Canister

Abstract

In one embodiment, a canister has a housing closed by a crimped cap and includes a metered valve for dispensing a metered dose of aerosol. A seal is provided between the canister and the body of the metered valve to prevent leakage of the pressurised fluid from within a canister around the valve. The seal is also configured to deform resiliently and admit pressurised fluid continuously into the canister when pressurised fluid is applied to the valve exteriorly of the canister. In this way, the canister can be pressurised with a continuous flow of pressurised fluid from its exterior notwithstanding the metering action of the valve. A liner is disposed around the valve to seal the crimped joint between the housing and the cap, and the fluid that enters the canister can pass unobstructed along passageways past the liner into the housing to fill the canister with pressurised fluid, without substantially deforming the liner, so that the liner maintains a seal between the housing and the cap.

1 . A canister for dispensing a metered dose of pressurised fluid, comprising:
 a housing for containing pressurised fluid, comprising a main body having an opening therein;   a cap overlying the opening in the main body;   a metered valve within the canister for dispensing metered doses of fluid from the housing;   a resiliently deformable seal disposed between the valve and the cap to prevent leakage of the pressurised fluid from the housing; and   a resiliently deformable liner disposed around the valve and configured to block leakage of the pressurised fluid from within the housing between the housing and the cap;   the canister being configured for filling by introduction of pressurised fluid into a valve outlet so as to resiliently deform the seal and allow the fluid to pass between a valve body and the cap; and   at least one unobstructed passageway that extends past the liner so that on filling, the pressurised fluid that deforms the seal passes into the housing through the passageway past the liner.   
     
     
         2 . The canister of  claim 1  wherein the metered valve includes:
 a valve body including a plenum, 
 a valve body inlet to admit pressurised fluid from the housing into the plenum, 
 a movable valve member in the valve body, and 
 a valve member outlet in the valve member for discharging the fluid from the plenum exteriorly of the housing, 
 the valve member being movable back and forth between a datum position in which the valve body inlet is open to the interior of the housing and a dose of pressurised fluid is admitted into the plenum without discharge through the valve member outlet, and a discharge position in which a dose of fluid in the plenum is discharged through the valve member outlet and the valve body inlet is closed by valve member, thereby to discharge a metered dose through the valve member outlet. 
 
     
     
         3 . The canister of  claim 1  wherein the passageway comprises a groove in the valve body. 
     
     
         4 . The canister of  claim 2  wherein the plenum has an opening at one end adjacent the cap, and the seal is disposed between the valve body and the cap around the plenum opening to prevent leakage of the pressurised fluid from the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The canister of  claim 2  wherein the valve body includes an inlet valve seat against which the valve member sealing engages when in the discharge position to prevent pressurised fluid entering the valve body through the inlet during the discharge of the dose of fluid from the valve body through the valve outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The canister of  claim 1  including a nicotine containing fluid and a pressurised propellant. 
     
     
         7 . The canister of  claim 2  including an inlet tube connected to the valve body inlet to supply pressurized fluid from within the housing to the metered valve. 
     
     
         8 . The canister of  claim 1  wherein the cap is crimped onto the housing with the liner being retained between the cap and housing. 
     
     
         9 . The canister of  claim 1  wherein the housing has a generally cylindrical outer wall and is adapted to be received in a handheld aerosol delivery device. 
     
     
         10 . A method of filling a canister for dispensing a metered dose of pressurised fluid, the canister comprising:
 a housing for containing the pressurised fluid, comprising a main body having an opening therein;   a cap overlying the opening in the main body;   a metered valve within the container, including
 a valve body, 
 a valve body inlet to admit pressurised fluid from the housing into the valve body, 
 a movable valve member in the valve body, and 
 a valve member outlet in the valve member for discharging the fluid from the valve, 
 the valve member being movable back and forth between a datum position in which a dose of pressurised fluid is admitted into the valve body inlet and a discharge position in which the dose of fluid in the body is discharged through the valve member outlet; 
   a first resiliently deformable seal disposed between the valve body and the cap to prevent leakage of the pressurised fluid from the housing; and   a second resiliently deformable seal disposed around the valve body and configured to block leakage of the pressurised fluid from within the housing; and   at least one unobstructed passageway that extends past the second seal,   the method including feeding pressurised fluid through the valve outlet so as to resiliently deform the first seal and allow the fluid to pass between the valve body and the cap, so as to pass into the housing through the passageway past the second seal.