BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of a can cover in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a section view of the cover detailing the removable member;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an aerosol can having a valve attached with a circular lip; and
FIG. 4 is a section view of the cover showing the mounting members for engaging the aerosol can in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A preferred embodiment of a cover for an aerosol can having a dispenser valve in accordance with the principles of the present invention is indicated generally as 20 in FIG. 1. In one embodiment of the present invention, the cover comprises a first section 22 that serves as a cap for covering the dispenser valve of an aerosol can (not shown), and a second section 24 having a generally annular shape. The second section 24 comprises a tab 30 adjacent to a removable portion 32 that includes less than the entire thickness of the second annular section 24. The removable portion 32 is configured to secure the second section 24 to a lip on the dispenser valve assembly on the aerosol can, such that removal the removable portion permits the cover to be detached from the lip on the aerosol can.
Referring to FIG. 2, the removable member 32 comprises at least two mounting members 36 configured to circumferentially fit to and engage the circular lip of a dispenser valve assembly on an aerosol can, to firmly attach the second annular section 32 to the aerosol can. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mounting member is generally a cleat shape having a point 38 that snaps over and engages the underside of a circular lip on the aerosol can. The removable portion 32 shown in FIG. 2 is less than the entire thickness of the second annular section 24, and includes two mounting members 36. In another embodiment, the removable portion 32 may alternatively include only one mounting member. The removable portion 32 may be integrally formed with the second annular section 24, and is defined by a line of weakness 34 between the removable portion 32 and the remnant of the second annular section 24. In this preferred embodiment, the removable portion 32 extends over less than half of the circumference of the second annular section 24.
The cover 20 is preferably made of a plastic material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, or polypropylene, Delrin, Teflon, or PTE, but may be any material suitable for use with a variety of aerosol dispensed products, such as polyethylene.
The removal of the removable portion 32 removes the mounting members 36 from engagement with the lip on the aerosol can, thereby permitting the cover 20 to be detached or removed from the lip on the aerosol can. The cover 20 further includes a tamper evident portion 26 that is formed integrally with the first section 22 and second section 24, and is defined by a line of weakness 26 between the first and second sections. An opening force exerted on the first cap section 22 prior to the initial removal of the removable portion 32 will cause either the tamper evident portion 26 or the removable portion 32 to at least partially separate from the second annular section 24, to provide a tamper evident condition. An opening force may be any directional force or rotational force applied to the first cap section 22 which attempts to remove the cover prior to removing the removable portion 32. When such a tampering force is applied to the first cap section 22, the cap section 22 may partially or completely separate from the second annular section 24, to provide an indication of tampering. Likewise, such a force applied to the first cap section 22 may partially or completely separate the removable portion 32 from the second annular section 24, to provide an indication of tampering.
Referring to FIG. 3, an aerosol can 40 is shown with a circular lip 42 that is typically associated with a dispenser valve assembly, which typically comprises a cup that is crimped onto the top of the aerosol can. In one embodiment of a cover in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the cover 20 further comprises one or more additional mounting members 44 apart from those included on the removable member 32. As shown in FIG. 4, these mounting members 44 may be comprised of a thin ridge, and may be joined or connected together. It should be understood that the mounting members 44 may generally be a cleat shape similar to mounting members 36, or may be any shape suitable for engaging the circular lip 42 on the aerosol can. Removal of the removable portion 32 will leave at least one mounting member 44 and a remaining portion 28 of the second annular section. The removable portion 32 is preferably defined by a wavy line of weakness, with the crests corresponding to the mounting members 36, and the trough corresponding to the remnant portion 28, so that the removable portion removes two mounting members 36, and leaves a remnant portion 28 between the locations from which the mounting members 36 have been removed. The remnant portion 28 as shown in FIG. 1 curves lower, such that the remaining remnant portion 28 of the second annular section 24 is capable of fitting around and over the circular lateral surface of the cup on the aerosol can. The remaining remnant portion 28 that fits around the lateral surface of the cup holds the second annular section 24 snugly around the circular surface of the cup, preventing “ovalizing” of the second annular section 24 so that the at least one mounting member 44 is held in engagement with the lip 42 to provide modest resist the removal of the cover 20 from the lip 42 on the aerosol can 40. Accordingly, after the removable portion 32 has been removed, the at least one mounting member 44 and remaining portion 28 permit the cover 20 to be retained, yet also permit the cover 20 to be releasably removed from the lip 42 of the aerosol can 40. Thus, after removing the cover 20, the cover 20 may be replaced over the dispensing valve in a manner such that the cover may be attached and releasably retained to the lip 42 on the aerosol can 40.
In the preferred embodiment, the cover 20′ comprises a pull tab 30 that is attached to or is adjacently formed with the removable portion 32. The removable portion 32 may comprise a cross-section that is greater than that of the remaining portion of the second annular section 24, for aiding in detaching the removable portion 32 from the second annular section 24. The removable portion 32 may also comprise a variable cross-section that when removed leaves a remaining portion 28 of the second annular section 24 that is configured to fit around the circular lip 42 to permit the cover to be releasably attached to the lip 42 where the cover 20 will attach to the aerosol can. In another embodiment of the present invention, this remaining portion 28 may further comprise a mounting member to engage the lip 42 of the aerosol can 40, to provide additional resistance to removal of the cover for improved retention. The first cap section 22 of the cover 20 may further comprise one or more ribs 46 within the first cap section 22, wherein a downward force exerted on the first cap section 20 will press the ribs against of the lip 42 of the can 40 to support the first cap section such that the downward force does not cause the tamper evident portion 26 to separate the first section 22 and the second section 24 from each other. This feature allows for stacking of the aerosol can 40 without inadvertent separation of the tamper evident cap section and annular section. The present invention therefore provides a cover that is capable of providing evidence of tampering prior to the initial removal of a removable portion, after which the cover may be repeatedly replaced and reliably retained on the aerosol can dispenser valve assembly.
The advantages of the above described embodiment and improvements should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, as to enabling a tamper evident cover for a dispensing valve on an aerosol can. Additional design considerations may be incorporated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited by the particular embodiment or form described above, but by the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080078736
