Bottle connector

Abstract

To attach a connector to each of a plurality of containers having different fixing methods.SOLUTION: A bottle connector 10 of the present invention includes: an insertion part 21 inserted into any one of an opening of a container body or a screw hole of a cap fixed to the container body; a male screw part 25 provided in a predefined range in a center axial direction of the insertion part 21 and engaged with a female screw part provided on the screw hole when the insertion part 21 is inserted into the screw hole of the cap; a press-fit part 22 having at least two or more diameter parts 31, 32, 33 provided to have an outer diameter reducing toward the insertion part 21, and one diameter part out of the at least two or more diameter parts 31, 32, 33 is fitted to the opening part of the container body is pressed into the opening part when the insertion part 21 is inserted into the opening part of the container body; and a through hole 24 extending across the insertion part 21 and the press-fit part 22.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bottle connector that is attached to the cap of a container such as a bottle filled with a liquid such as physiological saline or to the opening of the container. [Background technology]

[0002] In the medical field, saline solutions, sterilized pure water, and the like are used to cleanse the inside of a patient's body cavity. Physiological saline solutions and sterilized pure water are often filled into containers such as cleaned bottles before use. A commonly used container for filling saline solutions and sterilized pure water is, for example, a container with a water supply tube attached to a cap fixed to the container body (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3917987 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The above-mentioned containers are often reused by cleaning them after use. Therefore, for containers in which a water supply tube is attached to a cap fixed to the container body, cleaning the container body and cap is troublesome and time-consuming. Therefore, in recent years, a method has been proposed in which a bottle connector is fastened by tightening it into a threaded hole in the cap or a bottle connector is press-fitted into the opening of the container body, and then the water supply tube is inserted into the bottle connector fixed to the container. However, the method of fastening the bottle connector to the container differs for each container, and the inner diameter of the opening of the container body into which the bottle connector is press-fitted often differs for each container. Therefore, there is a problem in that multiple types of bottle connectors must be prepared in advance to suit the container.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a bottle connector that can be attached to a plurality of containers each having a different fixing method. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A bottle connector in one aspect of the present invention is characterized by having an insertion portion that is inserted into either the opening of the container body or the screw hole of a cap fixed to the container body; a male thread portion that is provided within a predetermined range in the central axial direction of the insertion portion and that screws into a female thread portion provided in the screw hole when the insertion portion is inserted into the screw hole of the cap; a press-fit portion that has at least two or more diameter portions arranged so that the outer diameter decreases toward the insertion portion and that, when the insertion portion is inserted into the opening of the container body, one of the at least two or more diameter portions that is matched to the opening of the container body is press-fit into the opening; and a through hole that extends across the insertion portion and the press-fit portion.

[0007] Preferably, the press-fit portion is connected to the largest diameter portion of the at least two diameter portions and has a flange portion having an outer diameter larger than that of the largest diameter portion.

[0008] It is also preferable that the through hole has a protrusion provided along the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface thereof, and that is pressed against the tube when the tube is inserted into the through hole.

[0009] Furthermore, it is preferable that a groove be provided on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole along the extending direction of the insertion hole, the groove being formed by cutting out the ridge. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a bottle connector that can be fixed to each of a plurality of containers using different fixing methods. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1]Figure 1(a) is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the bottle connector when viewed from the tube insertion portion side, and Figure 1(b) is a perspective view of the bottle connector shown in Figure 1(a) when viewed from the insertion portion side. [Figure 2] FIG. 2(a) is a plan view of the bottle connector as seen from the tube insertion portion side, and FIG. 2(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA' in FIG. 2(a). [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of the press-fit portion. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the tube insertion portion. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows the procedure for fastening and fixing the bottle connector to the cap. [Figure 6] FIG. 6(a) is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a water supply tube is inserted into a bottle connector that is fastened and fixed to a cap, and FIG. 6(b) is an enlarged view of region B in FIG. 6(a). [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the procedure for using the bottle connector by press-fitting it into the opening of the container body. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a case where a bottle connector is press-fitted into containers having openings with different inner diameters. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The bottle connector according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1(a) is a perspective view showing the configuration of the bottle connector as viewed from the tube insertion portion side, and Fig. 1(b) is a perspective view of the bottle connector shown in Fig. 1(a) as viewed from the insertion portion side. Fig. 2(a) is a plan view of the bottle connector as viewed from the tube insertion portion side, and Fig. 2(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' in Fig. 2(a).

[0013] When in use, the bottle connector 10 is fastened to a screw hole 61 (see FIG. 5) of the cap 60, or press-fitted into an opening 52 (see FIG. 7) provided in the mouth 51 of the container body 50. A water supply tube 70 (see FIGS. 5 to 7) is inserted into the bottle connector 10. The container body 50 is filled with saline solution or pure water. Hereinafter, the opening 52 provided in the mouth 51 of the container body 50 may be referred to as the opening 52 of the container body 50.

[0014] The bottle connector 10 is made of a synthetic resin material such as polycarbonate. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bottle connector 10 has an insertion portion 21, a press-fit portion 22, and a tube insertion portion 23. The bottle connector 10 also has a through-hole 24 extending in the direction of the central axis (L) of the bottle connector 10. Hereinafter, the direction of the central axis (L) of the bottle connector 10 may be simply referred to as the central axis (L) direction.

[0015] The insertion portion 21 is a portion that is inserted into the opening 52 of the container body 50 or the threaded hole 61 of the cap 60 (see FIG. 5). The outer diameter D1 of the insertion portion 21 is set, for example, to be less than the inner diameter D10 of the threaded hole 61 of the cap 60 (see FIG. 5). Of both end portions of the insertion portion 21 in the direction of the central axis (L), the end that is located on the press-fit portion 22 side is provided with a male thread portion 25. The male thread portion 25 screws into the threaded hole 61 of the cap 60. Note that the range of the male thread portion 25 in the direction of the central axis (L) is not particularly limited as long as it can be screwed into the female thread portion 61a of the threaded hole 61 of the cap 60.

[0016] The press-fit portion 22, details of which will be described later, is a portion that is press-fitted into the opening 52 of the container body 50. The press-fit portion 22 is provided with, from the insertion portion 21 side in the direction of the central axis (L), a small diameter portion 31, a medium diameter portion 32, a large diameter portion 33, and a flange portion 34. In FIG. 2, the areas of the small diameter portion 31, the medium diameter portion 32, the large diameter portion 33, and the flange portion 34 are distinguishable by two-dot chain lines. The outer diameter D3 of the small diameter portion 31, the outer diameter D4 of the medium diameter portion 32, the outer diameter D5 of the large diameter portion 33, and the outer diameter D6 of the flange portion 34 satisfy the following relationship: outer diameter D3 of the small diameter portion 31 < outer diameter D4 of the medium diameter portion 32 < outer diameter D5 of the large diameter portion 33 < outer diameter D6 of the flange portion 34.

[0017] 3, of the outer peripheral surface 31a of the small diameter portion 31, an end portion 31b on the insertion portion 21 side in the direction of the central axis (L) is a tapered surface 31b whose diameter decreases toward the insertion portion 21 side. The angle θ1 formed between the outer peripheral surface 31a of the small diameter portion 31 and the tapered surface 31b is, for example, θ1 = 15°.

[0018] By forming the end of the outer circumferential surface 31a of the small diameter portion 31 on the insertion portion 21 side in the direction of the central axis (L) as a tapered surface 31b, the small diameter portion 31 can be easily press-fitted into the opening 52 of the container body 50. The small diameter portion 31 has a stepped surface 31c formed due to the difference between the minimum diameter of the tapered surface 31b of the small diameter portion 31 and the outer diameter of the insertion portion 21. That is, when the male thread portion 25 provided on the insertion portion 21 is screwed into the screw hole 61 of the cap 60, the stepped surface 31c of the small diameter portion 31 abuts against the upper surface of the cap 60.

[0019] The outer peripheral surface 32a of the medium diameter portion 32 has a tapered surface 32b at its end on the insertion portion 21 side in the direction of the central axis (L) that narrows toward the insertion portion 21. The angle θ2 formed between the outer peripheral surface 32a of the medium diameter portion 32 and the tapered surface 32b is the same as the angle θ1. That is, the angle θ2 is, for example, θ2 = 15°.

[0020] By forming the end of the outer circumferential surface 32a of the medium diameter portion 32 on the insertion portion 21 side in the direction of the central axis (L) as a tapered surface 32b, the medium diameter portion 32 can be easily press-fitted into the opening 52 of the container body 50. The medium diameter portion 32 has a stepped surface 32c formed by the difference between the minimum diameter of the tapered surface 32b of the medium diameter portion 32 and the outer diameter of the small diameter portion 31. That is, when the small diameter portion 31 is press-fitted into the opening 52 of the container body 50, the stepped surface 32c of the medium diameter portion 32 abuts against the end surface 53 (see FIG. 6) of the mouth portion 51 of the container body 50.

[0021] The end of the outer circumferential surface 33a of the large diameter portion 33 on the insertion portion 21 side in the direction of the central axis (L) is a tapered surface 33b whose diameter decreases toward the insertion portion 21 side. The angle θ3 formed between the outer circumferential surface 33a of the large diameter portion 33 and the tapered surface 33b is the same as the angle θ1. That is, the angle θ3 is, for example, θ3 = 15°.

[0022] By forming the end of the outer circumferential surface 33a of the large diameter portion 33 on the insertion portion 21 side in the direction of the central axis (L) as a tapered surface 33b, the large diameter portion 33 can be easily press-fitted into the opening of the container body 50. Note that the large diameter portion 33 has a step surface 33c formed due to the difference between the minimum diameter of the tapered surface 33b of the large diameter portion 33 and the outer diameter of the medium diameter portion 32. In other words, when the medium diameter portion 32 is press-fitted into the opening of the container body 50, the end surface 53 of the mouth portion 51 of the container body 50 abuts against the step surface 33c of the large diameter portion 33.

[0023] The flange portion 34 has an end surface 34 a that abuts against an end surface 53 of the mouth portion 51 of the container body 50 when the large diameter portion 33 is press-fitted into the opening 52 of the container body 50 .

[0024] The through hole 24 is provided for inserting, for example, a water supply tube 70 (see FIG. 5). As shown in FIG. 2 or 4, a circumferentially extending rib 36 is provided on the inner peripheral surface 24a of the through hole 24 at the end on the tube insertion portion 23 side in the direction of the central axis (L). By providing the rib 36 on the inner peripheral surface 24a of the through hole 24, the location where the rib 36 is provided becomes a narrowed portion 37.

[0025] The inner peripheral surface 24a of the through hole 24 is provided with grooves 38 extending along the central axis (L). The ribs 36 are provided in the area excluding the grooves 38. Although the example shows a case where the ribs 36 are provided in the entire area excluding the grooves 38, protrusions may be provided at predetermined angular intervals. The grooves 38 are generated by cutting out the inner peripheral surface 24a of the through hole 24 in an arc shape in the central axis (L) direction.

[0026] For example, when a water supply tube 70 is inserted into the through-hole 24, an expanded diameter portion 71 provided on the water supply tube 70 is pressed into the narrowed portion 37, preventing the water supply tube 70 from being inserted. The water supply tube 70 is attached to, for example, a water supply pump, and when the water supply pump is driven, the liquid filled in the container body 50 is sent to an endoscope connected to the water supply tube. The groove portion 38 is provided to release air inside the container body 50 to the outside.

[0027] Next, an example of how the bottle connector 10 of this embodiment is used will be described. First, a case in which the bottle connector 10 is fastened to the screw hole 61 of the cap 60 fixed to the container body 50 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5(a), the bottle connector 10 is moved in the direction F1 in FIG. 5(a) and inserted from the insertion portion 21 into the screw hole 61 of the cap 60 fixed to the opening portion 51 of the container body 50. The bottle connector 10 is then rotated in the direction R in FIG. 5(a) and fastened to the screw hole 61 of the cap 60. When the bottle connector 10 is fastened to the screw hole 61 of the cap 60, the stepped surface 31c of the small diameter portion 31 of the press-fit portion 22 of the bottle connector 10 is pressed against the upper surface 60a of the cap 60. This maintains the bottle connector 10 and the container body 50 liquid-tight.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 5(b), after the bottle connector 10 is fastened to the cap 60, the water-feed tube 70 is inserted into the through-hole 24 of the bottle connector 10. As described above, the inner circumferential surface 24a of the through-hole 24 is provided with the ribs 36. Therefore, when the water-feed tube 70 is inserted a predetermined distance into the through-hole 24 of the bottle connector 10, the expanded diameter portion 71 of the water-feed tube 70 is press-fitted into the narrowed portion 37 of the through-hole 24 of the bottle connector 10. This prevents the water-feed tube 70 from being inserted into the container body 50, and keeps the expanded diameter portion 71 of the water-feed tube 70 pressed into the narrowed portion 37 of the through-hole 24 of the bottle connector 10 (see FIG. 5(c)).

[0029] As described above, the through-hole 24 of the bottle connector 10 is provided with the groove 38. Therefore, as shown in Figures 6(a) and 6(b), when the bottle connector 10 is fastened to the cap 60 and the water supply tube 70 is inserted into the bottle connector 10, the air inside the container body 50 is discharged to the outside of the container body 50 through the groove 38.

[0030] Next, a description will be given of the case where the bottle connector 10 is press-fitted into the opening 52 of the mouth 51 of the container body 50. As shown in Fig. 7(a), the bottle connector 10 is moved in the direction F2 in Fig. 7(a) and inserted from the insertion portion 21 into the opening 52 of the container body 50. When the bottle connector 10 is inserted into the opening 52 of the container body 50, any one of the small diameter portion 31, the medium diameter portion 32, and the large diameter portion 33 provided in the press-fit portion 22 is press-fitted into the opening 52 of the container body 50. Note that Fig. 7(b) shows a state in which the small diameter portion 31 provided in the press-fit portion 22 is inserted into the opening 52 of the container body 50.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 7(b), after the bottle connector 10 is press-fitted into the opening 52 of the container body 50, the water-feed tube 70 is inserted into the through-hole 24 of the bottle connector 10. In this case as well, when the water-feed tube 70 has been inserted a predetermined amount into the through-hole 24 of the bottle connector 10, the expanded diameter portion 71 of the water-feed tube 70 is press-fitted into the narrowed portion 37 of the through-hole 24 of the bottle connector 10. This prevents the water-feed tube 70 from being inserted into the container body 50, and keeps the expanded diameter portion 71 of the water-feed tube 70 pressed into the narrowed portion 37 of the through-hole 24 of the bottle connector 10 (see FIG. 7(c)). When the bottle connector 10 is press-fitted into the opening 52 of the container body 50, air inside the container body 50 is discharged to the outside of the container body 50 via the groove portion 38.

[0032] For example, the inner diameter of the opening 52 provided in the mouth 51 of the container body 50 varies depending on the type of container, etc. As shown in Figure 8(a), for example, if the inner diameter D11 of the opening 52A provided in the mouth 51A of the container body 50A exceeds the outer diameter D4 of the medium diameter portion 32 of the press-fitting portion 22 of the bottle connector 10 and is smaller than the outer diameter D3 of the large diameter portion 33, the large diameter portion 33 of the bottle connector 10 is press-fitted into the opening 52A of the container body 50A, as shown in Figure 8(b).

[0033] Also, as shown in Figure 8(c), for example, if the inner diameter D12 of the opening 52B provided in the mouth 51B of the container body 50B exceeds the outer diameter D3 of the small diameter portion 31 of the press-fit portion 22 of the bottle connector 10 and is smaller than the outer diameter D4 of the medium diameter portion 32, the medium diameter portion 32 of the bottle connector 10 is press-fitted into the opening 52B of the container body 50B as shown in Figure 8(d).

[0034] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8(e), for example, if the inner diameter D13 of the opening 52C provided in the mouth 51C of the container body 50C exceeds the outer diameter D1 of the insertion portion 21 of the press-fit portion 22 of the bottle connector 10 and is smaller than the outer diameter D3 of the small diameter portion 31, the small diameter portion 31 of the bottle connector 10 is press-fitted into the opening 52C of the container body 50C, as shown in Figure 8(f).

[0035] As described above, when the cap 60 is fixed to the mouth 51 of the container body 50, the bottle connector 10 shown in this embodiment is fastened by tightening it into the screw hole 61 of the cap 60. When the cap 60 is press-fitted into the opening 52 of the mouth 51 of the container body 50, a portion that matches the inner diameter of the opening 52 is press-fitted. This makes it possible for one bottle connector 10 to accommodate a plurality of fixing methods.

[0036] In this embodiment, the press-fit portion 22 of the bottle connector 10 is described as having a small diameter portion 31, a medium diameter portion 32, and a large diameter portion 33, but the press-fit portion 22 of the bottle connector 10 may be configured as a press-fit portion having at least two diameter portions out of the small diameter portion 31, the medium diameter portion 32, and the large diameter portion 33. Furthermore, in addition to the small diameter portion 31, the medium diameter portion 32, and the large diameter portion 33, the press-fit portion may also be configured as a press-fit portion having at least one more diameter portion.

[0037] In this embodiment, a case where a male thread portion 25 is provided on the insertion portion 21 of the bottle connector 10 is described. However, the number of male thread portions 25 does not need to be limited to one, and at least two or more male thread portions with different outer diameters may be combined. <Summary of effects>

[0038] The bottle connector 10 of this embodiment is equipped with an insertion portion 21 that is inserted into either the opening 52 of the container body 50 or the screw hole 61 of the cap 60 fixed to the container body 50, a male thread portion 25 that is provided within a predetermined range in the central axial direction of the insertion portion 21 and that screws into the female thread portion 61a provided in the screw hole 61 when the insertion portion 21 is inserted into the screw hole 61 of the cap 60, a press-fit portion 22 that has at least two or more diameter portions 31, 32, 33 arranged so that the outer diameter decreases toward the insertion portion 21, and when the insertion portion 21 is inserted into the opening 52 of the container body 50, one of the at least two or more diameter portions 31, 32, 33 with a diameter that matches the opening 52 of the container body 50 is press-fit into the opening 52, and a through hole 24 that extends across the insertion portion 21 and the press-fit portion 22.

[0039] According to this, when the cap 60 is fixed to the mouth 51 of the container body 50, it is fastened by tightening it into the screw hole 61 of the cap 60. Also, when the cap 60 is press-fitted into the opening 52 of the mouth 51 of the container body 50, a portion that matches the inner diameter of the opening 52 is press-fitted. This makes it possible for one bottle connector 10 to accommodate multiple fixing methods.

[0040] The press-fit portion 22 has a flange portion 34 that is continuous with the diameter portion 33 having the largest outer diameter among the at least two diameter portions 31, 32, and 33, and has an outer diameter larger than that of the diameter portion 33 having the largest outer diameter.

[0041] With this, for example, when the diameter portion 33 with the largest outer diameter is press-fitted into the opening 52 of the container body 50, the flange portion 34 abuts against the end face 53 of the container body 50, preventing the bottle connector 10 from being inserted into the container body 50. This makes it possible to easily attach and detach the bottle connector 10 to and from the container body 50.

[0042] The through-hole 24 also has a protrusion 36 that is provided along the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface 24a of the through-hole 24 and is pressed against the water supply tube 70 when the water supply tube 70 is inserted through the through-hole 24.

[0043] This allows the water-supply tube 70 inserted into the through-hole 24 to be held by the bottle connector 10 without dropping into the container body 50. Furthermore, since the water-supply tube 70 is held by the bottle connector 10, it also becomes easier to insert the water-supply tube.

[0044] Further, a groove 38 is provided on the inner peripheral surface 24 a of the through hole 24 along the extending direction of the through hole 24 and cutting out the protrusion 36 .

[0045] With this, when the bottle connector 10 holds the guide tube, the air in the container body 50 can be discharged to the outside through the groove portion 38. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 10 Bottle Connector 21 Insertion part 22 Press-fit section 24 through holes 25 Male thread 31 Small diameter part (diameter part) 32 Medium diameter part (diameter part) 33 Large diameter part (diameter part) 34 Flange 36 protrusion 37 Stenosis 38 Groove 50 Container body 52 Opening 60 Cap 70 Water supply tube

Claims

1. an insertion portion that is inserted into either an opening of the container body or a screw hole of a cap that is fixed to the container body; a male thread portion that is provided within a predetermined range in the central axis direction of the insertion portion and that is screwed into a female thread portion that is provided in the screw hole when the insertion portion is inserted into the screw hole of the cap; a press-fitting portion having at least two or more diameter portions arranged so that the outer diameter decreases toward the insertion portion, and when the insertion portion is inserted into the opening of the container body, one of the at least two or more diameter portions that matches the diameter of the opening of the container body is press-fitted into the opening; a through hole extending across the insertion portion and the press-fit portion; A bottle connector comprising:

2. The bottle connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the press-fit portion is connected to the largest diameter portion among the at least two diameter portions and has a flange portion having an outer diameter larger than that of the largest diameter portion.

3. The bottle connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that it has a protrusion provided along the circumferential direction of the inner surface of the through hole and which is pressed against the tube when the tube is inserted into the through hole.

4. 4. The bottle connector according to claim 3, wherein a groove is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole along the extending direction of the insertion hole and cuts out the protrusion.

Images