Abstract:
An actuator with an anti-drool valve is provided for attaching to or mounting on an aerosol container. Aerosol actuators, and more recently trigger actuated aerosol actuators, may include a manifold which fits to or communicates with a valve on an aerosol container or can. Aerosol containers or cans typically contain a propellant such as a compressed gas or a volatile hydrocarbon. The contents of the container, along with the propellant, are held in the container by a container valve.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Aerosol actuators for mating to an aerosol can and more particularly, aerosol actuators with a valve having anti-drool features. 
     2. State of the Art 
     Aerosol actuators, and more recently trigger actuated aerosol actuators, may include a manifold which fits to or communicates with a valve on an aerosol container or can. Aerosol containers or cans typically contain a propellant such as a compressed gas or a volatile hydrocarbon. The contents of the container, along with the propellant, are held in the container by a container valve. The actuator opens an outlet flow channel between the container valve and an outlet device such as a spray nozzle. After dispensing contents from such containers, portions of the dispensed materials are loosely retained in the actuator downstream of the container valve, but upstream of the spray nozzle. These loosely retained contents may seep or ‘drool’ out of the nozzle, especially if the contents tend to expand, which may be particularly true for hydrocarbon propellants. Thus, an improved actuator that prevents drool is desired. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment of the invention, an actuator is disclosed. The actuator includes a manifold; a discharge valve positioned in the manifold and slidably movable between a first position and a second position; and a seal positioned on the discharge valve, wherein the seal closes an outlet in the first position and opens the outlet in the second position. The actuator also includes a first spring element to bias the discharge valve toward the first position; a trigger having an actuated and a non-actuated position; a trigger ramp movable between a first ramp position that permits the discharge valve to slide toward the first position, and a second ramp position that permits the discharge valve to slide toward the second position. The trigger ramp moves to the second ramp position when the trigger is moved to the actuated position. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, an actuator is disclosed that includes a manifold having a manifold axis; a valve slidably positioned in the manifold for movement along the manifold axis between a first position and a second position; a seal positioned on a first end of the valve that closes an outlet from the manifold when the valve is slid toward the first position; a first spring force to bias the valve toward the first position; a trigger having an actuated and a non-actuated position; a trigger ramp movable between a first ramp position that permits the valve to be slid toward the first position and a second ramp position that permits the valve to be slid toward the second position. The trigger ramp moves to the second ramp position when the trigger is moved to the actuated position, and the trigger moves about a trigger pivot point located between the trigger and the manifold axis. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming particular embodiments of the present invention, various embodiments of the invention can be more readily understood and appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art from the following descriptions of various embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded perspective view of parts of an aerosol actuator according to certain embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded detail view of certain parts of a flow path through an aerosol actuator according to various embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side cross section view of a grip body housing and actuator spring; 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a side view of a trigger and a grip body housing; 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates a top front perspective view of an assembled grip body housing and trigger; 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates a top back perspective view of a grip body housing assembled with a manifold; 
         FIG. 5B  illustrates a side cross section view of the grip body housing assembled with a manifold illustrated in  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates a front cutaway view of a grip body housing with a cover attached; 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates a side cross section view of an actuator according to various embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 7A  illustrates a side cross section view of an actuator in a locked state; 
         FIG. 7B  illustrates a partial side cutaway view of an actuator in a locked state; 
         FIG. 8A  illustrates a side cross section view of an actuator in an unlocked state; 
         FIG. 8B  illustrates a partial side cutaway view of an actuator in an unlocked state; 
         FIG. 9A  illustrates a side cross section view of an actuator in an actuated state; 
         FIG. 9B  illustrates a partial side cutaway view of an actuator in an actuated state; 
         FIG. 10A  illustrates a cross section detail of a portion of  FIG. 7B  showing the interaction of a trigger ramp, forward pushing point, and cross posts in a locked state; 
         FIG. 10B  illustrates a cross section detail of a portion of  FIG. 8B  showing the trigger ramp, forward pushing point, and cross posts in an unlocked state; 
         FIG. 10C  illustrates a cross section detail of a portion of  FIG. 9B  showing the trigger ramp, forward pushing point, and cross posts in an actuated state; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an exploded perspective view of parts of an aerosol actuator according to certain embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a side cross section of an aerosol actuator according to certain embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates an aerosol actuator according to various embodiments of the invention with a single-piece control valve; and 
         FIG. 14  illustrates an aerosol actuator according to various embodiments of the invention with a ball check valve. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     According to various embodiments of the invention, an aerosol actuator may include certain parts shown in  FIG. 1  which illustrates an exploded perspective view. The parts of the aerosol actuator  100  may include a cover  110 , a discharge valve actuator  120 , a discharge valve  130 , a manifold  140 , an orifice cup  150 , a stem actuator  160 , a trigger  170 , a spring  180 , and a grip body housing  190 . According to various embodiments of the invention, an actuator  100 , or parts thereof, may be made of any selected material. In some embodiments, the parts may be made of plastics such as polypropylene, polyethylene, acetal, and other plastics. For example, in certain embodiments, an aerosol actuator  100  may include a polypropylene (PP) cover  110 , a polyethylene (PE) discharge valve actuator  120 , a PE discharge valve  130 , a PP manifold  140 , an acetal orifice cup  150 , a PE stem actuator  160 , a PP trigger  170 , an acetal spring  180 , and a PP grip body housing  190 . 
     In the description of the Figures, directional terms such as forward, backward, upper, lower, etc. may be used to indicate relative positions of certain parts. These presence or absence of such terms is not meant to be limiting, but rather to help explain the structure and operation of the aerosol actuator  100 . It should be understood that such direction terms are used relative to the orientation of the aerosol actuator as shown in the Figures. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded detail view of parts which may comprise a flow path through an aerosol actuator  100  according to certain embodiments of the invention. These parts may generally be housed within, assembled with, or connected to, a manifold  140 . A manifold may include a manifold inlet  141 . A manifold may also include a manifold outlet  143 . 
     A lower part of the flow path may include stem actuator  160  that is received into manifold inlet  141 . Stem actuator  160  may have one or more stem posts  162 . Stem actuator  160  may have a second or lower end  163  that may fit on a male aerosol container valve  196  (see  FIG. 7A ). Stem actuator  160  may have a first or upper end opposed the second end. A stem actuator  160  may also have, at the first or upper end, one or more stem chevron seals  164  that fit into manifold inlet  141 . A stem chevron seal  164  may seal the first or upper end of the stem actuator  160  to or with the manifold inlet  141 . 
     It should be understood that the parts of aerosol actuator  100  may be single-piece or unitary parts, or the parts may be made of multiple subparts. For example, in some embodiments of the invention, a stem actuator  160  may be a single piece, or may be made of several separate pieces that are assembled or joined together in any suitable manner. The same is true of the other parts used in the aerosol actuator. For example, in other embodiments of the invention, a manifold  140  and stem actuator  160  may be molded as a single part such that a stem chevron seal  164  is not needed on the stem actuator  160  because the stem actuator  160  portion would be an extension of the manifold  140 . In some embodiments, a combination manifold  140  and stem actuator  160  could include a bi-injected part such that the manifold  140  and stem actuator  160  are different materials. 
     A manifold outlet  143  may be provided at the first or front end of manifold  140 . A manifold outlet  143  may receive an orifice cup  150 . A manifold  140  may house a discharge valve  130  which at its first or front end may have a conical seal  132  and a post  133 . Discharge valve  130  may move slidably between a first or forward position and a second or rearward position in manifold  140 . A discharge valve  130  at its second or back end may have one or more interlocking features  131  that may fit into or onto discharge valve actuator  120 . A first or front end of discharge valve actuator  120  may contact the second or back end of the discharge valve  130 . A discharge valve actuator may have a manifold chevron seal  123  fitting into an opening  142  on the second or back end of the manifold  140 . This manifold chevron seal  123  may prevent leakage from the second or back end of manifold  140 . A discharge valve actuator  120  may have cross posts  121 . A discharge valve may have a back surface  122  that bears on a spring  180  as described below. Manifold  140  may have one or more manifold mounting holes  144  to secure the manifold  140  to the grip body housing  190 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a side cross section view of grip body housing  190  with spring  180  inserted therein according to certain embodiments of the invention. A spring  180  may be made of a relatively stiff and somewhat resilient material such as acetal. In some embodiments, the spring  180  may have a generally L-shaped aspect. The lower corner of the spring  180  may be considered a relatively fixed point, although a limited rocking motion may occur here. The spring may include one or more trunnions  181 . The trunnions  181  may be located at or near a corner of the L-shape along with one or more spring tangs  182 . The spring tangs  182  may snap or lock the spring  180  into the grip body housing  190 . The vertical leg of spring  180  may terminate at forward-pushing point  183 . The lower portion of the spring may rest upon or against back wall  191 . The spring  180  horizontal leg may terminate at upward-pushing point  184 . 
     Although spring  180  is shown as L-shaped, a spring may have other shapes. A spring  180  according to embodiments of the invention may also have more than one part, for example a spring  180  may include a first spring element to provide the forward-pushing point  183 , and a second spring element to provide the upward-pushing point  184 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a grip body housing  190  according to certain embodiments of the invention may also include one or more trigger pivot supports  192  and one or more manifold support posts  193 . 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates a side view of a possible assembly step of placing trigger  170  into grip body housing  190 . The forward-pushing point  183  of the spring  180  is shown within the grip body housing, as is a manifold support post  193 , one or more of which may extend from the grip body housing  190 . Trigger  170  may be assembled with grip body housing  190  by lowering the trigger forward as denoted by arrow A 1 , and then rocking it backward as denoted by arrow A 2 , so that the trigger pivot trunnion  171  may be received by trigger pivot support  192  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). Also shown on trigger  170  is trigger ramp  173 . 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates a top front perspective view of the grip body housing  190  with trigger  170  installed. 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates a top back perspective view of the grip body housing  190  with the manifold  140  assembled with the grip body housing  190 . One or more manifold mounting holes  144  may be exist on manifold  140  and may receive manifold support posts  193 . Extending from the second or back end of the manifold  140  may be discharge valve actuator  120 . Forward-pushing point  183  may push against the second or back end of discharge valve actuator  120 . Trigger ramp  173  may straddle the discharge valve actuator  120  just forward of cross posts  121  and just behind the second or back end of manifold  140 .  FIG. 5B  illustrates a side cross section view of the same parts. 
       FIG. 6A  illustrates a front cutaway view of the grip body housing  190  with cover  110  attached, and showing the manifold  140  within.  FIG. 6B  illustrates a side cross section view of the same. 
       FIGS. 7A through 9B  illustrate an actuator  100  in locked, unlocked, and actuated states according to various embodiments of the invention. 
       FIG. 7A  illustrates a side cross section view of the actuator in a locked state.  FIG. 7B  illustrates a partial side cutaway view. Forward-pushing point  183  of the spring  180  may bear forward on the back of discharge valve actuator  120 . Conical seal  132  may seal the front of the manifold  140  and may prevent drooling from the actuator. Manifold chevron seal  123  may seal the back of the manifold  140 . Stem chevron seal  164  may seal the first or upper end of the stem actuator  160  into the manifold inlet  141 . The second or lower end  163  of stem actuator  160  may receive the upper end of male aerosol container valve  196 . It will be noted that in the locked state, trigger  170  may rest fairly high up in the actuator. In particular, trigger engagement point  172  may be clear of the spring upward-pushing point  184 , and the trigger ramp  173  may be located relatively high with respect to the discharge valve actuator  120 . A detail of highlight areas  10 A is explained later with reference to  FIG. 10A . 
       FIG. 8A  illustrates a side cross section view of the actuator in an unlocked state with the trigger  170  pivoted slightly downward. The unlocked state may also be considered a non-actuated position.  FIG. 8B  illustrates a partial side cutaway view. Forward-pushing point  183  of the spring  180  may bear forward on the back of discharge valve actuator  120 . Conical seal  132  may seal the front of the manifold to prevent drooling from the actuator. Due to force exerted by the lowered trigger  170  onto stem posts  162 , the second or lower end  163  of stem actuator  160  may move toward aerosol container valve  196  (e.g., downward as viewed in the Figure) toward the upper end of male aerosol container valve  196 , so that the aerosol container valve  196  may be opened if the trigger is pulled farther. It will be noted that in the unlocked state or non-actuated position, trigger  170  may rest a little lower in the actuator. In particular trigger engagement point  172  may be close to or may touch the upward-pushing point  184  of spring  180 . 
       FIG. 9A  illustrates a side cross section view of the actuator in an actuated state with the trigger  170  pivoted farther downward.  FIG. 9B  illustrates a partial side cutaway view. Forward-pushing point  183  of the spring  180  may still bear forward on the back of discharge valve actuator  120 . The downward movement of the trigger ramp  173  may act as a lever or wedge and may force back the discharge valve actuator  120 . Forces upon the valve actuator  120 , such as forces provided by the trigger ramp  173  or forward-pushing point  183 , may in turn be transmitted via the discharge valve actuator  120  and to discharge valve  130 . Thus, the trigger ramp  173  may pull upon or allow the discharge valve  130  to move toward the second or rear position, causing conical seal  132  to move back and unseal from the front of manifold  140  to allow liquid to flow through the manifold. Due to further force exerted by lowered trigger  170  onto stem posts  162 , the second or lower end  163  of stem actuator  160  may move sufficiently farther (e.g. downward as viewed in  FIG. 9B ) onto the upper end of male aerosol container valve  196  to open that valve. It will be noted that in the actuated state, trigger engagement point  172  having moved downward may have flexed the lower arm of spring  180 , which resists by providing force on the spring upward-pushing point  184 , resisting the trigger and attempting to force it back to the unlocked position. 
       FIG. 10A  illustrates a detail showing the trigger ramp  173  in a locked state where it may occupy a first or closed ramp position. The trigger ramp  173  may act as a sort of wedge, located in the space between cross posts  121  of the discharge valve actuator  120 , and the back of the manifold  140 . The trigger ramp  173  may be tilted slightly forward relative to ramp flexing point  173 A where it connects to the trigger proper. The forward-pushing point  183  may bear against back surface  122  of the discharge valve actuator  120 , which may maintain the discharge valve actuator  120  and the discharge valve  130  in a closed (forward) state. 
       FIG. 10B  illustrates a detail showing the trigger ramp  173  in an unlocked state where it may still occupy a first or closed ramp position. As the trigger  170  moves yet further, the trigger ramp  173  may move downward with the trigger  170 , so that the trigger ramp  173  may now generally fill the space between cross posts  121  of the discharge valve actuator  120 , and the back of the manifold  140  so that any farther movement will start to open the discharge valve  130 . The trigger ramp  173  may be aligned generally vertically relative to ramp flexing point  173 A where it connects to the trigger  170  proper. 
       FIG. 10C  illustrates a detail showing the trigger ramp  173  in a second or actuated state or position. As the trigger itself rotates downwards, its upper parts may move forward, including ramp flexing point  173 A. The ramp may be pulled downward and forward, and may encounter fulcrum point  173 B that may be located on the back of the manifold, or on another structure such as the grip body housing  190 . As the lower part of the trigger ramp  173  moves forward, the upper half may tilt backward, which may force back the cross posts  121  of the discharge valve actuator  120 . The forward-pushing point  183  may provide resistance against this backward movement, but discharge valve actuator  120  and the attached discharge valve  130  may nonetheless move backward, opening the conical seal  132  and allowing fluid to flow from the manifold  140 , through orifice cup  150 , and out the nozzle. 
     Note that trigger pivot trunnion  171  may be located below the axis of manifold  140  as illustrated in  FIG. 9A . When trigger  170  is actuated or pulled back, it may rotate “clockwise” or generally downward and backward. Any structure rigidly attached to the trigger and extending up to the axis of manifold  140  would be expected to move forward relative to the manifold. The use of the trigger ramp  173  with fulcrum point  173 B causes the same trigger motion instead to provide a backward motion relative to manifold  140 , which may be used to advantageous effect here to open the discharge valve  130  by pulling back on the discharge valve actuator  120 . 
     Once trigger  170  is released, spring upward-pushing point  184  bearing on trigger engagement point  172  may return trigger  170  to the unlocked position. Consequently trigger ramp  173  may rise upward, removing the backward force against cross posts  121  and allowing forward-pushing point  183  to push forward on back surface  122  of discharge valve actuator  120 , in turn pushing forward on discharge valve  130  and closing the conical seal  132  to prevent drool. At the same time the trigger rising upward may remove the downward force on stem posts  162 , allowing the stem actuator  160  to move upward as urged by the upward force from aerosol container valve  196 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an exploded perspective view of parts of an aerosol actuator according to another embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is similar to that shown in  FIG. 1 , except that the stem actuator  161  may be adapted to fit a female aerosol valve  197 . In particular as can be seen in the side cross section of  FIG. 11 , the stem actuator  161  may be cylindrical at its bottom and may fit directly into female aerosol valve  197 . 
       FIG. 13  illustrates an embodiment with a single-piece control valve made up essentially of a valve portion  130 A and a valve actuator portion  120 A. The forward seal  132 A may be a form different from or the same as conical seal  132  seen in the previous Figures. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates an embodiment with a ball check valve  165  that may be located in the flow path, for example at the first or upper end of stem actuator  161  (or  160 ). 
     Having thus described certain particular embodiments of the invention, it is understood that the invention defined by the appended claims is not to be limited by particular details set forth in the above description, as many apparent variations thereof are contemplated. Rather, the invention is limited only be the appended claims, which include within their scope all equivalent devices or methods which operate according to the principles of the invention as described.