Abstract: A valve having a valve body, defining a longitudinal axis, with a circular side wall extending down beyond a floor of the body to define a socket. Into this socket is frictionally engaged an appendage having a circular upper end and a nipple at its lower end. The appendage is partitioned into a primary product passage, communicating with a product outlet extending through the floor of the valve body, and a ball chamber, the lower of which is provided with a valve seat with a bypass opening communicating with the primary product passage. A ball chamber passage is formed in the ball chamber above the valve seat and a ball is normally seated, via gravity, on the valve seat when the container is in a normal upright position. When the container is inverted, the ball drops away from the seat and permits passage of product through the ball chamber passage, through the bypass opening into the primary product passage and up into the valve body for discharge.

Abstract: An actuator assembly for an aerosol container containing a product to be dispensed. The actuator assembly comprises a base having a through bore extending therethrough and a mechanism for securing the base member to a mounting cup of the aerosol container. An actuator is supported in the through bore of the base and is slidable along a longitudinal axis thereof via a pair of mating bearing and guide surfaces. The through bore contains a pair of opposed stop members which permanently retain the actuator within the through bore. The actuator is allowed to slide within the through bore, during installation of the actuator assembly onto an aerosol container, to prevent the actuator from sufficiently engaging with or depressing the valve stem so that inadvertent discharge of the product contents is prevented until actual use of the aerosol container by the end user.

Abstract: An improved overcap for an aerosol container comprising a top portion interconnected with an annular skirt via a sidewall to form a closed cap which is opened at one end thereof. The skirt contains a release mechanism which has a tab and a leg which, when the tab is biased in a first direction, functions as a fulcrum prying a portion of the overcap adjacent the release mechanism away from a mounting cup of an aerosol container thereby releasing the overcap from the mounting cup. An inwardly facing surface of the skirt contains a rib for engaging an outwardly facing surface of a mounting cup curl while the release mechanism contains a rib for engaging an inwardly facing surface of the mounting cup curl for maintaining the overcap in engagement with the mounting cup. The release mechanism is provided with a pair of frangible members which interconnect with the release mechanism with the overcap to indicate, when broken or fractured, tampering of an aerosol container incorporating the improved overcap.

Abstract: In an aerosol valve which includes a flow path with a compartment having an inlet into the compartment and a valve seat at the upper end of the compartment, a pocket is disposed downward from the seat opening, the pocket contains a gravity-responsive ball. When the valve is being used during dispensing and is tipped in a direction which brings the ball closer to the flow through the compartment, the ball becomes entrained in the fluid flow and flies up to seat on the valve seat to block it off, precluding further discharge. When the aerosol valve is further depressed, the ball will be forced away from the seat to again open the discharge path. The purpose of the valve is to avoid the escape of propellant or product which might occur in tipping if the lower end of the dip tube is exposed to the head space.

Abstract: In a whipped cream dispenser incorporating a tilt-type aerosol valve the tubular actuator has at its base a downwardly facing annular shoulder. This shoulder, by butting against the metal of the valve pedestal, prevents further tilting and further stress on the tubular valve spout. Further, ribs on the stem and actuator keep the actuator in fully installed position on the valve stem.

Abstract: The swivel joint comprises a housing holding a resilient annulus which in one embodiment sealingly engages an upper portion of a tubular head at the top of the dip tube, and an inward annular lip in the lower part of the housing swivelly supports the head from below. In another embodiment the resilient annulus in the housing serves to both seal and swivelly support the dip tube by its head.

Abstract: An aerosol valve used in a dispenser containing a water/alcohol system in which the valve body and valve stem are molded from a highly nucleated polypropylene.

Abstract: An aerosol valve has a body with a circular side wall extending down beyond the floor of the body to define a socket. Into this socket is frictionally engaged a symmetrical appendage having a circular upper end and a tailpiece at its lower end. The body is vertically partitioned into a primary product passage communicating from the tailpiece upward through an opening in the floor of the main valve. On the other side of the partition the lower end of the chamber is provided with a valve seat with an opening communicating with the primary passage. A side opening is formed through the appendage above the valve seat, and a ball is adapted to seat on the valve seat when the container is in normal position. When the container is inverted, the ball drops away from the seat and permits passage of product through the side opening, through the valve seat opening into the primary passage and up into the valve for discharge.

Abstract: In an aerosol valve the flow path includes a compartment having an inlet into the compartment and a valve seat at the upper end of the compartment, a pocket is disposed downward from the seat opening, the pocket containing a gravity-responsive ball. When the valve is being used in dispensing and is tipped in a direction which brings the ball closer to the flow through the compartment, the ball becomes entrained in the fluid flow and flies up to seat on the valve seat to block it off, precluding further discharge. When the aerosol valve is released, a bypass raises the pressure inside the valve body so that the ball will fall away from the seat. The purpose is to avoid the escape of propellant which might occur in tipping if the lower end of the dip tube is exposed to the head space.

Abstract: Mushroom-shaped actuator has depending latch of sufficient flexibility so that the actuator may be pressed to cause the latch to engage the edge of the aerosol valve mounting cup lip and hold the valve "on". Conversely, by finger pressure on the opposite side of the actuator, the latch may be disengaged from the edge permitting the valve to return to the non-dispensing condition.

Abstract: Aerosol valve is provided with a mixer-homogenizer plate disposed in the bottom of the valve cup. Vapor tap passing vapor into a central chamber between the valve inlet and the homogenizer plate creates a swirl in that chamber and subsequent passage of the mixture through arcuate slots effects high shear to enhance the mixing and promote homogenization in preparation for the ultimate atominzation by the actuator.

Abstract: Aerosol includes overcap having a shoulder thereinside spaced downward from the top of the overcap and a washer-like element in the top wall of the overcap which may be broken away and placed up under the overcap against the shoulder so that when the overcap is reinstalled on the container, the washer-like element presses down an upwardly directed actuator provided on the container.

Abstract: Metering valve employs resilient ball to block inlet while outlet port is open. Inlet seat includes projections which assure unseating of the ball when the valve actuator is released.

Abstract: Closure for squeeze bottle is provided with swirl chamber into which liquid and air from inside the bottle are introduced. Either the liquid or the air, or both, are introduced to chamber tangentially, and air and liquid are worked therein under conditions of high shear. Fine, well-atomized mist discharges from central orifice from chamber. Orifice may be aimed axially or angularly to axis of container.

Abstract: Plastic squeeze bottle is provided with discharge tube as well as down tube extending from above the powder level to the lower end of the discharge tube. Baffle is disposed at the lower end of the two tubes. During dispensing, squeeze of the bottle increases air pressure above the powder which drives air down through the powder and drives air down down tube to fluidize powder on the baffle from whence it moves upward through discharge tube to discharge.

Abstract: Pump for spray dispenser has spring-pressed annular piston serving as an accumulator and controlling flow through the pump discharge so that no discharge passes unless and until pressure within the pump housing is sufficiently high.