Spray pump and spray container

Abstract

To provide a pump which applies a pressure to a liquid to jet the liquid and has a structure which eliminates a possibility that a nozzle falls forward when the liquid is jetted.SOLUTION: A pump includes: a cylinder 10 including a space for storing a liquid therein; a piston 20 which compresses the space; and a jet button 30 attached to an upper end of the piston 20. The jet button 30 includes: a cylindrical nozzle 32 provided integrally with a cylindrical attachment part 31 which is attached to the upper end of the piston 20; and a columnar part 35 disposed within the nozzle. A center axis of the nozzle 32 intersects with a center axis of the piston 20. The nozzle 32 has an opening at a rear end part opposite to a jet port 36a. The columnar part 35 is inserted from the opening at the rear end part of the nozzle 32 and engaged with the nozzle 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pump for ejecting a liquid in a bottle.

Background Art

[0002] A pump attached to the opening of a bottle for ejecting a liquid such as a drug in the bottle is designed in terms of the shape of an operation part (ejection button) and the ejection direction according to the application. For example, a pump for spraying nasal drops into the nasal cavity is designed such that the ejection port of the nozzle faces straight up. During use, the tip of the nozzle is inserted into the entrance of the nasal cavity to eject the drug into the nasal cavity. Also, a pump for spraying a drug towards the throat from the mouth is designed to have a shape in which the nozzle extends long forward. During use, the nozzle is inserted into the mouth and the drug is sprayed towards the throat.

[0003] In addition, in order to eject a liquid such as a drug in a bottle powerfully, a pump having a pressure accumulation structure is disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the like. The pressure accumulation structure of the pump is a structure in which the sucked-up liquid is temporarily stored in the space of the cylinder, and when the user presses the ejection button, the piston in the cylinder is pushed down to compress the space. When the pressure in the space in the cylinder reaches a predetermined pressure or more due to the user's pressing, the flow path in the piston is pushed open by the pressure, and the liquid in the cylinder rises through the flow path in the piston. The risen liquid is ejected from the ejection port of the nozzle attached to the tip of the flow path.

[0004] In a pump having a pressure accumulation structure, since the flow path is formed narrowly up to near the ejection port and the pressure in the flow path is maintained, and the liquid is ejected powerfully from the ejection port, it is also possible to eject the liquid in a mist form by devising the shape of the nozzle.

[0005] The nozzle of the ejection pump disclosed in Patent Document 1 is inserted from the front (the ejection direction) into an annular groove provided at the tip of the flow path of the ejection button body. The nozzle is fixed to the ejection button body by a protrusion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle fitting into a circumferential groove provided in the annular groove of the ejection button body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] As described above, a pump that ejects liquid forcefully applies pressure to the liquid inside, guides the liquid to the ejection port through a narrow flow path, and ejects it all at once toward the space at the ejection port. Therefore, an outward pushing pressure is applied to the nozzle during ejection. Since the nozzle is fitted to the button body, it usually does not fall off due to the pressure during ejection. However, as the ejection amount increases, the force applied to the nozzle also increases. In addition, in a pump that sprays a drug onto the human body, since the nozzle is inserted into the mouth, etc., it is desirable to completely eliminate the possibility that the nozzle falls off and flies forward together with the drug.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a pump that applies pressure to eject liquid forcefully, and has a structure that eliminates the possibility that the nozzle falls off forward during ejection.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a pump that is attached to a container for storing liquid and applies pressure to the liquid in the container to eject it. This pump A cylinder having a space for storing a liquid inside, a piston whose lower end is inserted into the cylinder and compresses the space by descending, and a flow path provided inside the piston for guiding the liquid in the space to the upper end when the pressure in the space exceeds a predetermined pressure, and an ejection button attached to the upper end of the piston and receiving an operation of pushing the piston downward from the user. The ejection button includes a cylindrical attachment portion that is fitted over the upper end of the piston, a cylindrical nozzle provided integrally with the attachment portion, a tip member that is integrally formed with the nozzle and forms an ejection port by narrowing the tip of the nozzle, and a koma disposed inside the nozzle. The central axis of the nozzle intersects the central axis of the piston. The nozzle has an opening at the rear end opposite to the ejection port. The koma is columnar with an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the nozzle. The koma is inserted from the opening at the rear end of the nozzle and engages with the nozzle.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, since the ejection button and the nozzle have an integrated structure and the koma is inserted from the rear end of the nozzle to narrow the space inside the nozzle, it is possible to eliminate the possibility that the nozzle drops forward during ejection.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, an ejection pump according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are a front view and a side view, respectively, of the ejection pump of the present embodiment attached to a container. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ejection pump 1 of the present embodiment. FIGS. 3(a) to 3(d) are diagrams showing the cross-section and the appearance of the ejection button 30 with the button lid portion 34 removed. FIGS. 4(a-1), 4(a-2), 4(b-1), and 4(b-2) are diagrams each showing an example of the groove shape of the tip member 36 of the nozzle 32 of the ejection pump 1. FIGS. 5(a) to 5(c) are diagrams showing the appearance of the plate 35. FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) are diagrams showing the appearance and the cross-section of the button lid portion 34. In FIGS. 2 to 6, the cross-sectional portions of the members are colored gray.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), the ejection pump 1 of the present embodiment is a pump that is attached to the upper opening of a container (here, a bottle) 2 that stores liquid, sucks up the liquid in the container, applies pressure, and ejects it.

[0015] < Structure of the Ejection Pump > The structure of the ejection pump 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

[0016] The ejection pump 1 includes a cylinder 10, a piston 20, an ejection button 30, a bottle attachment ring 40, and a tube 50.

[0017] 「Cylinder 10」 Cylinder 10 has a space 12 for storing liquid inside.

[0018] 「Piston 20」 Piston 20 is composed of two members, a lower piston 21 and an upper piston 22. The upper end of the lower piston 21 is inserted inside from the lower part of the upper piston 22.

[0019] The respective lower ends 21a, 22a are inserted into the cylinder 10. The outer circumferences of the lower ends 21a, 22a are in close contact with the inner wall of the cylinder 10, and while keeping the space 12 between the lower end 21a and the lower end 22a airtight, they are configured to be able to slide in the central axis direction (vertical direction) inside the cylinder and move up and down.

[0020] A flow path 21b is provided along the central axis below the central part in the axial direction of the lower piston 21.

[0021] The lower end of the flow path 21b is an opening for taking in liquid. Near the upper end of the flow path 21b, a communication path 21c for communicating the flow path 21b with the space 12 is provided.

[0022] A cylindrical elastic valve 21d is placed on the outer circumference of the lower piston 21 so as to cover the communication path 21c. The upper peripheral edge of the valve 21d is fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the lower piston 21. The lower peripheral edge of the valve 21d is not fixed, and when the space 12 is pressurized, it closes to block the communication path 21c, and when the space 12 becomes negative pressure, it opens to release the communication path 21c. Thereby, the liquid in the container 2 can be sucked up and stored in the space 12 and pressurized.

[0023] Also, a compressed spring 13 is arranged in the space 11 between the lower end 21a of the lower piston 21 and the bottom surface of the cylinder 10. The spring 13 biases upward the lower piston 21.

[0024] Inside the upper piston 22, a flow path 22b is provided along the axial direction from the lower end to the upper end. The upper part of the lower piston 21 is inserted into the lower part of the flow path 22b and operates as a valve for opening and closing the flow path 22b.

[0025] In a state where no pressure is applied to the space 12, since a force is applied to push up the lower piston 21 from the spring 13, the lower piston 21 closes and blocks the lower part of the flow path 22b. When the pressure in the space 12 becomes greater than the force pushing up the spring 13, the lower piston 21 pushes down the spring 13 and slightly descends, thereby opening the lower end of the flow path 22b. As a result, the liquid in the space 12 flows into the flow path 22b from the gap between the lower piston 21 and the upper piston 22 and reaches the upper end portion 22c.

[0026] "Ejection button 30" An ejection button 30 is attached to the upper end portion 22c of the upper piston 22. The ejection button 30 receives an operation from the user to push down the piston 20.

[0027] The ejection button 30 includes a cylindrical mounting portion 31, a nozzle 32, a button body 33, and a button lid portion 34.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 3(a) to (d), the cylindrical mounting portion 31, the nozzle 32, and the button body 33 are integrally formed.

[0029] The cylindrical mounting portion 31 is placed over the upper end portion 22c of the piston 20 and is a member for mounting the ejection button 30 to the piston 20.

[0030] The nozzle 32 is a cylindrical member, and the central axis 32a intersects (here, is orthogonal to) the central axis of the piston 20.

[0031] At the tip of the nozzle 32, a tip member 36 is provided that narrows the tip of the nozzle to form an ejection port 36a. The tip member 36 is integrally formed with the nozzle 32.

[0032] In addition, the internal space of the nozzle 32 communicates with the internal space of the mounting portion 31 through the communication passage 32b. A plate 35 is disposed in the internal space of the nozzle 32. The plate 35 has a columnar shape with an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the nozzle 32, narrowing the internal space of the nozzle 32 and forming a flow path 32c along the inner wall of the nozzle 32. Thereby, a narrow flow path 32c capable of maintaining the flow velocity of the liquid in the nozzle 32 can be formed.

[0033] On the surface of the tip member 36 on the side of the internal space of the nozzle 32, a plurality of grooves 36b are formed around the injection port 36a as shown in FIG. 3(b). The shape of the groove 36b may be screw-shaped as shown in FIGS. 4(a-1) and (a-2), or may be radial as shown in FIGS. 4(b-1) and (b-2). Further, on the inner wall of the nozzle 32, at a position near the tip member 36 and between the grooves 36b, a convex portion 36c having a longitudinal direction in the axial direction of the nozzle 32 is provided. The convex portion 36c guides the liquid led to the tip member 36 by the flow path 32c along the inner wall of the nozzle 32 to the screw-shaped or radial groove 36b, and the screw-shaped or radial groove 36b can maintain its flow velocity and guide it to the ejection port 36a.

[0034] The screw-shaped grooves 36b in FIGS. 4(a-1) and (a-2) are formed in a twisted shape in which the width of the groove 36b is narrowed as it approaches the ejection port 36a, and the central axis of the groove 36b is inclined with respect to the radial direction. Thereby, under the same other conditions, the screw-shaped grooves 36b in FIGS. 4(a-1) and (a-2) have a higher flow velocity of the liquid reaching the ejection port 36a than the radial grooves 36b in FIGS. 4(b-1) and (b-2).

[0035] Also, the diameter of the ejection port 36a is smaller for the tip member 36 in FIGS. 4(a-1) and (a-2) than for the tip member in FIGS. 4(b-1) and (b-2).

[0036] As a result, the tip member 36 of the screw-shaped groove 36b in FIGS. 4(a-1) and (a-2) can maintain the flow rate of the liquid and eject it directly from the small ejection port 36a into the external space at once, so it is suitable for ejecting the liquid in a mist form. On the other hand, the tip member 36 of the radial groove 36b in FIGS. 4(b-1) and (b-2) slightly suppresses the flow rate of the liquid compared with FIGS. 4(a-1) and (a-2), and ejects it from the slightly larger ejection port 36a into the external space, so it is suitable for forming a powerful linear ejection flow and ejecting it outward.

[0037] On the other hand, an opening 32d is provided at the rear end portion on the side opposite to the ejection port 36a of the nozzle 32. The piece 35 is inserted through the opening 32d at the rear end portion of the nozzle 32 and engages with the nozzle 32. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5(a) to (c), an annular protrusion 35a is provided along the outer periphery on the outer peripheral surface of the columnar piece 35. An annular groove 32e is provided on the inner wall of the nozzle 32 at a position corresponding to the annular protrusion 35a of the piece 35, and engages with the annular protrusion 35a of the piece 35. This prevents the piece 35 from falling out through the opening 32d at the rear end portion of the nozzle 32.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 3(c) and (d), the button body 33 of the ejection button 30 is a cylindrical member provided outside the cylindrical mounting portion 31.

[0039] The button lid portion 34 of the ejection button 30 covers the upper part of the rear end portion of the nozzle 32 and fits onto the upper edge portion of the button body 33. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6(a) and (b), the button lid portion 34 includes a disc member 34a and a skirt member 34b extending downward from a part of the periphery of the disc member 34a. The disc member 34a and the skirt member 34b are integrally formed.

[0040] A plurality of grooves for preventing the user's finger from slipping are provided on the upper surface of the disc member 34a.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 2, the skirt member 34b covers the opening 32d at the rear end of the nozzle 32, and suppresses the liquid from dropping backward from the opening 32d even when the annular protrusion 35a of the disk 35 comes off from the annular groove 32e of the nozzle 32 due to the pressure at the time of liquid ejection.

[0042] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the lower end 34c of the skirt member 34b of the button lid portion 34 is inserted inside the cylindrical button body 33 and engaged with the button body 33. Thereby, even when the disk 35 pushes the skirt member 34b backward due to the pressure at the time of liquid ejection, the lower end 34c of the skirt member 34b is suppressed by the button body 33, and deformation of the skirt member 34b can be suppressed. Therefore, backward dropout of the disk 35 can be strongly suppressed.

[0043] < Operations of Each Part of the Ejection Pump 1 > Regarding the operations of each part when the ejection pump 1 ejects the liquid in the container 2, it will be described with reference to FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b).

[0044] The bottle attachment ring 40 is fixed by screwing or fitting around the opening of the container 2. A tube 50 is attached to the lower end of the cylinder 10 as necessary.

[0045] The user places a finger on the upper surface of the ejection button 30 and presses it. As a result, the piston 20 to which the mounting portion 31 of the ejection button 30 is mounted descends inside the cylinder 10 while compressing the spring 13. Along with this, the space 12 inside the cylinder 10 is compressed. Since air is present in the space 12 of the unused ejection pump 1, the compressed air due to the compression of the space 12 passes between the upper piston 22 and the cylinder 10 and is discharged to the outside through the communication hole 10a of the cylinder 10.

[0046] When the user releases the hand from the ejection button 30, the piston 20 is pushed up by the spring 13, and the space 12 inside the cylinder is expanded.

[0047] As a result, the space 12 becomes a negative pressure, the valve 21d opens, and as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7(a), the liquid in the container 2 is sucked up by the pipe 50, passes through the space 11 at the lower part of the cylinder 10, enters the flow path 21b of the lower piston 21 of the piston 20, and moves from the communication path 21c into the space 12. Thus, the space 12 is filled with the liquid.

[0048] When the user presses the ejection button 30 again in this state, the piston 20 descends within the cylinder 10 while compressing the spring 13. Along with this, the space 12 within the cylinder 10 is compressed again, and pressure is applied to the liquid within the space 12. When the pressure within the space 12 becomes greater than the force with which the spring 13 pushes up the lower piston 21, the pressure within the space 12 pushes the lower piston 21 downward against the spring 13.

[0049] As a result, as shown in Fig. 7(b), a gap is generated between the lower piston 21 and the upper piston 22, and the flow path 22b opens. The liquid within the space 12 to which pressure is applied flows into the flow path 22b within the upper piston 22 all at once through this gap and reaches the upper end of the upper piston 22. Then, the liquid flows from the communication path 32b of the nozzle 32 into the flow path 32c between the inner wall of the nozzle 32 and the top 35 and proceeds through the flow path 32c while maintaining the flow rate. The screw-shaped groove 36b of the tip member 36 guides the liquid to the ejection port 36a while maintaining the flow rate of the liquid.

[0050] The liquid that is guided to the ejection port 36a while maintaining the flow rate is ejected all at once from the ejection port 36a into the external space. As a result, when the shape of the groove 36b of the tip member 36 is screw-shaped as shown in Figs. 4(a-1) and (a-2), the liquid is ejected in a mist form (mist ejection). On the other hand, when the shape of the groove 36b of the tip member 36 is radial as shown in Figs. 4(b-1) and (b-2), a powerful linear flow is ejected (straight ejection).

[0051] As described above, in this embodiment, since the nozzle 32 is integrally formed with other members such as the mounting portion 31 of the ejection button 30 and is mounted on the piston 20, there is no risk of falling off in the direction (forward) in which the liquid is ejected.

[0052] Also, in order to form a flow path that guides the liquid flow rate to the ejection port 36a in the nozzle 32 without reducing it, the plate 35 is used and the plate 35 is inserted from the opening 32d at the rear end of the nozzle 32, so there is no risk of the plate falling forward.

[0053] The plate 35 is engaged with the inner wall of the nozzle 32 and has a structure that is difficult to fall off backward. Furthermore, the skirt member 34b of the button lid portion 34 covers the rear end of the nozzle 32. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the plate 35 from falling backward.

[0054] In the above-described embodiment, in the drawing, the tip of the nozzle 32 shows the shape of a long nozzle 32 that protrudes forward from the button body 33 of the ejection button 30, but this embodiment is not limited to a long nozzle. It is of course possible to adopt the structure of this embodiment with a normal ejection button.

[0055] Note that whether the injection state is a mist injection or a straight injection is not determined only by the shape of the groove 36b of the tip member 36 shown in FIG. 4, but depends on the size of the ejection port 36a, the spring constant of the spring 13, and the pressure during compression in the space 12 in the cylinder 10. Therefore, the shape of the groove 36b and the pressure in the space in the cylinder 10 may be designed so as to obtain a desired injection state.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0056] 1... ejection pump, 2... container, 10... cylinder, 10a... communication hole, 11... space, 12... space, 13... spring, 20... piston, 21... lower piston, 21a... lower end, 21b... flow path, 21c... communication path, 21d... valve, 22... upper piston, 22a... lower end, 22b... flow path, 22c... upper end, 30... ejection button, 31... mounting part, 32... nozzle, 32a... central axis, 32b... communication path, 32c... flow path, 32d... opening, 32e... annular groove, 33... button body, 34... button lid part, 34a... disc member, 34b... skirt member, 34c... lower end, 35... top, 35a... annular projection, 36... tip member, 36a... ejection port, 36b... groove, 36c... convex part 40... bottle attachment ring, 50... pipe

Claims

Claim 1: A pump that is attached to a container for containing a liquid, sucks up the liquid in the container, applies pressure, and ejects it, comprising a cylinder having a space for storing the liquid therein, a piston having a lower end inserted into the cylinder and compressing the space by descending, a flow path provided inside the piston that guides the liquid in the space to the upper end when the pressure in the space exceeds a predetermined pressure, and an ejection button attached to the upper end of the piston and receiving an operation from a user to push the piston downward. The ejection button includes a cylindrical attachment portion that is placed over the upper end of the piston, a cylindrical nozzle provided integrally with the attachment portion, a tip member that is integrally formed with the nozzle and forms an ejection port by narrowing the tip of the nozzle, a disk placed inside the nozzle, a cylindrical button body provided outside the cylindrical attachment portion, and a button lid portion that fits with the button body. The central axis of the nozzle intersects the central axis of the piston. The nozzle has an opening at the rear end on the side opposite to the tip member. The disk has a columnar shape with an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the nozzle. The disk is inserted through the opening at the rear end of the nozzle and engages with the nozzle. The button lid portion includes a disk member that covers the upper part of the cylindrical button body and the nozzle, and a skirt member that covers the rear end of the disk in the rear end of the nozzle. The disk member and the skirt member are integrally formed. An ejection pump, characterized in that the skirt member of the button lid portion has a lower end inserted inside the cylindrical button body. Claim 2 The ejection pump according to claim 1, wherein an annular protrusion is provided on the outer circumference of the columnar disk, and an annular groove is provided at a position corresponding to the annular protrusion of the disk on the inner wall of the nozzle, and the annular protrusion engages therewith. Claim 3 The ejection pump according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of screw-shaped or radial grooves are provided in a tip member of the nozzle around the ejection port.

4. A container and an ejection pump mounted on an upper opening of the container, The ejection pump is the ejection pump according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and the ejection container is characterized by this.

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