GB2142984A

GB2142984A - A cap for an aerosol spray can

Info

Publication number: GB2142984A
Application number: GB08415100A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas John Smrt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-07-08
Filing date: 1984-06-13
Publication date: 1985-01-30
Also published as: DE3415262A1; FR2548628A1; GB8415100D0

Abstract

A cap (25) for an aerosol spray can (10) permits the can valve (at 21) to be operated without removing the cap but protects the valve from accidental operation. The cap is removably secured to the top of the can, and a generally U-shaped slot (33) in the top (27) of the cap provides a resilient depressible portion (34) that can be pushed downwardly to operate the valve. The contents of the can are discharged through a spray opening (38) in the side (26) of the cap. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A cap for an aerosol spray can This invention relates to an aerosol spray can, and, more particularly, to a cap for an aerosol spray can which protects the spray tip of the can and which permits the contents of the can to be sprayed without removing the cap.

Aerosol spray cans conventionally include a cylindrical body, a dome-shaped top, and a valve assembly mounted in the dome-shaped top. The valve assembly includes a valve and a spray tip or actuator mounted on the valve. The valve is operated by depressing the spray tip, and the contents of the can are sprayed through an orifice or nozzle in the spray tip.

The invention provides a cap which is mounted on the aerosol spray can. The cap surrounds the spray tip and prevents accidental or inadvertent operation of the can. The cap includes a top wall which extends above the spray tip, and a generally U-shaped slot in the top wall provides a U-shaped depressible portion or finger tab which can be pressed downwardly to contact the spray tip. A spray opening is provided in the side of the cap, and when the spray is depressed by the finger tab, the contents of the can are sprayed through the spray opening. When the depressing force on the finger tab is removed, the finger tab returns to its original position. The cap not only prevents inadvertent operation of the can; it protects the hands of the operator from the contents of the can.

The invention will now be explained, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of an aerosol spray can and a cap formed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the can and cap of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the cap along the line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the spray tip being depressed and the contents of the can being sprayed through the spray opening of the cap; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing another embodiment of the cap; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the contents of the can being sprayed; Figure 7 is a front elevational view of the cap of Figure 5; and Figure 8 is a top plan view of the cap of Figure 7.

Referring first to Figures 1-4, a conventional aerosol spray can 10 includes a generally cylindrical body 11, a dome-shaped top 12, and a valve assembly 13. The cylindrical body 11 and the dome-shaped top 12 are crimped together in the conventional manner to form a circular bead 14.

The valve assembly 13 includes a cup-shaped receptacle 16 which is inserted into an opening in the top of the can 10 and which includes a generally cylindrical valve enclosure 17 which houses a conventional aerosol can valve. The upper end of the receptacle 16 terminates in an outwardly turned rim or bead 18 which is crimped over a corresponding bead around the opening in the can.

A conventional spray tip or actuator 21 is mounted on the valve assembly 13. The spray tip 21 includes a spraying orifice or nozzle 22 through which the contents of the can are sprayed when the valve is opened. As is well known in the art, a conventional aerosol valve is operated by depressing the spray tip in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the aerosol can. A dip tube (not shown) extends from the valve assembly to the bottom of the can, and the contents of the can are forced through the dip tube by pressurized propellant.

A cap 25 is removably mounted on the aerosol can 10 and encloses the valve assembly 13. The cap 25 includes a generally cylindrical side wall 26 and a flat top wall 27. An attaching flange 28 extends outwardly and downwardly from the bottom of the side wall 26 for attaching the cap 25 to the bead 14 of the can 10. The attaching flange 28 includes a horizontal holder 29, which is supported by the bead 14, and a cylindrical lip 30 which extends downwardly past the bead 14. If desired, the lip 30 can be provided with a detent or rib 31 (Figures 3 and 4) which snaps under the bead 14to hold the cap 25 on the can 10. The cap 25 can be removed from the can 10 by exerting a sufficient pulling force to move the detent 31 and the lip 30 outwardly away from the bead 14.

The top wall 27 is provided with a generally U-shaped slot 33 (Figures 1 and 2) which forms a generally U-shaped depressible portion orfingertab 34 above the spray tip 21. The cap 25 is preferably moulded from a plastics material which will provide a flexible and resilient depressible portion 34 which can be flexed downwardly about a portion 34 which can be flexed downwardly about a hinge portion 35 (Figure 1) which connects the depressible portion 34 to the remainder of the top wall 27. When the depressing force is removed, the resilient depressible portion 34 returns to its original position in the plane of the top wall 27. In one specific embodiment the cap was moulded from polypropylene.

The embodiment of the cap 25 illustrated in Figures 1-4 includes a sloping front wall 37 which extends obliquely to the axis of the cylindrical side wall 26 and to the flat top wall 27 so that the front wall 37 extends relatively close to the spray tip 21. A spray opening 38 is provided in the front wall 37 in front of the spraying orifice 22 of the spray tip 21.

As shown in Figure 3, the cap 25 encloses the spray tip 21 and protects it from being inadvertently depressed. When it is desired to spray the contents of the can, the operator holds the can in one hand and presses downwardly on the depressible finger tab 34 with one finger. When the finger tab 34 contacts and depresses the spray tip 21 (Figure 4), the contents of the can are sprayed through the spray opening 38.

The operator's fingers never touch the spray tip 21, and the cap 25 protects the fingers from the material being sprayed. This is particularly desirable when the material is paint or a caustic substance, such as oven cleaner.

Another embodiment of a cap 40 is illustrated in Figures 5-8. The cap 40 has a cylindrical side wall 41 and a flat top wall 42. The side wall 41 is sized to fit snugly over the circular rim 18 of the valve assembly 13 and is frictionally retained thereon. If desired, the side wall 41 can be provided with a detent or lip which can snap over and be retained by the rim 18.

As can be seeen in Figure 5 the top wall 42 is recessed below the upper edge of the cylindrical side wall 41 to provide an upwardly extending circular rim 43 which provides additional protection against inadertent operation. A generally U-shaped slot 44 in the top wall 42 forms a depressible finger tab portion 45.

Since the radius of the side wall 41 shown in Figures 5-8 is smaller than the radius of the side wall 26 of the cap 25 shown in Figures 1-4, the side wall 41 is closer to the spray tip and the sloping front wall 37 is unneccessary. A spray opening 46 is provided in the side wall 41 in front of the spraying orifice 22 of the spray tip 21.

The contents of the can 10 are sprayed by depressing the finger tab portion 45 so that it contacts and depresses the spray tip 21. The cap 40 is also moulded from flexible and resilient plastics and the finger tab portion 45 will return to its original position when the depressing force is removed.

While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of specific embodiments of the invention was set forth for the purpose of illustration, it will be understood that many of the details herein given may be varied considerably by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A cap for an aerosol spray can having a top, a valve mounted on the top, and a spray tip for opening the valve and for spraying the contents of the can, the cap comprising a side wall adapted to be mounted on the top of the can so that the side wall surrounds the spray tip, and a top wall, the top wall having a slot therein to provide a depressible portion which can be pressed downwardly, the depressible portion being positioned above the spraytip when the cap is mounted on an aerosol spray can whereby the depressible portion can be pressed downwardly to contact the spray tip and open the valve, the side wall of the cap having a spray opening through which the contents of the can may be sprayed when the valve is open.

2. A cap according to Claim 1 in which the top wall of the cap is made from flexible and resilient material whereby the depressible portion will return to its original position when the pressing force is removed.

3. A cap according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the cap is moulded from flexible and resilient plastics material whereby the depressible portion returns to its original position when the pressing force is removed.

4. A cap according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 in which the side wall of the cap is generally cylindrical and the top wall is generally planar and extends perpendicularly to the axis of the cylindrical side wall.

5. A cap according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 in which the side wall includes a sloping portion which extends angularly with respect to the flat top wall and with respect to the axis of the cylindrical side wall, the spray opening being provided in the sloping portion.

6. A cap according to any one of Claims 1 to 5 in which the slot is generally U-shaped and provides a generally U-shaped depressible portion.

7. A combination of an aerosol spray can and a cap mounted on the can, the can having a generally cylindrical body, a generally dome-shaped top, and a valve assembly mounted in the top, the valve assembly including a valve and a spray tip mounted on the valve for opening the valve and for spraying the contents of the can, the cap comprising a generally cylindrical side wall mounted on the can and surrounding the spray tip, the side wall having an opening adjacent the spray tip through which the contents of the can may be sprayed, and a generally flat top wall above the spray tip, the top wall having a slot therein to provide a depressible portion which can be pressed downwardly to contact the spray tip and to open the valve.

8. A combination according to Claim 7 which the cap is moulded from flexible and resilient plastics material whereby the depressible portion of the top wall of the cap returns to its original position when the pressing force is removed.

9. A combination according to claim 7 or 8 in which the slot in the top wall of the cap is generally U-shaped and provides a generally U-shaped depressible portion.

10. A combination according to any one of Claims 7 to 9 in which the side wall of the cap includes a sloping portion which extends angularly with respect to the flat top wall and with respect to the axis of the cylindrical side wall, the spray opening of the cap being provided in the sloping portion.

11. A combination according to any one of Claims 7 to 10 in which the can includes a circular bead at the juncture of the cylindrical body and the dome-shaped top, the cylindrical side wall of the cap being removably mounted on the bead.

12. A combination according to any one of Claims 7 to 11 in which the valve assembly includes a circular rim above the dome-shaped top, the cylindrical side wall of the cap being frictionally retained on the circular rim.

13. A cap according to Claim 1, constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

14. A combination according to Claim 7 constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.