Neck-finish for an aerosol container

Abstract

A molded, pressure capable container ( 50 ) is provided for use with an aerosol valve assembly ( 12 A) to dispense a fluent product stored in the container ( 50 ). The aerosol valve assembly ( 12 A) includes an aerosol valve ( 24 ) and a mounting cup ( 23 A) that is crimped onto the container ( 50 ) to mount the aerosol valve ( 24 ) to the container ( 50 ). The container ( 50 ) includes a molded body ( 52 ) having a chamber ( 54 ) to contain a fluent product, a dispensing opening ( 56 ) extending from the chamber ( 54 ) to an exterior of the container ( 50 ), and a neck finish area ( 57 ) in the form of an annular neck ( 58 ) surrounding the opening ( 56 ) and an annular neck flange ( 60 ) on a distal end of the annular neck ( 58 ) to mount the aerosol valve assembly ( 12 A). The neck flange ( 60 ) is defined by a radially outermost, annular edge ( 62 ); an annular end surface ( 64 ) extending from the annular edge ( 62 ) to the opening ( 56 ); and a frustoconical-shaped surface ( 66 ) extending from the annular edge ( 62 ) to an outer surface ( 68 ) of the annular neck ( 58 ).

1 . A molded, pressure capable container ( 50 ) for use with an aerosol valve assembly ( 12 A) to dispense a fluent product stored in the container ( 50 ), the aerosol valve assembly ( 12 A) including an aerosol valve ( 24 ) and a mounting cup ( 23 A) that is crimped onto the container ( 50 ) to mount the aerosol valve ( 24 ) to the container ( 50 ), the container ( 50 ) comprising:
 a molded body ( 52 ) having a chamber ( 54 ) to contain a fluent product, a dispensing opening ( 56 ) extending from the chamber ( 54 ) to an exterior of the container ( 50 ), an annular neck ( 58 ) surrounding the opening ( 56 ), and an annular neck flange ( 60 ) on a distal end of the annular neck ( 58 ) to mount the aerosol valve assembly ( 12 A),   the neck flange ( 60 ) being configured for crimping of the mounting cup ( 23 A) thereto and being defined by a radially outermost, annular edge ( 62 ); an annular end surface ( 64 ) extending from the annular edge ( 62 ) to the opening ( 56 ); and a frustoconical-shaped surface ( 66 ) extending from the annular edge ( 62 ) to an outer surface ( 68 ) of the annular neck ( 58 ), wherein the annular edge ( 62 ) and the frustoconical-shaped surface ( 66 ) are engageable with the mounting cup ( 23 A) upon crimping of the mounting cup ( 23 A) to the annular neck flange ( 60 ).   
     
     
         2 . The container ( 50 ) of  claim 1  wherein the annular neck flange ( 60 ) has a radial thickness Tr from the annular edge ( 62 ) to the opening ( 56 ), and the annular edge ( 62 ) has axial thickness Ta transverse to the radial thickness Tr, and the ratio of radial thickness Tr to the axial thickness Ta is no less than 3.0/1.0. 
     
     
         3 . The container ( 50 ) of  claim 2  wherein the ratio of radial thickness Tr to the axial thickness Ta is no less than 3.5/1.0. 
     
     
         4 . The container ( 50 ) of  claim 2  wherein the ratio of radial thickness Tr to the axial thickness Ta is in the range of 4.1/1.0 to 3.0/1.0. 
     
     
         5 . The container ( 50 ) of  claim 1  wherein the frustoconical-shaped surface ( 66 ) is centered on a central, longitudinal axis ( 70 ), with the frustoconical-shaped surface ( 66 ) being a frustoconical surface ( 66 ) defined by a linear projection rotated about the axis ( 70 ) forming an angle α with the axis ( 70 ) in the range of 45° to 70°. 
     
     
         6 . The container ( 50 ) of  claim 5  wherein the angle α is in the range of 55° to 65°. 
     
     
         7 . The container ( 50 ) of  claim 5  wherein the angle α is 60°. 
     
     
         8 . The container ( 50 ) of  claim 1  wherein the annular edge ( 62 ) is centered on a central, longitudinal axis ( 70 ), has an axial thickness Ta parallel to the axis ( 70 ), and is blended to the end surface with a blend radius R that is no greater than 60% of the thickness Ta. 
     
     
         9 . The container ( 50 ) of  claim 8  wherein the blend radius R is no greater than 50% of the thickness Ta. 
     
     
         10 . The container ( 50 ) of  claim 1  wherein the annular edge ( 62 ) is centered on a central, longitudinal axis ( 70 ), has an axial thickness Ta parallel to the axis ( 70 ), and is blended to the frustoconical-shaped surface ( 66 ) with a blend radius R that is no greater than 60% of the thickness Ta. 
     
     
         11 . The container ( 50 ) of  claim 10  wherein the blend radius R in no greater than 50% of the thickness Ta. 
     
     
         12 . The container ( 50 ) of  claim 1  in combination with an aerosol valve assembly ( 12 A), the aerosol valve assembly comprising an aerosol valve ( 24 ) and a mounting cup ( 23 A), the mounting cup ( 23 A) formed from a material having a thickness Tm, the mounting cup ( 23 A) being crimped to the annular neck flange ( 60 ). 
     
     
         13 . The container ( 50 ) of  claim 12  wherein the annular edge ( 62 ) is centered on a central, longitudinal axis ( 70 ) and has an axial thickness Ta parallel to the axis ( 70 ) that is no greater than 4.0×Tm. 
     
     
         14 . The container ( 50 ) of  claim 13  wherein Ta is no greater than 3.5×Tm. 
     
     
         15 . The container ( 50 ) of  claim 12  wherein the annular edge ( 62 ) is blended to the annular end surface ( 64 ) and the frustoconical-shaped surface ( 66 ) with blend radiuses R that are no greater than 2.1333×Tm.