Dispensing devices, dispensing systems, and methods of use

An irritant dispensing device comprising:

• a housing configured to attach to a canister that contains a pressurized irritant, the housing defining an interior cavity, a wall surrounding the interior cavity, and a window through the wall and in communication with the interior cavity;
• an actuator disposed within the interior cavity of the housing so as to be translatable relative to the housing and relative to the window of the housing in a translation direction, the actuator comprising a passageway therethrough for delivering the pressurized irritant through the actuator and then through the window, the passageway comprising an inlet adapted to receive the pressurized irritant and a nozzle adapted to dispense the pressurized irritant, the actuator being translatable in the translation direction relative to the housing between a first position in which the nozzle is obstructed by the wall of the housing and a second position in which the nozzle is aligned with the window of the housing for dispensing the pressurized irritant through the window;
• and
• first and second complementary features associated with the housing and the actuator, respectively, the first and second complementary features being operable to resist translation of the actuator from the first position to the second position as the actuator is being forcibly translated in the translation direction to the second position, and to thereafter retain the actuator in a post-actuation position that is different than the first position.