Patent ID: 6612464
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
A valve assembly that is suitable to dispense a chemical from an aerosol container, the valve assembly being of the type that can automatically iterate between an accumulation phase where the chemical is received from the container, and a spray phase where the received chemical is automatically dispensed at intervals, the valve assembly comprising:a housing mountable on an aerosol container; a movable diaphragm associated with the housing which is linked to a leg, the diaphragm being biased towards a first configuration; a pawl also linked to the diaphragm; an accumulation chamber inside the housing for providing variable pressure against the diaphragm; a first passageway in the housing suitable for linking an interior portion of the aerosol container with the accumulation chamber; a second passageway in the housing suitable for linking the accumulation chamber with an outlet of the valve assembly; and a retention surface linked to the housing and facing the pawl; whereby when the diaphragm is in the first configuration the pawl abuts against the retention surface and the valve assembly can prevent spray of the chemical out of the valve assembly and permit chemical to flow from the aerosol container into the accumulation chamber via the first passageway; and whereby when the pressure of chemical inside the accumulation chamber exceeds a specified threshold the pawl can move off the retention surface and the diaphragm can move from the first configuration to a second configuration wherein spray is permitted to exit the valve assembly.