Methods, systems, and products for marking concealed objects
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for discharging contents of an aerosol container, the aerosol container having an actuator that discharges the contents, the apparatus comprising:
- an elongate rod sliding within a conduit, the conduit having an upper end with an upper orifice through which an upper portion of the elongate rod slides, the conduit having a bottom orifice in a bottom floor through which a bottom portion of the elongate rod slides, the conduit having an inner wall defining a longitudinal axis;
means for actuating the actuator of the aerosol container such that movement of the elongate rod within the conduit moves the actuator between a discharge position and a non-discharge position, the means for actuating comprising a cam and an actuator arm, the cam pivoting about a pivot and the cam attached to a bottom end of the elongate rod, the actuator arm having an end attached to the cam and a concave-shaped distal end, the cam translating movement of the elongate rod and causing the distal end of the actuator arm to bear against the actuator to discharge the contents of the aerosol container;
a spring mount laterally extending from the inner wall of the conduit, the spring mount having an upper surface and lower surface that are substantially perpendicular to the movement of the elongate rod within the conduit, the spring mount having an open cylindrical passage extending from the upper surface to the lower surface through which the elongate rod slides, the cylindrical passage having a passage diameter greater than a rod diameter of the elongate rod, the cylindrical passage having a side wall that laterally confines the elongate rod; and
a retention spring that restores the aerosol container'"'"'s actuator to the non-discharge position, the retention spring having an inner diameter greater than the rod diameter of the elongate rod, the elongate rod passing through the inner diameter of the retention spring, the retention spring having an upper coil seated in a semi-circular channel in the lower surface of the spring mount, the semi-circular channel having a channel depth and a channel diameter greater than a wire diameter of the upper coil, the semi-circular channel laterally confining the upper coil to a substantially concentric position with the elongate rod.
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Abstract
Methods, systems, apparatuses, and products are disclosed for locating concealed objects by discharging the contents of an aerosol container. A housing encloses an inner volume, and a hollow conduit extends along the housing. An elongate rod slides within the conduit. An actuator of the aerosol container is engaged between a discharge position and a non-discharge position by movement of the elongate rod.
96 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for discharging contents of an aerosol container, the aerosol container having an actuator that discharges the contents, the apparatus comprising:
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an elongate rod sliding within a conduit, the conduit having an upper end with an upper orifice through which an upper portion of the elongate rod slides, the conduit having a bottom orifice in a bottom floor through which a bottom portion of the elongate rod slides, the conduit having an inner wall defining a longitudinal axis; means for actuating the actuator of the aerosol container such that movement of the elongate rod within the conduit moves the actuator between a discharge position and a non-discharge position, the means for actuating comprising a cam and an actuator arm, the cam pivoting about a pivot and the cam attached to a bottom end of the elongate rod, the actuator arm having an end attached to the cam and a concave-shaped distal end, the cam translating movement of the elongate rod and causing the distal end of the actuator arm to bear against the actuator to discharge the contents of the aerosol container; a spring mount laterally extending from the inner wall of the conduit, the spring mount having an upper surface and lower surface that are substantially perpendicular to the movement of the elongate rod within the conduit, the spring mount having an open cylindrical passage extending from the upper surface to the lower surface through which the elongate rod slides, the cylindrical passage having a passage diameter greater than a rod diameter of the elongate rod, the cylindrical passage having a side wall that laterally confines the elongate rod; and a retention spring that restores the aerosol container'"'"'s actuator to the non-discharge position, the retention spring having an inner diameter greater than the rod diameter of the elongate rod, the elongate rod passing through the inner diameter of the retention spring, the retention spring having an upper coil seated in a semi-circular channel in the lower surface of the spring mount, the semi-circular channel having a channel depth and a channel diameter greater than a wire diameter of the upper coil, the semi-circular channel laterally confining the upper coil to a substantially concentric position with the elongate rod. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for locating a concealed object and for discharging the contents of an aerosol container, the aerosol container having an actuator that discharges the contents to indicate a location of the concealed object, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing enclosing an inner volume; a hollow conduit extending along the housing, the conduit having an upper end with an upper orifice to an outer surface of the housing, the conduit having a bottom floor with a bottom orifice in the bottom floor, the conduit having an inner wall defining a longitudinal axis; an elongate rod sliding within the conduit, the elongate rod having an upper portion extending through the upper orifice and a lower portion extending through the bottom orifice; means for actuating the actuator of the aerosol container such that movement of the elongate rod within the conduit moves the actuator between a discharge position and a non-discharge position; and a receiver for receiving electromagnetic signals. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for locating a concealed object and for discharging contents of an aerosol container, the aerosol container having an actuator that discharges the contents to indicate a location of the concealed object, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing enclosing an inner volume; a hollow conduit extending along the housing, the conduit having an upper end with an upper orifice to an outer surface of the housing, the conduit having a bottom floor with a bottom orifice in the bottom floor, the conduit having an inner wall defining a longitudinal axis; an elongate rod sliding within the conduit, the elongate rod having an upper portion extending through the upper orifice and a lower portion extending through the bottom orifice; a liquid electromagnetic shield that bathes at least a portion of the elongate rod as the elongate rod slides within the conduit; and means for actuating the actuator of the aerosol container such that movement of the elongate rod within the conduit moves the actuator between a discharge position and a non-discharge position.
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Specification