Patent ID: 8590743

Claim:
An overcap for a dispenser, comprising: a housing mountable on a container, wherein the container includes a tilt-activated valve stem with a discharge end, and wherein the discharge end of the valve stem is configured to be in fluid communication with a discharge orifice of the housing; and a drive unit disposed within and supported by the housing, wherein the drive unit includes a solenoid having an armature, wherein the armature is configured to move along a path substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing, and wherein movement of the armature imparts transverse motion to the valve stem to open a valve of the container for a predetermined spraying period that is determined by the selection of an automatic operation mode associated with the overcap and is followed by a predetermined period where the solenoid is de-energized, and wherein the armature, or any movable structure associated therewith, for imparting motion to the valve stem is unrestricted by the housing.