Aerosol valve assembly

Claim 2

An aerosol valve assembly comprising a movable valve and a valve seat therefor, means for elastically biasing said valve to a normally closed position relative to said seat, an operator actuated by the application of manual force for moving said valve to an open position relative to said seat, and means for applying a resistance to movement of said valve when said operator receives an initial application of manual force and which suddenly releases said resistance with an increase in said force so that this increased force causes said valve to move to its said open position with a snap action; and further comprising a cup-shaped body, a closure for the top of said body and having an inner surface forming said valve seat, said valve being positioned inside of said body for movement axially with respect to the latter and having a top engagable with said valve seat, said operator being formed by a tubular stem extending upwardly from the top of said valve through a hole formed in said closure and said biasing means biasing said valve upwardly; and said body, said valve and said stem forming at least one fluid passage which is closed when the valve''s said top engages said valve seat and which is open when said valve is snapped downwardly by said increased manual force on said stem; said passage including a radial hole formed in said tubular stem and opening below the level of said valve seat formed by said closure; said cup-shaped body having an inner sidewall and said valve having a sidewall sliding on said inner sidewall, said valve''s top surrounding said stem and extending to said valve''s sidewall, said valve being made of elastic deformable material and having an annular groove formed downwardly in its said top adjacent to its periphery to define a tubular sidewall portion, the latter being of a larger outside diameter than the balance of said valve''s sidewall and forming a sliding press-fit with said body''s cylindrical sidewall and which closes said hole when the valve is in its closed position.

Claim 3

The assembly of claim 1 in which the peripheral portion of said valve''s top between said groove and said valve''s periphery projects above the level of the balance of said valve''s top to form a seal, said valve seat being elastically deformable.

Claim 4

The assembly of claim 2 in which one of the valve''s said top and said valve seat has an annular bead projecting towards the other and forming a seal.

Claim 5

The assembly of claim 3 in which said radial hole in said stem is positioned so that when said valve is in its closed position said radial hole is closed by the wall of the closure''s said hole through which said stem projects, thereby forming a seal.

Claim 6

A co-dispensing aerosol valve assembly including a cup-shaped body having on its inside a substantially cylindrical sidewall, an elastically deformable gasket closing the top of said body and having an inner surface forming a valve seat, a valve having a top and a substantially cylindrical portion slidingly fitting said sidewall, said valve being movable between an upper position where its top seats on said valve seat and a lower position forming a space between the valve''s top and the valve seat, said valve having an axially positioned tubular stem extending upwardly and slidably and substantially fluid-tightly through a hole formed in said gasket, said tubular stem having a fluid connection with said space, said cup-shaped body having a plurality of ports opening into said space at circumferentially spaced locations and means for connecting these ports respectively with different sources of pressurized fluid to be dispensed, said cylindrical portion of the valve closing said ports when the valve is at its upper position, spring means for biasing said valve to its upper position, downward finger pressure on said stem moving said valve from its upper position To its lower position against the bias of said spring means, and releasable means for holding said valve against movement from its upper position during the application of downward finger pressure to said stem less than that required to move the valve fully to its lower position against the bias of said spring means and for suddenly releasing the valve to permit said movement upon the application of finger pressure to the stem substantially greater than that required to move the valve fully to its lower position against the bias of the spring means, so that by continuance of said greater finger pressure the valve is moved suddenly from its upper position to its lower position with a snap-like action causing its said cylindrical portion to fully open all of said ports substantially simultaneously, said spring means being formed by a portion depending from said valve''s cylindrical portion and including a tapered portion, and an elastically deformable tubular member extending upwardly from the bottom of said cup-shaped body and having an upper portion embracing the lower end portion of said tapered portion and which is longitudinally slotted to define cantilever springs between the slots and which are wedged outwardly by the tapered portion by movement of the valve from its upper position to its lower position, said releasable means being formed by an annular bead on said depending portion and engaging the tops of said springs when said valve is at its upper position, said valve''s depending portion including a bottom portion extending downwardly between the tops of said cantilever springs and said valve''s cylindrical portion and said bead on the valve''s depending portion and the tops of said cantilever springs being symmetrical with respect to each other and with respect to said cylindrical wall of the cup-shaped member to hold said valve against tilting movement, said bead suddenly disengaging from the tops of said cantilever springs upon said application of said substantially greater finger pressure.

Claim 7

A co-dispensing aerosol valve assembly including a cup-shaped body having on its inside a substantially cylindrical sidewall, an elastically deformable gasket closing the top of said body and having an inner surface forming a valve seat, a valve having a top and a substantially cylindrical portion slidingly fitting said sidewall, said valve being movable between an upper position where its top seats on said valve seat and a lower position forming a space between the valve''s top and the valve seat, said valve having an axially positioned tubular stem extending upwardly and slidably and substantially fluid-tightly through a hole formed in said gasket, said tubular stem having a fluid connection with said space, said cup-shaped body having a plurality of ports opening into said space at circumferentially spaced locations and means for connecting these ports respectively with different sources of pressurized fluid to be dispensed, said cylindrical portion of the valve closing said ports when the valve is at its upper position, spring means for biasing said valve to its upper position, downward finger pressure on said stem moving said valve from its upper position To its lower position against the bias of said spring means, and releasable means for holding said valve against movement from its upper position during the application of downward finger pressure to said stem less than that required to move the valve fully to its lower position against the bias of said spring means and for suddenly releasing the valve to permit said movement upon the application of finger pressure to the stem substantially greater than that required to move the valve fully to its lower position against the bias of the spring means, so that by continuance of said greater finger pressure the valve is moved suddenly from its upper position to its lower position with a snap-like action causing its said cylindrical portion to fully open all of said ports substantially simultaneously, said spring means being formed by a portion depending from said valve''s cylindrical portion and including a tapered portion, and an elastically deformable tubular member extending upwardly from the bottom of said cup-shaped body and having an upper portion embracing the lower end portion of said tapered portion and which is longitudinally slotted to define cantilever springs between the slots and which are wedged outwardly by the tapered portion by movement of the valve from its upper position to its lower position, said releasable means being formed by an annular bead on said depending portion and engaging the tops of said springs when said valve is at its upper position, said valve''s depending portion including a bottom portion extending downwardly between the tops of said cantilever springs and said valve''s cylindrical portion and said bead on the valve''s depending portion and the tops of said cantilever springs being symmetrical with respect to each other and with respect to said cylindrical wall of the cup-shaped member to hold said valve against tilting movement, said bead suddenly disengaging from the tops of said cantilever springs upon said application of said substantially greater finger pressure.

Claim 8

A co-dispensing aerosol valve assembly including a cup-shaped body having on its inside a substantially cylindrical sidewall, an elastically deformable gasket closing the top of said body and having an inner surface forming a valve seat, a valve having a top and a substantially cylindrical portion slidingly fitting said sidewall, said valve being movable between an upper position where its top seats on said valve seat and a lower position forming a space between the valve''s top and the valve seat, said valve having an axially positioned tubular stem extending upwardly and slidably and substantially fluid-tightly through a hole formed in said gasket, said tubular stem having a fluid connection with said space, said cup-shaped body having a plurality of ports opening into said space at circumferentially spaced locations and means for connecting these ports respectively with different sources of pressurized fluid to be dispensed, said cylindrical portion of the valve closing said ports when the valve is at its upper position, spring means for biasing said valve to its upper position, downward finger pressure on said stem moving said valve from its upper position to its lower position against the bias of said spring means, and releasable means for holding said valve against movement from its upper position during the application of downward finger pressure to said stem less than that required to move the valve fully to its lower position against the bias of said spring means and for suddenly releasing the valve to permit said movement upon the application of finger pressure to the stem substantially greater than that required to move the valve fully to its lower position against the bias of the spring means, so that by continuance of said greater finger pressure the valve is moved suddenly from its upper position to its lower position with a snap-like action causing its said cylindrical portion to fully open all of said ports substantially simultaneously, said spring means bEing formed by an elastically deformable tubular part having longitudinal slots to define cantilever springs between the slots, and which is in wedging relationship with a tapered part having a peripheral bead engaged by the ends of these springs when said valve is in its upper position and forming said releasable means, one of said parts being formed by said valve and the other by said cup-shaped body.

Claim 9

A co-dispensing aerosol valve assembly including a cup-shaped body having on its inside a substantially cylindrical sidewall, an elastically deformable gasket closing the top of said body and having an inner surface forming a valve seat, a valve having a top and a substantially cylindrical portion slidingly fitting said sidewall, said valve being movable between an upper position where its top seats on said valve seat and a lower position forming a space between the valve''s top and the valve seat, said valve having an axially positioned tubular stem extending upwardly and slidably and substantially fluid-tightly through a hole formed in said gasket, said tubular stem having a fluid connection with said space, said cup-shaped body having a plurality of ports opening into said space at circumferentially spaced locations and means for connecting these ports respectively with different sources of pressurized fluid to be dispensed, said cylindrical portion of the valve closing said ports when the valve is at its upper position, spring means for biasing said valve to its upper position, downward finger pressure on said stem moving said valve from its upper position to its lower position against the bias of said spring means, and releasable means for holding said valve against movement from its upper position during the application of downward finger pressure to said stem less than that required to move the valve fully to its lower position against the bias of said spring means and for suddenly releasing the valve to permit said movement upon the application of finger pressure to the stem substantially greater than that required to move the valve fully to its lower position against the bias of the spring means, so that by continuance of said greater finger pressure the valve is moved suddenly from its upper position to its lower position with a snap-like action causing its said cylindrical portion to fully open all of said ports substantially simultaneously, said spring means bEing formed by an elastically deformable tubular part having longitudinal slots to define cantilever springs between the slots, and which is in wedging relationship with a tapered part having a peripheral bead engaged by the ends of these springs when said valve is in its upper position and forming said releasable means, one of said parts being formed by said valve and the other by said cup-shaped body.