U.S. patent number 3,795,366 [Application Number 05/248,941] was granted by the patent office on 1974-03-05 for multiple spray pattern device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Colgate-Palmolive Company. Invention is credited to Joseph George Ferraro, Russell Park McGhie.
United States Patent |
3,795,366 |
McGhie , et al. |
March 5, 1974 |
MULTIPLE SPRAY PATTERN DEVICE
Abstract
A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating
assembly adapted to be mounted on a pressurized container having a
valve comprises cap structure mounting a spray pattern selector
member having at least two spaced bores therein containing insert
plugs that are formed with through passages providing different
spray patterns. The spray pattern selector member is mounted on
said cap structure for rotation between positions wherein it may
actuate the container valve to discharge container contents through
one or the other of the insert passages.
Inventors: |
McGhie; Russell Park (Somers,
NY), Ferraro; Joseph George (Wyckoff, NJ) |
Assignee: |
Colgate-Palmolive Company (New
York, NY)
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Family
ID: |
22622720 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/248,941 |
Filed: |
May 1, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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171146 |
Aug 12, 1971 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
239/397;
222/402.17; 239/579; 222/153.09; 222/402.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
83/7532 (20130101); B65D 83/207 (20130101); B65D
83/205 (20130101); B65D 83/20 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
83/16 (20060101); B65D 83/14 (20060101); B05b
001/26 () |
Field of
Search: |
;239/391,392,394,397,573,579 ;222/402.17 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wood, Jr.; M. Henson
Assistant Examiner: Mar; Michael Y.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Strauch, Nolan, Neale, Nies &
Kurz
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation-in-part of our application Ser. No. 171,146
filed Aug. 12, 1971 for Multiple Spray Pattern Device now
abandoned.
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property
or
1. A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating
assembly adapted to be mounted on a pressurized container having a
valve provided with an upstanding reciprocable hollow actuator and
product discharge stem comprising cap structure having means for
mounting it on such a container, a spray pattern selector member
having at least two spaced bores therein containing insert plugs
that are formed with through passages, said passages having valve
stem receiving recesses at their inlet ends and being so
constructed and arranged as to produce different spray patterns at
their outlets, and means mounting said member on said cap structure
for movement between a position wherein it may actuate the
container valve to discharge container contents through one of said
insert passages and another position wherein it may actuate the
container valve to discharge
2. In the assembly defined in claim 1, said bores and insert plugs
being formed with cooperating means providing pre-determined
orientation of the
3. In the assembly defined in claim 1, said insert plugs each being
formed at the inlet end of its through passage with an end socket
for slidably
4. In the assembly defined in claim 1, said inserts being
substantially
5. A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating
assembly adapted to be mounted upon a pressurized container of the
type having a projecting movable hollow valve actuating and product
dischrage stem and comprising a cap structure having means for
mounting it on such a container, a spray pattern selector member
mounted on said cap structure for rotation about a fixed axis and
for displacement toward and from the container, said member having
at its lower end at least two downwardly open recesses each adapted
to slidably receive said valve stem when aligned therewith by
rotation of said member, and means in said member forming distinct
spray pattern passages extending from each recess to a separate
lateral discharge outlet, said member and recesses being so
constructed and arranged that after rotation of said member to
align a selected recess with said valve stem the member may be
initially displaced in the direction toward the container to
confine the upper end of the valve stem in the selected recess in
communication with the adjacent spray pattern passage and establish
solid motion transmitting engagement between the member and valve
stem whereby further displacement of the member in that direction
moves the valve stem to effect discharge of the container contents
through the associated spray passage and outlet, said member being
formed with downwardly open bores and fixed inserts in said bores
that are formed with the respective valve stem receiving recesses
and the
6. In the assembly defined in claim 5, said bores and inserts being
formed with cooperating means providing predetermined orientation
of each outlet
7. In the assembly defined in claim 6, said orientation providing
means being interfitting longitudinal rib and groove means on each
bore and
8. In the assembly defined in claim 5, said bores being distributed
along the arc of a circle having its center on said axis, and said
inserts being unitary slidably introduced plugs each preformed with
its recess and
9. In the assembly defined in claim 5, means for indexing said
member in positions of rotation wherein said recesses align with
the valve stem.
10. In the assembly defined in claim 5, said member being formed
with a further downwardly open recess spaced from said two recesses
and of such depth that when said member is rotated to align said
further recess with said stem and the member is displaced toward
the container the valve stem is freely received within the further
recess and the valve stem is not
11. A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating
assembly adapted to be mounted upon a pressurized container of the
type having a projecting hollow valve actuating and product
discharge stem and comprising a cap structure having means for
mounting it on such a container, an upwardly open hollow boss on
the upper end of said cap structure, said boss having a cylindrical
inner surface a spray pattern selector member mounted on said boss
for rotation about the axis of said boss and for slidable
displacement toward and from the container, said member having a
depending cylindrical surface surrounded by, rotatable in and
axially slidable on said boss surface, and said member having at
its lower end at least two downwardly open sockets each adapted to
receive said valve stem when aligned therewith by rotation of said
member, and means in said member forming distinct spray pattern
passages extending from each socket to a separate lateral discharge
outlet, said member and sockets being so constructed and arranged
that after rotation of said member to align a selected socket with
said valve stem the member may be initially displaced in the
direction toward the container to confine the upper end of the
valve stem in the selected socket in communication with the
adjacent spray pattern passage end and establish solid motion
transmitting engagement between the member and valve stem whereby
further displacement of the member in that direction moves the
valve stem to effect discharge of the container contents through
the associated spray passage and outlet, and cooperating means on
said boss and member at said surfaces for preventing said motion
transmitting engagement except when
12. In the assembly defined in claim 11, said member being a
one-piece button and said sockets, passages and outlets being
formed directly in
13. In the assembly defined in claim 11, said cap structure having
a circular flexible lower edge portion whereby it is detachably
mounted on the container symmetrical about an axis coinciding
substantially with the axis of said valve stem, the axis of said
boss being eccentric with respect to the axis of said lower edge
portion, and said sockets being disposed substantially on a circle
having a radius substantially equal to
14. In the assembly defined in claim 11, cooperating axial
abutments on
15. A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating
assembly adapted to be mounted upon a pressurized container of the
type having a projecting hollow valve actuating and product
discharge stem and comprising a cap structure having means for
mounting it on such a container, a hollow boss on the upper end of
said cap structure, a spray pattern selector member mounted on said
boss for rotation about the axis of said boss and for slidable
displacement toward and from the container, said member having at
its lower end at least two downwardly open sockets each adapted to
receive said valve stem when aligned therewith by rotation of said
member, and means in said member forming distinct spray pattern
passages extending from each socket to a separate lateral discharge
outlet, said member and sockets being so constructed and arranged
that after rotation of said member to align a selected socket with
said valve stem the member may be initially displaced in the
direction toward the container to confine the upper end of the
valve stem in the selected socket in communication with the
adjacent spray pattern passage end and establish solid motion
transmitting engagement between the member and valve stem whereby
further displacement of the member in that direction moves the
valve stem to effect discharge of the container contents through
the associated spray passage and outlet, said cap structure boss
being an upwardly open boss having a cylindrical inner surface and
said member having a depending cylindrical surface rotatable in and
axially slidable on said boss surface, and cooperating longitudinal
groove and rib means at said surfaces for locating said member in
valve operating positions and guiding axial movement thereof
relative to the container, said groove and rib means being so
disposed and cooperatively formed as to prevent said motion
transmitting engagement between said member and the valve stem
16. In the assembly defined in claim 15, said ribs being of
different length and being formed on said member and said grooves
being formed in the boss surface, means providing an upwardly
facing recess in said boss surface connecting the upper ends of
said grooves after the lower end of the shorter rib has left said
recess and while the lower end of the longer rib remains in said
recess and having stop shoulders at opposite ends, and cooperating
means on said boss and member for preventing axial displacement of
said member away from the container whereby said member may be
rotated between valve operating positions defined by said stop
17. In the assembly defined in claim 16, said boss having a flat
planar top surface slidingly associated with the lower end of said
short rib during
18. A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating
assembly adapted to be mounted on a pressurized container having a
valve comprising cap structure having means for mounting it on such
a container, a spray pattern selector member having at least two
spaced bores therein containing insert plugs that are formed with
through passages, said passages being so constructed and arranged
as to produce different spray patterns at their outlets, and means
mounting said member on said cap structure for movement between a
position wherein it may actuate the container valve to discharge
container contents through one of said insert passages and another
position wherein it may actuate the container valve to discharge
container contents through the other insert passage, said bores and
insert plugs being formed with cooperating interfitting
longitudinal rib and groove means providing predetermined
orientation of
19. A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating
assembly adapted to be mounted on a pressurized container having a
valve comprising cap structure having means for mounting it on such
a container, a spray pattern selector member having at least two
spaced bores therein containing insert plugs that are formed with
through passages, said passages being so constructed and arranged
as to produce different spray patterns at their outlets, and means
mounting said member on said cap structure for movement between a
position wherein it may actuate the container valve to discharge
container contents through one of said insert passages and another
position wherein it may actuate the container valve to discharge
container contents through the other insert passage, said selector
member being a head mounted on the cap structure for rotation about
an axis parallel to the axis of the container, said bores being
downwardly open recesses in said head, and said insert plugs being
fixed
20. A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating
assembly adapted to be mounted upon a pressurized container of the
type having a projecting hollow valve actuating and product
discharge stem and comprising a cap structure having means for
mounting it on such a container, a hollow boss on the upper end of
said cap structure, a spray pattern selector member mounted on said
boss for rotation about the axis of said boss and for slidable
displacement toward and from the container, said member having at
its lower end at least two downwardly open sockets each adapted to
receive said valve stem when aligned therewith by rotation of said
member, and means in said member forming distinct spray pattern
passages extending from each socket to a separate lateral discharge
outlet, said member comprising a one-piece button having downwardly
open bores, and said sockets and passages are formed in plug
inserts within said bores and said member and sockets being so
constructed and arranged that after rotation of said member to
align a selected socket with said valve stem the member may be
initially displaced in the direction toward the container to
confine the upper end of the valve stem in the selected socket in
communication with the adjacent spray pattern passage end and
establish solid motion transmitting engagement between the member
and valve stem whereby further displacement of the member in that
direction moves the valve stem to effect discharge of the container
contents through the associated spray passage and outlet.
Description
This invention relates to devices for selectively spraying the
contents of an aerosol or like pressurized container in different
spray patterns. In its preferred embodiments it will be disclosed
as an attachment for mounting upon the discharge end of a more or
less conventional pressurized container and including an
arrangement for operating the container discharge valve and a
readily operable adjustment for selecting a desired pattern of
spray. These devices are of particular value for the spraying of
hair treatment or holding fluids, liquid starch, paint and other
materials where different spray patterns may be desirable or
necessary for different conditions of use.
It has been proposed to provide selective spray devices for
pressurized containers, as for example those disclosed in Anderson
et al. U.S. Pat. No. 2,887,273; Bourke U.S. Pat. No. 3,246,850;
McKernan U.S. Pat. No. 2,797,965 and Green U.S. Pats. Nos.
3,209,960 and 3,188,008. Some of these prior devices are concerned
mainly with selecting different quantity rather than different
pattern sprays, and most comprise fairly complex valving
arrangements that are expensive or present assembly problems.
The present invention contemplates an inexpensive reliable multiple
spray patter device that is easy to assemble, install and operate
and may be used as an attachment for conventional aerosol and like
pressurized containers, and such is a major object.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel combined
valve actuating and multiple pattern spray head for a pressurized
container wherein the individual different spray pattern passages
are formed through insert plugs mounted in a head member that is
rotatable for pattern selection.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel combined
valve actuating and multiple spray pattern head for a pressurized
container wherein the head embodies a cylindrical pattern selection
member preferably in the form of a button peripherally rotatably
mounted in a hollow boss in a cap structure adapted for mounting on
the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, illustrating the basic
concept of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an aerosol type container assembly
that includes a preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation, partly broken away and in section,
showing details of the invention in its preferred embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a partial front elevation of the container assembly of
FIGS. 2 and 3 showing a discharge outlet;
FIG. 5 is a section substantially on line 5--5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly broken away and in
section, showing a further embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation partly in section showing
another embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 8 is a partial front elevation of the embodiment of FIG.
7;
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8;
FIG. 10 is a top plan view showing a further embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the embodiment of
FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 is a side elevation partly broken away and in section
substantially on line 12--12 of FIG. 11 showing the spray discharge
arrangements in the FIG. 10 embodiment;
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary side view partly broken away and in
section showing the spray selector member rotated 90.degree. with
respect to the FIG. 12 position;
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary side view similar to FIG. 13 but showing
the spray selector member fully sectioned;
FIG. 15 is a bottom plan view of the selector member of the FIG.
10-14 embodiment apart from the assembly;
FIG. 16 is a section substantially on line 16--16 of FIG. 12
showing internal details;
FIG. 17 is a fragmentary elevation showing the cap grooves; and
FIG. 18 is a fragmentary development showing the location of the
cap grooves and stop shoulders.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring first to FIG. 1, an aerosol type container 11 of a
conventional type has a projecting hollow valve stem 12. Container
11 comprises a cylindrical body 13 joined to a top wall 14 by a
circumferential seam joint 15. At the upper end of the container a
smaller diameter circumferential seam joint 16 secures top wall 14
to an internal wall 17 that, see FIG. 3, has a central upstanding
section 18 rigidly securing therewithin a hollow valve part 19
having an inlet bore 21.
A resilient annulus 22 is compressed between valve part 19 and the
upper end 23 of wall section 18 is formed with an opening 24
slidably passing a reduced portion 25 of valve stem 12 having a
lateral port 26 normally closed by the surrounding bore 27 of
annulus 22.
The enlarged lower end 28 of valve stem 12 is axially biased
against the lower side of resilient annulus 22 by a compression
spring 29, reacting between valve part 19 and the valve stem, to
compress the annulus sealingly around the valve stem to close port
26. When valve stem 12 is depressed into the container, port 26 is
lowered into communication with fluid under pressure entering bore
21 and the space around the lower end of stem 12 to discharge under
pressure through the open end of stem 12.
The foregoing container and valve structure may be the same as that
disclosed in U.S. Letters Pat. to Abplanalp No. 2,631,814 to which
reference may be made for added detail.
In FIG. 1 a spray pattern selector member in the form of a dual
orifice head button 31 is provided at its lower side with
downwardly open similar shallow recesses 32 and 33 each adapted to
fit snugly upon the upper end of stem 12. Recess 32 communicates
with a passage 34 extending to a discharge port 35 at one side of
the button, and recess 33 communicates with a passage 36 extending
to a discharge port 37 at the other side of the button. Passages 34
and 36 and discharge ports 35 and 37 can be of different size
and/or configuration to produce different spray patterns at the
discharge ports. The unit is adapted to discharge a different
pattern from that available in the FIG. 1 position merely by
axially pulling the button off stem 12 and inserting the stem 12
into recess 33. Button 31 is here wholly supported by the valve
stem in either position, and is manually actuated to depress valve
stem 12 to discharge contents of the container through the
associated button passage.
Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, the container 11 is the same as
above-described. A cap structure 41 is removably mounted on the
upper end of the container, with the circular lower end of a
flexible skirt 42 resiliently seated in the groove around the
inside of large diameter container seam 15 in a known manner.
The upper end of the cap structure terminates in an open depending
hollow boss 43 surrounding and rotatably mounting a multiple spray
pattern selector member in the form of a cylindrical button 44. As
shown, button 44 has a peripheral recess 45 at the lower end of
which is an external flange 46 in rotative bearing engagement with
button 44. Button 44 is axially slidable in boss 43, within limits
defined by flanges 46 and 47. At its upper end button 44 has an
enlarged portion 48 terminating in a short downwardly extending rim
49.
As shown in FIG. 5, button 44 is formed with three 120.degree.
apart cylindrical bores 51, 52 and 53 which open downwardly only.
Bores 51 and 52 are of the same size and adapted to tightly receive
cylindrical insert plugs 54 and 55 respectively. As shown in FIG.
3, insert plug 54 has a through passage comprising an enlarged
downwardly open lower recessed or socket portion 56 providing a
valve stem receiving recess of such diameter as to fit slidably
snugly on the upper end of valve stem 12, an intermediate portion
57 in communication with the open upper end of valve stem 12 and an
enlarged lateral outlet 58 through which the product is discharged
when valve stem 12 is depressed.
As shown in FIGS. 3-5, bore 51 is so located adjacent the outer
periphery of button 44 as to be substantially tangent thereto, that
periphery being moved or recessed so that (see FIG. 4) insert 54 is
partly laterally exposed through a side opening 50 in boss 43. Bore
51 (FIG. 5) contains a longitudinal rib 59 that slidably coacts
with longitudinal groove 61 on insert 51 to insure that the insert
51 can be mounted in bore 51 only in such position that its
discharge outlet 58 faces substantially radially outwardly.
Similarly insert 55 is formed with the same general passage
structure as insert 54 except that the intermediate passage
diameter and/or the discharge port are different to obtain a
desired different spray pattern.
As shown in FIG. 3, the similar enlarged lower ends 56 of the
insert passages are deep enough to fully seat the upper end of
valve stem 12 which abuts the bottoms thereof. The parts are shown
in non-spraying position in FIG. 3, and it will be seen that button
rim 49 is spaced above the container upper end sufficiently to
permit downward displacement of the button relative to the
container. Thus, when button 44 is depressed by the finger of the
operator against the top of the button, valve stem 12 will be
depressed sufficiently to discharge the product through an insert
passage.
Button 44 can be slidably raised to separate valve stem 12 from the
passage end 56 of insert 54, rotated to align passage end 56 of
insert 55 with the valve stem, and then pushed back toward the
container until the FIG. 3 condition is attained, but with a
different spray pattern available through insert 55. Flanges 46 and
47 coact to prevent full accidental withdrawal of the button 44
from the cap structure.
The third bore 53 is of appreciably larger diameter than valve stem
12 and is of such depth that full inward depression of button 44
will not inwardly displace valve stem 12. This is in the rotated
non-spray position indicated by the designation LOCK in FIG. 2. The
two spray positions are indicated by L and H showing the two
different spray characteristics. The three different rotative
positions of the button 44 may be sensibly determined and held as
by a rounded detent on boss 43 coacting with 120.degree. spaced
dimples (not shown) in the button 44.
The centers of bores 51, 52 and 53 lie on a common circle the
center of which is the axis of rotation of button 44. This axis is
displaced relatively to the axis of valve stem by a selected
eccentric distance e shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 illustrates a form of the invention wherein the head button
44' which is rotatable within a cap boss 43' has two different
spray pattern discharge passages 56', 57', 58' formed directly
therewithin, and not in inserts as in FIGS. 1-5. In this embodiment
the button has an overhanging skirt 48' formed with openings 49'
that align with boss opening 50 in the indexed position.
FIGS. 7-9 illustrate a further embodiment wherein a different spray
pattern selector member in the form of a head button 64 is
rotatable within the hollow boss 65 of a cap 66 that is mounted on
container 11 by a depending internal annulus 67 resiliently
gripping the smaller container bead 16.
Head button 64 has one discharge passage consisting of an enlarged
lower end 68 fitting on the valve stem 12, an intermediate portion
69 and a lateral outlet 71. A 180.degree. spaced passage consists
of an enlarged lower end 72, an intermediate passage portion 73 and
an outlet 74 of different spray pattern characteristics. As shown
in FIG. 7, outlet 71 is aligned with a cap opening 75 so that
depression of the button will displace valve stem 12 and discharge
container product through outlet 71 and to the area to be
treated.
An internal rib 76 within boss 65 coacts with an annular peripheral
recess 77 below the outlets on button 64 to permit raising button
64 sufficiently to disengage it from the valve stem and rotate it
180.degree. to fit it with the other passage end at 72. Rib 76 and
recess 77 coact to prevent accidental full withdrawal of button 64
from the cap. Index marks H and L on the top of button 64 indicate
which spray pattern passage is aligned with opening 75.
The use of interchangeably selective insert plugs such as shown at
54 and 55 in FIGS. 1-5 is particularly advantageous in that it is
less expensive to form the required spray pattern passage
configuration in such small plugs that are inserted in proper
orientation on the head than to form the passages in accurate
selective disposition on a larger solid head such as in FIG. 6.
Moreover, this phase of the invention enables production to more
efficiently and inexpensively proceed by making all of the head
buttons of the same structure, and separately form any desired
number of insert plugs with different spray pattern passages, so
that the basic head button structure may be assembled with any
different combinations of available different spray pattern insert
plugs.
FIGS. 10-16 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention which
is similar in most respects to that of FIGS. 2-6 but differs in
some detail as will appear, similar parts being indicated by
corresponding reference numerals.
A hollow cap structure 81 is detachably mounted upon container 11
by an inturned rim bead 82 sized to snap fit over the rib formed by
container seam 15, whereby to detachably support the assembly in
the container. An internal shoulder 80 limits axial movement of the
cap onto the container.
At its upper end cap 81 has a hollow boss 83 having a reentrant
bearing section formed by an inwardly extending annular end flange
84 and an internal wall 85 projecting downwardly from the radially
inner edge of the flange. Wall 85 is formed on its inner side with
a cylindrical surface 86, and flange 84 has a smooth top surface 87
lying in a plane at right angles to the axis of surface 86.
The cap 81 is formed with a generally U-shaped side opening 88 that
extends through boss 83 and opens upwardly through flange 84, the
edges of the opening being flared outwardly as indicated at 89.
Opposite opening 88, surface 86 is formed with an upwardly and
inwardly open circumferential recess 91 and three axially extending
grooves 92, 93 and 94. Recess 91 opens into flange surface 87 and
into inner wall surface 86. Recess 91 is 180.degree. in length and
its ends 132 and 132a as indicated in FIG. 18 serve as stop
shoulders limiting rotation of the spray pattern member as will
appear. Grooves 92 and 94 are open at their top to opposite ends of
recess 91. The other groove 93 is also open at its top to recess 91
midway between the other two grooves, and is located diametrically
opposite opening 88. Grooves 92-94 may be of equal length and are
closed at their lower ends.
It will be noted as indicated at e in FIG. 12 that the axis of
surface 86 is eccentric with respect to the axis of valve 12 of the
container.
A multiple spray pattern member or button 95 is rotatably mounted
concentric with boss 83. Button 95 comprises a flat upper end disc
96 having a downturned annular integral rim 97 around its outer
periphery. Rim 97 is sufficiently short that it will not interfere
with spray discharged through opening 88 as will appear, and its
periphery is knurled at 98 for ease of turning.
Button 95 is centrally formed with a depending integral boss 99
coaxial with rim 97 having a cylindrical outer periphery 101 that
fits slidably and rotatably within the reentrant bearing surface
86. Boss 99 is longer than rim 97 and at its lower end below the
level of rim 97 is formed with two diametrically opposite circular
side openings 102 and 103.
At its upper end boss 99 is formed with two diametrically opposite
ribs 104 and 105 depending from the bottom of disc 96. Rib 104 is
axially longer than rib 105 for a purpose to appear. Ribs 104 and
105 are both axially shorter than rim 97 and they are sized to fit
slidably into grooves 92-94. The lower ends of ribs 104 and 105 are
preferably smoothly rounded. Ribs 104, 105 are spaced 90.degree.
from adjacent openings 102, 103.
Internally hollow boss 99 is formed with diametrically opposite
cylindrical cells 106 and 107, integrally merging into boss 99 at
their outer sides and integrally connected at their inner sides
108. These cells provide downwardly open cylindrical bores 109 and
111 of the same size having side apertures opening into boss
opening 102 and 103 as shown in FIG. 12.
Cylindrical insert plugs 112 and 113 are tightly thrust into bores
109 and 111 where they seat axially on shoulders 114 and 115
respectively so that the lower ends of the plugs are flush with the
lower end of boss 99. Plug 112 has a short central downwardly open
socket 116 sized to slidably receive valve stem 12, a circular side
recess 117 of the same size as opening 102, and a small diameter
passage 118 extending from the socket to open into the center of
recess 117.
Diametrically opposite recess 117, plug 112 is formed with an axial
groove 119 adapted to slidably fit with an axial internal rib 121
in cell 106. Groove 119 is closed at its lower end. Thus groove 119
and rib 121 accurately locate the outlet end of passage 118
centrally with opening 102.
Similarly plug 113 has a short downwardly open socket 122 (FIG. 12)
for slidably receiving valve stem 12, a circular side recess 123
and a small diameter passage 124 between the socket and recess. An
axial plug groove 125 slidably fits with internal cell rib 126, and
this accurately locates the outer end of passage 124 centrally with
opening 103.
Plugs 112 and 113 are preferably identical except that passages 118
and 124 are of different diameter to produce different spray
patterns as will appear. Either of these plugs may be removed and
replaced with similar plugs having different passages for selecting
different spray patterns.
In assembly boss 99 is thrust into the open end of boss 83, this
being limited by the abutment of flange 84 with the underside of
disc 96. As shown in FIG. 13 a plurality of generally wedge shaped
projections 127 are integral with the lower edge of boss 99. Since
the cap structure is composed of a relatively resilient plastic,
these projections merely temporarily resiliently deform the wall 86
as they pass down, and once they pass the lower edge of wall 86 the
projections become effective to provide upwardly facing axial
abutments indicated at 128. As will appear projections 127 may abut
against the lower end of wall 86 to limit upward axial shift of
button 95 during operation.
It will be noted that longitudinal open spaces 129 and 131 are
provided within boss 99 at opposite sides of the aligned cells.
Also, see FIG. 10, the top of disc 96 is molded with indicators
133' and 133 above the small and larger spray passage plugs, and a
lock or non-spray indicator 134 halfway between them located above
space 131.
In the illustrated embodiment, when the button 95 is so mounted on
the cap that the ribs 105 and 104 are slidably received in grooves
92 and 94 respectively, the opening 103 will be aligned with cap
opening 88 and the socket 122 will be centered with valve stem 12
which it slidably receives when the cap is mounted on the container
11 and button 95 is depressed. This is the heavy spray position and
is shown in FIG. 12. When stem 12 bottoms in socket 122, which will
take place before disc 96 can contact flange 84, continued downward
movement of the button will result in depression of stem 12 to open
the container valve and effect a heavy spray discharge pattern
through cap opening 88.
Should a lighter spray be desired, the operator pulls upwardly on
button 95 until ribs 104 and 105 leave grooves 92 and 94. Upward
movement of the button 95 is arrested when projection surfaces 128
engage the lower edge 100 of cap boss wall 85. At this point the
shorter rib 105 has moved axially upwardly out of recess 91, but
the longer rib 104 remains in recess 91 in substantial flush
abutment with stop shoulder 132a. The operation may now rotate the
button 95, counterclockwise in FIG. 10, through 180.degree.. During
this rotation, the lower end of short rib 105 slides along flat
surface 87, and the lower end of rib 104 moves along recess 91
until it abuts stop shoulder 132 where it aligns with groove 92. At
the same time rib 104 is aligned with groove 94. Now button 95 may
be pushed axially downwardly to engage light spray socket 116 with
the valve stem 112. Depression of the button will now produce a
light spray pattern through the cap opening 88.
Should the non-spray position be desired, button 95 is pulled
upwardly and rotated clockwise 90.degree. until the indicator 134
is above opening 88, at which time the long rib 104 will become
aligned with groove 93, and then when the button is pushed down
toward the container stem 12 will project into space 131 and will
not be activated.
The parts are so dimensioned and arranged that just after the
button 95 is pulled out sufficiently to disengage the ribs 104, 105
from the grooves 92-94, projections 127 will all solidly abut the
lower end of wall 86 to prevent further axial upward movement of
the ribs as explained above. Thus, button 95 can be turned only in
a direction wherein the lower end of rib 105 may slide along the
upwardly facing flat smooth surface 87, the shoulders 132 and 133
limiting turning movement in the opposite directions.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without
departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The
present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects
as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention
being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing
description, and all changes which come within the meaning and
range of equivalency of the claims are theremore intended to be
embraced therein.
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