Handy spray can puncher

Abstract

To provide a handy spray can puncher that controls the diameter and direction of the hole (not facing the operator) and enables even elderly people and women to easily and safely punch holes in spray cans. [Solution] The handheld spray can puncher comprises a pair of handle arms 1 that can be opened and closed using a shaft 1c as a fulcrum, and a pair of tip arms 2 whose ends 2a are attached to the outer surface of the handle arms 1 and that open and close in conjunction with the opening and closing of the handle arms.When the handle arms are opened, an approximately triangular opening is formed by the inner surface of the tip arms and the shaft 1c of the handle arms, and a spray can 6 is held in the opening.When the handle arms 1 are closed, the hole punching blade 3 attached to the tip arms 2 can punch a hole in the spray can 6 in a direction away from the operator.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a spray can puncher, and more particularly to a handheld spray can puncher that can fix a spray can and punch a hole facing away from the operator. [Background technology]

[0002] The Japan Aerosol Association receives telephone inquiries about how to dispose of spray cans (1,200 calls per year), most of which are from elderly people and women, and are inquiries about how to dispose of spray cans that they cannot use up the contents of or are old and do not dispense even when the button is pressed. There is a need for methods, procedures, and equipment that can safely and easily dispose of spray cans.

[0003] An example of equipment that can process such spray cans is a device for venting residual gas from a spray can (gas venting cap) that has a tube in the center of the cap, one or more grooves on the inside bottom of the tube that are narrower than the outer diameter of the stem, and an outlet at the bottom of the tube (see, for example, Patent Document 1).There is also a spray can hole puncher that has a pair of clamping pieces that are rotatably connected and that have blades for punching holes on the opposing side faces of the clamping pieces (see, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Jpn. Appl. KOKAI Publication No. 1-151861 [Patent Document 2] Jikkai Showa 62-41420

[0005] Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Approximately 700 million spray cans (cylinders and aerosol cans) are used in Japan each year, of which 300 million cans (42.8%) are equipped with degassing caps, making it possible to degas the remaining 400 million cans.

[0007] Assuming that the holes used in current gas venting equipment are approximately 2mm or larger in diameter, the amount of gas that comes out of the hole is large, and the scattering distance and range are large, so many people are afraid of this.

[0008] When puncturing a spray can, if there is any content remaining inside the can, the pressure inside the can (internal pressure) is higher than atmospheric pressure, and the contents will spray out the moment the hole is punctured, which can be dangerous. For this reason, it is important to first use the gas release cap to drain out any remaining content, and then puncture the can. However, many people store spray cans that have not been used for a long time and are in poor storage conditions, causing rust and other issues that prevent the contents from being dispensed even when the button is pressed.

[0009] There have been many fire accidents where sharp objects such as awls have been used to puncture cans and then the fire has spread to other fire sources indoors. (The Tokyo Fire Department reported 115 fire accidents caused by spray products in its 2024 investigation report, and the national figure is estimated to be eight times higher based on the Tokyo population ratio.) For this reason, it is necessary to not allow spray cans to be punctured indoors, and to also provide proper procedures for puncturing spray cans that cannot be spilled.

[0010] Drilling holes in metal requires a certain amount of impact force. Furthermore, flammable gases and target substances (pesticides, paints, etc.) have an odor and can be inhaled if left in large quantities.

[0011] Disposal of spray cans varies by municipality. Some municipalities drill holes in them before disposal, while others collect them as non-burnable waste. In municipalities that drill holes in them, fires have occurred when consumers have drilled holes in them incorrectly. On the other hand, municipalities that collect them as non-burnable waste have also experienced fires in collection trucks and at final disposal sites. A solution that is safe for both consumers and municipal collectors is needed.

[0012] This invention was made in consideration of such circumstances, and aims to provide a spray can puncher that controls the diameter and direction of the hole (not pointing towards the user), allowing even elderly people and women to easily and safely punch holes in spray cans. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The handheld spray can puncher of this invention comprises a pair of handle arms that can be opened and closed using a shaft as a fulcrum, and a pair of tip arms that have one end attached to the outer surface of the handle arm and the other end having a shaft, and that open and close in conjunction with the opening and closing of the handle arm.A hole punching blade is provided on the shaft of the tip arm, and when the handle arm is opened, an approximately triangular opening is formed by the inner surface of the tip arm and the shaft of the handle arm.A spray can is held in the opening, and when the handle arm is closed, the hole punching blade can punch a hole in the spray can in a direction away from the operator.

[0014] It is preferable that the handle arm has a support center lever on the outer surface of the shaft portion thereof, which tilts when it comes into contact with the spray can. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] This handheld spray can puncher, designed for elderly and female users, allows for easy and safe puncturing of spray cans, providing peace of mind. While previous puncturing devices required grasping the metal container and applying a certain amount of force, this handheld spray can puncher does not require any force. Instead, a pair of handle arms are opened, a spray can is inserted into the roughly triangular opening formed by the inner surface of the distal arm and the handle arm shaft. The spray can is then secured by closing the handle arms with both hands, and a punching blade attached to the distal arm's fulcrum punches the can away from the user, allowing any remaining contents to be expelled. The spray can is safely punched away from the user's face and within the opening while the spray can is being held. Furthermore, because the hole is punched by manipulating the handle arms (point of force), the hole is gradually opened, allowing for a minimum diameter (approximately 0.4 mm), reducing the force of the spray. Furthermore, once the contents have been expelled, the handle arms can be opened and removed without touching the spray can.

[0016] Furthermore, if the handheld spray can puncher of the present invention is equipped with a support center lever on the outer surface of the shaft of the handle arm that tilts when it comes into contact with the spray can, when the spray can is inserted into the opening, the support center lever tilts according to the outer diameter of the spray can and presses the spray can toward the punching blade of the tip lever, so that a hole can be punched even if the outer diameter of the spray can is different without having to perform a switching operation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a view showing the handheld spray can puncher of the present invention in its stored state. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the handheld spray can puncher of the present invention in an open state. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a spray can placed inside the triangle. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the handheld spray can puncher of the present invention. [Figure 5]This is a diagram showing the spray can after the hole is made being placed into the paper bag. [Figure 6] This diagram shows the operation of the support center lever within the triangle (large can and small can). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Next, the handheld spray can punch of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The handheld spray can punch 5 shown in Figures 1 to 4 includes a pair of handle arms 1 that can be opened and closed around a shaft 1c as a fulcrum, and a pair of tip arms 2 that have ends 2a attached to the outer surface of the handle arms 1 and the other ends with a shaft 2c, and that open and close in conjunction with the opening and closing of the handle arms 1. A hole punching blade 3 is provided on the shaft 2c of the tip arms 2, and when the handle arms 1 are opened, a substantially triangular opening is formed by the inner surface of the tip arms 2 and the shaft 1c of the handle arms. A spray can 6 is held in the opening, and when the handle arms 1 are closed, the hole punching blade 3 can punch a hole in the spray can 6 facing away from the operator.

[0019] When not in use, the handheld spray can puncher 5 can be folded into a flat plate by closing the handle arm 1 as shown in Figure 1, making it easy to store. Figure 2 shows the handle arm 1 in an open position, with the inner surface of the distal arm 2 and the handle arm shaft 1c forming a roughly triangular opening. To punch a hole in a spray can 6, the top of the spray can 6 is placed over the opening, as shown in Figure 3. When the handle arm 1 is closed, the spray can 6 is sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the distal arm 2. When the handle arm 1 is further closed, the support center lever 4 attached to the shaft 1c and the punching blade 3 attached to the inner side of the shaft 2c punch a hole in the side of the spray can. Note that the punching blade 3 is protected by a cover 7 on top, as shown in Figure 5. When the handle arm 1 is closed, the cover 7 comes into contact with the spray can, and the tip of the punching blade 3 hits the hole in the lowered cover 7 and punches a hole of minimum diameter.

[0020] When the spray can puncher 5 is placed over the spray can 6 from above, if the can diameter is large, the support center lever 4 comes into contact with the spray can and is lifted up, pressing the spray can against the punching blade 3.

[0021] The correct procedure for disposing of spray cans is to prepare a large paper bag or cardboard box in advance. Go outside (to a balcony or garden) and press the button on the spray can 6 to empty the contents of the paper bag (Figure 5). If a gas release cap is available, use it. Flammable gases such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sprayed into a paper bag will evaporate within a few minutes. This also prevents contamination from the contents, and the paper bag can be disposed of as combustible waste. The spray can hole puncher 5, which was devised as a way to dispose of spray cans that won't come out even when the button is pressed, utilizes a fulcrum, point of application, and point of force. It slowly holds the spray can 6 with little force and pushes it into the paper bag to open a small hole (approximately 0.4 mm). After that, leave only the spray can inside the paper bag and leave it for a while. [Industrial Applicability] This device is a spray can puncher that is easy to use and provides peace of mind, even for elderly people and women. Using this spray can puncher along with proper disposal procedures can reduce fire accidents. Furthermore, by using this spray can puncher during waste sorting in each local government, it can lead to the recovery of metal resources from non-combustible waste, promoting a recycling-oriented society. [Explanation of symbols] 1 Handle arm 1a Gripping part 1b Holding part 1c Shaft 2. Tip arm 2a end 2b Holding part 2c Shaft 3 Hole punch 4 Support center lever 5 spray can puncher 6 spray cans 7 Cover

Claims

1. The device is provided with a pair of handle arms that can be opened and closed using a shaft as a fulcrum, and a pair of tip arms that have one end attached to the outer surface of the handle arm and the other end having a shaft, and that open and close in conjunction with the opening and closing of the handle arm, and a hole punch blade is provided on the shaft of the tip arm, When the handle arm is opened, an approximately triangular opening is formed by the inner surface of the tip arm and the shaft of the handle arm, and a spray can is held in the opening, and when the handle arm is closed, a hole can be made in the spray can by the hole-making blade in a direction away from the operator.

2. 2. The handheld spray can puncher according to claim 1, further comprising a support center lever provided on the outer surface of the shaft of the handle arm, the support center lever tilting when the support center lever comes into contact with the spray can.

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