Trigger sprayer

Abstract

To provide a trigger sprayer that can maintain uniformity of a chemical solution containing fine powder and is superior in flow efficiency. The trigger sprayer of the present invention is designed such that a piston part 5 is moved by a pivotal movement of a trigger part, while being attached to a container, so as to apply a pressure to a liquid inside a cylinder part 42A of a cylinder structural part 4 so that the liquid in the container is jetted from a nozzle part 3 through a passage P. An F valve 2 attached to a bottom part of the cylinder part 42A serving a passage between the cylinder part 42A and the container and an S valve 1 installed in a passage part P between the cylinder part 42A and the nozzle part 3 are installed, and the F valve 2 is constituted by a cylinder-shaped base part 22 and a second valve body 21 having a sealing function as well as a small spring 22A coupling the cylinder-shaped base part 22 and the second valve body 21 to each other, and the second valve body 21 is further provided with a lower face part and a tilt part 21A on an opposite side, and the lower face part is fitted into the bottom part of the cylinder part 42A to be fixed therein, with the second valve body 21 being resiliently made in contact with a second valve mount 42A1 formed on the bottom part of the cylinder part 42A, and by pushing the tilt part 21A of the second valve body 21 by the bottom part of the piston part 5, the second valve body 21 is tilted so that one portion thereof is separated from the second valve mount 42A1, thereby opening the valve.

Claims

1. A trigger sprayer, wherein a piston part is moved by a pivotal movement of a trigger part, while being attached to a container, so as to apply a pressure to a liquid inside a cylinder part of a cylinder structural part so that the liquid in the container is jetted from a nozzle part through a passage, comprising: an F valve attached to a bottom part of the cylinder part and an S valve installed in a passage part between the cylinder part and the nozzle part, wherein the F valve comprises a cylinder-shaped base part, a second valve body having a sealing function, and a small spring coupling the cylinder-shaped base part and the second valve body to each other, the second valve body is provided with a lower face part and a tilt part on an opposite side, and the lower face part is fitted into the bottom part of the cylinder part to be fixed therein, with the second valve body being resiliently made in contact with a second valve mount formed on the bottom part of the cylinder part, and wherein by pushing the tilt part of the second valve body by the bottom part of the piston, the second valve body is tilted so that one portion thereof is separated from the second valve mount, thereby opening the valve, the bottom part of the piston part is configured to be in contact with the tilt part of the second valve body and further moved so that a liquid located between the piston part and the cylinder part is returned into the container.

2. The trigger sprayer according to claim 1, wherein a first valve body of the S valve is provided with a passage hole in a center axis direction so that the liquid flows through the passage hole.

3. The trigger sprayer according to claim 2, wherein the first valve body comprises a small diameter cylinder part and a large diameter cylinder part coupled to an outside thereof through a connection part, and onto a tip of the small diameter cylinder part, a thin diameter expanding part that gradually expands is formed, and two flange parts are formed on the large diameter cylinder part.

4. The trigger sprayer according to claim 1, wherein a column hole is formed on the cylinder structural part and an electing cylinder part of an attaching base part that is attachable to the container through a cap is inserted into the column hole and fixed therein, and a first valve mount is formed on an upper end of the attaching base part.

5. The trigger sprayer according to claim 2, wherein a suspending-type cylinder part is formed onto an upper end of the column hole of the cylinder structural part so as to be suspended, and with the inner circumference of the suspending-type cylinder part, a diameter expanding part of the first valve body of the S valve is slidably made in contact, and onto an inner circumferential face of an electing cylinder part of an attaching base part, a coil spring for resiliently pressing the first valve body downward is attached.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an entire longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a trigger sprayer in a valve-closed state in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the essential portion of the trigger sprayer in the valve-closed state in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is an entire longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the trigger sprayer in a valve-opened state in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the essential portion of the trigger sprayer in the valve-opened state in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a cylinder structural part.

(6) FIG. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an attaching base part.

(7) FIG. 7 are views showing an F valve; FIG. 7(A) is a plan view; FIG. 7(B) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line W-W of FIG. 7(A); and FIG. 7(C) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line X-X of FIG. 7(A).

(8) FIG. 8 is a view showing a state in which a piston part is just made in contact with a tilt part.

(9) FIG. 9 is a view showing a state in which the piston part is just stopped.

(10) FIG. 10 are schematic views that explain a principle of a forceful valve-opening process; FIG. 10(A) shows a valve-closed state; and FIG. 10(B) shows a valve-opened state.

(11) FIG. 11 are schematic views that explain a principle of a normal valve-opening process; FIG. 11(A) shows a valve-closed state; and FIG. 11(B) shows a valve-opened state.

(12) FIG. 12 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a first valve body of an S valve.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(13) Referring to drawings, the following explanation will be given to a trigger sprayer A in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

(14) FIG. 1 is an entire longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a trigger sprayer in a valve closed-state (S valve) in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an essential part of the trigger sprayer in a valve closed-state (S valve) in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

(15) Moreover, FIG. 3 is an entire longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a trigger sprayer in a valve opened-state (S valve) in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an essential part of the trigger sprayer in the valve opened-state (S valve) in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

(16) First, explanation will be given to the entire structure of a trigger sprayer.

(17) The trigger sprayer of the present invention has a structure in which, when a piston part 5 is moved rightward by the pivotal movement of a trigger T, while being attached to a container, so that a pressure is applied to a liquid inside a cylinder part 42A of a cylinder structural part 4 (at this time, an F valve 2 is closed, while an S valve is opened), the liquid is jetted from a nozzle part 3.

(18) Moreover, on the contrary, by moving the piston part 5 leftward by the returning pivotal movement of the trigger T, the inside of the cylinder part 42A of the cylinder structural part 4 is negatively pressurized so that the liquid inside the container is filled into the cylinder part (at this time, the F valve 2 is opened, while the S valve is closed).

(19) In this case, the F valve 2 is installed in a passage between the cylinder part 42A and the container, and the S valve 1 is installed in a passage part between the cylinder part 42A and the nozzle 3.

(20) Moreover, the trigger sprayer has a structure which is provided with the nozzle part 3, a nozzle base 31, the cylinder structural part 4, the piston part 5, the trigger T, a return spring 6, the S valve 1, the F valve 2, a coil spring 13, an attaching base part 7, a tube 8 and a cap 9.

(21) Furthermore, a cover body 10 for covering the cylinder part 42A, the nozzle base 31 and the attaching base part 7 is installed.

(22) In this case, the nozzle part 3 is attached to the tip of the nozzle base 31 by press-insertion, and the nozzle base 31 is also attached to the front side of the cylinder structural part 4 by press-insertion.

(23) Moreover, onto the lower portion of the cylinder structural part 4, the attaching base part 7 is attached by press-insertion.

(24) The trigger T is attached to the nozzle base 31 so as to freely pivot thereon, and is allowed to make a returning pivotal movement by a return spring 6.

(25) Next, explanation will be given to respective parts that form the trigger sprayer.

(26) FIG. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the cylinder structural part 4.

(27) First, the cylinder structural part 4 is constituted by a base body part 42 and a horizontal part 41 having a passage P in a horizontal direction, and the base body part 42 is provided with a column hole 42B in the vertical direction and a cylinder part 42A.

(28) To the horizontal part 41 of the cylinder structural part 4, a nozzle base 31 is attached by press-insertion, and to the tip of the nozzle base 31, a nozzle part 3 is attached by press-insertion.

(29) Furthermore, to the column hole 42B, an attaching base part 7 to be described later is attached.

(30) To the upper end of the column hole 42B, a suspending-type cylinder part 42C is formed so as to be suspended, and an S valve 1 to be described later in detail is attached to the suspending-type cylinder part 42C.

(31) On the other hand, the attaching base part 7 is designed to be attached to a mouth portion of a container with a cap 9 interposed therebetween.

(32) FIG. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the attaching base part 7.

(33) The attaching base part 7 is provided with a fixed part 72 to be attached to a container with the cap 9 interposed therebetween, and an electing cylinder part 71 that extends upward therefrom, and the electing cylinder part 71 is attached to the column hole 42B formed on the base body part 42 of the aforementioned cylinder structural part 4 by press-insertion.

(34) In a state where the electing cylinder part 71 of the attaching base part 7 is attached to the column hole 42B of the base body part 42 of the cylinder structural part 4, a space S having a predetermined size is formed on the upper portion of the column hole 42B.

(35) The S valve 1 is installed in the space S.

(36) In this case, a portion that provides a function for the first valve mount 12 of the S valve 1 corresponds to the upper end of the electing cylinder part 71.

(37) More specifically, onto the upper end of the electing cylinder part 71, an upper column hole 71A with a bottom is formed, and on the bottom portion of the upper column hole 71A, an annular protrusion 12 is formed so that the annular protrusion 12 provides a function for the first valve mount 12.

(38) Additionally, the tube 8 serving as a passage to the container is inserted to the electing cylinder part 71 to be fixed therein.

(39) The following description will discuss the F valve 2 that is provided with main characteristics of the present invention.

(40) FIG. 7 are drawings showing the F valve; FIG. 7(A) is a plan view; FIG. 7(B) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line W-W of FIG. 7(A); and FIG. 7(C) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line X-X of FIG. 7(A).

(41) The F valve 2 is installed on a passage between the cylinder part 42A and the container, and is more specifically attached to the bottom portion of the cylinder part 42A.

(42) The F valve 2 is designed to block from each other or join together the liquid on the container side and the liquid on the cylinder part side.

(43) After a pressure has been applied to the cylinder part 42A and the liquid inside the pressurized cylinder part 42A has been jetted out, the F valve 2 is opened because the inside of the cylinder part is depressurized when the piston part 5 tries to return to its original position (normal valve opening).

(44) The F valve 2 exerts valve functions by a second valve body 21 and a second valve mount 42A1, and an annular protrusion formed on the bottom part of the cylinder part 42A serves as the second valve mount 42A1.

(45) Normally, the second valve body 21 is resiliently made in contact with the second valve mount 42A1, and is separated therefrom when the valve is opened.

(46) As clearly shown by the drawings, the F valve 2 is constituted by a cylinder-shaped base part 22, the second valve body 21 having a sealing function and small springs 22A that couple the cylinder-shaped base part 22 and the second valve body 21 to each other.

(47) Moreover, the F valve 2 is provided with a stopper 22B that protrudes from the cylinder-shaped base part 22.

(48) In this case, the stopper 22B is formed as four column-shaped protrusions placed on the circumference with the same intervals.

(49) Moreover, by fitting the cylinder-shaped base part 22 to the bottom part of the cylinder part 42A to be fixed therein, the F valve 2 is fixed onto the cylinder part 42A.

(50) The second valve body 21 is provided with an upper surface portion on an opposite side to a lower surface portion, that is, a tilt part 21A, which is integrally coupled to the cylinder-shaped base part 22 by using the small springs 22A.

(51) In this case, a plurality of the small springs 22A are installed between the second valve body 21 and the cylinder-shaped base part 22 in a well balanced manner so as to allow parallel movements upon application of a pressure from the upstream side.

(52) That is, upon receipt of a pressure from the liquid sucked up from the container, the parallel movements are carried out toward the downstream side (left side in the drawing).

(53) As for the functions of the F valve 2, the second valve body 21 is normally made in resiliently contact with the second valve mount 42A1 formed on the bottom portion of the cylinder part 42A so that the valve is kept in the closed state.

(54) Then, by forcefully pushing the tilt part 21A of the second valve body 21 with the bottom portion of the piston part 5, the second valve body 21 is tilted so that one portion thereof is separated from the second valve mount so that the valve is opened (forceful valve opening).

(55) In other words, after the trigger T has been pulled to move the piston part 5 and jet the liquid, the tilt part 21A is pushed by the bottom part of the piston part 5 to be tilted so that the gap between the second valve body 21 and the second valve mount 42A1 is opened.

(56) In this case, the tilt of the second valve body 21 becomes greater as the piston part is further moved rightward so that the gap as the passage also becomes greater.

(57) Next, more specifically speaking about the flow of a liquid, first the piston part 5 is made in contact with the tilt part 21A.

(58) At this time, since no gap is generated between the second valve body 21 and the second valve mount 42A1, the liquid does not flow toward the container side yet.

(59) FIG. 8 is a drawing that shows a state in which the piston part 5 has just been made in contact with the tilt part 21A.

(60) From this state, the piston part 5 is further moved rightward.

(61) At this time, the gap is first generated between the second valve body 21 and the second valve mount 42A1 so that the valve is opened.

(62) Moreover, since the liquid pressure inside the cylinder is lowered at the moment of opening the valve, the S valve is closed; however, simultaneously as this, the liquid inside the piston part escapes energetically toward the container side through the tube 8.

(63) Then, fine powder deposited on the bottom part of the container is diffused by the energetic flow of the incoming liquid, with the result that the liquid is made uniform.

(64) Additionally, even when there has already been fine powder in a meshed state between the second valve body and the second valve mount, the fine powder can be removed by the energetic flow of the liquid.

(65) The piston part 5 is further moved rightward.

(66) The gap becomes wider and wider, and more and more liquid flows toward the container side so that the diffusing function of the liquid inside the container is continued.

(67) At the time when one portion of the bottom part of the piston part 5 comes into contact with a stopper 22B forming one portion of the F valve, the movement of the piston part 5 is stopped.

(68) Additionally, at this time, the gap between the second valve body 21 and the second valve mount 42A1 becomes the largest.

(69) FIG. 9 is a drawing showing a state where the piston part 5 has just been stopped.

(70) When the trigger T is released at this time, the piston part 5 is moved so as to return to the downstream side (leftward) by a returning force of the return spring 6.

(71) In accordance with this movement, the tilt of the second valve body 21 becomes gentler and the gap also becomes smaller accordingly.

(72) Soon, there becomes no more contact between the piston part 5 and the second valve body 21, and the second valve body 21 is closed so that the gap no longer exists and the valve is closed.

(73) However, since the piston part 5 is further moved leftward by the returning force, the inside of the cylinder is negatively pressurized, with the result that the second valve mount 42A1 is opened this time (normal valve-opening).

(74) In this case, the second valve body 21 is not tilted, but moved in parallel.

(75) More specifically, the second valve body 21 overcomes the spring force of the small springs 22A to move leftward in parallel, with the result that it is separated from the second valve mount 42A1 to cause the gap between the second valve body 21 and the second valve mount 42A 1.

(76) Then, the liquid is sucked up from the container to the inside of the cylinder that is negatively pressurized.

(77) The generated gap becomes larger although the contact area between the second valve body 21 and the second valve mount 42A1 is small so that fine powder in the meshed state is reduced.

(78) When the piston is moved leftward to the maximum (in this case, the trigger T has been completely returned to the original position), the inside of the cylinder at this time is filled with the liquid sucked from the container.

(79) At this time, the liquid with which the cylinder part is filled is a liquid that has been uniformly diffused inside the container.

(80) Thereafter, the trigger T is pulled so that the uniform liquid can be jetted outside from the nozzle.

(81) As explained above, it is understood that there are two types of valve-opening processes in the F valve, that is, forceful valve-opening and normal valve-opening.

(82) FIG. 10 are schematic views that explain a principle of a forceful valve-opening process; FIG. 10(A) shows a valve-closed state; and FIG. 10(B) shows a valve-opened state.

(83) FIG. 11 are schematic views that explain a principle of a normal valve-opening process; FIG. 11(A) shows a valve-closed state; and FIG. 11(B) shows a valve-opened state.

(84) Forceful valve-opening is a process in which the second valve body 21 is forcefully pushed by the bottom part of the piston part so as to be opened, and normal valve-opening is a process in which the inside of the cylinder is negatively pressurized, and the liquid inside the container is sucked up so that the valve is opened by the pressure at this time.

(85) (Functions of S valve) The following description will discuss the S valve 1.

(86) FIG. 12 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view showing a first valve body 11 of the S valve 1.

(87) The S valve 1 is constituted by the first valve body 11 and a first valve mount 12.

(88) Additionally, in the first valve mount 12, one portion of the aforementioned base part 7 is used for its function.

(89) The first valve body 11 is constituted by a small diameter cylinder part 11A and a large diameter cylinder part 11B coupled to the outside of the small diameter cylinder part 11A through a connection part.

(90) Onto the tip of the small diameter cylinder part 11A, a thin diameter expanding part J that gradually expands is formed, and two flange parts K are formed on the large diameter cylinder part 11B.

(91) Each of these diameter expanding part J and flange parts K exerts a resilient force outward.

(92) Therefore, the small diameter cylinder part 11B is allowed to slidably move along the inner circumferential face of the suspending-type cylinder part 42C of the cylinder structural part 4 in a stable manner.

(93) On the other hand, the large diameter cylinder part 11B is also allowed to slidably move along the inner circumferential face of the upper column hole 71A on the upper portion of the electing cylinder part 71 of the attaching base part 7 in a stable manner.

(94) Moreover, a coil spring 13 is installed between the cylinder structural part 4 and the first valve body 11 of the S valve 1 so that the first valve body 11 is resiliently made in contact with the first valve mount 12.

(95) Additionally, the coil spring 13 is attached to the periphery of the suspending-type cylinder part 42C of the cylinder structural part 4.

(96) When, with the inside of the cylinder being filled with the liquid, the trigger T is pulled to apply a pressure by moving the piston part to the right side, (the S valve is opened, while the F valve is closed), the liquid is jetted from the nozzle.

(97) At the time when hardly any liquid exists inside the cylinder part, upon releasing the trigger T, the piston is moved to the left side by its returning force to cause the inside of the cylinder to be negatively pressurized so that the liquid inside the container is filled into the cylinder [the S valve is closed, while the F valve is opened (normal valve-opening)].

(98) The above-mentioned explanation has been given about preferable embodiments of the present invention; however, the present invention is not intended to be limited by the above-mentioned embodiments.

(99) In the F valve 2, in an attempt for generating a gap serving as a flow passage between the second valve body 21 and the second valve mount 42A1 by tilting the second valve body 21, another method may be proposed in which the tilt part of the second valve body 21 is prepared as a flat face, while the bottom part of the opposing piston part is tilted, or still another method may be proposed in which a protrusion is formed on the bottom part of the piston part.

(100) Moreover, with respect to the shapes of the cylinder structural part 4 and the attaching base part 7 for forming the trigger sprayer, designing modifications may be made within a scope of the purpose of the invention, and the same is true for the shapes of the nozzle base 31 and the nozzle part 3.

(101) Furthermore, from the viewpoints of assembling operations, the number of parts may be changed by integrally forming two parts into one or by dividing one part into two, if necessary.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(102) The trigger sprayer of the present invention is designed such that upon completion of a jetting process, the F valve can be forcefully opened by the movement of the piston part so that a remaining liquid between the piston part and the cylinder part can be returned into the container; therefore, by the energetic flow of the liquid, fine powder deposited on the bottom part of the container can be diffused as a whole so that the liquid is made uniform.

(103) Therefore, the principle of this forceful valve-opening can be widely applied to the field of the trigger sprayer provided with the F valve.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

(104) 1 . . . S valve,

(105) 11 . . . first valve body.

(106) 11A . . . small diameter cylinder part,

(107) 11B . . . large diameter cylinder part,

(108) 11C . . . passage hole,

(109) J . . . diameter expanding part,

(110) K . . . flange part,

(111) 12 . . . first valve mount,

(112) 13 . . . coil spring.

(113) 2 . . . F valve.

(114) 21 . . . second valve body,

(115) 21A . . . tilt part,

(116) 22 . . . cylinder-shaped base part,

(117) 22A . . . small spring,

(118) 22B . . . stopper.

(119) 3 . . . nozzle part,

(120) 31 . . . nozzle base.

(121) 4 . . . cylinder structural part,

(122) 41 . . . horizontal part,

(123) 42 . . . base body part,

(124) 42A . . . cylinder part,

(125) 42A1 . . . second valve mount,

(126) 42B . . . column hole,

(127) 42C . . . suspending-type cylinder part,

(128) 5 . . . piston part,

(129) 6 . . . return spring,

(130) 7 . . . attaching base part,

(131) 71 . . . electing cylinder part,

(132) 71A . . . upper column hole,

(133) 72 . . . fixing part,

(134) 8 . . . tube,

(135) 9 . . . cap,

(136) 10 . . . cover body,

(137) T . . . trigger,

(138) P . . . passage,

(139) H . . . through hole,

(140) S . . . space