Carrier For A Portable Dispenser

Abstract

A carrier suitable to mount an aerosol spray can on a backpack, a belt loop or the like. The carrier has a pair of downwardly depending skirts that are radially spaced from each other, and an upper connector section. Squeezing opposite sides of the outer skirt drives portions of the inner skirt inward as well. However, as the inner skirt is oblong, this also causes other intermediate regions of the inner skirt to bulge outwardly. These intermediate regions are designed to otherwise latch onto the can, and thus this squeezing helps release the carrier from the can. There may also be a secondary catch between the bottom of the outer skirt and the can, as well as a positive stop along an inner side of the outer skirt.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to carriers for mounting portable dispensers (e.g. aerosol spray cans containing mosquito repellent) on a backpack, clothing belt or the like so that these dispensers can be conveniently transported and accessed outdoors.

Portable dispensers have been used to deliver a variety of chemicals to human skin and other surfaces to be treated. Among these chemicals are pest control materials (e.g. insect repellants such as DEET), perfumes, deodorants, and skin protectors (e.g. sunscreen). Many of these dispensers are typically stored in a home, and then applied in the home shortly before one goes outdoors (with the dispenser then being left in the home between applications). However, during some outdoor activities (e.g. hiking, camping, sailing) it is desirable to apply/reapply certain of these chemicals.

Carrying conventional dispensers outdoors can sometimes be problematic. Placing the dispenser in a backpack makes accessing the dispenser outdoors more complex, and raises the possibility that the dispenser may leak onto other items in the backpack.

Carrying such a dispenser on a separate hanger attached to a belt or a backpack creates design problems. For example, one prefers (using a relatively lightweight assembly) to provide ready access to the dispenser, protect against inadvertent spraying, and provide a secure attachment between the dispenser and mounting system. Also, it is preferred that the carrying system for the containers have a useful life that is not limited to that of the container (to avoid the waste and reduce cost).

U.S. Pat. No. 3,414,167 disclosed an assembly for carrying an aerosol can by attaching it to a cap having a loop hanger. However, the connection of the cap to the can was not sufficiently secure for some applications.

U.S. patent application publications 2008/0067182 and 2010/0044401 disclosed aerosol container caps that anchored on an aerosol can using both an inner an outer skirt. However, these caps were not designed as part of a carrier system, and in any event their means of attachment to the can was not sufficiently secure for some outdoor applications.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,828,166 and 7,971,738 disclosed some child safety cap structures. Squeezing the sides of the cap enabled one to remove the cap from an adjacent container (e.g. a bottle). However, these systems were not designed for a carrier structure, and had other deficiencies.

Hence, improvements are needed with respect to carriers for portable dispensers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the invention provides a carrier for a dispenser. The carrier has a housing with an outer downwardly depending skirt, an inner downwardly depending skirt radially spaced inwardly from the outer downwardly depending skirt, an upper connector section, and a portion that can be pressed inwardly to cause a portion of the inner downwardly depending skirt to move radially inwardly. The inner downwardly depending skirt is oblong in horizontal cross section such that such radially inward movement of a portion of the inner downwardly depending skirt in response to such pressing will cause a portion of the inner downwardly depending skirt to bulge radially outwardly.

When this happens, a lower part of the inner downwardly depending skirt will bulge outwardly. This part is in the form of a radially inwardly directed catch that is configured so as to be suitable to latch onto a first portion of a dispenser when the lower part of the inner skirt is not bulging outward. In this “rest” position the catch is coupled to the dispenser. Then, such pressing can then cause the catch to decouple from the dispenser, thereby facilitating the release of the housing from the can.

In preferred forms the carrier is coupled to an aerosol spray container for delivering an insect control ingredient (such as a 30% formulation of DEET). The connector section is preferably an arch that has been (or is capable of being) linked to an item carried by a human (e.g. a belt loop or backpack loop).

The outer downwardly depending skirt can also have a lower catch, one suitable to catch onto a radially outward portion of a container. The housing can thus be twice anchored to the can. The squeezing releases the inner catch, and pulling the can down away from the carrier (coupled with a slight tilting of the can relative to the carrier) will release the outer catch as well.

In another preferred form there is a stop positioned on the radially inward side of the outer downwardly depending skirt (to control the downward movement of the housing relative to the container).

Various embodiments of the present invention have one or more advantages. For example, the assembly permits insect sprays, sunscreens and other chemicals that are to be applied/reapplied outdoors to have their dispensers conveniently carried in a hands free manner. These dispensers can then be accessed quite easily, and then remounted (e.g. on a backpack or belt loop) after application (all without the hiker, jogger or the like needing to stop walking/running during this process).

When a container is used up, the consumer can dispose of the spray can and replace it with a refill. However, the carrier assembly can be reused many times, with many such refills. This lowers the overall cost of using the system (as a carrier does not need to be purchased with each refill can).

Moreover, the carrier is inexpensive to produce and may be made of a material that is well suited for outdoor use.

The connection between the carrier and the can is a secure connection unlikely to be accidentally released, preferably provides a seal between the can and carrier (thereby minimizing leakage), and may be easily released from the mounting when desired.

The foregoing and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments. As these embodiments are merely illustrative, they are not intended to represent the full scope of the invention. Thus, reference should therefore be made to the claims herein for interpreting the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carrier of the present invention shown mounted on a spray can;

FIG. 2A depicts that carrier/can assembly hung from a backpack (in the process of having the can disconnected from the carrier);

FIG. 2B shows how the spray can of FIG. 2A can be used to spray repellent on a human arm while the carrier remains attached to the backpack;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view, taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1, of a preferred carrier of the present invention, mounted on a spray can;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the FIG. 1 carrier; and

FIG. 5 is a lower perspective view of that carrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred carrier 10 is shown in FIG. 1 mounted on (and coupled to) an aerosol can 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the can has a spray nozzle 12 and an upper tapered portion on which is mounted a closure 13 having a bent over web 14. There is a valve assembly 15 having a bent over flange 16 that supports the spray nozzle 12.

Carrier 10 has an outer downwardly depending skirt 20 and an inner downwardly depending skirt 21. There is also a connector section 24 in the form of an arch. The carrier 10 is preferably formed of a flexible waterproof plastic such as polypropylene or polyethylene.

Squeeze regions 30 are formed along opposed sides of the outer skirt. There are also vertically extending stop ribs 32 formed along the inner wall of the outer downwardly depending skirt 20.

Inner downwardly depending skirt 21 is oblong in horizontal cross section. Squeeze regions 30 are adjacent the farthest radially outward portions 37 of the inner downwardly depending skirt 21. When farthest radially outward portions 37 are driven inwardly by pressing squeeze regions 30, they cause intermediate regions 38 on the inner downwardly depending skirt to bulge outwardly. This drives catch feet 39 outward (away from their latching position). Absent this squeezing force the catch feet 39 latch under flange 16 to couple the carrier 10 to the can 11.

As depicted in FIG. 2A, a carabineer type clip 44 can loop through connector section 24, and also a belt loop or backpack loop structure 41. This will mount the carrier and can on the belt or backpack loop. By pressing regions 30 one causes catch feet 39 to decouple from the can. Then, minor force on the can 11 in an axially downward direction, with a slight relative tilting between the can and carrier, can also free additional catch 51 from web 14. The can may then be accessed for spraying (as shown in FIG. 2B).

Can 11 preferably stores a mosquito repellent formulation such as a formulation of DEET. It can instead store other materials such as insecticides, or skin treatment materials such as sunscreen, perfume, a deodorant, or a sanitizer. As an example, the container could be filled with an insecticide to be sprayed around a tent entry flap when the tent is erected.

When a hiker wishes to refresh insect repellent protection (e.g. after a few hours of a hike), the hiker squeezes region(s) 30 while pulling the can down. The carrier then remains on the backpack 52 at a loop structure 41, even after the can and carrier have been decoupled.

While the above describes preferred embodiments, it should be appreciated that other embodiments are also within the scope of the invention. For example, the active container may be a pump sprayer or squeeze tube rather than an aerosol can, and the mounting connector may be another type of connector besides a clip. Regardless, the invention is not to be limited to just the specific embodiments shown or described, and the following claims should therefore be looked to in order to judge the full scope of the invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

There are disclosed assemblies for facilitating the carrying of dispensers outdoors, particularly allowing the dispenser to be readily accessed when needed.

All documents cited in this patent are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference. The citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention.

Claims

1. A carrier for a dispenser, the carrier comprising:

a housing having an outer downwardly depending skirt, an inner downwardly depending skirt radially spaced inwardly from the outer downwardly depending skirt, a connector section, and a portion that can be pressed inwardly to cause a portion of the inner downwardly depending skirt to move radially inwardly;

wherein the inner downwardly depending skirt is oblong in horizontal cross section such that such radially inward movement of a portion of the inner downwardly depending skirt in response to such pressing can cause a portion of the inner downwardly depending skirt to bulge radially outwardly;

wherein a lower part of the inner downwardly depending skirt that can bulge outwardly in this manner is in a form of a radially inwardly directed catch that is configured so as to be suitable to catch onto a first portion of the dispenser when the part is not bulging outward if the dispenser is positioned adjacent thereto; and

wherein, if the catch is coupled to the dispenser, such pressing can facilitate the catch decoupling from the dispenser.

2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the carrier is coupled to the dispenser.

3. The carrier of claim 2, wherein the dispenser is an aerosol spray container.

4. The carrier of claim 3, wherein the aerosol spray container contains an insect control ingredient.

5. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the connector section is an upper arch.

6. The carrier of claim 5, wherein the upper arch has been linked to an item carried by a human.

7. The carrier of claim 6, wherein the item carried by a human is a loop portion of clothing or a backpack.

8. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the outer downwardly depending skirt has a lower catch suitable to catch onto a second portion of the dispenser.

9. The carrier of claim 1, further comprising a stop positioned on a radially inward side of the outer downwardly depending skirt.