Aerosol actuator assembly

Claim 1

An aerosol actuator assembly comprising a molded plastic cap member generally cylindrical in configuration adaptable for mounting upon an aerosol container including a valve stem, said cap member comprising an inner cylindrical wall engaging said container to effect firm mounting of said actuator assembly thereon, an outer cylindrical wall concentric with and closely spaced to said inner wall having an external configuration blending with the external configuration of said container to effect a unitary appearance therewith, longitudinal rib means integrally formed on the interior side of said inner wall circumferentially spaced to define a guideway, an actuator button including valve-stem-engaging means movably mounted within said cap member and operable to effect movement of said valve stem between a dispensing and nondispensing position, said rib means extending about said actuator button in engagement therewith to guide and support mOvement thereof within said guideway, stepped means defined by the external contour of said cap member for controlling movement of said actuator button, conduit means defined by said actuator button guiding flow of aerosol formulation from the valve stem of said container for dispensing, spout means formed integrally with said actuator button through which said conduit means extend engaging said stepped means in a manner whereby rotation of said actuator button to a first angular position causes said stepped means to block movement of said actuator button to a dispensing position and whereby rotation of said actuator button to a second angular position enables movement thereof to a dispensing position, and detent means comprising a longitudinally extending ridge formed on said button member separate from and below said spout means, and a pair of notches formed in said cap member upon the edge of a horizontal wall thereof, said ridge engaging said notches and movable between a first and second position relative thereto, said first and second relative positions corresponding, respectively, to said first and second angular positions of said actuator button whereby frictional engagement between said ridge and said notches tends to resist rotation of said actuator button and provides an audible indication of movement of said button between said first and second angular positions.