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US 7,757,905 B2Granted
Spray actuator
AssigneeSummit Packaging Systems, Inc.
InventorsToralf H. Strand, Thomas G. Lacey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aerosol spray actuator for a pressurized aerosol canister and in particular trigger or button actuated spray actuators having three main parts to simplify the mechanical moving parts of a spray actuator. An actuator button, an actuator base and finally a nozzle piece being inserted at the very end of a product dispensing passage embodied either in the body or the trigger part. A mechanism for permitting and blocking the actuation of the spray actuator is also provided so that inadvertent operation of the actuator can be prevented.
Claims12
An aerosol spray actuator comprising:
- an actuator base having a bottom end continuously supported by an aerosol container, and a top opening for engaging an actuator button retained by the actuator base;
- a product passageway extending from a product receiving port to a product outlet for dispensing contents of the aerosol container into the environment;
- an operative position enabling relative axial movement between the actuator base and the actuator button and a non-operative position of the aerosol spray actuator wherein the non-operative position interrupts relative axial movement between the actuator button and the actuator base so that any pressurized product in the aerosol container will not be dispensed, and one of the button and the actuator base are relatively radially rotatable between the operative position and the non-operative position
- an axial displacement means is provided for changing the axial relationship of the actuator button during relative radial rotation between the operative position and the non-operative position;
- a plurality of horizontal support surfaces circumferentially spaced around the base to engage a lower edge of the button in the non-operative position and prevent relative axial movement between the button and the base;
- and
- a relief formed in the lower edge of the button which is radially aligned with the horizontal support surface inside the base in the operative position to permit relative axial movement between the button and the base.
4 more elements
An aerosol spray actuator for use with an aerosol container comprising:
- an actuator base defining an opening for receiving a relatively radially rotatable and axially displaceable actuator button therein;
- a plurality of stops formed in the actuator base defining limits for the radial rotation and axial displacement between the button and the actuator base;
- a plurality of engagement means formed on the actuator button for abutting the plurality of stops at the defined limits of the radial rotation;
- an operative position enabling relative axial movement between the actuator base and the actuator button and a non-operative position of the aerosol spray actuator wherein the non-operative position interrupts relative axial movement between the actuator button and the actuator base so that any pressurized product in the aerosol container will not be dispensed;
- an axial displacement occurs between the actuator button and actuator base during radial rotation between the operative position and the non-operative position;
- the plurality of stops includes at least one pair of stops having an horizontal support surface formed inside the base to engage a lower edge of the actuator button in the non-operative position and prevent relative axial movement between the actuator button and the actuator base;
- a relief formed in the lower edge of the actuator button which is radially aligned with the horizontal support surface inside the actuator base in the operative position to permit relative axial movement between the button and the base;
- and
- wherein the actuator button includes an integral fluid outlet passage for communicating with a valve stem of the aerosol container and in the non-operative position the actuator button and the fluid outlet passage are axially and radially displaced relative to the actuator base and the operative position.
6 more elements
A method of operating an aerosol valve of an aerosol spray can via an aerosol spray actuator comprising the steps of:
- engaging an actuator button in an opening of the actuator base and continuously engaging a bottom end of the actuator base on an aerosol container;
- forming a product passageway extending from a product receiving port to a product outlet integrally in the actuator button for communicating with the aerosol valve and dispensing contents of the aerosol container into the environment;
- and
- defining an operative position enabling relative axial movement between the actuator base and the actuator button and a non-operative position of the aerosol spray actuator wherein the non-operative position interrupts relative axial movement between the actuator button and the actuator base so that any pressurized product in the aerosol container will not be dispensed;
- radially rotating the actuator button and the actuator base between the operative position and the non-operative position;
- axially displacing the actuator button relative to the actuator base when the button and the actuator base are relatively radially rotated between the operative position and the non-operative position;
- and
- forming a relief in a lower edge of the button which is radially aligned with a horizontal support surface inside the base in the operative position to permit relative axial movement between the button and the base.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.