Patent Grant
7708485
This application is based on and claims the benefits of priories from Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-108307, filed on Apr. 5, 2005 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-007997, filed on Jan. 16, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cleaning implement. More particularly, the present invention relates to cleaning implements adapted to covers for floors or carpets, for example, and including a liquid supply device.
2. Related Art
By way of example, a cleaning implement including a liquid supply device is designed to have a cleaning head arranged at a distal end of a stem and a manual operation part arranged at a grip of the stem. A pressure-pump-type discharge container and a pump pusher are arrange at the distal end of the stem, and a coupling member for coupling the manual operating part to the pump pusher is arranged along the stem. By manual operation applied to the manual operation part, the pressure-pump-type discharge container is pressed through the coupling member and the pump pusher, discharging a solution from the discharge container to the cleaning head. Refer, for example, to Patent Document 1 (Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application 2004-337454).
According to Patent Document 1, the cleaning implement allowing wet wiping is provided, which can operate quietly, discharge a solution stably, and contribute to weight reduction.
According to Patent Document 1, a solution can be sprayed forward of the cleaning head and in the vicinity thereof from a pump spray nozzle. However, when a polish or a wax is applied and wiped away on the floor, if cleaning operation is carried out in advance, an operator will step on the applied floor, raising a problem of leaving footprints, etc. on the applied floor, for example.
The cleaning implement constructed to spray a solution forward of the cleaning head and in the vicinity thereof sometimes raises a problem that a solution may be sprayed on interior furniture or electrical appliance. A cleaning implement may be considered that can spray a solution forward or rearward of the cleaning head by the operator's choice. This is a problem to be solved by the present invention.
In order to solve the above problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning implement including a cleaning head and a valve opening and closing device connected to the cleaning head and able to hold a first container receiving a first fluid or a second container receiving a second container, in which the cleaning implement can spray a solution forward or rearward of the cleaning head by operator's choice.
In order to achieve the above object, inventors have invented the following new cleaning implement configured such that a valve opening and closing device includes a connection mechanism from which a first container is detachable and an adaptor coupled to the connection mechanism and from which a second container is detachable, wherein a first circulation path extends to a first ejection nozzle for ejecting a first fluid from the connection mechanism to the outside of the cleaning head, and a second circulation path extends to a second ejection nozzle for ejecting a second fluid from the adapter.
In a first aspect of the present invention, a cleaning implement includes: a cleaning head; and a holding portion, a fluid being able to be ejected rearward of the cleaning head when using the cleaning implement by positioning the cleaning head at the front and the holding portion at the rear.
By way of example, the cleaning head may have a cleaning operation surface on a bottom, and the holding portion is arranged on the side opposite the cleaning head. The cleaning head and the holding portion are coupled by a pipe, for example. According to the first aspect of the present invention, when using the cleaning implement by positioning the cleaning head at the front and the holding portion at the rear, a fluid can be ejected rearward of the cleaning head. The fluid may be, for example, a second fluid as will be described later. By way of example, the cleaning implement according to the first aspect of the present invention can eject the second fluid such as polish or wax to the floor, and a user can apply the second fluid on the floor toward the rear. Thus, the user will not step on the applied floor. Moreover, since the second fluid is ejected to a space between the user and the cleaning head, the probability of spraying a solution on interior furniture or electrical appliance is reduced.
In a second aspect of the present invention, a cleaning implement includes: a cleaning head having a cleaning operation surface on a bottom; a holding portion arranged on the side opposite the cleaning head; a pipe that couples the cleaning head and the holding portion; and a valve opening and closing device provided to the pipe, the valve opening and closing device being able to hold one of a first container receiving a first fluid and a second container receiving a second container, the valve opening and closing device including a connection mechanism from which the first container is detachable and an adaptor coupled to the connection mechanism and from which the second container is detachable, the cleaning head including a first ejection nozzle which ejects the first fluid from the connection mechanism to the outside of the cleaning head, the adapter including a second ejection nozzle which ejects the second fluid from the adapter, the holding portion including a lever coupled to the valve opening and closing device, the lever opening and closing the first valve of the first container or the second valve of the second container, in which the first ejection nozzle can eject the first fluid forward of the cleaning head, and the second ejection nozzle can eject the second fluid rearward of the cleaning head when using the cleaning implement by positioning the cleaning head at the front and the holding portion at the rear.
The second aspect of the present invention includes a cleaning head having a cleaning operation surface on a bottom. Also, it includes a holding portion arranged on the side opposite the cleaning head. A pipe couples the cleaning head and the holding portion. A valve opening and closing device is provided to the pipe. The valve opening and closing device can hold a first container for receiving a first fluid or a second container for receiving a second fluid.
By way of example, the cleaning head may have a cleaning sheet detachably attached to the cleaning operation surface. The pipe may be a holding stem, and may be configured by connecting a plurality of pipes, for example. The valve opening and closing device may not be mounted at the position between the cleaning head and the holding portion, but at the position close to the cleaning head or at the position close to the holding portion. The valve opening and closing device is mounted, preferably, at the position close to the cleaning head. With the first and second containers, either of the two may be mounted to the valve opening and closing device without being both mounted thereto. The valves designate valves of the first and second containers. By actuation of the valve opening and closing device, the first or second fluid is ejected.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the valve opening and closing device includes a connection mechanism from which the first container is detachable. It also includes an adapter coupled to the connection mechanism and from which the second container is detachable. The cleaning head includes a first ejection nozzle that ejects the first fluid from the connection mechanism to the outside of the cleaning head. The adapter includes a second ejection nozzle that ejects the second fluid from the adapter.
By way of example, provided to the connection mechanism are a cam device and pump as will be described later and for feeding the first fluid from the first container to the first ejection nozzle. The valve opening and closing device has a structure that allows the second container in place of the first container to be detached therefrom through the adapter. A path extending from the connection mechanism to the first ejection nozzle forms the first circulation path through which the first fluid can be ejected from the cleaning head. Furthermore, a path extending from the adapter to the second ejection nozzle forms the second circulation path through which the second fluid can be ejected from the adapter by interrupting the first circulation path.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the holding portion includes a lever. The lever is coupled to the valve opening and closing device. The lever opens and closes the first valve of the first container or the second valve of the second container.
By way of example, as will be described layer, the holding portion includes a pulley rotated interlockingly with rotary motion of the lever. The connection mechanism includes the cam device including a rocker arm forming a dynamic articulation that reciprocates angularly and a pusher following the rocker arm to reciprocate linearly. When the lever is coupled to the valve opening and closing device, the belt may have one end caught at a moving end of the rocker arm and the other end wound on the pulley so as to transmit a displacement of the lever to the pusher. By interlocking the adaptor with displacement motion of the pusher, the second valve of the second container is opened and closed, for example.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, when using the cleaning implement by positioning the cleaning head at the front and the holding portion at the rear, the first ejection nozzle can eject the first fluid forward of the cleaning head, and the second ejection nozzle can eject the second fluid rearward of the cleaning head.
By way of example, the first fluid may be water, a liquid detergent or a liquid wax, and the second fluid may an atomized wax or a foamed wax. By operating the lever, the second fluid is ejected from the spout of the second ejection nozzle. The term “when using” may be, for example, a state while the cleaning head is placed on the floor, the holding portion is held by user's hands, and the pipe is operated at an angle of inclination of about 45 degrees. The first ejection nozzle can eject the first fluid forward of the cleaning head, or the second ejection nozzle can eject the second fluid rearward of the cleaning head. The second fluid may be ejected to a space between the cleaning head and the user. The second fluid is ejected in the direction substantially parallel to the pipe, for example. The second fluid is ejected, preferably, in the range of an open angle of plus or minus 20 degrees with respect to the direction substantially parallel to the pipe. The wording “ejected” includes a case in which the second fluid is diffused like a fine spray.
Thus, the cleaning implement according to the second aspect of the present invention is a cleaning implement including a cleaning head and a valve opening and closing device connected to the cleaning head and being able to hold a first container receiving a first fluid or a second container receiving a second container, in which the cleaning implement can spray a solution forward or rearward of the cleaning head by operator's choice.
The valve opening and closing device includes a connection mechanism from which a first container is detachable and an adaptor coupled to the connection mechanism and from which a second container is detachable, in which a first circulation path extends to a first ejection nozzle for ejecting a first fluid from the connection mechanism to the outside of the cleaning head, and a second circulation path extends to a second ejection nozzle for ejecting a second fluid from the adapter.
By way of example, the cleaning implement according to the second aspect of the present invention can eject the second fluid such as polish or wax from the second ejection nozzle to the floor, and the user can apply the second fluid on the floor toward the rear. Thus, the user will not step on the applied floor. Moreover, since the second fluid is ejected from the second ejection nozzle to a space between the user and the cleaning head, the probability of spraying a solution on interior furniture or electrical appliance is reduced.
In a third aspect of the present invention, a cleaning implement according to the second aspect of the present invention has a second ejection nozzle that includes a spout to eject the second fluid in the direction substantially parallel to the pipe.
A spout of the second ejection nozzle is arranged, for example, at a position away from the pipe by a predetermined distance so as to eject the second fluid toward the floor. The wording “eject the second fluid in the direction substantially parallel to the pipe” includes ejection in the range of a predetermined open angle with respect to the direction substantially parallel to the pipe. The predetermined open angle is, preferably, in the range of plus or minus 20 degrees. The second fluid is ejected from the second ejection nozzle toward the floor in accordance with operation of the lever.
In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a cleaning implement according to the second or third aspect of the present invention has a connection mechanism connected to the first valve of the first container.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the first valve of the first container is operated directly, the mechanism of the cleaning implement can be simplified, resulting in cost reduction of the cleaning implement.
In a fifth aspect of the present invention, a cleaning implement according to any one of the second to fourth aspect of the present invention has a first container that is of a type of a bottle, the bottle being moved in the direction parallel to an axis of the first valve so as to drop the first fluid naturally.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the first container can be of a type of a bottle which is commercially available. The first container ensuring natural dropping of the first fluid suitable for cleaning can be mounted to the cleaning implement.
In a sixth aspect of the present invention, a cleaning implement according to any one of the second to fifth aspects of the present invention has a second ejection nozzle connected to the second valve of the second container.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the second ejection nozzle is directly connected to the second valve, the mechanism of the cleaning implement can be simplified, resulting in cost reduction of the cleaning implement.
In a seventh aspect of the present invention, a cleaning implement according to any one of the second to sixth aspects of the present invention has a second container that is a tilt-type spray can, the tilt-type spray can being tilted in the direction orthogonal to an axis of the second valve so as to eject the second fluid.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since a tilt-type spray can for receiving a polish or a wax suitable for application on the floor can be mounted to the cleaning implement, for example, the second fluid suitable for application on the floor can be used easily.
In an eighth aspect of the present invention, a cleaning implement according to any one of the second to seventh aspects of the present invention has a connection mechanism that includes a cam device including a rocker arm forming a dynamic articulation that reciprocates angularly and a pusher following the rocker arm to reciprocate linearly, the holding portion including a pulley rotated interlockingly with rotary motion of the lever and a belt having one end caught at a moving end of the rocker arm and the other end wound on the pulley, the belt transmitting a displacement of the lever to the pusher.
According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the belt may be used as a means for transmitting motion of the lever of the holding portion to the rocker arm of the connection mechanism, providing excellent flexibility. Thus, even if an articulation part exists between the holding portion and the connection mechanism, motion of the lever of the holding portion can surely be transmitted to the rocker arm.
In a ninth aspect of the present invention, a cleaning implement according to the eighth aspect of the present invention has an adaptor that includes a cylindrical adaptor main body, a cylinder held inside the adaptor main body to be movable axially and the second ejection nozzle coupled to the cylinder, the adaptor main body having one end having a first connection port detachably held to the connection mechanism and the other end having a second connection port for detachably holding the second container, the cylinder having one end abutting on a distal end of the pusher toward the first connection port and the other end having an inclined portion that intersects the axial direction of the cylinder at an acute angle toward the second connection port, in which the second ejection nozzle is formed in a T-shape, the T-shaped second ejection nozzle having one end coupled to the inclined portion and the other end connected to the second valve, the T-shaped second ejection nozzle having a spout at a T-shaped end for ejecting the second fluid to the outside of the adaptor main body.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the adapter includes a cylindrical adapter main body. It also includes a cylinder movably held inside the adaptor main body to be movable axially. It further includes the second ejection nozzle coupled to the cylinder. The adaptor main body has one end having a first connection port detachably held to the connection mechanism and the other end having a second connection port for detachably holding the second container.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the cylinder has one end abutting on a distal end of the pusher toward the first connection port and the other end having an inclined portion that intersects the axial direction of the cylinder at an acute angle toward the second connection port. The second ejection nozzle is formed in a T-shape. The T-shaped second ejection nozzle has one end coupled to the inclined portion and the other end connected to the second valve. The T-shaped second ejection nozzle has a spout at a T-shaped end for ejecting the second fluid to the outside of the adaptor main body.
A weight reduction can be achieved, for example, by molding out of a synthetic resin the adapter main body, cylinder, and second ejection nozzle that are components of the adapter. The adapter may be mounted to the valve opening and closing device in place of the first container. When operating the lever, movement of the pusher is transmitted to the cylinder. When the cylinder is moved, the inclined portion at the other end of the cylinder operates to tilt the second ejection nozzle. The second fluid is supplied from the second container to the second ejection nozzle. On the other hand, when releasing the lever, the pusher returns to the position, and the cylinder returns to the pusher side interlockingy with returning of a tilting posture of the second ejection nozzle. While the cylinder reciprocates, an angle of the inclined portion is, preferably, in the range of 30 to 60 degrees. Thus, the cleaning implement of the present invention can eject the second fluid as appropriate by operating the lever.
In a tenth aspect of the present invention, a cleaning implement according to the ninth aspect of the present invention has a cylinder that includes a pair of side walls arranged on both sides of the inclined portion with a space, the second valve having a part arranged in the space.
A distal end of the second valve is coupled by being restrained by the pair of side walls.
In an eleventh aspect of the present invention, a cleaning implement according to the eighth aspect of the present invention has an adaptor that includes a cylindrical adaptor main body, a cylinder held inside the adaptor main body to be movable axially and the second ejection nozzle coupled to the cylinder, the adaptor main body having one end having a first connection port detachably held to the connection mechanism and the other end having a second connection port for detachably holding the second container, in which the second ejection nozzle includes an L-shaped portion and a collar formed with the L-shaped portion and extending in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the second valve, the cylinder having one end abutting on a distal end of the pusher toward the first connection port and the other end having a protrusion that can push the collar in a position distant from the second valve, the L-shaped portion having a first end coupled to the second valve and a second end formed with a spout for ejecting the second fluid to the outside of the adaptor main body.
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the adaptor includes a cylindrical adaptor main body. It also includes a cylinder held inside the adaptor main body to be movable axially. It further includes the second ejection nozzle coupled to the cylinder. The adaptor main body having one end having a first connection port detachably held to the connection mechanism and the other end having a second connection port for detachably holding the second container.
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the second ejection nozzle includes an L-shaped portion and a collar formed with the L-shaped portion and extending in the direction orthogonal to the axis of the second valve. The cylinder has one end abutting on a distal end of the pusher toward the first connection port and the other end having a protrusion that can push the collar in a position distant from the second valve. The T-shaped portion has one end coupled to the second valve and the other end formed with a spout for ejecting the second fluid to the outside of the adaptor main body.
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention having a structure different from that of the eighth aspect of the present invention, the second ejection nozzle is tilted based on this principle.
The cleaning implement according to the present invention is a cleaning implement including a cleaning head and a valve opening and closing device connected to the cleaning head and being able to hold a first container receiving a first fluid or a second container receiving a second container, in which the cleaning implement can spray a fluid forward or rearward of the cleaning head by operator's choice.
By way of example, the cleaning implement according to the present invention can eject the second fluid such as polish or wax from the second ejection nozzle to the floor, and the user can apply the second fluid on the floor toward the rear. Thus, the user will not step on the applied floor. Moreover, since the second fluid is ejected from the second ejection nozzle to a space between the user and the cleaning head, the possibility of spraying a solution on an interior furniture or electrical appliance becomes lower.
Referring to the drawings, a best mode for carrying out the invention will be described hereinbelow.
Referring to
Referring to
The cleaning head 2 includes a hard holder 24 and a pad 25 secured to the underside of the holder 24. The holder 24 is injection molded out of a synthetic resin material such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin, polyethylene (PE) resin, polypropylene (PP) resin, polyethylene terephtalate (PET) resin or the like. The pad 25 is formed out of a foamed resin such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, urethane or the like or a soft and resilient material such as rubber or the like. The pad 25 may be formed out of soft PP or PE. The holder 24 and pad 25 are secured by bonding.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
A gear 71a having the pivot 7c as center of a pitch circle is partly formed with the lever 71. A pulley 74 is assembled to be rotatable about a pivot 7d formed with the holding portion 7. A gear 74a having the pivot 7d as center of rotation is assembled to the pulley 7.4. When the lever 71 is pulled, the gear 71a meshes with the gear 74a. Normally, the gear 71a does not mesh with the gear 74a. A spiral coil spring (not shown) is built in the pulley 74. Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The pump 36 has a shape having a U-shaped section with one end opened. An opening 36a at one end of the pump 36 is hermetically connected to a frame 31a of the connection mechanism 31. A hole 36b is formed at the other end (bottom) of the pump 36. The hole 36b is hermetically connected to one end of a hose 4 that defines a first circulation path. The other end of the hose 4 is hermetically connected to the first ejection nozzle 23 through the inside of the pipe 8.
Referring to
The rocker arm 34 reciprocates angularly with a pivot 31b provided to the frame 31a as center of rotation. The other end 73a of the belt 73 is caught at a moving end 34a of the rocker arm 34. Therefore, the belt 73 extending from the pulley 74 passes through the inside of the pipe members Bb to 8d to be caught at the moving end 34. The convex 34b (refer to
Referring to
The internal structure of the cap 90 will be described. As shown in
As shown in
The first ring member 92 includes a circular ring packing. The first ring member 92 seals the first fluid charged in the first container 61. The first valve 93 includes a head 93a and a leg 93b. The head 93a includes a cylindrical head main body and a pair of flanges arranged on both sides of the head main body. The first ring member 92 is arranged between the flanges, i.e., on the peripheral face of the head main body. One end of the head 93a is formed with an insertion hole into which one end of the pusher 35 is inserted. The other end of the head 93a is formed with the leg 93b. The leg 93b includes four blades. Each blade is formed with a convex for catching the compression coil spring 94. One end of the compression coil spring 94 is caught in a catch groove 96e as will be described later. On the other hand, the other end of the compression coil spring 94 is caught at the convex.
As shown in
The seal member 97 includes a flange 97a as shown in
The tube member 98 has a columnar shape. The section of the tube member 98 is shaped like a ring to allow air from the air hole 91d to flow into the tank 61b. One end of the tube member 98 is engaged with the long tube 96c. The tube member 98 is formed out of polyurethane (PU) resin. The valve protection member 99 is shaped like a bell. A horn portion 99a having an apex as engaged is arranged at an upper end of the valve protection member 99. The horn portion 99a is engaged with the other end of the tube member 98. The top of the valve protection member 99 includes a pair of recesses 99b. A convex (not shown) having a through hole engaging with the valve member 100 is arranged in the valve protection member 99. The valve member 100 is arranged in the valve protection member 99.
The valve member 100 includes a valve main body 100a and a flange 100b. The valve main body 10a is shaped substantially cylindrically. The valve main body 10a is formed out of a resilient member. A distal end 100c of the valve main body 10a has a cut shape obtained by cutting the cylindrical shape from both side faces thereof. It is noted that the cut shape is such that two plate-shaped valves are arranged to be superimposed one upon another at the distal end, and are constructed to open or close in substantially the center of the distal end. With such a construction, the distal end 100c allows the valves to open in substantially the center so that air from the air hole 91d is fed to the tank 61b through the tube member 98. A flange 100b is arranged at the other end of the valve main body 100a.
With the above structure, the first valve 93 is biased by the compression coil spring 94 from the inside of the cap 90, thereby obtaining the closed state of the valve hole 91a.
When the first container 61 is mounted to the connection mechanism 31, the outer periphery of the cap 90 makes close contact with the pump 36 hermetically, whereas the first valve 93 of the first container 61 is pressed to the distal end 35a against a biasing force of the compression coil spring 94. At this time, the first valve 93 of the first container 61 is slightly moved toward the tank 61b. However, no clearance allowing part of the first fluid received in the first container 61 to flow out toward a space defined by the pump 36 and the first valve 93 is formed between the first valve 93 and the valve hole 91a.
As a result, part of the first fluid received in the first container 61 does not flow out toward a space defined by the pump 36 and the first valve 93. Moreover, since the hole 36b is closed by the pump 36 and the pusher 35, the first fluid in the first container 61 is not moved into the hose 4 in this state.
On the other hand, when the user pulls the lever 71, the belt 73 is moved to the holding portion 7 so that the rocker arm 34 is rotated by a pulling force of the belt 73. Furthermore, since the pusher 35 is linearly moved to the holding portion 7, the first valve 93 of the first container 61 is moved in the direction of the tank 61b, and the collar 35b is moved in the direction of separating from the hole 36b of the pump 36. Therefore, concurrently with a clearance being produced between the collar 35b and the hole 36b, air taken in from the air hole 91d is supplied into the tank 61b through the tube member 98 and the valve member 100. With this, the first fluid in the first container 61 is supplied to the first ejection nozzle 23 through this clearance and the hose 4. The supplied first fluid is ejected forward of the cleaning head 2 from the first ejection nozzle 23. That is, the first fluid passes through the first circulation path.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The second container 62 is mounted to the adaptor main body 32a on the side of the second connection port 32d. The second container 32 is a spray can including a tilt-type valve that is tilted in the direction orthogonal to an axis of the second valve 62a so as to eject the second fluid received in the second container 62. Therefore, when the second ejection nozzle 51 is tilted, the second fluid is ejected from the spout 51c. Moreover, since the spout 51c is positioned at the height H from the floor surface F, the second fluid ejected from the spout 51c may be a fluid of lower viscosity such as water as well as a fluid of higher viscosity such as foam.
By way of example, the first container 61 may be of a type of a bottle that is moved in the direction parallel to an axis of the first valve 93 (refer to
When the user pulls the lever 71, the lever 71 is pushed into the holding portion 7 against a biasing force of the torsion coil spring 75, rotating the gear 71a. With this, the gear 74a is rotated together with the pulley 74 to wind the belt 73. When the belt 73 is wound on the pulley 74, the pusher 35 moves the cylinder 32b to the second container 62.
When the cylinder 32b is moved to the second container 62, the inclined portion 32e tilts the second ejection nozzle 51 in the direction of orthogonal to the moving direction of the cylinder 32b. With this, referring to
When the user stops pulling the lever 71, the lever 71 rotates the pulley 74 in the direction of loosing the belt 73 by a biasing force of the torsion coil spring 75. With this, the pusher 35 is moved in the direction away from the cylinder 32b, providing no force of pushing the cylinder 32b. Furthermore, a returning force of the second valve 62a of the second container 62 acts on the inclined portion 32e of the cylinder 32b. Then, the cylinder 32b is moved in the direction away from the second container 62. Thus, the inclination of the second valve 62a with respect to the second container 62 returns to the vertical state, stopping ejection of the second fluid from the second ejection nozzle 51.
In another embodiment as shown in
The surface with which the protrusion 32h makes contact is separated from a center P of rotation on which the second valve 62a tilts by a distance h in the axial direction. The protrusion 32h makes contact with the collar 51f spaced with respect to the second valve 62a in the direction away from the axial direction. As a result, reciprocation of the cylinder 32b is converted into rotation with the center P of rotation as center so that the second valve 62a is tilted by this rotation by an angle α.
In still another embodiment as shown in
The adaptor 120 includes a cylindrical adaptor main body 130, a cylinder 140 axially movably held in the adaptor main body 130, and a third ejection nozzle 150 coupled to the cylinder 140. The third ejection nozzle 150 serves as a third circulation path through which the third fluid flows.
Referring to
A fourth connection port 135 having a size that allows non-contact entry and retraction of the distal end 35a of the pusher 35 is formed in the center of the convex 132. The fourth connection port 135 is connected to a cylindrical inner surface 136 of the main-body portion 131. The cylindrical inner surface 136 is connected to the opening 134. A groove is formed in the cylindrical inner surface 136 that extends axially.
Referring to
The pair of pressing portions 148a and 148b each have a substantially triangular shape with an apex positioned offset with respect to the center, and are formed with the collar 147 with a clearance therebetween that allows arrangement of the third ejection nozzle 150 (refer to
Referring to
A fit hole 151f that can fit with the third valve 63a of the third container 63 is formed at an end of pipe-shaped portion 151b. The fit hole 151f is connected to a through hole 151e that passes through the main body 151. One opening of the through hole 151e is formed with a fit portion 151c that can fit with a fit portion 152h of the arm 152. The arm 152 is formed in a roughly L-shape obtained by two pipe-shaped portions 152a and 152b intersecting each other, and has a through hole 152g. A convex 152e (refer to
A ring-shaped convex 152f is formed on the circumference of an end of the pipe-shaped portion 152b. A concave 152d is formed in the pipe-shaped portion 152a on the side of the pipe-shaped portion 152b.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The fit hole 151f of the third ejection nozzle 150 assembled by the main body 151, arm 152, and nozzle portion 153 is hermetically fitted with the third valve 63a of the third container 63 (refer to
Referring to
Since one end of the adaptor main body 130 has substantially the same shape as that of the cap 90 of the first container 61, it can be fitted in the pump 36 of the connection mechanism 31 so that the adaptor main body 130 is held by the connection mechanism 31.
Referring to
When the user pulls the lever 71, the lever 71 is pushed into the holding portion 7 against a biasing force of the torsion coil spring 75, rotating the gear 71a. With this, the gear 74a is rotated together with the pulley 74 to wind the belt 73. When the belt 73 is wound on the pulley 74, the pusher 35 pushes the convex 146a formed in the collar 146 of the cylinder 140, moving the cylinder 140 to the third container 63.
Referring to
Therefore, referring to
Referring to
In the drawing, points P1 and P2 correspond to the case in which an angle between the floor F and the pipe 8 is 45 degrees. The point P1 designates a content landing point when pulling the lever 71 slightly so that the third valve 63a just begins to open, whereas the point P2 designates a content landing point when pulling the lever 71 maximally so that the third valve 63a opens to the maximum extent.
When the user stops pulling the lever 71, the lever 71 rotates the pulley 74 in the direction of loosening the belt 73 by a biasing force of the torsion coil spring 75. With this, the pusher 35 is moved in the direction away from the cylinder 140, providing no force of pushing the cylinder 140. Furthermore, a returning force of the third valve 63a of the third container 63 acts on the pair of pressing portions 148a and 148b of the cylinder 140. Then, the cylinder 140 is moved in the direction away from the third container 63. Thus, the inclination of the third valve 63a with respect to the third container 63 returns to the vertical state, stopping ejection of the third fluid from the third ejection nozzle 51.
In still another embodiment as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated above, it is to be understood that they are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered to be limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered to be limited by the foregoing description and is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-108307 | Apr 2005 | JP | national |
| 2006-007997 | Jan 2006 | JP | national |
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|---|---|---|---|
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| 5782991 | van der Heyden et al. | Jul 1998 | A |
| 6722806 | Kunkler et al. | Apr 2004 | B2 |
| 6960042 | Hsiao | Nov 2005 | B1 |
| 20040046628 | Hofte et al. | Mar 2004 | A1 |
| 20040141797 | Garabedian et al. | Jul 2004 | A1 |
| 20040184867 | Wang et al. | Sep 2004 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 50-018358 | Jun 1975 | JP |
| 50-018358 | Jun 1975 | JP |
| 64-5515 | Jan 1989 | JP |
| 2004-337454 | Dec 2004 | JP |
| 2005-342255 | Dec 2005 | JP |
| 2005-342256 | Dec 2005 | JP |
| 2005-342258 | Dec 2005 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20060269353 A1 | Nov 2006 | US |
