Overcap and system for spraying a fluid

• US 8,469,244 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2007
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Helf, Thomas A., Paas, Edward L., Madsen, Brent D., Furner, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shearer, Daniel R
• Application Number:
  US11/893,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20090045219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,140 Days
• Field of Search: 222/52, 222/61, 222/645, 222/646, 222/647, 222/648, 222/649, 222/402.21, 222/182, 222/504
• US Class Current: 222/645
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• 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: B65D 83/262 by clockwork, motor, electric or magnetic means operating without repeated human input
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/46 Tilt valves B65D83/50 takes precedence

Abstract

A volatile material dispenser includes a housing adapted to be releasably mounted on a container having a tilt-activated valve stem. The housing includes a discharge orifice. A drive unit is disposed within the housing, wherein the drive unit is activated in response to a signal from at least a sensor, and wherein the drive unit is adapted to radially displace the tilt-activated valve stem in response to the signal.

Claims

1. A volatile material dispensing system, comprising:

a housing releasably mounted on a container having a tilt-activated valve stem;

a displacement member disposed within the housing, wherein a first end of the displacement member is disposed on the tilt-activated valve stem and a second end is in fluid communication with the first end and includes a discharge conduit that extends axially from the first end along a longitudinal axis of the displacement member, and wherein a flange extends radially from the displacement member; and

a drive unit disposed within the housing, wherein the drive unit includes a camming member that impinges the flange of the displacement member and radially displaces the displacement member in response to an electronic activation signal, and wherein the camming member is mounted on a transfer shaft that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis and offset from a plane that runs through the longitudinal axis and the flange.

2. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the radial displacement of the displacement member causes the radial displacement of the tilt-activated valve stem.

3. The dispensing system of claim 1 further including a discharge orifice within an upper surface of the housing, wherein the discharge orifice is in fluid communication with the second end of the displacement member.

4. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the displacement member is substantially cylindrical.

5. The dispensing system of claim 3, wherein the radial displacement of the displacement member causes fluid to be discharged from the container in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the displacement member.