Overcap and system for spraying a fluid

• US 20090045219A1
• Filed: 08/16/2007
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Helf, Thomas A., Paas, Edward L., Furner, Paul E., Madsen, Brent D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,244 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 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: B65D 83/262 by clockwork, motor, electric or magnetic means operating without repeated human input
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/46 Tilt valves B65D83/50 takes precedence

Abstract

A volatile material dispenser includes a housing adapted to be releasably mounted on a container having a tilt-activated valve stem. The housing includes a discharge orifice. A drive unit is disposed within the housing, wherein the drive unit is activated in response to a signal from at least a sensor, and wherein the drive unit is adapted to radially displace the tilt-activated valve stem in response to the signal.

Claims

1. A volatile material dispenser, comprising:

a housing adapted to be releasably mounted on a container having a tilt-activated valve stem, wherein the housing includes a discharge orifice; and

a drive unit disposed within the housing, wherein the drive unit is activated in response to a signal from at least a sensor, and wherein the drive unit is adapted to radially displace the tilt-activated valve stem by an actuating cam in response to the signal.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 further including a container having a tilt-activated valve stem.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 further including a control circuit that is adapted to activate the drive unit in response to a signal from at least a sensor.

4. The dispenser of claim 3 further including a timer to generate the signal.

5. The dispenser of claim 4 further including a switch assembly that provides one or more operating modes for the timer.

6. The dispenser of claim 3 further including a manual pushbutton to generate the signal.

7. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a motion sensor.

8. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a vibration sensor.

9. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an odor sensor.

10. An overcap for a volatile material container, comprising:

a housing adapted to be releasably mounted on a container having a tilt-activated valve stem;

a displacement member disposed within the housing, wherein a first end of the displacement member is adapted to be disposed on the tilt-activated valve stem and a second end is in fluid communication with the first end, and wherein a flange extends radially from the displacement member; and

a drive unit disposed within the housing, wherein the drive unit includes a camming member adapted to impinge the flange of the displacement member and radially displace the displacement member in response to an activation signal.

11. The overcap of claim 10 further including a container having a tilt-activated valve stem.

12. The overcap of claim 11, wherein the radial displacement of the displacement member causes the radial displacement of the tilt-activated valve stem.

13. The overcap of claim 10 further including a discharge orifice within the housing, wherein the discharge orifice is in fluid communication with the second end of the displacement member.

14. The overcap of claim 10, wherein the displacement member is substantially cylindrical.

15. A volatile material dispensing system, comprising:

a housing adapted to releasably hold a container having a tilt-activated valve stem, wherein the housing is further adapted to retain a body of the container in a substantially stationary manner; and

a drive motor disposed within the housing, wherein the drive motor is in mechanical communication with a cam that is adapted to radially displace the tilt-activated valve stem in response to a signal from at least a sensor.

16. The dispensing system of claim 15 further including a container having a tilt-activated valve stem.

17. The dispensing system of claim 16 further including a displacement member disposed on the tilt-activated valve stem that is adapted to be impinged by the cam.

18. The dispensing system of claim 17, wherein the displacement member includes a flange adapted to be impinged by the cam.

19. The dispensing system of claim 15, wherein the housing comprises a base portion and a removable cap mounted thereon.

20. The dispensing system of claim 19, wherein the removable cap includes a discharge orifice.