U.S. patent number 3,648,905 [Application Number 04/851,548] was granted by the patent office on 1972-03-14 for valve actuator for pressure container.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The Gillette Company. Invention is credited to Richard M. Kauder.
United States Patent |
3,648,905 |
Kauder |
March 14, 1972 |
VALVE ACTUATOR FOR PRESSURE CONTAINER
Abstract
A pressure container having an outlet valve actuated by tilting
the outlet nozzle is provided with a lever arm extending from the
nozzle downwardly and outwardly in proximity to the container to
facilitate one-hand operation and is also provided with a
releasable locking member cooperating with the lever arm
construction to prevent premature or accidental operation.
Inventors: |
Kauder; Richard M. (St. Paul,
MN) |
Assignee: |
The Gillette Company (Boston,
MA)
|
Family
ID: |
25311037 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/851,548 |
Filed: |
August 20, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/402.21;
222/402.11; 222/402.13; 222/402.15; 222/402.23; 222/153.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
83/20 (20130101); B65D 83/22 (20130101); B65D
83/46 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
83/16 (20060101); B65D 83/14 (20060101); B05b
007/32 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/402.21,402.24,402.13,509,402.11,402.15,402.22,402.23,153,183,529
;239/577 ;251/89,98,99,348 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Coleman; Samuel F.
Assistant Examiner: Slattery; James M.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In combination a pressure container having a centrally located
normally upright tubular outlet disposed within an upstanding
annular rim and a valve actuatable to open position by tilting said
outlet away from upright position, an actuating member engaging
said outlet and extending outwardly and downwardly beyond said rim
in proximity to said container to provide a lever arm movable
toward said container for tilting said outlet to open said valve,
said lever arm being in position to be engaged by a thumb or finger
when the container is grasped in one hand, said actuating member
including a portion extending radially from said outlet and bearing
upon a portion of said rim when said outlet is in normal upright
position to prevent tilting of said outlet in any direction except
toward said downwardly extending lever arm, and a releasable
locking member mounted on said lever arm and extending between said
lever arm and the adjacent part of the container to obstruct
movement of said lever arm toward said adjacent part and prevent
opening of said valve.
2. A container as claimed in claim 1 in which said releasable
locking member comprises a resilient clip frictionally engaging
said downwardly extending lever arm and carrying a blocking element
bearing against said adjacent part of the container.
3. A container as claimed in claim 2 in which said actuating member
includes a tubular element frictionally engaging said outlet.
Description
This invention relates to a pressure container having a dispensing
valve actuated by tilting and an actuator to facilitate the tilting
including a releasable locking member.
A conventional form of pressurized container includes a centrally
located normally upright tubular outlet disposed within an
upstanding annular rim, and a valve actuatable to open position for
dispensing the contents of the container by tilting of the outlet
away from the upright position. Such containers are awkward to
handle and to actuate with one hand; in addition, there is a risk
of the valve being opened accidentally during shipment or display
of the container before sale to the ultimate consumer.
In the present invention such a container is provided in
combination with an actuating member engaging the outlet and
extending outwardly and downwardly beyond the annular rim in
proximity to the container to provide a lever arm movable toward
the container to tilt the outlet and open the valve, and a
releasable locking member extending between the lever arm and the
adjacent part of the container to obstruct movement of the lever
arm and prevent opening of the valve. Because of the position of
the lever arm, it is readily engaged by the thumb or finger when
the container is grasped in one hand in ordinary fashion without
discomfort and without an unusual or awkward positioning of the
hand or fingers. Moreover, the mechanical advantage provided by the
lever arm makes possible opening of the valve with less effort than
otherwise required, a matter of importance when the container is
intended to dispense material to be applied, for example, to the
hair or scalp, locations difficult for the user to reach
comfortably on his own person while at the same time controlling
the flow of material from a container provided with a tilt type
valve.
In addition to a releasable locking member for preventing movement
of the lever arm to actuate the valve, the present invention is
readily adapted to include, in a preferred embodiment, a portion of
the actuating member extending radially from the outlet and bearing
on a portion of the upstanding rim of the container when the outlet
is in normal upright position to prevent tilting of the outlet in
any other direction except toward the lever arm, thus ensuring
complete protection against accidental or premature discharge.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation showing one embodiment of the
invention with the releasable locking member in locking
position;
FIG. 2 is a view in section taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away and in
section, showing the locking member removed and the actuator in
tilted position; and
FIG. 4 is an isometric view showing the locking member on an
enlarged scale .
As shown in the drawings, the body 12 of container 10 has a
shoulder 14 and is provided with a valve cup 16 joined to shoulder
14 at an annular upstanding rim 17. Centrally located within the
valve cup is an upstanding tubular outlet 18 which serves as a
dispensing outlet for the pressurized contents of the container and
also serves to open the outlet valve (not shown) when it is tilted
away from its normal upright position, as shown in FIG. 3.
Actuating member 20 includes a tubular element 22 which engages
outlet 18, being mounted on it by a sliding frictional fit. The
upper portion of tube 22 serves as an extension of outlet 18. A
generally conical decorative skirt 24 extends from the upper end of
tube 22, being supported and stiffened by four equidistant radially
extending ribs 26, 28, 30, 32. The lower margin of each of ribs 26,
28, and 30 is arranged to bear on the upstanding rim 17, while rib
32 is cut away at the bottom to provide a clearance space between
it and the rim 17. Extending downwardly and outwardly from tube 22
and rib 32 to a position beyond rim 17 and in proximity to the
container is a lever arm 34, which preferably terminates somewhat
below shoulder 14 of the container. The lower end of the lever arm
is thus in such a position that it may readily be pressed by a
thumb or finger when the body 12 of the container is grasped in one
hand by the user. The entire actuating member including the tube 22
and lever arm 34 is preferably molded of a relatively stiff and
rigid synthetic plastic composition.
A releasable locking member 36 is provided in the form of a spring
clip having opposing legs 38, 40 which frictionally engage the
lower end of lever arm 34 and having a blocking element 42 which
bears against the adjacent part of body 12 near shoulder 14.
Locking member 36 is preferably molded as a single piece from
resilient synthetic plastic composition.
Actuating member 20 is mounted on tubular element 22 simply by
forcing it downwardly over the tubular element until ribs 26, 28,
30 abut the rim 17. Locking member 36 is then forced over the lower
end of lever arm 34 so that the actuating member along with the
tubular outlet which it engages are locked against tilting movement
in any direction. When the container is to be used, locking member
36 is removed by pulling it free from the end of the lever arm, so
that the valve can then be opened simply by pressing the lower end
of the lever arm toward the body 12 of the container so as to tilt
outlet 18 away from the vertical position in the direction of the
lever arm.
* * * * *