Lockable dispensing package and actuator

1. An actuator ( 18 , 18 ′) for actuating a valve ( 16 ) on a container ( 14 ) for dispensing a fluent product, the actuator ( 18 , 18 ) comprising:

an exterior housing ( 40 , 40 ′) having

a base ( 44 ) to secure the actuator ( 18 , 18 ′) to the container, and

a shell ( 46 ) defining

an interior chamber ( 48 ),

a circumferentially extending window ( 50 ) extending between the interior chamber ( 48 ) and an exterior of the shell ( 46 ), and

an actuator button ( 52 ) movable between an un-actuated position and an actuated position; and

a rotatable member ( 42 , 42 ′) located in the interior chamber ( 48 ) to rotate relative to the exterior housing ( 40 , 40 ′) between

a locked position wherein movement of the actuator button ( 52 ) from the un-actuated position to the actuated position is prevented and

an unlocked position wherein movement of the actuator button ( 52 ) from the un-actuated position to the actuated position is allowed to actuate the valve,

the rotatable member ( 42 , 42 ′) having an engageable surface ( 54 ) located in the circumferentially extending window ( 50 ) to be engaged by a user for movement of the engageable surface ( 54 ) within said window ( 50 ) between a first position corresponding to the locked position and a second position corresponding to the unlocked position,

wherein the rotatable member ( 42 , 42 ′) includes:

a stem pocket ( 56 ) to receive an outwardly projecting, movable, fluent product-dispensing stem ( 30 ) of the valve ( 16 ); and

a flow path ( 58 ) to direct fluent product from the stem pocket ( 56 ) to an exterior of the actuator ( 18 , 18 ′).

2. The actuator ( 18 , 18 ′) of claim 1 wherein the shell ( 46 ) has a dispensing port ( 72 ) and the flow path ( 58 ) has an exit port ( 60 ) that is aligned with the dispensing port ( 72 ) when the rotatable member ( 42 , 42 ′) is in the unlocked position and circumferentially spaced from the dispensing port ( 72 ) when the rotatable member ( 42 , 42 ′) is in the locked position.

3. The actuator ( 18 , 18 ′) of claim 1 wherein the rotatable member ( 42 , 42 ′) further includes a cantilevered arm ( 66 ) with the stem pocket ( 56 ) and the flow path ( 58 ) defined therein, the arm ( 66 ) movable between

a neutral position wherein the stem pocket ( 56 ) is located so as not to actuate the valve ( 16 ) and

an actuating position wherein the stem pocket ( 56 ) is located to actuate the valve ( 16 ) to dispense a fluent product.

4. The actuator ( 18 , 18 ′) of claim 3 wherein the arm ( 66 ) is biased toward the neutral position.

5. The actuator ( 18 , 18 ′) of claim 3 wherein the actuator button ( 52 ) overlies at least part of the cantilevered arm ( 66 ) and engages the arm ( 66 ) to move the arm ( 66 ) from the neutral position to the actuating position when the rotatable member ( 42 , 42 ′) is in the unlocked position and the actuating button ( 52 ) moves from the un-actuated position to the actuated position.

6. The actuator ( 18 , 18 ′) of claim 5 wherein the actuator button ( 52 ) is biased toward the un-actuated position.

7. An actuator ( 18 , 18 ′) for actuating a valve ( 16 ) on a container ( 14 ) for dispensing a fluent product, the actuator ( 18 , 18 ) comprising:

an exterior housing ( 40 , 40 ′) having

a base ( 44 ) to secure the actuator ( 18 , 18 ′) to the container, and

a shell ( 46 ) defining

an interior chamber ( 48 ),

a circumferentially extending window ( 50 ) extending between the interior chamber ( 48 ) and an exterior of the shell ( 46 ), and

an actuator button ( 52 ) movable between an un-actuated position and an actuated position; and

a rotatable member ( 42 , 42 ′) located in the interior chamber ( 48 ) to rotate relative to the exterior housing ( 40 , 40 ′) between

a locked position wherein movement of the actuator button ( 52 ) from the un-actuated position to the actuated position is prevented and

an unlocked position wherein movement of the actuator button ( 52 ) from the un-actuated position to the actuated position is allowed to actuate the valve,

the rotatable member ( 42 , 42 ′) having an engageable surface ( 54 ) located in the circumferentially extending window ( 50 ) to be engaged by a user for movement of the engageable surface ( 54 ) within said window ( 50 ) between a first position corresponding to the locked position and a second position corresponding to the unlocked position,

wherein the rotatable member ( 42 , 42 ′) has a snap fit engagement with the exterior housing ( 40 , 40 ′).

8. An actuator ( 18 , 18 ′) for actuating a valve ( 16 ) on a container ( 14 ) for dispensing a fluent product, the actuator ( 18 , 18 ) comprising:

an exterior housing ( 40 , 40 ′) having

a base ( 44 ) to secure the actuator ( 18 , 18 ′) to the container, and

a shell ( 46 ) defining

an interior chamber ( 48 ),

a circumferentially extending window ( 50 ) extending between the interior chamber ( 48 ) and an exterior of the shell ( 46 ), and

an actuator button ( 52 ) movable between an un-actuated position and an actuated position; and

a rotatable member ( 42 , 42 ′) located in the interior chamber ( 48 ) to rotate relative to the exterior housing ( 40 , 40 ′) between

a locked position wherein movement of the actuator button ( 52 ) from the un-actuated position to the actuated position is prevented and

an unlocked position wherein movement of the actuator button ( 52 ) from the un-actuated position to the actuated position is allowed to actuate the valve,

the rotatable member ( 42 , 42 ′) having an engageable surface ( 54 ) located in the circumferentially extending window ( 50 ) to be engaged by a user for movement of the engageable surface ( 54 ) within said window ( 50 ) between a first position corresponding to the locked position and a second position corresponding to the unlocked position,

wherein the rotatable member ( 42 , 42 ′) further comprises a surface ( 136 ) located to contact a surface ( 138 ) of at least one of said valve ( 16 ) and container ( 14 ) in at least the locked position of the rotatable member ( 42 , 42 ′).