AU2005229722A1

AU2005229722A1 - A safety device for a fluid dispenser

Info

Publication number: AU2005229722A1
Application number: AU2005229722A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Lowell Mak
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-05
Filing date: 2005-11-07
Publication date: 2006-06-01

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 Regulation 3.2 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Subject to the Provisions of the Patents Act, information provided on this form may be made publicly available, including on the internet Applicant: Inventor:.

Invention Title: Lowell Mak Lowell Mak A SAFETY DEVICE FOR A FLUID DISPENSER Details of Associated Provisional Application No. 2004906367 dated 5 November 2004 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:n -2- FIELD OF THE INVENTION 0 z The present invention relates to safety devices for fluid dispensers. It has been developed primarily as a safety device for inhibiting the accidental release of O fluid from an aerosol container and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to ,IC this particular field of use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SAny discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in the field.

Nozzle actuated insecticide aerosol spray cans are known. A potential danger with these spray cans is that children may pick up the spray can and inadvertently activate the nozzle, thereby releasing the possibly toxic contents. This may be particularly hazardous if the spray is aimed at the flange or others in close proximity.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative.

It is an object of the present invention in its preferred form to provide a safety device for inhibiting the accidental release of fluid from an aerosol container.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a safety device for a fluid dispenser having a dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with a reservoir, said device including: In -3- Sa cover rotatably mountable to said reservoir for rotation with respect to said reservoir between a locked position and a dispensing position; a trigger movably Z mountable to said cover for actuating said nozzle when said cover is in said dispensing position; and a locking piece non-rotatably mountable to said reservoir, said locking piece including locking means forinhibiting actuation of said trigger when said cover is in said locked position and permitting actuation of said trigger when said cover is in said dispensing position.

N Preferably, the locking means includes an abutment face and a release Saperture adjacent the abutment face, the trigger being engagable with the abutment N 10 flange when in the locked position and at least partly movable through the aperture thereby to actuate the nozzle when in the dispensing position. Preferably, the trigger includes a foot portion for abutting engagement with the abutment face.

Preferably, the foot portion is movable through the aperture to actuate the nozzle.

Preferably, the abutment face is supported by an abutment flange.

Preferably, the abutment face is defined by the abutment flange. Preferably, the abutment flange is arcuate. Preferably, the abutment flange extends at least partially around the circumference of the locking piece.

Preferably, the locking piece includes a base portion. Preferably, the base portion is substantially circular. Preferably, the base portion is substantially annular.

Preferably, the locking piece includes a sidewall extending from the base portion to a lip portion. Preferably, the sidewall is frusto-conical. Preferably, the lip portion is flared outwardly from said base portion. Preferably, the abutment flange adjoins the lip portion so as to extend around approximately half the circumference of the sidewall.

Preferably, the release aperture is formed between the base portion and the abutment flange. Preferably, the release aperture is defined by a cut-out section of the abutment flange. Preferably, the cut-out section is at least partially arcuate.

n -4- SPreferably, the trigger is axially movable with respect to the axis of rotation of the cover.

The locking piece is preferably non-rotatably keyed to the reservoir.

O Preferably, the base portion includes an array of detents for keying the locking piece to the reservoir. Preferably, the base portion is annular with a central axial bore.

N Preferably, the detents being arranged radially inward of the base portion around said bore.

t Preferably, the reservoir includes a cylindrical container having a central Sboss supporting the nozzle and a peripheral lip surrounding the boss, the locking piece being non-rotatably keyed to the boss. Preferably, the locking piece is snaplockingly engagable with the lip. Preferably, the array of detents is snap-lockingly engage the lip.

Preferably, the trigger is fixedly attached to the nozzle.

More preferably, the locking piece includes a resilient projecting finger portion for resiliently biasing the cover towards the locked position. Preferably, the finger portion extends divergently outward relative to the abutment flange.

The locking piece preferably includes a shield for obstructing the flow path of the nozzle when in the locked position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a safety device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional exploded perspective view of the safety device generally in the direction of line 2-2 of Figure 1; n SFigure 3a is a sectional perspective view of the safety device, shown in the locked position; z Figure 3b is a part cut away plan view of the safety device in the locked 0 position; Figure 3c is a sectional side view of the safety device in the locked position; Figure 4a is a sectional perspective view of the safety device, shown with N the cover rotated into the dispensing position; SFigure 4b is a plan view of the safety device, shown in the dispensing position; Figure 4c is a sectional side view of the safety device in the dispensing position; Figure 5a is a sectional perspective view of the safety device, shown with the cover rotated into the dispensing position and the trigger depressed; Figure 5b is a plan view of the safety device in the dispensing position with the trigger depressed; Figure 5c is a sectional side view of the safety device in the dispensing position with the trigger depressed; Figure 6a is a front view of the locking piece of Figures 1 to Figure 6b is a plan view of the locking piece; Figure 6c is a sectional side view of the locking piece taken on line 6c-6c of Figure 6b; Figure 6d is a right side view of the locking piece; Figure 6e is a rear side view of the locking piece; Figure 6f is a left side view of the locking piece; In -0- Figure 6g is an underside view of the locking piece; Figure 6h is a side view of the locking piece taken generally in the direction of arrow 6h; Figure 6i is an isomeric front view of the locking piece; NI 5 Figure 6j is an isometric back view of the locking piece; ,I Figure 6j is an isometric backright side view of the locking piece; and (iFigure 6k is an isometric right side view of the locking piece; and Figure 61 is an isometric left side view of the locking piece.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, a movement-actuatable dispensing nozzle 1 is in fluid communication with a reservoir 2. The reservoir is in the form of an aerosol can 3. As shown in Figure 1, the can 3 includes a central boss 4 supporting the nozzle 1 and a peripheral lip 5 surrounding the boss 4.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the safety device X includes a cover 6 rotatably mountable to the reservoir 2, a trigger 7 movably mountable to the cover 6 and a locking piece 9 non-rotatably mountable to the reservoir 2. The cover 6 is rotatably mounted to the aerosol can 3 for rotation between a locked position, as shown in the Figure 3 series, and a dispensing position, as shown in the Figure 4 series. The cover 6 includes a radially inward circumferential flange portion 6a which snap-lockingly engages a corresponding circumferential flange portion 3a of the can 3 to securely and rotatably mount the cover 6 to the can 3, as best shown in Figure 3a.

The trigger 7 is movably mounted to the cover 6 for actuating the nozzle 1 when in the dispensing position. The trigger 7 is sleeved over the nozzle 1 and is at least partially axially movable with respect to the axis of rotation of the cover 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the trigger is integrally moulded with cover and provided with a weakness line 8 to define a hinged connection.

I -7 As best shown in Figures 1 to 5, the locking piece 9 is fixedly and nonrotatably keyed to the boss 4. The manner in which the locking piece is keyed to Z the boss 4 is described in more detail below.

The locking piece 9 includes locking means in the form of an abutment face 10 and a release aperture 11 adjacent the abutment face. The abutment face 10 is C defined by an arcuate abutment flange 10a which extends around approximately half the circumference of the locking piece 9.

t The trigger 7 includes a foot portion 12 engageable with the abutment face Referring now to Figures 3a to 3c, when in the locked position, the foot portion 12 is in alignment with the abutment face 10. As best shown in Figure 3c, depressing the trigger 7 forces the foot portion 12 into engagement with the abutment face 10 thereby inhibiting, if not totally preventing, movement of the trigger 7 to actuate the nozzle 1. Thus, in the locked position, any attempt to actuate the nozzle 1 by depressing the trigger 7 is resisted by the abutment face Referring now to Figures 4a to 4c, upon clockwise rotation of the cover 6, the safety device is placed into the dispensing position. The foot portion 12 of the trigger 7 is moved out of alignment with the abutment face 10 and into alignment with the release aperture 11, as best shown in Figure 4c. This allows the foot portion 12 to enter the aperture 11 and permit the trigger 7 to be depressed and actuate the nozzle 1. Actuation of the nozzle 1 by the trigger 7 is illustrated in Figures 5a to 5c. In particular, Figure 5c shows the foot portion 12 entering the release aperture 11 as the trigger 7 is depressed to actuate the nozzle 1.

Thus, the locking means inhibits or prevents nozzle-actuating movement of the trigger 7 when the cover 6 is in the locked position and permits the nozzleactuating movement when the cover 6 is in the dispensing position.

Referring to Figures 6a to 61, further details and advantageous features of the locking piece 9 and the locking means will now be described. The locking piece 9 includes a resilient projecting finger portion 13 for resiliently biasing the tn -8cover 6 towards the locked position in Figures 3a to 3. The finger portion 13 extends divergently outwards relative to the abutment flange z As shown in the Figures 6a to 6h, the locking piece 9 includes an annular base portion 15. An outwardly diverging frusto-conical sidewall 16 extends from the base portion 15 to a flared lip portion 17, as best shown in Figures 6c to 6f.

SThe arcuate abutment flange 10a defining the abutment face 10 adjoins the lip portion 17 so as to extend around approximately half the circumference of the sidewall NThe abutment flange 10a includes a cut-out section 11, which defines the release aperture 11 between abutment flange 10a and the locking piece 9. The cutout section 11 is itself arcuate in shape, as best shown in Figure 6g and 6i.

Referring to Figures 6b, 6c, 6g and 6i to 61, the base portion 15 includes an array of detents 18 for keying the locking piece 9 to the reservoir 2. The detents 18 are arranged radially inward of the base portion 15 around a central axial bore 19.

The detents 18 permit the locking piece 9 to snap-lockingly engage the peripheral lip 5 of the boss 4 of the reservoir 2.

The locking piece 9 is preferably moulded as a single piece, although it may be formed by fixedly connecting the individual elements. Similarly, whilst it is envisaged that the safety device X will be sold as a single product, it will be appreciated that the cover, trigger and locking piece can be sold separately and subsequently assembled for use.

In other embodiments, the locking piece 9 also includes a shield for obstructing the flow path of the nozzle when in the locked position. The shield also provides a visual indicator that the cover is in the locked position.

Other embodiments of the locking piece 9 do not have a finger portion 13.

Instead, the cover 6 has detents to engage the reservoir 2 so as to bias the cover 6 in the locked position. Other embodiments use other means for non-rotatably keying the locking piece 9 to the reservoir 2.

It will be appreciated that the illustrated safety device inhibits the depression of the nozzle 1 when in the locked position thus preventing inadvertent Z discharging of the contents of the aerosol spray can 3.

O The illustrated safety device is a low-cost yet effective child-resistant safety feature that can be incorporated into aerosol spray cans with a combined coveri activator assembly typically used in present day insecticide aerosol spray cans.

The safety device can also be retrofitted to appropriately configured existing combined cover-activated assemblies thus presenting an efficient and low-cost device for fitting to existing designs. Further, the illustrated safety device can be 10 relatively easily used by elderly people and those suffering from arthritis in their hands, unlike many child resistant closures, which require considerable dexterity and strength to use.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention can be embodied in many other forms.

Claims

2. A safety device according to claim 1, wherein said locking means includes an abutment face and a release aperture adjacent the abutment face, the trigger being engagable with the abutment face when in the locked position and at least partly movable through the aperture thereby to actuate the nozzle when in the dispensing position.
3. A safety device according to claim 2, wherein the abutment face is supported or defined by an abutment flange.
4. A safety device according to claim 3, wherein said abutment flange is arcuate. A safety device according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said abutment flange extends at least partially around the circumference of said locking piece.
6. A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said trigger includes a foot portion for abutting engagement with said abutment face.
7. A safety device according to claim 6, wherein said foot portion is movable through said release aperture to actuate said nozzle. t¢3 -11-
8. A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking piece includes a base portion. 0 z
9. A safety device according to claim 8, wherein said base portion is substantially circular.
10. A safety device according to claim 8, wherein said base portion is substantially annular.
11. A safety device according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein said locking piece includes a sidewall extending from said base portion to a lip portion.
12. A safety device according to claim 11, wherein said sidewall is frusto- conical.
13. A safety device according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein said lip portion is flared outwardly from said base portion.
14. A safety device according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein said abutment flange adjoins said lip portion. A safety device according to claim 14, wherein said abutment flange extends around approximately half the circumference of the sidewall.
16. A safety device according to any one of claims 3 to 15, wherein said release aperture is formed between said abutment flange and a base portion of the locking piece.
17. A safety device according to any one claims 3 to 16, wherein said release aperture is defined by a cut-out section of the abutment flange.
18. A safety device according to claim 17, wherein said cut-out section is at least partially arcuate. -12-
19. A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said trigger is axially movable with respect to the axis of rotation of said cover. z A safety device according to according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking piece is non-rotatably keyed to the reservoir.
21. A safety device according to claim 20, wherein said locking piece includes an array of detents for keying the locking piece to the reservoir. t 22. A safety device according to claim 21, wherein said locking piece includes an annular base portion with a central axial bore.
23. A safety device according to claim 22, wherein said detents are arranged radially inward of the base portion around said bore.
24. A safety device according to any one of claims 20 to 23, wherein said reservoir includes a central boss supporting the nozzle and a peripheral lip surrounding the boss, the locking piece being non-rotatably keyed to the boss. A safety device according to claim 24, wherein said locking piece is snap- lockingly engagable with the lip.
26. A safety device according to claim 25, wherein said detents snap- lockingly engage the lip.
27. A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said trigger is fixedly attached to the nozzle.
28. A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking piece includes a resilient projecting finger portion for resiliently biasing the cover towards the locked position.
29. A safety device according to claim 28, wherein said finger portion extends divergently outward relative to the abutment flange. t' -13- A safety device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking piece includes a shield for obstructing the flow path of said nozzle 0 Z when in said locked position.
31. A safety device for a fluid dispenser substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the Cl accompanying drawings and/or examples. C Ni DATED this 5th day of November 2005 LOWELL MAK