Claims for Patent: 3,927,806

Summary for Patent: 3,927,806

Title:	Applicator for attachment to a spray mist dispenser
Abstract:	An applicator for attachment to a container for aerosol spray under pressure wherein the container is of the type having a dispensing valve provided with a projecting stem which releases a jet of spray upon depression relative to the container. The applicator includes a housing adapted to partially enclose the container and provided with a tubular sidewall surrounding the stem. A spray assembly within the sidewall grips the stem and directs the spray released thereby through a radial port in the sidewall. A sleeve is telescopically mounted on the sidewall for axial motion between a retracted position overlying the radial port and an extended position positioned beyond the sidewall. The sleeve is connected to the sidewall by two ears depending from the sleeve, which are provided at their free ends with two bosses which pass through two aligned axial slots in the sidewall. In the extended position, the bosses enable pivoting motion of the sleeve into concentric alignment with the radial port. Each boss is provided with an enlarged head positioned internally of the sidewall to prevent motion of the boss out of the slot. In the preferred embodiment, the shaping of the ears which depend from the sleeve is such that pivoting of the sleeve when in the extended position is possible only in a direction which will cause concentric alignment with the radial port and furthermore so that when aligned, the sleeve will point slightly upward to aid in dispensing the spray mist.
Inventor(s):	Meshberg; Philip (Fairfield, CT)
Assignee:
Application Number:	05/426,478
Patent Claims:	1. An applicator for attachment to a container for dispensing spray mist, the container being of the type having a dispensing valve provided with a projecting stem which releases a jet of spray upon limited axial motion of the stem in a direction relatively inward of the container, the applicator comprising, a housing adapted to at least partially enclose the container, said housing further including, a tubular sidewall adapted to surround the stem of the dispensing valve, said sidewall having an axial outer end spaced remotely from the container and an axial inner end, a radial port extending through said sidewall, means mounted within said sidewall adapted to grip the stem of the dispensing valve and to direct the jet of spray released thereby through said radial port, two aligned, axially extending, closed slots through said sidewall at opposite extremities of a diameter thereof which is disposed perpendicularly to the axis of sid radial port, each having an enlarged opening at its inner axial end, a sleeve telescopically mounted on said sidewall for axial sliding motion between a retracted position overlying said radial port, and an extended position in which at least a major portion of said sleeve is positioned beyond the outer end of said sidewall, with cooperable abutting portions of said sleeve and said sidewall at a position directly above said radial port when said sleeve is in an extended position thereby insuring that pivoting of the sleeve is only possible in a direction which will align it with said radial port, and the end of said sleeve, when said sleeve is in said retracted position, terminating such that it does not extend above the top of said tubular side wall thereby preventing dust or dirt collection on the inside of said sleeve, two ears extending from an axially inner end of said sleeve in partially overlapping relation to said slots, two bosses projecting from said ears slidingly received in said slots, said bosses abutting against the closed outer ends of said slots in the extended position of said sleeve and enabling pivoting motion thereof into generally concentric alignment with said radial port, each said boss having, an enlarged head, of a size permitting said enlarged head to freely pass through the enlarged opening in said slots, positioned internally of said sidewall, said head overlapping the adjacent edges of said slot to prevent motion of said boss out of said slot except when in a fully retracted position, and a raised surface at the lower end of said sidewall below said radial port, said surface acting as a stop to prevent said sleeve from sliding in said slots when pivoted to a dispensing position. 2. An applicator as defined in claim 1 wherein said cooperable abutting portions comprise, a projecting portion connected with said sidewall, said portion being directly above said radial port. 3. The improvement in claim 1 wherein the outer end of said sidewall is essentially flat and wherein said cooperable abuting portions comprise a downwardly extending portion of said sleeve abuting said sidewall directly above said radial port. 4. The improvement of claim 1 in which the end of said sleeve, when said sleeve is in said closed position, is coterminous with said top, so as to form with it a smooth surface that catches no dirt or dust.