GB2023745A

GB2023745A - Valve actuator assemblies for pressurised dispensers

Info

Publication number: GB2023745A
Application number: GB7921124A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Aerosol Inventions and Development SA AIDSA
Current assignee: Aerosol Inventions and Development SA AIDSA
Priority date: 1978-06-19
Filing date: 1979-06-18
Publication date: 1980-01-03
Also published as: FR2429161B1; NL7903752A; AU4819279A; AU523760B2; DE2923172A1; ES243803Y; GB2023745B; IT7923536A0; ZA793050B; ES243803U; IT1121092B; FR2429161A1

Abstract

A valve actuator button 3 or 16 for a hand-held pressurised dispenser (e.g. an 'aerosol' can) mounted in a surrounding cap and provided (in a known manner) with ramps for automatically orientating the button in the correct angular position with respect to the cap so that the button sprays through an opening in the cap in use, has furthermore frictional or snap-action engaging means 11, 12, 22 or 26 between the button and cap that hold them together so that they can be handled as an assembly, already correctly orientated, for fitting to the container. Orientation preferably takes place before frictional engagement when the cap and button are fitted together. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Valve actuating assemblies for pressurised dispensers The invention relates to valve actuating assemblies for small hand-held pressurised dispensers, such as those commonly known as aerosol containers.

It is known that aerosol containers are generally provided with a dispensing assembly in one or a number of parts of which the double function is to dispense through a nozzle the product contained in the container and to control this dispensing by actuating a valve on the container.

For dispensing assemblies comprising a button and a surrounding cap it is known to mount them on the containers by machine, proceeding in turn to put the button in place on the valve of the container, then to mount the cap on the button with the correct orientation, this orientation consisting of lining the nozzle with the opening in the cap that provides clearance for the spray.

This orientation can be achieved by indexing and marking machines or more automatically by co-operating orientation means carried respectively by the cap and by the button and comprising at least one ramp. Such an arrangement is described in particular in British Patent Specification No. 1 512869.

However the mounting of these assemblies on production lines requires a supplementary operation which adversely affects the resale price.

Assemblies have been proposed in which the button is held temporarily in the cap so as to allow the assembly to be mounted in a single operation on the production line. Such as assembly is described in particular in British Patent Specification No 8880/78.

However such assemblies still require a supplementary pushing step to force the button onto the valve.

The aim of the present invention is to simplify the production of containers with a valve controlled by a button guided in a cap.

According to the invention a dispensing assembly for aerosols comprises a button designed to fit onto the valve of an aerosol container, a cap receiving and at least partially enclosing the button, and co-operating orientation means carried respectively by the button and by the cap for their relative mutual orientation, in which the button and the cap comprise furthermore respective complementary retaining means for holding the orientated button within the cap.

Thus one can handle a dispensing assembly of a diameter greater than that of the button employed, in which the button and the cap are correctly orientated and can be simultaneously put in place on the aerosol container.

The assemblies can be delivered pre-assembled ready for fitting, without risk of the button and cap coming apart during handling.

The retaining means may in particular consist of shaped surfaces carried by the button or cap and cooperating by friction and possibly snap engagement with the cap or the button.

In one preferred embodiment the retaining means are displaced axially from the orientation means, which are situated above.

The invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example two embodiments.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a partial sectional elevation of an aerosol container fitted with a first embodiment of the dispersing assembly according to the invention; Figure 2 is a partial view from the right in Fig. 1 showing the button during orientation; Figure 3 is a partial view from the right in Fig. 1, showing the button orientated and held in position; Figure 4 is a view like Fig. 3 but showing a modification of the means for retaining the button in the cap; Figure 5 is a partial sectional elevation of an aerosol container fitted with a second embodiment of the dispensing assembly according to the invention; Figure 6 is a partial view from below taken on the line VI-VI in Fig. 5; Figure 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing a modification of the means for retaining the button in the cap.

The dispensing assembly 1 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 mounted on an aerosol container 2 comprises essentially a button 3 of which the spray nozzle 4 is connected to the valve of the container 2, indicated by its mounting cup 5, and a cap 6 containing the button 3.

The button 3 has a helicoidal ram 7 cooperating with a helicoidal ramp 8 carried by the cap.

The cap 6 comprises a cylindrical sleeve forming a prolongation of a tongue 27 hinged at 28. The open sleeve 9 has an inverted U cut-out 10 placed opposite the nozzle 4.

The two helicoidal ramps 7 and 8, by pushing or simply by gravity, allow the button to come with respect to the cap (or the other way around) into a position in which the nozzle 4 and the cut-out 10 are in alignment.

On the internal lateral face of the sleeve the cap has at least three radial webs 11 regularly spaced apart and such that the upper part of the button is retained by these webs when it has been brought to their level.

The relative disposition of the ramp 8 and the webs 11 in the cap 1 is such that the relative orientation of the button 3 and of the cap 1, bringing the nozzle 4 into alignment with the cut-out, should be fully achieved before axial displacement of one of the elements (the button 3 or the cap 1) with respect to the other causes temporary retention of the button 3 with respect to the cap 1 in the stated position.

The spraying assembly thus formed can then be delivered in this form to the fillers and mounted on the container in the position shown in Fig. 1 in a single operation.

In place of the webs 11 such as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the sleeve 9 could be provided by way of modification (Fig. 4) with a peg 1 2 carried by the upper wall 1 3 of the sleeve 9, this peg 1 2 entering an axial recess 1 4 in the button 3.

The dispensing assembly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, shown mounted on an aerosol container 15, comprises also essentially a button 1 6 with a spraying nozzle 1 7 connected to the valve of the container 1 5 and a cap 1 8 containing the button 1 5.

In this assembly the relative orientation of the button 1 6 and the cap 1 8 is achieved mechanically and then maintained by an orientating web 1 9 carried by the sleeve 20 on the cap 18 and entering a corresponding recess in the button 1 6 which maintains the nozzle 17 in alignment with an opening 21 in the said sleeve 20.

The retention of the button 1 6 in the cap 1 8 is ensured by three radial webs 22 extending from the top wall 23 of the sleeve and having their ends engaging against the inside of a semi-cylindrical projection 24 provided in the button.

As in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3, in this embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6 the retaining means 22 to 24 and the orientating means 1 9 are such that the relative orientation of the button 3 and the cap is achieved before (by axial displacement) the retention of the button 1 6 in the cap 18 is effected.

As a modification, the retention of the button 1 6 could equally well be obtained as shown in Fig. 7 by an annular bead 25 entering an annular groove 26 formed in the internal wall of the sleeve 20 in the cap 1. It could also be obtained in a known manner by snap engagement of the projection of the webs 11 or 1 9 of the earlier examples in correspnding recesses in the cap, or by other means of known snap engagement.

Claims

1. A valve actuating assembly for a pressurised dispenser comprising a button capable of engaging the valve of a dispensing container, a cap receiving and at least partially enclosing the button and complementary orientating means carried respectively on the button and on the cap for their mutual relative orientation, in which the button and the cap furthermore comprise respective complementary means for retaining the orientated button within the cap.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 in which the cap comprises a cylindrical sleeve enclosing at least partially the button when the latter is orientated with respect to the cap and aligned on the longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the cylindrical sleeve carries on its inside wall at least three radial webs spaced regularly apart and between which the button is retained by friction.

4. An assembly according to claim 2 or claim 3 in which the top wall of the sleeve carries a central peg forcibly entering an axial recess in the button.

5. An assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 4 in which the internal face of the sleeve carries an annular bead entering a groove provided in the side wall of the button in the neighbourhood of the upper end of the latter.

6. An assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 5 in which the top wall of the sleeve carries at least three radial webs of which the ends engage in a semi-cylindrical projection provided on the button in the neighbourhood of the upper part of the latter.

7. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the retaining means have a snap action.

8. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7 in which the button is connected to a mobile hinged part of the cap by the retaining means.

9. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8 in which the retaining means are axially displaced from the orientating means, which are situated above.

10. A process for assembling the cap and the button of a valve actuating assembly according to claim 9 in that the button is presented in the axis of its recess in the cap, it is orientated to bring the nozzle in alignment with the corresponding opening in the cap, then the retaining means are engaged by the application of force, possibly with snap engagement.

11. A pressurised dispensing container fitted with a dispensing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

1 2. A valve actuating assembly for pressurised dispensers substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

1 3. A valve actuating assembly for pressurised dispensers substantially as described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A valve actuating assembly for pressurised dispensers substantially as described with reference to Figs. 5 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.