U.S. patent number 3,806,005 [Application Number 05/278,669] was granted by the patent office on 1974-04-23 for aerosol container with plug-in cap and valve structure.
Invention is credited to Jimmie L. Mason, Samuel Prussin.
United States Patent |
3,806,005 |
Prussin , et al. |
April 23, 1974 |
AEROSOL CONTAINER WITH PLUG-IN CAP AND VALVE STRUCTURE
Abstract
An aerosol container plug in cap and valve structure comprising
resiliently deflectable snap action ledge means adapted to be
forced and snapped into position in a hollow container top, wherein
ledge means of the top is engaged by ledge means of the cap, such
that the cap may be axially pressed and plugged into the opening in
the top; said cap also having similar ledge means adapted to hold
an aerosol dispensing valve in said top, said means also comprising
resiliently deflectable ledge means adapted to lock a valve
structure in said top by axially pressing the valve structure body
directly into said cap.
Inventors: |
Prussin; Samuel (Los Angeles,
CA), Mason; Jimmie L. (Hacienda Heights, CA) |
Family
ID: |
26959215 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/278,669 |
Filed: |
August 7, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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810518 |
Mar 26, 1969 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/402.16;
222/402.1; 222/542 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
83/48 (20130101); B65D 83/14 (20130101); B65D
83/40 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
83/14 (20060101); B65d 083/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;239/337,373,394
;222/402.1,402.24,545,563,402.16,95 ;220/63 ;285/231,345 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Tollberg; Stanley H.
Assistant Examiner: Stack, Jr.; Norman L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hovet; Kenneth J. Wylie; Paul R.
Taylor; Leigh B.
Parent Case Text
This is a division of application Ser. No. 810,518, filed Mar. 26,
1969.
Claims
We claim:
1. In an aerosol container plug in cap structure, the combination
of:
a hollow aerosol container having a substantially rigid top;
said top having an opening therein adapted to be capped;
said top, at said opening, provided with ledge means facing the
interior of said container;
a plug in cap means having ledge means of slightly larger diameter
than said opening and adapted to be forced into interference
abutment contact with said ledge means of said top, said cap being
provided with an opening therein;
a third ledge means at said opening in said cap, said third ledge
means facing outward from the interior of said container;
an aerosol dispensing valve having fourth ledge means adapted to be
forced into interference abutment contact with said third ledge
means;
said fourth ledge means facing a direction opposite to that of said
third ledge means and at least one of said third or fourth ledge
means being radially and resiliently deflectable to permit snap in
locking of said valve body into said opening in said cap;
a resilient deflectable bag carried by said cap with the interior
of said bag in communication with said dispensing valve;
said dispensing valve including a first valve means in
communication with the interior of said aerosol container outwardly
beyond said bag and a second valve means communicating with the
interior of said bag;
said dispensing valve having means disposed to shut off flow from
said bag through said second valve means to thereby permit filling
of aerosol propellant fluid through said first valve means and into
said hollow aerosol container outwardly relative to said bag after
said cap and dispensing valve have been installed in place relative
to said container and after fluids have been placed in said
container and in said bag.
2. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein:
a compressible gasket is compressively engaged between a normally
outer end of said dispensing valve and said cap;
said dispensing valve including a dispensing nozzle movably
disposed in said opening of said cap; and,
poppet valve means connected to said nozzle and engageable with
said gasket forming a valve seal adjacent the end of said cap,
whereby said poppet valve structure engages said seal in opposition
to an end portion of said cap.
3. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: an annular soft
deflectable gasket is disposed on said cap adjacent said ledge
means thereof for compressively engaging adjacent said ledge means
of said cap in said opening therein.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various aerosol containers have utilized valves in connection with
the tops of such containers. Such valves have been secured into the
tops of the containers by caps which must be crimped, or otherwise
secured in relation to the tops of the containers, at a time when
the containers have been charged with aerosol fluids. Many of the
prior art cap structures have included complicated geometrical
structures that have been difficult and expensive to produce and
have posed considerable problems in the filling and sealing of
aerosol cans during the production packaging of various aerosol
fluids in their respective containers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a novel aerosol container plug in
cap structure, wherein aerosol dispensing valves may be simply
pressed or plugged into a container top, preliminary to, or at the
time of filling the container. The invention comprises snap action
ledge means for, snap in, or plug in, fixation of a cap in a
container top and also, plug in, or snap in, fixation of a valve
body or valve structure in the cap, which requires only axial
pressing or forcing of the parts into a plugged in position
relative to the top and the cap. The invention thus permits
considerable facility and simplicity in the filling and capping of
aerosol containers, as well as the installation of the aerosol
dispensing valves in connection therewith. Further, the invention
comprises novel snap action ledge means for installing caps in the
tops of aerosol containers, and also include means for snap in
installation of aerosol dispensing valves in communication with the
interior of the collapsible containers, and the interior of the
main container body surrounding such collapsible containers.
The invention comprises novel resiliently deflectable snap action
ledge means in connection with the cap and valve structures in an
aerosol container. This permits the caps and aerosol valve bodies
to be forced axially into position relative to each other and
relative to the top of a container to thereby permit snap action
installation of such caps and valve bodies in relation to a
container preliminary to or after certain operations which are
required to place liquid contents or propellant fluids in such
containers.
The invention also comprises aerosol container cap structures and
valve structures which may be made of tough resilient plastic
materials particularly adapted for, plug in, or snap in,
installation relative to a container top to thereby provide economy
in the production of such structures, as well as to provide
facility and economy in the placement of fluids in the containers,
and the final capping or sealing of the containers with such fluids
therein. Further, the invention comprises novel, plug in, cap and
valve structures particularly adapted for use in connection with
metal cans having corrosion resistant liners therein to thereby
provide a corrosion resistant liner for metal cans, as well as a
corrosion resistant cap and valve body enclosure structure for
aerosol containers.
Additionally, the invention includes novel compression seal means
in combination with resiliently deflectable snap action ledge means
adapted to permit axial, snap in, installation of a container cap
and valve structure in relation to a container top so that the snap
in ledge means of the invention forcefully opposes a resiliently
compressible seal structure to hold caps and valve structures in
sealed relation to the tops of aerosol containers.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
novel aerosol container plug in cap structure which facilitates
capping and the installation of aerosol dispensing valves in
relation to the top of an aerosol container.
Another object of the invention is to provide novel snap in ledge
means in connection with aerosol container caps and valve
structures; said snap in ledge means being resiliently deflectable
so as to be forcefully engaged with each other to interlock with a
container top in opposition to fluid pressure therein for holding
the cap and/or a valve structure in sealed juxtaposition relative
to the top of an aerosol container.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel plug in or
snap in aerosol container cap structure particularly adapted for
use in connection with corrosion resistant liners for aerosol
containers.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel snap in or
plug in aerosol container cap of the type which supports a flexible
and collapsible inner container in a main aerosol container; said
cap having a hollow cylindrical portion having snap action ledge
means adapted to receive a plug in valve structure therein for
communication with the interior of said inner container; said cap
and said valve structure both being installed by axial plug in
force to facilitate the successive filling of the outer container
formed by said collapsible inner container and said inner container
and the installation of aerosol propellant fluid in the cuter
containers.
Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent
from the following specification, appended claims, and accompanying
drawings:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an aerosol container utilizing
a plug in cap and valve structure of the invention in connection
therewith;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the
line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the same
plane as that of FIG. 2, but showing the structure on sufficient
scale to amplify the illustration;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken from the line 4--4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but taken from line 5--5 of FIG.
2.
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing a modification of
the invention;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section view taken on the same
plane as that of FIG. 6 to amplify the disclosure of the structure
therein;
FIG. 8 is another view similar to FIGS. 2 and 6 showing a further
modification of the invention;
FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the same
plane as FIG. 8, but showing the structure on sufficient scale to
amplify the disclosure of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the same plane as
that of FIG. 8 and showing snap action ledge means and seal
structure illustrated therein on enlarged scale;
FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of an aerosol container showing
parts and portions thereof broken away and in section to amplify
the illustration and showing a modified aerosol container plug in
cap and valve structure of the invention in the container;
FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line
12--12 of FIG. 11 showing structure of a dual dispensing aerosol
valve in closed position;
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the same plane as
that of FIG. 12, but showing the dual dispensing aerosol valve in a
container filling position, such that only one of the dual
dispensing valve structures is open to permit flow therethrough and
to permit filling of the outer container with aerosol propellant
fluid; and
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 14--14
of FIG. 12.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The terms "plug in" or "snap in" as used herein shall be construed
to mean any cap or valve body structure having means adapted to
permit the installation of a cap or valve body in relation to the
top of an aerosol container by simply forcing the cap or valve body
structure into an opening in the top of the container and allowing
resiliently deflectable snap action ledge means to interengage
between the cap or valve body and ledge structure at the opening in
the top of the container.
The term "cap" as used herein shall be construed to means either,
as individual cap, a combination of a cap and valve structure, or a
valve structure body plugged directly into an opening in the top of
an aerosol container.
As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, a hollow aerosol container 20
is provided with a substantially rigid top 22. This top 22, as
shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, is provided with a liner 24
contiguous with the inner and normally lower side of the top 22.
This liner 24 is preferably a non-corrosive liner made of plastic,
or the like, and extends throughout the interior of the hollow
container 20. The non-corrosive liner 24 is capable of containing
corrosive materials and thereby prevents corrosion of the container
20 and top 22 thereof which may be made of steel or other
metal.
The top 22 is provided with a short upwardly extending hollow
cylindrical neck 26, wherein a neck portion 28 of the liner 24 is
conformingly fitted. The liner is provided with an inwardly
directed abutment ledge 30 abutted to and interlocked with the
normally outer end of the hollow cylindrical neck portion 26 of the
top 22.
The neck structure of the liner is provided with a peripheral outer
edge 34 engaged by a compressible annular gasket 36 which is
contained in an annular skirt portion 38 of a container cap 40. The
annular compressible gasket 36 is provided with a substantially
U-shaped or cross-section portion disposed over said annular outer
edge 34 of the neck portion 28 of the liner 24.
The skirt portion 38 of the cap 40 generally surrounds a conforming
annular skirt portion 42 of the compressible gasket 36 and this
skirt portion 42 also surrounds the hollow cylindrical neck portion
26 of the container top 22.
The cap 40 as best seen in FIG. 2 is provided with a hollow
cylindrical portion 44 which extends into a hollow bore portion 46
of the neck portion 28 of the liner 24. The bore portion 46 of the
liner 24 terminates in an inwardly directed ledge portion 48
engaged by an opposed or outwardly directed resiliently deflectable
snap action ledge portion 50 of the hollow cylindrical portion 44
of the cap 40. This structure is shown in detail and on enlarged
scale in FIG. 3 of the drawings.
The hollow cylindrical portion 44 of the cap 40 at its inner end,
as shown in FIG. 3, is provided with an externally tapered frusto
conical portion 52 having a terminal outside diameter smaller than
the diameter of the bore 46 in the neck portion 28 of the liner 24
so that the hollow cylindrical portion 44 may be forced into the
bore portion 46, whereupon slight resilient deflection of the ledge
portion 50 permits it to pass through the bore 46 and to snap
radially outward into interfitting relation with the inwardly
facing ledge 48 of the liner 24 at the inner terminus of the bore
46 of the neck portion of said liner 24. It will be seen, as shown
in FIG. 3, that the ledge portion 48 of the liner neck portion 28
at the terminus of the bore 46 faces the interior of the container
20 and that the resiliently deflectable snap action ledge 50 of the
hollow cylindrical portion 44 of the cap 40 faces an opposite
direction to that of the ledge 48. Thus, the ledge portion 50 faces
a direction toward the outer side of the container or toward the
open end or peripheral edge 34 of the neck portion 28 of the liner
24.
The hollow cylindrical portion 44 is provided with an internal bore
54, wherein an aerosol valve body 56 is disposed. This body 56 is
provided with a ledge portion 58 which is directed toward the
interior of the container 20 and engages an outwardly directed snap
action ledge portion 60 of the hollow cylindrical portion 44. The
ledge portion 60 faces the end 34 of the neck portion 28 of the
liner 24. The ledge structures 58 and 60 are radially resiliently
deflectable and this deflectable character is characteristic of the
material of which the parts are made; the material being preferably
tough resiliently deflectable plastic, or the like.
The hollow cylindrical portion 44 is provided with an internally
disposed frusto conical tapered portion 62 which extends from a
terminal edge portion 64 of the hollow cylindrical portion 44 to
the ledge portion 60 thereof. This frusto conical tapered portion
62 permits the valve body 56 to be press fitted or plugged into the
bore 54 of the hollow cylindrical portion 44 of the cap 40. Thus,
the valve body 56 may be plugged into, or snap fitted into the cap
40, preliminary to its installation in the bore 46 of the liner 24,
as hereinbefore described. The resiliently and radially deflectable
snap action ledge means 58 and 60 hold the valve body securely in
the hollow cylindrical neck portion of the cap 40 and hold a
normally upper annular edge 66 of the valve body 56 in engagement
with a resilient seal gasket 68 so as to hold the gasket 68
slightly compressed against an inner wall 70 of the interior of the
cap 40, as shown best in FIG. 2 of the drawings.
The cap 40 is provided with a central opening 72 with which said
gasket 68 is concentric. The gasket 68 is provided with a central
opening 74 in which a hollow dispensing nozzle 76 of an aerosol
valve structure 78 is disposed. This nozzle 76 is slidably mounted
in the opening 72 of the cap 40, all as shown best in FIG. 2 of the
drawings.
A poppet valve portion 80 of the valve structure is adapted to
sealingly engage the gasket 68 in opposition to the inner wall 70
of the cap 40 in order to provide for a shut off function of the
valve mechanism; the valve structure being normally forced by a
spring 82 causing the poppet valve portion 80 firmly to engage the
resilient gasket 68. As shown in FIG. 2, the spring 82 is slightly
compressed and the valve is in open position. A normally closed
position of the valve would be one in which the poppet portion 80
of the valve structure 78 firmly and compressively engages the
resilient gasket 68 and holds it firmly sealed and contiguous with
the inner wall 70 of the cap 40.
Further functional details of the valve structure 78 are no part of
the present invention.
It will be appreciated that the valve body 56 may be plugged into
or snapped into the hollow cylindrical portion 44 of the cap 40 and
that the hollow cylindrical portion 44 of the cap 40 may be snapped
into the top 22 of the container 20, as hereinbefore described. In
such disposition, the cap and valve body are held against fluid
pressure tending to force the cap and valve body in a direction
outwardly relative to the container 20. The ledge means 48 and 50
are disposed to hold the seal gasket 36 under compression and this
structure therefore obviously facilitates the filling of the
container 20 and the capping thereof due to the simple installation
of the cap, and the valve body by axially forcing the frusto
conical portion 52 of the hollow cylindrical portion 44 of the cap
into the bore 46, as hereinbefore described, until the snap action
ledge means 48 and 50 are engaged by resilient reaction of the
structure thereof, as hereinbefore described.
In the modified structure of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 6 and
7, the cap 40 and the valve housing 56 are similar in construction.
However, the modified structure, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, includes
dimensional differences in the tapered portion 52 of the hollow
cylindrical portion 44 of the cap 40. It will be seen from an
inspection of FIGS. 6 and 7, that the outwardly directed ledge
structure 60 of the cylindrical portion 44 of the cap 40 is adapted
to engage an inwardly directed edge portion 86 which constitutes an
inwardly directed ledge structure of a substantially rigid top 23
which is basically similar to the top 22, but which is an all metal
top having no liner therein. The inwardly directed edge 86
therefore termed an inwardly directed ledge portion of the top 23.
This ledge 86 surrounds an opening 88 in which the hollow
cylindrical portion 44 of the cap is disposed. The top 23
surrounding said opening 88 is provided with an annular inwardly
and downwardly folded portion 90, integral with the top 23 and
therminating at said edge 86, all as shown best in FIGS. 7 of the
drawings. It will be seen that these modifications of the
interlocking ledge structures of the invention are the only
substantial differences in the structure, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,
as compared to the structures, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the
drawings. It will therefore be appreciated that the dimensional
changes only are required relative to the tapered portion 52 of the
hollow cylindrical portion 44 of the cap 40, and the inwardly
directed ledge 86 which is equivalent to the inwardly directed
ledge 48 of the liner 24, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.
Inasmuch as to liner is disposed in connection with the container
top 23, the inwardly folded structure terminating in an abutment or
ledge 86 provides an inwardly directed ledge which faces the
interior of the container top 23.
The connection relationship of the valve body 56 and the cap 40
employs basically the same structure, as disclosed in FIGS. 2 and
3.
In the modification, as shown in FIG. 8, a substantially rigid
container top 9 is provided with an annular folded portion 94
similar to the folded portion 90, shown in FIG. 7. This inwardly
folded annular structure is provided with an inwardly directed edge
96 forming a ledge or abutment which faces the inner side of the
container top 92. This ledge 96, shown in FIG. 8, is shown on
enlarged scale in FIG. 10, and it will be seen that the modified
valve body 98 is provided with a snap action ledge 100 which
opposes the ledge 96. The ledge 100 is integral with the valve body
and composed of resiliently deflectable material and is located
adjacent to a conical portion 102 which is annular and which
facilitates the insertion of the valve body 98 into an opening 104
which is surrounded by the annular folded structure 94.
The valve body 96 is similar in construction to the valve body 56.
However, a normally upper end of the valve body is provided with an
annular flange 106 having a metal retainer 108 disposed thereover
and having an annular crimped portion 110 crimped under a shoulder
portion 112 of the flange 106, as shown best in FIG. 8. This
retainer 108 clamps the gasket 68 in fixed position relative to the
valve body or housing 98, all as shown best in FIG. 8 of the
drawings. Accordingly, it will be seen that a valve housing or
valve body, as shown in FIG. 8, may be plugged or snapped directly
into an opening in a container top without the use of cap
structures, such as the cap 40, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 6 and
7.
In accordance with the present invention, the housing 98 serves as
a cap for the top 92 in lieu of the use of a cap 40 which, as
hereinbefore described, serves a dual function, namely, as a cap
for the top of the container and also as a part of the valve
housing structure. The retainer 108, shown in FIG. 8 of the
drawings, replaces one function of the cap 40, in that it is
secured to a normally upper end portion of the valve housing and
retains the seal and valve gasket 68 in proper position to be
engaged by the poppet valve 80, as described in connection with
FIG. 2 of the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings, a soft plastic annular seal 114
is disposed adjacent the snap action ledge 100 of the valve housing
98, shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings. This soft annular plastic seal
114, as shown in FIG. 10, is engaged by the annular folded portion
94 of the top 92 at the opening 104 in the top 92, which opening is
surrounded by said annular folded portion 94. Thus, the seal 114 at
the ledge 100 is disposed to be compressed when the resiliently
yieldable ledge portion 100 is forced beyond the ledge 96 and snaps
radially outward into engagement with the ledge 96. Thus, an
efficient seal is made between the valve housing 98 and the opening
104 in the annular folded neck structure 94 of the top 92.
The installation of the valve body or valve housing 98 is
accomplished simply by forcing or pressing the housing 98 into the
opening 104 in the top 92 in a direction as indicated by an arrow A
in FIG. 3 of the drawings. This is facilitated by the conically
tapered portion 102 which readily enters the opening 104 surrounded
by the annular folded structure 94 of the top 92. As the valve body
98 is pressed into the opening 104, the outwardly facing snap
action ledge means 100 resiliently deflects inward until it passes
the inwardly facing ledge means 96, whereupon the ledge structure
100 resilient snaps outwardly and this extends radially to form an
interference abutment with the inwardly directed ledge structure 96
to thereby hold the valve body 98 firmly engaged in the opening 104
of the neck 92. In this position, a slight shoulder 116 of the
valve body abuts the peripheral extremity 118 of the annular folded
portion 94 to prevent inadvertent movement of the housing 98 to a
further inward position than is necessary for engagement of the
ledge structure 100 with the ledge structure 96, as shown best in
FIG. 10 of the drawings. The simple function of pressing the valve
housing 98 into the opening 104 greatly facilitates installation of
valves in aerosol container tops and economizes in the capping of
aerosol containers.
The structure shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, including the cap 40
which is also shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, is all made of
plastic which provides for low cost materials and the installation
of the cap 40, as well as the valve housing 98, is similar in
function since the capping of the container top is accomplished by
pressing the cap structure or valve body structure axially into an
opening in the container cap until snap action of the resiliently
deflectable ledge means takes place, as hereinbefore described.
In the modification of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, a
hollow aerosol container 120 is provided with a substantially rigid
top 122 which is similar to the hereinbefore described tops 22 and
23.
The top 122, as shown in FIG. 12, is provided with an annular
folded portion 124 similar to the hereinbefore described annular
folded portions 90 and 94, shown in FIGS. 7 and 10 of the drawings.
This annular folded portion 124, as shown in FIG. 12, surrounds an
opening 126 in the top 122 and a seal gasket 128 is engaged with an
outer annular terminal portion of the folded portion 124. The
gasket 128 being similar to the hereinbefore described gasket 36.
This gasket 128 provides a fluid seal between the top 122 and a cap
130 which is similar in construction to the cap 40, but including
some changes, as will be hereinafter described. The annular folded
portion 124 is provided with an inwardly directed ledge 132 similar
to the hereinbefore described ledges 86 and 96, shown in FIGS. 7
and 10 of the drawings.
Engaging the ledge 132 is a resiliently deflectable snap action
ledge 134 which is integral with a hollow cylindrical portion 136
of the cap 130. This resiliently deflectable ledge 134 is adapted
to be pressed into the opening 126 in a similar manner to the
installation of the ledge 96 described in connection with FIG. 10
of the drawings. This ledge 134 is resiliently deflectable and
thereby operating as a snap action structure when it passes the
ledge 132 during its movement inwardly in the direction of an arrow
B, as shown in FIG. 12 of the drawings. Thus, the cap 130 may be
pressed or plugged into the opening 126 of the top 122 so that the
resiliently deflectable ledge 134 may operate in a snap action
manner to engage the ledge 132 and thereby hold the gasket 128 in
compression and hold the cap 130 in fixed seal relation with the
top 122.
A hollow cylindrical portion 136 of the cap 130 is provided with a
bore 138 in which a valve body or valve housing 140 is disposed.
This body 140 is a hollow annular cylindrical body provided with an
outwardly directed ledge 142 engaged by an inwardly directed ledge
144 of the cap 130.
The inwardly directed ledge 144 faces toward the interior of the
container 120 and the outwardly directed ledge 142 faces outwardly
in the opposite direction.
These ledge structures 142 and 144 are resiliently deflectable so
that the valve housing 140 may readily be pressed into the bore 138
of the cap 130 until snap action of the ledge structure 144 occurs
so that ledge structure 144 snaps into engagement with the ledge
structure 142.
The ledge structure 144, when deflected radially outward, may
assume an inner diameter substantially similar to the bore 138, and
when the ledge 142 passes the ledge 144 it thus snaps radially
inward to engage the ledge 142 in the periphery of the valve body
or valve housing 140.
The ledge structures 142 and 144, when engaged, as shown in FIG.
12, hold a seal gasket 146 under compression between the end of the
cap 130 and a shoulder portion 148 extending radially outward at
the normally upper end of the valve housing 140.
The hollow cylindrical portion 136 of the cap 130 is provided with
a normally hollow cylindrical lower end portion 150 having an
attachment structure 152 holding a hollow cylindrical flexible and
collapsible bag 154. This bag 154 forms an inner container and is
designed to cooperate with the container 120 and fluids therein to
effect a two phase fluid dispensation of the materials through the
valve housing 140, as will be hereinafter described.
The interior of the container 120 is adapted to hold one fluid
product, while the interior of the collapsible bag 154 is adapted
to hold another product, and both products are adapted to be
dispensed concurrently for reacting to provide an end product
adapted to be dispensed through a hollow nozzle 156 of valve
structure contained in the valve housing 140, as will be
hereinafter described in detail.
The container 120 is adapted to hold one product and an aerosol
propellant which creates pressure in the container 120 tending to
collapse the container 154 and to thereby pressurize fluid therein
for driving the fluid through the valve structure contained in the
housing 140.
The dual dispensing aerosol valve structure disclosed in FIG. 12,
and contained in the housing 140, is generally similar to the dual
dispensing aerosol valve disclosed in a copending patent
application, Ser. No. 704,359, filed on Feb. 9, 1968, now U.S. Pat.
No. 3,447,722.
This valve structure includes means for tilting the hollow nozzle
156 for normal actuation of a poppet valve member 158 relative to a
flexible diaphragm valve element 160 so that fluids may pass on
both sides thereof and from the container 120, as well as the
flexible bag 154.
Fluids passing from the container 120 and bag 154 are normally
dispensed when the container 120 is in an inverted position with
the nozzle 156 directed downwardly. In this position, fluids from
the interior of the container 120 pass inward through a port 162 in
the hollow cylindrical portion 136 of the cap 130 and into an
annular groove 164 in the exterior of the housing 140, and then
into an annulus 166 communicating with one side of the flexible
valve element 160.
Fluid from the collapsible bag or container 154 passes through an
opening 168 in the end of the valve housing 140, and passes
upwardly around the poppet valve 158 and around the opposite side
of the flexible valve element 160 from the annulus 166, and the
fluids pass outwardly through the nozzle 156 in a manner as
described in the aforementioned patent application.
The valve structure of the invention comprises a conical poppet
valve 170 adapted to seat on a thin annular lip 172 at the inner
end of the opening 168 so as to permit back filling through the
valve to charge the container 120 with aerosol propellant fluid.
This valve position is shown in FIG. 13, wherein the conical poppet
valve 170 is engaged with the annular lip seat 172, prevents fluid
from being forced from the collapsible container 154 through the
valve structure when aerosol propellant fluid is being charged into
the interior of the container 120. Thus, when the poppet portion
170 is seated on the seat 172, as shown in FIG. 12, the poppet 158
is moved away from the flexible valve element 160 so as to permit
the back filling or charging of the container 120 with aerosol
propellant fluid which flows through a bore 174 in the nozzle 156,
through ports 175 communicating with the bore 174, then through
ports 178 in the poppet valve actuator 180 of the valve structure.
The fluid then flows as indicated by arrows in FIG. 13 at the upper
side of the flexible valve element 160 and through the annulus 166
and outwardly through the annular groove 164 and port 162 into the
interior of the container 120.
The foregoing structural arrangement is intended to provide for
assembly line filling, capping and charging of a two phase aerosol
fluids dispensing system. The container 120 is first charged with a
product through the opening 126, when the cap 130 is forced into
the opening 126 until snap action of the resiliently deflectable
ledge 134 occurs so as to abut this ledge structure with the ledge
structure 132 of the top 122. During the insertion of the cap 130,
the bag or collapsible container 154 is carried by the hollow
cylindrical portion 136 of the cap 130 and is thereby inserted and
supported in the container 120 which already contains, at this
stage of assembly, liquid material. The collapsible container 154
is then readily charged through the bore 138 of the cap 130 with
another liquid material. Then the valve housing 140 containing all
of the valve elements, hereinbefore described, is pressed into the
bore 138 of the cap 130 until the resiliently deflectable ledge
structure 144 acts in a snap action manner to engage the ledge
structure 142 of the valve housing 140. At this position, the
compression seal gasket 146 is sealed at the end of the cap 130 and
the system is ready for back filling of propellant fluid into the
container 120.
In this operation, the hollow cylindrical nozzle 156 is forced
inwardly in the direction of the arrow B until the nozzle forces
the valve actuator 180 and the poppet valve 158 to a position, as
shown in FIG. 13, wherein the conical poppet valve portion 170
seals off on the annular lip seal 172, so that aerosol propellant
fluid may be charged through the nozzle 156 and into the interior
of the container 120, as hereinbefore described.
When the propellant fluid has been thus forced under pressure into
the interior of the container 120, the nozzle 156 is released and
the return spring 174, shown in FIG. 12, closes the poppet valve
158 against the resilient valve element 160.
It will be appreciated that axial pressing or plugging of the cap
and the valve housing into the container top is greatly facilitated
by snap action of the resiliently deflectable snap action ledge
structures, hereinbefore described, and that the combination of
plug in cap and valve body structures, together with the back
filling valve mechanism, shown in FIG. 12, greatly facilitates an
assembly line production of a charged aerosol container having a
plurality of phases, such as may be used in producing a hot foam
shave lather, or other product requiring reaction of two materials
or mixing of two materials during the dispensation thereof through
a common dual dispensing valve.
The structures including the cap and the valve body are all made of
plastic, they are subject to economical, high production methods,
and the manner of assembling and charging a container and
dispensing system, as shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, may be easily
accomplished with the plug in cap and valve body structures having
resiliently deflectable snap action ledge structures adapted
automatically to response to axial pressing of the parts into the
top of an aerosol container, all as hereinbefore described and
shown.
It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various
modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing
from the spirit of the invention.
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