Dispensing – With discharge assistant – Fluid pressure
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-14
2002-06-04
Kaufman, Joseph A. (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
With discharge assistant
Fluid pressure
C222S153110, C222S402130, C222S402210
Reexamination Certificate
active
06398082
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to an actuator mechanism and in particular to a mechanism for actuating an aerosol container which is moveable from an inoperable to an operable position.
Aerosol containers represent very convenient means to dispense a range of substances, often in the form of powders, foam or a spray of fluid droplets. Moreover, they are particularly hygienic to operate. It has hitherto been recognised that during transportation, display before purchase and storage after purchase, it is desirable to employ a mechanism to prevent accidental discharge of the container contents, and conveniently this can comprise a mechanism which is moveable between a first and second position. In the first position, the mechanism is locked and incapable of operating the actuator and in the second position engages with the aerosol actuator and is capable of operating it.
A number of proposals have been made since the introduction of aerosol containers in which an over-cap or slider is moveable from a disengaging to an engaging position. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 2,678,147, a slider fitting over the actuator has a base profile which rests on a shoulder surrounding a plunger in the inoperable position, and is slid forwards to an operable position in which the slider base rests on the plunger and is spaced above the shoulder allowing depression of the slider. However, the slider remains in the operable position unless the user manually returns the slider to an inoperable position. Secondly, it will be recognised that during transportation of such an aerosol canister, for example in a handbag or pocket, there is no restraint on movement of the slider inadvertently into an operable position, so that a significant risk of accidental discharge remains.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,734,353, there is described an actuator over-cap in which in the inoperable position, a button rests on a tab formed in the wall of the over-cap. In operation, the button is slid forward beyond the edge of the tab and over the aerosol valve, so that the button can now be depressed. As in U.S. Pat. No. 2,678,147, the button must be returned manually from its operable to its inoperable position.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,760, there is a further variation in which the slideable member comprises a button which is hinged horizontally to a carriage resting on the over-cap wall. The button is slideable from an inoperable position in which it rests partly on a tab projecting inwardly from an over-cap wall to an operable position in which the button after disengagement from the tab can be rotated about the hinge. The hinge is unable to return the button into an inoperable position.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,541, a fire extinguisher is described which has a lever that is depressed to open the flow valve, and a removable collar which prevents depression of the lever until its removal. Once the collar has been removed, the extinguisher remains operational.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,328,911 there is described a child resistant assembly in which a finger actuator is rotatably mounted relative to the actuator, into a selected relative position where depression of the finger actuator depresses the actuator. No mechanism is provided for returning the finger actuator to an inoperable position.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,616, there is disclosed an aerosol canister in which the actuator opens and closes a tilt valve, the actuator being linked with torsion hinges to the cap for the actuator. However, in the rest position, the actuator is not locked and can therefore engage the valve at any time.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,712, there is described a dispensing pump comprising an actuator button that can be slid manually from a locked position to a position where it can be depressed, opening an outlet valve. No mechanism is provided for returning the actuator button to its locked position.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,595, there is described a product dispenser in which a locking ring is rotatable from a position in which an actuator is locked to a second position in which it is unlocked. However, there is no mechanism described which returns the locking ring to the locked position.
Likewise, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,206, there is described a cover member rotatably mounted on a tubular body which is mounted over the valve of an aerosol canister. The cover member rotates from an operative to a non-operative position, but no means is provided to return to a non-operative position.
In two related U.S. Pat. Nos., 4,333,589 and 4,442,955, there is described a child-resistant over-cap for an aerosol can in which the over-cap includes an integrally molded and deformable web (acting like a spring) that is hinged and functioning as a guard and can be rotated to overlay the valve stem. The web is provided with a small backwards-facing hinged flap, that can be positioned over the valve stem to open the valve by depressing and rotating the flap. The depression of the flap must occur simultaneously with pushing the web forwards. However, there are several intrinsic deficiencies in such a design as described. First, the rotatable flap is only narrow, having a maximum diameter of about 12 mm in the context of typical cosmetic aerosol cans having a can diameter of about 60 mm or less. The flap diameter cannot be widened without intrinsically weakening the side-arms in the guard section of the web. Consequently, the mechanism as described is not suitable for use by the substantial fraction of the target user population for aerosols, namely adults who typically have wide fingers. The design also runs the risk of trapping a finger between the flap and the guard.
Secondly, single finger operation in such a design is either impractical or at best very difficult. That is because back hinging of the flap is contrary to the hinging of finger joints, which curl the finger tip towards the palm of the hand when exerting finger pressure. Accordingly, it is comparatively difficult for a finger to rotate the flap below the plane of the guard, whilst at the same pushing the web forwards with the same finger. The problem is exacerbated for persons having long finger nails because they hinder a finger tip sliding down the face of the flap and suffer a significant risk of them being broken during operation.
Thirdly, the web is external to the over-cap and consequently is exposed and at risk of being damaged by impact during transportation or display of the aerosol.
In DE-A-3342884, there is described a protective cap for an aerosol having an actuating member which can be moved approximately horizontally and longitudinally between a position in which it overlaps the can spray valve and thereby can open the valve to a rest position in which it cannot open the valve. In accordance with the text and figures, the actuating member is returned to the rest position by a complex H-shaped leaf spring arrangement that comprises a pair of curved leaf springs providing a single bridge between two parallel leaf springs attached at each end to the over-cap. The curved leaf springs contact the actuating member and act predominantly in a plane which is transverse to the motion of the actuating member and the parallel leaf springs act by bowing, thereby likewise again acting predominantly in the transverse plane. The power which such a spring arrangement can develop is constrained by the limited travel available inside an over-cap. Moreover, it is only elastic deformation which generates spring power. When a leaf spring is bent beyond a contact angle of 90°, as illustrated in FIG. 12 of '884, it has passed into the zone of plastic deformation. As a result, the spring does not return to its rest position before deformation, but falls short to the extent that it has been plastically deformed. Hence, the actuating member is not returned all the way to its rest position. There is accordingly a significant risk that after the aerosol has been used once or twice, the actuating member will remain sufficiently over the valve to keep the valve open when hand pressure is removed. On the other hand, if the thrust from the cu
Clark Norman
Claughton Andrew
Dickinson Karen Michelle
Geier Adalberto
Jackson Nigel Laurence
Boxer Matthew
Kaufman Joseph A.
Unilever Home & Personal Care USA , division of Conopco, Inc.
Willatt Stephanie
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