GB2316460A

GB2316460A - Adapter for aerosol container

Info

Publication number: GB2316460A
Application number: GB9617327A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Sellars
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-08-17
Filing date: 1996-08-17
Publication date: 1998-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 2016-08-17
Also published as: GB2316460B; GB9617327D0

Abstract

An adapter is provided which can be a one piece mould which allows a foamable material applicator to be attached via the adapter to an aerosol container, and in particular to the valve of the same to allow the dispensation of cleaning material in the form of solvent solution from the container and through the applicator to clean the same by digesting any foam which may be trapped in the applicator. The adapter allows different types of applicators to be fitted without the risk of leakage The adapter can comprise engagement means 24 for connection to the aerosol container and threaded location means 18 for attachment to the applicator to be cleaned; a central nipple 19, suspended between the walls of the location means 18 by arms 26 connects the valve of the aerosol to the dispensing channel of the applicator.

Description

Improvements Relating to the Cleaning of Polyeurethane (P.U.) Foam Gun and Hand Held Applicators In many areas and in particular in the construction industry, the use of P.U. foamable materials is an important part of the construction process. This application relates to the applicators for foamable materials and in particular to means for cleaning the applicators to enable the same to be reused.

Conventionally, there are at least two types of applicators for foamable materials which are currently used. Such as a gun type or hand held. The first type are gun type applicators e.g. a "Eurofoam" gun or "NBS" gun. The second type are hand held applicators which can be connected to the foamable material holders and again the hand held applicators can be of various sizes.

In order to clean the applicators once the foamable material has been applied therethrough, it is necessary to apply through the dispensing channel in the applicators a cleaning agent which is typically a solvent solution which acts as a foam digester. This solvent solution allows any foamable material remaining in the applicators to be removed and hence leave the applicators clean for subsequent use. Typically, but not exclusively, the solvent solution contains any or any combination of acetone, dichloromethane, as solvents and butane, propane, C02 as propellents to propel the solvent solution through the applicator dispensing channels and typically the solvent solution is provided in an aerosol container for that purpose.

In order to ensure that the solvent solution container can be connected so that the solution is applied through the applicator dispensing channels a screw threaded arrangement is provided adjacent the valve of the aerosol container so that the gun applicator type can be screwed into position therearound and, as the same is screwed into position, the valve of the aerosol container connects with the foamable material dispensing channel internally of the applicator so that the solvent solution passes into the foamable material dispensing channel in the applicators to clean the same.

While this threaded arrangement is satisfactory, the internal fitting connection is only suited for the gun type and nor is it satisfactory for the hand held applicator types as, due to the differences in the form of these other applicators, they do not fit properly onto the aerosol valve and thus, while the same can still be manipulated to dispense the solvent solution into the foam material dispensing channels in the applicators, a proportion of the solvent solution material escapes as the connection between the valve and the applicator is not properly fitted. When one considers that this solvent solution includes materials which are highly hazardous, then it is clear that the conventional arrangements are not satisfactory and are potentially dangerous due to the leakage of the foam digester which occurs.

In conventional use the foamable matrials are held in aerosol contains of a standard type with a 1" valve cap and this allows a variety of volume fills, from industrial size to small, one shot, type applications. International legislation states that the fo amable material containers cannot be discarded until fully used and empty however, at the present time, as there is no suitable product available for properly cleaning applicators such as the hand held types, users are left, on many occasions, with a container which is partially used and which is then discarded as the applicators cannot subsequently be reused. The throwing away of these containers is dangerous as they can contain 4-4 diphenylmethane di-isocyanates which are held under pressure with other flammable gases. It has been known for these discarded containers to be explosive and highly volatile. This is obviously an unsatisfactory result of the inability to properly clean these applicators using conventional cleaning means.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a means whereby a conventional aerosol containing a solvent solution for cleaning can be provided in connection with foamable material dispensing channels in foam applicators to effectively and safely clean the same regardless of the particular type of applicator in question.

The present invention provides an adaptor for fitting around a valve cap of an aerosol container containing a solvent solution, said adaptor allowing the fitment thereto of a foamable material applicator to allow the solvent solution to dispense from the valve into the foamable material dispensing channel in the applicator when the same is connected onto the adaptor and wherein the adaptor includes a fitting to allow at least two different applicator types to be selectively fitted thereto, In one embodiment the adapter includes a threaded portion for the attachment of a gun applicator thereto and the fitting is a centrally mounted nipple to connect with the internal dispensing channel of the gun applicator.

In a preferred embodiment the nipple fitting connects with an internal channel which is connected with the dispensing channel of the gun type applicator when the same is engaged on the threaded fitting to ensure that the solvent solution passes from the valve, through the channel in the nipple fitting and into the applicator without leakage.

Typically the nipple type fitting is chamfered at one end thereof to allow hand held applicators having different diameter openings to be fitted onto the nipple in position along the chamfer where appropriate.

In a further embodiment, the nipple type fitting is suspended between the walls of the threaded fitting by means of a plurality of arms which connect the nipple fitting to the walls of the threaded fitting. Typically the arms are provided to be tamper evident.

In a further embodiment the nipple fitting as described above is provided in a suspended state for use with a fist part exposed but, in one embodiment, when the adaptor is used with an NBS type gun applicator the arms are broken and the nipple fitting reversed to expose a second part which locates with an internal channel of the NBS gun applicator to prevent leakage as this end of the nipple is shaped for that purpose.

Typically, the adaptor fittings as described above are provided towards one end of the adaptor and the other end of the adaptor is provided with engagement means to allow the same to be fitted onto the valve cap lip around the valve of the aerosol container.

Preferably when fitted the applicator is located in relation to the aerosol valve cap such that when the applicator of the selected type is secured to the adaptor in the selected position, a subsequent minimum pressing action on the applicator towards the aerosol container causes a depression of the valve and release of the solvent solution in the aerosol through the valve, through the adaptor nipple and into the foam material dispensing channel in the applicator to clean the same. The provision of the adaptor in this form and shape ensures that the required pressure of application of the solvent solution is maintained to ensure that the solution passes through all of the dispensing channel in the applicator to clean the same as is required to obtain a proper cleaning effect.

Typically the adaptor will be made from a suitable plastics material.

In whichever embodiment the nipple part of the adaptor is preferably provided with a gasket or collar which serves to contact with the applicator channel when the same is fitted thereon and thereby prevents the opportunity for leakage of the solvent as it is dispensed through the nozzle and into the applicator.

Specific embodiments of the adaptor and the foam material applicators will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein; Fig. 1 illustrates four different types of applicators for foam material; Fig. 2 illustrates a typical aerosol arrangement containing a solvent solution for use in cleaning the foam material dispensing channels of the applicators; Figure 3 illustrates a plan view of an adaptor according to the invention; Fig. 4 illustrates a sectional view through line A-A of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 illustrates a detailed view of the nipple fitting of the adaptor; Fig. 6 illustrates a "Eurofoam" gun applicator in position on the adaptor for cleaning; Fig. 7 illustrates the position of the hand held applicators on the adaptor for cleaning; and Figure 8 illustrates an actuator means for the adaptor.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 there are shown four different types of foam material applicators. Two of the applicators, 2, 4, a Euro fo am gun and NBS gun respectively, are of the gun type and the other two 6,8 are of the hand held applicator type. In each case the applicator includes a dispensing channel along which the foam material passes for application to the desired area.

In whichever form, the foam material dispensing channel is required to be cleaned after use to remove all foam material deposits therefrom. In order to achieve this a solvent solution is applied through the channel under pressure from a valve 10 of an aerosol container 12 as shown in Figure 2 in which the solvent solution is contained. The aerosol container is of a conventional type having a valve cap surrounding valve 10.

The adaptor 16 of the invention is shown in Figures 3-5 and Figure 8. In Figure 3 the adaptor 16 is shown to comprise a threaded fitting 18 and a nipple fitting 19 with a sealing gasket 21. The adaptor is provided with engagement means 24 which engage the adaptor on the valve cap 14 of the aerosol container 12.

The nipple fitting 19 is connected to and suspended between the walls of the threaded fitting 18 by means of arms 26. The arms 26, in addition to positioning the nipple fitting, also act as means for indicating any tampering with the adaptor.

In Figure 8 there is shown an actuator means 29 which can be fitted to the nipple fitting to allow hand actuation of the container.

Typically actuating means also includes a directing tube 31 which allows the cleaning fluid from the container to be directed into specific areas and also into relatively confined areas and this allows the cleaning fluid to be effectively and efficiently used even without the applicator guns attached to the adaptor but instead the tube 33 filling into the nipple fitting.

In use in the form shown the threaded fitting 18 acts as a location for the guns 2, 4 as shown in Figure 6 to secure the same in the required position for cleaning and, in this embodiment, the nipple fitting 19 is provided with the first part 20 exposed to locate internally with the Euro foam type gun 2. If the NBS type gun is fitted, the nipple fitting can in one embodiment be reversed to cause the second part 22 of the fitting 19 to fit internally with the NBS type gun and this is required due to the difference in internal diameters of the dispensing channels of the guns. For cleaning the hand held adaptors 6,8 the nipple fitting 19 is provided with port 20 exposed and the chamfered end 30 of the same allows the location of the ends of the adaptors 6,8 which are of different diameters, to be located thereon as shown in Figure 7.

The nipple fitting 19 is also provided to locate on the valve of the aerosol to ensure that the solvent solution, when expelled from the aerosol, passes into the adaptor, through the channel 32 of the nipple fitting 19 and then into the applicator dispensing channel thus ensuring that the solvent solution enters the applicator with the required pressure to clean the same. As shown, the nipple fitting 19 locates on the valve regardless of which of the parts 20, 22 is exposed for connection with the applicator.

Referring to Figure 4, the position of the nipple fitting 19 relative to the engagement means 24 and hence the aerosol valve 10 when the adaptor is fitted to the aerosol container 12 is such that the same lies in contact with or adjacent the nozzle but applies no pressure on the same. Thus, to expel solvent solution from the container a downward pressing action is required to be exerted on the valve by pressing on the applicator connected to the adaptor and/or the adaptor itself.

Thus, the present invention provides a means whereby a standard conventional aerosol container of solvent solution can be adapted to be fitted to any of the standard types of foam material applicators to clean the dispensing channels of the same. Furthermore the adaptor can itself be adapted to provide the required fitting arrangement for the required applicator. This greatly increases the ability for foamable material containers to be re-used as the applicators can be effectively cleaned and hence reduces the danger posed by partially used containers which are, at the moment typically discarded.

Claims

1. An adapter for a valve cap of an aerosol container containing a cleaning material, said adapter provided with a location and connecting means to allow the fitment thereto of a foamable material applicator to allow the dispensation of the cleaning material into the applicator when the same is connected onto the adapter and wherein the adapter is provided of a form to allow at least two different applicator types to be selectively fitted and connected thereto.

2 An adapter according to claim lwherein the adapter includes a location means in the form of a threaded portion for the attachment of a gun type applicator thereto and the connection means is a centrally mounted nipple to connect with the internal dispensing channel of the gun type applicator.

3 An adapter according to claim 2 wherein the nipple connects with an internal channel which is connected with the dispensing channel of the gun type applicator when the same is engaged on the threaded portion to ensure that the cleaning solution passes from the valve, through the channel in the nipple fitting and into the applicator substantially without leakage.

4. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein the connecting means is a nipple which is chamfered at one end thereof to allow hand held applicators having different diameter openings to be fitted onto the nipple in contact with the chamfered section of the nipple.

5. An adapter according to any of the preceding claims wherein the connecting means in the form of a nipple is suspended between the walls of the location means by a plurality of arms which connect the nipple to the location means.

6. An adapter according to claim 5 wherein the arms are tamper evident.

7. An adapter according to claim 5 wherein the nipple is reversible by breaking the arms, rotating the nipple to expose connecting means for an NBS type gun applicator, said connecting means locating with an internal channel of the NBS type gun applicator.

8. An adapter according to any preceding claim wherein the location and connecting means are provided at or adjacent to one end of the adapter and at or adjacent the opposing end of the adapter are provided engagement means to allow the same to be engaged on the aerosol container.

9. An adapter according to any preceding claim wherein the nipple part of the connecting means is provided with a gasket or collar which serves to contact with the applicator channel when the same is fitted thereon and thereby prevents the opportunity for leakage of the cleaning material as it is dispensed.

10.An adapter according to any of the preceding claims wherein the adapter is for use with a cleaning material in the form of a solvent solution.

11. Apparatus for cleaning an applicator of foamable material, using a cleaning material from an aerosol container, said apparatus comprising the container, with a dispensing valve, an adapter for location with the valve, an applicator selected from any of a number of types, and wherein the applicator is located on the adapter, through which the cleaning material passes when the valve is actuated.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the applicator, when connected to the adapter, is located in relation to the aerosol valve such that when a pressing action is exerted on the applicator towards the aerosol container a depression of the valve is caused to allow release of the cleaning material, through the valve and adapter connecting means into the foamable material dispensing channel in the applicator to clean the same.

13. An adapter as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. Apparatus for cleaning a foamable material applicator as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.