WO2013008016A1

WO2013008016A1 - Actuator and closure cap for an aerosol dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2013008016A1
Application number: PCT/GB2012/051649
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bill Dando
Original assignee: Britvic Soft Drinks Limited
Priority date: 2011-07-13
Filing date: 2012-07-12
Publication date: 2013-01-17
Also published as: GB201112009D0

Abstract

The present invention provides various forms of capped actuator to address the problem of accidental activation of an aerosol dispenser when removing the cap from the dispenser. For example, in one form the capped actuator comprises a manually-operated actuator (16) comprising a nozzle (18) arranged to dispense the dispensable liquid and an engagement means (22) for engaging with the neck portion of the pressurised container (10). The actuator is configured to actuate a valve mechanism (24) in the neck portion of the pressurised container (10), while a removable cap (14) is configured to encapsulate at least a portion of the actuator (16) including the nozzle (18), wherein at least one of the cap and the actuator includes means for allowing removal of the cap without unintentionally actuating the valve mechanism of the pressurised container. In this way, undesirable spillage or leakage of the dispensable liquid can be minimised or avoided. It is envisaged that the capped actuator of the present invention would have particular application in the beverage industry. To be accompanied, when published, by Figure 3 of the drawings.

Description

ACTUATOR AND CLOSURE CAP FOR AN AEROSOL DI S PENSER

The present invention relates to pressurised containers and particularly relates to improvements to capped aerosol dispensers.

Pressurised containers, such as aerosols or aerosol dispensers, are commonly used for many applications . Aerosol dispensers may be made from metals (such as aluminium or steel) or plastic materials (such as LDPE or HDPE) , and typically contain a liquid to be dispensed together with some form of propellant to facilitate ejection of the liquid from the container upon activation of a valve mechanism.

In most cases, the pressurised container will comprise some form of nozzle or aperture for dispensing the liquid, which is conventionally covered by a removable cap. The cap usually serves the dual purpose of avoiding activation during packing and transportation etc. , while also ensuring that the nozzle remains hygienic (e.g. dirt and germ free) , which is important for beverage and food dispensers . Therefore, when fitted to the pressurised container, the cap can prevent activation of the actuator which controls the valve mechanism.

However, a problem may arise when the cap is being removed, as depending on the type of actuator and/or nozzle being used, the removal of the cap can occasionally cause the dispenser to be accidentally activated if the actuator and/or nozzle is deflected, compressed or otherwise acted upon without the consumer or user intentionally doing so. Hence, in such a situation, the liquid may then be dispensed without the consumer or user being prepared for the delivery, thereby resulting in spillage or leakage of the liquid, which in many cases can also cause fowling of the cap and/or the exterior of the container generally. Not only is this spillage undesirable from a practical point of view, but it is also wasteful of the liquid contents , which can thus shorten the longevity of the product thereby potentially increasing costs and inconvenience for the consumer or user.

The issue of accidental activation may be even more problematic when longer (e.g. extended) and/or protruding nozzle types are used in conjunction with the dispenser, as the removal of the cap can occasionally interfere with the tip or the body of the nozzle, which either directly or indirectly brings about activation of the dispenser by actuation of the valve mechanism. Therefore, depending on the degree of care taken to remove the cap, the chance of accidental activation can be reduced but not fully eliminated. Hence, there remains a risk that the liquid can be unintentionally dispensed during removal of the cap without the consumer or user being prepared, thereby resulting in spillage and/or fowling of the cap and exterior of the container.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to address some, if not all of the above problems, by providing an improved capped actuator for a pressurised container, such as a plastic aerosol, that mitigates against accidental spillage, leakage and/or fowling of the cap and/or container.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a capped actuator for a pressurised container containing a dispensable liquid, the capped actuator comprising:

a manually-operated actuator comprising:

a nozzle arranged to dispense the dispensable liquid; and an engagement means for engaging with the neck portion of the pressurised container;

the actuator being configured to actuate a valve mechanism in the neck portion of the pressurised container; and

a removable cap configured to encapsulate at least a portion of the actuator including the nozzle;

wherein at least one of the cap and the actuator includes means for allowing removal of the cap without unintentionally actuating the valve mechanism of the pressurised container.

The provision of a means associated with at least one of the removable cap and the actuator, which allows the cap to be removed without unintentionally actuating the valve mechanism of the pressurised container is found to be particularly advantageous as this mitigates against the likelihood of accidental activation of the dispenser, since it reduces the risk or otherwise eliminates the possibility that the nozzle and/or actuator are deflected, compressed or otherwise acted upon without the consumer or user intentionally doing so.

Therefore, the capped actuator of the present invention is able to avoid spillage, leakage and/or fowling of the cap and/or exterior of the pressurised container, while the cap is being removed.

It is to be understood that any references herein to 'a pressurised container' or 'pressurised containers ' is intended to encompass any form of aerosol, plastic aerosol or plastic aerosol dispenser etc. , including but not limited to, plastic aerosol dispensers for use in the beverage or soft drinks industry, typically of a form containing a liquid to be dispensed and a propellant to facilitate ejection of the liquid via a valve mechanism integral to the container. No limitation as to the nature of the liquid or propellant is implied, and no particular shape or configuration of the container or bottle is to be construed, other than those which are able to be coupled to the capped actuator of the present invention. By 'manually-operated actuator' we mean any suitable actuator that can be operated by a consumer or user by way of manual interaction with the actuator. Hence, for example, this term is intended to cover any actuator that can be operated by a compression or depression force or pressure exerted by a thumb or finger of the consumer or user on the actuator.

The means for allowing removal of the cap are preferably configured to permit removal of the cap only in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pressurised container. Hence, in this way, the consumer or user is restricted to removing the cap in a fashion which reduces the likelihood of deflecting, compressing or otherwise interacting with the nozzle and/or actuator while the cap is being removed.

By 'longitudinal axis' we mean the axis that passes through the longest dimension of the container, which generally for 'bottle-type' containers will be the vertical height dimension. Therefore, this term is intended to include the axis which passes throughout the whole length of the body of the container. The means for allowing removal of the cap is also preferably configured to prevent any lateral movement of the cap, relative to the actuator, during removal of the cap. This is found to be particularly advantageous, as a high incidence of accidental activation occurs when the cap is removed by way of a 'flipping action' , such that the cap is removed by exerting a substantially side-ways force on the cap so that it has a tendency to move laterally relative to the actuator. In other words, when the consumer 'flips the cap off , by pressing on the side of the cap, the cap is more likely to then unintentionally interact with the nozzle or actuator, possibly resulting in accidental spillage or leakage of the dispensable liquid. By inhibiting or preventing this action, the chances of a false activation can then be markedly reduced. The means for allowing removal of the cap may also be configured to prevent any pivoting movement of the cap, relative to the actuator, during removal of the cap. Again in this way, any 'flipping action' of the cap can be inhibited or prevented, which reduces the likelihood of the cap interacting with the nozzle and/or actuator, thereby avoiding spillage or leakage of the liquid and mitigating against fowling of the cap and exterior of the container.

The engagement means is configured to engage with the neck portion of the pressurised container. Therefore, the engagement means may comprise any suitable engagement or contact surface for interfacing with the neck portions of conventional or bespoke aerosols etc. The engagement means may engage with the neck portion by way of a friction fit or alternatively be heat-bonded or adhesively-bonded to the neck portion depending on the particular application and/or type of container etc.

In preferred embodiments , the engagement means may comprise an external collar that circumferentially encloses the neck portion of the pressurised container. In this way, the neck portion and valve mechanism of the container can be hidden from view, which not only improves the aesthetics of the capped actuator-container combination, but also offers some protection for these components against contaminants (e.g. dust and dirt etc.) .

The collar preferably includes a circumferential notch or groove, which is intended to receive a lip on the inside of the removable cap. The lip preferably extends circumferentially around the inside surface of the cap. Hence, in order to releasably fix the cap to the actuator, the lip can be engaged with the notch by way of a 'snap-fit' , which securely holds the cap to the actuator until such time the consumer or user wishes to dispense the liquid.

In a preferred embodiment, the means for allowing removal of the cap are preferably in the form of a skirt, which extends circumferentially around the base of the cap and extends away from the lip. The skirt is preferably integral to the cap and the whole cap may be fabricated as a single- injection moulded component. The skirt is preferably configured to at least partially, and most preferably fully cover the external collar when the cap is fixed to the actuator, which thereby prevents the cap from being removed from the actuator by exerting a lateral movement of the cap. Hence, in this embodiment, the consumer or user is prevented from simply flipping the cap off the actuator, as the skirt inhibits any sideways movement of the cap. As a result, the consumer or user is then forced to remove the cap in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container (i.e. the cap has to be pulled off) , which mitigates against accidental activation of the dispenser.

In another embodiment, the means for allowing removal of the cap are preferably in the form of a circumferential wall in the actuator, the wall being substantially upstanding from the external collar and notch, and being in abutment with a portion of the inside surface of the cap, proximal to the lip, when the cap is fixed to the actuator. In this way, any lateral movement of the cap is prevented when the cap is removed from the actuator, which prevents the consumer or user from flipping the cap off the actuator. In another embodiment, the means for allowing removal of the cap are preferably in the form of an extended cap wall, which fully encloses the nozzle and external collar of the actuator. In this embodiment, the lip of the cap preferably resides on the inside edge of the cap wall and is intended to engage with the bottom rim of the collar, which defines a circumferential detent with the neck portion of the container. Hence, in effect, this embodiment corresponds to an Oversized cap' , which prevents the consumer or user from flipping the cap off the actuator, as there is simply insufficient clearance to remove the cap via a lateral movement. Instead, the cap must be pulled off the actuator substantially along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the container.

In another embodiment, the removable cap may further comprise a second lip on its outside surface, preferably back-to-back with the first inner circumferential lip. The external collar of the actuator therefore preferably comprises a protruding wall section upstanding from the notch, which extends around at least part of the circumference of the collar. The wall section is configured to receive the second lip to thereby prevent lateral movement of the cap when the cap is removed from the actuator. Therefore, as above, the consumer or user is prevented from flipping the cap off the actuator, which mitigates against accidental activation of the dispenser avoiding spillage, leakage and fowling of the cap and exterior of the container.

In another embodiment, the external collar of the engagement means preferably includes at least two relatively deep notches arranged to receive respective portions of the lip on the inside of the cap to thereby releasably fix the cap to the actuator. The notches are preferably oppositely disposed on the collar and the cap is preferably configured to be elastically deformable along a direction parallel to the axis joining the notches to thereby release the lip portions from the notches in response to the consumer or user compressing the cap substantially orthogonally to the axis. Hence, the deformation of the cap is preferably such that under compression, the cross-sectional profile of the cap preferably changes from substantially circular to substantially elliptical with the major axis of the ellipse being substantially in line with the axis joining the notches . In this way, the consumer or user is prevented from flipping the cap off the container, as the cap can only be released by deforming the cap in the appropriate manner. As a result, the cap may then only be removed from the actuator by pulling it in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container.

In another embodiment, the cap may be configured to include at least two protuberances on its inside surface instead of a circumferential lip. The engagement means may thus comprise a screw thread into which the protuberances may be engaged in order to releasably fix the cap to the actuator. The provision of the protuberances and a screw thread thus facilitates removal of the cap in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container (as the cap must be unscrewed) and therefore this action mitigates against the possibility of an accidental activation of the dispenser.

In another embodiment, the means for allowing removal of the cap are preferably in the form of a visual indicator means , which preferably conveys at least an instructional message to the consumer or user to remove the cap in a manner that promotes or urges the consumer or user to remove the cap in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container.

In another embodiment, the means for allowing removal of the cap are preferably in the form of a catch mechanism arranged to releasably engage the lip of the cap. The catch mechanism may be operated via a push button, such that pushing the button preferably releases the lip from the catch mechanism. The catch mechanism is preferably integral to the collar and may be fabricated as part of the actuator.

Of course, any suitable form of catch mechanism may be used in conjunction with the present invention, provided that it promotes or urges the consumer or user to remove the cap in a manner that prevents or inhibits the cap being flipped off the actuator.

In another embodiment, the means for allowing removal of the cap are preferably in the form of a removable clip, which is insertable into, on or around the body of the actuator to inhibit the actuation of the actuator. Hence, the clip prevents the actuator from being operated, which in turn stops the valve mechanism from being opened to dispense liquid. As a result, even if the consumer or user inadvertently deflects, compresses or otherwise acts on the nozzle or actuator while removing the cap, the actuator cannot be activated.

In a similar embodiment, the removable clip may be replaced by a hinged clip that is pivotally attached to the body of the actuator to selectively inhibit actuation of the actuator. Thus , the hinged clip acts to prevent actuation of the actuator, but unlike the removable clip of the preceding embodiment, the hinged clip can be repeatedly used so that the consumer or user can re-engage the hinged clip to prevent accidental activation during subsequent cap removal events. Hence, such an arrangement may be particularly useful where the container is a beverage container and the consumer or user does not wish to consume the beverage in a single sitting etc.

In another embodiment, the actuator itself may be modified such that the compression member in the actuator that activates the valve mechanism in the neck of the container is preferably truncated or shortened. In this way, the truncated compression member may now be spaced from the valve mechanism, which thereby requires the compression member to undergo a greater distance or displacement of travel before the valve mechanism can be opened. As a result, any inadvertent deflection or compression of the nozzle or actuator is therefore less likely to result in an accidental activation of the dispenser, which mitigates against spillage, leakage or fowling of the cap.

In another embodiment, the nozzle may be modified so that the tip portion of the nozzle is preferably truncated, thereby shortening the length dimension of the nozzle and providing greater clearance between the cap and the nozzle while the cap is being removed. Alternatively, or additionally, the tip portion may also be shaped so that the protruding edge(s) of the nozzle are rounded so as to form arcuate surfaces, which again can increase the clearance between the cap and the nozzle, thereby reducing the possibility that the cap can inadvertently activate the actuator during removal of the cap.

In another embodiment, the actuator may comprise an at least partially flexible member, to which the compression member for activating the valve mechanism is attached or coupled. The flexible member is configured so as to be operable to disengage the compression member from an abutting relationship to the valve mechanism, via a levering or pivoting action, upon a deflection of the nozzle during removal of the cap. Hence, the flexible member acts to disengage the compression member from the valve mechanism preventing any accidental activation of the dispenser while the cap is removed.

The nozzle is preferably attached to the flexible member, and the flexible member is preferably biased towards an operating position in which compression member is engaged with the valve mechanism in an abutting relationship. Therefore, after removal of the cap, any deflection will be automatically corrected, thereby returning the compression member to its operating position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a capped actuator for a pressurised container containing a dispensable liquid, the capped actuator comprising:

a manually-operated actuator comprising:

the actuator being configured to actuate a valve mechanism in the neck portion of the pressurised container;

and

wherein at least a portion of the nozzle is flexible to thereby avoid actuating the valve mechanism during removal of the cap. The nozzle may be made from a soft plastics material or preferably rubber or rubberised material. However, any suitable form of flexible material may be used. The provision of a flexible nozzle thereby mitigates against accidental activation of the dispenser, as the nozzle itself is able to elastically deform, which reduces the risk that any deflection or compression of the nozzle or actuator will be communicated to the valve mechanism.

The actuator and/or removable cap of any of the preceding aspects and/or embodiments may be fabricated by any suitable moulding process, and are most preferably separately formed as single-injection moulded components, according to conventional techniques . The present invention is also directed to a pressurised container, such as a plastic aerosol dispenser, comprising a capped actuator according to any of the preceding embodiments . Most preferably, the aerosol dispenser and capped actuator combination may be ideally used in the beverage and soft drinks industry.

It is to be understood that none of the preceding embodiments are intended to be mutually exclusive, and therefore features described in relation to any particular embodiment may be used additionally and/or interchangeably with features described in relation to any other embodiment without limitation.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 - is a side perspective view of an example plastic aerosol dispenser having a capped actuator according to the art; Figure 2A - is a side cross-sectional view of an existing capped actuator, shown connected to an example aerosol dispenser and with the cap attached;

Figure 2B - is a side cross-sectional view of the capped actuator of Figure 2A, shown during a cap removal event;

Figure 3 - is a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a capped actuator according to the present invention; Figure 4 - is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a capped actuator according to the present invention; Figure 5 - is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a capped actuator according to the present invention;

Figure 6 - is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a capped actuator according to the present invention;

Figure 7 - is a front perspective view of the capped actuator of Figure 6; Figure 8 - is a plan view of another embodiment of a capped actuator according to the present invention;

Figure 9 - is a side perspective view of another embodiment of a capped actuator according to the present invention, shown without its removable cap;

Figure 10 - is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a capped actuator according to the present invention; Figure 11 - is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a capped actuator according to the present invention;

Figure 12 - is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a capped actuator according to the present invention;

Figure 13 - is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a capped actuator according to the present invention;

Figure 14 - is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a capped actuator according to the present invention; Figure 15 - is a top/side perspective view of another embodiment of a capped actuator according to the present invention, shown without its removable cap; Figure 16 - is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a capped actuator according to the present invention;

Figure 17A - is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a capped actuator according to the present invention;

Figure 17B - is a side cross-sectional view of the capped actuator of Figure 17A, shown during a cap removal event;

Figure 18 - is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a capped actuator according to the present invention;

Figure 19 - shows both plan and perspective views of a removable cap according to the present invention; Referring to Figure 1 , there is shown an example of an existing plastic aerosol dispenser 10 comprising a capped actuator 12 having a removable cap 14. In this example, the plastic aerosol dispenser 10 is of type suitable for a liquid beverage, and in particular a foaming beverage drink. The liquid and propellant are contained within the hollow body 20 of the dispenser 10 and the actuator 16 is connected to the neck portion of the dispenser, with the nozzle 18 being in fluid communication with a valve mechanism (as shown in Figures 2 A &2B) in the neck of the dispenser. A base cup 22 is also provided for stability and safety purposes . In Figures 2 A & 2B , there are shown cross-sectional views of the capped actuator 12 of Figure 1 , at a time when the cap 14 is fitted to the actuator 16 (Figure 2A) and also during a cap removal event (Figure 2B) . As shown in Figure 2A, the capped actuator 12 comprises a manually- operated actuator 16 and a removable cap 14. The actuator 16 includes a nozzle 18 arranged to dispense liquid from the aerosol 20, with the nozzle 18 being in fluid communication with the valve mechanism 24 in the neck portion of the aerosol dispenser 10. The actuator 16 further includes an engagement means 22, which is configured to engage with the generally cylindrical, upstanding neck portion of the dispenser 10 via a 'snap-fit' or friction coupling etc. As shown in Figures 2 A & 2B, the engagement means 22 comprises an external collar 30 that extends circumferentially around the neck portion of the dispenser 10. The collar 30 is ideally integral to the actuator 16 and as such the actuator may be formed as a single injection-moulded item. However, in alternative examples, the collar 30 may be separately formed and bonded to the body of the actuator during subsequent fabrication.

In order to releasably fix the cap 14 to the actuator 16, the collar 30 includes a circumferential notch 32 (best shown in Figure 2B) , which is configured to receive a reciprocally shaped circumferential lip 34 on the inside surface of the cap 14. In this way, the cap 14 may then be releasably fixed to the actuator 16 by way of a 'snap-fit' , as shown in Figure 2 A. The nozzle 18 is coupled to the valve mechanism 24 by way of a hollow compression member 26 which forms part of the actuator 16 and which abuts against the exit aperture of the valve mechanism 24. The valve mechanism 24 is operated by pressing a texturised 'pad' or 'button' 28 on the upper part of the actuator 16, which in turn compresses the compression member 26 downwardly to open the valve mechanism 24. Referring now to Figure 2B, there is illustrated an example cap removal event in which an accidental activation of the actuator 16 has occurred during removal of the cap 14. Hence, as shown in this figure, the consumer or user has inadvertently applied a lateral force or pressure to the side of the cap 14 closest to the nozzle 18 (such as would arise from an action that would result in 'flipping' the cap off the actuator 16) , which in this example has caused the cap 14 to catch against and deflect the nozzle 18 substantially upwardly, as shown by the arrow in Figure 2B. This action thereby causes the pad/button 28 to be correspondingly compressed, leading to compression of the compression member 26, which consequently opens the valve mechanism 24. In such a scenario, the liquid would then be dispensed before the consumer or user is ready for delivery, and would most likely lead to spillage and leakage of the liquid, and probable fowling of the cap 14 and exterior of the aerosol dispenser 10.

Not only is this undesirable for the consumer or user, but it is also wasteful of the contents of the aerosol, and therefore may lead to a reduced longevity for the product.

In Figure 3, there is shown an embodiment of a capped actuator 12 according to the present invention, in which like features have been numbered consistently with the preceding figures. In this embodiment, the cap 14 has been modified to include a skirt 36, which extends circumferentially around the base of the cap 14 and extends away from the lip 34. The skirt 34 is integral to the cap 14, and as such the cap 14 may be formed as a single-injection moulded component.

As shown in the example of Figure 3, the skirt 36 is configured to fully cover the collar 30 when the cap 14 is fixed to the actuator 16, which thereby prevents the cap 14 from being removed from the actuator 16 by exerting a lateral movement of the cap. Hence, in this embodiment, the consumer or user is prevented from simply flipping the cap 14 off the actuator 16, as the skirt 36 inhibits any sideways movement of the cap. As a result, the consumer or user is then forced to remove the cap 14 in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol (i.e. the cap 14 has to be pulled off) , which mitigates against accidental activation of the dispenser 10 preventing spillage, leakage and fowling of the cap. In the example of Figure 4, the body of the actuator 16 has been modified to include a circumferential wall 38, which is substantially upstanding from the collar 30 and notch 32. The wall 38 is configured such that it abuts against the inside surface of the cap 14, proximal to the lip 34, when the cap 14 is fixed to the actuator 16. In this way, any lateral movement of the cap 14 is inhibited or otherwise prevented when the cap 14 is removed from the actuator 16 (as there is simply no clearance for the cap 14 to avoid the vertical wall 38) , which thereby prevents the consumer or user from flipping the cap off the actuator 16. In the example of Figure 5, the cap 14 has been modified to include an extended cap wall 14A, which fully encloses the nozzle 18 and collar 30 of the actuator 16. In this embodiment, the lip 34 of the cap 14 resides on the inside edge of the cap wall 14A and engages with the bottom rim 30A of the collar 30, which essentially defines a circumferential detent with the neck portion of the dispenser 10. Hence, in effect, this embodiment corresponds to an Oversized cap' , which prevents the consumer or user from flipping the cap 14 off the actuator 16, as there is simply insufficient clearance to remove the cap 14 via a lateral movement. Instead, the cap 14 must be pulled off the actuator substantially along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the dispenser 10. Referring now to the example of Figures 6 & 7, the cap 14 has been modified to comprise a second lip 34B on its outside surface, effectively back-to-back with the first inner circumferential lip 34. The collar 30 of the actuator 16 comprises a protruding wall section 40 upstanding from the notch 32, which extends around at least part of the circumference of the collar 30, and particularly in the region opposite to the nozzle 18. The wall section 40 is configured to receive the second lip 34B to thereby prevent lateral movement of the cap 14 (especially in the region of the nozzle) when the cap is removed from the actuator 16. Therefore, as above, the consumer or user is prevented from flipping the cap off the actuator, which mitigates against accidental activation of the dispenser 10 avoiding spillage, leakage and fowling of the cap 14 and exterior of the dispenser 10. In the example of Figure 8, the collar 30 of the engagement means 22 has been modified to include at least two relatively deep notches or undercuts (at the locations marked 1A & 2B respectively) . These notches are arranged to receive respective portions of a wide lip 34 on the inside of the cap 14 to thereby releasably fix the cap 14 to the actuator 16. The cap 14 is configured to be elastically deformable along a direction parallel to the axis joining the notches (i.e. along the line joining points 1A-2B) to thereby release the lip portions from the notches in response to the consumer or user compressing the cap 14 substantially orthogonally to the axis (i.e. in the regions marked 3C & 4D) . Hence, the deformation of the cap 14 is such that under compression, the cross-sectional profile of the cap preferably changes from substantially circular to substantially elliptical with the major axis of the ellipse being substantially in line with the axis joining the notches, as shown in Figure 8. In this way, the consumer or user is prevented from flipping the cap 14 off the dispenser 10, as the cap can only be released by deforming the cap in the appropriate manner. As a result, the cap 14 may then only be removed from the actuator 16 by pulling it in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the dispenser. In the example of Figure 9, the actuator 16 has been modified to include a catch mechanism 42 arranged to releasably engage the lip 34 of the cap 14 by way of a latch 46 (shown as a protruding edge portion in Figure 9) . The catch mechanism 42 is operated via a push button 44 (disposed on the opposite side of the actuator to that of the exit aperture of the nozzle) , such that pushing the button 44 preferably releases the lip 34 from the latch 46. The catch mechanism 42 is ideally integral to the collar 30 and may be fabricated as part of the actuator 16. Therefore, the consumer or user is again prevented from simply flipping the cap off 14 the actuator 16, as the cap may only be released by way of the catch mechanism 42.

In the example of Figure 10, a removable clip 48 is provided which is insertable into the body of the actuator 16 to inhibit the actuation of the actuator 16. In this embodiment, the clip 48 is made from a rigid plastic and is designed to be fitted behind/underneath the pad or button 28. Hence, the clip 48 prevents the actuator 16 from being compressed, which in turn stops the valve mechanism 24 from being opened to dispense the liquid. As a result, even if the consumer or user inadvertently deflects, compresses or otherwise acts on the nozzle 18 or actuator 16 while removing the cap 14, the actuator cannot be activated and thus no spillage or leakage of the liquid can occur.

Of course, any suitably shaped or sized clip could be used to selectively immobilise the actuator of the present invention and therefore the example of Figure 10 is not intended to be limiting, but merely illustrative. In a similar example, as shown in Figure 11 , the removable clip may be replaced by a hinged clip 50 that is pivotally attached to the body of the actuator 16 to selectively inhibit actuation of the actuator 16. Thus, the hinged clip 50 acts to prevent actuation of the actuator (again by inhibiting compression of the pad or button 28) , but unlike the removable clip of the preceding embodiment, the hinged clip 50 can be repeatedly used so that the consumer or user can re-engage the hinged clip 50 to prevent accidental activation during subsequent cap removal events (cf. ghost lining in Figure 11) . Hence, such an arrangement may be particularly useful where the aerosol is a beverage dispenser and the consumer or user does not wish to consume the beverage in a single sitting etc.

The hinged clip 50 is ideally fabricated from plastic and may be formed as part of the actuator or otherwise bonded to the actuator during subsequent fabrication.

In the example of Figure 12, the actuator 16 has been modified such that the compression member 26 in the actuator that activates the valve mechanism 24 is truncated or shortened as compared to existing compression members. As a result, a space or cavity 52 now exists between the compression member 26 and the exit aperture of the valve mechanism 24 when the dispenser is not in use (as shown in Figure 12) . In this way, the truncated compression member 26 now requires a greater distance or displacement of travel before it engages and opens the valve mechanism 24. Therefore any inadvertent deflection or compression of the nozzle 18 or actuator 16 is therefore less likely to result in an accidental activation of the dispenser 10, which mitigates against spillage, leakage or fowling of the cap 14. In the example of Figure 13, the nozzle 18 has been modified so that the tip portion of the nozzle is truncated as compared to existing nozzle types. Thus, the shortening of the length dimension of the nozzle 18 provides greater clearance between the cap 14 and the nozzle 18 while the cap is being removed. The tip portion may alternatively, or additionally, be shaped so that the protruding edge(s) of the nozzle (e.g. in the region of the exit aperture) are rounded so as to form arcuate surfaces, as shown in the example of Figure 14, which again can increase the clearance between the cap 14 and the nozzle 18, thereby reducing the possibility that the cap 14 can inadvertently activate the actuator 16 during removal of the cap.

In a further example, as shown in Figure 15, the profile of the nozzle 18, and in particular, the exit aperture, can be shaped so as shorten the length of the nozzle (as in the example of Figure 13) and/or reduce the curvature of the nozzle (cf. ghost lining) . Hence, in so doing the clearance between the cap 14 and the nozzle 18 can again be increased, thereby reducing the possibility that the cap 14 can inadvertently activate the actuator 16 during removal of the cap.

In Figure 16, there is shown an example of a capped actuator 12 in which the nozzle 18 is at least partially flexible along most of its length. The nozzle may be made from a soft plastics material or preferably rubber or a rubberised material. However, any suitable form of flexible material may be used. The provision of a flexible nozzle 18 thereby mitigates against accidental activation of the dispenser 10, as the nozzle itself is able to elastically deform, which reduces the risk that any deflection or compression of the nozzle 18 or actuator 16 will be communicated to the valve mechanism 24 via the compression member 26. Referring to the example shown in Figures 17A & 17B, the actuator 16 has been modified to include an at least partially flexible or 'flexing' member, which in this example has been embodied as a flexible form of the pad or button 28, which now forms part of the body of the actuator. The pad or button 28 has therefore been configured to be operable to disengage the compression member 26 from an abutting relationship to the valve mechanism 24, via a levering or pivoting action, upon a deflection of the nozzle 18 during removal of the cap 14. Therefore, as shown in Figure 17B, the pad or button 28 is able to flex or bend at a pivoting point 54 in the body of the pad or button, which allows the compression member to pivot away from the top of the valve mechanism 24 if the nozzle 18 is deflected upwardly (as shown by the arrow in Figure 17B) . Hence, even if the nozzle 18 is deflected during a cap removal event, accidental activation of the dispenser is avoided, as it is not possible to open the valve mechanism 24.

As shown in Figures 17A &17B, the nozzle 18 is attached to the flexible pad or button 28, with the pad or button being biased such that the actuator 16 is operable to return the nozzle 18 and the compression member 26 to their respective operating positions (as shown in Figure 17A) . Therefore, after removal of the cap 14, any deflection will be automatically corrected, thereby returning the compression member 26 into abutment with the top of the valve mechanism 24. In a further example, as shown in Figure 18, both the cap 14 and the actuator 16 may be modified to ensure that the consumer or user removes the cap in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the dispenser. In this example, the cap 14 is configured to include four protuberances 56 (only three are visible in Figure 18) on its inside surface instead of a circumferential lip. The engagement means 22 then comprises a screw thread 58 into which the protuberances 56 engage in order to releasably fix the cap 14 to the actuator 16. The provision of the protuberances 56 and a screw thread 58 thus facilitates removal of the cap 14 in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container and thus mitigates against the possibility of an accidental activation of the dispenser 10.

In the example of Figure 19, the cap 14 has been modified to include a visual indicator means , which conveys an instructional message to the consumer or user to remove the cap 14 in a manner that results in the cap being removed in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container. Hence, in Figure 19, the instructional message of "PULL" has been provided on the top of the cap, which thereby instructs the consumer or user to pull the cap off, as opposed to flipping the cap off, which can cause accidental activation of the dispenser. The instructional message can be moulded into the body of the cap, or subsequently printed onto the cap, either directly or via the application of a sticker etc. Hence any suitable form of applying the instructional message may be used. Although the capped actuator of the present invention is ideally suited for preventing accidental activation of an aerosol dispenser within the beverage and food industry, it will be recognised that one or more of the principles of the invention may extend to other pressurised container applications (e.g. shaving foams and creams , personal hygiene, or spray paints etc.) , whereby it is desirable to avoid unintentional spillage or leakage during use etc. In particular, it should also be noted that the present capped actuator is inherently scalable and therefore could be used with pressurised containers of different size, without sacrificing any of the benefits of the present invention. The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the invention.

Claims

1. A capped actuator for a pressurised container containing a dispensable liquid, the capped actuator comprising:

a manually-operated actuator comprising:

and

2. The capped actuator of Claim 1 , wherein the means for allowing removal of the cap are configured to permit removal of the cap only in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pressurised container.

3. The capped actuator of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the means for allowing removal of the cap are configured to prevent any lateral movement of the cap, relative to the actuator, during removal of the cap.

4. The capped actuator of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the means for allowing removal of the cap are configured to prevent any pivoting movement of the cap, relative to the actuator, during removal of the cap.

5. The capped actuator of any preceding claim, wherein the cap includes a lip on its inside surface and the engagement means comprises an external collar, the collar including a circumferential notch for receiving the lip of the cap to releasably fix the cap to the actuator.

6. The capped actuator of Claim 5 , wherein the means for allowing removal of the cap are in the form of a skirt which extends circumferentially around the cap and away from the lip.

7. The capped actuator of Claim 6, wherein the skirt is integral to the cap.

8. The capped actuator of Claim 6 or Claim 7 , wherein the skirt is configured to cover the external collar when the cap is fixed to the actuator, thereby preventing lateral movement of the cap when the cap is removed from the actuator.

9. The capped actuator of Claim 5 , wherein the means for allowing removal of the cap are in the form of a circumferential wall substantially upstanding from the external collar /notch, the wall being in abutment with a portion of the inside surface of the cap, thereby preventing lateral movement of the cap when the cap is removed from the actuator.

10. The capped actuator of any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the engagement means comprises an external collar configured to enclose the neck portion of the pressurised container, the rim of the collar defining a circumferential detent, and

wherein the means for allowing removal of the cap are in the form of an extended cap wall having a lip on the edge of the wall for engaging with the detent.

11. The capped actuator of Claim 5, wherein the cap further includes a second lip on its outside surface,

and wherein the external collar comprises a protruding wall section upstanding from the notch and extending around at least part of the circumference of the collar, the wall section configured to receive the second lip to thereby prevent lateral movement of the cap when the cap is removed from the actuator.

12. The capped actuator of Claim 11 , wherein the first and second lips are back-to-back.

13. The capped actuator of any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the cap includes a lip on its inside surface and the engagement means comprises an external collar, the collar including at least two relatively deep notches arranged to receive respective portions of the lip to releasably fix the cap to the actuator.

14. The capped actuator of Claim 13, wherein the notches are oppositely disposed on the collar and the cap is configured to be elastically deformable along a direction parallel to the axis joining the notches to thereby release the lip portions from the notches in response to compressing the cap orthogonally to the axis.

15. The caped actuator of Claim 14, wherein under compression, the cross-sectional profile of the cap changes from substantially circular to substantially elliptical with the major axis of the ellipse being substantially in line with the axis joining the notches.

16. The capped actuator of any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the cap includes at least two protuberances on its inside surface and the engagement means comprises a screw thread, the protuberances being configured to engage with the screw thread to facilitate removal of the cap in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pressurised container.

17. The capped actuator of any of Claims 1 to 5 , wherein the means for allowing removal of the cap is in the form of a visual indicator means, which conveys at least an instructional message to a user.

18. The capped actuator of Claim 5 , wherein the means for allowing removal of the cap is in the form of a catch mechanism arranged to releasably engage the lip of the cap.

19. The capped actuator of Claim 18, wherein the catch mechanism is operated via a push button, such that pushing the button releases the lip from the catch mechanism.

20. The capped actuator of Claim 18 or Claim 19, wherein the catch mechanism is integral to the collar.

21. The capped actuator of any of Claims 1 to 5 , wherein the means for allowing removal of the cap is in the form of a removable clip insertable into the body of the actuator to inhibit actuation of the actuator.

22. The capped actuator of any of Claims 1 to 5 , wherein the means for allowing removal of the cap is in the form of a hinged clip pivotally attached to the body of the actuator to selectively inhibit actuation of the actuator.

23. The capped actuator of any of Claims 1 to 5 , wherein the means for allowing removal of the cap is in the form of a truncated compression member, integral to the actuator, and disposed in abutting relationship to the valve mechanism.

24. The capped actuator of Claim 23 , wherein, in use, the compression member must be displaced through a relatively greater displacement of travel before actuation of the valve mechanism.

25. The capped actuator of any of Claims 1 to 5 , wherein the means for allowing removal of the cap corresponds to a truncated tip portion of the nozzle, thereby relatively shortening the length dimension of the nozzle.

26. The capped actuator of any of Claims 1 to 5 , wherein the means for allowing removal of the cap corresponds to an arcuate tip portion of the nozzle.

27. The capped actuator of any of Claims 1 to 5 , wherein the actuator further comprises a compression member disposed in abutting relationship to the valve mechanism and operable to actuate the valve mechanism upon compression; and

wherein the means for allowing removal of the cap comprises an at least partially flexible member to which the compression member is attached, the flexible member being operable to disengage the compression member from the valve mechanism, via a levering action, upon a deflection of the nozzle during removal of the cap.

28. The capped actuator of Claim 27, wherein the nozzle is attached to the flexible member.

29. The capped actuator of Claim 27 or Claim 28, wherein the flexible member is biased towards an operating position in which the compression member is engaged with the valve mechanism in an abutting relationship.

30. A capped actuator for a pressurised container of a type containing a dispensable liquid, the capped actuator comprising:

a manually-operated actuator comprising:

and

wherein at least a portion of the nozzle is flexible to thereby avoid actuating the valve mechanism during removal of the cap.

31. A capped actuator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 19 of the accompanying drawings .