Method of manufacturing a piston aerosol dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9975656-B2
Application number	US-201514742790-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 18, 2015
Priority date	Jun 18, 2015
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

A method of making an outer container for an aerosol dispenser and an aerosol dispenser usable with the outer container. The outer container has an upper container portion and complementary lower container portion. A piston is slideably disposed in the upper container portion. The upper container portion and lower container portion are placed proximate to each other. Propellant is disposed into the lower container portion, then the two portions are joined together at a seal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of making an outer container defining an outer container volume therein and being suitable for an aerosol dispenser having a longitudinal axis, said method comprising the steps of:
a. providing a lower container portion with a closed end bottom terminating at a base disposed at a first end, said lower container portion not having a bung hole therethrough;
b. providing an upper container portion having an open neck at a second end,
c. completely disposing a piston in said upper container portion wherein said top of said piston is adapted to fit a valve cup and said bottom of said piston has an annular ring for containing propellant therein at the start of dispensing,
d. disposing propellant in said lower container portion, where steps c and d are performed in any order, and
e. sealably joining said upper container portion and said lower container portion to contain said propellant and said piston therein.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of disposing a valve assembly in said neck for selectively dispensing product from said aerosol dispenser.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said upper container portion and said lower container has a channel therethrough or therebetween and said propellant is disposed in said lower container portion through said channel.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said upper container portion and said lower container portion both comprise plastic and are joined by welding together at said seal.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said channel is sealed by sonic or ultrasonic welding.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said channel comprises serrations on an edge of at least one of said upper container portion and said lower container portion.

7. A method according to claim 2 wherein said lower container portion comprises a base and sidewall integral therewith.

8. A method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of disposing a product in said upper container portion through said valve assembly, thereby displacing said piston towards said bottom.

9. A method of making an outer container suitable for an aerosol dispenser and having a longitudinal axis, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a lower container portion with a closed end bottom terminating at a base disposed at a first end, said closed end bottom not having a bung hole therethrough;
providing a domed upper container portion having an open neck at a second end,
disposing an axially moveable piston within said upper container portion wherein said top of said piston is concave upwards and adapted to fit a valve cup and said bottom of said piston has an annular ring for containing propellant therein at the start of dispensing,
disposing propellant in said lower container portion,
sealably joining said upper container portion and said lower container portion together.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said piston comprises a top and skirt depending therefrom, said top of said piston being congruent with said dome of said upper container portion.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein said upper container portion has an axial length and said skirt of said piston has an axial length less than or equal to said axial length of said upper container portion, whereby said piston is entirely disposed within said upper container portion while propellant is being disposed in said lower container portion.

12. A method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of dispensing a product through said upper container portion, thereby forcing said piston towards said bottom of said lower container portion.

13. A method according to claim 12 comprising the step of dispensing product through said upper container portion, until said piston is disposed on said bottom of said lower container portion.

14. A method of making an aerosol dispenser having a longitudinal axis, said method comprising the steps of:
sealably joining a polymeric lower container portion with a closed end bottom at a first end, said closed end bottom not having a bung hole therethrough and comprising a base and sidewall integral therewith to a polymeric upper container portion having an open neck at an opposed second end to yield an outer container, said upper container portion further having an axially moveable piston therein wherein said piston has a top and a skirt, said skirt having an axial skirt length, and said upper container portion has an upper container axial length which is equal to or greater than said skirt axial length and comprising the step of completely disposing said piston within said upper container portion, and
disposing a valve assembly in said neck for selectively dispensing product from said aerosol dispenser.

15. A method according to claim 14 further comprising the steps of disposing propellant through a propellant channel through or between at least one of lower container portion and said upper container portion, and
disposing a product through said valve assembly, wherein said product is separated from said propellant by said piston.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein said outer container has a longitudinal dimension defining an axial length, and said seal comprises a circumferential flange disposed proximate with said second end.

17. A method according to claim 16 comprising the step of simultaneously welding said seal and a propellant channel.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Smith Scott Edward
• Benson William Mercer
• Franckhauser Andrew William
• Bartolucci Stefano

Classifications

• B65B31/003 Primary

  Adding propellants in fluid form to aerosol containers (in solid form B65B31/10) · CPC title

• B65D83/64

  by pistons · CPC title

• B65D83/38 Primary

  Details of the container body (pressure relief devices B65D83/70) · CPC title