Assist tool for syringe container

Abstract

To dispense a specified amount of liquid content multiple times in a stepwise manner by using a current syringe container.SOLUTION: In a process of moving a push button 12 forward, when a guide protrusion 26 hits a front end face 31a of an inner surface of a first vertical groove 31, a first sliding contact part 27 of the push button and a second sliding contact part 28 of a plunger presser 13 come into sliding contact with each other, causing the push button to move forward relative to the plunger presser, then, the plunger presser is moved to one side A in a circumferential direction relative to the push button, and the guide protrusion is inserted into a horizontal groove 32 to face a second vertical groove 33 in the front-rear direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an auxiliary tool for a syringe container. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a syringe container having a syringe extending in the front-to-rear direction and having an ejection hole for the liquid contents, and a plunger protruding rearward from the syringe and movable forward, has been known that is configured to eject a specified amount of the liquid contents in stages multiple times, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, for example. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-217399 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For this type of syringe container, it was necessary to adopt a new structure in place of the current syringe container that discharges all the liquid contained in the syringe with one push.

[0005] The present invention provides an auxiliary tool for a syringe container that can eject a specified amount of liquid content in stages over multiple times using an existing syringe container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A syringe container auxiliary device according to one aspect of the present invention is an auxiliary device for a syringe container that is attached to a syringe container having a syringe that extends in the front-to-rear direction and has a discharge hole for a content liquid, and a plunger that protrudes rearward from the syringe and is provided so as to be movable forward, the auxiliary device comprising: a main body tube that is attached to the syringe and extends rearward; a push button that protrudes rearward from the main body tube and is provided so as to be movable forward; a plunger retainer that is linked to the front-to-rear movement of the push button and presses the plunger forward; and a biasing member that supports the push button and the plunger retainer in a rearward biasing state so as to be movable forward, the push button is provided so as to be movable forward while its rotational movement in the circumferential direction is restricted with respect to the main body tube, and the plunger retainer has a guide protrusion that protrudes radially outward. The main body tube is formed with a guide groove into which the guide protrusion is movably inserted, and the guide groove comprises a first vertical groove extending in the front-to-rear direction, a horizontal groove extending from the front end of the first vertical groove to one side in the circumferential direction, and a second vertical groove extending forward from the end of the horizontal groove on one side in the circumferential direction, the push button and the plunger retainer are each formed with a first sliding contact portion and a second sliding contact portion that slide against each other, and in the process of moving the push button forward, when the guide protrusion hits the front end surface of the inner surface of the first vertical groove, the first sliding contact portion and the second sliding contact portion slide against each other, causing the push button to advance relative to the plunger retainer while moving the plunger retainer to one side in the circumferential direction relative to the push button, and causing the guide protrusion to enter the horizontal groove and face the second vertical groove in the front-to-rear direction.

[0007] When the push button is moved forward together with the plunger retainer against the rearward biasing force of the biasing member, the plunger moves forward into the syringe while the guide protrusion of the plunger retainer moves forward within the first vertical groove until it abuts against the front end surface of the inner surface of the first vertical groove, thereby discharging a specified amount of the content liquid from the discharge hole of the syringe. When the push button is pressed further forward with the guide protrusion abutting against the front end face of the inner surface of the first vertical groove, the first sliding contact portion of the push button and the second sliding contact portion of the plunger retainer slide against each other, causing the push button to move forward relative to the plunger retainer and the plunger retainer to move to one side in the circumferential direction relative to the push button, causing the guide protrusion to enter the lateral groove and face the second vertical groove in the front-to-rear direction. At this time, when the push button is released from the pushing position, the rearward biasing force of the biasing member causes the guide protrusion to abut against the rear end face of the inner surface of the lateral groove, restricting the rearward movement of the plunger retainer and push button and preventing their forward movement. Then, when the push button is again moved forward together with the plunger retainer against the rearward biasing force of the biasing member, the guide protrusion of the plunger retainer moves forward within the second vertical groove, while the plunger moves forward into the syringe, causing a specified amount of liquid content to be ejected from the syringe's ejection hole. The syringe container auxiliary device is equipped with a main body tube that is attached to the syringe and a plunger presser that pushes the plunger forward, so it can be attached to current syringe containers that can completely discharge the liquid content in the syringe with one push. As described above, a specified amount of the liquid content can be ejected stepwise multiple times using the current syringe container.

[0008] The plunger presser may include a support portion that supports the rear end portions of the plunger and the urging member, and a rotating portion that has the guide protrusion and the second sliding contact portion and is rotatable relative to the support portion.

[0009] Since the plunger retainer has a support portion and a rotating portion, when the first sliding contact portion of the push button and the second sliding contact portion of the plunger retainer are brought into sliding contact with each other, as described above, the support portion of the plunger retainer does not rotate, and only the rotating portion can move circumferentially to one side relative to the push button, thereby preventing twisting of the urging member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the above aspect of the present invention, a specified amount of the liquid content can be ejected stepwise multiple times using an existing syringe container. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a syringe container with an assisting device shown as one embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view showing a push button, a plunger presser, and a partially broken inner cylinder of the assisting tool shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a view showing a state in which the guide protrusion abuts against the front end surface of the inner surface of the first longitudinal groove in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] 3 is a view showing a state in which the guide protrusion abuts against the rear end surface of the inner surface of the lateral groove in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the plunger is located at a front end position in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an auxiliary tool 1 for a syringe container according to one embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the syringe container 50 will be described. Syringe container 50 includes syringe 51 having a discharge hole 53 for the liquid content, and plunger 52 slidably fitted within syringe 51. Syringe 51 and plunger 52 are arranged coaxially on a common axis.

[0013] Hereinafter, this common axis will be referred to as axis O, the side of discharge hole 53 along axis O will be referred to as the front side, the opposite side will be referred to as the rear side, and the direction along axis O will be referred to as the front-to-rear direction. A direction that intersects axis O as viewed from the front-to-rear direction will be referred to as the radial direction, and a direction that rotates around axis O as viewed from the front-to-rear direction will be referred to as the circumferential direction.

[0014] A discharge hole 53 is formed at the front end of the syringe 51, and the discharge hole 53 opens forward. A first flange portion 54 is formed at the rear end of the syringe 51, protruding radially outward and extending continuously around the entire circumference. The plunger 52 protrudes rearward from the syringe 51 and is provided so as to be movable forward. The rear end of the plunger 52 is formed in a flat plate shape with its front and back surfaces facing in the front-rear direction.

[0015] Next, a syringe container auxiliary tool (hereinafter simply referred to as auxiliary tool) 1 attached to the syringe container 50 will be described. The assisting tool 1 includes a main body tube 11, a push button 12, a plunger retainer 13, and a biasing member 14.

[0016] The main body cylinder 11 is attached to the syringe 51 and extends rearward from the syringe 51. The main body cylinder 11 surrounds the rear portion of the plunger 52 that protrudes rearward from the syringe 51 from the radial outside over the entire length in the front-to-rear direction. The main body cylinder 11 has an outer cylinder 21 and an inner cylinder 22 .

[0017] The outer tube 21 extends rearward from the first flange portion 54 of the syringe 51. The first flange portion 54 is inserted into the front end portion of the outer tube 21. The front end portion of the outer tube 21 is formed with an outer flange portion 21a that protrudes radially outward and an inner flange portion 21b that protrudes radially inward. The outer flange portion 21a and the inner flange portion 21b each extend continuously around the entire circumference. The outer flange portion 21a is located forward of the inner flange portion 21b. The front surface of the outer flange portion 21a is located at the same position in the front-rear direction as the front surface of the first flange portion 54 of the syringe 51. The front surface of the inner flange portion 21b abuts against the rear surface of the first flange portion 54. An annular protrusion 21c that protrudes rearward and extends continuously around the entire circumference is formed at the radially inner end portion of the inner flange portion 21b.

[0018] In the illustrated example, the assisting device 1 is provided with a locking member 15 . Locking member 15 sandwiches the rear surface of outer flange portion 21a of outer cylinder 21 and the front surfaces of outer flange portion 21a and first flange portion 54 in the front-rear direction, fixing main body cylinder 11 to syringe 51. Locking member 15 is formed in an annular shape with a portion cut out in the circumferential direction so as to open in one radial direction. Locking member 15 can be attached to and detached from main body cylinder 11 and syringe 51 by moving locking member 15 forward and backward in one radial direction relative to main body cylinder 11 and syringe 51.

[0019] The inner cylinder 22 is fitted and fixed within the outer cylinder 21. A second flange portion 22a is formed at the rear end of the inner cylinder 22, protruding radially outward and extending continuously around the entire circumference. The second flange portion 22a is disposed at the rear end opening edge of the outer cylinder 21. The front end opening edge of the inner cylinder 22 abuts against or is close to the rear surface of the inner flange portion 21b of the outer cylinder 21. The inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 22 is spaced radially outward from the annular protrusion 21c of the outer cylinder 21.

[0020] A first guide groove 23 and a second guide groove (guide groove) 24 are formed in the inner cylinder 22. The first guide groove 23 and the second guide groove 24 are provided at different circumferential positions. A plurality of the first guide grooves 23 and a plurality of the second guide grooves 24 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction. The first guide groove 23 and the second guide groove 24 penetrate the inner cylinder 22 in the radial direction. The first guide groove 23 extends straight in the front-rear direction over the entire length in the front-rear direction. 2, the second guide groove 24 includes a first longitudinal groove 31 extending in the front-rear direction, a lateral groove 32 extending from a front end of the first longitudinal groove 31 toward one circumferential side A, and a second longitudinal groove 33 extending forward from an end of the lateral groove 32 on one circumferential side A. A front end face 31a of the first longitudinal groove 31 extends straight in the circumferential direction. A rear end face 32a of the inner surface of the lateral groove 32 extends rearward as it approaches the one circumferential side A.

[0021] The biasing member 14 supports the push button 12 and the plunger retainer 13 in a rearward biasing state so that they can move forward. The biasing member 14 is, for example, a coil spring extending in the front-rear direction and is arranged coaxially with the axis O. The biasing member 14 is housed in the inner cylinder 22. The front end opening edge of the biasing member 14 is supported by the rear surface of the inner flange portion 21b. An annular protrusion 21c is inserted into the front end of the biasing member 14. The rear end of the biasing member 14 is supported by the plunger retainer 13.

[0022] The push button 12 protrudes rearward from the main body tube 11 and is provided so as to be movable forward. The push button 12 is provided so as to be movable forward while its rotational movement in the circumferential direction relative to the main body tube 11 is restricted. In the illustrated example, a first guide protrusion 25 that protrudes radially outward is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the front end of the push button 12. The first guide protrusion 25 is inserted into the first guide groove 23 so as to be movable back and forth while its movement in the circumferential direction is restricted. The first guide protrusion 25 is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped that is long in the front-to-rear direction.

[0023] The plunger retainer 13 is linked to the forward and backward movement of the push button 12 and pushes the plunger 52 forward. The plunger retainer 13 protrudes forward from the push button 12. The plunger retainer 13 is formed with a second guide protrusion (guide protrusion) 26 that protrudes radially outward. The second guide protrusion 26 is movably inserted into the second guide groove 24 of the main body tube 11. The second guide protrusion 26 is located at the rear end of the first vertical groove 31 of the second guide groove 24. The second guide protrusion 26 is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped that is long in the forward and backward directions. A rear end surface 26a of the second guide protrusion 26 extends rearward as it moves toward one side A in the circumferential direction.

[0024] The push button 12 and the plunger retainer 13 are respectively formed with a first sliding contact portion 27 and a second sliding contact portion 28 which are in sliding contact with each other.

[0025] The first sliding contact portion 27 protrudes forward from the edge of the front end opening of the push button 12. The first sliding contact portion 27 is formed in a plate shape with its front and back surfaces facing radially. The front and back surfaces of the first sliding contact portion 27 are connected to the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the push button 12 without any steps in the front-to-rear direction. The first sliding contact portion 27 has an isosceles triangular shape that points forward when viewed from the front radially. The first sliding contact portion 27 has side surfaces facing diagonally forward at portions corresponding to the equilateral parts that define the isosceles triangular shape. Of these two side surfaces, the side surface located on one circumferential side A (hereinafter referred to as the first sliding contact surface 27a) extends forward as it approaches the other circumferential side B, and the side surface located on the other circumferential side B (hereinafter referred to as the second sliding contact surface 27b) extends rearward as it approaches the other circumferential side B. A plurality of first sliding contact portions 27 are provided and connected in a circumferential direction. The plurality of first sliding contact portions 27 are provided around the entire periphery of the front end opening edge of the push button 12.

[0026] The second sliding contact portion 28 protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the plunger retainer 13. When viewed from the front in the radial direction, the second sliding contact portion 28 has an isosceles triangular shape that points rearward. The second sliding contact portion 28 has side surfaces facing diagonally rearward at portions corresponding to the equilateral portions that define the isosceles triangle. Of these two side surfaces, the side surface located on one circumferential side A (hereinafter referred to as the third sliding contact surface 28a) extends rearward toward the other circumferential side B, and the side surface located on the other circumferential side B (hereinafter referred to as the fourth sliding contact surface 28b) extends forward toward the other circumferential side B. The rear end surface 26a of the second guide protrusion 26 is seamlessly connected to the fourth sliding contact surface 28b in the radial direction along its entire length. The rear end surface 26a of the second guide protrusion 26 and the fourth sliding contact surface 28b have the same length (direction intersecting the circumferential and front-rear directions). A plurality of second sliding contact portions 28 are provided in a row in the circumferential direction. The plurality of second sliding contact portions 28 are provided around the entire outer circumferential surface of the plunger presser 13. The second sliding contact portions 28 are formed to have a shape that is inverted front to back with respect to the first sliding contact portions 27 and to have the same size.

[0027] The first sliding contact surface 27a of the first sliding contact portion 27 and the fourth sliding contact surface 28b of the second sliding contact portion 28 are in contact with or close to each other, and the second sliding contact surface 27b of the first sliding contact portion 27 is separated from the third sliding contact surface 28a of the second sliding contact portion 28 to one side A in the circumferential direction. In the process of moving the push button 12 forward, when the second guide protrusion 26 hits the front end face 31a of the inner surface of the first vertical groove 31, as shown in Figure 3, the first sliding contact surface 27a of the first sliding contact portion 27 and the fourth sliding contact surface 28b of the second sliding contact portion 28 slide against each other, causing the push button 12 to advance relative to the plunger retainer 13 while moving the plunger retainer 13 to one circumferential side A relative to the push button 12, and causing the second guide protrusion 26 to enter the horizontal groove 32 and face the second vertical groove 33 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0028] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the plunger presser 13 includes a support portion 34 that supports the rear end portions of the plunger 52 and the urging member 14, and a rotating portion 35 that has a second guide protrusion 26 and a second sliding contact portion 28 and is rotatable relative to the support portion 34. The support portion 34 and the rotating portion 35 are each formed in a cylindrical shape with a top. The support portion 34 is inserted into the rotating portion 35 so as to be rotatable relative to the rotating portion 35 in the circumferential direction.

[0029] A third flange portion 34a extending continuously around the entire circumference is formed at the front end of the support portion 34. The outer peripheral surface of the third flange portion 34a abuts against or is close to the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 22. A cylindrical portion 34b protruding forward is formed at the front surface of the third flange portion 34a. The rear end of the plunger 52 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 34b. The rear end of the urging member 14 is fitted to the cylindrical portion 34b. The rear end opening edge of the urging member 14 is supported by the front surface of the third flange portion 34a.

[0030] A strip-shaped protrusion 36 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the front end of the rotating part 35, protruding radially outward and extending continuously around the entire circumference. The protrusion 36 is sandwiched in the front-to-rear direction between the front-end opening edge of the push button 12 and the rear surface of the third flange part 34a of the support part 34. A second sliding contact part 28 is formed at the rear end of the protrusion 36. A second guide protrusion 26 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 36. The second guide protrusion 26 is provided over the entire length of the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 36 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0031] Next, the operation of the syringe container auxiliary tool 1 configured as above will be described.

[0032] When the push button 12 is moved forward together with the plunger retainer 13 against the rearward biasing force of the biasing member 14, the plunger 52 moves forward into the syringe 51 while the second guide protrusion 26 of the plunger retainer 13 moves forward within the first vertical groove 31 until it abuts against the front end face 31a of the inner surface of the first vertical groove 31. As a result, a specified amount of the content liquid is discharged from the discharge hole 53 of the syringe 51.

[0033] When the second guide protrusion 26 of the plunger retainer 13 abuts against the front end face 31a of the inner surface of the first vertical groove 31 and the push button 12 is pushed further forward, the first sliding contact surface 27a of the first sliding contact portion 27 of the push button 12 and the fourth sliding contact surface 28b of the second sliding contact portion 28 of the plunger retainer 13 slide against each other, and as shown in Figure 3, the push button 12 moves forward relative to the plunger retainer 13, while the plunger retainer 13 moves to one circumferential side A relative to the push button 12, causing the second guide protrusion 26 to enter the horizontal groove 32 and face the second vertical groove 33 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0034] In this case, in the illustrated example, the first sliding contact portion 27 and the second sliding contact portion 28 are formed to have shapes that are inverted from front to back and are the same size, so that the first sliding contact portion 27 and the second sliding contact portion 28 interlock circumferentially over the entire circumference, thereby restricting the relative circumferential movement of the push button 12 and the plunger retainer 13. Furthermore, at this time, the rotating portion 35 of the plunger retainer 13 moves to one side A in the circumferential direction relative to the support portion 34. Furthermore, at this time, a portion of the second guide protrusion 26 on one circumferential side A faces a portion of the second longitudinal groove 33 on the other circumferential side B in the front-rear direction. In other words, the portion of the second guide protrusion 26 on the other circumferential side B still faces the front end surface 31 a of the inner surface of the first longitudinal groove 31 in the front-rear direction. Note that at this time, the second guide protrusion 26 may face the second longitudinal groove 33 in the front-rear direction over the entire circumferential length.

[0035] Next, when the push button 12 is released from the depressed position, the rearward biasing force of the biasing member 14 causes the second guide protrusion 26 to abut against the rear end face 32a of the inner surface of the lateral groove 32, restricting the rearward movement of the plunger retainer 13 and the push button 12 and preventing their forward movement. 4, the rearward biasing force of the biasing member 14 causes the second guide protrusion 26 to slide on the rear end surface 32a of the inner surface of the lateral groove 32 toward one side A in the circumferential direction, so that the second guide protrusion 26 faces the second longitudinal groove 33 in the front-rear direction over the entire circumferential length. Furthermore, at this time, the plunger presser 13 moves rearward relative to the plunger 52, and the rear end of the plunger 52 comes forward out of the cylindrical portion 34b.

[0036] Then, when the push button 12 is again moved forward together with the plunger retainer 13 against the rearward biasing force of the biasing member 14, the second guide protrusion 26 of the plunger retainer 13 moves forward within the second vertical groove 33, and as shown in FIG. 5 , the plunger 52 moves forward into the syringe 51, thereby discharging a specified amount of content liquid from the discharge hole 53 of the syringe 51. In the example shown in the figure, the front end of the plunger 52 abuts against the inner surface of the syringe 51, thereby restricting the forward movement of the plunger 52. Note that the forward movement of the plunger 52 may also be restricted by the second guide protrusion 26 abutting against the inner surface of the second vertical groove 33.

[0037] In the above process, when the push button 12 is pressed for the first time, the portion of the second guide protrusion 26 on the other circumferential side B is still facing the front end face 31a of the inner surface of the first vertical groove 31 in the front-to-back direction, preventing the content liquid from being ejected. Only when the push button 12 is released does the second guide protrusion 26 face the second vertical groove 33 in the front-to-back direction over its entire circumferential length, allowing the content liquid to be ejected. This prevents an excessive amount of liquid from being discharged when the push button 12 is pressed for the first time.

[0038] As described above, the auxiliary device 1 for a syringe container according to this embodiment is provided with the main body tube 11 that is attached to the syringe 51 and the plunger presser 13 that pushes the plunger 52 forward, so that the auxiliary device 1 for a syringe container can be attached to a current syringe container 50 that can completely eject the liquid contents in the syringe 51 with a single push, and the current syringe container 50 can be used to eject a specified amount of the liquid contents in stages multiple times.

[0039] Since the plunger retainer 13 is equipped with a support portion 34 and a rotating portion 35, as described above, when the first sliding contact portion 27 of the push button 12 and the second sliding contact portion 28 of the plunger retainer 13 are brought into sliding contact with each other, it becomes possible to move only the rotating portion 35 of the plunger retainer 13 to one circumferential side A relative to the push button 12 without rotating the support portion 34, thereby preventing twisting of the urging member 14.

[0040] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0041] A configuration may be adopted in which the current syringe container 50 is used to eject a specified amount of the liquid content in three or more stages. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which an elastic member is provided between the push button 12 and the plunger retainer 13, and the push button 12 is supported so as to be movable forward relative to the plunger retainer 13 while being biased backward.

[0042] In addition, within the scope of the spirit of the present invention, it is possible to replace the components in the above-described embodiments with well-known components as appropriate, and the above-described embodiments and the above-described variations may be combined as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1. Syringe container auxiliary tool 11 Main body tube 12 push button 13 Plunger holder 14 biasing member 24 Second guide groove (guide groove) 26 Second guide protrusion (guide protrusion) 27 1st sliding contact part 28 2nd sliding contact part 31 First vertical groove 31a Front end surface 32 Yokomizo 32a Rear end surface 33 Second vertical groove 34 Support part 35 Rotating part 50 syringe containers 51 Syringe 52 Plunger 53 Discharge hole A One side in the circumferential direction

Claims

1. A syringe container auxiliary tool is attached to a syringe container having a syringe extending in the front-rear direction and having a discharge hole for a liquid content, and a plunger protruding rearward from the syringe and provided so as to be movable forward, a main body cylinder attached to the syringe and extending rearward; a push button that protrudes rearward from the main body tube and is movable forward; a plunger presser that pushes the plunger forward in conjunction with the forward and backward movement of the push button; a biasing member that supports the push button and the plunger presser in a rearward biased state so as to be movable forward, the push button is provided so as to be movable forward while its rotational movement in the circumferential direction relative to the main body tube is restricted, The plunger retainer is formed with a guide projection that projects radially outward, The main body tube is formed with a guide groove into which the guide protrusion is movably inserted, the guide groove includes a first longitudinal groove extending in the front-rear direction, a lateral groove extending from a front end of the first longitudinal groove to one side in the circumferential direction, and a second longitudinal groove extending forward from an end of the lateral groove on one side in the circumferential direction, The push button and the plunger retainer are respectively formed with a first sliding contact portion and a second sliding contact portion that are in sliding contact with each other, In the process of moving the push button forward, when the guide protrusion hits the front end surface of the inner surface of the first vertical groove, the first sliding contact portion and the second sliding contact portion slide against each other, thereby moving the push button forward relative to the plunger retainer while moving the plunger retainer to one side in the circumferential direction relative to the push button, and causing the guide protrusion to enter the horizontal groove and face the second vertical groove in the front-to-rear direction, an auxiliary device for a syringe container.

2. 2. The auxiliary device for a syringe container according to claim 1, wherein the plunger presser comprises: a support portion that supports the rear end portions of the plunger and the urging member; and a rotating portion that has the guide protrusion and the second sliding contact portion and is rotatable relative to the support portion.

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