Automatic periodically actuated spray dispenser

Claim 1

An apparatus for automatically and periodically discharging a metered quantity of spray from an aerosol container having an outwardly biased valve which emits the metered quantity of spray when inwardly depressed comprising a DC motor and a valve contacting element disposed to depress the output valve of the aerosol container, a reduction gear train positively connecting the DC motor to the valve contacting element to deliver sufficient torque to drive the valve contacting element against the output valve and depress the latter upon DC motor energization, said reduction gear train and positively connected DC motor further enabling the bias of the output valve to return the valve contacting element to its normally disposed position when the DC moTor is de-energized, a supply of DC power, and a timing circuit coupling the DC power supply to the DC motor, said timing circuit producing output power pulses to periodically energize the DC motor for sufficient duration to drive the valve contacting element in a first direction and depress the output valve for a discharge of a metered quantity of spray, the power pulses from said timing circuit being of sufficient duration to seat the output valve and stall the DC motor, said valve contacting element being moved in a reverse direction to its normal position at the end of each power pulse to prepare for a succeeding power pulse from the timing circuit.

Claim 2

An apparatus for automatically and periodically discharging a metered quantity of spray from an aerosol container having an outwardly biased valve which emits the metered quantity of spray when inwardly depressed comprising a DC motor and a valve contacting element disposed to depress the output valve of the aerosol container, a reduction gear train positively connecting the DC motor to the valve contacting element to deliver sufficient torque to drive the valve contacting element against the output valve and depress the latter upon DC motor energization, said reduction gear train and positively connected DC motor further enabling the bias of the output valve to return the valve contacting element to its normally disposed position when the DC moTor is de-energized, a supply of DC power, and a timing circuit coupling the DC power supply to the DC motor, said timing circuit producing output power pulses to periodically energize the DC motor for sufficient duration to drive the valve contacting element in a first direction and depress the output valve for a discharge of a metered quantity of spray, the power pulses from said timing circuit being of sufficient duration to seat the output valve and stall the DC motor, said valve contacting element being moved in a reverse direction to its normal position at the end of each power pulse to prepare for a succeeding power pulse from the timing circuit.

Claim 5

An apparatus for automatically and periodically discharging a metered quantity of spray from an aerosol container having an outwardly spring biased valve which emits the metered quantity of spray when inwardly depressed comprising a DC motor and a rotatably mounted valve contacting element disposed to depress the output valve of the aerosol container, a reduction gear train positively connecting the DC motor to the valve contacting element to deliver sufficient torque to rotate the valve contacting element and depress the output valve upon DC motor energization, said reduction gear train further enabling the spring bias of the output valve to return the valve contacting element to its normally disposed position with a reversal of rotation of the positively connected DC motor when the latter is de-energized, a supply of DC power, and a timing circuit coupling the DC power supply to the DC motor, said timing circuit producing output power pulses to periodically energize the DC motor for sufficient duration to rotate the valve contacting element in a first direction and depress the output valve for a discharge of a metered quantity of spray followed with a reverse rotation of the valve contacting element and the DC motor at the end of each power pulse to prepare for a succeeding power pulse from the timing circuit.

Claim 6

An apparatus for automatically and periodically discharging a metered quantity of spray from an aerosol container having an outwardly spring biased valve which emits the metered quantity of spray when inwardly depressed comprising a DC motor and a rotatably mounted valve contacting element disposed to depress the output valve of the aerosol container, a reduction gear train positively connecting the DC motor to the valve contacting element to deliver sufficient torque to rotate the valve contacting element and depress the output valve upon DC motor energization, said reduction gear train further enabling the spring bias of the output valve to return the valve contacting element to its normally disposed position with a reversal of rotation of the positively connected DC motor when the latter is de-energized, a supply of DC power, and a timing circuit coupling the DC power supply to the DC motor, said timing circuit producing output power pulses to periodically energize the DC motor for sufficient duration to rotate the valve contacting element in a first direction and depress the output valve for a discharge of a metered quantity of spray followed with a reverse rotation of the valve contacting element and the DC motor at the end of each power pulse to prepare for a succeeding power pulse from the timing circuit.