Abstract:
An aerosol can has a dispensing valve at one end and discharge device at another end that allows the pressurized can to be safely depressurized. The discharge device has two elements that collectively fit into a wall of the aerosol can. The second element has a through passage within itself and is threadingly connected to the first element. The first element can be rotated such that the second element can move toward the interior of the aerosol can, which in turn opens the through passage to allow pressurized air to exit the can safely.

Description:
This application is a 371 application of PCT/EP2007/058813 filed Aug. 24, 2007, which claims priority to the EP application 06019046.9 filed Sep. 12, 2006. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a container according to the preamble of Claim  1 . 
     PRIOR ART 
     Containers of the type initially mentioned are widely used for aerosols, in particular in the field of cosmetics as well as body and hair care. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,880,187 discloses a pressure container according to the preamble and deals with the problem of reducing the risk of explosions due to the propellant which is contained in the container. For this purpose the container comprises a discharge device in the form of a stopper which is disposed in the bottom of the container. Upon reaching a certain internal pressure in the container, this stopper is expelled, so that the propellant can emerge. However this can only occur in the case of extremely high internal pressures, as the container bottom must also be deformed for the stopper to be expelled in U.S. Pat. No. 3,880,187. 
     As opposed to this, however, it would be of advantage if the propellant could be discharged by a user, irrespective of the internal pressure, for example before the container is thrown away. For this purpose JP 09142552 A proposes a container which comprises a stopper with a closed through-opening in its bottom. The propellant can be discharged by opening the closed through-opening. However an aid such as, for example, a pair of scissors is required for this. 
     PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a container of the type initially mentioned which enables a propellant to be easily discharged by a user. 
     This object is solved according to the invention by a container according to Claim  1 . Particularly advantageous developments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims. 
     The invention is based on the concept of inducing the discharge of the propellant through a specific relative movement instead of through considerable deformation of or damage to components of the container. For this purpose, according to the invention, given a container according to the preamble, the discharge device comprises a first and a second element, wherein at least the second element has at least one through-opening, and wherein, by displacing and/or rotating the second element in relation to the first element and/or the container body, the through-opening can be brought into a discharge position in which the through-opening connects the interior of the container body to the outside of the container body. 
     It is thus possible to achieve a discharge through a mere displacement or rotational movement, so that a user can carry out the discharge process without any problems. 
     According to one development of the invention, the second element moves in the direction of the interior of the container body when displaced or rotated into the discharge position. This ensures that high pressures in the interior of the container body cannot result in undesirable triggering of the discharge device. 
     In order additionally to prevent undesirable actuation of the discharge device from outside of the container body, according to one development of the invention, the container also comprises retaining means which impede a displacement or a rotation of the second element in relation to the first element towards the interior of the container body. These retaining means may be formed, for example, by friction or engagement elements which are disposed between the first and the second element. Moreover, the first and the second element may also be connected together via a predetermined breaking point, for example. 
     According to one development of the invention, at least the second element alternatively or additionally comprises stop means which oppose a displacement and/or rotation. In this case the stop means are supported at the container body, so that unwanted or undesirable actuation of the discharge device can be efficiently prevented. 
     The first and the second element can be configured in different ways within the scope of the present invention. However, according to one development of the invention, the first element is of a lower rigidity than the second element. The first element can as a result advantageously exert a sealing function on the discharge opening, and in this regard it is particularly preferable for the first element to consist of an elastomer, for example of rubber or similar. In contrast, it has proved to be advantageous for the second element for this to be made of an injection-molded plastics material. The second element can as a result easily be provided with the through-opening according to the invention. 
     In order, if required, to enable the discharge device to be easily and safely actuated, according to one development of the invention, at least the second element comprises actuating means. It has in this respect proved to be advantageous, with regard to easy production and user-friendly operability, for the actuating means to be selected from at least one notch, at least one projection and at least one lever. 
     Furthermore, according to one development of the invention, the second element is engaged with the first element via a thread. A relative displacement between the two elements when the second element is rotated can as a result be achieved in a particularly simple and effective manner. 
     Furthermore, according to one development of the invention, the second element comprises a point in order to penetrate the first element. This means that the first element does not have to comprise a through-opening at the outset, but can be formed as a completely sealing stopper which is only completely pierced when the discharge device is actuated by the second element. 
     A particularly advantageous application for the container according to the invention is obtained if the container body comprises at least two chambers in its interior, with a propellant preferably being provided in a chamber which is adjacent to the discharge device. In the case of containers of this kind the propellant is not expelled during use, instead serving solely to expel the active substance. In this case a large quantity of propellant remains in the container, so that a simple and effective discharge of the propellant is of particular advantage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic sectional view of a container according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment of the discharge device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of the discharge device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional view of a third embodiment of the discharge device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the discharge device according to the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the discharge device according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic sectional view of a container  1  as preferred embodiment of the invention. The container serves to hold aerosols, as are used, for example, in the field of (hair) cosmetics, although also with numerous other fields of application. The container  1  has a substantially cylindrical container body  2  which has at its top side an expulsion opening  4  in which an expulsion valve  8 , for example an atomizer, is provided. At the opposite, lower side the container body has a discharge opening  6  in which a discharge device  10  is provided, this being considered in greater detail in the following. 
     The container  1  under consideration is a two-chamber container which comprises in its interior two chambers  2 ′,  2 ″ which are separated by a membrane or film  3 . In this regard, a propellant is provided in the chamber  2 ″ which is adjacent to the discharge device  10 , while a medium which is to be sprayed as an aerosol is provided in the other chamber  2 ′. 
     Preferred embodiments of the discharge device  10  according to the invention are described in the following with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 6 . The figures show the discharge device  10  in an initial position and in a discharge position in each case. 
     A first preferred embodiment of the discharge device  10  according to the invention is represented schematically in  FIG. 2 . This has a first element  12  which is inserted in the discharge opening  6  and formed, for example, by a rubber stopper. A second element  14  is positively connected to the rubber stopper (via a barb), is disposed on the outside of the container body and in this embodiment comprises two through-openings  16  which in each case have a deflection  16 ′. The second element  14  is supported via a resilient stop plate  18  on the outside of the container body  8 . 
     The initial state (closed state) of the discharge device  10  is shown at the top of  FIG. 2 . In order to actuate the discharge device, a user can press with a finger or an appropriate object on the lower face of the second element  14  in order thus to push the first element  12  together with a part of the second element  14  through the discharge opening  6  such that it locks into place and the through-ducts  16  establish a connection between the interior of the container body  2  and the exterior of the container body  2 . This discharge position is shown at the bottom of  FIG. 2 . The propellant gas which is provided in the chamber  2 ″ can thus be discharged through the through-openings  16  to the outside. 
     When actuation takes place it is necessary, inter alia, for the resilient stop plate  18  to undergo deformation, which is to prevent undesirable actuation of the discharge device  10 . Although this is not shown in the figures, the resilient stop plate  18  may comprise predetermined breaking points so that it is sheared off at a predetermined compressive force. 
     A second embodiment of the discharge device  10  according to the invention is represented schematically in  FIG. 3 . This basically comprises the same fundamental components as the first embodiment described with reference to  FIG. 2 . However an essential difference lies in the fact that the first element  12  is formed like a ring and the second element  14  is inserted in the inner through-opening of the ring-like, first element  12 . It is also possible in this embodiment to establish a connection between the interior and the exterior of the container body via the through-opening  16  by actuating the second element  14  from below with a finger or an appropriate object. 
     A third preferred embodiment of the discharge device  10  according to the invention is represented schematically in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment the first element  12  is again formed as a rubber stopper which in the initial position (at the bottom of  FIG. 4 ) completely seals the discharge opening  6  and initially has no through-opening. In addition, the second element  14  is in this embodiment provided with an external thread  14 ′ and a point  14 ″ which are embedded in the first element  12 . The second element  14  also has actuating means  20 , for example in the form of a projection, which can be gripped with the fingers. 
     In order to actuate the discharge device  10 , the projection  20  is gripped with the fingers and the second element  14  is rotated about an axis of the through-opening  16 . This results in the point  14 ″ penetrating into the first element on account of the action of the thread  14 ′ and drawing this towards it until a connection is finally established between the interior and the exterior of the container body via the through-opening  16 . 
     A fourth preferred embodiment of the discharge device  10  according to the invention is represented schematically in  FIG. 5 . Here, too, the first element is formed by a rubber stopper, although this is at the outset penetrated by the second element  14 , which in this embodiment is formed like a needle. In this embodiment the through-opening  16  is configured such that the outlet opening of the through-opening  16  emerges laterally from the needle  14  at a point inside the first element  12  (in the initial state). In this embodiment the needle  14  is also provided at its outer end with a lever  20  which is supported on the outside of the container body. As soon as the lever  20  is pivoted in relation to the container body, the needle  14  is drawn out of the first element  12  until the bore of the through-opening  16  is uncovered and a connection between the interior and the exterior of the container body is therefore established. 
     A fifth preferred embodiment of the discharge device  10  according to the invention is represented schematically in  FIG. 6 . This corresponds largely to the second embodiment which is shown in  FIG. 3 , although, unlike the latter, it has a notch  20  into which appropriate actuating means such as, for example, a screwdriver or a coin  22  can be introduced in order to enable the discharge device to be easily actuated or unlocked, for example through a quarter turn with a coin and simultaneous pressing.