PROGRAMMABLE AEROSOL DISPENSER

• US 20090294471A1
• Filed: 05/28/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: K-G Spray-Pak, Inc. (PLZ Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: K-G Packaging Inc.
• Inventors: PAIGE, Lee
• Application Number:
  US12/473,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20090294471A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/22 Phase substances, e.g. smokes, aerosols or sprayed or atomised substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/026 acting at a number of different times
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/006 for operating at a number of different times cigar or cigarette receptacles or boxes with means for limiting the frequency of smoking A24F15/005

Abstract

Disclosed is an aerosol dispensing for dispensing a metered amount of an aerosol for dispersion in an area of use unit having a main body. The aerosol dispensing unit according to the present invention includes a reservoir within the main body for holding an aerosol, an outlet in fluid communication with the reservoir and arranged to dispense a metered amount of the aerosol upon activation of a trigger device, and an audio output system adapted to play a sound in response to the activation of said trigger device. The aerosol is preferably one of a deodorizing agent and a disinfectant. The trigger device is adapted to be activated either by a sensor used to detect a person within a given area, and activate the trigger device upon detection of the person, or alternatively, a timer is operatively connected to the trigger device to dispense the metered amount of aerosol and play the sound at timed intervals.

Claims

1. An aerosol dispensing unit for dispensing a metered amount of an aerosol for dispersion in an area of use, said aerosol dispensing unit comprising:

i. a main body,

ii. a reservoir within said main body for holding an aerosol,

iii. an outlet in fluid communication with said reservoir and arranged to dispense a metered amount of the aerosol upon activation of a trigger device.

iv. an audio output system integrated with said main body and adapted to play a sound.

2. An aerosol dispensing unit according to claim 1, wherein said audio output system is adapted to play said sound in response to the activation of said trigger device.

3. An aerosol dispensing unit according to claim 1, wherein said audio output system is adapted to play said sound at pre-determined timed intervals.

4. An aerosol dispensing unit according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor to detect a person, and wherein said trigger device is activated upon detection of said person.

5. An aerosol dispensing unit according to claim 1, comprising a timer operatively connected to said trigger device to dispense said metered amount of said aerosol and play said sound at timed intervals.

6. An aerosol dispensing unit according to 1, further comprising a memory unit for storing at least one audio message, and wherein said sound is selected from said at least one audio message.

7. An aerosol dispensing unit according to claim 6, further comprising a programming device in communication with said memory unit for programming the selection of said sound from said at least one audio message on said memory unit.

8. An aerosol dispensing unit according to claim 7, wherein said at least one audio message comprises a plurality of audio messages, and said programming device is programmed to select said sound from said plurality of audio messages each time said trigger device is activated.

9. An aerosol dispensing unit according to claim 8, wherein said sound is selected based on a random selection, a sequential selection, a pre-determined ordered selection, a timed selection, or some combination thereof, of said plurality of audio messages.

10. An aerosol dispensing unit according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of audio messages comprises one or more of an advertisement, a sanitary-related reminder message, a safety reminder message, an informative message, or a combination thereof.

11. An aerosol dispensing unit according to claim 7, further comprising a recording device integrated with said main body, and operatively connected to said memory unit, for recording said at least one audio message.

12. An aerosol dispensing unit according to claim 1, wherein said aerosol is one of a deodorizing agent and a disinfectant.

13. An aerosol dispensing unit according to claim 6, further comprising a wireless communication device for receiving said at least one audio message.

14. An aerosol dispensing unit according to claim 13, wherein said at least one audio recording is broadcast live to said wireless communication device and played via said audio output system.

15. An aerosol dispensing unit according to claim 7, further comprising an interface for connecting said programming device to a computer.

16. An aerosol dispensing unit according to claim 7, comprising a spray counter, in communication with said reservoir and said programming device, for counting the number of times the trigger device has been activated;

said programming device adapted to determine the amount of aerosol remaining in said reservoir based on the number of times the trigger device has been activated; and

said programming device is programmed to indicate a low level of aerosol remaining by one of a visual indicator and an audio message.

17. An aerosol dispensing unit according to claim 13, wherein said at least one audio message received by said wireless communication device comprises one of an advertisement, a news broadcast and a radio station feed.

18. An aerosol dispensing unit according to claim 4, further comprising a programming device in communication with said sensor, said audio output system, and said trigger device, said programming device adapted to:

(a) determine the presence of a person in an area from the sensor detection,

(b) activate said trigger device for a pre-determined time.

(c) initiate said sound playing from said audio output system.

19. An aerosol dispensing unit according to claim 18, wherein said programming device is further adapted to:

(d) produce a delay prior to determining the presence of another person,

20. An aerosol dispensing unit according to claim 18, wherein said programming device is further adapted to:

(d) determine the absence of said person from said area.

(e) stop said sound playing from said audio system,

(f) determine the presence of a subsequent person in said area,

(g) activate said trigger device,

(h) initiate said sound playing from said audio output system.

(i) repeat steps (e) to (i).