Compact spray device

• US 8,342,363 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2011
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Carpenter, M. Scott, Furner, Paul E., Gasper, Thomas P., Kubicek, Chris A., Lemon, Leon M., Madsen, Brent D., Michaels, Kenneth W., Nelson, Cory J., Short, Michael E., Sipinski, Gene, Westphal, Nathan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, STEPHANIE ELAINE
• Application Number:
  US13/235,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20120000932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 222/638, 222/639, 222/642, 222/643, 222/644, 222/645, 222/646, 222/647, 222/648, 222/649, 222/402.13, 222/402.15, 222/504, 222/333, 222/61, 222/52, 222/62, 222/64, 222/162, 222/132, 222/129, 222/135, 222/137, 239/69, 239/70, 239/333, 239/337
• US Class Current: 222/52
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/267 by a separate device actuated by repeated, e.g. human, input, e.g. by a moving wing of a door or window, a ringing doorbell, a flushing toilet

Abstract

An automatic discharge device includes a housing having a top portion and a base portion, wherein surfaces defining a recess are provided therebetween for securely holding a container. At least one gear is disposed substantially between the recess and a rear panel of the housing. A drive motor is in association with the at least one gear. An actuator arm is also provided. Activation of the drive motor and the at least one gear provides for movement of the actuator arm between at least one of a pre-actuation position and a discharge position along a path that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container.

Claims

1. An automatic discharge device, comprising:

a housing having a top portion and a base portion, wherein surfaces defining a recess are provided therebetween for securely holding a container;

at least one gear disposed substantially between the recess and a rear panel of the housing, wherein a drive motor is in association with the at least one gear; and

an actuator arm,

wherein activation of the drive motor and the at least one gear provides for movement of the actuator arm between at least one of a pre-actuation position and a discharge position along a vertically reciprocating path that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container.

2. The automatic discharge device of claim 1 further including a cover, wherein the cover covers a front side, a rear side, and sidewalls of the housing.

3. The automatic discharge device of claim 2, wherein a manual switch disposed on the housing is actuable through the cover.

4. The automatic discharge device of claim 1, wherein the drive motor is activated in response to a signal from at least one of a timer, a sensor, and a manual switch.

5. The automatic discharge device of claim 1, wherein the drive motor is a two-way drive motor.

6. The automatic discharge device of claim 5, wherein activation of the two-way drive motor in one direction provides for movement of the actuator arm to the pre-actuation position and activation of the two-way motor in a second direction provides for movement of the actuator arm into the discharge position.

7. The automatic discharge device of claim 1, wherein the housing holds more than one container.

8. The automatic discharge device of claim 1 further including a combination of sensors for detecting an environmental condition.