Abstract:
An aerosol actuator including a director capable of extending an outlet of the aerosol actuator away from the aerosol actuator and which may be configured to include a multi-function nozzle for selecting a dispersing pattern.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    Embodiments of the invention relate to aerosol sprayer devices and more particularly to aerosol actuators having a delivery or director piece and nozzle. 
         [0003]    2. State of the Art 
         [0004]    Spray devices are well known and are used to deliver a variety of products. For example, finger pumps and trigger sprayers may be used to deliver a fluid from a container onto a surface or into a volume of space. Similarly, aerosol sprayers are used to spray an aerosolized product onto a surface or into a volume of space. Many different types of spray devices are known. 
         [0005]    Aerosol spray devices typically include a pushbutton type spray device containing an orifice and a connection to a valve which is in turn connected to a container of product from which the aerosol product is dispensed. Actuation of the pushbutton releases a quantity of product from the aerosol container through the valve and the pushbutton. More recently, aerosol spray devices have been modified to look more like trigger sprayers and such devices may include a trigger attached to, or in communication with, a manifold which is connected to the valve of an aerosol container. Actuation of the trigger may release product from the aerosol container through the valve, into the manifold, and out an orifice of the trigger spray device. 
         [0006]    When using either a pushbutton-type aerosol device or a trigger sprayer aerosol device, product is dispensed relatively close to the aerosol bottle and in some instances, bearding or droplets forming on the end of a manifold or exit orifice may drip or otherwise come in contact with a user&#39;s hand or body. Such contact may be undesirable. 
         [0007]    In addition, some aerosol actuators include extension tubes which may be fastened to an aerosol actuator to direct product through the tube to a release point away from the user. While such systems are used, often times the tube must be shipped separate from the aerosol package and in some cases must be thrown away after a single use, preventing further use of the aerosol device. 
         [0008]    While conventional aerosol delivery systems provide methods for dispensing product, it is desirable to be able to dispense a product away from a user and to be able to reuse the director or extension used to direct the dispensing of the aerosol product. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    According to certain embodiments of the invention, an aerosol actuator may include one or more directors mounted on the aerosol actuator such that the director may pivot or rotate between an on and off position. 
         [0010]    According to some embodiments of the invention, a director may include one or more nozzles which may be rotated between any one or more of an “off” position, a “stream” position, a “spray” position, a “foam” position, or other desired output position. 
         [0011]    According to various embodiments of the invention, a director or nozzle, or both, may be incorporated into the design of the aerosol actuator for any one or more of easy storage, improved ergonomics, preferred aesthetics, or otherwise. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming particular embodiments of the present invention, various embodiments of the invention can be more readily understood and appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art from the following descriptions of various embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates an aerosol actuator according to various embodiments of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates an aerosol actuator according to various embodiments of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top-down view of an aerosol actuator according to various embodiments of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the aerosol actuator illustrated in  FIG. 3  along line  4 - 4 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  illustrates a top-down view of an aerosol actuator according to various embodiments of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the aerosol actuator illustrated in  FIG. 5  along line  6 - 6 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  illustrates a component view of an aerosol actuator according to various embodiments of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the aerosol actuator illustrated in  FIG. 7  along line  8 - 8 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  illustrates an aerosol actuator according to various embodiments of the invention; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  illustrates an aerosol actuator according to various embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    According to embodiments of the invention, an aerosol actuator  100  may include one or more directors  110 . The one or more directors  110  may be configured to direct a product for dispersing away from a body of the aerosol actuator  100 . 
         [0024]    An aerosol actuator  100  according to various embodiments of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As illustrated, an aerosol actuator  100  may include a director  110 . Other components of an aerosol actuator  100  may include conventional components such as a base  190 , a trigger  192 , a spring  194  or cap, and a manifold  196 . For example, an aerosol actuator  100  according to embodiments of the invention may include an aerosol actuator such as those disclosed in PCT Application PCT/US11/48816 entitled “AEROSOL ACTUATORS,” filed 23 Aug. 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0025]    An aerosol actuator  100  according to embodiments of the invention may be connected to or mated with a container  900  such as an aerosol container containing a product. The connection and use of an aerosol actuator  100  to a container  900  may be done using any number of conventional methods. 
         [0026]    Various configurations and operating states of an aerosol actuator  100  according to various embodiments of the invention are illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 10 . According to various embodiments of the invention, an aerosol actuator  100  may include a director  110 . In some embodiments, a director  110  may be configured to extend an exit flow path for a product being sprayed or dispersed by the aerosol actuator  100 . For example, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 ,  5 ,  6 , and  10 , a director  110  may be extended away from a trigger  192  of the aerosol actuator  100  such that the exit orifice of the aerosol actuator  100  is away from the body of the aerosol actuator  100 . 
         [0027]    In some embodiments of the invention, a director  110  may fold out to an extended position as illustrated in  FIG. 2  and be folded into the aerosol actuator  100 , or an opening or slot in the aerosol actuator  100 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0028]    According to some other embodiments of the invention, a nozzle  120  may be assembled with, integral to, or connected to the director  110 . A nozzle  120  may have an input and an exit. A nozzle  120  may include various stream, dispersing, or spray selections. For example, a nozzle  120  may include an “off” position in which product flow is blocked through the nozzle  120 . A nozzle  120  may also include a “stream” position, “spray” position, or “foam” position as conventionally known with trigger sprayers but not used with aerosol dispensing systems. 
         [0029]    A nozzle  120  according to various embodiments of the invention may rotate on an end of the director  110  such that various selections may be made for the dispensing of a product from a container  900  to which the aerosol actuator  100  may be attached. 
         [0030]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , an aerosol actuator  100  may include a director  110  folded back into a slot in the aerosol actuator  100 . A fluid flow path  112  in the director  110  may be visible when folded back as illustrated. 
         [0031]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a director  110  may be extended out for dispersing a product from the aerosol actuator  100 . While the director  110  illustrated in  FIG. 2  is folded out, it is understood that a director  110  could also slide out or be extended in another fashion. For example, a director  110  may slide in and out of a slot on the aerosol actuator  100 . In such instances, a nozzle  120  may be placed on the opposite end of the director  110  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0032]    A top-down view of an aerosol actuator  100  according to certain embodiments of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 3  and a cross-sectional view thereof is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . As shown, the director  110  may fold back or rotate about a ball or cylindrical portion to rest within the aerosol actuator  100 . When rotated in a closed position as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a portion of the ball or cylinder may seal with an o-ring  118  at an exit of the manifold  196 . The seal between the o-ring  118  and the director  110  may prevent flow through the aerosol actuator  100 . 
         [0033]    According to some embodiments of the invention, when the director  110  is folded back or stored in the aerosol actuator  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the position of the director  110  may prevent actuation of the aerosol actuator  100 . 
         [0034]    A top-down view of an aerosol actuator  100  with a director  110  in an open state according to various embodiments of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 5  and a cross-sectional view thereof is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . As illustrated, when the director  110  is extended out, a flow path from the manifold  196  is opened through the director  110  and any nozzle  120  attached thereto. In some embodiments, the nozzle  120  may also be turned to stop or close flow from the director  110  even when the director  110  is in the illustrated open state or position. 
         [0035]    In some embodiments of the invention, a seal between an o-ring  118  and the director  110  may prevent leakage during operation of the aerosol actuator  100 . 
         [0036]    An aerosol actuator  100  assembly according to various embodiments of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . A cross-sectional view thereof is illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0037]      FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrated side views of an aerosol actuator  100  according to various embodiments of the invention. 
         [0038]    Having thus described certain particular embodiments of the invention, it is understood that the invention defined by the appended claims is not to be limited by particular details set forth in the above description, as many apparent variations thereof are contemplated. Rather, the invention is limited only be the appended claims, which include within their scope all equivalent devices or methods which operate according to the principles of the invention as described.