Spring-loaded actuator cap

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DESCRIPTION

Elastic load actuator capsule.

Background of the invention

1. Invention field

The present invention relates generally to actuator apparatus, and more particularly to actuator capsules suitable to be placed in containers and used to dispense product from the containers. It also refers to a system consisting of an actuator capsule in combination with a container.

2. Description of the background of the invention

Various apparatus have been developed to dispense product from a product container or reservoir. See, for example, US 3 404 814 and US Patent No. 5,287,998 which describe an actuator coupled to a container and including a passageway extending axially therethrough for discharging product. The actuator includes a pair of wings that extend transversely from the actuator. The container can be moved axially within a device such that the wings abut against a surface defining a passage, thereby discharging product through the passage.

Brotspies et al have described a spray bottle handle used with a nasal spray bottle. The handle is attached to a reciprocating nozzle of the spray bottle, and the arms extend downwardly along the spray bottle. The arms include finger tabs, which provide an ergonomic means for reciprocating the nozzle to dispense product from the spray bottle.

A disc-shaped actuator attached to a nozzle of a container is described in US Patent No. 3,318,492 to Haas. A user can depress the actuator with the finger, to dispense product from the container.

In US Patent No. 6,340,103 to Scheindel et al., A handle is described which extends along a body of the container. When a user pulls the handle toward the body of the container, a portion of the handle pushes down on a nozzle portion of the container to dispense product from the container.

A container having a tubular pump reciprocating in the vertical direction is disclosed in US Patent No. 4,138,039 to Micallef. A capsule is coupled to the container and includes an actuator button that extends from a side wall of the capsule. Movement of the actuator button in the direction towards the side wall of the capsule is converted into reciprocating movement in the perpendicular direction of the pump.

Devices having a product container disposed at a first end of a rod and having a trigger mechanism at a second end of the rod have been described in other patents, in which a user can remotely operate the container. Discharging product from that distance can be advantageous for many purposes, such as gaining access to hard-to-reach places, or perhaps dumping an insecticide onto a hornet's hive without having to be too close to the hive yourself. A device is disclosed in US Patent No. 5,518,148 to Smrt in which an actuator rod has a trigger at a first end and a container at a second end. Pulling the trigger moves the actuator rod longitudinally, such that the second end of the rod moves a toggle lever which, in turn, moves an additional rod that actuates a valve in the container. In US Pat. No. 6,551,001 to Aberegg et al., Assigned to the assignee of the present application and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a cleaning device having a trigger at a first end of a rod and a cleaning head with crankpin and a container at a second end of the rod. Pulling the trigger moves a pivot joint, which in turn actuates a valve in the container, thereby discharging product from the container onto the surface to be cleaned by the crankpin cleaning head.

An air freshener container inserted into a mortise is disclosed in US Patent No. 5,358,147 to Adams et al., Assigned to and also incorporated herein by reference. The mortise includes a nozzle that is attached to a valve stem of the container. The combination of the container and the mortise is placed inside a housing. When a user wishes to spray air freshener into ambient air, the user pushes the housing, which in turn pushes the mortise and valve stem, to dispense the air freshener out of the housing.

In US 3 404 814 an aerosol can is shown with a valve capsule consisting of a pair of wings linked by mid-webs to an actuator resting on the valve stem. The web connects the distal end of the wings to a proximal end of the actuator, such that when the wings are squeezed together, the actuator depresses and actuates the valve. This document forms the basis of the pre-characterizing portions of claims 1 and 7 that follow.

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Document WO 01/26995 shows an actuator capsule with triangular shaped webs that rise vertically inside the actuator capsule, in which the web is hinged in the vicinity of the point of attachment of the capsule to the canister, and in that the base of the triangle rests on a central actuating member located on the valve stem. Pressing in the upper regions of the triangular web causes the web to pivot and press down on the valve. The actuator and the web are provided in a formation configured as a radial engagement star complementary to each other, which enables the capsule to be rotated between a position in which the webs engage the actuator and a position in which the webs engage the actuator. They pass between the actuator arms. In one position, the device is ON, and in the other position it is OFF.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an actuator capsule as defined in claim 1 below.

In one embodiment of the invention, the pillars can be considered to form a flexible region that is capable of being flexed radially toward an axial centerline of the capsule. The flexible region flexes in response to a first force, to extend to a first extension, and in response to a second force greater than the first force, it flexes to a second extension greater than the first extension. A centrally disposed actuator member is oriented to discharge product axially. The actuator arm extends radially from the actuator member in the direction from the actuator member towards the flexible region. The actuator arm flexes to an actuation position in response to the second force, but does not flex to an actuation position in response to the first force.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the detailed description that follows. It is noted, however, that Figs. 1-16 have been provided for the purpose of comparison and to facilitate understanding of the Figures in which embodiments of the invention have been depicted. In Figs. 1-16 such embodiments have not been shown.

Brief description of the drawings

FIG. 1A is an exploded isometric perspective view of a container and valve actuator apparatus;

Fig. 1B is an exploded isometric perspective view showing a container having a female type receiving valve;

Fig. 1C is an isometric perspective view of a valve actuator apparatus;

FIG. 1D is an isometric perspective view of a valve stem having an arm extending therefrom;

Fig. 2 is an exploded isometric perspective view of a housing within which the container of Fig. 1A can be placed;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the housing of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along lines 4-4 of Fig. 3, further illustrating the container of Fig. 1 in elevation;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of Fig. 4;

Fig. 5A is an enlarged view of a section taken generally along lines 5A-5A of Fig. 5;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, exploded isometric perspective view illustrating a nozzle that can be coupled to a valve stem;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged bottom elevational view of the nozzle of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation view showing a rod and trigger mechanism in combination with the housing of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of a partial section taken generally along lines 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a part of the apparatus of Fig. 9;

Figs. 11 and 12 are top and bottom isometric perspective views, respectively, of the actuator capsule of Fig. 10;

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Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of the actuator capsule of Fig. 9, showing an optional cover in dotted lines;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken generally along lines 14-14 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 15 is an isometric perspective view of a second actuator capsule;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken generally along lines 16-16 of FIG. 15;

Fig. 17 is an isometric perspective view of an actuator capsule in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken generally along lines 18-18 of Fig.17;

Fig. 19A is a side elevation view of the capsule of Fig. 17 shown in an unflexed condition;

Fig. 19B is a side elevation view of the actuator capsule of Fig. 17 showing the actuator capsule in a flexed condition;

Fig. 20 is a plan view of the actuator capsule of Fig. 17;

Fig. 21 is a bottom elevation view of the actuator capsule of Fig. 17;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary sectional view of the housing of Fig. 1, further illustrating the container of Fig. 1 in elevation and an actuator capsule similar to the capsule of Fig. 17 in section;

Fig. 23 is a view similar to Fig. 22, but showing the container advanced axially towards the discharge opening of the housing;

Fig. 24 is a schematic and fragmentary isometric perspective view of an alternative pillar and actuator arm;

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary isometric perspective view of a portion of the capsule of Fig. 17, further illustrating the capsule having an integral nozzle member;

Fig. 26 is a bottom elevation view of a portion of the capsule of Fig. 17; Y

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along lines 27-27 of Fig. 25.

Detailed description of the drawings

FIG. 1A illustrates a container 50 and a valve actuator apparatus 52 operable to dispense product from the container 50. The container 50 includes a main container body 56 containing product. Referring to Fig. 2, a housing 60 is provided, in which the container 50 can be placed. The housing 60 includes a wall 61 whose cross-section decreases in size narrowing to a discharge opening 62. The discharge opening 62 has a cross-sectional size greater than a radius R of the container 50. The container 50 includes a valve stem 66 that actuates a valve (not shown) disposed within the container body 56, and the product flows from valve stem 66 in a direction substantially parallel to an axial dimension of container 50. Valve stem 66 could either be a vertically depressed valve stem, or be a tilt valve stem. As will be appreciated hereinafter, if a tilt valve stem is used, such a stem could alternatively be vertically depressed without tilt, to dispense product therethrough. With reference to Fig. 1B, the valve stem 66 could be replaced with a female valve 68 that receives a suitable insertion tube 69. As illustrated in Fig. 1C, the insertion tube 69 could be integral with, or secured to, the Valve actuator apparatus 52. Alternatively, valve actuator apparatus 52 could be detachable from insertion tube 69. Similarly, it should be apparent that the valve actuator apparatus 52 could be separable from the valve stem 66, or could be secured in relation to fixed thereto, or could be integral therewith. It should be apparent that valve actuator apparatus 52 could include any suitable apparatus that can be displaced to release product from container 50. Referring again to Fig. 2, the housing 60 may include first and second wall portions 70, 72 that may be joined together to house the container 50. The portion 70 may include three bayonet slots 76a-76c disposed at one end 77 of the portion 70 and spaced equal to 120 degrees from each other. To join the parts 70, 72, the user inserts pins 78a-78c carried by one end 79 of the part 72 into the grooves 76a-76c and provides relative rotation of the parts 70, 72, to seat the pins 78a-78c. within the recessed regions 80a-80c of the grooves 76.

Any one of the portions 70, 72 may include protrusions 82, such as guide fins 84, having edges 85 abutting an outer surface 86 of the container 50, when the container 50 is positioned therein to center the container 50. within housing 60. Any one of parts 70, 72, may include elongated openings or windows 88 that allow a user to view container 50 when the container is disposed within the housing.

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60. The windows 88 further provide an advantage in that the user can see the written addresses or graphics arranged on the container 50.

With reference to Figs. 4 and 5, the valve actuator apparatus 52 extends in a direction transverse to a longitudinal dimension of the container 50. The valve actuator apparatus 52 has a length L defined between a center of the valve stem and an outer peripheral surface 90 of the apparatus. valve actuator 52. As seen in Fig. 5, the length L is selected relative to the interior dimensions of the wall 61, such that the outer peripheral surface 90 is arranged in interference relationship with the wall 61. By relatively moving the container 50 and the housing 60 such that the main body 56 of the container 50 and the discharge opening 62 are moved toward each other, the outer peripheral surface 90 is caused to contact a surface 92 of the wall 61, thereby displacing valve actuator apparatus 52 and dispensing product out through discharge opening 62. It is to be appreciated that the valve actuator apparatus 52 could be of any suitably shaped structure. For example, referring to FIG. 1D, valve actuator apparatus 52 could include a single arm 94 having at least a portion of length L and extending from a tilt-type valve stem 96.

With reference to Figs. 5-7, a nozzle 98 may be coupled to valve stem 66, and nozzle 98 may be coupled within a bore defined by a circumferential wall 100 of valve actuator apparatus 52. Nozzle 98 includes a shoulder 102 that abuts the valve. abutting a bearing surface 104 of valve actuator apparatus 52. Referring to FIG. 5A, circumferential wall 100 may include ribs 101 extending therefrom, engaging wall 108. In addition, wall 100 may be tapered to facilitate insertion of nozzle 98 therein. The nozzle 98 may include an inner circumferential wall 106 defining a flow path and surrounded by an outer circumferential wall 108 connected to the inner circumferential wall 106 by radially extending members 110. The nozzle 98 may also have a flange 111 abutting a lower periphery of the circumferential wall 100, as seen in Fig. 5. An outlet 112 is located in a discharge port 114 of the nozzle 98. It is they can select various common internal characteristics to thereby impart a desired spray characteristic to the product discharged from the nozzle 98. Nozzles such as nozzle 98 are commercially available from Summit Packaging Systems, Inc. of Manchester, New Hampshire (USA).

With reference to Figs. 8 and 9, housing 60 includes a sleeve 116 attached by any suitable means to a first end 117 of a hollow tube 118 of a rod and trigger mechanism 120. A handle assembly 121 is secured by any suitable means to a second end 122 of the hollow tube 117. Pulling a trigger 123 of the handle assembly 121 advances a push rod 124 (Fig. 9) disposed within tube 118, against an interior surface 126 of container 50, thereby advancing valve actuator apparatus 52 toward discharge opening 62, to dispense product from housing 60. If necessary or desirable, it may be configuring and / or engaging an end 127 of pushrod 124 with a plate or other member, to distribute forces more evenly across interior surface 126 of container 50. Furthermore, if desired, instead of moving container 50 relative to housing 60 using the trigger and rod mechanism, one could move container 50 and / or housing 60, each relative to the other, by hand. , to dispense product.

Referring again to Fig. 5, a main region 129 of wall portions 70 and 72 may have an inner cross-section size C1 of approximately 66mm, and therefore container 50 could have a section size transverse up to approximately 66 mm. In this regard, although a range of sizes is available for container 50, it may be desired to provide a container that is maximally sized, or close to it, to achieve maximum useful life of container 50, given the space available within housing 60. Any suitable size for discharge opening 62 could be selected, such as a cross-sectional size of about 34mm, and suitable L values ​​could be from about 18mm to about 33mm, to provide the above-described relationship. interference. A preferred value for L is about 25 mm.

The product stored within the container body 56 could be any of a wide variety of products, such as an air freshener, an insect control agent, a hair spray, a cleaning agent, a buffing agent, a fragrance, or any other product stored in a container. In addition, the product can be put under pressure by a suitable propellant disposed within the container 50.

In Figs. 10-14 illustrates another embodiment of valve actuator apparatus 146, in which structures that are common to those of the previous embodiments have been assigned the same reference numerals. FIG. 11 depicts valve actuator apparatus 146 incorporated into actuator capsule 148 that can be fitted onto container 50. A major peripheral wall 149 of capsule 148 decreases in cross-sectional size along an axial dimension defined between first and second ends 150, 152, tapering from end 150 to end 152. Referring also to Fig. 10, a first arm 154a is integral with wall 100 surrounding nozzle 98 and has a length L, measured between surface 90 and the center of valve stem 66. The center of valve stem 66 is substantially coincident with the center of actuator capsule 148. FIG. 10 depicts that a portion of the inner circumferential wall 106 of nozzle 98 may be tapered to facilitate insertion of valve stem 66 into the same. Arm 154a extends in a transverse direction

ES 2 301 064 T3 to the axial dimension, such that the surface 90 is disposed beyond a portion 158 of the main wall 149. When the capsule 148 is coupled to the container 50, one of the capsule 148 and the container 50 , or both, define an outermost periphery 162, and arm 154a preferably, though not necessarily, does not extend beyond the outermost periphery 162. A flexible strap member 164a extends from circumferential wall 100 in a direction opposite to that of arm 154a. Referring to Fig. 11, additional arms 154b, 154c may be provided, and the arms 154a-154c are spaced 120 degrees apart. Belt members 164b, 164c, extend in directions diametrically opposite to those of arms 154b, 154c. Arms 154a-154c are cantilevered from circumferential wall 100, and arms 154 and belts 134 form a monolithic structure attached to main wall 149 only in areas 166a-166c of main wall 149. Belts 164 and arms 154 are disposed in defined recesses between vertical portions 167-172 of capsule 148. The actuator capsule 148 provides a useful centering function, in that the outer surfaces 173a-173f of the vertical portions 167-172, respectively, maintain the discharge point 112 of the actuator capsule 148, as best seen in Figs. 10 and 11, in a centrally located position relative to discharge opening 62, thereby minimizing the potential to strike against surface 92 of wall 61. Referring to Figs. 13 and 14, a cover 175 may be placed over the capsule 148 to prevent inadvertent or inadvertent actuation during shipping.

It is shown in FIG. 14 that actuator capsule 148 may include an inwardly tapering circumferential flange 180 and a plurality of inwardly directed beads 182 spaced apart. As illustrated in FIG. 10, flange 111 and beads 108 are press fit over a flange 184 of container 50, such that flange 184 is clamped between flange 180 and beads 182, to retain the actuator capsule 148 in container 50.

In Figs. 12 and 14 are depicted arcuate stiffeners or stiffening ribs 186 which impart stiffness to wall portions 167-172. Shown in Fig. 14 is means 188 that can be provided within circumferential wall 100 to engage the outer surface of valve stem 66, or nozzle 68 coupled to valve stem 68. Ribs 188 help center nozzle 98 and further provide slightly flexible contact points between circumferential wall 100 and nozzle 98, accommodating minor variations in the size of either part.

In Figs. 15 and 16 show an alternative actuator capsule 200 having an arm in the form of a lever member 204. The lever member 204 extends in a direction transverse to the axial dimension and terminates at the outer peripheral surface 90, the which is disposed beyond a portion 208 of wall 149 of capsule 200. However, the lever member 204 preferably does not extend transversely beyond an outer diameter of the first end 150. The lever member 204 is pivotable about a hinge portion 212 connected to the wall 149. The surface 90 Lever member 204 travels an arcuate path as lever member 204 is pivoted downward. At a point represented by dashed lines 210, surface 90 does not extend beyond any part of wall 149, such that lever member 204 cannot move downward more than a particular distance, due to the fact that the lever member 204 is protected from the housing surface 92 by the wall 149. Therefore, when the capsule 200 is disposed in the container 50, it is not possible to flex the lever member 204, nor, consequently, the valve stem 66, more than that particular distance. Comparing capsule 148 of Figs. 10-14 with capsule 200, it should be noted that plurality of arms 154 of capsule 148 radiating from circumferential wall 100 provide a plurality of surfaces 90 in circumferentially spaced position. By providing a plurality of surfaces 90 at positions spaced apart from each other, such as at 180 °, a substantially axial reciprocating movement of valve stem 66 is ensured, rather than tilting movement, potentially minimizing product discharge against the wall. 61 from housing 60.

In Figs. Actuator capsules embodying the present invention and designed to reduce the likelihood of inadvertent or inadvertent dispensing that could result from a user inadvertently shaking or rocking the housing 60 with the container 50 disposed therein are illustrated 17-27.

Referring to Fig. 17, an actuator capsule 300 has a main body 302, a centrally disposed adapter 304 capable of being secured to the valve stem 66 shown in Fig. 1, and actuator arms 305a305c extending from adapter 304 and cantilevered from it. First through sixth flexible pillars 306a-306f are provided, which may be similar or identical in shape to vertical portions 168-172 of Figs. 10-14. The pillars 306a-306f extend from a main peripheral wall 308 of the main body 302. As illustrated in Fig. 18, the pillars 306 are cantilevered from the wall 308, attached to the wall 308 at a hinge point 309 The posts 306 are capable of being flexed radially inward, toward the central adapter 304, around the hinge point 309. During such flexing, posts 306 lean inward slightly around hinge point 309, arching toward center adapter 304.

As discussed hereinafter, flexing of the posts 306 is necessary to allow the actuator arms 305 to be flexed sufficiently to reach an actuation position thereof. In this regard, an actuation position is achieved when the center adapter 304 is axially displaced a sufficient distance to effect dispensing of product from the container 50. As illustrated in FIG. 23, the center adapter 304 is secured to the valve stem 66, and the actuation position is achieved when the valve stem 66 is axially displaced a sufficient distance, within the container 50, as

ES 2 301 064 T3 to dispense product. In FIG. 19B, a flexed state of the capsule 300 is illustrated in which the posts 306 are flexed, but the actuator arms 305 have not been flexed. The flexion depicted in Fig. 19B could result if the posts 306 were squeezed by hand to bring them together without flexing the actuator arms 305. Although this flexion state depicted in Fig. 19B would not result in movement of container 50 within housing 60, this view may, however, be instructive in understanding why posts 306 must be flexed in order for adapter 304 to be displaced to the actuation position thereof. In this regard, Fig. 19A illustrates a portion P1 of path traveled by an end surface 324 of actuator arms 305. If the flexible posts 306 had been made rigid and immobile, then a surface 325 of the posts 306 at a lower end of the path portion P1 would protect the arms 305 by preventing further travel against the housing surface 92. However, since the posts 306 are susceptible to flexing, as illustrated in Fig. 19B, end surface 324 can travel a greater path P2 when sufficient force deflects posts 306. In Fig. 23, posts 306 are shown flexed toward center adapter 304 and valve stem 66 axially displaced within the container 50. The pillars 306 may have an outward spring load, which tends to move them away from the central adapter 304. In order to axially move the central adapter 304 a sufficient distance, to the actuation position thereof, the amount of force that is sufficient to overcome the load of the pillars 306 must be applied, and therefore the pillars 306 moved to allow a sufficient bending of the actuator arms 305, to the position of actuation thereof.

With reference to Figs. 18, 21, 22 and 23, stiffening ribs 328 may be provided. Ribs 328 connect an internal surface 329 (Fig. 18) of peripheral wall 308 to internal surfaces 332a-332f (Fig. 21) of pillars 306. The pillars 306 are hollow, and the ribs 328 bisect the hollow pillars 306. During flexure of the pillars 306, each of the pillars 306 moves unitarily. With particular reference to Fig. 18, a lower edge 334 of ribs 328 may be positioned close enough to point of articulation 309 that ribs 328 do not have to flex substantially during flexion of posts 306.

Comparing capsule 300, as illustrated in Fig. 18, with any of the embodiments depicted in Figs. 10-16, it should be appreciated that the outermost surfaces 90 of the actuator arms 305 of FIG. 18 extend a smaller distance, outside of the capsule 300, beyond a surface 335, than the various actuator arms depicted in FIGS. Figs. 10-16, such as actuator arms 154 (Figs. 10-14), or lever member 204 (Fig. 16). However, although the actuator arms 305 extend outward a lesser distance relative to the surface 335, the actuator arms 305 still define a length L which must be sufficient so that the outermost surfaces 90 of the actuator arms 305 can contacting surface 92 of the housing. In this regard, the length L, as represented in Fig. 18, can take any suitable value, such as being greater than about * 4 of a diameter D of capsule 300, measured at end 150. Of course, length L can alternatively be expressed as greater than about * / 2 of the radius R (the radius R of the container seen in Fig. 22) of the container 50 to which the capsule 3900 is attached.

It is to be appreciated that in the non-flexed state depicted in Fig. 19A, actuator arms 305a-305c have no need to extend out of capsule 300 beyond surface 335. For example, referring to Fig. 19A , the end surfaces 324 of the actuator arms 305 could be arranged at the dotted line 336 position. With such an arrangement, end surfaces 324 of actuator arms 305a-305c would be disposed within actuator capsule 300 prior to flexing of posts 306, but upon sufficient flexing of posts 306, they would come into contact with the post. surface 92 of the housing. It is further appreciated that actuator arms 306 could alternatively be dimensioned such that end surfaces 324 are flush with surface 335 prior to flexing of posts 306. Regardless of whether surfaces 324 are located inside or outside of capsule 300 or flush with surface 335, the extent of axial flexure of actuator arms 305 against surface 92 can be increased by radially flexing posts 306 toward the other. adapter 304.

With reference to Figs. 22 and 23, by producing a relative movement of the container 50 toward the discharge opening 62, as described hereinabove, the valve stem 66 is depressed within the container 50, producing the discharge of the product out through the discharge opening 62, as described hereinafter. As the pillars 306a-306f flex against the surface 92, the continued movement of the capsule 300 toward the discharge opening 62 causes the actuator arms 305a-305c to flex axially toward the container 50, thereby axially displacing the adapter 304. When the adapter 304 becomes sufficiently displaced to the actuation position thereof, the valve (not shown) of the container 50 opens, and dispenses product from the housing 60. The resistance to movement of the arms 305 and the relative dimensions of the pillars 306 and the arms 305 are such that flexing of the pillars 306 must take place before the actuator arms 305 can be moved to the actuation position. Referring also to Figs. 25-27, adapter 304 may include an integral nozzle member 390 having a spray tip 392. Referring to Fig. 27, nozzle member 390 may have a tapered surface 394 to facilitate coupling of valve stem 66 within nozzle member 390.

Since the posts 306 must be flexed in order for dispensing to take place, an external mechanical force of sufficient magnitude must be applied to the actuator capsule 300 to overcome the resistance offered by the posts 306. In this regard, that resistance of the pillars 306 against movement provides a reaction force against the forces directing the container 50 toward the discharge opening 62, such that that force

ES 2 301 064 T3 must be expired before dispensing can occur. That reaction force is advantageous, in that low levels of force may be insufficient to overcome the same to dispense product from housing 60. For example, such low levels of force may occur when the user shakes the housing 60 while walking or manipulating the housing 60, or may arise from a user shaking the housing 60 to mix the contents of the container 50. Such agitation could cause the capsule 300 to be in a state in which the pillars 306 are slightly flexed and the actuator arms 305 are either unflexed or flexed to a lesser extent than for the actuation position thereof. Ideally, the reaction force offered by the posts 306 prevents inadvertent dispensing until such time as the user intentionally applies sufficient force, thereby causing the posts 306 to flex radially and thereby axially flex the actuator arms 305 to the actuation position. thereof. Consequently, the user can pull the trigger 123 shown in Fig. 8, to intentionally dispense product, while avoiding inadvertent dispensing.

Referring to FIG. 24, an alternative post 400 could include a rod 402 or other structure extending therefrom into the flexion path of an actuator arm 405, similar or identical to actuator arms 305. Axial flexure of the actuator arm 405 in the direction of arrow A pushes actuator arms 405 against rod 402, thereby moving post 400. With the design of Fig. 24, moving the actuator arm 405 moves the pillar 400, and any force applied directly to the arm 405 must be sufficient to overcome the resistance to the movement of the pillar 400, in order for the actuator arm 405 to reach an actuation position thereof.

The above embodiments can provide one or more of the following advantages.

First, since valve actuator apparatus 52, such as arm 305, has a sufficiently large value of L, preferably having a suitable value greater than about half the radius R of the container (or, in other words , one-quarter diameter D), valve actuator apparatus 52 is usable with housing 60 to dispense product therefrom, even though discharge opening 62 is large. (As noted above, the cross-sectional size of the discharge opening 62 is greater than the radius R of the container). Containers lacking an actuator apparatus of length L, as defined above, are not usable with housing 60. This can be useful as containers lacking the required valve actuator apparatus 52 cannot be intended for use with housing 60, or housing 60 cannot be marketed for use with a particular product container lacking the actuator apparatus. valve 52. For example, housing 60 may be marketed for use with a container of a specific type of insecticide sold with valve actuator apparatus 52. Furthermore, a longer L value may be advantageous from the point of view of manufacturing tolerances, since it may be easier to control the tolerances of L for a large valve actuator apparatus than for a small valve actuator apparatus. which has a smaller margin of tolerances. Another advantage of the discharge opening 62 being large, and the value of L being large, is that contact near the outlet 112 is avoided. Since wall 61 contacts outer peripheral surface 90 at distance L from valve stem bore 66, the potential for product clogging or shock is minimized. This feature could be especially advantageous for some products that fan when discharged from container 50, as the product reaches further from container 50. The large size of the cross section of the wall 61 would accommodate such fanning, while minimizing the incidence or deposit of product thereon. Another advantage of the large discharge opening 62 is that the surface 92 of the wall 61 can be easily accessed for cleaning. In connection with the embodiment of Figs. 15-16, since the relatively long length L has been selected, the lever arm 204 has a significant mechanical advantage, at least in accordance with this embodiment. Another optional advantage of a large value of L is that the valve actuator apparatus 52 could be easily moved by hand if a user removes the container 50 from the housing 60 and manually moves the same. In this regard, the relatively large value of the length L enables the user to keep his hands clear of the discharge of the product from the container 50 in the event of such manual actuation. Also, the large size of the discharge opening 62 may require less material to construct the housing 60, and therefore cost less.

Industrial applicability

The embodiments set forth above are useful for dispensing a variety of products, such as insecticides, cleaning products, air treatment products (eg, air fresheners), or other products.

To those skilled in the art, numerous modifications of the present invention will be apparent in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be understood as merely an illustrative example of the concepts of the invention disclosed herein, and is presented in order to enable those skilled in the art to materialize and use the invention, and to teach the best way to put it into practice. Exclusive rights are reserved for all modifications that fall within the scope of the accompanying claims.