Nozzle cap for aerosol container

Abstract

Provided is a nozzle cap for aerosol container that can be used for cleaning a nozzle of an aerosol container that has a plurality of stems, and preventing the nozzle from being pushed down. The nozzle cap includes a plurality of bar-like pieces 11 that can be inserted from ejection ports 24 of a nozzle 20 into ejection-side communication passages 23a at least until distal ends 11a reach upper ends 22d of stem-like communication passages 22a, and a lower protrusion 14 that prevents the nozzle from being pushed down by abutting on a cover member 30 below ejection tubes 23 of the nozzle 20 when the bar-like pieces 11 are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages 23a.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a nozzle cap attached to an aerosol container that has a plurality of stems, and more particularly to a nozzle cap that can be used for cleaning the nozzle, and preventing the nozzle from being pushed down.

BACKGROUND ART

As a means of cleaning the nozzle of an aerosol container that has a plurality of stems, one described in Patent Document 1, for example, has hitherto been known. According to Patent Document 1, a cleaning member is attached to the nozzle body so as to be removably inserted into an ejection port of the nozzle body. The content can be expelled with the cleaning member being pushed into the nozzle body, and the residual content can be scraped out by pulling the cleaning member out of the ejection port after the ejection.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Documents

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2012-30886

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, the cleaning member described in Patent Document 1 has a complex structure so as to allow ejection of the content with the cleaning member being pushed into the nozzle body. It was also difficult to add a function, to the cleaning member, of preventing the nozzle from being pushed down when not in use.

The present invention was developed in view of the circumstances described above, and it is an object of the invention to provide a nozzle cap for aerosol container that can be used for cleaning the nozzle of an aerosol container that has a plurality of stems, and for preventing the nozzle from being pushed down.

Means for Solving the Problems

The subject matter and configuration of the present invention are as follows:

1. A nozzle cap for aerosol container to be attached to an aerosol container, including a nozzle connected to a plurality of stems of a mounting cup at one end and having an ejection port at the other end, and a cover member attached to the mounting cup, the nozzle including a stem connector that forms stem-side communication passages independently extending upward from respective stems, and ejection tubes that form ejection-side communication passages independently extending forward from upper ends of the respective stem-side communication passages, the nozzle cap including:

a plurality of bar-like pieces that can be inserted from the ejection port of the nozzle into the respective ejection-side communication passages at least until distal ends of the bar-like pieces reach the upper ends of the respective stem-side communication passages;

a circumferential wall formed continuously to base ends of the plurality of bar-like pieces via a front wall to surround the ejection tubes when the bar-like pieces are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages; and

a lower protrusion protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the circumferential wall and abutting on the cover member below the ejection tubes of the nozzle when the bar-like pieces are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages, to thereby prevent the nozzle from being pushed down.

2. The nozzle cap for aerosol container according to item 1, wherein the stem connector of the nozzle is formed by a plurality of stem-side tubes that form independent stem-side communication passages, and

the circumferential wall and the lower protrusion each include an extension that extends backward through between the plurality of stem-side tubes when the bar-like pieces are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages.

3. The nozzle cap for aerosol container according to item 1 or 2, wherein the cover member includes an actuator part that is provided above the nozzle and presses down the nozzle when turned via a hinge, and

the nozzle cap further includes an upper protrusion protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the circumferential wall and abutting on the actuator part by the actuator part being pressed down when the bar-like pieces are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages.

4. The nozzle cap for aerosol container according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein the two bar-like pieces each include an annular protrusion that makes sliding contact with the surface of the stem-side communication passages.

5. The nozzle cap for aerosol container according to item 4, wherein the annular protrusions each can engage with the upper ends of the stem-side communication passages when the bar-like pieces are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, by removing the nozzle from the stems, and by inserting the plurality of bar-like pieces of the nozzle cap into the ejection-side communication passages until the distal ends of the bar-like pieces reach the upper ends of the stem-side communication passages of the nozzle, the contents remaining inside the ejection-side communication passages can be pushed out of the nozzle through the stem-side communication passages, and thus the nozzle can be easily cleaned. Also, according to the present invention, when the aerosol container is not in use, the nozzle can be prevented from being pushed down by attaching the nozzle cap to the nozzle so that the bar-like pieces of the nozzle cap are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages, since the lower protrusion protruding from the circumferential wall of the nozzle cap abuts on the cover member below the ejection tubes of the nozzle.

Accordingly, the present invention can provide A nozzle cap for aerosol container that can be used for cleaning the nozzle of an aerosol container that has a plurality of stems, and preventing the nozzle from being pushed down.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating A nozzle cap for aerosol container according to one embodiment of the present invention in a state in which it is mounted to the aerosol container.

FIG. 2 is a half cross-sectional view along A-A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the nozzle cap for aerosol container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the nozzle cap for aerosol container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the nozzle cap for aerosol container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along B-B of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along C-C of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating how the nozzle cap for aerosol container of FIG. 1 prevents the nozzle from being pushed down, (a) showing a state when the nozzle is not actuated, and (b) showing a state when the nozzle is actuated.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating how the nozzle is cleaned with the nozzle cap for aerosol container of FIG. 1, (a) showing a state before a residual material is pushed out, and (b) showing a state after the residual material is pushed out.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• • 1: Nozzle cap
  • 11: Bar-like piece
  • 11 a: Distal end
  • 11 b: Base end
  • 11 c: Outer circumferential surface
  • 11 d: Annular protrusion
  • 12: Front wall
  • 13: Circumferential wall
  • 13 a: Lower extension
  • 13 b: Lateral extension
  • 13 c: Upper extension
  • 13 d: Rear edge
  • 14: Lower rib (lower protrusion)
  • 14 a: Lower extension (extension)
  • 14 b: Rear edge
  • 15: Upper rib (upper protrusion)
  • 15 a: Upper extension
  • 15 b: Rear edge
  • 16: Lateral rib
  • 16 a: Lateral extension
  • 16 b: Rear edge
  • 17: Reinforcing rib
  • 20: Nozzle
  • 21: Stem connector
  • 22: Stem-side tube
  • 22 a: Stem-side communication passage
  • 22 b: Large-diameter part
  • 22 c: Engaging convex section
  • 22 d: Upper end
  • 23: Ejection tube
  • 23 a: Ejection-side communication passage
  • 24: Ejection port
  • 25: Vertical rib
  • 26: Horizontal rib
  • 27: Rib
  • 30: Cover member
  • 40: Aerosol container
  • 41: Container body
  • 42: Mounting cup
  • 43: Annular rim
  • 44: Stem
  • 45: Projection
  • 50: Lower cover (cover member)
  • 51: Opening
  • 52: Outer wall
  • 52 a: Upper tier part
  • 52 b: Middle tier part
  • 52 c: Lower tier part
  • 52 d: Positioning wall
  • 52 e: Cylindrical wall
  • 52 f: Engaging claw
  • 52 g: Claw
  • 60: Upper cover (cover member)
  • 61: Circumferential wall
  • 61 a: Top wall
  • 62: Engaging hole
  • 63: Pivoting piece
  • 64: Connecting piece
  • 65: Hinge
  • 66: Actuator part
  • 67: Inner bottom wall
  • 67 a: Opening
  • 68: Inner side wall
  • 69: Inner circumferential wall

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the nozzle cap for aerosol container according to one embodiment of the present invention will be illustrated and described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The “front” herein refers to an ejection port side of an ejection tube provided in the nozzle, while the “back (rear)” refers to the opposite side from the front along the axial line of the ejection tube. The “sides” refer to left and right directions when viewing the container from the front to the back.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the nozzle cap 1 is provided as a component separate from the aerosol container 40, which includes a nozzle 20 and a cover member 30, and can be used for cleaning the nozzle 20, and for preventing the nozzle from being pushed down.

The aerosol container 40 is formed by fixedly attaching a mounting cup 42 made of metal, for example, to a bottomed cylindrical container body 41 made of metal, for example, by crimping the outer edge of the cup (the crimped portion forming an annular rim 43), as shown in FIG. 2, and contains two types of contents separately inside. The aerosol container 40 includes a total of two stems 44 that lead to housing spaces of respective contents. A projection 45 that is shaped in the form of a track in plan view binds the two stems 44 and protrudes in the center of the mounting cup 42. The projection 45 may be rectangular or elliptical in plan view.

In this example, the cover member 30 is formed by a lower cover member (fixing plate) 50 fixed to the mounting cup 42 of the aerosol container 40, and an upper cover member 60 attached to the lower cover member 50. The cover member 30 need not necessarily be divided into the lower cover member 50 and upper cover member 60. The cover member 30 may be designed to be attached to the mounting cup 42.

The lower cover member 50 includes an outer wall 52, which covers the mounting cup 42 except an opening 51 for exposing the two stems 44, abuts on an upper face of the annular rim 43, and removably engages with a lower edge of the circumferential surface of the annular rim 43. The outer wall 52 includes a cylindrical upper tier part 52a with a top that is generally circular in plan view, a middle tier part 52b that extends radially outward from the lower end of the upper tier part 52a and downward from the outer edge, and a lower tier part 52c that extends radially outward from the lower end of the middle tier part 52b and downward from the outer edge.

In a central part of the upper tier part 52a are provided positioning walls 52d extending downward to abut on both side faces along the longitudinal direction of the projection 45, as shown in FIG. 8. The opening 51 is shaped in the form of a track in plan view. The middle tier part 52b includes a downwardly extending cylindrical wall 52e as shown in FIG. 2. An engaging claw 52f is circumferentially provided to an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 52e to engage with a lower edge of the circumferential surface of the annular rim 43, thereby anchoring the lower cover member 50 to the mounting cup 42.

The circumferential wall of the lower tier part 52c is positioned radially inner than the outer circumferential surface of the aerosol container 40. Outward claws 52g are provided at two points on both sides of the axial line of the lower cover member 50.

The upper cover member 60 includes a circumferential wall 61 having an outer shape with substantially the same diameter as the outer circumferential surface of the aerosol container 40 and accommodates the lower tier part 52c of the lower cover member 50 inside. On the side face of the circumferential wall 61 are pivoting pieces 63 each formed with an engaging hole 62 that is to engage with the claw 52g. The pivoting pieces 63 are connected to the circumferential wall 61 in the front and the back by connecting pieces 64. Pressing upper regions of the pivoting pieces 63 above the connecting pieces 64 inward turns the pivoting pieces 63 around the connecting pieces 64, whereby the engaging holes 62 move outward and are disengaged from the claws 52g.

The upper part of the circumferential wall 61 is frustum-shaped, with a top wall 61a having a cut-out portion in the back, and with an actuator part 66 being provided in this cut-out portion such as to be rotatable via a hinge 65, as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 8. Inside the circumferential wall 61 is formed an inner bottom wall 67 that covers the upper tier part 52a of the lower cover member 50 continuously with the top wall 61a via inner side walls 68. An inner circumferential wall 69 extends downward from the top wall 61a and inner bottom wall 67 on the radially outer side of the inner side walls 68, and abuts on the upper face of the middle tier part 52b of the lower cover member 50. Two openings 67a are provided in a central part of the inner bottom wall 67 for the stems 44 each to pass through.

The nozzle 20 includes a stem connector 21 at one end to be connected to the stems. The stem connector 21 is formed by two stem-side tubes 22, each of which forms an independent stem-side communication passage 22a extending upwards from each stem 44. The lower part of each stem-side tube 22 has an increased diameter, and the stem 44 is inserted into this large-diameter part 22b. An engaging convex section 22c is circumferentially formed near the lower end on the outer circumferential surface of each stem-side tube 22, and with these engaging convex sections 22c engaging with the openings 67a formed in the inner bottom wall 67 of the upper cover member 60, the nozzle 20 is retained to the upper cover member 60.

The nozzle 20 includes two ejection tubes 23 at the other end. Each ejection tube 23 forms an independent ejection-side communication passage 23a extending forward from an upper end 22d of the stem-side communication passage 22a, and has an ejection port 24 at the front end of the ejection-side communication passage 23a. At the rear ends of the two ejection tubes 23 are provided a vertical rib 25 and a horizontal rib 26 that connect these rear ends.

Ribs 27 with an arcuate tip are provided to protrude from the upper face at rear ends of respective ejection tubes 23, so that, when the actuator part 66 is pressed, the lower face of the actuator part 66 abuts on the upper face of the ribs 27, whereby the contents are expelled simultaneously from the respective stems 44.

The nozzle cap 1 is configured as shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 7, and attached to the previously described nozzle 20 of the aerosol container 40 as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 8(a). The nozzle cap 1 includes two hollow bar-like pieces 11 with a closed distal end 11a and an open base end 11b, and a circumferential wall 13 that is formed continuously to the base ends 11b of the two bar-like pieces 11 via a front wall 12 and surrounds the two bar-like pieces 11. The nozzle cap 1 is symmetrical in the up and down direction and in the left and right direction.

The bar-like pieces 11 are each formed to have a length that is the same or somewhat longer than the front-to-back length of the ejection-side communication passages 23a of the nozzle 20, and can be inserted into the ejection-side communication passages 23a until the distal ends 11a reach the upper ends 22d of the stem-side communication passages 22a. The outer circumferential surface 11c of each bar-like piece 11 has substantially the same diameter as that of the ejection-side communication passages 23a. An annular protrusion 11d is circumferentially formed near the distal end 11a of each bar-like piece 11. The annular protrusion 11d has an outer diameter that is the same or somewhat larger than the diameter of the ejection-side communication passage 23a so that it can slide on the surface of the ejection-side communication passage 23a. The annular protrusion 11d may be provided closer to the distal end or base end than the position shown in FIG. 4. The position shown in FIG. 4 is preferable because, at this position, the annular protrusions 11d can engage with the upper ends 22d of the stem-side communication passages 22a when the bar-like pieces 11 are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages 23a. The cross-sectional shape along the front to back direction of the annular protrusions 11d is not limited to the arcuate shape shown in FIG. 6, but may be, for example, triangular and rectangular or the like.

The circumferential wall 13 is formed such as to surround the ejection tubes 23 of the nozzle 20 when the bar-like pieces 11 are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages 23a. The circumferential wall 13 includes a lower extension 13a in a lower part, which extends to the back through between the two stem-side tubes 22 when the bar-like pieces 11 are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages 23a. Lateral extensions 13b that extend to the back similarly to this lower extension 13a are formed in portions on both sides of the circumferential wall 13. An upper extension 13c that extends to the back similarly to the lower extension 13a is formed in an upper part of the circumferential wall 13. Rear edge portions 13d of the circumferential wall 13 are semicircular between the lower extension 13a and the lateral extensions 13b. Rear edge portions 13d of the circumferential wall 13 are semicircular also between the upper extension 13c and the lateral extensions 13b.

Three lower ribs 14 (lower protrusions), which abut on the inner bottom wall 67 of the cover member 30 below the ejection tubes 23 of the nozzle 20 when the bar-like pieces 11 are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages 23a to thereby prevent the nozzle 20 from being pushed down, are provided to protrude from the lower face of the outer circumference of the circumferential wall 13. The lower ribs 14 each extend along the front to back direction. The lower rib 14 in the middle includes a lower extension 14a that extends to the back through between the two stem-side tubes 22 when the bar-like pieces 11 are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages 23a. The rear edge 14b of the lower extension 14a is tapered, or sloped downward toward the front.

Three upper ribs 15 (upper protrusions), which abut on the actuator part 66 by the actuator part 66 being pressed down when the bar-like pieces 11 are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages 23a, are provided to protrude from the upper face of the outer circumference of the circumferential wall 13. The upper ribs 15 extend along the front to back direction as with the lower ribs 14. The upper rib 15 in the middle includes an upper extension 15a that extends to the back through between the two ribs 27 provided on the upper face at the rear ends of the ejection tubes 23 of the nozzle 20 when the bar-like pieces 11 are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages 23a. The rear edge 15b of the upper extension 15a is tapered, or sloped upward toward the front.

Lateral ribs 16, which face the inner side walls 68 of the upper cover member 60 with a slight gap therebetween when the bar-like pieces 11 are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages 23a, are provided to protrude from both side faces of the outer circumference of the circumferential wall 13. The lateral ribs 16 include a lateral extension 16a protruding from the lateral extensions 13b of the circumferential wall 13. The rear edge 16b of each lateral rib 16 is tapered, or sloped away from the circumferential wall 13 toward the front.

On the inner circumferential side of the circumferential wall 13 is provided a reinforcing rib 17 that connects the upper face and lower face of the inner circumference of the circumferential wall 13 at the center in the left-right direction of the nozzle cap 1 (i.e., connects the upper rib 15 in the middle and the lower rib 14 in the middle straight in the up and down direction).

With this configuration, when the nozzle cap 1 is attached to the nozzle 20 of the aerosol container 40 that is not in use, the tapered rear edges 14b, 16b, and 15b of the lower rib 14 in the middle, the lateral ribs 16, and the upper rib 15 in the middle that protrude from the circumferential wall 13 of the nozzle cap 1 function as guides when they come to contact with the front edges of the inner bottom wall 67, inner side walls 68, and top wall 61a of the upper cover member 60, thereby facilitating the attachment of the nozzle cap 1 to the nozzle 20.

Once the nozzle cap 1 is attached to the nozzle 20, with the bar-like pieces 11 of the nozzle cap 1 being inserted into the ejection-side communication passages 23a as shown in FIG. 8(a), the annular protrusions 11d circumferentially formed near the distal ends 11a of the respective bar-like pieces 11 engage with the upper ends 22d of the stem-side communication passages 22a, so that the nozzle cap 1 can be reliably kept attached.

Even if the actuator part 66 is pressed down in this state, the lower ribs 14 protruding from the circumferential wall 13 of the nozzle cap 1 abut on the inner bottom wall 67 of the cover member 30 below the ejection tubes 23 of the nozzle 20, so that the nozzle 20 can be prevented from being pushed down. At this time, the upper ribs 15 protruding from the upper face on the outer circumference of the circumferential wall 13 abut on and support the actuator part 66, so that breakage of the two ribs 27 on the upper face at the rear ends of the ejection tubes 23 of the nozzle 20 by the pressing of the actuator part 66 can be reliably prevented.

Since the circumferential wall 13 is provided with the lower extension 13a and upper extension 13c that extend to the back in the lower and upper parts, respectively, and since the lower rib 14 in the middle and the upper rib 15 in the middle are provided with the lower extension 14a and upper extension 15a, respectively, which extend to the back, the actuator part 66 can be supported in a wider area when pressed down, so that the nozzle 20 can reliably be prevented from being pushed down.

When the aerosol container 40 is in use, the nozzle cap 1 is removed from the nozzle 20 and the actuator part 66 is pressed down as shown in FIG. 8(b), which causes the lower face of the actuator part 66 to abut on the upper face of the ribs 27, whereby the nozzle 20 is pressed down, and the contents are expelled simultaneously from the respective stems 44 and ejected from the ejection ports 24.

To clean the nozzle 20, the pivoting pieces 63 of the upper cover member 60 shown in FIG. 2 are operated to remove the upper cover member 60 from the lower cover member 50, whereby the nozzle can be removed together with the upper cover member 60, as shown in FIG. 9(a). At this time, the engaging convex sections 22c that retain the nozzle 20 to the upper cover member 60 prevents the nozzle 20 from coming off.

As shown in FIG. 9(b), by inserting the two bar-like pieces 11 of the nozzle cap 1 each into the ejection-side communication passages 23a until the distal ends 11a of the bar-like pieces 11 reach the upper ends 22d of the stem-side communication passages 22a of the nozzle 20, the contents R remaining inside the ejection-side communication passages 23a can be pushed out of the nozzle 20 through the stem-side communication passages 22a. At this time, the annular protrusions 11d each circumferentially formed near the distal ends 11a of the bar-like pieces 11 slide on the surface of the ejection-side communication passages 23a as the bar-like pieces 11 are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages 23a, whereby the contents R remaining inside the ejection-side communication passages 23a can be emptied more reliably. The ejection-side communication passages 23a and stem-side communication passages 22a of the nozzle 20 can then be rinsed with running water, for example, with ease, and thus the cleaning of the nozzle 20 is facilitated.

The two types of contents R contained in the aerosol container 40 described in the embodiment may be a primary agent and additives of an aerosol product in the form of a foam, for example, which should preferably be not premixed together as they undergo a chemical reaction such as hardening and oxidation. The nozzle cap 1 according to this embodiment is suited for applications where the content R is an aerosol product such as hot shaving cream, hair dye, adhesive, paint, and medicine, and is particularly suitable for applications where the content R is a creamy liquid that can easily clog when dried.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes only, various changes can be made within the scope of the claims. For example, the lower protrusion was described as being composed of three lower ribs 14, but the number of the ribs need not necessarily be three and can be adjusted to any number. The lower protrusion need not necessarily be ribs, and other shapes can be adopted. As with the lower protrusion, the number of the ribs that form the upper protrusion is not limited to three and other shapes than ribs can be adopted.

Claims

1. A nozzle cap for aerosol container to be attached to an aerosol container that includes a nozzle connected to a plurality of stems of a mounting cup at one end and having an ejection port at the other end, and a cover member attached to the mounting cup, the nozzle including a stem connector that forms stem-side communication passages independently extending upward from respective stems, and ejection tubes that form ejection-side communication passages independently extending forward from upper ends of the respective stem-side communication passages, the nozzle cap comprising: a plurality of bar-like pieces that can be inserted from the ejection port of the nozzle into the respective ejection-side communication passages at least until distal ends of the bar-like pieces reach the upper ends of the respective stem-side communication passages;a circumferential wall formed continuously to base ends of the plurality of bar-like pieces via a front wall to surround the ejection tubes when the bar-like pieces are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages; anda lower protrusion protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the circumferential wall and abutting on the cover member below the ejection tubes of the nozzle when the bar-like pieces are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages, to thereby prevent the nozzle from being pushed down,wherein the stem connector of the nozzle is formed by a plurality of stem-side tubes that form independent stem-side communication passages, andwherein the circumferential wall and the lower protrusion each include an extension that extends backward through between the plurality of stem-side tubes when the bar-like pieces are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages.

2. The nozzle cap for aerosol container according to claim 1, wherein the cover member includes an actuator part that is provided above the nozzle and presses down the nozzle when turned via a hinge, and the nozzle cap further comprises an upper protrusion protruding from the outer circumferential surf ace of the circumferential wall and abutting on the actuator part by the actuator part being pressed down when the bar-like pieces are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages.

3. The nozzle cap for aerosol container according to claim 1, wherein the two bar-like pieces each include an annular protrusion that makes sliding contact with the surface of the stem-side communication passages.

4. The nozzle cap for aerosol container according to claim 2, wherein the two bar-like pieces each include an annular protrusion that makes sliding contact with the surface of the stem-side communication passages.

5. The nozzle cap for aerosol container according to claim 3, wherein the annular protrusions each can engage with the upper ends of the stem-side communication passages when the bar-like pieces are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages.

6. The nozzle cap for aerosol container according to claim 4, wherein the annular protrusions each can engage with the upper ends of the stem-side communication passages when the bar-like pieces are inserted into the ejection-side communication passages.