Modular spray cap

1. A spray cap ( 20 ; 300 ; 400 ; 600 ) for a spray can ( 22 ), the spray cap comprising:

a body comprising:

a sidewall ( 140 ) having a lower portion for mounting to a body of the spray can;

a button ( 36 ) having:

an upper surface ( 164 ) for user engagement;

a downwardly projecting sleeve ( 38 ) for receiving an outlet stem ( 240 ) of the can; and

a forwardly-open compartment ( 42 ) having a blind rear end; and

an insert ( 34 ; 302 ) within the compartment and having an end received in the blind rear end; and

a nozzle member ( 32 ) mounted across the compartment to contain the insert within the compartment.

2. A combination of the spray cap and the spray can of claim 1 , the can including a valve having the outlet stem wherein:

the sidewall lower portion is mounted to the body of the spray can; and

the sleeve receives an upper portion ( 245 ) of the outlet stem.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein:

the valve has an open condition and a closed condition;

the button is depressable from a first position to a second position;

a lower rim ( 42 ) of the sleeve is spaced apart from a shoulder ( 250 ) of the valve in the first position;

the lower rim contacts the shoulder in the second position; and

depressing of the button from the first position to the second position brings the lower rim ( 42 ) into contact with the shoulder ( 250 ) to depress the shoulder and shift the valve from the closed condition to the open condition.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein:

the can is a metallic can containing a body ( 224 ) of the product to be dispensed.

5. A method for using the combination of claim 2 comprising:

depressing the button from a first position to a second position,

wherein:

a lower rim of the sleeve is spaced apart from a shoulder of the valve in the first position;

the lower rim contacts the shoulder in the second position; and

the depressing of the button from the first position to the second position brings the rim into contact with the shoulder to depress the shoulder and shift the valve from the closed condition to the open condition to discharge a spray of the product from the nozzle.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein:

the product flows upward to the sleeve and passes forwardly along perimeter channels ( 79 ) in the insert to a chamber between a forward end of the insert and the nozzle.

7. The spray cap of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises:

a living hinge between the button and the sidewall.

8. The spray cap of claim 1 wherein:

the body is unitarily molded as a single piece.

9. The spray cap of claim 1 wherein:

the body consists of a single piece plastic molding;

the nozzle consists of a single piece plastic molding; and

the insert consists of a single piece plastic molding.

10. The spray cap of claim 1 wherein:

the body compartment comprises a forwardly-projecting pin ( 320 ); and

the insert has a compartment ( 322 ) receiving the pin.

11. The spray cap of claim 1 wherein:

the body compartment blind rear end has an inner surface; and

the insert end has a lateral surface received in and contacting the blind rear end inner surface.

12. The spray cap of claim 1 wherein:

the insert ( 34 ) comprises a plurality of longitudinal grooves ( 79 );

the nozzle member ( 32 ) has:

a transverse web ( 46 ) having a nozzle aperture ( 44 ); and

a collar ( 48 ) extending aft from the transverse web and received in the compartment ( 42 ); and

the insert has an end ( 70 ) received by an inner diameter surface ( 52 ) of the collar and abutting an aft surface ( 60 ) of the web.

13. The spray cap of claim 1 wherein:

the insert has a central recess ( 80 ) in the end.

14. A method for using the spray cap of claim 1 , the method comprising:

depressing the button to discharge a spray of the product from the nozzle.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein:

flow of the product passes through channels along the insert.

16. A method for assembling the spray cap of claim 1 , the method comprising:

inserting the insert into the compartment; and

assembling the nozzle member to the body to capture the insert.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein:

a plurality of identical bodies are used with a plurality of differing inserts and/or differing nozzle members.

18. The spray cap of claim 1 wherein:

the body is unitarily molded as a single piece.

19. A spray cap for a spray can, the spray cap comprising:

a body comprising:

a sidewall having a lower portion for mounting to a body of the spray can;

a button having:

an upper surface for user engagement;

a downwardly projecting sleeve for receiving an outlet stem of the can; and

a forwardly-open compartment having a forwardly-projecting pin; and

an insert within the body compartment and having a compartment receiving the pin; and

a nozzle member mounted across the body compartment to contain the insert within the body compartment.