U.S. patent application number 14/511203 was filed with the patent office on 2016-04-14 for spray can.
The applicant listed for this patent is Walter FRANZ, Kerstin SELING. Invention is credited to Walter FRANZ, Kerstin SELING.
Application Number | 20160101925 14/511203 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55654960 |
Filed Date | 2016-04-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160101925 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FRANZ; Walter ; et
al. |
April 14, 2016 |
SPRAY CAN
Abstract
An aerosol container comprises a can having an open end. A valve
disk fitted to the open end is made of plastic and has a center
part formed with a throughgoing hole defining an axis. A plurality
of fingers extend axially from an inner face of the center part
around the hole into the can and each have an inner end formed with
a radially inwardly projecting barb spaced axially from the inner
face. A dispensing valve has a tubular valve housing fitted between
and gripped by the fingers and having an axially inwardly directed
face on which the barbs bear axially outward. A seal is compressed
axially between an outer end of the valve housing and the inner
face of the disk around the hole.
Inventors: |
FRANZ; Walter; (Gemuenda,
DE) ; SELING; Kerstin; (Doerfles-Esbach, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FRANZ; Walter
SELING; Kerstin |
Gemuenda
Doerfles-Esbach |
|
DE
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
55654960 |
Appl. No.: |
14/511203 |
Filed: |
October 10, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/402.25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/38 20130101;
B65D 83/48 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/48 20060101
B65D083/48; B65D 83/20 20060101 B65D083/20; B65D 83/38 20060101
B65D083/38 |
Claims
1. An aerosol container comprises: a can having an open end; a
valve disk fitted to the open end, made of plastic, and having a
center part formed with a throughgoing hole defining an axis; a
plurality of fingers extending axially from an inner face of the
center part around the hole into the can and each having an inner
end formed with a radially inwardly projecting barb spaced axially
from the inner face; a dispensing valve having a tubular valve
housing fitted between and gripped by the fingers and having an
axially inwardly directed face on which the barbs bear axially
outward; and a seal compressed axially between an outer end of the
valve housing and the inner face of the disk around the hole.
2. The aerosol container defined in claim 1, wherein the valve
housing is formed with an annular shoulder forming the inwardly
directed face that is planar.
3. The aerosol container defined in claim 1, wherein the valve
housing has segmented projections that form a bayonet joint with
the barbs of the fingers.
4. The aerosol container defined in claim 1, wherein the valve
housing is formed with a radially projecting ridge against which
the fingers bear elastically and radially inwardly.
5. The aerosol container defined in claim 1, wherein the center
part is formed with stiffening ribs.
6. The aerosol container defined in claim 5, wherein the stiffening
ribs extend radially outward from the hole.
7. The aerosol container defined in claim 1, wherein the disk is of
a fiber-reinforced plastic.
8. The aerosol container defined in claim 1, wherein the center
part is axially outwardly convex.
9. The aerosol container defined in claim 1, wherein the valve disk
has an outer periphery formed with an axially inwardly projecting
annular collar fitted to the open end of the can.
10. The aerosol container defined in claim 9, wherein the can is
made of sheet metal and connected positively to the valve disk by
crimping.
11. The aerosol container defined in claim 10, wherein the collar
is formed with at least one radial rib crimped to the open end of
the sheet-metal can, the container further comprising a seal
between the collar and the can.
12. The aerosol container defined in claim 1, wherein the can is
made of plastic and has a mouthpiece centered on the axis and
formed with an axially outwardly projecting rim, the disk being
formed with an annular axially inwardly open groove fitting
complementarily over the rim and formed between an inner wall and
an outer wall, the outer wall being thermally shaped to engage
positively around the rim.
13. The aerosol container defined in claim 1, wherein the valve
disk has an outer periphery, the can being made of plastic and
thermally deformed at the open end around the outer periphery, the
container further comprising a seal between the outer periphery and
the open end of the can.
14. The aerosol container defined in claim wherein the can is made
of plastic and is adhered to the valve disk or tightly connected
thereto by at least one laser weld seam.
15. The aerosol container defined in claim 1, wherein the can has a
collar with a screwthread and that the valve disk is provided with
a screwthread fitted to the screwthread of the collar, the
container further comprising a seal between the collar and the
valve disk.
16. The aerosol container defined in claim 15, wherein the
screwthreads have locking members that prevent rotation of the
screwed-together disk and can in an opening direction.
17. The aerosol container defined in claim 1, wherein the valve
disk has an outer periphery formed with an axially centered annular
collar and the can is made of plastic and has a cylindrical neck in
which the collar fits, the container further comprising: an outer
clamping ring attached to the disk and forming with the can a
triangular-section space; and a triangular-section inner clamping
ring fitted in the space and engaging radially inward on the can
and radially outward on the outer clamping ring.
18. The aerosol container defined in claim 1, wherein the can has
at its open end a radially projecting annular collar centered on
the axis and the lid is formed with axially projecting barbed arms
that snap into engagement under the collar when the disk is fitted
to the open end.
19. The aerosol container defined in claim 1, wherein the can and
valve housing are rotation symmetrical to the axis of the hole.
20. The aerosol container defined in claim 1, wherein the
dispensing valve includes a spring-biased valve body inside the
valve housing.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol container. More
particularly this invention concerns a spray can.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A standard aerosol container comprises a vessel or can
having a normally upwardly open end to which a valve disk with a
dispensing valve is tightly fastened. The valve disk is made of
plastic and has a center part with a hole for a valve member of the
dispensing valve.
[0003] Such an aerosol container with the described features is
known from DE 38 07 156. The valve disk and the valve housing of
the dispensing valve are integrally formed from plastic. The can is
also made of plastic and is welded to the valve disk.
[0004] Aerosol containers made mainly of metal, particularly tin or
aluminum, are widely used. The valve disk is manufactured as a
stamped and bent part from tin or a sheet of an aluminum alloy and
positively connected to the can by crimping. The center part of the
valve disk is a dome that forms a space for the valve housing of
the dispensing valve. The valve housing, a valve member with a
valve shaft (stem) and a seal are placed in the dome and fixed in
the dome by crimping. The crimping results in a positive connection
between the valve housing and the valve disk. An aerosol container
with a metallic valve disk and a dispensing valve attached thereto
by crimping is known, for example, from DE 20 38 580 [U.S. Pat. No.
3,675,832] and FR 2 925 032.
[0005] In practice, aerosol containers are manufactured in
collaborative processes in which the container, the valve disk and
the dispensing valve are manufactured by different companies. The
dispensing valve is available in different structural designs with
a great variety of constructions for producing different spray
patterns that are selected according to application. The valve
housing of the dispensing valve usually has at least similar and in
part even standardized dimensions. They usually have a head with a
front-side seal that can be inserted into a receiving space of the
valve disk a dome.
[0006] In view of this background, it is the object of the
invention to provide an aerosol container with the features
described above that is designed such that the plastic valve disk
can be equipped with a separately manufactured dispensing valve.
Furthermore, the valve disk is optionally connectable to a metallic
can or to an can made of plastic. Both the connection of the valve
disk to the can and the equipping of the valve disk with a
dispensing valve are to be simple in terms of assembly.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an improved spray can or container.
[0008] Another object is the provision of such an improved spray
can or container that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in
particular that is made of plastic and has a center part with a
hole for a valve member of the dispensing valve.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] An aerosol container comprises a can having an open end. A
valve disk fitted to the open end is made of plastic and has a
center part formed with a throughgoing hole defining an axis. A
plurality of fingers extend axially from an inner lower face of the
center part around the hole into the can and each have an inner end
formed with a radially inwardly projecting barb spaced axially from
the inner face. A dispensing valve has a tubular valve housing
fitted between and gripped by the fingers and having an axially
inwardly directed face on which the barbs bear axially outward. A
seal is compressed axially between an outer end of the valve
housing and the inner face of the disk around the hole.
[0010] Alternatively, the seal can be a component that is
integrally molded onto the valve disk. After assembly of the
dispensing valve, the fingers of the valve disk formed on the lower
face are subjected substantially only to tensile stress. Since the
fingers must be designed primarily for a single-axis tensile load,
the fingers can be thin, have relatively thin wall thicknesses, and
also not be subject to any substantial restrictions in terms of
their length. The clamping length for the valve housing prescribed
by the position of the inwardly projecting barbs can be adapted to
the dimensions of the valve housing such that the valve housing
rests against the front-side seal with sufficiently great sealing
force.
[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
fingers of the valve disk are spring-biased locking members and
cooperate with an annular collar surface on the valve housing. To
attach the dispensing valve to the valve disk, the dispensing valve
is pushed by a straight-line movement into the space defined by the
fingers until the fingers engage on the collar surface of the valve
housing. Common assembly systems that commercial users usually
already have on hand can be used for assembly.
[0012] It also lies within the scope of the invention for the valve
housing to have segmented projections that form a bayonet joint
with the barbs of the fingers. The bayonet joint is a positive
connection that is produced by a straight-line movement in
conjunction with rotation. By means of an axial assembly movement,
the segmented projections of the valve housing can be introduced
into the free space between the fingers of the valve disk. The
axial assembly movement is executed until the valve housing reaches
a stop, for example the center part of the valve housing. The valve
housing is then rotated until the segmented projections on the
valve housing engage behind the inwardly projecting barbs at the
free ends of the fingers. By means of wedge-shaped sliding
surfaces, the rotation can be combined with an axial actuation that
presses the valve housing with a defined force against the
seal.
[0013] Independently of whether the fingers are spring-biased
locking members or cooperate in the manner of a bayonet joint with
segmented projections on the valve housing, the fingers
advantageously rest against a cylindrical annular ridge of the
valve housing, thus securing the valve housing against transverse
movement. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in
order to connect the valve housing, four fingers are provided on
the valve disk that enclose the valve housing.
[0014] The center part of the valve disk preferably has stiffening
ribs. The number, geometry and alignment of the stiffening ribs are
selected such that sufficient dimensional stability is imparted to
the center part in order to withstand the axial forces that are
produced by the pressure within the aerosol container and can occur
both during the assembly of the dispensing valve and when filling
the aerosol container. The stiffening ribs can particularly be
aligned radially to the hole.
[0015] The valve disk can be manufactured cost efficiently as a
plastic injection-molded part. It is particularly made of a
fiber-reinforced plastic but can also be made from a plastic
without fiber reinforcement. Plastics worthy of consideration are
thermoplastic polymers, particularly polyethylene terephthalate
(PET), polyamide (PA), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and
polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). When using a multi-component
injection molding technique, the valve disk can have integral
sealing components that are made, for example, of a thermoplastic
elastomer, silicon rubber or rubber.
[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
center part is outwardly convex. The inventive shape of the center
part enables the valve disk to be manufactured with little
material.
[0017] Advantageously, the valve disk also has a collar that rests
on a can inner surface bordering the can opening and is supported
on the can wall, As a result of the collar, the can opening is
centered within the can opening. The axial support facilitates,
among other things, the positioning of the valve disk during the
assembly process.
[0018] The can may be made of metal or plastic. A metal can is
advantageously connected positively to the valve disk by crimping.
If the valve disk is intended for a positive connection to a metal
can, the valve disk advantageously has a collar with at least one
radial rib, the rib being flanged to the sheet metal of the can and
a seal being clamped between the collar and the sheet metal of the
can.
[0019] If the can is made of plastic, several possibilities for
connecting the valve disk to the can are worthy of consideration.
For instance, the valve disk can be welded or adhered to the
plastic can. A positive connection to the can edge can be produced
by hot shaping the valve disk. Moreover, it is possible to connect
the valve disk and a can made of plastic by hot stamping. To
connect the plastic head to a can that is preferably made of
plastic, a non-detachable screw connection or a plug connection
using a multi-part clamping device is also suitable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0020] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will
become more readily apparent from the following description,
reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal axial section through the
invention;
[0022] FIGS. 2a and 2b are perspective bottom and top views of a
valve disk for the container shown in FIG. 1;
[0023] FIG. 2c is a large-scale partly sectional side perspective
view of the valve disk; and
[0024] FIGS. 3 to 14 show additional embodiments of the container
shown in FIG. 1.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a cup-shaped vessel or can 1 having an open
upper end to which a valve disk 2 with a dispensing valve 3 is
tightly attached. The valve disk 2 is made of plastic and has a
center part 4 with a hole 5 for a valve body of the dispensing
valve 3. The can 1 and hole 5 are centered on a normally vertical
axis A. The valve member is also referred to as a stem. Fingers 6
are formed on the lower face of the center part 4 that have
radially inwardly projecting barbs 7 on their free end. The
dispensing valve 3 has a tubular valve housing 8 that extends into
a space defined by the fingers 6 of the valve disk 2, the barbs 7
of the fingers 6 engaging axially behind an radially projecting
ridge 9 of the valve housing 8 and pressing the valve housing 8
against a seal 10 between the valve housing 8 and the valve disk
2.
[0026] The fingers are spring-biased locking members and cooperate
with the annular ridge on the valve housing 8. The fingers 6 rest
against a cylindrical circumferential surface or annular collar
surfaces 11 of the valve housing 8 (FIG. 10).
[0027] It can be seen from FIG. 1 in conjunction with FIGS. 2a to
2c that four fingers 6 provided for attaching the valve housing 8
surround the valve housing 8 equiangularly. The center part 4 of
the valve disk 2 has stiffening ribs 12 extending radially to the
hole 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the stiffening ribs 12 are
on the lower face of the center part. However, the stiffening ribs
12 can also be provided on the upper face of the center part 4. The
stiffening ribs 12 impart dimensional stability to the valve disk 2
to absorb the container inner pressure and absorb axial forces that
can occur during mounting of the dispensing valve 3 on the valve
disk 2 and during filling of the aerosol container in a filling
system.
[0028] The valve disk 2 shown in FIGS. 2a to 2c has a collar 13
that rests against a can inner surface of the can opening and is
supported axially on the can rim. The center part of the valve disk
is arched outward.
[0029] The valve disk 2 is made of a fiber-reinforced plastic.
Examples of suitable plastics are polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyamide (PA) and
polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and the fiber content can be 30
to 40% by weight. Depending on requirements, unreinforced plastics
can also be used. The valve disk 2 is preferably
injection-molded.
[0030] The can 1 can be made of metal or plastic. The embodiment
shown in FIG. 3 is a can 1 made of sheet metal that is connected
positively to the valve disk 2 by crimping. The valve disk 2 has a
collar 14 with two radially projecting ridges 15, 15' of which one
is being flanged by the sheet metal of the can 1, and a seal 16 is
clamped between the collar 14 and the sheet metal of the can 1.
[0031] In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the can 1 is made of plastic
and has a mouthpiece 17 that engages in an annular groove 18 of the
valve disk 2 and rests against a seal 19 in the annular groove 18.
The seal 19 can be laid into the annular groove as a separate seal
ring or be made of a sealing component that is integral with the
valve disk 2 or injected into the annular groove 18 before assembly
and hardened chemically, thermally or with special light. The
annular groove 18 is bordered by an inner wall 20 of the valve disk
2 resting against the can inner wall and by an outer wall 21. The
outer wall 21 has a profile created by thermal shaping that engages
positively around the mouthpiece 17 of the can 1.
[0032] In FIG. 5, the can 1 is also made of plastic. The valve disk
2 has a collar 22 that is connected by hot stamping to a mouthpiece
23 of the can 1. A seal 24 is provided between the collar 22 and
the wall surface of the can 1. This seal 24 can be a seal ring. The
seal 24 can particularly be made of a thermoplastic elastomer that
has been formed on the valve disk 2 in a multi-component injection
molding process, for example. FIG. 5a shows one design variant. The
seal 24 is formed here on an annular bearing surface of the valve
disk.
[0033] FIGS. 6a and 6b also show a valve disk 2 that has been
connected to the mouthpiece 23 of the plastic can 1 by hot
stamping. The seal 24 consists of an elastic sealing component that
is formed on the valve disk 2. The valve disk 2 has stiffening ribs
12 both on the upper face and on the lower face of the center part
4. An arrangement of annular stiffening ribs and stiffening ribs
aligned radially to the hole is provided.
[0034] In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the valve disk 2 is connected
by a laser weld seam 25 to the plastic can 1. The laser weld seam
25 connects a collar 13 of the valve disk 2 that rests against a
can inner surface of the can opening. The laser weld seam 25 can be
produced by a radial laser welding method in which the laser beam
is deflected by a mirror such that it strikes the rotationally
symmetrical surface of the parts to be welded. Alternatively,
welding methods can also be used in which the workpiece is rotated
about its longitudinal axis. With the aid of the laser welding
method, a pressure-tight, non-detachable connection can be
produced. Additional seals can be eliminated. The weld joint can be
produced with short cycle times. The wall of the can 1 must be
laser-permeable, while the valve disk 2 is made of a
laser-absorbing material. According to a design variant shown in
FIG. 7a, the laser weld seam 25 is on an annular end face.
[0035] Adhesive joints between the valve disk 2 and a plastic can 1
are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the rim 26
of the can 1 defining the can opening engages in an annular groove
27 of the valve disk 2, the gap between the mutually engaging parts
being filled with a hardened hot melt adhesive 28. To make the
adhesive joint, a welding auxiliary body is placed in the annular
groove 27. Through inductive heating of the welding auxiliary body,
it is liquefied and fills the gap between the parts to be
connected. This results in permanent, heat-resistant and
impact-resistant adhesion with a high degree of strength.
[0036] According to FIG. 9, the can has a collar 29 with at least
one pocket 30, it being possible for the pocket 30 to be an annular
groove. The valve disk 2 rests on the collar 29 and has a
connecting member 31 engaging in the pocket 30. The gap of the
mutually engaging parts is filled by a hardened hot melt adhesive
28. The adhesive joint is made in the same way as described
above.
[0037] FIGS. 10 and 11 relate to screw connections between the
valve disk 2 and the can 1. The can 1 is a blow-molded plastic can
and has a collar 32 with a screwthread that can be an internal
screwthread 33 or external screwthread 34. In the embodiment of
FIG. 10, the screwthread is an internal screwthread 33. The valve
disk 2 is connected by a non-detachable screw connection to the
collar 32, a seal 35 being provided between the collar 32 and the
valve disk 2. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the screw connection
comprises a lock nut 36 that is screwed onto an external
screwthread 34 of the collar 32 and presses the valve disk 2
against the collar. Here, too, a seal 35 is provided between the
collar 32 and the valve disk 2. The screw connections shown in
FIGS. 10 and 11 are non-detachable. They advantageously have
locking members that prevent rotation of the screw-together parts
in the opening direction.
[0038] Instead of a screw connection, a positive connection by a
bayonet joint is also possible.
[0039] FIG. 12a shows a plug connection 37 using a clamping member
38 shown in FIG. 12b for connecting the valve disk 2 to a plastic
can. The plastic can 1 has a cylindrical neck 39 in which a collar
40 of the valve disk 2 engages. An outer clamping ring 41 is
connected to the valve disk 2 that encloses the neck 39 and borders
a cross-sectionally wedge-shaped annular space between the neck 39
and the outer clamping ring 41. The outer clamping ring 41 is
firmly connected to the valve disk 2, for example by laser welding.
An inner clamping ring 42 is provided within the outer clamping
ring 41 that fills the wedge-shaped annular space. The arrangement
shown in FIG. 12b must still be completed through the mounting of a
dispensing valve that can be pushed into the neck 39. Once the
position shown in FIG. 12a is reached, the arrangement can no
longer be pulled off the neck 39, since the inner clamping ring 42
wedges the outer clamping ring 41 with the neck 39. If the interior
of the can 1 is pressurized after a container filling, forces are
exerted on the valve disk 2 and neck 39 that are indicated by
arrows in FIG. 12a. As a result of these forces, the parts 39, 41,
42 wedge each other.
[0040] A seal 43 is provided in the wedge-shaped annular space that
is deformed by an axial relative movement of the two clamping rings
41, 42 and rests against an inner surface of the outer clamping
ring 41 and an outer surface of the neck 39. Moreover, at least one
ring seal 44 is provided on the collar 40 of the valve disk 2 that
rests against the inner surfaces of the neck 39. Finally, the
surfaces of the inner clamping ring 41 and of the neck 39 that face
each other have profiling 45 for relatively locking their surfaces.
The connection can no longer be detached after assembly. The
internal pressure in the container after filling of the aerosol
container increases the clamping effect between the parts.
[0041] The valve disk can also be connected to the can by a locking
connection. In the embodiment of FIG. 13, the valve disk 2 has
locking hooks 46 that engage behind an annular collar 47 of the
inner surface of the can. The locking connection on the inner
surface of the can is inaccessible from outside and non-detachable.
Moreover, an elastomeric sealing surface 48 is formed on the valve
disk 2. According to the illustration in FIG. 14, the locking hooks
46 can also engage behind an annular ridge 47' on the outer surface
of the can. To secure a locking connection on an outer surface of
the can, a clamping ring (not shown) can be used that prevents the
locking hooks from being bent up.
* * * * *