Compact spray device

• US 8,091,734 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2010
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Furner, Paul E., Gasper, Thomas P., Kubicek, Chris A., Lemon, Leon M., Madsen, Brent D., Westphal, Nathan R., Michaels, Kenneth W., Nelson, Cory J., Carpenter, M. Scott, Short, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Stephanie E
• Application Number:
  US12/796,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20100243674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 222/638, 222/639, 222/642, 222/643, 222/644, 222/645, 222/646, 222/648, 222/649, 222/504, 222/333, 222/647, 222/402.13, 222/402.15, 222/52, 222/61, 222/62, 222/64, 239/69, 239/70, 239/333, 239/337
• US Class Current: 222/52
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2038 Holders or dispensers for pressurized insecticide, e.g. pressurized vessels, cans
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/11 Apparatus for controlling air treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/134 Distributing means, e.g. baffles, valves, manifolds, nozzles
• 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

Abstract

A power source is provided to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having an aerosol container disposed therein. A sleep period interval between spray operations is selected and a motion sensor is activated to detect motion within a sensory path of the sensor after completion of the sleep period interval. If no motion is detected by the motion sensor a fluid is automatically discharged from the aerosol container and the sleep interval is reset and if motion is detected by the motion sensor a delay time interval is initiated and fluid is not discharged from the aerosol container. The dispensing unit alternates between activating the sensor to detect motion and resetting the delay time interval until no motion is detected by the motion sensor at the expiration of the delay time interval, which results in the automatic discharge of fluid and a resetting of the sleep period interval.

Claims

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

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

selecting a sleep period interval between spray operations; and

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

wherein after completion of the sleep period interval if no motion is detected by the motion sensor a fluid is automatically discharged from the aerosol container and the sleep interval is reset, and

wherein after completion of the sleep period interval if motion is detected by the motion sensor a delay time interval is initiated and fluid is not discharged from the aerosol container, and the dispensing unit alternates between activating the sensor to detect motion and resetting the delay time interval until no motion is detected by the motion sensor at the expiration of the delay time interval, which results in the automatic discharge of fluid from the aerosol container and a resetting of the sleep period interval.

2. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of continuously monitoring for motion after the sensor detects motion upon completion of the sleep period interval, wherein the delay time interval is not initiated until the sensor does not detect any further motion.

3. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of continuously monitoring for motion during the delay time interval, wherein detection of motion causes the sensor to further continuously monitor for motion and reset the delay time interval after no further motion is detected.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the delay time interval comprises about two minutes or less.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sleep period interval comprises about 15 minutes or more.