US3178071A - Aerosol container and dispenser - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 21, 1962 F'IG.4.

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April 13, 1965 A. sEN'roso 7 7 AEROSOL CONTAINER AND DISPENSER Filed March 21, 1962 2 SheetsSheet 2 FIG.5.

United States Patent ,178,071 AERQSOL CONTAINER AND DISPENSER Andrew Gentoso, Cresslrill, Null, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Faberge, Inc, Ridgeiield, N.J., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 181,360 Claims. (Cl. 222-482) This invention relates to an aerosol container and dis penser adapted to discharge a line spray of cologne or perfume or the like. It comprises a bottle or similar container for a liquid having a propellant fluid for ejecting the liquid upon the depression of a valve stem. A special cap structure is provided to enclose the valve stem and to enable the operation of the latter by a downward pressure applied by the finger to a slidable element of the cap structure.

An important feature of the invention is the provision of a cap structure which may be readily snapped onto the neck of the container and then permanently retained thereby. The cap is formed of only a few simple parts which may be economically produced and readily assembled. One of the parts of the assembled cap structure serves to identify the contents of the particular container to which it is applied, while the other parts are identical for application to containers having a variety of different contents. Thus in the packaging of perfumes of a variety of different fragrances, the same cap structure may be used for all, except for an attractive fragrance identifying disc which may readily be snapped into permanent position in the top of the cap. This greatly simplifies the problem of producing and storing the various elements needed for the caps to be applied to containers having a variety of diiferent types of perfume.

In accordance with the invention there are only four separate parts to form the cap structure, three of these being molded and the other one stamped into the desired form. The three molded parts mentioned are preferably formed of a suitable plastic, which as polyproylene, while the stamped part is cut from sheet material having a resilient, plastic body or base with a layer of fabric or the like adhesively applied to its upper surface. It is only this fabric layer which differs in the various cap structures in accordance with the nature of the contents of the bottle or container to which the caps are to be applied.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the complete aerosol package;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the package;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the container portion and the valve actuating means of the package in elevation, While the major portion of the cap is shown in vertical cross-section;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through the cap structure, taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of the package showing the cap with its valve actuating means in vertical cross-section;

PEG. 6 is a front end view of a nozzle element incorported in the package;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the nozzle;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the nozzle as seen from the right in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view through the nozzle, taken along the line 99 of FIG. 8.

Referring now to the drawings, the package comprises a container it? for a liquid, such as perfume, together with a suitable gaseous propellant. The propellant may either be simply a compressed gas or it may be a volatile subddldfi'll Patented Apr. 13, 1965 stance, such as Freon, which at reduced temperatures is in liquid form but at ordinary room temperatures is a gas. While the container may be formed or any suitable material, in the preferred embodiment of the invention it is in the form of a glass bottle carrying a suitable ornamental configuration or design on its outer surface. It will be understood that the package as a whole, particularly when used for the dispensing of cologne or perfume and the like, must present an attractive appearance. This objective is very effectively achieved by the simple combination of parts involved in accordance with the present invention.

The bottle has a reduced neck 11 at its upper end through which the contents may be introduced into the bottle. A closure member 12 is fixedly secured to the neck of the bottle in any suitable way. This closure member may suitably be formed of metal and may have its bottom portion bent inwardly to lock it in place about a flange or bead provided at the upper end of the neck portion of the bottle. A shoulder 12a is thus formed around the bottom of the closure member 12. Appropriate sealing means is provided between the closure member and the cooperating surfaces of the flange or head. Extending upwardly from the center of the closure member is a reduced neck 12b, and this provides a suitable bearing support or guide for a depressable, hollow stem 13. As is well known in the art, the stem 13 is normally urged upwardly by a suitable spring within the upper portion of the container which serves to close a valve within the latter. When the stem 13 is pressed downwardly within the bearing portion 1% it serves to open the valve and place the bore of the stem 13 in communication with the contents of the bottle. Preferably the arrangement is such that the liquid contents of the bottle is forced up wardly into and through the stem 13 through a siphon tube which extends to a point close to the bottom of the bottle. If desired, the siphon tube may be eliminated and the construction adapted to discharge its liquid contents under the pressure of the propellant only when the bottle is inverted or tilted sufficiently to present the liquid in the region of the valve and the .inlet to the stem 13.

A collar 14, forming the larger portion of a relatively tall cap, is adapted to be forced onto the upper end of the bottle, into the position shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, and is then retained permanently in place on the bottle. The collar 14 is preferably formed of a bendable resilient plastic material, such as polypropylene of suitable wall thickness, that is sufficiently stiff to be form-retaining. It has a vertically extending cylindrical portion 14a which may suit-ably have substantially the same outside diameter as the container It). At its lower end, the collar 14 has an inwardly and upwardly extending portion 14b which converges to a diameter substantially equal to that of the outside diameter of the member 12. The upper portion of the inwardly and upwardly extending part of the collar is provided with a plurality of slots Me to enable the sections at the free end of the portion 14b, thus formed, to be forced outwardly to a certain extent as the collar is applied to the container. Two such slots 140, in diametrically opposed positions, have been found sufiicient for the purpose but, if desired, three or more equally spaced slots may be provided. Since the material of which the collar is formed is of a resilient character, the sections of the part 14b, after being forced outwardly by the member 12 in applying the collar to the bottle, will spring back intoplace. At a position in the region of the shoulder 12:; of member 12, when the collar is applied to the container as shown in FIG. 5, there is provided a substantially annular shoulder 14d around the part 14b. This shoulder, which is divided into sections by the slots 14c, springs into position beneath the shoulder 12a of member 12 when the collar is in its assembled position, so'th'at the collar s permanently attached to thecontainer. 7 Within the upper end of the collar 14 there is slidably mounted a closure member 15. This, in combination 7 with the collar 14, provides a'complete cap enclosing the upper end of the container. It also forms the actuating means for the valve stem 13. Member 15 has a cylindrical, downwardly extending skirt 15a having a sliding fit in relation to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion of the collar 14. At the center of the horizontally disposed closure portion ofmember 15, the latter is provided with a downwardly extending, cylindrical projection 15bhaving an opening adapted to snugly receive the upper end of the stem 13. Preferably the lower end of this opening is of frusto-conical form to facilitate application of the cap to the container. Extending transversely from the downward projection 15b is a substantially cylindrical portion 150 having at its outerend a larger, substantially cylindrical portion 15d which merges into the wall 15a. The downward projection 15!) is provided with an inwardly extending shoulder 15c, semicircular in cross-section, which reduces the area of the remainder of the passage through the extension 15b to half the cross-sectional area through the lower portion of the passage, as indicated at 15 in FIG. 5. The shoulder 15c rests upon the top of the stem 13 and'transmits any' downward force applied to the member15 to the stem 13.. The bore of the latter comimunicates with passage 15 which in turn communicates with a horizontally extending passage 15g through the portions-15c and 15d.

Portion-15d of, the cap member 15 is provided with an annular'recess arranged to receive an annular portion 16b of a nozzle element 16. The latter hasan outwardly extending annular portion 165: through which the spray delivered upon the depressionof valve stem 13 is discharged. Nozzle element 16 has a radially extending flange providing'an annular surface 16c which cooperates with a corresponding surface on the portion 15d of member 15. The spray de'livered to the passagelSg enters an annular channel 16d, provided in the inner surface of the wall of nozzle 16 which abuts against the end face of portion 15d of member 15. From this annular passage 16d the spray is delivered through a plurality of substantially radial channels 162, formed in the'inner surface of the wall of nozzle element 16 which is engaged with the outer or end face'of portion 15d of member 15. These radial channels communicate with the discharge opening of the nozzle shown at 16 It will be appreciated that the passage. thus provided for the delivery of the spray from the valve stem 13 to the nozzle discharge outlet 16 is such that the liquid under its propellent force, is discharged as a fine s ra A Th e extension 16a of the nozzle element 1% is relatively short and is adapted to cooperate with a Vertically elongated opening 14e (FIG. 1) in the cylindrical portion of collar 14. This, arrangementis such that the nozzle 16a retains the member 15 in permanently assembled relation to the collar 14, but permits a limited axial movement ofthe member 15 within the collar 14. The construction is also such that, due to the resilience of the upwardly extending portion of collar l4, the member 15 may readily be pressed into position through the opening at the upper end of collar 14. Extension 16 1 of the nozzle will flex the cylindrical wall of collar 14 sufficiently to enable this assembly of the parts, but when the extension 16a becomes alined with the opening 14:: the parts will snap back into .the position in which collar 14 will permanently retain member 15 in assembled relation. Considerable effort. will then be required. to disengage extension 16a of the nozzle from the opening 142.

The upper surface of the member'15 is provided witha circular recess having a bottom surface 15h which is j of partial spherical form, so thatit is of slightly greater depth at is center than at its peripheral edge. The recess is surrounded by a sloping wall 15 which slopes inwardly ia g t angle from its lower to its upper edge. Within 7 this recess there is .mountcd a circular disc' 17. The latter has a base layer formed of a relatively stiff but resilient plastic, which may suitably be polypropylene. Adhesively applied to the upper surface of the plastic disc is a layer of fabric 17:: which may be'of any suitable character adapted to present an attractive appearance. To insure proper adhesion of the fabric to the upper sur- 7 face of the plastic disc, the latter is preferably roughened,

as by the provision of criss-crossed shallow depressions.

The discs 17 for a number ofdifferent containers are provided with fabrics of different colors'or designs, each identified with the particular nature of' the contents. of the bottle to which the closure is applied. Thus, in the use of the invention in connection with the packaging of cologne or perfume,the color or design of thefabric portion of the disc 17 that is used'will correspond with the fragrance of the particular cologne or perfume being packaged. In the course of packaging a particular fragrance, bottles 16 may be used which are provided with some indication on their outer surface of the nature of that fragrance. The cap elements 14, 15 applied to the filled bottles may be identical, regardless of'the nature of'the fragrance being packaged. However, the disc 17 employed in the packaging of a particular cologne or perfume will have a fabric layer of such color or design as to indicate the nature of the particular fragrance. A disc 17 selected for a particular fragrance may readily be snapped into the recess in the top of a member 15 by pressing downwardly upon the disc 'in its central region to flex it into a partial spherical form, as permitted by 'the' surface 15h, and the periphery. ofthe plastic portion of the disc, upon release of pressure thereon, will then be permitted to snap into proper engagement with the shoulder 15j forpermanent retention thereby. When the complete package has-been filled and assembled, the various partsare retained in permanently assembled. relation, and can be separated only with considerable difficulty. Thus, the package as a whole is a non-refillable unit, and its nature is such that it is relatively inexpensive so that the container maybe discarded when its contents have been exhausted.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the closure cap and the valve actuating means'is composed of only four simple elements 14, 15, 16 and 17. The elements 14,

15 and 16 may readily be produced by injection molding,

7 while the element 17 .may be stamped from a sheet having a base layer of suitable plastic and a top'layer of a suitable fabric. I

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described'in considerable detail, it will be understood that certain modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims: i

What is claimed is: g 1 L'An aerosol package which comprises: (a) a container for a liquid and a propellant for discharging the same, 7 I a (i) said container having a neck provided with an opening into the. interior of the container and having an outwardly extending shoulder, and (ii) a valve in said neck provided with a'hollow stem projecting outwardly threrefrom for operation of the valve; V a (b) a collar formed of form-retaining but bendable resilientmaterial surrounding said neck and said valve and etxending upwardly from :said container,

(i) said collar having at its lower end an inwardly and upwardly extending, integrally connected portion, a (ii) said .portionhaving' a plurality of vertically snapped into engagement with. said shoulderon e the neck of the container to retainsaid collar in extending slots at its upper end and being pro- 7 fixed axial position as the collar is forced onto the container;

() a member slidably mounted in said collar adjacent its outer end,

(i) said member having an opening therein for receiving said stem of the valve and having a passage and a discharge port communicating with the bore of said stern,

(ii) inward sliding of said member serving to operate said valve stem to cause discharge of liquid from the container through the bore of said stem and through said passage and discharge port; and

(d) means for retaining said member within said collar.

2. An aerosol package which comprises:

(a) a container for a liquid and a propellant for discharging the same,

(i) said container having a neck provided with an opening into the interior of the container and having an outwardly extending shoulder, and

(ii) a valve in said neck provided with a hollow stem projecting outwardly therefrom for operation of the valve;

(b) a collar formed of iornrretaining but bendable resilient material surrounding said neck and said valve and extending upwardly from said container,

(i) said collar having at its lower end an .inwardly and upwardly extending, integrally connected portion, provided with an inwardly extending shoulder adapted to be snapped into engagement with said shoulder on the neck of the container to retain said collar in fixed axial position as the collar is forced onto the container;

(c) a member slidably mounted in said collar adjacent its outer end,

(i) said member having an opening therein for receiving said stem of the valve and having a passage and a discharge port communicating with the bore of said stern,

(ii) inward sliding of said member serving to operate said valve stem to cause discharge of liquid from the container through the bore of said stem and through said passage and discharge port;

(iii) said member having a recess in its upper surface;

(d) and a circular disc formed of resilient plastic having a layer of fabric secured thereto, said fabric being correlated with the contents of the container, said disc being snapped into and retained within said recess.

3. In an aerosol package of the character set forth in claim 1,

(a) said means for retaining said member slidably mounted in said collar comprising a short nozzle extending laterally outwardly from said member,

([2) said nozzle providing said discharge port,

(c) said collar having a vertically elongated and completely surrounded opening through its Wall through which said nozzle extends,

(i) the wall of said collar being adapted to flex sufliciently to permit axial introduction of said member into said collar and said nozzle into said opening through the wall of said collar.

4. In an aerosol package of tl e character set forth in claim 3:

claim 1, said collar being formed of polypropylene.

References Qited hy the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,554,191 9/25 Alexander 2l5-7 X 2,702,957 3/55 Cooprider et al.

2,973,114 2/61 Patton 222-182 X 3,033,473 5/62 Kitabayashi 239573 X 3,039,659 6/62 Sagarin 222182 3,104,034 9/63 Sagan'n et al 222-182 OTHER REFERENCES The Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 6th Edition, page 917, Copyright 1951 by Reinhold Pub. Co.

LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner. RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. AN AEROSOL PACKAGE WHICH COMPRISES: (A) A CONTAINER FOR A LIQUID AND A PROPELLANT FOR DISCHARGING THE SAME, (I) SAID CONTAINER HAVING A NECK PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CONTAINER AND HAVING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING SHOULDER, AND (II) A VALVE IN SAID NECK PROVIDED WITH A HOLLOW STEM PROJECTING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM FOR OPERATION OF THE VALVE; (B) A COLLAR FORMED OF FORM-RETAINING BUT BENDABLE RESILIENT MATERIAL SURROUNDING SAID NECK AND SAID VALVE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID CONTAINER, (I) SAID COLLAR HAVING AT ITS LOWER END AN INWARDLY AND UPWARDLY EXTENDING, INTEGRALLY CONNECTED PORTION, (II) SAID PORTION HAVING A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY EXTENDING SLOTS AT ITS UPPER END AND BEING PROVIDED WITH AN INWARDLY EXTENDING SHOULDER INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID SLOTS ADAPTED TO BE SNAPPED INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SHOULDER ON THE NECK OF THE CONTAINER TO RETAIN SAID COLLAR IN FIXED AXIAL POSITION AS THE COLLAR IS FORCED ONTO THE CONTAINER; (C) A MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID COLLAR ADJACENT ITS OUTER END, (I) SAID MEMBER HAVING AN OPENING THEREINF FOR RECEIVING SAID STEM OF THE VALVE AND HAVING A PASSAGE AND A DISCHARGE PORT COMMUNICATING WITH THE BORE OF SAID STEM, (II) INWARD SLIDING OF SAID MEMBER SERVING TO OPERATE SAID VALVE STEM TO CAUSE DISCHARGE OF LIQUID FROM THE CONTAINER THROUGH THE BORE OF SAID STEM AND THROUGH SAID PASSAGE AND DISCHARGE PORT; AND (D) MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID MEMBER WITHIN SAID COLLAR.

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