Abstract:
A spray can remote control has a body holding and registering the can at a raised top wall portion, and a control mechanism including an actuator guided parallel to a nozzle axis of movement, a branched flexible lanyard for coupling a pull cord, flexible branches of the lanyard connected through a pair of guide rods to opposite ends of the actuator, whereby downward movement of the coupling produces corresponding downward movement of the guide rods and the actuator member without imparting side force to the nozzle button. Respective helical compression springs on the guide rods upwardly bias the actuator member, and stationary guides below the guide rods prevent side forces on the guide rods. The device also has an adjustable handle member, and a pair of sheaves for offsetting the lanyard to facilitate precise control with minimal frictional drag.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to the spray dispensing of fluids such as paint from pressurized containers, typically known as spray cans. 
     Spray cans are well known for the dispensing of paint. Such cans, although provided in various sizes, typically have a small button at the top that incorporates a spray nozzle, and a valve that is opened by depressing the button. Pressurized containers of the same type are also used for dispensing of other fluids such as lubricants, cleaners, solvents, and the like, as well as gaseous fluids. For example, one method for testing smoke detectors is to spray a test suitable gas at or into an installed detector, noting whether an alarm signal is activated. 
     It is also known to use handles of various lengths, and telescopic handles, in connection with roller painting. However, such handles would not work with spray cans in that they do not provide for depressing the button when the can is beyond the reach of a user thereof. 
     Accordingly, painters applying spray paint in elevated locations, and workers testing smoke detectors at ceiling level, are obliged to climb ladders or scaffolding to reach their targets. 
     Thus there is a need for a device that facilitates controlled operation of spray cans from locations beyond the reach of those using the spray cans, and that facilitates skillful operation by allowing precise control of the nozzle button. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention meets this need by providing a spray can holder for mounting on an extension handle, and a having a particularly effective actuator mechanism for the spray nozzle. In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for holding and operating a spray can includes a body having a rear portion and a forwardly spaced longitudinal body axis; a receptacle rigidly connected proximate the upper extremity of the body for fixedly engaging a top wall of the spray can with a centrally located nozzle button concentric with the body axis and a spray axis of the nozzle button extending generally forwardly. A control mechanism of the apparatus includes an actuator member supported relative to the body and movably guided in a direction parallel to the body axis for contacting and actuating the nozzle button in alignment with the button axis, and means for connecting a remote control element to the actuator member for remotely effecting downward movement of the actuator member without imparting side force top the nozzle button. The apparatus also includes a rearwardly and downwardly projecting handle for manipulating the body and the spray can during operation of the remote control element. 
     Preferably the apparatus includes a movably supported elevator platform for engaging a lower portion of the reservoir and clamping the reservoir between the platform and the receptacle. The platform can be supported on a clamp screw that is located on the body axis and threadingly engaging the body proximate the lower extremity thereof. 
     Preferably the control mechanism also includes a flexible lanyard having a coupling for coupling to the remote control element, a pair of flexible branches of the lanyard extending upwardly from the coupling and being attached to a pair of guide rods that rigidly project from the actuator in parallel spaced relation on opposite sides of the body axis, whereby downward movement of the coupling produces corresponding downward movement of the guide rods and the actuator member by symmetrically applied forces. 
     Preferably the control mechanism further includes a first pair of guide elements supported relative to the body for guiding respective ones of the lanyard flexible members in line with and spaced below the guide rods for preventing side force from being applied to the guide rods by the lanyard. The control mechanism can also include a pair of sheaves rotatably mounted below the first guides and aligned therewith for smoothly supporting a medial portion of the lanyard in angularly offset relation to the guide rods. A second pair of stationary guide elements can guide respective lower portions of the lanyard flexible members in rearwardly offset relation to the body axis. The control mechanism can further include biasing means for upwardly urging the actuator member, and stop means for limiting upward movement of the actuator member. The biasing means can include compression springs mounted on the guide rods, the limiting means including each of the guide rods having a discontinuity thereon for limiting axial movement thereof relative to the body. 
     The handle can include a handle bracket projecting from the body, a handle member pivotally connected to the handle bracket and extending on handle axis in a plane intersecting the body axis, and a clamp for fixedly securing the handle member in a desired orientation relative to the body axis. Preferably the handle member is threaded for connecting an extension handle on the handle axis. 
     Preferably the apparatus further includes an elongate flexible member for use as the remote control element and having a connector element at one extremity thereof for connecting to the lanyard coupling. The apparatus can further include a cleat supported on the body and having divergent projections for supporting the flexible member in a storage condition thereof. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where: 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of a spray can remote control apparatus according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a receptacle portion of the apparatus of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention is directed to a spray can holder that is particularly effective for dispensing fluids to locations beyond the normal reach of users thereof. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a spray can apparatus  10  includes a body  12  having a rear portion  14 , and a projecting bottom portion  16 , a receptacle  18  being rigidly fastened at an upper extremity of the rear portion  14  in forwardly projecting relation thereto for receiving an upper end of a pressurized spray can  20 . The spray can  20  typically includes a pressurized reservoir  22 , a nozzle button  24  projecting from a top wall  26  of the reservoir and movable downwardly on a button axis  27  in response to downward finger pressure to produce a spray pattern  28  generally on a nozzle axis  29  that is inclined approximately orthogonally relative to the button axis  27 . Also, many commercially available spray cans, whether for dispensing paints, solvents, or other fluidic material, have a common configuration of the top wall  26  including a raised central portion  30  that is concentric with the button axis, the reservoir itself being circularly cylindrical and concentric with the button axis  27 . The nozzle button  24  is upwardly biased by a suitable spring or other means (not shown) for lifting same to a closed or “off” position in the absence of downwardly applied force. 
     The receptacle  18  is configured for locating the spray can by engaging the upwardly projecting central portion  30  of the top wall  26  on a body axis  31  of the apparatus  10 . In an exemplary configuration shown in the drawings, the receptacle  18  includes a lower plate  32  having a clearance opening  34  therein for receiving an upper portion of the spray can  20 , the lower plate  32  being affixed to the body  12  by a laterally spaced pair of fasteners  36  such as rivets or screws. An upper plate  36  is mounted in parallel-spaced relation above the lower plate  32  on a laterally spaced pair of standoffs or spacers  40  by respective pairs of plate fasteners  41 . The upper plate  38  has a receptacle opening  42  formed therein for locating the reduced diameter central portion  30  of the top wall  26  on the body axis  31 . The spray can  20  is rigidly engaged with the receptacle  18  by an elevator platform  44  that is supported on a clamp screw  46 , the clamp screw  46  threadingly engaging the bottom portion  16  of the body on the body axis  31 . Thus the spray can  10  is clamped between the platform  44  and the upper plate  38  by tightening the clamp screw  46 , the platform  44  contacting a recessed bottom wall  48  of the spray can. 
     A principal feature of the present invention is a control mechanism  50  by which the nozzle button  24  is remotely actuatable for finely controlled operation of the spray can  20  without producing objectionable side-loading of the button  24 . The control mechanism  50  includes an actuator member  52  that is supported in parallel-spaced relation above the upper plate  38  and guided parallel to the body axis  31  as described herein. As best shown in FIG. 3, the lower plate  32  supports a pair of downwardly projecting guide bushings  54  that slidingly locate a pair of eye-rods  56 , each eye rod  56  being rigidly fastened proximate a respective end of the actuator member  52  by suitable means such as riveting or resistance welding. A branched lanyard  58  is connected to the eye-rods  56 , a lower extremity of the lanyard having an attachment coupling  60  for connecting a control cord  62  by which a user holding the apparatus  10  can remotely actuate the nozzle button  24 . More particularly, respective flexible branches  64  of the lanyard  58  have attachments  66  at free extremities thereof by which the branches  64  are connected to respective ones of the eye-rods  56 . Thus downward force applied to the lanyard  58  by the control cord  62  imparts symmetrical downward movement of opposite ends of the actuator member  52  against the nozzle button  24  for actuation thereof, the eye-rods  56  engaging the bushings  54  serving as guide pins for movement of the actuator member  52  parallel to the body axis  31 , thereby avoiding unwanted side-loading of the nozzle button  24 . 
     As further shown in the drawings, a pair of eye-shaped upper guide members  68  are fixedly supported relative to the body  12  below and in-line with the eye-rods  56  for insuring that forces imparted by the lanyard  58  to the eye-rods  56  are in axial alignment therewith, thereby limiting frictional drag associated with movement of the actuator member  52 . Closely spaced below the upper guide members  68  are respective freely rotatable sheaves  70 , the guide members  68  and the sheaves  70  being mounted on a U-shaped bracket  72  that is rigidly connected by a pair of bracket fasteners  74  to the body  12 , opposite extremities of the bracket  72  projecting forwardly on opposite sides of the rear portion  14 . Thus the coupling  60  of the lanyard  58  can be pulled simultaneously downwardly and rearwardly without appreciable side loading of the upper guide members  68 . Further, a pair of lower guide members  76  are mounted to the rear portion  14  of the body  12 , projecting from opposite sides thereof in-line with the sheaves  70  for supporting a medial portion of the lanyard  58  inclined in relation to the body axis  31 . Finally, a pair of compression springs  77  are preferably interposed between the actuator member  52  and the guide bushings  54  for augmenting the internal upward biasing of the nozzle button  24 . The springs  77  compensate for at least a portion of the moving weight of the control mechanism  50  and the control cord  62 , and act to overcome the small amount of frictional resistance to upward movement of the actuator member  52 . The springs  77  themselves contribute little, if any, to the friction in that they are located concentrically on the eye-rods  56  for avoiding induced side-loading. The above-described arrangement of the actuator member  52  guided by the parallel-spaced eye-rods  56  having branches  64  of the lanyard  58  connected thereto, in combination with the sheaves  70  and the upper and lower guides  68  and  76  advantageously provides for finely controlled operation of the nozzle button  24  with minimal frictional drag. 
     The inclusion of both the lower plate  32  and the upper plate  38  in the receptacle  18  advantageously provides preliminary guidance by the clearance opening  34  for the spray can  20  as it is being inserted, thereby facilitating engagement of the central portion  30  with the receptacle opening  42 . Also, the distance of the guide bushings  54  below the upper plate  38  advantageously provides additional working length for the compression springs  77 . It will be understood that the plates  32  and  38  can be combined with the spacers  40  in a unitary structure that may be either formed or molded. 
     The spray can apparatus  10  also includes a handle bracket  78  projecting rearwardly from the body  12  for adjustably connecting a handle member  80  by which the body  12  can be manipulated by a user who also controllably activates the nozzle button  24  by tensioning the lanyard  58 . As best shown in FIG. 2, an exemplary form of the handle bracket is T-shaped with opposite arms thereof being fastened to the rear portion  14  of the body  12  by counterparts of the bracket fasteners  74 , the handle member  80  being connected and adjustably clamped to a projecting portion of the bracket  78  by a wing-nut clamp  82 . The handle member  80  is internally threaded in a conventional manner for attachment of a suitable extension handle  84  for use of the apparatus  10  beyond normal reach to the handle member  80  itself. Accordingly, the control cord  62  can be furnished in sufficient length corresponding to a maximum expected length of the extension handle  84 , the body  12  having a cleat  86  or equivalent structure protecting therefrom on which to store unused portions of the control cord  62  as shown in FIG. 1, the cleat being mounted on a front portion  88  of the body  12  as best shown in FIG.  2 . 
     The body  12  can be a molded plastic part, the back portion  14  having a C-shaped cross-section for enhanced rigidity, the bottom portion  16  also having a C-shaped cross-section. The threaded engagement with the clamp screw  46  can be with a suitable metallic threaded insert of the bottom portion  16 . The lower plate  32 , with or without the upper plate  38  and/or the U-shaped bracket  72  as well as the cleat  86  can be integrally formed with the body  12 . 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, it is contemplated that a suitable lock washer be interposed between the handle bracket  78  and the handle member  80  for maintaining a desired angular relationship therebetween when the wing-nut clamp  82  is tightened. Also, the handle member  80  can be foreshortened, being formed as an internally threaded socket member for receiving the extension handle  84 . Further, the handle bracket  78  can be oriented obliquely when it is desired to operate the spray can from a position laterally displaced from a surface to be sprayed. In this respect, it is further contemplated that the handle bracket  78  can be mounted so as to provide adjustable angular orientation. Moreover, a helical compression spring can be interposed between the bottom portion  16  of the body  12  and the elevator platform  44 , a smooth rod being substituted for the clamp screw  46 , the spray can  20  being biasingly held in engagement with the receptacle  18  by the spring, which surrounds the rod. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.