GB1573709A

GB1573709A - Device for transmitting a finger pressure to actuating mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB1573709A
Application number: GB5208776A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1975-12-15
Filing date: 1976-12-14
Publication date: 1980-08-28
Also published as: DE2656205A1

Description

(54) DEVICE FOR TRANSMITTING A FINGER PRESSURE TO AN ACTUATING MECHANISM (71) I, NORBERT NORMOS, an Israeli citizen, of 8 Boulevard de la Paix, F92 Courbevoie, France, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to a device for transmitting a finger pressure to an actuating mechanism.

In the past, the pressure of a finger for actuating a mechanism was transmitted more or less directly through rigid elements from the finger to the actuating mechanism. In consequence, a somewhat hastily or obliquely applied finger pressure can easily result in canting or other operating faults at the actuating mechanism. Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide a device for transmitting finger pressure to an actuating mechanism which ensures a smooth and gentle transmission of pressure to the actuating mechanism in order thereby to avoid any faults of any kind during actuation.

According to the invention, this problem is resolved in that the element of the device for receiving the finger pressure is a piston which is mounted in a cylinder to compress air in the interior of the cylinder, the interior of the cylinder communicating with the outside air through at least one orifice arranged in the piston and adapted to be maintained closed by the finger during actuation. By reason of the volume of air to be compressed and incorporated between the actuating finger and the actuating mechanism, the violence of actuating pressure is substantially reduced.

Even if the actuating pressure of the finger is applied laterally or obliquely, transmission of the pressure to the actuating mechanism is even, so that friction in the actuating mechanism is diminished. Therefore, actuation is gentle and more satisfactorily controlled.

By reason of the fact that, according to the invention, it is necessary during actuation to maintain the communicating aperture of the cylinder with the outside air closed, a particularly favourable effect is that child-proof actuating devices can be constructed.

To this end, in fact, the relevant actuating mechanism can be so attuned to the cylinder and piston arrangement that relatively high air pressure must be generated in the piston in order to operate the actuating device. In such a case, then, children will not be able to keep the aperture connecting the interior of the cylinder to the outside air closed or, if they can, then not with the necessary force.

In consequence, children are incapable of operating the actuating device.

Within the framework of the invention, the actuating mechanism may be connected to a second piston guided in the cylinder so that when one piston is pressed in with finger pressure, the other piston acts on the actuating mechanism. However, within the framework of the invention, it is particularly convenient to locate the cylinder housing the piston directly on the actuating mechanism.

Then, the cylinder can be constructed directly on the actuating mechanism.

Also within the framework of the invention, it is particularly advantageous to construct the connecting aperture between the interior of the cylinder and the outside air in the form of a passage extending through the piston. This passage may be bifurcated towards its outer end and have at least two orifices spaced apart on a surface of the piston against which the finger rests. If the spacing between these orifices is made larger than the diameter of a child's pressed-flat thumb but smaller than the area of pressure applied by an adult's thumb, then the result is a particularly advantageous embodiment of actuating mechanism which cannot be operated by children. In fact, in such a case, children are unable to maintain all, for example both, orifices closed at the same time.Where pressing in the piston is involved, therefore, the compressed air cushion needed to transmit the force is unable to build up. On the other hand, for adults, it is readily and without any additional considerable effort possible simultaneously to cover all, for example both, orifices at the same time and so build up the necessary cushion of compressed air in the cylinder by pressing in the piston. This aspect may be facilitated and improved in that the orifices are located within a guide formed by a curved surface substantially adapted to suit the contours of an adult's thumb.Without undue consideration, the adult can then effortlessly place his thumb into this guide and so close off the orifices at the moment of actuation, while the smaller thumb of a child is capable only of concealing this guide to a substantial degree, for example for up to three-quarters, so that not all the orifices can be covered at the same time. Nor is it feasible to use perhaps another finger in order to cover those orifices which are inaccessible to the thumb, because the finger guide formed on the piston does not allow this.

For better sealing of the orifices, each orifice may at its opening be provided with a trough-like projecting rim.

The device according to the invention is particularly advantageous in conjunction with an actuating mechanism in which the cylinder is provided on a part of the actuating mechanism which carries at least one closure element, this closure element of variable diameter being constructed for optional opening and closing of an outlet orifice formed by a lateral bore and leading into the interior of a container, this bore into which an outwardly emerging discharge duct empties, being closed at least at the end which is towards the interior of the container, by a sealing device co-operating with the closure element.

One particularly advantageous embodiment is provided for example by the fact that an outer shell is provided, the interior of which is radially divided by an annular projection, this projection having in its centre and closed on the underside, a cylindrical housing which extends as far as below the underside of the projection. The projection can thereby have at least one lateral bore, the axis of which lies substantially parallel with the axis of the central housing, and this bore may be provided with at least one seal. For many intended applications, however, two lateral diametrically opposed bores will be provided, one to let out the contents of the container and the other to equalise the pressure inside the container with that of the outside atmosphere.

Two examples of embodiment of the invention are explained in greater detail hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a device according to the invention in axial section on the line x-x in Fig. 2; Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a device according to Fig. 1, in the direction of the arrow 43 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows the device in the same sectional view as in Fig. 1 but with the piston pressed in by a child's thumb; Fig. 4 shows the device in the same sectional view as in Fig. 1; but with the piston pressed in by an adult's thumb; Fig. 5 is a cross-section through an aerosol head with integrally formed cylinder of horse-shoe shaped cross-section; Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken on the line y-y in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 shows a different embodiment of the device according to the invention, in axial section in the closed position, and Fig. 8 shows the device according to Fig. 7 in the same sectional view but opened by pressure applied by an adult's thumb.

In the example shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the operation of a spray head 1 is involved, the spray head being mounted on a conventional outlet tube on the outlet valve 3 of a spray can 4. In the condition shown in Fig. 1, the outlet valve 3 is maintained closed by a closing spring 44. The outlet valve 3 is opened in known manner by the outlet tube 2 being pressed in axially.

In the example illustrated, the spray head 1 has on its top a bush 5, the interior of which forms the closed-bottom cylinder 6. The actuating device and the spray head 1 are guided in an outer shell 7 which, by means of a radially inwardly projecting rib 9, is fitted and locked on the rolled edge 8 of the valve 3. The outer shell 7 contains in its interior bores 13 and 14 (of the same diameter) which are separated from one another by a radially projecting projection 10. In its centre, this projection 10 forms an upwardly directed passage 11, the interior 12 of which serves as a guide for the bush 5.

A bore 15 coaxial with but of smaller cross-section than the bores 13 and 14 serves as a guide for an actuating button 17 and forms a shoulder 16 with the bore 14. The actuating button 17 comprises on its periphery a cylindrical bush which is bounded at its bottom end by a radially outwardly directed flange 19 and which carries in its upper part a finger guide 20 which encloses the surface 28 on three sides.

Guided in the cylinder 6 and provided with a seal 22 is the piston 21 which is formed in one piece and coaxially with the bush 18 of the actuating button 17. Formed inside the piston 21 is an axial passage 23 which divides into passages 24 and 25 which discharge in the finger supporting surface 28, at orifices 26 and 27, being provided there with upwardly projecting rims 29, 30.

The actuating button and the piston are held in their inoperative position by a spring 31 braced at one end on the underside of the actuating button 17 and at the other on the surface 34 of the projection 10 and the movement capability of the actuating button 17 between this surface 34 and the shoulder 16 is limited. The spray head 1 is held in its inoperative position 32 by the spring 44 of the valve 3. When a child tries to actuate the device (arrow 36), he is unable simultaneously to mask the orifices 26 and 27 with the surface of his thumb 35. It is true that the child can then press the actuating button 17 down onto the surface 34 but the piston 21 blows out the air 33 which is located inside the cylinder 6, and in fact via the passage 23 and the orifice which is not covered (arrows 37 and 38 in Fig. 3).

If on the other hand an adult presses his thumb on the actuating button 17 (arrow 36 in Fig. 4), this thumb is aligned by the guide 20 so that it then masks and closes off the orifices 26 and 27. Upon continued pressing-in of the actuating button, the air contained within the cylinder 6 is compressed (arrow 40), so that the cylinder is compelled to move and propel the spray head 1 into the position 42 so opening the valve 3 (arrow 41).

Figs. 5 and 6 show a possibility of reducing the amount of space required by the device.

For this purpose, it is suggested that the space around the passage 47 and the actual spray jet 49 of the spray head 48 be utilised to construct the cylinder 46, the end of which is then brought down to the level of the underside of the spray head 48. The cylinder can then be of for example stirrup-shaped cross-section, whereby also the piston would have a corresponding shape of cross-section.

Regardless of the shape of the cylinder, also in this example it is intended that the actuating button should be provided with two air orifices for the cylinder which can only be simultaneously masked with the thumb of an adult, while inside the cylinder it should be possible for the piston to build up an air resistance exceeding the opposing force of the valve spring, so that the outlet valve of the spray can is actuated.

It should be remembered that the air around the spring 31 may escape through the bore 15 when the actuating knob is pressed in. Furthermore, it should be remembered that the upwardly projecting edges 29 and 30 of the orifices 26 and 27 serve to produce a better seal, since these projecting edges can be more easily pressed into the soft part of the thumb tip.

In the example in Figs. 7 and 8, an outer shell 51 is provided which may consist of any suitable material, for example synthetic plas tics material, being held on the neck 53 of a container 52 by means of a thread 54.

Formed in the outer shell 51 is an annular radially inwardly projecting projection 55 having in its centre a cylindrical housing 58 which is closed at the bottom and which extends downwards beyond the bottom surface of the projection 55.

This projection 55 is provided with lateral bores 56 and 57 which lie on the same diameter and which are located axially, i.e. with their axis parallel with the housing 58. The bore 57 is provided at each end with seals 60 and 61, while the bore 56 has a seal 59 only at the end which is towards the interior of the container.

Formed laterally on the outer shell 51 is an outlet passage 62 which discharges at one end, between the seals, into the bore 57 and lies at the other end in a tubular projection 85, so forming communication between the bore 57 and the outside.

Disposed in the bores 56 and 57 are closure pins 65 and 66 of varying diameter, which have a reduced diameter 67, 68 over a length 89, being constructed in one piece with the central cylinder 69. The central cylinder 69 is closed at the bottom and is integrally connected at 64 with the closure pins 65 and 66 as shown, so that together these elements form one free piece.

The pins 65 and 66 and the cylinder 69 can, under the effect of a pressure in each case in the lateral bores 56 and 57 and the housing 58, move between the closed position and an open position, being pressed into the closed position by a spring 70.

The actuating button 76 which is formed on its underside with a flange 77 is capable of displacement in the bore 63 formed in the upper part of the outer shell 51, such displacement being defined by the upper surface of the projection 55 and an abutment 84. The actuating button 76 has in its centre a piston 71 with a seal 87. This piston has an axial passage 72 which discharges to the outside via the two orifices 73 and 74. The actuating button 76 is pressed by the spring 75 into its closed position and is guided by a ramp 88.

This device operates as follows: In the position of closure (Fig. 7), the closure pins 65 and 66 have their larger diameter parts masking the seals 59, 60 and 61, so keeping the interior of the container 52 and the discharge tube 85 sealed in respect of each other.

Under the action of a force exerted by the thumb 79 (arrow 78 in Fig. 8), and after the orifices 73 and 74 have been covered and closed, the compressed air 80 causes the flange 64 to move (arrow 81) and, together therewith, the closure pins 65 and 66, until the parts 67 and 68 of reduced cross-section release the passage through the seals 59 and 61.

This makes it possible on the one hand to equalise the interior of the container 52 with the outside atmospheric pressure (arrow 86) and on the other to allow the contents of the container to emerge through the tubular projection 85 (arrow 82).

It should be noted that the sole purpose of the seal 60 is to prevent parts of the contents of the container passing into the upper part of the device during pouring.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A device for transmitting finger pressure to an actuating mechanism, wherein an element for receiving the finger pressure is a piston which is mounted in a cylinder to compress air in the interior of the cylinder, the interior of the cylinder communicating with the outside air through at least one orifice arranged in the piston and adapted to be maintained closed by the finger during actuation.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the cylinder housing the piston is mounted directly on the actuating mechanism.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the communicating orifice between the interior of the cylinder and the outside air has a passage provided in the piston.

4. A device according to Claim 3, wherein the passage towards its outer end is bifurcated and has at least two exit orifices disposed at a distance from each other in that surface of the piston against which the finger is applied.

5. A device according to Claim 4, wherein the distance between the orifices is greater than the diameter of a child's pressed-flat thumb but is smaller than the pressure applying surface of an adult's thumb.

6. A device according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the orifices are located within a guide which is formed by a curved surface adapted substantially in keeping with the contours of an adult's thumb.

7. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein each orifice is provided at its point of emergence with a beadlike projecting rim.

8. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the cylinder is provided on a part of the actuating mechanism which carries at least one closure element, this closure element being constructed of variable diameter for the optional opening and closing of an outlet orifice formed by a lateral bore and leading into the interior of a container, this bore into which an outwardly emerging passage discharges, being sealed at least at the end which is towards the interior of the container, by a seal which co-operates with the closure element.

9. A device according to Claim 8, having an outer shell the interior of which is radially divided by an annular projection, this projection having in its centre an axial cylindrical housing closed on the underside and extending to a point below the underside of the projection.

10. A device according to Claim 9, wherein the projection has at least one lateral bore, the axis of which lies substantially parallel with the axis of the central housing, this bore being provided with at least one seal.

11. A device according to any one of Claims 8 to 10, wherein two diametrically opposed bores are provided, one for letting the contents of the container out and the other for equalising pressures between the interior of the container and the outside atmpsphere.

12. A device according to any one of Claims 8 to 11, wherein at least one lateral bore is provided which leads into the outlet passage and which is closed at both ends by seals co-operating with the closure element, in each case a pin of variable diameter being located as a closure element in the bore or bores, the closure element co-operating with the seal provided as the container end of the relevant bore for the purpose of opening and closing.

13. A device for transmitting finger pressure to an actuating mechanism, the device being constructed and arranged substantially as herein described and shown in the drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. This makes it possible on the one hand to equalise the interior of the container 52 with the outside atmospheric pressure (arrow 86) and on the other to allow the contents of the container to emerge through the tubular projection 85 (arrow 82). It should be noted that the sole purpose of the seal 60 is to prevent parts of the contents of the container passing into the upper part of the device during pouring. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A device for transmitting finger pressure to an actuating mechanism, wherein an element for receiving the finger pressure is a piston which is mounted in a cylinder to compress air in the interior of the cylinder, the interior of the cylinder communicating with the outside air through at least one orifice arranged in the piston and adapted to be maintained closed by the finger during actuation.