Abstract:
Improvements in an aerosol can liquid dispenser to provide a method to dispense a limited amount of fluid from within an aerosol can and to hold the fluid in a reservoir so it can be intermittently used. An operator may only dispense a few drops of liquid and use only a fraction of the dispensed quantity. The collection reservoir is located in a semi protected enclosure to minimize air flow over the fluid thereby reducing evaporation. A secures mechanism allows the dispenser to be quickly and easily mounted and removed from the top of an aerosol can. A removable cap closure to reduce evaporation of any dispensed fluid held in a reservoir. An overflow reservoir collects any excess fluid where it is held in a separate chamber and can be reclaimed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/466,697 filed Mar. 23, 2011 the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to improvements in dispensing liquid from an aerosol can. More particularly, the present dispenser attaches to the top of an aerosol can and converts the pressurized chemicals within the can to a flowable liquid where it can be collects for intermittent use of the collected liquid. 
     2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     When working with metals, mechanical parts, electronics and cosmetic they often require cleaning with solvents. Because these solvents are often very volatile they are often provided in an aerosol can. These solvents are often expensive and spraying large quantities of these solvents can be wasteful. Cleaning often requires some level of scrubbing to aggressively clean in and around areas. The scrubbing is usually performed by collecting the solvent onto a swab or brush and then using the swab or brush to clean the area. The solvent can quickly evaporate from the swab or bush and a user must often collect more solvent to clean the area. Several products and patents have been issued on dispensers that are used with aerosol cans. Exemplary examples of patents covering these products are disclosed herein. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,968,441 issued Jan. 17, 1961 to D. D. Holcomb, U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,299 issued Sep. 21, 1982 to George M. Stephenson et al and U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,458 issued Jun. 13, 1995 to Jay S. Tourigny each disclose a dispensing mechanism for an aerosol can. The dispensing mechanism is essentially an elongated hose that attaches to the aerosol can to dispense the fluid within the can at a location that is distal from the aerosol can. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,139 issued Mar. 27, 2007 to Thomas Jaworski et al and U.S. Pat. No. 7,798,420 issued Sep. 21, 2010 to James J. Lind et al both disclose an aerosol dispensing device for delivering an aromatic aerosol. The liquid is dispensed onto a wick where the aroma of the liquid is diffused. These patents do not disclose collecting the liquid where it can be swabbed. These patents further do not provide for a closure to prevent evaporation of the liquid. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,792,802 issued Feb. 19, 1974 to Kenneth W. Gores and U.S. Pat. No. 3,917,127 issued Nov. 4, 1975 to Arthur Z. Berenstain both disclose an aerosol dispensing cap. The cap fits over the top of an aerosol can and a pad or whip is pressed onto the cap to dispense some of the fluid within the aerosol can onto the pad or whip. Any dispensed fluid is collected onto the wipe or pad where it can be used. Neither of these two patents provide for collection of the dispensed fluid or a protective covering to reduce evaporation. 
     What is needed is needed is a dispenser for an aerosol can where the fluid from within the dispenser can be collected or held for intermittent use. The dispenser should also include a protective covering to reduce evaporation of the dispensed fluid. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the aerosol can liquid dispenser to provide a method to dispense a limited amount of fluid from within an aerosol can and to hold the fluid in a reservoir so it can be intermittently used. An operator may only dispense a few drops of liquid and use only a fraction of the dispensed quantity. The collection reservoir is located in a semi protected enclosure to minimize air flow over the fluid thereby reducing evaporation. 
     It is an object of the aerosol can liquid dispenser to have an adjustment mechanism that allows an operator to set the amount of force, travel or deflection of the reservoir to dispense some fluid from the aerosol can. 
     It is an object of the aerosol can liquid dispenser includes a securing mechanism that allows the dispenser to be quickly and easily mounted and removed from the top of an aerosol can. The dispenser grips the top sealing lip of the dispenser. This location allows the dispenser to sit within the outer diameter of the dispenser whereby not increasing the outside diameter of the dispenser. 
     It is an object of the aerosol can liquid dispenser to further include and easily removable cap closure to reduce evaporation of any pooled fluid. The removable cap can the tethered to the dispenser to prevent loss of the cap when the dispenser is moved. The tether can also keep the cap closure from falling onto a table or floor where it may come in contact with contaminants. 
     It is another object of the aerosol can liquid dispenser to include locating springs that maintain the aerosol can in the dispenser the springs remove backlash from the dispensing nozzle thereby requiring limited travel of the head to dispense fluid from within the aerosol can to the holding reservoir. 
     It is still another object of the aerosol can liquid dispenser to collect any overflow of fluid into the reservoir. Often the fluid from within the aerosol is expensive and wasted fluid is not economical. Any excess fluid from the reservoir flows into the base of the dispenser where it is held in a separate chamber and can be reclaimed. 
     Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an aerosol can liquid dispenser as a complete assembly in an aerosol can. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an aerosol can liquid dispenser with the dispenser removed from the aerosol can. 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the aerosol can liquid dispenser with the cap removed. 
         FIG. 4  shows an inside perspective view of the top housing of the aerosol can liquid dispenser. 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective exploded view of the aerosol can liquid dispenser. 
         FIG. 6  shows a detailed perspective view of the activation head. 
         FIG. 7  shows a bottom perspective view of the bottom housing. 
         FIG. 8  shows an inside perspective view of the bottom housing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an aerosol can liquid dispenser  30  as a complete assembly in an aerosol can  20  and  FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an aerosol can liquid dispenser  30  with the dispenser  30  removed from the aerosol can  20 . The aerosol can  20  has a bottom closure  21  and a top closure  22  that captures a cylindrical sleeve  20  where the material within the can is retained under pressure. An aerosol can  20  can take a number of different sizes and shapes, but in general the circular sealing lip  23  is typically the same size and shape. Within the center of the top of the aerosol can  20  a movable valve  24  is located. Media or liquid from within the can  20  is dispensed from the can  20  out of the movable valve. The internal media or liquid is held under pressure within the aerosol can and when the valve is depressed, rocked or otherwise moved the media or liquid within the aerosol container is expelled out of the valve  24 . 
     The dispenser is configured with an upper housing  31  and a lower housing  40 . The lower housing  40  is temporally securable to the circular closure rim  23  of the aerosol can  20  using fastener(s)  41  that grip under the curved sealing neck. The upper housing  31  has a closing mechanism or cap  50  that allows access to a reservoir area within the upper housing  31 . When the cap  50  is installed onto the top housing  31  it reduces are movement and therefore reduces evaporation of the media that is dispensed from within the aerosol can  20 . The removable cap  50  closure reduces evaporation of dispensed fluid held in the chamber  61  or reservoir (shown and described in  figure 6 ). The upper housing  31  is secured to the lower housing  41  with fasteners  32  that both secure the housings together and allow the two housings to be separated. An adjustment mechanism  33  located at the top of the upper housing allows for preloading of the internal mechanism to minimize operator effort to dispense fluid from within the aerosol can to an internal reservoir or dispensing area. The reservoir or dispensing area is shown and described in more detail in  FIGS. 3 ,  5  and  6 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the aerosol can liquid dispenser with the cap removed and  FIG. 4  shows an inside perspective view of the top housing of the aerosol can liquid dispenser. The cap  50  has an outer gripping area that makes the cap easier to grasp, install and remove from the upper housing  31 . The cap has a threaded base  52  that threads  34  into the opening if the upper housing  31 . Fasteners  41  secure the lower housing onto the aerosol can as previously shown. 
     A hole  51  is shown in the cap  50  to allow for a tether of wire, chain, cable, string or similar mechanism that prevents the cap from being separated and lost from the upper housing  31 . To the right of  FIG. 3 , the upper housing  31  and the lower housing  40  are shown secured together fasteners  32  that both retain the housings together and prevent rotation of the upper housing  31  on the lower housing  40 . In the preferred embodiment the upper housing  31  and the lower housing  40  are made from aluminum, but other materials are contemplated including but not limited to steels, plastics or copper based materials. The right view from  FIG. 3  shows the adjustment mechanism  33  passing though the top housing  31  where it is visible as item  36  in  FIG. 4 . The end  36  of the adjustment mechanism  33  depresses the top of the head  60  as shown in  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 4 , one of the fasteners  32  is shown installed inside of the upper housing and the threaded holes  35  where supplemental fasteners will be threaded are also shown. 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective exploded view of the aerosol can liquid dispenser and  FIG. 6  shows a detailed perspective view of the activation head  60 . The exploded view  5  gives the best representation of the various components and how they are assembled in the dispenser. Starting with the lower housing  40  the fasteners  41  are shown. The preferred embodiment has three threaded fasteners placed approximately 120 degrees apart, but more or less fasteners are contemplated including and embodiment with only one fasteners and a lip that hooks under the top closure  22  (from  FIG. 1 ). The top of the lower housing  40  has a shoulder  42  where the upper housing  31  rests. A vertical inside wall has a notch or seat  43  where the fasteners  32  of the upper housing engage to grip the lower housing  40 . The top  44  of the lower housing  40  also has a seat that nests within the upper housing. A spring  71  nests within the lower housing and fits around the shaft  62  of the dispensing head  60 . A detailed drawing of the head dispensing  60  is shown and described in  FIG. 6 . 
     From  FIG. 6  the dispensing head  60  has an elongated shaft  62  with a hole  66  that passes from the base of the dispensing head into the dispensing or accumulation reservoir  61  through opening  69 . The opening  61  of the dispensing or accumulation reservoir  61  is angled to retain any dispensed fluid within the dispensing or accumulation reservoir  61 . A separate drain hole from  64  within the dispensing or accumulation reservoir  61  to outside  65  of the dispensing or accumulation reservoir  61  that allows any excess fluid to drain into a collecting pool that will be shown and described in more detail with  FIG. 8 . The bottom  67  of the dispensing head rests on the movable valve  24  of the aerosol dispenser (from  FIG. 2 ) to allow fluid from the aerosol container to flow through the hole  66  and into the dispensing or accumulation reservoir  61  through opening  69 . The top of the dispensing head  60  has a recessed area for locating the top spring  70  shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The spring  70  rests within the recess  68  on the head  60  and further exists around the end  36  of the adjustment mechanism  33 . The upper housing  31  is shown with all three fasteners  32  installed. The tip  35  of one the fasteners  32  is shown extending through the wall of the upper housing  31 . The tip  35  of the fastener  32  engages into the notch or seat  43  of the lower housing  40 . The opening  34  in the upper housing is visible where a user will reach or pass a cleaning tool through to collect fluid from the collection chamber  61  or reservoir. The closure cap  50  is shown with a threaded base  52  that threads  34  into the opening if the upper housing  31 . A hole  51  is shown in the cap  50  to allow for a tethering the cap  50  onto the dispenser. 
       FIG. 7  shows a bottom perspective view of the bottom housing  FIG. 7  shown just the bottom of the lower housing has a recess  68  where the circular closure rim  23  (from  FIG. 2 ) of the top of the aerosol can  20  is placed and secured with the fasteners  41 . The tip of one of the fasteners  45  is shown in  FIG. 7 . The seating notch  43  and an edge  44  of the top of the lower housing are visible. In the center of the recess  68  the bottom of the head is visible  67  with a hole  66  where fluid from the aerosol container passes through to opening  69  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) for storage and dispensing. 
       FIG. 8  shows an inside perspective view of the lower housing  40  with the shoulder  42  and the notch or seat  43  where the tip(s)  35  of fasteners  32  engage. As previously described, the head (shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) has an overflow hole  64 ,  65 . Fluid that overflows will drain down the cylindrical shaft  46  and is collected in the overflow reservoir  47  where it can be reclaimed. 
     The fasteners  32  and  41  as well as the adjustment mechanism  33  are shown and or described as threaded fasteners or screws, but other devices are contemplated that would provide equivalent or superior performance. Thus, specific embodiments of an aerosol can liquid dispenser have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.