Hand held aerosol dispenser

Abstract

An ergonomically excellent hand-held aerosol dispenser ( 1 ) comprising an aerosol container ( 3 ) and an attached spray through cap ( 2 ), the container ( 3 ) having a valve ( 15 ) at its top and a waisted section ( 4 ) towards its upper end, the upper expansion of the waisted section ( 4 ) smoothly continuing into the attached cap ( 2 ), the attached cap ( 2 ) reaching a maximum cross-sectional dimension which decreases further up and having: (i) an actuator button ( 6 ) located on its surface ( 8 ) above its maximum cross-sectional dimension, said button ( 6 ) being angled upwards at from 15° to 50°; (ii) a spray aperture ( 7 ) on the opposite side of the cap ( 2 ) from the actuator button ( 6 ); and (iii) an associated spray channel ( 15 ) providing a fluid connection between the valve ( 15 ) on the container ( 3 ) and the spray aperture ( 7 ); the dimensions of the dispenser ( 1 ) allowing the consumer to grip the dispenser ( 1 ) around the waisted section ( 4 ) of the container and, with the same hand, press upon the actuator button ( 6 ) with an index finger to operate the dispenser ( 1 ).

1 . A hand-held cylindrical aerosol dispenser comprising an aerosol container and an attached spray through cap, the container having a valve at its top and a waisted section towards its upper end, the upper expansion of the waisted section smoothly continuing into the attached cap, the attached cap reaching a maximum cross-sectional dimension which decreases further up and having:
 (i) an actuator button located on its surface above its maximum cross-sectional dimension, said button being angled upwards at from 15° to 50°;   (ii) a spray aperture on the opposite side of the cap from the actuator button; and   (iii) an associated spray channel providing a fluid connection between the valve on the container and the spray aperture;   the dimensions of the dispenser allowing the consumer to grip the dispenser around the waisted section of the container and, with the same hand, press upon the actuator button with an index finger to operate the dispenser.   
     
     
         2 . An aerosol dispenser according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the outer diameter of the waist of the container to the distance between the outer diameter of the waist and the centre of the finger pad of the actuator button, measured as the minimum distance along the curved outer surface of the dispenser, is at least 0.42 to 1 and no greater than 0.50 to 1. 
     
     
         3 . An aerosol dispenser according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the ratio of the outer diameter of the waist of the container to the diameter of the container at the point where the spray through cap fits onto the container, is at least 1 to 1.15 and no greater than 1 to 1.35, more preferably being at least 1 to 1.2 and no greater than 1 to 1.3, and most preferably being 1 to 1.25. 
     
     
         4 . An aerosol dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the maximum diameter of maximum diameter of the upper part of the dispenser is at the point where the spray through cap fits onto the container. 
     
     
         5 . An aerosol dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator button is slide operated. 
     
     
         6 . An aerosol dispenser according to any of the proceeding claims, wherein the waist of the container has an outer diameter of from 33 cm to 39 cm and is located at from 75 cm to 81 cm from the centre of a finger pad of the actuator button, measured as the minimum distance along the curved outer surface of the dispenser. 
     
     
         7 . An aerosol dispenser according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator button has a return mechanism.