Actuator-cup Assembly For Aerosol Container

Abstract

An actuator-cap assembly for a valved aerosol dispenser, comprising a cap mountable on the top of the dispenser and supporting a movable actuator button adapted to be manually depressed axially to control the discharge valve of the dispenser. Cooperable guiding members are provided on the actuator button and the cap to effect balanced axial reciprocation of said member relative to the dispenser, detent means also being provided by said guiding members to prevent accidental separation of the cap and actuation after initial assembly and before mounting on an aerosol container.

Description

This invention relates in general to a valve control arrangement for pressurized containers and, more in particular, to a cap and valve actuator assembly having novel features for affixing and guiding the value actuator in the cap.

The usual pressurized spray dispenser in its simplest version for household, boudoir and like use comprises an aerosol container having a centrally upstanding hollow discharge valve stem which, when axially depressed relative to the container, will allow the contents to spray therefrom. Commonly a guard-type container cap is provided which encloses the valve control stem to prevent inadvertent actuation or depression thereof and, depending on its construction, either requires removal from the container in order to put the dispenser to use or is stationary and fixedly carried by the container and partly or wholly encloses a manually accessible and axially depressible actuator button adapted to fixedly receive and operate the valve control stem.

Many types of such valve actuator-cap assemblies have been devised, however each of them has been deficient in some respect for one reason or another. For example, in many such art devices the mounting of the actuator button in the cap is solely accomplished by engagement of the valve stem in a cavity formed in the button. No provision is made for guiding of the button for vertical reciprocation in the cap. Inherent in these arrangements is a definite tendency toward binding of the button in the cap as well as the possibility of nonaxial, lateral deflection of the valve control stem due to unbalanced depression of the actuator button because of inadequate axial guidance of the button in the cap. In other instances the cap and actuator button in prior devices of this character do not have means for retaining them against separation prior to mounting on the aerosol container which they are designed to serve. Generally however it is desirable to preassemble the cap and actuator so that they can be handled as a unitary part or member prior to mounting on a container.

It therefore is the main object of the present invention to overcome these disadvantages and to provide a simple cap and valve actuator assembly for a pressurized aerosol container wherein the cap is removably mounted on the container and includes an axially shiftable actuator button operably connected with the valve stem, and wherein novel cooperable bearing means are provided on the cap and button, mounting the button for balanced axial operating movement relative to the cap and facilitating the assembly of the button in the cap prior to mounting the latter to the container. In addition provision is made for including a simple yet effective detent means to prevent inadvertent removal or dislodgment of the button from the cap to provide a unitary subassembly ready for attachment to an aerosol container.

Various features and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view, parts being broken way for greater clarity of illustration, of a valve actuator-cap assembly in accordance with the invention, the assembly being mounted on the upper portion of an aerosol container;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the valve actuator of FIG. 1 separately of the cap, illustrating in more detail means for guiding and retaining the actuator in the cap;

FIG. 3 is a persepective view of the cap construction of FIG. 1, illustrating in detail means cooperating with the guiding and detent means of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of guide means in the cap cooperating with the corresponding means of the actuator of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 2, showing a modification of the guide and detent means in the actuator;

FIG. 6 is a view, partly in section, of a cap construction affixed to a container and illustrating a modification of the guide means for cooperation with the actuator of FIG. 5; and

FIGS. 7--9 are elevational views in axial section of an actuator and cap, and a portion of a container with which they cooperate, illustrating a further modification of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1--3 illustrating a first embodiment exemplary of the present invention, there is shown the upper portion of a pressurized aerosol container 10 having a substantially cylindrical sidewall 12, a frustoconical upper end wall constituting a neck portion 14 joined thereto and having a peripheral annular channel 16 disposed at the juncture of neck portion 14 and sidewall 12. As shown, the base of neck portion 14 is formed with a shoulder 20 forming an annular undercut or rim. Fixedly secured to neck portion 14 and spanning a central opening therein is a manually operable valve assembly, generally indicated at 22, having an upstanding valve stem 24 which is reciprocable axially relative to container 10. Depression of stem 24 will result in opening valve 22 in known manner to permit discharge of aerosol fluid through stem 24.

Provided for use in conjunction with the pressurized container 10 and valve stem 24 is a valve actuator-cap assembly, designated generally at 26. Assembly 26 consists of two parts comprising a hollow cylindrical container cap 28 and a mating depress or valve-actuating button 30 coaxially and reciprocably mounted in cap 28 and disposed to make operative connection with valve stem 24 within cap 28.

Cap 28 has a cylindrical sidewall 32 that is formed at its lower open end with an annular inwardly directed resilient lip 34 which is adapted to snap-fit over shoulder 20 to affix the cap to container 10. Lip 34 may be continuous peripherally of the cap or interrupted as illustrated in FIG. 3 to facilitate snap fit of the cap to the shoulder. Any other suitable snap-on fit may be used between the lower open end of the cap and the container top.

As illustrated, actuating button 30 is cylindrical in shape and is axially received in and extends upwardly above the open upper end of cap 28. Button 30 is formed on its undersurface with a boss 31 having suitable socket 33 for the fluid-tight reception therein of valve stem 24, and a fluid passage 35 internally of the button leads to a dispensing orifice 36 located in its sidewall above the upper edge of cap 28. Depression of button 30 thus effects discharge of aerosol product from orifice 36 over the edge of the cap.

For axially guiding button 30 in cap 28 during operation of the valve and also for retaining the button in the cap prior to mounting the actuator-cap assembly to a container, the button is provided with a number of downwardly depending post members 52, each adapted to be slidably received and retained in a coaxially corresponding opening 54 provided in a horizontal shelf 46 formed interiorly of cap 28. More specifically, posts 52 are integrally formed with and depend downwardly from a rib 48 extending diametrically across the underside of button 30 on opposite sides of boss 31 which also depends integrally from the rib. In the illustrated case, two guide posts are used; however, depending on the size and shape of button and cap, any number of at least two or more may serve to guide the button in the cap.

Posts 52 are of a length to extend below shelves 56 and are arranged for free reciprocation relative thereto between limits defined on the one hand by abutment of the lower edge of button 30 on shelves 56, in the valve actuating position of the button, and in the nonactuated position of the button, by detent members 58 formed near the lower ends of posts 52.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the shelves 56 are segmental in shape and are integral with and extend inwardly from diametrically opposed points on the sidewall of cap 28 intermediate the open upper and lower ends thereof. The relative dimensioning and configuration of shelves 56 is such that a central opening is formed by or between them to accept the projecting valve assembly 22 when the cap is mounted in position on a container.

It may be noted that the size of apertures 54 in shelves 56 and enlargements 58 of posts 52 are coordinated to produce an interference fit within the elastic limits of the material of which they are formed so as to permit the enlargements to be forced through the openings when the button is initially assembled to the cap, but that they normally prevent separation of these member thereafter.

With the arrangement just described a stable and balanced guide means is provided which maintains the actuating button properly oriented at all times relative to the cap both prior to assembly to a container as well as during dispensing operation.

As shown in FIG. 4, shelves 56 may, if desired, be further formed with an integral downwardly depending tubular guide sleeve 64 to provide an elongated bearing surface for posts 52.

Further guide configurations may be utilized, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this embodiment the guide members on actuator 130 take the form of a pair of arcuately shaped, circumferentially spaced skirts or tongues 152 integrally formed with and constituting downwardly directed extensions of the sidewall of button 130. As in FIGS. 1--3, the button is formed with a boss 131 having a socket 133 for reception of the valve stem, and an internal passage 135 leads through an integral rib 148 to a discharge orifice 136.

For affixing button 130 in cap 128, the latter has integrally formed therein a radially inwardly extending horizontal annular shelf 156, arranged with arcuately shaped slots 154, adapted to correspond with and slidably receive tongues 152. Slots 154 are diametrically spaced and disposed at the juncture of shelf 156 and the inner wall of cap 128. Detent members, in this modification consisting of inwardly directed arcuately shaped lips 158 formed at the bottom edge of tongues 152, are adapted to from a resilient snap-fit interference with the margins of slots 154 during initial assembly of the button in the cap, and this interference fit thereafter serves to retain the members together.

It will be appreciated that this arrangement inner wall of cap 128 and the margins of slots 154 form effective guide means which permit vertical movement of the button and at the same time restrict any appreciable lateral or angular movement of the latter.

In the further modification shown in FIGS. 7--9, actuator cap 228 is stepped inwardly in its upper sidewall to accept an actuator 230 of reduced diameter. As in the previous examples, the cap is adapted to be snap-fitted to the valved end of container 10 by resilient lips 234 engaging under shoulder 20 of the container end wall, while actuator 230 is received in well 229 formed by the stepped sidewall in the upper portion of the cap. An annular shelf 256 in well 229 has apertures 254 which receive posts 252 of the actuator and guide the latter for reciprocal axial movement in conjunction with the sidewalls of the well. Enlargements 258 on the lower ends of posts 252 produce an interference fit with apertures 254, allowing the actuator and cap to be initially assembled by force fit and thereafter restraining separation of the members. Fluid communication with valve stem 24 is established by seating of the valve stem in socket 233 of button 230 and fluid discharge is effected through passage 235 of the button. In this case, button 230 is substantially completely recessed in well 229 and a notch 227 is let into the sidewall of the well opposite the terminal point of passage 235 to allow free egress of fluid.

While attachment of the cap to the container as shown in the foregoing examples has been by engagement of the lower margin the cap below the shoulder of the container end wall, it will be obvious that such engagement can be accomplished in various other ways, as by example to either of the chimes formed at the junction of the container side and end walls or at the junction of the valve mounting flange and container end wall.

Claims

I claim:

1. An actuator-cap assembly for an aerosol container having an upwardly projecting valve stem which is axially depressible to effect discharge of aerosol fluid from the container through the valve stem, said actuator-cap assembly comprising:

a. a cylindrical cap open at its top and bottom, and means at said bottom for mounting it on the container; said cap extending above the container and laterally enclosing the valve stem;

b. manually depressible valve actuator button coaxially carried in said cap and formed with a cavity for receiving the projecting valve stem, and a discharge orifice continuously communicating with said cavity to allow fluid to discharge from said orifice upon depression of said button; and

c. bearing means on said button and cap for mounting and guiding said button for axial operating movement relative to said cap; said bearing means including at least two post members depending downwardly from said button, on generally opposite sides of said cavity, and shelf means in said cap intermediate said top and bottom and having apertures therein for receiving said post members with a bearing fit, said post members extending through said shelf means; and detent means on said post members beneath said shelf means for retaining said button in said cap.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said post members are integrally formed with said button.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said shelf means in said cap are segmental in shape and are integral with and extend inwardly from diametrically opposed points on the wall of the cap intermediate the open upper and lower ends thereof.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said detent means are in the form of annular enlargements positioned at the lower end sections of said fingers and adapted to normally abut the undersurface of said wall projections.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said shelf means further include an elongated sleeve depending downwardly therefrom concentric with said apertures, and said post members extend through said elongated sleeves.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said post members are circumferentially spaced arcuately shaped tongues, integrally formed with said button and constituting downwardly directed extensions of the sidewall thereof.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said guide means is a horizontally extending inner annular flange in said cap, having circumferential slots therein for reception of said tongues.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said detent means are in the form of lips directed inwardly from said tongues at the lowermost ends thereof and adapted to normally abut the undersurface of the slots.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cap is stepped inwardly in its upper sidewall to form a well and said actuator button is slidably received in said well, said shelf means being located at the step in the cap sidewall.