Aerosol actuation systems and methods for making the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11148871-B2
Application number	US-99712009-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2009
Priority date	Jun 10, 2008
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

An aerosol actuation system may include an aerosol actuator formed of a first molded component including a housing, a manifold connected to the housing and a button in communication with the manifold, and a molded cap. The aerosol actuator may be assembled with an aerosol container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aerosol actuation system, comprising:
a housing, comprising:
a housing upper opening;
a plurality of housing support structures;
a housing lower opening opposite the housing upper opening, and a plurality of protrusions extending radially inward from the housing lower opening, the plurality of protrusions are configured to connect the aerosol actuation system to a container; and
a button opening on a front surface of the housing, wherein the button opening is bounded on all sides by the housing;
a button positioned in the button opening and having a shape coextensive with the button opening, and;
a manifold including a discharge orifice; and

a cap comprising a plurality of cap support structures,
wherein each of the plurality of cap support structures is received in interfitting mated relation with a respective one of the plurality housing support structures to hold the cap on the housing;
wherein the button and manifold are both integrally molded with the housing, the manifold including a flexible connection to the housing at a first location proximate the discharge orifice, and the button including at least one permanently connected flexible connection between the button and the housing at a second location, and the button including a connection to the manifold at a third location, the at least one permanently connected connection between the button and the housing being arranged and configured to flex upon actuation of the button, relative to the housing, to transfer force to the manifold; and
wherein the button is pivotably connected to the housing at the first location.

2. The aerosol actuation system of claim 1 , further comprising a breakable connection between the button and the housing.

3. The aerosol actuation system of claim 1 , further comprising an aerosol container attached to the housing.

4. The aerosol actuation system of claim 1 , wherein the manifold comprises:
a valve connection; and
a pathway from the valve connection to the discharge orifice, wherein the manifold is connected to the housing at the discharge orifice.

5. An aerosol actuation system, comprising:
a molded housing, comprising:
a housing upper opening circumscribed by an upper edge;
a housing lower opening opposite the housing upper opening, and a plurality of protrusions extending radially inward from the housing lower opening, the plurality of protrusions are configured to connect the aerosol actuation system to a container;
a button opening on a front surface of the housing bounded completely by the housing;
a manifold integrally molded with the housing, the manifold comprising a valve connection, a discharge orifice, and a pathway from the valve connection to the discharge orifice, the manifold being connected to the housing at the discharge orifice; and
a button integrally molded with the housing and positioned within the button opening and further having a shape coextensive with the button opening, the button including a first connection to the manifold and further includes at least one permanently connected connection between the button and the housing at a second connection location, proximate the discharge orifice, the at least one permanently connected connection is arranged and configured to flex upon actuation of the button about the second connection location, relative to the housing, to transfer force to the manifold;

a cap assembled to the upper edge of the housing.

6. The aerosol actuation system of claim 5 , further comprising a breakable connection between the button and the housing.

7. The aerosol actuation system of claim 5 , further comprising an aerosol container attached to the housing.

Assignees

• Sell Steven A
• Sweeton Steven L
• Silgan Dispensing Systems Corp

Inventors

• Sell Steven A
• Sweeton Steven L

Classifications

• B65D83/206 Primary

  comprising cantilevered actuating elements, e.g. levers pivoting about living hinges · CPC title