WO2000061441A2

WO2000061441A2 - Decorating tip sealing aerosol valve

Info

Publication number: WO2000061441A2
Application number: PCT/US2000/009703
Authority: WO
Inventors: George B. Diamond; Ralph H. Helmrich
Original assignee: Dispensing Containers Corporation
Priority date: 1999-04-12
Filing date: 2000-04-12
Publication date: 2000-10-19
Also published as: WO2000061441A3; AU4231700A

Abstract

A tip sealing valve which can be used for decorative material discharge and does not leave any material exposed to the atmosphere. The tip sealing valve includes a stem (50) slidably received in a sleeve (10) having an aperture (35). The sleeve (10) is pivotally mounted on an aerosol can. Angularly displacing the sleeve (10) relative the aerosol can angularly displace the stem (50). When angularly displaced, the stem (50) tip describes a smaller arc than the sleeve (10) tip, and thus withdraws from the aperture (35), allowing material to flow through the aperture (35) and be dispensed from the aerosol can.

Description

DECORATING TIP SEALING AEROSOL VALVE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to valves and, more particularly, to a tip sealing aerosol valve for dispensing material in a decorative shape.

2. Description of the Related Art:

Typical aerosol valves used to dispense viscous products and foams open and close, or seal, at the base of the stem. Material not expelled from an aerosol can which remains inside the seal is essentially unexposed to ambient conditions. However, material in the valve stem, or in attached fitment, outside of the seal, is exposed to the atmosphere, which can be deleterious. In the case of cheese products, for example, the cheese in the valve stem outside of the seal hardens and discolors . In the case of sterile products, material outside of the seal becomes unsterile. Tip sealing valves, i.e. valves which seal at the top rather than at the base, are known. However, known tip sealing valves discharge material in the form of a uniform cylinder. It is desirable for food and other products to be discharged in a decorative form that is non-cylindrical .

Some non-tip sealing valves provide for discharging material in a decorative form. Such valves typically include a stem having slits or a slit fitment mounted on top of the stem. In either case, however, material remains m the stem, exposed to the atmosphere .

Accordingly, a need exists for a tip sealing valve which can be used for discharging decoratively shaped material, but does not leave any material exposed to the atmosphere .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention fulfills the need noted above by providing a tip sealing aerosol valve which dispenses material m a particular desired shape. To the end, the valve includes a sleeve having an aperture for delivering material, the aperture being shaped to impart a corresponding desired shape or design to the material being dispensed.

The sleeve of the tip sealing aerosol valve of the present invention pivots about a first pivot point. A stem, which pivots about a second pivot point, is received m the sleeve. Pivoting the sleeve about the first pivot point pivots the stem about the second pivot point and, since the first and second pivot points do not coincide, axially displaces the stem relative to the sleeve. The stem and the sleeve are biased into a closed, non-pivoted position m which the stem seals the aperture of the sleeve, thus protecting the material from the deleterious effects of exposure to the atmosphere

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional detail view of an embodiment of a decorating tip sealing aerosol valve constructed according to principles of the invention, in a closed position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional detail view, drawn along line III -II I in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional detail view of the embodiment of Fig. 1, in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Fig. 1, the aerosol valve of the present invention includes a stem 50 slidably received m a sleeve 10 having an aperture 35 at a distal end 20 thereof. The sleeve 10 is pivotally mounted on a spring cup 100 extending from an aerosol can. As shown m Fig. 4, angularly displacing the sleeve 10 relative to the aerosol can angularly displaces the stem 50. When angularly displaced, the stem tip 60 describes a smaller arc A₂ than the sleeve tip 20, so that the stem tip 60 withdraws from the sleeve tip 20 and allows material from the aerosol can to flow through the aperture 35.

More specifically, the sleeve 10 has a proximal end 15, a tip or distal end 20 and a middle section 25, and extends through an opening 105 defined by the annular lip 110 of a valve cup 115. The middle section 25 and opening 105 are configured so that the sleeve 10 pivots about pivot point P_lf as discussed below.

A seal 120 is interposed between valve cup 115 and the generally semi -spherical base 30 of sleeve 10. Seal 120 prevents material from escaping from the aerosol can other than through the sleeve 10. The generally semi -spherical shape of the base 30 provides a smooth surface for contacting seal 120. However, seal 120 and base 30 may be configured m any suitable manner consistent with the principles of the invention. Base 30 and seal 120 are configured so that the base 30 pivots about a fixed pivot point P__ so that the distal end 20 of sleeve 10 describes an arc A_x when sleeve 10 is angularly displaced.

Referring to Fig. 2, sleeve 10 is hollow and has an aperture 35 m a distal end 20 thereof and a port 40 m the proximal end 15 thereof. As described below, material from the aerosol can flows into the port 40, through a passage 45 m the middle section 25 and out of the aperture 35. Aperture 35 may assume any configuration or shape to impart a corresponding desired shape or design to the material being dispensed.

Referring to Fig. 3, a stem 50, having a proximal end 55, a distal end 60 and a middle section 65, is slidably received m the sleeve 10. The tip or distal end 60 of the stem 50 is configured to fill or seal the aperture 35 or otherwise block passage of pressurized material through the aperture 35 when the stem 50 is m a closed position, as shown m Fig. 1.

The proximal end 55 of stem 50 has a radial flange 70 with at least one passage 75 therethrough for receiving material from the aerosol can. The flange 70 is adapted to contact an annular surface 73 of the seal 120. When stem 50 is tilted relative to the seal 120, a portion of an edge 77 of the flange 70 remains engaged with seal 120, while the remainder of the edge 77 disengages from seal 120. Thus, when stem 50 is tilted relative to seal 120, stem 50 pivots about the portion of the edge 77 engaged with seal 120, shown in Fig. 1 as pivot point P₂. When stem 50 pivots about the point P₂,the distal end 60 of stem 50 describes the arc A₂.

An axial projection 80 extends proximally from the flange 70 of stem 50 and nests with a spring 85. The spring 85 biases the stem 50 relative to a spring cup 100 into an upright and closed position, as shown in Fig. 1.

The middle section 65 of stem 50, as best seen m Fig. 3, is blade like and configured to promote passage of material from the port 40 to the aperture 35 when articulated into an open position, as shown m Fig. 4. Sleeve 10 includes guide fins 90 which define slots 95 which receive and guide the stem 50 through the passage 45.

Comparing Figs. 1 and 4, the valve is operated by tilting sleeve 10 from the closed position of Fig. 1 into the open position of Fig. 4 thereby pivoting sleeve 10 about pivot point P , defining arc A-, . When sleeve 10 pivots, sleeve 10 urges stem 50 to pivot. As discussed above, when stem 50 is tilted, it pivots relative to that portion of the edge 77 of the flange 70 which remains in contact with the aerosol container (i.e. seal 120) about pivot point P₂, defining arc A₂. As shown in Fig. 4, the distal end 20 of the sleeve 10 and distal end 60 of the stem 50 define divergent arcs A,, and A₂, respectively. Because the distal end 60 of the stem 50 defines a smaller arc A₂, the distal end 60 of the stem 50 separates from the distal end 20 of the sleeve 10. Thus, tilting sleeve 10 results in linear displacement between the sleeve 10 and the stem 50. As the distal end 20 of the sleeve 10 separates from and distal end 60 of the stem 50, the distal end 60 of the stem 50 withdraws from the aperture 35, allowing pressurized material 150 from the aerosol can to flow through aperture 35, as shown in Fig. 4.

Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims .

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A valve, comprising: a sleeve pivotable about a first pivot point and having an aperture for delivering material, said aperture being shaped to impart a corresponding shape to said material delivered through said aperture; and a stem, pivotable about a second pivot point, received m said sleeve; wherein pivoting said sleeve about said first pivot point pivots said stem about said second pivot point and axially displaces said stem relative to said sleeve to allow delivery of said material through said aperture ; and wherein said stem and said sleeve are biased m a closed, non-pivoted position m which said stem seals said aperture.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein a portion of said stem that seals said aperture has a shape corresponding to a shape of said aperture .

3. The valve of claim 1, wherein said sleeve includes a guide fin for contacting said stem.

4. The valve of claim 3 , wherein said sleeve includes a second guide fm which cooperates with said guide fm to define a groove for receiving said stem.

5 . A valve comprising : a sleeve, having an axis and an aperture, said aperture being shaped to impart a corresponding shape to material dispensed from said valve through said aperture of said sleeve, said sleeve being configured to be pivotally mounted on a container; and a stem, configured to contact the container, received in said sleeve; wherein, when said sleeve is mounted on the container and said stem contacts the container, non-axially displacing said sleeve axially displaces said stem relative to said sleeve, thereby allowing said material to be delivered from said container through said aperture; and wherein said stem and said sleeve are biased in a closed, non-pivoted position in which said stem seals said aperture to prevent material to be delivered from the container through said aperture.

6. The valve of claim 5, wherein a portion of said stem that seals said aperture has a shape corresponding to a shape of said aperture.

7. The valve of claim 5, wherein said sleeve includes a guide fin for contacting said stem.

8. The valve of claim 5, wherein said sleeve includes a second guide fm which cooperates with said guide fm to define a groove for receiving said stem.