Abstract:
A valve for an aerosol spray can comprises a valve body and a valve stem. Alignment apparatus comprising a post member and a cutout is associated with the valve body and valve stem whereby axial alignment of the post member and the cutout allows relative axial motion between the valve body and the valve stem. Any other axial alignment of the post member and the cutout prevents axial movement of the valve stem relative to the valve body. A stop member is provided which limits the relative rotational movement between the valve stem and the valve body and axially aligns the post member with the cutout when the post member is located up against one side of the stop member

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/170,202, filed Dec. 10, 1999. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates in general to the field of aerosol spray cans activated by pressing downward on a spray head which opens a valve and releases the aerosol can contents during the time that the spray head is depressed, and in particular to safety spray can apparatus that prevent accidental release of the can contents and provides for spraying in one direction.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    In today&#39;s marketplace, the requirement for safe products has acquired a permanent place. The reason is twofold: to prevent injury to the user and to minimize economic loss sustained as a result of an injury. In the prior art, there exists a type of safety apparatus, which allows a user to determine if the product has been tampered with. These usually comprise a plastic wrap, which must first be removed before the product can be opened. There is another type of safety apparatus, which makes it difficult to open the product. This type of safety apparatus is termed as “child resistant,” the intent being to make the container difficult, if not impossible, for a child to open the product, yet allow an adult to open the product with relative ease. Many prescription drug containers are provided with this type of safety apparatus, so too are containers for nonprescription products which are dangerous to children. The present invention is concerned with this latter type of safety apparatus by providing safer aerosol containers so as to reduce the risk of accidental injuries to both children and adults.  
           [0006]    The convenience and economics of aerosol spray cans has led to very widespread use of this type of container to dispense a large variety of products. Oven cleaners, paints, air fresheners, insecticides, degreasers, and other types of household and industrial cleaners are but a few examples of such products which, if accidentally dispensed by a child or an adult in the wrong direction, can cause serious injuries, some of which are even life threatening. There was a brief period of time when the propellant within a spray can caused damage to the environment which led to the use of pump spray containers, that is, spray containers which did not rely upon the use of a propellant to dispense the product. However, recent advancements in technology have produced a type of propellant, which will not damage the environment. This advancement has resulted in a resurgence of the use of aerosol spray cans. Manufacturers and consumers alike simply prefer the convenience of aerosol spray cans. Unfortunately, the resurgence in the use of aerosol spray cans has again resulted in the possibility of accidental injuries due to inadvertent spraying in the wrong direction.  
           [0007]    Spray cans are actuated by simply pressing down on a member known as a spray head. The spray head includes an orifice, which provides the desired type of spray consistent with the type of product being sprayed. Pressing down on the spray head opens or unseats a valve, which allows the propellant and the product to flow through the spray head and out of the orifice. Since the can is pressurized, the product is sprayed with considerable force. It is, therefore, readily understood that a child can unknowingly cause the product to be sprayed directly into his or her face. Such accidental spraying can seriously injure a child, given the highly hazardous chemical contents of some spray cans. In order to help prevent such an occurrence, manufacturers have provided some spray cans with an overcap, which prevents immediate access to the spray head. By making the overcap difficult to be removed, it was hoped that injuries to children and adults would be prevented. While this prior art solution has some merit, it is not without problems. The overcap is an inconvenience to adults who sometimes throw the overcap away after the can is initially used. Then too, there are times when the overcap is lost or misplaced, which also defeats the safety aspect. In either event, any child or adult safety effectiveness is eliminated. Thus, this type of safety overcap, even those which require a pry bar, such as a screw driver, to pop off the cap in order to gain access to the spray head, are cumbersome and not particularly effective.  
           [0008]    As noted above, adults are also susceptible to serious injuries from aerosol spray cans. The prior art aerosol spray cans allow spraying of the product in any direction, even directly into the face of the user. In order to lessen this type of accidental spraying, an adult user must make a conscious effort to determine the location of the spray orifice and then direct the spray orifice in the direction to be sprayed. It is readily envisioned that an older person or a distracted person, or a not-too-careful person can inadvertently cause the spray to be directed at the person instead of away from the person. Other than the cumbersome prior art overcaps, the inventor herein is not aware of any other type of safety apparatus which is presently being used with aerosol spray cans.  
           [0009]    Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide safety apparatus for use with an aerosol spray can which aids in preventing accidental spraying by a child or an adult and does not consist of a one-time-use safety apparatus.  
           [0010]    Another object of the present invention is to provide safety apparatus for use with an aerosol spray can which is simple to be used by an adult but not by a child.  
           [0011]    Another object of the present invention is to provide safety apparatus for use with an aerosol spray can which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.  
           [0012]    Another object of the present invention is to provide safety apparatus for use with an aerosol spray can which retains its effectiveness for the life of the product being sprayed.  
           [0013]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an aerosol spray can which helps in avoiding injuries to a person during use of the spray can.  
           [0014]    The above-stated objects, as well as other objects which, although not specifically stated, but are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention, are accomplished by the present invention and will become apparent form the hereinafter set forth Detailed Description of the Invention, Drawings, and the claims appended herein.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0015]    The above objects, as well as others, are accomplished by the present invention, which comprises unidirectional spray valve apparatus, which is adapted to be used with an aerosol spray can. In one embodiment, the valve body is provided with a protruding post located within the hollow portion of the valve body. The mating stem is provided with one or more splines configured to fit the post therewithin. When the post is positioned within one of the splines, a flow path is created from the opening in the valve body through the opening in the stem. At all other positions of the stem relative to the valve body, no flow path is created. In another embodiment, the post is provided on the valve stem while the cutout for the post is positioned within the valve body. Again, only one relative position of the stem and the valve body creates a flow path, which opens the valve and allows spraying to occur.  
           [0016]    A further embodiment of the inventive apparatus is a feature, which provides a stop to open the valve to allow spraying and to close the valve to prevent spraying. Thus, to allow spraying, the stem is rotated in a first direction until the stop is encountered; to prevent spraying, the stem is rotated in a reverse direction until the stop is again encountered. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the inventive valve.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the valve of FIG. 1, taken along the line  2 - 2  thereof.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the alternative valve of FIG. 1 taken along the line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the body of the valve of FIG. 1.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the valve body of FIG. 4.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a vertical plan view of the valve stem of FIG. 1.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a cross section of the valve stem of FIG. 6 taken along the line  7 - 7  thereof.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the alternative valve stem of FIG. 6.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 is a vertical cross section of another embodiment of the present inventive valve.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 10 is a cross section taken along the line  10 - 10  of FIG. 9.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the body of the valve of FIG. 9.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 12 
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 13 is a vertical cross section of the valve stem of FIG. 9.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 14 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the valve stem of FIG. 13 taken along the line  14 - 14  thereof. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.  
         [0032]    Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various figures are designated by the same reference numerals.  
         [0033]    In the prior art, a spray valve is mounted to a prior art aerosol spray can. Typically, the spray can body is a cylindrical member to which is attached a can cover. A mounting cup is attached to the can cover. The spray valve is sealingly fitted to the mounting cup and attached thereto by crimping the base portion of the pedestal of the mounting cap around the valve body. A seal is provided between the upper surface of the valve body and a flanged-over portion of the pedestal. A spring biases the position of the valve stem up against the seal and the flanged-over portion of the pedestal.  
         [0034]    Still referring to the prior art spray can, and now in particular to the details of the prior art valve body, a channel provides a flow path from the interior of the can to the interior of the valve body. A seal seat is provided at the top of the valve body. The upper end of the valve body is configured to be larger than the lower end of the valve body. The enlarged portion provides a configuration which locks the valve body within the pedestal  18  when the above noted crimping shown is made. A depending portion of the valve body includes an end which allows the attachment of a tube that extends down into the spray can, such that the can contents can be sprayed when an actuator attached to the top of the spray valve is depressed.  
         [0035]    A typical prior art stem includes a top portion of which extends out of the pedestal when the stem is fitted to the valve body . The bottom portion of the valve stem includes a spring seating surface for the biasing spring. An annular cutout is provided between the top and bottom portions of the valve stem. One or more transverse holes provide a flow path from the exterior of the annular cutout to the channel within the valve stem This flow path through the valve stem is normally closed when the stem is biased against the flanged-over portion of the pedestal . Upon pushing down on the actuator attached to the valve stem, a flow path is created from the interior of the valve body, through the transverse holes, through the channel in the valve stem, and spraying occurs.  
         [0036]    In accordance with the above, it is readily seen that in the prior art, spraying can occur regardless of the rotational positions of the valve stem relative to the valve body. The present invention prevents such indiscriminate spraying.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the inventive child-safe spray valve  110  which is configured to be fitted to the spray can body, can cover, mounting cup and the mounting cup pedestal of the prior art. Moreover, the assembly of the inventive valve  110  to the mounting cup is exactly the same as in the prior art, that is, by crimping the pedestal around the upper portion  125  of the valve body  114 .  
         [0038]    [0038]FIGS. 2 and 3 show the relative positions of post  130  and the cutout  131  which allow for spraying when aligned, and a stop member  134  which provides for aligning the post  130  and the cutout  131 . Further details of this arrangement are discussed below.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the valve body  114  of the inventive spray valve  110  of the embodiment of FIG. 1. A post member  130  is provided within the hollow portion  122  of the valve body  114 . The post  130  may be free standing or attached to the inner circumference of the hollow portion  122 . The cross-sectional configuration of post member  130  is immaterial to the scope of the invention. Additionally, one or more post members may be used. For example, a second post  130 A is shown in phantom in FIGS. 4 and 5, which additional post  130 A is located approximately 180 degrees from post  130 .  
         [0040]    [0040]FIGS. 6, 7, and  8  illustrate the alternative embodiment of valve stem  115  of the inventive valve  110  which is to be used with the valve body embodiment of FIG. 4 having two posts,  130  and  130 A. The bottom portion  127  of the stem  115  is provided with two depressions or cutout portions,  131  and  131 A which are configured to fit therewithin the posts,  130  and  103 A of the valve body  114 .  
         [0041]    In the single post  130  and single cutout  131  embodiment, when the post  130  is not axially aligned with the cutout  131 , the valve stem cannot be pushed down. The post  130  interferes with the bottom surface  132  of the valve stem  115  preventing depressing of the stem  115 . Hence, when the valve stem  131  is in any rotational position relative to the valve body  114  where the post  130  and the cutout  131  are not aligned, spraying cannot occur. This non-spraying condition occurs because the transverse flow channel  133  is blocked by seal  116 .  
         [0042]    A stop arrangement is provided whereby the stem  131  is prevented from turning a full 360° in either direction when the valve is in the non-spraying mode of operation. The stop arrangement comprises a protruding member  134  which can for example be located adjacent to the cutout  131 , and depends from surface  128  to below the upper end  135  of post  130 . When the stem  115  is turned in one direction to one side of stop  134 , the post  130  and cutout  131  are aligned to allow depression of the valve stem  115 ; when the stem  115  is rotated in any amount in the other direction, the post  130  and valve stem  115 are not aligned and the valve stem  115  cannot be depressed due to the interference between the top surface  135  of post  130  and the lower surface  128  of the valve stem  115 , and spraying cannot occur. The open position of the inventive valve  110  is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein FIG. 2 illustrates the use of one post  130 , one cutout  131 , and one stop  134 , and wherein FIG. 3 illustrates the use two posts  130 ,  130 A, two cutouts  131 ,  131 A and two stops  134 ,  134 A. As can be readily seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, rotation of the stem  115 , in substantially any amount away from stop  134 , causes interference between surfaces  135  and  128  which thereby prevents depression of valve stem  115 .  
         [0043]    [0043]FIGS. 9 and 10 depict, in cross section, another embodiment of the inventive valve  210  without the biasing spring (for purposes of clarity). FIGS. 10 and 11 show the valve body  214 , while FIGS. 11 and 12 show the valve stem  215 . FIGS. 13 and 14 show the valve stem  215 . In FIGS. 11 and 12, it is seen that two cutouts  231  are rovided within the valve body  214 . In FIGS. 13 and 14, it is seen that one post  230  is provided on the valve stem  215 . In order to depress the valve stem  215 , the post  230  must be axially aligned with either of the cutouts  231 . In all other relative positions of the stem  215  and the valve body  214 , spraying cannot occur.  
         [0044]    A stop arrangement is also provided in the embodiment of FIGS. 914. The protruding member  234  is located on the valve body  214  which protruding member  214  extends above the lower end  233  of the post  230  as shown in FIG. 9 when the biasing spring maintains the valve stem  215  up against the flanged over portion of the pedestal. The stop member  234  further being configured to be located radially between the cutouts  231 . In this embodiment, rotation of the valve stem  235  to either side of stop  234  allows depression of the valve stem  235  in that the post  230  is aligned with one of the cutouts  231 , and accordingly, the valve opens which initiates spraying. In all other positions of the valve stem  215  relative to the valve body  214 , the bottom end  233  of post  230  interferes with the transverse surface  235  in valve body  214  which prevents the valve stem  215  from being depressed and spraying cannot occur.  
         [0045]    In all embodiments of the present invention, apparatus is provided to connect a spray head to the valve stem such that rotation of the spray head causes rotation of the valve stem. A flat surface  236  across the upper end of valve stem  215  comprises one means to accomplish the combined rotation of the valve stem  215  and the spray head.  
         [0046]    While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in certain terms or certain embodiments or modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be nor should it be deemed to be limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.