Spray canister device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11242192-B2
Application number	US-201916426436-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2019
Priority date	May 30, 2019
Publication date	Feb 8, 2022
Grant date	Feb 8, 2022

Abstract

A spray canister device includes a canister containing a liquid product, a canister housing having an opening, a chassis element, and a tray slidably coupled to the chassis element. The canister includes an actuator cap and is positioned in the canister housing such that a nozzle of the actuator cap is positioned proximate the opening. The canister housing, and the canister positioned therein, may be engaged with the tray via at least one protruding member. Once engaged, the tray may be slidably moved along the chassis element between a retracted position and an extended position to facilitate relative movement between the canister and the canister housing to compress the actuator cap of the canister and spray the liquid product.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spray canister device for use in a toilet seat assembly, the spray canister device comprising:
a canister housing comprising an annular sleeve portion, an end portion, at least one protruding member extending along the annular sleeve portion, and an opening extending at least partially along the end portion;
a canister comprising an actuator cap, the canister is configured to store a liquid product therein, the actuator cap comprising a spray nozzle;
a chassis element comprising a stop member; and
a tray slidably coupled to the chassis element, the tray comprising at least one elongated slot for receiving the at least one protruding members of the canister housing comprising two elongated rails to provide mating engagement between the canister housing and the tray; and
a locking structure configured to extend between the two elongated rails for an abutment with the stop member of the chassis element,
wherein:
the canister is positioned in the annular sleeve portion of the canister housing, the actuator cap is configured to be placed, at least partially, in the end portion of the canister housing, the spray nozzle positioned proximate the opening of the canister housing;

the canister housing and the canister are movable relative to one another to cause release of the liquid product from the spray nozzle of the actuator cap and through the opening of the canister housing; and
the abutment between the locking structure and the stop member inhibits movement of the canister housing to facilitate a relative movement between the canister housing and the canister to cause a compression of the actuator cap.

2. The spray canister device of claim 1 , further comprising a motor operatively connected to the tray, the motor configured to cause slidable movement of the tray between a retracted position and an extended position along a track portion of the chassis element.

3. The spray canister device of claim 1 , wherein the canister housing further comprises a handle portion to facilitate at least one of engagement between the canister housing and the tray and disengagement between the canister housing and the tray.

4. The spray canister device of claim 1 , wherein a first surface of the actuator cap comprises a first mating portion, and wherein an interior surface of the end portion of the canister housing comprises a second mating portion, the second mating portion of the interior surface configured to engage the first mating portion of the actuator cap to facilitate alignment of the spray nozzle with the opening.

5. The spray canister device of claim 4 , wherein the first surface of the actuator cap further comprises a concave portion corresponding with a convex portion of the interior surface of the end portion.

6. The spray canister device of claim 1 , wherein the tray further comprises one or more rib elements for at least partially surrounding and engaging the canister to secure the canister housing and the canister to the tray.

7. The spray canister device of claim 1 , wherein the liquid product comprises one or more of skin protectants, ointments, mineral oil, silicone fluids, dimethicone, cyclomethycone, petrolatum, cod liver oil, lanolin, zinc oxide, talc, calamine, kaolin, topical starch, allantoin, barrier materials, skin moisturizers, skin lotions, moisturizing creams, skin sealants, water, medicaments, cleaning solutions, moisture barriers, and combinations thereof.

8. The spray canister device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors, the one or more sensors comprising one or more of a force sensor for detecting an amount of force applied to the canister, and a pressure sensor for detecting whether the canister housing is engaged with the tray.

9. The spray canister device of claim 2 , wherein the tray includes a toothed rack, and wherein the motor is rotatably coupled to a toothed gear configured to engage with the toothed rack, the motor configured to rotate the toothed gear to slidably move the tray between the retracted position and the extended position.

10. The spray canister device of claim 1 , wherein the canister housing comprises a handle portion extending from the annular sleeve portion to facilitate engagement between the canister housing and the tray.

11. A spray canister housing for a canister containing a liquid product, the spray canister housing comprising:
an annular sleeve portion, an end portion, at least one protruding member extending along the annular sleeve portion, and an opening extending at least partially along the end portion,
at least one protruding member comprising two elongated rails; and
a locking structure configured to extend between the two elongated rails for an abutment with a stop member of a chassis element connected to the spray canister housing,
wherein:
the canister comprises a rim surface and is configured to be at least partially inserted into the annular sleeve portion;

the annular sleeve portion comprises a finger portion extending, at least partially, into the opening, the finger portion configured to engage with and abut at least a portion of the rim surface upon insertion of the canister into the annular sleeve portion to inhibit removal thereof; and
the abutment between the locking structure and the stop member inhibits movement of the spray canister housing to facilitate a relative movement between the spray canister housing and the canister to cause a compression of an actuator cap of the canister.

12. The spray canister housing of claim 11 , wherein an interior surface of the end portion comprises a first mating portion configured to engage a second mating portion of the canister to facilitate alignment of the canister in the canister housing.

13. The spray canister housing of claim 11 further comprising a handle portion extending from the annular sleeve portion.

14. A spray canister device for installation in a toilet seat assembly, the spray canister device comprising:
a canister housing comprising an annular sleeve portion and an end portion, the end portion comprising an opening;
a canister comprising an actuator cap;
a chassis comprising a stop member and a slidable tray positioned in the toilet seat assembly, the chassis and the slidable tray configured to move the canister and the canister housing;
at least one elongated slot for receiving at least one protruding member of the canister housing comprising two elongated rails to provide mating engagement between the canister housing and the slidable tray; and
a locking structure configured to extend between the two elongated rails for an abutment with the stop member of the chassis,
wherein the abutment between the locking structure and the stop member inhibits movement of the canister housing to facilitate a relative movement between the canister housing and the canister to cause a compression of the actuator cap; and
wherein the spray canister device comprising:
a first keyed connection formed by at least one protruding member of the canister housing extending along the annular sleeve portion and an aperture of the toilet seat assembly having a notch portion, the aperture shaped to receive the annular sleeve portion of the spray canister housing and the notch portion shaped to receive the protruding member of the spray canister housing to align the spray canister housing upon insertion in the aperture; and
a second keyed connection between the actuator cap of the canister and the end portion of the canister housing.

15. The spray canister device of claim 14 , wherein the annular sleeve portion is configured to receive the canister at least par

Assignees

• Medline Ind Inc
• Whole Bath Llc

Inventors

• Sylvia Jacqueline

Classifications

• B65D83/386

  actuation occurring by moving the aerosol container relative to the outer shell or external container · CPC title

• B05B15/70

  Arrangements for moving spray heads automatically to or from the working position · CPC title

• B65D83/759 Primary

  Aerosol containers connected to or located in toilet-bowls or cisterns · CPC title

• E03D9/08

  Devices in the bowl producing upwardly-directed sprays; Modifications of the bowl for use with such devices (showers A47K3/28; bathing devices for special therapeutic or hygienic purposes A61H33/00, for specific parts of the body A61H35/00 ){; Bidets; Combinations of bowls with urinals or bidets; Hot-air or other devices mounted in or on the bowl, urinal or bidet for cleaning or disinfecting} · CPC title

• A61M3/0233

  characterised by liquid supply means, e.g. from pressurised reservoirs · CPC title