EP3363749B1 - Colour marking with integrated spray securing - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a color marking with integrated spray protection for aerosol cans with attachable spray head.

Aerosol cans with attachable spray heads are widely known in the prior art. They are used both in the technical field, for example for construction foams and lacquers, in the artistic field, for example for paints, in the cosmetic field, for example for deodorants, hair sprays or shaving foams, or in the medical field, for example for spray dressings or disinfectants.

The spray device of aerosol cans must be regularly protected against unauthorized or unintended actuation by a spray protection device. Such a safety device is intended on the one hand to prevent unintentional spraying by inadvertently pressing the spray head, but on the other hand to prevent unauthorized spraying, for example as a test before purchase. Unauthorized spraying prior to purchase not only leads to the environment being disturbed or destroyed, for example by smells or colors, but also to the fact that appropriately used products can no longer be sold because they are no longer new and filled accordingly. The financial damage thus includes, in addition to the repair, the replacement of the product used.

Last but not least, the potential buyer should be able to use appropriate measures to distinguish a used from an unused product. This can be done, for example, in a simple manner in that the release of the spray safety device leaves an easily recognizable trace and is irreversible, at least in relation to the original state.

Various solutions are proposed in the prior art to solve this known problem. The US 3,606,106 B proposes, for example, to extend the spray head towards the valve plate by means of a spacer element which is detachably fastened to the spray head in such a way that it is impossible to press the spray head without the irreversible release of the spacer element beforehand.

The EP 0 945 366 B1 describes a spray safety device in which a support arrangement is connected to the valve plate in a non-positive or positive manner by pressing or gluing in such a way that movement of the spray head for actuating the spray valve is blocked by the latter. The support arrangement can only be detached from the valve plate with great effort.

The DE 20 2006 017 045 U1 discloses a spray protection device, the body of which has a central bore for receiving the riser pipe and which can be inserted into the interior of the spray head in a positive and / or non-positive manner.

Another known problem is to provide the aerosol cans, especially if they are filled with lacquers, economically sensible with a color marking corresponding to the can contents. The aim is to produce an aerosol can including the lid and label uniformly for all possible colors and to be able to retrospectively attach a color marking, if necessary.

Corresponding solutions are known in the art, especially in the form of annular collars (also referred to as a donut) are known which are attached to or generally at a location of the dome of the aerosol can is clamped. Such solutions describe, for example DE 2132384 A or the DE 101 26 961 A1 , Various similar suggestions can be found in further applications (e.g. US3133680 ) disclosed.

A disadvantage of the prior art is that the previously known solutions for spray protection and color marking have to be installed in two separate steps during production.

In this respect, it is the object of the present invention to offer an alternative system which does not have the disadvantages mentioned and which also serves as a color marking and as a spray protection.

It is also an object of the invention that the corresponding system can be easily assembled as a workpiece in one step.

Another object of the present invention is to offer a spray fuse, the removal of which leaves irreversible traces and thus serves to identify prior use, but which can be used again at any time to secure the spray head again.

This object is achieved by an invention with the features of claim 1. Advantageous refinements are the subject of the dependent claims. It should be pointed out that the features listed individually in the claims can also be combined with one another in any desired and technologically sensible manner and thus show further refinements of the invention.

A color marking according to the invention with integrated spray protection for aerosol spray cans comprises at least one essentially ring-shaped outer element and one substantially ring-shaped inner element. The elements are arranged concentrically to one another and releasably connected to one another via at least one connecting element.

The ring-shaped outer element essentially serves for attachment and for color marking and comprises a ring body, an inner opening, one inner diameter and an outer diameter. The annular outer element can be positively or non-positively connected to the dome of an aerosol spray can. The connection can be made at the transition between the valve plate and the dome.

In this preferred embodiment, the diameter of the inner opening of the annular outer element is larger than the outer diameter of the valve plate but smaller than the outer diameter of the dome of the can. In this case, the annular outer element comprises at least one latching element which projects into the inner opening and which reduces the diameter of the inner opening in such a way that the diameter of the inner opening of the annular outer element is at least in the region of the latching element so much smaller than the outer diameter of the valve plate, that the ring-shaped outer element can be slipped over the valve plate and the latching element engages below the outer seam between the valve plate and the dome. As a result, the annular outer element can be snapped between the valve plate and the dome. In this embodiment, a plurality of snap-in elements are preferred, in particular three to five snap-in elements, and embodiments are also conceivable in which the snap-in element is designed as a continuous inner projection.

In a further preferred embodiment, the annular outer element comprises a bridging element. The bridging element connects to the inner opening of the ring-shaped outer element and is essentially hollow-cylindrical. The diameter of the inner opening of the bridging element is essentially identical to the diameter of the inner opening of the annular outer element. The bridging element essentially bridges the height of the crimped edge of the valve plate. The annular outer element with the bridging element is preferably manufactured without transition and forms a part of it him the ring body, but there are also conceivable embodiments that are connected in a manner known to those skilled in the art.

In this embodiment with a bridging element, the latching elements can alternatively also extend from the inside of the bridging element and protrude into the inner opening of the bridging element in the manner described above. In this case, the annular outer element is pushed so far over the outer edge of the valve plate until the at least one latching element engages under the edge.

The ring-shaped inner element essentially serves as a spray protection. It is separably connected to the annular outer element via at least one connecting element. The inner element can, but does not have to be able to be inserted into the valve plate in a form-fitting or non-positive manner, since the hold essentially takes place via the connecting elements with the outer element or through the attached spray head.

In a preferred embodiment, the inner element is essentially shaped such that it can be inserted into the valve plate and can accommodate the spray head. For this purpose, the ring-shaped inner element is shaped essentially as a hollow cylinder with an inner and an outer diameter and with a first and a second end. The inner diameter of the hollow cylinder is larger than the outer diameter of the spray head and the outer diameter of the hollow cylinder is smaller than the inner diameter of the valve disk.

The first, lower end of the annular inner element comprises a spacer element which is fixedly connected to the inner element. The inner element and the spacer element are preferably manufactured in one piece. The spacer element is suitable for blocking the trigger path of the spray head for actuating the spray valve in such a way that it is impossible to actuate the spray head successfully without first removing the spacer element and / or the annular inner element. The spacer can be made from individual struts or in the form of a washer as a continuous inward projection.

In a preferred embodiment, the second, upper end of the annular inner element comprises a substantially horizontally outwardly extending, continuous projection which at least partially projects over the upper edge of the valve plate in the direction of the outer annular element and thus the gap between the inner and the outer annular Element reduced at least at these points. The annular inner element is separably connected to the annular outer element via at least one connecting element. An embodiment is preferred in which the second end of the inner element and the upper end of the bridging element end on a level just above the valve plate, so that the connecting elements only bridge a minimally wide gap between these two elements. The connecting elements correspondingly extend from the upper end of the outer element to the projection of the inner element.

An embodiment with a plurality of connecting elements, in particular with three to five connecting elements, is preferred. The connecting elements can also include predetermined breaking points for easier separation. Embodiments are also conceivable in which the two elements are connected to one another essentially continuously above the upper valve plate edge, for example by a further widening of the previously described projection at the upper end of the inner element, which then serves as a connecting element and connects the inner and outer annular element to one another. The projection can then be provided, for example, with a line of weakness or perforation between the two ring-shaped elements for easier separation.

To simplify the separation of the inner element from the outer element, the inner element can comprise a tab or a simple projection, for example as an extension of the already existing projection, at its upper end.

In addition to the reusability of the inner annular element as a spray protection, it is essential for the inventive concept that the annular elements are in any case connected to one another and can be mounted on the spray can in one piece, preferably by latching below the valve plate. For all embodiments, a one-piece production of the color marking according to the invention with integrated spray protection is preferred, even if embodiments are conceivable in which parts of the color marking according to the invention with integrated spray protection can be manufactured individually and then joined together.

According to the idea of the invention, embodiments are also conceivable in which the shape of the inner element is essentially reduced to the shape of a washer, the outer diameter of which is smaller than the inner diameter of the valve plate and the diameter of the inner opening allows insertion into the valve plate. The thickness of a correspondingly reduced inner element then corresponds to the length of the trigger path of the spray head to be blocked. Accordingly, the connecting elements are guided essentially from the outer edge of the inner element to the outer element. In this respect, these connecting elements can also be seen as a reduction in the section of the inner element previously described as a hollow cylinder.

The ring-shaped outer element can also be designed very flexibly. The shape of this outer element can range from a sleeve that more or less completely covers the dome of the spray can to a rather narrow ring, which is essentially only used for fastening.

Since, according to the invention, the outer element also serves for the color marking, a more cuff-shaped configuration of the outer element in the sense of good recognition of the color marking is preferred. However, there are hardly any limits to the individual design of the cuff in the functional framework, in particular not when the outer element is attached essentially by means of the bridging element by snapping in below the valve plate.

The color marking according to the invention with spray protection is essentially installed by attaching it to the spray can, in particular on the dome of the can, while the spray head is not mounted. After installation, the spray head can be attached to the can and in particular to the spray insert without fear of the triggering of the spray valve being triggered since the spray safety device is already installed.

The spray safety device is removed by disassembling the spray head and then separating the inner element from the outer element and removing it from the valve plate. The spray head can then be used again. The spray can is now ready for use. Even if the inner element has been separated from the outer element, it does not lose its functionality as a spray safety device and can be used again at any time to protect the spray by removing the spray head again, inserting the spray safety device and then plugging the spray head back on. Since the connection elements are absolutely destroyed when the spray fuse, i.e. the separation of the inner element from the outer element, is removed for the first time, a new spray can must be distinguished externally from a used spray can based on the undamaged connection elements, in which the connection elements are destroyed.

The invention and the technical environment are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. It should be pointed out that the figures show a particularly preferred embodiment variant of the invention. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiment variant shown. In particular, the invention encompasses, as far as it makes technical sense, any combinations of the technical features that are listed in the claims or described in the description as relevant to the invention.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die Oberseite einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Sprühsicherung.

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die Unterseite einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Sprühsicherung.

Fig. 3

einen Querschnitt durch eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform der Sprühsicherung, montiert auf einer Sprühdose.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of the top of a preferred embodiment of the spray fuse.

Fig. 2

a perspective view of the underside of a preferred embodiment of the spray fuse.

Fig. 3

a cross section through a preferred embodiment of the spray fuse, mounted on a spray can.

Figure 1 shows a top view of a preferred embodiment of the color marking according to the invention with integrated spray protection 1 with an annular outer element 2 and an annular inner element 3, the inner element 3 serving essentially as a spray protection and the outer element 2 serving essentially as a color marking and attachment means , In the preferred embodiment shown, the outer element 2 is subdivided into an outer sleeve 7 and an inner bridging element 6. The sleeve 7 essentially covers the dome of the spray can and serves as a colored marking for identifying the content in the can and in particular its color , Their design is correspondingly flexible in the functional framework and almost free in terms of both the surface design and the edge design, in particular of the outer edge, since the outer edge in the illustrated embodiment has no function as an attachment means and can also be used decoratively.

The bridging element 6 primarily serves to bridge the height of the valve plate from the dome of the can to the upper edge of the valve plate. The at least one connecting element 4 runs between the outer 2 and inner element 3 from the upper edge of the bridging element 6.

In the embodiment shown, the ring-shaped inner element 3 essentially serves as a spray safety device. It is essentially of a hollow cylindrical shape and is suitable for receiving the spray head. At the lower edge of the inner element 3 there is a spacer element 5, which is suitable for blocking the triggering path of the spray head for actuating the valve in such a way that the spray head can be actuated successfully without the prior removal of the annular element is not possible. The spacer element 5 and the inner element 3 are preferably manufactured in one piece.

The upper edge of the inner element 3 can comprise an essentially horizontally outward projection which at least partially covers the upper edge of the valve plate. As a result, the gap between outer 2 and inner element 3 is reduced at the corresponding points. The outer 2 and inner element 3 are connected to one another via at least one connecting element 4, in the preferred embodiment shown via three connecting elements 4. The connecting elements 4 extend from the upper edge of the bridging element 6 to the outer edge of the projection 3a of the inner element 3.

For simple separation of the inner element 3 from the outer element 2, the inner element 3 can have a separation aid 8, preferably at the upper edge. The separation aid 8 can be designed, for example, as an extension of the projection 3a or as a tab.

Figure 2 shows the underside of the preferred embodiment according to Figure 1 , The spacer element 5 can be seen, which blocks the triggering path of the spray head in such a way that the spray valve cannot be triggered by the spray head. Also visible in this view are the snap-in elements 9, which are located at the transition from the sleeve 7 to the bridging element 6 and reduce the inner diameter of the sleeve 7 or bridging element 6 in such a way that the color marking according to the invention with integrated spray protection 1 by snapping the snap-in elements 9 underneath the crimped edge of the valve plate can be snapped onto the spray can. The stability of the annular outer element 2 can be increased by stiffening elements 10.

Figure 3 shows a cross section through a preferred embodiment of the color marking according to the invention with integrated spray fuse 1 mounted on the dome 12 of a spray can 14. The outer annular element 2 comprises a sleeve-shaped section 7, which essentially the dome the spray can 14 and can serve for color marking, and a bridging element 6 which essentially bridges the height of the edge of the valve plate 13 crimped onto the dome 12 from its lower edge to beyond the upper edge. The color marking with integrated spray protection 1 is fixed to the spray can by one or more snap-in elements 9 by snapping it below the crimped edge of the valve plate 13 between valve plate 13 and dome 12. The latching elements 9 can be designed as individual elements or as a continuous projection.

The inner annular element 3 is essentially hollow-cylindrical and comprises at its lower end a spacer 5 which blocks the trigger path of the spray head (not shown) in such a way that the spray valve cannot be triggered by actuating the spray head. The spacer element 5 can, as shown, be angled at an angle, but embodiments are also conceivable in which it extends at a right angle. The spacer element 5 can be designed as a continuous projection, but it can also be designed as a single projection or as a plurality of projections. At its upper edge, the inner annular element 3 comprises a circumferential, outwardly pointing projection 3a, on which, for example, the separation aid 8 and the connecting elements 4 are fixed. The connecting elements 4 are connected to the outer annular element 2 via predetermined breaking points.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Color marking with integrated spray protection

2

Annular outer element

3

Annular inner element

3a

head Start

4

connecting element

5

spacer

6

bridging element

7

cuff

8th

separating aid

9

latching

10

stiffener

11

spray body

12

cathedral

13

valve disc

14

Spray can

Claims (13)

1. Colour marking with integrated spray safeguard (1) for aerosol spray cans (14), having at least a substantially annular outer (2) and a substantially annular inner element (3), which are arranged concentrically relative to each other and are separably connected to each other via at least one connecting element (4), wherein the annular outer element (2) can be connected by a form fit or force fit to the dome (12) of an aerosol spray can (14), and the annular inner element (3) comprises a spacer element (5), which can be at least partly arranged between spray head and valve disc base (13) of the spray can (14) in such a way that the spray valve cannot be triggered by the spray head,
   characterized in that the inner opening of the annular outer element (2) is larger than the outer diameter of the valve disc (13) and comprises at least one latching element (9) projecting into its inner opening, which reduces the diameter of the inner opening in such a way that, at least in the area of the latching element (9), the diameter of the inner opening of the annular outer element (2) is so much smaller than the outer diameter of the valve disc (13) that the annular outer element (2) can be slipped over the valve disc (13), wherein the latching element (9) latches in underneath the seam between valve disc (13) and dome (12), substantially at the outer crimped seam between valve disc (13) and dome (12), and thus fixes the annular outer element (2) between valve disc (13) and dome (12).
2. Colour marking with integrated spray safeguard (1) for aerosol spray cans (14) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the annular inner element (3) is shaped substantially hollow-cylindrically with an inner and an outer diameter and with a first and a second end, wherein

   - the inner diameter of the hollow cylinder is larger than the outer diameter of the spray head,

   - the outer diameter of the hollow cylinder is smaller than the inner diameter of the valve disc (13),

   - the first, lower end of the annular inner element (3) comprises a spacer element (5), which blocks the triggering of the spray head for actuating the spray valve in such a way that successful triggering of the spray valve by the actuation of the spray head is impossible without prior removal of the spacer (5) and/or the annular inner element (3),

   - the second, upper end of the annular inner element (3) is detachably connected to the annular outer element (2) via at least one connecting element (4).
3. Colour marking with integrated spray safeguard (1) for aerosol spray cans (14) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spacer element (5) is formed as a circumferential projection projecting into the inner lumen of the hollow cylinder.
4. Colour marking with integrated spray safeguard (1) for aerosol spray cans (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner element (3) comprises, at its second upper end, a continuous projection (3a) pointing substantially horizontally outwards, which projects at least partly beyond the upper edge of the valve disc (13) in the direction of the outer element (2) and thus reduces the gap between the inner (3) and outer element (2).
5. Colour marking with integrated spray safeguard (1) for aerosol spray cans (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a substantially hollow-cylindrical bridging element (6) adjoins the inner opening of the annular outer element (2), wherein the diameter of the inner opening of the bridging element (6) is substantially identical to the diameter of the inner opening of the annular outer element (2), and the bridging element (6) substantially bridges over the height of the crimped edge of the valve disc (13).
6. Colour marking with integrated spray safeguard (1) for aerosol spray cans (14) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the annular outer element (2) and the bridging element (6) are made from one piece.
7. Colour marking with integrated spray safeguard (1) for aerosol spray cans (14) according to one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that at least one latching element (9) starts from the inner side of the bridging element (6) and projects into the inner opening of the bridging element (6) and reduces the diameter of the inner opening in such a way that, at least at the location of the latching element (9), the diameter of the inner opening of the bridging element (6) is so much smaller than the outer diameter of the valve disc (13) that the at least one latching element (9) of the bridging element (6) can be slipped over the valve disc (13), and wherein the latching element (9) can be latched in underneath the seam between valve disc (13) and dome (12) and thus latches in the annular outer element (2).
8. Colour marking with integrated spray safeguard (1) for aerosol spray cans (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer section of the annular outer element (2) is formed substantially in the shape of a cuff (7) and substantially covers the dome (12) of the spray can (14).
9. Colour marking with integrated spray safeguard (1) for aerosol spray cans (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the annular outer element (2) serves as a marking for the contents of the spray can (14).
10. Colour marking with integrated spray safeguard (1) for aerosol spray cans (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the annular outer element (2) serves as a colour marking for the colour of the contents of the spray can (14).
11. Colour marking with integrated spray safeguard (1) for aerosol spray cans (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the annular inner element (3) comprises a separation aid (8) on its second, upper end.
12. Colour marking with integrated spray safeguard (1) for aerosol spray cans (14) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the colour marking with integrated spray safeguard (1) is made in one piece.
13. Aerosol spray can (14) having a colour marking with integrated spray safeguard (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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