Sheath to protect an aerosol valve stem

Abstract

An aerosol dispenser having a valve for dispensing product through a valve stem. The valve stem is protected by a sheath, to reduce breakage. The sheath extends equal to or above the height of the valve stem, to absorb axially compressive loads and side impact loads. The sheath can occur in the aerosol dispenser, an aerosol container, an outer container, a preform and/or in the valve. The aerosol dispenser can include bags, pistons and dip tubes.

1 . An aerosol container having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
 a polymeric outer container comprising a closed end bottom and an open neck longitudinally opposed thereto,   said open neck having a polymeric valve joined to said outer container in fluid tight relationship,   said polymeric valve having a polymeric valve stem projecting upwardly to a valve stem distal end,   a product delivery device joined to at least one of said valve and said outer container in fluid tight relationship, and   a sheath extending upwardly to a sheath distal end, said distal end of said sheath being at or above said valve stem distal end.   
     
     
         2 . An aerosol container according to  claim 1  wherein said sheath circumscribes said polymeric valve stem. 
     
     
         3 . An aerosol container according to  claim 1  wherein said sheath projects upwardly from a sheath proximal end joined to said polymeric valve. 
     
     
         4 . An aerosol container according to  claim 1  wherein said sheath projects upwardly from a sheath proximal end joined to said polymeric valve, said sheath being integral with said polymeric valve. 
     
     
         5 . An aerosol container according to  claim 1  wherein said sheath projects upwardly from a sheath proximal end joined to said polymeric outer container. 
     
     
         6 . An aerosol container according to  claim 1  wherein said sheath projects upwardly from a sheath proximal end joined to said polymeric outer container said sheath being integral with said polymeric outer container, and further comprising propellant within said polymeric outer container. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . An aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein said sheath comprises at least one discrete, upstanding strut, spaced radially from said polymeric valve stem. 
     
     
         9 . An aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein said sheath comprises at least three discrete, equally circumferentially spaced upstanding struts, each said strut being parallel said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein said sheath circumscribes said polymeric valve stem, said sheath having an inner periphery and an outer periphery opposed thereto, said sheath further comprising a plurality of longitudinally oriented blades joined to one of said inner periphery and said outer periphery and extending radially therefrom. 
     
     
         12 . An aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein said sheath circumscribes said polymeric valve stem, said sheath having an inner periphery and an outer periphery opposed thereto, said sheath further comprising a plurality of longitudinally oriented blades integral with and extending radially inwardly from said inner periphery. 
     
     
         13 . An aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein said sheath circumscribes said polymeric valve stem, said sheath having an inner periphery and an outer periphery opposed thereto, said sheath further comprising a plurality of longitudinally oriented blades joined to one of said inner periphery and said outer periphery and extending radially therefrom, wherein said sheath comprises PET. 
     
     
         14 . An aerosol container according to  claim 1 , wherein said sheath comprises at least four discrete, equally circumferentially spaced upstanding struts, each said strut being parallel said longitudinal axis, each strut having a face so that said strut can act as a blade responsive to axial torque applied thereto. 
     
     
         15 . A polymeric outer container for an aerosol container usable as an aerosol dispenser, said polymeric outer container having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
 a closed end bottom and an open neck longitudinally opposed thereto, said neck having a neck diameter, a sheath projecting longitudinally upward from said neck, said sheath having a sheath diameter greater than said neck diameter;   a polymeric valve cup joined to said outer container in fluid tight relationship,   a polymeric valve disposed within said polymeric valve cup, said polymeric valve having an upwardly projecting valve stem, said valve stem being disposed longitudinally at or below said sheath,   a product delivery device joined to at least one of said polymeric valve and said outer container in fluid tight relationship, and   propellant disposed within said outer container.   
     
     
         16 - 20 . (canceled)