AEROSOL CAN ADAPTER

ADAPTATEUR DE CONTENANT D'AEROSOL

English Abstract

An aerosol can adapter for securing an aerosol can within a dispenser housing. The aerosol can has a top end with a nozzle and a bottom end. The dispenser housing defines an interior cavity for containing the aerosol can and has a valve mechanism for receiving the nozzle of the aerosol can. The dispenser housing has sidewalls defining the interior cavity. The adapter includes an elongate body having an upper end and a lower end. A mounting mechanism is located at the upper end for engaging one of the sidewalls within the interior cavity of the dispenser housing. A resiliently flexible biasing mechanism is located at the lower end for bearing upwards against the bottom end of the aerosol can to secure the aerosol can within the dispenser housing and urge the nozzle into engagement with the valve mechanism.

French Abstract

Adaptateur pour fixer un contenant d'aérosol dans le boîtier d'un distributeur. Le contenant d'aérosol comporte une extrémité supérieure munie d'une buse et une extrémité inférieure. Le corps du distributeur forme une cavité intérieure pour loger le contenant d'aérosol et comporte un mécanisme de clapet pour recevoir la buse du contenant d'aérosol. Le corps du distributeur est muni de parois latérales formant une cavité intérieure. L'adaptateur comprend un corps de forme allongée muni d'une extrémité supérieure et d'une extrémité inférieure. Un mécanisme de montage est situé à l'extrémité supérieure pour engager l'une des parois latérales dans la cavité intérieure du corps du distributeur. Un mécanisme d'inclinaison souple et résilient est situé à l'extrémité supérieure pour s'appuyer vers le haut contre l'extrémité inférieure du contenant d'aérosol afin de fixer ce dernier à l'intérieur du corps du distributeur et de provoquer la solidarisation de la buse avec le mécanisme de clapet.

Claims

What is claimed is:
1. An aerosol can adapter for securing an aerosol can within a dispenser
housing, the aerosol can having a top end with a nozzle and a bottom end, the
dispenser housing defining an interior cavity for containing the aerosol can
and
having a valve mechanism for receiving the nozzle of the aerosol can, the
dispenser housing having sidewalls defining the interior cavity, the adapter
comprising:
an elongate body having an upper end and a lower end;
a mounting mechanism located at said upper end for engaging one of the
sidewalls within the interior cavity of the dispenser housing; and
a resiliently flexible flange located at said lower end for bearing upwards
against the bottom end of the aerosol can to secure the aerosol can
within the dispenser housing and urge the nozzle into engagement with
the valve mechanism
wherein the sidewalls of the dispenser housing define an aperture, and
wherein the mounting mechanism comprises a hook for engaging said
aperture in the dispenser housing,
wherein said elongate body has a longitudinal axis between said upper end
and said lower end and wherein said resiliently flexible flange extends
substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis,
and wherein the elongate body, the mounting mechanism, and the
resiliently flexible flange are of unitary construction.

2. The aerosol can adapter of claim 1, wherein the elongate body has a can-
side and a housing-side and wherein the hook projects outwards from the body
on said housing-side and the flange projects outwards from the body on said
can-side.
3. The aerosol can adapter of claim 1, wherein said flange extends at an
acute angle to said can-side of said elongate body.
4. The aerosol can adapter of claim 1, wherein the elongate body, the
mounting mechanism, and the biasing mechanism are formed of stainless steel.
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Description

CA 02553580 2006-07-26
AEROSOL CAN ADAPTER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to aerosol spray dispensing devices, and
in particular to an adapter for connecting an aerosol can to a dispenser
housing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Aerosol cans may be received in dispenser devices to effect
dispensing of the contents contained within the aerosol cans. Typically, the
dispenser device is mounted to a wall and includes a valve mechanism that
connects to the nozzle of the aerosol can. The valve mechanism may be
actuated by a timer or other mechanism to periodically depress the nozzle,
causing the aerosol can to release some of its contents into the valve
mechanism. The contents released from the can are directed through the
valve mechanism to an outlet in the exterior of the dispenser housing and
released into the environment.
[0003] The aerosol cans must be regularly replaced as their contents
are used up. To facilitate replacement of the aerosol cans, they are typically
attached to the valve mechanism by way of an adapter.
[0004] An example of an adapter is found in Canadian patent no.
2,099,849 to Winder. This patent describes an adapter device for connecting
an aerosol spray can directly to the valve mechanism for dispensing the
contents of the aerosol can. The adapter requires a two-part screw
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CA 02553580 2006-07-26
mechanism in which a portion attaches directly to the valve mechanism and
a portion attaches to the undercut rim on top of the aerosol can.
[0005] It would be advantageous to provide for an alternative adapter
for securing an aerosol can within a dispenser.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In one aspect, the present application describes an aerosol can
adapter for securing an aerosol can within a dispenser housing. The aerosol
can has a top end with a nozzle and a bottom end. The dispenser housing
deflnes an interior cavity for containing the aerosol can and has a valve
mechanism for receiving the nozzle of the aerosol can. The dispenser
housing has sidewalls defining the interior cavity. The adapter includes an
elongate body having an upper end and a lower end, a mounting mechanism
located at the upper end for engaging one of the sidewalls within the interior
cavity of the dispenser housing, and a resiliently flexible biasing mechanism
located at the lower end for bearing upwards against the bottom end of the
aerosol can to secure the aerosol can within the dispenser housing and urge
the nozzle into engagement with the valve mechanism.
[0007] In another aspect, the present application describes an aerosol
can adapter for securing an aerosol can within a dispenser housing. The
aerosol can has a top end with a nozzle and a bottom end. The dispenser
housing defines an interior cavity for containing the aerosol can and has a
valve mechanism for receiving the nozzle of the aerosol can. The dispenser
housing has sidewalls defining the interior cavity. The adapter includes an
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CA 02553580 2006-07-26
elongate body having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end including
means for engaging one of the sidewalls within the interior cavity of the
dispenser housing, and the lower end including means for bearing upwards
against the bottom end of the aerosol can to secure the aerosol can within
the dispenser housing and urge the nozzle into engagement with the valve
mechanism.
[0008] In yet another aspect, the present application describes an
aerosol can adapter for securing an aerosol can within a dispenser housing.
The aerosol can has a top end with a nozzle and a bottom end. The
dispenser housing defines an interior cavity for containing the aerosol can
and has a valve mechanism for receiving the nozzle of the aerosol can. The
dispenser housing has sidewalls defining the interior cavity. One of the
sidewalls defines an aperture. The adapter includes a unitary elongate body
having a longitudinal axis and an upper end and a lower end. The body has
a can-side and a housing-side. The upper end is formed in a hook on the
housing-side for engaging the aperture in the one of the sidewalls within the
interior cavity of the dispenser housing. The lower end includes a flange
extending outwards from the can-side and substantially transverse to the
longitudinal axis. The flange is resiliently flexible to accommodate insertion
of the aerosol can and thereafter bear upwards against the bottom end of the
aerosol can to secure the aerosol can within the dispenser housing and urge
the nozzle into engagement with the valve mechanism.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Embodiments will now be described by way of example with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals
are used to indicate similar features.
[0010] Figures 1A and 1B show a side view and a front view,
respectively, of an embodiment of an aerosol can adapter.
[0011] Figure 2 shows a side view of an exemplary aerosol can for use
with the adapter shown in Figures 1A and 1B.
[0012] Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the operation of
the adapter of Figures 1A and 1B to secure an aerosol can within a dispenser
housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Reference is now made to Figures 1A and 1B, which show an
aerosol can adapter 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. Figure 1A shows a side view of the adapter 10 and Figure 1B
shows a front view of the adapter 10. As best illustrated in Figure 3, the
aerosol can adapter 10 is used for securing an aerosol can 12 to a dispenser
14 having a dispenser housing 24, 26.
[0014] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the adapter 10 has an
elongate body 15. The body 15 has an upper end 16 and a lower end 18.
The body 15 has a front-side, or housing-side 40, and a back-side, or can-
side 42. In use, the adapter 10 is positioned with the can-side adjacent the
aerosol can 12 (Fig. 3).
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[0015] A mounting mechanism, in this embodiment, a two-pronged
hook 20, is located at the upper end 16 and projects in an outwards direction
from the housing-side 40 of the body 15. The mounting mechanism is for
securing the adapter 10 to the dispenser housing 24, 26. In this
embodiment, the hook 20 is adapted to engage an aperture 30 (Figure 3)
defined in the sidewall of the dispenser housing 26. Thus, the aperture 30
may be used as an adapter 10 holder.
[0016] A biasing member, in this embodiment, flange 22, is located at
the lower end 18 of the adapter 10 and projects from the body 15 in a
substantially transverse direction from the can-side 42 of the adapter 10.
The biasing member is for bearing against and supporting the bottom end of
the aerosol can 12 (Figure 3) to urge it upwards when in the dispenser 14
thereby holding it in engagement with the valve mechanism in the dispenser
14. In this embodiment, the flange 22 extends substantially transverse to
the longitudinal axis of the adapter 10, but features a slight upwards tilt,
such that when the outer rim of the aerosol can 12 is positioned against the
flange 22 it does not accidentally dislodge from the adapter 10. In other
words, the flange 22 extends outwards at an acute angle relative to the can-
side 42 of the body 15.
[0017] The flange 22 is formed from a resiliently flexible material. This
allows the flange 22 to flex downwards during installation to accommodate
insertion of the aerosol can 12. Once the aerosol can 12 has been inserted
into position, the flange 22 then bears upwards by way of restitution against
the bottom of the aerosol can 12, urging the aerosol can 12 upwards against

CA 02553580 2006-07-26
the valve mechanism. Thus, the aerosol can 12 may be secured to the
dispenser 14 in a snap-fit.
[0018] It can be appreciated to those skilled in the art that the
mounting mechanism located at the dispenser housing engaging region 16
may be in the form of different embodiments. For example, the interior
sidewall of the dispenser housing 24, 26 may provide a hook or other
protrusion and the upper end 16 of the adaptor 10 may include an aperture
or corresponding hook for securing the upper end 16 to the dispenser
housing 24, 26. The mounting mechanism may include any similar
mechanism for releasably securing the adapter to the interior sidewall of the
dispenser housing 24, 26. More permanent applications may be used to
secure the upper end 16 to the dispenser housing 24, 26, such as screw
fittings, nails, or adhesives. Such applications would still permit aerosol
cans
12 to be installed and de-installed by a user.
[0019] It may also be appreciated that the biasing member located at
the lower end 18 of the adapter 10 may be embodied in other mechanisms.
[0020] The adapter 10 may be of unitary construction. In one
embodiment, the adapter 10 may be formed of suitably resilient and rigid
material, for example stainless steel. The dimensions of the adapter 10 may
vary depending on the location of the aperture 30 (Figure 3) relative to the
bottom of the aerosol can 12 when inserted into the dispenser 14. In one
embodiment, the length of the body 15 may range from 50 mm to 300 mm
to accommodate suitable aerosol cans, the aerosol cans being described in
greater detail below.
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[0021] Reference is now made to Figure 2, which shows the aerosol can
12 in greater detail. The aerosol can 12 may be a conventional spray can.
The aerosol can 12 includes a container body 19 having a bottom 23 and a
nozzle 21 located at a top of the aerosol can 12. As shown, the container
body 19 may be of a generally cylindrical shape. The nozzle 21 discharges
spraying liquid of contents contained in the container body 19 in response to
a depression of the nozzle 21. Suitable aerosol cans 12 may range from 20
cc up to 1000 cc.
[0022] The circular bottom 23 of the aerosol can 12 typically features a
rolled rim along the exterior circumference and a concave underside.
[0023] Reference is now made to Figure 3, which shows an exploded
view of the adapter 10 in use to secure the aerosol can 12 within the
dispenser 14.
[0024] The dispenser 14 may include a back and front dispenser
housing 24, 26 defining an interior recess for receiving of the aerosol can
12.
The dispenser housing 24, 26 includes sidewalls defining the interior recess
or cavity within which the aerosol can 12 is contained. The front dispenser
housing 26 includes an aperture 30. The hook 30 on the upper end 16 of the
adapter 10 is sized so as to engage the aperture 30 to secure the adapter 10
to the dispenser housing 14.
[0025] The dispenser 14 also includes a valve mechanism 28 attached
to a top of the front dispenser housing 26 for actuating the nozzle 21 and
dispensing the contents of the aerosol can 12. In one embodiment, the valve
mechanism 28 includes a solenoid-activated mechanism for moving a plunger
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CA 02553580 2006-07-26
31 downwardly to depress the nozzle 21. The plunger 31 may have a central
opening so the contents of the aerosol can 12 are free to pass through the
plunger 31. The contents of the aerosol can 12 may then be released
through a hole (not shown) defined in the front dispenser housing 26. Thus,
the dispenser 14 may be used to effect automatic and period discharging of
the aerosol can 12.
[0026] For installation of the adapter 10, as illustrated in Figure 3, the
hook 20 of the adapter 10 is latched onto the aperture 30 of the front
dispenser housing 26. The aerosol can 12 is then inserted upwards into the
front dispenser housing 26 along the length of the body 15 of the adapter 10
until the nozzle 21 of the aerosol can 12 engages the valve mechanism 28.
The flange 22 is then snap-fit over the rolled rim of the bottom 23 of the
aerosol can 12. The resiliently flexible flange 22 may flex downwards to
accommodate insertion of the bottom 23 of the aerosol can 12. The flange
22 is then biased upwards by restitution, for bearing against and supporting
of the bottom 23 of the aerosol can 12, urging it upwards against the valve
mechanism 28. Thus, the aerosol can 12 is secured between the upwardly
biased flange 22 (at the bottom) and the valve mechanism 28 (at the top).
The front dispenser housing 26 may be closed by attaching the back
dispenser housing 24.
[0027] For de-installation of the adapter 10, for example after the
contents of the aerosol can 12 have been released and emptied, the back
dispenser housing 24 is removed. The flange 22 may be flexed downwards
to allow for removal of the aerosol can 12 from its snap-fit engagement with
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the adapter 10. The aerosol can 12 is thereafter removed from the dispenser
14. A replacement aerosol can 12 may be installed onto the front dispenser
housing 26 in the manner as described above.
[0028] In one embodiment, the aerosol can 12 may contain a
deodorizer or scented perfume. In other embodiments, the aerosol can 12
may be used for dispensing chemicals such as pesticides or air control
products. The contents of the aerosol can 12 will vary depending on the
application.
[0029] While the invention has been described in detail in the foregoing
specification, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that
variations
may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, being
limited only by the appended claims.
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Representative Drawing