US3269602A

US3269602A - Periodically operated aerosol dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3269602A
Application number: US398932A
Authority: US
Inventors: Iii Robert L Weber
Original assignee: TIME MIST Inc
Current assignee: TIME MIST Inc
Priority date: 1964-09-24
Filing date: 1964-09-24
Publication date: 1966-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 1983-08-30

Description

Aug. 30, 1966 R. L. WEBER m 33,269,692

PERIODICALLY OPERATED AEROSOL DISPENSER Filed Sept. 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.5A

INVENTOR. AOJERT' l. Wmm, 1

ATTORNEYS.

PERIODICALLY OPERATED AEROSOL DISPENSER Filed Sept. 24, 1.964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.8

FIGJO FiG.9

INVENTOR. Aoesnr L. WfBER ZZ BY TM Jm yfifz ra ATTORNEYS- 3,269,602 C6 Patented August 30, 1966 3,269,602 PERIODICALLY OPERATED AEROSOL DISPENSER Robert L. Weber III, New Canaan, onn., assignor to Time-Mist Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 398,932 6 Claims. (Cl. 222-70) This invention relates generally to fluid spraying apparatus and more particularly to motor driven devices for the periodic and automatic dispensing of pressurized material from containers such as aerosol cans.

For many years aerosol containers with manually actuated valves have been used for discharging fine sprays of atomized liquids into the atmosphere. Such containers or cans contain aerosols in which the fluid to be dispensed is in association with a liquified gas. In the can is a spring closed valve with an upwardly projecting discharge stem carrying a spray nozzle in the form of a fingerpiece or button, the depression of which opens the valve to effect the dispensing of the active ingredient and the carrier in the form of a fine mist. The valve mechanism may be such that the spray is continuously discharged as long as the nozzle is held depressed, or it may be of the metering type in which the depression of the nozzle causes a single burst of spray. In recent years there have been marketed devices for automatically operating the nozzles of such aerosol cans at timed intervals such as one, five, fifteen or more minutes. Such automatic actuators have used slow speed electric motor units to periodically operate some form of mechanism that engages the valve nozzle or button fixed to the top of the tubular discharge stern of the valve mechanism.

The active ingredients in the sprays from such aerosol containers may be of various kinds such as an insecticide to control flying insects in homes, eating places, food stores and greenhouses, an air purifier to sanitize and deodorize the air in hospitals, food stores, restaurants and kennels, and a chemical to produce a fragrant odor such as evergreen, spice, chocolate, or hickory smoke useable in retail stores, specialty shops and food stores to aid in selling various products.

An object of the invention is the provision of an automatic spraying mechanism in which a can of pressurized active ingredient is held in a frame so that a motor driven means can periodically actuate the valve of the pressurized can.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism in which a resilient connector is employed to hold the can of pressurized ingredient in a bracket adjacent motor driven means for actuating the valve of the pressurized can.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism in which a connector cooperates with the standard form of aerosol can to suspend it from a bracket adjacent motor driven means for actuating the valve of the aerosol can.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connector for aerosol cans which includes means for cooperating with a hole in a bracket and separate means for cooperating with structure of the can.

In one aspect of the invention, a horizontal plate may be connected to a vertical plate forming a bracket adapted to be attached to a Wall. The horizontal plate may include an opening extending therethrough for the reception of a connector adapted to be attached to the top of a can containing a pressurized active ingredient.

In another aspect of the invention, the connector may comprise a semi-rigid, resilient body portion adapted to be forced through the opening in the horizontal plate, and it may have means extending radially beyond the diameter of the opening in order to support the body portion of the connector on the horizontal plate.

In another aspect of the invention, the lower portion of the body may be tubular in form and of such an outside diameter as to frictionally engage the wall of the recess provided in conventional pressurized cans. Such cans are usually constructed with a top portion that is closed by a recessed cap, the outer edge of which is spun together with the top edge of the can opening. Usually the recessed cap includes a central, upstanding, cylindrical portion providing an annular space between it and the outer wall of the recessed cap. The upstanding, cylindrical, central portion of the cap supports valve mechanism well known in the art which includes a depressible stem extending upwardly from the central portion.

In a further aspect of the invention, the lower end of the connector may include inturned means having tooth means formed on its inner edge and adapted to grip the exterior of the tubular upstanding means supporting the valve of the pressurized can.

In a still further aspect of the invention, the body member may include a two-part construction in which the lower part of the main body portion may be compressible and have a radially outwardly extending lip adapted to spring into a re-entrant angle of the cover plate of the pressurized can. A separate member may be provided having inturned means adapted to grip the central upstanding portion of the cap for the pressurized can.

In still another aspect of the invention, motorized means may be provided for periodically actuating the valve stem of the pressurized can for dispensing predetermined amounts of active ingredient.

The above, other objects and novel features of the improved pressurized can supporting and actuating means will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of apparatus embodying the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the connector shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a modified form of the invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 disclose a view of the disassembled connector of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5A is a plan view of the element shown in FIG. 5; and

FIGS. 6 to 10, inclusive, show other modified forms of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the principles of the invention are shown as applied to apparatus including bracket 10 having a vertical plate 11 on which is a lower flange 12. A horizontal plate 13 is fixed to plate 11 and it includes a hole 14 extending therethrough.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a connector 15 may comprise a body portion 16 made from spring steel or other suitable material. It is shown as tubular in form having outwardly extending tabs 17 at spaced intervals about its upper end. The tabs 17 are shown as being inclined downwardly, the lower edges of tabs 17 contacting the top surface of plate 13. The lower end of the body 16 is shown as being provided with inturned tabs 18, the facing edges of which are provided with teeth 19. Referring to FIG. 1, the tabs 18 are shown as being inclined upwardly.

A can 20 of pressurized active ingredients adapted periodically to be dispensed is shown as being cylindrical in form, with a closed bottom 21 and a truncated conical top portion 22. The top portion terminates in an edge 23 that is rolled or spun together with the outer periphery of a closure cap 24 for the can 20. The cap 24 may include a re-entrant angular portion 25 and a central upstanding housing portion 26. The housing portion 26 is adapted to contain the usual valve mechanism of such cans including a stem 27 that slidingly extends outwardly from the top of housing 26.

The construction and arrangement of the parts are such that upon forcing the connector through the hole 14 in plate 13, the tabs 17 engage plate 13, and the walls of connector 15 frictionally engage the wall of hole 14. Then, forcing the central housing 26 of can upward through the space between tabs 18 causes the teeth 19 thereof to dig into and grip the central housing 26 to securely hold can 20 to plate 13.

In order periodically to actuate valve stem 27, a motorized means 28 may be provided. It is shown schematically and may be mounted on plates 13, 11, or in any other suitable manner. It may comprise a motor 29 that is connected by a one-revolution clutch 30 to a cam shaft 31. A cam 32 may be fixed to shaft 31 so that it acts on valve stem 27 to dispense a predetermined amount of the contents of can 20 each time it makes a revolution. By means well known in the art, the motor can be periodically energized to cause a single revolution of cam 32 to dispense a'charge of active ingredient from can 20.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a two-part connector 33 is shown. It includes a main body 34 having a truncated conical portion 35 with spaced V-notched 36 to provide resilience thereof. The main body also includes a portion 37 having an outside diameter less than that of the base of the truncated conical portion 35, thereby providing a surface 38 adapted to contact the top of plate 13 when attached to said plate.

The bottom of main body 34 includes an outwardly extending lip 39 and a recessed portion 40 for a purpose to be described later. Notches 41 are provided in spaced relation about the bottom peripheral edge of body 34. A separate element 42 is provided, and it includes a tubular portion 43 adapted frictionally to be pressed into the portion 37. Portion 43 includes a flange 44 that seats against the shoulder formed by recess 40 in main body 34. The element 42 includes a bottom 45 (FIG. 5A) having a hole 46 centrally thereof. Slots 47 are provided in bottom 45 so that a certain degree of flexibility is inherent in the arms formed by slots 47. With element 42 inserted in the main body member 34, the assembly may be forced through hole 14 in plate 13, and the can 20 may be forced upwardly over the lip 39 while at the same time the arms formed by slots 47 in bottom 45 grip the central upstanding housing 26 of can 20.

Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, a connector 48 includes a tubular portion 49 having axially extending slots 50 spaced about its lower end. The portion including slots 50 is formed so as to produce a resilient lip 51. A series of spaced holes 52 about the upper portion of the connector 48 has a wire 53 threaded therethrough, providing a ledge that rests on the top of plate 13 when the connector is forced through the hole 14 therein. When can 20 is forced upwardly into contact with the connector 48, the lip 51 contracts and then expands into the re-entrant' angular portion 25 of the cap 24 of can 20. In this embodiment, the holding of can 20 is effected by the .lip 51 and by-entrant angular portion 25 rather than by means gripping the central upstanding housing 26 of cap Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a connector 54 includes a tubular portion 55 having slots 56 in its lower portion and formed to provide a lip 57 similarly as connector 48 is formed. The upper end of tubular portion 55 includes a flange 58 that may be attached to plate 13 by rivets 59 or the like. This embodiment is permanently attached to plate 13, and the application of can 20 to the connector 54 is identical to that of connector 48.

Although the various features of the improved mechanism have been shown and described in detail to fully disclose several embodiments of the invention, it will be evident that changes may be made in such details and certain features may be used without others without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an aerosol container having a cupshaped top including a re-entrant angular portion forming an annular shoulder, said cup-shaped top having an upstanding protuberance at substantially the center thereof which latter communicates with the interior of said eon- .tainer; valve actuating means in said protuberance; a horizontal bracket having a hole therethrough; a connector for attaching said container to said horizontal bracket, said connector having a tubular body portion; outwardly directed tab means at the top of said body portion extending beyond the diameter of said hole; and inwardly directed tab means at the bottom of said body portion adapted to engage said protuberance, said inwardly directed tab means including tooth means thereon at their inner surface for gripping said upstanding protuberance.

2. In combination, a aerosol container having a cupshaped top including a re-entrant angular portion forming an annular shoulder, said cup-shaped top having an upstanding protuberance at substantially the center thereof which latter communicates with the interior of said container; valve actuating means in said protuberance; a horizontal bracket having a hole therethrough; a connector for attaching said container to said horizontal bracket, said connector having a two-part construction including a main body portion including flange means at its top extending outwardly beyond the diameter of the hole in said horizontal bracket, and an outwardly extending shoulder near the bottom of said main body portion adapted to fit within said re-entrant angular portion; a tubular element adapted frictionally to be held within the tubular main body portion, said last mentioned element including inturned tab means adapted to grip said protuberance; and periodically operated means for actuating said valve actuating means.

3. In combination, an aerosol container having a cup-shaped top including a re-entrant angular portion forming an annular shoulder, said cup shaped top having an upstanding protuberance at substantially the center thereof which latter communicates with the interior of said container; valve actuating means in said protuberance; a horizontal bracket having a hole therethrough; a connector for attaching said container to said horizontal bracket, said connector having a tubular body portion of a diameter adapted to pass through the hole in said bracket; axially extending slots spaced about the periphery of the bottom of said body portion, said bottom portion being compressed axially, forming a resilient shoulder portion adapted to mate with said reentrant angular portion; spaced holes about the periphery of said body portion near the top thereof; and wire means threaded through said spaced holes providing means adapted to rest on the top of said horizontal bracket.

4. In combination, an aerosol container having a cupshaped top including a re-entrant angular portion forming an annular shoulder, said cup-shaped top having an upstanding protuberance at substantially the center. thereof which latter communicates with the interior of said container; valve actuating means in said protuberance; a horizontal bracket having a hole therethrough; a connector for attaching said container to said horizontal bracket, said connector having a tubular body portion of a diameter adapted to pass through the hole in said bracket; axially extending slots spaced about the periphery of the bottom of said body portion, said bottom portion being compressed axially, forming a resilient shoulder portion adapted to mate with said re-entrant angular portion; spaced holes about the periphery of said body portion near the top thereof; wire means threaded through said spaced holes providing means adapted to rest on the top of said horizontal bracket; and periodically operated means for actuating said valve actuating means.

5. A connector for an aerosol can and the like comprising in combination, a tubular body portion; axially extending slots spaced about the periphery of the bottom of said body portion, said body portion being compressed axially, forming a resilient outwardly extending shoulder portion; spaced holes about the periphery of said body portion near the top (thereof; and wire means threaded through said spaced holes.

6. In combination, an aerosol container having a cupshaped top including a re-entrant angular portion forming an annular shoulder, said cup-shaped top having an upstanding protuberance at substantially the center thereof which latter communicates with the interior of said container; valve actuating means in said protuberance; a horizontal bracket having a hole ltherethrough; a connector for attaching said container to said horizontal bracket, said connector having a tubular body portion of a diameter adapted to pass through the hole in said bracket; axially extending slots spaced about the periphery of the bottom of said body portion, said bottom portion being compressed axially, forming a resilient shoulder portion adapted to mate with said re-entrant angular portion; a flange about the periphery of said body portion near the top thereof; and periodically operated means for actuating said valve actuating means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,664,566 4/1928 Marchall 8580 2,458,409 1/1949 Paige 8536 2,514,504 7/1950 Moline 285-162 2,615,759 10/1952 Becker 8536 X 2,971,382 2/1961 Harris 239- X 2,982,989 5/1961 Heyer 36 X 3,036,793 5/1962 Becker 8536 X 3,056,852 10/1962 Sachs 8573 X FOREIGN PATENTS 931,342 8/1955 Germany.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES R. CARTER, Examiner.

Claims

1. IN COMBINATION, AN AEROSOL CONTAINER HAVING A CUPSHAPED TOP INCLUDING A RE-ENTRANT ANGULAR PORTION FORMING AN ANNULAR SHOULDER, SAID CUP-SHAPED TOP HAVING AN UPSTANDING PROTUBERANCE AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE CENTER THEREOF WHICH LATTER COMMUNICATES WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID CONTAINER; VALVE ACTUATING MEANS IN SAID PROTUBERANCE; A HORIZONTAL BRACKET HAVING A HOLE THERETHROUGH; A CONNECTOR FOR ATTACHING SAID CONTAINER TO SAID HORIZONTAL BRACKET, SAID CONNECTOR HAVING A TUBULAR BODY PORTION; OUTWARDLY DIRECTED BEYOND THE DIAMETER OF SAID BODY PORTION EXTENDING BEYOND THE DIAMETER OF SAID HOLE; AND INWARDLY DIRECTED TAB MEANS AT THE BOTTOM OF SAID BODY PORTION ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID PROTUBERANCE, SAID INWARDLY DIRECTED TAB MEANS INCLUDING TOOTH MEANS THEREON AT THEIR INNER SURFACE FOR GRIPPING SAID UPSTANDING PROTUBERANCE.