US3352457A

US3352457A - Aerosol dispensing attachment

Info

Publication number: US3352457A
Application number: US496585A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerald T Tracy; Richard D Zenger
Original assignee: National Can Corp
Current assignee: Rexam Beverage Can Co
Priority date: 1965-10-15
Filing date: 1965-10-15
Publication date: 1967-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 1984-11-14

Description

Nov. 14, 1967 .1-. TRACY ET AEROSOL DISPENSING ATTACHMENT 5 Shee1;sSheet 1 Filed Oct. 15, 1965 INVENTOI-PS. R/CHAI'? D D ZE/VGER GERALD T TRACY Nov. 14, 1967 TRACY ET AL 3,352,457

AEROSOL DI SPENS ING ATTACHMENT Filed Oct. 15, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/Vl/E/VTORS RICHARD D. ZE/VGER GERALD 7T TRACY Iii Nov. 14, 1967 TRACY ETAL v AEROSOL DISPENSING ATTACHMENT I 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 15. 1965 INVENTORS. R/CHARD D. ZE/VGER GER/1L0 '7'. 7 94 C Y United States Patent Ofiice' 3,352,457 AEROSOL DISPENSING ATTACHWIENT Gerald T. Tracy, Clarendon Hills, and Richard D. Zenger,

Lisle, Ill., assignors to National Can Corporation, Chicage, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed Get. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 496,585 9 Claims. (Cl. 22252) The present invention relates to an aerosol dispenser attachment, and more particularly to a combination dispenser unit including a gas pressure regulator, gas pressure source, applicator assembly, and clamp unit for removably attaching such dispenser unit to a large size throw-away type container.

Within the last ten years, the number and type of products of commerce which have been put into aerosol containers for dispensing therefrom has increased at a substantial rate, and aerosol cans of all types have found great favor with the public. At present, approximately one and one-half billion aerosol can units are sold for a wide variety of purposes throughout the United States every year. Depending on the nature of the product, a large number of advantages are made possible by fine mist or aerosol dispensing techniques. Such advantages, in general, include, in addition to convenience, greater precision of application, labor saving, simplicity, careful control of application, and the like.

Products which are advantageously sold in aerosol containers and adapted to be dispensed therefrom include, but are not limited to, cosmetic products such as hairspray, mouth washes, deodorant and shaving creams; household and general utility products, such as paints and other coatings, adhesives, and preservatives; products designed for specialized uses, such as insect control, bacteria control, control of odors, and the like; as well as such relatively recently developed products as local anesthetics, and medicines of various sorts for topical application. Many other types and classes of products including solid but fluent products, such as powders, etc., are known to those skilled in the art to be suitable for dispensing from aerosol containers.

In almost every case When aerosol, spray, or fine mist dispensing is desirable, the aerosol can has become extremely popular, because it combines a number of advantages at reasonable cost. However, the size of aerosol containers which it is practical to make for throw away consumption is limited by the size thereof, that is it is not practical to construct, at low costs, a vessel which will safely contain 100 to 150 p.s.i. working pressures in sizes larger than one pint or one quart. Accordingly, the common current popular size of aerosol dispensers are 6, 7, 8, 12, 16, and 20 02. sizes.

In many instances, however, either because a relatively large amount of aerosol product is sought to be used, such as in outdoor spraying on shrubs, trees and the like, or spray painting, or a labor-saving advantage is desired in a commercial type operation, such as in the case of commercial beauty operators applynng hairspray, the requirements of keeping large amounts of material on hand in one container is inconsistent with the requirements imposed by considerations of strength and safety. Large scale aerosol or mist dispensing of products, such as insecticides and paints has been heretofore known, but such formerly known dispensing devices, when used with large capacity containers, have consisted of expensive components, such as motorized compressors, storage tanks, pressure regulators and the like.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a device which economically makes possible dispensing large volumes of aerosol products, without requiring that the person desiring to dispense such products make large investments in undesirably heavy containers or complicated pressure supply and operating equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which makes it possible to dispense products from large containers which are economical and can be thrown away after use.

An additional object is to provide a compact, simple and inexpensive aerosol system, wherein the person dispensing the product need not carry the weight of the full container in his hand.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser unit which is adapted to be removably disposed over a throw-away container and which is adapted to contain a pressure supply source, such as a miniature high pressure gas cylinder, a clamp member, a pressure seal member, and an applicator device which is attached to the unit by extensible means such as a flexible extension hose.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser unit having the foregoing advantages, and further including an extensible discharge tip which is adapted to be operated at a distance remote from the hand of the operator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser unit which integrally includes a simple but accurate pressure regulator adapted to allow a full container of product to be acted upon by a moderate but constant pressure which is adequate to cause aerosol or mist discharge of products from the container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a removable dispenser unit in which a pressure source and a pressure regulator are compactly combined in the form of a handle to facilitate transporting the container to which the dispenser is removably attached.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, including those inherent therein, will become more apparent when considered in conjunction with a description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as described more fully in the specification and in the appended claims and as shown in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the dispenser attachment of the recent invention attached to a disposable can with phantom lines showing the applicator portion of the unit in a position of use;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the dispenser attachment unit of FIG. 1;

FIG; 3 is a vertical sectional view of the dispenser attachment and disposable can, taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the regulator assembly of the dispenser attachment;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 6 of the handle assembly;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view ofthe dispenser attachment, shown in place over a disposable container;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged top'pl an view, with portions broken away, of the applicator unit of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the applicator unit used in combination in the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an end elevational view of the applicator of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the applicator of FIG. 8 taken along lines 6-6 thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 3 shows a can C or other like disposable container to which the dispenser unit 30 of the present invention is removably attached.

This figure also shows an exterior handle cover 20 which is attached to the main body 22, the main body 22 terminating at its downward end in a rubber or like Patented Nov. 14, 1967 flexible seal member 23. Means for aflixing the body 22 to the can C in the form of a clamp 24 having outer, seam gripping flanges 25 are provided. A dip tube 25 is adapted to extend into the container C, and fiuids passing through the dip tube may also pass centrally through a portionof the main body 22 as will be described more fullyhereinafter. A pressure regulator 28 is disposed at least partially within-the main body 22, for supplying a regulated operating pressure to force liquid through the dip tube 26, through the extension hose 34, into the applicator 32 and out the orifice 36 of the nozzle 38.

In the preferred embodiment. of the invention, the combination cylinder and regulator accommodating assembly is in the form of a handle, to facilitate transportation of the can from point to point.

Referring now to-the regulator assembly in greater detail, it can be seen fromFIG. 4 that the handle cover 20 is'adapted to partially contain a gas cartridge 42 (broken lines) which is held in place between the cover 20 and the handle body 44 by means of the cooperation between thescrew threads 48' on the body 44 and the threads 46 on the cover 20. An ring 50 or like seal member is provided to keep the entire cartridge-containing assembly in a gas-tight condition. A steel piercing pin 52 is mounted in the inner portion of the handle cover 20, the pin 52 being adapted to pierce the cartridge 42 in order to allow the gas to escape therefrom. The gas thus discharged traverses one or more passages 54in the handle unit 20 and then enters a high pressure chamber 56 in the handle body 44.

At the bottom of the high pressure chamber 40 is a valve accommodating passage 58', and flow through the passage 58 is controlled by a valve assembly comprising a valve proper 60 and avalve seat' 62. A small valve spring engages the top shoulder 66 of the valve'60; A valve operating. piston 68 is connected, by means of a valve stem-70,' to the -valve 60, and the piston is allowed to reciprocate in the bore 72 which defines'a low pressure-chamber for gas passing through the passage 58. The piston 68 is urged toward an open position of the valve 60 by the action of the piston spring 74 acting against the spring base 76, while a piston ring 78, such as of O ring or other-conventional construction, seals the low pressure chamber 72 and maintains the same in a gas-tight condition. An excess pressure passage 80 is adapted to communicate between the low pressure chamber 72' and the atmosphere, by reason of'the communication between the bottom passage 80' and'the venting port 82 in the spring base 76. A verticallow pressure gas passage 84 is provided in the main body 22 to allow passage. of gas from the low pressure chamber 72 to the interior'of the container C.v

Referring now to the means for securing the dispenser unit to the container C, in the preferred embodiment, a pair of outwardly extending, opposed legs 24 terminate in flanges 25=which are adapted to receive the chime or double seam of a throw away style container. This clamp may-be'made from steel or astifif plastic, or-the like-In this embodiment, the seal member 23 is shown as extending into an opening in the container top, habit is understood that the bottom edges of the seal-member 23 may surround a somewhat smaller opening which is adapted only to receive the dip tube 26 and allow'passage of the gas through the passage 84 into the container. An.- otherprinci'pal element of the present invention is the applicator unit 32, which is adapted to contain a central passageway 35 therein for allowing product to fiow'from the hose 34. A conventional aerosol dispensing valve 38, of a type well known to those skilled in the art, is'secured to the top portion of the applicator 32, and when the valve 38' is actuated, product flows out the orifice 36in the conventional manner.

An alternate form of applicator is shown in. FIGS. 8 through inclusive. This figure shows the. conventional applicator 32 as including an extension member 90 for locating the spray orifice 36 closer to work which might be in an otherwise inaccessible position. In this embodi' ment, an operating handle 96 having a lower trigger 94 is secured over the extension by collars 98, and is adapted to operate by having the top portion 100 thereof depress the valve 38 when the trigger 94 is actuated. The extension 90 may reciprocate in a. bore in the handle 36 if desired.

In the position of rest, the applicator 32 is removably attached to the clamp 24 by means of the holder 102. This holder has a central opening adapted to receive the hook member 104 which is fixedly attached to the applicator 32. Thus, for transporting the unit, the applicator 32 may be attached to the clamp 24 and the entire unit transported by grasping the handle cover 20. After placing the entire package near the point of intended use, the applicator 32 may be removed and manipulated to suit the intended purposes of the user.

Referring now to the operation of the regulator shown in FIG. 4, after a'cartridge 42 is inserted into the handle body 44, the cover 20 is placed over the cartridge 42 and rotated after the

screw threads

46, 48 are engaged, the pin 52 pierces the cartridge 42, and the handle cover is firmly seated. Thereupon, gas is discharged from the cartridge 42 and enters the high pressure chamber 56. Initially, the piston spring 74 has urged the valve 60 into an open position, and gas flows through the passage 58' into the low pressure chamber 72, down the gas passage 84 andinto the head space above thematerial in'the container'C. As head space pressure reaches a predetermined level, the piston 68 overcomes the force of the'spring 74 in compression and moves the stem 70 and the valve 60 toward a closed position, shutting oif the flow of gas into the low pressure chamber. When the pressure drops below the predetermined desired level, the spring 74 urges the piston and valve assembly into an open position and gas is transferred into the low pressure chamber untilthe desired pressure is reached, whereupon the valve 60 again shuts off the source of gas supply.

The small valve spring 64 tends to act as a damper and keeps the movement of the valve 60 to a minimum, but this spring 64 is not strictly necessary in accordance with the present invention.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, :a clamp member engaging the chimes of the can has been shown. In the alternative, however, a thread member may be used in association with the seal 23 so that the unit may be screwed into an opening in the top of the container C. Likewise, other means are known to those skilled in the art for removably fastening a dispenser to the container unit.

One principal advantage of the present invention is that many aerosol products can safely be dispensed from cans of one-half gallon and one gallon sizes which are adapted to hold a pressure of only about 30 to 50 p.s.i., which desirably increases the safety factor of aerosol containers and permits the larger size containers to be made by methods which are already conventional in the can industry. In an ordinary, present day aerosol container, very high pressures are required to be held because no mechanical pressure regulator means is present. Therefore, enough propellant must be present to insure discharge .of all the contents. Consequently, the initial discharge takes place at a much higher pressure than discharge .of the final portion of the product. Therefore, although many products can be satisfactorily dispensed at a pressure of'30 to 50 p.s.i., ordinary aerosol cans ordinarily initially dispense such products at 50 to 100 p.s.i. so that a final working pressure of at least 30 p.s.i. can be maintained.

The dispenser attachment of the present invention, however, makes it possible to utilize regular, inexpensive, commercially available gas cylinders as well as conventional cans. Thus, far less propellant is required to be used, since lowerdispensingpressures are used, and substantially all of the container may be filled with product. On the other hand, in many aerosol products of commece today, a propellant may occupy up to one-ha1f or more of the volume of the container.

Although various types of propellants are desired for various aerosol products, a large variety of propellants, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, nitrous oxide and many fluorocarbons (Freons) are available in cartridge form. I have found that, depending on the propellant and the working pressure required to dispense the products held inthe container, a gas cartridge of eight to twenty-five grams capacity is preferred. For example, eight grams of carbon dioxide is sufiicient to dispense one gallon of certain liquids at low pressures, whereas up to twentyfive grams of dilferent propellants might be required for one-half gallon of material to be dispensed at considerably higher pressures.

Although a spray type aerosol valve 38 has been shown in the drawings, it is understood that other types of known aerosol valves may be substituted, when the type of product to be dispensed requires them. For example, products such as foams and shaving creams use different type nozzles thanhairand insect sprays, semisolid products such asmustard, catsup, etc., use a third type of dispensing valve,

In the embodiments referred to above, the means for connecting the dispensing valve, such as an aerosol valve or the like, tothe product passage means and dip tube are shown to be a flexible hose, tube, or the like. In some embodiments, however, the conduit means through which the product travels from the dip tube to the dispensing valve may be in the form of a short rigid member, or a relatively rigid member, such as a rod or the like.

Thus, if the dispenser attachment of the present invention is to "be used for dispensing semi-solid foods such as catsup or mustard, the conduit means may be a short tube, the dispensing valve a suitable valve for such product, and the container may be placed a short distance from the dispensing point. Thus, at cafeterias, ballparks, etc., the container may be located adjacent the dispensing point and the entire dispensing unit maybe relatively fixed, with the container adapted to be readily removed from the dispenser for replacement purposes.

In other cases, such as in restaurant kitchens and the like, the valve and conduit means may be relatively fixed, but located some distance remote from the container, which is removably attached to the dispenser. In such cases, the container may be filled with salad oils, dressings, or the like.

In another embodiment, a relatively long vertical rod and fixed dispensing valve assembly can be built into the cabinet, and a product dispensed therefrom. Such an embodiment is useful in a barbershop for example, where shaving lather can be placed in the container, which is either remotely or proximately mounted with respect to the dispensing valve, and the conduit means is selected accordingly.

Although in many cases, the hose attachment to the applicator unit is desirable, in some instances, the user may desire to transport the entire unit by hand, have it afi'ixed to a small wheeled vehicle or the like, or have it attached, for example, to a floor machine or the like for use in spray dispensing waxes, soaps, or the like.

It can thus be seen, from the above description, from the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings, that the present invention provides a new and useful dispenser attachment having a number of novel advantages and characteristics including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent therein. I contemplate that certain changes and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispenser unit for removable attachment to a can adapted to hold fluent material therein, said unit comprising, in combination,

(a) a main body unit, including a combination seal sup port and seal ring assembly adapted to closely surround an opening in the top of said container and bear on the top panel of said container to form a gas-tight seal between said main body and the top of said container;

(b) means for attaching said dispenser to said can,

said means being attached to said main body;

(c) a regulator body attached to said main body;

(d) a cover for said regulator body, said regulator body and said cover combining to define therein means for receiving a high pressure gas cylinder;

(e) a gas pressure regulator including a low pressure gas chamber disposed in said regulator body;

(f) a gas pressure passage extending through said combination seal support and seal ring assembly and adapted to connect said low pressure chamber with the interior of said can;

(g) product passage means extending through said combination seal support and seal ring assembly and adapted to communicate with exterior product dispensing conduit means,

(h) flexible product dispensing conduit means connected to said product dispensing passage; and

(i) an applicator unit, including a dispensing valve means therein, operatively attached to said flexible product dispensing conduit means.

2. A dispenser unit as defined in claim 1 in which said means for attaching said dispenser to said can comprise a stitt but resilient bracket including two outwardly extending leg members terminating in flanges which are adapted to grip a chime extending around the upper edges of said can.

3. A dispenser unit as defined in claim 1 in which said regulator is a piston type, spring balanced regulator, comprising a high pressure chamber, a low pressure chamber, a communicating passage between said chambers, valve means for opening and closing said passage, and a piston operatively attached to said valve means. 7

4. A dispenser unit as defined in claim 1 in which said applicator unit additionally includes an extensible member for situating said aerosol dispensing valve a substantial distance from the remainder of said applicator unit and wherein said dispensing valve is operatively connected to a trigger for remote operation of said dispensing valve.

5. A dispenser units as defined in claim 1 in which said flexible product dispensing conduit means comprises a flexible hose member.

6. A dispenser unit as defined in claim 1 in which said dispensing valve comprises an aerosol spray valve.

7. A dispenser unit as defined in claim 1 in which said product passage means extending through said combination seal ring and seal support assembly is in the form of a dip tube adapted to extend into said container.

8. A dispenser unit for removable attachment to a can adapted to hold fluent material therein, said unit comprising, in combination,

(a) a main body unit, including a combination seal support and seal ring assembly adapted to closely surround an opening in the top of said container and bear on the top panel of said container to form a gas-tight seal between said main body and the top of said container;

(-b) means for attaching said dispenser to said can,

said means being attached to said main body;

(c) a regulator body attached to said main body;

(t) a gas pressure passage extending through said combination seal support. and seal ring assembly and adapted to connect said low pressure chamber with the interior ofsa-id can;

(g) product passage means extending through said combination seal support and seal ring assembly and adapted. to communicate with exterior product dispensing conduit means;

(i) an applicator unit, including a dispensing valve means,- therein, operatively attached to said flexible product dispensing. conduit means, said regulator body. and, said cover for said regulator body being in'the-form of. a handle member overlying said can and having at leasta'portion thereof disposed, in use, generally centrally of said can, said member being adapted to be grasped by the hand of a person.

9. A dispenser unit for removable attachment to a can adapted tohold fluent material therein, said unit comprising, in combination,

(a) a main body unit, including a combination seal vsupport and seal ring assembly adapted to closely surround an openingin the top of said container and bear on the top panel of said container to form a gas-tight seal between said main-body and the top of said container;

(b) means for attaching said dispenser to said can, said meansbeing attached tosaid main body;

(c) a regulator body attached to said main body;

(d) a. cover for said regulator body, said regulator body and said cover combining to define therein means for receiving ahigh pressure gas cylinder; (e) a gas pressure regulator including alow pressure gas. chamberdisposed. in saidv regulator body;

g. (f) a gas pressure passage extending through said-com bination seal support and seal ring assembly and adapted to connect said low pressure chamberwith the interior of said can; I

(g) product passage means extending through said combination seal support and sealring assembly and. adapted to communicate with exterior product dispensing, conduit means; 7

(h) flexible product dispensing conduit means connected to said product dispensing passage;

(i) an applicator unit, including a dispensing valve means therein, operatively attached to said flexible product dispensing conduit means;

(j) applicator suporting means disposed onv said means for attaching said dispenser to said camand (k) means on said applicator forengag'ing said supporting means and suspending said applicator therefrom,

whereby said applicator may be removably supported by said attaching means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,344,801" 6/ 1920 Kitaoka 222-432 2,367,077 1/ 1945 Ward 222-'400.7 2,492,309 12/ 1949 Miller ZZZ-82 X- 2,790,679 4/ 1957 Martindale ZZZ-400.7 3,006,515 10/1961 Midnight: 222-40037" 3,039,661 5/ 1962 Wentz et'al'. 222-400.7f

30 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, Examiner.

Claims

1. A DISPENSER UNIT FOR REMOVABLE ATTACHMENT TO A CAN ADAPTED TO HOLD FLUENT MATERIAL THEREIN, SAID UNIT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, (A) A MAIN BODY UNIT, INCLUDING A COMBINATION SEAL SUPPORT AND SEAL RING ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO CLOSELY SURROUND AN OPENING IN THE TOP OF SAID CONTAINER AND BEAR ON THE TOP PANEL OF SAID CONTAINER TO FORM A GAS-TIGHT SEAL BETWEEN SAID MAIN BODY AND THE TOP OF SAID CONTAINER; (B) MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID DISPENSER TO SAID CAN, SAID MEANS BEING ATTACHED TO SAID MAIN BODY; (C) A REGULATOR BODY ATTACHED TO SAID MAIN BODY; (D) A COVER FOR SAID REGULATOR BODY, SAID REGULATOR BODY AND SAID COVER COMBINING TO DEFINE THEREIN MEANS FOR RECEIVING A HIGH PRESSURE GAS CYLINDER; (E) A GAS PRESSURE REGULATOR INCLUDING A LOW PRESSURE GAS CHAMBER DISPOSED IN SAID REGULATOR BODY; (F) A GAS PRESSURE PASSAGE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID COMBINATION SEAL SUPPORT AND SEAL RING ASSEMBLY AND ADAPTED TO CONNECT SAID LOW PRESSURE CHAMBER WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID CAN; (G) PRODUCT PASSAGE MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID COMBINATION SEAL SUPPORT AND SEAL RING ASSEMBLY AND ADAPTED TO COMMUNICATE WITH EXTERIOR PRODUCT DISPENSING CONDUIT MEANS, (H) FLEXIBLE PRODUCT DISPENSING CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PRODUCT DISPENSING PASSAGE; AND (I) AN APPLICATOR UNIT, INCLUDING A DISPENSING VALVE MEANS THEREIN, OPERATIVELY ATTACHED TO SAID FLEXIBLE PRODUCT DISPENSING CONDUIT MEANS.