Abstract:
Stored material is dispensed in a spray by defining a chamber and arranging the stored material and pressurized material within the chamber. A conduit passageway is arranged such that a conduit inlet is arranged within the chamber and a conduit outlet is arranged outside of the chamber. An adjustment system comprising an actuator member and first and second adjustment members is provided. The actuator member is arranged to define at least a portion of the conduit passageway. The first and second adjustment members are supported on the actuator member such that the conduit outlet is defined by a first surface of the first adjustment member and a second surface of the second adjustment member. Moving the first and second adjustment members relative to each other alters a cross-sectional area of the conduit outlet and thereby varies a flow of stored material along the conduit passageway at the conduit outlet.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/897,178 filed May 17, 2013, claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/648,519 filed May 17, 2012. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The outlet opening  326  is defined by the first, second, and third inner surfaces  380 ,  382 , and  384  of the adjustment member  332  and, in the first configuration illustrated in  FIG. 4A , by the side surface  352 . In the second configuration illustrated in  FIG. 4B , the outlet opening  326  is defined by the first, second, and third inner surfaces  380 ,  382 , and  384  of the adjustment member  332 , by the side surface  352 , by portions of the first and second opposing surfaces  354  and  356 . In both the first and second configurations shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the outlet opening  326  is circular or oval in overall configuration. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for applying texture material to an interior surface such as a wall or ceiling. In particular, buildings are typically constructed with a wood or metal framework. To form interior wall and ceiling surfaces, drywall material is attached to the framework. Typically, at least one primer layer and at least one paint layer is applied to the surface of the drywall material to form a finished wall surface. 
     For aesthetic and other reasons, a bumpy or irregular texture layer is often formed on the drywall material after the drywall material has been primed and before it has been painted. The appearance of the texture layer can take a number of patterns. As its name suggests, an “orange peel” texture pattern generally has the appearance of the surface of an orange and is formed by a spray of relatively small droplets of texture material applied in a dense, overlapping pattern. A “splatter” texture pattern is formed by larger, more spaced out droplets of texture material. A “knockdown” texture patter is formed by spraying texture material in larger droplets (like a “splatter” texture pattern) and then lightly working the surfaces of the applied droplets with a knife or scraper so that the highest points of the applied droplets are flattened. In some situations, a visible aggregate material such as polystyrene chips is added to the texture material to form what is commonly referred to as an “acoustic” or “popcorn” texture pattern. 
     For larger applications, such as a whole room or structure, the texture layer is typically initially formed using a commercial texture sprayer. Commercial texture sprayers typically comprise a spray gun, a hopper or other source of texture material, and a source of pressurized air. The texture material is mixed with a stream of pressurized air within the texture gun, and the stream of pressurized air carries the texture material in droplets onto the target surface to be textured. Commercial texture sprayers contain numerous points of adjustment (e.g., amount of texture material, pressure of pressurized air, size of outlet opening, etc.) and thus allow precise control of the texture pattern and facilitate the quick application of texture material to large surface areas. However, commercial texture sprayers are expensive and can be difficult to set up, operate, and clean up, especially for small jobs where overspray may be a problem. 
     For smaller jobs and repairs, especially those performed by non-professionals, a number of “do-it-yourself” (DIY) products for applying texture material are currently available in the market. Perhaps the most common type of DIY texturing products includes aerosol systems that contain texture material and a propellant. Aerosol systems typically include a container, a valve, and an actuator. The container contains the texture material and propellant under pressure. The valve is mounted to the container selectively to allow the pressurized propellant to force the texture material out of the container. The actuator defines an outlet opening, and, when the actuator is depressed to place the valve in an open configuration, the pressurized propellant forces the texture material out of the outlet opening in a spray. The spray typically approximates only one texture pattern, so it was difficult to match a variety of perhaps unknown preexisting texture patterns with original aerosol texturing products. 
     A relatively crude work around for using an aerosol texturing system to apply more than one texture pattern is to reduce the pressure of the propellant material within the container prior to operating the valve. In particular, when maintained under pressure within the container, typical propellant materials exist in both a gas phase and in a liquid phase. The propellant material in the liquid phase is mixed with the texture material, and the texture material in the gas state pressurizes the mixture of texture material and liquid propellant material. When the container is held upright, the liquid contents of the container are at the bottom of the container chamber, while the gas contents of the container collect at the top of the container chamber. A dip tube extends from the valve to the bottom of the container chamber to allow the propellant in the gas phase to force the texture material up from the bottom of the container chamber and out of the outlet opening when the valve is opened. To increase the size of the droplets sprayed out of the aerosol system, the container can be inverted, the valve opened, and the gas phase propellant material allowed to flow out of the aerosol system, reducing pressure within the container chamber. The container is then returned upright and the valve operated again before the pressure of the propellant recovers such that the liquid contents are forced out in a coarser texture pattern. This technique of adjusting the applied texture pattern result in only a limited number of texture patterns that are not highly repeatable and can drain the can of propellant before the texture material is fully dispensed. 
     A more refined method of varying the applied texture pattern created by aerosol texturing patterns involved adjusting the size of the outlet opening formed by the actuator structure. Initially, it was discovered that the applied texture pattern could be varied by attaching one of a plurality of straws or tubes to the actuator member, where each tube defined an internal bore of a different diameter. The straws or tubes were sized and dimensioned to obtain fine, medium, and coarse texture patterns appropriate for matching a relatively wide range of pre-existing texture patterns. Additional structures such as caps and plates defining a plurality of openings each having a different cross-sectional area could be rotatably attached relative to the actuator member to change the size of the outlet opening. More recently, a class of products has been developed using a resilient member that is deformed to alter the size of the outlet opening and thus the applied texture pattern. 
     The need thus exists for improved aerosol texturing systems and methods that can approximate the results obtained by commercial texture sprayers. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention may be embodied as an aerosol dispensing system for dispensing stored material in a spray comprising a container, a conduit, and an adjustment system. The container defines a chamber containing the stored material and pressurized material. The conduit defines a conduit passageway having a conduit inlet and a conduit outlet. The conduit inlet is arranged within the chamber and the conduit outlet is arranged outside of the chamber. An adjustment system is arranged to vary a flow of stored material along the conduit passageway. The adjustment system is arranged adjacent to the conduit outlet and comprises an actuator member and first and second adjustment members. The actuator member forms at least a portion of the conduit and defines at least a portion of the conduit passageway. The first and second adjustment members are supported by the actuator member. The conduit outlet is defined by a first surface of the first adjustment member and a second surface of the second adjustment member. At least one of the first and second adjustment members is movably supported by the actuator member such that moving the first and second adjustment members relative to each other alters a cross-sectional area of the conduit outlet. 
     The present invention may also be embodied as a method of dispensing stored material in a spray comprising the following steps. A chamber is defined. The stored material and pressurized material are arranged within the chamber. A conduit passageway having a conduit inlet and a conduit outlet is arranged such that the conduit inlet is arranged within the chamber and the conduit outlet is arranged outside of the chamber. An adjustment system comprising an actuator member and first and second adjustment members is provided. The actuator member is arranged to define at least a portion of the conduit passageway. The first and second adjustment members are supported on the actuator member such that the conduit outlet is defined by a first surface of the first adjustment member and a second surface of the second adjustment member. The first and second adjustment members are moved relative to each other to alter a cross-sectional area of the conduit outlet and thereby vary a flow of stored material along the conduit passageway at the conduit outlet. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of an example dispensing system for texture material of the type that employs an actuator of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a side section view of a first example actuator of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  is a front elevation view of the first example actuator in a first configuration; 
         FIG. 2C  is a front elevation view of the first example actuator in a second configuration; 
         FIG. 3A  is a front elevation view of a second example actuator in a first configuration; 
         FIG. 3B  is a front elevation view of the second example actuator in a second configuration; 
         FIG. 4A  is a front elevation view of a third example actuator in a first configuration; 
         FIG. 4B  is a front elevation view of the third example actuator in a second configuration; 
         FIG. 5A  is a side elevation section view of a fourth example actuator in a first configuration; 
         FIG. 5B  is a side elevation section view of the fourth example actuator in a second configuration; 
         FIG. 6A  is a front elevation view of a fifth example actuator in a first configuration; 
         FIG. 6B  is a front elevation view of the fifth example actuator in a second configuration; 
         FIG. 6C  is a top plan view of the fifth example actuator in a second configuration; 
         FIG. 7A  is a front elevation view of a sixth example actuator in a first configuration; 
         FIG. 7B  is a front elevation view of the sixth example actuator in a second configuration; 
         FIG. 7C  is a top plan view of the sixth example actuator in a second configuration; 
         FIG. 8A  is a front elevation view of a seventh example actuator; 
         FIG. 8B  is a side elevation section view of the seventh example actuator in a first configuration; 
         FIG. 8C  is a side elevation section view of the seventh example actuator in a second configuration; 
         FIG. 8D  is a side elevation section view of the seventh example actuator in a third configuration; 
         FIG. 9A  is a side elevation section view of an eighth example actuator; 
         FIG. 9B  is a front elevation view of the eighth example actuator in a first configuration; and 
         FIG. 9C  is a front elevation view of the eighth example actuator in a second configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 1  of the drawing, depicted at  20  therein is an example dispensing system  20  employing an actuator  22  that may implement the principles of the present invention. In addition to the actuator, the dispensing system  20  comprises an aerosol system  24  that contains a contained material  26 . The dispensing system  20  dispenses the contained material in a spray  28  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The actuator  22  comprises a stem portion  30  and defines an actuator passageway  32 . The actuator passageway  32  terminates in an outlet opening  34 . The aerosol system  24  comprises a container system  40 , a valve system  42 , and a dip tube  44  and defines a dispensing passageway  46  from the interior of the container system  40  to the exterior of the aerosol system  24 . The container system  40  and the valve system  42  are or may be conventional and will not be described herein beyond what is necessary for a complete understanding of the principles of the present invention. 
     The stem portion  30  of the actuator  22  engages the valve system  42  to support the actuator  22  relative to the aerosol system  24 . The valve system  42  is operable in a normally closed configuration in which fluid is substantially prevented from flowing along the dispensing passageway  46  and an open configuration in which fluid is allowed to flow along the dispensing passageway  46 . Displacing the actuator  22  relative to the container system  40  causes the valve system  42  to change from the normally closed configuration to the open configuration. 
     The contained material  26  comprises a propellant material and a texture material and defines a gas portion  50  and a liquid portion  52 . The propellant material defines at least a portion of the gas portion  50 , and the texture material defines at least a portion of the liquid portion  52 . In one example, the propellant material is a compressed inert gas such as air or nitrogen, in which case the propellant material defines the gas portion  50  and the texture material defines the liquid portion  52 . In another example, the propellant material is a bi-phase material that exists within the container system  40  in both liquid and gas phases. In this second example, the liquid phase of the propellant material defines the gas portion  50 , and the liquid portion  52  comprises both the texture material and the liquid phase of the propellant material. 
     The gas portion  50  pressurizes the liquid portion  52  such that operation of the valve system  42  in the open configuration allows the gas portion  50  to force at least part of the liquid portion  52  out of the aerosol system  24  through the actuator  22  as the spray  28 . The spray  28  comprises texture material and possibly some of the propellant material in liquid phase. If the spray  28  comprises propellant material in liquid phase, the propellant material within the spray gasifies when released from the container system  40 . If the spray  28  contains gasifying propellant material, the expanding propellant material within the spray  28  can assist with atomization of the spray  28 . In any event, the spray is deposited on a surface  60  to form a texture layer  62  having bumps and irregularities. The dimensions and/or shape of the cross-sectional area defined by the outlet opening  34  define the characteristics of the spray  28  and thus the bumps and irregularities of the texture layer  62 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 2A-2C  of the drawing, depicted therein is a first example actuator  120  that may be used as the actuator  22  of the dispensing system  20 . The actuator  120  comprises a stem portion  122  and defines an actuator passageway  124  and an outlet opening  126 . The first example actuator  120  comprises a base member  130 , a first plate  132 , a second plate  134 , a first pin  136 , and a second pin  138 . The base member  130  comprises a main portion  140 , a first wall portion  142 , and a second wall portion  144  and defines a slot  146 . The main portion  140  defines a main surface  150 , the first wall portion  142  defines a first opposing surface  152 , and the second wall portion  144  defines a second opposing surface  154 . The actuator passageway  124  terminates in an inner opening  156  formed in the main surface  150 . 
     The first plate  132  defines a first plate upper surface  160 , a first plate lower surface  162 , a first plate inner surface  164 , a first plate outer surface  166 , and a first plate end surface  168 . The second plate  134  defines a second plate upper surface  170 , a second plate lower surface  172 , a second plate inner surface  174 , a second plate outer surface  176 , and a second plate end surface  178 . 
     The first and second plates  132  and  134  are sized and dimensioned to fit snugly within the slot  146  such that the upper surfaces  160  and  170  engage the first opposing surface  152  and the lower surfaces  162  and  172  engage the second opposing surface  154 . The first pin  136  extends through the first wall portion  142 , the first plate  132 , and the second wall portion  144  to movably attach the first plate  132  to the base member  130 . The second pin  138  extends through the first wall portion  142 , the second plate  134 , and the second wall portion  144  to movably attach the second plate  134  to the base member  130 . 
     The outlet opening  126  is defined by the first and second opposing surfaces  152  and  154  of the base member  130  and the first and second inner surfaces  164  and  174  of the first and second plates  132  and  134 . By moving one or both of the plates  132  and  134  relative to the base member  130 , a cross-sectional area of the outlet opening  126  may be changed as can be seen by a comparison of  FIGS. 2B and 2C . When the liquid portion  52  of the contained material  26  is forced through the actuator passageway  124  and the inner opening  156 , the characteristics of the spray  28  formed by the liquid portion  52  are defined by the outlet opening  126  formed as described above. The characteristics of the texture layer  62  formed by the spray  28  can thus be altered by changing the outlet opening  126  as defined above. 
     Turning next to  FIGS. 3A and 3B  of the drawing, depicted therein is a second example actuator  220  that may be used as the actuator  22  of the dispensing system  20 . The actuator  220  comprises a stem portion  222  and defines an actuator passageway  224  and an outlet opening  226 . The second example actuator  220  comprises a base member  230 , an adjustment member  232 , and a pin  234 . The base member  230  comprises a main portion  240 , a first wall portion  242 , a second wall portion  244 , and a third wall portion  246  and defines a slot  248 . The main portion  240  defines a main surface  250 , the first wall portion  242  defines a side surface  252 , the second wall portion  244  defines a first opposing surface  254 , and the third wall portion  246  defines a second opposing surface  256 . The actuator passageway  224  terminates in an inner opening  258  formed in the main surface  250 . 
     The adjustment member  232  defines a first wall portion  260 , a second wall portion  262 , and a third wall portion  264 . The first wall portion  260  defines an upper surface  270 , the second wall portion  262  defines a lower surface  272 , and the third wall portion  264  defines an outer surface  274 . The adjustment member  232  further defines an end surface  276 . In addition, the first wall portion  260  defines a first inner surface  280 , the second wall portion  262  defines a second inner surface  282 , and the third wall portion  264  defines a third inner surface  284 . 
     The adjustment member  232  is sized and dimensioned to fit snugly within the slot  248  such that the upper surface  270  engages the first opposing surface  254  and the lower surface  272  engages the second opposing surface  256 . The pin  234  extends through the second wall portion  244 , the adjustment member  232 , and the third wall portion  246  to movably attach the adjustment member  232  to the base member  230 . 
     The outlet opening  226  is defined by the first, second, and third inner surfaces  280 ,  282 , and  284  of the adjustment member  232  and, in the first configuration illustrated in  FIG. 3A , by the side surface  252 . In the second configuration illustrated in  FIG. 3B , the outlet opening  226  is defined by the first, second, and third inner surfaces  280 ,  282 , and  284  of the adjustment member  232 , by the side surface  252 , by portions of the first and second opposing surfaces  254  and  256 . In both the first and second configurations shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the outlet opening  226  is rectangular in overall configuration. 
     Accordingly, by moving the adjustment member  232  relative to the base member  230 , a cross-sectional area of the outlet opening  226  may be changed as can be seen by a comparison of  FIGS. 3A and 3B . When the liquid portion  52  of the contained material  26  is forced through the actuator passageway  224  and the inner opening  258 , the characteristics of the spray  28  formed by the liquid portion  52  are defined by the outlet opening  226  formed as described above. The characteristics of the texture layer  62  formed by the spray  28  can thus be altered by changing the outlet opening  226  as defined above. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a third example actuator  320  that may be used as the actuator  22  of the dispensing system  20 . The actuator  320  comprises a stem portion  322  and defines an actuator passageway  324  and an outlet opening  326 . The third example actuator  320  comprises a base member  330 , an adjustment member  332 , and a pin  334 . The base member  330  comprises a main portion  340 , a first wall portion  342 , a second wall portion  344 , and a third wall portion  346  and defines a slot  348 . The main portion  340  defines a main surface  350 , the first wall portion  342  defines a side surface  352 , the second wall portion  344  defines a first opposing surface  354 , and the third wall portion  346  defines a second opposing surface  356 . The actuator passageway  324  terminates in an inner opening  358  formed in the main surface  350 . 
     The adjustment member  332  defines a first wall portion  360 , a second wall portion  362 , and a third wall portion  364 . The first wall portion  360  defines an upper surface  370 , the second wall portion  362  defines a lower surface  372 , and the third wall portion  364  defines an outer surface  374 . The adjustment member  332  further defines an end surface  376 . In addition, the first wall portion  360  defines a first inner surface  380 , the second wall portion  362  defines a second inner surface  382 , and the third wall portion  364  defines a third inner surface  384 . 
     The adjustment member  332  is sized and dimensioned to fit snugly within the slot  348  such that the upper surface  370  engages the first opposing surface  354  and the lower surface  372  engages the second opposing surface  356 . The pin  334  extends through the second wall portion  344 , the adjustment member  332 , and the third wall portion  346  to movably attach the adjustment member  332  to the base member  330 . 
     The outlet opening  326  is defined by the first, second, and third inner surfaces  380 ,  382 , and  384  of the adjustment member  332  and, in the first configuration illustrated in  FIG. 3A , by the side surface  352 . In the second configuration illustrated in  FIG. 3B , the outlet opening  326  is defined by the first, second, and third inner surfaces  380 ,  382 , and  384  of the adjustment member  332 , by the side surface  352 , by portions of the first and second opposing surfaces  354  and  356 . In both the first and second configurations shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the outlet opening  326  is circular or oval in overall configuration. 
     Accordingly, by moving the adjustment member  332  relative to the base member  330 , a cross-sectional area of the outlet opening  326  may be changed as can be seen by a comparison of  FIGS. 4A and 4B . When the liquid portion  52  of the contained material  26  is forced through the actuator passageway  324  and the inner opening  358 , the characteristics of the spray  28  formed by the liquid portion  52  are defined by the outlet opening  326  formed as described above. The characteristics of the texture layer  62  formed by the spray  28  can thus be altered by changing the outlet opening  326  as defined above. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate a fourth example actuator  420  that may be used as the actuator  22  of the dispensing system  20 . The actuator  420  comprises a stem portion  422  and defines an actuator passageway  424  and an outlet opening  426 . The fourth example actuator  420  comprises a base member  430 , and an adjustment member  432 . The base member  430  comprises an outlet wall  440 , a back wall  442 , an outlet chamber  444 , an end opening  446 , a threaded opening  448 , and an inner opening  456 . The adjustment member  432  defines a shaft portion  450 , an end portion  452 , and a threaded portion  454 . Optionally, a handle portion  458  may be attached to the shaft portion  450 . 
     The adjustment member  432  is sized and dimensioned such that the threaded portion  454  engages the threaded opening  448  such that the end portion  452  is adjacent to the end opening  446  of the base member  430 . The threaded portion  454  further engages the threaded opening  448  such that axial rotation of the adjustment member  432  causes movement of the adjustment member  432  relative to the base member  430 . 
     The end portion  452  of the adjustment member  432  further defines an inner surface  460  and an outer surface  462 . The inner surface  460  is shaped such that a diameter thereof becomes larger along a longitudinal axis of the adjustment member  432  from the shaft portion  450  to the end surface  462 . In the example depicted in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the inner surface  460  is frustoconical. 
     The outlet opening  426  is defined by the inner surfaces  460  of the adjustment member  432  and by the end opening  446  of the base member  430 . In particular, axial rotation of the adjustment member  432  causes the adjustment member  432  to move or be displaced relative to the base member  430  as shown by a comparison of  FIGS. 5A and 5B . In both the first and second configurations shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the outlet opening  426  is annular in overall configuration, but the surface area of the annular space forming the outlet opening  426  is larger in  FIG. 5B  than in  FIG. 5A . 
     Accordingly, by moving the adjustment member  432  relative to the base member  430 , a cross-sectional area of the outlet opening  426  may be changed as can be seen by a comparison of  FIGS. 5A and 5B . When the liquid portion  52  of the contained material  26  is forced through the actuator passageway  424  and the inner opening  456 , the characteristics of the spray  28  formed by the liquid portion  52  are defined by the outlet opening  426  formed as described above. The characteristics of the texture layer  62  formed by the spray  28  can thus be altered by changing the outlet opening  426  as defined above. 
       FIGS. 6A ,  6 B, and  6 C illustrate a fifth example actuator  520  that may be used as the actuator  22  of the dispensing system  20 . The example actuator  520  comprises a stem portion  522  and defines an actuator passageway  524  and an outlet opening  526 . The fifth example actuator  520  comprises a base member  530 , an adjustment member  532 , and a pin  534 . The base member  530  comprises a main portion  540  and, optionally, a front wall portion  542  and a side wall portion  544 . The example base member  530  thus defines a groove  546 . The main portion  540  defines a main surface  550 , the front wall portion  542  defines an opposing surface  552 , and the side wall portion  544  defines a stop surface  554 . The actuator passageway  524  terminates in an inner opening  556  formed in the main surface  550 . 
     The adjustment member  532  defines a front surface  560 , a rear surface  562 , and an edge surface  564 . The adjustment member  532  further defines a plate opening  570  and a pin opening  572 . 
     The adjustment member  532  is sized and dimensioned such that a portion thereof snugly fits within the groove  546 . In particular, the front and rear surfaces  560  and  562  of the adjustment member  532  engage the main surface  550  and the opposing surface  552 , respectively. The pin  534  extends through the pin opening  572  to movably attach the adjustment member  532  to the base member  530 . The example pin  534  is offset from the inner opening  556  along an axis of the actuator passageway  524  as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
     The outlet opening  526  is defined by the overlap of the plate opening  570  and the inner opening  556 . In both the first and second configurations shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the outlet opening  526  changes both size in terms of cross-sectional area and shape. When the outlet opening  526  is as shown in  FIG. 6A , the outlet opening  526  is in the shape of a pointed oval and is approximately 10-20% of the size of the plate opening  570 . When the outlet opening  526  is as shown in  FIG. 6B , the outlet opening  526  is circular and is approximately 100% of the size of the plate opening  570 . The edge surface  564  engages the stop surface  554  when the adjustment member  532  is in the position shown in  FIG. 6B . The optional front wall portion  542  helps hold the adjustment member  532  against the main surface  550  but may not be necessary depending upon the circumstances. 
     Accordingly, by moving the adjustment member  532  relative to the base member  530 , both a shape and a cross-sectional area of the outlet opening  526  may be changed as can be seen by a comparison of  FIGS. 6A and 6B . When the liquid portion  52  of the contained material  26  is forced through the actuator passageway  524  and the inner opening  556 , the characteristics of the spray  28  formed by the liquid portion  52  are defined by the outlet opening  526  formed as described above. The characteristics of the texture layer  62  formed by the spray  28  can thus be altered by changing the outlet opening  526  as defined above. 
       FIGS. 7A ,  7 B, and  7 C illustrate a sixth example actuator  620  that may be used as the actuator  22  of the dispensing system  20 . The example actuator  620  comprises a stem portion  622  and defines an actuator passageway  624  and an outlet opening  626 . The sixth example actuator  620  comprises a base member  630 , an adjustment member  632 , and a pin  634 . The base member  630  comprises a main portion  640  and, optionally, a front wall portion  642  and a side wall portion  644 . The example base member  630  thus defines a groove  646 . The main portion  640  defines a main surface  650 , the front wall portion  642  defines an opposing surface  652 , and the side wall portion  644  defines a stop surface  654 . The actuator passageway  624  terminates in an inner opening  656  formed in the main surface  650 . 
     The adjustment member  632  defines a front surface  660 , a rear surface  662 , and an edge surface  664 . The adjustment member  632  further defines a plate opening  670  and a pin opening  672 . 
     The adjustment member  632  is sized and dimensioned such that a portion thereof snugly fits within the groove  646 . In particular, the front and rear surfaces  660  and  662  of the adjustment member  632  engage the main surface  650  and the opposing surface  652 , respectively. The pin  634  extends through the pin opening  672  to movably attach the adjustment member  632  to the base member  630 . The example pin  634  is aligned with the inner opening  656  along an axis of the actuator passageway  624  as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . 
     The outlet opening  626  is defined by the overlap of the plate opening  670  and the inner opening  656 . In both the first and second configurations shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the outlet opening  626  changes both size in terms of cross-sectional area and shape. When the outlet opening  626  is as shown in  FIG. 7A , the outlet opening  626  is in the shape of a pointed oval and is approximately 10-20% of the size of the plate opening  670 . When the outlet opening  626  is as shown in  FIG. 7B , the outlet opening  626  is circular and is approximately 100% of the size of the plate opening  670 . The edge surface  664  engages the stop surface  654  when the adjustment member  632  is in the position shown in  FIG. 7B . The optional front wall portion  642  helps hold the adjustment member  632  against the main surface  650  but may not be necessary depending upon the circumstances. 
     Accordingly, by moving the adjustment member  632  relative to the base member  630 , both a shape and a cross-sectional area of the outlet opening  626  may be changed as can be seen by a comparison of  FIGS. 7A and 7B . When the liquid portion  62  of the contained material  26  is forced through the actuator passageway  624  and the inner opening  656 , the characteristics of the spray  28  formed by the liquid portion  62  are defined by the outlet opening  626  formed as described above. The characteristics of the texture layer  62  formed by the spray  28  can thus be altered by changing the outlet opening  626  as defined above. 
       FIGS. 8A-8D  illustrate a seventh example actuator  720  that may be used as the actuator  22  of the dispensing system  20 . The actuator  720  comprises a stem portion  722  and defines an actuator passageway  724  and an outlet opening  726 . The seventh example actuator  720  comprises a base member  730  and an adjustment member  732 . The base member  730  comprises an outlet wall  740 , an outlet chamber  742 , and an outer surface  744 . The adjustment member  732  defines a front wall  750 , a perimeter wall  752 , and cavity  754 . The front wall  750  defines an inner surface  760 , and the perimeter wall  752  defines a perimeter surface  762 . The cavity  754  is partly bounded by the inner surface  760  and the perimeter surface  762 . First and second adjustment openings  770  and  772  extend through the front wall  750 . 
     The adjustment member  732  is sized and dimensioned such that the perimeter wall surface  762  thereof frictionally engages the outer surface  744  of the base member  730  to detachably attach the adjustment member  732  to the base member  730  in either any of a continuum of positions between a first position as shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B  and a second position as shown  FIG. 8D . The outlet opening  726  is thus defined by the first adjustment opening  770  in the first configuration illustrated in  FIG. 8B  and by the second adjustment opening  772  in the second configuration illustrated in  FIG. 8D . In both the first and second configurations shown in  FIGS. 8B and 8D , the example outlet opening  726  is circular or oval in overall configuration. 
     Accordingly, by moving the adjustment member  732  relative to the base member  730 , a cross-sectional area of the outlet opening  726  may be changed as can be seen by a comparison of  FIGS. 8B and 8D . When the liquid portion  52  of the contained material  26  is forced through the actuator passageway  724 , the characteristics of the spray  28  formed by the liquid portion  52  are defined by the outlet opening  726  formed as described above. The characteristics of the texture layer  62  formed by the spray  28  can thus be altered by changing the outlet opening  726  as defined above. 
       FIGS. 9A-C  illustrate an eighth example actuator  820  that may be used as the actuator  22  of the dispensing system  20 . The actuator  820  comprises a stem portion  822  and defines an actuator passageway  824  and an outlet opening  826 . The eighth example actuator  820  comprises a base member  830  and an adjustment member  832 . The base member  830  comprises a main portion  840  defining a main surface  842  in which is formed a groove  844  and an inner opening  846 . The adjustment member  832  defines an attachment portion  850  and an adjustment portion  852 . The example adjustment portion  852  defines first and second surfaces  860  and  862  that define an overlapped portion  864 . 
     The attachment portion  852  of the adjustment member  832  is sized and dimensioned to fit snugly within the groove  844  such that the adjustment portion is arranged to extend around the inner opening  846 . 
     The outlet opening  826  is defined by the adjustment portion  852  of the adjustment member  832 . In a first configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 9B , the overlapped portion  864  extends along a smaller percentage of the entire 360° arc defined by the adjustment portion  852  than second configuration illustrated in  FIG. 9C . By reducing the size or percentage of the overlapped portion  864 , the outlet opening  826  is correspondingly made smaller. Increasing the size or percentage of the overlapped portion  864  effectively increases the size of the outlet opening  826 . 
     Accordingly, by pinching or otherwise altering the shape of the adjustment member  832  such that the overlapped portion  864  is made larger or smaller, a cross-sectional area of the outlet opening  826  may be changed as can be seen by a comparison of  FIGS. 9B and 9C . When the liquid portion  52  of the contained material  26  is forced through the actuator passageway  824  and the inner opening  846 , the characteristics of the spray  28  formed by the liquid portion  52  are defined by the outlet opening  826  formed as described above. The characteristics of the texture layer  62  formed by the spray  28  can thus be altered by changing the outlet opening  826  as defined above.