US2696934A - Container valve means - Google Patents

Description

O. L. ASHTON CONTAINER VALVE MEANS Filed April 18, 1950 Dec. 14,1954.

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IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent 2,696,934 CONTAINER VALVE MEANS Oscar L. Ashton, Harvey, Ill.

Application April 18, 1950, Serial No. 156,587

12 Claims. (Cl. 222394) This invention relates to a novel valve means and more particularly to a valve means for use with pressurized containers or dispensers.

In recent years extensive use has been made of pressurized containers and dispensers for a wide variety of fluid materials such as insecticides, fungicides, mothproofing compounds, disinfectants, deodorants, paints, lacquers, coating compositions, cosmetics, food products, and the like. Such containers are usually in the form of metal cans and are ordinarily provided with manually operable valve means for dispensing the contents of the can under pressure and in the form of a controlled spray. The fluid material to be dispensed is contained in the can in admixture with a pressure medium or propellant which is preferably a gas condensible at comparatively low pressures. Upon release of the contents of the can .through the valve means, volatiliz ation of the,pressure medium produces atomization of the fluid material'and causes discharge of the same as a fine spray.

Inasmuch as containers and dispensers of the foregoing type are intended primarily for household purposes and the like and are ordinarily discarded after use, it will be apparent that it is very important to provide an effective easily manipulated valve means whichat the same time is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Accordingly, the broad object of my invention is to provide a novel valve means for controlling the discharge of fluids under pressure.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a novel valve means for a container of the class described which is simple in -construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel valve means for a container of the class describedwhich is characterized by positive action and which when manually actuated to open position automatically returns to tight closed position immediately upon release thereof.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel valve means for a container of the class described having resilient means for normally retaining the valve in closed position and having said resilient means located so that it does notcome into contact with the contents of the container during discharge thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevationalview of a container provided with valve means comprising the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view on an enlarged scale of the container shown in Fig. l, a portion of the structure being broken away to show the valve means;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale of the valve means illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the valve means being shown in closed position;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the valve means in open position;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a valve means comprising a modified form of the invention, the valve means being shown in closed position; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig.6 but showing the valve means in open position.

Broadly speaking, the valve means of the present invention comprises a valve body having means for securing the same in the opening of'a container, a shiftable valve Patented Dec. 14, 1954 member adapted to cooperate with the valve body, and a cap structure detachably secured to the valve member for manually actuating the latter. For insuring positive quickacting closure of the valve, resilient means is provided which normally retains the valve member in closed position. Also, as will be seen hereinafter, the cap structure is preferably provided with integral fluid discharge means whereby the fluid contents of the container may be dispensed through the cooperating valve body and valve member and thence through the cap structure.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawing, there is.

shown a container 10 provided with a valve means, indicated generally at 11, which'comprises one specific embodiment of my invention. The valve means 11 includes a closure member 12, preferably of thin metal, which is formed at its outer edge with an annular downturned rim portion 13 adapted to fit over and to be firmly secured to the mouth of the container 10. The inner portion of the closure 12 is dished downwardly, as at 14, and the metal comprising the closure 12 is folded back upon itself, as indicated at 15, and thence extends upwardly and inwardly to define an annular groove or recess 16 for receiving and retaining a valve body. The flat disk-like center portion, indicated at 17, of the closure 12 is centrally apertured as at 18.

Depending from the closure 12 and extending downwardly into the container 10 (Fig. 2) is a valve body in the form of a plug 19, preferably of resilient material such as rubber, plastic, or the like, which is enclosed in a housing 20 which may be of thin metal similar to the closure 12. The upper portion of the plug 19 is formed with an integral flange 21 and the housing 20 extending around the peripheral edge of the flange 21 is turned downwardly at its upper inner edge and is imbedded in the upper surface of the flange 21, as indicated at 22. For supporting the valve body 19 on the closure member 12, the flange 21 and the corresponding portion of the housing 20 are received within the annular groove 16, the entire valve body thereby being rigidly affixed to the closure 12 and retained betweie7n the folded portion 15 and the flat center portion The plug 19comprising the valve body is provided with a central bore 23 which is tapered outwardly, as at 24, adjacent its lower end, and an elongated shiftable valve member, indicated generally at 26, is movably disposed within this bore with the upper portion thereof being threaded externally, as at 27, and extending upwardly beyond the valve body and the closure 12. The valve member 26 may be formed from a suitable plastic material and is tapered at its lower end, as seen at 28, in order to provide a closure having a tight fit within the tapered bore 24 of the plug 19 when the valve member is in elevated or closed position (Fig. 4). The upwardly extending portion of the valve member 26 is formed with a longitudinal central bore 29 terminating at the solid tapered portion 28, and a'plurality of radial apertures or bores 30 extend through the tubular wall of the valve member 26 into fluid communicationwith the bore 29 immediately adjacent the solid tapered portion 28.

For actuating the valve member 26, a depressible operating cap 31, which may be of relatively rigid plastic or the like, is movably disposed above the closure 12. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 the cap 31 is shown as substantially hemisphericalin shape'and is'provided with a bridge portion 32 extending diametrically therein, the threaded upper end 27 of the valve member 26 being threadedly secured in the bridge 32 for effecting shifting of the valve member 26 in response to movement of the cap 31. The lower edge of the cap 31 has an outwardly and downwardly curved annular lip 33 at its under side adapted to overlie and coact with the rim 13 on the closure 12, as hereinafter described. An integrally formed bore 34 extends upwardly in the bridge 32 and outwardly through a rib portion 36 on the exterior of the body of the cap 31, the bore 34 being in communication with the bore 29 in the valve member 26, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5.

' For normally retaining the valve member 26 in closed position relative to the valve body 19, a resilient member comprising in this case a leaf spring 37 is interposed between the cap 31 and the closure 12. The leaf spring el an -3 37; has a fiat aperture'd central portion 38 abutting the bridge 32. and. the valve member 26 extends upwardly therethrough. Slanting downwardly at opposite ends of the central portion 38 are flexible leg portions 39 which a hedunwarlv edi e n hei oute en s ea 1* ee din en e e With-th fli t eeetrel renter 7 o the valve'body housing. 20}. i

In ere t ti lhe un retee he h s n mem her 3 n r ur es hean w tenmthe Ye body 19 and the cl$1 re 12 with the lip por n pa d el ti n abo e h mm .3 Whetehwe' reta' tapered el'osure member 28 in ti ht-fittingclosed position w i th l e ody/. (F s ster t enl e valve means for releasingjthe fluidcqntents of the c tame e r 1' ma b p sed W d f as the action of the leaf spring 3,1 until l1 33, ot e r engages. he. 1 f th elheu 1 lht iemanner the valve member 26 attached to I cap 3.1 is moved downwardly and a slight clearance; is created between the tapered W the. tapered aperture 2.4 in the valve bod p mi the fl d under es re ie clearance spa e 42,,the' lateral bores. 30 2 nd. e ce thro h. h e 34 i q mm di ely up n net. are f' down ar pr s th t t e ri r e e r 1, w h ut tle 't cause the valve member 26 to be; returned to its clo p i i gn a r i and P. re a t er: The. pressure Within the container, exertedaga st the lower end of the valve member 26 also tendstg I J In Figs. 6 and: 7 I have illustrated a modified of th tio h; d fie Primar ly f m the Prev ous y described form. in h he sep ra e p in eleme t 3T omitted and the'capstructure is'tormed from adistort; able orflexible material which is adapted to effect gesilient positive closure of the valve means,

ln' this embodiment of the invention, the closure, indicated at 43, is similar to the closurej'il z: in the p're'vi ous form ofthe invention and comprises an'annular depending rim 4-4- adapted to f t over the rim of the container mouth and a'- dished center portion with the thin sheet material comprising the) closure beingiolded outwardly, as at 45, and thence extending upwardly and inwardly to define an annular groove 46sand a fiatapera tured central portion 47. 'The peripheral edge of the aperture defined by the folded portion is turned upwardly to a slight extent, as at 48, to engage and retain a flange portion 49 or aresilient rubber or plastic plug 51 comprising the valve body and similar to the plug 19 in Figs. 4 and'S.

a central bore having a straight portion 52- and a tapered lower portion 53 in which is shiftably disposed anelongated valve member 54 having the same general con'-, struction as the valve member 26 in Figs; 4 and 5.

A depressible cap 56' formed from rubber or a substantially flexible and resilient. plastic material, such as V'inylite, is.disposed abovethe closure 4-3, andjthc upper end of the valve member 54 is detachabliy secured within a cooperating bore in the cap. 561 by-meansiof a retainer ring. 57 which. is. received in complementary annular grooved portions in thevalve member 5.4 and. the: cap 56'. The cap 56 is. also provided. with. an integral: outwardly extending bore 58.- comprising a. fluid discharge passage.- way in communication with the central. boreofi thevalve member 54. A relatively thin integral skirt portion 59 depends centrally from the cap 56: and: extends concentrically around the valve member 54 with its bottom edge in enea ement with the flat portion 47 of the closure 43. In addition, the cap 56 isformed with a shoulder 61 (Fig. 6) having an upwardly curved peripheral portion 62 which conforms to and abuts thefcurved surface of the rim 44.

The flexible and. resilient skirt portion 59, which bears against the center portion 4.7 of the closure 43,. normally retains the valve member 54 in closed position as seen in Pig. 6. However, upon exerting downward pressure on the flexible cap 56 the shoulder 61 is distorted down: wardly, as seen at 63 in Fig. 7, and the skirt portion 59 is flattened and spread outwardly, as at 64, whereby to permit the valvev 'member 54 to be moved downwardly and thereby create a clearance 66 between the tapered portions of the valve member. 54 and the valve body 51. in this positionof the. valve means, the fluid contents of the container may be diseharged through the annular clearance 66; and the internal fluid passageways in the v m mb 54 n z hen e h ou h h i ehe sehe e lose. the alve.

Theplug v 51- is provided with 58 in the cap 56. Upon release of downward pressure from the can. ,6, the distorted shou der 1 and. he dis: torted skirt portion 64 automatically return to the positions shown in Fig. 6 and the valve member 54 is thereby restored to closed position.

Thus, it Will be seen that the manually operable container valve means comprising my invention may be constructed from a plurality of inexpensive and easily fabricated parts utilizing rubber or plastic materials. in addition, resilient'means is'provided, e. g; either in the form of a separate spring member or an integral resilent portion or" the cap structure,v for normally retaining the valve in closed position and for returning the valve from open to closed position with a rapid positive action. It will also be seen that in, each of the embodiments of the invention the resilient means, i. e. the spring 37 or the skirt 59, is located outside of and is completely separated from the flow path of the fluid being discharged from the con a ner h ou h. the va ve. me ns- Aee in' ly. h re s h re' ihi 117 emen s of the. container exerting an adverse eiiect on the resilient me dur n e ea ed. se f the (th ic Arrai neenne eh qu valen een tihet eh... d P.-. I -.f .em t e sc e Qt e: ir n ien, d ne .he erre ded: aims I: l im Ceh a' nerf al rea e'fe n r llin h d eha off a fluid". under'pressure', comprising a closuremember a n an ot er ri P fiQ Z ad p ed o. b secured in the opening'ofa container and'a downwardly dishedinner portion providing, a central depression adapted to extend into. the container, said inner portion beingfolded radially outwardly, and thence radially inwardly to define a flange-receiving annular groove withinsaid depres-. sion, a valve body having an elongated lower portion extending below said closure member and an upper integrahflange portion fitted'within said groove for rigidly supporting theval-ve body on said closure member, a valve member shiftably disposed in said valve; body, cap means movably disposed adjacent said" closure member andoperably attached to said valve member for shifting the latter, and resilient-meanse disposed wi-thinsa-iddepression and co'act-ing with saidcap means and with said closure member for normally urging said; cap means away from; said valve body. i

2' Container valvemeans forcontrolling the discharge of a fluid under pressure, comprising a closure member having a rim portion adapted to be secured in the opening of a container and a central depressed portion adapted to-"exten'd into. the container, a valve body rigidly sup.- porte'd f'rom the central depressed pont'iongot'said closure member and adaptedto extend. into the interiorof the container,v an elongated valve member: shifitably disposed said valve: body for movement; betweeni seated. and; unseatedl. ositions; and. adapted to extend outwardly from. the container. beyond; sairli valve body, an: op erating cap connected: to: saidvalave: member at the out-- wardly extending portion thereof foractuating said valve: member, and. radially expansible resilient means operativelydisposed within the" central. depressed. portion of: said closure member and. coacting with said cap. for normally urging the latter away from said valve body; whereby said valve member'is'nor-mally retained in seated position in said valve body, said central: depressed por-. tion of said closure; member: being of sufficienti radial extent. to accommodate said resilient! means during; radially outward expansion thereof in; response to pressing movement of said cap toward said valve body for. shifting said;- valve: member. to; unseatedj. position.

3. Container valve means for controlling the; discharge. of a. timid under pressure, comprising a; closure. member efrthin metalhaving an outer. rim portion. adapted to be. rigidly secured at the mouth of acontainer and a downwardl-y dished inner portion. providing: a central depres sion adapted to, extend: into the, container, said inner portiom being v folded radially: outwardly and thence radially inwardly to, define. within; said; depression a lower flange-receiving annular groove and. an; upper fiat. e a er-ins surt e. aving at ent p ture therethrou-gh; a valve body having at central; er nd n. ntee fl n e; PQ Z QI ispos d; th i r eve fer i u p r i aid; live h v .-1 Q QJEQ netnh r e. h f a le alve: memb r isn e i in said bore and extending outwardly through said aperture beyond said closure member, movable cap means operably aflixed to the outwardly extending portion of said valve member, and radially expansible' resilient means operatively disposed within said depression and coacting between said cap means and said bearing surface for normally urging said cap means away from said closure member whereby said valve member is normally retained in closed position within said valve body, said flat metal bearing surface providing a rigid operating surface for facilitating expansible movement of said resilient means relative thereto, and said depression being of suflicient radial extent to accommodate said resilient means during radially outward expansion thereof in response to pressing movement of said cap means toward said valve body for shifting said valve member to open posltion.

4. Container valve means for controlling the discharge of a fluid under pressure, comprising a closure member having an annular depending rim portion adapted to be rigidly secured to the mouth of a container, a valve body rigidly supported by said closure member, a valve member shiftably disposed in said valve body for movement between open and closed positions relative to said valve body, a depressible cap operably attached to said valve member for actuating the latter, and resilient means coacting with said cap for normally urging the latter away from said valve body whereby said valve member is normally retained in closed position, said cap being provided with an annular lip portion disposed in spaced relation from said rim portion when said valve member is in closed position and adapted to abut said rim portion when said cap is depressed whereby to limit the extent of movement of said cap.

5. Container valve means for controlling the discharge of a fluid under pressure, comprising a valve body, means for rigidly securing said valve body at the mouth of a container, an elongated valve member shiftably disposed in said valve body for longitudinal reciprocating movement between open and closed positions, a hollow movable cap member having a transversely extending bridge portion, said valve member being secured at one end in said bridge portion for actuating said valve member, and spring means disposed adjacent said valve body and coacting with said bridge portion for normally urging said cap member away from said valve body whereby said valve member is normally retained in closed position relative to said valve body, said valve member and the bridge portion of said cap member having communicating internal fluid passageways permitting the discharge of fluid from the container through said passageways without contacting said spring means.

6. Container valve means for controlling the discharge of a fluid under pressure, comprising a closure member adapted to be rigidly secured at the mouth of a container, a valve body rigidly supported by said closure member, a shiftable valve member movably disposed in said body for movement between open and closed positions, and an operating cap operably connected to said valve member for actuating the latter, said cap being provided with an integral resilient skirt portion in engagement with said closure member for normally retaining said valve member in closed position within said valve body, and said skirt portion being distortable under pressure exerted on said cap whereby to permit resilient movement of the latter toward said valve body whereby to shift said valve member to open position within said valve body.

7. Container valve means for controlling the discharge of a fluid under pressure, comprising a closure member having a central aperture and adapted to be rigidly secured at the mouth of a container, a valve body rigidly supported on said closure member, an elongated valve member shiftably disposed in said valve body and extending outwardly therefrom through said aperture, and

acap member operably attached to the outwardly extending portion of said valve member for actuating the latter, said cap member being provided with a flexible resilient skirt extending annularly around said outwardly extending portion of said valve member and engaging said closure member, said valvemember being normally retained in closed position within said valve body by the action of said skirt and said skirt being distortable under pressure exerted on said cap member whereby to permit resilient movement of the latter toward said valve body for shifting said valve member to open position.

8. Container valve means for controlling the discharge of a fluid under pressure, comprising a closure member having an annular rim portion adapted to be secured to the mouth of a container, a valve body supported on said closure member, a valve member shiftably disposed in said valve body for movement between open and closed positions, and an operating cap formed from a relatively flexible resilient material and operably afiixed to said valve member for actuating the latter, said cap having a shoulder portion in engagement adjacent its outer peripheral edge with said rim portion and a deflectable skirt portion extending into engagement with said closure member adjacent said valve member, said valve member being normally retained in closed position within said valve body by the action of said skirt portion and said shoulder portion and said skirt portion being distortable under pressure exerted on said cap for permitting resilient movement of the latter toward said valve body whereby to shift said valve member to open position.

9. The device of claim 2 further characterized in that said valve member and said cap are provided with communicating fluid passageways therein to permit the discharge of fluid when said valve member is in unseated position.

10. The device of claim 2 further characterized in that said valve body and said valve member are provided with a tapered bore and a coacting tapered portion, respectively, and said valve member is also provided with a longitudinal internal bore extending from the outwardly extending end of the valve member and terminating short of the opposite end thereof with a plurality of laterally extending apertures communicating with said longitudinal bore adjacent said tapered portion, and said cap is provided with an internal fluid passageway communicating with said longitudinal bore in said valve member for discharging fluid therethrough without contacting said resilient means.

11. The device of claim 2 further characterized in that said resilient means comprises a leaf spring having flexible bent end portions and operatively disposed between said closure member and said cap.

12. The device of claim 2 further characterized in that said resilient means comprises a spring member having an apertured central portion with said valve member extending through the aperture therein and also having slanting end portions slidably engaging said closure member, the slanting end portions of said spring member being adapted to spread outwardly in response to pressure exerted on said cap for permitting said valve member to move to unseated position.

References Cited in the file of this patent v UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 116,433 Glover June 27, 1871 529,221 Wagner Nov. 13, 1894 2,210,206 Fisher Aug. 6, 1940 2,376,404 Thorns May 22, 1945 2,506,449 Greenwood May 2, 1950 2,577,245 Tuttle Dec. 4, 1951 2,582,262 Loven Jan. 15, 1952 2,615,597 Tomasek Oct. 28, 1952

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