Directional applicator for handheld dispensers

Claim 1

A DISPENSING DEVICE CONSTITUTING A DIRECTIONAL ACTUATOR FOR USE WITH SMALL HAND-HELD DISPENSERS OF THE TYPE HAVING A CONTAINER PROVIDED WITH AN UPSTANDING HOLLOW DEPRESSIBLE VALVE STEM THROUGH WHICH THE SUBSTANCE TO BE DISPENSED PASSES, SAID ACTUATOR COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A CAP HAVING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID VALVE STEM TO MOUNT THE CAP THEREON WHEREBY DEPRESSING MOVEMENT OF THE CAP DEPRESSES THE STEM, (B) SAID CAP HAVING A HOLLOW PORITON PROVIDING A DISCHARGE PASSAGE AND HAVING ON SAID PORTION A CYLINDRICAL BEARING SURFACE DISPOSED SO THAT ITS AXIS EXTENDS AT A RIGHT ANGLE TO THE AXIS OF THE VALVE STEM, SAID BEARING SURFACE ENCIRCLING THE DISCHARGE PASSAGE, (C) AN L-SHAPED SPOUT HAVING SHORT AND LONG HOLLOW LEG PORTIONS AND DISCHARGE PASSAGES THEREIN, COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER, (D) SAID SHORT LEG PORTION OF THE SPOUT TELESCOPICALLY FITTING THE HOLLOW PORTION OF THE CAP AND HAVING A CYLINDRICAL BEARING SURFACE SEALINGLY ENGAGING THE CYLINDRICAL BEARING SURFACE OF THE CAP WHEREBY THE SPOUT IS MOUNTED ON THE CAP FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE LONG LEG PORTION IN A CIRCULAR PATH WHICH IS SPACED FROM AND PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE VALVE STEM, THEREBY TO ENABLE THE LONG LEG PORTION TO BE DISPOSED EITHER ALONGSIDE THE CONTAINER OR ELSE IN POSITIONS EXTENDING AWAY FROM THE CONTAINER, AND (E) COOPERABLE VALVE MEANS ON THE CAP AND SHORT LEG PORION OF THE SPOUT, SHUTING OFF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID DISCHARGE PASSAGES OF THE CAP AND THE SPOUT WHEN THE LONG LEG PORTION IS SUBSTANTIALLY ALONGSIDE THE SAID CONTAINER AND CONNECTING SAID PASSAGES FOR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OTHER POSITIONS OF THE LONG LEG PORTION, (F) SAID VALVE MEANS COMPRISING FLAT ABUTTING SURFACES OF THE HOLLOW CAP PORTION AND END OF THE SHORT LEG, EXTENDING AROUND THE DISCHARGE PASSAGES THEREOF AND DISPOSED IN A PLANE WHICH IS TRANSVERSE TO THE AXES OF SAID DISCHARGE PASSAGES OF THE CAP AND SHORT LEG PORTION, AND PARALLEL TO THE SAID CIRCULAR PATH OF THE TRAVEL OF THE LONG LEG PORTION, AND FURTHER SO THAT THEY ARE SPACED FROM AND PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE VALVE STEM WHEN THE CAP IS CARRIED BY THE LATTER.