Actuator assembly for an encased dispenser and method

Claim 2

In combination with an actuator assembly for a valved dispenser cartridge having a valve stem portion protruding therefrom including a housing adapted to be fixedly secured to a support and to receive the dispenser cartridge, a spray button mounted for operative connection with the protruding valve stem portion of the dispenser cartridge, and actuator means mounted on the housing for cooperation with the button, the improvement comprising: cooperable means comprising elongated ears slidably disposed within grooved tracks, said means being mounted between the spray button and the housing for snugly supporting and slidably holding the spray button for non-tilt reciprocation within the housing, and shoulder means fixedly mounted to the housing to limit inward movement of the spray button in the said cooperable means and to retain the spray button as a captive component of the housing, the spray button being shaped for cammed cooperation with the actuator means whereby relative motion between the housing and the actuator means is converted into solely axial actuating movement of the button relative to the dispenser cartridge valve for dispensing product from the dispenser cartridge, through the valve stem portion and discharging it through the spray button.

Claim 3

The actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein the actuator means is a single-acting means comprising: A. A carriage mounted on the housing for slidable movement between a first position and a second position, B. A pawl mounted to and carried by the carriage and extending sufficiently below the carriage for directly contacting and depressing the spray button, and C. urging means between the housing and the carriage for moving the carriage from the second to the first position whereby when the carriage is moved from the first to the second position against the action of the urging means, the spray button is contacted and depressed through cammed cooperation with the pawl for dispensing product and, upon release of the carriage, the urging means returns the carriage to the first position without actuating the spray button.

Claim 4

a pawl mounted to and carried by the carriage for contacting and depressing the spray button, and

Claim 5

a pawl mounted to and carried by the carriage for contacting and depressing the spray button, and

Claim 6

urging means between the housing and the carriage for moving the carriage from the second to the first position, D. the housing having a laterally extending member adapted to rest upon and be affixed to the support and formed with a slot for receiving the carriage and for guiding the carriage during operation, the carriage extending only partially into the slot to provide a clearance between the bottom of the carriage and the top of the support whereby when the carriage is moved from the first to the second position against the action of the urging means, the spray button is contacted and depressed through cammed cooperation with the pawl converting relative motion between the housing and the actuator means into axial actuating movement of the button relative to the dispenser cartridge valve for dispensing product through the valve stem portion and discharging it through the spray button and, upon releasing of the carriage, the urging means returns the carriage to the first position without actuating the spray button.

Claim 7

urging means between the housing and the carriage for moving the carriage from the second to the first position, D. the housing having a laterally extending member adapted to rest upon and be affixed to the support and formed with a slot for receiving the carriage and for guiding the carriage during operation, the carriage extending only partially into the slot to provide a clearance between the bottom of the carriage and the top of the support whereby when the carriage is moved from the first to the second position against the action of the urging means, the spray button is contacted and depressed through cammed cooperation with the pawl converting relative motion between the housing and the actuator means into axial actuating movement of the button relative to the dispenser cartridge valve for dispensing product through the valve stem portion and discharging it through the spray button and, upon releasing of the carriage, the urging means returns the carriage to the first position without actuating the spray button.

Claim 8

The actuator assembly of claim 2 wherein the single-action actuator means further comprises: the pawl being pivotable between a cocked position in line to directly strike the spray button and a trail position in line to clear the spray button whereby when the carriage is moved from the first to the second position the pawl is in the cocked position and strikes and depresses the spray button for dispensing product and when the carriage is moved from the second toward the first position the pawl is permitted to pivot to the trail position without actuating the spray button.

Claim 9

The actuator assembly of claim 3 further comprising: a cocking mechanism for moving the pawl from the trail position to the cocked position after the pawl has cleared the spray button as the carriage approaches the first position.

Claim 10

A dispenser comprising: A. a housing having means for mounting to a support, B. a dispenser cartridge held by the housing and having a spring loaded valve a portion of which extends through and above the cartridge, C. a spray button operatively connected to the said valve portion of the dispenser cartridge, D. cooperable means comprising elongated ears slidably disposed within grooved tracks, said means being mounted between the spray button and the housing for snugly supporting and slidably holding the spray button for non-tilt reciprocation within the housing and shoulder means fixedly mounted to the housing to limit inward movement of the sprayhead in the said cooperable means and to retain the spray button as a captive component of the housing, and E. single-acting, quick-release actuator means mounted on the housing for cammed cooperation with the button whereby operating the actuator means in response to relative motion with respect to the support first depresses the spray button and dispenses product therethrough from the dispenser cartridge and then immediately releases the spray button permitting the dispenser cartridge to seal in a normal non-dispensing mode.

Claim 11

A dispenser comprising: A. a housing having means for mounting to a support, B. a dispenser cartridge held by the housing and having a spring loaded valve a portion of which extends through and above the cartridge, C. a spray button operatively connected to the said valve portion of the dispenser cartridge, D. cooperable means comprising elongated ears slidably disposed within grooved tracks, said means being mounted between the spray button and the housing for snugly supporting and slidably holding the spray button for non-tilt reciprocation within the housing and shoulder means fixedly mounted to the housing to limit inward movement of the sprayhead in the said cooperable means and to retain the spray button as a captive component of the housing, and E. single-acting, quick-release actuator means mounted on the housing for cammed cooperation with the button whereby operating the actuator means in response to relative motion with respect to the support first depresses the spray button and dispenses product therethrough from the dispenser cartridge and then immediately releases the spray button permitting the dispenser cartridge to seal in a normal non-dispensing mode.

Claim 12

The dispenser of claim 5 wherein the single-acting, quick-release actuator means includes: A. a carriage mounted on the housing for slidable movement between a first and second position, B. a pawl pivotably mounted to and carried by the carriage and pivotable between a cocked position in line to strike the spray button and a trail position in line to clear the spray button, and C. urging means between the housing and carriage for moving the carriage from the second to the first position whereby when the carriage is moved from the first position toward the second position against the action of the urging means, the pawl is in the cocked position and strikes and depresses the button dispensing therethrough product from the dispenser cartridge and is followed by, upon the release of the carriage, the urging means returning the carriage to the first position while permitting the pawl to move to the trail position so as not to actuate the spray button.

Claim 13

An actuator assembly for a valve dispenser cartridge having a valve stem portion comprising A. a housing adapted to be fixedly secured to a support and to receive the dispenser cartridge, B. grooved tracks mounted integrally within the housing, C. a spray button operatively connected with the valve stem portion of the dispenser cartridge and having elongated ears snugly supported within the grooved tracks for reciprocation therein, and D. quick-release actuator means mounted on the housing for cammed cooperation with the button whereby relative motion between the housing and the actuator means is converted into solely axial actuating movement of the button relative to the dispenser cartridge valve for dispensing product from the dispenser cartridge, through the valve stem portion and discharging it through the spray button.

Claim 14

An actuator assembly for a valve dispenser cartridge having a valve stem portion comprising A. a housing adapted to be fixedly secured to a support and to receive the dispenser cartridge, B. grooved tracks mounted integrally within the housing, C. a spray button operatively connected with the valve stem portion of the dispenser cartridge and having elongated ears snugly supported within the grooved tracks for reciprocation therein, and D. quick-release actuator means mounted on the housing for cammed cooperation with the button whereby relative motion between the housing and the actuator means is converted into solely axial actuating movement of the button relative to the dispenser cartridge valve for dispensing product from the dispenser cartridge, through the valve stem portion and discharging it through the spray button.

Claim 15

The actuator assembly of claim 7 wherein the ears are located on opposite side surfaces of the spray button and ride in the grooved tracks.

Claim 16

The actuator assembly oF claim 7 further comprising means on the housing to limit movement of the spray button and to retain the spray button as a captive component of the housing.

Claim 17

The actuator assembly of claim 9 wherein the limiting means are shoulders at one end of the tracks which contact a portion of the spray button to prevent the ears of the spray button from leaving the grooved tracks.

Claim 18

An actuator assembly for a valved dispenser cartridge having a valve stem portion comprising A. a housing adapted to be fixedly secured to a support and to receive the dispenser cartridge, B. a spray button mounted for operative connection with the valve stem portion of the dispenser cartridge, C. single-acting, quick-release actuator means mounted on the housing for cammed cooperation with the spray button comprising

Claim 19

An actuator assembly for a valved dispenser cartridge having a valve stem portion comprising A. a housing adapted to be fixedly secured to a support and to receive the dispenser cartridge, B. a spray button mounted for operative connection with the valve stem portion of the dispenser cartridge, C. single-acting, quick-release actuator means mounted on the housing for cammed cooperation with the spray button comprising

Claim 20

In combination with an actuator assembly for a valved dispenser cartridge having a valve stem portion protruding therefrom including a housing adapted to be fixedly secured to a support and to receive the dispenser cartridge, a spray button mounted for operative connection with the protruding valve stem portion of the dispenser cartridge, and actuator means mounted on the housing for cooperation with the button, wherein the improvement comprises: means fixedly mounted to the housing for slidably retaining said spray button therein and for slidably holding the spray button against tilting, the spray button being shaped for cammed cooperation with the actuator means, the actuator means comprising a carriage mounted on the housing for slidable movement between a first position and a second position, a pawl mounted to and carried by the carriage and extending sufficiently below the carriage for directly contacting and depressing the spray button, and urging means between the housing and the carriage for moving the carriage from the second to the first position wherein the urging means includes a fixed support mounted to the housing and having a longitudinal axis disposed parallel to the path of movement of the carriage and wherein the urging means is coaxial with the support member and the carriage, the pawl being pivotable between a cocked position in line to strike the spray button and a trail position in line to clear the spray button, a cocking mechanism for moving the pawl from the trail position to the cocked position after the pawl has cleared the spray button as the carriage approaches the first position, and wherein the cocking mechanism includes at least one stop shoulder on the housing and at least one eccentric lug on the pivotable pawl whereby when the carriage is moved from the first to the second position the pawl is in the cockeD position and strikes and depresses the spray button for dispensing product and when the carriage is moved from the second toward the first position the pawl is permitted to pivot to the trail position without actuating the spray button, and, as the carriage approaches the first position the eccentric lug contacts the stop shoulder which positively moves the pawl out of the trail position into the cocked position.

Claim 21

In combination with an actuator assembly for a valved dispenser cartridge having a valve stem portion protruding therefrom including a housing adapted to be fixedly secured to a support and to receive the dispenser cartridge, a spray button mounted for operative connection with the protruding valve stem portion of the dispenser cartridge, and actuator means mounted on the housing for cooperation with the button, wherein the improvement comprises: means fixedly mounted to the housing for slidably retaining said spray button therein and for slidably holding the spray button against tilting, the spray button being shaped for cammed cooperation with the actuator means, the actuator means comprising a carriage mounted on the housing for slidable movement between a first position and a second position, a pawl mounted to and carried by the carriage and extending sufficiently below the carriage for directly contacting and depressing the spray button, and urging means between the housing and the carriage for moving the carriage from the second to the first position wherein the urging means includes a fixed support mounted to the housing and having a longitudinal axis disposed parallel to the path of movement of the carriage and wherein the urging means is coaxial with the support member and the carriage, the pawl being pivotable between a cocked position in line to strike the spray button and a trail position in line to clear the spray button, a cocking mechanism for moving the pawl from the trail position to the cocked position after the pawl has cleared the spray button as the carriage approaches the first position, and wherein the cocking mechanism includes at least one stop shoulder on the housing and at least one eccentric lug on the pivotable pawl whereby when the carriage is moved from the first to the second position the pawl is in the cockeD position and strikes and depresses the spray button for dispensing product and when the carriage is moved from the second toward the first position the pawl is permitted to pivot to the trail position without actuating the spray button, and, as the carriage approaches the first position the eccentric lug contacts the stop shoulder which positively moves the pawl out of the trail position into the cocked position.