Spray can comprising a discharge tube

The invention relates to a spray can comprising a can member (12) for holding a material that is to be sprayed, and a spray head (14) which is plugged onto a can valve located on the top face of the can member (12) and is fitted with a discharge tube (24). The spray can has an adapter which connects the spray head (14) to the discharge tube. The discharge tube (22) is connected to the adapter (16) by means of a plug-on and/or screwed connection.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to PCT International Application No. PCT/DE08/001,610 filed on Sep. 29, 2008, which claims priority to German Application No. 20 2007 013 747.8 filed on Oct. 2, 2007, both of which are fully incorporated by referenced herein.

The invention relates to an aerosol spray can comprising a can body for holding a substance that is to be sprayed, and a spray head plug-mounted on a can valve topping the can body and is fitted with a delivery tube.

One such aerosol can is known to be in use for delivering and aerosolizing liquid pharmaceutical products. The can or container features a delivery and/or metering member which may be a valve. This aerosol can is employed especially for oral application of a pharmaceutical product. It comprises a spray head mounted on the metering valve and is provided with a tubular section for mounting an end portion of a delivery tube via a rotatable connector. The delivery tube is mounted on the tubular section such that the right-angled delivery tube can be rotated on the tubular section to orient the delivery tube as required.

The drawback of this known aerosol can is that changing the delivery tube is only possible with a lot of exertion, risking its damage. Changing the delivery tube is, however, a mandatory requirement for proper hygiene.

The invention has thus the object of providing an aerosol can comprising a spray head featuring a delivery tube which can now be simply changed with little exertion.

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by the aerosol spray can as featured in claim1.

Consequently, an aerosol spray can in accordance with the invention is proposed comprising a can body for holding a substance that is to be sprayed, and a spray head plug-mounted on a can valve topping the can body and is fitted with a delivery tube. An adapter is provided which connects the spray head to the delivery tube which is connected to the adapter by means of a non-destructing releasable plug and/or screw-threaded connector.

This design of an aerosol can in accordance with the invention now makes it possible to simply change the delivery tube so that, for example, the same aerosol can can now be put to use orally on several patients with a changed delivery tube always satisfying existing stringent antiseptic or hygiene requirements, simply by releasing it from the plug and/or screw-threaded connector and fitting a new delivery tube to the adapter.

The aerosol can in accordance with the invention is particularly suitable for applying a matting agent to a tooth/stump for video scanning, or an agent for dental occlusal analysis.

In one preferred embodiment of the aerosol can in accordance with the invention the connector comprises a male taper configured on the adapter or delivery tube to mate with a female taper of the delivery tube or adapter, resulting in a pressfit between the adapter and the delivery tube like a Luer-type connector.

To prevent inadvertant release of the delivery tube from the adapter when using the aerosol can, a locking device is provided in another preferred embodiment of the aerosol can in accordance with the invention, locking the delivery tube to the adapter and designed releasable to separate the delivery tube from the adapter.

For example, the locking device is a union nut located on the adapter and cooperating with a counterpart arranged on the delivery tube. More particularly, the counterpart is an end portion of the delivery tube or an element configured at the end portion of the delivery tube such as a radial tab for engaging a screw thread.

Preferably, the adapter features a circumferential slot for captive locating the union nut.

The circumferential slot may be configured so that the union nut is axially shiftable on the adapter, it being axially displaced when the union nut is released from the counterpart.

The circumferential slot may be designed wide enough so that its edge facing away from the delivery tube serves as a back stopper for the union nut when releasing the delivery tube from the adapter. Expediently, the union nut comes up against this stopper just before attaining its release position so that turning the union nut further displaces the delivery tube relative to the adapter, resulting in the pressfit between these two elements being released by the pressure exerted on the counterpart of the delivery tube, making it simple to detach the delivery tube from the adapter.

However, it is also possible, of course, that a union nut as described is provided at the delivery tube but with the delivery tube featuring a male taper and the adapter a female taper, the counterpart then being likewise configured at the adapter, for example, in the form of an annular collar comprising at least one recess to configure radially protruding tabs for engaging a screw thread of the union nut.

The end portion or counterpart may be mounted either on a tubular section or made in one piece therewith.

In another alternative embodiment of the aerosol can in accordance with the invention the delivery tube comprises at its end facing the adapter at least one latching tab engaging a latching element in a recess of the adapter.

In one simple design embodiment the latching tab is formed by axial slots in the end portion of the delivery tube.

To connect the delivery tube to the adapter precisely positioned, the delivery tube is preferably inserted into a channel of the adapter, the adapter comprising a guideway for the latching element.

To simplify releasing the delivery tube from the adapter, the latching tab in one preferred embodiment comprises a radially protruding actuator, for example, in the form of a pushbutton.

Preferably, the actuator is guided in the guideway when the delivery tube is inserted in the adapter, the actuator consequently likewise being a guide preventing the delivery tube from tilting out of place when inserted in the adapter.

The channel of the adapter into which the delivery tube is inserted may be lined with a sealant, for instance an elastomeric coating of e.g. PTE to enhance the seal of the system overall.

In yet another alternative embodiment of the aerosol can in accordance with the invention the delivery tube is fitted to the adapter by means of a sleeve as a low-cost alternative.

In still another preferred embodiment of the aerosol can in accordance with the invention the adapter is connected to the spray head by a pressfit preferably designed so that the adapter can now be pulled off of the spray head without the use of a tool, although it is just as possible to make the adapter and a housing of the spray head in one piece.

Especially when discharging a substance as an oral aerosol the delivery tube features to advantage a nozzle head at the end facing away from the spray head. The nozzle head which may be configured as usual in the practice may be mounted rotatable on the delivery tube for directing the delivery jet.

Further advantages and advantageous aspects of the subject matter of the invention read from the description and claims and as evident from the claims.

Referring now toFIGS. 1 to 8there is illustrated an aerosol can10comprising a cylindrical can body12mounting a spray head14topping a can valve (not shown).

The spray head14which to actuate, i.e. open the can valve is pressed down in the direction of the can body12, comprises a radially protruding adapter16inserted pressfitted in a radial opening of the spray head14, shown in detail inFIG. 4.

Rotatably mounted on the adapter16is a union nut18.

Referring now toFIGS. 2 and 3there is illustrated how at its end portion20forming a male taper facing away from the spray head an end piece22of a delivery tube24can be fitted provided at its end facing away from the end piece22with a rotatably mounted nozzle head26which in use of the aerosol can10produces an aerosol of the substance to be delivered.

To lock the delivery tube on the adapter16the union nut18can be screwed onto the end piece22of the delivery tube24. For this purpose the end piece22ends in a circumferential slot or two radially protruding tabs28offset from each other by 180° for cooperating with a female screw thread30of the union nut18.

Referring now toFIG. 3there is illustrated how, because the union nut is freely rotatably mounted on the adapter16the delivery tube can be freely turned on the adapter16to orient the nozzle head26, it only being after the nozzle head26has been oriented as wanted that the union nut18is located by its female screw thread engaging the tabs28at the end piece22of the delivery tube24.

Referring now toFIG. 4there is illustrated a view in detail of the adapter16consisting of a tube with a uniform inner diameter of, for example, 1 mm comprising at one end a tapered end portion20and a cylindrical end portion32at the other end inserted by a pressfit in the corresponding opening in the spray head14. In the middle portion of the adapter16an annular collar34is configured, forming by a face36a stop for the housing of the spray head14and a second face38as a stop for the union nut18shiftingly mounted in a waisted portion40which in this case has a length of approx. 5 mm.

When assembled, the end piece22of the delivery tube24is seated on the tapered end portion20. The end piece22comprises a female taper corresponding to the end piece22. The combination of female taper, male taper and union nut forms a modified Luer lock system.

Referring now toFIGS. 5 and 6there is illustrated in detail how the end piece22of the delivery tube24comprises, as aforementioned, a female taper42as well as a cylindrical mount44at the female taper42facing away from the female taper, a46of the delivery tube24being inserted by a pressfit in the cylindrical mount44. The cylindrical mount44and the portion of the female taper42are interconnected by an opening48of reduced diameter.

Referring now toFIGS. 7 and 8there is illustrated in detail how at the end facing away from the cylindrical mount44the end piece22of the delivery tube24comprises the aforementioned radially projecting tabs28cooperating with the union nut18.

The union nut18comprises a threaded portion50in which the female screw thread30is configured. At the end facing away from the threaded portion50the union nut18features a guide portion52guided on the annular collar34of the adapter16.

The threaded portion50and guide portion52are spaced away from each other by a partition54provided with an opening56, the edge of which guides the union nut18in the region of the waisted portion40of the adapter16.

Referring now toFIGS. 9 and 10there is illustrated how the aspect shown therein likewise features a spray head14comprising a radial opening58in which an adapter16′ is inserted in a pressfit.

For this purpose the adapter16′ comprises an end portion60of reduced diameter.

At its end facing away from the end portion60the tubular adapter16′ is provided with axial slots62offset from each other by 180° and serving as guideways for the actuator pushbuttons64of the end latching tabs66of a replaceable delivery tube24′. The latching tabs66are provided by two axial slots72of the delivery tube24′.

In their end portions the latching tabs66comprise radially protruding lugs for latching the delivery tube24′ to the adapter16′ in recesses70of the adapter16′.

To release the delivery tube24′ from the adapter16′ or to change the delivery tube24′ the actuator pushbuttons64arranged in the slots62are depressed so that the latching lugs68of the latching tabs66are pressed out of the recesses70, allowing the delivery tube24′ to be withdrawn from the adapter16′. This enables a new, hygienic delivery tube24′ to be inserted in the adapter16′ and latched into place in the adapter16′ by the lugs.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS