Patent Grant
6971552
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to containers, generally, and, more particularly, to an attachment for an aerosol dispensing package.
2. Background of the Invention
U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,064, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses a promotional dispensing package which is easily shipped, filled and assembled is disclosed. The package includes a retaining opening into which a modular pump is snap-fit by inserting the modular pump through an open end of the package. The package also includes a upstanding wall, which provides a dispensing actuator locking and sealing mechanism, as well as a tamper-evident tab. The package and pump are assembled at a production site, and are thereafter shipped to a filling site with a bottom. The package is filled through the open bottom end, and then the bottom is sealingly affixed to the package. Accordingly, the device can be filled and finally assembled with a minimal number of steps, and is therefore particularly suited for quick-turnaround marketing.
Although the package includes a dispensing actuator locking and sealing mechanism, as well as a tamper-evident tab, it is not childproof. That is, it is relatively easy, by rotation, to unlock the actuator and dispense material. In some cases the package might be used, for example, for a breath freshener and spraying in the mouth expected. However, the package might also contain insect repellant, sun tan lotion, or another product which is toxic if ingested. Particularly in view of these multiple uses, a young child could pick up a dispenser containing a toxic material and ingest it. The danger in other types of containers such as medicine bottles and containers for household chemicals, that a child might open and ingest a harmful substance is well known.
A typical aerosol dispenser includes an aerosol container with a standard-dimension mounting cup (e.g., one-inch diameter), aerosol valve with stem and spray dispensing actuator, such as, for example, a simple spray button or a more complicated locking and sealing mechanism. Various manufacturing processes may introduce variations in the dimensions of these components, such as, for example, submersion of the filled aerosol dispenser in one, or more, hot water baths. Unfortunately, hot water baths typically increase the internal pressure of the product-propellant mixture, thereby affecting the dimensions of the mounting cup, aerosol valve and stem, and spray dispensing actuator. Aerosol valves are sensitive to actuation-direction displacements, and may release product-propellant mixture under disturbances as small as 1/1000 of an inch. Because of the deformations introduced during various manufacturing processes, and due to the actuation sensitivity, generally, of aerosol valves, unintentionally discharge of the product-propellant mixture may occur during subsequent transportation, handling, etc., of a typical aerosol dispenser.
An attachment for an aerosol dispensing package includes an actuator having at least one cam and a mounting cap having an upstanding wall and at least one inner rim to engage the cam. The actuator includes a spray nozzle and a downwardly extending projection, in fluid communication with the spray nozzle, to sealingly engage an upwardly projecting stem of an aerosol valve when the actuator is in a dispensing position. The cam engages the inner rim to lower the actuator to the dispensing position and raise the actuator to the non-dispensing position. The upstanding wall at least partially surrounds the actuator, and includes a lateral opening adjacent to the spray nozzle when the actuator is in the non-dispensing position, and a spray opening adjacent to the spray nozzle when the actuator is in the dispensing position. A nozzle closure, having a projection fitting into the lateral opening and the spray nozzle, may be hingedly attached to the mounting cap. The nozzle closure projection may seal the spray nozzle when the actuator is in the non-dispensing position. Safety and tamper evident tabs may also be included.
An embodiment of a dispenser with which the present invention may be used is shown in cross-sectional view, in a sealed condition, in
Container 2 and upstanding wall 3 are separated by a retaining wall 10 which includes a retaining opening 11 used to secure a pump 12 in the package 1. Pump 12 can be of any conventional design. Pump 12 includes a retention flange 13 for limiting the amount of inward movement of the pump 12 into the container 1 and for providing a surface for an energy director (not shown) to adhere during a process of sonic or ultrasonic welding. Alternatively, pump could include a retention groove which retains the pump 12 in the package 1 via a snap-fit engagement with retaining wall 10. Pump 12 is inserted into retaining opening 11 through the lower end 16 of container 2 or from the upper end including the upstanding wall 3, which is initially open. Pump 12 has a projecting stem 40 on the end of which actuator 6 is mounted.
Rotating actuator 6 in the direction indicated by arrow S places the actuator 6 and nozzle 9 into a spraying or dispensing position. In the actuator as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,064, there was nothing to prevent this rotation. Thus, it could be done by a young child. In the dispensing position (shown in
The method of using the illustrated embodiment is as follows. The container 2 is molded as an integral unit with upstanding wall 3 and retaining wall 10. Container 2 is inverted, and may be inserted into a holding or restraining mechanism which interacts with shoulder 32 to restrain container 2 in an inverted position. Next, pump 12 is inserted into either the open end of lower end 16 or upper end including upstanding wall 3, so that the upper of pump 12 fits through retaining opening 11 until flange 13 abuts retaining wall 10. Actuator 6, with tab 50 formed therein, can then be inserted onto the outlet stem 40 of pump 12.
The container 2 thus assembled is shipped together with bottom 17 (See, e.g.,
Upon receiving package 1, the customer breaks off tab 4, and then when dispensing is desired, rotates actuator 6 to the position shown in
The embodiment of
The construction and operation of safety lock of the present invention is as explained above. The cross-sectional view of
In the embodiment of
Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention has been described in the context of a liquid dispensing package. However, it is equally applicable to other types of packages, where a safety feature is need. Examples, include medicine bottles, containers for household chemical etc. All that is required is a sleeve attached to the container and within which a part (the actuator in the illustrated embodiment) is rotated place the container in a position where dispensing can take place. In the illustrated embodiment the actuator is pressed to spray a material. If the container contained liquid or powder to be poured, the rotation would result in removal or partial removal of a cap. The sleeve has a recess with a wall against which an outwardly biased hinged tab on the first part abuts and prevents rotation, unless the tab is pushed in to clear the wall, while at the same time rotating the first part into an open or dispensing position. These and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention which is intended to be limited solely by the appended claims.
Mounting cap 817 may include upstanding wall 803, cylindrical skirt 819 and inner rim 870. Upstanding wall 803 may be constructed, for example, in a manner similar to wall 503 of the previously described embodiment. Upstanding wall 803 may include lateral opening 830, spray opening 831 and anterior opening 834, as depicted, generally, in
Cylindrical skirt 819 may engage an aerosol container's mounting cup, such as, for example, mounting cup 821 (the aerosol container is not shown in
Inner rim 870 may extend around a portion of the inner diameter of the mounting cap 817. Inner rim 870 may include inner rim leading edge 872 and inner rim upper surface 874. In one embodiment, mounting cap 817 may include two inner rims, such as, for example, inner rim 870-1 and inner rim 870-2 as depicted, generally, in
Actuator 6 may be partially or completely surrounded by upstanding wall 803, and may include spray nozzle 9, in fluid communication with downwardly extending projection 899, and cam 860. Generally, spray nozzle 9 may be adjacent to lateral opening 830 when actuator 6 is in the non-dispensing position, and adjacent to spray opening 831 when actuator 6 is in the dispensing position.
When actuator 6 is in the non-dispensing position, cam 860 may engage inner rim 870 to prevent actuator 6 from moving downward. For example, cam lower surface 864 may partially, or completely, abut inner rim upper surface 874 in the non-dispensing position. In one embodiment, actuator 6 may include cam 860-1 and cam 860-2 to engage inner rim 870-1 and inner rim 870-2, respectively, as depicted, generally, in
Actuator 6 may also include projecting edge 21, such as, for example, a knurled edge, a series of projecting ridges, an overhanging lip, etc., to provide a gripping surface to rotate actuator 6 from a non-dispensing position to a dispensing position. In one embodiment, actuator 6 may include safety tab 50, as described, generally, with reference to the embodiments depicted in
When actuator 6 is in the dispensing position, downwardly extending projection 899 may engage the upwardly-projecting stem of the mounting cup's aerosol valve. For male aerosol valve stems, downwardly extending projection 899 may include a female fitting (e.g., female fitting 890 of
In an embodiment, nozzle closure 840 may be hingedly attached to mounting cap 817, and may include projection 842, fitting into lateral opening 830 and spray nozzle 9, to seal spray nozzle 9 when actuator 6 is in the non-dispensing position. Advantageously, insertion of projection 842, through lateral opening 830, into spray nozzle 9 may create a local high pressure region (i.e., greater than atmospheric pressure) which may force excess material from the orifice of spray nozzle 9. Similarly, removal of projection 842 from spray nozzle 9 may create a local low pressure region (i.e., lower than atmospheric pressure) which may also facilitate removal of excess material from the orifice of spray nozzle 9. For example, dispensing spray paint from an aerosol container typically involves the accumulation of spray paint residue in, and around, the spray nozzle. The insertion of projection 842, through lateral opening 830, into spray nozzle 9 may create a local pressure region which forces excess paint away from spray nozzle 9. Moreover, the presence of projection 842 within spray nozzle 9 may also prevent seepage, clotting, etc.
In one embodiment, nozzle closure 840 may include hinge pin 848-1 and hinge pin 848-2 projecting laterally into hinge support 846-1 and hinge support 846-2, respectively, to permit rotation of nozzle closure 840 about a horizontal axis defined thereby, as depicted, generally, in
In another embodiment, upstanding wall 803 may include tamper evident tab 850 disposed within spray opening 831 and connected to upstanding wall 803 by one, or more, break-away connectors 852. Tamper evident tab 850 may prevent premature, or unauthorized, dispensing of spray through spray nozzle 9 when actuator 6 is in the dispensing position. In one embodiment, connector 852 may be originally molded to integrally connect tab 850 to upstanding wall 803, and may be designed to be of sufficient thickness to allow tab 850 to be removed from upstanding wall 803 just prior to a first use. In another embodiment, connector 852 may be integrally molded to form a contiguous joint extending partially, or completely, along the interface between tab 850 and upstanding wall 803. In this embodiment, connector 852 may also be designed to be of sufficient thickness to allow tab 850 to be removed from upstanding wall 803 just prior to a first use. Other well-methods may also be used to attached tab 850 to upstanding wall 803 in a break-away, or tear-away, manner. In this manner, unauthorized actuation of the dispensing device, e.g., tampering, may be suggested, or detected, by the removal of tamper evident tab 850.
Anterior opening 834 may facilitate movement of actuator 6 within upstanding wall 803, as depicted in
Operation of actuator 6 from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position may be described as follows. When actuator 6 is in the non-dispensing position, in one embodiment, nozzle closure 840 is first moved from the closed position, in which projection 842 seals spray nozzle 9, to the open position, in which projection 842 is clear of spray nozzle 9 and lateral opening 830, thereby permitting the rotation of actuator 6. Nozzle closure 840 may be moved from the closed position to the open position, for example, by rotating about the hinge axis. Once projection 842 is clear of upstanding wall 803, actuator 6 may be rotated from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position by gripping projecting edge 21 and rotating in the appropriate direction. In one embodiment, safety tab 50 is depressed at the same time as actuator 6 is rotated, so that projecting lip 52 may clear vertical wall 54 of upstanding wall 803. Once projecting edge 21 clears limit stop 22 of upstanding wall 803, actuator 6 is in the dispensing position and actuator 6 may be depressed as often as desired. As noted above, simultaneous rotation of actuator 6 and depression of safety tab 50 may be difficult for small children. In another embodiment, tamper evident tab 850 may be removed prior to rotating actuator 6 by breaking connector 852.
As actuator 6 is rotated from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position, cam 860 rotates with respect to inner rim 870 until cam leading edge 862 contacts inner rim leading edge 872. Cam leading edge 862 may be inclined to form an angle with respect to the horizontal which may complement inner rim leading edge 872, also inclined to form an angle with respect to the horizontal. For example, in one embodiment, the normal to the surface of cam leading edge 862 may form a negative 45 degree angle with respect to the horizontal, while the normal to the surface of inner rim leading edge 872 may form a positive 45 degree angle with respect to the horizontal. Generally, the total displacement of actuator 6, i.e., the vertical displacement and angular rotation, may determine the dimensions of cam 860 and inner rim 870, such as, for example, a preferred incline angle for cam leading edge 862 and inner rim leading edge 872, a preferred height and length of cam 860 and inner rim 870, etc. Although both incline angles may be approximately equal, this is not necessarily required.
Further rotation causes cam leading edge 862 to slide along inner rim leading edge 872, thereby lowering actuator 6, and, more particularly, downwardly extending projection 899, onto the aerosol valve stem. The leading edge of downwardly extending projection 899 may be beveled to facilitate mating of the aerosol valve stem. In this manner, small axial misalignments between downwardly extending projection 899 and the aerosol valve stem may be accommodated; in other words, actuator 6 may be self-centering. Once actuator 6 is in the dispensing position, depression of actuator 6 seats downwardly extending projection 899 onto the aerosol valve stem and actuates the aerosol valve. In this embodiment, downwardly extending projection 899 does not engage the aerosol valve stem in the non-dispensing position. Consequently, optional retaining lip 847 may protrude from one or more locations of the top circumference of upstanding wall 803 to prevent accidental displacement of actuator 6 from within upstanding wall 803 during processing, transportation, etc. In another embodiment, downwardly extending projection 899 may partially engage the aerosol valve stem in the non-dispensing position, so that rotation of actuator 6, from the non-dispensing position to the dispensing position, rotates downwardly extending projection 899 with respect to the aerosol valve stem.
To return actuator 6 to the non-dispensing position, actuator 6 is rotated in the opposite direction causing cam leading edge 862 to slide along inner rim leading edge 872, thereby raising actuator 6. As actuator 6 is raised, downwardly extending projection 899 slides upwardly with respect to the aerosol valve stem. Once cam leading edge 862 clears inner rim leading edge 872, cam lower surface 864 may then slide along inner rim upper surface 874 until projecting edge 21 engages limit stop 22 and vertical wall 23. In the non-dispensing position, downwardly extending projection 899 may be completely disengaged from the aerosol valve stem. In another embodiment, downwardly extending projection 899 may engage the aerosol valve stem at least partially. In an embodiment, nozzle closure 840 may then be inserted into spray nozzle 9. In another embodiment, once safety tab 50 clears upstanding wall 803, projecting lip 52 engages vertical wall 54 of upstanding wall 803, under the influence of the outward bias of safety tab 50, to prevent rotation of actuator 6.
Several embodiments of the present invention are specifically illustrated and described herein. However, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations of the present invention are covered by the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.
This non-provisional application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/933,011, filed on Aug. 21, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,691,896, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This non-provisional application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/635,527, filed on Aug. 7, 2003.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3074601 | Kuffer | Jan 1963 | A |
| 3373908 | Crowell | Mar 1968 | A |
| 3422996 | Lipman | Jan 1969 | A |
| 3721423 | Shay | Mar 1973 | A |
| 3749286 | Douglas | Jul 1973 | A |
| 3848778 | Meshberg | Nov 1974 | A |
| 3904088 | Milbourne, Sr. | Sep 1975 | A |
| 4773567 | Stoody | Sep 1988 | A |
| 5379924 | Taylor | Jan 1995 | A |
| 5593064 | Meshberg | Jan 1997 | A |
| 6302302 | Albisetti | Oct 2001 | B1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040140324 A1 | Jul 2004 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 09933011 | Aug 2001 | US |
| Child | 10754615 | US |
