US3028054A - Remote actuating means for aerosol dispensers - Google Patents

Description

April 3, 1962 w. c. BEARD, JR

REMOTE ACTUATING MEANS FOR AEROSOL DISPENSERS Filed June 18, 1958 INVENTOR WALTER C. 85A RD, JR. BY

3,028,054 REMOTE ACTUATTNG MEANS FOR AEROSOL DHSPENSERS Walter C. Beard, In, Middlebury, Conn., assignor to The Risdon Manufacturing Company, Naugatuck, Cnn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed June 18, 1958, Ser. No. 742,911 4 Claims. (Cl. 222-180) This invention relates to valve control actuating means for aerosol containers and more particularly to actuating means for controlling an aerosol spray valve at a point removed from the container and valve so that the valve can be remotely operated.

The spray valve actuator of the present invention is adapted primarily for use with pressurized spray devices of the type having dispensing valves which are operated upon tilting the valve stem as distinguished from the plunger type of dispensing valves, in which the valve stem is moved longitudinally in order to operate the valve. In this respect, it has been customary to provide a suitable nozzle at the outermost end of the valve stem, through which the fluid is atomized when the nozzle and stem together are tilted to open the valve.

In order to operate a spray valve of the above mentioned character, a force must be exerted on the nozzle or valve stem in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said stem. Ordinarily such force is applied by simply placing a finger on the back of the nozzle or stem itself and pressing forward. However, certain insecticides, germicides, fungicides or other liquids are known to be harmful to a person when they come in contact with the skin and should therefore be marketed in spray devices adapted to be remotely operated. Furthermore, it is sometimes desirable to place an aerosol container within another container, such as a garbage can, and to be able to dispense the contents of the aerosol device without opening the outer container. It must also be borne in mind that in devices of this kind the spray container or aerosol can is almost always of the disposable type and is destroyed as soon as the can is empty. Reduction in costs is, therefore, an extremely important consideration, as an increase of only a fraction of a cent in the cost of the spray device will mean a large increase in total cost when hundreds of thousands or millions of such devices are involved.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide novel actuating means for the spray valves of aerosol pressurized containers of the above-mentioned character, wherein said means embodies a simple, durable, highly efiicient yet extremely inexpensive construction.

Another object is to provide an integrally formed spray nozzle and push-rod construction for use with aerosol spray devices.

A still further object is to provide an improved spray valve actuating means which is more specifically but not exclusively designed to permit the mounting of an aerosol spray device internally of an enclosure or on the opposite side of a protective wall, while providing means for effectively operating the spray valve of said spray device from a location outside said enclosure or protective wall.

Actuating means according to the invention comprise a nozzle portion and a push-rod integrally joined thereto by means of a hinge section, wherein the nozzle portion is freely tiltable relative to the push-rod to permit rectilinear movement of the push-rod for tilting the nozzle when actuating the spray valve. The nozzle portion and pushrod are constructed so as to be relatively rigid and may be formed in a mold using a suitable plastic material, the nozzle and push-rod being integrally joined by a flexible hinge section of relatively thin cross section. Such a atent O 3,928,954 Patented Apr. 3, 1962 device may be readily manufactured at low cost so that it can be discarded along with the spray container when the latter is empty.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View of a container illustrating the actuator of the present invention in use;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a spray container and actuator wherein the actuator is illustrated in operative position on the stem of a valve of one particular design;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the actuator of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 3;

and

FIG. 5 is a bottom view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a practical application of the invention wherein an aerosol spray can ll) is mounted inside an enclosure or container 11 such as, for example, a diaper or garbage pail which is to be frequently sprayed with a certain germicide, deodorizer or other liquid. In the particular arrangement illustrated, the container 11 is provided with a cover 12, having a pair of spring clips 13 secured to the underside thereof. Clips 13 are of the so-called bicycle type which have a gripping force sufficient to fix the spray can 10 in place during normal use while permitting easy removal of same for replacement purposes. An actuator 14, having an elongated push-rod 15 extending through an opening 16 in cover 12 and a connecting nozzle portion 17, is positioned on the end of the valve stem of a valve 18 (FIG. 2) in the spray can 10.

The dispensing valve 18 is of a construction shown in the application of Frank Venus, Jr., Serial No. 438,543, filed June 22, 1954. The valve shown for illustrative purposes includes a tiltable tubular valve stem 19 having one end fitted into a resilient valve seat 20 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2. A flanged valve cup 21 is provided to hold the gasket and valve stem assembly in place when the recessed cover 22 is crimped over the lip of the mouth of can 10. The end 23 of valve stem 19 is closed and is provided with a circumferential channel 24 with a plurality of communicating apertures 25 extending into the inner bore 26 of stem 19. When stem 19 is tilted by applying a force substantially in a direction normal to its longitudinal axis, a part of end 23 thereof is lifted away from the valve seat 20 to permit the fluid 27, which is normally under pressure, to pass into channel 24, through apertures 25 into bore 26 and outwardly of stem 19. Upon release of stem 19, the resiliency of the valve seat 26 will cause the valve stem to return to its normal inoperative position (FIG. 2) whereby channel 24 will be completely sealed by the material of gasket 20 and prevent further discharge of fluid 27.

The present invention, which is directed to the actuator 14, provides an improved means for operating valve stem 19 generally in the above described manner, but from a location somewhat remote from the valve stem 19 and on the opposite side of a partition, such as the cover 12, separating the operator from the spray can 10. This permits the operation of the spray can 10 from a location outside the container 11 and further obviates the possibility of harmful liquid contents which might be escapes reduced in diameter at a predetermined distance from its open end to form an annular shoulder 29. The larger diameter of bore 28 is controlled to produce a press fit on the stem 19 as shown in FIG. 2, and the shoulder 29 of bore 28 limits the extent to which nozzle 17 may be 'forced onto stem 19 by striking its upper end.

With the nozzle 17 fitted on stem 19 in the manner illustrated in PEG. 2, the innermost end of bore 28 provides a chamber 31) for receiving fluid passing through stem 19 when valve 18 is actuated. An enlarged recess '31 is provided in the outer surface of nozzle 17 opposite push-rod 15 with an orifice 32 extending between recess 31 and chamber 311 to form a nozzle for atomizing the fluid 27 which is forced under pressure into chamber 3% when valve 18 is actuated.

In order to effectively actuate valve 18 in the manner described above, nozzle 17 and push-rod 15 of actuator 14 are joined together by an integrally, formed reduced flexible hinge-like, section 33. Push-rod 15 and hinge section 33 are preferably joined with the nozzle portion 17 at a location diametrically opposite the orifice 32 thereof and are disposed along an axis normal to the longittuhnal axis of the nozzle portion 17. Push-rod 15 is generally semicircular in cross-sectional shape and is provided with a plurality of transversely and longitudinally extending ribs 34 and 35, respectively (FIGS. 2 and which render it relatively rigid despite the flexibility of the material of which it is made. The outer end of the push-rod forms a fully circular disk 34', against which the finger is pressed in order to actuate the valve, the outer half of disk 34' being supported at the center by a wall 35 that curves down to the middle longitudinal rib 35, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. By so constructing push-rod 15, the desired rigidity may be obtained while providing a substantial saving in material. It is apparent, therefore, that this construction permits use of a flexible plastic material that provides adequate rigidity of the push-rod whileallowing the hinge section to be bent repeatedly without breaking.

The length of the combined push-rod and hinge section 33 is selected so that the uppermost end of push-rod 15 will extend outwardly of cover 12 (FIGS. 1 and 2) an amount sufficient to'allow proper actuation of valve 18. By depressing push-rod 15 as illustrated more particularly in FIG. 1, valve stem 19 is tilted downwardly to discharge the fiuid 27 through nozzle opening 32 in the conventional manner. In thus manipulating push-rod 15, the angle between it and the nozzle portion 17 attached to valve stem 19 is allowed to change due to the flexibility of the narrow hinge section 33. When the pushrod is released, the resilient action of the gasket will return it to its initial position of use (FIG. 2) and simultaneously close valve 18 as described above.

It should be particularly noted that by providing the integrally formed, reduced hinge-like section 33 between push-rod 15 and nozzle portion 17 of actuator 14, a free flexing between push-rod 15 and nozzle portion 17 is ob tained, thereby providing an effective and smooth acting actuating means for operating valve 18 of the spray device 19. In this connection, the side walls of push-rod 15 adjacent hinge section 33 are beveled at 36 so that they are not squeezed against the back of the nozzle portion 17 when the latter is tilted upon depressing pushrod 15.

It isto be understood that the spray device 10 may be operatively mounted on other parts of container 11 such as a side wall, wherein it will be disposed in a vertical position rather than the horizontal position illustrated in FIG. 1. Furthermore, the container of FIG. 1 is of course shown by way of illustration only, as the device or" the invention is not limited in use to any particular size or shape of container, and may be in fact simply a protective shield, through which the push-rod extends.

VvhatiS claimed is:

1. An actuator for use with dispensing valves in aerosol spray devices comprising a cylindrically shaped relatively rigid nozzle portion having a longitudinal bore therein for receiving a connecting part of a dispensing valve to be used therewith, a spray orifice between said bore and the outer surface of said nozzle portion, an elongated relatively rigid push-rod connected to said nozzle portion at a point substantially diametrically opposite said spray orifice and normally extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said nozzle portion, and a relatively thin, flexible hinge section integrally formed between said nozzle portion and push-rod connecting said-push-rod to said nozzle portion.

2. An actuator as defined in claim 1 which is made of a resilient, tough, plastic material and is molded as an integral unit, said push-rod being constructed of relatively thimwalled longitudinal sections joined by transverse sections rendering said push-rod relatively rigid despite the resiliency of the material of which it is made.

3. A spray device comprising, in combination, a pressurized spray container fixedly mounted on a wall of an enclosure, said spray container being provided with a spray valve having a valve stem adapted to operate said valve upon tilting said stem relative to said container with said valve stem extending substantially parallel to said wall; an actuator for tilting said valve stem from a location on the opposite side of said wall; said actuator comprising a nozzle portion having a recess for fittedly receiving the end of said valve stem, at relatively rigid pushrod connected to said nozzle portion and extending through an aperture in said wall substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said valve stern, and a relatively thin, flexible hinge section integrally formed between said nozzle portion and push-rod connecting said push-rod to said nozzle portion, said push-rod being restrained within the aperture in said wall for substantially rectilinear movement when a force is applied against its outer end, while said hinge section permits said valve stern to tilt with respect to said pus'rrrod.

4. An actuator for use with a dispensing valve in an aerosol device in which the valve has a tiltable member for actuation thereof, said actuator comprising a relatively rigid nozzle portion having means for rigidly mounting it on the tiltable member of said valve such that upon tilting said nozzle portion said valve is actuated, an elongated relatively rigid push-rod flexibly connected to said nozzle portion and extending transversely thereto for remotely tilting said nozzle portion upon longitudinal movement of said push-rod, and a relatively thin, flexible hinge section integrally formed between said nozzle portion and push-rod permitting said nozzle portion to tilt with respect to said push-rod upon such longitudinal movement of said push-rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,879,205 Gunn Sept. 27, 1932 2,678,147 Abplanalp May 11, 1954 2,686,081 Cooksley Aug. 10, 1954 2,869,764 Collins Jan. 20, 1959

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