Spray canister

• US 20040028458A1
• Filed: 03/07/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Frosh, Tracey A., Fahy, Cathal L., Linstedt, Brian K., Zach, Steven A., Aberegg, Dale, Heathcock, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,866,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/190
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 21/043 by chemicals
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/00 Special adaptations or arrangements of liquid-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0046 Hand-operated sprayers apparatus to be carried on or by a person B05B9/08
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/22 with liquid-feeding devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/203 comprising an extension rod located between the aerosol container and the hand grip setting-out line markings on playing courts A63C19/065; marking-out on finished paving by spraying from aerosol containers E01C23/227

Abstract

A trigger-actuated cleaning device dispenses an aerosol cleaning agent from a pressurized canister. The canister has a female valve assembly. In one form an over cap fits onto the canister over the valve and has a male stem on a pivotable part of the over cap that opens the valve when moved by a rod linked to a remote trigger. The stem is either formed integrally with the over cap or is removably attached to a stem socket formed in the over cap. In another form the actuator is a button having a stem that fits in the female valve.

Claims

1. An aerosol canister assembly for delivering a chemical from an interior cavity of a canister to a desired location, the assembly comprising:

a canister suitable for holding a chemical mixed with a pressurized propellant gas, the canister having a valve with an upwardly open female cavity, the valve being suitable for controlling the delivery of the chemical from the canister to the outside of the canister when the chemical is positioned in the canister with the propellant gas; and

an over cap positionable on the canister over the valve, the over cap having a nozzle opening and being linked to a valve stem;

wherein the valve stem is insertable into the female cavity by axial relative movement there between, the valve stem defining a pathway for expelling the chemical in the canister from the nozzle opening when the valve is opened by the valve stem if the chemical is positioned in the canister with the propellant gas.

2. The aerosol canister assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve stem is an integral part of the over cap.

3. The aerosol canister assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve stem is removably connected to the over cap.

4. The aerosol canister assembly of claim 3, wherein the over cap has a stem socket in communication with the nozzle opening, the stem socket being sized to receive the valve stem.

5. The aerosol canister assembly of claim 4, wherein the stem socket opens to an interior defined by a cylindrical wall extending to one side of a top wall of the over cap.

6. The aerosol canister assembly of claim 1, wherein the over cap has a radially peripheral wall to which is hinged a lever arm suitable for mounting the valve stem for displacement of the valve.

7. The aerosol canister assembly of claim 6, wherein the lever arm includes the nozzle opening and defines a stem socket sized to receive the valve stem.

8. A cleaning device, comprising:

a cleaning head;

a housing connected to the cleaning head for retaining a spray canister;

a shaft connected to the housing at one end and mounting a handle at an opposite end, the handle having a trigger;

an aerosol canister assembly for delivering a chemical from an interior cavity of a canister to a desired location adjacent the cleaning head, the assembly comprising;

a canister suitable for holding a chemical mixed with a pressurized propellant gas, the canister having a valve with an axially open female cavity, the valve being suitable for controlling the delivery of the chemical from the canister to the outside of the canister when the chemical is positioned in the canister with the propellant gas; and

an actuator positionable on the canister adjacent the valve, the actuator having a nozzle opening and being linked to a valve stem;

wherein the valve stem is insertable into the female cavity by axial relative movement there between, the valve stem defining a pathway for expelling the chemical in the canister from the nozzle opening when the valve is opened by the valve stem if the chemical is positioned in the canister with the propellant gas; and

an initiator assembly causing movement of the trigger to move a portion of the actuator when the chemical is to be dispensed.

9. The cleaning device of claim 8:

wherein the shaft is hollow and the initiator assembly includes a core slidable in the shaft and a rod disposed in the housing in contact with a pivot link pivotally attached to the housing and coupled to the slidable core; and

wherein the trigger is actuated to slide the slidable core which in turn pivots the pivot link and brings the rod into contact with the actuator.

10. The cleaning device of claim 9, wherein the rod and the slidable core move in substantially opposite directions.

11. The cleaning device of claim 8, wherein the housing includes an alignment protrusion and the actuator is in the form of an over cap having a top wall defining a recess sized to receive the alignment protrusion such that the over cap is received in the housing in a correct orientation.

12. The cleaning device of claim 8, wherein the valve stem defines a passageway in communication with a spray nozzle adapted to provide a fan-shaped spray.

13. The cleaning device of claim 8, wherein the actuator is in the form of a button having a valve stem integrally formed therewith.

14. The cleaning device of claim 8, wherein the actuator is in the form of a button, and the valve stem is removably connected to the button.