Patent Publication Number: US-6705494-B2

Title: Hand-held product dispensers having pressurized delivery

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/442,347 filed Nov. 17, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,349. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to hand-held product dispensers having pressurized delivery. 
     Various products have been conveniently dispensed in a pressurized form from a hand-held container such as a spray can. Typically a push button on top of the can is depressed to actuate a valve that provides an open path from the material in the container to a spray nozzle on the push button that directs the pressurized material in a direction that is perpendicular to the push button direction. This push button type of mechanism is often used for antiperspirant, deodorant and shaving cream dispensers. 
     Alternatively, some valves are actuated by providing a tilt (sideways push) action to an elongated tubular nozzle that directs the product along the axis of the can. Such valves are often employed in whipped cream dispensers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the invention features, in general, a hand-held pressurized product dispenser that includes a container with a hand-engageable body portion, a valve mechanism at the top of the container that is movable with respect to the container to cause pressurized discharge of the product, and a valve actuation lever that is connected to the valve mechanism and extends along the container body. With this arrangement, a larger displacement of the end of the lever causes a controlled, relatively smaller displacement of the valve mechanism, permitting adjustable, “throttled” delivery of the product. 
     In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a hand-held pressurized product dispenser that includes a container with a hand-engageable body portion, a valve mechanism at the top of the container, and a valve actuation lever that extends along the container body. The product dispenser also includes a product delivery member that is attached to the top of container and has a product holding structure that is positioned with respect to the valve mechanism to receive product and to hold the product in position for application. 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features. The product holding structure can take a variety of forms to assist in applying product. For example, it can have a generally flat upper surface or an arcuate surface. The product holding structure can be a porous structure having pores that receive the product. The product holding structure can be an elastomeric applicator. The product holding structure can be a sintered structure. The product holding structure can have a textured surface. The product holding structure can have a grid surface. 
     In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a hand-held pressurized product dispenser that includes a container with a hand-engageable body portion, a valve mechanism at the top of the container, and a valve actuation member that has a hand-engageable portion that extends along the container body. The valve mechanism is movable away from the container to discharge the product, and the valve actuating member is connected to move the valve mechanism away from the container as the hand-engageable portion is moved toward the body portion of the container. 
     In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a hand-held pressurized product dispenser that includes a container with a hand-engageable body portion, a valve mechanism at the top of the container, and a valve actuation member that is made of plastic and has a hand-engageable portion that extends along the container body and is pivotally connected with respect to the container via a living hinge. 
     In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a hand-held pressurized product dispenser that includes a container with a hand-engageable body portion, a valve mechanism at the top of the container, and a valve actuation member that has a hand-engageable portion that extends along the container body. The valve actuation member has a pivot end that is pivotally connected with respect to the container and also has a valve engaging portion that engages the valve mechanism and is located between the pivot end and the hand-engageable portion. Alternatively the pivot can be located between the valve engaging portion and the hand-engageable portion. 
     In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a hand-held pressurized product dispenser that includes a container with a hand-engageable body portion, a valve mechanism at the top of the container, and a valve actuation member that has a hand-engageable portion that extends along the container body. The hand-engageable portion of the valve actuation member has a first cam member that faces the container, and the container carries a second cam member that faces the first cam member. The first and second cam members are oriented such that, as the hand-engageable portion is moved toward the container, interaction of the first and second cam surfaces causes the valve actuating member to move downward to actuate the valve mechanism. 
     In another aspect, the invention features, in general, a hand-held pressurized product dispenser that includes a container with a hand-engageable body portion, a valve mechanism at the top of the container, and a valve actuation member that has a hand-engageable portion that extends along the container body. The container carries a movable stop member that faces the hand-engageable portion so as to limit travel of the hand-engageable portion toward the container. The stop member has different portions that are selectively movable into position facing the hand-engageable portion so as to adjust movement of the valve actuating member. 
     The dispensers can be used to dispense various products such as a shaving aid, an antiperspirant, a deodorant, a body spray, after shave lotion, hair spray, a liquid, a semi-solid, a gel, a cream or a powder. The container can be an aerosol container, a container having a product bag inside a pressurized chamber, or another type of container providing pressurized delivery of product. 
     Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following advantages. The throttling permitted by the actuation lever allows the user to employ different types of sprays ranging from a fine mist to a hard spray. The side location of the actuation lever promotes accuracy in directing the product. The consumer has more control over product application and has the ability to personalize the application experience. The side location of the actuation lever also improves ergonomics. With the product holding structure on the container top, the user need not apply certain products to his or her hands prior to applying the products to the skin or hair. 
    
    
     Other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments thereof and from the claims. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view, with a cap component in section, of a product dispenser. 
     FIG. 2 is an elevation, with a cap component in section, of the FIG. 1 product dispenser. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view, with a cap component in section, of the FIG. 1 product dispenser. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view, with a cap component in section, of an alternative embodiment of a product dispenser. 
     FIG. 5 is an elevation, with a cap component in section, of the FIG. 4 product dispenser. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view, with a cap component in section, of the FIG. 4 product dispenser. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of modified cap and nozzle components of the FIG. 4 product dispenser with the nozzle in a retracted position. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the FIG. 7 cap and nozzle components with the nozzle in an extended position. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view, with a cap component in section, of a further alternative embodiment of a product dispenser. 
     FIG. 10 is an elevation, with a cap component in section, of a further alternative embodiment of a product dispenser. 
     FIG. 11 is an elevation, with a cap component in section, of a further alternative embodiment of a product dispenser. 
     FIG. 12 is a plan view of an adjustable-stop ring component useful with the FIG. 11 dispenser. 
     FIG. 13 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of an adjustable-stop ring component useful with the FIG. 11 dispenser. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-3, spray dispenser  10  includes aerosol container  12 , having valve mechanism  14  of the type that is actuated by depression of nozzle  16 , which directs the spray axially, unlike the typical finger-actuated push-button nozzle, which directs the spray radially. The majority of valve mechanism  14  is located inside container  12  at the top; a suitable valve mechanism, e.g., is the type used in commercial Right Guard antiperspirant dispensers. Dispenser  12  also includes a plastic cap  18 , attached to the top of container  12 , and valve actuation lever  20 , which pivots at pivot end  22  underneath cap  18 . Lever  20  includes upper portion  24 , which extends along the interior upper surface of cap  18  and is connected to a lower portion of nozzle  16 . Lever  20  also includes angled portion  28 , which extends through opening  30  in cap  18 , and hand-engaging portion  32 , which extends along the body of container  12 . 
     When using dispenser  10 , the user holds the container in his or her hand, and squeezes hand-engaging portion  32  toward container  12 , which results in a smaller downward depression of nozzle  16 , owing to the longer moment arm at portion  32  than at nozzle  16 . This permits the user to throttle and adjust the flow rate of the delivery of product from nozzle  16 . The different types of sprays that can be employed range from a fine mist to a hard stream. The side location of actuation lever  20  improves ergonomics (reducing the extent of wrist deflection needed for actuation and use), and promotes accuracy in directing the product in addition to controlling the amount of product being dispensed. The consumer thus has more control over product application and has the ability to personalize the application experience. Dispenser  10  could also be used to dispense creams or gels under pressure, using either propellant or internal bladder technology (e.g., available from Sepro). 
     Referring to FIGS. 4-6, dispenser  40  is similar to dispenser  10  in that it includes container  12 , cap  18 , axially directed nozzle  42  and side actuation lever  44 . Dispenser  40  differs from dispenser  10  in that nozzle  42  is actuated by extending it from container  12  (instead of depressing), and the pivot  46  for lever  44  is located between the end  48  connected to nozzle  42  and the hand-engaging portion  50 , which extends along the body of container  12 . With this arrangement, the product is dispensed with nozzle  16  extended above the upper surface  52  of cap  18 . The dispensed product can be collected on surface  52 , and nozzle  16  can then be retracted during application of the product, e.g., to a user&#39;s skin. 
     Referring to FIGS. 7-8, modified cap  60  and nozzle  62  are shown. Nozzle  62  is in a retracted position in FIG.  7  and is in an extended, dispensing position in FIG.  8 . Nozzle  62  has internal passageways  64  that direct the product to side openings  66 , where the product is dispensed laterally, to the upper surface  68  of cap  60  in the extended position shown in FIG.  8 . Cap  60  and nozzle  62  are desirably used on container  40  of FIGS. 4-6. The product is collected on the upper cap surface  68  prior to application to a user&#39;s skin. Thus a shaver can dispense and apply shaving cream without the need to put foam on his or her hands and without the need to rinse off the hands after applying the cream and prior to shaving. In addition, surface  68  can be provided with functional surfaces to provide efficacy, comfort or a combination of benefits. Surface  68  can be provided with a textured applicator. Surface  68  could be provided with flocked foam surface (e.g., available from TekPak in NJ and Claremont Flock Inc. of Claremont, N.H.). Alternatively, porous sintered domes, of the type employed in Narta deodorant cans, can also be used. Surface  68  can be flat, as shown, or arcuate. It could also be provided with a grid structure or elastomeric applicator. 
     Referring to FIG. 9, dispenser  80  is similar to dispenser  10 , except that plastic lever  82  is integral with plastic cap  84 . The upper end of lever  82  is pivotally connected to cap  84  at living hinge  86 . 
     Referring to FIG. 10, dispenser  90  is similar to dispenser  10 , except that it has the upper end of lever  20  pivotally connected to vertical support  92  instead of cap  94 . Support  92  is attached to an upstanding circular structure on container  12  by ring  96 . With dispenser  90 , product can be dispensed with cap  94  on or with cap  94  off. 
     Referring to FIG. 11, dispenser  100  is similar to dispenser  90 , except that it employs cam surface  102 , on member  104  on container  12 , and mating cam surface  106  on the inner side of hand-engaging lever portion  108  facing container  12 . As hand-engaging portion  108  is squeezed toward container  12 , surface  106  tends to slide downward (as well as inward) along surface  102 , exerting a downward force in the lever  20  that assists in depressing valve  14  without requiring large angular movement of lever  20 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, metering rings  110  and  120  are shown. Both rings  110 ,  120  are mounted on a respective container  12  aligned with, and inside of, a respective hand-engageable portion  108  of dispenser  100  shown in FIG.  11 . Each ring  110 ,  120  has in internal portion  112 ,  122 , respectively, which is fixedly secured on can  12 , and an outer adjustable stop portion  114 ,  124 , respectively, that can slide around fixed internal portion  112 ,  122 , such that different areas can be aligned with the lever. On ring  110 , stop portion  116  has the largest radius and acts as a lock, preventing any movement of lever  108 . Stop portions  118  have different radii and permit different amounts of flow. On ring  120 , the end  126  of stop portion  124  acts as a lock, while the remainder of stop portion  124  has a gradually decreasing radius, permitting selection of any stop position desired for movement of the hand-engageable portion  108 . 
     With the large moment arms provided by the side levers, stronger springs can be employed in the valves. Stronger springs can enhance the throttle mechanism and have the added benefit of reducing propellant leakage owing to salt build-up around the valve&#39;s rubber gasket. 
     Other embodiments of the invention are within the scope of the appended claims. 
     Besides valves that are actuated by downward depression, valves with tilt actuation (e.g., as available from Summit Technologies, Manchester, N.H. under designation AX-11209 0.019 RT) can be used. In this case, the caps have oval or other shape openings that permit tilting of the nozzle.