Spray can

Abstract

An aerosol container comprises a can having an open end. A valve disk fitted to the open end is made of plastic and has a center part formed with a throughgoing hole defining an axis. A plurality of fingers extend axially from an inner face of the center part around the hole into the can and each have an inner end formed with a radially inwardly projecting barb spaced axially from the inner face. A dispensing valve has a tubular valve housing fitted between and gripped by the fingers and having an axially inwardly directed face on which the barbs bear axially outward. A seal is compressed axially between an outer end of the valve housing and the inner face of the disk around the hole.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An aerosol container comprises:
 a can having an open end;   a valve disk fitted to the open end, made of plastic, and having a center part formed with a throughgoing hole defining an axis;   a plurality of fingers extending axially from an inner face of the center part around the hole into the can and each having an inner end formed with a radially inwardly projecting barb spaced axially from the inner face;   a dispensing valve having a tubular valve housing fitted between and gripped by the fingers and having an axially inwardly directed face on which the barbs bear axially outward; and   a seal compressed axially between an outer end of the valve housing and the inner face of the disk around the hole.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol container defined in  claim 1 , wherein the valve housing is formed with an annular shoulder forming the inwardly directed face that is planar. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol container defined in  claim 1 , wherein the valve housing has segmented projections that form a bayonet joint with the barbs of the fingers. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol container defined in  claim 1 , wherein the valve housing is formed with a radially projecting ridge against which the fingers bear elastically and radially inwardly. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol container defined in  claim 1 , wherein the center part is formed with stiffening ribs. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol container defined in  claim 5 , wherein the stiffening ribs extend radially outward from the hole. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol container defined in  claim 1 , wherein the disk is of a fiber-reinforced plastic. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol container defined in  claim 1 , wherein the center part is axially outwardly convex. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol container defined in  claim 1 , wherein the valve disk has an outer periphery formed with an axially inwardly projecting annular collar fitted to the open end of the can. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol container defined in  claim 9 , wherein the can is made of sheet metal and connected positively to the valve disk by crimping. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol container defined in  claim 10 , wherein the collar is formed with at least one radial rib crimped to the open end of the sheet-metal can, the container further comprising a seal between the collar and the can. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol container defined in  claim 1 , wherein the can is made of plastic and has a mouthpiece centered on the axis and formed with an axially outwardly projecting rim, the disk being formed with an annular axially inwardly open groove fitting complementarily over the rim and formed between an inner wall and an outer wall, the outer wall being thermally shaped to engage positively around the rim. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol container defined in  claim 1 , wherein the valve disk has an outer periphery, the can being made of plastic and thermally deformed at the open end around the outer periphery, the container further comprising
 a seal between the outer periphery and the open end of the can.   
     
     
         14 . The aerosol container defined in claim wherein the can is made of plastic and is adhered to the valve disk or tightly connected thereto by at least one laser weld seam. 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol container defined in  claim 1 , wherein the can has a collar with a screwthread and that the valve disk is provided with a screwthread fitted to the screwthread of the collar, the container further comprising
 a seal between the collar and the valve disk.   
     
     
         16 . The aerosol container defined in  claim 15 , wherein the screwthreads have locking members that prevent rotation of the screwed-together disk and can in an opening direction. 
     
     
         17 . The aerosol container defined in  claim 1 , wherein the valve disk has an outer periphery formed with an axially centered annular collar and the can is made of plastic and has a cylindrical neck in which the collar fits, the container further comprising:
 an outer clamping ring attached to the disk and forming with the can a triangular-section space; and   a triangular-section inner clamping ring fitted in the space and engaging radially inward on the can and radially outward on the outer clamping ring.   
     
     
         18 . The aerosol container defined in  claim 1 , wherein the can has at its open end a radially projecting annular collar centered on the axis and the lid is formed with axially projecting barbed arms that snap into engagement under the collar when the disk is fitted to the open end. 
     
     
         19 . The aerosol container defined in  claim 1 , wherein the can and valve housing are rotation symmetrical to the axis of the hole. 
     
     
         20 . The aerosol container defined in  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing valve includes a spring-biased valve body inside the valve housing.