Partially oval spray can

Abstract

The invention relates to a spray can which is made of metal and which is ergonomically designed in order to ensure a secure hold of the can when spraying. This spray can comprises a lower can portion and an upper can portion, the lower can portion containing a bottom and being of almost cylindrical configuration, so that a cross section of the spray can in this portion is circular. The upper can portion contains a shoulder area and a can opening with a collar for an insertable spraying system from which the contents of the can are discharged. In order to obtain an easy-to-handle spray can which is ergonomically shaped and presents no drawbacks with regard to safety, it is proposed that the upper can portion additionally contains a shaping area, which may also extend above the shoulder area. A cross section in the shaping area of the spray can is configured differently than the almost circular cross section of the lower can portion. The present invention further relates to a device which is used to manufacture the present spray can. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the inventive spray can using the corresponding device.

1 . A spray can ( 10 ) made of metal, with a lower can portion ( 11 ) and an upper can portion ( 13 ), 
 the lower can portion ( 11 ) containing a bottom ( 12 ) and being of almost cylindrical configuration, so that a cross section of the spray can ( 10 ) in this portion is circular, and    the upper can portion ( 13 ) being provided with a shoulder area ( 14 ) and with a can opening ( 15 ) with a collar ( 16 ) for an insertable spraying system, characterized in that    the upper can portion ( 13 ) additionally contains a shaping area ( 17 ), which may also extend above the shoulder area ( 14 ), and    a cross section of the shaping area ( 17 ) of the spray can ( 10 ) is configured differently than the almost circular cross section of the lower can portion ( 11 ).    
   
   
       2 . The spray can ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that, a substantially constant wall thickness exists about the circumference of the cross section (radially) and along the height (axially) of the spray can ( 10 ).  
   
   
       3 . The spray can ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the circumference of the circular cross section from the lower can portion ( 11 ) is configured so as to be equal in terms of size to the circumference of the differently configured cross section in the shaping area ( 17 ).  
   
   
       4 . The spray can ( 10 ) as claimed in one of claims  1  through  3 , characterized in that the surface of the differently configured cross section in the shaping area ( 17 ) is oval or ellipsoid.  
   
   
       5 . The spray can ( 10 ) as claimed in one of claims  1  through  3 , characterized in that the surface of the differently configured cross section in the shaping area ( 17 ) approximates to a triangle or rectangle.  
   
   
       6 . The spray can ( 10 ) as claimed in one of claims  1  through  5 , characterized in that the spray can ( 10 ) has a standardized can opening ( 15 ) in which standardized spraying systems can be inserted.  
   
   
       7 . The spray can ( 10 ) as claimed in one of claims  1  through  6 , characterized in that the spray can ( 10 ) with inserted spraying system is suitable for a filling pressure of between 5 and 35 bar.  
   
   
       8 . The spray can ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the filling pressure of the spray can ( 10 ) is between 10 and 20 bar.  
   
   
       9 . The spray can ( 10 ) as claimed in  claim 7 , characterized in that the filling pressure of the spray can ( 10 ) is between 12 and 18 bar.  
   
   
       10 . The spray can ( 10 ) as claimed in one of claims  1  through  9 , characterized in that the metal of the spray can ( 10 ) is tinplate or aluminum.  
   
   
       11 . A device ( 20 ) for manufacturing the spray can ( 10 ) as claimed in one of claims  1  through  10 , containing one or more dies ( 24 ) for producing the upper can portion ( 13 ) with the shoulder area ( 14 ) and with the can opening ( 15 ) with collar ( 16 ) from an almost cylindrical hollow body ( 25   a ) with bottom ( 12 ), the shape of the upper can portion ( 13 ) being determined by the contours ( 30 ) of the dies ( 24 ), characterized in that 
 the contours ( 30 ) of the dies ( 24 ) are configured in such a way that in addition the differently configured shaping area ( 17 ) of the spray can ( 10 ) can also be formed,    the circumferences ( 31 ) of the contours ( 30 ) not being circular at different cross sections in the shaping area ( 17 ) of a die ( 24 ).    
   
   
       12 . The device ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that, at different cross sections in the shaping area ( 17 ) of a die ( 24 ), the contours ( 30 ) have circumferences ( 31 ) of uniform length.  
   
   
       13 . A method for manufacturing the spray can ( 10 ) as claimed in one of claims  1  through  10  and comprising at least the following production operations, which themselves consist of one or more production steps: 
 a) producing an almost cylindrical hollow body ( 25   a ) with bottom ( 12 ),    b) painting the inside of the cylindrical hollow body ( 25   a ),    c) printing or painting the cylindrical hollow body ( 25   a ) on the outside,    d) cutting off the upper edge of the cylindrical hollow body ( 25   a ) for exact forming of the collar ( 16 ) of the can opening ( 15 ),    e) producing the upper can portion ( 13 ) with the shoulder area ( 14 ) and with the can opening ( 15 ) with collar ( 16 ),    characterized in that in the production operation e) for the upper can portion ( 13 ) with the shoulder area ( 14 ) and with the can opening ( 15 ) with collar ( 16 ), the device ( 20 ) as claimed in  claim 11  or  12  is used,    by which means the differently configured shaping area ( 17 ) of the upper can portion ( 13 ) can also be formed.    
   
   
       14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , characterized in that the production operation a) for producing an almost cylindrical hollow body ( 25   a ) with bottom ( 12 ) is achieved by deep-drawing.  
   
   
       15 . The method as claimed in  claim 13  or  14 , characterized in that the production operation e) for creating the upper can portion ( 13 ) with the shaping area ( 17 ) is the last production operation in the process for manufacturing unfilled spray cans ( 10 ).