U.S. patent number 3,622,052 [Application Number 04/881,084] was granted by the patent office on 1971-11-23 for childproof dispensing valve actuator for an aerosol can.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sunbeam Plastics Corporation. Invention is credited to Peter P. Gach.
United States Patent |
3,622,052 |
Gach |
November 23, 1971 |
CHILDPROOF DISPENSING VALVE ACTUATOR FOR AN AEROSOL CAN
Abstract
A childproof dispensing valve actuator for an aerosol can. The
valve actuator fits on the end of a vertical, tubular valve stem.
The valve actuator body protrudes upwardly through a central
opening in a can cover and has a horizontal nozzle which aligns
with an opening in the side of the cover. The valve is actuated by
pressing the actuator body downwardly. A locking slide is carried
by a part of the cover adjacent the actuator body and is movable
between an "open" position not engaging the actuator body and a
"locked" position in which the slide engages in a slot in the
actuator body for preventing it from being depressed to actuate the
valve.
Inventors: |
Gach; Peter P. (Evansville,
IN) |
Assignee: |
Sunbeam Plastics Corporation
(Evansville, IN)
|
Family
ID: |
25377745 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/881,084 |
Filed: |
December 1, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/402.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
83/22 (20130101); B65D 83/205 (20130101); B65D
2215/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
83/16 (20060101); B65D 83/14 (20060101); B65d
083/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/402.11,153,402.13-402.15 ;251/89,90,102,110 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Reeves; Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Shannon, Jr.; John P.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. A childproof dispensing valve actuator for an aerosol can having
a dispensing valve and a cover mounted on the top of said can and
overlying said dispensing valve, said cover and said actuator
having cooperating parts for guiding said actuator for providing
for vertical movement only of said actuator relative to said cover,
there being a generally central opening in said cover and said
actuator protruding therethrough, said actuator having a main body
adapted to fit over the stem of said dispensing valve and an
interior passageway for conveying the content material from said
valve to atmosphere, and a locking element and means engaged
thereby in adjacent parts of said cover and said actuator body,
said locking element being movable relative to both said cover and
said actuator body between an "open" position not engaging said
means and a "locked" position engaging said means and thereby
preventing movement of said actuator relative to said cover or
actuation of said valve thereby.
2. A device according to claim 1 in which the locking element is a
slide mounted on the cover and the means engaged thereby is an
undercut edge on the body of the actuator that is engageable by
said slide in "locked" position for preventing depression of said
actuator and actuation of the dispensing valve.
3. A device according to claim 2 in which the slide has a tongue on
its end adjacent the body of the actuator and there is a recess in
said actuator body into which said tongue is inserted for locking
said actuator against depression.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many products which are potentially harmful to small children are
packaged in aerosol cans. Because most of these cans are equipped
with valve actuators which protrude from the can tops or can
covers, it is relatively simple for a small child to depress the
body of the valve actuator and to discharge the material from the
can, often with serious risk of injury to the child or harm to his
surroundings.
It is the principal object of the instant invention to provide a
dispensing valve actuator for an aerosol can which is substantially
childproof.
It is yet another object of the instant invention to provide a
combination can cover and dispensing valve actuator which are
provided with cooperating means, easy operably by an adult or an
older child, but difficult of operation by a small child, which
prevent the actuation of the aerosol can valve without
disengagement of the cooperating means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation and partly in
section, showing a standard aerosol can equipped with a cover, a
dispensing valve and a valve actuator embodying the invention, the
actuator being shown in its "locked" position;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of an aerosol can equipped with a dispensing
valve actuator according to the invention;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in perspective of a valve actuator body
according to the invention;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing the assembly of
one of the cooperating elements of a valve actuator according to
the invention into a can cover;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken along the
line 5--5 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of an aerosol can cover and
cooperating valve actuator according to the invention removed from
a can but otherwise similar to FIG. l, however showing the valve
actuator locking means in their disengaged or "open" position;
and
FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the cover and valve actuator with the
cooperating means shown in "open" position.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A conventional aerosol can generally indicated by the reference
number 10 has a centrally located dispensing valve 11 sealed to the
end of the can 10 by a seam 12 and having a vertically extending,
tubular valve stem 13. An annular collar 14 connects the valve 11
to the can 10 and surrounds the valve stem 13.
A hollow molded cover 15 has an outer annular skirt 16 and an inner
annular skirt 17. The inner skirt 17 has a lip 18 at its lower end
which is adapted to be pushed downwardly around the collar 14 and
to retain the cap 15 on the end of the can 10. The lower edge of
the outer skirt 16 extends into an annular recess 19 at the seam
12.
The inner skirt 17 and outer skirt 16 both depend from a cover top
20 which defines a central actuator opening 21 and a finger groove
22 in which a user lays his forefinger when he wishes to actuate
the valve 11 by depressing the body of a valve actuator 23 which
protrudes upwardly through the opening 21.
A plurality of inwardly extending ribs 24 are formed on the inner
surface of the inner skirt 17 to act as guides for the vertical
movement of the actuator 23, being engaged by webs 25 on the
actuator 23. The actuator 23 has a groove 26 in its upper surface
which is shaped in conformity with the groove 22 in the top of the
cover 15 so that when the actuator is in its uppermost position
(see FIG. 1) the grooves 26 and 22 are aligned for the user's
finger.
The actuator 23 has downwardly extending sleeve 27 which fits over
the upper end of the valve stem 13 and a passageway 28 in the valve
actuator 23 connects the tubular valve stem 13 to a generally
horizontal, slightly downwardly inclined nozzle 29 integral with
the valve actuator 23. The nozzle 29 protrudes horizontally through
a slot 30 in the inner skirt 17 and through a vertically extending
opening 31 in the side of the outer skirt 16. The nozzle 19 is also
illustrated as having a vertical guide flange 32 which lies against
the interior surface of the outer skirt 16 and serves as a closure
for the skirt opening 31.
As can best be seen by comparing FIGS. 1 and 6, actuation of the
valve 13 is accomplished by depressing the actuator 23 which opens
the interior mechanism of the dispensing valve 11 to release the
content materials through the valve stem 13 and thus through the
passageway 28 and out of the nozzle 29.
In order to minimize actuation of the valve 11 by a small child,
the dispensing valve actuator 23 and the cover 15 have cooperating
elements which can hold the actuator 23 in "locked" position (as
illustrated in FIG. 1) and yet allow an adult or older child to
make the valve operable by disengagement of these locking means to
release the valve actuator 23 (as illustrated in FIG. 6). These
cooperating elements are illustrated as consisting of a grooved
slide 33 that is located in a parallel sided slot 34 formed in the
surface of the cap top 20 at the rear and lower side of the finger
groove 22. The slide 33 has a ribbed upper surface 35 and a locking
tongue 36 on its front end. The locking slide 33 is movable between
an "open" position as illustrated in FIG. 6 at the rear of the cap
15 and a "locked" position as illustrated in FIG. 1 in which its
locking tongue 36 engages an undercut edge 37 in the sidewall of
the actuator 23 with which it is aligned when the actuator 23 is in
its upper, valve closed, position. In the drawings the undercut
edge 37 is illustrated as being the top side of a horizontal slot
38 cut in the back wall of the actuator 23.
When the valve actuator 23 is in its upper, valve closed position,
as illustrated in FIG. 1, it may be so locked in place by moving
the locking element or slide 33 forwardly and upwardly to insert
its locking tongue 36 onto the slot 38. Engagement of the locking
tongue 36 with the edge 37 of the slot 38 prevents downward
movement of the actuator 23 and thus prevents actuation of the
dispensing valve 11. When it is desired to actuate the dispensing
valve 11, the slide 33 is moved backwardly to the position
illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, disengaging its locking tongue 36
from the edge 37 and freeing the actuator 23 for depression by the
finger of the user in order to push the valve stem 13 downwardly
and actuate the valve 11 for discharge of content material out of
the nozzle 29.
In assembly of the structure on an aerosol can 10, the slide 23 is
first inserted in its guide slot 34 and pushed to its rearmost
position. The actuator 23 is then oriented with its webs 25 aligned
with the internal ribs 24 on the skirt 17 and inserted into the
cover 15. The slide 33 may then be moved forwardly to hold the
actuator 23 in position while the assembled cover 15 and actuator
23 are placed on the can 10 with the sleeve 27 telescoped over the
upper end of the valve stem 13.
* * * * *