GB2190709A

GB2190709A - A cap for an aerosol can

Info

Publication number: GB2190709A
Application number: GB08608222A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Gilbert Croft
Original assignee: FARCO
Current assignee: FARCO
Priority date: 1986-04-04
Filing date: 1986-04-04
Publication date: 1987-11-25
Also published as: GB2190709B; GB8608222D0

Abstract

A cap for an aerosol can (35) comprises a domed cover (1) moulded integrally with a handle (2) carrying in channel of the handle a hollow actuating lever (3) which is pivotally connected to the cover (1) by means of a grooved pivot plate (28) and a complementary rib (24) on the cover. The operating button (34) of the aerosol can is received in a part cylindrical hollow boss (32) formed on the actuating lever so that the contents of the aerosol can may be discharged through an aperture (26) in the front wall (18) of the actuating lever by pressing on the rear end of the lever in the direction X. The lever is returned by the resilient bias of the operating button and this return movement is limited by a stop (30). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A cap for an aerosol can.

THIS INVENTION relates to improvements in or relating to aerosol cans and, in particular, to a cap for an aerosol can.

Aerosol cans are commonly provided with a domed closure cap which resiliently and removably clips onto the top of the aerosol can to cover an operating button of the can when the can is not in use.

In order to use the can, the domed cap is removed to reveal the operating button, the can is then used as required and the cap replaced after use of the can.

Such protective caps are effective in protecting the aerosol can against inadvertent discharge of the contents of the can as a result of unintended actuation of the operating button. However, these caps have the disadvantage that they must be frequently removed from and replaced on the can and must be put in a safe place whilst the can is in use, otherwise there is the danger that the cap will be lost or damaged.

Known aerosol cans also have the disadvantage that, for single handed use, the can must be gripped in one hand and the operating button manipulated with an available finger of that hand. Given the cylindrical form and the usual dimensions of aerosol cans, this means that, in practice, the can is gripped in such a way that only the index finger is available for actuating the operating button.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved cap for an aerosol can which eliminates or reduces the above disadvantages.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a cap for an aerosol can, including a domed cover adapted to grip the top of the aerosol can and actuating means mounted on the cover for engaging the operating button of the aerosol can to expel the contents of the can upon operation of the actuating means by a user.

Preferably, the cap includes a carrying handle atached to the cover.

Conveniently, the actuating means comprises an actuating member having a socket for receiving the operating button of the aerosol can and mounted for pivoting movement relative to the cover.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view from above of one embodiment of a cap for an aerosol can; FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the cap of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is an underneath plan view of the cap of Figures 1 and 2; and FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cap of Figures 1 to 3 mounted on an aerosol can.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a cap for an aerosol can is made of a moulded plastics material and includes a domed cover 1 moulded integrally with a handle 2 carrying an actuator 3.

The cover 1 comprises a top wall 4 f rom which depends a side wall having an upper conical portion 5 and a lower cylindrical portion 6. The conical wall portion 5 is provided with internal ribs 5' (Figures 3 and 4). Internal and external shoulders 7 and 8 (see particularly Figure 4) are formed where the side wall portions 5 and 6 join. The top wall 4 of the cover 1 is formed internally of the cover with a depending cylindrical flange 9, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, which extends to a position above the internal shoulder 8 and is provided with two slots 10 (see Figure 3) to enhance the radial resilience of the flange.

The handle 2 comprises a hollow support arm 11 from which depends a vertical hollow hand grip 12. The support arm 11 defines an upwardly open channel having vertical side walls 13 and 14 which have end portions of reduced height where the support arm 11 and the hand grip 12 join. The end portions of the wails 13 and 14 of reduced height are connected by a rear wall 15 of the hand grip 12, which wall 15 is provided at its top with an overturned lip 16 (see Figure 4). Rounded bearing plates 22 and 23 are integrally formed at the front end of the support arm at the base of the channel walls 13 and 14 of the arm 11.

The actuator 3 takes the form of an elongate hollow moulded member having a top wall 17 from which depend a front end wall 18, a pair of side walls 19 and 20 and a rear end wall 21.

The front end wall 18 has a vertical upper portion 25 formed with a rectangular discharge aperture 26. A lower portion 27 of the wall 18 has a rounded form to conform with the rounded bearing plates 22 and 23 provided at the base of the channel walls 13 and 14 of the support arm 11. Projecting forwardly from the bottom of the front wall portion 27 is a pivot plate 28 (see Figures 3 and 4) formed on its upper surface with a groove 29 adapted to receive a downwardly extending rib 24 formed on the top wall 4 of the cover 1. A rectangular stop 30 is provided externally on the rear end wall 21 of the actuator 3 and is adapted to engage beneath the lip 16 on the wall 15 of the hand grip 12 in the installed condition of the actuator.

A transverse wall 31 extending between the side walls 19 and 20 of the actuator 3 defines a compartment at the front end of the actuator. Within this compartment, a part cylindrical hollow boss 32 projects downwardly from the top wall 17 of the actuator 3 with a longitudinal slot 33 of the boss 32 aligned with the rectangular aperture 26 in the wall 18 of the actuator 3. The boss 32 defines a socket for receiving an operating button 34 of an aerosol can 35 as shown in Figure 4. The operating button 34 is provided with a groove which receives an internal rib 36 on the boss 32 to retain the button against rotation and to hold the button in a position with its outlet jet aligned with the slot 33. A protruberance 37 provided on the part of the wall 17 forming the base of the boss 32 engages a sloping top surface 38 of the operating button.Strengthening ribs 39 are provided internally and centrally on the lower part of the front end wall of the actuator 3 behind the pivot plate 28.

Figure 4 shows the cap embodying the present invention positioned on the aerosol can 35 with the internal flange 9 of the cover 1 snapped onto an upper rim 40 of the can 35, the lower wall portion 6 of the cover engaged with a lower rim 41 of the cam 35, and the operating button 34 of the aerosol can received in the hollow boss 32 of the actuator 3 of the cap. In the normal unactuated position shown in full lines in Figure 4, the actuator 3 is in an upper rest condition with the stop 30 on the rear end wall 21 of the actuator 3 engaged beneath the lip 16 of the hand grip wall 15. In use, the user of the aerosol can grips the hand grip 12 in his fingers and operates the actuator 3 by pressing downwardly on the rear part of the actuator 3 in the direction of arrow X so as to pivot the actuator about its front end around the rib 24 on the top wall of the cover 4 and to move the stop 30 away from the lip 16. As a result of this downward pivoting movement of the actuator 3, the operating button 34 is depressed to release the contents of the can through the aperture 26 in the front wall 18 of the actuator 3. When the actuator 3 is released by the user, the actuator 3 is pivoted upwardly back into its normal position as a result of the spring bias acting on the operating button 34.

Claims

1. A cap for an aerosol can, including a domed cover adapted to grip the top of the aerosol can and actuating means mounted on the cover for engaging the opening button of the aerosol can to expel the contents of the can through a discharge aperture upon operation of the actuating means by a user.

2. A cap according to Claim 1, wherein the cap includes a carrying handle attached to the cover.

3. A cap according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cap comprises an internal cylindrical flange for gripping a rim on the top of the aerosol can.

4. A cap according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the actuating means comprises an actuating lever having a socket for receiving the operating button of the aerosol can and mounted for pivotal movement relative to the cover.

5. A cap according to claim 4, wherein the socket of the actuating lever has an internal rib for engaging in a groove provided on the operating button of the aerosol can to hold the operating button in alignment with the discharge aperture in use of the cap.

6. A cap according to Claim 5, wherein the actuating lever has projecting from one thereof a pivot plate provided with pivot means adapted to cooperate with complementary pivot means on the cover to enable the pivoting movement of the actuating lever.

7. A cap according to Claim 6, wherein the pivot means of the pivot plate is a recess formed in the plate and the pivot means of the cover is a projection formed on the cover.

8. A cap according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein a stop is provided for limiting the pivoting movement of the actuating lever in one direction.

9. A cap for an areosol can substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.