JP4813980B2 - Residual gas discharge structure of aerosol container - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement in a residual gas discharge structure of an aerosol container in which a target component is injected by a propellant (gas).

  Aerosol products such as spray cans release liquid and fine powder target components sealed in a pressure-resistant container together with propellant such as vaporized liquefied gas or compressed gas in the form of mist or foam by the pressure of the propellant Is. Since such an aerosol product often uses a combustible gas as the propellant, if the aerosol product is discarded while the gas remains, the container may explode. For this reason, after the target component is used up, the container is degassed before disposal. Even if the target component cannot be used up unavoidably, it is necessary to discharge all the contents including the target component and the propellant and then discard them.

Conventionally, as a method for venting aerosol products, there is a method in which a hole is formed in a container or an internal gas is discharged by continuously pressing a stem via a pressing member (button, lever, etc.). As a technique for continuously pressing the stem, there are techniques shown in the following Patent Documents 1 to 3, for example. Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose techniques for discharging contents using a lid of an aerosol container. Patent Document 3 discloses that the degassing mode is set by a bendable leg provided on an operation button fitted to the stem.
JP 2001-158487 A JP 2001-55284 A JP 2006-27718 A

  However, the above background art has the following disadvantages. First, in the techniques described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below, since it is necessary to prepare a lid for maintaining the ejection state of the ejection head part and the button as a separate body, the number of parts increases and the manufacturing process becomes complicated. There is an inconvenience of becoming. In particular, in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to perform alignment such as removing the nozzle of the ejection head portion to expose the stem and covering the tip with a fitting portion inside the lid, and thus the residual gas discharge operation is simple. Is not good. Further, in the technique described in Patent Document 3, since the tip of the bent leg portion of the operation button is brought into contact with the receiving portion of the cover body, it is impossible to return from the residual gas discharge mode. There is an inconvenience that the original state cannot be restored when the residual gas discharge mode is set.

  The present invention pays attention to the above points, and the purpose thereof is to easily discharge the total amount of residual gas in the aerosol container with a simple configuration, and to easily return from the residual gas discharge state. It is an object to provide a residual gas discharge structure of an aerosol container.

  In order to achieve the above object, an aerosol container residual gas discharge structure according to the present invention is fixed to an upper part of an aerosol container and has a cover body having a pair of opposing side surfaces, and is disposed between a pair of side surfaces of the cover body. A stem mounting portion that is swingable about a connecting portion with the rear side of the cover body and that can be mounted on a stem of the aerosol container; and a nozzle portion that has a nozzle for ejecting the contents of the aerosol container; An injection means including a trigger connected to the lower portion of the nozzle portion, a pair of arms sandwiching the connecting portion between the nozzle portion and the trigger, and the arms can slide along the nozzle portion. A lock piece held by the spray means is provided on the inner surfaces of a pair of side surfaces of the cover body, and the spray means discharges residual gas in the aerosol container. It said first engaging means having an engaging portion arm of the lock piece to be locked to, and further comprising a when in a.

  One of the main forms is that the engagement means is provided above the first engagement portion, and the arm of the lock piece is in a position where the ejection means cannot eject the contents. And a second engaging portion that can be locked. In another embodiment, an engagement claw that engages the connection portion of the nozzle portion and the trigger and prevents the nozzle portion from falling off by sliding in the extending direction is provided at the tip of the pair of arms of the lock piece. It is characterized by that. Yet another embodiment is characterized in that the lock piece is detachable from the ejection means. Yet another embodiment is characterized in that the cover body includes a holding portion for holding the lock piece removed from the ejection unit. The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

  The present invention relates to an aerosol container in which an injection unit having a nozzle part and a trigger for operating the nozzle part is covered with a cover body having a pair of side surfaces, and a lock piece having a pair of arms slidable along the nozzle part, When the nozzle is attached to the connection portion of the trigger and the injection means is at the residual gas discharge position, the arm is engaged with the engagement means inside the pair of side surfaces. Therefore, it is possible to discharge all of the propellant (gas) remaining in the aerosol container while maintaining the pressed state of the injection means. Further, by releasing the engagement between the lock piece and the engagement means, it is possible to return from the residual gas discharge state, and therefore, it is possible to prevent the exhaustion of the entire amount of residual gas (or contents) due to an erroneous operation. can get.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail based on examples.

  First, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 (A-1), (B-1), (C-1) are external perspective views of this embodiment, and FIGS. 1 (A-2), (B-2), (C-2) are this embodiment. It is a top view of an example. As shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol container residual gas discharge structure 10 of the present embodiment is disposed inside the cover body 20, a cover body 20 attached to the edge of the mounting cup 14 of the aerosol container 12, The injection unit 40 is connected to the stem 16 protruding from the mounting cup 14 and a lock piece 60 for maintaining the residual gas discharge state. The aerosol container 12 is filled with a target component to be injected and a gas which is a propellant thereof. In the following description, both are expressed as contents. The residual gas discharge state is the same as the normal content injection state in terms of operation, but refers to a state after the target component is substantially discharged from the aerosol container.

  First, the cover body 20 is provided with a substantially ring-shaped or cylindrical base portion 22 attached to an edge portion of the mounting cup 14 and a pair of side surfaces 24 and 26 arranged at a predetermined interval. Front side 24A, 26A side (jet port side) of the pair of side surfaces 24, 26 is open, from which a lock piece 60 described later can be inserted, and an injection unit 40 described later is connected to the rear part 34 side. . In addition, on the upper ends 24B and 26B side of the side surfaces 24 and 26, a bar 32 substantially orthogonal to the side surfaces 24 and 26 is provided. Further, on the inner side of the side surfaces 24 and 26, engaging portions 28 and 30 for engaging the lock piece 60 and locking the movement of the injection portion 40 are provided at positions near the front surfaces 24A and 26A. Yes. The engaging portions 28, 30 are constituted by vertical portions 28A, 30A extending in a substantially vertical direction and convex portions 28B, 30B projecting toward the front surfaces 24A, 26A substantially orthogonal to these. The engaging portions 28 and 30 are set to dimensions that do not directly contact the injection portion 40.

  Next, the injection unit 40 has a stem mounting part 42 whose tip is attached to the stem 16 and a nozzle part 44 provided with a nozzle 46 for injecting the contents of the aerosol container 12 toward the outside. It is substantially orthogonal to form a letter shape. A passage 48 for the contents is formed inside the stem mounting portion 42 and the nozzle portion 44, and the nozzle 46 projects outward from the front surfaces 24 </ b> A and 26 </ b> A of the cover body 20. A trigger 56 for pressing operation is connected to the lower portion of the nozzle portion 44 via a base portion 54. As shown in FIG. 1A-2, the base 54 has a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the upper surface of the trigger 56, whereby a step is formed at the connection between the base 54 and the trigger 56. .

  Since the rear portion 50 of the injection unit 40 is connected to the lower side of the rear front surface 34A of the cover body 20 via the leaf spring portion 52, the injection portion 40 is moved by the action of the leaf spring portion 52. The whole can be swung up and down with the connecting portion with the cover body 20 as a fulcrum. Therefore, by pulling the trigger 56, the stem 16 can be pressed at the tip of the stem mounting portion 42, and a valve mechanism (not shown) can be opened to discharge (inject) the contents of the aerosol container 12. In the present embodiment, the cover body 20 and the injection unit 40 are integrally formed. The lower limit of the swinging range of the injection unit 40 is until the back surface 58 of the trigger 56 comes into contact with the edge 23 of the cover body base 22. The upper limit is the upper limit of the nozzle unit 44 on the bar 32 of the cover body 20. Until contact.

  Next, the lock piece 60 includes a receiving portion 62 that receives the lower side of the nozzle 46 of the nozzle portion 44, and a pair of arms 64 and 66 provided substantially parallel to the nozzle portion 44. A groove 72 is formed between the arms 64 and 66. The pair of arms 64 and 66 are inserted from the front surfaces 24A and 26A so as to sandwich the base 54 of the injection unit 40, thereby engaging the step between the base 54 and the upper surface of the trigger 56. It becomes possible to slide along 44. In addition, claws 68 and 70 that can be engaged with the rear surface of the base 54 are provided at the tips of the arms 64 and 66, and by engaging these with the base 54, Omission can be prevented. The pair of arms 64, 66 can ride on the top surfaces of the vertical portions 28 </ b> A, 30 </ b> A of the engaging portions 28, 30 when the receiving portion 62 is pushed into contact with the base 54, and The lock piece 60 and the engaging portions 28 and 30 are set so as not to come into contact with each other when the receiving portion 62 is pulled out until the claws 68 and 70 are engaged with the base portion 54. When the arms 64 and 66 ride on the upper surfaces of the vertical portions 28A and 30A, the stem mounting portion 42 is kept in a state of not pressing the stem 16. That is, the lock piece 60 also serves as a stopper for keeping the aerosol container 12 in a non-use state. Such a lock piece 60 is set in advance in the aerosol container 12 together with the cover body 20 and the injection unit 40. The cover body 20, the injection part 40, and the lock piece 60 which comprise a present Example are formed with well-known materials, such as a plastics, for example.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Before using the aerosol container 12 (initial state), as shown in FIGS. 1A-1 and 1A-2, the receiving portion 62 of the lock piece 60 contacts the front surface of the base portion 54, and the arm 64 , 66 rides on the upper surfaces of the vertical portions 28A, 30A of the engaging portions 28, 30, and the trigger 56 cannot be operated. That is, the stem mounting portion 42 is kept in a state where it does not press the stem 16. When injecting the target component of the aerosol container 12, the lock piece 60 is pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow F1 in FIG. 1 (A-1), as shown in FIGS. 1 (B-1) and (B-2). Further, the arms 64 and 66 are pulled out so as not to engage or contact any part of the engaging portions 28 and 30. Then, as shown in FIG. 1 (B-1), the tip of the stem mounting portion 42 covers the stem 16, and the trigger 56 can be pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow F2 to push down the injection portion 40. When the trigger 56 is pulled, the tip of the stem mounting portion 42 pushes down the stem 16, so that the target component is jetted from the nozzle 46 through the passage 48 by the propellant.

  When the target component is used up by the above-described normal use and the aerosol container 12 is discarded, it is necessary to discharge all residual gas (propellant) in the aerosol container 12 to the outside of the container. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 1 (C-1) and (C-2), the lock piece 60 pulled out to the front side is in the direction indicated by the arrow F3 while the trigger 56 is pulled in the arrow F2 direction. Then, the tips of the arms 64 and 66 are engaged with the lower surfaces of the convex portions 28B and 30B of the engaging portions 28 and 30, respectively. Then, the upward rotation of the trigger 56 is restricted, and the injection unit 40 can be maintained (locked) in the residual gas discharge state. When all of the residual gas is discharged as described above, the aerosol container 12 is discarded by an appropriate method. Even if not only the propellant but also the target component remains in the aerosol container 12, the target component and the residual gas are all discharged by the above-described operation. Since the slide of the lock piece 60 is reversible in the directions of the arrows F1 and F3, the lock can be easily released even if the residual gas is discharged accidentally. Further, even when the target component remains and the residual gas is accidentally discharged, the normal pieces shown in FIGS. 1 (B-1) and (B-2) can be obtained by pulling out the lock piece 60. It can be returned to the use state or the initial state shown in FIGS. 1 (A-1) and (A-2).

Thus, according to the first embodiment, there are the following effects.
(1) A pair of arms 64 and 66 of a lock piece 60 that is mounted on a base portion 54 that is a connection portion between a nozzle portion 44 and a trigger 56 and that is slidable in the extending direction of the nozzle portion 44, and an injection portion 40 In the state of being in the discharge position, the projections 28B and 30B of the engagement portions 28 and 30 provided inside the side surfaces 24 and 26 of the cover body 20 are engaged. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the trigger 56 from returning upward, maintain the residual gas discharge state, and easily discharge the residual gas.
(2) Since the engagement between the lock piece 60 and the projections 28B and 30B can be released, even if the lock piece 60 is accidentally engaged, it is possible to easily return from the locked state. .
(3) Since the claws 68 and 70 are provided at the tips of the arms 64 and 66 of the lock piece 60, it can be prevented from coming off from the base 54 and lost.
(4) Since the lock piece 60 previously set as a stopper on the cover body 20 and the injection unit 40 is used for maintaining the residual gas discharge state, the existing parts can be effectively used.

  Next, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol shall be used for the component which is the same as that of Example 1 mentioned above, or respond | corresponds. The present embodiment shows another form of the lock piece, and the configurations of the cover body 20 and the injection unit 40 are the same as those of the first embodiment. The lock piece 80 of the present embodiment includes a cover surface 82 that covers the nozzle hole 46 of the injection unit 40, and a pair of arms 84 and 86 that are substantially orthogonal to the cover surface 82 and provided substantially parallel to the nozzle unit 44. A groove portion 88 is formed between the arms 84 and 86. The pair of arms 84 and 86 are inserted from the front surfaces 24A and 26A so as to sandwich the base portion 54 of the injection portion 40, thereby engaging the step between the base portion 54 and the upper surface of the trigger 56, and the nozzle portion. It is slidably mounted along 44. When the pair of arms 84 and 86 are pushed in until the closed side (the cover surface 82 side) of the groove 88 comes into contact with the base 54, the tip side is the upper surface of the vertical portions 28 </ b> A and 30 </ b> A of the engaging portions 28 and 30. It is set to a length that can be ridden. On the other hand, a convex guide 90 that engages with the groove 88 of the lock piece 80 is provided on the rear front surface 34 </ b> A of the cover body 20. The lock piece 80 of this embodiment can be easily attached to and detached from the base portion 54. Similarly to the first embodiment, the lock piece 80 is set in advance in the aerosol container 12 together with the cover body 20 and the injection unit 40 as a stopper for keeping the aerosol container 12 in a non-use state.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Before using the aerosol container 12 (initial state), as shown in FIGS. 2A-1 and 2A-2, the cover surface 82 of the lock piece 80 covers the front of the nozzle 46, and the arm 84, 88 rides on the upper surfaces of the vertical portions 28A and 30A of the engaging portions 28 and 30, and the trigger 56 cannot be operated. That is, the stem mounting portion 42 is kept in a state where it does not press the stem 16. When injecting the target component of the aerosol container 12, the lock piece 80 is pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow F1 in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 2 (B-1), the tip of the stem mounting portion 42 covers the stem 16, and the trigger 56 can be pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow F2 to push down the injection portion 40. When the trigger 56 is pulled, the tip of the stem mounting portion 42 pushes down the stem 16, so that the target component is ejected from the nozzle 46 to the outside. As shown in FIGS. 2 (B-1) and 2 (B-2), the removed lock piece 80 has the groove portion 88 formed on the rear front surface 34A of the cover body 20 with the tip of the cover surface 82 facing rearward. It is held by being inserted so as to fit into the convex guide 90.

  When the target component is used up by the above-described normal use and the aerosol container 12 is discarded, it is necessary to discharge all residual gas (propellant) in the aerosol container 12 to the outside of the container. At this time, the lock piece 80 held on the rear portion 34 of the cover body 20 is removed from the rear portion 34, and the trigger 56 is moved in the direction of arrow F2 as shown in FIGS. 2 (C-1) and (C-2). The cover surface 82 is attached to the base 54 so that the tip of the cover surface 82 faces downward, and is pushed in the direction indicated by the arrow F3 in the drawing so that the tips of the arms 84 and 86 are engaged with the engagement portion 28. , 30 are engaged with the lower surfaces of the convex portions 28B, 30B. Then, the upward rotation of the trigger 56 is restricted, and the injection unit 40 can be kept (locked) in the exhaust state of the residual gas. When all of the residual gas is discharged as described above, the aerosol container 12 is discarded by an appropriate method. Since the lock piece 80 is removable from the base portion 54, even if it is in a state where the residual gas is accidentally discharged, the lock piece 80 is easily released, and FIG. 2 (B-1) and (B-2) The normal use state shown in FIG. 2 and the initial state shown in FIGS. 2A-1 and 2A-2 can be restored. The effect of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the Example mentioned above, A various change can be added in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention. For example, the following are also included.
(1) The shape, dimensions, and design shown in the above embodiment are examples, and may be appropriately changed as necessary. Similarly, the material can be appropriately changed as necessary.
(2) The lock pieces 60 and 80 shown in the above embodiment are also an example, and can be attached to the base portion 54, slide along the nozzle portion 44, and engage with predetermined portions of the engaging portions 28 and 30. As long as the configuration is compatible, the design may be changed as necessary.
(3) In the second embodiment, the removed lock piece 80 is held at the rear portion 34 of the cover body 20, but this is also an example, and may be held at another position.
(4) The operation shown in the above embodiment is an example, and may be changed as appropriate. For example, in the first embodiment, the operation of discharging the residual gas from the aerosol container 12 is performed following the normal use shown in FIGS. 1 (B-1) and (B-2). The initial state shown in 1) and (A-2) may be shifted directly to the residual gas discharge operation shown in FIGS. 1 (C-1) and (C-2). The same applies to the second embodiment.
(5) The convex portions 28B and 30B of the engaging portions 28 and 30 are only examples, and the design may be appropriately changed so as to achieve the same effect.
(6) Examples of the target component to be sprayed with the aerosol container 12 of the present invention include cosmetic liquids, detergents, paints, deodorants, fragrances, pharmaceuticals, insecticides, and the like. The invention is applicable to all aerosol containers filled with various known target components.

  According to the present invention, in an aerosol container in which an injection unit having a nozzle part and a trigger for operating the nozzle part is covered with a cover body having a pair of side surfaces, the locking piece having a pair of arms slidable along the nozzle part. Is attached to the connecting portion between the nozzle portion and the trigger, and the arm is engaged with the engaging means on the inner side of the pair of side surfaces when the injection means is at the residual gas discharge position. For this reason, it can be applied as a residual gas discharge structure for discharging the entire amount of propellant (gas) remaining in the aerosol container.

It is a figure which shows the residual gas discharge structure of the aerosol container of Example 1 of this invention, (A-1), (B-1), (C-1) is a perspective view, (A-2), (B- 2) and (C-2) are plan views. It is a figure which shows the residual gas discharge structure of the aerosol container of Example 2 of this invention, (A-1), (B-1), (C-1) is a perspective view, (A-2), (B- 2) and (C-2) are plan views.

Explanation of symbols

10: Residual gas discharge structure 12: Aerosol container 14: Mounting cup 16: Stem 20: Cover body 22: Base part 23: Edge part 24, 26: Side face 24A, 26A: Front face 24B, 26B: Upper end 28, 30: Engagement Portions 28A, 30A: Vertical portions 28B, 30B: Protruding portion 32: Bar 34: Rear portion 34A: Rear front portion 40: Injection portion 42: Stem mounting portion 44: Nozzle portion 46: Injection port 48: Passage 50: Rear portion 52: Leaf spring portion 54: Base 56: Trigger 58: Back surface 60: Lock piece 62: Receiving portion 64, 66: Arm 68, 70: Claw 72: Groove portion 80: Lock piece 82: Cover surface 84, 86: Arm 88: Groove portion 90: Convex shape guide

Claims (5)

A cover body fixed to the upper part of the aerosol container and having a pair of opposing side surfaces;
A stem mounting portion disposed between a pair of side surfaces of the cover body, swingable about a connecting portion with a rear side of the cover body as a fulcrum, and attachable to a stem of the aerosol container; and the aerosol Injection means including a nozzle part having an injection hole for injecting the contents of the container, and a trigger connected below the nozzle part;
A lock piece held by the ejection means so as to have a pair of arms sandwiching the connecting portion between the nozzle portion and the trigger, and so that the arms can slide along the nozzle portion;
A first engaging portion that is provided on the inner surfaces of the pair of side surfaces of the cover body and that can lock the arm of the lock piece when the spraying means is at a discharge position of the residual gas in the aerosol container. Engaging means having,
A residual gas discharge structure for an aerosol container, comprising: The engaging means is
A second engagement portion that is provided above the first engagement portion and that can lock the arm of the lock piece when the ejection means is in a position where the content cannot be ejected;
The residual gas discharge structure for an aerosol container according to claim 1, comprising:   An engagement claw is provided at the tip of the pair of arms of the lock piece to engage the connecting portion between the nozzle portion and the trigger and prevent the nozzle portion from falling off by sliding in the extending direction. The residual gas discharge structure of the aerosol container according to claim 1 or 2.   The residual gas discharge structure for an aerosol container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lock piece is detachable from the injection means. The residual gas discharge structure for an aerosol container according to claim 4, wherein the cover body includes a holding portion for holding the lock piece removed from the injection means.

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