Patent ID: 6454139
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: B65D

Abstract:
A preassembled aerosol actuator assembly for use with an aerosol product container topped by an aerosol valve with a valve stem extending upwardly therefrom, comprising in combination: an actuator shell having a bottom opening with means adjacent thereto for attaching the actuator shell to the product container, a shell side wall with a spray passage therethrough, and a shell top, said shell top having an opening therein; an actuator lever positioned within the shell top opening, said actuator lever having a top actuating surface, a first end hinged to the shell, a second end free to pivot downwardly upon actuation of the lever, and a spray button-receiving socket depending from the lever; said socket including a bottom end, a wall extending upwardly from the bottom end, and a slot extending through said socket wall aligned with the shell side wall spray passage; a discrete spray button preassembled into and retained in the spray button-receiving socket, said button having a spray nozzle aligned with the socket side wall slot, a top end, an outer side wall, and a bottom end; said bottom end of the preassembled button being spaced a substantial distance above the bottom end of the button-receiving socket; said button having an upwardly extending interior passage with a wide lead-in beginning at the bottom end of the button directly adjacent the outer side wall of the button and converging upwardly to terminate in a stem-sealing socket for receiving the valve stem; said bottom end of the button being characterized by the absence of obstructions and unintended valve stem-capturing openings; whereby upon positioning the preassembled aerosol actuator onto the product container during capping, the valve stem is first captured by the button-receiving socket extending below the bottom end of the preassembled button and thereafter is passed up the said interior converging passage of the button without obstruction or misalignment to the stem-receiving socket as the capping is completed.