Aerosol valve assembly

Abstract

A valve assembly is provided that includes a cup having a hub with an end wall and an opening therein. The valve assembly includes an annular seal interconnected to a cylindrical valve element by resilient radial ribs extending therebetween that provide for axial movement of the cylindrical valve element relative to the annular seal. The annular seal and cylindrical valve element are disposed within the hub with the top surface seated against the end wall in the hub. The cylindrical valve element is offset above the top surface such that when the annular seal is seated against the end wall the cylindrical valve element is axially displaced and compressed against the end wall to provide a minimum pre-load force effective for sealing off the opening. An actuator having a sleeve is disposed over the hub, and includes a plunger tip projecting eccentrically through the opening for unseating the cylindrical valve element.

1 . A valve assembly for an aerosol container, comprising:
 a cup having a hub including an end wall therein, and opening in the endwall of a predetermined diameter, wherein the endwall portion around said opening does project inwardly;   an annular seal with a top surface, being interconnected to a cylindrical valve element by resilient radial ribs extending between the annular seal and an outside diameter of the cylindrical valve element that provide for axial movement of the cylindrical valve element relative to the annular seal, the annular seal and cylindrical valve element being disposed within the hub with said top surface seated against the end wall in the hub, the cylindrical valve element being offset a predetermined distance above said top surface such that when the annular seal is seated with said top surface against said end wall the cylindrical valve element is axially displaced and compressed against the end wall over the opening to provide a minimum pre-load force that is effective for sealing off the opening in the end wall of the hub; and   an actuator having a sleeve disposed over the hub, and a plunger tip projecting eccentrically through the opening for displacing and unseating the cylindrical valve element from the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the outside diameter of the cylindrical valve element to the opening diameter is between about 1.6 to 2.1, whereby the ratio allows the resilient radial ribs to have sufficient radial length to permit unseating of the cylindrical valve element with less than a predetermined force. 
     
     
         3 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient radial ribs are configured to permit the cylindrical valve element to be axially displaced relative to the annular seal in an amount of said predetermined distance by application of a minimum pre-load force. 
     
     
         4 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient radial ribs each have a radial length of at least 0.047 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient radial ribs each have a minimum radial length and a minimum modulus of elasticity that are sufficient to permit axial movement of the cylindrical valve element relative to the annular seal for unseating the cylindrical valve element with a force of not more than 1.9 pounds. 
     
     
         6 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the minimum pre-load force is a minimum of about 2.6 pounds. 
     
     
         7 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical valve element is offset above said top surface by a predetermined distance of at least 0.035 inches, to provide sufficient elastic displacement of the resilient radial ribs to establish the minimum preload force. 
     
     
         8 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the annular seal, resilient radial ribs and cylindrical valve element are integrally formed of an elastic material selected from the group consisting of Acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, Ethylene propylene diene rubber, Polychloroprene rubber, Fluorocarbon Rubber, Chloroprene rubber, Silicone rubber, Fluorosilicone rubber, Polyacrylate rubber, Ethylene Acrylic rubber, Styrene-butadiene rubber, Polyester urethane/Polyether urethane, Natural rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the annular seal, resilient radial ribs and cylindrical valve element are integrally formed of an elastomer having a hardness of at least 70 durometer. 
     
     
         10 . The valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator further includes a tamper evident removable portion that is formed integrally with the actuator and is defined by lines of weakness between the actuator and the removable portion, wherein an opening force exerted on the removable portion causes the removable portion to at least partially separate from the actuator, to provide a tamper evident condition. 
     
     
         11 . A valve assembly for an aerosol container, comprising:
 a cup having a hub including an end wall therein, and an opening in the endwall of a predetermined diameter;   an annular seal with a top surface, being interconnected to a cylindrical valve element by resilient radial ribs extending between the annular seal and an outside diameter of the cylindrical valve element that provide for axial movement of the cylindrical valve element relative to the annular seal, the annular seal and cylindrical valve element being disposed within the hub with said top surface seated against the end wall in the hub, the cylindrical valve element being offset a predetermined distance above said top surface such that when the annular seal is seated with said top surface against said end wall the cylindrical valve element is axially displaced and compressed against the end wall over the opening to provide a minimum pre-load force of at least 1 lb. that is effective for substantially sealing off the opening in the end wall of the hub; and   an actuator having a sleeve disposed over the hub, and a plunger tip projecting eccentrically through the opening for displacing and unseating the cylindrical valve element from the opening;   wherein the ratio of the outside diameter of the cylindrical valve element to the opening diameter is between about 1.6 to about 2.1, whereby the ratio allows the resilient radial ribs to have sufficient radial length to permit unseating of the cylindrical valve element with less than a predetermined amount of force.   
     
     
         12 . The valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the resilient radial ribs are configured to permit the cylindrical valve element to be axially displaced relative to the annular seal in an amount of said predetermined distance by application of said minimum pre-load force. 
     
     
         13 . The valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the resilient radial ribs each have a radial length of at least 0.047 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the resilient radial ribs each have a minimum radial length and a minimum modulus of elasticity that are sufficient to permit axial movement of the cylindrical valve element relative to the annular seal for unseating the cylindrical valve element with a force of not more than 1.9 pounds. 
     
     
         15 . The valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the cylindrical valve element is offset above said top surface by a predetermined distance of at least 0.050 inches, to provide sufficient elastic displacement of the resilient radial ribs to establish the minimum preload force. 
     
     
         16 . The valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the annular seal, resilient radial ribs and cylindrical valve element are integrally formed of an elastic material selected from the group consisting of Acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, Ethylene propylene diene rubber, Polychloroprene rubber, Fluorocarbon Rubber, Chloroprene rubber, Silicone rubber, Fluorosilicone rubber, Polyacrylate rubber, Ethylene Acrylic rubber, Styrene-butadiene rubber, Polyester urethane/Polyether urethane, Natural rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the annular seal, resilient radial ribs and cylindrical valve element are integrally formed of an elastomer having a hardness of at least 70 durometer. 
     
     
         18 . The valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the actuator further includes a tamper evident removable portion that is formed integrally with the actuator and is defined by lines of weakness between the actuator and the removable portion, wherein an opening force exerted on the removable portion causes the removable portion to at least partially separate from the actuator, to provide a tamper evident condition. 
     
     
         19 . The valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the tamper evident removable portion further includes a projection thereon to permit gripping of the removable portion to cause the removable portion to dislodge from the actuator. 
     
     
         20 . A valve assembly for an aerosol container, comprising:
 a cup having a hub including an end wall therein, and an opening in the endwall of a predetermined diameter, wherein the endwall portion around said opening does project inwardly;   an annular seal with a top surface, being interconnected to a cylindrical valve element by resilient radial ribs extending between the annular seal and an outside diameter of the cylindrical valve element that provide for axial movement of the cylindrical valve element relative to the annular seal, the annular seal and cylindrical valve element being disposed within the hub with said top surface seated against the end wall in the hub, the cylindrical valve element being offset a predetermined distance above said top surface such that when the annular seal is seated with said top surface against the said end wall the cylindrical valve element is axially displaced and compressed against the end wall over the opening to provide a minimum pre-load force of at least 2.6 pounds that is effective for substantially sealing off the opening in the end wall of the hub; and   an actuator having a sleeve disposed over the hub, and a plunger tip projecting eccentrically through the opening for displacing and unseating the cylindrical valve element from the opening;   wherein the ratio of the outside diameter of the cylindrical valve element to the opening diameter is between about 1.6 to about 2.1, whereby the ratio allows for the resilient radial ribs to each have a minimum radial length to provide sufficient bending to permit axial movement of the cylindrical valve element relative to the annular seal for unseating the cylindrical valve element with a force of not more than 1.9 pounds.