Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a head cap for an aerosol type
atomizer and, more particularly, to a cap head for an aerosol type
atomizer in which when all the contents in a container of the aerosol
type atomizer are sprayed and used up (when the use of the aerosol
type atomizer is ended), a residual gas that remains in the container
can be discharged.
Background Art
[0002] An aerosol type atomizer is made of a container accommodat-
ing its contents such as a chemical in its inside, and a head cap
mounted over a top of the container.
The container which accommodates its contents such as a
chemical and a gas in its inside in a sealed state is provided at its top
end with a stem, which is biased upwards, can be pushed down and is
structured so that when the stem is pushed down, the contents of the
container may be discharged therethrough.
On the other hand, the cap head which is mounted over the
top of the container is made of a cap body mounted over the top of the
container, and a movable member for spray operation which is dis-
posed inside of the cap body and which can be pivoted and swung ver-
tically relative to the cap body. The movable member for spray opera-
tion is provided with a stem fitting part for fitting with the stem and
with a spray port, has a fluid channel extending from the stem fitting
part to the spray port and is provided with a push button.
[0003] In the aerosol type atomizer so made up, it is designed that
pushing down the movable member for spray operation to take a spray
position causes the contents of the container under the pressure of the
gas accommodated in the container to be sprayed externally from the
spray port via the fluid channel in the movable member for spray op-
eration.
[0004] In such an aerosol type atomizer, when all the contents of the
container are sprayed and used up (when the use of the aerosol type
atomizer is ended), there is very often the case that the gas remains
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in the container of the aerosol type atomizer. For this reason, when
the aerosol type atomizer is discarded and scrapped, there is a fear of
accident that an explosion may occur due to the gas that remains in
the container, namely the residual gas.
[0005] Then, in order to get rid of an accident of explosion due to the
residual gas in an aerosol type atomizer, it has been known as dis-
closed in JP U S55-73700 and JP U H04-124918, to provide the aero-
sol type atomizer with a needle or a drilling tool for drilling its con-
tainer so that when the use of the aerosol type atomizer is ended a
hole is drilled in the container with the needle or drilling tool to dis-
charge the residual gas inside of the container therethrough, thereby
avoiding the accident of explosion due to the residual gas.
[0006] Also, as disclosed in JP U H01 - 61082, it has been known to
provide a mechanism such that when the movable member for spray
operation is largely moved downwards in the head cap, the movable
member for spray operation is engaged with the cap body to fix the
movable member for spray operation at a lower position (in a state of
spray) whereby in a time of normal spray the contents of the con-
tainer are sprayed from the spray port by lowering slightly the mov-
able member for spray operation, but once the use of the aerosol type
atomizer is ended, the movable member for spray operation is largely
moved downwards by pushing it intensely to fix it at the lower posi-
tion (in the state of spray), thereby permitting the residual gas in the
container to be fully discharged.
[0007] In the former type of the conventional aerosol type atomizers,
the need to provide the atomizer separately with the needle or drilling
tool for drilling the container gives rise to the problem of increasing
the number of parts and components to form the aerosol type atomizer.
In addition, the need for its use to remove the needle or drilling tool
from the aerosol type atomizer and then to pierce the container
therewith has the problem of its operation being very troublesome,
and yet piercing the container may cause the residual gas in the con-
tainer to fly about, presenting the problem that the operation may be
attended with a danger.
[0008] On the other hand, the latter can largely alleviate the prob-
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lems of the operation being troublesome and becoming hazardous as
in the former in that the residual gas in the container is discharged
by moving the movable member for spray operation in the head cap
largely downwards to fix it at the lower position (in the state of spray),
but since the movable member for spray operation can be automati-
cally fixed at the lower position (brought in the state of spray) by
pushing it intensely, there is a risk that the problem arises that a
false operation to push the movable member for spray operation in-
tensely by just an inadvertence in a time of normal spray may cause
the movable member for spray operation to be so fixed automatically
with the result that the contents in the container are altogether
sprayed.
[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a head cap
for an aerosol type atomizer in which the problems mentioned above
are overcome, especially in which a residual gas that remains in the
container after the use of the aerosol type atomizer is ended is dis-
charged easily and safely, and which is so structured that the aerosol
type atomizer cannot be falsely operated while it is being used.
Disclosure of the Invention
[0010] There is provided in accordance with the present invention a
head cap for an aerosol type atomizer, comprising a cap body mounted
over a top of a container accommodating its contents, and a movable
member for spray operation disposed inside of the cap body and hav-
ing a fluid channel extending from a stem fitting part for fitting with
a stem and leading to a spray port, the movable member for spray op-
eration having a push button such that pushing down the push button
to take a spray position sprays contents of the container from the
spray port via the fluid channel, characterized in that the cap body
has a side face elastically deformable so that when the push button of
the movable member for spray operation is pushed down to take the
spray position, pressing the side face of the cap body inwards locks
the movable member for spray operation with the side face to hold the
movable member for spray operation at the spray position.
[0011] There is provided in accordance with the present invention a

head cap for an aerosol type atomizer as in the aspect mentioned
above, characterized in that the cap body has side faces at its right
and left hand sides elastically deformable so that when the push but-
ton of the movable member for spray operation is pushed down to take
the spray position, pressing the side faces at the right and left hand
sides inwards in a grasping manner locks the movable member for
spray operation with the side faces at the right and left hand sides.
[0012] According to the present invention, in performing the opera-
tion of discharging the residual gas when the use of an aerosol type
atomizer is ended, when a user pushes down the push button with
fingers to take a spray position, the user may perform an extremely
simple and uncomplicated operation of pressing a side face of the cap
body inwards to engage the side face with the movable member for
spray operation and thereby to lock the movable member for spray
operation with the side face and can therefore perform the operation
easily and safely.
[0013] Also, according to the present invention, since contents of the
container are prevented from being sprayed unless the user performs
a particular operation of holding the movable member for spray op-
eration at the spray position by pressing the side face of the cap body
inwards to lock the movable member for spray operation with the side
face, the problem of falsely spraying the contents inside of the con-
tainer altogether when the aerosol type atomizer is used, namely in
the time of normal spray, can be prevented.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a head cap for an
aerosol type atomizer according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating the head cap for
the aerosol type atomizer according to the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a top plan view illustrating the head cap for the
aerosol type atomizer according to the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a rear view illustrating the head cap for the aerosol
type atomizer according to the present invention;
Fig. 5 is an elevational cross sectional view the head cap for
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the aerosol type atomizer according to the present invention.'
Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the state that the head cap for
the aerosol type atomizer is stored);
Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating the state that the head cap for
the aerosol type atomizer is being operated;
Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the state that the head cap for
the aerosol type atomizer is being operated;
Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating the state that the head cap for
the aerosol type atomizer is being operated;
Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating the state that the head cap
for the aerosol type atomizer is being operated;
Fig. 11 is a rear perspective view illustrating a head cap for
an aerosol atomizer in an alternative embodiment according to the
present invention;
Fig. 12 is a top plan view illustrating the head cap for the
aerosol type atomizer in the alternative embodiment according to the
present invention;
Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating the state that the head cap
for the aerosol type atomizer in the alternative embodiment of the
present invention is being operated; and
Fig. 14 is a front perspective view illustrating a head cap for
an aerosol type atomizer in a further alternative embodiment of the
present invention.
Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
[0014] An explanation is given in respect of an embodiment of a head
cap for an aerosol type atomizer according to the present invention.
As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the head cap for this aerosol atom-
izer is basically made of a cap body 2 mounted over a top of a con-
tainer 1 accommodating its contents such as a chemical in its inside,
and a movable member for spray operation 3 which is disposed inside
of the cap body 2, which is connected to a part of the cap body 2 and
which can be pivoted and swung vertically relative to the cap body 2.
[0015] The cap body 2 comprises a front part 5 that is largely opened
longitudinally, side faces 6 at its right and left hand sides that are

planar for the most parts, a rear part 7 that is opened at its upper
side, and a top face 8 that is opened at its rear side, the opening of
the rear part 7 being continuous with that of the top face 8. Each of
the side faces 6 of the right and left hand sides is made of an outer
wall plate 11 and an inner wall plate 12 which is formed to droop in a
rear portion of the side face 6 from its upper side to a given height
from which the inner wall plate 12 is structured to open at its lower
side. Also, the front part 5, the side faces 6 at the right and left hand
sides and the rear part 7 are provided at their insides with a cylin-
drical part 13 whose rear side is cut out to become nearly C-shaped in
a horizontal cross section and whose lower end is fitted with the top of
the container 1. Also, the cylindrical part 13 is formed with a plural-
ity of vertical cuts or indentations 14 extending from its lower end to
ease its attachment to and detachment from the container 1.
The front part 5 of the cap body 2 is also provided at its lower
section with a pair of right and left hand side retainer pieces 17 for
holding a rotary guide 15 and a nozzle 16 (to be described later) be-
tween them from the right and left hand sides.
[0016] On the other hand, the movable member for spray operation 3
has its front end connected to the front part 5 of the cap body 2 via a
connection 21 becoming thin in the inside of the front part 5 so that it
can be swung vertically on the connection 21 relative to the cap body
2. The movable member for spray operation 3 is provided centrally at
its lower end with a stem fitting part 23 for fitting with a stem 22 of
the container 1 and at its upper front section with a spray port 24.
And, it is formed interiorly with a fluid channel 25 extending from the
stem fitting part 23 to the spray port 24. Also, the movable member
for spray operation 3 is structured to be higher in its front section and
lower in its rear section, and is provided at the lower section with a
push button 27 having a recess 26.
Although the movable body for spray operation 3 and the cap
body 2 are shown structured to be integrally connected to each other
via the connection 21, this is not a limitation; the movable body for
spray operation 3 and the cap body 2 may be separate bodies which
may be structured to be connected to each other by a pin or the like.
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However, it would be easier in manufacture to structure the movable
member for spray operation 3 and the cap body 2 integrally and, es-
pecially if made of, e. g., a synthetic resin material, they can be
formed in a single step with a mold and can be manufactured ex-
tremely economically.
[0017] Further, the front part 5 of the cap body 2 is provided at its
upper section with the rotary guide 15 in the form of a thin cylinder,
which is rotatable vertically and can be locked at a position that it
extends virtually horizontally and at a position that it extends down-
wards. And, the nozzle 16 that is flexible is inserted in the rotary
guide 15, and has its rear end fitted with the spray port 24 of the
movable member for spray operation 3.
[0018] In the head cap when used as for an aerosol type atomizer by
mounting it over the top of the container 1, first the rotary guide 15
with the nozzle 16 is rotated upwards to position them as they extend
virtually horizontally. And, pushing down the push button 27 with a
finger at the rear section of the movable body for spray operation 3
will cause the movable member for spray operation 3 to lower to take
its spray position and thereby the stem fitting part 23 to press down
the stem 22. This will cause the contents of the container 1 to be dis-
charged through the stem 22 under the pressure of a gas therein and
then through the fluid channel 25 in the movable body for spray op-
eration 3 and the spray port 24 and through the nozzle 16 fitted with
the spray port 24 and sprayed forward and externally from the end of
the nozzle 16. Also, if the aerosol type atomizer is to be stored upon
stopping the spray of the contents, as shown in Fig. 6 the rotary guide
15 with the nozzle 16 is turned downwards so it extends downward,
and is held between the retention pieces 17 provided at the lower sec-
tion of the front part 5.
[0019] And, in this head cap for the aerosol type atomizer, the side
faces 6 at the right and left hand sides of the cap body 2 are rendered
elastically deformable. As a means for rendering them elastically de-
formable, it is conceivable to use a soft material, e. g., a soft synthetic
resin material or to make thinner their thickness. However, consid-
ered synthetically, it is optimum if the head cap 2 is made of a syn-
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thetic resin material, and it is best formed integrally with the mov-
able body for spray operation 3 from the aspect of manufacture. While
it is necessary that the side faces 6 at the right and left hand sides of
the cap body 2 be made elastically deformable, it is required that the
front part 5, the rear part 7 and the top face 8 as the other parts of
the cap body 2 or the movable member for spray operation 3 have
some degree of hardness. Hence, in practice, use is made of a syn-
thetic resin material having both some degree of hardness and elastic
deformability to make up the cap body 2 and the movable member for
spray operation 3 integrally formed into the head cap while largely
opening the rear section of the top face 8 continuously to the upper
side of the rear part 7 to make the side faces 6 at the right and left
hand sides easily deformable elastically.
It should be noted here that the above structure is not a limi-
tation; though with some added cost, the side faces 6 at the right and
left hand sides may be separate from the other parts and may be
made of a material that is softer.
[0020] On the other hand, the push button 27 for the movable mem-
ber for spray operation 3 is provided at its right and left hand sides
with upwardly projecting protrusions 31, respectively, which are
made engageable with the inner wall plates 12 in the side faces 6 of
the cap body 2, respectively.
[0021] And, in such a structure, when the push button 27 of the
movable member for spray operation 3 is pushed down as shown in
Fig. 7 to take its spray position, the side faces 6 at the right and left
hand sides of the cap body 2 which are elastically deformable are
pressed inwards in a grasping manner as shown in Fig. 8 to engage
the protrusions 31 provided in the push button 27 of the movable
member for spray operation 3 with the inner wall plates 12 of these
right and left side faces 6, respectively, whereby to lock the push but-
ton 27 of the movable member for spray operation 3 with the inner
wall plates 12 of the right and left side faces 6 and then to hold the
movable member for spray operation 3 so that the latter while at the
spray position may not be swung upwards as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.
[0022] In this head cap for the aerosol type atomizer, when the aero-

sol type atomizer is used, namely in a time of normal spray, the user
while positioning the rotary guide 15 with the nozzle 16 so that they
extend virtually horizontally may push down the push button 27 of
the movable member for spray operation 3 with the thumb to cause
the movable member for spray operation 3 to take its spray position
and to spray the contents accommodated in the container 1 from the
nozzle 16 fitted with the spray port 24 of the movable member for
spray operation 3.
[0023] On the other hand, when the use of the aerosol type atomizer
is ended, namely when the contents in the container 1 of the aerosol
type atomizer are altogether sprayed and used up, the user while
pushing down the push button 27 of the movable member for spray
operation 3 with a finger to cause the movable member for spray op-
eration 3 to take its spray position may press the side faces 6 at the
right and left hand sides of the cap body 2 inwards in a grasping
manner with fingers. And, the protrusions 31 of the push button 27
are engaged with the inner wall plates 12 of the right and left side
faces 6 pressed inwards to lock the movable member for spray opera-
tion 3 with the inner wall plates 12 of the right and left side faces 6
and then to hold the movable member for spray operation 3 at its
spray position. This causes the movable member for spray operation 3
to be left in the spray state and then causes the gas that remains in
the container 1, namely the residual gas, to be discharged fully.
[0024] In the head cap for the aerosol type atomizer of such a con-
struction, when the use of the aerosol type atomizer is ended, the
movable member for spray operation 3 is locked with the right and
left side faces 6 pressed inwards and is held at the spray position
whereby the residual gas in the container 1 can be discharged fully.
Moreover, the operation for discharging the residual gas is an ex-
tremely simple and uncomplicated operation that requires the user
only to push down the push button 27 with a finger to take the spray
position and then to press the side faces 6 at the right and left hand
sides of the cap body 2 inwards in a grasping manner with fingers to
engage the protrusions 31 of the push button 27 with the inner wall
plates 12 of the right and left side faces 6 and then to lock the mov
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able member for spray operation 3, and hence can be performed easily
and safely to discharge the residual gas.
[0025] Also, in locking the movable member for spray operation 3,
since the protrusions 31 of the push button 27 are engaged with the
inner wall plates 12 and in effect are locked at the right and left hand
sides, the movable member for spray operation 3 cannot be unlocked
with ease, thereby allowing the residual gas to be discharged fully to
the last.
[0026] Further, in locking the movable member for spray operation 3,
since the inner wall plates 12 of the side faces 6 of the cap body 2 are
utilized to lock the movable body for spray 3 therewith, there is no
need to provide a particular locking member purposely for locking the
movable member for spray operation 3. Thus, by limiting the increase
of components to reduce the number of parts, and to simplify the
structure, of the head cap for the aerosol type atomizer, it is possible
to manufacture the head cap economically and yet easily.
[0027] Also, when the aerosol type atomizer is used, namely in a time
of normal spray, the push button 27 can simply be pushed down with,
a finger to spray the contents accommodated in the container 1. On
the other hand, when the residual gas is to be discharged, a particular
operation is performed to push down the push button 27 of the mov-
able member for spray operation 3 to take the spray position and then
to press the side faces 6 at the right and left hand sides of the cap
body 2 inwards in a grasping manner with fingers to engage the pro-
trusions 31 of the push button 27 with the inner wall plates 12 of the
right and left side faces 6. For this reason, unless such a particular
operation to press the side faces 6 at the right and left hand sides of
the cap body 2 inwards in a grasping manner with fingers to engage
the protrusions 31 of the push button 27 with the inner wall plates 12
of the right and left side faces 6 and thereby to hold the movable
member for spray operation 3 is performed, no time is there that the
contents inside of the container 1 are altogether sprayed. Hence, the
problem is eliminated that when the aerosol type atomizer is in use,
namely in a time of normal spray, the contents in the container 1
come to be falsely sprayed altogether.
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[0028] It may be possible to press inwards the rear part 7 of the cap
body 2, in lieu of the side faces 6 of the cap body 2, to lock the mov-
able member for spray operation 3 therewith. However, if the rear
part 7 of the cap body 2 is utilized, since in a time of normal spray,
the user for spray holds a finger or fingers from the rear against the
push button 27 of the movable member for spray operation 3, the
problem arises that by some chance the finger or fingers may then
push the rear part 7 inwards to lock the movable member for spray
operation 3 on the rear part 7 so that the contents inside of the con-
tainer 1 may altogether be sprayed. Such a problem that the contents
inside of the container 1 are altogether sprayed by a false operation in
a time of normal spray no longer arises when the side faces 6 at the
right and left hand sides of the cap body 2 are utilized in locking the
movable member for spray operation 3 according to the present inven-
tion.
[0029] An explanation is next given in respect of an alternative em-
bodiment of the head cap for the aerosol type atomizer according to
the present invention. The alternative embodiment is basically iden-
tical to the embodiment mentioned above except that the manner in
which to engage the movable member for spray operation 3 with the
side faces 6 of the cap body is a little different.
[0030] This is illustrated in Fig. 11 in which the inner wall plates 12
in the side faces 6 at the right and left hand sides of the cap body 2
are each shown to be in the form of a tongue that droops virtually cen-
trally of front and rear, from the upper end of each of the side faces 6.
On the other hand, the movable member for spray operation 3 as
shown in Fig. 12 is provided in its section higher in elevation where it
projects right- and leftwards at the rear end with a pair of forward
projecting protrusions 31, respectively. The right- and leftward
protrusions 31 are made engageable with the tongue shaped inner
wall plates 12 in the side faces 6 of the cap body 2, respectively.
[0031] Accordingly, when the push button 27 of the movable member
for spray operation 3 is pushed down to take the spray position, the
side faces 6 at the right and left hand sides of the cap body 2 which
are elastically deformable can be pressed inwards in a grasping man-

12
ner with fingers to engage, as shown in Fig. 13, the protrusions 31
provided in the movable member for spray operation 3 with the inner
wall plates 12 in the side faces 6 at the left hand sides, respectively,
whereby to lock the movable member for spray operation 3 with the
inner wall plates 12 in the side faces 6 at the right and left hand sides
and then to hold the movable member for spray operation 3 at the
spray position while preventing the same from being vertically swung.
[0032] This causes, as in the embodiment mentioned previously, the
movable body for spray operation 3 when the use of the aerosol type
atomizer is ended to be locked with the side faces 6 at the right and
left hand sides pressed inwards and the same to be held at the spray
position and then the residual gas in the container 1 to be discharged
fully.
[0033] It should be noted here that the head cap for the aerosol type
atomizer according to the present invention is not considered to be
limited only to what have been shown and described. For example, the
engagement of the movable member for spray operation 3 with the
inner wall plates 12 in the side faces 6 of the cap body 2 is not limited
to the embodiments described and may be made at other sites. Fur-
ther, while the engagement is shown to be made at both right and left
hand sides, the engagement may be made only at one of the right and
left hand sides if the engagement is secure to hold the movable mem-
ber for spray operation at the spray position.
[0034] Also, while the side faces 6 of the cap body 2 is shown and de-
scribed to comprise the outer wall plates 11 and the inner wall plates
12, the same may comprise the outer wall plates 11 only, which may
be formed with engagements in the form of holes or hooks with which
the protrusions 31 provided in the movable member for spray opera-
tion 3 may be engaged.
[0035] Further, the cap body 2 and the movable member for spray
operation 3 are not limited to the structures shown and described. For
example, while the movable member for spray operation 3 is shown
and described to have the rotary guide 15 rotatable vertically in the
front part 5 and the nozzle 16 fitted with the spray port 24 for verti-
cal rotation with the rotary guide 15, it may be without such rotary
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guide 15 and nozzle 16 and may be of the type with the spray port 24
for direct spray as shown in Fig. 14.
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We Claim;
1. A head cap for an aerosol type atomizer, comprising a cap
body mounted over a top of a container accommodating its contents,
and a movable member for spray operation disposed inside of the cap
body and having a fluid channel extending from a stem fitting part for
fitting with a stem and leading to a spray port, said movable member
for spray operation having a push button such that pushing down the
push button to take a spray position sprays contents of the container
from the spray port via the fluid channel, characterized in that said
cap body has a side face elastically deformable so that when the push
button of said movable member for spray operation is pushed down to
take the spray position, pressing the side face of said cap body in-
wards locks said movable member for spray operation with said side
face to hold said movable member for spray operation at said spray
position.
2. A head cap for an aerosol type atomizer as set forth in claim
1, characterized in that said cap body has side faces at its right and
left hand sides elastically deformable so that when the push button of
said movable member for spray operation is pushed down to take the
spray position, pressing said side faces at the right and left hand
sides inwards in a grasping manner locks said movable member for
spray operation with said side faces at the right and left hand sides.

A head cap for an aerosol type atomizer is proposed in which a
residual gas that remains in the container after the use of the aerosol
type atomizer is ended are discharged easily and safely, and which is
so structured that the aerosol type atomizer cannot be falsely operated while it is being used. It comprises a cap body mounted over a
top of a container accommodating its contents, and a movable member
for spray operation disposed inside of the cap body and having a fluid
channel extending from a stem fitting part for fitting with a stem and
leading to a spray port, the movable member for spray operation having a push button such that pushing down the push button to take a
spray position sprays contents of the container from the spray port
via the fluid channel, wherein the cap body has a side face elastically
deformable so that when the push button of the movable member for
spray operation is pushed down to take the spray position, pressing
the side face of the cap body inwards locks the movable member for
spray operation with the side face to hold the movable member for
spray operation at the spray position.