Dispensing – With discharge assistant – Fluid pressure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-09
2001-10-02
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With discharge assistant
Fluid pressure
C222S402240, C239S337000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296155
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved actuator for a pressurized aerosol valve which has a first low/fine product dispensing spray position and a second high/coarse product dispensing flow position. The actuator valve includes an internal compressible component which remains uncompressed, when discharging product in the first low/fine product dispensing spray position, and is compressed, when discharging product in the second high/coarse dispensing position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently on the market, there are a variety of aerosol dispensers and valves which facilitate dispensing product in a desired manner. Some of the known aerosol dispensers and valves have more than one dispensing position to facilitate dispensing product at different flow rates, e.g a low and a high product dispensing rate for an aerosol product. However, these known systems are somewhat cumbersome to manufacture and require operator manipulation in order to dispense product at different product dispensing flow rates.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Wherefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned shortcomings and drawbacks associated with the prior art variable low rate actuators.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an aerosol valve which has a first low/fine dispensing rate and a second high/coarse product dispensing rate with both product dispensing flow rates being achieved by merely applying downward pressured to the actuator button, e.g. the first low/fine dispensing rate occurs upon initial actuation of the actuator button and the second high/coarse dispensing rate occurs upon further depression of the actuator button of the aerosol valve.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an indication, which is readily detectable by an operator of the valve, so that the operator can instantly sense that any further depression of the valve stem will alter the product dispensing flow rate from the first low/fine product dispensing rate to the second high/coarse product dispensing rate. This facilitates the operator applying sufficient downward dispensing pressure of the aerosol valve to achieve a desired product dispensing flow rate.
Still another object of the present invention is to locate the compressible member within the valve housing so that the compressible member is always maintained in a proper position for use without requiring any operator manipulation or intervention to alter the product dispensing flow rate the valve.
A further object of the present invention is to form the compressible member from an elastomeric material which is readily compressed but re-expands back to original uncompressed state, of the elastomeric material, immediately upon an interruption of the applied compression force.
In the accompanying specification, references made to top and bottom or upper and lower and such references to be understood as referring to the orientation of the various components when placed on a pressurized canister and the canister is standing in an upright position. Reference is also made in this specification to the term “aerosol” and this term is not to be interpreted, in a restrictive scientific sense of a very fine dispersion of liquid droplets and air. Rather, the term is used and intended to cover a variety of different products which are dispensed from a pressurizable canister.
The present invention also relates to an improved mounting cup and valve assembly combination for an aerosol canister, the combination comprising:
a mounting cup having a perimeter curl for securing the mounting cup to an opening of a desired canister, the mounting cup having a pedestal portion with a centrally located aperture therein;
a valve assembly having valve body with a product inlet communicating with an interior cavity of the valve body, a product outlet being formed in a valve stem, a base portion of the valve stem being at least partially supported within the interior cavity of the valve body, and at least one first radial orifice being formed in the valve stem, adjacent the base portion, to provide communication with the product outlet of the valve stem;
the valve assembly being housed within the pedestal portion and being crimped thereto with a gasket being located between a perimeter sealing surface of the base portion of the valve stem and an adjacent inwardly facing surface of the pedestal portion with a portion of the valve stem, supporting the product outlet, protruding through an aperture provided in the gasket and the centrally located aperture of the pedestal portion;
wherein at least one second radial orifice is formed in the valve stem at a position spaced from the at least one first radial orifice, and a compressible elastomeric member is located within the interior cavity of the valve body and is uncompressed when the product to be dispensed is flowing solely through the at least one first radial orifice to provide a first low product dispensing flow rate, and the compressible elastomeric member is at least partially compressed when the product to be dispensed flows through both the at least one first radial orifice and the at least one second radial orifice to provide a second coarse product dispensing flow rate.
The present invention also relates to a pressurized spray canister comprising:
a spray canister being closed at one end and having an opening being defined by a rim at an opposite end thereof;
a mounting cup having a perimeter curl and a pedestal portion with a centrally located aperture therein, the perimeter curl of the mounting cup being connected to the rim of the spray canister to permanently support the valve assembly within the spray canister;
a valve assembly having valve body with a product inlet communicating with an interior cavity of the valve body, a product outlet being formed in a valve stem, a base portion of the valve stem being at least partially supported within the interior cavity of the valve body, and at least one first radial orifice being formed in the valve stem, adjacent the base portion, to provide communication with the product outlet of the valve stem;
the valve assembly being housed within the pedestal portion and being crimped thereto with a gasket being located between a perimeter sealing surface of the base portion of the valve stem and an adjacent inwardly facing surface of the pedestal portion with a portion of the valve stem, supporting the product outlet, protruding through an aperture provided in the gasket and the centrally located aperture of the pedestal portion; and
a spray button, with a discharge orifice, being coupled to the product outlet of the valve stem to facilitate dispensing of the product from the pressurized spray canister;
wherein at least one second radial orifice is formed in the valve stem at a position spaced from the at least one first radial orifice, and a compressible elastomeric member is located within the interior cavity of the valve body and is uncompressed when the product to be dispensed is flowing solely through the at least one first radial orifice to provide a first low product dispensing flow rate, and the compressible elastomeric member is at least partially compressed when the product to be dispensed flows through both the at least one first radial orifice and the at least one second radial orifice to provide a second coarse product dispensing flow rate.
The present invention finally relates to a method of forming an improved mounting cup and valve assembly combination for an aerosol canister, the method comprising the steps of:
forming a spray canister being closed at one end and having an opening being defined by a rim at an opposite end thereof;
providing a mounting cup having a perimeter curl and a pedestal portion with a centrally located aperture therein, and connecting the perimeter curl of the mounting cup to the rim of the spray canister to permanently support the valve assembly within the spray canister;
providing a valve assembly having valve body with a product inlet communicating with an interio
Davis & Bujold P.L.L.C.
Nicolas Frederick C
Shaver Kevin
Summit Packaging Systems, Inc.
LandOfFree
Actuator with compressible internal component does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Actuator with compressible internal component, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Actuator with compressible internal component will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2594904