GB2076899A

GB2076899A - Valve for aerosol can

Info

Publication number: GB2076899A
Application number: GB8113819A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-05-06
Filing date: 1981-05-06
Publication date: 1981-12-09
Also published as: CA1154726A; IT1147206B; FR2482242A1; DE3117586A1; GB2076899B; IT8112515A0; FR2482242B1

Abstract

A valve for use in a pressurised fluid container comprises a chamber 5 within a hollow body 1 in which a member 9 having a duct 15 is arranged. The member 9 is displaceable by a first type of motion of the member 9 relative to the body 1 (vertical movement) against the return force of a spring 18 from a position in which the duct 15 does not communicate with the chamber 5 to a position in which it opens into the chamber 5 via a passage 17, the arrangement being such that the first type of motion is only permitted from a prescribed relative position of the member 9 and the body 1, (in which position a projection 8 is aligned with a recess 12) which is reached by a second type of motion of the member 9 relative to the body 1 (rotational movement) which the spring 18 also tends to oppose. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Valve This invention relates to a valve, in particular a valve intended for use in a pressurised fluid container, such as an aerosol can.

The object of the invention is to provide a valve which incorporates a safety mechanism which pre vents accidental operation, for example if the valve is manipulated by a young child, but does not use any more components than a conventional valve.

According to the invention, there is provided a valve comprising a hollow body, in which a member having a duct therein is arranged, the member being displaceable by a first type of motion of the member relative to the hollow body against the return force of a spring, from a position in which the duct does not communicate with the inside of the hollow body to a position in which it opens into the hollow body, the arrangement being such that the first type of motion is only permitted from a prescribed relative position of said member and said hollow body which is reached by a second type of motion of the member relative to the hollow body which said spring also tends to oppose.

Thus, in order to actuate the valve, a user must first make the member undergo the second type of motion relative to the hollow body, whereafter the member can be made to undergo the first type of motion. Both types of motion are opposed by the spring, so that at the end of the second type of motion and before the first type of motion the member must be maintained in place by the user.

Whilst a user who is aware of this procedure can easily actuate the valve, accidental operation, for example by a young child, is prevented. As soon as the member is released, it returns to its initial position under the force of the spring.

The second type of motion is preferably rotational motion and the first type of motion is preferably translational motion, more preferably along an axis of the hollow body. The spring, which is preferably a helical spring, is thus under both torsional and compressive stress when the valve is actuated.

The first type of motion is preferably prevented except at said prescribed relative position by means provided on said member cooperating with means provided on said hollow body. One of said means is preferably a recess and the other is preferably a projection which can enter said recess by the first type of motion from said prescribed relative posi tion.

The spring is preferably a helical spring, the ends of which are in the form of arches, especially located in two different planes, preferably perpendicular, when the spring is not under stress. It is then easy to engage one of the arches in a blind slot in the member and to provide a slot for receiving the other arch at the bottom of the body. Then the valve is assembled simply by successively engaging the constituent components in the body. The valve can be mounted on the container, without the addition of any external components, on existing assembly lines.

The second type of motion, especially the path of rotation of the member in the body, can be limited by conventional means, for example by providing an external rib on the member which comes to abut on the side wall of an associated recess provided in the body at the extremes of the second type of motion.

A spray or push button with a channel provided on the upper surface to facilitate actuation by the user's finger may be mounted on the member. The upper surface may also comprise, laterally of the channel and hence in an eccentric position, an operating protrusion or depression enabling the member to be rotated by using the push button as a crank.

The invention is described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, wherein: Figure 1 to 3 are sectional views in a plane passing through the axis of a valve according to the invention in the closed, intermediate and open positions.

Figure 4 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of the member of the valve.

Figure 5 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of the body of the valve.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the push button of the valve, and Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the means for limiting the second type of motion.

As shown in Figure 1 a valve comprises a hollow body 1 fitted by means of a sealing member 2 on a dish 3. The dish 3 is adapted to form the top of a pressurised fluid container. The body 1 has a axis of revolution XX' and is extended at one end by a tubular member 4 which connects the bottom of a chamber 5 inside the body 1 with the interior of the pressurised fluid container in use. The bottom of the chamber 5 is provided with a slot 5a and the chamber is defined by the lower side wall 6 of the body. The wall 6 has a shoulder 7 halfway up it and extends as far as the joint 2, thus defining an upper chamber 27. An inwardly directed projection 8 is provided on the shoulder 7.

Freely arranged in the upper chamber is a movable member 9 comprising a cylindrical skirt 10, the edge 11 of which abuts on the projection 8 unless the latter is located opposite a recess 12 opening towards the chamber 5 and provided in the edge 11.

The skirt 10 is continued by a frustum-shaped portion 13 converging towards the sealing member 2, then by a cylindrical rod 14 passing through the sealing member 2 and having a duct 15 estending through it, said duct 15 having an outlet 16 towards the outside and a lateral inlet 17 opposite the sealing member, but coming inside the body when the projection 8 enters the recess 12.

In the centre of the portion 13, a blind slot 17a, opening towards the chamber 5, is provided.

A helical spring 18 engages with one of its end arches 19 in the slot 5a, whilst the other end arch 20 engages in the slot 17a.

An external rib 21 is provided in the side wall of the member 9, whilst the body 1 comprises, opposite this rib 21, a recess 22 which extends over an arc of a circle having an angle of 45" at the centre.

The rod 14 is surmounted by a push button 23 with a spray, the push button 23 being secured to the rod 14 by the engagement of a catch 28 and indentation 29, the upper surface 24 of the push button having a groove 25 for accommodating the user's finger D and, in a eccentric position relative to the axis XX' and adjacent to the groove 25, a protrusion 26.

Preferably, the rod 14 is corrugated so that each rib can act as a catch, thus making assembly easier.

In the closed position of the valve (Figure 1), the planes of the arches 19 and 20 are perpendicular.

In orderto operate the valve, the member 9 has to be rotated by means of the protrusion 26 with the rib 21 moving in the recess 22, thus imparting torsion to the spring 18, until the recess 12 is located above the projection 8 (Figure 2). The member 9 is now able to move down relative to the body 1, and must be pressed down so as to bring the iniet 17 into communication with the interior of the body 1 (Figure 3) and permitvaporisation of the liquid which is contained therein and which reaches it through the member 4, and leaves it through the duct 15 and the outlet 16. The protrusion 26 may be replaced by a recess for finger provided in the spray and opening out on the side opposite the spray nozzle.

As soon as the user releases his finger, at whatever moment, the return effect of the spring 18 occurs.

The spring 18 and the constituent parts of the valve are assembled by stacking them in the body 1.

In the modified embodiment shown in Figure 7, the second type of motion is limited by the provision, on the lower surface of the movable member 9, to one side of the existing recess 12, of a second recess 30 which is not as deep as the recess 12.

This simplifies the moulding of the movable member and the assembly of the valve.

Claims

1. Avalve comprising a hollow body, in which a member having a duct therein is arranged, the member being displaceable by a first type of motion of the member relative to the hollow body against the return force of a spring, from a position in which the duct does not communicate with the inside of the hollow body to a position in which it opens into the hollow body, the arrangement being such that the first type of motion is only permitted from a prescribed relative position of said member and said hollow body which is reached by a second type of motion of the member relative to the hollow body which said spring also tends to oppose.

2. A valve according to claim 1, wherein the spring is housed inside the hollow body.

3. Avalve according to claim 1 or 2,wherein said first type of motion is prevented except at said prescribed relative position by means provided on said member cooperating with means provided on said hollow body.

4. A valve according to claim 3, wherein said means are inside the hollow body.

5. A valve according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said means comprise a recess and a projection, one of which is provided on said member and the other of which is provided on said body.

6. Avalve according to any preceding claim further comprising means for limiting motion of the second type.

7. Avalve according to any preceding claim wherein the member defines an engagement slot for the spring.

8. Avalve according to any preceding claim wherein the base of the body defines an engagement slot for the spring.

9. Avalve according to any preceding claim wherein the first motion is a translational motion and the second is a rotational motion.

10. Avalve according to any preceding claim further comprising a push button surmounting the member and secured thereto, the upper surface of which has a groove therein and, in an eccentric position or laterally relative to the groove, an operating protrusion or depression.

11. A valve according to claim 6, wherein said means for limiting motion of the second type comprise a recess on the member and a second recess which is not as deep as the first recess, the two recesses being provided on an edge of the member which is furthest from the duct.

12. A valve for use in a pressurised fluid container, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A pressurised fluid container incorporating a valve as claimed in any preceding claim.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 31st July 1981 Superseded claims 1 New or amended claims:

1. A valve comprising a hollow body and a dish which together define a volume in which a member having a duct extending therefrom is arranged the duct passing through the dish, and a fluid-tight seal provided between the duct and the dish, the member being displaceable by a first type of motion of the member relative to the hollow body against the return force of a spring, from a position in which the duct does not communicate with said volume to a position in which it opens into said volume, the arrangement being such that the first type of motion is only permitted from a prescribed relative position of said member and said hollow body which is reached by a second type of motion of the member relative to the hollow body which said spring alçso tends to oppose.