Diaphragm-actuated aerosol valve

Claim 2

An aerosol valve construction comprising, in combination: a. a valve adapted to be mounted at the mouth of a pressurized container and having a circular valve seat part and a valve stem part disposed in the seat part and relatively axially movable with respect to the seat part, b. said parts having cooperable portions engageable and disengageable with each other in response to said relative axial movement, thereby to close or open the valve, c. a crowned, resilient diaphragm and means for mounting the diaphragm across the mouth of the pressurized container whereby the underside of the diaphragm can be pressurized, d. a depress button connected to actuate the diaphragm for flattening the latter in response to downward force applied to the button, and e. a connection between the button and diaphragm on the one hand and one of said valve parts on the other hand for shifting the latter to open said valve in response to downward button movement and corresponding flattening movement of the diaphragm, f. a support member below the diaphragm, fixedly mounting the other of said parts below said diaphragm, g. the restoring force of the diaphragm effecting a crownforming movement thereof and a consequent closing of said valve, h. a tubular housing part carrying the valve seat part said housing and seat parts being resilient and radially compressible, i. the exterior of said housing part where the seat part engages the valve stem part being exposed to the pressurized interior of the pressurized container to cause it and the seat part to more forcibly engage the stem part.

Claim 3

A valve construction as in claim 1, wherein: a. the housing part has an internal annular valve shoulder constituting said seat portion.

Claim 4

A valve construction as in claim 1, wherein: a. the diaphragm and depress button are integral with each other, b. said button comprising an inverted cup upstanding from the center portion of the diaphragm.

Claim 5

A valve construction as in claim 1, wherein: a. the underside of the depress button is subjected to the pressurizing experienced by the underside of the diaphragm, thereby to assist the latter in restoring itself to its crowned configuration upon removal of actuating force from the button.

Claim 6

A valve construction as in claim 1, and further including: a. a housing part carrying said seat part, b. a second valve comprising a valve head on the end of the stem part and an annular seat engageable by said head and disposed at oNe end of said housing part, c. said first-mentioned valve being closed when the second valve closes.

Claim 7

A valve construction as in claim 1, wherein: a. the housing part has a lower portion which depends from the center of the diaphragm, b. said seat part comprising an internal annular bead disposed in said lower housing portion.

Claim 8

A valve construction as in claim 1, wherein: a. the valve stem part comprises a cylindrical head portion and a ribbed stem portion, b. said stem portion being fixedly mounted in a bore of said support member, c. said bore of the support member constituting a passage between the opposite sides of the member.

Claim 9

An aerosol valve construction comprising, in combination: a. a valve adapted to be mounted at the mouth of a pressurized container and having a circular rigid, inverted cup-shaped valve seat part and a resilient valve stem part disposed in the seat part and relatively axially movable with respect to the seat part, b. said parts having cooperable portions engageable and disengageable with each other in response to said relative axial movement, thereby to close or open the valve, c. a crowned, resilient diaphragm and means for mounting the diaphragm across the mouth of the pressurized container whereby the underside of the diaphragm can be pressurized, d. a depress button connected to actuate the diaphragm for flattening the latter in response to downward force applied to the button, and e. a connection between the button and diaphragm on the one hand and the valve stem on the other hand for shifting the latter to open said valve is response to downward button movement and corresponding flattening movement of the diaphragm, f. a one-piece molded plastic support member below the diaphragm, having integral therewith the valve seat part at a location below said diaphragm, g. the restoring force of the diaphragm effecting a crown-forming movement thereof and a consequent closing of said valve, h. the support member including an integral valve housing part and an integral mounting flange, the latter being disposed broadside and in spaced relation to said diaphragm, i. peripheral portions of said mounting flange and diaphragm being engaged with each other, and j. means positively clamping together against separation said peripheral portions the mounting flange and diaphragm.

Claim 10

An aerosol valve construction comprising, in combination: a. a valve adapted to be mounted at the mouth of a pressurized container and having a circular rigid, inverted cup-shaped valve seat part and a resilient valve stem part disposed in the seat part and relatively axially movable with respect to the seat part, b. said parts having cooperable portions engageable and disengageable with each other in response to said relative axial movement, thereby to close or open the valve, c. a crowned, resilient diaphragm and means for mounting the diaphragm across the mouth of the pressurized container whereby the underside of the diaphragm can be pressurized, d. a depress button connected to actuate the diaphragm for flattening the latter in response to downward force applied to the button, and e. a connection between the button and diaphragm on the one hand and the valve stem on the other hand for shifting the latter to open said valve is response to downward button movement and corresponding flattening movement of the diaphragm, f. a one-piece molded plastic support member below the diaphragm, having integral therewith the valve seat part at a location below said diaphragm, g. the restoring force of the diaphragm effecting a crown-forming movement thereof and a consequent closing of said valve, h. the support member including an integral valve housing part and an integral mounting flange, the latter being disposed broadside and in spaced relation to said diaphragm, i. peripheral portions of said mounting flange and diaphragm being engaged with each other, and j. means positively clamping together against separation said peripheral portions the mounting flange and diaphragm.

Claim 11

An aerosol valve construction comprising, in combination: a. a valve adapted to be mounted at the mouth of a pressurized container and having a circular valve seat part and a valve stem part disposed in the seat part and relatively axially movable with respect to the seat part, b. said parts having cooperable portions engageable and disengageable with each other in response to said relative axial movement, thereby to close or open the valve, c. a crowned, resilient diaphragm and means for mounting the diaphragm across the mouth of the pressurized container whereby the underside of the diaphragm can be pressurized, d. a depress button connected to actuate the diaphragm for flattening the latter in response to downward force applied to the button, and e. a connection between the button and diaphragm on the one hand and one of said valve parts on the other hand for shifting the latter to open said valve in response to downward button movement and corresponding flattening movement of the diaphragm, f. a support member below the diaphragm, fixedly mounting the other of said parts below said diaphragm, g. the restoring force of the diaphragm effecting a crown-forming movement thereof and a consequent closing of said valve, h. said housing part being integral with the diaphragm and comprising a tube extending upward from a center diaphragm portion, i. said depress button being mounted on said housing part, j. said stem part being stationary, k. said support member comprising a base attached to peripheral portions of the diaphragm and disPosed in spaced broadside relation thereto, l. said stem part being carried by said base, m. said base having a conical body portion and a depending tubular extension at its apex, n. said stem part having a hollow portion carried in said extension and constituting a passageway between opposite sides of the body portion.

Claim 12

An aerosol valve construction comprising, in combination: a. a valve adapted to be mounted at the mouth of a pressurized container and having a circular valve seat part and a valve stem part disposed in the seat part and relatively axially movable with respect to the seat part, b. said parts having cooperable portions engageable and disengageable with each other in response to said relative axial movement, thereby to close or open the valve, c. a crowned, resilient diaphragm and means for mounting the diaphragm across the mouth of the pressurized container whereby the underside of the diaphragm can be pressurized, d. a depress button connected to actuate the diaphragm for flattening the latter in response to downward force applied to the button, and e. a connection between the button and diaphragm on the one hand and one of said valve parts on the other hand for shifting the latter to open said valve in response to downward button movement and corresponding flattening movement of the diaphragm, f. a support member below the diaphragm, fixedly mounting the other of said parts below said diaphragm, g. the restoring force of the diaphragm effecting a crown-forming movement thereof and a consequent closing of said valve, h. said housing part being integral with the diaphragm and comprising a tube extending upward from a center diaphragm portion, i. said depress button being mounted on said housing part, j. said stem part being stationary, k. said support member comprising a base attached to peripheral portions of the diaphragm and disPosed in spaced broadside relation thereto, l. said stem part being carried by said base, m. said base having a conical body portion and a depending tubular extension at its apex, n. said stem part having a hollow portion carried in said extension and constituting a passageway between opposite sides of the body portion.

Claim 13

An aerosol valve construction comprising, in combination: a. a valve adapted to be mounted at the mouth of a pressurized container and having a circular valve seat part and a valve stem part disposed in the seat part and relatively axially movable with respect to the seat part, b. said parts having cooperable portions engageable and disengageable with each other in response to said relative axial movement, thereby to close or open the valve, c. a crowned, resilient diaphragm and means for mounting the diaphragm across the mouth of the pressurized container whereby the underside of the diaphragm can be pressurized, d. a depress button connected to actuate the diaphragm for flattening the latter in response to downward force applied to the button, and e. a connection between the button and diaphragm on the one hand and one of said valve parts on the other hand for shifting the latter to open said valve in response to downward button movement and corresponding flattening movement of the diaphragm, f. a support member below the diaphragm, fixedly mounting the other of said parts below said diaphragm, g. the restoring force of the diaphragm effecting a crown-forming movement thereof and a consequent closing of said valve, h. said housing part being integral with the diaphragm and comprising a tube extending upward from a center diaphragm portion, i. said depress button being mounted on said housing part, j. said stem part being stationary, k. said seat part being diaposed in said housing part, l. a portion of the stem part where it engages said seat part being hollow, m. said stem part being resilient and the hollow thereof being pressurized when the valve is closed, thereby to radially expand it against said seat part to minimize leakage of the valve.

Claim 14

An aerosol valve construction comprising, in combination: a. a valve adapted to be mounted at the mouth of a pressurized container and having a circular valve seat part and a valve stem part disposed in the seat part and relatively axially movable with respect to the seat part, b. said parts having cooperable portions engageable and disengageable with each other in response to said relative axial movement, thereby to close or open the valve, c. a crowned, resilient diaphragm and means for mounting the diaphragm across the mouth of the pressurized container whereby the underside of the diaphragm can be pressurized, d. a depress button connected to actuate the diaphragm for flattening the latter in response to downward force applied to the button, and e. a connection between the button and diaphragm on the one hand and one of said valve parts on the other hand for shifting the latter to open said valve in response to downward button movement and corresponding flattening movement of the diaphragm, f. a support member below the diaphragm, fixedly mounting the other of said parts below said diaphragm, g. the restoring force of the diaphragm effecting a crown-forming movement thereof and a consequent closing of said valve, h. said housing part being integral with the diaphragm and comprising a tube extending upward from a center diaphragm portion, i. said depress button being mounted on said housing part, j. said stem part being stationary, k. said seat part being diaposed in said housing part, l. a portion of the stem part where it engages said seat part being hollow, m. said stem part being resilient and the hollow thereof being pressurized when the valve is closed, thereby to radially expand it against said seat part to minimize leakage of the valve.

Claim 15

A valve construction as in claim 10, wherein: a. the support member comprises a base attached to peripheral portions of the diaphragm and disposed in spaced broadside relation thereto, b. said stem part being carried by said base, c. said stem part having at least one slot in its sidewall, connecting the hollow of the stem with the exterior thereof.

Claim 16

A valve stem construction as in claim 8, and further including: a. a container, said means for clamping together peripheral portions of the mounting flange and diaphragm comprising a rim portion of the container.

Claim 17

A valve stem construction as in claim 8, wherein: a. the means positively clamping together the peripheral portions of the mounting flange and diaphragm comprise an annular metal ring structure having a channel-shaped cross-sectional configuration.