CONTAINER
A container (1) containing a dispensable fluid, the container having a valve mechanism, the valve mechanism having an outwardly extending pillar (5), the pillar (5) having external sides which have a screw thread, the valve mechanism also having a cantilevered hollow stem which extends through or from an aperture (11) in the pillar, the valve mechanism able to assume open and closed dispositions, the open disposition characterised in that the stem channels the fluid to a location outside of the container.
A preferred form of this invention relates to a container for use in delivering aerosol carried substances or other fluids to an atmosphere. A particularly preferred form of the invention relates to an aerosol can adapted for attachment to an automatic spray dispenser.
BACKGROUNDIt is known to store aerosol spray materials in a can which can be attached to a spray head to enable delivery of spray material to an atmosphere. A valve is used to control movement of the spray material between the can and the dispenser. It is an object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention go at least some way to providing the public with a useful alternative to known arrangements.
The term “comprising” or derivatives thereof, if and when used in this document should be interpreted non-exclusively, eg to mean “consisting of or including”.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one aspect of the invention there is provided a container containing a dispensable fluid, the container having a valve mechanism, the valve mechanism having an outwardly extending pillar, the pillar having external sides which have a screw thread, the valve mechanism also having a cantilevered hollow stem which extends through or from an aperture in the pillar, the valve mechanism able to assume open and closed dispositions, the open disposition characterised in that the stem channels the fluid to a location outside of the container.
Preferably the stem comprises a tube.
Preferably the stem cantilevers upwardly from the pillar when the container is in its normal in-use orientation.
Preferably the container has an end cap which closes the container and the pillar is an integral part of the end cap.
Preferably the end cap has side walls extending around the pillar.
Preferably the end cap has side walls extending around the pillar to approximately the same height as the pillar.
Preferably the container has a substantially cantilevered dip tube arranged to direct the fluid towards the valve mechanism.
Preferably the fluid comprises an aerosol spray material.
Preferably the container is formed such that it is suitable for releasable attachment to a spray dispenser head such that spray material can move from within the container and into the spray dispenser head for controlled release by the spray dispenser head to an atmosphere outside the container and outside the spray dispenser head.
Optionally the container is in combination with the spray dispenser head.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a container containing a pressurised spray material, the container having a valve mechanism, the valve mechanism having an outwardly extending pillar, the pillar having external sides which have a screw thread, the valve mechanism also having a cantilevered hollow stem, the stem extending through or from an aperture in the pillar and having an outlet aperture sealed by a resilient washer wherein such seal is maintained as a consequence of spring pressure acting on the stem, the valve mechanism able to assume an open disposition when external pressure is placed on the stem to counter the pressure from the spring such that the aperture of the stem is forced to move in a direction away from the washer to open that aperture to the spray material such that the stem channels the spray material to a location outside of the container.
Preferably the stem comprises a tube.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a container that contains a liquid and/or gas contents, the container has a valve mechanism attached to one end, the valve mechanism having a metal mounting cup that incorporates a pillar with a screw thread, and an upwardly cantilevered protruding tube.
Some preferred forms of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Referring to
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Some key features of the spray head 2 are shown schematically in cross section in
The spray head 2 is formed so that it only releases spray bursts of the aerosol spray material at predetermined time intervals so that the can 1 is not exhausted prematurely or needlessly. The valve 6, when the can 1 is fitted to the spray head 2, is permanently open due to pressure on the tube 10 from the spray head 2. However, as indicated above, movement of the spray material from the dispenser is restricted and controlled by the spray head 2. The valve 6 closes automatically when the container 1 is detached from the spray head. This is achieved by way of tension from the spring 9.
While a preferred form of the invention has been described in the context of aerosol spray material comprising a propellant gas and a liquid, the same inventive concept can be applied in the case of other types of fluid, for example gas only dispensing. The term fluid can thus refer to a liquid, a gas, or a combination of these.
Optionally the thread used for the pillar 5 is a 7/16 UNEF thread. In some embodiments of the invention an ACME thread may be employed. The tube 10 may be formed to extend to relative heights other than that shown in the drawings, depending on the desired end use.
While some preferred forms of the invention have been described by way of example it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A container containing a dispensable fluid, the container comprising a valve mechanism, the valve mechanism having an outwardly extending pillar, the pillar having external sides which have a screw thread, the valve mechanism also having a cantilevered hollow stem which extends through or from an aperture in the pillar, the valve mechanism able to assume open and closed dispositions, the open disposition characterized in that the stem channels the fluid to a location outside of the container.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the stem comprises a tube.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein the stem cantilevers upwardly from the pillar when the container is in its normal in-use orientation.
4. The container of claim 1, wherein the container has an end cap which closes the container and the pillar is an integral part of the end cap.
5. A The container of claim 4, wherein the end cap has side walls extending around the pillar.
6. The container of claim 5, wherein the end cap has side walls extending around the pillar to approximately the same height as the pillar.
7. The container of claim 1, having a substantially cantilevered dip tube arranged to direct the fluid towards the valve mechanism.
8. The container of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises an aerosol spray material.
9. The container of claim 1, formed such that it is suitable for releasable attachment to a spray dispenser head such that spray material can move from within the container and into the spray dispenser head for controlled release by the spray dispenser head to an atmosphere outside the container and outside the spray dispenser head.
10. The container of claim 9 attached to the spray dispenser.
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. A container containing a pressurized spray material, the container comprising a valve mechanism, the valve mechanism having an outwardly extending pillar, the pillar having external sides which have a screw thread, the valve mechanism also having a cantilevered hollow stem, the stem extending through or from an aperture in the pillar and having an outlet aperture sealed by a resilient washer wherein such seal is maintained as a consequence of spring pressure acting on the stem, the valve mechanism able to assume an open disposition when external pressure is placed on the stem to counter the pressure from the spring such that the aperture of the stem is forced to move in a direction away from the washer to open that aperture to the spray material such that the stem channels the spray material to a location outside of the container.
14. The container of claim 13 wherein the stem comprises a tube.
15. An aerosol can or other container that contains a liquid and/or gas contents, the container comprising a valve mechanism attached to one end, the valve mechanism having a metal mounting cup that incorporates a pillar with a screw thread, and an upwardly cantilevered protruding tube.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 11, 2008
Publication Date: Jan 6, 2011
Applicant: IPTECH LIMITED (Auckland)
Inventor: Douglas Christopher Barker (Auckland)
Application Number: 12/449,405
International Classification: B65D 83/00 (20060101);