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
  • B65D83/48—Lift valves, e.g. operated by push action

Definitions

• This invention relates to a valve for a pressurized package commonly referred to as an aerosol package.
• Aerosol packages usually comprise a valve unit situated in the neck of the container which is opened by finger pressure against an actuator disposed at one terminus of a valve stem.
• the valve unit has a movable valve body and associated hollow valve stem which unseats from a gasket, thereby permitting flow of product into a hollow valve stem (product conduit) .
• valve stem With certain products, e.g. paints, it is desirable that the valve stem be separable from the valve body in order to clean the product conduit should drying and resultant clogging occur.
• the valve stem at one end, is molded integral to the valve actuator to thereby permit its separation from the valve body by pulling on the actuator.
• the valve stem mates with a movable valve body situated beneath a resilient gasket, the valve stem being passed through a central opening in the resilient gasket. The gasket seals the product discharge orifice in the valve stem when the valve is in a closed position. By depressing the valve stem, the product orifice in the stem is open to flow of product from the container.
• the aforedescribed aerosol valve comprises a container closure, commonly called a mounting cup, which is clinched to the container bead.
• a valve housing having a resilient gasket disposed atop thereof, which gasket forms a seal between the valve housing and the mounting cup.
• a reciprocable valve closing/opening member comprising a valve body and valve stem, which body and stem have communicating passages for egress of the pressurized product to a discharge orifice situated in a finger depressible actuator.
• the central opening of the gasket seals radially against the product orifice in the valve stem.
• a "female" aerosol valve having a moveable, gasketed valve body-valve stem located within a valve housing.
• the valve body has at least one upstanding wall defining a recess in the valve body with a slot extending from the top shoulder of the upstanding wall. The slot provides communication with the interior of the container when the valve is actuated.
• the valve stem has a longitudinal opening therethrough and a member that frictionally and releasably engages within the valve body recess.
• the valve stem also has an orifice aligned with the longitudinal opening of the valve stem and which communicates at one end with the slot in the recess of the valve body and at the other end with the orifice in the valve stem.
• the central opening of the gasket seals the slot defined by the upstanding wall of the valve body when the valve is in a closed position.
• the present invention improves upon the design of U.S. Patent No. 5,027,985 and is also adapted for use as a tilt valve.
• the aerosol valve unit of the present invention comprises a mounting cup, a gasket having a central opening, a valve housing, a valve stem and a valve body, wherein the valve stem and valve body move within the valve housing in response to pressure on the valve stem.
• the valve body comprises a cylindrical wall defining a recess in the valve body.
• the cylindrical wall has at least one thin region extending from a top shoulder of the wall, the thin region and the cylindrical wall defining a slot beneath the thin region. The slot communicates with the interior of the container when the valve is actuated.
• the valve stem of the present invention comprises an inner cylindrical portion that frictionally and releasably engages within the valve body recess.
• the valve stem has a longitudinal opening and an orifice aligned with the longitudinal opening of the valve stem.
• the orifice communicates at one end with the slot in the recess of the valve body and at the other end with the longitudinal opening in the valve stem.
• the central opening of the gasket seals the slot when the valve is in a closed position.
• the valve body has a lower portion and the valve body is tapered inwardly toward its lower portion.
• the valve housing has an upper portion and the valve housing is tapered outward toward the upper portion.
• the valve body has an annular shoulder portion which engages the gasket when the valve is not actuated.
• the shoulder can be at least partially disengaged from the gasket by vertical or tilt actuation of an actuator button, allowing product to pass over the portion of the shoulder disengaged from the gasket, into the valve body and valve stem for discharge.
• valve stem further comprises a lower cylindrical portion with a pair of tangential openings, the lower cylindrical portion positioned within the valve body such that product enters the valve stem through these tangential openings, causing the mechanical break up of the product.
• FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve of the present invention, in its closed position
• Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve of Figure 1 in an open position
• Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve of Figure 1, opened by tilt activation;
• Figure 4 is a longitudinal partial sectional view of the valve body of the present invention
• Figure 5 is a side view of the valve body of the present invention
• Figure 6 is a perspective partial sectional view of the valve body of the Figures 4-5;
• Figure 7 is a view along line 7-7 of the valve body of Figure 4;
• Figure 8 is a partial sectional view of the valve body-valve stem assembly of the present invention
• Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve stem of the present invention
• Figure 10 is a view along line 10-10 in Figure 9;
• Figure 11 is a perspective view of the valve stem of Figure 9.
• Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of another embodiment of the valve body - valve stem assembly of the present invention.
• FIG 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the aerosol valve of the present invention, in a closed position.
• the mounting cup of the aerosol container shown partially cut away, is generally designated as 10.
• Crimped to the mounting cup 10 is a valve housing 12 and a gasket 14.
• Disposed within the housing 12 is the valve body 16 having a recess 22.
• Figure 4 is a sectional view of the valve body 16, showing the recess 22.
• a valve stem 20 is disposed within the recess 22 of the valve body 16.
• the valve body is biased toward the gasket 14 by a spring 18.
• the lower portion 16a of the valve body 16 is adapted to be engaged by the spring 18.
• valve 16 is preferably inwardly tapered toward the lower portion 16a of the valve body 16 while the interior wall 12a of the valve housing 12 preferably flares outward at its top. This provides space allowing for the rotation of the valve body 16 during tilt activation, which is discussed further, below.
• a conventional dip tube 46 is shown attached to the bottom of the housing 12. Upstanding cylindrical wall 26, shown in
• Figures 5-6 defines the upper portion of the recess 22.
• the top inner edge 26a of the upper cylindrical portion is chamfered to ease insertion of the valve stem 20 into the valve body 16.
• the upstanding cylindrical wall 26 has a thin rectangular region 21a referred to as a thin skin.
• the location of the thin skin 21a is shown in phantom in Figure 5.
• the cross-section of the thin skin 21a is shown in Figure 4; its back portion is shown in Figure 6.
• the thin skin 21a runs from the top shoulder of the cylindrical wall 26, almost to its bottom. Beneath the thin skin 21a is a slot 21 passing through the cylindrical wall 26.
• the slot 21 is defined by the thin skin 21a and the cylindrical wall 26.
• the slot 21 is shown in phantom in Figure 5. See also Figures 4 and 6.
• a second thin skin 21a and slot 21 on the opposite side of the cylindrical wall 26. See Figure 6. More than two slots is not preferred because it can weaken the cylindrical wall 26. These slots 21 allow for the passage of product into the valve body 16, as will be described below. Beneath the slots
• FIG. 21 are grooves 32 in the side wall 22a of the valve body recess 22, shown in Figures 4 and 6, for example.
• Figure 7 is a top view of the valve body along line 7-7 of Figure 4, with the cylindrical wall 26, thin skins 21a and groove
• the upper portion of the tapered valve body ends in an annular shoulder 40 which engages the gasket 14 when the valve is closed, as shown in Figure 1.
• This shoulder 40 is preferably rounded at its top, as shown in Figure 4, to improve the seal with the gasket 14 when the valve is closed, as shown in Figure 1.
• a first annular wall 40a preferably tapered toward the center of the valve body 16.
• the first annular wall 40a intersects a second annular wall 40b which is perpendicular to the cylindrical wall 26. See Figure 7.
• the first and second annular walls 40a, 40b, and the cylindrical wall 26 form an annular recess 40c which directs product towards the slots 21, as described below.
• valve stem 20 is disposed within the recess 22 of the valve body 16, as shown in
• the valve stem 20 as shown in Figure 9, includes an inner cylindrical portion 60 and an outer cylindrical portion 62.
• a longitudinal opening 63 passes through the valve stem 20.
• a lower cylindrical portion 64 depends from the inner cylindrical portion 60.
• the lower cylindrical portion 64 of the valve stem 20 has oppositely positioned tangential openings 66. See Figure 11.
• Figure 10 is a bottom view of the valve stem along line 10-10 of Figure 9, showing the tangential openings 66 in the lower cylindrical portion 64.
• the bottom of the recess 22 of the valve body 16 preferably includes a circumferential groove 52, as shown in Figures 4 and 8, for example.
• the lower cylindrical portion 64 of the valve stem is inserted into the circumferential groove 52, forming a swirl chamber 68.
• the fit between the lower cylindrical portion 64 and circumferential groove 52 forms a tight seal between the valve body 16 and the valve stem 20. Therefore, product can only enter the swirl chamber 68 through the tangential openings 66.
• the portion of the bottom of the recess 22 of the valve body 16 within the circumferential groove 52 forms the bottom 50 of the swirl chamber 68.
• the use of a swirl chamber is preferred for enhanced spray characteristics, particularly with compressed gas propellant, as is described further below.
• FIG 12 shows another embodiment of the present invention, without the swirl chamber.
• the valve body 16 is the same except there is no groove 52.
• the valve stem 20 is the same except there is no lower cylindrical portion 64.
• the valve stem 20 has an orifice 70 above the swirl chamber 68 which, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, acts as a product flow control orifice. Disposing the orifice 70 above the swirl chamber permits product in the valve stem on the discharge side of orifice 70 to back flow into the swirl chamber and thus product is less likely to clog the product passage in the valve stem.
• disposing the orifice 70 on the discharge side of the swirl chamber 68 can also create a residue of propellant in the swirl chamber upon closing of the aerosol valve, which residue will assist in purging the valve stem and actuator product passages of residual product to thereby avoid or reduce clogging.
• the orifice may have a diameter of 13 thousandths of an inch, which can be varied dependent on the product and propellant used. In the embodiment shown in Figure 12, product entering the bottom of the recess 22 of the valve body 16 will enter the valve stem 20 directly through the orifice 70.
• the recess 22 of the valve body 16 includes an annular indentation 54.
• valve stem 20 for engaging the annular indentation 54 of the valve body 16, securing the assembled valve body-valve stem together, as shown in Figure 8.
• the outer cylindrical portion 62 of the valve stem 20 preferably includes an annular flange 80.
• the flange prevents excessive displacement of the gasket during actuation.
• the shape of the annular recess 40c generally conforms to the shape of the flange 80.
• a recess 75 is formed between the inner and outer cylindrical portions 60, 62 of the valve stem 20.
• the recess has an annular shoulder 77 which connects the inner and outer cylindrical portions 60, 62, and against which the arcuate wall 26 bottoms when the valve body 16 and valve stem 20 are in assembled relation.
• the inner edge 82 of the outer cylindrical portion 62 of the valve stem 20 is tapered to ease insertion into the valve body 26.
• An actuator button 85 is mounted on the upper portion of the valve stem 20, as shown in Figure 1.
• An annular rib or barb 87 is formed on the valve stem 20, which rib 87 anchors the valve stem 20 to the actuator button and facilitates removal of the valve stem 20 from the valve body 16.
• a tilt button 88 with an inclined surface 88a may also be provided for tilt actuation, as shown in Figure 3. The inclined surface 88a eases engagement and continued actuation in the tilt position during prolonged use.
• a recess 89 may be provided at the bottom of the tilt button 88 so that the bottom of the button will not interfere with the pedestal of the mounting cup 10 during use.
• the product proceeds out of the swirl chamber 68, through the orifice 70, up the valve stem to the discharge orifice 84 of the actuator button 85.
• the tangential entrances 66 of the swirl chamber 68 impart a circular motion to the discharging product, and force the two product streams into each other. This causes a mechanical breakup of the product. Particles within the product stream are broken up and dissolved and the product stream is energized. This provides for a finer, drier spray.
• the use of a swirl chamber is preferred to enhance spray characteristics, particularly if the propellant used is compressed gas. It is believed that satisfactory spray characteristics can be maintained with a compressed gas propellant as the product is dispensed in periodic use, without the use of vapor taps. Vapor taps can use up the available propellant before the product is fully dispensed.
• valve body 16 and the flared upper section 12a of the valve housing provides space for the rotational movement of the valve body 16 during tilt actuation.
• the container can be packaged as either a conventional or tilt action container.
• An extra button can be included in the packaging to provide for alternative use. The buttons can be easily changed.
• the use of the thin skin enables molding of the valve body without the use of "side action” pins.
• the core pin used in molding the valve body 16 has a pair of extended sections on opposite sides, which decreases the distance between the core pin and the mold cavity. Plastic filling in this region forms the thin skin 21a. Even greater extensions lie beneath the extended sections. These extensions contact the outer wall of the mold cavity, preventing the collection of plastic. The slots are formed in these regions.
• the thin skin is pliable enough after molding to allow for easy removal of the core pin. Therefore, no "side action" pins are required to form the slots 21. As discussed above in the Background of the Invention, "side action” pins can slow the molding process.
• the skin is preferably about 4 thousandths of an inch thick, which allows for easy removal of the core pin and provides sufficient reinforcement during tilt actuation.
• the cylindrical wall 26 is approximately 20 thousandths of an inch thick.
• the slot 21 may be 0.020 inches X 0.020 inches.
• a sub-assembly comprising the valve stem, valve body, spring and gasket is initially made.
• Such a sub-assembly properly orients and maintains the position of the gasket relative to the valve body, thereby enabling rapid assembly of the sub-assembly and other valve components without risk of dislodging the orientation of the gasket to the other components prior to permanent positioning of the gasket through crimping of the valve to the mounting cup.
• the structure in the valve stem-valve body fitment portions that facilitates disposition and positional stabilization of the gasket onto the valve body is best shown in Figure 8.
• the gasket 14 is passed over the outside surface of valve stem 20 and ultimately seated on the annular shoulder 40 of the valve body 16.
• the height of the cylindrical wall 26 is preferably greater than the gasket thickness, to prevent the top shoulder of the cylindrical wall 26 from passing beneath the gasket 14 during pressure filling of the container with propellant.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Nozzles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (3)

Family

ID=24911323

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (13)

Families Citing this family (8)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 1992
  • 1992-06-22 NZ NZ243264A patent/NZ243264A/en unknown
  • 1992-06-24 ZA ZA924652A patent/ZA924652B/xx unknown
  • 1992-06-29 GB GB9213791A patent/GB2257474B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1992-07-01 CN CN92105405A patent/CN1042500C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1992-07-01 MX MX9203871A patent/MX9203871A/es not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1992-07-01 PT PT100649A patent/PT100649B/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1992-07-02 EP EP92916301A patent/EP0592604B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1992-07-02 DE DE69217661T patent/DE69217661T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1992-07-02 ES ES92916301T patent/ES2097920T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1992-07-02 WO PCT/US1992/005586 patent/WO1993001109A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1992-07-02 JP JP50233193A patent/JP3458231B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1992-07-02 AU AU23714/92A patent/AU666126B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1992-07-02 CA CA002112568A patent/CA2112568C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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