WO2000001593A2

WO2000001593A2 - Apparatus for operating a pressurised container

Info

Publication number: WO2000001593A2
Application number: PCT/GB1999/001969
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Arthur Charles Chown
Original assignee: Chown Peter A C
Priority date: 1998-07-01
Filing date: 1999-06-23
Publication date: 2000-01-13
Also published as: GB2341644A; AU4383299A; GB9914737D0; GB9814305D0; WO2000001593A3

Abstract

Apparatus (2) for operating a pressurised container (4), which pressurised container (4) comprises a body portion (6), a product (8) under pressure in the body portion (6), and a valve (10) which is depressed for dispensation of the product (8), and which apparatus (2) comprises a sleeve member (12) which slides over the body portion (4), an actuator member (14) which engages the valve (10), and retainer means (16) for retaining the pressurised container (4) in the sleeve member; and the apparatus (2) being such that it enables hand pressure to be applied to a bottom part (18) of the body portion (6) whereby the pressurised container (4) is able to be slid along the sleeve member (12) and against the actuator member (14) in oder to cause the actuator member (14) to depress the valve (10) and thereby to cause the dispensation of the product (8).

Description

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A PRESSURISED CONTAINER

This invention relates to apparatus for operating a pressurised container.

Pressurised containers are well known and they are often simply referred to as aerosols. The pressurised containers contain a wide variety of different products including shaving creams, paints, deodorants, hairsprays insect killing chemicals, air fresheners, food products, pharmaceutical materials and cleaning materials. The pressurised containers comprise a body portion, the product under pressure in the body portion, and a valve which is depressed for dispensation of the production. Problems often arise with the dispensation of the product from the pressurised container. For example, with shaving creams, the product tends to collect around the valve. With paint, the sprayed paint tends to flow back from the valve over a finger of an operator which is used to depress the valve. With deodorants and hairsprays, it is often difficult to spray the deodorant or hairspray exactly where required.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide apparatus for operating a pressurised container, which apparatus facilitates reducing the above mentioned problems . Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided apparatus for operating a pressurised container: which pressurised container comprises a body portion, a product under pressure in the body portion, and a valve which is depressed for dispensation of the product : and which apparatus comprises a sleeve member which slides over the body portion, an actuator member which engages the valve, and retainer means for retaining the pressurised container in the sleeve member; and the apparatus being such that it enables hand pressure to be applied to a bottom part of the body portion whereby the pressurised container is able to be slid along the sleeve member and against the actuator member in order to cause the actuator member to depress the valve and thereby to cause the dispensation of the product .

The apparatus of the present invention is able to fit neatly over the pressurised container. Operation of the pressurised container without the present invention would normally be by using a finger to push the valve downwardly. In contrast, with the apparatus of the present invention, the pressurised container is moved bodily in the opposite direction in order to slide the pressurised container along the sleeve member and against the actuator member in order to cause the depression of the valve and the dispension of the product. The apparatus of the invention can easily be formed to give the user a good idea of the point and direction from which the product will be dispensed. The product may be dispensed in the form of a foam, a liquid, a spray or any other suitable and appropriate form. The apparatus can be arranged so that it can easily be wiped clean. Because the pressurised container is actuated by hand pressure on the bottom part of the body portion of the pressurised container, there is no danger of paint or similar dispensed products flowing back over an operator's finger.

The apparatus of the present invention will normally be used with its pressurised container and then discarded with its pressurised container when the pressurised container becomes empty. If desired however, the apparatus of the present invention can be removed from the empty pressurised container and then placed on another full pressurised container for reuse.

A particular advantage of the apparatus of the present invention is that the body member can easily be printed with commercial information such for example as the name of the name of the product , the name of the manufacturer, and operating instructions. With known pressurised containers, this commercial information is printed on the body portion of the pressurised container. It is not economically possible to provide the commercial information on small numbers of the pressurised containers and so a product manufacturer has to order large numbers of printed empty containers for subsequent filling with a required product. Usually the manufacturer has to order more of the printed empty containers than the manufacturer requires, in order to obtain the empty printed containers at an economical unit cost . This in turn leads to over stocking, which the manufacturers who subsequently fill the empty containers do not like. With the apparatus of the present invention, the manufacturer of a product can order only those empty containers that are required because the empty containers can be ordered with blank body portions which do not contain the commercial information. The commercial information can be provided on the apparatus of the present invention, and usually on the sleeve member part of the apparatus .

A further advantage of being able to provide the commercial information on the apparatus of the present invention is that the apparatus of the present invention can be provided with the commercial information remote from the actual pressurised container. This means that the apparatus of the present invention can be subjected to heat, which then enables the possibility of the apparatus of the present invention being provided with the commercial information by processes which involve heat . A presently preferred process is that of heat shrinking the information on to the apparatus. Generally, heat cannot be applied directly to a pressurised container because the pressurised container will usually be relatively cold and the heat could cause the pressurised container to explode. Such problems do not occur with the apparatus of the present invention which can be provided ^'with the commercial information separately from the pressurised container, or whilst it is on the pressurised container.

The apparatus will usually be one in which the sleeve member includes an access opening for enabling the hand pressure to be applied to the bottom part of the body portion.

If desired, the access opening may be closed by a closure member. The closure member may be a hinged closure member. The closure member may be arranged to provide a child resistant feature against a child operating the pressurised container. More specifically, the closure member may be designed to be difficult to open by a child so that the child cannot apply the required hand pressure to the pressurised container.

The closure member may be provided with a gripping device for enabling the closure member easily to be opened, for example by an adult. The gripping device may be a recess in the closure member. Other types of gripping device may however be employed.

Preferably, the closure member is a concave closure member. Other shapes for the closure member may however be employed.

Preferably, the apparatus is one in which the retainer means is an inwardly directed lip which locates against a bottom ring of the pressurised container. Other types of retainer means such for example as tags may be employed.

Usually, the apparatus will be one in which the sleeve member is a tubular sleeve member which has the same cross sectional shape as the pressurised container, and which allows the pressurised container to be an easy sliding fit in the sleeve member. With such an easy sliding fit, the pressurised container is able automatically to return to its non-use position after it has been pushed forwardly to dispense the product. The pressurised containers normally have a spring in their valve for effecting the return of the valve in its non-use position, and this spring power can be used to return the entire pressurised container to its non-use position in the apparatus of the present invention.

Preferably, the actuator member is a push fit over the valve. Other ways of connecting the actuator member to the valve may however be employed.

The apparatus of the invention may include an outlet cap which is provided on the sleeve member, the outlet cap having at least one outlet aperture.

Preferably, the outlet aperture is axially in line with an outlet aperture in the actuator member. However, if desired, the outlet aperture may be at some other position, for example at 90° to a longitudinal axis of the pressurised container. If the outlet aperture in the apparatus of the invention is axially in line with the outlet aperture in the actuator member, then it is easy for an operator to know exactly where the dispensed product will be directed.

If desired, the outlet cap may contain a material for absorbing the product . The material is preferably a foam material but other materials may be employed. If the dispensed product is dispensed on to the material for absorbing the product, then the product may be further dispensed from the material . In the case of products such for air fresheners or fly killers, then the product may be slowly dispensed over a relatively long period of time from the material which has absorbed the product . Thus the apparatus of the invention provides a long release facility for a product dispensed from the pressurised container.

Where the outlet cap contains the material absorbing the product, then the outlet cap may have a plurality of the outlet apertures. The plurality of the outlet apertures may be closed with a peel-back cover.

If desired, the outlet cap may comprise a material for absorbing the product, the material then being such that it can be used for cleaning objects when the product is a cleaning chemical. The material may be a layer of a foam material and/or a layer of a scouring material.

The present invention also extends to the combination of the apparatus of the invention, and the pressurised container.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a section through first apparatus for operating a pressurised container, the pressurised container being in an operating mode; Figure 2 is a section as shown in Figure 1 but with the pressurised container being in a non-use mode ;

Figure 3 is a section like Figure 2 but shows second apparatus for operating the pressurised container;

Figure 4 is a section through part of third apparatus for operating a pressurised container;

Figure 5 shows fourth apparatus for operating a pressurised container; the pressurised container being in a non-use position;

Figure 6 shows the apparatus of Figure 5 but with the pressurised container being in an operating mode;

Figure 7 is a section through fifth apparatus for operating a pressurised container; and

Figure 8 is a section through sixth apparatus for operating a pressurised container.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown apparatus 2 for operating a pressurised container 4.

The pressurised container 4 comprises a body portion 6, a product 8 under pressure in the body portion 6, and a valve 10 which is depressed for dispensation of the product 8.

The apparatus 2 comprises a sleeve member 12 which slides over the body portion 6, an actuator member 14 which engages the valve 10, and retainer means 16 for retaining the pressurised container 4 in the sleeve member 12.

The apparatus 2 is such that it enables hand pressure to be applied to a concave bottom part 18 of the body portion 6. This hand pressure enables the pressurised container 4 to be able to be slid along the sleeve member 12 and against the actuator member 14. This in turn causes the actuator member 14 to depress the valve 10 and thereby to cause the dispensation of the product 8 as shown in Figure 1. The sleeve member 12 includes an access opening 20 for enabling the hand pressure to be applied to the bottom part 18 of the body portion 6.

As can be appreciated from Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus 2 can receive a standard pressurised container 4. When the pressurised container 4 is empty, the apparatus 2 can be thrown away with the empty pressurised container or, alternatively, the apparatus 2 can be reused on another full pressurised container 4. Advantageously and as mentioned above, the sleeve member 12 can be provided with commercial information, enabling empty blank pressurised containers 4 to be bought from can manufacturers in smaller quantities than is presently commercially possible, thereby avoiding over-stocking problems at filling plants where the empty pressurised containers 4 are filled with the desired product 8.

Figure 3 shows second apparatus 22 for operating the pressurised container 4. Similar parts as in Figures 1 and 2 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. In Figure 3, it will be seen that the access opening 20 is able to be closed by a closure member 24. The closure member 24 is a hinged closure member 24 which hinges about a hinge 26. The closure member 24 has a gripping device in the form of a recess 28 in the closure member 24.

As can be seen from the apparatus 2 shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the apparatus 22 shown in Figure 3, the retainer means 16 is an inwardly directed lip which locates against a bottom rim 30 of the pressurised container 4. In Figure 3, the retainer means 16 in the form of a lip can be provided with a concave face 32 to receive a curved edge 34 of the closure member 24.

The sleeve member 12 in the apparatus 2 and in the apparatus 22 is a tubular sleeve member 12 which has the same cross sectional shape as the pressurised container 4. The sleeve member allows the pressurised container 4 to be an easy sliding fit in the sleeve member 12. This enables the pressurised container 4 automatically to move from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 2 when the hand pressure applied in the direction of the arrow 36 is released. The non-use position of the pressurised container 4 shown in Figure 2 is indicated by a dotted line 18 in Figure 1. The valve 10 of the pressurised container 4 will usually contain a spring (not shown) for returning the valve 10 to its non-use position after the valve 10 has been depressed. This spring is effective to return the entire pressurised container 4 to the non-use position shown in Figure 2.

The actuator member 14 in the apparatus 2 and the apparatus 22 is a push fit over the valve 10. The product 8 is dispensed through an outlet opening 38 in the valve 10 into an outlet cap 40. The outlet cap 40 has internal screw threads 42 for enabling it to be a screw fit over an upstanding lip 44 which is formed on the sleeve member 12 and which is provided with external screw thread 46.

The outlet cap 40 is thus provided on the sleeve member 12. The outlet cap 40 has an outlet aperture 48 as shown in Figure 1. The product 8 is dispensed through this outlet aperture 48 as shown in Figure 1. The outlet aperture 48 is axially in line with the outlet aperture 38 in the actuator member 14. Thus an operator utilising the apparatus 2 and the pressurised container 4 is easily able to know exactly where the product 8 will be dispensed. Also, advantageously, the use of the apparatus 2 or 22 enables the product 8 to be dispensed to places and areas which would normally be awkward to reach utilising just the pressurised container 4, where the valve 10 would usually have a member (not shown) for axially being depressed and which member would normally have an outlet aperture at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the pressurised container 4 and the valve 10.

If it should be desired to dispense the product 8 at 90° to the longitudinal axis of the pressurised container 4, then an outlet cap 50 as shown in Figure 4 can be utilised. The outlet cap 50 is similar to the outlet cap 40 except that the outlet cap 50 is provided with an inner moulded formation 52 which contains a transversely directed passage 54 for the product 8.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, there is shown the upper part of apparatus 56 which is similar to the apparatus 2 or 22, except that the apparatus 56 is such that the outlet cap 40 is provided with material 58 for absorbing the product 8. The material 58 is preferably a foam material but other materials may be employed. The material 58 is supported in an upper chamber 60 in the outlet cap 40. The absorbed product 00/01593

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8 is dispensed from the outlet cap 40 through a plurality of the outlet apertures 48. The use of the material 58 enables the product 8 to be dispensed over a long time period, as opposed to a short time period equal to the duration of the time of depression of the valve 10. The slow release time period may be especially desirable for products 8 in the form of room fresheners, medicaments for helping persons breathe at night, and insect killers. The apertures 48 can be closed by a peel-back cover 62. The peel- back cover 62 can be replaced if it should be desired to stop dispensation of the product 8 through the outlet apertures 48.

Referring to Figure 7, there is shown fifth apparatus 64 for operating a pressurised container 66. The pressurised container 66 is of a type known as a mini aerosol container which is small in size and which comprises a body portion 68, a head piece 70 and a valve 72. The valve 72 is a tight push fit into a tubular portion 74 formed on part of the apparatus 64 as shown. The tubular portion 74 thus retains the pressurised container 66 in the apparatus 64.

The apparatus 64 comprises a sleeve member 76. The sleeve member 76 has a first part 78 and a second part 80. The second part 80 is of a smaller diameter than the first part 78 as shown and the first and the second parts 78, 80 are connected by a shoulder portion 82. The first part 78 has an open bottom 84 for permitting access to a bottom 86 of the pressurised container 66. The second part 80 has a closed top 88 which is formed as shown.

The first part 78 has inwardly projecting ribs 90. The ribs 90 act to locate and guide the body portion 68 of the pressurised container 66 as the pressurised container 66 slides up and down in the apparatus 64. There may be any suitable and appropriate number of the ribs 90, for example four or six ribs 90.

The apparatus 64 also has inwardly projecting ribs 92 which locate and guide the head piece 70 of the pressurised container 66 as the pressurised container 66 slides up and down in the apparatus 64. There may be any suitable and appropriate number of the ribs 92, for example four or six ribs 92. The ribs 92 terminate in an enlarged bottom portion 94. The bottom portion 94 of each rib 92 helps to retain the pressurised container 66 in the apparatus 64. For assembly purposes, the pressurised container 66 can be pushed into the apparatus 64 so that the head piece 70 forces past the bottom portions 94, and so that the valve 72 locates in the tubular portion 74. The apparatus 64 with the pressurised container 66 can then easily be held in one hand, with a person's index finger and second finger positioned on the shoulder portion 82 which then acts as a finger grip portion. The person's thumb can then pass through the open bottom 84 of the apparatus 64 and can press on the bottom 86 of the pressurised container 66. The pressurised container 66 can then be pushed upwardly so that the head piece 70 slides up the valve 72 and the contents of the pressurised container 66 are then released, for example in the form of a single metered dose. On release of the thumb pressure on the bottom 86, a spring (not shown) in the valve 72 is able to slide the body portion 68 and the head piece 70 of the pressurised container 66 back to the non-dispensing position shown in Figure 7.

The apparatus 64 can conveniently be moulded from a plastics material. The apparatus 64 enables simple and convenient one hand operation of the pressurised container 66.

Referring now to Figure 8, there is shown apparatus 96 having a bottom portion which is the same as that shown in Figure 3 and in which similar parts have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. The top portion of the apparatus 96 is such that an actuator member 98 extends into an outlet cap 100. The cap 100 contains a foam layer 102 and a layer 104 of a scouring material. When the apparatus 96 is operated, a cleaning chemical in the body portion 6 of the pressurised container 4 is squirted into the foam layer 102. The cleaning chemical then soaks into the layer 104 of the scouring material. Any suitable and appropriate objects such for example as pots and pans can then be cleaned with the layer 104 of the scouring material. This cleaning can conveniently be effected with the cap 100 being in position on the sleeve member 12 as shown in Figure 8. If desired however the cleaning could also be effected with the cap having been removed from the sleeve member 12, the foam layer 102 and the layer 104 having first been provided with appropriate cleaning chemical . Any suitable and appropriate cleaning chemical can be employed, such for example as a cleaning liquid or a cleaning foam. The cap 100 is easily retained on the sleeve member 12 as a press fit over an upstanding wall 106. The cap 100 can be removed for normal use of the apparatus 96 and the pressurised container 4.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the apparatus 2, 22, 56 may be of a different shape to that shown. The retainer means 16 may be inwardly directed tags instead of the illustrated lip. Other types of actuator member 14 may be employed, and the outlet cap 40 could be omitted. The use of the material 58 and the plurality of the outlet apertures 48 may be utilised for dab-on anti-perspirants and other products 8 which are applied by dabbing or rubbing. The apparatus 96 shown in Figure 8 may be modified such that the layer 104 of the scouring material is removed, in which case cleaning can be effected with the foam layer 102. If desired, the foam layer 102 could be omitted so that the cleaning chemical would then be dispensed directly into the layer 104 of the scouring material. Any suitable and appropriate type of scouring material can be employed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for operating a pressurised container: which pressurised container comprises a body portion, a product under pressure in the body portion, and a valve which is depressed for dispensation of the product: and which apparatus comprises a sleeve member which slides over the body portion, an actuator member which engages the valve, and retainer means for retaining the pressurised container in the sleeve member; and the apparatus being such that it enables hand pressure to be applied to a bottom part of the body portion whereby the pressurised container is able to be slid along the sleeve member and against the actuator member in order to cause the actuator member to depress the valve and thereby to cause the dispensation of the product .

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the sleeve member includes an access opening for enabling the hand pressure to be applied to the bottom part of the body portion.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the access opening is closed by a closure member.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the closure member is a hinged closure member.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4 in which the closure member has a gripping device for enabling the closure member to be opened.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the gripping device is a recess in the closure member.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the retainer means is an inwardly directed lip which locates against a bottom rim of the pressurised container.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the sleeve member is a tubular sleeve member which has the same cross sectional shape as the pressurised container, and which allows the pressurised container to be an easy sliding fit in the sleeve member.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the actuator member is a push fit over the valve .

10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including an outlet cap which is provided on the sleeve member, the outlet cap having at least one outlet aperture.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the outlet aperture is axially in line with an outlet aperture in the actuator member.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the outlet aperture is at 90┬░ to a longitudinal axis of the pressurised container.

13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 - 12 in which the outlet cap contains a material for absorbing the product .

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 in which the material is a foam material.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13 or claim 14 in which the outlet cap has a plurality of the outlet apertures . 00/01593

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16. Apparatus according to claim 15 in which the plurality of outlet apertures are closed with a peel- back cover.

17. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the outlet cap comprises a material for absorbing the product, the material being such that it can then be used for cleaning objects when the product is a cleaning chemical .

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 in which the material is a layer of a foam material and/or a layer of a scouring material .

19. Apparatus for operating a pressurised container, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings .

20. The combination of the apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, and the pressurised container.