Spray canister device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11685594-B2
Application number	US-202217666547-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2022
Priority date	May 30, 2019
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

A spray canister device is provided including 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 including an actuator cap, the canister storing a liquid product therein, the actuator cap including a spray nozzle;
a chassis element; and
a tray slidably coupled to the chassis element, the tray including at least one elongate slot for receiving one of the at least one protruding members of the canister housing to provide mating engagement between the canister housing and the tray; and
wherein the canister is positioned in the annular sleeve portion of the canister housing, the actuator cap received at least partially in the end portion of the canister housing, the spray nozzle positioned proximate the opening of the canister housing; and
wherein 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.

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 includes a first mating portion, and wherein an interior surface of the end portion of the canister housing includes a second mating portion, the second mating portion of the interior surface configured to correspond with, and 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 includes 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 includes 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 , wherein the at least one protruding member comprises two elongate rails, and wherein a locking structure extends between the two elongate rails for abutment with a stop member of the chassis element.

9. The spray canister device of claim 8 , wherein abutment between the locking structure and the stop member inhibits movement of the canister housing to facilitate relative movement between the canister housing and the canister to compress the actuator cap thereof.

10. 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.

11. 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.

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

13. 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;
wherein a canister including a rim surface is at least partially received in the annular sleeve portion; and
wherein the annular sleeve portion includes a finger portion extending at least partially in the opening, the finger portion configured to engage with and abut at least a portion of the rim surface upon insertion of the canister in the annular sleeve portion to inhibit removal thereof.

14. The spray canister housing of claim 13 , wherein an interior surface of the end portion includes a first mating portion corresponding with and configured to engage a second mating portion of the canister to facilitate alignment of the canister in the canister housing.

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

16. A spray canister device for installation in a toilet seat assembly, the spray canister device comprising:
a canister housing with an annular sleeve portion and an end portion, the end portion including an opening;
a canister including an actuator cap; and
a chassis and slidable tray positioned in the toilet seat assembly, the chassis and the slidable tray configured to move the canister and canister housing;
wherein the spray canister device includes:
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.

17. The spray canister device of claim 16 , wherein the annular sleeve portion is configured to receive the canister at least partially therein, wherein the canister is configured to contain a liquid product.

18. The spray canister device of claim 17 , wherein the end portion of the canister housing includes a first mating surface corresponding with and configured to engage a second mating surface of the actuator cap, the first and second mating surfaces comprising the second keyed connection.

19. The spray canister device of claim 18 , wherein the engagement between the first and second mating surfaces is configured to facilitate alignment between a nozzle of the actuator cap and the opening of the canister housing.

20. The spray canister device of claim 16 , further including a third keyed connection between the at least one protruding member of the canister housing and the slidable tray, wherein the at least one protruding member is configured to engage with the slidable tray to facilitate alignment of the canister housing therewith.

Assignees

• Bemis Mfg Co

Inventors

• Sylvia Jacqueline

Classifications

• 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

• A61M3/0245

  Containers therefor, e.g. with heating means or with storage means for cannula · CPC title

• A61M3/0266

  Stands, holders or storage means for irrigation devices (containers with storage means for cannula A61M3/0245) · CPC title