Spray pump device

• US 8,931,716 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zobele Holding SpA (Z Alpha SA)
• Original Assignee: Zobele Holding SpA (Z Alpha SA)
• Inventors: DeFlorian, Stefano, Sordo, Walter, Mosconi, Daniel, Ballesteros, Julio Csar Ruiz
• Primary Examiner(s): Ganey, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US12/253,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20090121041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,279 Days
• Field of Search: 239/13, 239 67- 74, 239/332, 239/333, 239/75, 239/145, 239/337, 239/575, 222/52, 222/54, 222/333, 222/187, 401/23, 401/196
• US Class Current: 239/333
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1052 Actuation means locking means therefor B05B11/1059; the dispensing stroke being affected by the stored energy of a spring B05B11/109

Abstract

The invention refers to a spray pump device for spraying a liquid operated by a memory shape element. The spraying device is provided with a memory shape alloy wire with electrical resistivity, that is able to generate heat that increases its temperature so that due to memory shape property, the wire shrinks when current is applied. This shrinking permits the wire to activate a pump that atomizes a volatile substance.

Claims

1. A spray pump device comprising a spray head and a wire provided to operate the spray head, wherein the wire is made of a memory shape metal alloy and is configured to shrink when a suitable electric current passes through the wire;

a lever pivotally mounted about an axis, a first end of the wire is joined to a point of the lever, and a second point of the wire is joined to a fixed point of the device, the lever is adapted to activate the spray head when the wire shrinks;

an electronic circuit to supply the electric current through the wire for shrinking the wire, the electronic circuit being fed by a battery; and

an end-run-switch connected to the electronic circuit, the end-run-switch being arranged to detect a selected position in which the spray head has been activated, the electronic circuit being adapted to cut the electric current through the wire when the end-run-switch detects that the spray head has been activated.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wire is arranged so as to exert a force that activates the spray head.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a stopper element configured to provide a reference end position of the end-run switch, and wherein the position of the stopper element is adjustable to regulate the reference end position of the end-run switch.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the lever is pivotally mounted in respect to one of its ends.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wire is arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spray head.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a porous material arranged to receive a major amount of the liquid sprayed by the spray head.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the porous material extends around the spray head.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the spray head has an output nozzle which is closed by the porous material.

9. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a container coupled to the spray head for containing a liquid.

10. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an ambient temperature sensor associated with the electronic circuit, the electronic circuit being adapted to prevent the accidental activation of the pump when the temperature of the ambient is over the wire transition temperature.

11. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor selected from the group comprising:

movement sensor, light sensor, proximity sensor, wherein the sensor is associated to the electronic circuit, and the activation of the spray head is governed by the sensor.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the spray head is configured to operate below 1 Kg force.