Device Housing for an Aerosol Container

Abstract

A housing for a mechanical or electrical device for use with an aerosol canister for containing chemical comprising a sleeve for receipt of the aerosol canister; a collar affixable around the neck of the canister; and a joint between the sleeve and the collar to secure the housing to the canister.

1 - 50 . (canceled) 
   
   
       51 . A method of assembling a cap structure to an article comprising the steps of:
 providing an article having an end surface and a side surface which includes a neck section;   providing a cap structure having a sleeve having an inner surface;   providing a collar;   mounting the collar on the article to extend about the side surface thereof,   mounting the cap structure over the end surface of the article so that the sleeve extends about the side surface of the article with the inner surface of the sleeve facing the neck section with a gap existing therebetween;   locating the collar in the gap so that the collar bears against the sleeve inner surface; and   forming a permanent joint between the collar and the sleeve inner surface to permanently secure the cap structure to the article.   
   
   
       52 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the collar is resiliently expandable from a normal state and has an inner diameter when in its normal state, and wherein the article side surface has an outer diameter which is greater than the inner diameter, and wherein the collar is expanded when being mounted on the side surface. 
   
   
       53 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein the collar comprises a split therein to enable the collar to be expandable. 
   
   
       54 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the article is a dispensing container for dispensing a fluid product from an outlet end at which the end surface is located. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the permanent joint is provided by welding. 
   
   
       56 . A method according to claim  55 , wherein the welding is ultrasonic welding. 
   
   
       57 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the cap structure further has a bearing surface, and the bearing surface is in bearing relation with the end surface of the article when the collar is permanently joined to the inner surface of the sleeve. 
   
   
       58 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the article has a central axis which extends through the end surface and wherein the permanent securement is such as to prevent axial movement of the cap structure on the article. 
   
   
       59 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the neck section has a portion which extends outwardly in a direction towards the end surface and the collar bears against the outwardly extending portion of the neck section when permanently joined to the sleeve inner surface. 
   
   
       60 . A method according to  claim 58 , wherein the sleeve is oriented generally axially when mounted on the article and the neck section has a portion which extends outwardly in a direction towards the end surface such that the gap narrows in the direction of the end surface, and wherein the collar is wedged in the gap when permanently joined to the sleeve inner surface. 
   
   
       61 . A method according to  claim 52 , wherein the collar is in an expanded state when permanently secured to the sleeve inner surface. 
   
   
       62 . A method according to  claim 59 , wherein the collar is expandable from a normal state in which the collar has an inner diameter which is less than the outer diameter of the neck surface portion, wherein the neck section portion tapers outwardly towards the end surface and wherein the collar is slid towards the end surface over the neck section portion to locate the collar in the gap whereby the collar is in an expanded state when permanently secured to the sleeve inner surface. 
   
   
       63 . A method according to  claim 54 , wherein the cap structure is part of an indicator for indicating the number of dispensements from or remaining in the dispensing container. 
   
   
       64 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the sleeve inner surface and the neck section are such that the gap therebetween narrows in the direction of the end surface, and wherein the collar is wedged in the gap when permanently joined to the sleeve inner surface. 
   
   
       65 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the collar bears against the neck section when permanently joined to the sleeve inner surface.