US3388838A - Aerosol spray container for receiving a fluid commodity dispensing pressurized cartridge - Google Patents

Description

June 18, 1968 P, MARCH T 3,388,838

AEROSOL SPRAY CONTAINER FOR RECE NG A FLUID COMMODITY DISPENSING PRESSURIZED CARTRIDGE Filed Feb. 13, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v //v VENTOR R404 A. MARCfi/ANT av H/s ATTORNEY-5 HAEE/5Z /\//CH, P055541. KEEN June 18, 1968 P. A. MARCHANT 3,388,833

AEROSOL SPRAY CONTAINER FOR RECEIVING A FLUID COMMODITY DISPENSING PRESSURIZED CARTRIDGE Filed Feb. 13, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 I INVENTOR.

R4u4 A. MARCH/4N7.

er HIS Amen/5V9 HA/ae/s, Mac/7; RUSSELL 8.- KERN United States Patent 3,388,838 AEROSOL SPRAY CONTAINER FOR RECEIVING A FLUID (C(EMMGDHTY DISPENSING PRESSUR- IZED CARTRIDGE Paul A. Marchant, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Rexall Drug and Chemical (Iornpany, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 615,461 1 Claim. (Cl. 222-]l93) ABSTRAQT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A thin, flexible walled aerosol container having a neck for tightly receiving and supporting a fluid commodity dispensing, pressurized cartridge in the container, and an air by-pass between the main body and neck of the container which is only closed upon the seating of and by the cartridge in the container, whereby the cartridge may be rapidly inserted into the container without building up air pressures which might otherwise deform or damage the thin walled container.

The present invention relates to improvements in aerosol spray dispensers and, more particularly, to a novel aerosol spray container for receiving a fluid commodity dispensing pressurized cartridge.

Aerosol spray dispensers commonly comprise a container filled with a liquid commodity under pressure, a valve for dispensing controlled amounts of the commodity from the container, and a nozzle for spraying the commodity on or at predetermined articles or portions of the body.

To maintain the commodity under pressure, it is necessary that the aerosol spray container be sturdy and airtight. For this reason, aerosol, spray containers presently take the form of rigid metal cylinders. Great care is exercised during manufacture of the metal cylinders to insure that they are truly airtight and that the pressurized commodity will not leak around the valves contained therein. Because of the care required in manufacture and the use of metal material, conventional aerosol spray dispensers are rather expensive items, particularly when compared with the cost of the commodity contained therein.

Furthermore, although the cylindrical shape of aerosol containers is entirely satisfactory from the structural standpoint, it leaves much to be desired from a packaging and marketing standpoint.

Accordingly, attempts have been made to develop relatively inexpensive aerosol containers and dispensers of different shape. In particular, experiments have been made with plastic materials which can be readily molded to produce different shape containers. Unfortunately, for plastic containers to withstand deformation by the pressurized commodity, the required wall thickness is such that the manufacturing and material costs exceed those associated with the metal containers.

There has recently been developed a relatively small aerosol cartridge including a metal cylinder filled with a fluid, such as freon, under pressure. A valve having a spray nozzle thereon is stationed at a top of the cylinder and a tube extends from the valve through the cylinder. The cylinder is designed for mounting in a container storing a liquid or powdered commodity and to dispense the commodity upon operation of the valve. In particular, operation of the valve releases pressurized fluid from the cylinder over the end of the tube to draw the commodity from the container through the spray nozzle.

Since the pressurized cartridge does not require an airtight container for housing the commodity to be dispensed,

Patented June 18, 1968 tests were conducted to determine the feasibility of employing such a cartridge in an inexpensive container having thin flexible side walls and, in particular, in molded plastic containers of various sizes and shapes. Due to the weight of the fluid filled cartridge, it was found necessary to securely support the cartridge within the container to prevent separation of the cartridge and the neck of the container u-pon handling and movement of the container. Of course, to prevent escape of the liquid commodity, at least a liquid tight friction fit is required between the neck of the container and the cartridge. These factors pose serious problems which, heretofore, have prevented the efficient and rapid combination of the pressurized cartridge in a thin flexible walled container without permanently damaging or deforming the container.

In particular, as the pressurized cartridge slides tightly into and through the neck of the container, air pressure builds up in the container causing the side walls thereof to bow outwardly. Rapid movement of the cartridge into the container may cause the container to blow out or the side walls to be permanently deformed. Alternatively, the pressures developed in the container may be suflicient to prevent the cartridge from moving into the container.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved aerosol spray dispenser which incorporates the pressurized cartridge and an inexpensive container having thin flexible side walls and does so in an efficient manner which permits rapid insertion of the cartridge into the container without developing undesired high air pressures in the container and without noticeably deforming the side walls of the container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thin flexible walled container for tightly receiving and supporting a pressurized cartridge therein without deforming during insertion of the cartridge into the container.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an aerosol spray dispenser of the foregoing character including a by-pass in its neck for passing air from the container to atmosphere as the cartridge is introduced thereto, thereby preventing the build-up of undesired air pressure in the container and of bowing out of the thin flexible side walls.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel aerosol spray container including a by-pass of the foregoing character adapted for closing by the pressurized cartridge when the cartridge is fully seated in the container.

The foregoing as well as other objects and advantages of the present invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered with the drawings which, by Way of example, illustrate two forms of aerosol spray dispensers embodying the features of the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of one form of the aerosol spray dispenser including a pressurized cartridge stationed within a thin flexible walled container;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the container illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3 illustrating the air by-pass means in the neck of the container;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the neck of the container illustrating the manner in which air passes through the by-pass around the cartridge as it is inserted tightly into the container thereby preventing the undesired build-up of air pressures within the container;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a second form of the container with a fragment broken away to expose the liquid commodity within the container and the level thereof prior to the insertion of the pressurized cartridge therein;

FIG. 7 is a sectional top view taken along the lines 77 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of the container taken along the line 88 in FIG. 7 with the pressurized cartridge seated Within the container; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional side view of a neck portion of the container illustrating the air by-pass in the neck and the passage of air therethrough around the cartridge as it is inserted into the container.

In the drawings, the aerosol spray dispenser is represented by the numeral 10 and, generally speaking, comprises a pressurized cartridge 12 seated Within a container 14 including air by-pass means 16 in its neck 13. The air by-pass means 16 allows air to escape from the container 14 as the cartridge is inserted therein and thereby prevents the build-up of air pressures within the container. The container 14- therefor may have thin flexible walls 20 and may be formed of a lightweight inexpensive material, such as a plastic. In addition, the cartridge 12 may be rapidly introduced and seated in such a container without fear of permanently damaging or deforming the container. Furthermore, by employing plastic materials, the container 14 may be inexpensively formed in various sizes and shapes which are pleasing to the eye and more saleable than conventional cylindrical containers presently employed in aerosol spray dispensers.

More particularly, in the dispenser 10 illustrated in FIGS. l5, the cartridge 12 comprises a hollow cylinder or housing 22 having a funnel-shaped bottom 24 and a closed top 26. Annular seams 28 and 3t extend around the cylinder 22 adjacent thetop 26 to define an enlarged top portion for the cylinder. A conventional slide valve 32 is supported in the top 26 of the cylinder 22 and extends upwardly thereforni to receive a spray nozzle 34. Within the cylinder 22, the valve 32 receives the top end of a tube 36 which extends downwardly through the funnel bottom 24 of the cylinder 22. The cylinder 22 is of airtight construction to prevent a fluid 38, such as freon, under pressure, from leaking around the valve 32 or around the tube 36 through the funnel bottom 24 of the cylinder 22.

In operation, downward movement of the spray nozzle 34 causes a stem 40 to move downwardly within the body of the slide valve 32. As this occurs, side ports 44 in the valve body are opened to permit freon to pass upwardly into the valve body and through an exit port 46 around the stem 40 into the spray nozzle 34. Within the spray nozzle 34, the freon travels along a passageway 48 over the top of the stem 40 and outwardly from the spray nozzle. As the freon passes over the end of the stem 40, a negative or suction pressure is developed within the stem 40 which communicates with the tube 36. The suction draws the fluid commodity 50 from within the container 14 upwardly through the tube 36, stem 4% and outwardly from the spray nozzle 34 with the freon. By properly pointing the spray nozzle 34, the commodity may be sprayed at predetermined articles or at predetermined portions of the body depending upon the character of the commodity.

In FIGS. 1-5, the container 14 for receiving the pres- The neck 18, on the other hand, extends upwardly from the upper ends of the side walls 21 around an open top 56 of the main body portion 52 and compriscsannular top-most, central, and lower portions 53, 6t and 62.

The top-most portion 53 is dimensioned to loosely re ceive lower and main portions of the cylinder 22 and to tightly receive and hold the enlarged top portion of the cylinder. In this regard, the cylinder 22 is free to pass through the top-most portion 58 while the annular seam 30 makes a tight friction contact with the inner wall of the topmost portion and the annular seam 28 rests on a shoulder formed by an annular recess 6 in the inner wall to seal the top of the neck 18 just as the cylinder 2 is inserted fully into the container 14. The seal formed by the tight friction contact between the annular seam 3d and the inner wall of the top-most portion 58 need not be airtight. However, it must be liquid tight to prevent exit of the commodity upon a tipping of the container 14.

The lower portion 62 of the neck is continuous with the side walls 29 of the container 14, extends upwardly therefrom, and is dimensioned to freely receive the cylinder 22 as it is inserted into the container 14.

Conversely, the central portion 60 of the neck 18 is adapted to tightly receive, guide, and support the cylinder 22 as it is inserted into and seated in the container '14. In this respect, the inner wall of the central portion 60 is dimensioned to tightly engage and make firm friction contact with the exterior of the cylinder 22 and to produce a liquid tight seal therebetween.

The by-pass means 16 are located in the central portion 6 3 of the neck 18, and in the illustrated form of the dispenser 1t) comprise four equally spaced channels 66. The channels 66 extend vertically along the central portion 69 with ends open to the lower portion 62 and to the upper portion 58 along the inner side walls thereof.

The function of the channels 66 is most clearly depicted in FIGS. 3 and 5. As illustrated, as the cylinder 22 is inserted into the neck 18 of the container 14, the outer surface of the cylinder only engages and slides along the inner surface of the central portion 60-the cylinder being loosely received by the top-most portion 58 and by the lower portion 62 of the neck. This means that as the lower end of the cylinder 22 enters the main body 52, air in the container 14 is forced upwardly through the lower portion 62, channels 66, and top-most portion 58 around the cylinder and out of the container. Such an escape of air from the container 14 allows the commodity 50 to rise within the container upon the insertion of the cartridge 12 without creating air pressures which would tend to deform the container.

It is only when the enlarged top portion of the cylinder 22 enters the neck 18 that the free escape of air from the container is blocked. In particular, as the top portion of the cylinder 22 enters the neck 1'8, the seam 30 rides tightly down the inner wall of the top-most portion 58 to seal the neck 18 and block the by-pass 16 defined by the channels 66. Any air captured within the container 14 upon closure of the by-pass 16 is at substantially atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the closure of the by-pass 16 and the sealing of the container has no noticeable effect upon the shape or operation of the disperser 19.

Since the by-pass means 16 prevent the build-up of air pressure in the container 14, the cartridge 12 may be rapidly inserted into the thin walled plastic container without fear of a blowing out or otherwise permanently deforming or damaging the thin side walls of the container. Likewise, because of the by-pass means 16, air pressures are prevented from developing in the container 14 which might otherwise retard the rate of entry of the cartridge into the container. This means that the dispenser of the present invention may be rapidly and simply assembled.

A second form of the dispenser 10 embodying the previously described features is illustrated in FIGS. 6-9 wherein like reference numerals with a prime notation are utilized to denote elements similar to those in FIGS. 1-5.

As represented, the pressurized cartridge 12 is the same as the cartridge 12 illustrated in FIG. 1. The container 14' however, is generally cylindrical in shape and includes a bell-shaped top portion which converges upwardly into the neck 18 of the container.

The neck 18' is also generally cylindrical and comprises an annular top-most portion 58' and an adjacent lower portion 60. The top-most portion 58' is dimensioned to loosely receive the lower and main portions of the cyl inder 22 and to tightly receive and hold the enlarged top portion of the cylinder as it is inserted downwardly into the container 14'. In this regard, the main body of the cylinder 22' fits freely through the top-most portion 58 while the annular seam 30' tightly engages and creates a liquid tight seal between the cartridge 12 and the topmost portion 58' of the neck 18.

The lower portion 60 of the neck 18' is dimensioned totightly receive and slideably engage the outer surface of the cylinder 22' as the cartridge 12' is inserted into the container 14'. Accordingly, but for the by-pass means 16', air would be captured within the container 14' as the cartridge 12 is inserted therein.

In this regard, the by-pass means 16' comprise two diametrically opposite channels 66 formed in the lower portion 62 of the neck 18. The lower ends of the channel 66' open to the cylindrical main portion 52' of the container 14' while the upper ends open into the top-most portions 58 of the neck 18 along the inner wall thereof.

Accordingly, and as illustrated most clearly in FIG. 9, as the cylinder 22 is inserted into the container 14' through the neck 18', air in the main portion 52 passes upwardly around the cylinder, through the channels 66' and out of the neck 18'.

The escape of air from the container 14' continues while the cylinder 22' is moved downwardly into the container to prevent the build-up of air pressure which might otherwise blow out or permanently deform the thin walled container or, alternatively, resist entry of the cartridge 12' into the container.

Then, as the enlarged top portion of the cylinder 22 is inserted into the neck 18', the annular seam 30' engages the inner surface of the top-most portion 58'. As this occurs, the open top of the neck 18' is sealed to block the by-pass means defined by the channels 66 thereby creating a liquid tight seal for the cartridge 12 within the container 14.

From the foregoing, it is appreciated that the present invention provides an improved aerosol spray dispenser which incorporates a pressurized cartridge and an inexpensive container having thin flexible sidewalls and does so in an efficient manner which permits rapid insertion of the cartridge into the container without developing undesired air pressures in the container and without noticeably deforming the side walls of the container.

While particular forms of aerosol spray dispensers having the foregoing features have been described in some detain herein, changes and modifications may be made in the illustrated forms without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the present invention be limited in scope only by the terms of the following claim.

I claim:

1. An aerosol spray dispenser comprising:

(a) A pressurized aerosol cartridge including a hollow body containing a medium under pressure and an enlarged top on the body, a tube through said hollow body for passing a commodity from a receptacle in which said cartridge is mounted, and a valve for releasing said medium from the body over an upper end of said tube to draw the commodity therewith from the receptacle through the tube;

(b) A hollow receptacle for receiving the commodity to be dispensed by said cartridge, said receptacle including an open top, a sealed bottom and flexible sidewalls;

(c) A neck extending from said sidewalls around said open top of the receptacle for receiving said cartridge as it is introduced into the receptacle, said neck including a top-most portion for loosely receiving the lower end and central portions of said hollow body and for tightly receiving and holding said enlarged top portion as said cartridge is inserted downwardly into said receptacle, and a lower portion adjacent said topmost portion for tightly receiving, guiding, and supporting said hollow body in said receptacle; and

(d) An air passageway in said lower neck portion for passing air from the receptacle to atmosphere as said cartridge is introduced into said receptacle to thereby prevent the build-up of undesired pressures in said receptacle, and for closing when said cartridge is seated in said receptacle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,758,879 8/1956 Anderson 222-209 2,888,208 5/1959 'Fedit 239-308 3,257,025 6/1966 Jolly 222-183 X 3,289,949 12/1966 Roth 239-308 X 3,323,686 6/1967 Roth 222-399 X 3,326,469 6/ 1967 Abplanalp et at. 222-399 X FOREIGN PATENTS 890,348 2/ 1962 Great Britain.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH N. LEIMER, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Certificate Patent No. 3,388,838 Patented June 18, 1968 Paul A. Marchant Ap lication having been made by Paul A. Marchant, the inventor named in the patent a ve identified, and the Imco Container Company, the assignee for the issuance of a certificate under the provisions of Title 35, Section 256 of the United States Code, adding the name of Robert A. Coerver, Jr. to the patent as a joint inventor, and a showin and proof of facts satisfying the requirements of the said section having been submitted, it is this 30th day of December 1969, certified that the name of the said Robert A. 1(oerxger, Jr. is hereby added to the said patent as a joint inventor with the said Paul A. are ant.

LUTRELLE F. PARKER,

Law Examiner.

Images