Shoulder cover

The invention provides a shoulder cover for aerosol products capable of removing easily when discarding after use, while preventing perfectly from being detached from the aerosol container main body during use of product. A hinge is provided in the direction of action of the shoulder cover fitted with the aerosol container main body, and a locking protrusion and a vertical groove capable of separating part of a ring body are provided within degrees to right and left of the hinge on the inner circumference of the ring band, thereby allowing to tear off by holding the actuator portion. A locking protrusion is provided on the inner circumference of the ring band of the shoulder cover made of flexible resin, and a grip capable of inclining so as to flex the ring band is provided above the ring band. When desired to detach the shoulder cover from the aerosol container main body, the grip is picked up by force.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a shoulder cover convenient for disposal 
treatment of an attached used container, and more particularly to a 
shoulder cover placed on an aerosol product, which is not detached during 
use of the product, and can be separated and removed from the used 
container at the time of classified garbage collection after use of the 
product. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
A decorative piece mounted to cover the valve or the upper part of the main 
body of an aerosol product mounted on the aerosol container, separately 
from the cap, is known as shoulder cover in the industry. It is important 
hitherto for the shoulder cover that it should not be detached easily from 
the aerosol container main body (the convex part or concave part of the 
aerosol container main body or the valve mounted on the aerosol container 
main body), and the attention has been concentrated on how to keep the 
shoulder cover from being detached during use. 
Actually, however, in the process of merchandise planning or product 
inspection, it is sometimes needed to detach the shoulder cover from the 
aerosol container once it has been completed as to its product life, like 
the general button, spout or actuator, and although several methods have 
been discussed about these points, if the shoulder cover is made easily 
detachable from the aerosol container main body, the shoulder cover may be 
detached during use of the product, or the shoulder cover is broken during 
long-term storage, and many structural and manufacturing problems 
occurred. Hence, a shoulder cover in such a structure that it can be 
easily detached and removed after use has not been developed at all to the 
present. 
Accordingly, in the process of merchandise planning, product inspection, or 
product repair, if desired to detach the shoulder cover from the aerosol 
container once finished as a product, it was necessary to tear off the 
shoulder cover by force by using screwdriver, nippers, pincers or the 
like, and the aerosol container was torn or broken, and it was dangerous 
and the product once completed must be discarded as defective. 
Nevertheless, in the classified garbage collection regulation agreed at the 
Diet of Japan in June 1995 and published in the official gazette in 
December of the same year, it is designated "the container filled with 
high pressure gas should be deprived of the content, lid and pushbotton 
for injection," and further "the actuators including the shoulder cover 
should be easily detachable" according to the ordinance of the Ministry of 
Health and Welfare of Japan, and therefore unless the shoulder cover 
mounted on the aerosol product is designed and developed so as to be 
easily separated and removed from the main body of the used container, at 
the time of classified garbage collection after use of the product, while 
it is not detached during use of the product, the shoulder cover cannot be 
used in aerosol products. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is completed in the light of the above points, and it is a 
primary object thereof to provide a shoulder cover to be mounted on an 
aerosol product which can be easily separated and removed from the main 
body of the used aerosol container at the time of classified garbage 
collection after use of the product, while maintaining the conventional 
performance so as not to be detached at all during use of the product, 
thereby conforming to the container and package recycling promotion act 
and achieving perfectly and easily the classified garbage collection 
regulation demanding "the actuators including the shoulder cover should be 
easily detachable." 
A first aspect of the invention is as follows. 
1. A shoulder cover comprising a hinge provided on the line in the 
direction of action of an actuator, at least one locking protrusion 
provided within 90 degrees to the right or left of the hinge on an inner 
circumference in a form of ring band fitting with an aerosol container, 
and a vertical groove capable of separating part of the ring band. 2. A 
shoulder cover of item 1, wherein the groove upper part of the vertical 
groove of the ring band is plural grooves starting from both ends of the 
hinge. 3. A shoulder cover of item 1 or 2, wherein the section of the 
groove portion of the vertical groove of the ring band is a curvature. 4. 
A shoulder cover of any one of items 1 to 3, wherein a reinforcing band 
parallel to the ring band is formed in the grove portion of the vertical 
groove of the ring band. 5. A shoulder cover of any one of items 1 to 4, 
wherein the groove portion of the vertical groove of the ring band is 
single or plural I-forms. 6. A shoulder cover of any one of items 1 to 4, 
wherein the groove portion of the vertical groove of the ring band is a 
V-form. 7. A shoulder cover of any one of items 1 to 6, wherein a hinge 
thin film of greater width than the cut width ring band is provided in the 
hinge. 8. A shoulder cover of any one of items 1 to 7, wherein a 
penetration groove serving as part of a cutting portion when separated is 
formed in either the board or ring band, or in both, at proper positions. 
9. A shoulder cover of any one of items 1 to 8, relating to a shoulder 
cover comprising plural ring bands, wherein there is an isolation 
penetration groove for isolating the ring band of the shoulder cover at a 
side not directly engaged with the fitting of the aerosol container, and 
the ring band of the shoulder cover at the side directly engaged with the 
fitting of the aerosol container, in either board or ring band, or in 
both, at proper positions, when removing the shoulder cover from the 
aerosol container. 
A second aspect of the invention is as follows. 
1. A shoulder cover of an aerosol container made of flexible resin, 
comprising a locking protrusion provided on an inner circumference of a 
ring band, and a grip provided on the ring band, being capable of 
inclining so as to flex the ring band. 2. A shoulder cover of item 1, 
wherein the locking protrusion provided on the inner circumference of the 
ring band is cut at least at one position in a direction vertical to the 
grip direction. 3. A shoulder cover of item 1 or 2, wherein plural grips 
capable of inclining in an inside direction of the ring band are formed. 
4. A shoulder cover of any one of items 1 to 3, wherein a hinge is 
provided in the ring band, an actuator such as button or spout is formed 
on its extension, and the hinge is bent reversely so as to escape from the 
inclining range when bending the grip when detaching the shoulder cover. 
5. A shoulder cover of any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the ring band in 
the cutting portion of the locking protrusion on the inner circumference 
of the ring band is finished thinner than the thickness of the portion of 
the other ring band. 6. A shoulder cover of any one of items 1 to 5, 
relating to a shoulder cover comprising plural ring bands, wherein there 
is an isolation penetration groove for isolating the ring band of the 
shoulder cover at a side not directly engaged with the fitting of the 
aerosol container, and the ring band of the shoulder cover at the side 
directly engaged with the fitting of the aerosol container, at proper 
positions of ring bands, when removing the shoulder cover from the aerosol 
container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings, some of the preferred embodiments of the 
invention are described in detail below. 
FIG. 1 is a partial cut section perspective view showing a mode of mounting 
a shoulder cover 1 on an aerosol container main body 2 in an embodiment of 
the first invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shoulder cover 1 
seen obliquely from the back side. 
In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 is the shoulder cover of the 
embodiment of the first invention. Reference numeral 2 is the aerosol 
container main body. Reference numeral 3 is a spout as an example of 
actuator, and it is fitted in the upper part of the aerosol container main 
body 2. This spout 3 has an operation button 16 manipulated when 
discharging the content from a nozzle core 12 from which the content is 
discharged. There is a board or support member 5 near the lower outer 
circumference of the spout 3, and it is linked to a ring band 6 fitted 
with the aerosol container main body 2 (main body valve 11, etc.) through 
a hinge 8. 
In order that the shoulder cover 1 should never be detached from the 
aerosol container main body 2 during use of the product, at least one 
locking protrusion 4 is required in the portion within 90 degrees to right 
and left side of the hinge (the portion in the angle range shown in FIGS. 
9 and 10) inside of the ring band 6. Without them, when the actuator such 
as spout or button is manipulated, the ring band 6 is flexed and it is 
likely to be detached. 
The hinge 8 is provided on the line of direction of action of the spout 3 
which is an actuator (the direction of the finger manipulating the spout 
3). It makes smooth the motion of the spout 3 as actuator, and when 
tearing off the ring band 6 by holding the part of the spout 3, the 
tearing force from the spout 3 is fully utilized. If the hinge 8 is not 
located on the line in the direction of action, the motion of the spout 3 
as an actuator is poor during use of the product, and it is hard to cut 
off the ring band 6. 
In the board 5, moreover, a carved groove 7 is provided along the outer 
circumference of the board 5 from both ends of the hinge 8. In the ring 
band 6, there are vertical grooves 14 relative to the ring band 6, for 
cutting from both ends 9, 9' of the junction with the hinge 8 to lower 
ends 10, 10' of the ring band 6. That is, as set forth in claim 2, the 
groove upper portions of the vertical grooves 14 of the ring band 6 are 
formed of two (plural) grooves starting from both ends of the hinge 8, and 
therefore when tearing off the ring band 6 by holding the part of the 
spout 3, the tearing force from the spout 3 is more fully utilized. That 
is, if pulled obliquely to either right or left side instead of pulling 
the spout 3 straightly, cutting starts from either one of the two grooves, 
and the object of the invention may be easily achieved. 
After use of the product, when separating and removing the shoulder cover 1 
mounted on the aerosol product from the used container for classified 
garbage collection after use of the product, the spout 3 as the actuator 
of the shoulder cover 1 is held and pulled by force to the hinge 8 side, 
and cracks are formed in the vertical grooves 14 from the both ends 9, 9' 
of the junction of the ring band 6 and the hinge 8, and the cracks further 
propagate to the lower ends 10, 10', thereby cutting off the ring band 6 
as the shoulder cover of the valve 11. The cut ring band 6 can be easily 
removed from the aerosol container main body 2, and therefore the shoulder 
cover 1 can be easily separated from the aerosol container main body 2, 
and the aerosol container main body 2 which is a metal and the shoulder 
cover 1 which is plastics can be disposed separately. 
The vertical groove 14 for cutting may be formed either in plural lines or 
in a single line, and if not inconvenient in manufacturing, when the 
vertical grooves 14 are formed so that the lower ends 10, 10' of the ring 
band 6 may cross each other, that is, in a V-form intersecting at the 
lower parts, the spout 3 can be pulled down with a smaller effort. More 
specifically, when tearing off, unconsciously, the spout 3 is pulled at 
either right or left side, not straightly downward, and when the final 
point is immediately beneath the middle area of the spout 3, the ring band 
6 can be cut off naturally with a smaller effort. 
If not inconvenient in design, a cut portion or perforation may be provided 
in part of the vertical grooves 14, so that the vertical grooves 14 may be 
torn off with a smaller effort, and therefore the object of the invention 
may be achieved by a smaller force. 
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shoulder cover 1 of the first 
embodiment, seen obliquely from above, and a cutting carved groove 13 is 
provided in part of the vertical grooves 14, and the vertical grooves 14 
are formed in a V-form intersecting at the lower part of the ring band 6. 
In the following explanation, the members identified with the same 
reference numerals in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are the same or equivalent 
members, and their detailed description is omitted. 
The shoulder cover 1 having plural ring bands 6 is described below. 
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shoulder cover 1 of the first 
embodiment having plural ring bands 6, as seen obliquely from the back 
side. 
In the shoulder cover 1 having plural ring bands 6, same as in the case of 
a single ring band 6, the ring band 6 can be cut off in the ring band 6 
fitted to the aerosol container main body 2, and if necessary, as shown in 
FIG. 4, the other ring band 6 can be cut off simultaneously, or if not 
necessary to cut off the other ring band 6 or if an extra (useless) large 
effort is needed to cut off, an isolation penetration groove may be formed 
at a position capable of isolating from the other ring band 6, so that the 
object of the invention may be easily achieved. 
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shoulder cover 1 of the first 
embodiment, seen obliquely from above, in which an isolation penetration 
groove 18 is formed in the shoulder cover 1 having plural ring bands 6. 
FIG. 6 is a partial cut section perspective view of the shoulder cover 1 
having plural ring bands 6 in FIG. 5 mounted on the aerosol container main 
body 2. 
FIG. 7 is a magnified sectional view of the groove portion of the vertical 
grooves 14 in an example in which the section of the groove portion of the 
vertical grooves 14 of the ring bands 6 of the first embodiment is a 
curvature. 
By designing the section of the groove portion of the vertical grooves 14 
of the ring bands 6 in a curvature, it prevents the ring band of the 
product from being torn off from around the vertical grooves 14 during 
long-term storage, or when operating the actuator during use of the 
product, the vertical grooves 14 of the ring bands 6 serve to lessen the 
load on the ring bands 6 due to excessive pulling applied through the 
hinge 8 during operation also in the ring band 6 lowered in strength, it 
hence prevents the ring band 6 from being torn off around the vertical 
grooves 14 and the shoulder cover 1 from being detached from the aerosol 
container main body 2. 
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the portion of the 
vertical grooves 14 of the ring band 6 of the first embodiment, in which 
reinforcing bands 20 parallel to the ring bands 6 are provided in the 
groove portion of the vertical grooves 14 of the ring bands 6. Same as in 
the curvature section of the groove portion of the vertical grooves 14 of 
the ring bands 6, it is effective to prevent tearing of the ring bands 6 
during long-term storage of products, and the vertical grooves 14 of the 
ring bands 6 provided through the hinge 8 serve to lessen the load due to 
excessive pulling and the like applied in the ring bands 6 lowered in 
strength, at the time of actuation of the actuator (spout 3) during use of 
product, thereby preventing the ring band 6 from being torn off around the 
vertical grooves 14 and the shoulder cover 1 from being detached from the 
aerosol container main body 2. When combined with the curvature section of 
the groove portion of the vertical grooves 14, ring bands 6 having a 
stabler strength may be obtained. 
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the appearance as seen from above, 
in which the actuator of the shoulder cover 1 of the first embodiment is 
the spout 3, and FIG. 10 shows that the actuator of the shoulder cover 1 
of the first embodiment is a button 19. Herein, A-A' denotes the direction 
of action (the finger direction when manipulating) of the actuator, that 
is, spout 3 or button 19. 
In the embodiment in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, since the hinge 8 is located at 
the A' side on the line A-A', the range of angle of within 90 degrees to 
right and left of the hinge in claim 1 indicates the range of angles of 
&lt;A'CB and &lt;A'CB' formed at the intersection C of line segment B-B' 
vertical to line segment A-A' and line segment A-A'. When the hinge 8 is 
at side A of line A-A', the range of angle of within 90 degrees to right 
and left of the hinge means the range of angles of &lt;ACB and &lt;ACB'. 
FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of the first invention, in which a hinge thin 
film 17 of a greater width than the cutting width (ring band separating 
width) of the ring band 6 is formed at right and left of the hinge 8 to 
prevent from tearing off the hinge 8 when operating the actuator or to 
eliminate instability in operation, during use of the product. 
Accordingly, the operation of the actuator is much stabler. 
In the foregoing embodiments, the actuator of the shoulder cover 1 of the 
invention is the spout 3, but the invention is exactly the same if the 
spout 3 is replaced by another actuator such as the button 19. 
In the first embodiment of the invention, when cutting from the shoulder 
cover 1 to the board 5 and ring band 6 progressively at the time of 
cutting, the cutting job may be done more smoothly when the folding 
junction 15 is formed in a curvature without a corner so that the ring 
band 6 may not be cut off until cutting is complete. 
FIG. 12 is a partial cut section perspective view showing the shoulder 
cover 1 mounted on the aerosol container main body 2 in a second 
embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 12, reference numeral 1 denotes a 
shoulder cover made of a flexible resin as one embodiment of the 
invention. Reference numeral 2 is an aerosol container main body. 
Reference numeral 21 is a grip, which is provided in the upper part of the 
ring band 6, and it is provided at a proper position of the ring band 6 so 
that the ring band 6 may be flexed by acting on the grip 21. 
Inside of the ring band 6, a locking protrusion 4 is formed, and fitted 
with the aerosol main container main body 2 (and/or with the valve 11 
fitted to the aerosol container main body 2, or the like). An actuator 3 
is provided in a nozzle core 12 of the valve 11 fitted to the aerosol 
container main body 2. 
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the shoulder cover 1 in the second 
embodiment of the invention, as seen obliquely from the back side, in 
which the locking protrusion 4 is cut in a direction X (or X and X') 
vertical to the mounting direction of the grip 21. 
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an example of separating the shoulder 
cover 1 of a flexible resin from the aerosol container main body 2, in 
which the portion of the grip 21 is pulled upward by picking up in the 
inside direction (arrow direction) of the ring band 6, after removing the 
button 19 or the actuator 3, from the state in FIG. 12. In the following 
explanations, same reference numerals are provided for the same components 
shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, and repeated descriptions are omitted. 
After use of the product, when separating and removing the shoulder cover 1 
mounted on the aerosol product from the used container for classified 
garbage collection after use of the product, by grasping firmly around B, 
B' of the grip 21, the grip 21 can be inclined so as to flex the ring band 
6, and therefore the shoulder cover 1 of flexible resin is formed 
elliptically and extended in the direction of the grip 21, in the lower 
portion of the ring band 6, and the locking protrusion 4 provided inside 
of the ring band 6 is lifted above the valve 11 or the like of the aerosol 
container main body 2. At the same time, the junction of the inside or 
lower end portion of the ring band 6 contacting with the aerosol container 
main body 2 (for example, the portion A) serves as the fulcrum, and it 
helps the locking protrusion 4 to slip out of the aerosol container main 
body 2, and by the synergistic effects of the two, the shoulder cover 1 
can be easily dismounted from the aerosol container main body 2. Of 
course, it is needless to say more effective to pick up when pulling up 
the grip 21. 
The effect of the invention may be more easily enhanced by providing the 
grip 21 with an anti-skid protrusion 22 or anti-skid groove as a means for 
preventing from skidding. 
When dismounting, in order that the lower portion of the ring band 6 of the 
shoulder cover 1 may be formed more easily into an elliptical form 
extended in the direction of the grip 21, it is preferred to finish the 
entire ring band 6 as thinly as possible also from the viewpoint of design 
as far as the strength permits. The ring band 6 in the portion of 
separating portion (X or X, X' shown in FIG. 13) of the locking protrusion 
4 in a direction vertical to the direction of the grip 21 should be 
finished as thin as possible within the strength, if the other ring band 6 
portion is thicker, so that the effects of the invention may be enhanced 
easily. 
FIG. 15 is an outline perspective view showing an embodiment of the 
shoulder cover 1 in a second embodiment of the invention, in which the 
hinge 8 is provided in the ring band 6, and the actuator such as button 19 
and spout 3 is provided on its extension. In FIG. 15, the button 19 is 
used as the actuator. 
FIG. 16 is an outline perspective view showing an intermediate process of 
the procedure of separating and removing the aerosol product mounting the 
shoulder cover 1 with the actuator in the example shown in FIG. 15, from 
the used container for classified garbage collection after use of the 
product. After use of the product, the actuator is removed from the nozzle 
core 12, the actuator is bent to the hinge 8 side, and the grip 21 can be 
inclined inside of the ring band 6. When the grip 21 is picked up by 
force, the lower portion of the ring ban 6 is made into an elliptical form 
extended in the direction of the grip 21, and, as explained in FIG. 14, 
the locking protrusion 4 inside of the ring band 6 is raised above the 
valve 11 or the like of the aerosol container main body 2, so that the 
shoulder cover 1 may be easily detached from the aerosol container main 
body 2. 
A shoulder cover 1 having plural ring bands 6 is described below. FIG. 17 
is a partial cut section perspective view of mounting the shoulder cover 1 
of the second invention having plural ring bands 6 on the aerosol 
container main body 2. 
In the shoulder cover 1 having plural ring bands 6, same as in the shoulder 
cover with a single ring band, the ring band 6 of the shoulder cover 1 of 
the side fitted with the aerosol container main body 2 should be formed 
elliptically when the grip 21 is picked up by force. For this purpose, a 
most appropriate material may be selected, or the thickness or structure 
of the junction of the inside should cover 1 and outside shoulder cover 1 
may be properly designed, and it is possible to manufacture without any 
particular difficulty, but in order to move smoothly the ring band 6 of 
the shoulder cover 1 fitted with the aerosol container main body 2 by 
picking up the grip 21, if the unnecessary one of the ring bands 6 may 
disturb, or an extra effort may be needed to remove the unnecessary one of 
the ring bands 6, or the force is not transmitted correctly to the side 
fitted with the aerosol container main body 2, as shown in FIG. 17, the 
object of the second embodiment may be achieved easily by forming an 
isolation penetration groove 18 at a proper position so as to be isolated 
from the other shoulder cover. 
In the examples of the shoulder cover 1 in the second embodiment, the 
button 19 is used as an example of the actuator, but it is the same if the 
button 19 is replaced by another actuator such as a spout. 
In the above described embodiments, the flexible resin used as the shoulder 
cover 1 may be polyethylene, polypropylene, or other flexible resin among 
the resins so far used in the shoulder cover, actuator, cap, and others, 
and any other resins may be used as far as having equivalent performances. 
As described herein, in the shoulder cover of the present invention, the 
shoulder cover 1 can be easily dismounted from the aerosol container main 
body 2. In particular, as in the first embodiment, when the hinge is 
formed on the line in the direction of action of the actuator, and at 
least one locking protrusion, and vertical groove for separating part of 
ring band are formed within 90 degrees to right and left of the hinge on 
the inner circumference of the ring band fitted with the aerosol 
container, and thereby the hinge 8, board 5, and spout 3 as actuator are 
linked immediately above the cut section of the ring band 6, and this 
spout 3 may be held to pull apart, so that separating procedure is easier. 
Hence, the metal parts and resin parts may be easily separated from the 
aerosol container main body 2. 
Moreover, this invention may be executed without raising the cost at all, 
and the object can be achieved without requiring any burden on the 
consumers, and it is possible to execute without practically changing the 
design of existing products. It can be applied in various products in a 
short period, and its contribution to the society is outstanding. 
Or, as in the second embodiment, by forming a locking protrusion on the 
inner circumference of the ring band, and disposing a grip capable of 
inclining so as to flex the ring band on the ring band, if necessary to 
remove or replace the shoulder cover 1 in the manufacturing process due to 
some reason, the shoulder cover 1 can be detached without tearing or 
breaking the aerosol container main body 2 by mistake, and hence it is 
free from danger or defect, and is safe and economical. 
The shoulder cover 1 can be easily detached from the aerosol container main 
body 2, and hence the metal parts and resin parts can be easily separated 
from the aerosol container main body 2. In particular, the shoulder cover 
1 is not damaged or torn when dismounting, and the button 19 or spout or 
other actuator 3 may be removed before dismounting the shoulder cover 1 
from the aerosol container main body 2, or by disposing in a place not 
disturbing the inclination of the grip 21, only by picking up the grip 21 
by force, the shoulder cover 1 can be detached from the aerosol container 
main body 2, so that the invention may be executed without practically 
damaging the shoulder cover 1 itself, as well as the aerosol container 
main body 2. 
The shoulder cover 1 may be reused if necessary and it is economical, and 
it is also preferably from the viewpoint of ecology. Besides, the 
invention can be executed without practically increasing the cost, and the 
object of the invention is achieved without increasing burden for the 
consumers, and it is possible to execute by changing the design of 
existing products only very slightly. Moreover, it can be applied in 
various products in a short period, and its contribution to society is 
outstanding. 
If necessary to remove or replace the shoulder cover 1 due to some reason 
during manufacture, the shoulder cover 1 can be removed without tearing or 
damaging the aerosol container main body 2 by mistake, and it is free from 
danger or defect, and it is also safe and economical.