Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Disinfection – Dispensing to air from closet
Reexamination Certificate
2003-11-13
2004-09-07
Nguyen, Tuan N. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Disinfection
Dispensing to air from closet
C222S180000, C222S649000, C222S402130, C239S274000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06785911
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is related to the field of aerosol dispensers used for dispersing a quantity of vaporized air freshener, deodorant substance, anti-bacterial agent or the like into a room, and more particularly to an automatic actuator which houses standard aerosol containers which can be wall, door or toilet mounted.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various arrangements exist in the prior art in which the dispersion valve of an aerosol product adapted to be operated in response to a mechanical action, such as a door opening. The aerosol products contain a fluent under pressure for vaporized dispersion and are typically referred to as “air fresheners” which can include perfumes, deodorizers, anti-bacterial agents and the like.
Dolac, U.S. Pat. No. 3,617,214, discloses a door-operated air freshener assembly which has a bracket for support of an aerosol air freshener container. The device is responsive to the opening and/or closing motion of the door and includes a solenoid which is momentarily energized in response to door movement for operation of the nozzle and valve of the container.
Graves, U.S. Pat. No. 3,318,489, discloses a door-operated space conditioning dispenser which includes a replacement hinge pin for the door having a bracket mounted thereon. The bracket includes a depressor mounted on the bracket which activates the dispensing nozzle of the aerosol container.
Pagliaro, U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,776, discloses a door-mounted actuating device for use with a spray container which includes a frame for supporting the container and locating its spray nozzle at door top height, and an actuating mechanism having a pivotally mounted lever arm and a plunger assembly including a plunger rod movable to pivot the lever arm to cause a spray of fluid from the container when the door is opened and closed.
Heropoulos, U.S. Pat. No. 3,309,817, discloses an aerosol holder with a door actuated valve actuator. Each time a door is swung open, it engages a resilient actuating means similar to a doorstop which moves a plunger inwardly through a passage to depress the plunger of a sideways mounted aerosol container.
Faso, U.S. Pat. No. 3,704,830, discloses a door-mounted spraying device for an aerosol container which includes a metal clip to fit over the door so that no tools or fastening means are needed for installation.
Mancini, U.S. Pat. No. 3,994,440, discloses a spray unit attachable to a door which ejects a spray into a room when the attached door is in the open position. A bracket holds an aerosol can in an upright position, and a spring-biased knob which may be pushed downwards is pivotally mounted in the bracket directly over the center push button of the attached aerosol can. A wire rod which passes through the bracket is pivotally mounted to the door jam.
Behringer, U.S. Pat. No. 3,023,427, discloses a device for sterilizing and deodorizing toilet bowls. A bracket is used to attach an aerosol can inside the tank. When an actuating lever is pivoted, the aerosol can is discharged through a conduit into the toilet discharge tank.
Church, U.S. Pat. No. 4,358,860, discloses an automatic actuator for dispensers for air fresheners and the like from an aerosol container mounted on the interior of a toilet tank. An actuator arm has one end connected to the neck of the container, and a flexible tube extends from the outlet of the container to the exterior of the toilet tank. A pull rod is pivotally attached to the actuator arm, and has a cup suspended thereon which rises and falls with the water level of the tank, causing the actuator to dispense the air freshener.
Cain, U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,532, discloses a dispenser mounted on the exterior of a toilet bowl having a housing containing an aerosol spray can installed with the nozzle pointed downward. A length of tubing directs the spray into the toilet bowl.
A disadvantage of the above-described prior art devices intended for use with aerosol containers is that they have numerous moving parts, and are relatively complex in operation, and are limited to a single dispensing use. Moreover, many are intended for only one type of aerosol canister configuration, i.e. a depressable valve member mounted on an extended stem. Many of the current aerosol containers presently marketed have an ergonomic, flush mounted valve actuation means, and would not be suitable for use with the prior art devices.
Thus, it would be highly advantageous to provide an automatic actuator for aerosol containers which can be readily adapted to a variety of aerosol dispensing canister sizes and shapes, can be used numerous applications, and which has a minimum number of moving parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an objective of the invention to provide an automatic actuator for aerosol containers which can be installed to function as either a door-actuated or toilet lever-actuated device.
It is another objective to provide an automatic actuator for aerosol containers which has a minimal number of mechanical parts.
It is still another objective to provide an automatic actuator for aerosol containers which utilizes an eccentric cylindrical cam to actuate the aerosol container, and thus allows the device to be used with aerosol containers of diverse size, shape, or dispenser orientation.
It is a further objective of the invention to provide an automatic actuator for aerosol containers which can be inexpensively manufactured.
It is yet a further objective of the invention to provide an automatic actuator for aerosol containers which can be mounted on either the door or a wall surface adjacent the door in order to actuate the aerosol container when the swinging door is proximate the wall surface.
It is still a further objective of the invention to provide an automatic actuator for aerosol containers which can be mounted in a hanging arrangement on a toilet tank adjacent the flush lever, so that depression of the flush lever actuates the aerosol container.
It is still another objective to provide an automatic actuator for aerosol containers which functions “on demand” allowing for an extended life for the canister contents.
It is still another objective to provide an automatic actuator for aerosol containers which utilizes standard “off the shelf” aerosol canisters.
It is still another objective to provide an automatic actuator for aerosol containers which is mechanical in operation and does not require an external power source.
It is still another objective of the invention to provide an automatic actuator for aerosol containers which can be used in combination with various sizes of containers.
In accordance with the above objectives, a device for dispersing a vapor from a standard “off the shelf” aerosol container having a spring-loaded valve top is provided. In a preferred embodiment adapted for aerosol containers having a vertical spray trajectory, the device includes a housing for receiving the aerosol container in an upright position. The housing has a vertically oriented longitudinal axis and a generally open top allowing dispersion of the vapor therethrough. The housing is defined by a bottom wall, left and right opposing side walls, a back wall and a front wall. At least one of the walls is displaceable to provide an opening for the insertion of the aerosol container therein. In a preferred embodiment, the front wall is removable. In an alternative embodiment, the housing can be adapted to receive aerosol containers which have a forward spray trajectory. In this embodiment, the front wall is configured to allow forward dispersion through the front of the housing.
The device includes an actuation assembly for actuating the valve of the aerosol container which includes a rotatable shaft extending orthogonally from at least one of the opposing side walls and positioned to be proximate the top of the spring-loaded valve of an aerosol container inserted in the housing. An actuation arm mounted on the rotatable shaft which rotates with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing, and an eccentric cylindrical cam is mounted on the rotational shaft and is p
McHale & Slavin P.A.
Nguyen Tuan N.
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