Puncturing device for aerosol containers

• US 9,845,232 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2015
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Justrite Manufacturing Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Justrite Manufacturing Company LLC
• Inventors: Campbell, Michael C., Woodward, Erik J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust, Timothy L
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHMID, ANDREW C
• Application Number:
  US14/623,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20150298955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 141 65, 141 69, 141 94, 141329, 141330, 100288, 222 5, 414412
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 2101/02 Gases or liquids enclosed in discarded articles, e.g. aerosol cans or cooling systems of refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 3/00 Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless
• CPC Class Codes: B67B 7/24 Hole-piercing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B67C 9/00 Devices for emptying bottles, not otherwise provided for during preparation of alcoholic beverages except beer C12G1/00

Abstract

A puncturing device for pressurized containers comprises an elongated housing member defining an elongated cavity with openings at first and second ends thereof for receiving an inverted pressurized container at the first end, the housing member including an attachment member for securing the second end of the housing member to a collection receptacle. A non-sparking puncturing member, is mounted within the housing member for piercing a nozzle-end of the pressurized container at its domed top. A counter records each action of the puncture pin. Gases and residual contents are released into the receptacle through the hollow core of the puncture pin. An auxiliary support member is mounted on the housing member for stabilizing relative movement between the housing member and the receptacle. A force-applying apparatus is mounted on the housing member for forcing the pressurized container onto the puncture pin.

Claims

1. A device for puncturing a pressurized container for relieving the pressure therein and for releasing the residual contents thereof into a drum of a type having an end wall with a surrounding protruding peripheral rim, said device comprising:

a generally elongated housing member defining an elongated cavity with inner and outer surfaces and with openings at first and second ends thereof for receiving a pressurized container at said first end and further including a mounting structure for securing said second end of said elongated housing member to said end wall of said drum for collection by said drum of contents expelled from said pressurized container through said second end;

a puncturing member mounted within said elongated housing member generally parallel to said inner and outer surfaces of said elongated housing member, between said first and second ends and disposed a distance from said inner surface of said elongated housing member for piercing said pressurized container in said elongated cavity whereby gases and residual contents thereof are emptied into said drum through said opening at said second end;

a force-applying member operatively connected to said elongated housing member for engaging said pressurized container positioned in said elongated cavity and forcing said pressurized container towards said second end of said elongated housing member and onto said puncturing member, said force-applying member including a cap, a rack gear operatively connected to said cap, a paw gear operatively connected to said rack gear such that rotation of said paw gear causes vertical movement of said rack gear, and a manually manipulatable member operatively connected to said paw gear such that rotation of said manually manipulatable member causes rotation of said paw gear and wherein rotation of said activation wheel results in vertical movement of said cap, and downward movement of said cap causes said cap to engage said pressurized container positioned in said elongated cavity and to force said pressurized container towards said second end of said elongated housing member and onto said puncturing member, said cap being rotatable between a load position at which said cap is not over said elongated housing member and an engagement position at which said cap is over said elongated housing member;

a locking member to fix said cap over said elongated housing member; and

said device further including an auxiliary support extending from said elongated housing member to operatively engage said protruding peripheral rim of said drum to stabilize said elongated housing member relative to said drum during operation of said device.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said attachment structure is a threaded terminus of said elongated housing member for engaging threads of said end wall of said drum.

3. A device as in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary support includes a locking member to prevent the device from being removed from said drum.

4. A device as in claim 1 wherein said puncturing member comprises a hollow puncturing pin extending upward towards said first end of said elongated housing member, said pin including a spring for biasing said pressurized container towards said first end of said elongated housing member.

5. A device as in claim 4 wherein said gases and residual contents are emptied into said drum through said hollow puncturing pin.

6. A device as in claim 1 wherein said elongated housing member further comprises a shelf member extending from said inner surface of said elongated housing member which shelf member includes an opening through which said puncturing member extends toward said first end of said elongated housing member.

7. A device as in claim 1 further comprising an alignment member mounted within said elongated cavity intermediate said first and second ends and through which said puncturing member extends such that said pressurized container is retained in an orientation which is generally parallel to a lengthwise center line of said elongated cavity.

8. A device as in claim 1 further comprising a counter means cooperatively engaged with said puncturing means wherein said counter means records each piercing of said pressurized container.

9. A device as in claim 8 wherein said counter means may be reset to its initial counter setting.

10. A device as in claim 8 wherein said counter means is enclosed within a housing such that a portion of said counter means remains visible.

11. A device as in claim 1, wherein said cap is rotatable about a pin between a position directly over said elongated housing member and a position which is not over said elongated housing member.

12. A device as in claim 11, wherein said cap further comprises a height adjustment member.

13. A device as in claim 12 wherein said height adjustment member further comprises a recessed magnetic member.

14. A device as in claim 4 wherein a pointed tip of said hollow puncturing pin is of a non-sparking metal.

15. A device as in claim 1 wherein said elongated housing member, said force-applying member and said device further including an auxiliary support means are of aluminum.

16. A device as in claim 1 wherein said elongated housing member, said force-applying member and said device further including an auxiliary support means are coated with a non-stick coating.

17. A device as in claim 1 wherein said rack gear, said paw gear, and said activation wheel are of aluminum.

18. A device as in claim 1 wherein said rack gear, said paw gear, and said activation wheel are coated with a non-stick coating.

19. A device for puncturing a pressurized container for relieving the pressure therein and for releasing the residual contents thereof into a drum of a type having an end wall with a surrounding protruding peripheral rim, said device comprising:

a generally elongated housing member defining an elongated cavity having a central axis and including inner and outer surfaces and with openings at first and second ends thereof for receiving a pressurized container at said first end and further including a mounting structure for securing said second end of said elongated housing member to said end wall of said drum for collection by said drum of contents expelled from said pressurized container through said second end;

a puncturing member mounted within said elongated housing member generally parallel to said inner and outer surfaces of said elongated housing member, between said first and second ends and disposed a distance from said inner surface of said elongated housing member for piercing said pressurized container in said elongated cavity whereby gases and residual contents thereof are emptied into said drum through said opening at said second end;

a force-applying member operatively connected to said elongated housing member and including an engagement surface for engaging said pressurized container positioned in said elongated cavity and forcing said pressurized container towards said second end of said elongated housing member and onto said puncturing member, said force-applying member being movable along a first path and a second path, said first path extending between a load position at which said force-applying member is spaced from the axis of the elongated cavity and an engagement position at which the force-applying member is aligned with the axis, and said second path being aligned with the axis of the elongated body and extending between a first position at which said engagement surface is spaced a first distance from said puncturing member and a second position at which said engagement surface is a second distance from said puncturing member, said second distance being less than said first distance;

a locking member to fix said force-applying member for movement along said second path; and

said device further including an auxiliary support extending from said elongated housing member to operatively engage said protruding peripheral rim of said drum to stabilize said elongated housing member relative to said drum during operation of said device.

20. A device as in claim 19 wherein said puncturing member is offset from the central axis.