Actuation assistance apparatus and method

Abstract

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.

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.