Compact spray device

• US 20070199952A1
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Sipinski, Gene, Westphal, Nathan, Kubicek, Chris, Nelson, Cory, Michaels, Kenneth, Furner, Paul, Gasper, Thomas, Short, Michael, Lemon, Leon, Madsen, Brent, Carpenter, M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,061,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1053 combined with means, other than pressure, for automatically opening a valve during actuation; combined with means for automatically removing closures or covers from the discharge nozzle during actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/02 for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/122 responsive to presence or shape of target B05B12/124 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/262 by clockwork, motor, electric or magnetic means operating without repeated human input
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/267 by a separate device actuated by repeated, e.g. human, input, e.g. by a moving wing of a door or window, a ringing doorbell, a flushing toilet

Abstract

An automatic discharge device includes a housing having a top portion and a base portion, wherein surfaces defining a recess are provided therebetween for securely holding a container. At least one gear is disposed substantially between the recess and a rear panel of the housing. A drive motor is in association with the at least one gear. An actuator arm is also provided. Activation of the drive motor and the at least one gear provides for movement of the actuator arm between at least one of a pre-actuation position and a discharge position along a path that has a directional component parallel to a longitudinal axis of the recess.

Claims

1. An automatic discharge device, comprising:

a housing having a top portion and a base portion, wherein surfaces defining a recess are provided therebetween for securely holding a container;

at least one gear disposed substantially between the recess and a rear panel of the housing, wherein a drive motor is in association with the at least one gear; and

an actuator arm,

wherein activation of the drive motor and the at least one gear provides for movement of the actuator arm between at least one of a pre-actuation position and a discharge position along a path that has a directional component parallel to a longitudinal axis of the recess.

2. The automatic discharge device of claim 1, wherein the actuator arm further moves along a path substantially parallel to an axial length of the container upon activation of the drive motor.

3. The automatic discharge device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a pivotally mounted cover.

4. The automatic discharge device of claim 3, wherein a manual switch disposed on the housing is actuable through an orifice of the cover.

5. The automatic discharge device of claim 1, wherein the drive motor is activated in response to a signal from at least one of a timer, a sensor, and a manual switch.

6. The automatic discharge device of claim 1, wherein the drive motor is a two-way drive motor.

7. The automatic discharge device of claim 6, wherein activation of the two-way drive motor in one direction provides for movement of the actuator arm to the pre-actuation position and activation of the two-way motor in a second direction provides for movement of the actuator arm into the discharge position.

8. An automatic dispenser, comprising:

a housing having a seat adapted to retain a container therein;

a drive motor disposed within a bottom portion of the housing; and

an actuator arm having an engagement member,

wherein the engagement member prevents the emission of fluid from a uniformly cylindrical valve stem having a circular discharge orifice and allows the emission of fluid from a valve stem having a non-circular discharge orifice.

9. The automatic dispenser of claim 8, wherein the engagement member depends from the actuator arm, and wherein the engagement member is adapted to be forced downwardly to engage a valve stem of a container.

10. The automatic dispenser of claim 8, wherein the engagement member is a cylindrical member having a tapered end defining a sealing surface.

11. A method of operating a dispensing unit, comprising:

providing a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having a container disposed therein;

providing a sleep period interval between a spray operation and activation of a motion sensor; and

activating a motion sensor disposed on the dispensing unit after completion of the sleep period interval to detect motion within a sensory path of the sensor,

wherein the motion sensor remains activated until same detects motion, whereupon a fluid is automatically discharged from the container, the sleep period interval is reset, and the motion sensor is deactivated.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the sleep period interval is selectable by a user.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the dispensing unit includes a manual activation switch.

14. The method of claim 11 further including the step of manually activating the dispensing unit during the sleep period interval.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein when the dispensing unit is manually activated the sleep period interval is reset.

16. The method of claim 11 further including the step of providing a startup delay period.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein fluid is discharged from the container upon completion of the startup delay period.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the sleep period interval is provided upon completion of the startup delay period.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the sleep period interval is about thirty minutes.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the motion sensor is a photocell.

21. An automatic actuator device, comprising:

a housing adapted to retain a container therein;

a drive motor disposed within the housing; and

an actuator arm coupled to the drive motor, wherein a cylindrical engagement member having a tapered end depends from the actuator arm,

wherein activation of the drive motor provides for movement of the actuator arm between at least one of a pre-actuation position and a discharge position, and

wherein the tapered end of the engagement member is adapted to prevent the emission of fluid from a uniformly cylindrical valve stem when in the discharge position and allow the emission of fluid from a valve stem having at least one side opening therethrough.

22. The automatic actuator device of claim 21, wherein a container is retained in the housing, and wherein the container includes a valve stem having at least one side opening therethrough.

23. The automatic actuator device of claim 22, wherein the valve stem has a generally circular discharge orifice.