Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
In automatic spray apparatus for use with an aerosol container having a .[.metering.]. valve mechanism which includes a spray valve moveable to an operative position to release a spray burst of material from the container at regular intervals, an electrical .[.motor.]. drive .Iadd.means .Iaddend.for cyclically moving the spray valve to the operative position, a source of electrical energy for the drive .Iadd.means .Iaddend..[.motor, a motor switch actuated by the motor drive for coupling the source to the motor during a portion of the motor drive cycle.]. and a timer .Iadd.means .Iaddend.for controlling energization of the .[.motor.]. .Iadd.drive means at regular intervals, the improvement comprising a system .Iaddend..[., means.]. for testing said apparatus .Iadd.and .Iaddend.comprising, a light actuated photocell producing an electrical output, and .Iadd.means, .Iaddend..[.a test switch in parallel with the motor switch.]. controlled by the photocell output, .Iadd.for energizing said electrical drive means to cause said spray valve to move to an operative position, .Iaddend. whereby .Iadd.the apparatus which may be located in an out-of-reach location, may be tested for operativeness by illuminating the photocell, as with a flashlight, to cause the drive means to move .Iaddend..[.illumination of the photocell causes the motor to drive through a cycle moving.]. the spray valve to the operative position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
In automatic spray apparatus for use with an aerosol container having a .[.metering.]. valve mechanism which includes a spray valve moveable to an operative position to release a spray burst of material from the container at regular intervals, an electrical .[.motor.]. drive .Iadd.means .Iaddend.for cyclically moving the spray valve to the operative position, a source of electrical energy for the drive .Iadd.means .Iaddend..[.motor, a motor switch actuated by the motor drive for coupling the source to the motor during a portion of the motor drive cycle.]. and a timer .Iadd.means .Iaddend.for controlling energization of the .[.motor.]. .Iadd.drive means at regular intervals, the improvement comprising a system .Iaddend..[., means.]. for testing said apparatus .Iadd.and .Iaddend.comprising, a light actuated photocell producing an electrical output, and .Iadd.means, .Iaddend..[.a test switch in parallel with the motor switch.]. controlled by the photocell output, .Iadd.for energizing said electrical drive means to cause said spray valve to move to an operative position, .Iaddend. whereby .Iadd.the apparatus which may be located in an out-of-reach location, may be tested for operativeness by illuminating the photocell, as with a flashlight, to cause the drive means to move .Iaddend..[.illumination of the photocell causes the motor to drive through a cycle moving.]. the spray valve to the operative position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Automatic spray apparatus as in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.11 .Iaddend.wherein, the photocell output causes the test switch to close, energizing the .Iadd.drive means for as .Iaddend..[.motor for so.]. long as the photocell is illuminated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
Automatic spray apparatus as in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.11 .Iaddend.wherein, the .Iadd.drive means .Iaddend..[.motor drive cycle is a fraction of the regular interval, the motor.]. is energized through the .Iadd.drive .Iaddend..[.motor.]. switch during a fraction of the .[.motor.]. drive cycle, and the .Iadd.drive means .Iaddend..[.motor.]. is energized through the timer .Iadd.means .Iaddend..[.circuit.]. during a fraction of the .[.motor.]. drive cycle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
Automatic spray apparatus as in claim 3 wherein, testing by illuminating the photocell can be commenced before or after a .[.motor.]. drive cycle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
Automatic spray apparatus as in claim 4 wherein, the timer .Iadd.means .Iaddend.operation schedules the regular intervals and the .[.motor.]. drive cycles, and said timer schedules are not altered by said testing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
Automatic spray apparatus as in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.11 .Iaddend.wherein, the source is a battery, the .Iadd.drive means .Iaddend..[.motor.]. has two input terminals, one terminal of the battery connects directly to one terminal of the .Iadd.drive means .[.motor.]., the other terminal of the battery connects to a common voltage point, and the test switch connects the other terminal of the .Iadd.drive means .Iaddend..[.motor.]. to the common voltage point when the photocell is illuminated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
Automatic spray apparatus as in claim 6 wherein, the other terminal of the .Iadd.drive means .Iaddend..[.motor.]. connects to the common voltage point through the .Iadd.drive .Iaddend..[.motor.]. switch or through the test switch or through the timer .Iadd.means .Iaddend..[.circuit.]..
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
Automatic spray apparatus as in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.11 .Iaddend.wherein, at least part of the apparatus is contained in a housing and the other terminal of the battery is grounded to the housing, whereby the .Iadd.drive means .Iaddend..[.motor.]. is energized by connection of the other terminal thereof to ground through the .Iadd.drive .Iaddend..[.motor.]. switch or the test switch or through the timer .Iadd.means .Iaddend..[.circuit.]..
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
Automatic spray apparatus as in claim .[.1.]..Iadd.11 .Iaddend.wherein, the source is a battery, the .Iadd.drive means .Iaddend..[.motor.]. test circuit is electrically coupled to the battery, a battery test indicator is coupled to the battery test circuit, and energization of the battery test indicator is controlled by the test switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
146 words
Automatic spray apparatus as in claim 9 and further including, a counter .[.driven by the motor.]. for counting .[.motor.]. drive cycles, and a container indicator coupled to the output of the counter, whereby the container indicator is actuated when a predetermined number of .[.motor.]. drive cycles .Iadd.is .Iaddend..[.are.]. counted. .Iadd.11. Automatic spray apparatus as in claim 1 wherein, said automatic spray apparatus includes a drive switch actuated by the drive means for coupling the source to the drive means during a portion of the drive cycle, and said energizing means includes a test switch in parallel with the drive switch. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. Automatic spray apparatus as in claim 1 and further including, a counter means for counting drive cycles, and a container indicator coupled to the output of said counter means, whereby the container indicator is actuated when a predetermined number of drive cycles is counted. .Iaddend.