Ventilation – Vehicle – Having inlet airway
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-15
2001-07-24
Joyce, Harold (Department: 3749)
Ventilation
Vehicle
Having inlet airway
C422S123000, C422S124000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264548
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to dispensing, and, more particularly, to a system and method for dispensing, and preferably for spraying, a liquid into a confined space.
Today, most confined inhabited spaces, including buildings, rooms and vehicle interiors, are heated and air conditioned. Typically, there is relatively little exchange of air between these spaces and the outdoors. As a result, odors from the people in the spaces, their clothing and food, and other sources tend to accumulate in these spaces, making the air in the spaces unpleasant to breathe.
Deodorizers, air fresheners and disinfectants have, of course, been used for some time. They are typically dispensed manually from aerosol or pump dispensers by depressing a button that releases a liquid substance from the dispenser into the space, or continuously by an evaporative type dispenser from which a substance evaporates into the air. The effects of aerosol and pump dispensers are relatively short-lived, being limited to a relatively short duration following the release of the dispensing button. Accordingly, long term effects can be achieved with an aerosol or pump dispenser only by continually and manually operating the dispenser, which is burdensome and provides inconsistent results over time. The effects of evaporative type dispensers are longer lasting, but their effects lessen with time and, accordingly, do not provide a consistent result over time. Neither approach is effective for providing a space with a relatively consistent level of deodorizing, freshening or disinfecting over a long period of time. Finally, relatively large spaces, like building interiors and the passenger compartments of buses and aircraft, cannot be deodorized, freshened or disinfected using manual or evaporative dispensers due to the limited space that can be affected by these dispensers. There is, therefore, a need for a dispensing system that can provide a consistent effect in large spaces over a long period of time. There is also a need for a dispensing system the operation of which can be affected by parameters existing in the space to conserve the substance being dispensed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a system and method for dispensing such substances as deodorizers, air fresheners and disinfectants. The present invention can be used to dispense substances consistently throughout a large space over a long period of time.
The present invention provides a dispenser including a canister including a body that contains a substance to be dispensed from the canister, a nozzle through which the substance is dispensed and an actuator mounted to the nozzle. Preferably, the canister is an aerosol canister, and the nozzle includes an actuator button to which the actuator is mounted. The actuator can be an electrical actuator.
The present invention also provides a dispensing system for dispensing a substance including a canister including a body that contains a substance to be dispensed from the canister, a nozzle through which the substance is dispensed, an electric actuator mounted to the nozzle, and a controller that controls dispensing of the substance from the canister. Preferably, the controller is an electrical controller that controls operation of the canister during a dispensing cycle that includes an ON time during which the controller actuates the actuator to dispense the substance from the canister, and an OFF time during which the controller deactivates the actuator to stop dispensing of the substance from the canister. Preferably, the system is mounted in the heating and air conditioning ductwork of the vehicle to permit the heating and air conditioning system of the vehicle to convey the substance throughout the interior of the vehicle. Preferably, the dispensing cycle occurs only if the ignition system of the vehicle is on. Alternately, the dispensing cycle can occur only when the parking brake of the vehicle is released, or when the vehicle is in gear.
The present invention also provides a method for dispensing a substance including the steps of mounting a dispenser containing the substance in the space in which the substance is to be dispensed, mounting an actuator in operable relationship with the dispenser, actuation of the actuator causing the dispenser to dispense the substance, and actuating the dispenser cyclically, each cycle including an on time of a preselected duration during which the actuator is actuated to cause dispensing, and an off time of a preselected duration during which the actuator is not actuated. Preferably, the dispenser is mounted in the ductwork of a vehicle to permit the heating and air conditioning systems of the vehicle to disperse the dispensed substance throughout the interior of the vehicle, and the dispenser is actuated only when the vehicle ignition is on. Alternately, the dispenser can be actuated only when the vehicle parking brake is released, or when the vehicle is in gear.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 361375 (1995-08-01), Gallagher et al.
patent: 3139218 (1964-06-01), Cairelli
patent: 3259050 (1966-07-01), Grimm, III
patent: 3351240 (1967-11-01), Gray
patent: 3891149 (1975-06-01), Rendemonti
patent: 3974941 (1976-08-01), Mettler
patent: 4433796 (1984-02-01), Brooks, Jr.
patent: 4601886 (1986-07-01), Hudgins
patent: 4867045 (1989-09-01), Freedman
patent: 5078046 (1992-01-01), Mascolo et al.
patent: 5221025 (1993-06-01), Privas
patent: 5223182 (1993-06-01), Steiner et al.
patent: 5433660 (1995-07-01), Ohba
patent: 5882256 (1999-03-01), Shropshire
patent: 6137404 (2000-10-01), O'Connor
patent: 63-279922 (1988-11-01), None
Parr, Jr. Irvin L.
Payne, Jr. Robert V.
Cornelius Andrew J.
Joyce Harold
Transcents, Inc.
LandOfFree
Dispensing system and method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Dispensing system and method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Dispensing system and method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2544321