Actuator cap and product refill for a housing

• US 20060118578A1
• Filed: 12/08/2004
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Mineau, Steven B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,308,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/182
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/205 Actuator caps, or peripheral actuator skirts, attachable to the aerosol container

Abstract

A product refill for a housing includes an actuator cap and a container of product. The actuator cap includes a base portion having a mounting end, a central actuator member having a substantially axially oriented discharge orifice, and an axially movable actuator cap portion flexibly connected to the base portion. First and second unshielded outer contact surfaces of the movable portion are separated by an arcuate distance of at least about 90 degrees wherein pressure applied to both of the surfaces axially displaces the surfaces and thus the movable portion toward the mounting end in a generally non-tilting manner thereby displacing the actuator member to an actuating position thereof. A length between at least one of the outer contact surfaces and a centerline of the cap is greater than about one-quarter a largest lateral dimension across the product refill.

Claims

1. A product refill for a housing, comprising:

an actuator cap including,

a base portion having a mounting end;

a central actuator member having a substantially axially oriented discharge orifice;

an axially movable actuator cap portion flexibly connected to the base portion; and

first and second unshielded outer contact surfaces of the movable portion separated by an arcuate distance of at least about 90 degrees wherein pressure applied to both of the surfaces axially displaces the surfaces and thus the movable portion toward the mounting end in a generally non-tilting manner thereby displacing the actuator member to an actuating position thereof; and

a container of product;

wherein a length between at least one of the outer contact surfaces and a centerline of the cap is greater than about one-quarter a largest lateral dimension across the product refill.

2. The product refill of claim 1, wherein the movable actuator cap portion is connected to the base portion at first and second flexure points separated by an arcuate distance of at least about 90 degrees.

3. The product refill of claim 2, wherein the portions are connected by a circumferential flexure member.

4. The product refill of claim 1, wherein product discharges from the container when the actuator member is displaced to the actuating position thereof.

5. The product refill of claim 4, in combination with a housing having a housing wall that tapers to a discharge opening and wherein the discharge opening has a cross sectional size larger than a radius of the container and wherein the contact surfaces are disposed in interfering relationship with the housing wall.

6. The product refill of claim 4, wherein the length is greater than one-quarter a diameter of the container.

7. The product refill of claim 1, wherein the length is about one-third a diameter of the cap.

8. The product refill of claim 6, wherein the length is about one-third a diameter of the container.

9. The product refill of claim 1, wherein the cap tapers from the mounting end to a second end axially opposite the mounting end.

10. The product refill of claim 1, wherein the central actuator member is integral with the movable cap portion.

11. The product refill of claim 1, in combination with a housing and further comprising means for orienting the product refill in a particular angular orientation when placed into the housing.

12. The product refill of claim 1, further comprising a positioning key.

13. The product refill of claim 1, wherein the positioning key comprises a positioning rib extending from the product refill.

14. The product refill of claim 1, wherein the contact surfaces are tapered.

15. An actuator cap for a container of product, comprising:

a circumferential base portion having a mounting end;

a circumferential movable actuator cap portion;

exterior contact surfaces of the movable portion separated by an arcuate distance of at least about 90 degrees;

a spring member connecting the portions wherein the movable portion is deflectable relative to the base portion and wherein pressure applied to the surfaces axially displaces the surfaces and thus the movable portion toward the mounting end; and

a central actuator member having a substantially axially oriented discharge orifice wherein deflection of the movable portion displaces the actuator member to an actuating position thereof;

wherein a dimension between at least one of the contact surfaces and an axial centerline of the cap is greater than about one-quarter a largest diameter of the cap.

16. The actuator cap of claim 15, wherein the surfaces are separated by an arcuate distance of about 180 degrees.

17. The actuator cap of claim 15, in combination with a container of product.

18. The actuator cap of claim 15, wherein the dimension is at least about one-third the largest diameter.

19. A product refill for a housing, comprising:

an actuator cap having,

a base portion having a mounting end;

a central actuator member having a discharge orifice oriented at an angle to an axial centerline of the cap wherein the angle is less than 90 degrees;

an axially movable actuator cap portion flexibly connected to the base portion;

an unshielded outer contact surface of the movable portion wherein displacement of the contact surface and thus the movable portion displaces the actuator member to an actuating position thereof; and

a container of product;

wherein a length between the outer contact surface and the axial centerline of the cap is greater than about one-quarter a largest lateral dimension across the product refill.

20. The product refill of claim 19, wherein the largest lateral dimension of the product refill is a largest diameter of the product refill.

21. The product refill of claim 19, wherein the cap includes first and second outer contact surfaces separated by an arcuate distance of at least about 90 degrees wherein pressure applied to the surfaces axially displaces the surfaces and thus the movable portion toward the mounting end in a generally non-tilting manner.

22. The product refill of claim 19, in combination with a housing and further comprising means for orienting the product refill in a particular angular orientation when placed into the housing.

23. The product refill of claim 19, further comprising a positioning key radially aligned with the discharge orifice.

24. The product refill of claim 23, wherein the positioning key comprises a positioning rib extending from the product refill.