Compact spray device

• US 8,678,233 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• 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 ELAINE
• Application Number:
  US13/302,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20120061420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/64, 222/61, 222/62, 222/52, 222/638, 222/639, 222/644, 222/645, 222/646, 222/647, 222/648, 222/649, 222/504, 222/333, 222/402.13, 222/402.15, 222/137, 222/135, 239/69, 239/70, 239/333, 239/337
• US Class Current: 222/1
• 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 method of operating a dispensing unit includes the step of providing a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having at least two aerosol containers disposed therein and an actuator arm. The dispensing unit activates in response to a minimum threshold of light being sensed by a light sensor. The method also includes the step of selecting a sleep period interval between spray operations.

Claims

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

providing a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having at least two aerosol containers disposed therein and an actuator arm, wherein the actuator arm is designed to spray the contents of the at least two containers at selected intervals or in a sequence, and wherein the dispensing unit activates in response to a minimum threshold of light being sensed by a light sensor; and

providing a means for selecting a sleep period interval between spray operations.

2. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of moving the actuator arm during a discharge period from a pre-actuation position to a discharge position along a path substantially parallel to an axial length of one of the containers to actuate a nozzle of one of the at least two containers to discharge fluid therefrom.

3. The method according to claim 2 further including the step of automatically initiating the sleep period interval after a discharge period.

4. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of providing a means for manually activating the dispensing unit during the sleep period interval.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the means for manually activating the dispensing unit includes a switch disposed on the housing.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the discharge period has a duration of about a half of one second.

7. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of moving the actuator arm after completion of a startup delay period from the pre-actuation position to a discharge position along a path substantially parallel to an axial length of at least one of the containers to actuate a nozzle of one of the at least two containers to discharge a fluid from the one container.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the startup delay period ranges from about one minute to about three minutes.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the startup delay period is about one minute.