Patent ID: 6588628
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
An easy-to-open aerosol valve assembly to dispense viscous and semi-viscous products from an aerosol container, said valve assembly being retained within a mounting cup and characterized by the absence of a return spring, comprising in combination: a valve housing; a valve body having an upstanding valve stem, the valve stem having a discharge passage, a stem groove extending into and encircling the outer wall of the stem, and at least one valve orifice extending through the stem wall into communication with both the stem discharge passage and the stem groove; a gasket captured between the valve housing and mounting cup, having a central opening, and encircling and extending into the stem groove to seal the at least one valve orifice when the aerosol valve assembly is not being actuated; such valve housing having a side wall encircling the valve body, and a bottom wall having a central opening and a plurality of product delivery openings spaced outwardly from said central opening; said valve body having a lower portion extending downwardly into the valve housing bottom wall central opening, and an intermediate outwardly extending portion positioned below the valve stem and overlying the valve housing bottom wall with its product delivery openings; an upwardly extending product passage between the valve housing side wall and the valve body extending from said valve housing bottom wall product delivery openings upwardly to said at least one stem valve orifice and stem discharge passage when the valve assembly is actuated and the portion of the gasket surrounding the gasket central opening is accordingly pushed downwardly by the stem groove; at least one stroke-limiting surface on the valve body for engaging the valve housing upon a predetermined distance of downward movement of the valve body to prevent the gasket completely escaping the stem groove upon valve assembly actuation; and, said gasket acting upwardly against the stem groove and said viscous or semi-viscous product acting upwardly against the valve body, upon valve assembly actuation, thereby moving the valve body upwardly to a closed valve position when the valve assembly is released from its actuated position.