WO2007111454A1

WO2007111454A1 - Trigger type sprayer

Info

Publication number: WO2007111454A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/001458
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yong-Dae Lee
Original assignee: Apollo Industrial Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-03-27
Filing date: 2007-03-26
Publication date: 2007-10-04
Also published as: KR100632143B1; CN101394934B; CN101394934A

Abstract

A trigger sprayer device is disclosed, which is configured in such a way that the trigger and plunger are operable only after unlocking, to be childproof. The trigger sprayer device includes: a plunger unit (52) that is placed to reciprocate inside the cylinder (65) and elastically supported by a restoring spring (51), in which the front end of the plunger unit (52) is associated with a rear side of the trigger (80) and the sides of the plunger unit (52) protrudently forms locking ribs; and a locking member (53) that is pivotally fitted in an opened end of the cylinder (65), and has a through hole (53a), shaped as a ring, to allow the front end of the plunger unit (52) to be past through, forming slide grooves (53b) on the inner circumference of the through hole (53a) to se¬ lectively allow the locking ribs (52g) to be moved. Therefore, when the slide grooves (53b) and the locking ribs (52g) are not parallel with each other, the trigger (80) and the plunger unit (52) maintain their locking state. Thus, the operation of the trigger (80) can be restricted. Ac¬ cordingly, the trigger sprayer device is childproof. In addition, since the plunger unit (52) has always been received in the through-hole (53a), the plunger unit (52) is not deformed although the trigger is pressed from both its sides and impacted while the sprayer is carried.

Description

Description TRIGGER TYPE SPRAYER

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a small sprayer, and more particularly to a trigger sprayer device that pumps and sprays liquid as a plunger reciprocate and that keeps the plunger in a locking state. Background Art

[2] In general, a small sprayer pumps and sprays contents contained in its container.

To this end, the sprayer mounts a sprayer device on the upper portion of the container. That is, the conventional small sprayer includes: a container for keeping liquid or paste cosmetics or other contents; a cap detachably coupled to the neck of the container; and a trigger sprayer device mounted on the upper portion of the cap, for pumping and spraying a certain unit of liquid per each triggering.

[3] The conventional trigger sprayer device is configured to include: a body mounted on the upper portion of the cap, having a spray nozzle at the front end thereof; a pump unit having a plunger placed inside the body, for absorbing and pumping liquid in the container; a trigger pivotally coupled to a front end portion of the body, for allowing the plunger of the pump unit to reciprocate; and a restoring spring for restoring the trigger. Therefore, as the trigger is repeatedly triggered, the liquid is absorbed inside the pump unit and then sprayed through the spray nozzle.

[4] As such, since the conventional trigger sprayer device allows the liquid in the container of the sprayer to be sprayed by just repeatedly triggering, even a young child can easily operated it. When the container of the sprayer contains a harmful liquid and such children can easily trigger the trigger, the sprayed liquid may cause them harm.

That is, the conventional trigger sprayer device is disadvantageous in that it is not childproof.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[5] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a trigger sprayer device that is configured such that the trigger and plunger can be repeatedly triggered only after a locking state is unreleased, thereby preventing a child from carelessly operating it.

[6] It is another object of the present invention to provide a trigger sprayer device that can prevent deformation of the plunger even though both sides of the plunger are pressed by the trigger while the sprayer is carried. Technical Solution [7] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a trigger sprayer device that includes a sprayer body having a cylinder in which a pumping means is placed to absorb and pump liquid in a container, a spraying nozzle installed to a front end of the sprayer body, and a trigger which is pivotally installed to a front end portion of the sprayer body and repeatedly performs a pulling associating with the pumping means. The pumping means comprises a plunger unit, a locking member, and a knob. The plunger unit is placed to be reciprocated inside the cylinder and elastically supported by a restoring spring, in which the front end of the plunger unit is associated with a rear side of the trigger and the sides of the plunger unit protrudently forms locking ribs. The locking member is pivotally fitted in an opened end of the cylinder, and has a through hole, shaped as a ring, to allow the front end of the plunger unit to be passed through, forming slide grooves on the inner circumference of the through hole to selectively allow the locking ribs to be moved. The knob is protrudently formed at an outer surface of the locking member, for allowing the locking member to rotate so that the locking ribs and the slide grooves can be parallel, or not parallel, with each other in a s tate where there trigger moves forward.

[8] Preferably, the locking member may form locking grooves associated with the slide grooves on the inner circumference at the front end, in which each locking groove is formed as a step. When the locking member is rotated at a certain angle using the knob, if the locking ribs are parallel with the locking grooves, the plunger unit is restricted. As well, if the locking ribs are parallel with the slide grooves, the plunger unit can be operated.

[9] Preferably, the locking ribs form a pair and are placed, at 180 , on an outer surface of the front end of the plunger unit. The slide grooves and the locking grooves are correspondingly formed on the inner circumference surface of the locking member and are respectively opposite each other.

[10] Preferably, the plunger unit includes: a piston member that is supported by the restoring spring, reciprocating back and forth in a state where the piston member is close to the inner wall of the cylinder; and a piston supporting member that is fitted on the front end portion of the piston member and has the locking ribs protrudently formed on the outer surface thereof, in which the piston supporting member allows the piston member to be connected to the trigger as the front end of the piston supporting member properly contacts the trigger.

[11] Preferably, the piston member forms a step-coupling unit at the front end thereof, in which the step-coupling unit is formed in such a way that its diameter is reduced and its outer surface forms a band type coupling groove. The rear end of the piston supporting member is fitted on the step-coupling unit, in which the piston supporting member is composed of a cylinder-coupling unit whose inner wall forms a coupling protrusion that is formed as a band type to correspondingly couple to the coupling groove.

[12] Preferably, the knob has an adhesion protrusion which is protrudently formed and is adhered closely to the outer wall of the opened end of the cylinder as the locking member is rotated.

Advantageous Effects

[13] As described above, the trigger sprayer device according to the present invention includes: a plunger unit that is placed to reciprocate inside the cylinder and elastically supported by a restoring spring, in which the front end of the plunger unit is associated with a rear side of the trigger and the sides of the plunger unit protrudently forms locking ribs; and a locking member that is pivotally fitted in an opened end of the cylinder, and has a through hole, shaped as a ring, to allow the front end of the plunger unit to be past through, forming slide grooves on the inner circumference of the through hole to selectively allow the locking ribs to be moved.

[14] Therefore, when the slide grooves and the locking ribs are not parallel with each other, the trigger and the plunger unit maintain their locking state. Thus, the operation of the trigger can be restricted. Accordingly, the trigger sprayer device is childproof. In addition, since the plunger unit has always been received in the through-hole, the plunger unit is not deformed although the trigger is pressed from both its sides and impacted while the sprayer is carried. Brief Description of the Drawings

[15] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[16] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a trigger sprayer device according to the present invention;

[17] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a pumping means according to the present invention;

[18] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a rear structure of a locking member according to the present invention;

[19] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along lines IV-IV in FIG. 2, illustrating an assembled structure of a pumping means;

[20] FIG. 5 is a front view, seen from the arrow direction of V in FIG. 4, illustrating an assembled state of the pumping means, in which a plunger unit is locked by a locking member;

[21] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a trigger sprayer device in a state where it is locked, according to the present invention; and [22] FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating a state where a pumping means according to the present invention is assembled, in which a plunger unit is unlocked through a locking member. [23]

[24] 30: sprayer device

[25] 50: pumping means

[26] 51 : restoring spring

[27] 52: plunger unit

[28] 52a: piston member

[29] 52b: step-coupling unit

[30] 52d: piston-supporting member

[31] 52e : cylinder-coupling unit

[32] 52g: locking rib

[33] 53: locking member

[34] 53b: slide groove

[35] 53c: locking groove

[36] 54: knob

[37] 55: adhesion protrusion

[38] 60: sprayer body

[39] 65: cylinder

[40] 80: trigger

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [41] Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [42] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a trigger sprayer device according to the present invention. [43] As shown in FIG. 1, the small sprayer adopting the idea of the present invention includes: a container 10 for keeping liquid contents; a cap 20 detachably coupled to an upper portion of the container 10; and a sprayer device 30 mounted onto the cap 20, for pumping and spraying liquid contents. [44] The container 10 is made of synthetic resin to contain the liquid contents. The container 10 has a neck 11 of a certain inner diameter, integrally formed at the upper portion thereof. The neck 11 forms an external thread at its outer surface to couple with the cap 20. [45] The cap 20 makes the sprayer device 30 to detachably couple with the neck 11 of the container 10. The cap 20 is made of synthetic resin and cylindrically formed. The cap 20 forms an internal thread on its internal wall.

[46] The sprayer device 30 absorbs contents in the container 20 and pumps and sprays it.

The sprayer device 30 includes: a valve housing 40 mounted onto a portion of the neck 11 ; a sprayer body 60 that receives the upper portion of the valve housing 40 to be coupled thereto and has a pumping means 50 built-in to absorb and pump the contents (liquid); a spray nozzle 70 pivotally installed to the front end portion of the sprayer body 60; and a trigger 80 for driving the pumping means 50 by repeated triggering.

[47] The valve housing 40 is directly mounted to the portion of the neck 11 by using the cap 20. The valve housing 40 is formed to include: a inflow channel 41 having a valve seat 42 that safely receives a first check valve 43, formed as a ball; and a inflow tube 44 extended from the under portion of the valve seat 42 to the bottom of the container 10. The first check valve 43 placed at the upstream side of the inflow channel 41 closes when the trigger 80 is pulled, thereby preventing the liquid in the sprayer body 60 from flowing backward into the container, and then opens when the trigger 80 is returned to its initial position, thereby allowing the inflow tube 44 to absorb the liquid from the container.

[48] Also, the inflow channel 41 is configured to include a valve seat 62 at the downstream thereof, for safely receiving a second check valve 63. The second check valve 63 opens during spraying and closes by a restoring force of a coil spring when absorbing the liquid into a cylinder 65, which will be described later.

[49] The sprayer body 60 is configured to receive the upper portion of the valve housing

40. The sprayer body 60 includes: the cylinder 65 horizontally extended, associating with the inflow channel 41; the pumping means 50 for absorbing the liquid through the inflow channel 41 and allowing it to flow at a certain pressure; and a discharge channel 61 for guiding the liquid flown from the pumping means 50 to the spraying nozzle 70. The pumping means 50 includes a plunger unit 52 that is placed to reciprocate inside the cylinder 65 and elastically supported by a restoring spring 51 (preferably, implemented by a coil spring in the embodiment of the present invention); and a locking member for keeping the plunger unit 52 in a locking state. When the plunger unit 52 is retreated while pressing the restoring spring 51, the liquid in the cylinder 65 is pressured and then flows to the discharging channel 61. On the other hand, when the plunger unit 52 goes forward by the restoring force of the restoring spring 51, the liquid flows into the cylinder 65 and is temporarily stored.

[50] The discharging channel 61 is horizontally extended above the upper portion of the cylinder 65, associating with the inflow channel 41 and the cylinder 65. The discharging channel 61 has the spraying nozzle 70 pivotally and fitted in the front end portion thereof. That is, the spraying nozzle 70 is mounted onto the front end of the sprayer body 60 to spray liquid. Also, a negative pressure through-hole 64 is formed on a wall of the cylinder 65 to allow external air to enter the inside of the cylinder 65 when the liquid is absorbed into the cylinder 65.

[51] Also, the trigger 80 couples its rear side to the plunger unit 52 and performs repeated triggering by an elastic restoring force of the restoring spring 51. The trigger 80 is formed by a hinge 81, which is pivotally coupled to the front end portion of the sprayer body 60 placed at the spraying nozzle 70, and a gripping portion 82 downwardly slantingly extended from the hinge 81.

[52] Meanwhile, the pumping means 50 of the trigger sprayer device can restrict operations of the plunger unit 52 through the locking member 53, thereby preventing a child from carelessly operating the sprayer. Such a plunger unit 52 and locking member 53 are described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, as follows.

[53] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a pumping means according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a rear structure of a locking member according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along lines IV-IV in FIG. 2, illustrating an assembled structure of a pumping means.

[54] Firstly, the plunger unit 52 is placed inside the cylinder in such a way that it is elastically supported by the restoring spring 51 to reciprocate back and forth and its front end is connected with the rear portion of the trigger 80. The plunger unit 52 is formed by: a piston member 52a that is supported by the restoring spring 51, in which the piston member 52a reciprocates back and forth in a state where it is close to the inner wall of the cylinder 65; and a piston supporting member 52d that is fitted in the front end portion of the piston member 52a and has locking ribs 52g protrudently formed on its outer surface, in which the piston supporting member 52d allows the piston member 52a to be connected to the trigger as the front end of the piston supporting member 52d properly contacts to the trigger 80.

[55] The piston member 52a forms a step-coupling unit 52b at the front end thereof. The step-coupling unit 52b is formed in such a way that its diameter is reduced, i.e., tapered, and its outer surface forms a band type coupling groove 52c. The rear end of the piston supporting member 52d is fitted on the step-coupling unit 52b. The piston supporting member 52d is composed of a cylinder-coupling unit 52e whose inner wall forms a coupling protrusion 52f that is formed as a band type to correspondingly couple to the coupling groove 52c. Here, the coupling groove 52c is carved to be semicircular with respect to its cross-section and the coupling protrusion 52f is embossed to be semicircular corresponding to that of the coupling groove 52c, such that they can be assembled together. That is, when the step-coupling unit 52b of the piston member 52a is assembled to the cylinder-coupling unit 52e of the piston supporting member 52d, the coupling protrusion 52f is enforcedly fitted on the coupling groove 52c so that the piston supporting member 52d and the piston member 52a are integrally assembled to form the plunger unit 52.

[56] Also, in an embodiment of the present invention, the locking ribs 52g form a pair to be symmetric. The locking ribs 52g are formed at 180 on opposite sides of the outer surface of the front end of the piston supporting member 52d such that they can be placed at the front end of the plunger unit 52. Therefore, the plunger unit 52 can be evenly locked.

[57] As well, the locking member 53 is pivotally fitted in an opened end of the cylinder

65, and has a through hole 53a, i.e., formed as a ring, to allow the front end of the plunger unit 52 to pass through. The locking member 53 forms slide grooves 53b lengthwise on the inner circumference of the through hole 53a to allow the locking ribs 52g to be moved. Also, the locking member 53 forms locking grooves 53c associated with the slide grooves 52b on the inner circumference at the front end, in which each locking groove 53c is formed as a step in the circumference direction. In the embodiment of the present invention, the slide grooves 53b and the locking grooves 53c also form a pair and placed on opposite sides of the inner circumference of the locking member 53, respectively, to correspond to the positions of the locking ribs 52g. The locking member 53 forms a knob 54 allowing the locking member 53 to rotate so that the locking ribs 52g and the slide grooves 53b can be parallel or not parallel with each other in a state where there trigger 80 goes forward. In the embodiment of the present invention, the knob 54 is implemented to be protrudently and integrally formed on the outer surface of the locking member 53. Therefore, when a user rotates the locking member 53 at a certain angle using the knob 54 such that the locking ribs 52g are parallel with the locking grooves 53c, the plunger unit 52 is restricted. On the contrary, when the locking ribs 52g are parallel with the slide grooves 53b, the plunger unit 52 can be operated.

[58] Also, the knob 54 has an adhesion protrusion 55, which is protrudently formed and is adhered closely to the outer wall of the opened end of the cylinder 65 as it is integrally rotated together with the locking member. Therefore, the locking member 53 allows its operation only if a user grips the knob 54 and then rotates it.

[59] In the embodiment of the present invention, the locking member 53, the knob 54, and the adhesion protrusion 55 are made of synthetic resin and integrally formed by injection molding. However, they may be individually fabricated and then assembled.

[60] The following is a description of operations and effects of the sprayer device according to the present invention.

[61] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, in a state where the trigger 80 and the plunger unit 52 go forward by the restoring spring 51, when the locking ribs 52g of the plunger 52 are positioned at the locking grooves 53c of the locking member 53, the plunger unit 52 and the trigger 80 are maintained in a locking state. Here, since the adhesion protrusion 55 of the knob 54 is adhered closely to the outer wall of the cylinder 65, the plunger unit 52 and the trigger 80 maintain their locking states as long as an external force is applied thereto. In such a state, although a user tries to pull the trigger 80, the plunger 52 would not go backward by the locking member 53.

[62] In contrast, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when a user grips the knob 54 and rotates the locking member 53 such that the locking ribs 52ga are received by the slide grooves 53b (refer to the arrow direction in FIG. 7), the trigger 80 and the plunger unit 52 are unlocked. Here, the locking member 53 can be rotated in only one direction (refer to the arrow direction in FIG. 7) in the locking state, because the locking grooves 53c are formed as a step so that they receive the locking ribs 52g and are associated with the slide grooves 53b.

[63] As such, when the user pulls a gripping portion of the trigger 80 in a state when the trigger 80 and the plunger are unlocked, the restoring spring 51 is pressed and the plunger unit 52 is entered inside the cylinder 65. Simultaneously, the locking ribs 52g of the plunger unit 52 are moved through the slide grooves 53b of the locking member 53. Therefore, the liquid filling the cylinder 65 opens the second check valve 63 and then passes through the discharge channel 61, thereby being sprayed through the spraying nozzle 70. Simultaneously, since the first check valve 43 closes the inflow channel 41, the liquid in the cylinder 65 is only transferred to the spraying nozzle 70.

[64] On the other hand, when the user releases the gripping portion 82, the plunger 52 is protruded again by the restoring force of the restoring spring 51 and, at the same time, the gripping portion 82 is positioned at its initial state, and the inside of the cylinder 65 becomes an vacuum pressure state. Therefore, due to pressure difference between the insides of cylinder 65 and the container 10, the first check valve 43 is lifted up to thus open the inflow channel 41. Therefore, liquid in the container is absorbed to the inside of the cylinder 65 through the inflow tube 44. Simultaneously, since the second check valve 63, applying pressure, closes the discharge channel 61, the liquid does not leak. Also, when a certain amount of liquid is pumped from the container, external air corresponding to the pumped liquid volume enters the container through the negative pressure through hole 64, such that the sprayer device 30 maintains its initial state.

[65] After using the sprayer device 30, when the user grips the knob 54 and then rotates the locking member 53 in the opposite direction such that the locking ribs 52g are positioned at the locking grooves 53c (refer to FIG. 5), the trigger 80 and the plunger 52 enter into a locking state, again.

[66] That is, when the knob 54 is downwardly rotated in the unlocking state (refer to the arrow direction in FIG. 5), the plunger unit 52 enters a locking state through the locking member 53. Therefore, the trigger 80 cannot be operated as long as the plunger unit 52 is unlocked. Therefore, a child cannot careless operate the sprayer device 30. Since the adhesion protrusion 55 at the knob 54 is adhered closely to the outer wall of the opened end of the cylinder 65, the plunger 52 maintains its locking state as long as an external force is not applied thereto.

[67] As well, since the front end of the plunger unit 52 has been received in the through- hole 53a of the locking member 53, the plunger unit 52 does not deform even though the trigger is pressed from both sides and impacted while the sprayer is wrapped, loaded, and carried.

[68] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions, and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. Industrial Applicability

[69] The present invention can be widely used in the field of small trigger sprayer devices that pump and spray contents from their containers.

Claims

[1] A trigger sprayer device that includes a sprayer body having a cylinder in which a pumping means is placed to absorb and pump liquid in a container, a spraying nozzle installed to a front end of the sprayer body, and a trigger which is pivotally installed to a front end portion of the sprayer body and repeatedly performs a pulling associating with the pumping means, wherein the pumping means comprises: a plunger unit that is placed to be reciprocated inside the cylinder and elastically supported by a restoring spring, in which the front end of the plunger unit is associated with a rear side of the trigger and the sides of the plunger unit pro- trudently forms locking ribs; a locking member that is pivotally fitted in an opened end of the cylinder, and has a through hole, shaped as a ring, to allow the front end of the plunger unit to be passed through, forming slide grooves on the inner circumference of the through hole to selectively allow the locking ribs to be moved; and a knob protrudently formed at an outer surface of the locking member, for allowing the locking member to rotate so that the locking ribs and the slide grooves can be parallel, or not parallel, with each other in a state where there trigger moves forward.

[2] The device according to claim 1, wherein: the locking member forms locking grooves associated with the slide grooves on the inner circumference at the front end, in which each locking groove is formed as a step; and when the locking member is rotated at a certain angle using the knob, if the locking ribs are parallel with the locking grooves, the plunger unit is restricted, and if the locking ribs are parallel with the slide grooves, the plunger unit can be operated.

[3] The device according to claim 2, wherein: the locking ribs form a pair and are placed, at 180 , on an outer surface of the front end of the plunger unit; and the slide grooves and the locking grooves are correspondingly formed on the inner circumference surface of the locking member and are respectively opposite each other.

[4] The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plunger unit comprises: a piston member that is supported by the restoring spring, reciprocating back and forth in a state where the piston member is close to the inner wall of the cylinder; and a piston supporting member that is fitted on the front end portion of the piston member and has the locking ribs protrudently formed on the outer surface thereof, in which the piston supporting member allows the piston member to be connected to the trigger as the front end of the piston supporting member properly contacts the trigger.

[5] The device according to claim 4, wherein: the piston member forms a step-coupling unit at the front end thereof, in which the step-coupling unit is formed in such a way that its diameter is reduced and its outer surface forms a band type coupling groove; and the rear end of the piston supporting member is fitted on the step-coupling unit, in which the piston supporting member is composed of a cylinder-coupling unit whose inner wall forms a coupling protrusion that is formed as a band type to correspondingly couple to the coupling groove.

[6] The device according to claim 1, wherein the knob has an adhesion protrusion which is protrudently formed and is adhered closely to the outer wall of the opened end of the cylinder as the locking member is rotated.