CA1060396A - Aerosol container construction and production methods - Google Patents
Aerosol container construction and production methodsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1060396A CA1060396A CA291,067A CA291067A CA1060396A CA 1060396 A CA1060396 A CA 1060396A CA 291067 A CA291067 A CA 291067A CA 1060396 A CA1060396 A CA 1060396A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- valve cup
- container body
- valve
- conical
- sealing surface
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
- B65D83/14—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant
- B65D83/44—Valves specially adapted therefor; Regulating devices
- B65D83/46—Tilt valves
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
- B29C45/17—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
- B29C45/40—Removing or ejecting moulded articles
- B29C45/44—Removing or ejecting moulded articles for undercut articles
- B29C45/4407—Removing or ejecting moulded articles for undercut articles by flexible movement of undercut portions of the articles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
- B29C65/56—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor using mechanical means or mechanical connections, e.g. form-fits
- B29C65/58—Snap connection
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/50—General aspects of joining tubular articles; General aspects of joining long products, i.e. bars or profiled elements; General aspects of joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; General aspects of joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
- B29C66/51—Joining tubular articles, profiled elements or bars; Joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; Joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
- B29C66/53—Joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars
- B29C66/534—Joining single elements to open ends of tubular or hollow articles or to the ends of bars
- B29C66/5344—Joining single elements to open ends of tubular or hollow articles or to the ends of bars said single elements being substantially annular, i.e. of finite length, e.g. joining flanges to tube ends
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/50—General aspects of joining tubular articles; General aspects of joining long products, i.e. bars or profiled elements; General aspects of joining single elements to tubular articles, hollow articles or bars; General aspects of joining several hollow-preforms to form hollow or tubular articles
- B29C66/61—Joining from or joining on the inside
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
- B29D23/00—Producing tubular articles
- B29D23/20—Flexible squeeze tubes, e.g. for cosmetics
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
- B65D83/14—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant
- B65D83/38—Details of the container body
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- B29L2023/00—Tubular articles
- B29L2023/20—Flexible squeeze tubes, e.g. for cosmetics
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
- Nozzles (AREA)
Abstract
AEROSOL CONTAINER CONSTRUCTIONS
AND PRODUCTION METHODS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Aerosol container constructions include a container body which defines a product receiving chamber having an open mouth. The container body is formed with a conical sealing surface about the mouth, inclined upwardly and out-wardly from the product receiving chamber, and a catch surface associated with the mouth. A valve cup, which houses a dispenser valve for dispensing a product stored in the container, is mounted in the container body mouth and is formed with a dispenser valve mounting portion, a skirt depending from the valve mounting portion and having a conical sealing surface shaped and sized to mate with the conical container body sealing surface, and a latch surface positioned to engage the catch surface when the valve cup and container body are assembled. The valve cup is produced in a mold assembly including a one-piece mold member, configured to the external shape of the valve cup conical sealing surface, and a cooperating core member configured to the external cup shape. When finished, the valve cup is pushed axially through the mold cavity to strip it from the one-piece mold member. This valve cup design and construction permits formation of the cup's conical sealing surface without mold parting line protrusions which often cause leakage problems in conventional container constructions.
AND PRODUCTION METHODS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Aerosol container constructions include a container body which defines a product receiving chamber having an open mouth. The container body is formed with a conical sealing surface about the mouth, inclined upwardly and out-wardly from the product receiving chamber, and a catch surface associated with the mouth. A valve cup, which houses a dispenser valve for dispensing a product stored in the container, is mounted in the container body mouth and is formed with a dispenser valve mounting portion, a skirt depending from the valve mounting portion and having a conical sealing surface shaped and sized to mate with the conical container body sealing surface, and a latch surface positioned to engage the catch surface when the valve cup and container body are assembled. The valve cup is produced in a mold assembly including a one-piece mold member, configured to the external shape of the valve cup conical sealing surface, and a cooperating core member configured to the external cup shape. When finished, the valve cup is pushed axially through the mold cavity to strip it from the one-piece mold member. This valve cup design and construction permits formation of the cup's conical sealing surface without mold parting line protrusions which often cause leakage problems in conventional container constructions.
Description
BACXGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to aerosol container constructions and to aerosol container production methods.
Aero~ol containers are commonly used to store fluid con~umer product~ for later use in the home. When use i~
desirQd, the product is forced from the container through a dispenser valve by a compressed propellant such as compressed nitrogen, air, or freon.
If chemically inert with respect to the product and if not harmful to the environment or to people who might be exposed to it, the propellant may be directly introduced into a conventional container construction with the product.
However, aerosol container constructions generally known as "barrier" or "piston" packages have been developed which separate the propellant from the product and prevent escape of the propellant into the atmosphere.
The container constructions and methods of the present invention may be adapted equally well to either the conventional or barrier or piston aerosol container construc-tion~. Accordingly, as used in this specification and the concluding claims, the term "aerosol container" is intended to mean any container or package which ~tores a fluid product and which utilizes a propellant, compressed in the container, to dispense the product from it.
Description of the Prior Art Many different designs for aerosol containers are presently known. Mo~t commonly availab~e commercial designs include a metal container body, capable of withstanding high pressures, that defines a product receiving chamber and has an open container mouth. A metal valve ferrule or cup, which houses a dispenser valve, is installed in the container mouth by crimping a lip of the ferrule to the margin of the mouth to form an upstanding annular rim. The ferrule, then, close~ the container body to enclose the product receiving chamber and is a convenient means by which the dispenser valve can be mounted on the container.
This container assembly process utilizes relatively compl~x multichuck crimping machinery that must be able to crimp the ferrule to th~ container body tightly enough to withstand high aerosol propellant pressures, with a substan-tial margin of safety. Ordinarily, a heavy rubber sealant i8 required to prevent leakage. If an unsatisfactory seal is made, the container must be rejected.
Other aerosol container constructions include container bodies and valve cups which are molded from plastic materials. Plastic components may be molded in relatively complex shapes not easily made with metal by cold or hot metal working techniques. Therefore, plastic containers may be more economically produced with fewer, more easily assembled components than similar metal containers.
Still other aerosol container constructions utilize both metal and plastic parts. For example, U.S. Patent No. 3,746,218 (Risdon et al.) discloses a conventional metal container body having a mouth formed with an annular bead about its periphery. A mating lock ring is installed on this bead and has a tapered annular surface that mates with a similar, tapered annular surface on a valve-housing plug.
The taper of the plug surface is less than the taper of the lock ring surface so that the lower portion of the plug surface can bear tightly against the lower portion of the lock ring surface to, in turn, force the lock ring tightly against the bead.
~060396 The aerosol container construction disclosed in the Risdon et al. Patent obviously includes an added component, namely the lock ring. Therefore, production costs are greater than those for simpler container con~truc-tions.
U.S. Patent No. 3,270,924 ~Kitabayashi) also dis-closes a container having metal and plastic parts. The container body has a conventional mouth rimmed by an annular bead. A plastic disc having a depending annular wall is inserted in this mouth with the annular wall in sealing engagement with the bead. Internal pressure forces the wall against the bead.
Plastic aerosol container components, used in either all plastic or metal and plastic aerosol containers such as those described above, are usually produced in conventional molding apparatus having opposing die members that define a mold cavity configured to the shape of the component. The die members are separable alon~ a parting plane located so that the component can be easily stripped from the cavity. However, components made with such apparatus often have parting line protrustions that form when plastic component forming material enters small cracks which remain between the mated die members at the parting plane. If formed on a component sealing surface, the parting line pro-trusions often prevent formation of a product or propellant-tight seal and, therefore, can result in undesirable leakage of either the product or aerosol propellant.
Molded container components may be machined or otherwise finished to remove parting line protrusions and improve their sealing characteristics, but an extra step and its associated cost are undesirably added to the container producing process.
Other molding techniques are disclosed in U.S.
Patents, Nos. 3,325,576 (Kessler) and 3,006,030 (Paull).
However, neither of these patents disclose a technique for producing aerosol containers or container components.
SVMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a preferred embodiment, to be described below in detail, the aerosol container of the present invention includes a container body and a plastic valve cup, mounted in the container body, which i8 produced by methods of the pre~ent invention without parting line protrusions on any of its ~ealing surfaces. Therefore, machining or other sealing surface finishing steps are not required to produce a container body-valve cup assembly seal which is product and propellant-tight.
The container body, which may be made from metal or plastic, defines a product receiving chamber having an open mouth. Further, the container body is formed with a conical sealing surface about the mouth inclined upwardly and outwardly from the product receiving chamber, and a catch surface associated with the mouth.
The plastic valve cup, which is mounted directly in the container body mouth, houses a dispensing valve and i5 formed with a dispenser valve mounting portion and a skirt which depends f~om the valve mounting portion. The skirt iR
molded with a conical sealing surface shaped and sized to mate with the conical container body sealing surface. A
latch ~urface is associated with the skirt and engages the catch surface when the valve cup and container body are assembled to mate the respective sealing surfaces together.
In this way, the valve cup is retained in the container body mouth against the pressure of the compressed propellant.
The valve cup is produced without parting line protrusions on the sealing surface, in a one-piece mold member which defines a single mold cavity configured to the external shape, and primarily the conical sealing surface, of the cup. The internal shape of the cup is defined by a mandrel or core member which cooperates with the mold member.
Moreover, the valve cup is shaped to be axially pushed from the cavity and stripped from the mold member after it has been cured. In particular, the natural elas-ticity and resilience of the plastic material from whichthe valve cup is made permits the skirt to be slightly radially collapsed to release the cup by a camming action between the mold cavity walls and the conical sealing surface.
The shape of the mating component sealing surfaces also facilitates assembly of the aerosol container by pressing the valve cup directly into the container body mou~h until the latch and catch surfaces snap together.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an economically manufactured and easily assembled aerosol container which has a substantially leak-proof seal between its container body and valve cup. It is a further object of the present invention to provide methods ~or producing such aerosol containers having valve cupq molded without parting line protrusions that, therefore, do not require sealing surface finishing subsequent to the cup formation process, or sealants. However, an easily applied thin _ealant could be used.
Other objects, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be pointed out in, or will be under-stood from, the following detailed description provided inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the aerosol container of the present invention.
The valve cup-dispenser valve assembly is shown prior to being directly mounted in the container body.
FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the assembled aerosol container.
FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the upper portion of this aerosol container illus-trating the valve cup being installed in the container body mouth.
FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the dispenser valve shown in its open position.
FIGURE 5 is a vertical cro~s-sectional view of suitable molding apparatus for producing the valve cup in accordance with the present invention.
FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of this apparatus showing the molded valve cup being stripped from the one-piece mold.
FIGURE 7 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the upper portion of a second em~odiment of the aerosol container.
FIGUR~ 8 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the upper portion of a third embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF_THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIGURE 1, the aerosol container, generally indicated at 10, of the present invention includes container body 12, a valve cup 14 adapted to be mounted in the container body, and a dispenser valve 16 mounted in the valve cup. Dispenser valve 16 may be of the tilt type, as shown in the drawings, that is used to dispense products such as shaving cream or whipped cream. However, it may be 106~396 equipped with any other type valve to dispense a wide variety of fluid products, such as window or all purpo~e cleaners, glue, caulking compounds in a spray, a stream or in other desired manners.
The container body 12 has a generally right cylindrical central portion 18, a flat or concave bottom (not shown) and a frustoconical top 20. If body 12 is made of metal, it can be formed and assembled in any conven-tional manner. If it is made of plastic, the top 20 and central portion 18 may be injection or blow molded and the bottom may be attached by, for example, ultrasonic or heat welding. In the case of either metal or plastic construction, the container must be capable of withstanding high pressures of the compressed propellant which may exceed 100 psi.
The container body 12 further defines a product receiving chamber 22 which holds the stored product as well as compressed aerosol propellant. A container mouth 24 opens at the top of the frustoconical container top 20 from the product receiving chamber.
~0 A frustoconical sealing surface 26 is formed about the mouth 24 and is inclined upwardly and outwardly from product receiving chamber 22. It has been found that an angle of inclination between 10 and 20 with the vertical axis A of the container is preferable. As will be described in greater detail below, sealing surface 26 is the primary area of contact between container body ~2 and valve cup 14 when the two are assembled. Accordingly, it is highly desirable to make a reliable product and propellant-tight seal between these surfaces in an economical and easily achieved manner.
AS shown in FIGURE 2, the container body 12 also has a planar, annular catch surface in the form of a shoulder 28 which is generally perpendicular to the container axis A.
This catch surface 28 cooperates with a mating latch surface, described in greater detail below, formed on the valve cup 14 to lock the cup and container body firmly together against the out~ardly directed pressure of the compressed propellant.
Valve cup 14 has a frustoconical dispenser valve mounting portion 30 and a generally cylindrical skirt 32 which depends therefrom. The valve mounting portion may have another shape if desired to accommodate various types of valves. The outer side wall of skirt 32 is molded with a frus~oconical sealing surface 34 which is upwardly and outwardly inclined from the product receiving chamber to firmly mate with the conical container body surface 26. In particular, it is desirable that the conical container body and valve cup sealing surfaces have substantially equal vertex angles, and that valve cup sealing surface have a slightly larger diameter than does the container body sealing surface. These dimensional characteristics insure that a product and propellant-tight seal is formed between cup 14 and body 12.
~ alve cup skirt 32 is also formed with an annular rabbet 36 on its outer cylindrical wall at the lower margin of sealing surface 34. Rabbet 36 defines a planar, radially outwardly directed latch surface 38 which is generally perpendicular to the axis A of valve cup 14 and engages the container body catch surface 28 when valve cup 14 is installed in container body mouth 24. The mating latch and catch surfaces retain the valve cup in t~e container body against the pressure of the compressed propellant, indicated by arrows P. Moreover, this internal pressure serves to augment the seal formed between the respective conical ~060396 sealing surfaces by forcing the valve cup skirt 32 outwardly against the container mouth 24.
Further, both the valve cup and container body sealing surfaces have small mating cylindrical portions 43 and 45 which lend added strength to the interconnection of the cup and body by decreasing any shear weakness which might be present at the rabbet vertex.
A cam surface 40 is formed at the lower margin of skirt 32 and facilitates assembly of valvo cup 14 and container body 12.
Referring to FIGURE 3, the container is assembled by pressing the valve cup downwardly into the container body mouth 24, camming cam surface 40 inwardly against container body sealing surface 26 and further collapsing the valve cup skirt 32 radially inwardly as indicated by arrows B. An inverted V-shaped groove 41 may be formed in container body 14 underlyi~g sealing surface 26 to aid outward flexing of the body. When valve cup 14 has been completely inserted into container body 12 as permitted by the mating conical surfaces, the latch surface 38 overtravels the catch surface 28 and the skirt snaps radially outward to engage the latch and catch surfaGes 28 and 38 and tightly mate the respective conical sealing surfaces 26 and 34. Therefore, assembly may be completed without specialized metal crimping or forming tools.
The valve mounting portion 30 of valve cup 14 terminates in a valve mounting aperture A2 which receives the dispenser valve 16 that, as noted, may be of the tilt type.
This valve includes a flexible, outer sleeve 44 which has a flared gasket flange 46 formed to sealingly mate with the inner surface of the valve cup 14. An annular retaining rib 48 cooperates with the gasket flange 46 to tightly hold the sleeve 44 in valve cup 14 and has an upwardly, inwardly tapered surface 50 which permits sleeve 44 to be pressed upwardly into valve cup 14 to complete their assembly.
This sealing configuration may be modified to accommodate other valve constructions.
A valve member 52, having a mushroom shaped foot 54, and an A-shaped head 56, is mounted in sleeve 44 and is movable between a closQd position (FIGURE 2) and a tilted, open position (FIGURE 4). When open, fluid product may pass through at least one of a plurality of radially directed outlet conduits 58 into an axial outlet passage 60 in valve member 52 to be dispensed from the container in a conventional manner.
The valve cup sealing surface 34 is formed by the method of the present invention without parting lines or other protrusions which might otherwise result in leakage because of the high propellant pressures contained in the container. The inner surface of the valve cup valve mounting portion, which mates with valve sleeve flange 46, is also formed without parting lines by this method. Moreover, these smooth, protrusionless sealing surfaces are made without any special machining steps.
The method of the present invention is practiced with a one-piece mold configured to the external shape of the valve cup sealing surface using a technique made possible by this external shape which permits the cup to be stripped from a mold that is not separable along an axial plane.
F~GURE 5 illustrates such an apparatus which includes a main one-piece mold member 70 and a knock-out mold insert 71 that define a single mold cavity 72 configured to the external shape of the valve cup 14. The main mold member defines the entire conical valve cup sealing surface 34. A central one-piece mandrel or core member 74 is formed to cooperate with the main mold member 70 and is configured to define the internal shape of the valve cup 14. A plastic molding material injection passage 76 is provided in mold member 70.
Accordingly, when the mandrel and mold members are mated together as shown in FIGURE 5, a valve cup may be produced by in~ecting plastic molding material through pasqage 76 to fill cavity 72. Venting is provided by the sliding fit of the core member and knock-out insert. The cup is then cured in the molding apparatus.
~ shown in FIGURE 6, after the plastic molding material has cured, core member 74 is axially withdrawn down-wardly from mold member 70 as shown ~y arrow C. The finished valve cup 14 is then pushed axially downward from mold member 70 by knock-out insert 71, as shown by arrows D, to strip it from the mold cavity. Since the plastic molding material is resilient and deformable, and since the sealing surface is slightly frustoconical making an angle of 10 to 20 with the vertical cup axis as noted above, the valve cup skirt 56 is cammed radially inwardly as shown by arrows E
permi~ting the finished cup to be released from mold member 70. Further, since the conical sealing surface 34 is formed in the one-piece mold member, the sealing surface has no parting line protrusions and requires no subsequent machining to produce a smooth sealing surface. The shape of injection passage 76 eliminates all gate or flash so that the finished cup is ready for use.
Alternative embodiments of the aerosol container of the present invention are illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8.
Referring first to FIGURE 7, valve cup skirt 132 may be formed with an annular, V-shaped groove 82, which underlies the valve cup sealing surface 134. Groove 82 facilitates removal of valve cup 14 from a mold member 70 since the skirt 132 can collapse more easily to cam out of mold cavity 72.
FIGURE 8 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention particularly well adapted to barrier or piston type aerosol container constructions. This aerosol container 210 ~ncludes a container body 212 formed with an upper portion 220 which, instead of being frustoconical in shape, is slightly indented to form a dome-shaped inner surface 84. The con-tainer mouth 224, frustoconical sealing surface 226, and catch surface 228 are formed on a generally cylindrical section 86 which extends upwardly from the dome-shaped surface 84. This particular construction permits a piston 88 to travel farther toward the dispenser valve and thus to exhaust more of the container's contents. Moreover, modifications such as these can be made to the container to cooperate with a piston of any similar design to dispense as much of the product as possible.
Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail, it is to be understood that this is for purposes of illustration.
Modifications may be made to the described aerosol containers and methods for producing them in order to adapt these structures and methods to particular applications.
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to aerosol container constructions and to aerosol container production methods.
Aero~ol containers are commonly used to store fluid con~umer product~ for later use in the home. When use i~
desirQd, the product is forced from the container through a dispenser valve by a compressed propellant such as compressed nitrogen, air, or freon.
If chemically inert with respect to the product and if not harmful to the environment or to people who might be exposed to it, the propellant may be directly introduced into a conventional container construction with the product.
However, aerosol container constructions generally known as "barrier" or "piston" packages have been developed which separate the propellant from the product and prevent escape of the propellant into the atmosphere.
The container constructions and methods of the present invention may be adapted equally well to either the conventional or barrier or piston aerosol container construc-tion~. Accordingly, as used in this specification and the concluding claims, the term "aerosol container" is intended to mean any container or package which ~tores a fluid product and which utilizes a propellant, compressed in the container, to dispense the product from it.
Description of the Prior Art Many different designs for aerosol containers are presently known. Mo~t commonly availab~e commercial designs include a metal container body, capable of withstanding high pressures, that defines a product receiving chamber and has an open container mouth. A metal valve ferrule or cup, which houses a dispenser valve, is installed in the container mouth by crimping a lip of the ferrule to the margin of the mouth to form an upstanding annular rim. The ferrule, then, close~ the container body to enclose the product receiving chamber and is a convenient means by which the dispenser valve can be mounted on the container.
This container assembly process utilizes relatively compl~x multichuck crimping machinery that must be able to crimp the ferrule to th~ container body tightly enough to withstand high aerosol propellant pressures, with a substan-tial margin of safety. Ordinarily, a heavy rubber sealant i8 required to prevent leakage. If an unsatisfactory seal is made, the container must be rejected.
Other aerosol container constructions include container bodies and valve cups which are molded from plastic materials. Plastic components may be molded in relatively complex shapes not easily made with metal by cold or hot metal working techniques. Therefore, plastic containers may be more economically produced with fewer, more easily assembled components than similar metal containers.
Still other aerosol container constructions utilize both metal and plastic parts. For example, U.S. Patent No. 3,746,218 (Risdon et al.) discloses a conventional metal container body having a mouth formed with an annular bead about its periphery. A mating lock ring is installed on this bead and has a tapered annular surface that mates with a similar, tapered annular surface on a valve-housing plug.
The taper of the plug surface is less than the taper of the lock ring surface so that the lower portion of the plug surface can bear tightly against the lower portion of the lock ring surface to, in turn, force the lock ring tightly against the bead.
~060396 The aerosol container construction disclosed in the Risdon et al. Patent obviously includes an added component, namely the lock ring. Therefore, production costs are greater than those for simpler container con~truc-tions.
U.S. Patent No. 3,270,924 ~Kitabayashi) also dis-closes a container having metal and plastic parts. The container body has a conventional mouth rimmed by an annular bead. A plastic disc having a depending annular wall is inserted in this mouth with the annular wall in sealing engagement with the bead. Internal pressure forces the wall against the bead.
Plastic aerosol container components, used in either all plastic or metal and plastic aerosol containers such as those described above, are usually produced in conventional molding apparatus having opposing die members that define a mold cavity configured to the shape of the component. The die members are separable alon~ a parting plane located so that the component can be easily stripped from the cavity. However, components made with such apparatus often have parting line protrustions that form when plastic component forming material enters small cracks which remain between the mated die members at the parting plane. If formed on a component sealing surface, the parting line pro-trusions often prevent formation of a product or propellant-tight seal and, therefore, can result in undesirable leakage of either the product or aerosol propellant.
Molded container components may be machined or otherwise finished to remove parting line protrusions and improve their sealing characteristics, but an extra step and its associated cost are undesirably added to the container producing process.
Other molding techniques are disclosed in U.S.
Patents, Nos. 3,325,576 (Kessler) and 3,006,030 (Paull).
However, neither of these patents disclose a technique for producing aerosol containers or container components.
SVMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a preferred embodiment, to be described below in detail, the aerosol container of the present invention includes a container body and a plastic valve cup, mounted in the container body, which i8 produced by methods of the pre~ent invention without parting line protrusions on any of its ~ealing surfaces. Therefore, machining or other sealing surface finishing steps are not required to produce a container body-valve cup assembly seal which is product and propellant-tight.
The container body, which may be made from metal or plastic, defines a product receiving chamber having an open mouth. Further, the container body is formed with a conical sealing surface about the mouth inclined upwardly and outwardly from the product receiving chamber, and a catch surface associated with the mouth.
The plastic valve cup, which is mounted directly in the container body mouth, houses a dispensing valve and i5 formed with a dispenser valve mounting portion and a skirt which depends f~om the valve mounting portion. The skirt iR
molded with a conical sealing surface shaped and sized to mate with the conical container body sealing surface. A
latch ~urface is associated with the skirt and engages the catch surface when the valve cup and container body are assembled to mate the respective sealing surfaces together.
In this way, the valve cup is retained in the container body mouth against the pressure of the compressed propellant.
The valve cup is produced without parting line protrusions on the sealing surface, in a one-piece mold member which defines a single mold cavity configured to the external shape, and primarily the conical sealing surface, of the cup. The internal shape of the cup is defined by a mandrel or core member which cooperates with the mold member.
Moreover, the valve cup is shaped to be axially pushed from the cavity and stripped from the mold member after it has been cured. In particular, the natural elas-ticity and resilience of the plastic material from whichthe valve cup is made permits the skirt to be slightly radially collapsed to release the cup by a camming action between the mold cavity walls and the conical sealing surface.
The shape of the mating component sealing surfaces also facilitates assembly of the aerosol container by pressing the valve cup directly into the container body mou~h until the latch and catch surfaces snap together.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an economically manufactured and easily assembled aerosol container which has a substantially leak-proof seal between its container body and valve cup. It is a further object of the present invention to provide methods ~or producing such aerosol containers having valve cupq molded without parting line protrusions that, therefore, do not require sealing surface finishing subsequent to the cup formation process, or sealants. However, an easily applied thin _ealant could be used.
Other objects, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be pointed out in, or will be under-stood from, the following detailed description provided inconjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the aerosol container of the present invention.
The valve cup-dispenser valve assembly is shown prior to being directly mounted in the container body.
FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the assembled aerosol container.
FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the upper portion of this aerosol container illus-trating the valve cup being installed in the container body mouth.
FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the dispenser valve shown in its open position.
FIGURE 5 is a vertical cro~s-sectional view of suitable molding apparatus for producing the valve cup in accordance with the present invention.
FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of this apparatus showing the molded valve cup being stripped from the one-piece mold.
FIGURE 7 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the upper portion of a second em~odiment of the aerosol container.
FIGUR~ 8 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the upper portion of a third embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF_THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIGURE 1, the aerosol container, generally indicated at 10, of the present invention includes container body 12, a valve cup 14 adapted to be mounted in the container body, and a dispenser valve 16 mounted in the valve cup. Dispenser valve 16 may be of the tilt type, as shown in the drawings, that is used to dispense products such as shaving cream or whipped cream. However, it may be 106~396 equipped with any other type valve to dispense a wide variety of fluid products, such as window or all purpo~e cleaners, glue, caulking compounds in a spray, a stream or in other desired manners.
The container body 12 has a generally right cylindrical central portion 18, a flat or concave bottom (not shown) and a frustoconical top 20. If body 12 is made of metal, it can be formed and assembled in any conven-tional manner. If it is made of plastic, the top 20 and central portion 18 may be injection or blow molded and the bottom may be attached by, for example, ultrasonic or heat welding. In the case of either metal or plastic construction, the container must be capable of withstanding high pressures of the compressed propellant which may exceed 100 psi.
The container body 12 further defines a product receiving chamber 22 which holds the stored product as well as compressed aerosol propellant. A container mouth 24 opens at the top of the frustoconical container top 20 from the product receiving chamber.
~0 A frustoconical sealing surface 26 is formed about the mouth 24 and is inclined upwardly and outwardly from product receiving chamber 22. It has been found that an angle of inclination between 10 and 20 with the vertical axis A of the container is preferable. As will be described in greater detail below, sealing surface 26 is the primary area of contact between container body ~2 and valve cup 14 when the two are assembled. Accordingly, it is highly desirable to make a reliable product and propellant-tight seal between these surfaces in an economical and easily achieved manner.
AS shown in FIGURE 2, the container body 12 also has a planar, annular catch surface in the form of a shoulder 28 which is generally perpendicular to the container axis A.
This catch surface 28 cooperates with a mating latch surface, described in greater detail below, formed on the valve cup 14 to lock the cup and container body firmly together against the out~ardly directed pressure of the compressed propellant.
Valve cup 14 has a frustoconical dispenser valve mounting portion 30 and a generally cylindrical skirt 32 which depends therefrom. The valve mounting portion may have another shape if desired to accommodate various types of valves. The outer side wall of skirt 32 is molded with a frus~oconical sealing surface 34 which is upwardly and outwardly inclined from the product receiving chamber to firmly mate with the conical container body surface 26. In particular, it is desirable that the conical container body and valve cup sealing surfaces have substantially equal vertex angles, and that valve cup sealing surface have a slightly larger diameter than does the container body sealing surface. These dimensional characteristics insure that a product and propellant-tight seal is formed between cup 14 and body 12.
~ alve cup skirt 32 is also formed with an annular rabbet 36 on its outer cylindrical wall at the lower margin of sealing surface 34. Rabbet 36 defines a planar, radially outwardly directed latch surface 38 which is generally perpendicular to the axis A of valve cup 14 and engages the container body catch surface 28 when valve cup 14 is installed in container body mouth 24. The mating latch and catch surfaces retain the valve cup in t~e container body against the pressure of the compressed propellant, indicated by arrows P. Moreover, this internal pressure serves to augment the seal formed between the respective conical ~060396 sealing surfaces by forcing the valve cup skirt 32 outwardly against the container mouth 24.
Further, both the valve cup and container body sealing surfaces have small mating cylindrical portions 43 and 45 which lend added strength to the interconnection of the cup and body by decreasing any shear weakness which might be present at the rabbet vertex.
A cam surface 40 is formed at the lower margin of skirt 32 and facilitates assembly of valvo cup 14 and container body 12.
Referring to FIGURE 3, the container is assembled by pressing the valve cup downwardly into the container body mouth 24, camming cam surface 40 inwardly against container body sealing surface 26 and further collapsing the valve cup skirt 32 radially inwardly as indicated by arrows B. An inverted V-shaped groove 41 may be formed in container body 14 underlyi~g sealing surface 26 to aid outward flexing of the body. When valve cup 14 has been completely inserted into container body 12 as permitted by the mating conical surfaces, the latch surface 38 overtravels the catch surface 28 and the skirt snaps radially outward to engage the latch and catch surfaGes 28 and 38 and tightly mate the respective conical sealing surfaces 26 and 34. Therefore, assembly may be completed without specialized metal crimping or forming tools.
The valve mounting portion 30 of valve cup 14 terminates in a valve mounting aperture A2 which receives the dispenser valve 16 that, as noted, may be of the tilt type.
This valve includes a flexible, outer sleeve 44 which has a flared gasket flange 46 formed to sealingly mate with the inner surface of the valve cup 14. An annular retaining rib 48 cooperates with the gasket flange 46 to tightly hold the sleeve 44 in valve cup 14 and has an upwardly, inwardly tapered surface 50 which permits sleeve 44 to be pressed upwardly into valve cup 14 to complete their assembly.
This sealing configuration may be modified to accommodate other valve constructions.
A valve member 52, having a mushroom shaped foot 54, and an A-shaped head 56, is mounted in sleeve 44 and is movable between a closQd position (FIGURE 2) and a tilted, open position (FIGURE 4). When open, fluid product may pass through at least one of a plurality of radially directed outlet conduits 58 into an axial outlet passage 60 in valve member 52 to be dispensed from the container in a conventional manner.
The valve cup sealing surface 34 is formed by the method of the present invention without parting lines or other protrusions which might otherwise result in leakage because of the high propellant pressures contained in the container. The inner surface of the valve cup valve mounting portion, which mates with valve sleeve flange 46, is also formed without parting lines by this method. Moreover, these smooth, protrusionless sealing surfaces are made without any special machining steps.
The method of the present invention is practiced with a one-piece mold configured to the external shape of the valve cup sealing surface using a technique made possible by this external shape which permits the cup to be stripped from a mold that is not separable along an axial plane.
F~GURE 5 illustrates such an apparatus which includes a main one-piece mold member 70 and a knock-out mold insert 71 that define a single mold cavity 72 configured to the external shape of the valve cup 14. The main mold member defines the entire conical valve cup sealing surface 34. A central one-piece mandrel or core member 74 is formed to cooperate with the main mold member 70 and is configured to define the internal shape of the valve cup 14. A plastic molding material injection passage 76 is provided in mold member 70.
Accordingly, when the mandrel and mold members are mated together as shown in FIGURE 5, a valve cup may be produced by in~ecting plastic molding material through pasqage 76 to fill cavity 72. Venting is provided by the sliding fit of the core member and knock-out insert. The cup is then cured in the molding apparatus.
~ shown in FIGURE 6, after the plastic molding material has cured, core member 74 is axially withdrawn down-wardly from mold member 70 as shown ~y arrow C. The finished valve cup 14 is then pushed axially downward from mold member 70 by knock-out insert 71, as shown by arrows D, to strip it from the mold cavity. Since the plastic molding material is resilient and deformable, and since the sealing surface is slightly frustoconical making an angle of 10 to 20 with the vertical cup axis as noted above, the valve cup skirt 56 is cammed radially inwardly as shown by arrows E
permi~ting the finished cup to be released from mold member 70. Further, since the conical sealing surface 34 is formed in the one-piece mold member, the sealing surface has no parting line protrusions and requires no subsequent machining to produce a smooth sealing surface. The shape of injection passage 76 eliminates all gate or flash so that the finished cup is ready for use.
Alternative embodiments of the aerosol container of the present invention are illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8.
Referring first to FIGURE 7, valve cup skirt 132 may be formed with an annular, V-shaped groove 82, which underlies the valve cup sealing surface 134. Groove 82 facilitates removal of valve cup 14 from a mold member 70 since the skirt 132 can collapse more easily to cam out of mold cavity 72.
FIGURE 8 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention particularly well adapted to barrier or piston type aerosol container constructions. This aerosol container 210 ~ncludes a container body 212 formed with an upper portion 220 which, instead of being frustoconical in shape, is slightly indented to form a dome-shaped inner surface 84. The con-tainer mouth 224, frustoconical sealing surface 226, and catch surface 228 are formed on a generally cylindrical section 86 which extends upwardly from the dome-shaped surface 84. This particular construction permits a piston 88 to travel farther toward the dispenser valve and thus to exhaust more of the container's contents. Moreover, modifications such as these can be made to the container to cooperate with a piston of any similar design to dispense as much of the product as possible.
Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail, it is to be understood that this is for purposes of illustration.
Modifications may be made to the described aerosol containers and methods for producing them in order to adapt these structures and methods to particular applications.
Claims (16)
1. An aerosol container for storing a product under pressure and having a dispenser valve for dispensing the product, said aerosol container comprising:
A. a container body, having an axis, which defines a product receiving chamber having an open mouth, said container body being formed with 1) a first conical sealing surface about the mouth inclined downwardly, inwardly into the product receiving chamber, and 2) catch means associated with the mouth including a catch surface that extends generally perpendicularly to said axis and faces inwardly toward said product receiving chamber, and B. a valve cup which houses the dispensing valve and is mounted in the container body mouth, said valve cup including 1) a skirt having a second outer conical sealing surface shaped and sized to mate with said first conical sealing surface to thereby form a product-tight seal therewith, and latch means for engaging said catch means to retain said valve cup in said container body mouth against the force of pressurized product in said receiving chamber, said latch means comprising a latch surface formed at the margin of minimum radius of said second conical sealing surface, extending outwardly from and generally perpendicularly to said axis and facing outwardly of said product receiving chamber, and 2) a dispenser valve mounting portion, formed with said skirt at the margin of maximum radius of said second conical sealing surface, having an outer surface sloping inwardly, upwardly from said margin of maximum radius of said second conical sealing surface, whereby said catch and latch surfaces are the only interengaging container body and valve cup surfaces that extend generally perpendicularly to said axis, whereby said valve cup may be axially pressed from a one-piece outer mold member without mold parting lines formed on said conical sealing surface of said skirt, and whereby said valve cup can be pressed into said container body mouth to assemble said valve cup and said container body without interference of surfaces extending perpendicular to the axis.
A. a container body, having an axis, which defines a product receiving chamber having an open mouth, said container body being formed with 1) a first conical sealing surface about the mouth inclined downwardly, inwardly into the product receiving chamber, and 2) catch means associated with the mouth including a catch surface that extends generally perpendicularly to said axis and faces inwardly toward said product receiving chamber, and B. a valve cup which houses the dispensing valve and is mounted in the container body mouth, said valve cup including 1) a skirt having a second outer conical sealing surface shaped and sized to mate with said first conical sealing surface to thereby form a product-tight seal therewith, and latch means for engaging said catch means to retain said valve cup in said container body mouth against the force of pressurized product in said receiving chamber, said latch means comprising a latch surface formed at the margin of minimum radius of said second conical sealing surface, extending outwardly from and generally perpendicularly to said axis and facing outwardly of said product receiving chamber, and 2) a dispenser valve mounting portion, formed with said skirt at the margin of maximum radius of said second conical sealing surface, having an outer surface sloping inwardly, upwardly from said margin of maximum radius of said second conical sealing surface, whereby said catch and latch surfaces are the only interengaging container body and valve cup surfaces that extend generally perpendicularly to said axis, whereby said valve cup may be axially pressed from a one-piece outer mold member without mold parting lines formed on said conical sealing surface of said skirt, and whereby said valve cup can be pressed into said container body mouth to assemble said valve cup and said container body without interference of surfaces extending perpendicular to the axis.
2. The aerosol container as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the vertex angle of the conical container body sealing surface is substantially equal to the vertex angle of the conical valve cup sealing surface.
3. The aerosol container as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said catch means is an annular member formed at the inner margin of said conical container body sealing surface, said annular member having a planar, radially outwardly directed surface defining said catch surface formed to engage said latch means.
4. The aerosol container as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said latch means is an annular rabbet associated with said valve cup skirt, said annular rabbet defining a planar, radially outwardly directed surface defining said latch surface formed to engage said catch means.
5. The aerosol container as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said valve cup is also formed with a conical cam surface associated with said latch means for camming said valve cup skirt into said container body mouth when said container body and valve cup are assembled.
6. The aerosol container as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said valve cup skirt is also formed with an annular groove which underlies said valve cup conical sealing surface.
7. The aerosol container as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said container body is formed with an annular groove which underlies said container body conical sealing surface to facilitate container body flexing during container body-valve cup assembly.
8. A method for producing an aerosol container which stores a product under pressure and is equipped with a dispenser valve for dispensing the product, said method comprising the steps of:
A. providing a container which defines a product receiving chamber having an open mouth, and is formed with a conical sealing surface about the mouth inclined upwardly, outwardly from the product receiving chamber and catch means associ-ated with the mouth;
B. producing a valve cup which houses the dis-penser valve in a valve mounting portion, is mountable in the container body mouth, and is formed with a skirt, depending from the valve mounting portion, having a conical sealing surface shaped and sized to mate with the conical container body sealing surface and latch means for engaging the catch means, said producing step comprising steps of:
1) providing a one-piece mold member which defines a single mold cavity configured at least to the external shape of the conical valve cup sealing surface;
2) providing a mandrel member which cooper-ates with the mold member and is con-figured to the internal shape of the valve cup, 3) introducing valve cup forming material between the cooperating mold and mandrel members, 4) curing the valve cup forming material, 5) removing the mandrel member from the valve cup, and 6) stripping the cured valve cup from the mold member by pushing it axially out of the mold member, and C. mounting the valve cup on the container body by pushing the valve cup skirt into the container body mouth until the respec-tive conical sealing surfaces are mated together and the latch means engages the catch means.
A. providing a container which defines a product receiving chamber having an open mouth, and is formed with a conical sealing surface about the mouth inclined upwardly, outwardly from the product receiving chamber and catch means associ-ated with the mouth;
B. producing a valve cup which houses the dis-penser valve in a valve mounting portion, is mountable in the container body mouth, and is formed with a skirt, depending from the valve mounting portion, having a conical sealing surface shaped and sized to mate with the conical container body sealing surface and latch means for engaging the catch means, said producing step comprising steps of:
1) providing a one-piece mold member which defines a single mold cavity configured at least to the external shape of the conical valve cup sealing surface;
2) providing a mandrel member which cooper-ates with the mold member and is con-figured to the internal shape of the valve cup, 3) introducing valve cup forming material between the cooperating mold and mandrel members, 4) curing the valve cup forming material, 5) removing the mandrel member from the valve cup, and 6) stripping the cured valve cup from the mold member by pushing it axially out of the mold member, and C. mounting the valve cup on the container body by pushing the valve cup skirt into the container body mouth until the respec-tive conical sealing surfaces are mated together and the latch means engages the catch means.
9. The method for producing an aerosol container as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said one-piece mold member mold cavity is configured to produce an annular groove that underlies the conical valve cup sealing surface, the annular groove facilitating the stripping step by facilitating flexing of the valve cup skirt.
10. The method of producing an aerosol container as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said one-piece mold member mold cavity and mandrel member are configured to produce a conical cam surface associated with the valve cup latch means, the conical cam surface facilitating the mounting step by producing a radial, inward camming action of the valve cup skirt when the valve cup is pushed into the container mouth.
11. The method for producing an aerosol container as claimed in Claim 8 wherein said one-piece mold member mold cavity is configured to produce an annular rabbet associated with said valve cup skirt, said annular rabbet defining a planar, radially outwardly directed latch surface formed to engage said catch means.
12. A method for producing a valve cup which is mountable on the container body of an aerosol container, the container body defining a product receiving chamber which has an open container mouth and being formed with a conical sealing surface about the mouth inclined upwardly, outwardly of the product receiving chamber and catch means associated with the mouth; the valve cup being formed with a skirt having a conical sealing surface shaped and sized to mate with the conical container body sealing surface and latch means for engaging the catch means, said method comprising the steps of:
A. providing a one-piece mold member which defines a single mold cavity configured at least to the external shape of the mating conical sealing valve cup surface, B. providing a mandrel member which cooperates with the mold member and is configured to define the internal shape of the valve cup, C. introducing valve cup forming material between the cooperating mold and mandrel members, D. curling the valve cup forming material, E. removing the mandrel member from the valve cup, and F. stripping the cured valve cup from the mold member by pushing it axially out of the mold member.
A. providing a one-piece mold member which defines a single mold cavity configured at least to the external shape of the mating conical sealing valve cup surface, B. providing a mandrel member which cooperates with the mold member and is configured to define the internal shape of the valve cup, C. introducing valve cup forming material between the cooperating mold and mandrel members, D. curling the valve cup forming material, E. removing the mandrel member from the valve cup, and F. stripping the cured valve cup from the mold member by pushing it axially out of the mold member.
13. The method for producing an aerosol container as claimed in Claim 12 wherein said one-piece mold member mold cavity is configured to produce an annular groove that underlies the conical valve cup sealing surface, the annular groove facilitating the stripping step by facil-itating flexing of the valve cup skirt.
14. The method of producing an aerosol container as claimed in Claim 12 wherein said one-piece mold member mold cavity and mandrel member are configured to produce a conical cam surface associated with the valve cup latch means, the conical cam surface facilitating mounting of the valve cup in the container body by producing a radial, inward camming action of the valve cup skirt when the valve cup is pushed into the container mouth.
15. The method for producing an aerosol container as claimed in Claim 12 wherein said one-piece mold member mold cavity is configured to produce an annular rabbet associated with said valve cup skirt, said annular rabbet defining a planar, radially outwardly directed latch surface formed to engage said catch means.
16. The aerosol container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said container body includes a top portion having an outer frustoconical surface that, at its minimum radius. encircles said open mouth and wherein said outer surface of said dispenser valve mounting portion of said valve cup is also frustoconical and slopes generally, continuously from said frusto-conical outer surface of said top portion.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US76334077A | 1977-01-28 | 1977-01-28 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1060396A true CA1060396A (en) | 1979-08-14 |
Family
ID=25067550
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA291,067A Expired CA1060396A (en) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-11-16 | Aerosol container construction and production methods |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1060396A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2802061A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2378694A1 (en) |
| GB (2) | GB1564996A (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2126283B (en) * | 1982-09-02 | 1986-03-05 | Bespak Industries Ltd | Improvements in valves for dispensers |
| US4887743A (en) * | 1987-06-10 | 1989-12-19 | Blake William S | Aerosol valve |
| GB9107681D0 (en) * | 1991-04-11 | 1991-05-29 | Unilever Plc | Container |
-
1977
- 1977-11-16 CA CA291,067A patent/CA1060396A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-11-24 GB GB49009/77A patent/GB1564996A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-11-24 GB GB6127/79A patent/GB1564997A/en not_active Expired
- 1977-12-22 FR FR7738819A patent/FR2378694A1/en active Granted
-
1978
- 1978-01-18 DE DE19782802061 patent/DE2802061A1/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE2802061A1 (en) | 1978-08-03 |
| GB1564996A (en) | 1980-04-16 |
| GB1564997A (en) | 1980-04-16 |
| FR2378694B3 (en) | 1980-10-03 |
| FR2378694A1 (en) | 1978-08-25 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4045860A (en) | Method of assembling an aerosol dispenser | |
| US4117951A (en) | Aerosol dispenser liner | |
| CA2270707C (en) | Pump dispenser and method for making same | |
| US4579238A (en) | One-piece moisture-tight safety closure and container | |
| CA1093015A (en) | Plastics barrel | |
| EP1115621B1 (en) | Pressure-openable valve retained with folding elements | |
| US4803031A (en) | Method and apparatus for molding a closure cap | |
| US3144167A (en) | Foamed plastic containier | |
| US4458825A (en) | Plastic container and closure assembly | |
| US3482725A (en) | Closures and methods of making the same | |
| US6439430B1 (en) | Collapsible bag, aerosol container incorporating same and method of assembling aerosol container | |
| US4606474A (en) | Container with plug-fitting lid | |
| US4658976A (en) | Lined plastic closure | |
| US5833085A (en) | Preform and closure for blow molded articles | |
| AU719789B2 (en) | Plastic container component and method of forming the same | |
| EP1131252B1 (en) | Dispensing closures | |
| US3190530A (en) | Thin wall container with thickened rim structure | |
| EP0112103A2 (en) | Screw-type all plastic closure | |
| CZ9902846A3 (en) | Plastic screw top | |
| EP1491456A2 (en) | Flex panel lid or cap and methods of manufacturing thereof | |
| CA2075437A1 (en) | Container with curled tamper-evident band to retain closure | |
| KR101233851B1 (en) | Sealing means for a closure, closure and process | |
| US5454494A (en) | Assembly for dispensing product of pasty fluid consistency without air uptake, including a deformable membrane | |
| US6834772B1 (en) | Packaging | |
| AU759645B2 (en) | Method for filling aerosol containers using large actuator button |