Aerosol delivery system

Abstract

An aerosol delivery system for delivering an aerosol fluid, comprising: a container for supplying the aerosol fluid; an actuator for controlling the flow of aerosol fluid; a nozzle for dispensing the aerosol fluid from the actuator. The container, actuator and nozzle may be positioned within a door member.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a delivery system and more particularly to an aerosol delivery system.

BACKGROUND

Deterring unwanted intruders from a home is an important safety issue. Furthermore, it is desirable to deter and identify would be intruders from entering the home especially through a door.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,360,674 discloses controlled sanitizing by dispensing a germicide, such as a disinfectant, antibacterial solution or cleansing agent at intervals. A method of replacing an aerosol canister from a sanitizer mounted proximate to a door handle on a door is disclosed. The method includes pivoting a cover of the sanitizer in a first direction to expose the aerosol canister while a remainder of the sanitizer housing remains stationary relative to the door; moving a guide wheel to a loading position; removing the aerosol canister and a valve coupled thereto from a seat within the sanitizer housing; positioning a replacement aerosol canister in the seat so that a valve thereof is oriented toward the door handle; moving the guide wheel to an operative position in which it seats in rotatable proximity to the valve; and closing the cover by pivoting the cover in a second direction. The method ensures that a suitable aerosol can has been properly loaded in the dispenser.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,598,142 discloses a security system for preventing unauthorized removal of a vehicle accessory such as a radio from a mounted position on the vehicle including a dispensing container containing a pressurized protective material such as a pepper gas and having a dispensing valve displaceable from a closed position to an open position in which the protective material is dispensed from the container. A valve actuating member is responsive to displacement of the accessory from its mounted position to displace the dispensing valve from the closed to the open position whereby the protective material is dispensed from said container.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,045 discloses a portable anti-burglar device with optional fluid dispensing, alarm and fingerprint retention features which when activated by the opening of a door or window or other violation of a secured aperture a spring biased actuating member operates to discharge a pre-packaged tear gas or identification fluid or other liquid dispersing canister and simultaneously close an electrical switch which is in series with another switch which controls the optional operation of an audible alarm when the device is activated regardless of whether a pressurized canister is in place. The device is portable and is coated with a wax or tar which can preserve fingerprints that may be deposited on the device by an intruder's attempt to deactivate it. The device is fitted with moveable mounting brackets which allow for a variety of mounting situations and also with a tamper resistant locking mechanism.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,084 relates to a fire extinguisher alarm for use with a removable fire extinguisher. The alarm includes a support bracket mounted in an enclosure housing the fire extinguisher or in proximity with a mounted fire extinguisher. The support bracket has a pivoted plate adapted to engage the base of the mounted fire extinguisher. The plate includes a trigger arm, which when pivoted, engages a audible alarm formed by a pressurized gas can and horn, tilting the can relative to the horn to permit the release of gas under pressure to operate the horn.

SUMMARY

An aerosol delivery system for delivering an aerosol fluid, comprising:

• a container for supplying the aerosol fluid; an actuator for controlling the flow of aerosol fluid; a nozzle for dispensing the aerosol fluid from the actuator. The container, actuator and nozzle may be positioned within a door member.

The actuator may be a biasing device.

The biasing device may be a spring.

The actuator may include a switch.

The door member may be a door to a residence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of an aerosol delivery system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a back view of the aerosol delivery system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a back cross-sectional view of the aerosol delivery system of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is illustrates a top view of the aerosol delivery system of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom view of the aerosol delivery system of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of the aerosol delivery system of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the nozzle and spray actuator of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention includes an aerosol delivery system 100 for the purposes of home defense, among other uses. The present invention may include a ‘Dragon's Nose’ nozzle 111 which may dispense a fluid which may include combination of a pepper spray-like deterrent which may include an irritating but harmless aerosol and may include a marking substance to mark the individual on the opposing end of the aerosol delivery system 100. The nozzle 111 may be mounted through a doorway/door more specifically a door member 103 to a spray actuator 107 (mechanical or electronic) may be connected to a fluid container 105 which may contain the aerosol fluid under pressure and may be positioned in a door cavity 101. The aerosol delivery system 100 may include a replaceable fluid container 105 which may be formed from metal such as aluminum, plastic or other appropriate material. The nozzle 111 may include male/female threads along a sufficiently long cylindrical structure that will then be threaded into the opposite threads positioned on the spray actuator 107.

The nozzle 111 may include multiple apertures in order to provide a wide range of coverage.

The spray actuator 107 may be a mechanical mechanism including a push button operation, a turning operation, or may be an electronic switch which may dispense a predetermined amount of aerosol fluid to mark and deter an individual.

The door cavity 101 may be accessed by a cavity door 109 which may open and close in order to allow the replaceable fluid container 105 to be removed and replaced. The cavity door 109 may be removable from the door member 103 or may be pivotable with respect to the door member 103 and sealed the door cavity 101 to prevent the aerosol fluid from flowing to the user. The aerosol delivery system 100 may include the spray actuator 107 which may include threads to connect to the nozzle. The spray actuator 107 may include a threaded input 113 to connect to the replaceable fluid container 105.

The replaceable fluid container 105 may include the aerosol fluid under sufficient pressure to flow through the spray actuator 107 to be dispensed by the nozzle 111. The aerosol fluid may be a mixture of pepper spray like material and the marking material.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the aerosol delivery system 100 which may be positioned in a door member 103 which may include a door cavity 101 which may have a rectangular cross-section, an oval cross-section or other shaped cavity. The door cavity 101 may extend to the back of the door member 103 so that the user may access and replace the fluid container 105. The door cavity 101 may be sealed by a cavity door 109 which may be pivotably mounted or may be mounted with studs/screws on the door member 103.

The fluid container 105 may be threadably connected to a spray actuator 107 which may be activated by a switch 113 which may be a button which may be biased by a spring 115 to deactivate the spray actuator 107 when the user releases the switch 113. The spray actuator 107 may also be threadably connected to a nozzle 111 which may extend from the spray actuator 107 and may include a multitude of apertures to dispense the aerosol fluid to a potential user.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the aerosol delivery system 100 which may be positioned in a door member 103 which may include a door cavity 101 which may have a rectangular cross-section, an oval cross-section or other shaped cavity. The door cavity 101 may extend to the back of the door member 103 so that the user may access and replace the fluid container 105. The door cavity 101 may be sealed by a cavity door 109 which may be pivotably mounted or may be mounted with studs/screws on the door member 103.

The fluid container 105 may be threadably connected to a spray actuator 107 which may be activated by a switch 113 which may be a button which may be biased by a spring 115 to deactivate the spray actuator 107 when the user releases the switch 113. The spray actuator 107 may also be threadably connected to a nozzle 111 which may extend from the spray actuator 107 and may include a multitude of apertures to dispense the aerosol fluid to a potential intruder.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of the aerosol delivery system 100 of the present invention and illustrates the door cavity 101, the door member 103, the replaceable fluid container 105, the spray actuator 107 and the nozzle 111.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the aerosol delivery system 100 of the present invention and illustrates the door cavity 101, the door member 103, the replaceable fluid container 105, the spray actuator 107 and the nozzle 111.

FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of the aerosol delivery system 100 of the present invention and illustrates the door cavity 101, the replaceable fluid container 105, the cavity door 109, the nozzle 111 and the input to the spray actuator 107.

FIG. 7 illustrates the nozzle 111 and the spray actuator 107 with the nozzle 111 being threadably connected to the output of the spray actuator 107 to output the aerosol fluid to the nozzle 111 which may dispense the aerosol fluid from the nozzle 111 and onto the intruder. The spray actuator 107 may include an input 119 to threadably connect to the fluid container 105 and the spray actuator 107 may include a switch 113 positioned at the distal end of the spray actuator 107 and may include a biasing device such as a spring 115 to bias the switch 113 so that the spray actuator 107 stops the flow of aerosol fluid when the pressure is released from the switch 113.

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention including the aerosol delivery system 200 which may be positioned in a door member 103 which may include a door cavity 101 which may have a rectangular cross-section, an oval cross-section or other shaped cavity. The door cavity 101 may extend to the back of the door member 103 so that the user may access and replace the fluid container 105. The door cavity 101 may be sealed by a cavity door 109 which may be pivotably mounted or may be mounted with studs/screws on the door member 103.

The fluid container 105 may be threadably connected to an actuator switch 120 which may be an electronic switch which may be powered by a battery (not shown) housed within the cavity 101 which may be biased by a spring 115 to deactivate the spray actuator 107 when the user releases the switch 120. The spray actuator 107 may also be threadably connected to a nozzle 111 which may extend from the spray actuator 107 and may include a multitude of apertures to dispense the aerosol fluid to a potential intruder.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of the aerosol delivery system 100 of the present invention and illustrates the door cavity 101, the door member 103, the replaceable fluid container 105, the spray actuator 107, the electronic switch 120 and the nozzle 111.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.

Claims

1) An aerosol delivery system for delivering an aerosol fluid, comprising:

a container for supplying the aerosol fluid;

an actuator for controlling the flow of aerosol fluid;

a nozzle for dispensing the aerosol fluid from the actuator; wherein the container, actuator and nozzle are positioned within a door member.

2) An aerosol delivery system for delivering an aerosol fluid as in claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a biasing device.

3) An aerosol delivery system for delivering an aerosol fluid as in claim 2, wherein the biasing device is a spring.

4) An aerosol delivery system for delivering an aerosol fluid as in claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a switch.

5) An aerosol delivery system for delivering an aerosol fluid as in claim 1, wherein the door member is a door to one of a residence, office or class room.