Abstract:
The present invention relates to aerosol dispensers that have multiple removable cartridge-refills, wherein at least one of the cartridge-refills can be selectively positioned to have its contents discharged while the contents of the remaining cartridge-refills stay contained.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an apparatus that can be used as an aerosol dispenser. In particular the present invention relates to aerosol dispensers that have multiple removable cartridges, wherein at least one of the cartridges can be selectively positioned to have its contents discharged while the contents of the remaining cartridges stay contained. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Aerosol dispensers and cans for dispensing pressurized materials are commercially available in a variety of stores. The dispensers and cans generally contain products and materials ranging from harmless air fresheners to toxic substances such as insecticides and paints. Most aerosol dispensers dispense a single product while other aerosol dispensers that are on the market have multiple material compartments wherein the materials from the multiple material compartments are combined either by an actuator or some other device upon discharge. A well known aerosol dispenser is typically in the form of a pressurized can containing a product that will be discharged by depressing a push button actuator. 
         [0005]    Many products and materials are dispensed using aerosol dispensers and aerosol cans. Generally the aerosol dispensers and aerosol cans that are commercially available dispense a single product. This is accomplished by constructing an aerosol can that contains a propellant which is a fluid that boils well below room temperature and a product that boils at a much higher temperature. The product is the substance you actually use, for example hair spray or insect repellent, and the propellant is the means of getting the product out of the can. Both fluids are typically stored in a sealed metal can. 
         [0006]    Generally there are two commonly used ways to configure an aerosol system. In the simpler design, you pour in the liquid product, seal the can, and then pump a gaseous propellant through the valve system. The gas is pumped in at high-pressure, so it pushes down on the liquid product with a good amount of force. 
         [0007]    In this type of can configuration, a long plastic tube runs from the bottom of the can up to a valve system at the top of the can. The valve typically has a very simple design. It has a small, depressible head piece, with a narrow channel running through it. The channel runs from an inlet near the bottom of the head piece to a small nozzle at the top. A spring pushes the head piece up, so the channel inlet is blocked by a tight seal. 
         [0008]    As the head piece is depressed, the inlet slides below the seal, opening a passage from the inside of the can to the outside. The high-pressure propellant gas drives the liquid product up the plastic tube and out through the nozzle. The narrow nozzle serves to atomize the flowing liquid that is breaking it up into tiny drops which form a fine spray. 
         [0009]    In the more popular system, the propellant is a liquefied gas. This means that the propellant will take liquid form when it is highly compressed, even if it is kept well above its boiling point. 
         [0010]    Since the product is liquid at room temperature, it is simply poured in before the can is sealed. The propellant, on the other hand, must be pumped in under high pressure after the can is sealed. When the propellant is kept under high enough pressure, it doesn&#39;t have any room to expand into a gas. It stays in liquid form as long as the pressure is maintained. 
         [0011]    Typically the actual can design in this liquefied-gas system is exactly the same as in the compressed-gas system. But when the button is depressed the valve is open and the pressure on the liquid propellant is instantly reduced. With less pressure, it can begin to boil. Particles break free, forming a gas layer at the top of the can. This pressurized gas layer pushes the liquid product, as well as some of the liquid propellant, up the tube to the nozzle. 
         [0012]    When the liquid flows through the nozzle, the propellant rapidly expands into gas. In some aerosol cans, this action helps to atomize the product, forming an extremely fine spray. In other designs, the evaporating propellant forms bubbles in the product, creating a foamy substance. The consistency of the expelled product depends on several factors, including but not limited to the chemical makeup of the propellant and product, the ratio of propellant to product, the pressure of the propellant and the size and shape of the valve system. 
         [0013]    Manufacturers are able to produce a wide variety of aerosol devices by configuring these elements in different combinations. However the basic mechanism at work is the same, one fluid pushes another. 
         [0014]    Prior art aerosol cans generally only contain a single product such as a deodorant. If an user of a product desires to have multiple deodorants each having a different scent then the user must purchase multiple deodorant aerosol cans, that is, one aerosol can for each fragrance desired. The within invention advantageously solves that problem by allowing an user to purchase a single canister that can hold a plurality of fragrances. 
         [0015]    Another problem with existing prior art aerosol cans is that the products within aerosol cans that contain multiple compartments will generally not be consumed at the same rate as the products within other compartments due to users&#39; preferences. This will cause the aerosol can to have certain compartments with a product that will be depleted before the products within the remaining compartments. The within invention advantageously solves this problem by providing cartridge-refills. 
         [0016]    Therefore there is not only a need for an aerosol dispenser that contains multiple products but also for an aerosol dispenser wherein each product canister that is depleted can be replaced with another product canister having the same product or a different product. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    An apparatus according to present invention comprises an aerosol dispenser having a plurality of cartridges each cartridge capable of being independently selected for use. The apparatus further comprises an access mechanism for removing and replacing each of the plurality of cartridges such that when a particular cartridge is empty it can be replaced with a refill cartridge. 
         [0018]    Another embodiment according to the present invention comprises the apparatus further having an actuator cap for activating the discharge valve on at least one of the plurality of cartridges and a plurality of cartridge guides for positioning the cartridges within a dispenser housing which accepts and houses each of the cartridge guides. 
         [0019]    Another embodiment according to the present invention comprises an user inserting refill cartridges into the dispenser housing into at least one of the cartridge guides, then selects a cartridge having a product that will be discharged by manually pressing the cartridge guide containing the selected cartridge into a center of a dispenser such that it aligns with a spray button positioned in a spray-head cap affixed onto the dispenser housing above the selected cartridge guide, when the user desires to use a different product, the cartridge having the different product is pushed toward the center of the dispenser such that it dislodges the cartridge that has previously been used and secures the cartridge having the different product into place. 
         [0020]    Another embodiment according to the present invention comprises an aerosol dispenser having a canister with a top-portion, a bottom-portion, an interior-portion, an exterior-portion and a plurality of cartridge-selectors, a plurality of cartridge-holders having an inside-portion and an outside-portion, movably affixed to the interior-portion of the canister by at least one contractor, wherein each cartridge-holder includes at least one cartridge-refill-spring positioned within the inside-portion, a cap movably affixed to the top-portion of the canister capable of 360 degree rotation relative to a point on the canister, the cap further having a movable spray-head such that when a user depresses the spray-head, the spray-head dispenses contents of a cartridge-refill that is positioned within at least one of the plurality of cartridge-holders, a plurality of deformers positioned on the bottom-portion wherein there is one deformer for each of the plurality of cartridge-holders, and a cartridge-spring-platform positioned on a center of the bottom-portion further including a cartridge-spring between the cartridge-spring-platform and the bottom-portion, wherein the cartridge-spring-platform will be located within the interior-portion of the canister when the bottom-portion is affixed to the canister. 
         [0021]    In another aspect of the present invention the aerosol dispenser apparatus further comprises a movable-surface positioned adjacent to the spray-head such that when an user depresses the movable-surface the spray-head is engaged and discharges the contents of the cartridge-refill that is selected for use. 
         [0022]    In another aspect of the present invention the aerosol dispenser apparatus comprises a deformer, wherein the deformer is constructed of a pliable material including at least one of a rubber and a plastic. 
         [0023]    In another aspect of the present invention the aerosol dispenser apparatus comprises a deformer, wherein the deformer further includes a deformer-button wherein when a user depresses the deformer-button the deformer changes its shape to accept cartridge-refills. 
         [0024]    In another aspect of the present invention a method comprising the steps of depressing a deformer-button to alter a shape of a deformer to accept a cartridge-refill into at least one of a plurality of cartridge-holders of the apparatus, inserting a cartridge-refill through the deformer that has its shape altered into the at least one of the plurality of cartridge-holders such that a cartridge-refill-spring is compressed by the cartridge-refill, and releasing the deformer-button to secure the cartridge-refill into the at least one of the plurality of cartridge-holders. 
         [0025]    In another aspect of the present invention the method further comprises the steps of selecting for use, the at least one of the plurality of cartridge-holders having a cartridge-refill housed within it by inserting a finger into a cartridge-selector to access the selected cartridge-holder, pushing the selected at least one of the plurality of cartridge-holders into a center of the canister, wherein the at least one contractor that is affixed to the canister and the selected at least one of the plurality of cartridge-holders is expanded and stretched, securing the selected at least one of the plurality of cartridge-holders into the center of the canister, such that the at least one of the plurality of cartridge-holders is positioned under the spray-head and locked into position by the cartridge-spring-platform. 
         [0026]    In another aspect of the present invention the method of claim  6  further comprising the steps of replacing at least one of a plurality of cartridge-holders for a currently selected cartridge-holder by inserting a finger into a cartridge-selector to access at least one of a plurality of cartridge-holders that will replace the currently selected cartridge-holder, using the finger to push the newly-selected at least one of the plurality of cartridge-holders into a center of the canister, wherein the currently selected cartridge is moved out of position by the newly-selected at least one of the plurality of cartridge-holders and by aid of contraction of the previously expanded contractor that is affixed to the currently selected at least one of the plurality of cartridge-holders and to the canister. 
         [0027]    The term “approximately” as used within this application means a variation of 0.001% to 5%. 
         [0028]    The above and yet other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the Drawings and Detailed Description of the Invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    Apparatus that are particular embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  illustrates components of a multi-cartridge aerosol dispenser apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  illustrates cartridge-refill insertion according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  illustrates cartridge-refill removal according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  illustrates cartridge-holder switching according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cartridge-holder spring according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  illustrates a method for using a multi-cartridge aerosol dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    Innovative design advantageously allows customer to enjoy three replaceable cartridges in a single large can. Customer can easily insert and activate cartridge in a couple easy steps. Mechanism is fairly simple and can be mass produced at a relatively low cost. Customer will make one time investment in mechanism, and then purchase replaceable cartridges at low price. 
         [0037]      FIG. 1  illustrates components of a multi-cartridge aerosol container according to an embodiment of the present invention comprising a canister  101  having a top-portion  102 , a bottom-portion  103  and an interior-portion  104  having a plurality of cartridge-holders  105  positioned and affixed to the interior-portion  104  using a contractor  106 . Movably affixed to the top-portion  102  of the canister  101  is a cap  107  capable of 360 degrees of rotation relative to any point on the top-portion  102  of the canister  101 . The cap  107  comprises a movable spray-head  108  having either a male extension or a female receptacle which is affixed to a movable-surface  109  of the cap  107  such that when a user depresses the movable-surface  109  of the cap the spray-head  108  also moves in the direction of the depressed movable-surface. The cap  107  further comprises a spray-cut-out  110  which is positioned such that the spray-head  108  when the spray-head  108  is depressed via the movable-surface  109 , the spray-head  108  discharges material through the spray-cut-out  110  towards the user&#39;s intended target. The bottom-portion  103  comprises a plurality of deformers  111 , one deformer  111  for each cartridge-holder  105 . The deformer  111  holds a refill-cartridge  112  in place within each of the plurality of cartridge-holders  105 . As a deformer-button  113  is depressed the deformer  111  which is constructed of a pliable material changes shape from an oval to a circle thus allowing a refill-cartridge  112  to be inserted through the deformer  111  into the cartridge-holder  105 . Once the refill-cartridge is positioned into the cartridge-holder  105  the deformer-button  113  is released and the deformer  111  returns to an oval shape thereby securing the refill-cartridge  112  into the cartridge-holder  105 . Affixed to a center of the bottom-portion  103  is a cartridge-spring  114  that is positioned under a cartridge-spring-platform  115  that secures a cartridge-refill  112  that is selected for use by a user directly under the spray-head  108 . During operation an user selects a desired refill-cartridge  112  for use by pushing their finger through a cartridge-selector  116  such that the desired cartridge-refill  112  that is housed within the cartridge-holder  105  is pushed into a center of the interior-portion  104  of the canister  101  thereby positioning the cartridge-refill  112  in contact with the spray-head  108  and secured into the center of the interior-portion  104  by the cartridge-spring-platform  115 . When the user desires to expel the contents of the cartridge-refill  112  onto the desired target, the user points the spray-cut-out  108  towards the target and depresses the movable-surface  109  to discharge the contents of the selected cartridge-refill  112 . If there is a cartridge-refill  112  already in position for use and the user desires to use a different cartridge-refill  112  that is housed within a different cartridge-holder  105  then the user simply pushes their finger through the cartridge-selector  116  of the cartridge-refill  112  desired to exchange the current cartridge-refill  112  positioned for use with the desired cartridge-refill  112  to be used. One of a plurality of contractors  106  is affixed to each cartridge-holder  105  and to the interior-portion  104  of the canister  101 . When a cartridge-refill is selected for use the contractor  106  which is constructed from expandable material such as rubber but other materials having similar properties can be used, is stretched and extended, when a different cartridge-refill  112  is selected the stretched and extended contractor  106  assists in moving the de-selected cartridge-refill  112  to be guided back into its original position being aided by the contraction properties of the contractor  106 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  illustrates insertion of a cartridge-refill  201  into one of a plurality of cartridge-holders  202  within a canister  203  according to an embodiment of the present invention. A cartridge-refill  201  is positioned into an available cartridge-holder. A deformer-button  204  is depressed that changes a shape of a deformer  205  to allow the cartridge-refill to be positioned into the selected cartridge-holder. Once the cartridge-refill  201  is completely inserted into the cartridge-holder, the deformer-button  204  is released and the cartridge-refill  201  is secured in the cartridge-holder. 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  illustrates removal of cartridge-refills  301  from a plurality of cartridge-holders  302  within a canister  303  according to an embodiment of the present invention. A deformer-button  304  is depressed that changes a shape of a deformer  305  to allow the cartridge-refill to be released from a selected cartridge-holder. Once the cartridge-refill  301  is completely removed from the cartridge-holder, the deformer-button  304  is released. 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  illustrates switching cartridge-holders  401  from a plurality of cartridge-holders  401  within a canister  402  according to an embodiment of the present invention. During operation a user moves the desired cartridge-holder  401  into position for use by using a cartridge-selector  403 . The selected cartridge-holder  401  is secured in place by a cartridge-spring-platform  404 . A contractor  405  that has a first-side affixed to an interior portion of the canister  402  and a second-side that is affixed to the selected cartridge-holder is stretched however more than one contractor  405  can be affixed to each cartridge-holder  401 . When a user de-selects the current cartridge-holder  401  the contractor  405  will aid in re-positioning the de-selected cartridge-holder  405  into its original position. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cartridge-holder according to an embodiment of the present invention. A cartridge-holder  501  is provided in a shape of a tube however other shapes can be used. A cartridge-spring  502  is inserted and affixed to an interior portion of the cartridge-holder  501  opposite to an open-end  503  of the cartridge-holder that will accept cartridge-refills (not shown). As a cartridge-refill is inserted into the cartridge-holder  501  the cartridge-spring  502  compresses, this advantageously allows for a more secure fit into the cartridge-holder  501  and an easy release when the cartridge-refill is to be replaced. 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  illustrates a method according to an embodiment of the present invention. A cartridge-refill is pushed through a deformer until it is secured into a cartridge-holder, an audible click can be sounded to notify a user (Step  601 ). The user selects a cartridge-holder having a desired cartridge-refill for use that was previously placed into the aerosol container by moving the selected cartridge-holder using a cartridge-selector thereby positioning the selected cartridge-holder into a position under a spray-head (Step  602 ). Upon selection the newly selected cartridge-holder having the cartridge-refill displaces a previously selected cartridge-holder. The newly selected cartridge-holder is secured into position under the spray-head and is held in place using a cartridge-spring-platform (Step  603 ). If the de-selected cartridge-holder contains a cartridge-refill that is empty or the user desires to replace the de-selected cartridge-refill, the de-selected cartridge-refill can be removed from the aerosol canister by activating a deformer-button that causes the deformer to open larger than the de-selected cartridge thereby allowing the de-selected cartridge to be removed from the aerosol container (Step  604 ). 
         [0043]    Having described embodiments for an aerosol spray apparatus, it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the invention disclosed which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.