Patent Publication Number: US-7588171-B2

Title: Actuator for an aerosol container

Description:
The present disclosure relates to an actuator for an aerosol container, such as a spray paint can for example, and more particularly to an aerosol actuator having a child-resistance mechanism for releasably blocking depression of the actuator button and/or a mechanism for releasably locking the actuator button in the depressed or activated position. 
   BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
   A general object of the present disclosure is to provide an actuator for an aerosol container that includes a child-resistance mechanism for releasably blocking depression of the actuator button and/or a mechanism for releasably locking the actuator button in the depressed or activated position. 
   The present disclosure embodies a number of aspects that can be implemented separately from or in combination with each other. 
   An actuator for an aerosol container having a valve with a projecting valve stem, in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, includes an actuator button having an outlet for coupling to the valve stem. A crossbar is disposed between the container and the actuator button. The crossbar is movable with respect to the valve stem between at least a first position blocking depression of the actuator button with respect to the valve stem and a second position permitting depression of the actuator button with respect to the valve stem. The crossbar preferably can be moved from either side of the actuator, and one or more springs preferably are carried by the crossbar for engaging the container and biasing the crossbar to the first or blocking position. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The disclosure, together with additional objects, features, advantages and aspects thereof, will best be understood from the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of an aerosol container equipped with an actuator in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the container and actuator illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the package in  FIGS. 1 and 2  with the cap and upper housing removed for purposes of illustration; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the upper housing in the package of  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the interior of the upper housing in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of the actuator in a rest position, and  FIG. 6B  is a fragmentary sectional view of the actuator in  FIG. 6A ; 
       FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of the actuator with the actuator button being released for depression, and  FIG. 7B  is a fragmentary sectional view of the actuator in  FIG. 7A ; 
       FIG. 8A  is a fragmentary perspective view of the actuator with the actuator button released for depression, and  FIG. 8B  is a fragmentary sectional view of the actuator in  FIG. 8A ; and 
       FIG. 9A  is a fragmentary perspective view of the actuator in a depressed and locked position, and  FIG. 9B  is a fragmentary sectional view of the actuator in  FIG. 9A . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a package  20  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure as including an aerosol container  22  with an actuator  24  and an overcap  26 . Aerosol container  22 , which can be a spray paint container for example, has an outlet valve with an extending valve stem  28  surrounded by a collar  47  and a radially spaced ring  30 . Actuator  24  preferably includes a lower housing  32  that is received over the end of container  22  surrounding valve stem  28 . Lower housing  32  may be of molded plastic construction, for example, and preferably has a pair of diametrically opposed upstanding legs  34 . 
   A crossbar or slide  36  is slidably disposed on and carried by collar  47  of container  22 . Crossbar  36  has a central body  38 , which may be generally rectangular, with an elongated or slot-shaped center opening  40  received over valve stem  28 . A leg  42  extends from each opposed end of center body  38  and a finger pad  44  is coupled to the remote end of each leg  42 . A spring  46  is carried by crossbar center body  38  inwardly adjacent to each leg  42 , preferably by being formed integrally with center body  38  of crossbar  36 . Springs  46  in the exemplary embodiment internally engage ring  30  on container  22  for biasing crossbar  36  to a center first position illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 6B . As an alternative, the springs could engage collar  47  that surrounds valve stem  28 . The springs could be made separately from crossbar  36  and assembled to the crossbar. A release tab  48  is carried by center body  38  of crossbar  36 , preferably in lateral alignment with valve stem  28  at the centered position of the crossbar illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Crossbar  36  preferably also includes a pair of lock tabs  50  disposed on opposed sides of release tab  48 . Lock tabs  50  preferably extend from crossbar center body  38 . Crossbar  36 , including springs  46 , preferably is of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction. 
   Actuator  24  also includes an upper housing  52 , the details of which are best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Upper housing  52  includes a collar  54  having a pair of opposed side openings  56 . Collar  54  may be secured by snap fit to lower housing  32  so as to enclose the center portion of crossbar  36 , with the end portions of the crossbar extending through openings  56 . Legs  34  on lower housing  32  partially block openings  56  in assembly as shown for example in  FIG. 1 . An actuator button  58  is carried by collar  54 , preferably by being integrally molded with collar  54  and coupled to collar  54  by an integral or living hinge  60 . One or more outlet tubes  62  on the underside of actuator button  58  are coupled in assembly to valve stem  28  and feed the contents of the container to an outlet opening  64  when actuator button  58  depresses valve stem  28 . A boss or rib  66  extends from the undersurface of actuator button  58 . As best seen in  FIG. 6B , the free end of rib  66  overlies the free end of release tab  48  on crossbar  36  when the crossbar is in the first or centered position. Rib  66  has a pair of oppositely facing side notches  68  disposed on respective opposed sides of rib  66 . When actuator button  58  is depressed, notches  68  are disposed to receive lock tabs  50  on crossbar  36 , as will be described. Upper housing  52 , including collar  54  and actuator button  58 , preferably is of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction. Crossbar  36  is adapted to move side-to-side with respect to the direction of outlet opening  64 . 
     FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate the neutral or rest position of actuator button  58  and crossbar  36 . Depression of actuator button  58  is inhibited by abutment of rib  66  against release tab  48 , as shown in  FIG. 6B . To release the actuator button, crossbar  36  is moved longitudinally from the center first position illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  6 A and  6 B to a second position offset from the first position and illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . (Inasmuch as crossbar  36  preferably is movable in both directions, there will be two spaced second positions of the crossbar on opposed sides of the center first position.) In this second position, release tab  48  on crossbar  36  has been moved out of the blocking position with respect to rib  66  on actuator button  58 , so that the actuator button can now be depressed to depress valve stem  28  and thereby activate the outlet valve of aerosol container  22 . This depressed or activated position is illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , dispensing the contents of the container. 
   In this depressed position of the actuator button illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , crossbar  36  can be moved to a third position illustrated in  FIGS. 9A and 9B  spaced from the second position illustrated in  FIG. 7B . (Again, inasmuch as crossbar  36  preferably can be moved longitudinally in both directions, there preferably are two such third positions of the crossbar respectively spaced outwardly from the two second positions and the center first position of the crossbar.) In this third position of crossbar  36 , one of the lock tabs  50  on crossbar  36  moves into one of the notches  68  on rib  66 . Disposition of a lock tab  50  within a notch  68  prevents movement of actuator pad  58 , so that actuator pad  58  can be released by the user ( FIG. 9A ). (Again, there are spaced lock tabs  50  on crossbar  36  and opposed notches  68  on rib  66  so that actuator button  58  can be locked by movement of crossbar  36  in either direction.) Actuator pad  58  can then be released, as illustrated in  FIG. 9A , while holding crossbar  36  in the locked position, which facilitates use by an operator. However, if crossbar  36  is released, springs  46  on crossbar  36  will urge the crossbar to the center first position, releasing finger pad  36  so that dispensing of aerosol product is terminated. 
   There thus has been disclosed an actuator for an aerosol container that fully satisfies all of the objects and aims previously set forth. The actuator has been disclosed in connection with an exemplary embodiment, and a number of modifications and variations have been discussed. Other modifications and variations readily will suggest themselves to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing description. The disclosure is intended to embrace all such modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.