US3367540A

US3367540A - Dispenser with one-piece tamperproof actuator

Info

Publication number: US3367540A
Application number: US529705A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert G Lehmann
Original assignee: Valve Corp of America Inc
Current assignee: SPECIALTY ACQUISITION Corp A CORP OF DELAWARE; Valve Corp of America Inc
Priority date: 1966-02-24
Filing date: 1966-02-24
Publication date: 1968-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 1985-02-06
Also published as: FR1516292A; LU53057A1; SE327957B; ES335042A1; CH451036A; BE694490A; NL6617613A; DE1475179A1; GB1158407A

Description

Feb. 6, 1968 LEHMANN 3,367,540

DISPENSER WITH ONE-P IECE TAMPER-PROOF ACTUATOR Filed Feb. 24, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l 40 20 q \4 I y I %a 18 2 82} INVENTOR.

5 2 Herbert G..L\1manfl BY I Feb. 6, 1968 H. G. LEHMANN 3,367,540

DISPENSER WITH ONE PIECE TAMPER-PROOF ACTUATOR Filed Feb. 24, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Qvbert (3. Lehmann United States Patent ABSTRACT 0F THE DKSCLQSURE An actuator cap attachable to small hand-held dispensers, comprising a plastic, depressible actuator buttonhaving a discharge passage and orifice, said button having a frangible and removable portion which normally blocks its movement and which is intended to be torn or broken off by the consumer at the time of first use of the dispenser.

This invention relates to small hand-held dispensers, and more particularly to dispensers of this type, having one-piece molded plastic tamper-proof actuator-dispenser buttons.

Objects of the invention are to provide an improved hand-held dispenser and tamper-proof actuator and discharge button, wherein the button may be readily molded in one piece from plastic substance or the equivalent, said button being especially effective in conjunction with the associated structures, in preventing unauthorized initial use of the dispenser while at the same time being particularly simple and inexpensive; to provide an actuator button and dispenser as above, which is equally useful for and adaptable to either a pump-type action or a pressurized action; to provide an improved dispenser with actuator button and-cap combination having the above features; to provide a dispenser and actuator in accordance with the foregoing, which is easily understood and operated by the consumer, which is reliable and foolproof, and wherein the actuator may be easily applied to containers even though these have been previously fitted with valves and filled with pressurized substance.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, showing a tamper-proof actuator as provided by the invention, assembled to a pump plunger which carries a screw cap and which is about to accommodate a pump cylinder or tank.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the tamper-proof actuator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section of the actuator, taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a tamper-proof actuator cap constituting another embodiment of the invention, mounted on a pressurized container having a depressible hollow valve stem.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the cap per se of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view like that of FIG. 4 but showing the condition of the cap after being placed in use.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of an actuator cap constituting still another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the actuator cap of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of an actuator cap constituting yet another embodiment of the invention, adapted as an overcap for enclosing the top portion of a pressurized can.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of an actuator cap adaptable for use with either a pump-type dispenser or a pressurized type dispenser, constituting a further embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the actuator cap of FIG. 10.

Considering first FIGS. 1-3, there is illustrated a tamper-proof dispenser having an actuator designated generally by the numeral 10, said actuator being carried by the hollow plunger stem 12 of a dispensing pump assemblage which further includes a screw cap 14. The cap 14 has a central opening and bearing 16 through which the stem 12 extends and in which it is vertically slidable. An intermediate portion of the stem 12 has an exterior stop shoulder 18 which is engageable with the underside of the top wall 20 of the screw cap. The lower portion of the plunger stem 12 includes a flared piston skirt 22 adapted to be received in a cylinder or tank 24 for the purpose of effecting a pumping action. The tank 24 has at its upper extremity an outturned flange 26 engageable with the underside of the cap wall 20 and also with the lip of the container 27 by which the tank 24 i positioned in the latter.

Additional details of the pump assemblage comprising the piston 22 and tank 24are not given herein since they are Well known to those skilled in the art. Such details may be found, for example, in US. Patent Nos. 3,159,- 316, 3,223,292 and 3,228,571.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided, mounted on the plunger stem 12, a novel tamperproof manually operable actuator and discharge button indicated herein as 16, by which unauthorized or inadvertent operation of the plunger and pump is prevented or else unauthorized prior actuation will be indicated, to the end that the customer or consumer may be assured of a full measure of contents in the dispenser.

The actuator and discharge button 10 comprises, in the embodiment of FIGS. 13, a hollow cylindrical body portion 28 having a top, finger-en gageable wall 30 from which there depends a central, hollow cylindrical boss 32. The boss 32 is arranged to be firmly frictionally fitted onto the upper extremity portion of the plunger stem 12, as indicated in FIG. 1. In its upper portion the body 28 has a transverse discharge passage 34 communicating with the bore 36 of the boss 32 and also with a discharge orifice member 38 which is directed laterally of the body portion 28.

By this invention, the manually operable body portion 28 is provided at its lower end with a blocking member which initially prevents its downward movement, said blocking member comprising a split depending skirt 40 which is preferably of slightly larger diameter than the body portion and which is attached to the latter by a thin, frangible annular connecting web 42. The depending skirt 40 has an L-

shaped slot

44, 46 by which it is made discontinuous. Referring to FIG. 1, the skirt 40 is arranged to engage the top surface of the screw capw-all at the same time that the shoulder 18 of the stem 12 engages the undersurface of said top wall. By such organization, vertical movement of the plunger stem 12 is normally prevented, thereby preventing tampering, or sampling of the contents of the dispenser.

The assembly of the

parts

10, 12 and 14 is effected, as seen in the upper portion of FIG. 1, by first passing the stem 12 upward through the wall 20 of the screw cap and then pressing it into the mounting boss 22 of the body portion 28. Thereafter, the cylinder or tank 24 may be applied or set in place within the screw cap 14 so that it accommodates the piston skirt 22.

As an alternative assemblage, the entire pump and screw cap mechanism can be pre-assembled and thereafter the actuator 10 applied and held in place by a suitable quicksetting glue or adhesive. With this latter arrangement the boss 22 of the actuator will have a reasonably loose fit on the plunger stem 12, and the latter will have adhesive applied to its upper outer portion, by which the stern becomes aflixed to the boss 32 after the assemblage.

It will now be understood that by the presence of the skirt 40, unauthorized or accidental operation of the actuator or dispenser is prevented. When the consumer desires to place the dispenser in use he inserts either a fingernail or a bladed tool in the slot 44, pulling away the skirt 4t) and removing it completely as made possible by the thin frangible web 42. The horizontal portion 46 of the L-shaped slot will facilitate the removal of the skirt. As an alternative procedure, a small coin might be inserted in the slot 44 to facilitate the removal of the skirt 40.

After such removal of the skirt, the body portion 28 will no longer be blocked and prevented from having downward vertical movement. Accordingly, the user by the application of suitable finger pressure on the top wall 30 may now operate the pump assemblage, to effect a discharge of the contents of the container.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 4, where a tamper-proof assemblage comprising an actuator and discharge cap is provided on a pressurized dispenser as distinguished from the pumping dispenser arrangement of FIGS. 1-3. FIG. 4 shows a pressurized dispenser 50 having mounted in its neck a discharge valve housing 52 secured to the dispenser container by an inverted mounting cup 54. The discharge valve assemblage includes a hollow vertically movable, upstanding valve stem 56. Such valve-controlled dispensers are well known in the art, and details of one such arrangement may be found in US. Patent No. 3,054,536.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel tamper-proof actuator of resilient plastic substance, designated generally by the numeral 58 is provided, adapted to normally prevent inadvertent operation of the valve stem 56 and yet enable authorized operation to be readily effected when the dispenser is to be placed in use by the consumer. The actuator 58 (also well known as an actuator button) comprises a body portion 60 in the shape of an inverted cup, said body portion having a central depending hollow hub 62 arranged to receive the upper extremity portion of the valve stem 56. Below the top wall 64 of the body portion there is a horizontal discharge passage 66 communicating with the bore 63 of the boss 62 and also with a discharge orifice member 70. Thus, discharge of the pressurized substance which passes upward through the hollow valve stem 56 will be sprayed laterally of the actuator 58 from the discharge orifice 70.

At its lower portion, the body 60 has an internal annular detent rib 72 (shown exaggerated in the figures) which engages the underside of the mounting cup 54 to hold the body 60 captive on the container.

In accordance with the present invention the lower portion of the depending hub 62 (that shown in FIG. 4 as contacting the valve stem 56) has a loose sliding fit with the upper extremity of the valve stem. The portion of the boss 62 which is above the top of the valve stem 56 and between the latter and a stop shoulder 74 (as seen in FIG. 4) is made slightly tapering and arranged to frictionally grip the top portion of the stem 56 when the latter is forced into it. This is illustrated in FIG. 6.

Also, by the present invention, a tear-away protective skirt 76 is carried by the lower portion of the body 60, being preferably secured thereto by a plurality of thin frangible webs 78 separated from each other by small openings 80. The tear-away skirt 76 has a pull tab 82 (FIGS. 4 and to enable the skirt to be easily grasped at the time that the dispenser is to be placed in use. Thus the actuator cap 58 may be initially applied over the mounting cup without operating the stem 56, by being careful that the cap is not applied so forcibly as to break away its bottom skirt 76. As seen in FIG. 4, the skirt 76 normally engages the shoulder 84 of the container 50, thereby preventing downward movement of the actuator button 60 and preventing dis-charge of the container contents since the valve stem 56 cannot be depressed due to its loose fit in the lower portion of the boss 62. However, when the user grasps the pull tab 8.2 and tears away the blocking skirt 76, the actuator body 60 will no longer be prevented from having downward movement. As the user now applies finger pressure on the top wall 66, this wi l shift the body 60 downward and cause the valve stem 56 to be frictionally seized in the upper portion of the depending boss 62. This provides a leakproof connection between the valve stem 56 and the button 60 and hub 62. Further downward movement from the position of FIG. 6 will now effect a depressing of the valve stem 56, causing a discharge of the aerosol substance from the orifice 70. After the first use, the actuator 58 will remain in the position indicated in FIG. 6. Under any circumstance the detent bead 72 will hold the actuator captive on the container whereby it is at ali times in readiness for use.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. Here a pressurized container 84 has mounted on it a tamper-proof actuator 86 comprising an inverted cup-like body 38 the lower edge portion of which is provided with a plurality of depending break-away tabs 90 engaging the shoulder 92 of the container. The tabs 90 are connected to the body portion 88 by thin frangible web portions 94 whereby they may be easily broken away when it is desired to place the dispenser in use.

The valve stem 6 of the dispenser is loosely received in the lower portion of the depending hollow boss $8, said boss having a bore communicating with a discharge passage 102 leading to a discharge orifice member 104.

The top wall 106 of the body portion 88 is curved to fit the finger, and depending from such top wall 106 is a blocking pin 108 having a sloping bottom end 110 normally engageable with the top surface 112 of the mounting cup 114. The blocking pin 108 is connected to the depending boss 98 by a thin frangible web 116, and connected to the top wall 106 by a thin frangible annular web 118. The web 118 may be conveniently formed by providing a recess 120 in the top wall 106, as shown.

Considering the position of the parts shown in FIG. 7, unauthorized operation of the actuator 36 is prevented by the blocking lugs 90 and also the blocking pin 108. However, if sufiicient downward force is applied to the actuator 36, the tabs 90 will be spread apart and the blocking pin 108 will be wedged or camnied outward whereby these parts will break away from the body portion 88. Either the tabs 90 or the pin 108 may be used without the other.

If necessary, the tabs 90 may be pulled away and torn off the body portion 88 by use of the fingers. As the downward force on the body portion 88 is continued, the valve stem 6 will be extended further into the hub 98, making sealing engagement therewith, and thereafter the valve stem 96 will be forced downward, resulting in opening of the valve and discharge of the spray substance from the orifice 104. The body portion 88 of the actuator is held captive on the mounting cup 114 by the internal detent bead 122, as with the previous embodiments of the invention.

Once an actuation has occurred, the breaking away of the pin 108 will result in the recess 120 having no bottom, and the hole thus formed will be an indication that the dispenser has been put to use.

During the initial assemblage of the actuator 58 to the container 50, the lower portion of the body 60 and the detent bead 72 thereof will spread or enlarge in diameter to enable the mounting cup 54 to bypass the head, by virtue of the body portion 60 being of a yieldable, resilient and readily deformable plastic substance.

Still another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 9, wherein a can-type pressurized container 126 has an upper peripheral shoulder 128 which occupies an internal annular groove 130 of the lower portion of an actuator body 132. A detent bead 134 which is engageable with the shoulder 128, holds the actuator body 132 captive on the container 126. The body 132 has a depending boss 136 loosely receiving the hollow valve stem 138 of the container 126 for the position illustrated in FIG. 9. The top wall 140 of the actuator body 132 has a depending blocking pin 142 which is joined to the boss 136 by a frangible web portion 144. The pin 142 is also joined to the top wall 140 by a thin annular web 146, and has an up ward extension 148 which projects into the finger groove 151 of the actuator, being arranged to be grasped by the fingers.

When the consumer desires to place the dispenser in use, he merely grasps the extension 148 and by applying lateral movement breaks away the blocking pin 42, thereby freeing the actuator body 132 and enabling the latter to be now shifted vertically downward.

Prior to the initial use, the blocking pin 142 engages the upper shoulder 143 of the container, normally preventing downward movement of the actuator body 132. The initial downward movement of the body 132 will cause the valve stem 133 to be forced into the upper portion of the depending hub 136 wherein it is frictionally seized and efiects a sealing connection with the boss. Further downward movement of the actuator body 132 will depress the valve stem 138, opening the valve and effecting a discharge of the spray substance from the orifice 150.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. and 11. The pressurized container 200 has mounted on it a molded resilient one-piece actuator cap 202 comprising an outer stationary cap body structure 204 and an inwardly centrally disposed depress button 206 provided with a hollow depending boss 208. The but-ton 206 has a discharge orifice 210 communicating with a discharge passage 212 which in turn communicates with the bore of the boss 208.

The container 200 has a vertically movable upstanding valve stem 214 which for the positions of the parts shown in FIG. 9, is loosely received in the hollow boss 208 since the lower portion of the boss has a bore diameter very slightly larger than the outside diameter of the valve stem 214. Above the upper extremity of the valve stem 214, the bore 216 of the boss 208 becomes smaller so as to provide a sealing press-fit with the stem when the button 206 is shifted downward or depressed.

In accordance with the invention, a tamper-proof indicator device is provided on the button 206, comprising a blocking pin 218 which extends into the sealing cup 220 and engages the bottom wall surface 222 of the cup, thereby to initially prevent downward movement of the button 206. The blocking pin 218 has an upper portion 218a which projects at the rear of the button 206 and is provided with wings 218b arranged to be grasped by the fingers. The blocking pin 218 is connected to the button 206 by a very thin frangible web 224 whereby the pin may be easily broken away and removed.

Prior to the dispenser being legitimately placed in use, the presence of the blocking pin 218 prevents inadvertent or unauthorized, undetected depressing movement of the depress button 206, thereby minimizing the likelihood of tampering with the dispenser. If under any circumstance the button 206 should be depressed by an unauthorized person, the pin 218 will be broken or torn away from the button, thereby constituting an indication that the device has been tampered with.

In the use of the dispenser, the consumer merely grasps the upper end 218a of the blocking pin 218 and tears the pin from the button by twisting it, utilizing the two wings 2181: provided for this purpose. When the blocking pin 218 has been torn loose and removed, the depress button 206 may be readily moved downward to efiect the desired discharge of the contents of the pressurized container 200. The first downward movement of the button 200 will cause the valve stem 214 to be wedged tightly 6 in the smaller portion of the bore 216 of the boss 208, thereby providing for a sealing engagement between the valve stem and the boss.

The depress button 206 is connected to the stationary cap body 204 by four flat

flexible web portions

226, 228, 230 and 232, the entire actuator being molded as a single piece in one operation, with the button, connector webs and cap body all integral with each other and with the blocking pin 218. A somewhat similar actuator is described in detail in my copending application Ser. No. 515,541 filed Dec. 22, 1965, and entitled, Plastic One- Piece Actuator and Nozzle for Small Dispensers.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that I have provided a novel and improved tamper-proof dispenser comprising an actuator and discharge button which is carried by the vertically movable plunger or stem of the dispenser, said actuator being normally prevented from having operative movement by the presence of a blocking means in the form of either a skirt, depending tabs, or a depending blocking pin. Any unauthorized operation of the actuator will be evident by the removal which is required of the blocking member to effect such actuation. Accordingly, a prospective user or customer will be apprised of the fact that some sampling or removal of the contents of the container has occurred.

The dispenser may be easily and quickly be put into use by the proper party, by removing the blocking skirt, tabs or pin.

In the event that the dispenser is of the pumping type, the assemblage of the actuator button to the plunger stem may be effected prior to assemblage of the pump components, or else subsequent to such assemblage by the use of a suitable adhesive. In the case of pressurized dispensers wherein the valve assemblage and container are already assembled and provided with the pressurized substance, the actuator member initially has a loose fit with the dispensing valve stem, being held captive by engagement with the container at another location in connection with a detent bead or the equivalent. The first operation of the actuator, as occasioned by removal of the blocking means, effects a tight seal-proof and leakproof connection between the valve stem and the actuator body, which connection is thereafter maintained because of the frictional retention of the actuator stem.

All of the illustrated structures are especially simple, economical to produce, and involve a minimum number of parts which are capable of being readily molded in simple production equipment.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A hand-held dispenser comprising, in combination:

(a) a container,

(b) means including a hollow movable stem, for effecting a discharge of the contained substance through said stem when the latter is depressed,

(c) a combined actuator and discharge button having a discharge passage, said button being mechanically connected with said stem to receive the discharging substance and to convey the same to a discharge point on the button,

(d) depressing movement of said button causing similar movement of the stem to effect the discharge,

(e) disposable, temporarily cooperable means on the exterior of the button and the container, blocking the button against depressing movement,

(f) said cooperable means comprising a removable and discardable accessible blocking member integral with the button and a frangible web which is readily broken and which connects the member to the button whereby the member can be readily intentionally completely severed from the button by an act of the user.

2. A dispenser as in claim 1., wherein:

(a) the disposable means comprises an abutment on the container and a ring-shaped skirt attached to the lower edge portion of the button by said frangible web and engageable with said abutment.

(b) said skirt being wholly removable from the button by tearing it off at the frangible web.

3. A dispenser as in claim 2, wherein:

(a) the abutment on the container comprises a screw cap having an opening through which the stern passes and in which it is reciprocable,

(b) said stem having a piston attached to its inner end, and having a shoulder disposed intermediate its ends,

(0) a cylinder surrounding the piston, having at its mouth an outturned flange engaged with the underside of the screw cap,

(d) said button being press-fitted on the outer end of the stem,

(e) the outer and inner top wall surfaces of the screw cap being respectively engaged by the ring-shaped skirt and said shoulder of the stern, thereby, nornrally preventing axial movement of the stem.

4. A dispenser as in claim 3, wherein:

(a) the skirt has a depth substantially in excess of one-half the height of the button, whereby removal of the skirt enables the button to have a movement in excess of half said height.

5. A dispenser as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) cooperable detent means are provided, carried by the container and button, holding the button captive on the container while permitting a limited extent of vertical movement of the button.

6. A dispenser as in claim 5, wherein:

(a) the button has a hollow boss receiving the end portion of the hollow stem.

(b) the lower portion of said boss having a loose fit with the stem,

(c) an upper portion of the boss having a tight sealing fit with the stem, effected in response to downward movement of the button.

7. A dispenser as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the button has a hollow depending boss in which the stem is received,

(b) said stem being received in the boss only a slight extent and having a loose fit therewith when the button is retained in raised position by the blocking member,

(c) said stem being more fully received in the boss and having a tight sealing fit therewith when the button is depressed after removal of the blocking member.

3. A dispenser as in claim 7, wherein:

(a) said button and container have cooperable detent means, holding the button captive on the container while permitting a limited amount of vertical movement of the button.

9. A dispenser as in claim 8, wherein:

(a) said container has an abutment and said block iI ig member comprises a plurality of lugs connected to the button by frangible webs,

(b) said lugs being accessible and readily severable from the button to free the latter for vertical movement toward the container.

10. A dispenser as in claim 8, wherein:

(a) said container has an abutment and said blocking member comprises a pin carried by and projecting from the button and engageable with said abutment.

11. A dispenser as in claim 10, wherein:

(a) finger engageable means are provided on said pin, providing a grip which facilitates twisting the pin to break the frangible web for removing the pin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,158,292 11/1964 ODonnell 222--l82 X 3,169,672 2/1965 Softer et al. 222-453 3,249,259 5/1966 Corsette 222182 FOREIGN PATENTS 960,794 3/1957 Germany.

40 ROBERT E. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

F. R. HANDREN, Assistant Examiner.