Compact spray device

An automatic dispenser, comprising:

• a housing having a seat adapted to securely retain a container therein;
• a drive motor disposed within a bottom portion of the housing;
• a reduction gear train in association with the drive motor being disposed substantially between the seat and a rear side of the housing;
• and
• an actuator arm,
• wherein activation of the drive motor and the associated gear train provides for movement of the actuator arm between at least one of a pre-actuation position and a discharge position adjacent the top portion of the housing.

A method of operating a dispensing unit, comprising:

• providing a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having an aerosol container disposed therein and an actuator arm;
• activating the dispensing unit in response to a minimum threshold of light being sensed by a light sensor;
• selecting a sleep period interval between spray operations;
• moving the actuator arm after completion of a startup delay period from a pre-actuation position to a discharge position along a path substantially parallel to an axial length of the container to actuate a nozzle of the container to discharge a fluid from the container;
• and
• alternating automatically between the sleep period having a duration commensurate with the selected sleep period interval and a discharge period during which the fluid is dispensed from the container.

A method of operating a dispensing unit, comprising:

• providing a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having an aerosol container disposed therein;
• selecting a sleep period interval between spray operations;
• and
• activating a motion sensor disposed on the dispensing unit to detect motion within a sensory path of the sensor after completion of the sleep period interval,
• wherein after completion of the sleep period interval if no motion is detected by the motion sensor a fluid is automatically discharged from the aerosol container and the sleep interval is reset, and
• wherein after completion of the sleep period interval if motion is detected by the motion sensor a delay time interval is initiated and fluid is not discharged from the aerosol container, and the dispensing unit alternates between activating the sensor to detect motion and resetting the delay time interval until no motion is detected by the motion sensor at the expiration of the delay time interval, which results in the automatic discharge of fluid from the aerosol container and a resetting of the sleep period interval.