Spraying Device and Method of Using Same

Abstract

A spraying device is described, the device comprising a housing adapted to receive a refill of fluid therein and having an aperture suitable for permitting, in use, the spraying of a fluid therethrough, the device further comprising actuation means configured for periodic actuation of the refill, wherein the device is provided with detection means configured to distinguish between at least one area of lower reflectance and at least one area of relatively higher reflectance on a spray head of said refill. Methods of operation of such a spraying device are also described.

1 .- 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A spraying device comprising a housing adapted to receive a refill of pressurized fluid therein wherein the refill comprises a spray head in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid contained within the refill, the housing having an aperture adapted to permit for the spraying of the fluid from the refill therethrough, the spraying device further comprising actuation means configured for periodic actuation of the refill, wherein the device is provided with detection means configured to distinguish between at least one area of lower reflectance and at least one area of relatively higher reflectance on the spray head of said refill, wherein the spraying device operates to dispense the pressurized fluid as a result of the detection means distinguishing between the said area of lower reflectance and the area of higher reflectance during the upward movement of the spray head. 
     
     
         28 . A spraying device according to  claim 27 , wherein upward movement of the spray head is provided by the inherent resilience or internal pressure of the refill. 
     
     
         29 . A spraying device according to  claim 27 , wherein the detection means is configured to interrogate the spray head by emitting, in use, radiation toward the spray head and collecting radiation reflected from the spray head, and said means attributing specifically or approximately or generally the amount of reflected radiation to the at least one area of lower reflectance or to the at least one area of relatively higher reflectance on the spray head 
     
     
         30 . A spraying device according to  claim 27 , wherein the detection means is adapted to make a determination that there are differing levels of reflectance between the least one area of lower reflectance and at least one area of relatively higher reflectance on the spray head when the difference between the determined reflectance from the at least one area of relatively higher reflectance is at least 0.5 times greater than from the at least one area of relatively lower reflectance of the spray head. 
     
     
         31 . A spraying device according to  claim 30 , wherein the difference between the determined reflectance from the at least one area of relatively higher reflectance is at least 2 times greater than from the at least one area of relatively lower reflectance of the spray head. 
     
     
         32 . A spraying device according to  claim 31 , wherein the difference between the determined reflectance from the at least one area of relatively higher reflectance is at least 5 times greater than from the at least one area of relatively lower reflectance of the spray head. 
     
     
         33 . A spraying device according to  claim 27  wherein the device is further provided with an end of life indication means in the form of a counting mechanism. 
     
     
         34 . A spraying device according to  claim 33 , wherein the counting mechanism is calibrated to allow a pre-determined number of actuations of the refill which corresponds to the quantity of fluid stored in the refill. 
     
     
         35 . A spraying device according to  claim 27 , wherein the detection means is provided at a fixed location within the device and has a fixed field of view with respect to the spray head or of the area normally occupied by the spray head when a refill is loaded in the device. 
     
     
         36 . A spraying device according to  claim 27 , wherein the detection means is provided in the form of one or more sensors having a radiation emitter and a collecting portion. 
     
     
         38 . A spraying device according to  claim 27 , wherein the detection means is configured to interrogate a spray head within a distance of up to 100 mm from the detection means. 
     
     
         39 . A method of spraying a pressurized fluid from a device, the method comprising the steps of:
 loading a refill containing a pressurized fluid in a spraying device according to  claim 27 , the refill having a spray head comprising at least one area of lower reflectance and at least one area of relatively higher reflectance on the spray head and the refill   placing the spraying device in an operation mode, said operation mode being configured to cause activation of the actuation means, said actuation means periodically operating to bear against the spray head of the refill and causing the movement thereof to release a quantity of fluid from the refill, said released fluid being sprayed from the device through an aperture in the housing into the surrounding environment, wherein the detection means of the spraying device operate to detect and distinguish between the at least one area of lower reflectance and the at least one area of relatively higher reflectance on the spray head of said refill.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the detection means are operable during the activation of the actuation means and the movement of the spray head. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the detection means operate to detect and distinguish between the at least one area of lower reflectance and the at least one area of relatively higher reflectance on the spray head of said refill only during the upward movement of the spray head upon the refill. 
     
     
         42 . A spray head mountable upon a refill containing a pressurized fluid, the spray head being in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid contained within the refill, the spray head comprising an inlet section adapted to connect with a valve stem of the refill, an exit orifice adapted to directionally dispense the pressurized fluid in a direction away from the refill, an outer surface having at least one area of lower reflectance and at least one area of relatively higher reflectance, wherein the spray head when mounted upon a refill, is mountable within a spraying device according to  claim 27 , and the at least one area of lower reflectance and at least one area of relatively higher reflectance of the spray head is adapted to be distinguished by the detection means of the spraying device, during the upward movement of the mounted spray head upon the refill. 
     
     
         43 . A spray head according to  claim 42 , wherein the upward movement of the spray head mounted upon the refill is provided by the inherent resilience or internal pressure of the refill. 
     
     
         44 . A spray head according to  claim 42 , wherein the difference between the reflectance determinable by the detection means of the at least one area of relatively higher reflectance is at least 0.5 times greater than of the at least one area of relatively lower reflectance of the spray head. 
     
     
         45 . A spray head according to  claim 44 , wherein the difference between the reflectance determinable by the detection means of the at least one area of relatively higher reflectance is at least 2 times greater than of the at least one area of relatively lower reflectance of the spray head. 
     
     
         46 . A spray head according to  claim 45 , wherein the difference between the reflectance determinable by the detection means of the at least one area of relatively higher reflectance is at least 5 times greater than of the at least one area of relatively lower reflectance of the spray head. 
     
     
         47 . A refill containing a pressurized fluid, a valve stem, and spray head being in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid contained within the refill, the spray head comprising an inlet section adapted to connect with a valve stem of the refill, an exit orifice adapted to directionally dispense the pressurized fluid in a direction away from the refill, an outer surface having at least one area of lower reflectance and at least one area of relatively higher reflectance, wherein the refill is mountable within a spraying device according to  claim 27 , and the at least one area of lower reflectance and at least one area of relatively higher reflectance of the spray head is adapted to be distinguished by the detection means of the spraying device during the upward movement of the mounted spray head upon the refill. 
     
     
         48 . A refill according to  claim 47 , wherein the upward movement of the spray head mounted upon the refill is provided by the inherent resilience or internal pressure of the refill. 
     
     
         49 . A refill according to  claim 47 , wherein the difference between the reflectance determinable by the detection means of the at least one area of relatively higher reflectance is at least 0.5 times greater than of the at least one area of relatively lower reflectance of the spray head. 
     
     
         50 . A spray head according to  claim 49 , wherein the difference between the reflectance determinable by the detection means of the at least one area of relatively higher reflectance is at least 2 times greater than of the at least one area of relatively lower reflectance of the spray head. 
     
     
         51 . A spray head according to  claim 50 , wherein the difference between the reflectance determinable by the detection means of the at least one area of relatively higher reflectance is at least 5 times greater than of the at least one area of relatively lower reflectance of the spray head.