Abstract:
A holder for an aerosol can is provided in which a pivotable trigger mechanism can actuate the aerosol can by inducing a compressive force on the lower end of the can. When inducing this compressive force, the pivotable trigger mechanism is at an angle with the holder wall. After dispersing the contents of the aerosol can, the pivotable trigger mechanism can then be rotated such that the trigger mechanism substantially covers an opening in the holder body.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/700,527 filed Jul. 19, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a holder or container for a spray aerosol, and more particularly to a container or holder which can be reused once the aerosol can has been depleted of its internal contents. The holder or container includes a trigger mechanism for securing the aerosol can within the container and having a position for biasly actuating the aerosol can and another position for protecting the aerosol can from unwanted actuation.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     There are a variety of aerosol dispensers used in many application including perfume dispensing, air freshening, personal hygiene and even for dispensing chemical repellant as a personal defense device. Typically an aerosol can delivers a product in the liquid state in the form of fine droplets projected in suspension in a compressed vehicle gas. Liquid dispersions in a gas medium of this type are commonly used in the above noted functions for dispensing such cosmetic or personal hygiene or personal defense products.  
         [0004]     The aerosol can itself contains the liquid and gaseous medium and has reinforced metal walls opening to the outside through a valve kept closed by a spring or by the pressure of the vehicle gas contained in the aerosol can. The valve includes a valve stem whereupon pressure exerted on the valve stem allows some of the gas contained in the aerosol can under pressure to escape through the valve stem and into the atmosphere or wherever the aerosol spray is directed. Such products are often referred to as aerosols or sprays.  
         [0005]     In many applications the above described aerosol cans are inserted or held in a holder or container which are intended to facilitate the actuation of the aerosol can and dispensing of the aerosol spray. The known holders or containers for such aerosol cans are however typically unattractive and poorly functioning devices which are furthermore subject to risk of accidental opening of the valve, for instance, when carried in a handbag or placed in a pockets of the users. The known containers are generally a cylindrical shape having a valve head consisting of a push button connected with the valve stem and include an overcap or lock to cover the push button and stop inadvertent actuation when not in use. However, this is not particularly reliable and includes more pieces than is necessary. Furthermore many of the known devices are composed of numerous small parts which are difficult to manufacture and also to assemble thus increasing the cost and complexity of assembly and operation of such devices.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is an object of the present invention to remedy the above noted shortcomings of the prior art containers and provide a container for packaging and actuating a liquid product aerosol can. The container is generally provided with a nozzle and is manufactured in a design so as to have a pleasing appearance while providing for a simple actuating mechanism for dispensing the spray therefrom.  
         [0007]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container which can be reused by simply disassembling the container and removing the aerosol can therefrom, inserting a new aerosol can and re-assembling the container.  
         [0008]     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a container or holder for the aerosol can which comprises a trigger mechanism having an actuating position relative to the container for actuating the dispensing valve of the aerosol can and an inoperable position where the trigger is placed in a position relative to the which will not actuate the aerosol can valve. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of the aerosol can holder of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the aerosol can holder of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of the aerosol can holder of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the trigger mechanism of the aerosol can holder of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of the trigger mechanism of the aerosol can holder of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a bottom planar view of the trigger mechanism of the aerosol can holder of the present invention; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a top planar view of the trigger mechanism of the aerosol can holder of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a side cross-sectional view of the device in an operative position;  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a side cross-sectional view of the device in an inoperative position;  
         [0019]      FIG. 10A  is a general view of an embodiment having a side-actuated elliptical outer housing;  
         [0020]      FIGS. 10B , C are cross-sections of the side actuated elliptical housing embodiment detailing the trigger mechanism and function;  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a general view of an embodiment having a front-actuated elliptical outer housing;  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  is a general view of an embodiment having a round outer housing;  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  is a general view of an embodiment having a flared outer housing; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 14  is a general view of a vertical spray device having an elliptical housing and a top mounted trigger. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]      FIGS. 1-9  disclose a first embodiment of the present invention which is, in general, particularly similar to all the following embodiments with the exception of particular details and minor variations and various embodiments to be discussed. Observing  FIG. 1 , an aerosol can holder  1  is defined by a sidewall  3  having a generally open bottom end  5  and a substantially closed top end  7  except for the valve stem receiver  9  and product passage  11  which permits the passage and ejection of the pressurized aerosol product from the aerosol can.  
         [0026]     The holder  1  is provided with a first opening  13  in the sidewall  3  and a second opening  15  in the sidewall  3  for receiving the trigger mechanism  17 . The trigger mechanism  17 , discussed in further detail below, engages, to some extent, both the first opening  13  and the second opening  15  in the sidewall  3  in order to perform its intended functions of maintaining the aerosol can in the holder  1  and actuate the valve stem of the aerosol can in order to release the contents of the aerosol can. A split  16  is provided in the bottom end of the holder extending from a lower most edge to the bottom edge of the opening  15  in order to provide some biasing expansion to the bottom end of the holder  1 . As will be discussed in further detail below such a split  16  permits a certain flexibility in the sidewall  3  at the open bottom end  5  of the holder to facilitate the insertion and removal of the trigger  17 .  
         [0027]     The holder  1  is provided at a top portion  19  with a receiver  9  for receiving a valve stem (not shown) of the aerosol can. The receiver  9  extends vertically upwards to and includes a lip  21  for contacting a top edge of the valve stem of the aerosol can. The lip  21  engages the valve stem so that when the trigger mechanism  17  pushes the aerosol can upwards, as will be described in further detail below, the valve stem is pushed against the lip  21  thus releasing the aerosol product from the aerosol can into the product passage  11 .  
         [0028]     The product passage  11  communicates with the outside atmosphere through a product outlet  23  generally located at the end of the product passage  11 , for instance, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . This outlet  23  enables the aerosol product to be released in a desired spray pattern from the holder  1 . The product outlet  23  also generally includes a nozzle  25  which may be molded directly into the holder  1  or which may also be a separate article which is inserted into the product outlet to provide a desired spray pattern and velocity to the ejected aerosol product as well as prevent overspray of the dispensed product.  
         [0029]     The first sidewall opening  13  is essentially a notch intended to receive and support a rear portion of the trigger mechanism  17 . It is generally sized and shaped to compliment the rear portion size and profile of the trigger mechanism  17 . Notably smaller and situated on the opposite side of the wall from the second opening  15 , this receiving opening  13  substantially defines a pivot point which permits biasing of the trigger mechanism  17  into supporting the spray can within the holder  1  and facilitating moving the trigger  17  into the actuating position and non-actuating positions as will be discussed in further detail below.  
         [0030]     It is to be appreciated that these openings  13 ,  15  could be of any size or shape depending on, in particular, to correspond to the specific size and shape of the trigger mechanism  17 .  
         [0031]     Turning to  FIGS. 4-7 , the trigger mechanism  17  is now disclosed. The trigger mechanism  17  is provided with a finger actuated trigger portion  27  which extends upward and substantially perpendicular from a product support portion  31 . A tab  33  extends below the product support portion  31  for assisting a user with the function of insertion and removal of the trigger mechanism  17  from the body of the holder  1  as well as moving the trigger  17  into both the engaged and disengaged positions.  
         [0032]     The trigger portion  27  extends from a connection with the product support portion  31  upwards to a free end  36  and has a profile as best seen in  FIG. 5  which substantially conforms to the second sidewall opening  15  in the holder body  1 . The trigger portion  27  is provided with an angled lip section  37  which is intended to frictionally engage the lowermost edge of the second sidewall opening  15  so as to assist in the biasing of the trigger mechanism  17  with respect to the aerosol can and facilitating the engaged and disengaged positions of the trigger  17 .  
         [0033]     The product support portion  31  is provided with a first aerosol can engaging surface  39  and a second angled aerosol can engaging surface  41 . The angle may be between 5° and 40° degrees and more preferably 10° and 30° and most preferably about 20° relative to the first aerosol can engaging surface  41 . It is to be appreciated that when the trigger mechanism  17  is in an inoperable state, i.e. disengaged, the trigger portion  27  is substantially flush with the sidewall  3  of the holder  1  as permitted by the similar profiles of the first sidewall opening  13  and the first surface  39  of the product support  31  engages the bottom of the aerosol can. Where the trigger mechanism  17  is moved to an actuating, or engaged position, the second angled surface  41  of the product support  31  rotates so as to engage the bottom of the aerosol can as the free end  36  of the trigger  27  is correspondingly rotated outwards relative to the sidewall of the holder  1  and thus extends outwardly from the sidewall  3  and sidewall opening  15  to define an extended lever for the user&#39;s fingers to pull and thus actuate the spray can.  
         [0034]     The rear portion of the product support  31  is provided with an engagement section  43  which is intended to engage into the first sidewall opening  13  to provide the pivot about which the trigger mechanism  17  will rotate when in the operable position and operated by the user&#39;s fingers and pulled towards the holder  1 . In the operating or engaged position the trigger mechanism  17  is angled outwardly from the holder  1  as shown in  FIG. 8 , the engagement section of the support  31  is held in the first opening  13  and the lip  37  is resting on the bottom edge of the second opening  15 . The aerosol can receiving surface  41  is parallel engaged with the bottom of the aerosol can which because of the spring biased valve stem in the can maintains the trigger  17  in such an engaged position. To actuate the spray can, a user then squeezes the trigger towards the holder and when such movement occurs, the angled surface  41  slidably pushes up on the can, the valve stem of the can is thus forced against lip  21  and the spray can is actuated and its contents are dispersed as previously discussed.  
         [0035]     Once the user is finished dispensing a desired amount of product, the user releases the trigger  17  and the inherent bias of the valve stem in the spray can then forces the spray can downwards relative to the lip  21  in the holder and the bottom of the spray can presses downwards along surface  41  causing the trigger  17  to rotate outwards about the pivot defined by opening  13  relative to the holder  1 .  
         [0036]     When the spray can is empty, the trigger mechanism  17  may be pulled downwards relative to the holder  1  and out the open bottom end  5  of the holder  1 . The split in the sidewall adjacent the bottom end  5  of the holder  1  facilitates the removal, and re-insertion of the trigger  17  into the holder  1  by allowing the sidewall at the bottom end to widen slightly permitting the user to gently twist and tug the lip  37  past the lower edge of the second opening  15  and also to disengage the rear portion of the trigger mechanism  17  from the first opening  13  and thus withdrawal the respective portions of the trigger mechanism  17  from the first and second openings  13 , 15  and out the bottom end  5  of the holder  1 .  
         [0037]     Once this function is accomplished the empty aerosol can may be removed from within the holder, and a new one inserted in its place. The trigger mechanism  17  may then be reinserted through the bottom end  5  of the holder  1  and the rear portion re-engaged with the first opening  13  and the trigger portion  27  extended into the opening  15  where the split  16  again permits a slight widening of the sidewall  3  of the holder to facilitate passage of the lip  37  of the trigger mechanism over the lower edge of the second opening  15 .  
         [0038]     The disengaged or inoperative position is provided by the trigger portion  27  being snapped or inserted directly into the opening  15  and substantially flush with the sidewall  3  of the holder  1 . In this position the bottom of the aerosol can is directly engaged with the flat surface  39  of the support portion  31  of the trigger mechanism  17  as shown in  FIG. 9 . The downward bias of the can against the surface  39  maintains the trigger mechanism  17  in this disengaged or inoperative position with the trigger portion  27  flush with the holder  1 .  
         [0039]     It is to be appreciated that from the inoperative position as shown in  FIG. 9 , when a user desires to place the holder  1  in an operative state, the tab  33  is pulled substantially downward and rearward in such a manner so as to rotate the trigger portion  27  away from the sidewall of the holder  1  and slide the flat surface  39  out of contact with the bottom of the spray can and hence the angled surface portion  41  is relatively slid into direct contact with the bottom of the spray can. Also the lip  37  of the trigger  17  is brought into contact with the lower most edge of the opening  15  so as to further maintain the trigger  17  in the extended operative position.  
         [0040]     Other embodiments of the present invention, shown generally in  FIGS. 10-14 , provide the aerosol can holder  1  with a differently shaped outer wall  3  from the substantially round barrel shaped previous embodiment and provides a more sleek elliptical outer shape. For example, in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , an elliptically shaped outer housing  3  is shown, in both side actuated and front trigger actuated embodiments, respectively.  
         [0041]     In both embodiments shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the elliptical outer housing  45  contains a first and second openings  13 , 15  for receiving the trigger mechanism as discussed in relation to the first embodiment. All of the disclosed embodiments are characterized by the use of only the two main parts, the trigger mechanism  17  and the holder  1  for maintaining the spray can within the holder as well as actuating the spray can.  
         [0042]     In  FIGS. 10B , C a version of the trigger is shown which in the disengaged position in  FIG. 10B , the end  43  of the trigger is at least partially out of engagement with the first opening  13 , and in an engaged position the trigger is rotated so that end  43  of the trigger engages the opening  13  and the trigger portion  27  pivots away from the holder  1  and lip  37  is directly supported on the lower edge of the second opening  15 . Also a notch N is provided in the bottom portion of the holder to facilitate access to the tab  33 .  
         [0043]      FIGS. 12 and 13  generally disclose round and flared outer housings  45 , respectively. The differences between these embodiments and the embodiments disclosed in  FIGS. 10 and 11  lie generally in the shape and appearance of the outer housing  45 , and are otherwise nearly functionally identical to the first described embodiment.  
         [0044]     Yet another embodiment is shown in  FIG. 14 . This embodiment is unique from the other embodiments based on its vertical positioning of the product passage  11  and product outlet  23 . Also different from the previous embodiments, the trigger mechanism  17  is positioned at the top of the holder as opposed to the bottom. Such a trigger mechanism would actuate a valve in a substantially similar manner to that as previously described, except that it would actuate the valve stem relative to the spray can from the top rather than the bottom of the holder.  
         [0045]     Since certain changes may be made in the above described improvement, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all of the subject matter of the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted merely as examples illustrating the inventive concept herein and shall not be construed as limiting the invention.