Actuator Assembly For A Dispensing Container
A dispensing container assembly (10) includes a container having a top end (14) at which a valve member is located, a bottom end and a circumferentially extending sidewall that is positioned between the top end and the bottom end. An actuator assembly (34) is advantageously provided for permitting actuation of the valve member by a user without requiring the user's hand or finger to be positioned immediately adjacent to the valve member and the top end of the container. The actuator assembly (34) may include a flexible elongated band (40) that is spaced outwardly from a portion of the sidewall of the container (12). The valve member is actuated by squeezing the container (12) and the flexible elongated band (40), which mechanically transmits force via the band (40) to the valve member.
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This invention relates generally to the field of packaging technology, and more specifically to dispensing containers, such as aerosol cans.
BACKGROUND ARTDispensing containers such as pressurised aerosol cans are in wide use throughout the world. An aerosol can typically is fabricated from a metallic material and includes a top end having a top rim, a bottom end having a bottom rim and a cylindrical sidewall between the top and bottom ends. Aerosol containers usually have a valve mechanism located at the top end of the container for controlling the dispensing of the container's pressurised contents.
The most common type of valve mechanism that is used with aerosol containers is designed to be actuated by exerting a force in the axial direction downwardly on a valve actuator that extends axially from the top of the container. Another type of valve mechanism, which is commonly used for dispensing substances such as whipped cream, is designed to be actuated by exerting a lateral force on such a valve actuator.
While conventional aerosol valve actuators are satisfactory for most applications, there are instances when it may be inconvenient or unhygienic for a consumer's finger to be located adjacent to the top end of the aerosol container while the contents of the container are being dispensed. For example, the substance being dispensed may be toxic or otherwise unpleasant and the consumer may prefer not to have his or her finger exposed to the substance. It may be undesirable from a hygienic standpoint for the consumer's finger to contact the material being dispensed in situations related to provision of health care or for food preparation.
In addition, there are instances in which space constraints make it difficult or impossible to conveniently dispense a material from a dispensing container while the user's hand is positioned at or near the top of the container. For example, a user may want to dispense an aerosolised lubricant in a location where space restrictions would permit insertion of the aerosol container, but not the user's hand. In addition, the use of an applicator or attachment nozzle to guide the material being dispensed is frequently made impossible by the need to have the user's finger or hand immediately adjacent to the dispensing valve of an aerosol container during use.
A need exists for an improved valve actuator for a dispensing container that will obviate the need for the consumer's hand to be positioned near the top of the container when the contents of the container are being dispensed.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTIONAccordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved valve actuator for a dispensing container that will obviate the need for the consumer's hand to be positioned near the top of the container when the contents of the container are being dispensed.
In order to achieve the above and other objects of the invention, in a first aspect of the invention there is provided an actuator assembly for a dispensing container, comprising:
an elongated actuating member;
a valve connecting means for connecting the elongated actuating member to a valve of the container;
characterised in that the elongated actuating member comprises an elongated flexible strap and the actuator assembly further comprises mounting means for mounting the elongated actuating member to the container so that the elongated actuating member is spaced outwardly from a portion of a sidewall of the container, wherein the actuator assembly is constructed and arranged to operate the valve member when a portion of the elongated actuating member is displaced inwardly towards the portion of the sidewall.
In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a dispensing container comprising the actuator assembly as referred to above.
These and various other advantages and features of novelty that characterise the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described various preferred embodiments of the invention.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring in particular to
Container 12 further includes an aerosol valve 28 that is located at the top end 14 of the container 12 and that is of the conventional type that is constructed and arranged to be actuated when a lateral force is applied thereto. A dispensing extension or guide tube 30 may be mounted on the aerosol valve 28. As
According to one advantageous feature of the invention, an actuator assembly 34 is provided for permitting and facilitating the actuation of the dispensing valve 28 by a user without requiring the user's hand or finger to be positioned immediately adjacent to the top end 14 of the container 12. In the embodiment of the invention that is shown in
As
As tension is so applied to the strap 40, the first end 42 of the strap 40 will remain fixed to the end cap 38, but the second end 44 of the strap 40 will cause the ring member 46 as it is shown in
It is important that strap 40 be constructed so as to be substantially inelastic and capable of bearing tension, so that the inward displacement of the strap 40 created by the squeezing of the strap 40 and container 12 is faithfully transmitted as lateral movement of the dispensing valve 28.
In the preferred embodiment, strap 40 is preferably fabricated from a polymeric material, such as polypropylene or polyethylene. Alternatively, strap 40 may be fabricated from a reinforced composite material such as a graphite fibre reinforced polymer or fibreglass material, a woven or non-woven webbing or from a flexible metallic material.
A dispensing container assembly 50 according to a second embodiment of the invention is depicted in
Dispensing container 50 further includes a sidewall 73 having first and second recesses 74, 76 defined therein. Recesses 74, 76 are preferably located on opposite sides of the sidewall 73 and are generally in a central portion of the sidewall 73 relative to the top and bottom ends 54, 56. As
As is shown in
Alternative dispensing attachments are discussed below with reference to the embodiments that are shown in
A dispensing container assembly 90 that is constructed according to a third embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
An actuator assembly 100 includes an end cap 102 that is mounted to the bottom end 96 of the container 92, a first collar member 104 and a second collar member 106. The first collar member 104 is securely mounted to an upper end of the sidewall 98 near the top end 94 of the container 92 and the second collar member 106 is securely mounted to a lower portion of the sidewall 98 near the bottom end 96 of the container 92. The collar members 104, 106 may be mounted to the sidewall 98 by secure frictional engagement, by an adhesive or through anyone of a number of possible conventional alternative techniques. The first and second collar members 104, 106 are preferably fabricated from a polymeric material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene.
Actuator assembly 100 further includes a flexible elongated actuating member 108 that is preferably embodied as an elongated strap 110. The elongated strap 110 has a first end 112 that is secured to a valve mounting ring 46 and a second end 114 that is secured to an upper surface of the second collar member 106 at a location that is near the outer surface of the sidewall 98. According to one advantageous feature of this embodiment, a locking member 116 is movably mounted to a central portion of the sidewall 98 between the first and second collar members 104, 106.
Locking member 116 is movably mounted to the sidewall 98 so that it can be longitudinally slid by a consumer from the locked position that is shown in
As the locking member 116 is pushed downwardly towards the position that is shown in
It is considered beneficial to provide structure for permitting tightening of the strap 110 by the consumer for a number of reasons. First, while the strap 110 may be initially provided in a tensioned condition at the manufacturing or packaging facility it will naturally tend to loosen over time due to stretching of the strap material. Also, as a result of differential expansion and/or contraction of the different materials in the dispensing container assembly 90 that will inevitably occur as the container assembly 90 is exposed to conditions of extreme heat, cold and humidity, it may be desirable to manufacture the actuating assembly 100 so that the strap 110 is initially in a slackened state so that the valve assembly 28 is not accidentally actuated due to environmental stress during shipping and handling. Although the structure for permitting tightening of the strap 110 that is shown in
A dispensing container assembly 130 that is constructed according to a fourth embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
This embodiment of the invention includes an actuating assembly 140 having a first collar member 142 that is mounted to the sidewall 138 at an upper portion near the top end 134 and a second collar member 144 that is mounted to the sidewall 138 at a lower portion near the bottom end 136 of the container 132. Actuating assembly 140 further preferably includes an elongated flexible actuating member 146 that is embodied as an elongated strap 148 having a first end 150 that is secured to the valve mounting ring 46 and a second end 152 that is secured to the second collar member 144. The elongated strap 148 is in contact with an outer surface of the first collar member 142 and is stretched between the first collar member 142 and the second collar member 144 as shown in
According to one advantageous feature of this embodiment, a removable locking member 154 is initially positioned between the elongated strap 148 and the outer surface of the sidewall 138 of the container 132 to prevent the possibility of the elongated strap 148 from being accidentally inwardly displaced prior to the intended use of the dispensing container assembly 130. Removable locking member 154 is preferably configured so that it may be removed by the consumer prior to use. Optionally, removable locking member 154 may be designed so that it can be repositioned in the orientation shown in
A dispensing container assembly 180 that is constructed according to a sixth embodiment of the invention is depicted in
Dispensing container assembly 180 further includes a dispensing attachment 192 having an upper surface 196 that is angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the container 182. Dispensing attachment 192 includes a dispensing orifice 194 that is positioned at the end of a nozzle 196 which is oriented in a direction that is substantially parallel to the upper surface 196 of the dispensing attachment 192. Dispensing attachment 192 has particular utility for dispensing a cleaning substance such as a disinfectant foam beneath the rim of a toilet bowl.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Claims
1. An actuator assembly for a dispensing container, comprising: an elongated actuating member; a valve connecting means for connecting the elongated actuating member to a valve of the container; characterised in that the elongated actuating member comprises an elongated flexible strap and the actuator assembly further comprises mounting means for mounting the elongated flexible strap to the container so that the elongated flexible strap is spaced outwardly from a portion of a sidewall of the container, wherein the actuator assembly is constructed and arranged to operate the valve member when a portion of the elongated flexible strap is displaced inwardly towards the portion of the sidewall.
2. An actuator assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting means is adapted such that the elongated flexible strap extends along the longitudinal axis of the container.
3. An actuator assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongated flexible strap includes first and second elongated elements adapted for mounting to the opposing sides of the sidewall, the first and second elongated elements interconnected such that inward displacement of a portion of the first and second elongated elements towards the portion of the sidewall operates the valve member.
4. An actuator assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator assembly is adapted such that inward displacement of the portion of the elongated flexible strap towards the portion of the sidewall tautens the elongated flexible strap and thereby operates the valve member.
5. An actuator assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongated actuating member also comprises tensioning means that is actuatable by a user in order to tauten the elongated flexible strap prior to use.
6. An actuator assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the tensioning means comprises a collar member that is slidably mountable to the sidewall such that it is located between the elongated flexible strap and the sidewall, wherein the elongated flexible strap co-operates with the collar member such that slidable movement of the collar member relative to the sidewall adjusts the tension in the elongated flexible strap.
7. An actuator assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the tensioning means includes a releasable locking member movable from a first locked position to a second unlocked position, the actuator assembly constructed such that the elongated flexible strap is in a slackened state when the locking member is in the first locked position and in a taut state when the locking member is in the second unlocked position.
8. An actuator assembly as claimed in claim 1, the actuator assembly being suitable for use with a cylindrical container, wherein the mounting means is adapted to ensure that the elongated flexible strap is offset from the sidewall of the container at one or both ends of the container.
9. An actuator assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the actuator assembly comprises a first collar member and a second collar member, the first and second collar members mountable to the sidewall proximate opposing ends of the container such that the elongated flexible strap is stretched between the collar members to define a space between the elongated flexible strap and the sidewall.
10. An actuator assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a removable locking member which is beatable between the elongated flexible strap and the sidewall to inhibit accidental actuation of the elongated flexible strap and the valve member.
11. A dispensing container comprising the actuator assembly as claimed in claim 1.
12. A dispensing container as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sidewall of the container is provided with a recessed portion, the elongated flexible strap positioned adjacent to the recessed portion such that the portion of the elongated flexible strap may be displaced inwardly into a space defined between the elongated flexible strap portion and the recessed portion.
13. A dispensing container as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a dispensing attachment mounted to the container adjacent the valve member and wherein the actuator assembly is operable with the dispensing attachment in place.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 20, 2007
Publication Date: Jan 21, 2010
Applicant: CROWN PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY, INC. (Alsip, IL)
Inventors: Christopher P. Ramsey (Wantage), Katie Bodnar (Newbury), Jonathon P. Whiteman (London)
Application Number: 12/521,816
International Classification: B65D 83/00 (20060101);