Apparatus for control of a volatile material dispenser

• US 9,061,821 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• 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., Furner, Paul E., Beland, Rene Maurice, Kimball, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shearer, Daniel R
• Application Number:
  US14/024,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20140008385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 222/52, 222/61, 222/63, 222/162, 222/164, 222654-649, 222/504, 222/402.21, 239/70, 239/332
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• 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: B65D 83/20 operated by manual action, e.g. button-type actuator or actuator caps actuators formed as a rigid elongate spout B65D83/306
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/262 by clockwork, motor, electric or magnetic means operating without repeated human input
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/386 actuation occurring by moving the aerosol container relative to the outer shell or external container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/46 Tilt valves B65D83/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 23/48 acting at the ends of successive time intervals

Abstract

A volatile material dispenser includes a housing adapted to receive a container that includes a tilt-activated valve stem. The housing includes a resilient retaining structure. The resilient retaining structure is adapted to retain a portion of the container. An electric drive unit is disposed within the housing. The drive unit includes a cam for engaging a portion of the container to actuate the valve stem.

Claims

1. A volatile material dispenser, comprising:

a container;

a housing adapted to receive the container having a tilt-activated valve stem, wherein the housing includes a resilient retaining structure, and wherein the resilient retaining structure is a fulcrum, which is adapted to retain a portion of the container and to bend to allow the container to tilt from a pre-actuated position to an actuated position and is adapted to dispense a volatile material in an upward direction; and

an electric drive unit disposed within the housing, wherein the drive unit includes a cam for engaging a portion of the container to actuate the valve stem.

2. The volatile material dispenser of claim 1, wherein the cam engages a lower portion of the container.

3. The volatile material dispenser of claim 1, wherein the resilient retaining structure retains the container by an upper portion thereof.

4. The volatile material dispenser of claim 3, wherein the resilient retaining structure is adapted to retain the container in an operable position by interaction with a body of the container.

5. The volatile material dispenser of claim 3, wherein the upper portion of the container retained by the resilient retaining structure does not include the valve stem of the container.

6. The volatile material dispenser of claim 1, wherein a discharge end of the valve stem is adapted to be in fluid communication with a discharge orifice of the housing.

7. The volatile material dispenser of claim 1, wherein the container is wholly contained within the housing.

8. The volatile material dispenser of claim 1, wherein an electronic signal to activate the electric drive unit is generated by at least one of a sensor, a timing circuit, and the actuation of a manual pushbutton.

9. The volatile material dispenser of claim 1 further including the container.

10. A volatile material dispenser, comprising:

a housing adapted to retain a container in a substantially upright, suspended operable position, wherein the container includes a tilt-activated valve stem; and

a drive unit disposed within the housing, wherein the drive unit includes a cam having a gear portion, which imparts transverse motion to a body of the container.

11. The volatile material dispenser of claim 10, wherein the cam imparts transverse motion by engaging a lower portion of the body of the container.

12. The volatile material dispenser of claim 10, wherein the container is retained by an upper portion thereof.

13. The volatile material dispenser of claim 12, wherein the container is retained by interaction with the body of the container.

14. The volatile material dispenser of claim 12, wherein the upper portion of the container retained by the housing does not include the valve stem of the container.

15. The volatile material dispenser of claim 10, wherein a discharge end of the valve stem is adapted to be in fluid communication with a discharge orifice of the housing.

16. The volatile material dispenser of claim 10, wherein the container is wholly contained within the housing.

17. The volatile material dispenser of claim 10, wherein an electronic signal to activate the drive unit is generated by at least one of a sensor, a timing circuit, and the actuation of a manual pushbutton.