GB2130657A

GB2130657A - Valve for a pressurised dispensing container for products affected by the constituents of elastomers

Info

Publication number: GB2130657A
Application number: GB08329918A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andre Debard
Original assignee: Aerosol Inventions and Development SA AIDSA
Current assignee: Aerosol Inventions and Development SA AIDSA
Priority date: 1982-11-19
Filing date: 1983-11-09
Publication date: 1984-06-06
Also published as: FR2536370A1; ZA838602B; FR2536370B1; GB8329918D0; AU2135983A; GB2130657B

Abstract

An aerosol valve shell forms a cylinder (6) for a tubular piston (7) of which an internal shoulder forms a seating (12) for a valve head (13) on the end of an axial pin (14). Such a valve is particularly suited to the handling of perfume and cosmetic and pharmacological products which have a deleterious effect on the sealing gasket 18. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Valve for a pressurised dispensing container for products affected by the constituents of elastomers The present invention relates to valves for pressurised dispensing containers, for example, aerosols, and more particularly to the handling of substances which are affected by the materials of the elastomeric gaskets conventionally used in such valves, in particular perfumes and cosmetic products, as well as medical products.

It has been proposed to use specially selected rubber gaskets for certain products but these gaskets are more expensive than conventional gaskets and furthermore they are not universal, that is to say, one cannot expect to use them a priori for any products, but only for certain clearly defined classes of products.

This therefore involves the manufacture of valves in small runs, which has an adverse effect on their resale price for a result which is sometimes risky.

It has equally been proposed to eliminate rubber sealing gaskets by making valves entirely of a plastics material of almost universal application.

However such valves are found to be less viable than standard aerosol valves and to have a less satisfactory action, and furthermore they are generally larger and do not lend themselves to filling on standard filling machines, especially those which operate under pressure.

The aim of the invention is to at least partially overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks.

According to the invention we provide a valve for a pressurised dispensing container, in particular for substances which are effected by the components of conventional elastomeric sealing gaskets, comprising a substantially tubular valve shell carried by a mounting cup for attachment to the neck of a container, the base of the shell having an opening for admitting the product to be dispensed, in which at least part of the shell comprises a cylinder for substantially tubular piston which has an extension in the form of an actuating stem for the valve projecting through an axial opening in the mounting cup, the stem leading into a push button incorporating a spray nozzle, the piston having an internal constriction or shoulder defining a valve seating urged by spring means into engagement with a valve member in the form of an enlarged head of an axial pin or stem projecting from the base of the shell.

In a preferred embodiment, the base of the axial stem is in snap engagement with the base of the shell whilst permitting free passage for the product to be dispensed. The lower part of the axial stem preferably has at least one groove allowing free passage of the product into the interior of the valve.

To provide greater flexibility during assembly of the valve, it is of advantage to provide an annular elastomeric sealing gasket around the actuating stem of the valve, interposed between the upper face of the shell and the mounting cup without contact with the product to be dispensed.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation, partially in section, of a valve according to the invention, fitted with a spray button; and Figure 2 is a view analogous to that of Figure 1, showing the path of the products injected through the valve during filling of the container, without the push button fitted.

The valve illustrated in the drawings comprises a tubular valve shell 1 of which the upper end is enlarged by the provision of an external peripheral bead 2 under which is crimped a centre boss of a standard valve mounting cup 3.

The upper part of the shell 1 has a cylindrical portion 6 forming a cylinder for a tubular piston 7 analogous to that of a conventional pump, of which the upper part is extended in the form of a hollow stem 8 which engages in a sealing manner the underside of a push button 9 of conventional type thereby communicating with a spray nozzle 10.

The lower part of the piston 7 has an internal constriction 11 of which an upper frusto-conical part constitutes a seating 1 2 for a valve member 1 3 constituted by the enlarged upper end of an axial pin 14. The lower part of the pin 14 has a section in the form of a cross 1 6, the end of which comes into snap engagement in the base 4 of the shell 1 co-axially with a spigot 5 for receiving a dip tube which allows the substance to be dispensed to reach the interior of the valve through grooves 1 7 defined by the cross-shaped lower part of the axial pin 14.

A standard helical spring 1 5 abutting against the base 4 of the shell permanently urges the piston 7 into engagement with the valve member 1 3 and thus assures the effectiveness of the sealing of the valve at rest.

A standard annular elastomeric gasket 18 is interposed between the bead 2 and the end of the mounting cup 3. This gasket facilitates assembly of the valve and prevents dust particles or other impurities from penetrating into the valve around the tubular part 8 which constitutes the actuating stem of the valve. The effectiveness of the sealing is ensured by the crimping of the cup 3 below the bead 2 on the shell 1.

When the push button 9 is depressed, the actuating stem 8 of the valve moves downwards as illustrated in Figure 2 towards the interior of the valve so that the portion 12 forming the valve seating on the piston 7 moves away from the part 13 that forms the valve member on the axial pin or stem 14, and establishes free communication from the interior of the container, through the spigot 5, the grooves 17, the gap between the valve seating 12 and the valve head 13, and thence to the spray nozzle 10.

When pressure on the button 9 is released the spring 1 5 returns the piston 7 into sealing engagement with the valve member 13 and isolates the contents of the container from atmosphere. During filling under pressure, as illustrated in Figure 2, a filling head 19 of the conventional type, fitted with an annular torus seal 20 which ensures sealing engagement around the actuating stem 8 of the valve, allows filling of the container which is fitted with the valve, along the path indicated by the arrows in Figure 2.

Claims

1. A valve for a pressurised dispensing container, in particular for substances which are effected by the components of conventional elastomeric sealing gaskets, comprising a substantially tubular valve shell carried by a mounting cup for attachment to the neck of a container, the base of the shell having an opening for admitting the product to be dispensed, in which at least part of the shell comprises a cylinder for a substantially tubular piston which has an extension in the form of an actuating stem for the valve projecting through an axial opening in the mounting cup, the stem leading into a push button incorporating a spray nozzle, the piston having an internal constriction or shoulder defining a valve seating urged by spring means into engagement with a valve member in the form of an enlarged head of an axial pin or stem projecting from the base of the shell.

2. A valve according to claim 1 in which the base of the axis: stem is in snap engagement with the base of the hell.

3. A valve according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the lower part of the axial stem has at least one groove allowing free passage into the interior of the valve of the product to be dispensed.

4. A valve according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which an annular elastomeric sealing gasket is provided around the actuating stem of the valve, interposed between the upperface of the shell and the mounting cup without contact with the product to be dispensed.

5. A valve for a pressurised dispensing container substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.