Abstract:
An actuation device capable of adapting a conventional pump dispenser into a lever or trigger sprayer, the actuation device having a housing comprised of a first part that is removably connected to a second part and when the two parts are connected, a pump dispenser is received within the housing. The first part of the housing has an opening adjacent the nozzle of the pump dispenser that allows the contents of the pump dispenser to be sprayed out through the opening. A lever is hingedly mounted to the housing via a plurality of trunnions and associated trunnion cradles and has a leg portion that makes holding and squeezing the lever easy and comfortable. The lever also has at least one arm disposed adjacent an annular rim of the skirt of the pump dispenser so that when the lever is moved, the arm of the lever presses against the annular rim and causes the pump dispenser to actuate and spray fluid from the pump dispenser to the target.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to an apparatus that will assist a user when actuating a pump sprayer and more particularly to an actuation device that enables a user to operate a pump sprayer as a lever or trigger sprayer by providing a lever that actuates the pump sprayer when pushed or pulled. 
     A need exists for a device that can adapt a pump sprayer or fine mist sprayer into a lever or trigger sprayer allowing the sprayer to be easily gripped and the contents of the pump sprayer to be readily expelled from its interior. 
     While the conventional pump sprayer provides a means of directly dispensing its contents, such pump sprayers and fine mist sprayers can be difficult for elderly people, handicapped people and small children to manipulate due to the configuration of the pump being located on the upper end of the dispenser. Such pump mechanisms also require a suficient amount of manual dexterity and the ability of the user to apply one or two fingers to actuate the pump, while holding the pump dispenser with the remainder of the hand. If a person does not have a strong grip, or good strong use of their individual fingers, pumping can be a difficult and trying task. 
     In the art, there currently exists a device for dispensing chemicals from a pressurized container as disclosed in the U.S. patent issued to Fox et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,430). This device is for a hand-held holder that has a casing for holding chemical cartridges therein. The casing has an opening at one end with a movable frame that moves freely within the casing. A chemical cartridge is placed within the frame and slid into the casing through the opening. A valve at one end of the frame is provided to engage the cartridge and dispense the contents therein. A lever is pivotally connected to the casing and holds the chemical container in a relatively fixed position while driving the frame through the casing which in turn causes a valve to move toward and into engagement with the chemical cartridge, thus causing the contents of the chemical cartridge to dispense therefrom. 
     While the Fox device provides a means of dispensing the contents of a chemical cartridge by using a lever mechanism, the contents are not dispensed through a conventional pump dispenser. Also, assembling the dispensing unit by having to place the chemical cartridge into the frame and then into the holder can be cumbersome and difficult for people with arthritis or limited use of their hands, or for those who have limited manual dexterity. 
     The Fox device does not provide an alternative form of actuation for a conventional pump dispenser as does the present invention. The Fox device merely provides a mechanism for discharging the contents of a chemical cartridge. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a lever that adapts a conventional pump sprayer into a lever or trigger sprayer making it easier for a user to actuate the pump sprayer. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that makes the use of a conventional pump sprayer more ergonomic for users that may have disabilities or are incapable of actuating a pump sprayer through the traditional pumping motion. 
     The actuation device for manually operated pump sprayers has a housing comprised of multiple parts. A first part of the housing is connected to a second part of the housing with a collar. The housing fully encapsulates a pump dispenser and has an opening adjacent to and in alignment with the nozzle of the pump dispenser that allows the contents of the pump dispenser to be sprayed out through the nozzle and through the opening out to the target. 
     A lever is hingedly mounted to the housing and has a leg portion that renders pushing or pulling the lever easier. The lever also has at least one arm that abuts an annular shoulder on the skirt of the pump dispenser so that when the lever is actuated, the arm causes the pump dispenser to shift relative to its pump plunger so as to effect discharge of spray product to the intended target. 
     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the actuation device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the device of FIG. 1 with the lever being omitted for clarity; 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the housing of the actuation device being shown in vertical section with the lever in an at rest position; 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, with the lever actuated; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of the actuation device taken along line  5 — 5  in FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the lever of the actuation device of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the actuation device generally designated  1  for manually operated pump dispensers has a housing  10  with a first part  20  connected by the provision of a collar  30  to a second part  40 . The collar  30  is snap-fitted with the second part  40  via a groove  200  and mating annular bead  210  (as shown in FIGS.  3  &amp;  4 ). When the first part  20  is connected with the second part  40 , each part has a portion that extends outwardly and forms mounting means  60 . A lever  50  is hingedly mounted to the housing  10  with mounting means  60 . 
     The first part  20  of the housing  10  is designed to fit around and enclose a conventional pump dispenser  100  such as a pump sprayer or fine mist sprayer  100 . The first part  20  has an upper section  70 , a middle section  80  and a lower section or collar  30 . 
     The upper section  70  is complimentary in shape to that of the plunger head  170  of the pump sprayer  100 . In the preferred embodiment, the upper section  70  has a smaller diameter than that of the middle section  80  and one side  260  is angled. The angled side  260  of the upper section  70  helps to maintain the first part  20  of the housing  10  in a specific location or orientation relative to the pump sprayer  100 . Conventional pump sprayers  100  typically have a nozzle  240  on one side of the head  170  and the side opposite the head  170  is angled in some fashion so as to provide a comfortable recessed pad for a finger to be pressed upon when pumping the sprayer  100 . Also, as well known in the art, the pump sprayer has a plunger head  170  which is manually reciprocable relative to mid-section or collar  180  which is upstanding from closure skirt  190 . Liquid product is thus sprayed to the target upon plunger reciprocation. 
     In the present invention, since the upper section  70  of the first part  20  of the housing  10  is contoured similarly to the head  170  of the pump sprayer  100 , an aperture  90  in the upper section  70  is placed in axial alignment and adjacent the nozzle  240  of the pump sprayer  100  when the angled side  260  is located adjacent the angled portion of the head  170  of the pump dispenser  100 . 
     The middle section  80  of the first part  20  of the housing  10  also has a smaller diameter than the collar  30 . however, various sizes and shapes are foreseeable so long as they match the contour of the underlying pump dispenser  100 . For example, the upper section  70  and middle section  80  could have the same diameter if the pump dispenser  100  is so shaped. 
     The diameter of the upper section  70  is slightly larger than the head portion  170  of the pump dispenser  100  allowing for the upper section  70  of the first part  20  to fit snugly around the head  170  of the pump dispenser  100  encapsulating the head  170  while keeping the aperture  90  of the first part  70  aligned with the nozzle  240  of the pump dispenser  100 . 
     The collar  30  of the first part  20  of the housing  10  has a larger diameter than the second part  40  of the housing  10  so that the collar  30  securely fits over the open end  230  of the second part  40  and the annular bead  210  of the collar  30  fits within the groove  200  of the second part  40 , securing the first part  20  and the second part  40  together. 
     Also, the first part  20  in the invention depicted in the Figures is shown as being on the top of the second part  40 , however it is foreseeable that the first part  20  could actually be adapted to fit within the second part  40  or both the first and second parts  20 , 40  could be side-by-side and snap-fit together in a vertical plane (clam shell fashion) instead of the horizontal one shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Located on the lower, outside perimeter of the first part  20  is at least a first cradle arm  62  (FIGS. 2 and 5) that is integrally formed therewith and has one end that protrudes out from the first part  20  in a hook-shape forming one side of a mounting means  60 . Each first cradle arm  62  matingly connects with a respective similar second cradle arm  64  that is located on the exterior portion of the second part  40  of the housing  10  at the open end  220 . 
     When the first part  20  is connected to the second part  40 , the first cradle arms  62  matingly abut with the second cradle arms  64  forming a trunnion cradle  66  with a central axis A—A (shown in FIG. 5) about which the lever  50  rotates. 
     The lever  50 , as shown in detail in FIG. 6, has at least one trunnion  140  protruding out from the body  150 . In the preferred embodiment, the lever  50  has two trunnions  140 , one located on either side of the body  150  of the lever  50 . Each trunnion  140  is mounted within each respective trunnion cradle  66  when the actuation device I is fully assembled thereby forming a pivotal axis about which the lever  50  rotates. 
     The body  150  of the lever  50  is connected to a leg  160  at an angle. While the angle may vary, in the present embodiment, the body  150  may be integrally formed with the leg  160  at an angle slightly greater than 90 degrees. 
     The body  150  of the lever  50  also has a plurality of arms  130  protruding out therefrom and also angled with the leg  160 . In this embodiment, there are two arms  130 , one located on either side of the body  150  so that an arm  130  will be located on either side of the pump dispenser  100  as shown in FIG. 5 when the actuation device  1  is fully assembled. However, it is foreseeable that any desired number of arms  130  could be provided either straight as shown or curved. 
     The arms  130  project into the interior of the assembled actuation device  1  through corresponding arm slots  270  as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     The arm slot  270  may be comprised of a single aperture for all arms  130 , or a plurality of apertures in the housing  10  as shown, each corresponding to each separate arm  270 . The arm slot  270  is also located between the trunnion cradles  60  on one side of the actuation device  1 . 
     Each arm  130  is placed through the arm slot  270  so that it is disposed under and adjacent the closure  190  of the pump dispenser  100  as shown in FIG.  5 . The lower end of the closure  190  has an annular rim  250  that rests against the upper surface of each arm  130 . 
     When the leg  160  of the lever  50  is pivoted, the lever  50  rotates on the trunnions  140  causing the arms  130  to move upwardly, thereby shifting the annular rim  250  of the closure  190  upward and activating the pump mechanism within the pump dispenser  100 . 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 show the second part  40  of the housing  10  as having an open or first end  220  and a closed or second end  230 , which is opposite the open end  220 . 
     The open end  220  of the second part  40  has an external annular bead  210  around the outside perimeter thereof, which matingly fits within a groove  200  that extends around the inside perimeter of the collar  30 . 
     When the first part  20  of the housing  10  is snap-fit with the second part  40  of the housing  10 , the bead  210  fits into groove  200  and locks the first part  20  with the second part  40  creating a hollow interior wherein a pump dispenser  100  can be received. The connection of the first part  20  and the second part  40  also secure the first cradle arm  62  in a position adjacent the second cradle arm  64  thereby forming the trunnion cradle  66 . 
     Although the actuation device  1  is shown in the Figures with a Vial Access Spike Adapter, it not so limited but is capable of use with any known, standard finger actuated pump sprayer. 
     The Vial Access Spike Adapter shown in the Figure is more fully disclosed in application Ser. No. 09/640,550 filed Aug. 17, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,976, and commonly owned herewith. In brief, a conventional pump dispenser is connected to a vial with a vial access spike adapter allowing for the contents of the vial to be directly dispensed therefrom. 
     The pump sprayer operates in a reciprocating pumping action when activated. In normal use, the operator depressed the head of the pump dispenser which lowers it into the nozzle mid-section and activates the pumping mechanism within the pump dispenser causing the contents of the vial to be expelled. 
     The actuation device  1  is easily assembled, is economically manufactured, can be used with standard, conventional dispensers and provides an easy, handy, useful pump adapter for use with pump sprayers  100 . 
     The actuation device  1  can be operated as a trigger sprayer or a lever sprayer when fully assembled. To operate the actuation device  1  as a trigger sprayer, with head  170  and section  80  disposed such that aperture  90  and nozzle  240  extend in the same direction as lever  50 , i.e., to the righ in FIGS. 1,  4  and  4 , the operator grasps the second part  40  of the housing  10  in the palm portion of the hand while wrapping the fingers around the leg  160  of the lever  50 . The application of a slight squeezing motion of the fingers pulls the leg  160  toward the housing  10  in the direction of arrow D, causing the arms  130  of the lever  50  to rotate in an upward motion about the axis of trunnion  140 . As the arms  130  are rotated upwardly, they push the annular rim  250  of the pump dispenser  100  upwardly thereby activating the pumping mechanism within the pump dispenser  100 . FIG. 4 discloses the actuation device  1  with the arms  130  in a raised position. 
     Upon release of the leg  160  of the lever  50 , the actuation device  1  will reset itself into a rest position in response to a return spring (not shown) within the conventional pump dispenser  100 . The rest position of the actuation device  1  is shown in FIG.  3 . The return spring provides a constant downward force on the closure  190 , which in turn pushes the arms  130  of the lever  50  down into a resting position, resetting the actuation device  1  so that is may be used again. 
     To operate the actuation device  1  as a lever sprayer as shown in the drawings, the user grasps the second part  40  of the housing  10  within the fingers in such a manner that the leg  160  of the lever  50  is placed in the palm portion of the hand. The application of a slight squeezing motion of the fingers pushes the leg  160  of the lever  50  towards the second part  40  of the housing  10  in the direction of arrow D (FIG. 4) causing the arms  130  of the lever  50  to rotate upwardly. 
     As the arms  130  are rotated upwardly, they push the annular rim  250  of the pump dispenser  100  in an upward movement activating the pumping mechanism within the pump dispenser  100 . 
     Upon release of the leg  160  of the lever  50 , the actuation device  1  will reset itself into a rest position as described previously. 
     Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those particular embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.