Compact spray device

• US 9,457,951 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2014
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Carpenter, M. Scott, Furner, Paul E., Gasper, Thomas P., Kubicek, Chris A., Lemon, Leon M., Madsen, Brent D., Michaels, Kenneth W., Nelson, Cory J., Short, Michael E., Sipinski, Gene, Westphal, Nathan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buechner, Patrick M
• Application Number:
  US14/513,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20150028062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 222/638, 222/639, 222/642, 222/643, 222/644, 222/645, 222/646, 222/647, 222/648, 222/649, 222/402.1, 222/402.13, 222/504, 222/333, 222/61, 222/52, 222/62, 222/64, 222/162, 222/132, 222/135, 222/137, 239/69, 239/70, 239/333, 239/337
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/267 by a separate device actuated by repeated, e.g. human, input, e.g. by a moving wing of a door or window, a ringing doorbell, a flushing toilet

Abstract

An automatic discharge device includes a housing having a recess for receipt of a container. Further, a first compartment for receipt of a first battery and a second compartment for receipt of a second battery are provided. An actuator is disposed above the recess and the first compartment and the second compartment are disposed on opposing sides of the recess.

Claims

1. An automatic discharge device, comprising:

a housing having a recess for receipt of a container, the recess defined at least in part by a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a rear surface;

a first compartment for receipt of a first battery, the first compartment defined at least in part by a first inner sidewall spaced inwardly from the first sidewall;

a second compartment for receipt of a second battery, the second compartment defined at least in part by a second inner sidewall spaced inwardly from the second sidewall; and

an actuator disposed above the recess,

wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are disposed on opposing sides of the recess,

wherein the first compartment and the second compartment each include a wall defining a cut out portion to assist in removal of the first and second batteries, the cut out portions disposed opposite the first inner sidewall and the second inner sidewall, respectively, and

wherein a container comprises a valve stem and wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are disposed on opposing sides of where the valve stem is seated within the recess.

2. The automatic discharge device of claim 1, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are defined within the recess.

3. The automatic discharge device of claim 1, wherein the first inner sidewall and the second inner sidewall are uniform along their lengths.

4. The automatic discharge device of claim 1, wherein the wall defining the cut out portion of the first compartment is the first sidewall and the wall defining the cut out portion of the second compartment is the second sidewall.

5. The automatic discharge device of claim 1, wherein the recess receives a length of a container, and wherein the length of the container is provided between a distal end of a valve stem and a lower end of a reservoir for holding a fluid.

6. The automatic discharge device of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of a length of a battery between opposing ends thereof is adjacent to the recess.

7. The automatic discharge device of claim 5, wherein a length of a battery between opposing ends thereof is completely adjacent to the recess.

8. The automatic discharge device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is in communication with a drive unit having at least one gear.

9. The automatic discharge device of claim 8, wherein the drive unit includes a drive motor having a motor gear in association with a reduction gear train and wherein the reduction gear train includes a drive gear, a first pinion, an idler gear, a second pinion, and a lever gear.

10. The automatic discharge device of claim 9, wherein the drive gear is attached to the first pinion and the idler gear is attached to the second pinion, and wherein the motor gear is in mechanical association with the drive gear, the first pinion is in mechanical association with the idler gear, and the second pinion is in mechanical association with the lever gear.

11. An automatic discharge device, comprising:

a recess for receipt of a container, the recess defined at least in part by a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a rear surface;

a first compartment for receipt of a first battery, the first compartment defined at least in part by a first inner sidewall spaced inwardly from the first sidewall;

a second compartment for receipt of a second battery, the second compartment defined at least in part by a second inner sidewall spaced inwardly from the second sidewall; and

an actuator disposed above the recess,

wherein the longitudinal axes of the first battery for receipt in the first compartment, the second battery for receipt in the second compartment, and the container for receipt in the recess, are substantially parallel to one another, and

wherein the first compartment and the second compartment each include a wall defining a cut out portion to assist in removal of the first and second batteries, the cut out portions disposed opposite the first inner sidewall and the second inner sidewall, respectively.

12. The automatic discharge device of claim 11, wherein the longitudinal axes of the first battery for receipt in the first compartment, the second battery for receipt in the second compartment, and the container for receipt in the recess, are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the recess.

13. The automatic discharge device of claim 11, wherein the first inner sidewall and the second inner sidewall are aligned substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the recess.

14. The automatic discharge device of claim 11, wherein the actuator is driven along a path substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the recess.

15. The automatic discharge device of claim 11, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are defined within the recess.

16. The automatic discharge device of claim 11, wherein the first inner sidewall and the second inner sidewall are uniform along their lengths.

17. The automatic discharge device of claim 11, wherein the wall defining the cut out portion of the first compartment is the first sidewall and the wall defining the cut out portion of the second compartment is the second sidewall.

18. An automatic discharge device, comprising:

a housing having a recess for receipt of a container, the housing defined in part by a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a rear surface, and a bottom side;

a groove defined in the bottom side to assist in removal or insertion of a container;

a first compartment for receipt of a first battery, the first compartment defined at least in part by a first inner sidewall spaced inwardly from the first sidewall;

a second compartment for receipt of a second battery, the second compartment defined at least in part by a second inner sidewall spaced inwardly from the second sidewall;

a four position switch provided on the housing for modifying an operation state;

a cover hingedly attached to the housing; and

an actuator disposed above the recess,

wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are disposed on opposing sides of the recess.

19. The automatic discharge device of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of a length of a battery between opposing ends thereof is adjacent to the recess.

20. The automatic discharge device of claim 18, wherein a length of a battery between opposing ends thereof is completely adjacent to the recess.

21. The automatic discharge device of claim 18, wherein the cover comprises a curvilinear groove.

22. The automatic discharge device of claim 18, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment are defined within the recess.

23. The automatic discharge device of claim 18, wherein the first inner sidewall and the second inner sidewall are uniform along their lengths.

24. The automatic discharge device of claim 18, wherein a first position of the switch deactivates the automatic discharge device.

25. The automatic discharge device of claim 24, wherein a second position, a third position, and a fourth position of the switch actuates the actuator at preselected time intervals.

26. The automatic discharge device of claim 18, wherein the first compartment and the second compartment each include a cut out portion to assist in removal of the first and second batteries.

27. The automatic discharge device of claim 26, wherein each cut out portion is in a sidewall of each of the first compartment and the second compartment disposed opposite the first inner sidewall and the second inner sidewall, respectively.