U.S. patent application number 10/429629 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-11 for sprayer actuator, sprayer, and method of making the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to The Procter & Gamble Company. Invention is credited to Bates, Christopher Eugene, Huang, Chow-chi, Iding, Stephen Henry, Nelson, Naomi Ruth, Woo, Ricky Ah-Man.
Application Number | 20040222246 10/429629 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33416092 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040222246 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bates, Christopher Eugene ;
et al. |
November 11, 2004 |
Sprayer actuator, sprayer, and method of making the same
Abstract
A sprayer actuator, a sprayer, and a method of making the same
are disclosed. In one embodiment, the sprayer includes an ergonomic
sprayer actuator with a housing having an upper portion, a lower
portion for fitting over a can, and a narrowed waist portion
between the upper portion and the lower portion.
Inventors: |
Bates, Christopher Eugene;
(Cincinnati, OH) ; Huang, Chow-chi; (West Chester,
OH) ; Iding, Stephen Henry; (Cincinnati, OH) ;
Nelson, Naomi Ruth; (Cincinnati, OH) ; Woo, Ricky
Ah-Man; (Hamilton, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DIVISION
WINTON HILL TECHNICAL CENTER - BOX 161
6110 CENTER HILL AVENUE
CINCINNATI
OH
45224
US
|
Assignee: |
The Procter & Gamble
Company
|
Family ID: |
33416092 |
Appl. No.: |
10/429629 |
Filed: |
May 5, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/402.15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B 11/3057 20130101;
B05B 11/3052 20130101; B65D 83/202 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/402.15 |
International
Class: |
B65D 083/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An ergonomic sprayer actuator comprising a housing having an
upper portion, a lower portion for fitting on a container, and a
narrowed waist portion between said upper portion and said lower
portion.
2. The ergonomic sprayer actuator of claim 1 wherein said actuator
housing is configured so that a user can wrap at least their thumb
and forefinger around the narrowed waist portion, and when viewed
from above, at least a part of the upper portion extends outward
beyond the portion of the user's thumb and forefinger that are in
contact with the narrowed waist portion.
3. The ergonomic sprayer actuator of claim 2 wherein said actuator
housing has a front, a rear, and sides, and the part of the upper
portion that extends outward beyond the portion of the user's thumb
and forefinger that are in contact with the narrowed waist portion
is at least on the sides and rear of the housing.
4. The ergonomic sprayer actuator of claim 3 wherein the part of
the upper portion that extends outward beyond the portion of the
user's thumb and forefinger that are in contact with the narrowed
waist portion also includes a portion at the front of the
housing.
5. The ergonomic sprayer actuator of claim 1 wherein said upper
portion is configured so that it rests on a portion of a user's
thumb and forefinger to at least partially support the weight of
the sprayer during use.
6. The ergonomic sprayer actuator of claim 1 wherein said upper
portion has a front, a back, and an underside, and said upper
portion is tilted so that the underside of said upper portion is
higher in front than in the back.
7. The ergonomic sprayer actuator of claim 1 further comprising a
nozzle at the front of said sprayer housing, wherein said nozzle is
oriented so that liquid sprayed from said nozzle will be directed
at an angle of greater than 0.degree. and less than 90.degree..
8. The ergonomic sprayer actuator of claim 1 further comprising a
nozzle at the front of said sprayer housing, wherein said nozzle is
oriented so that liquid sprayed from said nozzle will be directed
at a downward angle of less than 0.degree. and greater than
-90.degree..
9. The ergonomic sprayer actuator of claim 1 further comprising a
trigger operatively associated with said sprayer housing at the
front of said sprayer.
10. The ergonomic sprayer actuator of claim 9 wherein said trigger
has a length that is sufficient to allow said trigger to be
activated with two fingers.
11. The ergonomic sprayer actuator of claim 10 wherein the length
of said trigger is greater than or equal to about 30 mm.
12. The ergonomic sprayer actuator of claim 9 wherein the trigger
has a width, and the width of said trigger is greater than or equal
to about 15 mm.
13. A sprayer comprising a non-pressurized container having a top
and the ergonomic sprayer actuator of claim 1 which is joined to
the top of the container.
14. A sprayer comprising a pressurized container having a top and
the ergonomic sprayer actuator of claim 1 which is joined to the
top of the container.
15. The sprayer of claim 14 wherein said pressurized container
comprises a propellant, and at least a portion of said propellant
comprises a compressed gas.
16. The sprayer of claim 15 wherein said compressed gas comprises
one or more of the following: compressed air, nitrogen, one or more
inert gases, and carbon dioxide.
17. The sprayer of claim 15 which is configured to provide a spray
in the air in the form of a plurality of spray droplets, and at
least some of the spray droplets have a diameter in a range of from
about 0.01 .mu.m to about 500 .mu.m.
18. The sprayer of claim 15 which is configured to provide a spray
in the air in the form of a plurality of spray droplets, and at
least some of the spray droplets have a diameter in a range of from
about 5 .mu.m to about 400 .mu.m.
19. The sprayer of claim 15 which is configured to provide a spray
in the air in the form of a plurality of spray droplets, and at
least some of the spray droplets have a diameter in a range of from
about 10 .mu.m to about 200 .mu.m.
20. The sprayer of claim 17 wherein at least some of the spray
droplets have a mean diameter by volume of between about 10-100
.mu.m.
21. The sprayer of claim 17 wherein at least some of the spray
droplets have a mean diameter by volume of between about 20-60
.mu.m.
22. A sprayer actuator for fitting on a pressurized container
having a valve stem, said sprayer actuator having a front, said
sprayer actuator comprising: a housing; a trigger operatively
associated with said housing at the front of said sprayer actuator;
and a conduit having a first end and a second end, wherein said
first end of said conduit is configured to be positioned over the
valve stem of a pressurized container, and the second end of said
conduit has a nozzle operatively associated therewith, wherein said
conduit is configured to provide fluid communication between a
pressurized container and said nozzle.
23. The sprayer actuator of claim 22 wherein said conduit comprises
two rectilinear segments that form an angle there between.
24. The sprayer actuator of claim 23 wherein said two rectilinear
segments comprise a first segment that comprises the first end of
the conduit, wherein said first segment is disposed in a
substantially vertical orientation when the first end of the
conduit is positioned over the valve stem of a pressurized
container, and a second segment that forms an angle with said first
segment of greater than about 90.degree. and less than about
180.degree..
25. The sprayer actuator of claim 22 wherein said conduit is
curved.
26. The sprayer actuator of claim 22 wherein at least a portion of
said conduit is flexible.
27. The sprayer actuator of claim 24 wherein the second segment is
flexible.
28. The sprayer actuator of claim 22 wherein said conduit further
comprises a bearing platform.
29. The sprayer actuator of claim 22 wherein said nozzle held in a
fixed position when said trigger is activated.
30. The sprayer actuator of claim 22 wherein said nozzle is
moveable when said trigger is activated.
31. A sprayer comprising: a container having a valve stem; and an
actuator on said container actuator comprising a housing, said
housing comprising an actuating member at least indirectly in
mechanical contact with said valve stem, having a trigger that is
integrally formed with at least a portion of said housing and
operatively associated with said sprayer housing at the front of
said sprayer actuator.
32. A method of making a sprayer actuator comprising: providing a
side portion for a housing of a sprayer actuator, said side portion
having a top that is at least partially open, a bottom that is at
least partially open, and a front with an opening therein for a
trigger; providing a trigger piece; providing a conduit; providing
a cap for said sprayer housing; inserting said trigger piece into
said side portion of said housing so that at least a portion of
said trigger piece extends outward through the opening in the front
of said side portion of said housing to form a trigger; inserting
said conduit into said side portion of said housing so that it is
operatively associated with said trigger; and placing said cap on
top of said side portion of said housing to form said sprayer
actuator.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a sprayer, a sprayer
actuator, and a method of making the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Pressurized containers of the aerosol type have been
traditionally equipped with an actuating button or cap, which
button or cap defines a product duct through which the product
passes to the discharge orifice situated within the button or cap.
To discharge product from the container, the user grasps the
container and with one finger of the grasping hand depresses the
button or a portion of the cap to release the contents of the
container.
[0003] While achieving substantial commercial success, finger
actuated buttons or caps have the disadvantage of inducing finger
fatigue for some users. Moreover, with the prior systems of
actuation, the aiming of the discharged product to the desired
surface area suffers somewhat due to the relatively awkward
gripping and finger placement. A more natural grasping and
actuation of the container is achieved through the use of a trigger
mechanism. Examples of prior trigger actuated aerosol containers
are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,189,232, 3,580,432; 3,987,942;
5,862,960; and 6,494,349 B1. In addition, some prior spray
containers are only held by a few of the user's fingers. These may
result in a less than adequately secure grip, and supporting the
weight of the sprayer may place an undue strain on the user's
fingers. Therefore, the search for improved sprayers has
continued.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention relates to a sprayer, a sprayer
actuator, and a method of making the same. There are numerous
embodiments of the sprayer, sprayer actuator, and method described
herein, all of which are intended to be non-limiting examples, and
there are numerous aspects thereof that may constitute inventions
in their own right.
[0005] In one embodiment, an ergonomic sprayer actuator is
disclosed. The sprayer actuator comprises a housing having an upper
portion, a lower portion for fitting on or over a can or other
container, and a narrowed waist portion between said upper portion
and said lower portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] While the specification concludes with claims particularly
pointing out and distinctly claiming the invention, it is believed
that the present invention will be better understood from the
following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one non-limiting embodiment
of a container having a sprayer actuator thereon.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of the spray container shown in FIG.
1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is front view of the spray container shown in FIG.
1.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the spray container
taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a side view of the spray container showing a
user's hand holding the same.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a view of the sprayer container from above showing
a user's hand holding the same.
[0013] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the assembly
of the components of the sprayer actuator.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
sprayer which has a trigger disposed outside at least a portion of
the actuator housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention relates to a sprayer, a sprayer
actuator, and a method of making the same. FIG. 1 shows one
non-limiting embodiment of a sprayer 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the
sprayer (or "spray container") 20 comprises a container 22 and a
sprayer actuator (or "actuator") 24. The sprayer actuator 24
comprises a housing 26, a trigger 28, and a nozzle 30. The sprayer
20 can be a pressurized container sprayer, such as an aerosol
sprayer, or a non-aerosol trigger sprayer, or any other suitable
type of sprayer which can benefit from the features described
herein.
[0016] The container 22 can be any suitable type of container for
holding a product to be dispensed by the sprayer. In some
embodiments, it is desirable for the container 22 to be capable of
holding contents that are under pressure and/or a propellant. The
design of such containers in the form of metal cans is well known.
The container 22 can be of any suitable shape. The container 22 has
a base 32, sides 34, a lower portion 36, an upper portion 38, and a
top 40 (shown in FIG. 4). In the embodiment shown, the container 22
is generally cylindrical, but the sides 34 of the container taper
inwardly with a slightly convex curvature on the upper portion 38
of the container. The container 22 is, thus, narrower at its upper
portion 38. The container 22 can have numerous other shapes in
different embodiments.
[0017] The container 22 can contain any suitable product that is
capable of being sprayed by the sprayer 20. The product can be in
any suitable form, including liquids, and other compositions.
Examples of products include, but are not limited to: air
freshening compositions, fabric freshening compositions, ironing
aids such as spray starches, insecticides, paints, and other
industrial, commercial, household, automotive, and/or garden
compositions.
[0018] The container 22 can also include a propellant for
dispensing the product therein. Any suitable propellant can be
used. Suitable propellants include, but are not limited to:
hydrocarbon propellants such as: isobutene, butane, isopropane,
dimethyl ether (DME), or non-hydrocarbon propellants such as
compressed gases which include, but are not limited to compressed
air, nitrogen, inert gases, carbon dioxide, and mixtures thereof.
In certain embodiments, such as in the case of air freshening
compositions, it may be desirable for the propellant to be
substantially free of hydrocarbon propellants.
[0019] The actuator housing 26 in the embodiment shown, has a lower
portion 42, an upper portion 44, a waist portion 46, and a top 48.
The lower portion 42 fits on or over the container 22. As shown in
FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the waist portion 46 is located between
the lower portion 42 and the upper portion 44. The waist portion 46
is narrower than the widest portions of the upper and lower
portions. The waist portion 46 provides the sprayer actuator 24
with an ergonomic design. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, in this
embodiment, actuator housing 26 is configured so that a user can
wrap at least their thumb 50 and forefinger 52 around the narrowed
waist portion 46. In this embodiment, the sprayer actuator housing
26 is also provided with a configuration that permits it to
comfortably fit the natural contour of the user's palm, such as in
the crease in the user's palm. As shown in FIG. 6, when viewed from
above, at least a part of the upper portion 44 extends outward
beyond the portion of the user's thumb 50 and forefinger 52 that
are in contact with the narrowed waist portion 46 to form a
ledge.
[0020] The narrowness of the waist portion 46 makes the sprayer 20
easier to grip. In addition, since the upper portion 44 comprises
at least portions that are wider when viewed from above than the
portion of the user's hand that at least partially encircles the
waist portion 46, the ledge formed by these portions of the upper
portion 44 can rest on a portion of the user's thumb and forefinger
to at least partially support the weight of the sprayer 20 during
use. This can relieve the pressure on the user's fingers and/or
wrist, particularly when the sprayer 20 is used for a prolonged
period.
[0021] The upper portion 44 may comprise portions at the front,
sides, and rear of the sprayer that are wider than the portions of
the user's hand that are in contact with the narrowed waist portion
46. In other embodiments, the upper portion 44 need not have
portions that are wider all the way around the sprayer than the
portions of the user's hand that are in contact with the narrowed
waist portion 46. Any suitable portion(s) of the upper portion 44
may extend laterally outward beyond the portions of the user's hand
that are in contact with the narrowed waist portion 46. Such
suitable portions include, but are not limited to on at least one
of the sides, preferably both sides, and/or in the back of the
sprayer.
[0022] In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the lower portion
42 of the actuator housing 26 is larger and extends downward
further toward the base 32 of the container 22 in the back of the
sprayer 20 than in the front of the sprayer. In other embodiments,
the lower portion 42 of the actuator housing 26 may have a
different configuration. For example, in other embodiments, all
parts of the lower portion 42 of the actuator housing 26 can be of
uniform length.
[0023] As shown in the drawings, in this embodiment, the upper
portion 44 of the actuator housing 26 has a front, a back, and an
underside 49. In the embodiment shown, both the underside 49 and
the top 48 of the actuator housing 26 are angled or tilted upward
from the back of the sprayer to the front of the sprayer. The fact
that the underside 49 of the upper portion 44 is tilted so that the
underside of said upper portion is higher in front than in the back
allows the sprayer to be held more comfortably by a user without
bending the user's wrist. In other embodiments, the top 48 (and/or
the underside 49) of the housing can have a different configuration
(e.g., flat, tilted downward, etc.). In some embodiments, it may
even be possible to eliminate the top 48 of the housing 26
altogether.
[0024] In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the top 48 of the
actuator housing 26 is tilted upward because the sprayer nozzle 30
is oriented so that liquid sprayed from the nozzle 30 will be
directed at an angle of greater than 0.degree. and less than
90.degree.. That is, the liquid is not sprayed out parallel to the
base 32 (that is, horizontally when the base is placed on a
horizontal surface), nor is it sprayed out vertically (straight
upward in the direction of the axis of the container). In other
embodiments, the liquid sprayed from the nozzle 30 is directed at
an angle of greater than or equal to about 30.degree. and less than
or equal to about 60.degree.. In other embodiments, the liquid
sprayed from the nozzle 30 is directed at an angle of about
45.degree.. In other embodiments, the liquid sprayed from the
nozzle 30 is directed at an angle of between about
20.degree.-25.degree..
[0025] In other embodiments, however, it may be desirable for the
liquid sprayed from the nozzle 30 to be sprayed horizontally
(0.degree.) or vertically (90.degree.). In still other embodiments,
such as in the case of an ironing aid, it may be desirable for the
liquid sprayed from the nozzle 30 to be directed downward toward a
surface (at an angle of between 0.degree. and -90.degree.). It is
appreciated, however, that spray patterns are typically in the form
of dispersions, and the spray emitted from a nozzle will form a
dispersed spray pattern angle when viewed from the side. The angles
of spray referred to herein are the central axis, A, as shown in
FIG. 2, that bisects such a spray pattern. It is understood that
portions of the spray pattern will typically be distributed on
either side of this central axis.
[0026] The nozzle 30 may be configured to spray droplets of any
suitable size. In one non-limiting embodiment, the nozzle 30 is
configured to spray a plurality of droplets wherein at least some
of the spray droplets have a diameter in a range of from about 0.01
.mu.m to about 500 .mu.m, or from about 5 .mu.m to about 400 .mu.m,
or from about 10 .mu.m to about 200 .mu.m. The mean particle size
of the spray droplets may be in the range of from about 10 .mu.m to
about 100 .mu.m, or from about 20 .mu.m to about 60 .mu.m. These
size droplets may be useful in the case of air freshening
compositions in which it is desired to suspend the droplets in the
air for prolonged periods.
[0027] The sprayer actuator 24 comprises a trigger 28 operatively
associated with the actuator housing 26 at the front of said
sprayer. In the embodiment shown, the trigger 28 is also
ergonomically designed. The trigger 28 is ergonomic in that it is
relatively long, flat, and wide. This permits the user to not only
activate the trigger with one finger, such as the user's index
finger; it also allows the user to use two or more fingers (such as
their index and middle fingers) to activate the trigger 28. This
reduces fatigue on the user's index finger in the case of prolonged
spraying. The trigger 28 can have any suitable dimensions. In
certain embodiments, the trigger can have a length, L, of greater
than or equal to about 1.25 inches (about 30 or 32 mm). In certain
embodiments, the trigger 28 can have a width, W, of greater than or
equal to about {fraction (7/16)} inch (about 10 or 11 mm). For
example, the trigger 28 may have a width of about {fraction
(10/16)} inch (about 15 or 16 mm). In other embodiments, the
trigger 28 need not be ergonomically designed, and can be of a more
conventional design and size.
[0028] FIGS. 4 and 7 show the details of the inside of the sprayer
actuator 24. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, this embodiment of the
sprayer 20, the sprayer actuator 24 comprises the actuator housing
26 and trigger 28 described above. The actuator housing 26 has a
hole or opening 54 in the front for the trigger 28. The trigger 28
is part of a larger trigger piece 56, and the rear of the trigger
piece 56 has a bar 58 joined thereto, or integrally formed
therewith. The trigger piece 56 also comprises a bearing portion
60. The bar 58 is configured to fit into recesses or slots 62 in
shelves 64 that are located on the inside of the actuator housing
26, at the rear portion thereof. This allows the trigger piece 56
to rotate in a hinged fashion. The trigger 28, thus, extends from
the front of the sprayer 20, and is operatively associated with the
actuator housing 26.
[0029] The container 22, as shown in FIG. 4, can have a
conventional valve stem 66 extending upward from the top 40 of the
container. The sprayer actuator 24 further comprises a conduit 68.
The conduit 68 has a first end and a second end. The conduit 68, in
the embodiment shown, comprises several elements. These include:
the nozzle 30 at the first end (or front) of the conduit 68; a
first upstanding conduit portion (or "segment" or "leg") 70; a
second angular conduit portion (or "segment" or "leg") 72; a
platform 74; and a cap portion 76 at the second end of the conduit
68. The second conduit portion forms an angle, .alpha., with said
first segment 72 greater than 0.degree.. In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 4 where the sprayer is configured to direct the spray in at an
upward angle, this angle .alpha. is greater than about 90.degree.
and less than about 180.degree. In the embodiment shown in the
drawings, the nozzle 30 is held in a fixed location in the front of
the actuator housing 26, and the cap portion 76 of the conduit 68
is fit over the valve stem 66 of the container 22. The first
conduit portion 70 of the conduit 68 in this embodiment, is more
rigid than the second conduit portion 72 (the latter is preferably
flexible). In this embodiment, the conduit 68 serves the dual
purpose of channeling the contents of the container 22 to the
nozzle 30 where they can be sprayed out of the container 22, and
also transmitting a downward force on the valve stem 66 to release
the contents of the container 22.
[0030] The sprayer actuator 24 works in the following manner. When
the user pulls the trigger 28 inward toward the actuator housing
26, this causes the bearing portion 60 of the trigger piece 56 to
press down on the platform 74 on the conduit 68. This causes the
first conduit portion 70 of the conduit 68 to move downward and
activates the valve stem 66 of the container. Since the nozzle 30
is in a fixed position, the flexible nature of the second conduit
portion 72 of the conduit 68 bends and permits this downward
movement to take place. The valve stem 66 permits the contents of
the container 22 to be released. The contents of the container flow
through the conduit 68 and out the nozzle 30.
[0031] Numerous other embodiments having the features described
herein are possible, a few of which are described below. In other
embodiments, for example, the narrowed waist region can be formed
by all, or a portion of, the container 22, rather than being formed
entirely as part of the actuator housing 26. In various
embodiments, the actuator 24 can be permanently affixed to the
container 22, or the actuator 24 can be removably affixed to the
container 22. The actuator 24 can be removably affixed to the
container 22 in any manner known in the art for removably affixing
an article to a container, including but not limited to by screw
threads, bayonet fitments, and by a snap fit. In addition, rather
than having the lower portion 42 of the actuator housing 26 overlap
the outside of the upper portion 38 of the container, the actuator
24 and container 22 can be configured so that their outside
surfaces are flush or form a substantially continuous surface.
[0032] In these or other embodiments, the conduit 68 need not
comprise all of the elements described herein, and these elements
can be provided as part of some other element of the sprayer
actuator 24. In other embodiments, the nozzle need not remain in a
fixed position at the front of the actuator housing 26. For
example, it is possible for the nozzle 30 to be mounted so that it
moves upward and downward when the trigger 28 is moved. In other
embodiments, the conduit 68 need not comprise a first and second
conduit portion in which one of the conduit portions is flexible
and one is more rigid. In other embodiments, for example, the
entire conduit 68 can be flexible, or the entire conduit can be
rigid. However, this may change the way that the sprayer actuator
functions.
[0033] In other embodiments, the trigger piece 56 can comprise a
portion of the actuator housing 26, or any other part of the
actuator, rather than a separate component that is affixed to the
actuator housing 26. Such a sprayer actuator need not comprise all
of the features of the sprayer described herein. For example, FIG.
8 shows an example of a conventional sprayer 20 that has an
actuating member, such as a push button 80 at the top of the
actuator housing 26. This push button 80 is formed as part of the
actuator housing 26, and is joined to the actuator housing 26 in a
manner (such as with a living hinge that flexes) that permits the
push button to move slightly downward and back upward. In the
variation of the sprayer 20 shown in FIG. 8, a trigger piece 56 is
joined to the front of the push button piece 80 to convert the
sprayer into a trigger sprayer. In this embodiment, the trigger 28
resides outside of the front portion of the actuator housing 26.
The trigger piece 56 can be joined to the push button piece in any
suitable manner, or it can be molded as an integral part of the
push button piece 80 and/or the actuator housing 26.
[0034] In still other embodiments, the trigger piece 56 and the
conduit 68 can be formed as a single integral component.
[0035] FIG. 7 shows one embodiment of a method for assembling of
the components of the sprayer actuator 24. As shown in FIG. 7, the
sprayer actuator 24 is assembled as follows. The actuator housing
26 is provided in two portions comprising a side portion having a
top that is at least partially open, a bottom that is at least
partially open, and a front with an opening therein for the
trigger, and a cap 48 for the actuator housing. The trigger piece
56 is inserted into said side portion of the actuator housing so
that at least a portion of the trigger piece 56 extends outward
through the opening in the front of the side portion of the housing
to form a trigger 28. The conduit 68 is inserted into the side
portion of the actuator housing 26 so that it is in fluid
communication with the container 22 and operatively associated with
the trigger 28. Finally, the cap forming the top 48 of the actuator
housing 26 is placed on top of the side portion of the housing to
form the sprayer actuator.
[0036] The disclosure of all patents, patent applications (and any
patents which issue thereon, as well as any corresponding published
foreign patent applications), and publications mentioned throughout
this description are hereby incorporated by reference herein. It is
expressly not admitted, however, that any of the documents
incorporated by reference herein teach or disclose the present
invention.
[0037] It should be understood that every maximum numerical
limitation given throughout this specification will include every
lower numerical limitation, as if such lower numerical limitations
were expressly written herein. Every minimum numerical limitation
given throughout this specification will include every higher
numerical limitation, as if such higher numerical limitations were
expressly written herein. Every numerical range given throughout
this specification will include every narrower numerical range that
falls within such broader numerical range, as if such narrower
numerical ranges were all expressly written herein.
[0038] While particular embodiments of the subject invention have
been described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that
various changes and modifications of the subject invention can be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
In addition, while the present invention has been described in
connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be
understood that this is by way of illustration and not by way of
limitation and the scope of the invention is defined by the
appended claims which should be construed as broadly as the prior
art will permit.
* * * * *