US3228567A - Liquid receiver for aerosol dispensers - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 11, 1966 R. H. ABPLANALP 3,228,567

LIQUID RECEIVER FOR AEROSOL DISPENSERS Filed July 5, 1963 INVENTOR.

Poberf Hen/ y fibp/ma/ v BY cm valve stem against such damage.

United States Patent 3,228,567 LIQUID RECEIVER FGR AEROSOL DISPENSERS Robert Henry Ahplanalp, Hewitt Ave, Bronxville, N.Y.

Filed July 3, 1963, Ser. No. 293,239 9 Claims. (Cl. 222-157) This invention relates to liquid receiving receptacles which have heretofore been supported solely on the valve stem of an aerosol dispenser and are adapted to be manually depressed for the purpose of receiving liquid delivered from the can or other container of the dispenser.

The difliculty with these prior constructions is that the valve stemof such a dispenser is relatively weak, particularly when molded from plastic and, as a result, the engagement of the receiver with any extraneous, unyieldable object is apt to either break or bend the valve stem and thus render the dispenser can inoperative while it still may contain appreciable quantities of the liquid housed therein. These prior constructions had to be handled with great care for no satisfactory structure has been produced which will effectually protect the receiver and The object of the present invention is to support the receiving receptacle upon the can or'other container of the dispenser in such manner as to' provide adequate protection against damage so that the valve stem of the dispenser is thoroughly'safeguarded against lateral impact and strains and the possibility of damage thereto is eliminated.

The present invention fundamentally consists in the provision of a holder in which the receiving receptacle is adapted to be contained, said holder being firmly and iimmovably supported on the can in such manner as to preclude inadvertent dislodgment thereof it struck against an extraneous object. Even though aportion of the receptacleex'tendsabove the holder engagement with such extending part will not either dislodge the receptacle from the holder or permit the "lateral force thus received to have any bending or detrimental effecLupon the valve stem of the dispenser.

The liquid delivered into the receptacle from the can is adapted to be manually poured from the receptacle while it remains in the holder, by simply lifting and tilting the container. Having initially applied the holder and receptacle of the present invention to an aerosol dispenser can, the parts remain thereon as permanent fixtures until all of the contents of the can have been dispensed. After each use, the receptacle may be washed while it remains in place in the holder or, if desired, it may be removed from the holder for cleansing purposes.

This invention may be used in connection with the dispensing of cofiee concentrate, medicines or any other liquid which may be dispensed in the manner described.

Another important feature of the invention is that the receptacle may be a one-piece plastic molding having a hinged cover which normally closes the top of the receptacle but may be opened for cleaning purposes.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and appended claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein shown is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a receptacle and holder embodying this invention attached to an aerosol can.

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation of some of the parts "Ice shown in FIG. 1 while other parts are shown partially in section in the interest of clearness.

FIG. 3 is a plan view as seen from the plane of the line 33 with portions of the structure shown in horizontal section.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a receiving receptacle which in practice may be of any desired shape, but is illustrated in the drawing as simulating a coffee pot having alid 2 hinged to the body of the pot by a narrowflexible strip 3. The pot has apouring spout 4 and is provided with ahandle 5 by means of Which the pot may be conveniently rotated or lifted free from aholder 6.

The bottom of the pot has aninternal boss 7 with an interior socket to receive thetubular valve stem 8 of an aerosol can 9. The can shown has theusual mounting cup 10 for the valve with which aerosol dispensers are conventionally provided. At the base of theboss 7 there is opening 11 so as to provide communication between the interior of the valve stem and the interior of the receptacle.

Thereceptacle 1 in all of. its parts is preferably a onepiece injection molding. It is adapted to seat on that portion of thevalve stem 8 which projects into theholder 6. The holder has at its bottom an enlargedhollow base 12 provided with an internalannular head 13. The holder is also a one-piece plastic injection molding and thebase 12 is thus sufiiciently elastic to permit it to be sprung over the peripheral edge of themounting cup 10 with thehead 13 underlying said edge. In this manner, the holder is firmly and immovably supported on the can and consequently serves to protect thereceptacle 1 andvalve stem 8 against laterally applied shocks, and both the receptacle and holder against inadvertent displacement from the can.

The parts are so proportioned that, under normal conditions, thespout 4 is above the upper edge of the holder and so located that, when thevalve stem 8 is in its normally elevated position, thespout 4 will engage with theupper edge 14 of the holder and form a stop to preclude sufficient downward movement of the receptacle to open the valve. However, the holder has adepression 15 in its upper edge so that, when the receptacle is manually rotated to bring the spout in registration with this depression, the receptacle may be depressed to open the valve of the can 9. When thus depressed, material will flow from the can into the receptacle. In the holder are formed sight openings orwindows 16 through which the user may watch the accumulation of material discharged from the can. When the desired amount of such material has been delivered into the receptacle, depression of the receptacle will cease so that the valve of the can may close under the impulse of the conventional spring and the pressure Within the can. During this operation, thecover 2 is in closed position so that material introduced into the can is confined therein.

After the can has accumulated the desired amount of liquid and the valve of the can is closed, the receptacle is rotated into a position wherein the spout will be removed from registration with thedepression 15. The can with receptacle attached may then be tilted to pour the contents of the receptacle out through thespout 4. Thereafter the receptacle may be cleaned in place in the holder on the dispenser can or it may be removed from its holder, cleaned and then returned into cooperative relation with the valve stem to await the next dispensing operation.

In accordance with this invention, the holder remains at all times secured to the can and the receptacle like wise remains firmly supported in the holder except when removed therefrom for cleaning.

If desired, either or both the holder and receptacle may be provided with an upright graduated scale to indicate the amount or dosage of the liquid receive-d in the receptacle.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms, but the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Means for dispensing liquid from an aerosol container having a tubular valve stem extending outwardly through an opening in said container, said means comprising: a hollow holder with means for immovably supporting the same disposed atop and extending outwardly from said container, and a receptacle positioned within said holder and provided at its bottom with a socket to receive the valve stem of such container, there being a passage between the socket and the interior of the receptacle and said receptacle being movable withinthe holder to depress the valve stem for the purpose of delivering liquid from the container into the receptacle.

2. Means according toclaim 1, wherein theside wall of the holder is provided with a window through which liquid delivered into the receptacle may be seen.

3. Means according toclaim 1, wherein the upper edge of the holder is provided with a depression and the receptacle is provided with a stop normally engageable the upper edge of the holder to preclude operation of the valve stem but movable through rotation of the receptacle into registration with the depression to permit downward movement of the receptacle to depress the valve stem to deliver liquid from the container into the receptacle.

4. Means according toclaim 1, wherein the receptacle is provided with a hinged lid to preclude spattering of liquid from the container as it is delivered into the latter.

5. Means for dispensing liquid from an aerosol container having a tubular valve stem, said means compris ing: a tubular holder provided at its base with a flange means to detachably grip a portion of the container in such manner that the holder extends outwardly therefrom thereby to immovably mount the holder thereon, and a receptacle closely fitted within the holder and having in its bottom a socket to receive the valve stem and having an opening to the interior of the receptacle to deliver liquid from the container into the receptacle when the latter is depressed to depress the valve stem, said holder having therein at least one window through which the material delivered into the receptacle may be seen.

6. Means according toclaim 5, wherein said flange is in the form of an inverted annular cup provided with an internal head to grip a portion of the container to rigidly mount theholder on the latter.

7. An assembly of the character described, comprising: a container provided with a mounting cup and having a tubular valve stem projecting upwardly from the latter, a tubular holder having at its base an enlarged annular inverted cup shaped flange provided with an internal bead adapted to grip and immovably support the holder on the container, a receptacle positioned within and vertically movable with respect to the immovably mounted holder and having at its bottom a socket to receive said valve stem with a passage between the socket and 'the'interior of the receptacle whereby the receptacle may be movedfrom an elevated position wherein the container is sealed to depressed position wherein the valve stem is lowered to permit the delivery of liquid from within the container into the interior of the receptacle.

8. An assembly according toclaim 7 comprising: a stop on the receptacle positioned to engage with the upper surface of the holder to restrain the latter against depression, said receptacle being rotatable to move said stop into registration with anotch' in the upper surface of said holder and thereby permit depression of the receptacle with consequent delivery of material from the container into said receptacle.

9. Assembly according toclaim 8, and a lid on said receptacle to preclude spattering of liquid out of the receptacle as it is delivered into the latter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Bullard 222394 X M. HENSON WOOD, 111., Primary Examiner.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, EVERETT'W. KIRBY, Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. MEANS FOR DISPENSING LIQUID FROM AN AEROSOL CONTAINER HAVING A TUBULAR VALVE STEM EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THROUGH AN OPENING IN SAID CONTAINER, SAID MEANS COMPRISING: A HOLLOW HOLDER WITH MEANS FOR IMMOVABLY SUPPORTING THE SAME DISPOSED ATOP AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID CONTAINER, AND A RECEPTACLE POSITIONED WITHIN SAID HOLDER AND PROVIDED AT ITS BOTTOM WITH A SOCKET TO RECEIVE THE VALVE STEM OF SUCH CONTAINER, THERE BEING A PASSAGE BETWEEN THE SOCKET AND THE INTERIOR OF THE RECEPTACLE AND SAID RECEPTACLE BEING MOVABLE WITHIN THE HOLDER TO DEPRESS THE VALVE STEM FOR THE PURPOSE OF DELIVERING LIQUID FROM THE CONTAINER INTO THE RECEPTACLE.

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