Actuator cap for radially locating a can in a holding device

• US 6,742,717 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2002
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Fahy, Cathal L., Aberegg, Dale, Zach, Steven A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ganey, Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US10/207,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20030052195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 239/288.5, 239/337, 239/578, 239/532, 239/1, 222/402.1, 222/402.13, 222/402.15, 222/174
• US Class Current: 239/1
• 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

Abstract

An actuator cap for use in radially locating a pressurized can in a sprayer device having a cradle for receiving the can. The actuator cap has a recess that engages an engagement land of the cradle and an actuator arm that is so located as to be movable by an actuation pin located in the engagement land. By such movement, the can'"'"'s valve can be activated and its contents released. A method is also disclosed for activating a pressurized, axially extending can having a forwardly presenting valve while the can is held in pre-determined radial orientation within a sprayer device.

Claims

1. An actuator cap for use with a pressurized can, the can having a rear end and a front end, the front end having a forwardly presenting valve, the can being holdable in a sprayer device that has a cradle for holding a can, the cradle extending axially between a front and rear end with respect to a can held therein, and having a cradle stop surface at its front end to limit frontward axial motion of the can, the cradle stop surface further having an engagement land extending rearwardly from the cradle stop surface, with an actuation pin located within the engagement land and selectively moveable by a user to protrude rearwardly therefrom to activate the actuator cap, the actuator cap being axially extended relative to the can and comprising:

a. a can attachment structure for attaching the actuator cap to the can'"'"'s front end;

b. a recess of a size and shape sufficient to receive the engagement land in mating relation;

c. a valve activator for engaging the valve in sealing relation and having an internal passage communicating with an exit orifice, the valve activator activating the valve when moved, causing the release of can contents through the internal passage to the exit orifice;

d. an actuator arm so located as to extend rearwardly of and align with the actuation pin when the engagement land is received in the recess, the actuator arm being capable of moving when a user moves the actuation pin to move the valve activator and activate the valve.

2. The actuator cap of claim 1 wherein the can'"'"'s valve has a forwardly extending valve stem and the valve activator comprises a rearwardly open valve socket, the valve socket communicating with the internal passage.

3. The actuator cap of claim 1 wherein the valve activator is unitarily formed with the actuator arm.

4. The actuator cap of claim 1 wherein the actuator arm extends transversely with respect to the actuator cap and is attached to the remainder of the actuator cap by a living hinge.

5. The actuator cap of claim 1 wherein the actuator arm extends transversely with respect to the actuator cap and is attached to the remainder of the actuator cap by a living hinge at a point remote from the recess.

6. The actuator cap of claim 1 wherein the actuator arm has a forwardly facing surface located within the recess, the forwardly facing surface being located rearward to the rearwardmost extension of the engagement land when the can is held in the cradle to receive the actuation pin when a user moves the actuation pin rearwardly.

7. The actuator cap of claim 1 wherein a slot extends radially outward from the recess, providing an unobstructed opening from the side of the actuator cap, communicating with the recess.

8. The actuator cap of claim 7 wherein the actuator arm extends transversely with respect to the actuator cap, one end of the actuator arm being adjacent the slot.

9. The actuator cap of claim 1 wherein the actuator cap is designed for use with a can having a can chime, and the can attachment structure for attaching the actuator cap to the can'"'"'s front end attaches to the can chime.

10. The actuator cap of claim 1 wherein the actuator cap is designed for use with a can having a valve cup rim, and the can attachment structure for attaching the actuator cap to the can'"'"'s front end attaches to the valve cup rim.

11. The actuator cap of claim 1 wherein the recess has inwardly slanting guide surfaces to aid in locating the engagement land in the recess when the actuator cap is in position within the cradle.

12. The actuator cap of claim 1 wherein the recess is adjacent to one side of the actuator cap and the valve activator is on the axis of the cap, thus located between the recess and the side of the actuator opposite to the recess.

13. An actuator cap for use with a pressurized can, the can having a rear end and a front end, the front end having a forwardly presenting valve, the can being holdable in a sprayer device that has a cradle for holding the can, the cradle extending axially between a front and rear end with respect to the can held therein, and having a cradle stop surface at its front end to limit frontward axial motion of the can, the cradle stop surface further having an engagement land extending rearwardly from the cradle stop surface with an actuation pin located within the engagement land and selectively moveable by a user to protrude rearwardly therefrom to activate the actuator cap, the actuator cap being axially extended relative to the can and comprising:

a. a can attachment structure for attaching the actuator cap to the can'"'"'s front end;

b. a recess to receive the engagement land to aid in retaining the can in the cradle and in locating the actuator cap in a radially pre-determined orientation with respect to the cradle;

c. a slot extending radially outward from the recess providing an unobstructed opening from the side of the actuator cap, communicating with the recess;

d. a valve activator for engaging the valve in sealing relation, the valve activator activating the valve when moved rearwardly, causing the release of can contents;

e. an actuator arm extending transversely with respect to the actuator cap, one end of the actuator arm being radially aligned with the slot, the actuator arm having a forwardly facing surface within the recess that is located rearwardly of and aligned with the actuation pin when the engagement land is received in the recess, the actuator arm being capable of moving rearwardly when a user moves the actuation pin to contact the forwardly facing surface to move the valve activator and activate the valve.

14. The actuator cap of claim 13 wherein the valve activator is unitarily formed with the actuator arm, and the actuator arm is attached to the remainder of the actuator cap by a living hinge at a point remote from the recess.

15. A method for activating a pressurized, axially extending can having a forwardly presenting valve while the can is held in pre-determined radial orientation within a sprayer device that has a cradle for holding the can, the cradle extending axially between a front and rear end with respect to the can held therein, the cradle having a cradle stop surface at its front end to limit frontward axial motion of the can and a can clamp for retaining the can against the cradle stop surface, the cradle stop surface further having an engagement land extending rearwardly from the cradle stop surface with an actuation pin located within the engagement land and selectively moveable by a user to protrude rearwardly therefrom, the method comprising the steps of:

a. providing, mounted on the can'"'"'s front end, an actuator cap having

i. a recess to receive the engagement land to aid in retaining the can in the cradle and in locating the actuator cap in a radially pre-determined orientation with respect to the cradle;

ii. a valve activator for engaging the valve in sealing relation, the valve activator activating the valve when moved rearwardly, causing the release of can contents;

iii. an actuator arm so located as to extend rearwardly of and align with the actuation pin when the engagement land is received in the recess, the actuator arm being capable of moving rearwardly when a user moves the actuation pin to move the valve activator and activate the valve;

b. placing the can in the cradle, with the engagement land inserted into the recess and securing the can in the cradle by use of the can clamp; and

c. moving the actuation pin rearwardly to activate the valve.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of providing an actuator cap mounted on the can'"'"'s front end includes providing:

a. a slot extending radially outward from the recess, forming an unobstructed opening from the side of the actuator cap, communicating with the recess;

b. an actuator arm extending transversely with respect to the actuator cap, one end of the actuator arm being radially aligned with the slot, the actuator arm having a forwardly facing surface within the recess that is located rearwardly of and aligned with the actuation pin when the engagement land is received in the recess.

17. A pressurized can assembly suitable for use in a sprayer device that has a cradle for holding a can, the cradle extending axially between a front and rear end with respect to a can held therein, and having a cradle stop surface at its front end to limit frontward axial motion of the can, the cradle stop surface further having an engagement land extending rearwardly from the cradle stop surface, with an actuation pin located within the engagement land and selectively moveable by a user to protrude rearwardly therefrom, the pressurized can assembly comprising:

a. a pressurized can having a front end and a rear end, the front end having a forwardly presenting valve;

b. an actuator cap attached to the front end of the can and having

i. a recess of a size and shape sufficient to receive the engagement land in mating relation;

ii. a valve activator for engaging the valve in sealing relation and having an internal passage communicating with an exit orifice, the valve activator activating the valve when moved, causing the release of can contents through the internal passage to the exit orifice; and

iii. an actuator arm so located as to extend rearwardly of and align with the actuation pin when the engagement land is received in the recess, the actuator arm being capable of moving when a user moves the actuation pin to move the valve activator and activate the valve.