Actuation assistance apparatus and method
A pressurized container assembly and an actuation assistance apparatus is provided for dispensing contents from a pressurized container. The pressurized container assembly comprises a pressurized container for holding contents that may be released by opening a tilt-action valve within the container. A spout actuator opens the tilt-action valve. The actuation assistance apparatus assists actuation of the spout actuator and comprises a base member and a lever portion. The base member adapted to accept the spout actuator. The lever portion comprises a radial extension arm and a downward depending arm. A method is provided by which uses the actuation assistance apparatus to improve actuation of the spout actuator.
This invention pertains to assistance mechanisms for pressurized containers, and more particularly to apparatus for assisting actuation of tilt actuators for pressurized containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVarious types of pressurized containers are used in commercial, personal care and food applications. Pressurized containers include a valve that must be opened to release the internal contents. Typically, an actuator opens the valve, thereby releasing the contents from the container. One type of valve is a tilt-action valve, which integrates a spout actuator. A load applied to the spout actuator causes the actuator to actuate and tilt. The tilting of the spout actuator tilts a valve stem and releases the contents from the container. A problem with current pressurized containers with this actuator-valve combination, which will be appreciated once the invention is understood, is that it tends to be difficult to actuate the spout actuator to tilt the valve stem. Spout actuators are generally short and provide a limited lever arm to actuate the spout actuator and typically only a single finger or thumb may be used to tilt the spout actuator. However, simply lengthening the spout actuator will not solve the problem because it becomes difficult to hold the pressurized container with one hand and still actuate the spout actuator.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an objective of the embodiment to provide an actuation assistance apparatus which reduces the actuation load required to actuate a spout actuator of a pressurized container.
It is a further objective of the embodiment to provide an actuation assistance apparatus which makes application of the actuation load, which actuates a spout actuator, easier by allowing the user to use multiple fingers to apply the actuation load to the actuation assistance apparatus, rather than requiring a single finger or thumb to press against the spout actuator as currently required.
In achieving the objectives of the current invention, the embodiment provides an actuation assistance apparatus comprising a base member having an aperture sized and configured to engage and slidedly accept the spout actuator. A lever portion integrally attached to the base member comprises a radial extension arm and a downward depending arm. The radial extension arm is adapted to position the integrally attached downward depending arm beyond the radial periphery of the pressurized container. The downward depending arm configured to receive the actuation load.
A pressurized container assembly using an actuation assistance apparatus is also disclosed herein. The pressurized container system comprises a pressurized container for holding contents, a tilt-action valve for releasing the contents, a spout actuator which opens the tilt-action valve and an actuation assistance apparatus removably attached to the spout actuator.
The invention also has method aspects which involve using an actuation assistance apparatus to improve actuation of a spout actuator of a pressurized container. The method includes the steps installing an actuation assistance apparatus on the container and applying an actuation load to the actuation assistance apparatus, thereby actuating the actuator of the pressurized container.
Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The following disclosed embodiment further illustrates the invention but, of course, should not be construed as in any way limiting the scope.
As actuating a spout actuator may be difficult, specifically for people with weak, small or arthritic hands, the actuation assistance apparatus 20, further illustrated in
As illustrated in
The lever portion 42 provides a lever arm that reduces the actuation load required to tilt the base member 40 that actuates the spout actuator 22. The lever portion 42 comprises a radial extension arm 56 and a downward depending arm 58 as shown in
The embodiment of the radial extension arm 56 comprises a vertical flange 68 and a top flange 70, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The actuation assistance apparatus 20 makes it easier to hold the pressurized container 26 and apply the actuation load 80 (
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
Claims
1. An actuation assistance apparatus for use with pressurized containers that have an axially extending spout actuator, the actuation assistance apparatus comprising:
- a base member comprising an aperture portion having an inner periphery sized and configured to engage and slidedly accept the spout actuator; and
- a lever portion adapted to provide a lever arm which reduces the actuation load required to actuate the spout actuator, the lever portion comprising a radial extension arm extending radially from the base member and a downward depending arm integrally attached to the radial extension arm, the radial extension arm and downward depending arm adapted such that the downward depending arm extends beyond the radial periphery of the pressurized container.
2. The actuation assistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base member comprises a cylindrical sleeve having said aperture portion defined therein.
3. The actuation assistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radial extension arm includes a top flange and a vertical flange extending radially from said base member, the vertical flange depending from the top flange.
4. The actuation assistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein said inner periphery of said aperture comprises at least one radially projecting protrusion.
5. The pressurized container assembly of claim 2, wherein said inner periphery of said cylindrical sleeve comprises at least one radially projecting protrusion defined by a first discontinuous cylindrical wall of a first diameter and a second discontinuous wall of a second diameter, the first and second cylindrical walls being generally concentric.
6. The actuation assistance apparatus of claim 4, wherein said at least one radially projecting protrusion comprises at least one bump, ridge, dimple or rib.
7. The actuation assistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base member and said lever portion are integrally formed in a unitary body.
8. The actuation assistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radial extension arm and said downward depending arm are transverse defining an angle in the range of between about 90-130 degrees.
9. The actuation assistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radial extension arm and said downward depending arm are transverse defining an angle of about 110 degrees.
10. The actuation assistance apparatus of claim 2, wherein said cylindrical sleeve has an axial length in the range of between about 0.2-0.6 inches.
11. A pressurized container assembly comprising:
- a pressurized container;
- a tilt-action valve for releasing contents from the pressurized container;
- a spout actuator adapted such that actuation of the actuator opens the tilt-action valve; and
- an actuation assistance apparatus comprising a base member and a lever portion, the base member comprising an aperture portion having an inner periphery sized and configured to engage and slidedly accept the spout actuator; the lever portion comprising a radial extension arm extending radially from the base member and a downward depending arm integrally attached to the radial extension arm, the radial extension arm and downward depending arm adapted such that the downward depending arm extends beyond the radial periphery of the pressurized container.
12. The pressurized container assembly of claim 11, wherein said base member comprises a cylindrical sleeve having said aperture portion defined therein.
13. The pressurized container assembly of claim 11, wherein said radial extension arm includes a top flange and a vertical flange extending radially from said base member, the vertical flange depending from the top flange.
14. The pressurized container assembly of claim 11, wherein said inner periphery of said aperture comprises at least one radially projecting protrusion.
15. The pressurized container assembly of claim 12, wherein said inner periphery of said cylindrical sleeve comprises at least one radially projecting protrusion defined by a first discontinuous cylindrical wall of a first diameter and a second discontinuous wall of a second diameter, the first and second cylindrical walls being generally concentric.
16. The actuation assistance apparatus of claim 14, wherein said at least one radially projecting protrusion comprises at least one bump, ridge, dimple or rib.
17. The pressurized container assembly of claim 11, wherein said base member and said lever portion are integrally formed in a unitary body.
18. The pressurized container assembly of claim 11, wherein said radial extension arm and said downward depending arm are transverse defining an angle in the range of between about 90-130 degrees.
19. The pressurized container assembly of claim 11, wherein said radial extension arm and said downward depending arm are transverse defining an angle of about 110 degrees.
20. The pressurized container assembly of claim 12, wherein said cylindrical sleeve has an axial length in the range of between about 0.25-0.5 inches.
21. A method for improving the actuation of a spout actuator of a pressurized container, the pressurized container including a tilt-action valve for releasing contents and a spout actuator adapted to open the tilt-action valve, the method comprising:
- installing an actuation assistance apparatus, the actuation assistance apparatus comprising a base member adapted to attach to the spout actuator and a lever portion adapted to reduce the actuation load required to actuate the spout actuator; and
- applying the actuation load to the actuation assistance apparatus to actuate the spout actuator.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein said base member comprises an aperture sized and configured to slidedly accept the spout actuator and said lever portion comprises a radial extension arm extending radially from the base member and a downward depending arm integrally attached to the radial extension arm, the radial extension arm and downward depending arm adapted such that the downward depending arm extends beyond the radial periphery of the pressurized container.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein said installing comprises sliding said actuation assistance apparatus onto said spout actuator and said applying comprises applying the actuation load to the downward depending arm.
24. The method of claim 21, wherein said applying comprises holding said pressurized container and applying said actuation load to said actuation assistance apparatus using a single hand.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 26, 2003
Publication Date: Mar 3, 2005
Inventor: Thomas Taylor (Beloit, WI)
Application Number: 10/648,452