Adapter Systems and Methods for Aerosol Dispensing Systems

Abstract

A dispenser for aerosol material includes an aerosol assembly, an adapter assembly comprising a fixed member and a removable member, and an actuator assembly. When the dispenser is in a first configuration, the fixed member is attached to the rim structure, and the removable member is detachably attached to the fixed member. When the dispenser is in a second configuration, the fixed member is attached to the rim structure, and the actuator assembly is detachably attached to the fixed member. The removable member substantially covers a valve structure of the aerosol assembly when the dispenser is in the first configuration. The actuator assembly engages the valve assembly to allow product to be dispensed from the aerosol assembly when the dispenser is in the second configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispenser for aerosol material, comprising:
 an aerosol assembly comprising a valve structure and defining a rim structure that extends at least around the valve structure;   an adapter assembly comprising
 a fixed member adapted to be attached to the rim structure, and 
 a removable member adapted to detachably attached to the fixed member; and 
   an actuator assembly adapted to be detachably attached to the fixed member; wherein   the dispenser is in a first configuration when
 the fixed member is attached to the rim structure, and 
 the removable member is detachably attached to the fixed member; 
   the dispenser is in a second configuration when
 the fixed member is attached to the rim structure, and 
 the actuator assembly is detachably attached to the fixed member; 
   the removable member substantially covers the valve structure when the dispenser is in the first configuration; and   the actuator assembly engages the valve assembly to allow product to be dispensed from the aerosol assembly when the dispenser is in the second configuration.   
     
     
         2 . A dispenser as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the fixed part defines a first threaded portion;   the removable part defines a second threaded portion;   the actuator dispenser defines a third threaded portion;   the first threaded portion engages the second threaded portion when the dispenser is in the first configuration; and   the first threaded portion engages the third threaded portion when the dispenser is in the second configuration.   
     
     
         3 . A dispenser as recited in  claim 2 , in which:
 the first threaded portion is internally threaded; and   the second and third threaded portions are externally threaded.   
     
     
         4 . A dispenser as recited in  claim 2 , in which:
 the first threaded portion is externally threaded; and   the second and third threaded portions are internally threaded.   
     
     
         5 . A dispenser as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the fixed part defines a first keyed portion;   the removable part defines a second keyed portion;   the actuator dispenser defines a third keyed portion;   the first keyed portion engages the second keyed portion when the dispenser is in the first configuration; and   the first keyed portion engages the third keyed portion when the dispenser is in the second configuration.   
     
     
         6 . A dispenser as recited in  claim 5 , in which:
 the first keyed portion defines a transition opening and at least one key notch;   the second threaded portion defines a first locking lip adapted to extend through the at least one key notch and engage the fixed part to secure the removable part to the fixed part; and   the third threaded portion defines a second locking lip adapted to extend through the at least one key notch and engage the fixed part to secure the actuator assembly to the fixed part.   
     
     
         7 . A dispenser as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the fixed part defines a first threaded portion;   the removable part is integrally formed with the fixed part when the dispenser is in the first configuration; and   the removable part is detached from fixed part when the dispenser is in the second configuration.   
     
     
         8 . A dispenser as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the fixed part defines a first threaded portion;   the fixed part and the removable part are integrally formed when the dispenser is in the first configuration;   the actuator dispenser defines a second threaded portion;   the removable part is broken away from the fixed part and the first threaded portion engages the second threaded portion when the dispenser is in the second configuration.   
     
     
         9 . A dispenser as recited in  claim 8 , in which:
 the first threaded portion is internally threaded; and   the second threaded portion is externally threaded.   
     
     
         10 . A dispenser as recited in  claim 8 , in which:
 the first threaded portion is externally threaded; and   the second threaded portion is internally threaded.   
     
     
         11 . A dispenser as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the fixed part defines a first keyed portion;   the fixed part and the removable part are integrally formed when the dispenser is in the first configuration;   the actuator dispenser defines a second keyed portion;   the removable part is broken away from the fixed part and the first keyed portion engages the second keyed portion when the dispenser is in the second configuration.   
     
     
         12 . A dispenser as recited in  claim 11 , in which:
 the first keyed portion defines a transition opening and at least one key notch; and   the second threaded portion defines a second locking lip adapted to extend through the at least one key notch and engage the fixed part to secure the actuator assembly to the fixed part.   
     
     
         13 . A dispenser as recited in  claim 1 , in which the actuator assembly is arranged above the aerosol assembly during normal use of the dispenser. 
     
     
         14 . A dispenser as recited in  claim 1 , in which the actuator assembly is arranged below the aerosol assembly during normal use of the dispenser. 
     
     
         15 . A method of dispensing aerosol material, comprising the steps of:
 providing an aerosol assembly comprising a valve structure and defining a rim structure that extends at least around the valve structure;   an adapter assembly comprising
 a fixed member adapted to be attached to the rim structure, and 
 a removable member adapted to detachably attached to the fixed member; and 
   providing an actuator assembly adapted to be detachably attached to the fixed member;   arranging the dispenser in a first configuration by attaching the fixed member to the rim structure and the removable member to the fixed member such that the removable member substantially covers the valve structure;   arranging the dispenser in a second configuration by attaching the fixed member to the rim structure and the actuator assembly to the fixed member such that the actuator assembly engages the valve assembly; and   operating the actuator assembly to dispense product from the aerosol assembly when the dispenser is in the second configuration.   
     
     
         16 . A method as recited in  claim 15 , in which:
 the step of providing the fixed part comprises the step of forming a first threaded portion;   the step of providing the removable part comprises the step of forming a second threaded portion;   the step of providing the actuator dispenser comprises the step of forming a third threaded portion;   the first threaded portion engages the second threaded portion when the dispenser is in the first configuration; and   the first threaded portion engages the third threaded portion when the dispenser is in the second configuration.   
     
     
         17 . A method as recited in  claim 15 , in which:
 the step of providing the fixed part comprises the step of forming a first keyed portion;   the step of providing the removable part comprises the step of forming a second keyed portion;   the step of providing the actuator dispenser comprises the step of forming a third keyed portion;   the first keyed portion engages the second keyed portion when the dispenser is in the first configuration; and   the first keyed portion engages the third keyed portion when the dispenser is in the second configuration.   
     
     
         18 . A method as recited in  claim 15 , in which:
 the step of providing the removable part comprises the step of integrally forming the removable part with the fixed part when the dispenser is in the first configuration; and   the removable part is detached from fixed part when the dispenser is in the second configuration.   
     
     
         19 . A method as recited in  claim 15 , in which:
 the step of providing the fixed part comprises the step of forming a first threaded portion;   the step of providing the removable part comprises the step of integrally forming the removable part with the fixed part when the dispenser is in the first configuration;   the actuator dispenser defines a second threaded portion;   the removable part is broken away from the fixed part and the first threaded portion engages the second threaded portion when the dispenser is in the second configuration.   
     
     
         20 . A method as recited in  claim 15 , in which:
 the step of providing the fixed part comprises the step of forming a first keyed portion;   the step of providing the removable part comprises the step of integrally forming the removable part with the fixed part when the dispenser is in the first configuration;   the step of providing the actuator dispenser comprises the step of forming a second keyed portion; and   the removable part is broken away from the fixed part and the first keyed portion engages the second keyed portion when the dispenser is in the second configuration.