Patent Publication Number: US-6655607-B2

Title: Spray can adaptor

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Ser. No. 60/195,029 filed Apr. 6, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is directed to an adaptor device for use with handheld spray cans and, more particularly, to an adaptor for releasable attachment to a spray can and including an actuator mechanism for holding a depressible valve button of the spray can in the down position, thereby allowing the contents of the can to be released through a nozzle without requiring the user to hold the depressible valve button down with his/her finger. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Spray cans containing products such as paint, rust inhibitors, lubricants, and cleaners, to name a few, are well known in the art. Specifically, spray cans of this nature include a depressible valve button fitted to a hollow tube extending from the top of the can. The hollow tube communicates with a valve mechanism within the can. Upon depressing the valve button, the contents are released through the tube and out from a nozzle built into the valve button, with the assistance of a gas propellant. In some instances, only a quick shot of the contents is required to be released, whereupon use of one&#39;s index finger to depress the valve button is most convenient. Other times, a substantial amount of the contents of the can needs to be released in a continuous spraying action. For example, when painting a large surface area, it may be necessary to use most or all of the contents within the paint spray can. In this instance, the user is required to hold the valve button down with his/her index finger for a considerable length of time. For many individuals, this causes discomfort, and sometimes pain to the index finger and joints of the hand. Also, during the prolonged spraying action, the contents being released from the nozzle inevitably contact the tip of the index finger, causing discoloration and possible irritation. Furthermore, the discomfort caused by the prolonged application of pressure on the valve button, using one&#39;s finger, may be distracting to the user. This distraction can cause uneven application of paint, or other substances, to the surface being treated. 
     Accordingly, in view of the foregoing problems associated with the need to use one&#39;s finger to depress the valve button on spray cans, there remains an urgent need in the industry an adaptor which releasably attaches to existing spray cans, wherein the adaptor is structured to hold the valve button of the spray can in the depressed position, thereby allowing the contents to be released without use of one&#39;s finger to maintain downward pressure on the valve button. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an adaptor for a handheld spray canister of the type having a depressible valve button on the top of the canister for actuating a valve to release pressurized contents of the canister from a nozzle in the button. The adaptor includes a cylindrical side wall surrounding a hollow interior, a top wall, and an open bottom. The open bottom is sized and configured for releasable attachment to a top annular rim on the spray canister so that the depressible valve button of the spray canister is surrounded by the adaptor. An opening formed in the cylindrical side wall aligns with the spray nozzle of the valve button. An elongate actuator member is threadably received through the top wall of the adaptor so that a proximal end is maintained above the top wall and a distal end is positioned and disposed within the hollow interior of the adaptor in alignment with the valve button. Threaded advancement of the actuator member downwardly into the hollow interior of the adaptor, by rotating a knob on the proximal end, causes the distal end of the actuator member to apply a downward force on the valve button, thereby opening the canister valve and releasing the pressurized contents from the nozzle and through the window of the adaptor. Upward retraction of the actuator from the adaptor, by counter-rotating the knob, releases pressure from the valve button to thereby close the canister valve and interrupt spraying. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
     With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an adaptor for existing spray cans of the type commonly known for applying paint, rust inhibitors, lubricants, cleaning products, and the like, to a surface, wherein the adaptor is specifically structured and disposed to hold the valve button of the spray can in a depressed position in order to release the contents from the spray nozzle in the valve button without requiring the user to apply constant pressure on the valve button with his/her finger. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an adaptor for handheld spray cans, as set forth above, wherein the adaptor is universally structured for releasable attachment to a wide array of spray cans. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an adaptor for releasable attachment to handheld spray cans, as set forth above, and wherein the adaptor includes an actuator mechanism which is operable between an on position, to apply constant downward pressure on the depressible valve button of the spray can, and an off position to release the valve button when it is desired to interrupt spraying of the contents of the can. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an adaptor for releasable attachment to handheld spray cans, as set forth above, wherein the adaptor is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an adaptor for releasable attachment to handheld spray cans, as set forth above, wherein the adaptor is easily removed and attached to spray cans, to permit reuse on a large number of spray cans. 
    
    
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are more readily apparent with reference to the accompanying drawings and detailed description. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a well known type of spray can in the prior art, such as a paint spray can, shown with a user&#39;s finger applying downward pressure on a depressible valve button of the spray can in order to open a valve and release the contents from the spray nozzle in the spray button outwardly in a particular spray pattern; 
     FIG. 2 is an isolated top perspective view showing a first preferred embodiment of the adaptor of the present invention installed on the top of a conventional spray can of the type shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows  3 — 3  in FIG. 2, with an actuator mechanism shown in an off position; 
     FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows  3 — 3  in FIG. 2, wherein the actuator mechanism is shown in an on position in downward depressing engagement with the valve button of the spray can, thereby opening the valve and releasing the contents of the spray can from the spray nozzle; 
     FIG. 4 is an isolated top perspective view showing a second preferred embodiment of the adaptor of the present invention installed on the top of a conventional spray can of the type shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of the adaptor shown attached to the top of a conventional spray can, wherein a spring loaded actuator mechanism on the adaptor is shown in an off position; and 
     FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the adaptor of the embodiment of FIG. 5A shown attached to a conventional spray can, with the spring loaded actuator mechanism shown in an on position in downwardly depressing engagement with the valve button of the spray can, thereby opening the valve of the spray can and releasing the can&#39;s contents from the spray nozzle. 
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring initially to FIG. 1, a typical spray can, of the type which is well known in the prior art, is shown and is generally indicated as  100 . The spray can  100  includes a top portion with a valve and spray nozzle assembly. Specifically, an annular rim  102  surrounds a tube  120  extending upwardly from a valve mechanism fitted within the top portion of the can. This well known design of the spray can valve and nozzle assembly further includes a button  104  fixed to the top of the tube  120 . A nozzle  110  on the side face of the button  104  is disposed in fluid communication with the tube  120 , as well as the internal valve and the contents within the spray can. Upon pressing down on the top of the button  104 , the tube  120  is pushed down against the valve. This opens the valve and releases the contents of the can outwardly through the nozzle  110  in a sprayed pattern. Normally, downwardly pressure on the button  104  is done using the index finger, as seen in FIG.  1 . Upon releasing pressure from the button  104 , the valve closes to stop release of the contents. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2-3B, a first preferred embodiment of the adaptor of the present invention is shown, and is generally indicated as  10 . The adaptor  10  is defined by a main body and includes a cylindrical side wall  12  and a top wall  14  surrounding a hollow interior  16 . In the preferred embodiment, the main body resembles a cap which releasably attaches to the top of a spray can. The adaptor  10  or main body has an open bottom surrounded by a circumferential lip  20  which is structured and configured for releasable attachment to the annular rim  102  on the top of the spray can  100  (see FIGS.  3 A and  3 B). When attached to the spray can, the adaptor  10  surrounds the depressible valve button  104  of the spray can  100 . An opening  22  is provided through the cylindrical side wall  12  for alignment with the nozzle  110  on the valve button  104  of the spray can  100  to thereby permit the contents of the spray can to be released from the nozzle and out through the opening  22  of the adaptor  10  without interference. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, a second preferred embodiment of the adaptor of the present invention is shown and is generally indicated as  10 ′. The adaptor  10 ′ is similar to the adaptor  10  of the first embodiment and includes a cylindrical side wall  12 ′ and a top wall  14 ′. However, instead of attaching about the outer surface of the annular rim  102  on the top of the spray can  100 , the adaptor  10 ′ is structured for releasable attachment on the inside of the annular rim  102 . Specifically, the bottom end of the cylindrical side wall  12 ′ is provided with an outwardly directed annular flange or skirt  12   b ′. The annular flange  12   b ′ is specifically sized and configured for releasable engagement on the inner under side of the annular rim  102 . Two or more spaced slots  12   a ′ on the lower portion of the cylindrical side wall  12 ′ extend through the annular flange  12   b ′. The slots  12   b ′ permit slight compression of the lower end of the adaptor in order to reduce the overall outer circumference of the flange  12   b ′ when inserting and removing the lower end of the adaptor, and particularly the flange, within the confines of the annular rim  102 . Once the flange  12   b ′ is seated below the annular rim  102 , a squeezing or compressing force on the outer surface of the cylindrical side wall  12   b ′ can be released to thereby cause the annular flange  12   b ′ to return to a relaxed state. The circumference of the flange  12   b ′ is specifically sized to capture the flange below the annular rim  102  so that, when in the relaxed state, the adaptor cannot be lifted and separated from the top of the can. Specifically, the outer circumference of the flange  12   b ′ is slightly greater than the innermost circumference of the annular rim  102 . Therefore, when the flange  12   b ′ is seated below the annular rim  102 , it is not possible to pull the annular flange upwardly and through the rim  102  without first compressing the lower portion of the cylindrical side wall  12 ′ in order to temporarily reduce the circumference of the flange  12   b ′ to a size that allows the flange to pass through the inner circumference of the rim  102 . 
     An actuator member  30  is provided on the adaptor for operating the valve button  104  of the spray can  100 . In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2-4, the actuator member includes a threaded elongate stem  32  which is threadably received through the top wall  14 ,  14 ′ of the adaptor  10 ,  10 ′ so that a proximal end  36  is maintained above the top wall and a distal end  38  is positioned and disposed below the top wall and within the hollow interior  16  of the adaptor. The actuator member  30  is positioned and disposed in direct alignment above the top of the valve button so that upon downward threaded advancement of the elongate stem  32  through the top wall, the distal end eventually contacts the top of the valve button  104 . To facilitate threaded advancement and retreat of the elongate stem  32  relative to the top wall  14 ,  14 ′ and the valve button  104  of the spray can, a knob  40  is provided on the proximal end. By rotating the knob  40  in the clockwise direction, the threaded stem  32  is caused to advance downwardly towards the valve button  104 . After the distal end  38  contacts the top of the valve button  104 , continued downward advancement causes the valve button of the spray can to be depressed, thereby opening a valve within the spray can and releasing the contents through the tube  120  and out from the nozzle  110  on the valve button. 
     In both of these embodiments of the adaptor ( 10  and  10 ′), as described above, the threaded stem  32  serves as a means to hold the actuator mechanism  30  in a fixed position, thereby enabling the valve button  104  to be held at both the open, depressed position and the closed, raised position. When it is desired to release the actuator mechanism  30 , to close the spray can valve and interrupt (stop) spraying, the knob  40  is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction to retract the threaded stem  32  upwardly so that the distal end  38  releases from the top of the valve button  104 . 
     The present invention contemplates use of other actuator mechanisms to be used in conjunction with the cylindrical shaped bodies of the adaptors  10  and  10 ′ described above. For instance, an actuator  50  having a stem  52  and a spring loaded mechanism  54  is shown fitted to the adaptor  10 ″ in FIGS. 5A and 5B. The adaptor  10 ″ has the same cylindrical housing as the adaptor of the first preferred embodiment shown and described in connection with FIGS. 2-3B. The spring loaded mechanism  54  is operable between an off position (see FIG.  5 A), wherein the elongate actuator member  52  is retracted upwardly so that the distal end  56  releases the valve button  104 , and an on position (see FIG.  5 B), wherein the bottom distal end  56  of the actuator is forced into downwardly depressing engagement with the valve button  104  to thereby release the contents in a sprayed pattern from the nozzle  110 . 
     It is further contemplated that the structure of the adaptor may be altered. For instance, the cylindrical side wall and top wall may be replaced with a brace, bridge, or other device which clips to the top of the can in order to position and maintain an actuator member in position for operating the valve button of the spray can between the on and off position. 
     While the instant invention has been shown and described in accordance with preferred and practical embodiments thereof, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims and as interpreted under the doctrine of equivalents.