Light-activated portable aerosol mist sprayer device

• US 8,430,337 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Outdoor Solutions, Inc. (FEMO Group Holdings LP)
• Original Assignee: NCH Corporation
• Inventors: Pearce, Robert Clarence III, Colarusso, Joseph Thomas, Boesch-Deveze, William Pierre, Roheim, John Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): HWU, DAVIS D
• Application Number:
  US11/847,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20080210772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,070 Days
• Field of Search: 239/67, 239/69, 239/71, 239/302, 239/337, 239/349, 239/451, 239/457, 222/646, 222/649, 222/652, 222/645
• US Class Current: 239/69
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 13/06 Devices for generating heat, smoke or fog in gardens, orchards or forests, e.g. to prevent damage by frost
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2038 Holders or dispensers for pressurized insecticide, e.g. pressurized vessels, cans
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 13/00 Fumigators; Apparatus for distributing gases poisoning or narcotising insects by vaporising an insecticide A01M1/2022
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 29/34 specially adapted for insects
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/00 Special adaptations or arrangements of liquid-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0014 Field atomisers, e.g. orchard atomisers, self-propelled, drawn or tractor-mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/00 Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/004 comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00
• 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 17/08 Fountains drinking fountains E03B9/20; wash fountains E03C1/16
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/035 to several spraying apparatus B05B9/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0861 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0866 the pump being a gear, centrifugal or screw-type pump
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/262 by clockwork, motor, electric or magnetic means operating without repeated human input
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/54 Metering valves ; Metering valve assemblies

Abstract

A portable, light-activated, mist sprayer system comprising direct current power supply, an ambient light sensor, electronic circuitry that evaluates an electrical signal received from the light sensor to determine whether a “dusk” or “dawn” light condition exists; a container of treating fluid at a desired concentration; a motor and pump that are activated at the appropriate time as determined by the sensed light condition; at least one sprayer nozzle that will dispense a mist containing the treating fluid whenever the pump is operating; and a timer that turns off the pump after a preset interval to terminate the spraying cycle. A preferred utility for the system of the invention is spraying dilute solutions of insecticide or insect repellent during the periods of significant insect activity that typically occur around dusk and dawn. An RF receiving unit is also disclosed for optional activation using a remote transmitter.

Claims

1. A portable fluid mist sprayer system for use with an aerosol container having an internal valve and containing a treating fluid, the system comprising:

a housing with a dome and a dome base, wherein the dome is rotatable relative to the dome base to selectively adjust a direction of spray;

a self-contained electrical power source;

at least one spray nozzle and at least one ambient light sensor disposed in the dome, wherein the at least one spray nozzle is rotatable with the dome relative to the dome base;

the at least one spray nozzle being configured to receive the treating fluid from the aerosol container and selectively discharge the treating fluid in the form of a mist;

at least one flow conduit providing fluid communication between the aerosol container and the at least one spray nozzle;

a motor adapted to selectively actuate the internal valve in the aerosol container; and

an electronic control unit programmed to activate the motor to initiate a flow of pressurized treating fluid to the at least one sprayer head in response to sensed ambient light of predetermined intensity and duration that occur at dusk and dawn;

wherein the system is configured to prevent activation of the at least one spray nozzle by transient signals received from the at least one ambient light sensor.

2. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 wherein the treating fluid is selected from liquids, gases, suspensions, and mixtures thereof.

3. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 2 wherein the treating fluid is selected from the group consisting of insecticide, pesticide, fungicide, biocide, insect repellent, water, air, or mixtures thereof.

4. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 2 wherein the treating fluid comprises an insecticide.

5. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 wherein the electronic control unit further comprises an RF receiver.

6. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 wherein the electronic control unit comprises a light level discrimination module further comprising an optical coupler, a hysteresis detector, dusk and dawn timing discriminators, and a logic gate communicating with the motor control module.

7. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 wherein the electrical power source is at least one battery.

8. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 wherein the electrical power source is a solar cell.

9. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 further comprising a three-way switch.

10. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 wherein the motor is activated in response to ambient light conditions as sensed by the at least one ambient light sensor.

11. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 10, further comprising a frame supporting the motor and the aerosol container.

12. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1, in combination with a portable carrier device.

13. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 12 wherein the carrier device is a simulated torch, lamp or lantern.

14. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 further comprising at least one light source.

15. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 14 wherein the at least one light source is an LED.

16. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 14 wherein the at least one light source is a warning light.

17. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1, further comprising a gear-driven actuator with a clutch system.

18. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 wherein the spray direction is adjustable radially.

19. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 wherein the spray direction is angularly adjustable in the vertical direction.

20. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 wherein the dome base is inclined.

21. The portable fluid mist sprayer system of claim 1 wherein a washer is disposed between the dome and the dome base.