US3209953A

US3209953A - Container dispensing

Info

Publication number: US3209953A
Application number: US362858A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard J Nichol
Original assignee: Avon Products Inc
Current assignee: Avon Products Inc
Priority date: 1964-04-27
Filing date: 1964-04-27
Publication date: 1965-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 1982-10-05
Also published as: GB1030588A; DE1303348B; BE663033A; ES312272A1

Description

Oct. 5, 1965 R. J. NICHOL CONTAINER DISPENSING Filed April 27, 1964 FIG. 3

INVENTOR Rlchord J. Nlchol ORNEYS dim ATT FIG. 2

United States Patent 3,209,953 CONTAlNER DISPENSING Richard J. Nichol, Mount Kisco, N.Y., assignor to Avon Products, Inc., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 362,858 13 Claims. (Cl. 222-182) The present invention relates to an improved container dispensing cap for containers holding a pressurized product and more particularly to a cap constructed in such a manner whereby inadvertent and unauthorized discharge of the product is effectively prevented and whereby discharge of the contents when desired will be effected in a direction away from the users hand.

Aerosol containers are presently very popular devices for holding liquefied products which are to be dispensed in the form of a mist or spray. Generally, these containers include a hollow valve stem extending outwardly from the container and over which a suitable actuating mechanism is placed. The actuating mechanism may be in the form of a button having a discharge orifice connecting the hollow valve stem to the atmosphere. By depressing the button, the valve stem will be caused to move downwardly to open a suitable valve connecting the stem to the interior of the container. The container is, in turn, filled with the liquid product to be dispensed and a pressurized medium such as Freon or the like whereby opening of the valve mechanism through actua tion of the button will cause the product to move through the valve stem and the discharge passageway of the button and issue therefrom in the form of a mist.

The valve stems provided on aerosol containers of this type are usually quite small in diameter and length due to the fact that the passageways extending therethrough are extremely small in diameter for purposes of effecting a proper discharge of the contents. Accordingly, the button actuators associated with these valve stems in presently available aerosol containers have likewise been made small. Although dispensing of the product through these small buttons is easily accomplished, the smallness of the actuating button does not readily permit a visual indication of the direction in which the nozzle outlet of the button is pointed and therefore, if the user is not careful, it is quite easy to depress the button when the nozzle is pointed in a direction toward the user. In many situations, this is obviously undesirable as, for example, when the container holds a product which is not a cosmetic and not to be applied to the individual.

In addition to this, aerosol containers incorporating a small button not much larger than the size of the valve stem are susceptible to breakage of the valve stem and button due to the fact that these parts are exposed and not well supported against accidental unrestrained bending. To avoid this tendency, aerosol containers employing small actuating buttons are usually provided with a separate cap adapted to be placed over the exposed button when the container is not being used. Each time, however, it is desired to dispense part of the product from within the container, this cap must be removed to provide access to the actuating button. Of course, removal of the cap prior to dispensing is not difficult or unduly time consuming; however, the mere fact that a separate cap is used, does add some inconvenience and provides an environment in which the cap may be lost or damaged while the container is being used.

To avoid these and other related disadvantages of aerosol containers constructed in this manner, it has been proposed to provide the valve stem of the container with an enlarged button head and to reciprocably mount this button within a cover member which is in turn adapted to remain on the container during dispensing of the 3,Z9,953 Patented Get. 5, 1965 "ice product. To permit access to the button, this type of cover member is provided with an opening in the top portion thereof. This opening is disposed in alignment with the button, and the button is, in turn, provided with an upper surface extending into the opening and terminating along the outer surface of the cover. Finally, the discharge nozzle portion of the button of these containers is positioned within the cover and in alignment with a small opening in the side of the cover to permit the dispensing of the contents. Containers constructed in this manner require no disassembly before use and provide an actuating button which is sufficiently supported against accidental breakage.

For purposes of indicating the direction of discharge of the contents through the discharge nozzle portion of these actuating buttons, the opening in the cover of these containers has in some cases been formed with a pointed edge directed toward the nozzle opening and with the head portion of the button formed in a similar contour. This provides an indication as to how the container is to be held by the user to assure that the nozzle will be pointed away from the hand; however, an unobservant user could just as easily actuate the button with the nozzle pointed in the wrong direction and this is particularly possible due to the fact that the actual discharge nozzle of the containers constructed in this manner is disposed wholly within the cover and only in communication with the outside through the small opening in the side of the cover.

In addition to the above, containers employing caps constructed in this manner are susceptible to inadvertent and unauthorized dispensing of the product since the actuating button of these containers is completely exposed along the top surface of the cap. Once these containers have been purchased by the ultimate consumer, this does not present too much of a problem; however, during shipping and storing, care must be taken to assure that other containers or objects are not pressed against the container tops to depress the actuating buttons and thereby cause dispensing of the product. Also, in displaying these containers in the retail stores, for example, they are readily susceptible to unauthorized use because of the exposed nature of the actuating button. This is particularly true where the containers are filled with products that are being sold for their fragrance as, for example, room fresheners and it is desired to discover the fragrance of the particular product before purchasing it. Also, children might be intrigued by these containers and dispense the product without purchasing them. Although the amount of product lost by this unauthorized use Will probably be small, the customer who does finally purchase a particular container likes to feel that he is getting a completely filled container.

According to the teachings of the present invention, an improved container and dispensing cap construction is provided in which the above mentioned disadvantages of conventional constructions are eliminated.

Generally, the dispensing cap of the present invention is of the type wherein the actuating button is provided with an enlarged head slidably mounted within a cover member. In addition to this, however, the container cap of the present invention is provided with a protective hood overlying the actuating button. This hood not only prevents accidental discharge of the product contained within the container by objects being pressed against the top of the cap but also requires that the discharge nozzle be pointed in a direction away from the users hand before any product can be dispensed. Also, as a deterrent against unauthorized dispensing of the product, a frangible member is formed on the cover portion of the cap to restrict access to the actuating button. This member is constructed and fixed to the cap in such a way whereby unauthorized access to the actuating button is effectively prevented yet the frangible member is readily breakable when the container is used the first time so as to thereafter provide free access to the actuating button.

A more complete understanding of the present invention will be obtained by examination of the following specification and accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container dispensing cap of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation partially broken away of the cover portion of the cap; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the container cap of FIG. 1 secured to a container.

As shown in FIG. 1, the container dispensing cap generally designated 1 comprises a container cover 2 and an actuating button 3. The cover 2 includes an outer cylindrical wall 4 and an inwardly spaced inner cylindrical wall 5, both of which terminate in an upper wall 6. The upper wall is cut away at 7 to provide a V-shaped opening 8 to the interior of the cover. This opening extends from the outer wall 4 of the cover diametrically across the wall 6 to the inner wall 5. The side walls 4 and of the cover are in turn provided with a U-shaped opening 9 extending downwardly from the Wall 6 to form a continuation of the opening 8.

Covering the opening 8 is a curved tapered guard member 10 which is fixed to the cover 6 along the edge of the opening 8 and terminates in an edge 11 generally disposed above the U-shaped opening 9. The U-shaped opening 9 and the edge 11 of the guard together define an access opening 12 which is generally circular in crosssection as shown in FIG. 2.

A removable guard member comprising a frangible elongated member 13 is secured to the cover 2 with one end 14 attached to the hood and the other end 15 to the portion of the cover defined by the U-shaped opening 9. This member divides the access opening 12 into two substantially equal halves for purposes more fully described below.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inner wall 5 on the side of the cover diametrically opposite the access opening 12 is provided with an inverted U-shaped opening 16 extending upwardly from the lower edge 17 thereof. The inner surface of the wall 5 adjacent the edge 17 is in addition provided with a latching groove 18 for purposes more fully described below. Cooperating with the opening 16 is an enlarged discharge opening 19 extending through the wall 4 and into alignment with the opening 16. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cover portion 2 of the cap is molded as an integral piece from a suitable plastic material.

Slidably mounted within the cover 2 is the actuating button 3. As shown in FIG. 3, this button includes a hollow depending discharge stem 20 and an enlarged cup-shaped head 21 securely connected thereto by means of the bridging member 22. The upper surface of the head 21 is provided with a recessed actuating portion 23 substantially complementary in shape to the opening 8 of the cover. This recess terminates along the cylindrical Wall portion 24 of the head in a U-shaped recess 25 substantially complementary in shape to the opening 9 of the cover. The actuating portion 23 of the button 3 is divided into three zones, 3. central zone 23, and two side zones 23".

On the part of the wall 24 of the button head 21 diametrically opposite the recess 25 is an outwardly extending nozzle 26. To connect the nozzle to the interior of the discharge stem 20, a passageway 27 is provided in the portion of the bridging member 22 which extends between the nozzle and the discharge stem. As with the cover portion 2 of the cap, the button 3 is preferably molded as an integral piece from a suitable plastic material.

When the actuating button 3 is positioned within the cover 2, the nozzle 26 will be slidably disposed within the opening 16 of the inner wall 5 of the cover and in alignment with the discharge opening 19, while the wall 24 of the enlarged head 21 will be slidably positioned within the inner wall 5. A slight looseness between the head 21 and inner Wall 5 is provided for purposes of permitting the head to cant or tip within the cover as more fully described below.

FIG. 3 shows the container cap 1 including the cover and button portions secured to a container 28. The container has a wall portion 29 and a cover 30 secured thereto at one end 31. The cover 30 is provided with a central valve opening 32 in whichis secured a valve mechanism generally designated as 33. The valve mechanism includes a disc shaped member 34 fixed to the container across the valve opening 32 and having a depressible valve stem 35 extending outwardly therefrom. The valve stem 35 is made of resilient material so as to be capable of bending slightly from side to side and upon depression thereof will open communication between it and the interior of the container.

With the cap 1 in the position shown in FIG. 3, the inner wall 5 of the cover 2 will engage the container 28 along the edge of the valve opening 32 with the latching groove 18 holding the cover 2 thereon but permitting rotation of the cap on the container about the valve stem 35. The outer wall 4 of the cover 2 will, in turn, rest on the container at a point disposed outwardly of the opening 32 as shown.

Also, the button portion of the cap 1 will be positioned with the discharge stem 20 seated on the valve stem 35 and with its upper surface positioned slightly above the access opening 9 of the cover 2.

With the above described construction, the guard 10 provides a protective covering preventing accidental depression of the bottom 3; and together with the access opening 12 and the diametrically disposed nozzle 26 provides a container in which, under normal conditions, the button 3 can only be depressed by the user while held in his hand with the discharge nozzle pointed away from the hand.

Also, the frangible member 13 being positioned over the access opening 12 acts as a deterrent against unauthorized use of the container, since it effectively divides the access opening 12 into two substantially equal halves which are not large enough to permit easy entrance of the intended users finger. And due to the contour of the actuating portion of the button, the flexible nature of the valve stem 35, and the mounting of the cap on the container, depression along the sides 23" of the actuating portion without corresponding depression of the central zone 23' will only tip the button and tend to rotate the entire cap about the valve stem 35 and not pro duce the required depression thereof for causing the valve 33 to open. 7

The above description describes the preferred construction of the present invention; however, it is to be understood that various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an aerosol container having an outwardly extending flexible valve stem operative to effect communication between said stem and the interior of said container upon depression thereof: a dispensing cap secured to said container over said valve stem and comprising:

(a) a cover member including:

(1) a top wall overlying said valve stem,

(2) a depending side wall connecting said top wall to said container around said valve stem,

(3) a first opening in the top wall extending to the periphery thereof,

(4) a second opening in the depending side wall extending to the periphery of the top wall and into alignment with said first opening,

(5) a third opening in the opposite side of said side wall,

(6) a fixed guard member secured to said top wall over said first opening and terminating adjacent the periphery of said top wall above said second opening to define an access opening, and

(7) a removable guard member removably secured to said cover and extending across said access opening; and

(b) a valve actuating button slidably and loosely mounted within said cover for movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to said top wall and canting about the direction of movement and including:

(1) an actuating portion disposed within said access opening,

(2) a discharge nozzle fixed to the side wall of said button in alignment with said third opens,

(3) a dispensing discharge stem fixed to the interior of said button and seated on said valve stem, and

(4) a passageway connecting said discharge stem to said nozzle.

2. In an aerosol container having a dispensing cap as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said dispensing cap is rotatably secured to said container for rotation about said valve stem.

3. In an aerosol container having a dispensing cap as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

(a) said removable guard comprises a frangible elongated member extending substantially midway across said access opening in a direction substantially perpendicular to the top wall of said cover.

4. In an aerosol container having an outwardly extending flexible valve stem operative to effect communication between said stern and the interior of said container upon depression thereof: a dispensing cap secured to said container over said valve stem and comprising:

(a) a cover member including:

( 1) a top wall overlying said valve stem,

(3) a substantially V-shaped opening in the top wall of the cover with the spaced sides thereof extending to the periphery of said top wall,

(4) a U-shaped opening in the side wall of the cover with the spaced sides thereof extending to the periphery of said top wall and into alignment with the V-shaped opening,

(5) a nozzle opening on said side wall diametrically opposite said U-shaped opening,

(6) a curved, tapered guard fixed to said cover along the sides of said V-shaped opening and terminating adjacent the periphery of said top wall above said U-shaped opening to define an access opening substantially circular in shape, and

(7) a frangible elongated member fixed at one end to said guard and at its other end to the depending side wall at the base of said U-shaped opening and extending diametrically across said access opening to susbtantially prevent operative access therethrough; and

(1) an enlarged inverted cup-shaped head,

(2) a recessed actuating portion in the upper surface of said head terminating at the periphery of the head in an edge substantially complementary in shape to the U-shaped opening of said cover and disposed thereabove,

(3) 21 depending discharge stem fixed to the interior of said head and seated on said valve stem,

(4) a discharge nozzle fixed to the side of said head in alignment with said nozzle opening, and

(5) a passageway connecting said discharge stem to said nozzle.

5. In an aerosol container having a dispensing cap as set forth in claim 4, wherein:

6. A container dispensing cap comprising:

(a) a cover member including:

(1) a top wall,

(2) a depending side wall,

(3) a first opening in the top wall extending to the periphery thereof,

(5) a third opening in the opposite side of said side wall, and

(6) a fixed guard member secured to said top wall over said first opening and terminating adjacent the periphery of said top wall above said second opening to define an access opening; and

(b) a valve actuating button slidably mounted within said cover member and including:

(1) an actuating portion disposed within said access opening,

(2) a discharge nozzle fixed to the side wall of said button in alignment with said third opening,

(3) a depending discharge stem fixed to the interior of said button, and

(4) a passageway connecting said discharge stem to said nozzle.

7. A container dispensing cap as set forth in claim 6,

further including:

(a) a removable guard member removably secured to said cover and extending across said access opening.

8. A container dispensing cap as set forth in claim 7,

wherein:

(a) said removable guard comprises a frangible elongated member extending substantially midway across said access opening in a direction perpendicular to the top wall of said cover to substantially prevent operative access to said actuating button.

9. A container dispensing cap as set forth in claim 8,

wherein:

(a) said cover member and said actuating button are each formed of integrally molded plastic material.

10. An aerosol container dispensing cap comprising:

(a) a cover member including:

(1) a top wall,

(2) a depending side wall,

(4) a U-shaped opening in the side wall of the cover with the spaced sidesthereof extending to the periphery of said top wall and into alignment with the V-shaped opening,

(5 a nozzle opening on said side wall diametrically opposite said U-shaped opening, and

(6) a curved, tapered guard fixed to said cover along the sides of said V-shaped opening and terminating adjacent the periphery of said top wall above said U-shaped opening to define an access opening substantially circular in shape; and

(b) a valve actuating button slidably mounted within said cover for movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the top wall of said cover and including:

(1) an enlarged, inverted cup-shaped head,

7 8 (2) a recessed actuating portion in the upper sur- 12. An aerosol container dispensing cap as set forth face of said head terminating at the periphery in claim 11 wherein: of the head in an edge substantially comple- (a) said edge of the recessed actuating portion of the mentary in shape to the U-shaped opening of valve actuating button is disposed above the base of said cover, 5 the U-shaped opening of said cover, and (3) a depending discharge stern fixed to the inte- (b) said valve actuating button is mounted within said rior of said head, cover for canting about said direction of movement. (4) a discharge nozzle fixed to the side of said 13. An aerosol container dispensing cap as set forth in head in alignment with said nozzle opening, and claim 12 wherein: (5) a passageway connecting said discharge stem 10 (a) said cover member and said valve actuating button to said nozzle. are each formed of integrally molded plastic mate- 11. An aerosol container dispensing cap as set forth in rial. claim 10, further including: I References Cited by the Examiner (a) a frangible elongated member fixed at one end to said guard and at its other end to the depending side 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS wall at the base of said U-shaped opening and ex- 3,006,510 10/61 sagfmn ZZZ-394x tending diametrically across said access opening to 3,137,414 6/64 'Stemkamp 222182 substantially prevent operative access therethrough. LOUIS J DEMBO, Primary E i r,

Claims

1. IN AN AEROSOL CONTAINER HAVING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FLEXIBLE VALVE STEM OPERATIVE TO EFFECT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID STEM AND THE INTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER UPON DEPRESSION THEREOF: A DISPENSING CAP SECURED TO SAID CONTAINER OVER SAID VALVE STEM AND COMPRISING: (A) A COVER MEMBER INCLUDING: (1) A TOP WALL OVERLYING SAID VALVE STEM, (2) A DEPENDING SIDE WALL CONNECTING SAID TOP WALL TO SAID CONTAINER AROUND SAID VALVE STEM, (3) A FIRST OPENING IN THE TOP WALL EXTENDING TO THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, (4) A SECOND OPENING IN THE DEPENDING SIDE WALL EXTENDING TO THE PERIPHERY OF THE TOP WALL AND INTO ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FIRST OPENING, (5) A THIRD OPENING IN THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID SIDE WALL, (6) A FIXED GUARD MEMBER SECURED TO SAID TOP WALL OVER SAID FIRST OPENING AND TERMINATING ADJACENT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID TOP WALL ABOVE SAID SECOND OPENING TO DEFINE AN ACCESS OPENING, AND (7) A REMOVABLE GUARD MEMBER REMOVABLY SECURED TO SAID COVER AND EXTENDING ACROSS SAID ACCESS OPENING; AND (B) A VALVE ACTUATING BUTTON SLIDABLY AND LOOSELY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID COVER FOR MOVEMENT IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID TOP WALL AND CANTING ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT AND INCLUDING: (1) AN ACTUATING PORTION DISPOSED WITHIN SAID ACCESS OPENING, (2) A DISCHARGE NOZZLE FIXED TO THE SIDE WALL OF SAID BUTTON IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID THIRD OPENING, (3) A DISPENSING DISCHARGE STEM FIXED TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID BUTTON AND SEATED ON SAID VALVE STEM, AND (4) A PASSAGEWAY CONNECTING SIAD DISCHARGE STEM TO SAID NOZZLE.