Ejector

Abstract

To suppress unintended oscillation of a stopper member.SOLUTION: A dispenser 1 includes a pump mechanism 3 mounted on a mouth A1 of a container body A, a dispensing head 5 mounted on the upper end of a stem 2, a trigger member 8 that pushes down the dispensing head by rotation in the backward direction, and a stopper member 9 that can be pivoted in the forward / backward direction and is displaced between a regulated position P1 that regulates the pushing down of the dispensing head and a released position that permits the dispensing head to be pushed down. The stopper member includes a regulation piece 110 that regulates the pushing down of the dispensing head and an operation piece 111 that can be pushed in from the locked position towards the permitted position. In the dispenser 1, the operation piece has a second engaging portion 130 that engages with a first engaging portion 120 formed on the trigger member to position the stopper member in the regulated position when it is positioned in the locked position and disengages from the first engaging portion and permits displacement of the stopper member from the regulated position towards the released position when it is positioned in the permitted position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a dispenser.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, for example, a dispenser including a stem, a discharge head attached to the stem, and a stopper has been known. The stopper is disposed so as to be swingable in the front-rear direction between a regulation position that regulates the downward movement of the discharge head by contacting at least one of the discharge head and the pressing member, and a release position that allows the downward movement of the discharge head. The stopper has a pair of engaging portions disposed so as to sandwich the stem when located at the regulation position, and a pair of operation portions respectively connected to the pair of engaging portions. When the pair of operation portions are displaced so as to approach each other, the pair of engaging portions are elastically displaced in a direction away from each other.

[0003] When using the dispenser configured as described above, by pinching the pair of operation portions with fingertips or the like, the pair of operation portions are displaced so as to approach each other. As a result, the pair of engaging portions can be elastically displaced so as to separate from each other, and for example, the locking of the pair of engaging portions with respect to the stem can be released. Therefore, the stopper can be swung from the regulation position toward the release position, and the downward movement of the discharge head using the pressing member is allowed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, with the conventional dischargers described above, if an unintended external force is applied to the pair of operating parts, for example during product transport or product display, the locking of the pair of engaging parts to the stem, etc., may be released (detached), and the stopper may unintentionally swing from the restricted position to the released position. In this case, the discharge head may unintentionally move downward, potentially causing the pump to malfunction. One possible measure to prevent such problems is to increase the size of the pair of engaging parts on the stem, for example, to increase the locking force. However, there are limits to how much the size of the pair of engaging parts can be increased within a limited space, and if the locking force is increased excessively, it can lead to new problems such as a decrease in the operability of the pair of operating parts.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and its object is to provide a discharger that can suppress unintended oscillation of the stopper member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) The discharger according to the present invention has a stem that is arranged to be movable downward in an upward biased state, a pump mechanism attached to the mouth of a container body that contains contents, a discharge head attached to the upper end of the stem and having a discharge hole that opens forward, a support member combined with the pump mechanism and positioned behind the discharge head, a trigger member combined with the support member so as to be rotatable toward the rear and which pushes down the discharge head when rotated toward the rear, a restricting position combined with the support member so as to be swingable in the front-rear direction and which restricts the pushing down of the discharge head, and the pushing down of the discharge head The device comprises a stopper member that displaces between a restricted position and an allowable release position, the stopper member comprising a restricting piece that restricts the downward pressing of the discharge head when in the restricted position, and an operating piece that is elastically displaceable and connected to the restricting piece and is pushable from a locked position toward an allowable position, the operating piece having a second locking piece that, when in the locked position, locks into a first locking portion formed on the trigger member to position the stopper member in the restricted position, and when in the allowable position, disengages from the first locking portion to allow the stopper member to displace from the restricted position toward the release position The stopper member is displaced to the release position by swinging backward from the restricting position, the operating piece is displaced from the locked position to the allowable position by being pushed in a left-right direction that intersects the front-rear direction when viewed from the central axis direction of the stem, swinging with the connection portion with the restricting piece as a pivot point, and the second locking portion is locked from the front to the first locking portion when in the locked position. It is characterized by the following:

[0008] According to the discharger of the present invention, when the stopper member is in the restricted position, the restricting piece restricts the downward pressing of the discharge head, so even if the trigger member is operated, the pump mechanism will not be activated and the contents will not be discharged. In particular, since the operating piece connected to the restricting piece is in the locked position, the second locking part engages with the first locking part formed on the trigger member, positioning the stopper member in the restricting position. Therefore, even if an unintended external force acts on the entire stopper member via the operating piece, for example, during product transport or product display, it is possible to suppress the stopper member from unexpectedly swinging and displacing from the restricted position to the released position. Thus, malfunctions of the pump mechanism can be prevented.

[0009] To dispense the contents, the operating piece of the stopper member, which is located in the restricted position, is pressed in with a fingertip or the like to displace it from the locked position to the permitted position. This releases the second locking part from the first locking part, thus releasing the lock. Therefore, while the operating piece is pressed in, the stopper member can be continuously swung, displacing it from the restricted position to the released position. This allows the dispensing head to be pushed down. Therefore, by operating the trigger member towards the rear, the discharge head can be pushed down, and the pump mechanism can be activated. As a result, the contents can be discharged through the discharge port, and after the contents have been discharged, the contents can be drawn back into the stem from the container body in preparation for the next discharge.

[0010] As described above, the second locking portion formed on the operating piece of the stopper member engages with the first locking portion formed on the trigger member, thereby positioning the stopper member in the restricted position. Unlike conventional designs, this prevents the stopper member from being unexpectedly displaced to the released position due to unintended swinging. On the other hand, when dispensing the contents, the operation of pushing the operating piece to move it from the locked position to the allowable position, and the operation of swinging the stopper member to move it from the restricted position to the released position can be performed in a continuous sequence. Therefore, operability can be improved, making it easy to use.

[0012] moreover, When the stopper member is in the restricted position, the second locking portion of the stopper member locks against the first locking portion from the front, effectively preventing the stopper member from swinging backward and being displaced to the released position due to unintended external forces. Furthermore, when dispensing the contents, the operating piece can be pushed in the left-right direction to displace it from the locked position to the allowable position, while the stopper member can be swung in a direction opposite to the direction of the pushing operation of the operating piece, towards the rear. Therefore, the pushing operation of the operating piece and the swung operation of the stopper member can be clearly distinguished during operation, thereby improving operability.

[0013] ( 2 The first locking portion may have a first locking surface that faces forward and is inclined forward as it moves from the outside to the inside in the left-right direction, and the second locking portion may have a second locking surface that faces backward and is inclined forward as it moves from the outside to the inside in the left-right direction, and locks with the first locking surface from the front.

[0014] In this case, the first locking surface and the second locking surface can be locked together while tilted in the direction described above. Therefore, even if the stopper member is subjected to a strong stress towards the rear due to an unintended external force when the stopper member is in the restricted position, the operating piece is less likely to be displaced inward in the left-right direction. As a result, it is possible to effectively suppress the unintended displacement of the operating piece to the allowable position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the discharger of the present invention, unintended oscillation of the stopper member can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the discharger according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the state after the trigger member has been operated to press down the discharge head, starting from the state shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a plan view of the trigger member and stopper member as seen from below. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a side view of the stopper member. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is a front view of the stopper member. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a bottom view of the stopper member. [Figure 7] Figure 3 is a plan view showing the state when the operating piece of the stopper member is pressed in. [Figure 8]A cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A shown in FIG. 1, showing a state in which the first locking portion and the second locking portion are locked. [Figure 9] A view showing a state in which the first locking portion is disengaged from the second locking portion as a result of the pushing operation of the operation piece from the state shown in FIG. 8.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the dispenser according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dispenser 1 of the present embodiment includes a pump mechanism 3 having a stem 2, a discharge head 5 in which a discharge hole 4 is formed, a mounting cap 6 for mounting the pump mechanism 3 on the mouth portion A1 of a container body A in which a content (not shown) is accommodated, a support member 7 combined with the pump mechanism 3, a trigger member 8 that is rotatably combined with the support member 7 and presses down the discharge head 5 by a rotation operation, and a stopper member 9 that is swingably combined with the support member 7. In addition, each component of the dispenser 1 is a molded product made of a synthetic resin material unless otherwise specified.

[0018] The central axis O1 of the stem 2 is disposed coaxially with the container axis of the container body A. Hereinafter, the trigger member 8 side along the central axis O1 is referred to as the upper side, the container body A side is referred to as the lower side, and the direction along the central axis O1 is referred to as the vertical direction. Further, in a plan view seen from the vertical direction, the direction intersecting the central axis O1 is referred to as the radial direction, and the direction orbiting around the central axis O1 is referred to as the circumferential direction. Further, one direction orthogonal to each other in the radial direction is referred to as the front-rear direction L1, and the other direction is referred to as the left-right direction L2. Note that, among the front-rear direction L1, the direction in which the discharge hole 4 of the discharge head 5 faces is taken as the front, and the reverse direction is taken as the rear.

[0019] [[ID=Z2]] (Container body) The container body A is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape in which a mouth portion A1, a shoulder portion (not shown), a body portion (not shown), and a bottom portion (not shown) are continuously provided in this order from above. A male screw portion A2 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion A1 of the container body A.

[0020] (Attachment cap) The mounting cap 6 is formed in a top-cylindrical shape and comprises a mounting cylinder 10 that surrounds the mouth A1 of the container body A from the radial outside, and an annular cap top wall 11 that protrudes radially inward from the upper end of the mounting cylinder 10, and is arranged coaxially with the central axis O1.

[0021] The inner circumferential surface of the mounting cylinder 10 has a female threaded portion 12 that screws into a male threaded portion A2 formed on the mouth A1 of the container body A. As a result, the mounting cap 6 is attached to the mouth A1 of the container body A by screwing the male threaded portion A2 and the female threaded portion 12 together. However, the method of attaching the mounting cap 6 is not limited to screwing; for example, it may be attached to the mouth A1 of the container body A by undercut fitting. The outer surface of the mounting cap 6 is treated with an anti-slip process such as knurling. The cap top wall 11 is positioned on the upper opening edge of the mouth A1 of the container body A, sandwiching the packing 13 and the flange portion 22 of the cylinder 20, which will be described later.

[0022] (Pump mechanism) The pump mechanism 3 is arranged to be movable downward in an upward biased state and comprises a cylindrical stem 2 through which the contents flow, a cylinder 20 communicating with the container body A, a ball valve 30 provided inside the cylinder 20, a piston 40 housed in the cylinder 20 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction and moving in conjunction with the vertical movement of the stem 2, a piston guide 50 combined with the stem 2, a biasing member 60 that biases the stem 2 upward, and a guide cap 70 combined with the cylinder 20.

[0023] (Cylinder) The cylinder 20 has a cylindrical cylinder circumferential wall 21 and an annular flange portion 22, and is arranged coaxially with the central axis O1. The cylinder circumferential wall 21 comprises a first cylinder circumferential wall 23, a second cylinder circumferential wall 24 positioned below the first cylinder circumferential wall 23 and having a smaller diameter than the first cylinder circumferential wall 23, and a third cylinder circumferential wall 25 positioned below the second cylinder circumferential wall 24 and having a tapered cross-section that decreases in diameter towards the bottom. Thus, the cylinder circumferential wall 21 is formed in a multi-stage cylindrical shape in which the diameter changes in three stages from top to bottom.

[0024] The first cylinder circumferential wall 23 is positioned such that its upper end protrudes above the upper opening edge of the mouth A1 of the container body A. The flange portion 22 is formed to protrude radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the first cylinder circumferential wall 23. The flange portion 22 is positioned on the upper opening edge of the mouth A1 of the container body A via an annular packing 13 and is sandwiched vertically between the flange portion 22 and the upper opening edge of the mouth A1 of the container body A by the cap top wall 11 of the mounting cap 6.

[0025] As a result, the entire pump mechanism 3, including the cylinder 20, is attached to the opening A1 of the container body A via the mounting cap 6. The cylinder 20 extends downward from the opening A1 of the container body A and is attached to the opening A1 of the container body A via the mounting cap 6 so as to fit inside the container body A. The cylinder circumferential wall 21 is open upward. As a result, the stem 2 is inserted into the inside of the cylinder circumferential wall 21 from above.

[0026] Furthermore, the first cylinder circumferential wall 23 and the second cylinder circumferential wall 24 are formed in a straight cylindrical shape. In addition, an annular stepped wall 26 facing upward inside the cylinder 20 is formed at the connection point between the second cylinder circumferential wall 24 and the third cylinder circumferential wall 25.

[0027] A flow hole 25a through which the contents flow is formed on the inner side of the third cylinder circumferential wall 25. Furthermore, a connecting cylinder 27 extending downward is integrally formed on the third cylinder circumferential wall 25. The upper end of a pipe 28 that draws up the contents is fitted inside the connecting cylinder 27. In this way, the cylinder 20 and the pipe 28 are combined as a single unit. The lower end opening of the pipe 28 is located inside the bottom of the container body A. Therefore, the inside of the cylinder 20 is in communication with the inside of the container body A through the flow hole 25a and the pipe 28.

[0028] Furthermore, an inner connecting cylinder 29 protruding upward is formed on the flange portion 22. The inner connecting cylinder 29 is positioned inside the cap top wall 11 and surrounds the enlarged diameter cylinder 2a of the stem 2, which will be described later, from the radial outside at a distance.

[0029] (Ball valve) The ball valve 30 is positioned seated inside the third cylinder circumferential wall 25. A tapered claw portion 31 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the third cylinder circumferential wall 25, projecting radially inward, and is positioned above the ball valve 30. Multiple tapered claw portions 31 are formed, for example, spaced apart in the circumferential direction. However, this is not the only option; for example, the tapered claw portions 31 may be formed in an annular shape.

[0030] When the pressure inside the cylinder 20 rises above the pressure inside the container body A (during pressurization), the ball valve 30 maintains its seated position against the third cylinder circumferential wall 25, blocking communication between the inside of the container body A and the inside of the cylinder 20 through the pipe 28 and the flow hole 25a. Furthermore, when the pressure inside the cylinder 20 falls below the pressure inside the container body A (during depressurization), the ball valve 30 moves upward away from the third cylinder circumferential wall 25, allowing communication between the inside of the container body A and the inside of the cylinder 20 through the pipe 28 and the flow hole 25a.

[0031] Thus, the ball valve 30 functions as a check valve and also as the lower valve body of the pump mechanism 3. The upward movement of the ball valve 30 is restricted by the tapered claw portion 31. However, the lower valve body is not limited to the ball valve 30; for example, a multi-point valve such as a three-point valve or other valve structures may be used.

[0032] (Stem) The stem 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape that extends vertically. When the discharge head 5 is not pushed down, the stem 2 is positioned such that its upper end protrudes above the upper guide cylinder 73 (described later) and its lower end is housed within the first cylinder circumferential wall 23 (see Figure 1). The lower end of the stem 2 is an enlarged diameter cylinder 2a that expands radially outward. As a result, the stem 2 is formed in a two-stage cylindrical shape with a change in outer diameter in the vertical direction. Furthermore, an elastic piece 2b is formed at the lower end of the enlarged diameter cylinder 2a, extending downward. The elastic piece 2b is elastically deformable in the radial direction and is formed in multiples, for example, spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

[0033] (Piston guide) The piston guide 50 is positioned below the stem 2 and coaxial with the central axis O1. The piston guide 50 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. Furthermore, the lower end of the piston guide 50 is provided with an annular guide flange 51 that protrudes radially outward.

[0034] The upper end of the piston guide 50 is fitted inside the portion of the stem 2 located above the enlarged diameter cylinder 2a. This allows the piston guide 50 to be integrally assembled with the stem 2 and to move up and down with the stem 2. The lower end of the piston guide 50 is positioned below the enlarged diameter cylinder 2a of the stem 2.

[0035] A communication hole 52 is formed in the portion of the piston guide 50 located above the guide flange 51, and it penetrates the piston guide 50 radially. The communication hole 52 connects the inside of the piston guide 50 to the inside of the cylinder 20. The guide flange 51 supports the piston 40 from below. Furthermore, the lower end of the piston guide 50 has a plurality of retaining ribs 53 that protrude downward. In the illustrated example, the plurality of retaining ribs 53 are arranged at 90-degree intervals around the central axis O1 so that they are arranged in a cross shape in a plan view. These plurality of retaining ribs 53 play a role in holding the upper end of the biasing member 60, which will be described later.

[0036] The piston guide 50, configured in this way, allows communication between the inside of the cylinder 20 and the inside of the stem 2 when the discharge head 5 is pushed down, as the guide flange 51 moves downward away from the piston 40 (see Figure 2), and blocks communication between the inside of the cylinder 20 and the inside of the stem 2 when the stem 2 moves upward, as the guide flange 51 contacts the piston 40 from below (see Figure 1). Therefore, the piston guide 50 works in cooperation with the piston 40 to function as the upper valve body of the pump mechanism 3.

[0037] (piston) The piston 40 is linked to the vertical movement of the stem 2 and is fitted to the inside of the first cylinder circumferential wall 23 so as to be vertically slidable. The piston 40 comprises an outer piston cylinder 41, an inner piston cylinder 42, and a connecting cylinder 43, and is positioned coaxially with the central axis O1 between the enlarged diameter cylinder 2a and the guide flange 51 of the stem 2.

[0038] The outer piston cylinder 41 is in close sliding contact with the inner surface of the first cylinder circumferential wall 23. This ensures a predetermined sealing performance between the outer piston cylinder 41 and the inner surface of the first cylinder circumferential wall 23. The inner piston cylinder 42 is positioned between the outer piston cylinder 41 and the piston guide 50. The upper end of the inner piston cylinder 42 enters the inside of the enlarged diameter cylinder 2a of the stem 2 from below and is in close sliding contact with the inner circumferential surface of the enlarged diameter cylinder 2a. The lower end of the inner piston cylinder 42 is seated on the guide flange 51 so as to be able to move away from it from above. As a result, the inner piston cylinder 42 can switch between communicating with the inside of the cylinder 20 and the inside of the piston guide 50 through the communication hole 52, and blocking that communication. When the guide flange 51 is moved downward from the piston 40 by the downward operation of the discharge head 5 (see Figure 2), the contents of the container body A reach the communication hole 52 through the space between the inner piston cylinder 42 and the piston guide 50.

[0039] The connecting cylinder 43 connects the outer piston cylinder 41 and the inner piston cylinder 42 and extends continuously along its entire circumferential length. The connecting cylinder 43 is positioned below the elastic piece 2b of the stem 2, with a gap between them.

[0040] (Biasing member) The biasing member 60 is, for example, a coil spring, and biases the stem 2 upward via the piston guide 50. The biasing member 60 is made of metal. The biasing member 60 is positioned coaxially with the central axis O1 between the guide flange 51 and the stepped wall 26, compressed vertically, while surrounding the multiple retaining ribs 53 from the radial outside. As a result, the biasing member 60 constantly biases the stem 2 upward via the guide flange 51.

[0041] The biasing member 60 is held by the retaining ribs 53 by surrounding them. As a result, the biasing member 60 maintains a stable posture, with its upper end contacting the guide flange 51 from below and its lower end contacting the stepped wall 26 from above.

[0042] Furthermore, the guide flange 51 is in close contact with the piston 40 (inner piston cylinder 42) from below due to the upward biasing force from the biasing member 60, thereby maintaining proper sealing between the guide flange 51 and the piston 40. In addition, the outer piston cylinder 41 is in contact with the packing 76, which will be described later, from below. This allows the stem 2 and the discharge head 5 to be positioned at their highest raised positions.

[0043] (Guide cap) As shown in Figure 1, the cylinder 20 is fitted with a top-shaped cylindrical guide cap 70 that is positioned coaxially with the central axis O1. The guide cap 70 comprises an outer connecting cylinder 71 that surrounds the inner connecting cylinder 29 of the cylinder 20 from the radial outside, an annular cap top wall 72 that protrudes radially inward from the upper end of the outer connecting cylinder 71, an upper guide cylinder 73 that protrudes upward from the inner peripheral edge of the cap top wall 72, a lower guide cylinder 74 that protrudes downward from the inner peripheral edge of the cap top wall 72, and a regulating cylinder 75 that protrudes downward from the cap top wall 11 and is positioned inside the inner connecting cylinder 29.

[0044] The outer connecting cylinder 71 is attached to the inner connecting cylinder 29 by an undercut fitting. As a result, the entire guide cap 70 is integrated with the pump mechanism 3 via the cylinder 20. Note that the method of attaching the outer connecting cylinder 71 is not limited to the undercut fitting method; for example, it may be attached to the inner connecting cylinder 29 by a screw connection. The regulating cylinder 75 is fitted inside the inner connecting cylinder 29, with rotation prevented around the central axis O1 by, for example, circumferential locking of longitudinal ribs. As a result, the entire guide cap 70 is assembled to the pump mechanism 3 with rotation prevented around the central axis O1.

[0045] The upper guide tube 73 surrounds the portion of the stem 2 located above the enlarged diameter tube 2a from the radial outside. A small gap is maintained between the upper guide tube 73 and the stem 2. The lower guide tube 74 surrounds the enlarged diameter tube 2a of the stem 2 from the radial outside. A small gap is maintained between the lower guide tube 74 and the enlarged diameter tube 2a. As a result, the upper guide tube 73 and the lower guide tube 74 guide the stem 2, supporting its smooth up-and-down movement. Furthermore, an annular packing 76 is positioned between the lower guide cylinder 74 and the regulating cylinder 75 and the upper end opening edge of the first cylinder peripheral wall 23.

[0046] (Dispensing head) The discharge head 5 comprises a fitting cylindrical portion 80 fitted to the upper end of the stem 2, and a cylindrical discharge nozzle 81 extending forward from the upper end of the fitting cylindrical portion 80. The fitting cylinder portion 80 is fitted inside the stem 2 and communicates with the inside of the stem 2. The discharge nozzle 81 is formed in a closed-bottom cylindrical shape with a closed rear end and an open front end, and is integrally formed with the upper end of the fitting cylinder portion 80. The inside of the discharge nozzle 81 communicates with the inside of the stem 2 through the inside of the fitting cylinder portion 80. In the illustrated example, the discharge nozzle 81 is formed to extend diagonally upward and forward, and is also formed to protrude forward from the mounting cap 6.

[0047] A nozzle shaft portion 82 is disposed inside the discharge nozzle 81, extending along the nozzle. Multiple flow channel grooves 83 are formed between the outer circumferential surface of the nozzle shaft portion 82 and the inner circumferential surface of the discharge nozzle 81 to allow the contents to flow through. A nozzle tip 85, which has a discharge hole 4 for discharging contents, is attached to the front end of the nozzle shaft portion 82. The discharge hole 4 communicates with the flow channel groove 83 via a spin groove formed in the nozzle tip 85 and a flow passage formed between the nozzle shaft portion 82 and the nozzle tip 85.

[0048] The rear end of the discharge nozzle 81 has a first projection 86 and a second projection 87 that protrude further rearward than the stem 2. The first projection 86 and the second projection 87 are formed to have, for example, equivalent lengths when extending rearward. The second projection 87 is positioned above the first projection 86, with a gap between them. This ensures a gap that opens to the rear between the first projection 86 and the second projection 87. Furthermore, a downwardly projecting locking projection 88 is formed at the rear end of the first projection 86.

[0049] A cylindrical shaft portion 89 is provided projecting outward along the left-right direction L2 from the outer surface of the portion of the discharge nozzle 81 located above the stem 2. The shaft portion 89 is formed such that, in a side view from the left-right direction L2, the central axis O1 passes through its center.

[0050] (Support member) The support member 7 is a member that supports the trigger member 8 and is combined with the pump mechanism 3 via the guide cap 70. The support member 7 is formed to extend diagonally upward and rearward from the rear of the guide cap 70. As a result, the upper end of the support member 7 is positioned behind the discharge head 5, with a gap between them.

[0051] Specifically, the support member 7 is integrally formed with the outer connecting cylinder 71, the cap top wall 72, and the upper guide cylinder 73 of the guide cap 70, and is formed to extend diagonally upward and rearward from these outer connecting cylinder 71, the cap top wall 72, and the upper guide cylinder 73. The support member 7 comprises a pair of side wall portions 90 arranged at a distance L2 in the left-right direction, and a rear wall portion 91 that connects the rear end edges of the side wall portions 90 in the left-right direction L2.

[0052] At the upper ends of each pair of side wall portions 90, protruding pieces 92 are formed, projecting upward in an arc shape when viewed from the left-right direction L2 in a front view. A cylindrical rotating shaft portion 93 is provided projecting outward along the left-right direction L2 from the outer surface of these protruding pieces 92. A virtual axis passing through the center of the rotating shaft portion 93 and extending in the left-right direction L2 functions as the rotation axis O2 of the trigger member 8. On the inner surface of the rear wall portion 91, a reinforcing wall 94 is formed that protrudes upward so as to be located inside the protruding piece 92, and connects the inner surfaces of the pair of side wall portions 90 and the protruding pieces 92 in the left-right direction L2. Furthermore, a support hole 95 that is recessed downward is formed in the peripheral edge of the side wall portion 90 that is connected to the upper guide cylinder 73.

[0053] (Trigger component) The trigger member 8 is rotatably attached to the upper end of the support member 7 toward the rear and functions as an operating member that pushes down the discharge head 5 by rotating toward the rear. In the discharger 1 of this embodiment, by rotating the trigger member 8 shown in Figure 1 toward the rear around the rotation axis O2, the discharge head 5 can be pushed down using the trigger member 8, as shown in Figure 2. This makes it possible to discharge the contents through the discharge hole 4.

[0054] As shown in Figure 1, the trigger member 8 is attached to the upper end of the support member 7 via the rotating shaft portion 93. This allows the trigger member 8 to rotate (oscillate) relative to the support member 7 around the rotation axis O2.

[0055] The trigger member 8 comprises a top plate portion 100 that covers the discharge head 5 from above, a front plate portion 101 extending diagonally downward and forward from the front edge of the top plate portion 100, and a pair of side plate portions 102 that extend downward from the left and right edges of the top plate portion 100 and the front plate portion 101 and face each other in the left-right direction L2. The space enclosed by the top plate portion 100 and the pair of side plate portions 102 is an internal space that opens downward. A portion of the discharge head 5 is located within this internal space. Therefore, the pair of side plate portions 102 are positioned to sandwich a portion of the discharge head 5 from the left-right direction L2.

[0056] In this embodiment, the trigger member 8, as shown in Figure 3, has a shape that is longer in the front-to-back direction L1 than in the left-to-right direction L2 when viewed from below in a plan view. The discharge head 5 is not shown in Figure 3. Similarly, the discharge head 5 is not shown in Figure 7, which will be described later.

[0057] As shown in Figure 1, the top plate portion 100 is formed to curve smoothly upwards. The rear end of the top plate portion 100 is in contact from above with the upper opening edge of the rear wall portion 91 of the support member 7. As a result, the trigger member 8 is positioned in a state where further upward and forward rotation around the rotation axis O2 is restricted.

[0058] A through-hole 103 is formed in the front portion of the top plate 100, penetrating it in the vertical and front-to-back directions L1. The through-hole 103 is formed in the central part of the top plate 100 in the left-to-right direction L2. As a result, the front portion of the top plate 100 is divided into two branches in the left-to-right direction L2. The discharge nozzle 81 is inserted into the through-hole 103. The discharge nozzle 81 protrudes forward from the top plate portion 100 through the through-hole 103. This allows the contents to be discharged to the outside through the discharge hole 4 without being affected by the trigger member 8.

[0059] Furthermore, the portion of the discharge nozzle 81 located above the stem 2 and its rear end are covered by the top plate portion 100. Therefore, when the trigger member 8 is operated towards the rear, the top plate portion 100 can be used to push the entire discharge head 5 downward, thereby moving the discharge head 5 and the stem 2 downward (see Figure 2).

[0060] The front plate portion 101 extends diagonally downward and forward from the front edge of the top plate portion 100, such that its lower end is positioned at a distance in front of the mounting cap 6. The lower part of the front plate portion 101 is a finger rest for gripping the fingertips.

[0061] The pair of side plates 102 are positioned to sandwich a part of the discharge head 5 and the upper end of the support member 7 from the left-right direction L2. An axial hole 104 is formed on the inner surface of the rear side of the pair of side plates 102 to accommodate the rotating shaft portion 93 formed on the upper end of the support member 7. As a result, the trigger member 8 is supported by the support member 7 so as to be rotatable around the rotation axis O2.

[0062] Furthermore, a concave, curved recess 105 is formed on the inner surface of the pair of side plates 102, which is recessed upward. The recess 105 contacts the outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion 89 formed on the discharge nozzle 81 from above. As a result, the trigger member 8 is constantly biased upward by the elastic restoring force from the biasing member 60 via the discharge nozzle 81 and the stem 2. Furthermore, when the trigger member 8 is operated towards the rear, it is possible to push down the discharge head 5 and the stem 2 via the shaft portion 89.

[0063] (Stopper component) As shown in Figure 1, the stopper member 9 is assembled so as to be able to swing in the front-rear direction L1 by the support hole 95, and is displaced between a restricting position P1 that restricts the downward pressing of the discharge head 5 and a release position P2 that allows the downward pressing of the discharge head 5, as shown in Figure 2. Specifically, the stopper member 9 is positioned between the stem 2 and the support member 7 with a portion of it housed within the internal space of the trigger member 8, and is displaced to the allowable position by swinging backward from the restricting position P1.

[0064] As shown in Figures 1 to 7, the stopper member 9 includes a restricting piece 110 that restricts the downward pressing of the discharge head 5 when it is in the restricted position P1, and an operating piece 111 that is elastically displaceable and connected to the restricting piece 110, and is capable of being pushed in from the locked position P3 (see Figure 3) toward the permissible position P4 (see Figure 7).

[0065] The restricting piece 110 has a constant thickness in the front-rear direction L1, and its length in the left-right direction L2 is sized to fit inside the pair of side plate portions 102 of the trigger member 8. It is also formed in a vertically elongated plate shape. A locking hole 112 is formed at the upper end of the restricting piece 110, penetrating the restricting piece 110 in the front-rear direction L1. The locking hole 112 is formed in the center of the restricting piece 110 in the left-right direction L2 and is sized to allow the first projection 86 formed on the discharge head 5 to pass through.

[0066] When the restricting piece 110 is in the restricting position P1, the first projection 86 is inserted into the locking hole 112, and the lower end of the restricting piece 110 is positioned so that it contacts the upper end opening edge of the upper guide cylinder 73 of the guide cap 70 from above (see Figure 1). At this time, the inner surface of the locking hole 112 is in contact with or close to the first projection 86 from below, and the upper end of the restricting piece 110 is in contact with or close to the second projection 87 from below. As a result, the restricting piece 110 is positioned between the first projection 86 and the second projection 87 and the upper guide cylinder 73 of the guide cap 70. Therefore, the downward pressing of the discharge head 5 can be restricted. Furthermore, a locking projection 88 formed at the rear end of the first projection 86 locks against the rear surface of the restricting piece 110 from the rear. This prevents the restricting piece 110 from easily swinging backward, making it easier to position it in the restricting position P1.

[0067] At the lower end of the restricting piece 110, a pair of oscillating pieces 113 are formed, extending downward and positioned opposite each other with a gap in the left-right direction L2. The pair of oscillating pieces 113 are located outside the pair of side wall portions 90 of the support member 7 in the left-right direction L2 and are formed to protrude below the support hole 95. As a result, the pair of oscillating pieces 113 are positioned to sandwich the pair of side wall portions 90 from the left-right direction L2. The lower ends of the pair of oscillating pieces 113 are formed in a semicircular shape that protrudes downward when viewed from the left-right direction L2 in a side view.

[0068] A pivot shaft 114 is formed at the lower ends of the pair of pivot pieces 113, extending in the left-right direction L2 and connecting the pair of pivot pieces 113. The pivot shaft 114 is pivotably supported within a support hole 95 formed in the support member 7. As a result, the stopper member 9 is supported by the support member 7 so as to be able to pivot in the front-rear direction L1 about a pivot axis O3 that passes through the center of the pivot shaft 114 in the left-right direction L2.

[0069] Furthermore, the restricting piece 110 has a pair of fitting pieces 115 that extend forward and are positioned opposite each other with a gap in the left-right direction L2. When the restricting piece 110 is in the restricting position P1, the pair of fitting pieces 115 fit from the radial outside of the portion of the stem 2 that is located above the upper guide cylinder 73. This also suppresses the restricting piece 110 from easily swinging backward, making it easier to position it in the restricting position P1.

[0070] As shown in Figures 3 to 7, a pair of operating pieces 111 are provided so as to be aligned in the left-right direction L2. Each of the pair of operating pieces 111 is connected to the rear surface of the restricting piece 110 and includes a connecting piece 116 extending backward from the rear surface, a pushing piece 117 positioned at a distance from the connecting piece 116 and located further outward in the left-right direction L2 than the connecting piece 116, and a connecting rib 118 that connects the connecting piece 116 and the pushing piece 117 in the left-right direction L2.

[0071] The connecting piece 116 has a vertical length equivalent to that of the restricting piece 110 and is formed to protrude further rearward than the swinging piece 113. Furthermore, in a plan view from below, the connecting piece 116 is positioned inward in the left-right direction L2 from the pair of side plate portions 102 of the trigger member 8. Moreover, in a side view from the left-right direction L2, the upper end of the connecting piece 116 is positioned inward in the left-right direction L2 from the pair of side plate portions 102, and the lower end is positioned below the pair of side plate portions 102. Therefore, when the connecting piece 116 is in the regulated position P1, only the upper end is positioned inside the trigger member 8, and the lower end is exposed below the trigger member 8 (see Figure 1).

[0072] The push-in piece 117 has a vertical length equivalent to that of the connecting piece 116, and in a side view from the left-right direction L2, it is positioned further outward in the left-right direction L2 than the pair of side plate portions 102. This allows the push-in piece 117 to be pushed inward from the outside in the left-right direction L2 without being affected by the trigger member 8 (see Figure 7).

[0073] The connecting rib 118 is formed to connect the lower end of the connecting piece 116 and the lower end of the push piece 117 in the left-right direction L2. Therefore, in a plan view from below, the connecting rib 118 is positioned to straddle the pair of side plate portions 102 of the trigger member 8 in the left-right direction L2. This makes it possible to push the entire operating piece 111 inward in the left-right direction L2 by pressing the push piece 117. In this embodiment, an auxiliary rib 119 is formed to connect the connecting piece 116 and the push-in piece 117 in the left-right direction L2. However, the auxiliary rib 119 is not essential and may be omitted.

[0074] As described above, the pair of operating pieces 111 are simultaneously pressed in, for example, by pinching them from the left and right directions L2 with fingertips. This causes them to swing around the connection point between the restricting piece 110 and the connecting piece 116, displacing them from the locked position P3 to the allowable position P4. In this case, as shown in Figure 7, the front end of the connecting piece 116 located on the restricting piece 110 side is a thin-walled portion 116a with a thinner wall thickness than the other parts. Therefore, the entire operating piece 111 swings easily, improving the operability of the pressing operation.

[0075] In particular, as shown in Figures 1, 8, and 9, the operating piece 111 of this embodiment includes a second locking portion 130 that locks with a first locking portion 120 formed on the trigger member 8, and it is possible to lock and release the second locking portion 130 with respect to the first locking portion 120 depending on the locked position P3 and the allowable position P4. Specifically, as shown in Figures 3 and 8, when the operating piece 111 is in the locked position P3, the second locking part 130 locks with the first locking part 120, thereby positioning the stopper member 9 in the restricted position P1. Then, as shown in Figures 7 and 9, when the operating piece 111 is in the allowable position P4, the second locking part 130 disengages from the first locking part 120, allowing the stopper member 9 to move from the restricted position P1 to the release position P2.

[0076] (First locking part, second locking part) The first locking portion 120 and the second locking portion 130 will now be described. As shown in Figures 1 and 8, the first locking portion 120 is formed as a vertical rib that protrudes inward in the left-right direction L2 from the inner surface of the pair of side plate portions 102 of the trigger member 8 and extends along the vertical direction. The first locking portion 120 faces forward along its entire length and has a first locking surface 121 that is inclined forward as it moves from the outside to the inside in the left-right direction L2.

[0077] The second locking portion 130 is positioned on the upper end side of the connecting piece 116 of the operating piece 111 and is formed in the shape of a vertical rib extending along the vertical direction. The second locking portion 130 faces rearward and has a second locking surface 131 that is inclined forward as it moves from the outside to the inside in the left-right direction L2. The second locking surface 131 has the same inclination angle as the first locking surface 121 and locks to the first locking surface 121 from the front. However, the second locking surface 131 may be positioned in close proximity to the first locking surface 121 and facing the first locking surface 121 from the front. As described above, since the first locking portion 120 and the second locking portion 130 are formed, the second locking portion 130 is locked to the first locking portion 120 from the front when the operating piece 111 is in the locked position P3.

[0078] (Function of the dispensing device) Next, we will explain the case in which the contents are discharged using the discharger 1 configured as described above. Firstly, as shown in Figure 1, when the stopper member 9 is in the restricted position P1, the restricting piece 110 restricts the downward movement of the discharge head 5, so even if the trigger member 8 is operated, the pump mechanism 3 will not be activated and the contents will not be discharged.

[0079] In particular, since the operating piece 111 is in the locked position P3, as shown in Figure 8, the second locking surface 131 of the second locking part 130 is locked to the first locking surface 121 of the first locking part 120 formed on the trigger member 8, thereby positioning the stopper member 9 in the restricted position P1. Therefore, even if an unintended external force acts on the entire stopper member 9 via the operating piece 111, for example, during product transport or product display, it is possible to suppress the stopper member 9 from unexpectedly swinging backward and being displaced from the restricted position P1 to the released position P2. Thus, malfunction of the pump mechanism 3 can be prevented.

[0080] Next, when dispensing the contents, the operating piece 111 of the stopper member 9, which is located at the restricted position P1, is pressed in with a fingertip or the like as shown by the arrow in Figure 7, causing the operating piece 111 to swing inward in the left-right direction L2. This displaces the operating piece 111 from the locked position P3 shown in Figure 3 to the allowable position P4 shown in Figure 7. As a result, the second locking surface 131 can be separated from the first locking surface 121 and the lock can be released as shown in Figure 9. Therefore, while the operating piece 111 is pressed in, the stopper member 9 can be continuously swung backward, and as shown in Figure 2, it can be displaced from the restricting position P1 to the release position P2. This allows the discharge head 5 to be pushed down.

[0081] Therefore, by operating the trigger member 8 towards the rear as indicated by arrow F in Figure 2, the discharge head 5 can be pushed down, and the pump mechanism 3 can be activated. As a result, the contents can be discharged through the discharge hole 4, and after the contents have been discharged, the contents can be drawn up from the container body A into the stem 2 to prepare for the next discharge.

[0082] I will now explain in detail how the contents are dispensed. By operating the trigger member 8 to push down the discharge head 5, the stem 2 and piston guide 50 can be moved downward against the upward biasing force of the biasing member 60. As a result, the stem 2 and piston guide 50 can be moved downward while the elastic piece 2b of the stem 2 comes into contact with the piston 40 and undergoes elastic deformation. At this time, the piston 40 is pressed downward by the stem 2 due to the elastic deformation of the elastic piece 2b. Therefore, the stem 2, piston guide 50, and piston 40 can be moved downward as a single unit while strongly pressing the inner piston cylinder 42 of the piston 40 against the guide flange 51.

[0083] As the piston 40 moves downward, the pressure inside the cylinder 20 increases. However, once the pressure inside the cylinder 20 reaches a certain level, there is no escape route for the pressure inside the cylinder 20, so the downward movement of the piston 40 is suppressed. Meanwhile, the stem 2 and piston guide 50 continue to move further downward due to the downward operation of the discharge head 5. Therefore, the stem 2 and piston guide 50 can be moved downward relative to the piston 40 while further elastically deforming the elastic piece 2b. This allows the guide flange 51 to be separated from the inner piston cylinder 42 of the piston 40, and the seal between the guide flange 51 and the inner piston cylinder 42 can be released. This allows the inside of the cylinder 20 and the inside of the stem 2 to communicate through the communication hole 52 of the piston guide 50.

[0084] Therefore, the contents of the cylinder 20, under increased pressure, can be forcefully discharged to the outside through the stem 2 and the discharge hole 4. Subsequently, the contents of the cylinder 20 can continue to be forcefully discharged by further pressing down on the discharge head 5. Furthermore, when the discharge head 5 is pressed down, the pressure inside the cylinder 20 rises, causing the ball valve 30 to close, thereby blocking communication between the inside of the container body A and the inside of the cylinder 20 through the flow hole 25a and pipe 28. As a result, the contents inside the cylinder 20 can be properly discharged to the outside through the discharge hole 4.

[0085] After the contents have been dispensed, releasing the downward pressure on the dispensing head 5 allows the stem 2 to move upward together with the piston guide 50 due to the upward biasing force (elastic restoring force) of the biasing member 60, thereby returning the dispensing head 5 and stem 2 to their original positions. Furthermore, as the dispensing head 5 returns to its original position, the trigger member 8 also returns to its original position.

[0086] Furthermore, in the process described above, as the stem 2 moves upward, the guide flange 51 can be brought into contact with the inner piston cylinder 42 of the piston 40 from below. This seals the space between the guide flange 51 and the inner piston cylinder 42, thereby blocking communication between the inside of the cylinder 20 and the inside of the stem 2. Further upward movement of the stem 2 allows the piston 40 to move upward together with the piston guide 50, thereby reducing the pressure inside the cylinder 20. This allows the ball valve 30 to be moved upward and opened, enabling the contents to be drawn from the container body A into the cylinder 20 through the flow hole 25a and pipe 28, preparing for the next discharge.

[0087] As described above, in the discharger 1 of this embodiment, the stopper member 9 can be positioned at the restricted position P1 by the second locking portion 130 formed on the operating piece 111 of the stopper member 9 locking with the first locking portion 120 formed on the trigger member 8. Therefore, unlike conventional designs, it is possible to suppress the stopper member 9 from being unexpectedly displaced to the released position P2 due to unintended swinging. On the other hand, when discharging the contents, the operation of pushing in the operating piece 111 to displace it from the locked position P3 to the allowable position P4, and the operation of swinging the stopper member 9 to displace it from the restricted position P1 to the released position P2 can be performed in a continuous sequence. Therefore, operability can be improved and it is easy to use.

[0088] Furthermore, when dispensing the contents, the operating piece 111 can be pushed in the left-right direction L2 to displace it from the locked position P3 to the allowable position P4, while the stopper member 9 can be swung in a direction opposite to the direction of the pushing operation of the operating piece 111, towards the rear. Therefore, the pushing operation of the operating piece 111 and the swung operation of the stopper member 9 can be clearly distinguished and operated, improving operability.

[0089] Furthermore, since the inclined first locking surface 121 and the second locking surface 131 can be locked together, even if the stopper member 9 is subjected to a strong stress towards the rear due to an unintended external force when the stopper member 9 is in the restricted position P1, the operating piece 111 is less likely to be displaced inward in the left-right direction L2. Therefore, it is possible to effectively suppress the unintended displacement of the operating piece 111 to the allowable position P4.

[0090] Furthermore, since it is equipped with a pair of operating pieces 111, these operating pieces 111 can be simultaneously pressed by pinching them with the fingertips from the left and right directions L2, and the stopper member 9 can be continuously swung backward to displace it to the release position P2. Therefore, the stopper member 9 can be operated with a single touch using one hand, for example, further improving operability.

[0091] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Embodiments and their modifications include, for example, those that can be easily imagined by those skilled in the art, those that are substantially the same, and those that are equivalent.

[0092] For example, in the above embodiment, a pair of operating pieces 111 are provided, but the structure is not limited to this case, and a configuration with only one is also acceptable. Furthermore, the pump mechanism 3 is not limited to the above configuration, and other pump mechanisms may be used as long as the contents can be discharged by pressing down the discharge head 5.

[0093] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the support member 7 is integrally formed with the guide cap 70, but this is not limited to this case, and for example, it may be integrally formed with the mounting cap 6. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the discharge head 5 is configured to include a nozzle tip 85, but the nozzle tip 85 is not essential and may be omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0094] L1…Anteroposterior direction L2…Left and right direction P1... Restricted location P2…Release position P3... Lock position P4...Permissible position A... Container body 1...Dispenser 2... Stem 3…Pump mechanism 4…Discharge hole 5…Discharge head 6…Attachment cap 7…Support member 8…Trigger component 9... Stopper component 110...Regulation piece 111...Operation piece 120...First locking part 121...First locking surface 130...Second locking part 131...Second locking surface

Claims

1. A pump mechanism having a stem that is arranged to be movable downward while biased upward, and which is attached to the mouth of the container body that holds the contents, A discharge head is attached to the upper end of the aforementioned stem and has a discharge hole that opens forward, A support member, which is combined with the pump mechanism and positioned behind the discharge head, A trigger member is assembled to the support member so as to be rotatable toward the rear, and the rearward rotation pushes down the discharge head, The device includes a stopper member that is assembled to the support member so as to be swingable in the front-rear direction, and which is displaceable between a restricting position that restricts the downward pressing of the discharge head and a release position that allows the downward pressing of the discharge head, The stopper member is, When in the aforementioned restricted position, a restricting piece restricts the downward movement of the discharge head, The regulating piece is elastically displaceable and connected to the regulating piece, and includes an operating piece that can be pushed in from a locked position toward an acceptable position, The operating piece has a second locking portion that, when in the locked position, engages with a first locking portion formed on the trigger member to position the stopper member in the restricting position, and when in the allowable position, disengages from the first locking portion to allow the stopper member to move from the restricting position towards the release position. The stopper member is displaced to the release position by swinging backward from the restricting position. The operating piece, when pushed in a left-right direction intersecting the front-rear direction when viewed from the central axis direction of the stem, is displaced from the locked position to the allowable position while swinging with the connection point with the restricting piece as the pivot point. The discharger is characterized in that the second locking portion is locked to the first locking portion from the front when it is in the locked position.

2. In the discharger according to claim 1, The first locking portion has a first locking surface that faces forward and is inclined forward as it moves from the outside to the inside in the left-right direction, The discharger has a second locking portion that faces rearward and is inclined forward as it moves from the outside to the inside in the left-right direction, and has a second locking surface that locks with the first locking surface from the front.

Images