Cap for cassette type gas cylinder

Abstract

To provide a cap for a cassette type gas cylinder capable of preventing damage to other articles and injury to a user due to a notch formed in a flange of a cassette type gas cylinder.SOLUTION: A cap 1 for a cassette type gas cylinder is provided to a cassette type gas cylinder 2 that is attached to a gas appliance via an annular flange 3 with a notch 4 formed in a portion of a circumferential direction. The cap has a cap body 5 that is fitted into a recess part on the inside of the flange 3 and protects a stem 7 from which the gas is ejected, and a cover part 6 that extends radially outward from the cap body 5 so as to cover the notch 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cap for use with a cassette-type gas cylinder. [Background technology]

[0002] Cassette gas cylinders are commonly used when boiling water or cooking during outdoor activities such as camping. For example, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, a flange is formed on one end of a cassette gas cylinder for connecting to a gas appliance such as a cassette gas stove. A notch is formed in a portion of the circumference of this flange for attaching the cassette gas cylinder to the gas appliance in a predetermined orientation. A stem with an ejection hole formed therein for ejecting gas is provided in the center of the flange. When the cassette gas cylinder is not in use, a cap is provided in a recess on the inside of the flange to protect the stem (see Figures 1(a) and 1(b) and 5 of Patent Document 1, etc.). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-101400 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The cap provided on the cassette gas cylinder shown in Patent Document 1 protects the stem of the cassette gas cylinder and serves various purposes, such as preventing foreign objects such as dust and sand from getting into the stem and preventing the stem from being accidentally pressed, causing gas to be ejected. However, the notch formed in the flange is not covered by the cap and remains exposed, and when the capped cassette gas cylinder is carried together with other items during outdoor activities, the edge of the notch may scratch the other items or cause injury to the user's hands.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to prevent damage to other objects and injury to the user caused by the notch formed in the flange of a cassette-type gas cylinder. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides: A cassette gas cylinder cap is provided on a cassette gas cylinder that is attached to a gas appliance via an annular flange having a notch formed in a portion of its circumference, a cap body portion that is fitted into a recess inside the flange and protects the stem from which the gas is ejected; a cover portion extending radially outward from the cap body portion so as to cover the notch; A cassette-type gas cylinder cap having the above features was configured (Configuration 1).

[0007] This makes it less likely that other items or the user's hands will come into contact with the notch formed in the flange of the cassette gas cylinder, thereby preventing damage to other items and injury to the user.

[0008] In the cassette-type gas cylinder cap according to Configuration 1, the cover portion may be configured to have a tongue shape corresponding to the circumferential position of the notch (Configuration 2). In this way, the cover portion can be made more compact than when it is formed around the entire circumference of the flange, and weight and material costs can be reduced.

[0009] In the cassette-type gas cylinder cap according to Configuration 2, the circumferential width of the tongue-shaped cover portion can be in the range of 50% to 130% of the circumferential width of the notch (Configuration 3). This effectively prevents other objects from coming into contact with the notch formed in the flange. If the circumferential width of the tongue-shaped cover portion is less than 50% of the circumferential width of the notch, other objects will likely come into contact with the notch, and if it is more than 130%, it will be difficult to attach the cassette-type gas cylinder cap to the cassette-type gas cylinder, so it is preferable to keep it in the above range.

[0010] In the cassette gas cylinder cap according to Configuration 2 or 3, the tongue-shaped cover portion may have an engaging piece that engages with the notch (Configuration 4). This prevents the cassette gas cylinder cap attached to the cassette gas cylinder from unintentionally rotating, thereby preventing the notch formed in the flange of the cassette gas cylinder from being exposed through the cover portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The cassette gas cylinder cap of this invention has a cover portion that extends radially outward from the cap main body, and this cover portion covers the notch formed in the flange of the cassette gas cylinder.This makes it less likely that other items or the user's hands will come into contact with the notch formed in the flange of the cassette gas cylinder, preventing damage to other items and injury to the user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of a cassette-type gas cylinder cap according to the present invention; [Figure 2] Front view of the cassette gas cylinder cap shown in Figure 1 [Figure 3] Bottom view of the cassette gas cylinder cap shown in Figure 1 [Figure 4]A perspective view of the cassette-type gas cylinder cap shown in Figure 1. [Figure 5] Cross-sectional view along line VV in Figure 1 [Figure 6] 2A and 2B are perspective views showing the cassette gas cylinder cap shown in FIG. 1 attached to the cassette gas cylinder, where (a) is a view when the cassette gas cylinder is not in use, and (b) is a view when the cassette gas cylinder is in use. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of a cassette-type gas cylinder cap according to the present invention; [Figure 8] Front view of the cassette gas cylinder cap shown in Figure 7 [Figure 9] Bottom view of the cassette gas cylinder cap shown in Figure 7 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] A first embodiment of a cassette-type gas cylinder cap 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as cap 1) according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This cap 1 is used for a cassette-type gas cylinder 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as gas cylinder 2). A flange 3 is formed on one end of the gas cylinder 2, and the gas cylinder 2 is connected to a gas appliance such as a cassette-type gas stove via this flange 3. A notch 4 is formed in part of the circumferential direction of the flange 3, for attaching the gas cylinder 2 to the gas appliance in a predetermined orientation.

[0014] The cap 1 has a cap body 5 and a cover 6, as shown in FIG. 1 (plan view), FIG. 2 (front view), FIG. 3 (bottom view), FIG. 4 (perspective view), and FIG.

[0015] The cap body 5 is a member for protecting the stem 7 from which the gas is ejected, and is fitted into a recess on the inside of the flange 3. The top of the cap body 5 is a lid 8, which prevents the stem 7 from being touched from the outside when the cap 1 is attached to the gas cylinder 2 (see FIG. 6(a)). With the cap 1 attached, there is a gap between the upper end of the stem 7 and the lid 8 of the cap body 5, large enough to prevent them from coming into contact with each other.

[0016] Three legs 9 are formed on the cap body 5 facing downward. These legs 9 fit into recesses on the inside of the flange 3, preventing the cap 1 from unintentionally coming off the gas cylinder 2. Note that the number and shape of the legs 9 are merely examples and can be changed as appropriate.

[0017] 3 and 5, a plurality of (five in this embodiment) protrusions 10 extending downward from the underside of the lid 8 of the cap body 5 are formed. The height (length of downward extension) of the protrusions 10 is high on one side of the cap body 5 (the side closer to the cover 6) and decreases toward the other side (the side farther from the cover 6). A gas vent hole 11 penetrating the inner and outer surfaces of the cap body 5 is formed on this other side.

[0018] An expanded diameter portion 13 is formed on the radially outer side of the cap body 5 via a bridging portion 12. When the cap 1 is attached to the gas cylinder 2, the expanded diameter portion 13 abuts against the upper surface of the flange 3 of the gas cylinder 2. By abutting the expanded diameter portion 13 against the upper surface of the flange 3 in this manner, the cap 1 is prevented from being pressed excessively against the gas cylinder 2, preventing the lower surface of the lid 8 of the cap body 5 from contacting the upper end of the stem 7. Note that if the downward length of the leg portion 9 can be made sufficiently long to prevent contact between the lower surface of the lid 8 of the cap body 5 and the upper end of the stem 7, the bridging portion 12 and the expanded diameter portion 13 may be omitted.

[0019] The cover portion 6 extends radially outward from the cap body portion 5 so as to cover the notch 4 of the flange 3. The cover portion 6 has a radial piece 14 extending radially outward, a lower piece 15 extending downward from the end of the radial piece 14, and an opposing piece (hereinafter, denoted by the same reference numeral as the engaging piece 16) serving as an engaging piece 16 extending downward from the radial piece 14 radially inward of the lower piece 15, and has a tongue-like shape corresponding to the circumferential position of the notch 4. A through hole 17 is formed between the lower piece 15 and the opposing piece 16, and this through hole 17 allows the lower piece 15 to bend appropriately easily.

[0020] The circumferential width of the tongue-shaped cover portion 6 (the circumferential width of the radial piece 14) is preferably in the range of 50% to 130% of the circumferential width of the cutout 4, and in this embodiment it is approximately 120%.

[0021] Furthermore, the circumferential width of the opposing piece 16 extending from the radial piece 14 is slightly smaller than the circumferential width of the notch 4 of the flange 3, and the opposing piece 16 is engaged with the notch 4. On the other hand, the circumferential width of the lower piece 15 extending from the radial piece 14 is slightly larger than the circumferential width of the notch 4 of the flange 3, and the notch 4 is completely covered by the lower piece 15 over its entire circumferential direction.

[0022] In this embodiment, the opposing piece 16 is configured to engage with the notch 4, but it is also possible to configure the radial piece 14 to have only the lower piece 15 formed thereon, and for this lower piece 15 to engage with the notch 4. It is also possible to configure the radial piece 14 to have neither the lower piece 15 nor the opposing piece 16 formed thereon (a configuration in which the notch 4 is simply covered from above by the radial piece 14).

[0023] When the gas cylinder 2 is not in use, the cap 1 is attached to the flange 3 of the gas cylinder 2 as shown in FIG. 6(a). On the other hand, when the gas cylinder 2 is in use, the cap 1 is attached so that the lower piece 15 and the opposing piece 16 of the cover part 6 sandwich the edge 18 at the lower end of the gas cylinder 2 as shown in FIG. 6(b). By keeping the cap 1 attached to the gas cylinder 2 at all times in this way, it is possible to prevent the cap 1 from being lost and to avoid problems that may arise from loss, such as damage to the stem of a cassette-type gas cylinder, the intrusion of foreign matter such as dust or sand into the stem, and the release of gas due to the stem being accidentally pressed. Note that if the function of attaching the cap 1 to the edge 18 of the gas cylinder 2 is not required, the lower piece 15 can be omitted.

[0024] Even when the gas in gas cylinder 2 is used up using a gas appliance, a small amount of gas remains inside gas cylinder 2, and it may be desirable to release all of the gas when disposing of the gas cylinder. In this case, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 5, a plate-like member 19 such as a coin is sandwiched between the underside of lid 8 of cap body 5, and then cap 1 is attached to gas cylinder 2. This plate-like member 19 then presses stem 7 of gas cylinder 2 downward, and the remaining gas is released to the outside between the upper end of stem 7 and plate-like member 19, which is inclined by protrusions 10 whose height gradually changes from one side to the other, and through gas vent hole 11 formed in cap body 5 (see arrow f in Figure 5).

[0025] The above-mentioned cap 1 covers the notch 4 formed in the flange 3 of the gas cylinder 2 with its cover part 6, making it difficult for other objects or the user's hands to come into contact with the notch 4, thereby preventing damage to other objects and injury to the user.

[0026] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned cap 1, the cover portion 6 has a tongue shape that corresponds to the circumferential position of the notch 4 formed in the flange 3, so it can be made more compact than when the cover portion 6 is formed around the entire circumference of the flange 3, thereby enabling weight reduction and reduction in material costs.

[0027] Furthermore, the above-mentioned cap 1 has a circumferential width of the tongue-shaped cover portion 6 that is within the range of 50% to 130% of the circumferential width of the notch 4 formed in the flange 3, thereby effectively preventing other objects or the user's hands from coming into contact with the notch 4 formed in the flange 3.

[0028] Furthermore, the above-mentioned cap 1 has a tongue-shaped cover portion 6 having an opposing piece 16 that engages with the cutout 4, which prevents the cap 1 attached to the gas cylinder 2 from unintentionally rotating and exposing the cutout 4 formed in the flange 3 of the gas cylinder 2 from the cover portion 6.

[0029] A second embodiment of the cap 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in the plan view of FIG. 7, the front view of FIG. 8, and the bottom view of FIG. 9, the cap 1 according to the second embodiment is the same as the cap 1 according to the first embodiment in that it includes a cap main body 5 and a cover 6, but the shape of the cover 6 is different. That is, in the cap 1 according to the second embodiment, the cover 6 is formed around the entire circumferential direction of the cap main body 5. In this way, when attaching the cap 1 to the gas cylinder 2, there is no need to consider the orientation of the notch 4 formed in the flange 3, and therefore the cap 1 can be attached smoothly.

[0030] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1 Cassette gas cylinder cap (cap) 2. Cassette gas cylinder (gas cylinder) 3 flange 4 Cutout 5 Cap body 6 Cover 7. Stem 8 Lid 9 Legs 10 protrusions 11 Gas vent hole 12 Crosslinked part 13 Expanded diameter part 14 Radial piece 15 Lower piece 16 Engagement piece (opposing piece) 17 Through hole 18 Edge 19 Plate-shaped members

Claims

1. A cassette gas cylinder cap is provided on a cassette gas cylinder (2) that is attached to a gas appliance via an annular flange (3) having a notch (4) formed in a portion of its circumference, a cap body (5) that is fitted into a recess on the inside of the flange (3) and protects a stem (7) from which gas is ejected; a cover portion (6) extending radially outward from the cap body portion (5) so as to cover the notch (4); A cassette-type gas cylinder cap comprising:

2. 2. A cassette-type gas cylinder cap according to claim 1, wherein the cover portion (6) has a tongue shape corresponding to the circumferential position of the notch (4).

3. 3. A cassette-type gas cylinder cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein the circumferential width of the tongue-shaped cover portion (6) is within the range of 50% to 130% of the circumferential width of the notch (4).

4. 4. A cassette-type gas cylinder cap according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the tongue-shaped cover portion (6) has an engaging piece (16) that engages with the notch (4).

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