EP0551146B1 - Sprayhead for a spray container for dispensing foam - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a spray head for a spray container for dispensing foam, the spray container having a manually operable dispensing valve in an outlet channel of the spray head and the spray head having a closure element which closes the outlet channel automatically and with a delay relative to the dispensing valve, downstream of the dispensing valve, and the closure element is somewhat mushroom-like is formed, with its stem axially inserted into the outlet channel and in the closed position with the edge of its mushroom head on the edge of the outlet opening of the outlet channel and with a radial projection of the stem against an undercut in the outlet channel, engaging under it.

In a known spray head of this type (US-A 44 37 592), the closure element is opened in front of the dispensing valve and hermetically closed after it. When dispensing foam from an aerosol or spray container (spray can), however, one is interested in the fact that the aerosol product initially contained in liquid form in the spray container does not emerge from the spray head unchecked when the dispensing valve is opened, but initially foams up completely. However, if the closure element opens in front of the dispensing valve, the aerosol liquid can at least partially emerge before it is fully foamed. Furthermore, one is also interested in not letting the foam emerge unchecked, because it has been shown that a foam that emerges when braked has a higher foam strength. If, on the other hand, the closure element hermetically closes, the product residue remaining between the dispensing valve and the outlet opening can re-foam in the closed outlet channel and, if appropriate, open the closure element again under the pressure of the foam, so that foam continues to flow out.

The invention has for its object to provide a spray head of the generic type, in which the emerging foam has a higher strength and an outflow of foam is avoided after closing the closure element.

According to the invention this object is achieved in that the opening of the closure element is delayed compared to the opening of the dispensing valve and the closure element in its closed position allows gases but no liquids to escape, and that at least the mushroom head consists of an elastically flexible material.

With this solution, the delayed-opening closure element initially acts like a foam outlet brake, so that the foam strength is increased. Due to the non-hermetic closing and the still possible gas outlet, after-foaming and outflow of foam is avoided at the same time. The edge of the mushroom head bends under the pressure of the foam delayed away from the edge of the outlet opening of the outlet channel in order to expose the outlet of the foam. After the dispensing valve is closed, the edge of the mushroom head moves with a delay due to its inherent elasticity decreasing pressure of the foam back to the closed position.

The outlet channel can be divided into a first section and a second section which can be plugged together and has the closure element. Here, the first section can form the conventional outlet channel, into which the second section can simply be inserted in the desired configuration.

Fig. 1

einen Axialschnitt durch einen Sprühkopf in der Schließstellung, der keine beanspruchte Ausführungsform darstellt, sondern der Erläuterung der Wirkungsweise und des Aufbaus des erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsbeispiels nach den Fig. 3 und 4 dient,

Fig. 2

den Sprühkopf nach Fig. 1 in der Öffnungsstellung,

Fig. 3

einen Axialschnitt durch einen Aufsatz eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Sprühkopfes mit zugehörigem Verschlußelement in Explosionsdarstellung und

Fig. 4

den Aufsatz nach Fig. 3 bei eingesetztem Verschlußelement in der Schließstellung.

The invention and its developments are described below with reference to drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

3 shows an axial section through a spray head in the closed position, which does not represent a claimed embodiment, but serves to explain the mode of operation and the structure of the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4,

Fig. 2

1 in the open position,

Fig. 3

an axial section through an attachment of an embodiment of a spray head according to the invention with associated closure element in an exploded view and

Fig. 4

3 with the closure element inserted in the closed position.

1 and 2 consists of an actuating attachment 1 for a (not shown) dispensing valve of a spray container for dispensing foam with an approximately mushroom-shaped closure attachment 2 in cross section, into which a closure element 3 in the form of a mushroom head is inserted in a snap fit, and a protective hood 4.

The actuating attachment 1 has a vertical outlet pipe 5, which forms a first section of an outlet channel 6 and into which a pipe socket 7 of the closure cap 2 is inserted, the pipe socket 7 forming a second section of the outlet channel 6. Here, the outlet pipe 5 and the pipe socket 7 are held tightly together in the frictional engagement. The axially lower section of the outlet tube 5 forms a socket 8 for receiving the outlet end of an outlet tube of the outlet valve. The outlet channel 6 is partially blocked by a baffle 9 extending transversely therein, on which the aqueous aerosol liquid released from the spray container can initially foam.

The upper wall 10 of the actuating attachment 1 is connected in one piece only on one side (in FIG. 1) of the outlet pipe 5 to the upper edge of a radially outer peripheral wall 11 of the actuating attachment 1 which can be snapped onto the upper edge of the spray container. The wall 10 is made of flexible material. Therefore, by depressing one of the connection points between the walls 10 and 11 diametrically opposite actuating step 12, pressure can be exerted on the dispensing tube of the dispensing valve which engages in the socket 8. The dispensing valve is opened by depressing the dispensing tube, which at the same time forms a closure part of the dispensing valve.

The closure element 3 is shaped like a mushroom and axially inserted into the outlet channel 6 with its stem 13. The handle 13 has a radial projection 14 in the form of a circumferential bead, which engages under an undercut 15, which is also formed by a bead protruding radially inwards in the outlet channel 6. In the closed position of the closure element 3 shown in FIG. 1, this lies with the edge 16 of its mushroom head 17 on the edge 18 of the outlet opening of the outlet channel 6. In the closed position, the radial projection 14 has an axial distance d from the undercut 15, through which the stroke of the closure element 3, which is made of rigid material, is determined and limited. Axial through channels 19 penetrate the radial projection 14 up to the upper side of the projection forming the undercut 15. The mushroom head 17 of the closure element 3 is sunk largely flush in an axial recess 20 in the mushroom-like extension of the closure attachment 2.

When the actuation stage 12 is depressed and the dispensing valve is opened, the contents of the container flow under the pressure of a propellant via the dispensing valve and its dispensing tube against the baffle wall 9, from which it is redirected with foaming into the outlet pipe 5 and the pipe socket 7. Here it meets the closing element 3, which takes up the closed position according to FIG. 1, whereby this is raised against its gravity (or its weight) under the pressure of the foam, delayed into the open position according to FIG. 2, and acts like a foam outlet brake. This "braked" exit of the foam increases its strength.

As soon as the pressure is released from the actuation button 12, the dispensing valve closes, while the closure element 3 continues to maintain the open position under the pressure of the foam.

In the upright position of the spray container and accordingly the vertical position of the outlet channel 6, the closure element 3 now sinks back into the closed position when the foam pressure decreases. Alternatively, the closure element 3 can also be manually stripped of the leaked Foam are pushed back into the closed position. In the closed position, gas can continue to escape through the non-hermetically sealed closing gap between the closure element 3 and the closure attachment 2, while the foam or liquid which forms in the outlet channel 6 is retained and at the same time it is prevented that the product residue remaining in the outlet channel can change under air access .

3 and 4 show a modified closure attachment 2a, which can be used together with the actuating attachment 1 and in which the likewise mushroom-shaped closure element 3a is not rigid, but is made of an elastically flexible material. The through-channels 19a are not formed in the stem 13a, but in a conically widening part of the pipe socket 7a. Accordingly, the radial projection 14a of the stem 13a is continuous in the circumferential direction and the undercut 15a is interrupted in the circumferential direction by the through channels 19a. The projection 14a has no axial distance from the undercut 15a, but is constantly in contact with it.

When the dispensing valve is opened, the closure element 3a is therefore not raised, but rather only its edge 16 is bent axially upward by the pressure of the foam, and in this way the closure element 3a is brought into the open position (not shown) with a delay. After the dispensing valve is closed, the opening edge 16 is bent back again until it rests against the edge 18 due to its return spring force and brought into the closed position. The opening and closing of the closure element 3a is therefore also delayed compared to the opening and closing of the dispensing valve.

Instead of circular closure elements in plan view, as shown, polygonal, e.g. quadrangular, closure elements and correspondingly adapted actuating attachments with the same design, as shown, can be provided.

Claims (2)

1. A spray head for a spray container for dispensing foam, wherein the spray container has a manually actuable dispensing valve in a discharge passage (6) of the spray head and downstream of the dispensing valve the spray head has a closure element (3a) which closes the discharge passage (6) automatically and with a delay relative to the dispensing valve and the closure element (3a) is of an approximately mushroom-like shape, is inserted with its stem (13a) axially into the discharge passage (6) and in the closure position bears with the edge (16) of its mushroom head (17) against the edge (18) of the discharge opening of the discharge passage (6) and with a radial projection (14a) of the stem (13a) against an undercut configuration (15a) in the discharge passage (6), engaging under said undercut configuration, characterised in that opening of the closure element (3a) is delayed relative to opening of the dispensing valve and in its closed position the closure element (3a) allows gases but no liquids to escape, and that at least the mushroom head (17) comprises elastically flexible material.
2. A spray head according to claim 1 characterised in that the discharge passage (6) is subdivided into a first portion (5) and a second portion (7a) which can be fitted together with the first portion and which has the closure element (3a).

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