CA2553580C

CA2553580C - Aerosol can adapter

Info

Publication number: CA2553580C
Application number: CA 2553580
Authority: CA
Inventors: Bruce Dawson
Original assignee: ECO-COP INC.
Current assignee: KUUS Inc
Priority date: 2006-07-26
Filing date: 2006-07-26
Publication date: 2009-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-26
Also published as: CA2553580A1

Abstract

An aerosol can adapter for securing an aerosol can within a dispenser housing. The aerosol can has a top end with a nozzle and a bottom end. The dispenser housing defines an interior cavity for containing the aerosol can and has a valve mechanism for receiving the nozzle of the aerosol can. The dispenser housing has sidewalls defining the interior cavity. The adapter includes an elongate body having an upper end and a lower end. A mounting mechanism is located at the upper end for engaging one of the sidewalls within the interior cavity of the dispenser housing. A resiliently flexible biasing mechanism is located at the lower end for bearing upwards against the bottom end of the aerosol can to secure the aerosol can within the dispenser housing and urge the nozzle into engagement with the valve mechanism.

Description

AEROSOL CAN ADAPTER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to aerosol spray dispensing devices, and in particular to an adapter for connecting an aerosol can to a dispenser housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Aerosol cans may be received in dispenser devices to effect dispensing of the contents contained within the aerosol cans. Typically, the dispenser device is mounted to a wall and includes a valve mechanism that connects to the nozzle of the aerosol can. The valve mechanism may be actuated by a timer or other mechanism to periodically depress the nozzle, causing the aerosol can to release some of its contents into the valve mechanism. The contents released from the can are directed through the valve mechanism to an outlet in the exterior of the dispenser housing and released into the environment.

[0003] The aerosol cans must be regularly replaced as their contents are used up. To facilitate replacement of the aerosol cans, they are typically attached to the valve mechanism by way of an adapter.

[0004] An example of an adapter is found in Canadian patent no.
2,099,849 to Winder. This patent describes an adapter device for connecting an aerosol spray can directly to the valve mechanism for dispensing the contents of the aerosol can. The adapter requires a two-part screw mechanism in which a portion attaches directly to the valve mechanism and a portion attaches to the undercut rim on top of the aerosol can.

[0005] It would be advantageous to provide for an alternative adapter for securing an aerosol can within a dispenser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In one aspect, the present application describes an aerosol can adapter for securing an aerosol can within a dispenser housing. The aerosol can has a top end with a nozzle and a bottom end. The dispenser housing deflnes an interior cavity for containing the aerosol can and has a valve mechanism for receiving the nozzle of the aerosol can. The dispenser housing has sidewalls defining the interior cavity. The adapter includes an elongate body having an upper end and a lower end, a mounting mechanism located at the upper end for engaging one of the sidewalls within the interior cavity of the dispenser housing, and a resiliently flexible biasing mechanism located at the lower end for bearing upwards against the bottom end of the aerosol can to secure the aerosol can within the dispenser housing and urge the nozzle into engagement with the valve mechanism.

[0007] In another aspect, the present application describes an aerosol can adapter for securing an aerosol can within a dispenser housing. The aerosol can has a top end with a nozzle and a bottom end. The dispenser housing defines an interior cavity for containing the aerosol can and has a valve mechanism for receiving the nozzle of the aerosol can. The dispenser housing has sidewalls defining the interior cavity. The adapter includes an elongate body having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end including means for engaging one of the sidewalls within the interior cavity of the dispenser housing, and the lower end including means for bearing upwards against the bottom end of the aerosol can to secure the aerosol can within the dispenser housing and urge the nozzle into engagement with the valve mechanism.

[0008] In yet another aspect, the present application describes an aerosol can adapter for securing an aerosol can within a dispenser housing.
The aerosol can has a top end with a nozzle and a bottom end. The dispenser housing defines an interior cavity for containing the aerosol can and has a valve mechanism for receiving the nozzle of the aerosol can. The dispenser housing has sidewalls defining the interior cavity. One of the sidewalls defines an aperture. The adapter includes a unitary elongate body having a longitudinal axis and an upper end and a lower end. The body has a can-side and a housing-side. The upper end is formed in a hook on the housing-side for engaging the aperture in the one of the sidewalls within the interior cavity of the dispenser housing. The lower end includes a flange extending outwards from the can-side and substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. The flange is resiliently flexible to accommodate insertion of the aerosol can and thereafter bear upwards against the bottom end of the aerosol can to secure the aerosol can within the dispenser housing and urge the nozzle into engagement with the valve mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to indicate similar features.

[0010] Figures 1A and 1B show a side view and a front view, respectively, of an embodiment of an aerosol can adapter.

[0011] Figure 2 shows a side view of an exemplary aerosol can for use with the adapter shown in Figures 1A and 1B.

[0012] Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the operation of the adapter of Figures 1A and 1B to secure an aerosol can within a dispenser housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Reference is now made to Figures 1A and 1B, which show an aerosol can adapter 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1A shows a side view of the adapter 10 and Figure 1B
shows a front view of the adapter 10. As best illustrated in Figure 3, the aerosol can adapter 10 is used for securing an aerosol can 12 to a dispenser 14 having a dispenser housing 24, 26.

[0014] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the adapter 10 has an elongate body 15. The body 15 has an upper end 16 and a lower end 18.
The body 15 has a front-side, or housing-side 40, and a back-side, or can-side 42. In use, the adapter 10 is positioned with the can-side adjacent the aerosol can 12 (Fig. 3).

[0015] A mounting mechanism, in this embodiment, a two-pronged hook 20, is located at the upper end 16 and projects in an outwards direction from the housing-side 40 of the body 15. The mounting mechanism is for securing the adapter 10 to the dispenser housing 24, 26. In this embodiment, the hook 20 is adapted to engage an aperture 30 (Figure 3) defined in the sidewall of the dispenser housing 26. Thus, the aperture 30 may be used as an adapter 10 holder.

[0016] A biasing member, in this embodiment, flange 22, is located at the lower end 18 of the adapter 10 and projects from the body 15 in a substantially transverse direction from the can-side 42 of the adapter 10.
The biasing member is for bearing against and supporting the bottom end of the aerosol can 12 (Figure 3) to urge it upwards when in the dispenser 14 thereby holding it in engagement with the valve mechanism in the dispenser 14. In this embodiment, the flange 22 extends substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the adapter 10, but features a slight upwards tilt, such that when the outer rim of the aerosol can 12 is positioned against the flange 22 it does not accidentally dislodge from the adapter 10. In other words, the flange 22 extends outwards at an acute angle relative to the can-side 42 of the body 15.

[0017] The flange 22 is formed from a resiliently flexible material. This allows the flange 22 to flex downwards during installation to accommodate insertion of the aerosol can 12. Once the aerosol can 12 has been inserted into position, the flange 22 then bears upwards by way of restitution against the bottom of the aerosol can 12, urging the aerosol can 12 upwards against the valve mechanism. Thus, the aerosol can 12 may be secured to the dispenser 14 in a snap-fit.

[0018] It can be appreciated to those skilled in the art that the mounting mechanism located at the dispenser housing engaging region 16 may be in the form of different embodiments. For example, the interior sidewall of the dispenser housing 24, 26 may provide a hook or other protrusion and the upper end 16 of the adaptor 10 may include an aperture or corresponding hook for securing the upper end 16 to the dispenser housing 24, 26. The mounting mechanism may include any similar mechanism for releasably securing the adapter to the interior sidewall of the dispenser housing 24, 26. More permanent applications may be used to secure the upper end 16 to the dispenser housing 24, 26, such as screw fittings, nails, or adhesives. Such applications would still permit aerosol cans 12 to be installed and de-installed by a user.

[0019] It may also be appreciated that the biasing member located at the lower end 18 of the adapter 10 may be embodied in other mechanisms.

[0020] The adapter 10 may be of unitary construction. In one embodiment, the adapter 10 may be formed of suitably resilient and rigid material, for example stainless steel. The dimensions of the adapter 10 may vary depending on the location of the aperture 30 (Figure 3) relative to the bottom of the aerosol can 12 when inserted into the dispenser 14. In one embodiment, the length of the body 15 may range from 50 mm to 300 mm to accommodate suitable aerosol cans, the aerosol cans being described in greater detail below.

[0021] Reference is now made to Figure 2, which shows the aerosol can 12 in greater detail. The aerosol can 12 may be a conventional spray can.
The aerosol can 12 includes a container body 19 having a bottom 23 and a nozzle 21 located at a top of the aerosol can 12. As shown, the container body 19 may be of a generally cylindrical shape. The nozzle 21 discharges spraying liquid of contents contained in the container body 19 in response to a depression of the nozzle 21. Suitable aerosol cans 12 may range from 20 cc up to 1000 cc.

[0022] The circular bottom 23 of the aerosol can 12 typically features a rolled rim along the exterior circumference and a concave underside.

[0023] Reference is now made to Figure 3, which shows an exploded view of the adapter 10 in use to secure the aerosol can 12 within the dispenser 14.

[0024] The dispenser 14 may include a back and front dispenser housing 24, 26 defining an interior recess for receiving of the aerosol can 12.
The dispenser housing 24, 26 includes sidewalls defining the interior recess or cavity within which the aerosol can 12 is contained. The front dispenser housing 26 includes an aperture 30. The hook 30 on the upper end 16 of the adapter 10 is sized so as to engage the aperture 30 to secure the adapter 10 to the dispenser housing 14.

[0025] The dispenser 14 also includes a valve mechanism 28 attached to a top of the front dispenser housing 26 for actuating the nozzle 21 and dispensing the contents of the aerosol can 12. In one embodiment, the valve mechanism 28 includes a solenoid-activated mechanism for moving a plunger 31 downwardly to depress the nozzle 21. The plunger 31 may have a central opening so the contents of the aerosol can 12 are free to pass through the plunger 31. The contents of the aerosol can 12 may then be released through a hole (not shown) defined in the front dispenser housing 26. Thus, the dispenser 14 may be used to effect automatic and period discharging of the aerosol can 12.

[0026] For installation of the adapter 10, as illustrated in Figure 3, the hook 20 of the adapter 10 is latched onto the aperture 30 of the front dispenser housing 26. The aerosol can 12 is then inserted upwards into the front dispenser housing 26 along the length of the body 15 of the adapter 10 until the nozzle 21 of the aerosol can 12 engages the valve mechanism 28.
The flange 22 is then snap-fit over the rolled rim of the bottom 23 of the aerosol can 12. The resiliently flexible flange 22 may flex downwards to accommodate insertion of the bottom 23 of the aerosol can 12. The flange 22 is then biased upwards by restitution, for bearing against and supporting of the bottom 23 of the aerosol can 12, urging it upwards against the valve mechanism 28. Thus, the aerosol can 12 is secured between the upwardly biased flange 22 (at the bottom) and the valve mechanism 28 (at the top).
The front dispenser housing 26 may be closed by attaching the back dispenser housing 24.

[0027] For de-installation of the adapter 10, for example after the contents of the aerosol can 12 have been released and emptied, the back dispenser housing 24 is removed. The flange 22 may be flexed downwards to allow for removal of the aerosol can 12 from its snap-fit engagement with the adapter 10. The aerosol can 12 is thereafter removed from the dispenser 14. A replacement aerosol can 12 may be installed onto the front dispenser housing 26 in the manner as described above.

[0028] In one embodiment, the aerosol can 12 may contain a deodorizer or scented perfume. In other embodiments, the aerosol can 12 may be used for dispensing chemicals such as pesticides or air control products. The contents of the aerosol can 12 will vary depending on the application.

[0029] While the invention has been described in detail in the foregoing specification, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, being limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An aerosol can adapter for securing an aerosol can within a dispenser housing, the aerosol can having a top end with a nozzle and a bottom end, the dispenser housing defining an interior cavity for containing the aerosol can and having a valve mechanism for receiving the nozzle of the aerosol can, the dispenser housing having sidewalls defining the interior cavity, the adapter comprising:

an elongate body having an upper end and a lower end;

a mounting mechanism located at said upper end for engaging one of the sidewalls within the interior cavity of the dispenser housing; and a resiliently flexible flange located at said lower end for bearing upwards against the bottom end of the aerosol can to secure the aerosol can within the dispenser housing and urge the nozzle into engagement with the valve mechanism wherein the sidewalls of the dispenser housing define an aperture, and wherein the mounting mechanism comprises a hook for engaging said aperture in the dispenser housing, wherein said elongate body has a longitudinal axis between said upper end and said lower end and wherein said resiliently flexible flange extends substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis, and wherein the elongate body, the mounting mechanism, and the resiliently flexible flange are of unitary construction.

2. The aerosol can adapter of claim 1, wherein the elongate body has a can-side and a housing-side and wherein the hook projects outwards from the body on said housing-side and the flange projects outwards from the body on said can-side.

3. The aerosol can adapter of claim 1, wherein said flange extends at an acute angle to said can-side of said elongate body.

4. The aerosol can adapter of claim 1, wherein the elongate body, the mounting mechanism, and the biasing mechanism are formed of stainless steel.