Patent Publication Number: US-9840362-B2

Title: Cap for gas vessel having separable gas exhaust unit

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under the Paris Convention (35 U.S.C. §119) to Korean Application No. 20-2015-0005159 filed Jul. 31, 2015, and Korean Application No. 20-2015-0005870 filed Sep. 2, 2015, and Korean Application No. 10-2015-0129258 filed Sep. 11, 2015, the contents of all are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a cap for a gas vessel that has a separable gas exhaust unit. More specifically, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a cap for a gas vessel that has a separable gas exhaust unit integrally formed with the vessel cap, wherein the gas exhaust unit is separated from the vessel cap when being used and is coupled to a mounting cup of a gas vessel, in which gas is received, to press a valve stem, thereby exhausting residual gas or continuously exhausting gas. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In general, an aerosol can refers to a vessel for spraying contents to the outside by using spray gas in a state in which the contents (fluid or gas) to spray and the spray gas (propellant or propelling gas) are received in the vessel. 
     Examples of the spray gas may include compressed gas, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, compressed air, and liquefied gas such as butane gas, propane gas, dimethyl ether (DME), etc., and representative examples of the aerosol can may include mosquito repellant spray, hair spray, and the like. 
     Further, cigarette lighter gas (fuel) is also used while being received in a can container. 
     Meanwhile, aerosol cans, such as mosquito repellent spray, hair spray, and the like, or cigarette lighter gas cans are discarded after the contents thereof are completely used. In this case, safety accidents, such as residual gas explosion due to high temperature heat transferred from the outside, frequently happen. 
     In order to prevent the safety accidents, it is recommended that empty aerosol cans or cigarette lighter gas cans, the contents of which are completely used, be discarded after the residual gas is exhausted through holes formed therethrough. 
     However, it is very difficult to expect this practice from general consumers because it is very cumbersome to bore a hole through an aerosol can with a sharp or keen tool in order to exhaust spray gas from the aerosol can every time the aerosol can is completely used. 
     In order to solve the problem, Korean Utility Model No. 20-0454617 (Published on Jul. 15, 2011) discloses a vessel cap that has a residual gas exhaust structure. The vessel cap that has the residual gas exhaust structure includes: a cap member that is formed to protect a nozzle assembly provided on a vessel and has a vertically extending support wall in an opening formed in the upper portion thereof; and a push member that is connected to the opening of the cap member through the support wall and a connecting piece to vertically rotate downward, and presses a valve stem of the nozzle assembly when being pressed by a user. 
     According to the vessel cap that has the residual gas exhaust structure, residual gas that remains after a gas vessel is completely used can be forcibly exhausted and removed by a simple operation of the vessel cap, thereby solving inconvenience and danger that may happen when residual gas is removed using a separate tool in the related art. In addition, the gas vessel can be safely discarded by removing the residual gas using the vessel cap in an easy and simple manner, thereby preventing safety accidents, such as fire and burning, which may happen when a discarded vessel with residual gas is treated. 
     However, since the push member for pressing the valve stem of the nozzle assembly is integrally formed with the vessel cap in the residual gas exhaust structure according to the related art, a safety accident may happen due to unintended gas exhaust in cases where the push member is pressed out of curiosity or by mistake in a situation in which the push member should not be pressed, that is, in a state in which the vessel cap is coupled to a vessel. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, and/or advantage of the invention to improve on and/or overcome the deficiencies in the art. 
     An aspect of the present invention is to provide a means for allowing a gas exhaust unit, which is employed for an aerosol vessel, a cigarette lighter gas vessel, or another gas vessel to easily exhaust residual gas therein, to be separated from a vessel cap only when necessary, thereby preventing a safety accident caused by unintended gas exhaust which results from operating the gas exhaust unit out of curiosity or by mistake. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a means capable of easily separating a gas exhaust unit coupled to a mounting cup. 
     Aspects of the present invention are not limited to the aforementioned ones, and other unmentioned aspects of the present invention will be clearly understood from the following description by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a cap for a gas vessel having a separable gas exhaust unit, which includes one or more gas injection adaptors integrally provided so as to be separable and is coupled to a seaming part of the gas vessel to cover the upper portion of the gas vessel, includes a gas exhaust unit that is formed to be coupled to a mounting cup while pressing a valve stem of the gas vessel. The exhaust unit may be integrally formed in a storage hole, which is formed on the upper surface of the vessel cap, through ribs so as to be separable, and is separated from the vessel cap by breaking the ribs when the gas exhaust unit is used, wherein the gas exhaust unit includes: a pressing part formed in the central portion of an insertion part, which protrudes toward the bottom of the mounting cup, to press the valve stem inserted thereinto; extension ends bilaterally extending from the edge of the insertion part so as to be symmetric to each other; and coupling ends that are vertically formed on the extension ends, respectively, and are stopped by and coupled to the mounting cup to make the pressing part press the valve stem. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a cap for a gas vessel having a separable gas exhaust unit, which is coupled to a seaming part of the gas vessel to cover the upper portion of the gas vessel and may or may not include one or more gas injection adaptors, which are separately manufactured and are provided so as to be separable. The gas exhaust unit may be formed to be coupled to a mounting cup while pressing a valve stem of the gas vessel and is integrally formed in a storage hole, which is formed on the upper surface of the vessel cap, through ribs so as to be separable, the gas exhaust unit being separated from the vessel cap by breaking the ribs when the gas exhaust unit is used, wherein the gas exhaust unit includes: a pressing part formed in the central portion of an insertion part, which protrudes toward the bottom of the mounting cup, to press the valve stem; extension ends bilaterally extending from the edge of the insertion part so as to be symmetric to each other; and coupling ends that are vertically formed on the extension ends, respectively, and are stopped by and coupled to the mounting cup to make the pressing part press the valve stem. 
     The coupling ends may be formed in the shape of a circular arc that has the same or a similar curvature to that of the mounting cup, and may have stoppers, respectively, which protrude from end portions of the inner surfaces thereof and are stopped by predetermined sections of the mounting cup. 
     Stopping protrusions may extend outward from the extension ends with respect to the pressing part such that a user&#39;s fingers are stopped by the stopping protrusions when the user separates the coupling ends from the mounting cup by lifting the extension ends upward in the state in which the coupling ends are stopped by and coupled to the mounting cup. 
     The stopping protrusions may have inclined surfaces formed on the distal ends thereof with which the user&#39;s fingers make contact when the user lifts the stopping protrusions upward. 
     A pressing end for separation may protrude from the opposite surface of each extension end on which the coupling ends are not formed, wherein the pressing end for separation is pushed toward the pressing part by the user&#39;s finger so that the corresponding coupling end is separated from the mounting cup while moving outward in cases where the coupling end is separated from the mounting cup. 
     The pressing end for separation may protrude from the opposite surface of the extension end so as to be spaced the same distance apart from the pressing part as the coupling end and may have the same length and curvature as the coupling end. 
     The gas injection adaptors may be provided on the upper surface of the vessel cap so as to be opposite to each other with respect to the gas exhaust unit. 
     The pressing part may have a through-hole through which the valve stem passes and an inclined pressing surface that is formed in the shape of a cone around the through-hole and presses a stopping end of the valve stem. 
     According to the present invention, the gas exhaust unit, which is employed for an aerosol vessel, a cigarette lighter gas vessel, or another gas vessel to easily exhaust residual gas therein, can be separated from a vessel cap only when necessary, thereby preventing a safety accident caused by unintended gas exhaust which results from operating the gas exhaust unit out of curiosity or by mistake. 
     Furthermore, the gas exhaust unit coupled to a mounting cup of a vessel can be easily separated from the vessel by using the stopping protrusions or the pressing ends for separation that are provided on the extension ends. 
     In addition, since both the coupling ends of the gas exhaust unit are coupled to a mounting cup of a gas vessel, the gas exhaust unit can continuously spray contents (gas) of the gas vessel. 
     These and/or other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention is not to be limited to or by these objects, features and advantages. No single embodiment need provide each and every object, feature, or advantage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cap for a gas vessel that has a separable gas exhaust unit, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the gas exhaust unit illustrated in  FIG. 1  is separated from the vessel cap; 
         FIG. 5A /B is a view illustrating an operation of the gas exhaust unit illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view illustrating a process of separating the gas exhaust unit illustrated in  FIG. 1  from a mounting cup; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which pressing ends for separation are provided on the extension ends of the gas exhaust unit illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a view illustrating a process of separating the cap for a gas vessel by using the pressing ends for separation illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     Various embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the invention. Figures represented herein are not limitations to the various embodiments according to the invention and are presented for exemplary illustration of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Meanwhile, in the following description of the present invention, detailed descriptions of well-known functions or configurations may be omitted in order to make subject matters of the present invention clear. 
     Among the accompanying drawings,  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cap for a gas vessel that has a separable gas exhaust unit, according to an embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the gas exhaust unit illustrated in  FIG. 1  is separated from the vessel cap. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , the cap  20  for a gas vessel that has the separable gas exhaust unit, according to the present invention, is coupled to a seaming part  12  of a gas vessel  10  to protect a valve assembly  14  mounted on the upper portion of the gas vessel  10 . The gas exhaust unit  30  is integrally formed in the center of the upper surface of the vessel cap so as to be separated by ribs, and a plurality of gas injection adaptors  40  that have different sizes are integrally formed in the edge area of the vessel cap so as to be separated by ribs. 
     Namely, the gas exhaust unit  30  and the gas injection adaptors  40  are integrally injection-molded with the vessel cap  20 . However, since the gas exhaust unit  30  and the gas injection adaptors  40  are connected to the vessel cap  20  through the plurality of ribs, the gas exhaust unit  30  and the gas injection adaptors  40  may be separated from the vessel cap  20  by breaking the ribs. 
     Herein, the gas vessel  10  is not limited to one type of vessel and refers to a cigarette lighter gas vessel, an aerosol vessel, or another gas vessel as examples. 
     Further, the vessel cap  20  has a stopper that protrudes from the lower end portion of the inner surface thereof and is stopped by the seaming part  12 . 
     The gas exhaust unit  30  is integrally injection-molded, through the ribs, in a storage hole  22  that is formed in the center of the upper surface of the vessel cap  20  which protects the valve assembly  14  of the gas vessel  10 , and the gas injection adaptors  40  are integrally injection-molded, through the ribs, on the upper surface of the vessel cap  20  so as to be opposite to each other with respect to the gas exhaust unit  30 . 
     The gas injection adaptors  40  are coupled to a valve stem  16  to inject gas into a product, such as a cigarette lighter, which requires the gas. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the plurality of gas injection adaptors  40  have different sizes and are integrally injection-molded, through the ribs, with the vessel cap  20  so as to be separated from the vessel cap  20 . 
     Three gas injection adaptors  40  are provided on each of the opposite sides of the upper surface of the vessel cap  20  with the gas exhaust unit  30  therebetween. The aim of the arrangement structure is to prevent the gas injection adaptors  40  from interfering with extension ends  36  of the rectangular gas exhaust unit  30  that bilaterally extend from an insertion part  32  of the gas exhaust unit  30 . 
     Although not illustrated in the drawings, the gas injection adaptors  40  may not be provided on the vessel cap  20 , or may be separately manufactured and detachably mounted on the vessel cap  20  through various coupling methods. 
     The gas exhaust unit  30  is formed to be coupled to a mounting cup  18  while pressing the valve stem  16  of the gas vessel  10  and is integrally injection-molded through the ribs in the storage hole  22 , which is formed on the upper surface of the vessel cap  20 , so as to be separated from the vessel cap  20 . The gas exhaust unit  30  may be separated from the vessel cap  20  by breaking the ribs when the gas exhaust unit  30  is used. 
     The gas exhaust unit  30  has a structure in which a pressing part  34  protrudes from the central portion of the insertion part  32  protruding toward the bottom of the mounting cup  18  and has a through-hole  34 A formed therein into which the valve stem  16  is inserted, and the extension ends  36  extend from the edge of the insertion part  32  in opposite directions so as to be symmetric to each other, each of which has a coupling end  38  that is formed on one surface thereof in the vertical direction and is stopped by and coupled to the mounting cup  18  to make the pressing part  34  press the valve stem  16 . 
     In this case, the coupling ends  38  extend in the vertical direction (in the perpendicular direction to the extension ends) and thus have self-resilience. Particularly, since the coupling ends  38  are formed in the shape of a circular arc, the resilience of the coupling ends  38  is generated in the direction in which the coupling ends  38  face each other. That is, the resilience of the coupling ends  38  is generated in the direction in which the coupling ends  38  face each other such that both of the coupling ends  38  press a stopper of the mounting cup  18  inward while surrounding the stopper. 
     The coupling ends  38  are formed in the shape of a circular arc that has the same or a similar curvature to that of the mounting cup  18  or in the shape of a circular arc that has the same center as the mounting cup  18  so as to be stopped by a predetermined section of the mounting cup  18 , and have stoppers  38 A that protrude from end portions of the inner surfaces thereof that face each other. Likewise to the coupling ends  38 , the stoppers  38 A are also formed in the shape of a circular arc. 
     Meanwhile, the gas exhaust unit  30  has stopping protrusions  36 A extending from the distal end portions of the extension ends  36  such that a user&#39;s fingers are easily stopped by the stopping protrusions  36 A when the user separates the gas exhaust unit  30  again in the state in which the stoppers  38 A formed on the coupling ends  38  are stopped by and coupled to the mounting cup  18 . 
     The stopping protrusions  36 A further extend outward beyond the coupling ends  38  such that the user&#39;s fingers are easily stopped by the stopping protrusions  36 A when the user moves his/her fingers upward in the state in which the gas exhaust unit  30  is coupled to the mounting cup  18 . 
     Further, each of the stopping protrusions  36 A may have an inclined surface  36 B that is obliquely formed on one surface thereof (the surface on which the coupling end is formed) toward the distal end of the stopping protrusion  36 A. The aim of the inclined surfaces  36 B is to increase contact between the user&#39;s fingers and the stopping protrusions  36 A so that the user&#39;s fingers are easily stopped by the stopping protrusions  36 A without escaping therefrom when the user lifts the gas exhaust unit  30  by pressing the stopping protrusions  36 A with his/her fingers. 
     The pressing part  34  has the through-hole  34 A formed in the center thereof through which the valve stem  16  passes and a conically inclined pressing surface  34 B which is formed around the through-hole  34 A and by which a stopping end  16 A formed on the intermediate portion of the valve stem  16  is stopped. That is, based on  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the pressing part  34  is formed in the shape of an inverted cone to have a gradually decreasing cross-section from the upper portion thereof to the through-hole  34 A, and the inclined pressing surface  34 B is accordingly formed on the inner surface of the pressing part  34 . The inclined pressing surface  34 B performs a function of guiding the valve stem  16  to the through-hole  34 A and a function of pressing the stopping end  16 A when the coupling ends  38  are coupled to the mounting cup  18 . 
     Hereinafter, operations of the above-configured vessel cap, according to the embodiment of the present invention, will be described. 
     First, as illustrated in  FIG. 4  among the accompanying drawings, in order to continuously spray the gas in the gas vessel  10  or to exhaust the residual gas in the gas vessel  10  by using the gas exhaust unit  30 , the gas exhaust unit  30  is separated from the vessel cap  20  by pressing the gas exhaust unit  30  from the inside of the vessel cap  20  to break the ribs that connect the gas exhaust unit  30  and the vessel cap  20 . 
     Since the gas exhaust unit  30  can be separated from the vessel cap  20  through the above-described process, it is possible to couple the gas exhaust unit  30  to the gas vessel  10  in order to use its function only when necessary. In other words, since the gas exhaust unit  30  is integrally formed with the vessel cap  20  through the ribs, a user has to separate the gas exhaust unit  30  from the vessel cap  20  by breaking the ribs in order to use the gas exhaust unit  30 . Therefore, it is possible to avoid a safety accident of exhausting gas by mistakenly operating the gas exhaust unit  30  in an undesired situation. 
     Meanwhile, when the coupling ends  38  on the opposite sides of the gas exhaust unit  30  are stopped by the mounting cup  18  according to the above-described method, the inclined pressing surface  34 B of the pressing part  34  presses the stopping end  16 A of the valve stem  16  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Accordingly, while the valve stem  16  is pressed, a fluid channel (a gas exhaust channel) is opened so that the gas in the gas vessel  10  is continuously sprayed, or the residual gas in the gas vessel  10  is exhausted. 
     Namely, the stoppers  38 A of the coupling ends  38  are stopped by the mounting cup  18  at the same time that the insertion part  32  is inserted toward the bottom of the mounting cup  18 , and the pressing part  34  presses the stopping end  16 A formed on the intermediate portion of the valve stem  16  while the valve stem  16  passes through the through-hole  34 A of the pressing part  34 . The valve stem  16  is pressed through the above process to open the fluid channel so that the gas in the gas vessel  10  can be continuously sprayed, or the residual gas in the gas vessel  10  can be exhausted. 
     In order to separate the gas exhaust unit  30  from the gas vessel  10  in the state in which the continuous spray of the gas is completed or the residual gas is completely exhausted through the above-described process, the user brings his/her finger close to the inclined surface  36 B and the stopping protrusion  36 A on one side of the gas exhaust unit  30  and then lifts the stopping protrusion  36 A upward as illustrated in  FIG. 6  in the state in which the stoppers  38 A of the coupling ends  38  are stopped by the stopper of the mounting cup  18 . 
     The user&#39;s finger is stopped by the stopping protrusion  36 A through the above-described process, and while the coupling end  38  is moved outward by the user&#39;s lifting force, the stopper  38 A escapes from the stopper of the mounting cup  18  and thus is unlocked. 
     Since the stopper  38 A of the coupling end  38  on one side of the gas exhaust unit  30  is unlocked from the mounting cup  18  as described above, the gas exhaust unit  30  can be easily separated from the gas vessel  10 . 
     Meanwhile, among the accompanying drawings,  FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which pressing ends for separation are provided on the extension ends of the gas exhaust unit illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 8  is a view illustrating a process of separating the cap for a gas vessel by using the pressing ends for separation illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the pressing ends  39  for separation protrude from the surfaces  36 C of the extension ends  36  on which the coupling ends  38  are not formed. In cases where the coupling ends  38  are separated from the mounting cup  18 , the pressing ends  39  for separation are pushed toward the pressing part  34  by a user&#39;s finger so that the coupling ends  38  are moved outward and thus separated from the mounting cup  18 . 
     Each of the pressing ends  39  for separation may be formed on the opposite surface  36 C of the extension end  36  to be spaced the same distance apart from the pressing part  34  as the coupling end  38 , and may have the same length and curvature as the coupling end  38 , or may be formed to be shorter than the coupling end  38 . Due to the structure, the extension end  36 , the coupling end  38 , the stopping protrusion  36 A, and the pressing end  39  for separation form a cross-section having a “+” shape. 
     As described above, the pressing end  39  for separation protrudes from the opposite surface  36 C of the extension end  36  so as to be spaced the same distance apart from the pressing part  34  as the coupling end  38  so that the pressing end  39  for separation and the coupling end  38  are positioned on a straight line. 
     Accordingly, in the case of separating the gas exhaust unit  30  from the mounting cup  18 , if the pressing end  39  for separation is pushed toward the pressing part  34  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the coupling end  38  is moved outward by the principle of a lever with respect to the point C where the coupling end  38  meets the extension end  36  so that the stopper  38 A can be easily unlocked from the mounting cup  18 . 
     Although not illustrated in the drawings, the stopping protrusion  36 A may be removed in cases where the pressing ends  39  for separation are provided on the extension ends  36 . 
     As described above, according to the present invention, the gas exhaust unit  30  can be separated from the vessel cap  20  only when necessary and can be coupled to the mounting cup  18  to spray gas or exhaust residual gas, thereby preventing a safety accident, such as unintended gas exhaust caused by curiosity or mistake in cases where a gas exhaust unit is integrally formed with the vessel cap  20 . 
     Although the specific embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed herein and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, such modifications and changes should not be individually construed from the spirit or point of view of the present invention, and it should be understood that modified embodiments belong to the claims of the present invention. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Description of reference numerals 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 10: Gas vessel 
                 12: Seaming part 
               
               
                   
                 14: Valve assembly 
                 16: Valve stem 
               
               
                   
                 16A: Stopping end 
                 18: Mounting cup 
               
               
                   
                 20: Vessel cap 
                 22: Storage hole 
               
               
                   
                 30: Gas exhaust unit 
                 32: Insertion part 
               
               
                   
                 34: Pressing part 
                 34A: Through-hole 
               
               
                   
                 34B: Inclined pressing surface 
                 36: Extension end 
               
               
                   
                 36A: Stopping protrusion 
                 36B: Inclined surface 
               
               
                   
                 36C: Opposite surface 
                 38: Coupling end 
               
               
                   
                 38A: Stopper 
               
               
                   
                 39: Pressing end for separation 
               
               
                   
                 40: Gas injection adaptor