Dispensing – Nonuse housing or securing means for discharge guides
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-25
2001-08-07
Bomberg, Kenneth (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Nonuse housing or securing means for discharge guides
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269985
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
Not Applicable
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to aerosol spray cans, of the type having a push-button aerosol spray valve. Such spray cans often employ, and may be supplied with, a dispensing tube that removably fits into the orifice of the spray valve to allow the contents of the can to be dispensed into a small space. Specifically, the present invention relates to a device for securing the dispensing tube to the can when the dispensing tube is not in use, so as to reduce the possibility that the tube may be misplaced or lost.
In using spray cans with dispensing tubes, the dispensing tube is typically separated from the can when not in use. As a result, the tube may be lost or misplaced. Several devices have been developed to address this problem. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,767—Riley et al. discloses a dispensing tube holder comprising a flexible tether that has a first end connected to a ring or band that encircles the can, and a second end that is attached to the tube. A similar concept is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,783—Antonelli, in which the first end of the tether is attached to a holding element that is secured to the side of the can. U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,838—Hart, Jr. discloses a device comprising a ring that is secured to the can or a cap for the can. Extending outwardly from the ring is a tab or arm having an aperture through which the tube is inserted.
While the prior art has offered the above-described devices and others to address the problem of securing the dispensing tube, other approaches have been sought in attempts to make such devices easier to use and/or more economical to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Broadly, the present invention is a device for securing a dispensing tube to an aerosol spray can, comprising an apertured retention tab that is mountable to the side of the can, wherein the retention tab, when so mounted, is resiliently flexible from a first position, substantially parallel to the side of the can, to a flexed or second position. When the retention tab is held in the flexed position, it extends radially outward from the side of the can, and the aperture in the retention tab extends substantially parallel to the side of the can, thereby permitting a dispensing tube, having an outside diameter approximately equal to the inside diameter of the aperture, to be inserted through the aperture in an orientation that is substantially parallel to the axis of the can. When the retention tab is released, it resiliently returns to the first position, in which the retention tab clamps the tube against the side of the can.
In a preferred embodiment, the retention tab is attached to an elastic band that may be placed around the can to mount the retention tab on the can. Also attached to the band, adjacent the retention tab, is an elongate pull tab. The pull tab is positioned and configured so that, when it is pulled radially outwardly from the can, it moves the retention tab from the first position to the second position. Also, the pull tab provides a convenient grip for pulling the elastic band of the device off of the can.
In an alternative embodiment, the retention tab is formed as an integral part of a flexible plastic body having a mounting portion that may be adhesively attached to the side of the can. In this embodiment, the pull tab may be omitted to save manufacturing costs. Without the pull tab, the retention tab is directly manipulated to move it from its first position to its second position.
As will be better appreciated from the detailed description that follows, the present invention offers a device for securing an aerosol can dispensing tube that is both easy to use and economical to manufacture.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3199751 (1965-08-01), Jovanovich
patent: 3445033 (1969-05-01), Sweet et al.
patent: 4121835 (1978-10-01), Garabedian
patent: 4819838 (1989-04-01), Hart, Jr.
patent: 4823445 (1989-04-01), Diener
patent: 4858792 (1989-08-01), de Laforcade
patent: 5018635 (1991-05-01), Whittaker
patent: 5044512 (1991-09-01), Giancaspro et al.
patent: 5048709 (1991-09-01), Alverson
patent: 5058793 (1991-10-01), Antonelli
patent: 5297704 (1994-03-01), Stollmeyer
patent: 5328069 (1994-07-01), Cohanfard
patent: 5529226 (1996-06-01), Alberth, Jr.
patent: 5544783 (1996-08-01), Conigliaro
patent: 5772084 (1998-06-01), Yale et al.
patent: 5887767 (1999-03-01), Riley et al.
patent: 5992678 (1999-11-01), Willey
patent: 6102258 (2000-08-01), Riley et al.
patent: 3937278 (1991-05-01), None
patent: 2381683 (1978-09-01), None
Bomberg Kenneth
Delshar, Inc.
Klein & Szekeres LLP
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