Compact spray device
First Claim
1. An automatic discharge device, comprising:
- a housing adapted to receive a container therein;
an actuator arm attached to the housing and movable between first and second positions, wherein the actuator arm includes a dispensing bore therein; and
a drive unit for automatically moving the actuator arm into one of the first and second positions in response to a signal from at least one of a timer, a sensor, and a manual switch, wherein the actuator arm is adapted to engage and actuate a nozzle of the container in the first position and allow a fluid disposed in an interior of the container to be dispensed through the nozzle and the dispensing bore of the actuator arm.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic discharge device comprises a housing adapted to receive a container therein. An actuator arm is attached to the housing and movable between first and second positions. The actuator arm includes a dispensing bore therein. A drive unit is provided for automatically moving the actuator arm into one of the first and second positions in response to a signal from at least one of a timer, a sensor, and a manual switch. The actuator arm is adapted to engage and actuate a nozzle of the container in the first position and allow a fluid disposed in an interior of the container to be dispensed through the nozzle and the dispensing bore of the actuator arm.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An automatic discharge device, comprising:
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a housing adapted to receive a container therein;
an actuator arm attached to the housing and movable between first and second positions, wherein the actuator arm includes a dispensing bore therein; and
a drive unit for automatically moving the actuator arm into one of the first and second positions in response to a signal from at least one of a timer, a sensor, and a manual switch, wherein the actuator arm is adapted to engage and actuate a nozzle of the container in the first position and allow a fluid disposed in an interior of the container to be dispensed through the nozzle and the dispensing bore of the actuator arm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An automatic dispenser, comprising:
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a housing having a seat adapted to securely retain a container therein;
a drive motor disposed within a bottom portion of the housing;
a reduction gear train in association with the drive motor being disposed substantially between the seat and a rear side of the housing; and
an actuator arm, wherein activation of the drive motor and the associated gear train provides for movement of the actuator arm between at least one of a pre-actuation position and a discharge position adjacent the top portion of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method of discharging a fluid from an automatic discharge device, comprising:
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securing an aerosol container having a fluid and a nozzle disposed thereon within a seat of a housing of an automatic discharge device having an actuator arm that includes a main portion thereof extending substantially adjacent an axial length of the container and an overhang portion extending over and adjacent to the nozzle; and
pulling the main portion of the actuator arm along a path substantially parallel to the axial length of the container to actuate the nozzle thereof by the overhang portion, thereby discharging the fluid from the nozzle and through a dispensing bore of the actuator arm. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of operating a dispensing unit, comprising:
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providing a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having an aerosol container disposed therein and an actuator arm;
activating the dispensing unit in response to a minimum threshold of light being sensed by a light sensor;
selecting a sleep period interval between spray operations;
moving the actuator arm after completion of a startup delay period from a pre-actuation position to a discharge position along a path substantially parallel to an axial length of the container to actuate a nozzle of the container to discharge a fluid from the container; and
alternating automatically between the sleep period having a duration commensurate with the selected sleep period interval and a discharge period during which the fluid is dispensed from the container. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of operating a dispensing unit, comprising:
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providing a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having an aerosol container disposed therein;
selecting a sleep period interval between spray operations; and
activating a motion sensor disposed on the dispensing unit to detect motion within a sensory path of the sensor after completion of the sleep period interval, wherein after completion of the sleep period interval if no motion is detected by the motion sensor a fluid is automatically discharged from the aerosol container and the sleep interval is reset, and wherein after completion of the sleep period interval if motion is detected by the motion sensor a delay time interval is initiated and fluid is not discharged from the aerosol container, and the dispensing unit alternates between activating the sensor to detect motion and resetting the delay time interval until no motion is detected by the motion sensor at the expiration of the delay time interval, which results in the automatic discharge of fluid from the aerosol container and a resetting of the sleep period interval. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification