JP6172963B2 - Protective cap - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a protective cap attached to an open end portion of a tubular body such as a steel pipe.

In general, as shown in FIG. 10, there is a steel pipe protective cap (3) that is detachably attached to an open end portion of the steel pipe (2) in order to prevent foreign matter from entering or protect the inside. It has been.
This is made of an elastic material such as resin as a whole, and has a shape in which the flange portion (30) protrudes outward from the open end of the bottomed cylindrical plug (31) that opens to one side. Yes.
The peripheral wall of the cylindrical plug (31) is formed in a taper shape whose diameter increases toward the open end, and the maximum diameter is set to be equal to or larger than the inner diameter of the open end of the steel pipe (2). Therefore, when the cylindrical plug (31) is fitted into the open end of the steel pipe (2) until the flange (30) contacts the open end surface (20) of the steel pipe (2), the cylindrical plug (31 ) In the vicinity of the open end of the steel pipe (2), and the open end of the steel pipe (2) is closed with a cylindrical plug (31). As a result, foreign matter such as dust, dirt or water droplets can be reliably prevented from entering from the open end of the steel pipe (2), and the inner surface of the steel pipe (2) can also be prevented from being damaged by an external impact. If there is a container in the steel pipe (2), it is possible to prevent inconvenience that it leaks to the outside.

JP 2001-74195 A

However, in this conventional protective cap (3), the cylindrical closure plug (31) must be fitted tightly into the open end of the steel pipe (2), so it is difficult to fit the protective cap (3) into the steel pipe (2). There was also a problem that it was difficult to remove.
In particular, it is difficult to remove the protective cap (3) that has been worn for a long time with your fingers.In such a case, use pliers between the flange (30) and the open end surface (20) of the steel pipe (2). Must be pulled out by pulling the flange (30). At this time, there is a disadvantage that the open end surface (20) of the steel pipe (2) is scratched.

  The present invention is “a protective cap that is composed of a bottomed cylindrical plug made of an elastic material that opens to one side, and is fitted in a close fitting state in which the peripheral wall of the cylindrical plug is press-fitted into an open end of a tubular body”. Then, it is an object to provide a protective cap that can be easily attached to and detached from the open end of the tubular body.

The protective cap of the invention according to claim 1 for solving the above-mentioned problem is described as follows: "A part of the bottom of the cylindrical plug and a part of the peripheral wall are continuously raised inwardly, thereby A hollow bulge that protrudes into the stopper and is continuously open on at least one side of the bottom surface of the bottom and the peripheral wall is provided, and when the bulge is picked with a finger, the bulge is formed on the groove. It is elastically deformed in the direction of narrowing the width, and the outer diameter of the bottom portion and the peripheral wall of the cylindrical plug is reduced . ”

The technical means operates as follows.
A hollow bulge protrudes from the inner surface side of the cylindrical obturator plug by continuously protruding a part of the bottom of the cylindrical obturator plug and a part of the peripheral wall inward, and the outer surface side of the cylindrical obturator plug In this embodiment, a groove portion that continuously opens on the back side of the bottom portion of the cylindrical plug and at least one side of the peripheral wall is formed along the region where the raised portion is formed.
When a finger is inserted from the open end of the cylindrical plug and the raised portion is picked with a finger, the cylindrical plug is made of an elastic material as a whole, and the raised portion is formed in a hollow shape. Therefore, the raised portion is elastically deformed in the direction in which the width of the groove portion is narrowed, and accordingly, the outer diameter of the bottom portion and the peripheral wall of the cylindrical obturator plug is reduced.
Since the outer diameter of the peripheral wall is set so as to be press-fitted in a tightly fit state within the tube, the cylindrical obturator plug can be removed by reducing the outer diameter of the peripheral wall by pinching the raised portion with a finger. It becomes easy to insert into the open end of the tubular body from the bottom side. Then, after inserting the cylindrical obturator plug into a predetermined position with the raised portion being picked with a finger, if the finger is released from the raised portion, the raised portion will elastically return, and the cylindrical obstructive plug has a peripheral wall. It will be mounted in a tightly fitting state in pressure contact with the tube.
Further, compared with the conventional one not provided with a raised portion, the amount of expansion and contraction of the bottom portion and the peripheral wall is increased by the width of the groove portion opened to at least one side of the back surface side and the peripheral wall of the bottom portion. It is also possible to forcibly insert the tubular obturator plug into the tube as it is without being pinched with fingers.

  To remove the protective cap in the above-mentioned mounted state from the tube, just insert the finger from the open part of the cylindrical obturator plug, grab the raised part, and reduce the outer diameter of the peripheral wall The press-fitted state of the cylindrical obturator plug into the tubular body can be released, and the tubular obturator plug can be easily removed from the tubular body.

  In the protective cap, “the protruding height of the raised portion is preferably set lower than the height from the bottom portion of the cylindrical plug to the open end portion” is preferable. In this case, since the groove is not formed in the vicinity of the open end of the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the cylindrical plug, when the cylindrical plug is inserted into the open end of the tubular body up to the vicinity of the open end. The sealability of is ensured. In addition, by not forming the groove portion deeper than necessary, inadvertent deformation of the cylindrical plug can be prevented.

  Further, in the protective cap, it is desirable that “the annular end portion projecting outwardly is provided at the open end portion of the cylindrical blocking plug”. In this case, it is possible to complete the installation of the cylindrical obturator plug when the flange portion comes into contact with the open end surface of the tube body. Therefore, the cylindrical obturator plug is always inserted into the tube body in the correct mounting state. be able to. In addition, foreign matter intrusion into the tube can be more reliably prevented by bringing the flange portion into contact with the open end surface of the tube. Furthermore, when removing the tubular obstruction plug from the tubular body, it is also possible to remove the tubular obstruction plug while moving it in a direction in which the diameter of the tubular obstruction stopper can be reduced by sandwiching the flange portion with a tool or the like.

  Furthermore, in the protective cap, it is desirable that “the cylindrical blocking plug has a tapered peripheral wall whose diameter increases toward the open end”.

  Further, in the protective cap, “the raised portion is provided along one diameter of the bottom portion of the cylindrical obturator plug, and on the back surface of the bottom portion, two sides of the peripheral wall serving as both ends of the diameter are provided. Are formed in a cross-shaped shape passing through the center of the bottom portion of the cylindrical obturator plug, and the back surface of the bottom portion has the cross-shaped Cross-shaped grooves that are open on the four sides of the peripheral wall serving as the end portions are formed ”, and further,“ the raised portion is Y-shaped through the center of the bottom of the cylindrical obturator plug ” It is desirable that a Y-shaped groove portion that is open on three sides of the peripheral wall serving as each end portion of the Y-shape is formed on the back surface of the bottom portion.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the outer diameter of the bottom of the cylindrical plug and the outer wall of the cylindrical plug can be reduced by picking the raised portion with a finger, the open end of the tubular plug of the cylindrical plug Desorption to the part becomes easy. After inserting the tubular obturator plug into the open end of the tube body, the outer diameter can be elastically restored to the initial state by removing the finger from the raised portion. It will be press-fitted into a tightly fitted state.
In addition, if the cylindrical obturator plug is inserted into the open end of the tube without pinching the protuberance, the peripheral wall of the tubular obturator will be pressed by the inner peripheral surface of the tube to reduce its diameter. Even if it does not pick a part, a cylindrical obstruction | occlusion stopper can be easily attached to the open end part of a tubular body.
Moreover, since it can be manufactured by vacuum molding of resin, it can be manufactured easily and inexpensively.

By setting the height of the raised portion to be lower than the height of the cylindrical obturator plug, the sealing performance when attached to the tubular body is improved, and inadvertent damage to the cylindrical obturator plug can be prevented. .
Further, by providing a flange portion at the open end portion of the tubular obstruction plug, positioning at the time of inserting the tubular obstruction plug into the tube body is facilitated, and the flange portion is pressure-bonded to the open end surface of the tube body. As a result, entry of foreign matter into the tube can be surely prevented, and the tubular obstruction plug can be pulled out of the tube with the flange portion sandwiched by a tool or the like.
Further, if the peripheral surface of the cylindrical plug is tapered, the press-fitting into the pipe body is further facilitated.
In addition, in the case where the raised portion is formed so as to be opened at two or more locations on the peripheral wall, it is easy to apply a force that elastically deforms the tubular obturator plug. Can be desorbed.

It is a perspective view which shows the protective cap of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the protective cap of the 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a bottom view of the protective cap of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the protective cap of 1st embodiment of this invention is attached. It is a top view of the protective cap of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a bottom view of the protective cap of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the protective cap of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a bottom view of the protective cap of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the protective cap of 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the mounting state of the conventional protective cap.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present invention relates to a protective cap made of resin to be attached to each open end of a connecting pipe section on the upstream side and downstream side to which a gas pipe of a meter gas plug is connected as a pipe body.
The protective cap (1) according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is, as shown in FIG. 1, an open end (11a) of a shallow cylindrical bottomed cylindrical closure plug (11). The flange portion (10) has a shape projecting outward in the radial direction, and the peripheral wall (12) constituting the cylindrical obturator plug (11) has a slightly larger diameter toward the open end portion (11a). Tapered. The outer diameter of the open end, which is the maximum diameter of the peripheral wall (12), is set slightly larger than the inner diameter of the female threaded portion of the upstream and downstream connecting pipe portions (4) of the meter gas plug. As shown in FIG. 4, the cylindrical obturator plug (11) can be tightly fitted in the connecting pipe portion (4).

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the bottom portion (13) of the tubular obturator plug (11) has a raised portion (14) that is raised along one diameter, inward of the tubular obturator plug (11). It is formed so as to protrude.
The raised portion (14) is formed so that the back surface (13a) side of the bottom portion (13) and both ends of the raised portion (14) are continuously open to each position of the corresponding peripheral wall (12). Accordingly, the back surface (13a) of the bottom portion (13) of the tubular obturator plug (11) is formed along the diameter line and is open at two locations on the peripheral wall (12) as shown in FIG. The groove portion (15) is formed.
Further, the raised portion (14) has a substantially inverted U-shaped cross section between the lower side portions which are the boundary portion with the bottom portion (13) rather than the width of the top portion protruding into the cylindrical obturator plug (11). In addition to being formed, the height of the raised portion (14) is set to about half the height of the peripheral wall (12).

The protective cap (1) is integrally formed by vacuum molding of polypropylene as a whole, and each part can be elastically deformed.
Therefore, insert a finger into the tubular obstruction plug (11) from the open end (11a) side of the tubular obstruction plug (11) of the protective cap (1), and sandwich both sides of the raised portion (14) with the fingers. Then, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, the raised portion (14) is elastically deformed in a direction in which the interval between the groove portions (15) is narrowed. Accordingly, the outer diameter of the bottom (13) and the peripheral wall (12) is reduced.

The outer diameter of the peripheral wall (12) of the cylindrical obturator plug (1) is reduced to the connecting pipe portion in a state where the outer diameter of the bottom (13) and the peripheral wall (12) is reduced by pinching the raised portion (14). By setting the width of the groove (15) and the amount of elastic deformation so as to be equal to or less than the inner diameter of (4), the meter gas is maintained while maintaining the state where the raised portion (14) is elastically deformed as described above. If it is inserted into the connecting pipe part (4) on the upstream side or downstream side of the plug, the cylindrical blocking plug (11) can be easily inserted into the female screw part of the connecting pipe part (4).
When the flange portion (10) comes into contact with the open end surface (40) of the connecting pipe portion (4), when the finger is released from the raised portion (14), the cylindrical plug (11) is elastically restored, and the peripheral wall (12) is in a state of being pressed into close contact with the connecting pipe portion (4).
At this time, since the groove portion (15) is not open near the open end of the peripheral wall (12), the sealing performance of the connecting pipe portion (4) can be reliably maintained, and also by the flange portion (10). Thus, it is possible to reliably prevent foreign matter from entering the connecting pipe portion (4).

To remove the protective cap (1) attached to the connecting pipe part (4) as described above, the outer diameter of the peripheral wall (12) is increased by sandwiching the raised part (14) with fingers from both sides in the same way as when attaching. If the diameter is reduced, the peripheral wall (12) of the cylindrical obturator plug (11) can be easily removed even in a mounting mode in which the peripheral wall (12) is in close contact with the connecting pipe portion (4) for a long period of time.
At this time, if the flange portion (10) is peeled off from the open end surface (40) using a tool or the like, the protective cap (1) can be removed more easily.

  FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show the protective cap (1) of the second embodiment, and the cylindrical closure plug (1) of the protective cap (1) having the same shape as that of the first embodiment. A cross-shaped raised portion (14) is provided on the bottom (13) of 11). 5 is a plan view and FIG. 6 is a bottom view.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a cross-shaped groove portion (15) is formed on the back surface (13a) of the bottom portion (13), and each end portion thereof corresponds to the peripheral wall (12). It is open in four places.

In this, as shown in FIG. 5, in the cylindrical obturator plug (11), in three or more spaces among the spaces (14a) to (14d) divided into four by the raised portion (14). If a finger is inserted and pinched so as to grasp the central portion of the raised portion (14), the width of three or more of the four groove portions (15) provided radially from the center of the bottom portion (13) is narrowed. be able to. Thereby, the width | variety of three or more groove parts open | released to a surrounding wall (12) will be narrowed.
As described above, in the case where the raised portion (14) is formed in a cross shape, the diameter of the cylindrical blocking plug (11) can be increased, so that the protective cap (1) to the connecting pipe portion (4) can be provided. ) Becomes even easier.

As the shape of the raised portion (14), as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, it is also possible to provide the bottom portion (13) in a Y-shape that divides into three equal parts, and further, as shown in FIG. It is good also as a structure provided in a part of bottom part (13) so that it may open to one place of a surrounding wall (12).
The protruding shape of the raised portion (14) provided on the bottom portion (13) is configured to open to at least one side of the peripheral wall (12) and is not limited at all.

(1) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Protective cap
(10) ... Flange
(11) .... Cylindrical obturator plug
(12) ...
(13) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Bottom
(14) ...

Claims (7)

In the protective cap which is composed of a bottomed cylindrical plug made of an elastic material which is opened on one side and which is fitted in a close fitting state in which the peripheral wall of the cylindrical plug is press-fitted into the open end of the tubular body. A part of the bottom of the stopper and a part of the peripheral wall are continuously raised inward so as to protrude into the cylindrical plug and to have a groove continuously on the back side of the bottom and at least one side of the peripheral wall. When the raised portion is picked up with a finger, the raised portion is elastically deformed in a direction in which the width of the groove portion is narrowed, and the outer diameters of the bottom portion and the peripheral wall of the cylindrical plug are reduced. A protective cap characterized by having a diameter configuration .   2. The protective cap according to claim 1, wherein a protruding height of the raised portion is set lower than a height from a bottom portion to an open end portion of the cylindrical plug.   The protective cap according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an annular flange portion projecting sideways is provided at an open end portion of the cylindrical plug.   4. The protective cap according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical plug has a tapered peripheral wall whose diameter increases toward an open end. 5.   The protective cap according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the raised portion is provided along one diameter of the bottom portion of the cylindrical obturator plug, and the back surface of the bottom portion includes both ends of the diameter. A protective cap characterized in that a linear groove that opens to two sides of the peripheral wall is formed.   5. The protective cap according to claim 1, wherein the raised portion is provided in a cross shape passing through a center of a bottom portion of the cylindrical obturator plug, and each end of the cross shape is provided on a back surface of the bottom portion. A protective cap characterized in that a cross-shaped groove that opens to four sides of the peripheral wall serving as a portion is formed.   5. The protective cap according to claim 1, wherein the raised portion is provided in a Y shape passing through the center of the bottom portion of the cylindrical obturator plug, and the back surface of the bottom portion has the Y shape. A protective cap, wherein a Y-shaped groove that opens to three sides of the peripheral wall serving as each end is formed.

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