Actuator mechanism

An actuator mechanism for a hand-held aerosol container which container is fitted centrally at its top with a dispensing valve

• which mechanism comprises
• a cup-shaped over-cap lockably attachable to the container and comprising a sidewall defining a spray aperture through which a spray can be directed and a topwall defining a longitudinally-extending slit pointing towards the spray aperture in the sidewall,
• a spray channel in fluid connection with the valve and adapted to direct spray through the aperture in the sidewall of the over-cap,
• a slider which is moveable by finger pressure along the longitudinally-extending slit towards the spray aperture from a valve disengaged position to a valve-engagable position, which slider has a finger-plate projecting above the topwall and a keel which depends from the finger-plate through the longitudinally extending slit and is profiled to contact and depress the spray channel and thereby open the valve by movement of the slider into the valve-engagable position, optionally after depression of the slider;
• and a spring, operating in the vertical plane of the longitudinally extending slit, which, engages the over-cap or spray channel and is energised when the slider is moved to the valve-engaging position, and when finger contact is removed, urges the slider towards the valve disengaged position.