Spray actuator

Abstract

A spray actuator for an aerosol container, having at least one liquid to be dispensed there-from, has a valve actuator hinged mounted in the actuator body about a hinge axis, preferably at, or above, an intersection of the valve stem of the container valve and the inlet of a product passageway in the valve actuator, the product passage being connected to a spray nozzle. The valve actuator has both a trigger and a button, which enables operation of the spray actuator in any disposition of the container. Optionally, the spray nozzle is rotatable in the valve actuator to enable the major-axis of the spray fan to be rotated; and an optional locking assembly may be provided to selectively lock the valve actuator against operation.

1 . A spray actuator for attachment to an aerosol container containing at least one liquid to be dispensed, the container having a valve and vale stem, the spray actuator including:
 a body having a sidewall to enclose and/or releasably engage an upper portion of a sidewall of the container;   a valve actuator, hingedly mounted to the body about a hinge axis, having a product passageway therethrough, the product passageway having an inlet operably connectable to the valve stem and an outlet; and a nozzle operably connectable to the outlet of the product passageway, wherein:   the valve actuator has a valve actuator body incorporating both a trigger and a button operable to rotate the valve actuator relative to the body about the hinge axis, to thereby actuate the valve to enable dispensing of the at least one liquid from the aerosol container.   
     
     
         2 . A spray actuator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sidewall includes a rim engaging portion for attachment to the container and/or a skirt depending from the sidewall.   
     
     
         3 . A spray actuator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 The hinge axis is provided at, or above, an intersection of the valve stem and the inlet of the product passageway.   
     
     
         4 . A spray actuator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the trigger extends from the body, the trigger being provided on the valve actuator body at a position diametrically opposed from the hinged mounting of the valve actuator body to the sidewall about the hinge axis.   
     
     
         5 . A spray actuator as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein:
 the trigger extends substantially radially outwardly through a slot or recess in the sidewall of the body, and is arranged to be pulled downwardly and optionally inwardly towards the body to actuate the valve.   
     
     
         6 . A spray actuator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the button is provided on an upper portion of the valve actuator body, intermediate the trigger and the hinge axis; and the button is located substantially coaxially with the valve stem.   
     
     
         7 . The spray actuator as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein:
 the button is provided within, or accessible via, a slot or recess in a top wall of the body;   the slot optionally extends across the top wall from the button to the upper portion of the sidewall adjacent the hinge axis; and optionally further extends down the upper portion of sidewall to a location just above the hinge axis.   
     
     
         8 . A spray actuator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 both the trigger and the button are operable to enable the spray actuator to be operated in any disposition of the container, having a 360° valve, to which the spray actuator is attached in use, to enable 360° dispensing operation of the at least one liquid from the container.   
     
     
         9 . A spray actuator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the valve actuator body is integrally moulded of suitable plastics-material, and has an extension portion provide with a hinge pin at its distal end; and the hinge pin is rotatably journalled on the hinge axis, in at least one support lug or flange on an inner face of the sidewall of the body.   
     
     
         10 . A spray actuator as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein:
 the product passageway is an inverted L-shaped bore in side view extending centrally through the interior of the valve actuator body; and the outlet of the product passageway is spaced above the trigger.   
     
     
         11 . A spray actuator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the nozzle has a nozzle body with an inlet end releasably engageable in an enlarged bore at the outlet of the product passageway and an outlet end defining the spray pattern of the liquid being dispensed.   
     
     
         12 . A spray actuator as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 the spray pattern is in the form of a “fan”, where rotation of the nozzle body relative to the valve actuator body enables the major-axis of the fan spray pattern to be changed from vertical to horizontal, or vice versa, or to any inclined angle there-between.   
     
     
         13 . A spray actuator as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a locking member is releasably mountable on the body to prevent the valve actuator from being operated, and is storable on a storage compartment on the body when the spray actuator is in use.   
     
     
         14 . A spray actuator as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein:
 the locking member is of substantially U-shape in plain view, with a cross-bar engageable under the outlet of the product passageway and/or the nozzle body;   the cross-bar interconnected a pair of legs releasably engageable in locating slots or recesses in the adjacent sidewall of the body; and when in the locking position, the locking member prevents movement of the valve actuator body relative to the body which would enable the valve to be actuated.   
     
     
         15 . A spray assembly for liquids including:
 an aerosol container containing at least one liquid to be dispensed, the container having a valve and valve stem; and   a spray actuator as claimed in  claim 1 .   
     
     
         16 . A spray assembly as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein:
 the aerosol container is pressurised by a propellant gas dissolved in the liquid to be dispensed,   the valve and valve stem S being operable by the valve actuator to actuate the valve against bias of the valve stem urging the valve to a closed position.