Dispensing – Including timer – For timing dispensing period
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-04
2001-04-17
Derakshani, Philippe (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Including timer
For timing dispensing period
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216925
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to aerosol dispensers and more particularly to automatic aerosol dispensers.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Aerosol cans are used to propel a variety of active ingredients such as air fresheners, repellants and the like. An aerosol can generally consists of a cylindrical vessel having an upper part thereof closed with a lid having a standard rim size. The center of the lid is provided with an aperture through which a conduit is inserted, at the top of which is mounted a dispenser valve actuator and a dispensing head having a dispenser nozzle. The aerosol can is generally activated manually, by depressing the dispensing head, thereby actuating the valve and releasing the aerosol with the active ingredient contained in the can, through the nozzle. The dispensing head is generally protected with a cap, which is snap fitted to the can.
Automatic dispensers comprising a housing in which an aerosol can is inserted are known. For example, French Patent Application No. 2 623 780, published Jun. 2, 1989, describes an automatic dispenser consisting of a shell having an upper part and a lower part fitted together after the aerosol can is inserted in the lower part thereof. Other examples include U.S. Pat. No. 3,952,916 issued on Dec. 6, 1966 to Phillips, U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,941 issued on Apr. 27, 1976 to Mettler, U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,718 issued on Oct. 5, 1993 to Muderlak and U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,283 issued on Oct. 14, 1997 to Wang. A problem with such dispensers resides in the fact that they are useless with aerosol cans having a diameter larger than that of the shell. Another problem with such dispensers is that they are expensive and complicated to manufacture.
There exist dispensers which may be mounted to the aerosol can. For example, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 3,289,886 issued on Dec. 6, 1966 to Goldsholl, U.S. Pat. No. 3,666,144 issued on May 30, 1972 to Winder, U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,176 issued on Dec. 14, 1971 to Sailors and U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,962 issued on Jun. 25, 1991 to Renfro. A problem with such dispensers is that they are not secured to the aerosol can. For example, such an automatic dispenser may fall off the aerosol can and be permanently damaged. Moreover, they remain bulky, which is unattractive to customers.
It would therefore be highly desirable to provide an inexpensive automatic aerosol dispenser device that could be used with an aerosol can of any size, and that could be secured thereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aim of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive automatic aerosol dispenser device that may be used with an aerosol can of any size and that may be secured to a rim of constant, universal diameter on the aerosol can.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a portable automatic aerosol dispenser device for intermittently releasing a dose of an aerosol from an aerosol can to an environment, wherein the can is provided with a stem valve concentric with a universal rim on the top of the can. The portable automatic aerosol dispenser device comprises a housing, which comprises an aerosol release mechanism adapted to release the dose of aerosol from the can to the environment when actuated, an outlet connected to the aerosol release mechanism permitting the releasing of the dose of aerosol through the housing, an inlet connected to the aerosol release mechanism for receiving the stem valve of the can, an actuating mechanism adapted to actuate the aerosol release mechanism intermittently, the actuating mechanism comprising a switch mechanism for switching the aerosol release mechanism from an inoperative position to an operative position for an interval of time and a timing mechanism for controlling the interval of time, and a gripping mechanism adapted to grip the rim of the can, for releasably clamping the housing to the rim.
The gripping mechanism may comprise a plurality of projections adapted to grip the rim, the projections each comprising a first portion downwardly extending from a side wall of the housing and a second portion connected to the first portion and inwardly directed relative to the side wall, the projections each comprising an outer surface comprising external threads, a ring member comprising an inner surface comprising internal threads, the internal threads of the ring corresponding to the external threads of the projections, the ring member being displaceable between an inoperative position and an operative position, whereby when the portable automatic aerosol dispenser device is downwardly urged against the rim, the projections are outwardly displaced to grip the rim, and the projections are secured to the rim when the ring member is in the operative position.
The aerosol release mechanism may comprise a solenoid valve.
The actuating mechanism may comprise an electronic control panel.
In accordance with the present invention, there is further provided an apparatus for intermittently releasing a dose of an aerosol can to an environment, the apparatus comprising an aerosol can containing an aerosol with an active ingredient, the aerosol can being closed by a lid having a rim and a stem valve mounted thereto for releasing the aerosol from the can, an automatic aerosol dispenser device mounted to the rim, for intermittently releasing a dose of the aerosol to an environment, the automatic aerosol dispenser device comprising a housing, the housing comprising an aerosol release mechanism adapted to release the dose of aerosol from the can to the environment when actuated, an outlet connected to the aerosol release mechanism for releasing the dose of aerosol through the housing, an inlet connected to the aerosol release mechanism for receiving said stem valve, an actuating mechanism adapted to activate the aerosol releasing mechanism intermittently, the actuating mechanism comprising a switch mechanism for switching the aerosol release mechanism from an inoperative position to an operative position for an interval of time, and a timing mechanism for controlling the interval of time, and a gripping mechanism adapted to grip the housing to the rim.
The gripping mechanism may comprise a plurality of projections adapted to grip the rim, the projections each comprising a first portion downwardly extending from a side wall of the housing and a second portion connected to the first portion and inwardly directed relative to the side wall, the projections comprising an annular outer surface comprising external threads, a ring member comprising an inner surface comprising internal threads, said internal threads essentially corresponding to the external threads of the projections, the ring member being displaceable between an inoperative position and an operative position, whereby upon the automatic aerosol dispenser device being downwardly urged against the rim and the rim being in the inoperative position, the projections are outwardly displaced and grip the rim, and the projections are secured to the rim when the ring member is in the operative position.
The aerosol may comprise an active ingredient, and the active ingredient may be selected from a group consisting of air fresheners, repellants, hormonal compounds and lubricants.
The environment may be a space such as a room or a surface.
The dose of aerosol may be released during a determined period of time. The period of time during which the valve is kept in the operative position and the intervals of time during which the valve is kept in the inoperative position may be set by the user through programming of the portable automatic aerosol dispenser device or may be pre-programmed during the manufacturing process.
The portable automatic aerosol dispenser device of the present invention may be used with valves such as continuous flow valves. The portable automatic aerosol dispenser device of the present invention may be used with valves such as Precision valves and may be adapted to other sizes and formats of valves.
The valve may be controlled with mechanisms such as timers, rem
Bui Thach H
Derakshani Philippe
Multi-Vet Ltd.
Swabey Ogilvy Renault
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