shown) with the lower end inserted into the drug is connected to the fluid introduction port 127. Has been.
A lead-out lead hole 128 is formed in the center of the stem 121 from the upper end surface, and a lateral hole 129 drilled in the radial direction from the peripheral surface of the stem 121 communicates with the lead-out hole 128. .
The lateral hole 129 opens in a constricted portion 130 secured between a large diameter portion at the lower end of the stem 121 and a bulged portion on the upper side, and the inner peripheral surface of the stem rubber 123 is constricted when not in use. The stem rubber 123 is opened by being deformed by pressing down the stem 121 during use, and communicates with the internal space 126 of the valve housing 122 so that the contents are led out.

  That is, when the stem 121 is pushed down against the force of the valve spring 124, the valve is opened to inject the contents, and when the stem 121 is released, the valve is closed and the contents are closed. The injection of things is stopped.

Next, the structure of the knock type cap 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, the button housing boss portion 12 of the cap body 10 is provided with an end wall 12b for preventing the button 20 from coming off at the upper end of a cylindrical peripheral wall 12a, and the button is inserted into the center of the end wall 12b. Hole 16 is formed.
As shown in FIG. 1, the cover 121 of the cap main body 10 is fitted to the mountain cup 102 so that the stem 121 and the axis are aligned.
On the inner periphery of the peripheral wall 12a of the button housing boss portion 12, vertical grooves 17 and engagement cams 15 along the vertical direction are alternately formed at a constant pitch in the circumferential direction.
The engagement cam 15 is configured by a wall portion projecting inwardly from the inner surface of the peripheral wall 12a, and a first cam portion 15a for locking and a guide first guide portion adjacent to the first cam portion 15a via a step at the lower end edge. 2 cam portions 15b.
The step between the first cam portion 15a and the second cam portion 15b constitutes a lock portion 15d for locking a guide projection 35 on the rotor 30 side described later.
A shallow vertical slide groove 15 c is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the engagement cam 15.

As shown in FIG. 1, the button 20 has a cylindrical cap shape whose upper end is closed, and is slidably fitted into the button insertion hole 16 of the button housing boss portion 12 of the cap body 10.
As shown in FIG. 4, on the lower end surface of the peripheral wall 20a of the button 20, mountain-shaped cam teeth 21 in which peaks and valleys are alternately arranged are continuously formed at a constant pitch in the circumferential direction.
Moreover, the 1st protrusion 22 and the 2nd protrusion 23 are provided in the lower end part of the outer peripheral surface of the surrounding wall 20a at a 180 degree space | interval in the circumferential direction, and one pair is provided. The first protrusion 22 is slidably engaged in the longitudinal groove 17 of the button housing boss portion 12 of the cap body 10, and the second protrusion 23 is slidable in the slide groove 15 c on the inner peripheral surface of the engagement cam 15. Is engaged.
Since this engagement is always maintained when the button 20 moves up and down, the button 20 does not rotate, but only slides up and down.
Since these projections 22 and 23 protrude outward larger than the diameter of the button insertion hole 16, they also serve to prevent the button 20 from coming off.

As shown in FIG. 5, the rotor 30 includes an inner cylinder part 31 having a central boss hole 31 a, an outer cylinder part 32 concentrically arranged on the outer side, a lower end of the inner cylinder part 31, and an outer cylinder part 32. It has an end wall 33 to be connected, a cylindrical wall 34 protruding from the outer periphery of the lower end of the outer cylindrical portion 32, and guide protrusions 35 protruding from the outer periphery of the cylindrical wall 34 at a constant pitch in the circumferential direction.
A mountain-shaped cam tooth 36 that meshes with the cam tooth 21 at the lower end of the button 20 is formed at the upper end of the cylindrical wall 34, and a slope according to the inclination of the cam tooth 36 is provided at the upper end of the guide projection 35. . As shown in FIG. 1, the outer cylinder portion 32 of the rotor 30 is fitted to the inner periphery of the peripheral wall 20 a of the button 20 so as to be slidable in the axial direction and the circumferential direction (direction intersecting the push-down direction).
In the initial state, as shown in FIG. 6, the guide projection 35 is fitted in the vertical groove 17 of the button housing boss portion 12 of the cap body 10, so that it can slide only in the axial direction.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inner button 40 has a central boss portion 41 fitted to the stem 121, a rod portion 42 extending on the extension of the central boss portion 41, and the side of the central boss portion 41. A nozzle housing part 43 projecting from the part, and an abutment wall 44 that contacts the inner button accommodating part 12 of the cap body 10.
The nozzle housing 43 is provided with a lateral hole 46 communicating with the inner hole 44 of the central boss portion 41, and a nozzle 47 is fitted in the lateral hole 46 .
The inner button 40 is configured so that the medicine that has come out from the outlet hole of the stem 121 can be ejected laterally from the nozzle 47 by fitting the central boss portion 41 to the upper end of the stem 121. .

As shown in FIG. 1, the inner button 40 is fitted to the upper end of the stem 121, and the rotor 30 is disposed thereon via a return spring 50.
The rotor 30 is slidably combined with the inner button 40 by fitting the central boss hole 31 a of the inner cylinder portion 31 to the rod portion 42 of the inner button 40, and is arranged on the outer periphery of the rod portion 42. The return spring 50 is biased to the upper initial level.
This initial level is the position where the return spring 50 is fully extended. Note that the strength of the return spring 30 is stronger than the strength of the valve spring 124 of the injection valve 120.

Next, the operation will be described.
FIG. 6 shows an initial state, that is, a standby state.
In this state, the button 20 is at the initial level position, and the guide protrusion 35 of the rotor 30 is fitted in the vertical groove 17 between the engagement cam 15 and the engagement cam 15 as shown in FIG. waiting. When the button 20 is pushed in this state (first depression), the rotor 30 is lowered while being pushed by the button 20 and restricted by the longitudinal groove 17, and the inner button 40 starts to be lowered while compressing the return spring 50. Spraying is started when 121 is pushed down.

FIG. 7 shows a state where the injection valve 120 is opened when the button 20 is pressed down.
When the button 20 is pushed down to a certain depth, as shown in FIG. 10B, the guide protrusion 35 of the rotor 30 is removed from the vertical groove 17, and the cam teeth 21 at the lower end of the button 20 and the cam teeth 36 of the rotor 30. , The rotor 30 rotates by a certain angle (moves to a first position in a direction crossing the push-down direction), and the guide protrusion 35 reaches below the engagement cam 15 of the cap body 10. FIG. 7 shows this state.

When the button 20 is released from this state (release of pressing), as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10C, the guide protrusion 35 of the rotor 30 biased upward by the return spring 50 is moved to the cap body 10. Slide along the first cam portion 15a of the engagement cam 15 and engage with the lock portion 15d.
Accordingly, the rotor 30 is held in the pushed-down position without returning to the initial level, and the stem 121 of the injection valve 120 is also held in the pushed-down position via the inner button 40, and the injection state is maintained (continuous injection).

Next, when it is desired to stop the injection, the button 20 is pushed again as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 (d) (second depression).
Then, first, the guide projection 35 is disengaged from the lock portion 15d of the engagement cam 15, and at that stage, the rotor 30 rotates (depresses down) by the engagement of the cam teeth 21 of the button 20 and the cam teeth 36 of the rotor 30. To the second position in the direction intersecting the direction), and the guide protrusion 35 reaches below the second cam portion 15b.
When the button 20 is released in this state, the guide protrusion 35 of the rotor 30 pushed up by the force of the return spring 50 slides along the second cam portion 15b, disengages from the engagement cam 15, and enters the longitudinal groove 17. to go into.
When the guide protrusion 35 enters the vertical groove 17, the downward pressing by the engagement cam 15 can be taken, whereby the rotor 30 returns to the initial level, and at the same time, the inner button 40 is no longer pressed, thereby the stem 121. Returns to the initial position and the injection is stopped.

  In this manner, the stem 121 can be locked at the injection position by the first pressing and releasing operation of the button 20 that presses the stem 121, and the lock can be released by the second pressing and releasing operation of the button 20. By simply pressing the button 20, the injection and the stop can be repeated many times, and the operation becomes easy.

In the knock type cap 1 of this embodiment, the rotor 30 that is rotatable in a plane orthogonal to the pressing-down direction corresponds to the mover.
Further, the rotor 30 is rotated to the first position (position (b) in FIG. 10) by pressing the button 20 for the first time, and the rotor 30 is moved to the second position (FIG. 10 by pressing the button 20 for the second time). The cam teeth 21 on the button 20 side and the cam teeth 36 on the rotor 30 side that are rotated to the position 10 (d) correspond to the driving means 201.
Further, the guide protrusion 35 on the rotor 30 side, the engagement cam 15 and the longitudinal groove 17 on the cap body 10 side correspond to the engagement means 202.
Therefore, the structure of the knock mechanism 200 including the button housing boss portion 12, the button 20, the rotor 30, and the return spring 50 of the cap body 10 is simplified, and an advantage that it can be commercialized at a low cost is obtained. .

  In addition, since the return spring 50 for returning to the initial level of the rotor 30 and the button 20 is provided separately from the valve spring 124 in the injection valve 120, the push-down stroke of the button 20 can be increased, which is favorable. Operability can be ensured.

  When the operation stroke of the stem 121 can be increased, the valve spring 124 can also serve as a return spring on the knock mechanism 200 side.

Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the form which uses a rotor as a moving element was employ | adopted for the knock mechanism 200, it is possible to employ | adopt another type of knock mechanism.
In any case, a knock mechanism is provided that locks the stem 121 in the injection position by the first pressing and releasing operation of the button 20 that presses the stem 121 and releases the lock by the second pressing and releasing operation of the button 20. All you have to do is

  In the knock type cap of the aerosol container according to claims 1 to 3, since the knock mechanism is provided, the injection and the stop can be repeated many times simply by pressing the push button, and the operation is easy. At the same time, since the structure can be realized at low cost, the industrial applicability is extremely large.

It is sectional drawing which shows the state which fitted the cap with a button 1 of embodiment of this invention to the upper part of the aerosol container. (A) is a disassembled side sectional view of the cap 1, and (b) is a side view showing only a cam portion of a part constituting the cap 1. It is a block diagram of the button accommodation boss | hub part 11 of the cap main body 10, (a) is a side view which extracts and shows the structure of the engagement cam 15 part provided in the inner periphery of the button accommodation boss | hub part 12, (b) is a button. FIG. 3C is a side sectional view of the housing boss portion 12, and FIG. It is a block diagram of the button 20, (a) is a top view, (b) is an external side view, (c) is a side sectional view, and (d) is a bottom view. It is a block diagram of the rotor 30, (a) is a top view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a sectional side view. It is explanatory drawing which shows order for the operation | movement state of the cap 1 of embodiment sequentially, (a) is a sectional side view which shows the upper part of the aerosol container 100 at the time of a standby state, and the structure of the cap 1, (b) is the same state It is a side view which extracts and shows the meshing part of a cam. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state where the button is pushed down at the next stage of FIG. FIG. FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing a holding state at the pushed-down position in the next stage of FIG. 7, where FIG. 8A is a side sectional view showing the structure of the upper portion of the aerosol container 100 and the cap 1, and FIG. It is a side view which extracts and shows a part. It is a figure which shows the button push-down state for cancellation | release of the next step of FIG. 8, (a) is a sectional side view which shows the structure of the upper part of the aerosol container 100 and the cap 1, (b) is the same state, It is a side view which extracts and shows a meshing part. FIGS. 6A to 9B are operation explanatory views showing only the meshing portion of the cam in each state shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, wherein (a) is a standby state, (b) is a button pressed state, (c) is a holding state at a pressed position, d) is a diagram showing a state where a button is pressed for release.

Explanation of symbols

1 Cap with Button 10 Cap Body 15 Engaging Cam (engaging means)
17 Longitudinal groove (engagement means)
20 Press button 21 Cam tooth (drive means)
30 Rotor (moving element)
35 Guide protrusion (engagement means)
36 Cam teeth (drive means)
50 Return Spring 100 Aerosol Container 120 Injection Valve 121 Stem 200 Knock Mechanism 201 Drive Means 202 Engagement Means

Claims (3)

A cap of an aerosol container provided with an injection valve for injecting contents by pushing down the injection position of the stem;
A knock mechanism including a push button is provided on the cap fitted to the upper part of the aerosol container, and the stem is locked at the injection position by the first push and release operation of the push button, and the push button is pushed and released for the second time. A knock type cap for an aerosol container, wherein the lock is released by an operation. The knock mechanism is
A mover that is depressed from the initial level by depressing the push button, and that can be alternately moved to a first position and a second position in a direction intersecting the depressing direction in the depressed state;
A return spring that biases the moving element toward an initial level;
Drive means for moving the mover to the first position by depressing a first button and moving the mover to the second position by depressing a second button;
When the moving element attempts to return to the initial level from the first position by the force of the return spring as the button is released, the moving element is moved to a lower position that holds the stem in the injection position. Engage to prevent return to the initial level and allow the mover to return to the initial level when the mover attempts to return to the initial level from the second position by the force of the return spring. Engagement means;
Consists of
The knock cap of an aerosol container according to claim 1, wherein the movable element is connected to the stem. The knock cap of the aerosol container according to claim 2, wherein the return spring is provided separately from a valve spring provided in the injection valve and has a stronger spring force than the valve spring. .