Housing and actuating apparatus and methods associated therewith
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An actuator cap, comprising:
- a main wall that extends generally along an axial dimension thereof and has a generally circular cross section with a varying cross sectional size;
multiple flexible actuator members integrally extending from the main wall transverse to the axial dimension, the actuator members including a central portion adapted to be attached to a valve stem, and each terminating at an outer peripheral surface wherein the outer peripheral surfaces are spaced from one another and extend laterally beyond a portion of the main wall but do not extend beyond a greatest lateral extent of the main wall; and
an upright portion having a curved outer surface disposed adjacent at least one of the flexible actuator members, wherein the curved outer surface is adapted to engage with an internal surface of a housing to guide at least one of the flexible actuator members and prevent inadvertent actuation of the flexible actuator members.
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Abstract
A combination includes a product container having a longitudinal dimension and a valve oriented to discharge product generally longitudinally therefrom. Valve actuating apparatus extends laterally from the valve in a direction transverse to the longitudinal dimension and terminates at an outer peripheral surface. A housing has a wall that tapers to a discharge opening, and the discharge opening has a size larger than a radius of the container but smaller than the greatest lateral extent of the valve actuating apparatus. The outer peripheral surface is disposed in interfering relationship with the wall when the container is disposed in the housing.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An actuator cap, comprising:
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a main wall that extends generally along an axial dimension thereof and has a generally circular cross section with a varying cross sectional size; multiple flexible actuator members integrally extending from the main wall transverse to the axial dimension, the actuator members including a central portion adapted to be attached to a valve stem, and each terminating at an outer peripheral surface wherein the outer peripheral surfaces are spaced from one another and extend laterally beyond a portion of the main wall but do not extend beyond a greatest lateral extent of the main wall; and an upright portion having a curved outer surface disposed adjacent at least one of the flexible actuator members, wherein the curved outer surface is adapted to engage with an internal surface of a housing to guide at least one of the flexible actuator members and prevent inadvertent actuation of the flexible actuator members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An actuator cap, comprising:
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a main wall having a generally circular cross section that decreases in cross sectional size along an axial dimension defined between first and second ends of the main wall; at least two flexible actuator members extending transversely to the axial dimension, the actuator members including a central portion adapted to be attached to a valve stem and terminating at outer peripheral surfaces wherein the outer peripheral surfaces extend laterally beyond a portion of the main wall but do not extend beyond a greatest lateral extent of the main wall; and an upright portion having a curved outer surface disposed adjacent at least one of the flexible actuator members, wherein the curved outer surface prevents inadvertent actuation of the flexible actuator members and the upright portion includes an arcuate gusset on an internal surface thereof. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An actuator cap and housing therefor, comprising:
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a main wall that extends generally along an axial dimension thereof, has a generally circular cross section, and has a varying cross sectional size; at least two flexible actuator members extending transversely to the axial dimension and terminating at outer peripheral surfaces wherein the outer peripheral surfaces extend laterally beyond a portion of the main wall but do not extend beyond a greatest lateral extent of the main wall; an upright portion having a curved outer surface disposed adjacent at least one of the actuator members, wherein the curved outer surface is engageable with an internal surface of the housing to guide the flexible actuator members and prevent inadvertent actuation of the flexible actuator members;
whereinthe housing includes a housing wall that tapers to a discharge opening and is adapted to secure a container therein that has a radius smaller than the discharge opening such that the outer peripheral surfaces are disposed in interfering relationship with the housing wall when the container and the actuator cap are disposed in the housing. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification