Automatic actuator for air freshener dispenser or the like for toilets

An automatic actuator for an aerosol air freshener container or the like mounted in the interior of a flush toilet tank, with means for communicating the container dispenser valve outlet to the exterior of the tank, the aerosol container being of the type comprising a dispenser valve with a protruding stem which is pivoted laterally to an open valve position, and includes an outlet and resilient return means for maintaining the dispenser valve in a normally closed position, said actuator comprising:

• an actuator arm having one end thereof shaped for connection with the valve stem, and extending generally laterally thereof;
• a pull rod having one end thereof pivotally suspended from the other end of said actuator arm;
• a cup connected with the other end of said pull rod having an open lower end, and a closed upper end;
• and
• a cup valve disposed in said cup upper end, and having means for controlling the flow of water into and out of the interior of said cup;
• said cup valve having a normally closed position, and being opened by super ambient fluid pressure in said cup interior, whereby as the water level in the toilet tank rises, air trapped in said cup interior is exhausted through said cup valve and said cup is filled with water, such that the dispenser valve return means resiliently maintains said actuator arm in the closed aerosol valve position;
• and as the water level in the toilet tank descends, the weight of the water trapped in the unbuoyed portion of said cup overcomes the dispenser valve return means and pivots said actuator arm into the open aerosol valve position until the descending water level drops below said cup lower end, at which point the water trapped in said cup is released suddenly into the toilet tank thereby quickly removing the weight applied to said actuator arm and permitting the dispenser valve return means to swiftly pivot said actuator back into the closed aerosol valve position.