Multiple spray pattern device

Claim 2

A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating assembly adapted to be mounted on a pressurized container having a valve provided with an upstanding reciprocable hollow actuator and product discharge stEm comprising cap structure having means for mounting it on such a container, a spray pattern selector member having at least two spaced bores therein containing insert plugs that are formed with through passages, said passages having valve stem receiving recesses at their inlet ends and being so constructed and arranged as to produce different spray patterns at their outlets, and means mounting said member on said cap structure for movement between a position wherein it may actuate the container valve to discharge container contents through one of said insert passages and another position wherein it may actuate the container valve to discharge container contents through the other insert passage.

Claim 3

In the assembly defined in claim 1, said bores and insert plugs being formed with cooperating means providing pre-determined orientation of the outlet of each relative to said selector member.

Claim 4

In the assembly defined in claim 1, said insert plugs each being formed at the inlet end of its through passage with an end socket for slidably receiving said valve when said member is moved to actuate the valve.

Claim 5

In the assembly defined in claim 1, said inserts being substantially identical except for passage characteristics.

Claim 6

A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating assembly adapted to be mounted upon a pressurized container of the type having a projecting movable hollow valve actuating and product dischrage stem and comprising a cap structure having means for mounting it on such a container, a spray pattern selector member mounted on said cap structure for rotation about a fixed axis and for displacement toward and from the container, said member having at its lower end at least two downwardly open recesses each adapted to slidably receive said valve stem when aligned therewith by rotation of said member, and means in said member forming distinct spray pattern passages extending from each recess to a separate lateral discharge outlet, said member and recesses being so constructed and arranged that after rotation of said member to align a selected recess with said valve stem the member may be initially displaced in the direction toward the container to confine the upper end of the valve stem in the selected recess in communication with the adjacent spray pattern passage and establish solid motion transmitting engagement between the member and valve stem whereby further displacement of the member in that direction moves the valve stem to effect discharge of the container contents through the associated spray passage and outlet, said member being formed with downwardly open bores and fixed inserts in said bores that are formed with the respective valve stem receiving recesses and the associated spray pattern passages.

Claim 7

A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating assembly adapted to be mounted upon a pressurized container of the type having a projecting movable hollow valve actuating and product dischrage stem and comprising a cap structure having means for mounting it on such a container, a spray pattern selector member mounted on said cap structure for rotation about a fixed axis and for displacement toward and from the container, said member having at its lower end at least two downwardly open recesses each adapted to slidably receive said valve stem when aligned therewith by rotation of said member, and means in said member forming distinct spray pattern passages extending from each recess to a separate lateral discharge outlet, said member and recesses being so constructed and arranged that after rotation of said member to align a selected recess with said valve stem the member may be initially displaced in the direction toward the container to confine the upper end of the valve stem in the selected recess in communication with the adjacent spray pattern passage and establish solid motion transmitting engagement between the member and valve stem whereby further displacement of the member in that direction moves the valve stem to effect discharge of the container contents through the associated spray passage and outlet, said member being formed with downwardly open bores and fixed inserts in said bores that are formed with the respective valve stem receiving recesses and the associated spray pattern passages.

Claim 8

In the assembly defined in claim 5, said bores and inserts being formed with cooperating means providing predetermined orientation of each outlet relative to the member.

Claim 9

In the assembly defined in claim 6, said orientation providing means being interfitting longitudinal rib and groove means on each bore and insert.

Claim 10

In the assembly defined in claim 5, said bores being distributed along the arc of a circle having its center on said axis, and said inserts being unitary slidably introduced plugs each preformed with its recess and passage.

Claim 11

In the assembly defined in claim 5, means for indexing said member in positions of rotation wherein said recesses align with the valve stem.

Claim 12

In the assembly defined in claim 5, said member being formed with a further downwardly open recess spaced from said two recesses and of such depth that when said member is rotated to align said further recess with said stem and the member is displaced toward the container the valve stem is freely received within the further recess and the valve stem is not moved by said member.

Claim 13

A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating assembly adapted to be mounted upon a pressurized container of the type having a projecting hollow valve actuAting and product discharge stem and comprising a cap structure having means for mounting it on such a container, an upwardly open hollow boss on the upper end of said cap structure, said boss having a cylindrical inner surface a spray pattern selector member mounted on said boss for rotation about the axis of said boss and for slidable displacement toward and from the container, said member having a depending cylindrical surface surrounded by, rotatable in and axially slidable on said boss surface, and said member having at its lower end at least two downwardly open sockets each adapted to receive said valve stem when aligned therewith by rotation of said member, and means in said member forming distinct spray pattern passages extending from each socket to a separate lateral discharge outlet, said member and sockets being so constructed and arranged that after rotation of said member to align a selected socket with said valve stem the member may be initially displaced in the direction toward the container to confine the upper end of the valve stem in the selected socket in communication with the adjacent spray pattern passage end and establish solid motion transmitting engagement between the member and valve stem whereby further displacement of the member in that direction moves the valve stem to effect discharge of the container contents through the associated spray passage and outlet, and cooperating means on said boss and member at said surfaces for preventing said motion transmitting engagement except when said member is in one of said valve operating positions.

Claim 14

A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating assembly adapted to be mounted upon a pressurized container of the type having a projecting hollow valve actuAting and product discharge stem and comprising a cap structure having means for mounting it on such a container, an upwardly open hollow boss on the upper end of said cap structure, said boss having a cylindrical inner surface a spray pattern selector member mounted on said boss for rotation about the axis of said boss and for slidable displacement toward and from the container, said member having a depending cylindrical surface surrounded by, rotatable in and axially slidable on said boss surface, and said member having at its lower end at least two downwardly open sockets each adapted to receive said valve stem when aligned therewith by rotation of said member, and means in said member forming distinct spray pattern passages extending from each socket to a separate lateral discharge outlet, said member and sockets being so constructed and arranged that after rotation of said member to align a selected socket with said valve stem the member may be initially displaced in the direction toward the container to confine the upper end of the valve stem in the selected socket in communication with the adjacent spray pattern passage end and establish solid motion transmitting engagement between the member and valve stem whereby further displacement of the member in that direction moves the valve stem to effect discharge of the container contents through the associated spray passage and outlet, and cooperating means on said boss and member at said surfaces for preventing said motion transmitting engagement except when said member is in one of said valve operating positions.

Claim 15

In the assembly defined in claim 11, said member being a one-piece button and said sockets, passages and outlets being formed directly in said button.

Claim 16

In the assembly defined in claim 11, said cap structure having a circular flexible lower edge portion whereby it is detachably mounted on the container symmetrical about an axis coinciding substantially with the axis of said valve stem, the axis of said boss being eccentric with respect to the axis of said lower edge portion, and said sockets being disposed substantially on a circle having a radius substantially equal to the distance between said axes.

Claim 17

In the assembly defined in claim 11, cooperating axial abutments on said member and boss for limiting sliding movement of the member.

Claim 18

A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating assembly adapted to be mounted upon a pressurized container of the type having a projecting hollow valve actuating and product discharge stem and comprising a cap structure having means for mounting it on such a container, a hollow boss on the upper end of said cap structure, a spray pattern selector member mounted on said boss for rotation about the axis of said boss and for slidable displacement toward and from the container, said member having at its lower end at least two downwardly open sockets each adapted to receive said valve stem when aligned therewith by rotation of said member, and means in said member forming distinct spray pattern passages extending from each socket to a separate lateral discharge outlet, said member and sockets being so constructed and arranged that after rotation of said member to align a selected socket with said valve stem the member may be initially displaced in the direction toward the container to confine the upper end of the valve stem in the selected socket in communication with the adjacent spray pattern passage end and establish solid motion transmitting engagement between the member and valve stem whereby further displacement of the member in that direction moves the valve stem to effect discharge of the container contents through the associated spray passage and outlet, said cap structure boss being an upwardly open boss having a cylindrical inner surface and said member having a depending cylindrical surface rotatable in and axially slidable on said boss surface, and cooperating longitudinal groove and rib means at said surfaces for locating said member in valve oPerating positions and guiding axial movement thereof relative to the container, said groove and rib means being so disposed and cooperatively formed as to prevent said motion transmitting engagement between said member and the valve stem except when said member is in one of said valve operating positions.

Claim 19

A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating assembly adapted to be mounted upon a pressurized container of the type having a projecting hollow valve actuating and product discharge stem and comprising a cap structure having means for mounting it on such a container, a hollow boss on the upper end of said cap structure, a spray pattern selector member mounted on said boss for rotation about the axis of said boss and for slidable displacement toward and from the container, said member having at its lower end at least two downwardly open sockets each adapted to receive said valve stem when aligned therewith by rotation of said member, and means in said member forming distinct spray pattern passages extending from each socket to a separate lateral discharge outlet, said member and sockets being so constructed and arranged that after rotation of said member to align a selected socket with said valve stem the member may be initially displaced in the direction toward the container to confine the upper end of the valve stem in the selected socket in communication with the adjacent spray pattern passage end and establish solid motion transmitting engagement between the member and valve stem whereby further displacement of the member in that direction moves the valve stem to effect discharge of the container contents through the associated spray passage and outlet, said cap structure boss being an upwardly open boss having a cylindrical inner surface and said member having a depending cylindrical surface rotatable in and axially slidable on said boss surface, and cooperating longitudinal groove and rib means at said surfaces for locating said member in valve oPerating positions and guiding axial movement thereof relative to the container, said groove and rib means being so disposed and cooperatively formed as to prevent said motion transmitting engagement between said member and the valve stem except when said member is in one of said valve operating positions.

Claim 20

In the assembly defined in claim 15, said ribs being of different length and being formed on said member and said grooves being formed in the boss surface, means providing an upwardly facing recess in said boss surface connecting the upper ends of said grooves after the lower end of the shorter rib has left said recess and while the lower end of the longer rib remains in said recess and having stop shoulders at opposite ends, and cooperating means on said boss and member for preventing axial displacement of said member away from the container whereby said member may be rotated between valve operating positions defined by said stop shoulders.

Claim 21

In the assembly defined in claim 16, said boss having a flat planar top surface slidingly associated with the lower end of said short rib during rotation of said member.

Claim 22

A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating assembly adapted to be mounted on a pressurized container having a valve comprising cap structure having means for mounting it on such a container, a spray pattern selector member having at least two spaced bores therein containing insert plugs that are formed with through passages, said passages being so constructed and arranged as to produce different spray patterns at their outlets, and means mounting said member on said cap structure for movement between a position wherein it may actuate the container valve to discharge container contents through one of said insert passages and another position wherein it may actuate the container valve to discharge container contents through the other insert passage, said bores and insert plugs being formed with cooperating interfitting longitudinal rib and groove means providing predetermined orientation of the outlet of each said passage relative to said selector member.

Claim 23

A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating assembly adapted to be mounted on a pressurized container having a valve comprising cap structure having means for mounting it on such a container, a spray pattern selector member having at least two spaced bores therein containing insert plugs that are formed with through passages, said passages being so constructed and arranged as to produce different spray patterns at their outlets, and means mounting said member on said cap structure for movement between a position wherein it may actuate the container valve to discharge container contents through one of said insert passages and another position wherein it may actuate the container valve to discharge container contents through the other insert passage, said bores and insert plugs being formed with cooperating interfitting longitudinal rib and groove means providing predetermined orientation of the outlet of each said passage relative to said selector member.

Claim 24

A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating assembly adapted to be mounted on a pressurized container having a valve comprising cap structure having means for mounting it on such a container, a spray pattern selector member having at least two spaced bores therein containing insert plugs that are formed with through passages, said passages being so constructed and arranged as to produce different spray patterns at their outlets, and means mounting said member on said cap structure for movement between a position wherein it may actuate the container valve to discharge container contents through one of said insert passages and another position wherein it may actuate the container valve to discharge container contents through the other insert passage, said selector member being a head mounted on the cap structure for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of the container, said bores being downwardly open recesses in said head, and said insert plugs being fixed within said recesses in predetermined positions of orientation.

Claim 25

A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating assembly adapted to be mounted on a pressurized container having a valve comprising cap structure having means for mounting it on such a container, a spray pattern selector member having at least two spaced bores therein containing insert plugs that are formed with through passages, said passages being so constructed and arranged as to produce different spray patterns at their outlets, and means mounting said member on said cap structure for movement between a position wherein it may actuate the container valve to discharge container contents through one of said insert passages and another position wherein it may actuate the container valve to discharge container contents through the other insert passage, said selector member being a head mounted on the cap structure for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of the container, said bores being downwardly open recesses in said head, and said insert plugs being fixed within said recesses in predetermined positions of orientation.

Claim 26

A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating assembly adapted to be mounted upon a pressurized container of the type having a projecting hollow valve actuating and product discharge stem and comprising a cap structure having means for mounting it on such a container, a hollow boss on the upper end of said cap structure, a spray pattern selector member mounted on said boss for rotation about the axis of said boss and for slidable displacement toward and from the container, said member having at its lower end at least two downwardly open sockets each adapted to receive said valve stem when aligned therewith by rotation of said member, and means in said member forming distinct spray pattern passages extending from each socket to a separate lateral discharge outlet, said member comprising a one-piece button having downwardly open bores, and said sockets and passages are formed in plug inserts within said bores and said member and sockets being so constructed and arranged that after rotation of said member to align a selected socket with said valve stem the member may be initially displaced in the direction toward the container to confine the upper end of the valve stem in the selected socket in communication with the adjacent spray pattern passage end and establish solid motion transmitting engagement between the member and valve stem whereby further displacement of the member in that direction moves the valve stem to effect discharge of the container contents through the associated spray passage and outlet.

Claim 27

A combination spray pattern selecting and valve operating assembly adapted to be mounted upon a pressurized container of the type having a projecting hollow valve actuating and product discharge stem and comprising a cap structure having means for mounting it on such a container, a hollow boss on the upper end of said cap structure, a spray pattern selector member mounted on said boss for rotation about the axis of said boss and for slidable displacement toward and from the container, said member having at its lower end at least two downwardly open sockets each adapted to receive said valve stem when aligned therewith by rotation of said member, and means in said member forming distinct spray pattern passages extending from each socket to a separate lateral discharge outlet, said member comprising a one-piece button having downwardly open bores, and said sockets and passages are formed in plug inserts within said bores and said member and sockets being so constructed and arranged that after rotation of said member to align a selected socket with said valve stem the member may be initially displaced in the direction toward the container to confine the upper end of the valve stem in the selected socket in communication with the adjacent spray pattern passage end and establish solid motion transmitting engagement between the member and valve stem whereby further displacement of the member in that direction moves the valve stem to effect discharge of the container contents through the associated spray passage and outlet.