Pump-type dispensing device

Abstract

We propose a pump-type dispenser that allows for the dispensing of liquid contents in the same manner as conventional dispensers, while also offering superior recyclability. [Solution] In the pump-type discharger 100, the cap 10 has a dome-shaped pressing wall 10d that protrudes toward the head and is centered on the central axis O, and the head has a base portion 13a and an elastic piece 13c to which a root portion 13c1 is connected to the base portion 13a and which bends toward the central axis O when the head is advanced toward the cap 10 by the pressing wall 10d, and the elastic piece 13c has a main body portion 13c2 that extends toward the central axis O as it moves toward the cap 10 from the root portion 13c1.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pump-type discharger.

Background Art

[0002] As a pump-type discharger, there is known one that includes a cap attached to the mouth of a container, a pump driven by the stem moving forward and backward while being held at the mouth by the cap, and a head connected to the stem, and discharges the content liquid in the container from the discharge port of the head by moving the head toward the cap (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Inside such a pump-type discharger, as shown in Patent Document 1, a coil spring is provided to return the head moved toward the cap to the initial position.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, in such a pump-type discharger, although most of the members are made of synthetic resin, the coil spring is made of metal. Therefore, when it is discarded after use, it cannot be recycled as a resin product in this state. Also, generally, in this type of pump-type discharger, in order to avoid the members coming off during normal use, the members are firmly fixed to each other, for example, by fitting. Therefore, it takes time to disassemble the pump-type discharger and separate the coil spring from the other members.

[0006] The present invention aims to solve these problems by proposing a pump-type dispenser that can dispense liquid contents in the same manner as conventional devices and also has excellent recyclability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The pump-type dispenser of the present invention comprises a cap attached to the mouth of a container holding liquid contents, a pump driven by the movement of a stem held at the mouth by the cap, and a head connected to the stem and having a discharge port for discharging the liquid contents to the outside, wherein the liquid contents in the container are discharged from the discharge port by moving the head along the central axis of the stem, the cap has a dome-shaped pressing wall that protrudes toward the head and is centered on the central axis, the head has a base portion and an elastic piece whose root portion is connected to the base portion and which bends toward the central axis when the head is advanced toward the cap due to the pressing wall, and the elastic piece has a main body portion that extends toward the central axis as it moves toward the cap from the root portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the pump-type dispenser of the present invention, when the head is advanced toward the cap, the elastic piece flexes due to the pressing wall, and when the flexed elastic piece returns to its original position, the head can be returned to its initial position. Furthermore, since the above-mentioned elastic piece is used instead of a metal coil spring, after use, the work of separating metal parts that was performed in conventional pump-type dispensers is unnecessary, and it can be reused as a resin product, thus offering excellent recyclability.

[0009] Furthermore, the main body of the elastic piece extends in a direction that approaches the central axis of the stem as it moves from the base towards the cap, and its length is longer than that of an elastic piece that extends straight along this central axis from the base towards the cap. In other words, according to the present invention, the rate of increase in the force required to bend the elastic piece is more gradual than with such a straight-extending elastic piece, so the resistance force that fingers or other objects receive from the head when pressing the head increases more gradually, making the feel when pressing the head lighter and improving operability. Furthermore, by making the rate of increase in the force required to bend the elastic piece gradual, the load applied to the elastic piece can be reduced, thereby suppressing the deformation of the elastic piece.

[0010] Furthermore, the pressing wall that bends the elastic piece is dome-shaped, protruding toward the head and centered on the central axis. That is, as the pressing wall moves away from the head, it tilts away from the central axis, so the contact point on the pressing wall that contacts the elastic piece moves from the tip side to the base side of the pressing wall as the head is advanced. Here, for example, if what bends the elastic piece is edge-shaped, and the position of the contact point with respect to the elastic piece does not change even when the head is advanced, the distance from the base of the elastic piece to the contact point will decrease. On the other hand, according to the present invention, as the head is advanced, the elastic piece approaches the pressing wall, but the contact point moves from the tip side to the base side of the pressing wall when the head is advanced, so the distance from the base of the elastic piece to the contact point is longer than in the case where the contact point does not change. In other words, in this respect as well, the rate of increase in the force required to bend the elastic piece becomes more gradual, which effectively contributes to improved operability and suppression of deformation of the elastic piece. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a side view cross-sectional view showing the state in which the head of the first embodiment of the pump-type discharger according to the present invention is located at its upper limit (retraction limit). [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the inner head component. [Figure 3] Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the pump-type discharger, with the head in the lower limit (forward limit) position. [Figure 4] This is a side view cross-sectional view showing the state in which the head of the second embodiment of the pump-type discharger according to the present invention is located at its upper limit (retraction limit). [Figure 5A] Figure 4 is a plan view of the inner head component. [Figure 5B] This is a cross-sectional view along line AA shown in Figure 5A. [Figure 6] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the pump-type discharger, with the head in the lower limit (forward limit) position. [Figure 7] This is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of Figure 6. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, a pump-type discharger 100, which is a first embodiment of the pump-type discharger according to the present invention, will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification, the vertical direction is the direction along the central axis O shown in the figure (the central axis of the stem 7a described later), where the side where the pipe 4 is located is "down" and the side where the head body 12 is located is "up". In this specification, the movement of the head body 12 when it is pressed downward is described as the head body 12 moving forward, and the movement of the pressed head body 12 returning upward is described as the head body 12 moving backward. For this reason, in the following description, the above-mentioned vertical direction may be referred to as the front-rear direction. The radial direction is the direction perpendicular to the central axis O in a plane perpendicular to the central axis O, and the circumferential direction is the direction of rotation around the central axis O in this plane.

[0013] The pump-type dispenser 100 of this embodiment is used by being attached to the mouth of a bottle-shaped container (not shown). The liquid contents to be dispensed by the pump-type dispenser 100 are, for example, cosmetics (such as lotions and toners), shampoos, body soaps, hand soaps, facial cleansers, etc.

[0014] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the pump-type discharger 100 consists of a cylinder 1, a valve member 2, a pipe 4, an internal member 5, a piston 6, a cylindrical member 7, a holder 8, a packing 9, a cap 10, a head body 12, an inner head member 13, and a nozzle cover 14. Here, the cylinder 1, valve member 2, internal member 5, piston 6, cylindrical member 7, and holder 8 are components that constitute the "pump" as defined herein, while the head body 12 and inner head member 13 are components that constitute the "head" as defined herein. Of the above components, the valve member 2, piston 6, and packing 9 are made of elastic, soft synthetic resin (e.g., polyethylene (LDPE, HDPE, foamed PE)), while the other components are made of hard synthetic resin (e.g., polypropylene (PP), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyacetal (POM), polyketone (POK) resin, etc.). Each component constituting the pump-type discharger 100 is basically shaped around a central axis O. Figure 1 shows the head body 12 in the upper limit (retraction limit) position, and Figure 3 shows the head body 12 in the lower limit (advance limit) position.

[0015] The cylinder 1 has a disc-shaped bottom wall portion 1a with a central part protruding upward, a cylindrical cylindrical wall portion 1b rising from the outer edge of the bottom wall portion 1a, and a flange wall 1c extending radially outward from the upper part of the cylindrical wall portion 1b. A through hole (suction port 1d) is provided in the central part of the bottom wall portion 1a that protrudes upward. A cylindrical retaining cylinder 1e is provided on the lower surface of the bottom wall portion 1a, surrounding the suction port 1d and extending downward to hold the pipe 4. A through hole (vent port 1f) is provided in the cylindrical wall portion 1b.

[0016] The valve member 2 comprises a base portion 2a, a valve body portion 2b that covers the suction port 1d inside the base portion 2a and sits on the upper surface of the bottom wall portion 1a, and an elastically deformable connecting piece 2c that connects the base portion 2a and the valve body portion 2b. The valve member 2 functions as a check valve, and when the inside of the cylinder 1 becomes depressurized, the valve body portion 2b that was closing the suction port 1d separates from the bottom wall portion 1a, allowing the suction port 1d to open.

[0017] The base 2a has a lid-shaped cylindrical form in this embodiment and has an opening (not shown) through which the content liquid passing through the suction port 1d passes. The base 2a is fitted and held on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder wall portion 1b, whereby the valve member 2 is held within the cylinder 1.

[0018] The pipe 4 is hollow, and its upper end is inserted into and fitted and held by the holding cylinder 1e.

[0019] The inner member 5 is disposed inside the cylinder 1 and is a member that moves up and down with respect to the cylinder 1. The inner member 5 includes a cylindrical connecting cylinder 5a and a bottom portion 5b that closes the lower end of the connecting cylinder 5a and extends radially outward. Further, the connecting cylinder 5a is provided with a hole (communication port 5c) penetrating therethrough, and an annular portion 5d is provided on the upper surface of the bottom portion 5b at a position radially outside the connecting portion with the connecting cylinder 5a.

[0020] The piston 6 is inserted through the connecting cylinder 5a and disposed inside the cylinder 1. The piston 6 of this embodiment includes an annular base portion 6a. An outer sliding piece 6b extending upward and downward from the base portion 6a is provided at the outer edge portion of the base portion 6a. The outer sliding piece 6b is slidably and liquid-tightly abutted against the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder wall portion 1b. And an inner sliding piece 6c extending upward and downward from the base portion 6a is provided at the inner edge portion of the base portion 6a. The lower portion of the inner sliding piece 6c is liquid-tightly abutted against the annular portion 5d, and the upper portion of the inner sliding piece 6c is slidably and liquid-tightly abutted against the inner peripheral surface of an enlarged diameter portion 7b described later in the cylindrical member 7.

[0021] The cylindrical member 7 is a member having an overall cylindrical form. The cylindrical member 7 includes a cylindrical stem 7a and an enlarged diameter portion 7b that is connected to the lower end of the stem 7a and has a larger diameter than the stem 7a. Since the connecting cylinder 5a is inserted into the stem 7a and the two are fitted together, the inner member 5 and the cylindrical member 7 move integrally with respect to the cylinder 1.

[0022] The holder 8 has a portion located radially outward from the stem 7a and a portion located radially outward from the enlarged diameter portion 7b, and includes a holder base 8a that is fitted and held on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall portion 1b. The upper end of the holder base 8a is provided with a flange 8b that extends radially outward. The holder 8 prevents the internal member 5, piston 6, and cylindrical member 7 from coming out of the cylinder 1.

[0023] The packing 9 is an annular plate shape and is inserted through the cylindrical wall portion 1b of the cylinder 1 and fitted and held in place therewith. When the pump-type dispenser 100 is attached to a container (not shown), the packing 9 is sandwiched between the mouth of the container and the flange wall 1c. This prevents problems such as the contents spilling out of the mouth when the container is tipped over.

[0024] The cap 10 is disc-shaped and has a top wall 10a with a through hole in the center. The outer edge of the top wall 10a is provided with a cylindrical lower peripheral wall 10b that extends downward. The upper part of the inner peripheral surface of the lower peripheral wall 10b bulges radially inward, allowing the flange wall 1c to be fitted and held, thereby holding the cylinder 1 in the cap 10. The inner peripheral surface of the cap 10 is also provided with a female threaded portion 10c that screws onto a male threaded portion provided at the mouth of the container, and the cap 10 can be attached to the container by screwing the male threaded portion and the female threaded portion 10c together.

[0025] The cap 10 also has a pressing wall 10d on the upper surface of the top wall 10a. The pressing wall 10d protrudes upward from the upper surface of the top wall 10a and has a dome-shaped form centered on the central axis O. A through hole is provided in the center of the pressing wall 10d through which the stem 7a passes.

[0026] Inside the pressing wall 10d, a back-side rib 10e is provided that extends along the central axis O. In this embodiment, a total of seven back-side ribs 10e are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. That is, in this embodiment, the angle between adjacent back-side ribs 10e with respect to the central axis O (the angle between the centers in the thickness direction of the back-side ribs 10e) is 51.4°. By providing the back-side ribs 10e, the rigidity of the pressing wall 10d can be increased, thereby suppressing the downward and radially inward deflection of the pressing wall 10d. A detailed explanation of the deflection suppression effect of the back-side ribs 10e on the pressing wall 10d will be given later.

[0027] The cap 10 also includes a cylindrical upper peripheral wall 10f that extends upward from the outer edge of the top wall 10a.

[0028] The head body 12 is cylindrical and has a cylindrical portion 12a into which a stem 7a is inserted and fitted and held. The top of the cylindrical portion 12a is provided with a top portion 12b having a passage inside that leads to the cylindrical portion 12a. The top portion 12b is provided with a nozzle 12c that is cylindrical and extends radially outward, and leads to a passage provided inside the top portion 12b. The tip of the nozzle 12c is provided with a discharge port 12d from which the liquid contents are discharged by a pump-type dispenser 100. Furthermore, the head body 12 has a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 12e that is smaller in diameter than the upper peripheral wall 10f and extends downward. As shown in Figure 1, when the head body 12 is moved to its upper limit, the lower end (tip) of the outer peripheral wall 12e is located below the upper end (tip) of the upper peripheral wall 10f, and the upper peripheral wall 10f and the outer peripheral wall 12e can cover the area around the pressing wall 10d. Furthermore, an engaging portion 12f is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the lower end (root) of the outer peripheral wall 12e, which protrudes radially inward.

[0029] As shown in Figure 2, the inner head member 13 has a plate-shaped base portion 13a. The center of the base portion 13a is provided with a circular through hole 13a1 and a cylindrical wall 13b that surrounds the through hole 13a1 and extends downward. As shown in Figure 1, when the inner head member 13 is inserted into the outer peripheral wall 12e while the cylindrical portion 12a is inserted into the through hole 13a1 and the cylindrical wall 13b, the outer edge of the base portion 13a engages with an engaging portion 12f provided at the base of the outer peripheral wall 12e, and is held in place by the head body 12. The inner head member 13 of this embodiment does not have a circumferential positioning mechanism relative to the head body 12 (for example, a vertically extending projection provided on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 12a and a groove provided on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical wall 13b that engages with this projection). Therefore, there is no need to worry about the circumferential orientation when attaching it to the head body 12, and it can be easily attached.

[0030] The head inner member 13 is also equipped with an elastic piece 13c. The elastic piece 13c is generally plate-shaped, as shown in the figure. The cross-sectional shape of the elastic piece 13c in this embodiment is such that the radially inward side extends in an arc shape, while the radially outward side and both sides in the circumferential direction extend in a straight line, as shown in Figure 5A. The root portion of the elastic piece 13c (hereinafter referred to as the elastic piece root portion 13c1) is connected to the base portion 13a. The elastic piece 13c is elastically deformable radially outward, as shown in Figure 3. In this embodiment, a total of six elastic pieces 13c are provided on the base portion 13a at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0031] The elastic piece 13c has a main body portion (hereinafter referred to as the elastic piece main body portion 13c2) that extends downward from the elastic piece root portion 13c1 in a direction approaching the central axis O. The tip portion of the elastic piece 13c (hereinafter referred to as the elastic piece tip portion 13c3) provided on the tip side of the elastic piece main body portion 13c2 extends in a direction away from the central axis O as it extends downward.

[0032] As shown in Figure 2, the elastic piece 13c is provided with reinforcing ribs 13d on its outer circumferential surface that are narrower (shorter in circumferential length) than the elastic piece 13c. In this embodiment, a pair of reinforcing ribs 13d are provided circumferentially spaced apart from the elastic piece 13c. In the region from the elastic piece root portion 13c1 to the vertical center of the elastic piece body portion 13c2, the reinforcing ribs 13d extend with approximately the same thickness as the elastic piece body portion 13c2, and below that, they extend with a thickness slightly greater than the elastic piece body portion 13c2.

[0033] The nozzle cover 14 includes a lidded cylindrical tip cover portion 14a that covers the tip of the nozzle 12c. The lower surface of the tip cover portion 14a has a stopper portion 14b that is C-shaped in plan view and detachably fitted to the outer peripheral wall 12e, and a cover rib 14c that is triangular in side view as shown in Figure 1 and connects the tip cover portion 14a and the stopper portion 14b, reinforcing the nozzle cover 14. The nozzle cover 14 is held on the head body 12 by fitting the stopper portion 14b to the outer peripheral wall 12e. By attaching the nozzle cover 14 to the head body 12, it is possible to prevent dust and other debris from adhering to the tip of the nozzle 12c. Furthermore, when the nozzle cover 14 is attached to the head body 12, as shown in Figure 1, the lower end of the stopper portion 14b is in contact with the upper end of the upper peripheral wall 10f. In other words, the nozzle cover 14 prevents the head body 12 from being unintentionally pushed down.

[0034] In a pump-type discharger 100 composed of such components, when attaching the head body 12 to which the head inner member 13 is attached to the stem 7a, the elastic piece body portion 13c2 of the elastic piece 13c extends downward from the elastic piece root portion 13c1 in a direction approaching the central axis O. Therefore, there is a risk that the pressing wall 10d may cause the elastic piece 13c to bend in an abnormal direction (towards the central axis O). In this embodiment, the elastic piece 13c has an elastic piece tip portion 13c3 that extends in a direction away from the central axis O as the inner circumferential surface goes downward. When the head body 12 is attached to the stem 7a, the pressing wall 10d comes into contact with the elastic piece tip portion 13c3, and the elastic piece 13c is naturally displaced to the state shown in Figure 1, thus preventing the above-mentioned problem.

[0035] Furthermore, in the pump-type discharger 100, as shown in Figure 1, before the head body 12 is pressed, the tip of the pressing wall 10d is in contact with the tip 13c3 of the elastic piece 13c, causing the elastic piece 13c to bend slightly radially inward, and the head body 12 is moved to its upper limit (retraction limit). The symbol P in Figure 1 indicates the position where the pressing wall 10d contacts the elastic piece 13c (hereinafter referred to as the contact point P). When the head body 12 is pressed from above to lower it (move the head body 12 forward toward the cap 10), the stem 7a is pushed down together with the head body 12 (the stem 7a moves forward toward the cap 10 along the central axis O). As the stem 7a is pushed down, the bottom 5b also descends via the connecting cylinder 5a, releasing the liquid-tight contact between the annular portion 5d and the lower part of the inner sliding piece 6c. As the head body 12 is pushed down further, the piston 6 descends along with the cylindrical member 7 and the internal member 5, pressurizing the inside of the cylinder 1. As a result, the liquid inside the cylinder 1 passes through the communication port 5c, through the passages provided inside the connecting cylinder 5a, stem 7a, cylindrical part 12a, and top part 12b, and through the inside of the nozzle 12c, and is discharged to the outside world from the discharge port 12d. When the head body 12 is pressed and the piston 6 descends below the vent port 1f, a container (not shown) communicates with the outside world through the vent port 1f. This prevents negative pressure from forming inside the container even if the liquid inside decreases, thus preventing the container from deforming and collapsing.

[0036] Furthermore, when the head body 12 is pushed down, the pressing wall 10d that contacts the elastic piece 13c applies a pressing force to the elastic piece 13c, causing the elastic piece 13c to bend radially outward as shown in Figure 3. Here, as described above, the elastic piece body portion 13c2 extends downward from the elastic piece root portion 13c1 toward the central axis O, so the length of the elastic piece 13c can be made longer compared to one that extends straight along the central axis O. The pressing wall 10d is dome-shaped, protruding upward and centered on the central axis O, and extends at an inclination toward the central axis O as it moves away from the head body 12. Therefore, the contact point P where the pressing wall 10d contacts the elastic piece 13c moves from near the tip of the pressing wall 10d toward the root of the pressing wall 10d as the head body 12 is advanced. In other words, as the head body 12 is advanced, the elastic piece 13c approaches the pressing wall 10d. However, since the contact point P moves from the tip side to the base side of the pressing wall 10d, the distance from the base portion 13c1 of the elastic piece to the contact point P becomes longer compared to a case where the contact point P remains constant. As a result of these actions, the rate at which the force required to bend the elastic piece 13c increases becomes gradual, so the resistance force that fingers or other objects receive from the head body 12 when pressing it increases gradually, making the feel when pressing the head body 12 lighter and improving operability. Furthermore, because the rate at which the force required to bend the elastic piece 13c increases is gradual, the load applied to the elastic piece 13c can be reduced, thus suppressing deformation of the elastic piece 13c.

[0037] Subsequently, when the pressure on the head body 12 is released, the elastic force of the elastic piece 13c, which had been elastically deformed, acts on the head body 12, causing the head body 12 to begin rising. As a result, the lower part of the annular portion 5d and the inner sliding piece 6c come into liquid-tight contact again, and the piston 6 rises together with the internal member 5, causing the inside of the cylinder 1 to be depressurized. This causes the valve body 2b to separate from the bottom wall portion 1a, opening the suction port 1d, and allowing the contents of the container to be drawn into the cylinder 1 through the pipe 4. Subsequently, when the head body 12 is pressed, the contents are discharged again from the discharge port 12d.

[0038] Here, we will explain in detail the effect of the back-side rib 10e provided on the pressing wall 10d. As described above, when the head body 12 is pressed down, the pressing wall 10d can cause the elastic piece 13c to bend radially outward. However, if the rigidity of the pressing wall 10d is low, the pressing wall 10d will bend inward, resulting in insufficient radial outward bending of the elastic piece 13c, which may prevent the head body 12 from returning to its upper limit. On the other hand, the pressing wall 10d in this embodiment is equipped with a back-side rib 10e, and the rigidity of the pressing wall 10d is increased by the back-side rib 10e. As a result, insufficient bending of the elastic piece 13c is suppressed, and the head body 12 can be returned to its upper limit more reliably.

[0039] Incidentally, when multiple back-side ribs 10e are provided on the pressing wall 10d, if the angle between adjacent back-side ribs 10e with respect to the central axis O is large, it is assumed that sufficient rigidity of the pressing wall 10d may not be obtained. As a result of the inventor's investigation into this point, it was found that if the angle between adjacent back-side ribs 10e with respect to the central axis O (the angle between the central parts in the thickness direction of the back-side ribs 10e) is within 75°, the insufficient rigidity of the pressing wall 10d can be resolved. Therefore, when providing back-side ribs 10e on the pressing wall 10d, it is preferable that even at the point where the angle between adjacent back-side ribs 10e with respect to the central axis O is largest, this angle should be within 75°. Based on this condition, when the back-side ribs 10e are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, it is preferable to provide five or more back-side ribs 10e on the pressing wall 10d (i.e., the angle between adjacent back-side ribs 10e with respect to the central axis O is 72°).

[0040] When the head body 12 is pressed down, the force is not always applied in a direction along the central axis O, but may be applied from a direction oblique to the central axis O. Also, the head body 12 may be pressed near where the nozzle 12c is located, or on the opposite side. When the way the head body 12 is pressed changes in this way, there is a concern that the elastic piece 13c will not elastically deform uniformly, and in this case, the magnitude of the force applied when pressing the head body 12 and the stability when the head body 12 returns to its upper limit may vary. In particular, if the back-side ribs 10e and elastic piece 13c are not provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, such variations are more likely to occur. For this reason, it is preferable that the back-side ribs 10e and elastic piece 13c be provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0041] The inventors of this invention further confirmed, by changing the number and arrangement of the back-side ribs 10e and elastic pieces 13c, that it was effective to increase the number of back-side ribs 10e to more than the number of elastic pieces 13c in order to further reduce the magnitude of the force required when pressing the head body 12 and the variation in stability when the head body 12 returns to its upper limit. In other words, since the head inner member 13 of this embodiment does not have a circumferential positioning mechanism for the head body 12, the elastic pieces 13c may contact the pressing wall 10d when it is located directly above the back-side ribs 10e, or it may contact between adjacent back-side ribs 10e. As described above, although the rigidity of the pressing wall 10d is increased by the back-side ribs 10e, the rigidity of the pressing wall 10d is reduced when it is located between adjacent back-side ribs 10e compared to when it is located directly above the back-side ribs 10e, so the reaction force from the pressing wall 10d to the elastic piece 13c is reduced accordingly. Therefore, the elastic piece 13c that contacts the pressing wall 10d while positioned between adjacent back-side ribs 10e will have less radial outward deflection compared to the elastic piece 13c that contacts the pressing wall 10d while positioned directly above the back-side ribs 10e. Here, if the number of back-side ribs 10e and elastic pieces 13c are the same, then either all elastic pieces 13c will contact the pressing wall 10d while positioned directly above the back-side ribs 10e, or all elastic pieces 13c will contact the pressing wall 10d while positioned between adjacent back-side ribs 10e. In other words, if the elastic force generated from the elastic piece 13c is set assuming that all elastic pieces 13c contact the pressing wall 10d while positioned directly above the back-side ribs 10e, then if the elastic piece 13c contacts the pressing wall 10d while positioned between adjacent back-side ribs 10e, there is a risk that the head body 12 will not return to its upper limit. In this case as well, if the elastic force obtained from the elastic piece 13c is increased in order to restore the head body 12, the load on the elastic piece 13c increases, making the elastic piece 13c more prone to deterioration.Furthermore, if the elastic force generated from the elastic piece 13c is set assuming that all the elastic pieces 13c are located between adjacent back-side ribs 10e and contact the pressing wall 10d, then when the elastic piece 13c contacts the pressing wall 10d directly above the back-side ribs 10e, the elastic piece 13c will bend more than expected, which may increase the resistance force that fingers or other objects receive from the head body 12 when pressing the head body 12, potentially impairing operability. On the other hand, if the number of back-side ribs 10e is greater than the number of elastic pieces 13c, then, as described above, the elastic pieces 13c will not contact the pressing wall 10d when they are directly above the back-side ribs 10e, nor will all the elastic pieces 13c contact the pressing wall 10d when they are between adjacent back-side ribs 10e. As a result, the degree of contact with the pressing wall 10d is averaged compared to when the number of back-side ribs 10e and elastic pieces 13c are equal, which further reduces the magnitude of the force required to press the head body 12 and the variation in stability when the head body 12 returns to its upper limit. In addition, since there is no need to make the elastic force obtained from the elastic pieces 13c excessively large, deformation of the elastic pieces 13c can be suppressed. Furthermore, because the number of back-side ribs 10e is greater than the number of elastic pieces 13c, the rigidity of the pressing wall 10d can be maintained.

[0042] Based on these considerations, the pump-type discharger 100 of this embodiment is provided with a total of six elastic pieces 13c at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and a total of seven back-side ribs 10e at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Further testing of this pump-type discharger 100 revealed that even when the direction of pushing down the head body 12 or the position of the force applied to the head body 12 was changed, variations in the magnitude of the force required to press the head body 12 and the stability when the head body 12 returns to its upper limit were suppressed. Furthermore, it was found that deformation of the elastic pieces 13c could be suppressed even when the head body 12 was repeatedly pressed. It was also found that even when the number and position of the back-side ribs 10e and elastic pieces 13c were appropriately changed, effects similar to those of this embodiment could be obtained.

[0043] Next, a second embodiment of the pump-type discharger according to the present invention, the pump-type discharger 100A, will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 7. The pump-type discharger 100A uses an inner head member 13A instead of the inner head member 13 that is provided in the pump-type discharger 100 described above.

[0044] As shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the head inner member 13A is provided with a through-opening 13e that penetrates the base portion 13a of the head inner member 13 described above. The through-opening 13e is provided adjacent to the elastic piece root portion 13c1 on the side closer to the central axis O than the elastic piece root portion 13c1. In plan view, the shape of the through-opening 13e in this embodiment is as shown in Figure 5A, extending in an arc shape radially inward and outward, similar to the inner circumferential surface of the elastic piece 13c, and extending linearly on both sides in the circumferential direction, similar to both circumferential end faces of the elastic piece 13c. Furthermore, the through-opening 13e is provided adjacent to all of the elastic piece root portions 13c1 of the total of six elastic pieces 13c provided by the head inner member 13A.

[0045] In this type of pump-type discharger 100A, as shown in Figure 4, before pressing the head body 12, the tip of the pressing wall 10d contacts the tip 13c3 of the elastic piece 13c, similar to the pump-type discharger 100 described above. As a result, the elastic piece 13c bends slightly radially inward, and the head body 12 moves to its upper limit (retraction limit). When the head body 12 is pressed, the pressing wall 10d that contacts the elastic piece 13c applies a pressing force to the elastic piece 13c, and as shown in Figure 6, the elastic piece 13c bends radially outward. In addition, in the pump-type discharger 100A, the elastic piece body portion 13c2 extends downward from the elastic piece root portion 13c1 toward the central axis O, so the length of the elastic piece 13c can be made longer compared to one that extends straight along the central axis O. In the pump-type discharger 100A, the pressing wall 10d is dome-shaped, and the contact point P where the pressing wall 10d contacts the elastic piece 13c moves from near the tip of the pressing wall 10d to near the base of the pressing wall 10d as the head body 12 is advanced. Therefore, the distance from the base of the elastic piece 13c1 to the contact point P is longer than in the case where the contact point P remains constant. Consequently, in the pump-type discharger 100A, the rate of increase in the force required to bend the elastic piece 13c becomes gradual, so the resistance force that fingers or other objects receive from the head body 12 when pressing the head body 12 increases gradually, making the feel when pressing the head body 12 lighter and improving operability. In addition, because the rate of increase in the force required to bend the elastic piece 13c becomes gradual, the load applied to the elastic piece 13c can be reduced, thus suppressing deformation of the elastic piece 13c.

[0046] Furthermore, the pump-type discharger 100A has a through-opening 13e located adjacent to the elastic base portion 13c1, on a side closer to the central axis O than the elastic base portion 13c1. In other words, because the base portion 13a is more elastically deformable due to the provision of the through-opening 13e, when the head body 12 is pushed down, the elastic base portion 13c1 elastically deforms so as to swing radially outward, as shown in Figure 7. Thus, with the pump-type discharger 100A of this embodiment, when the head body 12 is pressed, the elastic piece root portion 13c1 elastically deforms so as to swing radially outward. As a result, the amount of deflection of the elastic piece 13c on the tip side of the elastic piece root portion 13c1 is smaller than the amount of deflection in the pump-type discharger 100 (in the pump-type discharger 100, the rigidity of the base portion 13a makes it difficult for the elastic piece root portion 13c1 to deflect radially outward, so the amount of deflection of the elastic piece 13c on the tip side of the elastic piece root portion 13c1 is larger in the pump-type discharger 100 than in the pump-type discharger 100A). In other words, in the pump-type discharger 100A, the amount of deformation of the elastic piece 13c when it deflects is distributed between the elastic piece root portion 13c1 and the tip side of the elastic piece root portion 13c1. By distributing the deformation in this way and eliminating localized bending, the rate of increase in the force required to bend the elastic piece 13c becomes more gradual, and the effect of suppressing the deformation of the elastic piece 13c can be further enhanced.

[0047] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, this embodiment may be modified as follows. For example, the pump described above is just one example, and the present invention also includes the use of other types of pumps.

[0048] Furthermore, the number of components constituting the pump-type discharger can be changed as appropriate. For example, in the embodiment described above, the "head" was composed of two components, the head body 12 and the head inner component 13, but it may be composed of just one component.

[0049] In the embodiment described above, a circumferential positioning mechanism was not provided between the head body 12 and the head inner member 13 in order to improve ease of installation. However, if it is preferable to prioritize accurate positioning of the two over ease of installation, this positioning mechanism may be provided.

[0050] (Note) This specification discloses the following technologies in one aspect. The reference numerals listed below correspond to those used in the accompanying drawings, but are provided as examples only and are not intended to limit the inventions of this application.

[0051] (Technology 1) A pump-type dispenser (100, 100A) comprises a cap (10) attached to the mouth of a container that holds liquid contents, a pump driven by the movement of a stem (7a) held at the mouth by the cap (10), and a head (12, 13, 13A) connected to the stem (7a) and having a discharge port (12d) for discharging liquid contents to the outside, wherein the liquid contents in the container are discharged from the discharge port (12d) by moving the head (12, 13, 13A) along the central axis (O) of the stem (7a), The cap (10) protrudes toward the head (12, 13, 13A) and has a dome-shaped pressing wall (10d) centered on the central axis (O), The head (12, 13, 13A) has a base portion (13a) and an elastic piece (13c) to which a root portion (13c1) is connected to the base portion (13a) and which bends away from the central axis (O) by the pressing wall (10d) when the head (12, 13, 13A) is advanced toward the cap (10). The elastic piece (13c) is a pump-type discharger (100, 100A) having a main body (13c2) that extends from the base (13c1) toward the cap (10) in a direction that approaches the central axis (O).

[0052] This technology allows the elastic piece to flex against the pressure wall when the head is advanced toward the cap. As the flexed elastic piece returns to its original position, it can return the head to its initial position. Furthermore, because the elastic piece described above is used instead of a metal coil spring, there is no need to separate metal parts after use, as was done with conventional pump-type dispensers. It can also be reused as a resin part, resulting in excellent recyclability. In addition, the rate at which the force required to flex the elastic piece increases is gradual, resulting in a lighter feel when pressing the head and improved operability. Moreover, the load on the elastic piece is reduced, thus suppressing its deterioration.

[0053] (Technology 2) The tip of the elastic piece (13c) extends toward the cap (10) in a direction away from the central axis (O) as it approaches the pump-type discharger (100, 100A) according to Art 1.

[0054] This technology eliminates the need to bend elastic pieces in an unnatural direction when assembling pump-type dischargers, thereby improving assembly efficiency.

[0055] (Technology 3) The pressing wall (10d) has a back-side rib (10e) that extends along the central axis (O), The pump-type discharger (100, 100A) according to Technology 1 or 2, wherein the aforementioned back-side ribs (10e) are provided in multiple locations spaced apart in a direction circumferential to the central axis (O), and the angle between adjacent back-side ribs (10e) with respect to the central axis (O) is 75° or less.

[0056] This technology eliminates the insufficient rigidity of the pressing wall, thereby suppressing insufficient deflection of the elastic piece when the head is pushed down, and allowing the head to return more reliably to its upper limit.

[0057] (Technology 4) The aforementioned back-side ribs (10e) are provided in multiple equal-sequence arrangements that circle the central axis (O), The pump-type discharger (100, 100A) described in Technical Reference 3 is provided with multiple elastic pieces (13c) arranged at equal intervals in a direction that circumfers the central axis (O).

[0058] This technology makes it possible to reduce variations in the amount of force required when pressing the head and in the stability when the head returns to its upper limit.

[0059] (Technology 5) The pump-type discharger (100, 100A) described in Technical 4, wherein the number of the aforementioned back-side ribs (10e) is greater than the number of the aforementioned elastic pieces (13c).

[0060] This technology further reduces variations in the amount of force required to press the head and in the stability of the head returning to its upper limit.

[0061] (Technology 6) The aforementioned heads (12, 13, 13A) The head body (12) has the aforementioned discharge port (12d) and a cylindrical portion (12a) connected to the stem (7a) and extending along the central axis (O) with an internal passage connected to the discharge port (12d), The head comprises a head inner member (13) having the base portion (13a) and the elastic piece (13c), which is attached to the inside of the head body (12), The base portion (13a) is plate-shaped and has a through hole (13a1) in the center through which the cylindrical portion (12a) is inserted. The head body (12) has an engaging portion (12f) that prevents the outer edge of the base portion (13a) from coming off, as described in any of Technical References 1 to 5, for a pump-type discharger (100, 100A).

[0062] This technology makes the structure for providing the elastic piece to the head more suitable for mass production, thus facilitating the realization of the present invention.

[0063] (Technology 7) The base portion (13a) has a through opening (13e) that penetrates the base portion (13a), The through-opening (13e) is provided adjacent to the root portion (13c1) on the side closer to the central axis (O) than the root portion (13c1), in a pump-type discharger (100A) according to any one of the technologies 1 to 6.

[0064] This technology causes the base of the head to elastically deform and swing radially outward when the head body is pressed, resulting in less deflection in the elastic piece at the tip than in the case without a through-opening. In other words, by providing a through-opening, the amount of deformation when the elastic piece bends is distributed between the base and the tip, so the rate of increase in the force required to bend the elastic piece becomes more gradual, and the wear of the elastic piece can be further suppressed.

[0065] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and unless otherwise specifically limited in the above description, various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the spirit of the present invention as described in the claims. For example, the configuration of the above-described embodiment can be added or deleted as appropriate, and the configuration of one embodiment can be provided in other embodiments. Furthermore, the effects in the above-described embodiment are merely illustrative of the effects that may result from the present invention. In other words, the effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-described effects, and additional effects may also be produced in addition to the above-described effects. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0066] 1: Cylinder 1a: Bottom wall part 1b: Cylinder wall 1c: Flange wall 1d: Inlet 1e: Holding cylinder 1F: Ventilation opening 2: Valve member 2a: base 2b: Valve body 2c: Connecting piece 4: Pipe 5: Internal components 5a: Connecting tube 5b: Bottom 5c: Communication port 5d: Annular section 6: Piston 6a: base 6b: Outer sliding piece 6c: Inner sliding piece 7: Cylindrical member 7a: Stem 7b: Expanded diameter part 8: Holder 8a: Holder base 8b: Flange 9: Packing 10: Cap 10a: Ceiling wall 10b: Lower peripheral wall 10c: Female thread section 10d: Pressure wall 10e: Ribs on the reverse side 10f: Upper peripheral wall 12: Head body (head) 12a: Cylindrical part 12b:Top 12c: Nozzle 12d: Discharge port 12e: Outer wall 12f: Engagement part 13, 13A: Head internal component (head) 13a: Base section 13a1: Through hole 13b: Cylindrical wall 13c: Elastic piece 13c1: Elastic flap root (root portion) 13c2: Elastic piece main body (main body) 13c3: Tip of the elastic piece 13d: Reinforcement rib 13e: Through opening 14: Nozzle cover 14a: Tip cover 14b: Stopper section 14c: Cover Rib 100, 100A: Pump-type discharger O: Central axis P: Contact point

Claims

1. A pump-type dispenser comprising a cap attached to the mouth of a container holding a liquid, a pump driven by the movement of a stem held at the mouth by the cap, and a head connected to the stem having a discharge port for discharging the liquid to the outside, wherein the liquid inside the container is discharged from the discharge port by moving the head along the central axis of the stem, The cap protrudes toward the head and has a dome-shaped pressing wall centered on the central axis, The head has a base portion and an elastic piece whose root portion is connected to the base portion and which bends away from the central axis due to the pressing wall when the head is advanced toward the cap. The elastic piece is a pump-type discharger having a main body portion that extends in a direction that approaches the central axis as it moves from the base portion toward the cap.

2. The pump-type discharger according to claim 1, wherein the tip of the elastic piece extends in a direction away from the central axis as it approaches the cap.

3. The pressing wall has a back-side rib that extends along the central axis, The pump-type discharger according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the aforementioned back-side ribs are provided in multiple locations at intervals in a direction that circumfers the central axis, and the angle between adjacent back-side ribs with respect to the central axis is 75° or less.

4. The aforementioned ribs on the back side are provided in multiple equal intervals in a direction that circles the central axis, The pump-type discharger according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of elastic pieces are provided at equal intervals in a direction that circumfers the central axis.

5. The pump-type discharger according to claim 4, wherein the number of ribs on the back side is greater than the number of elastic pieces.

6. The head is A head body having the aforementioned discharge port and a cylindrical portion connected to the stem, extending along the central axis, with an internal passage leading to the discharge port, The head comprises the base portion and the elastic piece, and an inner head member that is attached to the inside of the head body, The base portion is plate-shaped and has a through hole in the center through which the cylindrical portion is inserted. The pump-type discharger according to claim 1, wherein the head body has an engaging portion that prevents the outer edge of the base portion from coming off and holds it in place.

7. The base portion has a through-opening that penetrates the base portion, The pump-type discharger according to claim 1, wherein the through-opening is provided adjacent to the root portion on a side closer to the central axis than the root portion.

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