MOUSSE DIFFUSER FOR AEROSOL CONTAINER

Abstract: The present invention provides (with reference to the Figure) a mousse diffuser (11) for attachment to an aerosol container having an outlet valve. The mousse diffuser (11) comprises a body (12) having a valve button (13) hinged thereto which is moveable to operate the outlet valve. The valve button (13) has a chamber (18) into which the contents of the aerosol are discharged, the chamber (18) having an opening (21) through which said contents are dispensed. The opening (21) is covered by a grill (22) which is hinged to the valve button (13) and securable in place over the opening (21). The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing the mousse diffuser (11).

Description: MOUSSE DIFFUSERFORAEROSOL CONTAINER The present invention relates to mousse diffusers which are generally used in combination with an aerosol container. Mousse diffusers are used in combination with aerosol containers which store materials such as conditioners, gels, shaving and cleansing foams etc. under pressure. The contents of the container are dispensed through an outlet valve which is resiliently biased into a closed condition. The diffuser generally slows down the delivery from the aerosol container giving time for a mousse or foam to develop. The foam then exits the diffuser through an opening which is sometimes formed as a grill or grid with the foam being dispensed through the apertures in the grill . The grill again helps slow down the delivery of the mousse and helps the mousse to form. The mousse diffuser is a relatively complex component comprising a body which may clip onto the aerosol container, a button for operating the aerosol outlet valve and which may include a chamber into which the mousse is initially discharged, and an opening which is generally formed with a grill or grid, or other baffle means which further helps the generation of the mousse. The body and button are generally injection moulded as a single plastics component with the button hinged to the body. The grill may be formed separately and secured in place by suitable means. Alternatively the dispensing grill may be moulded integrally with the button but this requires expensive and complicated tooling. The present invention provides a simplified diffuser construction which is easier to mould. According to the present invention there is provided a mousse diffuser comprising a body for attachment to an aerosol container, a valve button hinged to the body and moveable to operate the aerosol container outlet valve, and having a chamber into which the contents of the aerosol are discharged, the chamber having an opening through which said contents are dispensed, wherein the opening is covered by a grill which is hinged to the valve button and securable in place over the opening. Preferably the grill is secured in place by a simple snap fit connection with the body, located on the opposite side of the opening to the hinge, the grill having a detent at its edge margin which is a snap-fit with a bead or other projection formed on the body adjacent the opening. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of manufacture of a mousse diffuser having a body for attachment to an aerosol container having an outlet valve, a valve button for operating the outlet valve, and an internal chamber into which the contents of the aerosol are discharged, the chamber having an opening covered by a grill through which the contents are dispensed, characterised in that the body, button, and grill are formed as a single plastics moulding with the grill being hinged to the button which is also hinged to the body, the diffuser being moulded with the grill in an open condition. The invention will hereinafter be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Fig 1 is a isometric view of a mousse diffuser according to the invention, ready for use; Fig 2 is a vertical section through the diffuser shown in Fig 1 ; Fig 3 is a top plan view of the mousse diffuser shown in Fig 1; and Fig 4 is an isometric view of the diffuser in Fig 1 in the as-moulded condition. With reference to Figs 1 to 3 of the drawings there is shown a mousse diffuser 11 comprising a body 12 and a valve operating button 13. The body 12 has a substantially f ustoconical sidewall 14 with a larger diameter base portion 15 which will fit over the rim of an aerosol container (not shown) . The base portion 15 has inwardly facing bead 16 on its inner wall surface for securing the diffuser in place on the container (not shown) . The button 13 has a stepped bore 17 which receives the outlet valve (not shown) of the aerosol container, and an internal chamber 18 which receives the mousse discharged under pressure from the aerosol outlet valve, via an orifice 19 connected to the bore 17. The chamber 18 has an opening 21 which in use is covered by a grill or grid 22. The button 13 is hinged to the base 12 by an integral plastics hinge 30 located at the front of the button below the opening 21. The button 13 is depressed to operate the outlet valve by pushing down onto rear portion 23 having raised ribs 24 thereon to act as a thumb or finger pad. The button 13 pivots about the hinge 30 to push down the valve (not shown) and allows the contents of the aerosol to discharge from the container. The grill 22 is connected to the button 13 by a hinge 31 at its upper edge and in the closed condition has a snap fit connection with a detent 32 on the opposite side of the opening 21. Detent 32 is formed in the external surface of the wall surrounding the opening 21 and the grill has a tab 33 formed thereon having a hook 34 which engages the detent 32, when the grill is in a closed condition. The mousse diffuser is formed by injecting moulding and is moulded with the grill in the open condition as shown in Fig 4 and then snapped closed. The diffuser is moulded as a single component from a polyolefinic material preferably polypropylene, or high density polyethylene.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A mousse diffuser comprising a body for attachment to an aerosol container having an outlet valve, a valve button hinged to the body and moveable to operate the outlet valve, and having a chamber into which the contents of the aerosol are discharged, the chamber having an opening through which said contents are dispensed, wherein the opening is covered by a grill which is hinged to the valve button and securable in place over the opening. 2. A mousse diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grill is secured in place by a snap-fit connection with the body. 3. A mousse diffuser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the snap fit connection is located opposite the hinge. 4. A mousse diffuser as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the grill has a detent located on an edge margin thereof which makes a snap fit connection with a bead or other projection formed on the body adjacent the opening. 5. A method of manufacture of a mousse diffuser having a body for attachment to an aerosol container, a valve button for operating the aerosol container outlet valve, and an internal chamber into which the contents of the aerosol are discharged, the container having an opening covered by a grill through which the contents are dispensed, characterised in that the body, button and grill are formed as a single plastics moulding with the grill being hinged to the button which is also hinged to the body, the diffuser being moulded with the grill in an open condition. 6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the grill is put into a closed condition covering the opening before the diffuser is assembled to the aerosol container. 7. A mousse diffuser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the diffuser is formed as a single plastics moulding. 8. A mousse diffuser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 or claim 7 wherein the diffuser is formed by injection moulding. 9. A mousse diffuser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 or claims 7 or 8 wherein the diffuser consists of a polyolefinic material. 10. A mousse diffuser as claimed in claim 9 wherein the polyolefinic material consists of polypropylene. 11. A mousse diffuser as claimed in claim 9 wherein the polyolefinic material consists of high density polyethylene . 12. A method of manufacture as claimed m claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the single plastics moulding is formed by injection moulding. 13. A method of manufacture as claimed in any one of claims 5 or 6 or claim 12 wherein the single plastics moulding consists of a polyolefinic material. 14. A method of manufacture as claimed in claim 13 wherein the polyolefinic material consists of polypropylene. 15. A method of manufacture as claimed m claim 13 wherein the polyolefinic material consists of high density polyethylene.

Inventors: BEADLE SIMONE, BEADLE, SIMONE
Applicants: BEADLE SIMONE, BETTS UK LIMITED, BEADLE, SIMONE
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B65D83
IPC codes: B65D83