Apparatus for control of a volatile material dispenser
AssigneeS.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
InventorsThomas A. Helf, Edward L. Paas, Paul E. Furner, Rene Maurice Beland, James F. Kimball
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A volatile material dispenser includes a housing adapted to receive a container, wherein the container includes a tilt-activated valve stem with a discharge end. The discharge end of the valve stem is adapted to be in fluid communication with a discharge orifice of the housing. A drive unit is disposed within the housing, wherein the drive unit includes a bi-metallic actuator, a piezo-linear motor, an electro-responsive wire, or a solenoid, which is adapted to impart transverse motion to a body of the container.
Claims20
A volatile material dispenser, comprising:
- a housing adapted to retain a container in a suspended operable position by a portion of the container not including a valve stem, wherein the container includes a tilt-activated valve stem with a discharge end, and wherein the discharge end of the valve stem is adapted to be in fluid communication with a discharge orifice of the housing;
- and
- a drive unit disposed within the housing, wherein the drive unit includes a bi-metallic actuator, a piezo-linear motor, an electro-responsive wire, or a solenoid, which imparts transverse motion to a body of the container.
A volatile material dispenser, comprising:
- a housing adapted to receive a container having a tilt-activated valve stem, wherein the housing includes a discharge orifice and a resilient retaining structure adapted to retain the container in an operable position by a portion of the container not including the valve stem;
- a dispensing member adapted to be disposed on a portion of the valve stem, wherein the dispensing member substantially immovably secures the valve stem and places same in fluid communication with the discharge orifice;
- and
- a drive unit disposed within the housing, wherein the drive unit includes a bi-metallic actuator, a piezo-linear motor, an electro-responsive wire, or a solenoid, which imparts a transverse motion to a body of the container;
- and said retaining structure is adapted to bend resiliently when said motion is imparted to the body of the container.
A volatile material dispenser, comprising;
- a housing adapted to receive a container having a tilt-activated valve stem, wherein the housing includes a discharge orifice and a resilient retaining structure, and wherein the discharge orifice is adapted to receive the valve stem and the resilient retaining structure is adapted to retain an upper portion of the container not including the valve stem;
- and
- an electric drive unit disposed within the housing, wherein the drive unit engages a lower portion of the container to actuate the valve stem;
- and said retaining structure is adapted to bend resiliently when the drive unit engages a lower portion of the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.