EP1516829B1 - Spray head for an aerosol container - Google Patents

Abstract

The spray head (1) for an aerosol can (2) has a capillary (4) which from the inlet end (5) to the outlet end (6) extends in a curve (7) of about 90 degrees. The spray head also has a push rod (16) for a female fluid outlet valve (3), and the capillary extends into the push rod. The spray head has a holder for the push rod of a male outlet valve, and the capillary extends up to the holder. The inside diameter of the capillary lies preferably between 0.2 mm and 1.0 mm, and the length of the capillary is preferably between 25 mm and 50 mm. An independent claim is included for an aerosol can with the proposed spray head.

Description

The invention relates to a spray head for an aerosol container with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

document WO 03/051522 discloses a spray head according to the preamble of claim 1.

The spray head, has the peculiarity that the spraying of the fluid takes place nozzle-free. The fluid is introduced under high pressure into a capillary with a very small diameter and passed in the capillary to an outlet end and sprayed therefrom nozzle-less. It is essential that the use of a capillary for this form of spraying a liquid causes the liquid also low in solvent and thus can be sprayed "dry" in the subjective sense. This novel spraying of low-solvent liquid is now called "LoFlo". Characteristic of this is not only that the liquid that is sprayed is sprayed low in solvent, but that the spraying can also be done with a relatively low propellant gas content. In detail, may on the WO 03/051522 A2 which provides comprehensive information on this spraying by means of a capillary. In particular, volume and volume ratios in the capillary system have been treated there. There are also extensive examples of all sorts of liquids that can be sprayed with this system. In that regard, the disclosure content of this prior publication is also made by reference to the disclosure of the present patent application.

In the known spray head, from which the invention proceeds, the capillary extends straight from the inlet end to the outlet end, which also corresponds to the usual orientation of a capillary. As a capillary you can use here metal tube, plastic tube or glass tube.

Spray heads for aerosol containers have been known per se for decades in an unmanageable abundance of embodiments, to which only a few examples are to be mentioned (US Pat. EP 0 409 497 A1 . US 5,388,730 A . US Pat. No. 3,848,778 ). In classical spray heads is a non-acting as a capillary tube for transporting the liquid to be sprayed in the spray head. At the At the end of this tube is a spray nozzle, which causes the manner of spraying the liquid. In this case, the pressure buildup for the spraying of the liquid takes place at the nozzle, retroactively so in the tube. The fluid dynamic relationships here are completely different than in the spray head with a capillary for nozzle-free spraying of the fluid from which the invention proceeds.

However, it is essential in the known spray heads for aerosol containers used in millions that the discharge direction of the fluid for spraying is approximately at right angles to the axial fluid exit direction defined by the usual female or male fluid outlet valve on the aerosol container. This has to do with handling. An operator holds the fluid container (can) of the aerosol container with three fingers and the thumb and presses with his index finger from the top of the spray head to actuate the fluid outlet valve of the aerosol container. This is usually a normal seat valve or stem valve, which has also been known for decades in a variety of variants. Depressing the spray head by finger pressure from above to open the fluid exit valve prohibits axial fluid leakage and dictates a substantially perpendicularly directed fluid exit.

In known classical spray heads aerosol containers are used with conventional fluid outlet valves. Conventional fluid outlet valves for aerosol canisters have a spring-loaded valve body which can be pressed downwards into the open position against the bias by the valve spring. This occurs in a female fluid outlet valve by a valve stem of the spray head entering into a receptacle at the upper end of a valve carrier. In a male fluid outlet valve, an upwardly projecting valve stem is part of the valve body. The spray head has a corresponding receptacle for this valve lifter. The depression of the valve stem opens the fluid outlet valve.

A spray head for an aerosol container with an untypical fluid outlet valve is known (US Pat. US 2,592,808 A ). Here the fluid outlet valve is part of the spray head. This spray head itself has a down into the fluid container in reaching immersion tube, in which a capillary far into the Fluid tank extends into it. The capillary itself, together with a sliding guide, represents the fluid outlet valve. In the spray head, the capillary is arranged running from the inlet end to the outlet end in an arc of approximately 90 °, whereby the curved path is ensured by interlocking external and internal guides. This construction is generally not suitable for aerosol containers with conventional fluid outlet valves.

The teaching is based on the problem, the known spray head with capillary for an aerosol container with a conventional fluid outlet valve in such a way and further develop that the typical operation of known spray heads can also be realized here.

The above-indicated problem is solved in a spray head with the features of the preamble of claim 1 by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

It is essential that the spray head itself provides the guide to force the capillary, which in itself has an elongated, straight shape, in the necessary arc to realize the correct orientation of the outlet end of the capillary. In this case, the spray head is an independent component which ends in a conventional female fluid outlet valve in a valve stem into which the capillary extends, ends in a conventional male fluid outlet valve in a receptacle in which extends the capillary.

Preferred embodiments and further developments of the teaching according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

Of particular importance is also the exact dimensioning of the capillary, which is described in claim 4.

Of particular importance is also the embodiment of claim 6, which ensures a closed leadership of the capillary at least on the inside or on the outside.

Finally, it is particularly preferred that the capillary is embodied in one piece as mentioned in claim 12.

The invention also relates to an aerosol container having a fluid container and a fluid outlet valve attached thereto on the top side and closing the fluid container and having a spray head mounted on the fluid container with the features of one or more of the claims relating to the spray head.

Fig. 1

im Schnitt ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Sprühkopfes für ein weibliches Fluidaustrittsventil am Aerosolbehälter,

Fig. 2

ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Sprühkopfes, nunmehr für ein männliches Fluidaustrittsventil, ansonsten wie Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Sprühkopfes, hier für ein weibliches Fluidaustrittsventil, gleichzeitig der Aerosolbehälter mit angedeutet,

Fig. 4

einen zweiteiligen, erfindungsgemäßen Sprühkopf im Schnitt,

Fig. 5

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Sprühkopfes in einer prinzipiellen Darstellung,

Fig. 6

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Sprühkopfes mit einer integrierten, vom Sprühkopf selbst gebildeten Kapillare in auseinander gezogener Darstellung,

Fig. 7

den Sprühkopf aus Fig. 6 in zusammengesetzter Darstellung,

Fig. 8

eine Ansicht des Sprühkopfs aus Fig. 7 von links in Fig. 7 und

Fig. 9

einen Ausschnitt der Darstellung aus Fig. 8 mit einer anderen Kontur der integral ausgeformten Kapillare.

Moreover, the teaching and its preferred embodiments and further developments will be explained and described below in connection with the explanation of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawing. In the drawing shows

Fig. 1

in section a first embodiment of a spray head according to the invention for a female fluid outlet valve on the aerosol container,

Fig. 2

an embodiment of a spray head according to the invention, now for a male fluid outlet valve, otherwise as Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

a further embodiment of a spray head according to the invention, here for a female fluid outlet valve, at the same time the aerosol container indicated,

Fig. 4

a two-part, spray head according to the invention in section,

Fig. 5

a further embodiment of a spray head according to the invention in a schematic representation,

Fig. 6

a further embodiment of a spray head according to the invention with an integrated, formed by the spray head itself capillary in exploded view,

Fig. 7

the spray head off Fig. 6 in composite representation,

Fig. 8

a view of the spray head Fig. 7 from the left in Fig. 7 and

Fig. 9

a section of the presentation Fig. 8 with a different contour of the integrally formed capillary.

The in Fig. 1 Spray head 1 according to the invention shown in a first embodiment is intended and suitable for placement on an aerosol container. Such is, for example, in Fig. 3 with implied. Moreover, the state of the art here is full of suggestions.

The aerosol container has a fluid outlet valve 3, which defines an axial fluid outlet direction A. Provided here is a conventional fluid outlet valve 3, either a conventional female fluid outlet valve 3 with a receptacle for a valve lifter, which is then arranged on the spray head 1, or a male fluid outlet valve 3 with a valve lifter, which is associated with a recording on the spray head. For this, too, reference may be made to the state of the art, in particular the WO 03/051522 A2 , the US Pat. No. 3,848,778 for a conventional male fluid outlet valve 3 and for example the DE 201 16 335 U1 for a common female fluid outlet valve. Such a spray head is used for spraying a liquid, preferably a low-solvent liquid here, and uses a capillary 4 for conducting and for nozzle-free spraying of the liquid-the fluid. The inlet end 5 of the capillary 4, when the spray head 1 is placed on the aerosol container 2, axially adjoins the fluid outlet valve 3. By depressing the spray head 1 against the aerosol container 2, the fluid outlet valve 3 is opened and fluid enters under high pressure in the capillary 4 at the inlet end 5, then flows at low pressure, the pressure drop when entering is decisive, in the capillary 4, builds in it a corresponding flow path and finally exits at the outlet end 6 of the capillary 4 as a spray of finely divided droplets selectable droplet size and size distribution. In detail may be referred to the explanation of the phenomena occurring here on the WO 03/051522 A2 ,

For the invention is now essential that the capillary 4 in the spray head 1 from the inlet end 5 to the outlet end 6 in an arc 7, preferably in one Arc of about 90 °, extending arranged. In the illustrated embodiment, it is thus so that the arc 7 of the capillary 4 is about 90 °, in the illustrated embodiment exactly 90 °, in the embodiment of Fig. 3 a little less than 90 °. The spray head 1 provides the means to force the capillary 4 in this sheet 7, which otherwise has itself or a stretched, straight shape or would like to take.

The arc shape of the capillary 4 in the spray head 1 can be realized in various ways and ways. This will be explained in more detail for the individual embodiments.

First, one will choose for the material of the spray head 1 is preferably a plastic material as known from practice for spray heads of the type in question for a long time. Furthermore, it would be advisable to manufacture the capillary 4 from a material which can be guided in an arc 7, in particular made of metal, or, preferably, and also here predominantly provided, from plastic. It should be taken into account what has been explained in the introduction to the pressure reduction before the capillary 4. In the capillary 4 itself no excessively high pressure prevails, so that an embodiment of the capillary 4 made of plastic is practically possible without further notice.

For the inner diameter of the capillary 4, the dimensions known from the prior art, ie dimensions between about 0.1 mm and about 2.0 mm, preferably about 0.2 mm and about 1.0 mm, are recommended. The length of the capillary 4 is in some connection to the inner diameter of the capillary 4 and should be about 10 mm to about 100 mm, preferably about 25 mm to about 50 mm. Typical for the course in a conventional spray head is a length of the capillary 4 of about 30 mm to about 40 mm.

The system provided for a spray head 1 for a female fluid outlet valve 3 on the aerosol container 2 shows in FIG Fig. 1 a lower part 8 which can be latched onto the - indicated - aerosol container 2, but a limited movable upper part 9, which is latched onto the lower part 8 of the spray head 1, and the capillary 4, which is above at the inlet end 5 in the lower part 8, and there over a considerable Route, and at the outlet end 6 between the lower part 8 and the upper part 9 of the spray head 1 is held, but between in the sheet 7 is exposed. In fact, by the snapping of the upper part 9 on the lower part 8, the capillary 4 in in Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment brought at the outlet end 6 in its holding position and fixed there.

Both parts of the spray head 1 are made of plastic and, as already explained, clipped together.

This in Fig. 2 illustrated embodiment shows the same basic construction as in Fig. 1 with the same parts. The only difference is that the capillary 4 is arranged here in a spray head 1 for a male fluid outlet valve 3 with upwardly projecting stem valve.

Fig. 3 shows a slightly different type of embodiment, which can first recognize the spray head 1 fixed to the aerosol container 2. In addition, you can see here details of the female fluid outlet valve 3 shown here. It can be seen a valve carrier 10 with a valve chamber 11 and a valve spring 12 disposed thereon, the valve body 13 in Fig. 3 pushes up into a closed position. Right on the valve carrier 10, a riser 14 is arranged, which can dip, for example, via a not shown, there connectable dip tube into the liquid reservoir in the aerosol container 2. At the upper end of the riser 14 is a passage 15 which can be brought in slightly downwardly pressed valve body 13 with the inlet end 5 of the capillary 4 in connection. The capillary 4 itself is located with its inlet end 5 in a valve stem 16 which is part of the spray head 1 in this embodiment. When placing the spray head 1 on the aerosol container 2, the valve stem 16 is coupled to the valve carrier 10.

The embodiment shown here is characterized in that the spray head 1 has a desired arc curve of the capillary 4 corresponding outer guide 17 and that the sheet 7 of the capillary 4 is guided on the outer guide 17 fitting.

It can be seen at the top of the spray head 1 left a holder 18, in which the outlet end 6 of the capillary 4 just enters and is fixed there. Otherwise, will the arc 7 of the capillary 4 defined by the outer guide 17, which is predetermined by the spray head 1 itself. The spray head 1 is here made in one piece of plastic and firmly connected to the valve stem 16. When the spray head 1 as a whole is pressed down against the aerosol container 2, the fluid outlet valve 3 opens and the spraying of the fluid takes place via the capillary 4. The outer guide 17 in the spray head 1 guides and bends the capillary 4 into its desired arcuate orientation during the spray head 1 is placed on the aerosol container 2 and the valve stem 16 is inserted into the receiving socket 19 at the upper end of the valve carrier 10.

In principle, it is also possible and sometimes particularly expedient that the spray head 1 has a desired arc of the capillary 4 corresponding inner guide 20 and the sheet 7 of the capillary 4 is guided on the inner guide 20 fitting. This also leads to a controlled arcuate guidance of the capillary 4, which thus does not uncontrollably bend near the inlet end 5 or the outlet end 6, which would ruin the function.

In Fig. 4 the spray head 1 forms an outer guide 17 and an inner guide 20th

Not shown in the drawing is an alternative, which is characterized in that the outer guide 17 and the inner guide 20 are connected to a closed channel with each other and the capillary 4 is inserted into the channel. Such threading the capillary 4, which should preferably be made of plastic so far, of course, is technically complex and therefore will be realized only in exceptional cases.

This in Fig. 4 illustrated embodiment shows another variant, which also leads to an outer guide 17 and an inner guide 20 for the capillary 4. Here it is provided that the spray head 1 is made in two parts and at the upper part 9, the outer guide 17 and the lower part 8, the inner guide 20 has. Fig. 4 shows the composite spray head 1 of such an embodiment with the capillary 4 arranged thereon. It can be seen the trough-like inner guide 20 at a quarter-circle-shaped rib 21, which is formed on a disc-like base plate 22, which in turn carries the valve stem 16 at the bottom. Fig. 4 shows the assembly including a guide rib 23. The entire spray head 1 consists in both parts 8, 9 made of plastic. It can be seen in the upper part 9 an outlet opening 24, from which the atomized from the outlet end 6 of the capillary 4 fluid flow can escape undisturbed. Furthermore, it can be seen that here the upper part 9 with a foot part 9 'is made in one piece, which is placed on the edge of an aerosol container 2.

This in Fig. 5 illustrated embodiment realized the arcuately guided capillary 4 in a very different way than the previously described embodiments.

At the in Fig. 5 illustrated embodiment, it is provided that the spray head 1 is made in two parts and the two parts 25 are formed like a half-shell and connected to the common formation of outer guide 17 and inner guide 20. Here is a lateral, half-shell-like composition of the spray head 1 to form the necessary bowing for the capillary. 4

Both in the parts 8, 9 (lower part / upper part) and in the parts 25, one can realize the connection of the parts in different ways, for example by gluing, clipping, welding, locking, screwing, tapping or other technically meaningful way , The parts 8, 9 of the embodiment Fig. 4 will be locked. The parts 25 of the embodiment Fig. 5 are zapped together like out Fig. 5 recognizable.

From a manufacturing point of view, it would be advisable to connect the parts 8, 9, but also the parts 25 of the spray head 1, if this is made of plastic, to one another via a hinge, in particular a film hinge, and, in particular, as one piece, ie in one piece to produce a technical shape.

This in Fig. 3 Although illustrated embodiment shows that the capillary 4 is made here in several pieces, namely located in the valve stem 16 Part of the capillary 4 is separated from the arcuately guided in the arc 7 part of the capillary 4. In any case, the capillary 4, einstükkig or more pieces, extends to the lower edge of the valve stem 16, the part of the spray head 1 is particularly preferred. As a result, an immediate transition from the fluid outlet valve 3 is ensured in the capillary 4.

In contrast, shows Fig. 2 a variant which is characterized in that the spray head 1 has a receptacle 26 for a valve stem 16 of a male fluid outlet valve 3 and the capillary 4 extends to the receptacle 26. A male fluid outlet valve 3 has an upwardly projecting, not shown in this drawing valve stem. This is a typical embodiment of an aerosol container 2. With this configuration, the spray head 1 may even be attached to the aerosol container 2 by attaching the receptacle 26 of the spray head 1 to the upwardly projecting valve stem of the fluid outlet valve 3 of the aerosol container 2. Such a spray head 1 can be quickly removed from the fluid outlet valve 3 of the aerosol container 2 and replace, for example, against another spray head 1, which may have a capillary 4 with other inner diameter. This is more expedient in terms of this interchangeability than an attachment of the spray head 1 itself on the aerosol container 2.

Not shown in the drawing, another alternative, which is characterized in that the spray head 1 in any case in the region of the capillary 4 is made in one piece and the capillary 4 is integrally formed as a curved channel in the spray head 1. As a result, the capillary 4 is an integral part of the spray head 1, so need not be provided as a separate component.

Fig. 6 to 9 show an embodiment that takes up the above thought, but modified. Here it is envisaged that the spray head 1 is made of several parts, preferably two parts and the capillary 4 is integrally formed by sealingly interlocking positive engagement formations 27, 28 of the parts 8, 9 in the spray head 1. The form-locking formation 27 on the lower part 8 is a form-fitting rib, the form-locking formation 28 on the upper part 9, like Fig. 8 in section shows a form-locking groove. If the fit of the two is sufficiently narrow, the capillary 4 results completely in-between Fig. 8 it is a square cross-section capillary 4, Fig. 9 shows a variant that leads to a total of circular cross-section capillary 4. Again, this is particularly useful with a spray head 1, which is made of plastic.

The invention also relates to an aerosol container 2, which has a conventional fluid container 2 with a conventional, male or female fluid outlet valve 3 attached thereto on the upper side and closing the fluid container 2. On the fluid container 2 sits a spray head 1, which is designed according to the teachings of the invention explained in detail above.

Claims (16)

1. Spray head
   for an aerosol container (2) closed by a conventional fluid outlet valve (3), wherein the fluid outlet valve (3) serves for spraying a liquid - fluid - from the aerosol container (2) and defines an axial fluid outlet direction (A),
   having a capillary (4) for conducting and nozzle-free spraying of the fluid, comprising an inlet end (5) and an outlet end (6),
   wherein the inlet end (5) of the capillary (4) is axially connected to the fluid outlet valve (3) with the spray head (1) being attached to the aerosol container (2), and the outlet end (6) of the capillary (4) is open toward the environmental atmosphere,
   characterized in
   that the capillary (4) is arranged in the spray head (1) from the inlet end (5) to the outlet end (6) at an arch (7) extending about 90°, and that the spray head (1) also comprises a tappet (16) for a typically female fluid outlet valve (3), and the capillary (4) extends up into the tappet (16), or
   that the spray head (1) has a receptacle (26) for a tappet (16) of a typically male fluid outlet valve (3), and the capillary (4) extends up to the receptacle (26).
2. Spray head according to claim 1, characterized in that the spray head (1) consists of plastic material.
3. Spray head according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the capillary (4) consists of metal, or preferably of plastic material.
4. Spray head according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the interior diameter of the capillary (4) is between about 0.1 mm and about 2.0 mm, preferably between about 0.2 mm and about 1.0 mm, at a length of the capillary of about 10 mm to about 100 mm, preferably of about 25 mm to about 50 mm.
5. Spray head according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the capillary (4) is held at the inlet end (5) and at the outlet end (6) in Spray head (1), and is exposed there between in the arch (7).
6. Spray head according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the spray head (1) has an outer guide (17) and/or an inner guide (20) corresponding to the desired course of the arch of the capillary (4), and the arch (7) of the capillary (4) is guided on the outer guide (17) and/or on the inner guide (20) in a contacting manner.
7. Spray head according to claim 6, characterized in that the outer guide (17) and the inner guide (20) are connected with each other to form a closed channel, and the capillary (4) is pushed into the channel.
8. Spray head according to claim 6, characterized in that the spray head (1) is embodied in a multi-part, preferably a two-part manner, and comprises the outer guide (17) on the upper part (9), and/or the inner guide (20) on the lower part (8).
9. Spray head according to claim 6, characterized in that the spray head (1) is embodied in a two-part manner, and the two parts (25) are embodied in the manner of semi shells, and are connected with each other for the mutual formation of the outer guide (17) and the inner guide (20).
10. Spray head according to claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the parts (8, 9; 25) are glued, clipped, welded, latched, mortised, screwed, or otherwise connected to each other.
11. Spray head according to one of the claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the parts (8, 9; 25) are connected to each other via a hinge, particularly an integral hinge, and are particularly produced in one piece.
12. Spray head according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the capillary (4) is embodied in one piece.
13. Spray head according to one of the claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the capillary (4) is embodied in multiple pieces.
14. Spray head according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the spray head (1) is embodied in one piece in the area of the capillary (4), and the capillary (4) is integrally formed as an arch-shaped channel in the spray head (1).
15. Spray head according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the spray head (1) is embodied in multiple parts, preferably in two parts, and the capillary (4) is integrally formed in the spray head (1) by means of positive fitting designs (27, 28) of the parts (8, 9) engaging into each other in a sealing manner.
16. Aerosol container having a fluid container (2), and a common fluid outlet valve (3) attached at the upper side thereof and closing the fluid container (2), and having a spray head (1),
    characterized in
    that the spray head (1) is embodied according to one of the claims 1 to 15.

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