Dispensing – With discharge assistant – Fluid pressure
Patent
1987-03-24
1989-05-02
Rolla, Joseph J.
Dispensing
With discharge assistant
Fluid pressure
22240214, 22240215, 222509, B65D 8300
Patent
active
048260541
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to an actuator arrangement for the valve of an aerosol pack. The term "aerosol pack" is used herein to denote a container in which is a material to be dispensed ("the product") by means of a propellant, either of a true aerosol type in which the product is in admixture with or in solution in the propellant, or of the type where these two are separated by a membrane, diaphragm or piston. The invention is particularly but not exclusively applicable to aerosol packs for dispensing viscous or semi-solid material such as mastic or silicone rubber.
Such products require a high propellant pressure to dispense them satisfactorily. This in turn means that a relatively high pressure must be exerted by the user on the valve to open it. It is known to provide the valve with diametrically extending wings to allow the user to engage a finger on either side. However, this arrangement is clumsy to use, very often requiring the bottom of the can to be held in the other hand, and is tiring in use.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved arrangement for actuating the valve of an aerosol pack, which overcomes or mitigates the above disadvantages.
Accordingly, the invention resides in an aerosol pack (as defined above) comprising a body for containing the product and propellant; an outlet valve member slidably movable in the body between closed and open positions; and an actuator having one end fixed with respect to the body, another end forming a handle, and an intermediate portion engaged with the valve member.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-section through the upper part of an aerosol pack in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of a lock member of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the lock member of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a side view of a clip of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the clip of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 1, but showing the lock member in unlocked position;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating a modified form of the invention and
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an actuator for use in the above embodiments.
Referring to FIG. 1, the pack comprises a can body 10 having a cylindrical side wall 12 and integral top 14 formed from aluminium by deep drawing. The central part of the top 14 is formed as a boss 16 of generally cylindrical form. A valve member 18 is slidably seated in the boss 16 and forms a seal therewith by means of O-ring 20. The valve member 18 has a flanged base 22 which is normally seated by the internal propellant pressure against the top 14 to close the pack. Downward movement of the valve member 18 against the internal pressure allows the product to exit via apertures one of which is seen at 24. A tapered nozzle 26 is threadedly engaged with the upper end of the valve member 18.
A lock member 28 is in threaded engagement with the exterior of the valve member 18. In the position shown in FIG. 1, the lock member 28 engages the top 14 and prevents actuation of the valve. To dispense the product, the lock member is screwed up the valve member 18, as will be discussed in more detail below, and the valve member can then be depressed to dispense the product.
A clip 30 formed from spring steel is positioned between the lock member 28 and the can top 14. The clip 30 (see also FIGS. 4 and 5) comprises teeth 32 engaging the boss 16, a pair of bent-over fulcrum portions 34, and an upwardly-extending stop portion 36.
An actuator 38 (see also FIGS. 6 and 8) is provided in the form of a wire shaped to provide a handle portion 40, a pair of curved cam portions 42, and a pair of free ends 44. The ends 44 are engaged under the fulcrum portions 34 of the clip 30 and the cam portions 42 lie within a groove 46 on the lock member to bear on a flange 48 thereof. When the lock member 28 is engaged with the can top 14 as in FIG. 1, the handle portion lies alongside the can side wall 12.
To dis
REFERENCES:
patent: 2558272 (1951-06-01), Rubinstein et al.
patent: 3305144 (1967-02-01), Beres et al.
patent: 3987942 (1976-10-01), Morane et al.
patent: 4669639 (1987-06-01), Klarenbach et al.
Huson Gregory L.
Rocep Lusol Holdings Limited
Rolla Joseph J.
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