Actuator assembly for a pressurized plastic vessel

Abstract

An oversized actuator and actuator assembly for a plastic vessel (or container) configured to hold a product under pressure, such as, for example, a lotion, cream, spray, ointment, gel or foam. The oversized actuator and actuator assembly are configured to be attached to what is considered to be a common, standard-sized valve cup (typically about 1.0 to 1.5 inches across) fastened to a common or standard-sized neck portion for a plastic vessel. Therefore, the actuator and actuator assembly of the present invention does not require that the shoulder of the plastic vessel to which they are attached have specialized geometry molded into the shoulder or body portions of the plastic vessel in order to hold the actuator or actuator assembly in place on the plastic vessel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to actuators, actuator assemblies and pressurized plastic vessels (or plastic containers) for holding and dispensing formulations under pressure. In particular, the present invention relates to oversized actuators and actuator assemblies for top- and bottom-dispensing pressurized plastic vessels, where the cross-sectional area of the actuator and / or actuator assembly is greater than the cross-sectional area of the valve cup on the neck portion of the plastic vessel.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Pressurized metal cans that hold and dispense products under pressure, such as bug spray, paint or deodorant, are well known and widely used across many different industries. Increasingly, pressurized plastic vessels (e.g., bottles made from polyethylene terephthalate, a.k.a. “PET bottles”), rather than pressurized metal cans, are being used to hold and dispense all types of products, including without limitation, aerosols...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a one-piece actuator assembly for a plastic vessel that prevents dirt and foreign objects from entering the actuator body and contaminating the product inside. The actuator body has a gap that can be filled, covered, shielded or protected by an elastomeric plastic material. The actuator body can have bridges connecting three or more portions of the actuating surface to three or more sections of the sidewall, allowing the actuating surface to move relative to the sidewall. The actuator body also has a flip-open undercap that permits the plastic vessel and actuator assembly to stand upright on a flat surface. The actuator assembly securely fastens the actuator body to the valve cup on the plastic vessel so that activating the actuating surface will cause the valve interface to engage with and open the pressure valve on the plastic vessel, allowing the product under pressure to pass out of the plastic vessel through the dispensing nozzle on the actuating surface. The actuator assembly is manufactured from a unitary piece of molded plastic material, reducing the number of secondary operations and cost associated with the manufacturing process. The actuating surface is easy to clean and keep sanitary during normal use.

Problems solved by technology

However, whereas the bodies of metal cans are easily adapted to accept and hold large or oversized actuators while resisting internal pressure, the bodies of pressurized plastic vessels under internal pressure do not have the structural strength and rigidity required to hold and maintain the special geometries necessary for securely attaching, holding, detaching and re-attaching large and oversized actuators.

For certain products, such as hair sprays, lotions and sunscreens, or other relatively slippery, foamy or oily substances, these relatively small actuators can be uncomfortable, inconvenient, hard to use and / or hard to keep clean.

If the actuator also acts a closure for the plastic vessel, the relatively small actuator makes it difficult, if not impossible, to stand the plastic vessel on a substantially flat surface with the actuating and dispensing end of the plastic vessel in a downward orientation.

Addressing the aforementioned problems by increasing the cross-sectional area of the neck portion of the plastic vessel or increasing the cross-sectional area of the valve cup attached to the neck portion would be cost prohibitive due to the fact that most plastic bottles are blow-molded from blanks having neck portions that are selected from one of a limited number of standard (and smaller) sizes.

However, plastic vessels with very large neck portions, as well as very large valve cups for standard or large plastic vessel neck portions are rare and relatively expensive to purchase or manufacture in large quantities.

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