US3199741A

US3199741A - Actuator cap construction for aerosol dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3199741A
Application number: US267710A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert G Lehmann
Original assignee: Valve Corp of America Inc
Current assignee: Valve Corp of America Inc
Priority date: 1963-03-25
Filing date: 1963-03-25
Publication date: 1965-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 1982-08-10
Also published as: DE1303711C2; DE1303711B; FR1391294A; GB1051551A

Description

Aug. 10, 1965 H. e. LEHMANN ACTUATOR CAP CONSTRUCTION FOR AEROSOL DISPENSER Filed March 25, 1963 United States Patent 3,199,741 ACTUATQR CA CGNSTRUCTIGN F813 AEROSQL lBlSlENSER Herbert G, Lehmaun, Easton, Comm, assignor to Valve (Jorporation of America, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 267,710 9 Claims. (Cl. 222-482) This invention relates to small hand-held aerosol dispensers, and more particularly to one-piece plastic actuator cap constructions thereof.

There have been proposed in the past various actuator caps for the above purpose, some of which were constituted entirely of a single molded piece of plastic composition and comprised essentially a stationary body portion and a movable valve actuator portion joined to each other by a single web or strip which functioned as a hinge, in connecting the movable actuator portion to the stationary body portion. The connecting web held the actuator portion captive on the body portion, and in addition to such function it enabled the entire cap to be molded as a single piece, eliminating assembly operations, close fits and tolerances between the two relatively movable parts of the cap, etc.

While such prior one-piece plastic cap construction has appeared to be practical and feasible, it had a distinct disadvantage in that it coupled a hingedly connected and swingable actuator piece or button to a valve stem which was only linearly movable, that is, movable vertically in a straight line. Under certain circumstances of operation and construction this type of mismatch did not cause difficulty. However, if the action of the valve stem was at all critical, either due to its particular construction or else because of the materials employed in fabricating it and also the bearing which carried it, any slight canting or tilting of the stern could prove to be undesirable, espe cially after an extended period of use wherein the results of wear would be felt. In addition to this drawback, the making of the connection between a relatively large movable piece or portion of the plastic cap construction and another relatively large piece or portion by means of but a single thin frangible web required that a certain amount of care had to be taken in stripping the molded piece from the cavities, handling the same and assembling it to the aerosol container. lviisalignment of the actuator portion with respect to the stationary cap body portion could easily occur because of the single thin web connection, and this required care to be exercised, especially during the assembly of the cap construction to the container.

The above drawbacks and disadvantages of prior onepiece molded plastic actuator cap constructions are obviated by the present invention, and one object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved molded actuator cap for the purpose specified and constituted as a single piece, wherein the movable actuator portion While held captive on the stationary body portion and johied thereto by thin and flexible web means, is so supported and mounted as to have inherently a straight line vertical movement which is virtually identical to and compatible with the straight line vertical movement of the valve stem of the aerosol dispenser, thereby eliminating any tendency for tilting or canting of the valve stem during operation of the aerosol device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved actuator cap construction constituted of a single molded plastic piece as above set forth, wherein the movable actuator portion is accurately supported and mounted to maintain its proper initial position, and not likely to easily become misaligned or misplaced.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved one-piece plastic actuator cap construction as above characterized, wherein the movable actuator portion is sturdily supported by virtue of being held by a plurality of flexible webs located at widely spaced points, thus obviating the necessity for exercising special care in the stripping and handling of the cap, and assembling of the same to the aerosol device.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a novel one-piece molded actuator cap in accordance with the foregoing, which is relatively simple, economical to fabricate, and which possesses known characteristics which make for ease of operation when mounted on the container.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of an advantageous actuator cap construction as outlined, wherein the actuator portion is guarded and prevented from being inadvertently operated, and wherein said actuator portion and the cap body are of relatively large size (sometimes referred to as of the jumbo type), thereby facilitating the use of the device and enhancing the appearance of the dispenser as a whole.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters of reference are used to designate like components throughout the several views, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the improved one-piece molded actuator cap construction as provided by the invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the actuator cap construction.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the cap construction.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the cap construction.

FiG. 5 is an axial sectional view of the cap construction, taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1 and showing also a portion of an aerosol container and valve stem carried thereby.

Referring now particularly to the figures, there is shown in FIG. 5 the upper portion it of a pressurized aerosol container, said portion including a reduced necl; 12, an annular collar 14 above the neck 12, and an upstanding depressible hollow valve stem 16.

In accordance with the invention there is provided an improved actuator cap adapted to be mounted on the container portion 1% said cap being constituted as a onepiece plastic molding and comprising essentially two salient parts, a stationary cap body part designated generally by the numeral 18 and a movable valve actuator part or portion designated generally by the numeral 29. The said

portions

18 and 20 are integral with each other, being secured together in operative relation by a plurality of thin and elongate flexible tie webs 22.

By the invention, the disposition and nature of the tie webs 22 are such that the movable actuator portion 20 of the cap construction has a vertical, essentially straight line or linear movement as distinguished from an arcuate or curvilinear movement. The movable actuator portion 26 is in the form of a button, having a sloping top wall 24 at the underside of which there is a depending hollow boss 26 provided with a central bore 28 in which is received the upstanding hollow valve stem 16 of the aerosol device. The button or actuator 20 also has, disposed below the sloping top wall 24-, a laterally extending discharge passage which is provided in a dependent hollow rib 3f), the bore 32 of the rib communicating with the bore 28 of the boss 26 as shown in FIG. 5. At its outermost end, the rib 30 is provided with a usual type of orifice 34. Extending around the peripheral edge of the top wall 24 of the button 29 is a depending curved flange 36 which strengthens the top wall and provides rigidity to the button.

The stationary or cap body portion 18 of the cap construction comprises a curved or convex top wall 38 from which there depend two annular and concentric, spaced depending

skirts

40 and 42, the latter being disposed inside of the outer skirt 40. The annular skirt 40 constitutes the outer wall of the cap body and is preferably substantially cylindrical as shown, being so arranged that its lower edge 44 rests in the annular groove 46 extending within the shoulder 48 provided by the crimped portions of the container side wall and the neck 12.

The bottom edge 50 of the inner depending skirt 42 is provided with an inwardly projecting detent shoulder 52 adapted to be snapped past the retainer collar 14 of the aerosol container, for the purpose of securing the cap body in place. Vertical ribs or stops 56 extending within the inner skirt 42 engage the top surface of the collar 14 to position the cap body, in conjunction with the detent shoulder 52.

Extending along .the inner edge of the top wall 38 of the cap body is a depending flange 58, which has a generally circular configuration as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the depending flange 58 connects with a pair of depending walls 60, said walls being joined at the front of the cap body to the annular exterior wall or skirt 40.

As further provided by the invention, the depending connecting webs 22 are joined respectively to the cap body 18 and actuator portion 20 by being connected respectively to the depending

flanges

58 and 36 whereby they are largely hidden from view. This construction may be observed in FIG. 5, for example. The depending webs are seen to be U-shaped, and comprise relatively thin and wide flexible strips having elongate, generally parallel leg portions 64 and 66 joined to each other by a short curved yoke portion 68. As seen in FIG. 2, a total of seven connecting webs is provided. However, either a greater or a lesser number may be utilized, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, an extensive, fairly wide U-shaped slot 70 is seen to exist between the inner and outer depending

flanges

36 and 58 respectively of the actuator button 20 and cap body 18. The tie Webs 22 are located along the said slot 70 and provide a multiplicity of flexible connections between the actuator button and the cap body, functioning in such a manner that the button may have substantially a vertical linear movement, without any arcuate component. This movement matches the purely linear movement of the hollow valve stem 16, whereby the latter and the button 20 are perfectly compatible. Thus, when the button 20 is depressed it may completely follow the guidance of the valve stem 16, both having linear vertical movement whereby there is minimized any tendency to tilting or canting of the valve stem. Accordingly, the likelihood of such stem binding, or wearing appreciably on one side or another is virtually eliminated.

It will be noted that the tie webs 22 may be considered as grouped in pairs of oppositely disposed units, except for the single centrally located web. Such grouping of oppositely disposed webs provides for opposed actions and forces on the button 20, resulting in linearity of movement, as will now be understood.

It will be understood that the disposition and arrangement of the tie webs 22, together with the cap body portion 18 and the actuator button portion 20 all contribute to enabling the cap construction to be readily molded in simple mold cavities, with a minimum of complications. Except for the transverse bore 32 of the button 20, the cap construction may be readily stripped from the mold cavities, due to the configuration employed in conjunction with the resilience and yieldability of the plastic substance, such properties making feasible the stripping in spite of the annular internal detent shoulder 52 on the depending skirt 42.

It will be further noted that those two webs which straddle the orifice portion of the actuator button 20 (the webs closest to the outer wall 40 of the cap body) in part eflect a desirable stability to such orifice portion. Likewise, those three webs which are farthest from the orifice 34 of the button 20 tend to guide the lower portion of the top wall 24 of the button, said lower portion often receiving a major portion of the finger pressure which is exerted on the button. Thus, the particular disposition of the tie webs 22 effects a stabilization of the button, in conjunction with the restraint provided by the upstanding valve stem 16; Since the support provided for the button by the tie webs 22 is such as to readily permit vertical linear movement of the button while discouraging tilting or arcuate movement, the valve action involving the actuator portion 20 is smooth and surprisingly easy, and I attribute this in part also to the absence of any frictional engagement between the actuator button portion 20 of the cap and the remainder comprising the stationary body portion 18. It will be readily appreciated that the only frictional resistance to actuation or depressing movement of the button 20 is offered by the mounting for the valve stem 16 (in conjunction with the valve return spring), and such resistance is confined to small diameters whereby it does not appreciably interfere with downward movement of the button. The appreciable width of the slot which separates the button 20 from the cap body portion 18, in conjunction with the restraint provided by the tie webs 22 and the valve stem 16 effectively prevents rubbing of the button on the cap body.

The cap construction as illustrated herein may be advantageously molded of a plastic composition compounded to give a resilient and yieldable end product, such as formulations of polyethylene and the like. With such resilient plastic construction the tie webs 22 readily yield the slight extent required to enable the depress button 20 and valve stem 16 to have the full path of travel required.

Whereas the present improved one-piece actuator cap construction is illustrated as having a specific preferred form in the drawings accompanying this specification, it will be understood that the novel multiple tie web organization associated with the stationary cap body and movable actuator button may be incorporated in other styles and shapes of cap without departing from the spirit of the invention. Modifications and variations may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

I claim:

1. An aerosol actuator comprising, in combination:

(a) a stationary cap body having an outer tubular peripher-al wall,

(b) said body having an expansive top wall provided with a centered opening,

(c) said top wall having a flange depending from an edge of the top opening, all portions of said flange being located below the immediately adjacent portions of the top wall,

(d) a finger-engageable depress button disposed in said centered opening and separated from said depending flange by space, said button having means engage able with a movable valve stem of an aerosol con tainer to actuate the stem, said button having an eX-' I pansive top surface for engagement by an operating finger, and having a discharge passage and an orifice at the end of the discharge passage, through which the aerosol substance passes,

(e) an integral tie web extending between and joining the said button and bottom of the depending flange of the cap body, said web supporting the button centralized in the top opening for limited downward movement to operate the valve stem,

(f) said web being downwardly removed from the top edge of said centered opening and thereby partially concealed from view,

(g) said web being disposed substantially at the same level as the said valve stem g gabJ1Q means to.

minimize horizontal movement of said means when the button is shifted downward to depress the valve stem to its discharging position.

2. An actuator as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said depress button has a depending flange disposed inwardly of and spaced from the flange of the cap body,

(b) said tie web being joined to the flange of the depress button.

3. In an aerosol dispenser, a manually operable onepiece molded plastic cap construction comprising, in combination: 7

(a) a stationary cap body having means for securing it to a pressurized container, said body having an expansive top wall and an upstanding peripheral wall of tubular shape located below the top wall, having in said top wall a top access opening with inner edge portions bordering said opening, said inner edge portions comprising a flange depending from and being located below immediately adjacent portions of a said top wall of the cap body,

(b) a manually engageable depressible valve-actuator button disposed within the access opening of the body and separated therefrom by space, said button having a discharge passage and orifice for the aerosol substance, and being accessible at the top of the body, said button having a top finger engageable surface and being engageable with a valve stem of the container to receive aerosol substance therefrom and to depress the same, and having outer edge portions extending along and spaced .from the inner edge portions and flange of the cap body; and

(c) a plurality of flexible tie webs integral with the said cap body and actuator button, mounting the latter in the body for limited wholly straight-line vertical movement while holding the button captive and tending to maintain it with the axis thereof parallel to the axis of the cap body,

(d) said tie webs being connected to under portions of a said spaced inner and outer edge portion of the body and button respectively and being thereby at least partially concealed from view when the cap construction is observed from the exterior.

4. In an aerosol dispenser, a manually operable onepiece molded plastic cap construction comprising, in combination:

(a) a stationary cap body having means for securing it to a pressurized container, said body having an upstanding peripheral wall of tubular shape, having a top access opening and having inner edge portions bordering said opening,

(b) a depressible valve-actuator button disposed within the access opening of the body and accessible at the top of the latter, said button being engageable with a valve stem of the container to depress the same, and having outer edge portions extending along and spaced from the inner edge portions of the cap body; and

(c) a plurality of of flexible tie webs integral with a said cap body and actuator button, mounting the latter in the body for limited wholly straight-l ne vertical movement while holding the button captive and tending to maintain it with the axis thereof parallel to the axis of the cap body,

(d) said tie webs being connected to under portions of a said spaced inner and outer edge portion of the body and button respectively and being thereby at least partially concealed from view when the cap construction is observed from the exterior,

(e) said tie webs being U-shaped with substantially parallel leg portions and with yoke portions oming said leg portions, said webs extending downward from the extremities of the legs, with the yoke portions of the webs located lowermost.

5. A cap construction as in claim 4, wherein:

(a) an inwardly extended flange is provided on the 5 uppermost portions of the cap body wall defining the access opening of the body, said inner edge portions of the body constituting the inner rim of said flange, and

(b) extremities of the legs of said webs are joined to under portions of a said inner rim of said flange.

6. In an aerosol dispenser, a manually operable onepiece molded plastic cap construction comprising, in combination:

(c) a plurality of flexible tie webs integral with a said cap body and actuator button, mounting the latter in the body for limited wholly straight-line vertical movement while holding the button captive and tending to maintain it with the axis thereof parallel to the axis of the cap body,

(e) said peripheral wall of the cap body having an opening in its upper portion,

(f) said actuator button being lozenge-shaped and having an orifice portion at one end, disposed adjacent to and inward of said opening.

7. A cap construction as in claim 6, wherein:

(a) the tie webs are disposed in a U-shaped formation.

8. In an aerosol dispenser, a manually operable onepiece molded plastic cap construction comprising, in combination:

(a) a stationary cap body having means for secuning it to a pressurized container, said body having an upstanding peripheral wall of tubular shape, having a top access opening and having inner edge portions bordering said opening,

(-b) a depressible valve-actuator button disposed within the access opening of the body and accessible at the top of the latter, said button being engageable with a valve stem of the container to depress the same, and having outer edge portions extending along and spaced from the inner edge portions of the cap body; and

(-d) said tie webs being connected to under port-ions of a said spaced inner and outer edge portion of the body and button respectively and being thereby at least partially concealed irom view when the cap construction is observed from the exterior,

(e) said button having a curved periphery, and

(if) said tie webs comprising relatively thin and wide elongate strips of U-shaped configuration, having elongate substantially parallel and fiat leg portions some of which are connected to the curved periphery of the button and depend therefrom.

9. In an aerosol dispenser, a manually operable onep-iece molded plastic cap construction comprising, in combination:

(b) a depressible valve-actuator button disposed within the access opening of the body and accessible at the top of the latter, said button being engageable with a valve stem of the container to depress the same, and having outer edge portions extending along and spaced from the "inner edge portions of the cap body; and

(c) -a plurality of flexible tie webs integral with a said cap body and actuator button, mounting the latter in the body for limited wholly straight-line vertical movement while holding the button captive and tending to maintain it with the axis thereof parallel to the axis of the cap body,

(e) said cap body having an inwardly extending flange References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,573,624 10/51 Svendsen. 2,714,475 8/55 Roehrich 222l82 X 3,104,034 9/63 Sagarin et a1. 222-182 FOREIGN PATENTS 547,740 5/56 Belgium. 726,162 3/55 Great Brita-in.

EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiner.

Claims

1. AN AEROSOL ACTUATOR COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A STATIONARY CAP BODY HAVING AN OUTER TUBULAR PERIPHERAL WALL, (B) SAID BODY HAVING AN EXPANSIVE TOP WALL PROVIDED WITH A CENTERED OPENING, (C) SAID TOP WALL HAVING A FLANGE DEPENDING FROM AN EDGE OF THE TOP OEPNING, ALL PORTIONS OF SAID FLANGE BEING LOCATED BELOW THE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT PORTIONS OF THE TOP WALLS, (D) A FINGER-ENGAGEABLE DEPRESS BUTTON DISPOSED IN SAID CENTERED OPENING AND SEPARATED FROM SAID DEPENDING FLANGE BY SPACE, SAID BUTON HAVING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH A MOVABLE VALVE STEM OF AN AEROSOL CONTAINER TO ACTUATE THE STEM, SAID BUTTON HAVING AN EXPANSIVE TOP SURFACE FOR ENAGEMENT BY AN OPERATING FINGER, AND HAVING A DISCHARGE PASSAGE, THROUGH WHICH AT THE END OF THE DISCHARGE PASSAGE, THROUGH WHICH THE AEROSOL SUBSTANCE PASSES, (E) AN INTEGRAL TIE WEB EXTENDING BETWEEN AND JOINING THE SAID BUTTON AND BOTTOM OF THE DEPENDING FLANGE OF THE CAP BODY, SAID WEB SUPPORTING THE BUTTON CENTRALIZED IN THE TOP OPENING FOR LIMITED DOWNWARD MOVEMENT TO OPERATE THE VALVE STEM, (F) SAID WEB BEING DOWNWARDLY REMOVED FROM THE TOP EDGE OF SAID CENTERED OPENING AND THEREBY PARTIALLY CONCEALED FROM VIEW, (G) SAID WEB BEING DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY AT THE SAME LEVEL AS THE SAID VALVE STEM ENGAGEABLE MEANS TO MINIMIZE HORIOZNTAL MOVEMETN OF SAID MEANS WHEN THE BUTTON IS SHIFTED DOWNWARD TO DEPRESS THE VALVE STEM TO ITS DISCHARGING POSITION.