US3199741A - Actuator cap construction for aerosol dispenser - Google Patents

Actuator cap construction for aerosol dispenser Download PDF

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Publication number
US3199741A
US3199741A US267710A US26771063A US3199741A US 3199741 A US3199741 A US 3199741A US 267710 A US267710 A US 267710A US 26771063 A US26771063 A US 26771063A US 3199741 A US3199741 A US 3199741A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
button
valve stem
actuator
cap
cap body
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US267710A
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English (en)
Inventor
Herbert G Lehmann
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Valve Corp of America Inc
Original Assignee
Valve Corp of America Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to GB1051551D priority Critical patent/GB1051551A/en
Application filed by Valve Corp of America Inc filed Critical Valve Corp of America Inc
Priority to US267710A priority patent/US3199741A/en
Priority to DE19641303711D priority patent/DE1303711C2/de
Priority to FR968423A priority patent/FR1391294A/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3199741A publication Critical patent/US3199741A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/14—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant
    • B65D83/16—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant characterised by the actuating means
    • B65D83/20—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant characterised by the actuating means operated by manual action, e.g. button-type actuator or actuator caps
    • B65D83/205—Actuator caps, or peripheral actuator skirts, attachable to the aerosol container

Definitions

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • a depending flange 58 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • the button 20 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • An aerosol actuator comprising, in combination:
  • 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,
  • 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,
  • said depress button has a depending flange disposed inwardly of and spaced from the flange of the cap body
  • a manually operable onepiece molded plastic cap construction comprising, in combination: 7
  • 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,
  • 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;
  • 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.
  • a manually operable onepiece molded plastic cap construction comprising, in combination:
  • 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,
  • 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;
  • 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,
  • 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.
  • 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
  • extremities of the legs of said webs are joined to under portions of a said inner rim of said flange.
  • a manually operable onepiece molded plastic cap construction comprising, in combination:
  • 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,
  • 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;
  • 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,
  • said actuator button being lozenge-shaped and having an orifice portion at one end, disposed adjacent to and inward of said opening.
  • tie webs are disposed in a U-shaped formation.
  • a manually operable onepiece molded plastic cap construction comprising, in combination:
  • 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,
  • 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;
  • 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,
  • 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.
  • a manually operable onep-iece molded plastic cap construction comprising, in combination:
  • 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,
  • 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;
  • 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,
  • 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.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
  • Nozzles (AREA)
  • Coating Apparatus (AREA)
US267710A 1963-03-25 1963-03-25 Actuator cap construction for aerosol dispenser Expired - Lifetime US3199741A (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1051551D GB1051551A (de) 1963-03-25
US267710A US3199741A (en) 1963-03-25 1963-03-25 Actuator cap construction for aerosol dispenser
DE19641303711D DE1303711C2 (de) 1963-03-25 1964-03-14 Aus kunststoff geformte betaetigerkappe fuer in der hand zu haltende aerosolspender
FR968423A FR1391294A (fr) 1963-03-25 1964-03-24 Tête de commande pour distributeur d'aérosol

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US267710A US3199741A (en) 1963-03-25 1963-03-25 Actuator cap construction for aerosol dispenser

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3199741A true US3199741A (en) 1965-08-10

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US267710A Expired - Lifetime US3199741A (en) 1963-03-25 1963-03-25 Actuator cap construction for aerosol dispenser

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US (1) US3199741A (de)
DE (1) DE1303711C2 (de)
FR (1) FR1391294A (de)
GB (1) GB1051551A (de)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3272394A (en) * 1964-10-07 1966-09-13 Valve Corp Of America Actuator cap for small fluid dispensers
US3282471A (en) * 1965-12-22 1966-11-01 Valve Corp Of America Plastic one-piece actuator and nozzle for small dispensers
US3737077A (en) * 1971-02-10 1973-06-05 R Bruce Means for attaching a dispensing valve to a pressurized dispenser with a lock ring
US3762611A (en) * 1972-01-19 1973-10-02 Gillette Co Apparatus for controlling discharge of material from a pressurized dispensing package
US4187963A (en) * 1978-09-22 1980-02-12 The Continental Group, Inc. Adapter ring for dispensing overcap
US4636102A (en) * 1983-10-12 1987-01-13 Ekard Industries Combination brush and applicator unit
US20070007309A1 (en) * 2004-12-16 2007-01-11 Heiko Eberhardt Cap for an aerosol container or a spray container
US20090297460A1 (en) * 2006-03-24 2009-12-03 John David Lamb Aerosol dispenser
USD667730S1 (en) 2010-11-05 2012-09-25 Colgate-Palmolive Company Container
USD667728S1 (en) 2010-11-05 2012-09-25 Colgate-Palmolive Company Container

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2518962A1 (fr) * 1981-12-29 1983-07-01 Oreal Capot pour recipient et ensemble correspondant
FR2716445B1 (fr) * 1994-02-24 1996-04-12 Oreal Dispositif pour actionner une valve de distribution, et bouton-poussoir pour un tel dispositif.

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE547740A (de) * 1956-05-11
US2573624A (en) * 1950-07-13 1951-10-30 Robert W Svendsen Cap for aerosol bomb
GB726162A (en) * 1952-10-29 1955-03-16 Abplanalp Robert H Improvements in or relating to a foam dispensing head for an aerosol container
US2714475A (en) * 1951-10-29 1955-08-02 Richford Corp Dispensing container for fluids
US3104034A (en) * 1960-10-24 1963-09-17 Vca Inc Cap construction for aerosol devices

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2573624A (en) * 1950-07-13 1951-10-30 Robert W Svendsen Cap for aerosol bomb
US2714475A (en) * 1951-10-29 1955-08-02 Richford Corp Dispensing container for fluids
GB726162A (en) * 1952-10-29 1955-03-16 Abplanalp Robert H Improvements in or relating to a foam dispensing head for an aerosol container
BE547740A (de) * 1956-05-11
US3104034A (en) * 1960-10-24 1963-09-17 Vca Inc Cap construction for aerosol devices

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3272394A (en) * 1964-10-07 1966-09-13 Valve Corp Of America Actuator cap for small fluid dispensers
US3282471A (en) * 1965-12-22 1966-11-01 Valve Corp Of America Plastic one-piece actuator and nozzle for small dispensers
US3737077A (en) * 1971-02-10 1973-06-05 R Bruce Means for attaching a dispensing valve to a pressurized dispenser with a lock ring
US3762611A (en) * 1972-01-19 1973-10-02 Gillette Co Apparatus for controlling discharge of material from a pressurized dispensing package
US4187963A (en) * 1978-09-22 1980-02-12 The Continental Group, Inc. Adapter ring for dispensing overcap
US4636102A (en) * 1983-10-12 1987-01-13 Ekard Industries Combination brush and applicator unit
US20070007309A1 (en) * 2004-12-16 2007-01-11 Heiko Eberhardt Cap for an aerosol container or a spray container
US7523845B2 (en) * 2004-12-16 2009-04-28 The Procter & Gamble Company Cap for an aerosol container or a spray container
US20090297460A1 (en) * 2006-03-24 2009-12-03 John David Lamb Aerosol dispenser
US9649513B2 (en) 2006-03-24 2017-05-16 Colgate—Palmolive Company Aerosol dispenser
USD667730S1 (en) 2010-11-05 2012-09-25 Colgate-Palmolive Company Container
USD667728S1 (en) 2010-11-05 2012-09-25 Colgate-Palmolive Company Container

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE1303711C2 (de) 1973-05-17
FR1391294A (fr) 1965-03-05
GB1051551A (de)
DE1303711B (de) 1972-10-05

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