U.S. patent number 3,738,536 [Application Number 05/157,423] was granted by the patent office on 1973-06-12 for child proof protective overcap for an aerosol can.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sunbeam Plastics Corporation. Invention is credited to Peter P. Gach.
United States Patent |
3,738,536 |
Gach |
June 12, 1973 |
CHILD PROOF PROTECTIVE OVERCAP FOR AN AEROSOL CAN
Abstract
A child-proof protective overcap for an aerosol can. The can has
a valve stem cap and an actuator nozzle centered therein, the valve
stem cap being retained on the can by frictional engagement thereof
with an annular lip on the valve mounting seam at the top of the
breast portion of the can. The overcap has an inverted cup-shape
with a circular, stiffly resilient top and two concentric skirts
depending therefrom. The inner skirt extends circumjacently to the
valve stem cap and the outer skirt extends into the annular groove
at the seam between the body and breast portion of the can. The
inner skirt and the valve stem cap have interfitting locking means.
The resilient top biases the interfitting means into locking
engagement and the locking means are disengagable by flexure of the
top of the overcap and axial movement of the inner skirt followed
by rotation of the overcap. In the preferred embodiment the
interfitting means are bayonet-type lugs and ramps.
Inventors: |
Gach; Peter P. (Evansville,
IN) |
Assignee: |
Sunbeam Plastics Corporation
(Evansville, IN)
|
Family
ID: |
22563648 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/157,423 |
Filed: |
June 28, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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72917 |
Sep 17, 1970 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/153.1;
220/298; 222/402.11; 215/220; 222/182 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
83/40 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
83/14 (20060101); B67b 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/182,153,402.11,402.13 ;220/40,6A,85P ;215/9,44,56 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Reeves; Robert B.
Assistant Examiner: Slattery; James M.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier filed
application Ser. No. 72,917 filed Sept. 17, 1970, now abandoned.
Claims
Having described my invention I claim:
1. A child-proof protective and replaceable overcap for an aerosol
can having a central discharge valve at its upper end,
comprising
a valve cover retained on said can and surrounding said valve,
an inverted cup-shaped overcap having a circular top and two
concentric annular skirts,
the central portion of said top being flexible whereby said inner
skirt is movable axially relative to said outer skirt,
the outer one of said skirts being adapted to enclose the valve end
of said can and the lower end of said outer skirt engaging said
can,
the inner one of said skirts depending from said top and extending
circumjacent to said valve cover,
and interfitting, radially extending, locking means on the exterior
of said valve cover and the interior of said inner skirt,
said locking means being disengageable by depression of the central
portion of said circular top and axial movement of said inner skirt
and rotation of said overcap and being re-engageable by reversed
movements thereof.
2. A child-proof protective overcap according to claim 1 in which
the interfitting locking means comprise radially extending lugs and
recessed lug threads so spaced axially relative to said can and the
edge of the outer skirt on said overcap as to be engageable and
disengageable only when the top of said overcap is depressed.
3. A child-proof protective overcap according to claim 1 in which
the interfitting locking means comprise at least two inwardly
extending opposite elements on the inner skirt of said overcap and
at least two outwardly extending opposite elements on the outer
side of said valve cover.
4. A child-proof protective overcap according to claim 3 in which
the elements on the inner skirt are inwardly extending flat lugs
and the elements on the valve cover are lug threads each of which
has a ramp portion and an oppositely extending recess at the end of
said ramp.
5. Child-proof retaining means for a replaceable overcap for an
aerosol can, said can having a valve and a valve cover centrally
mounted at the top of said can, said overcap having a flexible top
and concentric skirts depending therefrom, the inner one of said
skirts extending circumjacent to said valve cover, and the outer
one of said skirts enclosing said valve cover and engaging said
can, said retaining means consisting of cooperating bayonet-type
lug elements, one element of which is formed circumjacently of said
valve cover and the other element of which is formed on said inner
skirt, said cap being disengageable by depressing said flexible top
to cause relative axial movement of said cooperating bayonet-type
lug elements and rotating said cap relative to said can.
6. An overcap according to claim 5 in which the central portion of
the top of said overcap engages the top of the valve cover when
said overcap is in position on said can and the inner one of the
skirts is moved by depressing the outer annular portion of said top
of said overcap.
7. Overcap retaining means according to claim 5 in which one of
said elements is a flat lug and the other of said elements is a lug
thread having an inclined ramp and a recess at the end of said
ramp.
8. Retaining means according to claim 5 in which the bayonet-type
elements consist of a pair of diametrically opposed,
circumferentially extending ramps having return recesses at their
operatively higher ends, formed on the exterior of the valve cover
and radially extending lugs on the inner edge of the inner skirt of
the overcap.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many highly corrosive and dangerous products are conventionally
packaged in aerosol cans for ease of application of the product and
to permit the product to be dispensed as needed under pressure from
the aerosol in the can. Such products include various household
chemicals such as insecticides, starches, oven cleaners, and other
products such as paints, hair sprays, and the like which may be
very harmful, particularly to small children and pets, or may be
injurious to furniture, carpets, and the like. Many suggestions
have been made for child-proof covers and dispensing means which
cannot readily be actuated by a small child and yet which an older
child or an adult can operate to discharge the contents of the
can.
It is the principal object of the instant invention to provide a
child-proof protective overcap for an aerosol can intended to
contain dangerous material and the removal of which is beyond the
capabilities of a small child.
It is yet another object of the instant invention to provide an
overcap for an aerosol can having a permanently retained valve
cover comprising directional spray means, the overcap requiring
movements of two different types in order to disengage its
retaining means so as to make removal of the overcap beyond the
capability of a small child.
It is yet another object of the instant invention to provide
retaining means for a protective overcap for an aerosol can in
which the retaining means comprises cooperating elements formed on
the valve cap and the overcap and thus the two caps may be utilized
on a conventional aerosol can without requiring modification of the
can itself.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in section of the upper portion of an
aerosol can equipped with a protective overcap according to the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken along the
line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a horizontal, sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a horizontal, sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary bottom view in perspective of an overcap
designed according to the invention;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating a
modified form of the retaining means,
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical, sectional view similar to FIG. 1
with certain parts broken away and illustrating a second embodiment
of an overcap according to the invention;
FIG. 8 is a horizontal, sectional view taken along the line 8--8 of
FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a horizontal, sectional view taken along the line 9--9 of
FIG. 7;
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, vertical view taken along the line 10--10
of FIG. 7;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 10 but illustrating
the relative position of the elements in their "unlocked" position;
and
FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of an overcap according to this
second embodiment of the instant invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An aerosol can, generally indicated by the reference number 10
comprises a cylindrical body 11 and, in this instance, a domed
breast portion 12 connected to the can body 11 by a seam 13. In
this type of aerosol can, the seam 13 and the breast portion 12
define an annular, upwardly open groove 14 therebetween. At the top
center of the breast portion 12 there is positioned an axially
extending valve mechanism generally indicated by the reference
number 15 which is secured in the central opening of the breast
portion 12 by a crimped overseam 16, the seam 16 providing an
annular rim which is concentric with the valve mechanism 15 and its
valve stem 17.
The valve cover 21 has an annular skirt 24, arcuate side walls 25
and a recessed top 26. The upper end of the button 18 protrudes
through the opening 20 above the level of the recessed top 26 for
accessibility to the finger of a user. The valve cover 21 has a
flared side opening 27 through which thespray from the valve
orifice 19 is directed when the can is being discharged.
A protective overcap embodying the invention is generally indicated
by the reference number 28 and comprises a top 29, in this instance
being shown as flat and circular, from which there depends an outer
skirt 30 and shorter inner skirt 31 of smaller diameter. When the
overcap 28 is in position on the can 10, the outer skirt 30 abuts a
portion of the can itself, in this instance being shown as engaging
the bottom of the annular groove 14.
The valve cover 21 is held in place on the can 10 by the engagement
of an inwardly extending lip 32 formed on the bottom edge of the
valve cover skirt 24 and frictionally engaged beneath the rim of
the valve seam 16.
Retaining means for the protective overcap 28 comprise interfitting
cooperating elements formed on the outer surface of the valve cover
skirt 24 and on the inner lower edge of the inner overcap skirt 31.
These cooperating interfitting elements are illustrated in FIGS.
1-5 as consisting of at least two radially inwardly extending lugs
33 formed on the lower inner surface of the inner skirt 31 and
circumferentially extending ramps 34 formed on the outer surface of
the valve cover skirt 24. The ramps 34 may also be designated as
lug threads and each of them comprises an outwardly extending
element having an inclined portion 35, an upwardly extending recess
36 and a stop 37. Such cooperating lugs and ramps may be called
"bayonet-type" locking means.
The relative lengths of the inner skirt 31 and outer skirt 30 are
such that when the outer skirt 30 is bottomed in the groove 14, the
lugs 33 are retained in the recesses 36 by the resiliency of the
overcap top 29 as illustrated in FIG. 2. In order to engage the
lugs 33 in the respective recesses 36, the user turns the overcap
28 to move the lugs 33 against the inclined portions 35 and presses
downwardly on the center of the overcap top 29 to flex the top 29,
allowing the inner skirt 31 to move axially downwardly as the lugs
33 progress along the inclined portions 35 until the lugs 33 snap
upwardly into the recesses 36. Conversely, when it is desired to
remove the protective overcap 28, it is necessary for the user
first to depress the top 29 against its relatively stiff resiliency
to lower the lugs 33 at the lower end of the inner skirt 31 below
the level of the corners of the inclined portions 35 of the ramps
34. Thereafter, the user rotates the overcap 28 until the lugs 33
are moved outwardly from beneath the recesses 36 and the overcap 28
can then be removed from the can 10.
The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6 illustrates a
reversal of the cooperating interfitting elements consisting of
ramps 34a formed, in this embodiment, on the inner surface of an
inner skirt 31a of an overcap 28a and lugs 33a formed on the outer
surface of a valve cover skirt 24a. In this arrangement of the
interfitting retaining means, inclined portions 35a of the ramps
34a are inclined upwardly and recesses 36a open upwardly rather
than downwardly as is the case of the recesses 36 shown in FIGS.
1-5 inclusive. In this embodiment of the invention, the ramps 34a
are rotated with the overcap 28a and the lugs 33a are stationary
with the valve cover skirt 24a.
The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7-12
inclusive, comprises a directional valve cover generally indicated
by the reference number 41 and an overcap 42. The overcap 42 has an
outer skirt 43 and an inner skirt 44. The axial length of the two
skirts 43 and 44 is less than that of the embodiment of the
invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-6. A top 45 of the cap 42 has a
central frusto-conical depressed portion 46 extending inwardly from
the diameter of the inner skirt 44 and the lower rim of the outer
skirt 43 does not contact a groove 47 at the seam between a can
body 48 and its breast portion 49.
In contrast to the earlier embodiment of the invention, a central
flat portion 50 of the overcap top 45 is in contact with a flat top
surface 51 of the valve cover 41 which extends on three sides of a
transverse finger recess 52. The inner skirt 44 is of an axial
length such that lugs 53 formed on the inner side of its lower edge
are held upwardly in recesses 54 of bayonet type ramps 55 located
on the exterior of the valve cover 41, by the engagement of the
depressed center 50 of the overcap 42 with the top surface 51 of
the valve cover 41.
In order to position the overcap 42 on the can body 48, the cap 42
is pushed downwardly over the valve cover 41 and the lugs 53 are
engaged beneath downwardly inclined portions 56 of the ramps 55.
The overcap 42 is then rotated and the ramps 55 pull the lugs 53
downwardly pressing the recessed center portion 50 of the overcap
top 45 against the top 51 of the valve cover 41 flexing the
depressed portion 46 until the lugs 53 engage in the recesses 54.
To remove the overcap 42, the outer annular portion of the top 45
is pushed downwardly, flexing the conical depressed portion 46 and
moving the lugs 53 below the margins of the recesses 54 so that the
cap 42 can then be rotated to the position illustrated in FIG. 11
and removed from the can 48.
* * * * *