Valve actuating apparatuses and methods associated therewith
First Claim
1. A combination, comprising:
- a container of product having a longitudinal dimension and a valve oriented to discharge product generally longitudinally from the container;
a housing including a first wall portion enclosing a main body of the container and a second tapered wall portion adjacent the first wall portion tapering to a discharge opening wherein the discharge opening has a cross sectional size larger than a radius of the container; and
valve actuating apparatus extending laterally from the valve and having an interfering relationship with the first wall portion wherein relative movement of the container toward the discharge opening causes the valve actuating apparatus to be displaced against the first wall portion to actuate the valve and dispense product from the housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A combination includes a container of product having a longitudinal dimension and a valve oriented to discharge product generally longitudinally from the container. A housing includes a first wall portion enclosing a main body of the container and a second tapered wall portion adjacent the first wall portion tapering to a discharge opening. The discharge opening has a cross sectional size larger than a radius of the container. Valve actuating apparatus extends laterally from the valve and has an interfering relationship with the first wall portion. Relative movement of the container toward the discharge opening causes the valve actuating apparatus to be displaced against the first wall portion to actuate the valve and dispense product from the housing.
68 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A combination, comprising:
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a container of product having a longitudinal dimension and a valve oriented to discharge product generally longitudinally from the container;
a housing including a first wall portion enclosing a main body of the container and a second tapered wall portion adjacent the first wall portion tapering to a discharge opening wherein the discharge opening has a cross sectional size larger than a radius of the container; and
valve actuating apparatus extending laterally from the valve and having an interfering relationship with the first wall portion wherein relative movement of the container toward the discharge opening causes the valve actuating apparatus to be displaced against the first wall portion to actuate the valve and dispense product from the housing.
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2. A combination, comprising:
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a container of product having a longitudinal dimension and a valve oriented to discharge product generally longitudinally from the container;
a housing including a first wall portion enclosing a main body of the container and a second tapered wall portion adjacent the first wall portion tapering to a discharge opening wherein the discharge opening has a cross sectional size larger than a radius of the container; and
an adapter fitted to the housing wherein relative movement of the container toward the discharge opening causes a surface of the adapter to contact valve actuating apparatus of the container to actuate the valve and dispense product from the housing. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. A method of dispensing, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a container of product and valve actuating apparatus wherein the container has a longitudinal dimension and has a valve oriented to discharge product generally longitudinally from the container;
selecting a housing having a first wall portion enclosing a main body of the container and a second tapered wall portion adjacent the first wall portion wherein the second wall portion tapers to a discharge opening and wherein the discharge opening has a cross sectional size larger than a radius of the container;
placing the container within the housing wherein the valve actuating apparatus extends laterally from the valve and has an interfering relationship with the first wall portion; and
providing a relative movement of the container toward the discharge opening such that the valve actuating apparatus is displaced against the first wall portion to actuate the valve and dispense product from the housing. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of dispensing, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a container of product having a longitudinal dimension and having a valve oriented to discharge product generally longitudinally from the container;
selecting a housing having a first wall portion enclosing a main body of the container and a second tapered wall portion adjacent the first wall portion wherein the second wall portion tapers to a discharge opening and wherein the discharge opening has a cross sectional size larger than a radius of the container;
fitting an adapter to the housing; and
providing a relative movement of the container toward the discharge opening such that valve actuating apparatus of the container engages a surface of the adapter to actuate the valve and dispense product from the housing. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of providing apparatus to an end user, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a valve actuating adapter;
causing the valve actuating adapter to be delivered to the end user;
identifying the valve actuating adapter as fittable to a housing having a first wall portion that encloses a main body of the container and a second tapered wall portion adjacent the first wall portion wherein the second wall portion tapers to a discharge opening having a cross sectional size larger than a radius of the container. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of providing apparatus to an end user, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a container of product having a longitudinal dimension and valve actuating apparatus extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal dimension and terminating at an outer peripheral surface;
causing the container to be delivered to the end user; and
identifying the container and the valve actuating apparatus as suitable for placement within a housing that has a first wall portion that encloses a main body of the container and a second tapered wall portion adjacent the first wall portion that tapers to a discharge opening wherein the discharge opening has a cross sectional size larger than a radius of the container wherein product can be dispensed by moving the container and the housing relative to each other in a direction along the longitudinal dimension to displace the valve actuating apparatus against a surface of the first wall portion. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification