Multiple Aerosol Dispenser

Abstract

Aerosol bombs of the type having a cylindrical body portion and a neck dispensing portion with a collar and a dispensing valve, particularly a mounting bracket and plural dispensers for mounting two or more aerosol bombs and a motor activated dispensing mechanism which depresses the bomb valves, so as to discharge the bombs simultaneously or sequentially at pre-selected time intervals.

Parent Case Text

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

A continuation-in-part of applicants' Aerosol Dispenser (Ser. No. 71,055), filed, Sept. 10, 1970 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,647,116.

In the parent application there is disclosed a mounting bracket for supporting a single aerosol bomb. The present application is directed to a bracket, dispensing apparatus and electrical circuit for supporting two, three or more aerosol bombs.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

A great deal of recent attention has been given to devices for automatically dispensing aerosol bombs at pre-selected time intervals. For example, in restaurants, warehouses, dairies, supermarkets and the like, aerosol bombs may be mounted upon a wall and dispensed automatically to maintain an insect-free or odor-free environment.

In the parent application there was disclosed an assembly for mounting a single aerosol bomb together with a valve actuating dispenser. This dispenser included adjustment for varying the length of the bomb discharge, and varying the time of the discharge so that it may be effected at any time within a 24-hour period. A positive cut-off mechanism is provided for releasing the valve, as the drive motor completes its appointed cycle.

More recently, there has developed a commercial need for simultaneous or sequential dispensing of two or more aerosol bombs. Applicants propose to mount two or more aerosol bombs upon a single bracket. One of these bombs might contain a concentrated aerosol insecticide, while the other may contain a deodorant or air freshener. The bombs may be programmed for simultaneous dispensing or sequential dispensing. The timing disc employed to actuate the bombs independently may be random programmed such that, for example, the insecticide might be dispensed at 12 hour intervals and the air freshener might be dispensed at 4 hour cycles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser, showing two aerosol bombs each with their neck dispensing portions positively engaged within the bracket for pre-selected time dispensing;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of a proposed housing for two aerosol bombs and enclosing the bracket;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the mounting bracket;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the proposed housing;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, except that three aerosol bombs are mounted upon the bracket; and

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a proposed circuit for timed actuation of the D.C. motor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1 aerosol dispensing cans 37 and 38 are shown as held in place by springs 39 which are secured at their middle by bolt 40. The free end of spring 39 is allowed to unlatch from lug 41 and to move outwardly as aerosol cans 37 and 38 are inserted from below baseplate 1 until the collar 42 on each can is exposed above baseplate 1. Spring 39 is then pushed inwardly, gripping the can around collar 42 and holding each can firmly in place by securing the free end of the spring 39 over lug 41.

The frequency of spray time or the interval between sprays for each of the aerosol cans 37 and 38 are governed by switches 43 and 44 which are held in place on timing device system support 5 by bolts 45. Timing disc 46 is driven by the various A.C. or D.C. drive systems as discussed earlier and, in turn, supports lugs 47 and 49 located about the periphery of the time disc. The lugs are arranged so that short lugs 47 strike only the lever arm 48 of switch 44 and the long lugs 49 strikes both lever arms 48 and 50. As the time disc 46 rotates in a clockwise direction and short lug 47 strikes lever arm 48 of switch 44, control is thereby given to motor 6 which will activate the valve of aerosol can 38. When the timing disc 46 rotates, so that long lug 49 strikes both levers 48 and 50, switches 43 and 44 are activated simultaneously which will then cause both motors 6 and 7 to activate the valve of both cans 37 and 38. Frequency of spray time is regulated by inserting only those lugs that will activate the designated can or cans at the proper time. For example, if time disc 46 rotates once in 24 hours and it is desired to have both cans 37 and 38 spray after 5 hours, then have can 38 to spray independently 12 hours later, one large lug 49 is placed in position at the 1 o'clock position on the time disc 46, and one small lug 47 at the 7 o'clock position. Five hours later large lug 49 will engage levers 48 and 50 activating switches 43 and 44, causing both cans to spray. Twelve hours later the small cam 47 will be in position to activate lever 48, causing can 38 to spray by itself.

The frequency of the spray time may be set in random patterns by using an assortment of lugs 47 and 49 on the time disc 46. When either or both of switch 43 and 44 are activated by lugs 47 and 49 contacting levers 48 and 50 the electrical current will flow through motors 6 and 7, driving the eccentric shafted cams 10 and 11 rotating in a counterclockwise direction cams 10 and 11 each cam contacts and depresses operating slides 18 and 19 such that the enlarged heads 51, in turn, engage and depress the aerosol release valve 52. By rotating adjusting caps 22 and 23 threaded bolts 20 and 21 are raised and lowered thereby controlling the length of spray time. As cams 10 and 11 continue to rotate, lobe 12 and tube 14 contact the activating arm of the single pole double throw (S.P.D.P.) switches 31 and 32 and cut off current to motors 6 and 7. After a short interval of time disc 46 will rotate allowing current to flow through switch 43 and 44, permitting motors 6 and 7 to rotate cams 10 and 11 until the activating arms of switches 31 and 32 are released and current is again cut off to motors 6 and 7. After the present selected spray time interval has passed contact on time disc 46 is again made and current flows to motors 6 and 7, driving cams 10 and 11 until lobes 13 and 15 strike the actuating arms of switches 31 and 32 and the same cycle as above is repeated. This action will double the time interval selected; i.e., if a 12 hour spray interval is selected, it will be doubled to 24. Switches 31 and 32 may be secured in slotted holes that permit limited horizontal adjustment, so that lobes 13 and 15 will not actuate switches 31 and 32, as cams 10 and 11 rotate, thus cutting the spray interval time in half. The configuration of switches 31 and 32 activating arms can be varied, so as to effectively contact the desired can lobes.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an improved battery operated or alternating current operating dispensing device, so constructed as to be suitable for dispensing two different fluids from aerosol containers of various sizes, each container being controlled so that it may be dispensed at present time intervals and also controlling the length of spray time that will deliver a specific amount of each spray for different size areas. This unit may be controlled by either battery operated clock timing device system, a small direct current motor timing device system, an alternating current clock timing device system or an alternating current synchronous motor timing device system. This assembly consists of a baseplate 1 which is formed from one piece of metal by stamping out and bending up switch support 2, motor supports 3 and 4 and bending down timing device system support 5. Motors 6 and 7 are attached with suitable screws to supports 3 and 4 respectively, completed with shafts 8 and 9, cams 10 and 11, having Allen Head screws or lugs 12, 13, 14 and 15. Hubs 16 and 17 secure the cams to shafts 8 and 9, respectively. Operating slides 18 and 19 are reciprocably supported upon guide rods 28 and 29 and includes threaded bolts 20 and 21, adjusting cap 22 and 23, spacers 24 and 25, and compression springs 26 and 27. Guide rods 28 and 29 are inserted through the bottom of base plate 1. The bottom ends of these rods are bent and the tops are secured in place with push lock nuts 30. Switches 31 and 32 are secured to support plate 2 with screws 33.

This assembly is then snapped into a backplate 34 (illustrated in FIG. 3) and is locked into position such that the aerosol can tops are aligned with housing front 35, slots 53 and 54.

Backplate 34 may be secured to a wall and the entire assembly covered with a firm plastic housing 35, containing the two openings for the dispensing of the aerosol fluids.

In FIG. 6 there is a circuit diagram shown for actuating the two dispensing motors at random intervals.

Manifestly, the dispenser slide and switch mechanisms may be varied and either A.C. or D.C. power may be utilized without departing from the spirit of invention.

Claims

We claim:

1. A multiple aerosol dispenser adapted for supporting aerosol bombs of the type having a cylindrical body and a neck-dispensing portion with a collar and a dispensing valve comprising:

A. a bracket defining:

i. at least two aerosol bomb neck-engaging apertures, and

ii. at least two drive motor supports;

B. a lock supported upon said bracket, adjacent each of said apertures, so as to engage the collar of each said aerosol bomb when thrust through said aperture;

C. an operating slide being vertically reciprocated above the neck of each said bomb upon a pair of rods supported in each said bracket and including a dispensing shaft selectively engaging said dispensing valve, each shaft further including:

i. a head secured to the bottom of said shaft and engageable with said dispensing valve in the neck dispensing portion of said bomb;

ii. an intermediate compression spring supported upon said shaft above said head; and

iii. a threaded bolt mounted at the other end of said shaft, so as to adjust the degree of compressing said spring;

D. a drive motor supported upon each said drive motor support and including:

i. a drive shaft; and

ii. an eccentric cam mounted upon said shaft, so as to engage and reciprocate said operating slide with respect to said neck dispensing portion of said bomb,

E. a clock timing mechanism having control switches for each said drive motor, so as to activate and deactivate said motor and drive said cam, according to pre-selected time increments.

2. A multiple aerosol dispenser as in claim 1, each said lock being in the form of a tension spring, secured at one end within said bracket, having a convoluted mid portion including the collar of an aerosol bomb supported therein and having its free end abutting a tension stud, extending outwardly of said bracket.

3. A multiple aerosol dispenser as in claim 2, said bracket being mounted in a housing having at least two dispensing apertures aligned with the neck dispensing portion of each said aerosol bomb.

4. A multiple aerosol dispenser as in claim 3, including spring means urging said operating slide upwardly and away from said neck dispensing portion of said aerosol bomb.