Abstract: An aerosol valve actuator with a top portion rotatable on a bottom portion. The entire top portion in one rotatable position is depressible vertically to actuate the valve. A click post and clicking rib provide a single click in each direction of rotation. Flanges on top and bottom portions interact to stop rotation as soon as each click occurs. Plastic springs interact with spring biasing members only when the top portion is in actuating position, and assure return of the actuator top portion to full upward position for rotation after actuation of even a short-stemmed valve. Downwardly extending flexible connecting flanges connect the actuator top and bottom portions. The top portion has a lower periphery with a plurality of upwardly extending indentations to overlie lateral ribs in the lower portion in actuation position. The top and bottom portions have interfitting cylinders to stabilize the top portion and maintain verticality.

Abstract: An aerosol valve actuator with a valve stem engaging portion, product dispensing opening, and flexible and expandable product conduit between the engaging portion and dispensing opening. The product conduit is molded at least in part of a first expandable flexible plastic material softer than a second plastic material of the remainder of the actuator. The remainder of the actuator is first molded, followed by molding the first plastic material to form at least a part of the product conduit. After the actuator has been actuated to dispense a foaming product and actuation ceases, the post-foaming product expands within the product conduit since the conduit expands to absorb the product expansion. Actuator cap and base product dispensing side openings align only during valve actuation. Base inwardly flexible members and cap internal ramps bias the cap upwardly when actuation ceases. Base upper portion telescopes in base lower portion during actuation.

Abstract: A locking aerosol dispenser with a dome, a top thermoplastic elastomeric button member molded over a dome opening, and a base lock member. The rotatable base lock rotates from locked to unlocked position with respect to the essentially non-rotatable dome. A product channel member in the dome is held by the elastomeric button, and not otherwise attached to the dome. The base lock has an upstanding bridge with unlocking slots within which extend fingers on the product channel member when the dispenser is unlocked and actuated. The base lock is not attached to the aerosol valve mounting cup. The dome is attached to the base lock member and the aerosol valve mounting cup, the dome capturing the base lock member between the dome and aerosol container.

Abstract: A bag-on-valve aerosol valve system in a container. Propellant is pressure filled around the valve stem, outwardly over the stem gasket and down into the container space outside the bag. Product is filled through the valve stem into the bag. The valve stem has an exterior intermediate frusto-conical annular surface and the valve housing has an interior frusto-conical annular surface, with both surfaces engaging in annular sealing contact to block propellant access to the bag when the valve stem is deeply depressed to a first predetermined position for propellant pressure filling. A stem exterior surface indent interacts with radially-biased spring-loaded slides to lock the stem in a second less depressed predetermined position for product filling through the stem down into the bag. The propellant and product may be pressure filled in either order using essentially conventional pressure filing equipment, after the valve is mounted on the container and the bag is mounted on the valve.

Abstract: A plastic aerosol valve with a plastic valve stem, plastic housing, plastic mounting cup, and plastic locking ring. The plastic valve is assembled into the mounting cup. The plastic housing is assembled into the plastic mounting cup by snap fittings. The plastic mounting cup has a peripheral portion that snap fits up into the plastic locking ring. The plastic locking ring has frangibly-connected upper and lower portions. The lower portion snap fits with the top of a plastic product bottle to mount the aerosol valve assembly on the bottle. The upper ring portion thereafter is telescoped downwardly over the lower ring portion to lock and retain the aerosol valve assembly on the pressurized bottle. The plastic mounting cup can be molded separately, or integrally with the plastic locking ring. A check valve may be contained in the valve stem.

Abstract: Metal discs, preferably circular, are cut to a precise diameter and drawn to a preform with a channel and skirt for an aerosol valve mounting cup. The preform then undergoes further forming operations at stations in a press system. “Bumping” is carried out on the skirt edge at a station, to eliminate non-burr trimming of the cup edge, save material and obtain a carefully controlled skirt height and a substantially even skirt edge with minimized earring. The resultant cup terminating skirt edge is characterized by reformed metal. A further coaxing or pinch-cut operation may be performed on the cup skirt.

Abstract: An aerosol valve actuator with a top portion rotatable on a bottom portion. The entire top portion in one rotatable position is depressible vertically to actuate the valve. A click post and clicking rib provide a single click in each direction of rotation. Flanges on top and bottom portions interact to stop rotation as soon as each click occurs. Plastic springs interact with spring biasing members only when the top portion is in actuating position, and assure return of the actuator top portion to full upward position for rotation after actuation of even a short-stemmed valve. Downwardly extending flexible connecting flanges connect the actuator top and bottom portions. The top portion has a lower periphery with a plurality of upwardly extending indentations to overlie lateral ribs in the lower portion in actuation position. The top and bottom portions have interfitting cylinders to stabilize the top portion and maintain verticality.

Abstract: Self-purging, low force opening, aerosol valve system with an orificed valve stem groove and gasket forming a first valve for product and propellant, or propellant, flow. A check valve element, biasing element and housing first opening form a second valve for product flow. Actuating the valve stem sequentially opens first valve and then second valve. After actuation, second valve closes before first valve, and propellant from housing second opening purges valve stem and actuator until first valve closes. No first valve closing return spring acts directly on valve stem, allowing easy opening. Gasket in stem groove and product and propellant flow fully close first valve after second valve closes. High solid and/or resin content products can be dispensed through an actuator with mechanical break-up insert.

Abstract: A locking aerosol dispenser with a dome, a top thermoplastic elastomeric button member molded over a dome opening, and a base lock member. The rotatable base lock rotates from locked to unlocked position with respect to the essentially non-rotatable dome. A product channel member in the dome is held by the elastomeric button, and not otherwise attached to the dome. The base lock has an upstanding bridge with unlocking slots within which extend fingers on the product channel member when the dispenser is unlocked and actuated. The base lock is not attached to the aerosol valve mounting cup. The dome is attached to the base lock member and the aerosol valve mounting cup, the dome capturing the base lock member between the dome and aerosol container.

Abstract: Aerosol valve trigger actuator with a plastic shroud, a linearly acting trigger member having at least one camming surface, a fluid conduit for connection to a vertical aerosol valve stem and with at least one cam follower, the trigger actuation camming the plastic conduit and valve stem downwardly to dispense product, an elongated bendable plastic spring molded to the shroud, the trigger member having at least one rearward extension extending through at least one opening in the spring. In a first embodiment, the rearward extension is locked by one or more hooks to the free end of the plastic spring on assembly. In a second embodiment, a protrusion on the trigger locks it against removal. The plastic spring biases the trigger member forwardly on trigger release.

Abstract: A bag-on-valve aerosol valve system in a container. Propellant is pressure filled around the valve stem, outwardly over the stem gasket and down into the container space outside the bag. Product is filled through the valve stem into the bag. The valve stem has an exterior intermediate frusto-conical annular surface and the valve housing has an interior frusto-conical annular surface, with both surfaces engaging in annular sealing contact to block propellant access to the bag when the valve stem is deeply depressed to a first predetermined position for propellant pressure filling. A stem exterior surface indent interacts with radially-biased spring-loaded slides to lock the stem in a second less depressed predetermined position for product filling through the stem down into the bag. The propellant and product may be pressure filled in either order using essentially conventional pressure filing equipment, after the valve is mounted on the container and the bag is mounted on the valve.

Abstract: Self-purging, low force opening, aerosol valve system with an orificed valve stem groove and gasket forming a first valve for product and propellant, or propellant, flow. A check valve element, biasing element and housing first opening form a second valve for product flow. Actuating the valve stem sequentially opens first valve and then second valve. After actuation, second valve closes before first valve, and propellant from housing second opening purges valve stem and actuator until first valve closes. No first valve closing return spring acts directly on valve stem, allowing easy opening. Gasket in stem groove and product and propellant flow fully close first valve after second valve closes. High solid and/or resin content products can be dispensed through an actuator with mechanical break-up insert.

Abstract: An aerosol valve actuator with a discrete shell-like enclosure and a discrete, bottom mounted, actuating member with finger actuating pad. An opening with a perimeter, in the upper portion of the enclosure, is closed in non-actuated position by the finger pad which has a greater perimeter than the opening perimeter. The finger pad has an upper surface with a portion adjacent its perimeter which underlies and contacts the enclosure upper portion directly adjacent its opening leaving no discernable gap. The finger pad cannot be pushed upwardly through the opening to create a “smiling” effect. The actuating member is connected to the enclosure interior side wall, and has a nozzle outer end snap fit and extending into and filling an enclosure side wall product dispensing opening to prevent spray noise entering the enclosure and being intensified.

Abstract: An aerosol valve actuator with a valve stem engaging portion, product dispensing opening, and flexible and expandable product conduit between the engaging portion and dispensing opening. The product conduit is molded at least in part of a first expandable flexible plastic material softer than a second plastic material of the remainder of the actuator. The remainder of the actuator is first molded, followed by molding the first plastic material to form at least a part of the product conduit. After the actuator has been actuated to dispense a foaming product and actuation ceases, the post-foaming product expands within the product conduit since the conduit expands to absorb the product expansion. Actuator cap and base product dispensing side openings align only during valve actuation. Base inwardly flexible members and cap internal ramps bias the cap upwardly when actuation ceases. Base upper portion telescopes in base lower portion during actuation.

Abstract: A fisherman's bobber takes the form of a hollow one piece plastic spheroid having two mating halves joined together by corresponding portions of a living hinge. The hinge extends outwardly from both halves. The interior peripheral surfaces of both halves are contoured to enable the halves to be joined together in locking engagement when the halves are pressed together and to permit the halves to be unlocked and swung apart when squeezed together. The portions of the hinge when the halves are locked together hold a fishing line in locking engagement therebetween.

Abstract: An aerosol valve actuator with a valve stem engaging portion, product dispensing opening, and flexible and expandable product conduit between the engaging portion and dispensing opening. The product conduit is molded at least in part of a first expandable flexible plastic material softer than a second plastic material of the remainder of the actuator. The remainder of the actuator is first molded, followed by molding the first plastic material to form at least a part of the product conduit. After the actuator has been actuated to dispense a foaming product and actuation ceases, the post-foaming product expands within the product conduit since the conduit expands to absorb the product expansion. Actuator cap and base product dispensing side openings align only during valve actuation. Base inwardly flexible members and cap internal ramps bias the cap upwardly when actuation ceases. Base upper portion telescopes in base lower portion during actuation.

Abstract: An aerosol valve actuator with a discrete shell-like enclosure and a discrete, bottom mounted, actuating member with finger actuating pad. An opening with a perimeter, in the upper portion of the enclosure, is closed in non-actuated position by the finger pad which has a greater perimeter than the opening perimeter. The finger pad has an upper surface with a portion adjacent its perimeter which underlies and contacts the enclosure upper portion directly adjacent its opening leaving no discernable gap. The finger pad cannot be pushed upwardly through the opening to create a “smiling” effect. The actuating member is connected to the enclosure interior side wall, and has a nozzle outer end snap fit and extending into and filling an enclosure side wall product dispensing opening to prevent spray noise entering the enclosure and being intensified.

Abstract: A camless aerosol valve actuator with a top portion mounted on and rotatable with respect to a bottom portion from an inoperative to an operative position. A first collar of the top portion has a side opening and a first central opening with a depressible finger pad mounted therein. A second collar of the bottom portion has a depressible product channel member with a nozzle positioned adjacent the second collar. A finger pad first protuberance overlies and aligns with the product channel member only in the operative actuator position. The nozzle aligns with the first collar side opening only in the operative actuator position, and the nozzle is blocked by the first collar in the inoperative position. A finger pad second protuberance braces the product channel member in the operative actuator position.