Aerosol valve having mechanism to reset flow shutoff if valve is tipped beyond a certain inclination from vertical
US5690256A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 6, 1996 |
| Grant date | Nov 25, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 6, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65D83/56
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In an aerosol valve which includes a flow path with a compartment having an inlet into the compartment and a valve seat at the upper end of the compartment, a pocket is disposed downward from the seat opening, the pocket contains a gravity-responsive ball. When the valve is being used during dispensing and is tipped in a direction which brings the ball closer to the flow through the compartment, the ball becomes entrained in the fluid flow and flies up to seat on the valve seat to block it off, precluding further discharge. When the aerosol valve is further depressed, the ball will be forced away from the seat to again open the discharge path. The purpose of the valve is to avoid the escape of propellant or product which might occur in tipping if the lower end of the dip tube is exposed to the head space.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.