Abstract:
A two aerosol can injection system has a first aerosol can which contains activator or hardener and a second aerosol can containing product such as paints, thinners, clear coats, and propellant. A connector system connects at a first end to the first aerosol can and at a second end to the second aerosol can which provides flow of activator or hardener from the first can to the second can.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/341,862 filed on May 26, 2016, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to the art of filling and injecting pressurized containers. In particular, It finds application with a two aerosol can injection system which injects activator or hardener from one aerosol can into a second aerosol can which has been previously charged with liquefied propellants and filled with products such as, but not limited to, paints, primers, clearcoats, adhesives, resins or coatings and will be described with particular reference thereto. 
         [0003]    It is to be appreciated, however, that the present disclosure may also find application in conjunction with injecting other coating systems, including, but not limited to lubricants, fiberglass resins, SMC resins, adhesives, epoxy, urethane adhesives, and any other products which can be catalyzed or activated and dispensed from aerosol cans. 
         [0004]    There are presently two existing methods for filling an aerosol container with propellant, namely, a) an “under the cup” or out of the valve cup method which lifts the valve mounting cup and b) a “pressure filling” method. 
         [0005]    In under the cup filling, a filling head actually lifts the valve cup partially out of the aerosol container and the propellant is driven under pressure through the opening between the bead (opening) of the container and the channel or circular skirt of the valve cup. In pressure filling, after product is placed in the aerosol can, the valve is crimped onto a one-inch diameter opening of the can. Then, propellant is charged into the can through the valve. 
         [0006]    One disadvantage of using existing filling heads is the heads are not typically portable and the filling process must occur at the head location rather than in the field. Another disadvantage is that the filling heads are expensive. 
         [0007]    Still another disadvantage of a filling head is that it is difficult to provide sufficient pressure to inject the activator into the valve of the aerosol can. 
         [0008]    Thus, there is a need for a new improved method of injecting activator or hardener from one aerosol into a aerosol can which has propellant and product. The present disclosure provides a new and improved portable aerosol can filling and injecting system which overcomes the above-referenced deficiencies of the prior systems while providing better and more advantageous overall results. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0009]    In accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure, a two aerosol can system is provided that is easily portable and can be readily used in the field. Another aspect of the two aerosol can system is that it is inexpensive. Yet another advantage of the two aerosol can system is that it allows the mixing of a activator and product at the time of use, this preventing curing of the coating on product in the can. 
         [0010]    In accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure, a two aerosol can injection system is adapted to be easily used with a male valve on the activator can and the female valve on the product can, or vice versa. 
         [0011]    In accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure, a two aerosol can injection system injects activator or hardener from one aerosol can into a second aerosol can which has been previously charged with liquefied propellants and filled with products such as, but not limited to, paints, primers, clearcoats, adhesives, resins or coatings and will be described with particular reference thereto. 
         [0012]    In accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure, two aerosol can injection system has a first aerosol can containing product and propellant; a second aerosol can containing activator or hardener; and a connector connected at a first end to the first aerosol can and at a second end to the second aerosol can. 
         [0013]    In accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure, a method of injecting an aerosol can using a two aerosol can system has the following steps: providing a first aerosol can containing product and propellant; providing a second aerosol can containing activator or hardener; removing a spray head from the first aerosol can; attaching a locking mechanism to a top of a female valve on the first can; locking the locking member on the first can by rotating a locking arm of the locking member; threading an external thread valve into a threaded opening of the locking mechanism; threading an internal thread valve onto a male threaded member on the second aerosol can; inserting a tip of a first male valve into the external thread valve and inserting a tip of a second male valve into the internal thread valve; threading a first shut-off valve onto the first male valve; threading a second shut-off valve onto the second male valve; threading a first hose coupler onto the first shut-off valve; threading a second hose coupler onto the second shut-off valve; threading the first hose coupler onto a first end of a tube; threading the second hose coupler onto a second end of the tube; opening the second shut-off valve to send activator or hardener through the tube to the first shut-off valve; opening the first shut-off valve to allow the activator or hardener contents to flow into the first can. 
         [0014]    In accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure, two aerosol cans may be used for injecting other coating systems, including, but not limited to lubricants, fiberglass resins, SMC resins, adhesives, epoxy, urethane adhesives, and any other products which can be catalyzed or activated and dispensed from aerosol cans. 
         [0015]    Still another aspect of the disclosure is the use of two aerosol cans for injection between the cans. 
         [0016]    Still further aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The disclosure may take form in various parts and arrangements of parts. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment and are not to be construed as limiting the disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of an existing aerosol can filling pump; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is side elevational view illustrating an aerosol can; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of an existing female aerosol valve assembly; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of an existing male aerosol valve assembly; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of two aerosol cans in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a side elevated view in partially exploded view of the two aerosol can system including a connector in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is an exploded plan view of the two aerosol can filling assembly of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8A  is a top plan view of an aerosol container locking mechanism in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8B  is a side elevational view of the locking mechanism of  FIG. 8A ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9A  is a top plan view of a shut-off valve in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0028]      FIG. 9B  is a side elevated view of the shut-off valve of  FIG. 9A ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 10A  is a top plan view of a male aerosol valve; 
           [0030]      FIG. 10B  is a side elevational view of the male aerosol valve of  FIG. 10A ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 11A  is a top plan view of a hose coupler in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0032]      FIG. 11B  is a side elevational view of the hose coupler of  FIG. 11A ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 12A  is a top plan view of an internal thread male aerosol valve in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0034]      FIG. 12B  is a side elevational view of the valve of  FIG. 12A ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 13A  is a top plan view of an external thread male aerosol valve in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0036]      FIG. 13B  is a side elevational view of the male aerosol valve of  FIG. 13A ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 14A  is a top plan view of an aerosol can in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0038]      FIG. 14B  is a perspective view of a top portion of an aerosol can in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0039]      FIG. 15A  is a top plan view of a locking mechanism in a locked position on the top of the aerosol can of  FIG. 14A ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 15B  is a perspective view of the locking mechanism of  FIG. 15A  on an aerosol can; 
           [0041]      FIG. 16A  is a top plan view of the locking mechanism in an unlocked position on the top of the aerosol can; 
           [0042]      FIG. 16B  is a side perspective view of an aerosol can installing a threaded male connection onto the can; 
           [0043]      FIG. 17A  is a top plan view of the aerosol can with the threaded male valve connection and locking member installed on the can; 
           [0044]      FIG. 17B  is a side perspective view of  FIG. 17A ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 18A  is a perspective view of a threaded female valve being installed over the threaded male opening of the activator can; 
           [0046]      FIG. 18B  is a perspective view of the connector being inserted into the activator aerosol can; 
           [0047]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the connector being inserted into the product aerosol can; 
           [0048]      FIG. 20  is a side perspective view of the connector and the aerosol can with the valve being opened to allow flow from the activator can; 
           [0049]      FIG. 21  is a side perspective view of the connector and the aerosol can with the valve being opened to the product can to allow flow into the product can. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the use of an existing manual spray pump A in an aerosol can includes the following steps: First, the spray head is removed from the aerosol can. Then, a washer  10  is removed from the side of the pump and inserted into the bottle flange  12 . A collar lock  14  is turned counter-clockwise to expose prongs  16 , which are snapped onto the top of the aerosol can. While the pump assembly is held in one hand, the lock collar is turned clockwise with the other hand to lower the pump onto the can. The collar is tightened snugly. The bottle  18  is filled with a reducer, catalyst or hardener and screwed into the bottle flange. A dip tube  20  has a length which is adjusted so that it is touching the bottom of the bottle. The can is placed on a hard surface. The plunger  22  is firmly pressed down to pump the material from the bottle into the aerosol can. The material in the bottle is sucked into the dip tube on the upward stroke and is pushed into the aerosol can on the downward stroke. The appropriate amount of catalyst is pumped into the can plus one extra pump, which allows for the catalyst in the dip tube that never gets mixed in with the paint. Each bottle holds about 1.5 or 2 fluid ounces and each stroke is about a quarter of an ounce. The catalyzed paint must be used within 20 hours of pumping the catalyst into the can. 
         [0051]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an aerosol can B typically has seven main components: a sprayhead (actuator)  30 ; a cap  32 ; a valve and dip tube  34 ; propellant  36 ; product or coating  38  such as paint, a gel, an adhesive or an epoxy; a can body  40  and a mixing ball  42  (which rattles when shaken). The propellant drives the product or coating out through the valve at the top of the can at a pressure of about 50 to 60 lbs. Aerosol cans are typically supplied in 4-ounce, 6-ounce, 8-ounce, 12-ounce, 16-ounce, 20-ounce, 24-ounce and 32-ounce sizes. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , an existing female valve assembly C which is often used with paints, adhesives and resins is shown. This type of valve is used because the sprayhead can be easily removed and cleaned. The stem  44  on the female valve is located on the sprayhead or actuator  46  and the metering slot  48  on the stem determines the amount of product that is sprayed. To clean the sprayhead, a pin or knife is used on the slot at the base of the sprayhead. Once the blockage is cleared, the sprayhead can be placed back into the valve and used again. The sprayhead is placed into position with a twist and push action. 
         [0053]    In the usual aerosol can or container, product and propellant are placed in a valved container. Referring still to  FIG. 3 , a valve body  47 , a spring  49 , a spring cup  50 , a gasket  52 , and a mounting cup  54  and dip tube  56  together form the valve assembly and are all crimped onto the top opening of an aerosol can. The opening is typically one inch in diameter. The valve stem  44  emerges through the pedestal portion of the container closure or mounting cup  54 . The actuator  46  is frictionally fitted to the valve stem; the actuator being the component that receives manual pressure from the user of the aerosol container to actuate or open the valve and, thereby, to cause egress of the container contents. The spring head or activator is depressed which in turn causes the container contents to exit the can. 
         [0054]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a typical male valve assembly D is shown. The male valve also has a stem  60 , valve body  62 , a spring  64 , a gasket  66 , and a mounting cup  68  and dip tube  70  which are all crimped onto a can. However, the metering slot  71  for a male valve is located on the stem of the valve itself. That is, the male sprayhead  72  does not have a stem. To clean the male valve, a thin knife is used to clear the blockage. The sprayhead is cleaned and reattached. 
         [0055]    With reference now to  FIGS. 5-21 , a two aerosol can injection and filling system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the disclosure is shown. 
         [0056]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a first or product aerosol can  80  can be filled with product  82  and propellant  84  and has a valve such as female valve  86 . A second, or activator aerosol can  90  can be filled with hardener  92  or activator  94  and has a male threaded member  96 . 
         [0057]    The two aerosol can injection system injects activator or hardener from can  90  into can  80  which has been previously charged with liquefied propellants  84  and filled with products  82  such as, but not limited to, paints, primers, clearcoats, adhesives, resins or coatings and will be described with particular reference thereto. 
         [0058]    The present disclosure may also find application in conjunction with injecting other coating systems, including, but not limited to lubricants, fiberglass resins, SMC resins, adhesives, epoxy, urethane adhesives, and any other products which can be catalyzed or activated and dispensed from aerosol cans. 
         [0059]    Referring to now  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a two aerosol can injection and filling connector system E in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the disclosure is shown. This embodiment utilizes first can  80  with product  82  and propellant  84  and second can  90  with hardener  92  or activator  94 . 
         [0060]    Aerosol can  80  with product  82  and propellant  84  therein can be various sizes, such as 16 (sixteen) ounces. However, other size cans are contemplated by the disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the internals of the can  80  are a mounting cup  100 , an external gasket  102 , an internal gasket  103 , a stem  104 , a spring  105 , a housing  106  and a dip tube  107  housed therein. The can preferably contains product  82  or such as paint or primer or clear coat or dip as well as propellant  84 . 
         [0061]    The second can  90  is preferably a two ounce (2 oz.) or six ounce (6 oz.) high pressure aerosol can other sizes of can  80  are also contemplated. There is no dip tube in the can. The can contains activator  94  or hardener  92 . A connecting device E has a threaded connector on one side and a male valve in a locking mechanism on the other side. The device is controlled by a valve at both ends. The hardener or activator flows from the can  90  to the can  80 . 
         [0062]    Before attaching the device E to an aerosol can, both shut-off valves  204 ,  204 ′ must be in the fully off position. The spray head cap  81  is removed from the can  80  (see  FIG. 14B ). Locking mechanism  218  is attached to the top of the female valve  86  on the can  80 . The threaded aerosol male valve  216  is screwed into the threaded opening  228  on the top of the locking connector  218 . This activates the internal female valve and releases pressure to the shut-off valve. 
         [0063]    The threaded male hub  96  of the can  90  is screwed into the internally threaded openings on the female aerosol valve  200 . This results in opening of the valve  200  which releases activator out of the can. The can must not be removed once the valve is opened. 
         [0064]    Once both cans  80 ,  90  are connected to the device E and pressure is held at the shut-off valves  204 ,  204 ′, both valves  204 ,  204 ′ are opened simultaneously at the same time to equalize the pressure. The higher pressure of the can  90  will force the activator content down a rigid airline tube  208  into the can  80  where it mixes with lower pressure content. Once the system is equalized, the can  90  can be removed from the system by releasing a locking connector. 
         [0065]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the specific components of the connecting device E are as follows: an internal thread aerosol valve  200  which is attached to can  90 ; a first male aerosol valve  202 ; a first shut-off valve  204 ; a first hose coupler  206 ; a rigid airline hose or tube  208 ; a second hose coupler  206 ′; a second shut-off valve  204 ′; a second male aerosol valve  202 ′; an external thread aerosol valve  216  attached to can  80 ; and an aerosol container locking mechanism  218  attached to can  80 . Parts  202 ′,  204 ′,  206 ′ are essentially identical to parts  202 ,  204 ,  206 , thus, the description herein for parts  202 ,  204 ,  206  applies to parts  202 ′,  204 ′,  206 ′. 
         [0066]    Referring to  FIGS. 8A-13B , details of the components used in the system are shown. 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the details of the aerosol container locking mechanism  218  are shown. The mechanism has a body  219  which has ridges or ledges or ribs  221  which matingly engage upper end  223  of can  80 . The mechanism  218  has a locking tab  225  which is rotated to lock the mechanism onto the upper end  223  of can  80  via edge  227 . A threaded opening  229  is found in a central portion of the mechanism. 
         [0068]    Referring to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , the details of the shut-off valve  204  are shown. Shut-off valve  204  has a body  205 , a threaded opening  207  at an upper end and a threaded member  209  at a lower end. A rotating or pivoting arm  211  rotates up and down between valve open and valve closed positions. Upper threaded opening  207  receives a threaded portion of the male valve, which threaded member  207  is received by a threaded opening of hose coupler  206 . 
         [0069]    Referring to  FIGS. 10A and 10B , the details of the male aerosol valve  202  are shown. Specifically, valve  202  has a tip  231  which is inserted into an opening in internal thread female aerosol valve  200  or an opening of external thread male aerosol valve  216 . Threaded portion  233  of valve  202  extends from housing  235  is threaded into threaded opening of hose coupler  206 . 
         [0070]    Referring to  FIGS. 11A and 11B , the details of hose coupler  206  are shown. Hose coupler  206  has a body  241 , a first threaded opening  243  and a second threaded opening  245 . First threaded opening  243  receives threaded portion  233  of male valve  202 , while second threaded opening  245  receives an end of rigid airline tube  208 . 
         [0071]    Referring now to  FIGS. 12A and 12B , the details of internal male aerosol valve  200  are shown. The valve  200  has a body  251 , which has an internal threaded opening  253 , and a spring (spring  254 ) loaded shut-off member  255  which opens and closes the valve opening  257 . Valve  200  is inserted into aerosol can  90 . 
         [0072]    Referring now to  FIGS. 13A and 13B , the details of the external thread male aerosol valve  216  are shown. Valve  216  has a body  261 , and external threads  263 , and a spring (spring  265 ) loaded shut-off member  267  which opens and closes the valve opening  269 . Valve  216  is inserted into aerosol can  80 . 
         [0073]    Referring now to  FIGS. 14A-21 , the steps involved with priming and connecting the cans  80 ,  90  together are as shown. Referring to  FIGS. 14A and 14B , to prepare the product can  80 , the cap and spray head  81  are removed from the can  80 , exposing the female valve  86 . Referring to  FIGS. 15A and 15B , the locking mechanism  218  is then attached to the top of the female valve  86  on the can  80  by placing the locking mechanism  218  on top of the can, engaging upper end  83  of the can via ridges  221  and swinging the locking arm  225  hand-tight to the left (clockwise as shown by arrow in  FIG. 15A ) to lock the mechanism in place. The locking mechanism is the first and last piece on and off in the system. The locking mechanism serves to hold and secure valve  216  onto the can  80  and to provide a sealed configuration. 
         [0074]    Referring to  FIGS. 16A, 16B, 17A and 17B , the threaded aerosol male valve connector  216  is screwed into the threaded opening  229  on the top of the locking connector  218 , hand tight only. The metal stem height of the aerosol can vary from product to product, so the connector will be long enough to cover any length. The male valve  216  connection is tightened until contact with the internal valve  86  is tight (this may vary from can to can). 
         [0075]    Referring to  FIGS. 18A and 18B , to prepare the activator can  90 , the threaded aerosol female valve  200  is screwed over threaded male member  96  on the top of the can  90 . This is also done hand-tight only. 
         [0076]    To connect the cans, before starting, both of the shut-off valves  204 ,  204 ′ must be in the closed position. That is, the swing arms  211 ,  211 ′ will be perpendicular to the device when closed. Once both cans are prepped with the appropriate housings, the core of E the device can then be inserted. Referring to  FIG. 18B , one side of the device E is pressed into the connector housing  200  on the can  90 . This will be pushed down until a “click” noise is heard and the device is locked. This activates the internal female valve  200  and releases the pressure to the shut-off valve  204 . Referring to  FIG. 19 , the connection is completed by pressing the other side of the device E into the housing  216  on the can  80 . Pressure is released to the shut-off valve  204 ′. The assembly is now completely assembled. 
         [0077]    Referring to  FIG. 20 , once both cans  80 ,  90  are connected to the device E and pressure is held at the shut-off valves  204 ,  204 ′, the valve  204 , closer to the activator can  90  is opened by rotating arm  211  counter-clockwise, sending the activator or hardener contents through tube  208  to the shut-off valve  204 ′ closer to the product can  80 . Referring to  FIG. 21 , then the valve  204 ′ is opened to can  80 , rotating arm  211 ′ clockwise, allowing the higher pressure of the activator can  90  to force the activator or hardener contents into can  80 . The result is the higher pressure of the can  90  will force the activator content down through the airline tube  208  into the can  80 , where it then mixes with the lower pressure content of can  80 . 
         [0078]    The product can  80  can be removed from the system by first releasing the lock tab  225  on the connector  218 . First, the housing  216  must be unscrewed and removed from the locking mechanism  218 , then the lock tab  225  is rotated, thus releasing the locking mechanism  218  from can  80 . The spray nozzle  81  is then reapplied to the can and it is ready to be used in its intended application. 
         [0079]    The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the above described embodiments or the equivalents thereof.