Aerosol dispensing apparatus

Abstract

A dispensing apparatus having a hollow body with a top opening and a bottom opening, the body including a discharge aperture therein, an actuator slidably arranged within the body and having a conduit therein, the conduit having a first opening and a second opening proximate a bottom thereof, a top cover secured to the body proximate the top, the cover having a movable section hingedly attached to the body, a leaf spring extending proximate the top opening and arranged to substantially abut a top surface of the movable section, thereby applying a downward force thereon, and a bottom cover removably secured to the bottom of the body, wherein the actuator is arranged to actuate an aerosol container within the body when downward force is 10 applied thereto, thereby applying force on a nozzle of the aerosol container and discharging therefrom through the conduit and out of the discharge aperture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a body having an open top section and a bottom section, further comprising:
 at least one dispensing aperture and a first attachment aperture proximate the top section; 
 a second and third attachment aperture proximate the bottom section; 
 a leaf spring hingedly attached to the top proximate the first attachment aperture; 
   an actuator having a conduit defined by a dispensing opening and an inflow opening slidably arranged within the body;   a top cover having a fixed section frictionally secured within the first attachment aperture and a movable section hingedly connected to the fixed section;   a bottom cover rotatably secured to the bottom section of the body; and,   a quick-release attachment arranged to removably secure to the second and third attachment apertures;   
       wherein an aerosol container is arranged to be removably secured within the body and dispenses contents from the dispensing aperture from the dispensing opening when the actuator is pushed towards the bottom section within the sleeve. 
     
     
         2 . The dispensing apparatus recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a sleeve arranged within the body, the sleeve having an open top section and a bottom section, the leaf spring hingedly attached proximate the top section, the sleeve having a second dispensing aperture, the sleeve having a fourth attachment aperture proximate the top section, 
 
       wherein the second dispensing aperture is arranged to be in communication with the at least one dispensing aperture and the fourth attachment aperture is arranged to be substantially colinear with the first attachment aperture of the body when the sleeve is arranged within the body, wherein the actuator and the aerosol container are arranged within the sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing apparatus recited in  claim 2 , wherein the sleeve further comprises a first plurality of fingers and a second plurality of fingers, each of the fingers hingedly connected to the sleeve, wherein both of the plurality of fingers restrict downward slidable movement of the actuator within the sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing apparatus recited in  claim 2 , wherein the sleeve further comprises a first finger and a second being disposed on opposite sides of the second dispensing aperture, each of the fingers hingedly connected to the sleeve, wherein both of the fingers restrict downward slidable movement of the actuator within the sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing apparatus recited in  claim 4 , wherein the body includes a first external guide rail and a second external guide rail disposed on an internal surface thereof, the external guide rails adapted to bias each of the fingers of the sleeve in a radially inward direction when the sleeve is within the body. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing apparatus recited in  claim 5 , wherein the body further includes a first internal guide rail and a second internal guide rail disposed on an internal surface thereof and arranged between the external guide rails, the internal guide rails arranged to rest at least partially within a channel of the sleeve, thereby restricting downward movement of the sleeve within the body. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the leaf spring biases the movable section of the top cover downwardly thereby maintaining the movable section above the actuator. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the quick-release attachment comprises a key ring extending therefrom, the quick-release attachment having a pair of protrusions arranged to frictionally and removably engage the second and third attachment apertures. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing apparatus recited in  claim 1 , wherein the quick-release attachment comprises a clip extending therefrom and arranged to rest on an outer surface of the body, the quick-release attachment having a pair of protrusions arranged to frictionally and removably engage the second and third attachment apertures. 
     
     
         10 . A dispensing apparatus, comprising:
 a hollow body having a top opening and a bottom opening, the body including a discharge aperture proximate the top opening;   an actuator slidably arranged within the body, the actuator having a conduit therein, the conduit having a first opening in communication with the discharge aperture and a second opening proximate the bottom;   a top cover secured to the body proximate the top, the cover having a movable section hingedly attached to the body;   a leaf spring extending from the top and arranged to substantially abut a top surface of the movable section, thereby applying a downward force thereon; and,   a bottom cover removably secured to the bottom;   
       wherein the actuator is arranged to actuate an aerosol container within the body when downward force is applied to the actuator, thereby applying downward force to a nozzle of the aerosol container and discharging contents of the aerosol container through the conduit and out of the discharge aperture. 
     
     
         11 . The dispensing apparatus recited in  claim 10 , wherein the leaf spring biases the movable section in a downward direction when the movable section is moved by a user in an upward direction, thereby substantially covering the actuator unless constant upward force is applied to the movable section. 
     
     
         12 . The dispensing apparatus recited in  claim 10  further comprising:
 a quick-release attachment, the attachment having a pair of attachment tabs extending therefrom, the attachment tabs removably and frictionally engaged to a respective pair of attachment apertures arranged proximate the bottom opening of the body. 
 
     
     
         13 . The dispensing apparatus recited in  claim 12 , wherein the quick release-attachment includes at least one of:
 a key-ring; and,   a spring clip.   
     
     
         14 . The dispensing apparatus recited in  claim 11  further comprising:
 a hollow sleeve having a top opening and bottom opening, the sleeve having a second discharge aperture therein, the sleeve including one of:
 at least a first plurality of fingers hingedly secured thereon, wherein the sleeve is arranged to be inserted within the body and the actuator is arranged to be inserted within the sleeve, wherein at least one finger of the first plurality of fingers restricts translational movement of the actuator in a direction of the bottom opening of the sleeve; or, 
 a first finger and a second being disposed on opposite sides of and proximate the second dispensing aperture, each of the fingers hingedly connected to the sleeve, wherein both of the fingers restrict downward slidable movement of the actuator within the sleeve. 
 
 
     
     
         15 . The dispensing apparatus recited in  claim 14 , wherein the body includes a cover aperture proximate the top opening thereof and the sleeve includes a cover aperture proximate the top opening thereof, wherein the top cover includes a fixed portion arranged to be frictionally secured at least partially within the cover apertures, thereby securing the sleeve within the body.