WO2009151188A1

WO2009151188A1 - Apparatus for opening shutting nozzle of cosmetic case

Info

Publication number: WO2009151188A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/006524
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jun-Kuk Lim
Original assignee: Tolykorea.Co.Ltd
Priority date: 2008-06-12
Filing date: 2008-11-06
Publication date: 2009-12-17
Also published as: KR20090123736A; KR100996439B1

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for opening and shutting (closing) a nozzle of a cosmetic case, and more particularly, to an apparatus for opening and shutting (closing) a nozzle of a cosmetic case, wherein a means for opening and shutting a nozzle, which means enables the nozzle to be opened during using and to be closed during non-using, is provided on an airless pump of the cosmetic case to keep the neighborhood of the nozzle clean, to prevent the phenomena that the contents are stiffened to block a passage and smell or scent is emitted and to prevent the exterior air from being introduced, thereby preventing the phenomena that the remaining contents in the discharge passage are dried or contaminated and spoiled and the microbes are generated.

Description

[DESCRIPTION] [Invention Tit Ie]

APPARATUS FOR OPENING SHUTTING NOZZLE OF COSMETIC CASE [Technical Field]

<i> The invention relates to an apparatus for opening and shutting (closing) a nozzle of a cosmetic case, and more particularly, to an apparatus for opening and shutting (closing) a nozzle of a cosmetic case, wherein a means for opening and shutting a nozzle, which means enables the nozzle to be opened during using and to be closed during non-using, is provided on an airless pump of the cosmetic case to keep the neighborhood of the nozzle clean, to prevent the phenomena that the contents are stiffened to block a passage and smell or scent is emitted and to prevent the exterior air from being introduced, thereby preventing the phenomena that the remaining contents in the discharge passage are dried or contaminated and spoiled and the microbes are generated. [Background Art]

<2> In general, a cosmetic case, which stores various cosmetics of a liquid or gel state, is provided with a compress-type airless pump at an injection port thereof, which enables the stored contents to be discharged to an outside in a fixed quantity.

<3> Regarding the airless pump, various structures have been suggested and used. The main principle of the pump is as follows: the pump is mounted on a nozzle cap enabling an injection port of the cosmetic case to be opened and closed. When an operation button is pressed with a finger, vacuum pressure is generated due to the press, so that the contents stored in the case are discharged through a nozzle in a fixed quantity due to the vacuum pressure.

<4> An example of the conventional cosmetic case having the airless pump is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the cosmetic case is a dual-type cosmetic case consisting of an inner case 10 for storing contents and an outer case 20 for protecting and decorating the inner case. An airless pump 30 for pumping the contents is mounted to an opening of the inner case 10. <5> The pump 30 comprises an operating cylinder 31 and a nozzle cap 32 at an injection port of the inner case 10, which are mounted to overlap inward and outward, respectively. The nozzle cap 32 is mounted with an operation button 34 having a nozzle 33.

<6> In addition, a piston 35 is vertically connected to a lower center of the nozzle cap 32 so that it can be vertically moved in the operating cylinder 31. The piston 35 is mounted with a valve 37 by a piston support 36 having an orifice, so that it is vertically moved in the operating cylinder 31 to open and close a fluid passage. The operation button 34 is resilient Iy mounted by a return spring 34.

<7> Furthermore, the operating cylinder 31 has therein a fluid passage communicating with the inner case 10. An opening and shutting valve 39 is provided in the fluid passage. As a pumping operation is made, a vacuum pressure is applied to open and close the fluid passage.

<8> Accordingly, when the operation button 34 is pressed, it goes down while compressing the return spring 38. By the compression force of the return spring, the piston 35, the valve 37 and the piston support 35 are also descended to compress the inside of the operating cylinder 31.

<9> Thus, the vacuum pressure in the operating cylinder 31 is increased to open a gap between the valve 37 and the piston support 36, so that the contents in the operating cylinder 31 are discharged to the outside through the nozzle 33 of the operation button 34 via the opened gap and the orifice of the piston support 36. <io> At this time, the opening and shutting valve 39 keeps the fluid passage closed by the pressure of the operating cylinder 31.

<n> To the contrary, when the operation button 34 being pressed is released, the piston 35, the valve 37 and the piston support 36 are raised to the original positions by the returning force of the return spring 38. Thereby, the vacuum pressure is made in the operating cylinder 31 and the opening and shutting valve 39 opens the fluid passage, so that the contents in the inner case 10 are introduced into the operating cylinder 31 and are ready for a next discharge.

<i2> However, according to the conventional structure, the contents to be discharged through the nozzle 33 from the inner case 10 cannot be perfectly discharged on the fluid passage from a middle point of the fluid passage, which is the part of the operating cylinder 31 and is opened and closed by the valve 37, to the nozzle 33 and always remains therein.

<i3> Accordingly, the fluid passage between the nozzle 33 and the operating cylinder 31 always communicates with the outside. As a result, the remaining contents staying therein flow out, thereby making the nozzle 33 dirty.

<14> In addition, the exterior air is introduced into the fluid passage through the nozzle 33 in a reverse direction during the non-use. Thereby, the remaining contents in the fluid passage is easily dried and thus solidified or evaporated to emit scent or smell, thereby deteriorating the original components thereof. When such state lasts for a long time, the contents are contaminated or spoiled.

<i5> In particular, due to the above problems, when the contents are solidified in the fluid passage, the fluid passage is blocked, so that the smooth pumping operation is not made, thereby causing a breakdown of the relating parts.

<16> In the meantime, in order to improve the above structure, the applicant filed a Korean Utility Model Registration No. 282746.

<17> The utility model discloses: a tip valve, which is moved by a return spring, is mounted on a nozzle of a pump. During the operation, the tip valve is retreated to open the nozzle while compressing the return spring by the discharge pressure of the contents. During the non-operation, the tip valve shuts the nozzle by the elastic force of the return spring.

<i8> However, according to the above structure, the tip valve is retreated by the discharge pressure. Therefore, when the pressure of the contents is excessive, an accurate operation is not made, so that the expected effects may not be obtained.

<i9> In addition, according to the above structure, the return spring made of a metal is mounted on the passage into which the contents are discharged. Hence, it may occur a case where the elastic force of the return spring is not sufficient, so that a malfunction may be caused. Furthermore, the metal material may have a bad influence on the contents.

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem]

<20> The invention has been made to solve the above problems occurring in the prior art. An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for opening and shutting a nozzle of a cosmetic case, wherein a means for opening and shutting a nozzle different from a pumping structure is provided to open a nozzle before a pumping operation, thereby keeping the neighborhood of the nozzle clean and preventing the exterior air from being introduced during a standby state to thus prevent the phenomena that the contents are contaminated and spoiled and scent or smell is emitted.

[Technical Solution]

<2i> In order to achieve the above objects, there is provided a means for opening and shutting a nozzle provided on a pump of a cosmetic case. The means comprises an operation button that is provided in a nozzle cap, is vertically moved and has at one side a nozzle in a horizontal direction; a rod-shaped nozzle valve that is provided in the nozzle of the operation button and opens and closes the nozzle by an advancing and retreating operation; a button cover that is provided to vertically move at an upper part of the operation button and enables the nozzle valve to advance and retreat; and a spring that is provided at a rear side of the nozzle valve and forces the nozzle valve to always advance and thus to close the nozzle. Under standby state in which the contents of the cosmetic case are not used, the nozzle valve is advanced due to elastic force of the spring to close an entrance of the nozzle, thereby preventing the exterior air from being introduced. To the contrary, when the operation button is pressed so as to use the contents, the button cover is moved downward to retreat the nozzle valve, thereby opening the nozzle and enabling the pump to discharge the contents.

[Advantageous Effects]

<23> According to the invention, a separate means for opening and shutting a nozzle is provided to a nozzle through which the contents in the cosmetic case are discharged. Hence, during the use, the nozzle is opened by a pumping operation, so that the contents can be smoothly discharged. When the pumping operation is released, the nozzle is closed by returning force of a spring, the contents are prevented from being discharged to the outside and any foreign substance including air is blocked from being introduced.

<24> Accordingly, the contents do not remain on the front end of the nozzle, so that the external appearance is improved and the cleaning state is kept. In addition, since the exterior air is not introduced during the standby state, the contents are prevented from being contaminated or spoiled. Furthermore, the solidification or deterioration of the contents due to the evaporation can be prevented. [Description of Drawings]

<25> The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

<26> FIG. 1 shows a section of the conventional cosmetic case;

<27> FIG. 2 shows an overall structure of a cosmetic case to which the invention is applied;

<28> FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a main part of FIG. 2;

<29> FIG. 4 shows a first operation state in FIG. 3;

<30> FIG. 5 shows a second operation state in FIG. 3;

<3i> FIG. 6 is a section showing a main part of the invention;

<32> FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a nozzle valve according to the invent ion ;

<33> FIG. 8 is a sectional view of FIG. 7, and

<34> FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a rear part in FIG. 7.

<35> description of Notations>

<36> 110: Inner case 120:0uter case <37> 130:Pump 131 :0perat ing cylinder

<38> 132:Nozzle cap 133:Nozzle

<39> 134:0perat ion button 135:Piston

<40> 136:Return spring 137:Valve

<4i> 138:Piston support 139:Ball valve

<42> 140:But ton cover 141:Operating piece

<43> 150:Nozzle valve 15l:Return spring

<44> 152:Elongated hole 153:0-ring

<45> 160:Fluid passage [Best Mode]

<46> Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

<47>

<48> FIGS. 2 and 3 show, in detail, an overall structure of a cosmetic case to which the invention is applied, FIGS. 4 and 5 sequentially show operating states of the invention and FIGS. 6 to 9 show, in detail, a structure of the invent ion.

<49> The cosmetic case has a dual-type structure of an inner case 110 and an outer case 120, on an upper part of which an airless pump 130 is mounted to pump and discharge the contents by a press operation.

<50> The inner case 110 is made of a synthetic resin material and a vacuum state is kept therein to safely preserve the cosmetics. A slide plate is mounted on a lower part of the inner case to discharge the contents in a fixed quantity by a pumping force of the pump 130. The outer case 120 is made of glass, synthetic resin or the like, thereby protecting and decorating the inner case 110.

<5i> The pump 130 has an operating cylinder 131 and a nozzle cap 132, which are engaged with an injection port of the inner case 110 in the outer case 120. To an upper part of the nozzle cap 132 is mounted an operation button 134 to which a nozzle 133 is engaged.

<52> In other words, the inner case 110 is provided at its upper part with the nozzle cap 132 and at its lower inside with the operating cylinder 131 that is inserted into the injection port of the inner case 110 while keeping the air-tightened state.

<53> A piston 135 is mounted to the lower part of the operation button 134. The upward returning force is always applied to the operation button 131 by a return spring 135 that is engaged between the operating cylinder 131 and the operation button. A valve 137 and a piston support 138 are engaged in the piston 135.

<54> Accordingly, when the operation button 134 is pressed, the operating cylinder 131 is compressed to pump the contents in the inner case 110 to the outside through the nozzle 133.

<55> The above structure is substantially same as that of the conventional cosmetic case. However, according to the invention, a means for opening and shutting the nozzle 133 is provided in the pump 130, thereby solving the problems that have been described in the above.

<56> As shown in the drawings, the means for opening and shutting a nozzle is provided in the pump 130 and comprises a cylindrical button cover 140 that is engaged between the nozzle cap 132 and the operation button 134 at the upper part of the pump 130, and a nozzle valve 150 that is horizontally engaged with the nozzle 133 in the operation button 134 and is advanced and retreated by the button cover 140 to open and shut the nozzle.

<57> The button cover 140 has a cylindrical shape whose lower part is opened and that is engaged to the upper part of the operation button 134 to vertically move by the press operation of the operation button. Further, an operating piece 141 of an inverted triangle shape is integrally formed at an inner rear side of the button cover so that it protrudes downward.

<58> The operating piece 141 has an inclined rear part that is opposite to the nozzle 133. The operating piece is connected to a nozzle valve 150, thereby advancing and retreating the nozzle valve 150 as it is vertically moved .

<59> In addition, the nozzle valve 150 is also mounted on a fluid passage 160 that is horizontally formed in the operation button 134 and is engaged at its rear side with the return spring 151, so that it is structured to advance toward the nozzle 133. A front side of the nozzle valve is shaped into a hemispherical form to open and shut the nozzle 133.

<60> Furthermore, a rear surface of the nozzle valve 150 is formed with an elongated hole 152 so that the operating piece 141 of the operation button 140 can be inserted thereto. Therefore, as the operating piece 141 is vertically moved, the nozzle valve 150 is advanced and retreated.

<6i> Additionally, an 0-ring 153 made of rubber is engaged at a predetermined location of the rear surface of the nozzle valve 150, thereby sealing the fluid passage 160. Specifically, the 0-ring 153 is engaged in such a way that the contents cannot be discharged from the fluid passage 160 to a rear space in which the return spring 151 is provided, thereby sealing the fluid passage.

<62> Meanwhile, the nozzle valve 150 is rod-shaped on the whole. However, as can be seen from the drawings, a section of the nozzle valve has preferably a cross shape so that it can smoothly advance and retreat on the fluid passage 160 and the contents can be smoothly discharged.

<63> To be more specific, as shown in FIG. 8, a section of the nozzle valve is formed into a "cross (+)" shape so that the strength thereof is generally good and the contents can be discharged through the spaces of the cross. Further, the front side of the nozzle valve is shaped into a hemispherical form so that the nozzle 133 can be accurately and smoothly opened and closed.

<64> The means for opening and shutting a nozzle according to the invention is assembled and mounted in the airless pump 130, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the pump 130 is mounted to the cosmetic case consisting of the inner and outer cases 110, 120, as the prior art.

<65> The pump 130, to which the invention is applied, has two states, i.e., a standby state and an operating state. In the standby state, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the nozzle valve 150 is advanced toward the nozzle 133 by the elastic force of the return spring 151, so that it blocks the nozzle 133 and the button cover 140 is raised. As a result, the standby state is maintained.

<66> To be more specific, the nozzle valve 150 is advanced in the fluid passage 160 by the elastic force of the return spring 151, so that the front end thereof blocks the nozzle 133. Thereby, the operating piece 141 of the button cover 140 connected to the elongated hole 152 of the rear side of the nozzle valve is pushed up, so that the button cover 140 is kept to be raised.

<67> Therefore, the fluid passage 160 in the pump 130 is closed by the nozzle valve 150 from the nozzle 133 that primarily abuts on the outside. As a result, the air is totally prevented from being introduced into the pump 130.

<68> Hence, it is possible to prevent the phenomena that the remaining contents in the fluid passage 160 are dried by evaporation or contaminated and spoiled. Further, the contents flowing out from the inside are blocked, so that the clean state is always maintained.

<69> Under such state, when a user wants to use the contents, i.e., cosmetics, the user first presses the button cover 140 that is engaged to cover the upper part of the operation button 134. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 4, the button cover 140 is descended to the part abutting on the operation button 134, so that the operating piece 141 integrated to the bottom of the button cover is advanced into the elongated hole 152 of the nozzle valve 150 to retreat the nozzle valve 150.

<70> To be more specific, the operating piece 141, which is shaped into an inverted triangle form, goes down, so that the inclined rear surface thereof pushes the rear part of the elongated hole 152. As a result, the nozzle valve 150 is retreated while compressing the return spring 151.

<7i> As described above, as the nozzle valve 150 is retreated, the front end thereof opens the nozzle 133. This operation is referred to as a first operation. At the same time, as shown in FIG. 5, the operation that the operation button 134 is pressed by the force that is continuously applied by the user is referred to as a second operation.

<72> As the operation button 134 is pressed by the second operation while compressing return spring 136, the piston 135 is descended into the operating cylinder 131, so that the inside of the operating cylinder 131 is compressed by the valve 137 and the piston support 138. Thereby, the contents in the operating cylinder 131 are discharged to the nozzle 133 through the fluid passage 160 via the space opened between the piston support 138 and the valve 137 and the inside of the piston 135.

<73> When the force resulting from the second operation is released under such state, the operation button 134 is raised by the elastic force of the compressed return spring 136, so that the piston 136, the valve 137 and the piston support 138 are also sequentially raised to the original positions thereof. As a result, the high vacuum pressure is generated in the operating cylinder 131. By the vacuum pressure, the ball valve 139 opens the lower passage, so that the contents in the inner case 110 are filled in the operating cylinder 131 and thus ready for a next operation.

<74> At this time, it is preferable that the pumping operation by the press operation of the operation button 134 is made within a range of the second operation. By continuously performing the second operation, the contents can be smoothly and stably discharged.

<75> After the cosmetics are used by the pumping operation, when the press operation is released, the pressure in the fluid passage 160 is cancelled. Thereby, the retreated nozzle valve 150 is advanced by the return spring 151 that is in the rear, thereby shutting the nozzle 133.

<76> At the same time, the nozzle valve 150 is advanced, so that the operating piece 141 engaged with the elongated hole 152 is pushed up to raise the button cover 140 to the original position thereof.

<77> Accordingly, by the feedback operation and the means for opening and shutting a nozzle, the nozzle can be always kept clean. Further, even in the standby state, the exterior air is not introduced into the pump, so that the contents can be safely protected.

<78>

<79> While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

<80>

Claims

[CLAIMS] [Claim 1]

<82> An apparatus for opening and shutting a nozzle of a cosmetic case having a dual structure of an inner case and an outer case and an airless pump provided at an injection port and discharging contents in a fixed quantity by a press operation, the apparatus comprising:

<83> an operation button 134 that is mounted in a nozzle cap 132 provided in the injection port of the inner and outer case 110, 120 and is vertically moved by a press operation, and has one side to which a nozzle 133 is engaged and a fluid passage 160 at an inside communicating with the nozzle, the fluid passage guiding the contents to be discharged to an outside;

<84> a button cover 140 that is engaged to an upper part of the operation button 134, is vertically moved by the press operation and is cyl indrical Iy shaped and has at an inner bottom surface an inverted triangle-shaped operating piece 141 having an inclined surface; and

<85> a nozzle valve 150 that is horizontally provided on the fluid passage 160 of the operation button 134 and is resiliently mounted by a return spring 151 and has a front end of a hemispherical shape to open and shut the nozzle 133 and a rear surface having an elongated hole 152 to which the operating piece 141 of the button cover 140 is connected. [Claim 2]

<86> The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle valve 150 is comprised of a body having a cross ("+") shaped section.

<87>