Childproof Actuator For Aerosol Valve

Abstract

Childproof actuator for aerosol valve has collar easily rotatable on the annular structure of the can surrounding the valve stem. An actuator button is forceably turnable within collar. In a preferred version, two hands and mature strength are necessary to turn the button and collar relatively. To prepare valve for operation, button must have its blocking surfaces non-aligned with interfering portions of top wall of collar.

Description

This invention relates to a childproof actuator for aerosol valves. In other words, this invention relates to an actuator which requires an understanding of mode of operation and a capability of appropriate manual performance in order to open the valve. More specifically, this invention relates to a childproof actuator in which frictional forces between the parts make necessary a purposeful and forceful manipulation and usually the use of both hands to prepare the valve for actuation.

In the prior art, there are many showings of safety actuators for aerosol valves. The many cases, for instance, the U.S. Pat. No. 2,715,481 to McGhie et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 3,426,948 to Sterling, disclose actuators in which a collar surrounding the valve button must be in proper position relative to the button itself before depression of the button is possible. In the earlier devices, however, the manipulation of the button or collar has been a simple matter of turning one relative to the other until the button is in the "unlocked" position and can be depressed. Because there has been no interference between button and collar and turning of the parts has been relatively easy, the prior actuators have not really been "childproof" but have been readily operable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple aerosol valve actuator which can be operated only by those with sufficient understanding, and persons who, additionally, have the necessary finger strength to manipulate the parts as necessary.

Briefly, the actuator of the invention includes a collar and a button, the button and collar interfering at certain radial positions to block actuation of the valve, the button and collar in such positions having much frictional drag to relative rotational movement so that two hands are necessary to turn the two parts to a non-interfering radial position whereat the button can be manipulated to actuate the valve.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification including the drawings which present various non-limiting embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective exploded view of an actuator embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, slightly enlarged and showing in dotted lines an alternate position of the button;

FIG. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view showing a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of the modification shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a further modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of the modification shown in FIG. 6.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, an actuator embodying the invention is generally designated 10 in FIG. 1. It comprises, briefly, a collar 12 and a button 14. The assembly is for use with an aerosol container featuring at the top thereof an annular seam ring R (FIG. 3) at the rolled joint between the upper end of the container C and the valve mounting cup M. Disposed centrally of this annular seam or ring is a pedestal P from which extends a stem S. As is conventional, the valve is actuatable by vertically depressing the stem to discharge through the stem the contents of the container.

The collar 12 as shown comprises a side wall 16 preferably having an inward annular rib 18 at its lower end for the purpose of snapping over the ring R and holding the collar thereagainst. This snap engagement holds the collar firmly on the container so that its removal is virtually impossible without the use of a prying tool. While the side wall 16 is shaped to receive the ring R, there is permitted a relatively easy rotation of the collar against the ring. In an alternate arrangement, the collar may be formed with an enlarged downward head held in snap engagement in the socket-like opening in the finished mounting cup as suggested by the McGhie et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,715,481.

As shown in FIG. 1, the collar 12 also presents a top wall 20 having a central opening 22 therein. As shown, the opening 22 has lateral enlargements 24, 24 at diametrically opposite sides thereof. Further, the opening is provided in the FIGS. 1, 2, 3 embodiment with one or more inward notches 26, 26 for reasons which will appear.

The button 14 is generally of the conventional type having a discharge passage therethrough which terminates at one end at an orifice 28 and at the lower end in a mounting opening 30 which fits snugly about the upper end of stem S in a leakproof fashion which still permits the rotation of button 14 about the stem.

As shown, the button 14 has vertically spaced outward flanges 32, 34 disposed at diametrically opposite sides of the button. These flanges present spaced horizontal blocking surfaces 32a on the underside of flange 32 and 34a on the upper side of the flange 34. The spacing of these surfaces is preferably somewhat less than the thickness of the top wall 20 of the collar (FIG. 2). The button 14 is formed with the nibs 36, 36 to engage in notches 26, 26 in the collar as detent retaining means.

Preferably, at least one of the button or collar is of a substantially resilient material with the result that when the button is disposed relative to the collar 12 as shown in FIG. 3, substantial force is required to rotate the button relative to the collar. The engagement between the surfaces 34a and 32a against the top wall 20 is, consequently, a wedging action. More resistance to turning from the position shown is provided by the nibs and notches 36, 36, 26, 26. As will be evident from FIG. 3, because of the flange 32, the button 14 cannot be depressed in the position shown. Flange 32 butts against and is blocked by the top surface of the wall 20. Similarly, the button cannot be raised because of the engagement of the surface 34a with the top wall on the opposite side of the button.

As will be evident, operation of the button can be secured only by forcibly rotating the button 14 relative to the collar 12, an achievement which can be accomplished by an operator of sufficient maturity and mentality to do so and sufficient strength to hold the two parts in respective hands and counterrotate them. Children, not falling in the category of such persons, and unable to thus manipulate the actuator and turn on the valve. Here, turning of the button alone without holding the collar will result in turning of the button-collar assembly on the container.

It is clear that once the button 14 is turned relative to the collar 12 either by holding the button and rotating the collar or vice versa, or rotating both to a position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 wherein the flanges align with the lateral openings 24, the actuator may be depressed and the valve opened.

In the FIG. 4, FIG. 5 version, the button is styled somewhat differently from that shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. Thus, the lower flange 32' is shown on the orifice side of the button 14' rather than the back side. On the back side, the upper flange 34' takes the form of an extension up to the top of the button for added strength and styling purposes. Thus, the upper wall 20' of the collar 12' is wedged between the surfaces 32a' and 34a'. In addition, as shown, the nib 36' on the button 14' and the notch 26' adds resistance to the turning of the button from the position shown. As shown, a flange 40 may extend out of the back side of the button below the top wall 20'. Operation of the FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 embodiment is similar to that of the earlier described embodiment.

In a further variation, not shown, the button may be styled similarly, front and rear, to present slots similar to the one shown in FIG. 5 at the rear of the button, so that, in other words, button structure above the wall 20' comes forward to the outer perimeter of the flange 32'. This gives a symmetry to the button of FIG. 5.

Turning to FIGS. 6 and 7, the button 14" has flanges 32" and 32" comparable to the flanges of the FIG. 1-3 embodiment. In this version, however, the working surfaces 32a" and 34a" are formed with a plurality of recesses 42, 42 and the top wall 20" of the collar 12" is formed with complementing projections 44, 44 which interfit with the recesses 42, 42 to provide in the position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 considerable additional resistance to turning of the cap 14" relative to the collar 12" from the position shown. The operation of the FIGS. 6 and 7 embodiment is similar to that of the other embodiments.

It should be understood that while the embodiments described and shown generally deal with vertical-type aerosol valves, use with tilt-type valves is contemplated.

Thus, the invention may take a number of different embodiments and variations. The spirit of the invention, however, can be described in the following claim language.

Claims

I claim:

1. A childproof actuator for the valve of an aerosol container having a vertically reciprocable or tiltable valve stem surrounded by a ring defined by the rolled end portions of the valve mounting cup and the container, the actuator comprising:

a. a plastic molded collar having an annular wall adapted to engage and be easily rotatable against the ring, the collar presenting a substantially planar top wall having a central opening therein with diametrically opposite lateral enlargements; and

b. a molded plastic actuator button having a discharge passage in the lower end thereof and adapted to fit over and rotate on the stem, the button having on diametrically opposite sides vertically spaced horizontal blocking surfaces, the upper surface facing downward and the lower surface facing up, the surfaces being spaced apart vertically a distance to accommodate the top wall disposed inbetween them but so that there is some frictional engagement between the top wall and the flanges, at least one of said button and collar being of relatively soft resilient plastic, the surfaces being of such shape that when radially aligned with the lateral enlargements, the button can be vertically moved or tilted with respect to the collar;

whereby the blocking surfaces may engage the top wall to block depression or tilting of the button, the engagement being such that the collar and button tend to rotate in unison and turning of the button relative to the collar requires forcefully gripping both parts and counter-turning them to a position where the surfaces align with the lateral enlargements to permit depression or tilting of the button.

2. A childproof actuator as claimed in claim 1 wherein cooperating nib means and recess means are formed on at least one of the surfaces and on the collar respectively to interfit when the surfaces are in a position not aligned with the lateral enlargements.

3. A childproof actuator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surfaces are spaced vertically a distance less than the thickness of the top wall providing a wedging action between the button and collar.

4. A childproof actuator for the valve of an aerosol container having a vertically reciprocable or tiltable valve stem surrounded by annular structure on the container concentric with the stem, the actuator comprising:

a. a plastic molded collar having an annular wall adapted to engage and be easily rotatable against such annular structure, means holding the collar in firm snap engagement against the annular structure, the collar presenting a substantially planar top wall having a central opening therein with a lateral enlargement means; and

b. a molded plastic actuator button having a discharge passage in the lower end thereof and adapted to fit over and rotate on the stem, the button having outward vertically spaced horizontal surfaces, the upper surface facing downward and the lower surface facing up, the surfaces being spaced apart vertically a distance to accommodate the top wall disposed inbetween them so that there is some frictional engagement between the top wall and the flanges, at least one of said button and collar being of relatively soft resilient plastic, the surfaces being of such shape that when radially aligned with the lateral enlargement means, the button can be vertically moved with respect to the collar;

whereby the surfaces may engage the top wall to block depression or tilting of the button, the engagement being such that the collar and button tend to rotate in unison and turning of the button relative to the collar requires forcefully gripping both parts and counter-turning them to a position where the surfaces align with the lateral enlargement means.