AEROSOL CAN HAVING HIGH FRICTION SURFACE COATING

Abstract

A handheld can, such as an aerosol can, having a high friction surface thereon to improve a user’s grip on the can. The high friction surface is grippy or tacky, but not sticky, and does not attract dirt, dust, and other debris thereto. The high friction surface retains its coefficient of friction under wet conditions and over extended use. The coating can be on at least the top 25% of the length of the can, in relation to the applicator nozzle. An example of a suitable material to form the high friction coating is a water-based polyurethane, optionally with a filler.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application 63/322,185 filed Mar. 21, 2022 and titled “Aerosol Can Having High Friction Surface Coating,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

Aerosol cans, as well as many other handheld items, have metal surfaces that can often be difficult to grip. Depending on the physical size of the user’s hand, as well as on the hand strength, some users may have difficulty holding on to a can for extended periods of time or periodically over a long period of time. Additionally, certain substances, such as water, soap, oil, grease, etc., present on either the user’s hand or on the can may increase the difficulty of holding the can.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides an aerosol can, and other cylindrical or similar handheld items, having a high friction surface thereon to improve a user’s grip on the can. The high friction surface is non-tacky, does not attract nor have dirt, dust, and other debris adhere thereto. The high friction surface retains an increased coefficient of friction under wet conditions (increased in comparison to the surface of the can having no high friction surface) and does not get slippery when wet. The high friction surface retains its increased coefficient of friction over time (e.g., for at least 6 months, e.g., at least 9 months of use). The surface has a tacky or grippy feel, without being sticky.

One particular embodiment described herein is an aerosol can having a high friction coating on a surface thereon, resulting in a high friction surface, the coating being on at least the top 25% of the length of the can, in relation to the applicator nozzle. An example of a suitable material to form the high friction coating is a water-based polyurethane.

Another particular embodiment described herein is a can having a metal cylindrical body having a first end with a dispenser nozzle thereon, the body comprising an exterior surface having a polymeric high friction coating proximate the first end. In some embodiments, the can is an aerosol can. The polymeric high friction coating can have a thickness of no more than 0.005 inch; the coating can be at least 0.001 inch thick. The polymeric high friction coating can be continuous or can be present as a pattern on the exterior surface of the body. In most embodiments, the coating is present around the total circumference of the can. The polymeric high friction coating occupies at least 25% of a length of the can body from the first end.

In some embodiments, the high friction coating is translucent, allowing indicia present on the body of the can to be seen through the coating.

These and various other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description. Other implementations are also described and recited herein.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol can with a high friction coating on a surface thereof.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an aerosol can with a patterned high friction coating on a surface thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is directed to handheld items with a high friction surface formed by a high friction coating thereon to improve a user’s grip on the item. The high friction surface is grippy or tacky, yet non-sticky, not conducive to having dirt, dust, and other debris adhere thereto. The surface coating is durable, in that it does not readily chip, scratch or peel over time, and over time, the surface does not lose its properties (i.e., it remains grippy or tacky). Additionally, the high friction surface may be hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic, repelling water and/or oils, respectively.

A particular item having the high friction surface is an aerosol can, which is typically metal, or other can or container having a cylindrical shape that is typically held with and activated by one hand. The high friction material is of such a nature that a thin layer of the material (e.g., no more than about 0.005 inch but typically at least 0.001 inch) will achieve the desired effect of increasing the coefficient of friction of the surface of the can on which it is applied. The high friction surface retains an elevated coefficient of friction under wet conditions, so that even when the item is wet or the user’s hand is wet, the user can readily grasp the can to activate the spray mechanism without the can slipping. When wet, the surface retains a tacky or grippy feel, without being sticky.

Turning to FIG. 1, an item according to the disclosure herein is illustrated; the item in FIG. 1 is an aerosol can 100. The can 100 can be any conventional aerosol can construction, having a first end 101 and an opposite second end 102 defined by a cylindrical body 110. Present at the first end 101 is an aerosol nozzle, applicator or dispenser 120. A product to be dispensed is within the interior of the body 110, which is typically a metal body 110 having any number of interior liners or coatings to protect the contained product or the body 110. The body 110 usually has indicia thereon, formed by a thin layer of paint or ink, the indicia being an identifier of the product within the can 100; thus, although the surface of the body 110 may not have metal atoms present on the surface, but have a layer of paint or ink over the metal, for purposes herein it is construed that the body surface is metal.

The product within the can 100 may be any product suitable to be dispensed by the can 100 and the aerosol dispenser 120; examples of such products include paint, insecticides (e.g., bug repellants, insect killer), lubricants (e.g., WD-40®, engine degreaser, silicone), cleaning products, medical products (e.g., antibacterial or antifungal spray), and numerous other products.

During the application (spraying) of many of these products, the user’s hands may be or become wet or the outer surface of the can 100 may be or become wet, causing potential difficulties in holding the can and/or applying the product. For many users, due to the shape (e.g., cylindrical) and size of the can 100, a wet aerosol can 100 is difficult to hold and engage the aerosol dispenser 120.

To increase the user’s grip on the can 100 and inhibit the user from dropping the can 100, or to inhibit slipping or twisting of the can 100 during use or otherwise getting an inaccurate spray from the can 100, the can 100 has a high friction surface 130 on the outer surface of the can body 110.

The high friction surface 130 is present on at least the top 25% of the cylindrical extension of the can body 110, in relation to the applicator or dispenser 120 at the first end 101. In FIG. 1, the high friction surface 130 extends a distance D along the body 110. The high friction surface 130 is at the location where a user will hold the can 100 with the palm of their hand with the fingers wrapped around the can 100, with one finger (usually the index finger) positioned on the dispenser 120. In some embodiments, the high friction surface 130 occupies at least the top ⅓ (e.g., 33%) of the can body 110, in other embodiments ½ or 50%. In some embodiments, the high friction surface 130 occupies no more than 50% of the length of the can body 110, or even no more than 25%, e.g., depending on the length of the can body 110. The high friction surface 130 may be present only on a portion of the circumference of the body 110, however, the high friction surface 130 is typically present around the entire circumference of the body 110.

The high friction surface 130 is formed by a material applied to the can 100, e.g., as a coating; the material is referred to herein as a high friction material, resulting in a high friction coating. The coating may additionally be grippy or tacky to the feel, without being sticky; a sticky coating could have dust and debris stick thereto, which is not desirable. An example of a suitable material to form the coating and the resulting high friction surface 130 is a polyurethane, such as a polyurethane elastomer. Rubber (e.g., natural rubber) is another suitable material to form the high friction coating. Other known high friction materials that could be used contain propylene or polypropylene copolymer, ethylene copolymer, neoprene or polychloroprene rubber, thermoplastic rubber block copolymer, and styrene/ethylene/ butylene/styrene tri-block copolymers.

Prior to application of the material to the body 110, the high friction material may be present as either a water-based or solvent-based solution or mixture, or may be 100% solids.

Water-based or aqueous polyurethane elastomers have oligomers that have been modified with hydrophilic groups, rendering them water dispersible. Solvent-based materials, including polyurethane elastomers, may be present in, e.g., toluene, toluol, acetone, acetate, lactol or other suitable organic solvent or alcohol. Solvent-based coatings, in general, dry faster after application than water-based coatings, however, water-based coatings generally have zero VOC emissions. For either water-based or solvent-based, the solvent evaporates when the material is exposed to air. When the solvent evaporates, the material that is left self- adheres to most surfaces.

Alternately, the high friction material may be solventless, being 100% solids even in the liquid state. To dry or harden such a material, the material may be cooled (e.g., from a melted state) or may be cross-linked or otherwise activated, such as by exposure to UV light or other free radical source. The material may be applied as a solid film to the can and subsequently processes to adhere the material to the can.

The high friction material may be or contain an aerogel.

Some materials, such as polyurethane elastomers and rubbers, are generally hazy or partially opaque in their liquid or wet form but clear when dry, particularly at thin coating thicknesses, thus allowing any indicia on the body 110 to show through the coating. 100% solids material may also be sufficiently translucent at thin thicknesses.

The high friction material can include a filler, e.g., particulate, to further increase the coefficient of friction. The filler material can be suspended in the liquid friction coating material prior to applying the material onto the can body, the filler material may be applied to the can body and the liquid material applied over the filler, or the filler may be applied (e.g., topically) after the liquid material has been applied to the can body. For embodiments where the filler is suspended in the high friction material, when the solvent evaporates or the material otherwise solidifies or hardens, the filler is left embedded in the material. For embodiments where the filler is applied to the body before or after the high friction material, as the coating material dries, it adheres the filler to the body. Examples of suitable particulate fillers include silica, alumina (aluminum oxide), glass beads, and polymer beads. Depending on the amount of filler in the high friction material, the dried material will typically remain sufficiently translucent to view indicia therethrough. The amount and/or size of the filler should be such that does not produce a manually discernible topography (e.g., bumps, protrusions, etc.).

The liquid high friction material can be applied to the surface to be coated, i.e., the can surface, by any suitable method, including spraying, brushing or painting, dip coating, etc. A solid material may be applied by powder coating and then melted or reacted to form the coating, or applied as a solid film.

When dried, the high friction material provides a high friction coating no more than about 0.005 inch (5 mil) thick, in some implementations no more than about 0.025 inch (2.5 mil) thick. The coating is typically at least 0.001 inch (1 mil) thick, sufficient to provide a durable coating that does not readily scratch off from the can surface. The high friction material may form a continuous coating or may have interruptions (e.g., pin holes). The high friction material may not cover the entire surface but may be applied in a pattern, such as dots, lines, honeycomb pattern, etc.

The dried high friction material coating has a high coefficient of friction, higher than the nominal surface of the item (e.g., the aerosol can) on which the coating is present. Thus, the high friction coating increases the coefficient of friction of surfaces to which the material is applied, surfaces such as the metal can body 110.

The resulting high friction coating 130 is unobtrusive and not readily apparent to observers but is apparent to a user of the can 100, who readily notices the increased grip on the can. The high friction coating 130 is generally not visible apparent. Depending on the high friction material applied and its thickness, the user may notice a tacky feel to the coating 130, however it is not enough to be detracting from use of the can 100. Further, the coating 130 is not adhesive, so that debris such as dirt, dust, hay, etc. does not adhere to the coating 130.

An example of a suitable high friction material is available from Plasti Dip Corp. under the trade name Super Grip®. Other suitable high friction materials are available under the trade name Stick Stuff Grip™ from BEiiMEiiUP Stuff LLC.

FIG. 2 shows another an aerosol can 200 having a first end 201 and an opposite second end 202 defined by a cylindrical metal body 210. Present at the first end 201 is an aerosol nozzle, applicator or dispenser 220. A product to be dispensed is within the interior of the body 210, which has indicia thereon, formed by a thin layer of paint or ink. The can 200 has a high friction surface 230 on the outer surface of the can body 210. Unlike the can 100 of FIG. 1 with the body 110, this can body 210 has an integral shoulder 211, tapering from the nozzle 220 to the shoulder 211 to where the body 210 becomes cylindrical. The high friction surface 230 is present on at least the top 25% of the can body 210, in relation to the applicator or dispenser 220 at the first end 201, occupying a distance “D.” However, the high friction surface 230 is removed from the shoulder 211 a distance “d.” Thus, the high friction surface 230 extends a distance of D+d, which is at least 25% of the body length, along the length of the cylindrical portion of the body 210.

The high friction surface 230 is at the location where a user will hold the can 200 with the palm of their hand with the fingers wrapped around the can 100, with one finger (usually the index finger) positioned on the dispenser 220. In some embodiments, the high friction surface 230 occupies at least the top ¼ (e.g., 25%), ⅓ (e.g., 33%) of the can body 210, in other embodiments ½ or 50%. The high friction surface 230 is present as a pattern of lines around the entire circumference of the body 210. The lines are shown as vertical along the can, but may be horizontal or angled.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of the invention. Features or elements from one embodiment may be used or exchanged with features or elements of another embodiment.

The above specification and examples provide a complete description of the structure, features and use of exemplary embodiments of the invention. Although the technology has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and materials, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and materials described. Rather, the specific aspects are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Because many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

Claims

1. A metal can having a metal cylindrical body and a first end with a dispenser nozzle thereon, the body comprising an exterior surface having a polymeric high friction coating proximate the first end that occupies at least 25% of a length of the body from the first end.

2. The can of claim 1, wherein the can is an aerosol can.

3. The can of claim 1, wherein the polymeric high friction coating has a thickness of no more than 0.005 inch.

4. The can of claim 1, wherein the polymeric high friction coating is present as a pattern on the exterior surface of the body.

5. The can of claim 4, wherein the pattern is a series of lines.

6. The can of claim 1, wherein the polymeric high friction coating comprises polyurethane.

7. The can of claim 1, wherein the polymeric high friction coating occupies at no more than 50% of the length of the can body from the first end.

8. The can of claim 1, wherein the polymeric high friction coating is tacky and not sticky.

9. The can of claim 1, wherein the polymeric high friction coating is hydrophobic.