US20230312222A1

US20230312222A1 - Aerosol self-defense spray canister container

Info

Publication number: US20230312222A1
Application number: US18/193,252
Authority: US
Inventors: Gary Medved; Patrick Brown
Original assignee: Mace Security International Inc
Current assignee: Mace Security International Inc
Priority date: 2022-03-31
Filing date: 2023-03-30
Publication date: 2023-10-05

Abstract

A reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container is configured to house a replaceable aerosol self-defense spray canister and includes a transparent housing having a cylindrical side wall, and a spray head removably attached to the cylindrical side wall of the transparent housing. The cylindrical side wall of the transparent housing is configured to be spaced apart from the replaceable aerosol self-defense spray canister when the reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container houses the replaceable aerosol self-defense spray canister, such that the cylindrical side wall of the transparent housing is configured to house a decorative sheet of material between the cylindrical side wall of the transparent housing and the replaceable aerosol self-defense spray canister.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to aerosol self-defense spray canisters, and more particularly to a customizable and reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container.

BACKGROUND

Aerosol self-defense spray, such as pepper spray, is a common and effective form of non-lethal self-protection. Aerosol self-defense spray is typically packaged in a handheld canister that is convenient to carry and easy to deploy. The canister houses a pressurized self-defense fluid with a nozzle for release of the fluid by engagement of a trigger. A user may carry the canister on their person, for example in a pocket of their clothing, or in a bag. Alternatively, a user may attach the canister to a keychain or other accessory such that the canister is readily accessible in case of an emergency.
As carrying aerosol self-defense spray canisters as an accessory is becoming more common, the customization and aesthetic decoration of such canisters is becoming more desirable. Therefore, aerosol self-defense spray canisters come in a variety of different colors and have a variety of different patterns and graphics on them for a user to choose from. Conventional aerosol self-defense spray canisters, however, are single use. Therefore, a user is committed to their chosen color and/or design of their aerosol self-defense spray canister until the aerosol self-defense spray canister is emptied or expires.

SUMMARY

Described herein is a customizable and reusable container for securing an aerosol self-defense spray canister. The housing of the container is transparent, with a clearance or gap provided between the housing and a housed aerosol self-defense spray canister. Therefore, a user can choose to either display the aesthetic of the aerosol self-defense spray canister contained within the housing, or customize the appearance of the container, for example, by inserting a strip of decorative film or other material into the gap between the housing and the contained aerosol self-defense spray canister, such that the decorative film is displayed through the transparent housing. The housing of the container is configured such that the decorative film will fit in the gap between the housing and the inserted aerosol self-defense spray canister without any obstacles. In this manner, the decorative film may reside within the transparent housing and may easily be replaced as often as the user desires, such that the user may customize the aesthetic appearance of their aerosol self-defense spray canister container as many times and in as many ways as they wish throughout the life of the aerosol self-defense spray canister. When the aerosol self-defense spray canister is either emptied or expired, the users may simply replace the old aerosol self-defense spray canister with a new aerosol self-defense spray canister within the container.
According to an aspect of this disclosure, a reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container configured to house a replaceable aerosol self-defense spray canister, includes a transparent housing having a cylindrical side wall, and a spray head removably attached to the cylindrical side wall of the transparent housing. The cylindrical side wall of the transparent housing is configured to be spaced apart from the replaceable aerosol self-defense spray canister when the reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container houses the replaceable aerosol self-defense spray canister, such that the cylindrical side wall of the transparent housing is configured to house a decorative sheet of material between the cylindrical side wall of the transparent housing and the replaceable aerosol self-defense spray canister.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, the transparent housing includes a bottom wall closing off the cylindrical side wall of the transparent housing at a bottom end of the cylindrical side wall.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, the container further includes a keychain hook at the bottom end of the cylindrical side wall.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, the keychain hook is provided on the bottom wall of the transparent housing.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, the keychain hook is provided on the cylindrical side wall of the transparent housing at the bottom end of the cylindrical side wall.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, the transparent housing includes a fastener at a periphery of a top end of the cylindrical side wall of the transparent housing for removably attaching the transparent housing to the spray head.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, the fastener includes at least one projection extending from the cylindrical side wall radially inwardly.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, the spray head includes a cylindrical side wall that is open at a top end and a bottom end of the cylindrical side wall of the spray head.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, the cylindrical sidewall of the spray head includes a spray hole extending through the cylindrical side wall of the spray head.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, the spray head includes a corresponding fastener at a periphery of the bottom end of the cylindrical side wall of the spray head for removably attaching the spray head to the transparent housing.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, the corresponding fastener includes at least one recessed track into which the at least one projection of the fastener of the transparent housing slides as the spray head is rotated relative to the transparent housing.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, the container further includes a spray activation mechanism housed within the spray head and movable between an inactivated position and an activated position.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, the spray activation mechanism includes a nozzle, an activation button and an exit aperture.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, the nozzle is configured to fluidly connect with pressurized aerosol self-defense spray in the replaceable aerosol self-defense spray canister when the spray head is attached to the transparent housing and the reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container houses the replaceable aerosol self-defense spray canister.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, the activation button is accessible from the open top end of the spray head and includes a tactile depression on a top surface of the activation button.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, the activation button includes a lock that is configured to engage with the cylindrical side wall of the spray head to selectively lock the activation button in the inactivated position.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, the lock includes a lock projection extending axially outward from the activation button and being engageable with a stepped cutout in the cylindrical side wall of the spray head.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, the lock projection is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, in the locked position, the lock projection is engaged with a top step of the stepped cutout, thereby preventing movement of the activation mechanism from the inactivated position to the activated position.
According to one or more paragraph(s) of this disclosure, in the unlocked position, the lock projection is disengaged with the top step of the stepped cutout, thereby allowing movement of the activation mechanism from the inactivated position to the activated position.
The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments described in this disclosure. These embodiments are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of this disclosure may be employed. Other objects, advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The annexed drawings show various aspects of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol self-defense spray canister container in an assembled configuration.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an aerosol self-defense spray canister container in a disassembled configuration.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a transparent housing of an aerosol self-defense spray canister container.

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of an aerosol self-defense spray canister container in an assembled configuration.

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of an aerosol self-defense spray canister container in a disassembled configuration.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a transparent housing of an aerosol self-defense spray canister container.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a transparent housing of an aerosol self-defense spray canister container.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a spray head of an aerosol self-defense spray canister container.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a spray head of an aerosol self-defense spray canister container.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a spray head of an aerosol self-defense spray canister container.

FIG. 11 is another perspective view of a transparent housing of an aerosol self-defense spray canister container.

FIG. 12 is another perspective view of part of a spray head and transparent housing of an aerosol self-defense spray canister container in a disassembled configuration.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a spray head and an activation mechanism of an aerosol self-defense spray canister container.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an activation mechanism of an aerosol self-defense spray canister container.

FIG. 15 is a front view of an activation mechanism of an aerosol self-defense spray canister container.

FIG. 16 is a side view of an activation mechanism of an aerosol self-defense spray canister container.

FIG. 17 is another perspective view of a spray head and an activation mechanism of an aerosol self-defense spray canister container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 , an aerosol self-defense spray canister container 10 (“container 10”) is depicted. The container 10 includes a transparent housing 12 removably attachable to a spray head 14. Together, the transparent housing 12 and the spray head 14, when attached (FIG. 1 ), are configured to house an aerosol self-defense spray canister (not pictured) and dispense a pressurized aerosol self-defense spray from the housed aerosol self-defense spray canister. FIG. 1 depicts the container 10 in an assembled configuration, in which the transparent housing 12 is attached to the spray head 14, and FIG. 2 depicts the container 10 in a disassembled configuration, in which the transparent housing 12 is detached from the spray head 12. In the detached configuration (FIG. 2 ), a user may insert, remove or replace the aerosol self-defense spray canister from the container 10, such that the container 10 is reusable.
The transparent housing 12 includes a cylindrical side wall 16 that is closed off at a bottom end 18 of the cylindrical side wall 16 with a bottom wall 20, and open at a top end 22 of the cylindrical side wall 16 for receiving the aerosol self-defense spray canister. The bottom wall 20 may be formed as a unitary piece with the cylindrical side wall 16 of the transparent housing 12. Alternatively, the bottom wall 20 may be formed as a separate piece from the cylindrical side wall 16 of the transparent housing 12 and may thereafter be attached to the bottom end 18 of the cylindrical side wall 16.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the cylindrical side wall 16 of the transparent housing 12, with an aerosol self-defense spray canister 21 housed therein. As depicted, the cylindrical side wall 16 of the transparent housing 12 is configured to be spaced apart from an outer diameter 19 of the housed self-defense spray canister 21, such that a clearance 23 exists between the outer diameter 19 of the housed self-defense spray canister 21 and the inner diameter 17 of the cylindrical side wall 16. Specifically, the inner diameter 17 of the cylindrical side wall 16 of the transparent housing 12 is larger than the outer diameter 19 of the housed aerosol self-defense spray canister 21.
As depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5 , therefore, the transparent housing 12 is configured to additionally house a decorative film or sheet of material 25 between the outer diameter 19 of the housed aerosol self-defense spray canister 21 and the inner diameter 17 of the cylindrical side wall 16 when the container 10 is in the assembled configuration (FIG. 4 ). The decorative sheet of material 25 may be inserted, removed, or interchanged with another decorative sheet of material when the container is in the disassembled configuration (FIG. 5 ), such that a user can customize the aesthetic appearance of the container 10, based on the aesthetic appearance of the decorative sheet housed within the transparent housing 12.
With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 , the transparent housing 12 may include a include a keychain hook 24 at the bottom end 18 thereof that is configured to conveniently attach the transparent housing 12 to a keychain, a key ring or other accessory. For example, as depicted in FIG. 6 , the keychain hook 24 may be attached to the bottom wall 20 of the transparent housing 12. As another example, as depicted in FIG. 7 , the keychain hook 24 may be attached to the cylindrical side wall 16 at the bottom end 18 of the cylindrical side wall 16. The keychain hook 24 may alternatively be attached at any point along the cylindrical side wall 16, for example at the top end 22 of the cylindrical side wall 16 or between the top end 22 and the bottom end 18. The keychain hook 24 may be made of the same material as the transparent housing 12 and may be formed as a unitary piece with either the bottom wall 20 or the cylindrical side wall 16 of the transparent housing 12. Alternatively, the keychain hook 24 may be formed as a separate piece and attached to either the bottom wall 20 or the cylindrical side wall 16 of the transparent housing 12. The keychain hook 24, for example, may be formed as a projection extending from the bottom wall 20 or the cylindrical side wall 16 and having a hole extending therethrough for attachment to a keychain, a key ring or other accessory.
Turning to FIGS. 8-10 , the spray head 14 includes a cylindrical side wall 26 that is open at both a top end 28 of the spray head 14 and a bottom end 30 of the spray head 14. The cylindrical side wall 26 of the spray head 14 also includes a spray hole 32 extending through the cylindrical side wall 26 of the spray head 14 that is configured to allow the aerosol self-defense spray from the aerosol self-defense spray canister to exit the container 10. The spray head 14 may additionally include an ergonomic finger depression 40 and corresponding finger projection 42 configured for a user to easily identify where the user's finger can rest when in use. Specifically, the finger depression 40 and corresponding finger projection 42 may be formed on a front side of the spray head 14 underneath the spray hole 32.
As better depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12 , a periphery of the open top end 22 of the transparent housing 12 is configured to attach to a periphery of the open bottom end 30 of the spray head 14. Specifically, the periphery of the open top end 22 of the transparent housing 12 includes a fastener 24 configured to secure the housing 12 to a corresponding fastener 36 on the periphery of the open bottom end 30 of the spray head 14. For example, the fastener 24 on the top end 22 of the transparent housing 12 may include at least one projection 27 extending from the top end 22 of the cylindrical side wall 16 radially inwardly for engaging with the corresponding fastener 36 on the spray head 14. In this embodiment, the corresponding fastener 36 on the spray head 14 may include at least one recessed track 38 into which the at least one projection 27 of the fastener 24 on the top end 22 of the transparent housing 12 may slide as the spray head 14 is rotated relative to the transparent housing 12 for attachment. In this manner, the spray head 14 and transparent housing 12 may be securely and removably attached to each other by rotating the spray head 14 and/or transparent housing 12 relative to each other and sliding the at least one projection 27 into and/or out of the at least one recessed track 38. It will be understood, however, that other features may be provided for each of the fastener 24 on the top end 22 of the transparent housing 12 and the corresponding fastener 36 on the bottom end 30 of the spray head 14.
Turning to FIGS. 13 to 16 , the container 10 also includes a spray activation mechanism 44 housed within the spray head 14 and movable between a inactivated position and an activated position for selectively dispensing the aerosol self-defense spray from the aerosol self-defense spray canister. The spray activation mechanism 44 includes an activation button 46 that is accessible from the open top end 28 of the spray head 14. As a user presses the activation button 46, the spray activation mechanism 44 moves from the inactivated position to the activated position. The spray activation mechanism 44 also includes a nozzle 48 that is configured to fluidly connect with the pressurized aerosol self-defense spray in the aerosol self-defense spray canister when the spray activation mechanism 44 is in the activated position. The spray activation mechanism 44 also includes an exit aperture 50 fluidly connected to the nozzle 48 and configured to align with the spray hole 32 in the spray head 14 when the activation mechanism 44 is moved to the activated position, such that the aerosol self-defense spray from the aerosol self-defense spray canister can travel through the nozzle 48 and out of the exit aperture 50 and spray hole 32.
The activation button 46 may include a tactile depression 52 on a top surface of the activation button 46, the tactile depression 52 having an ergonomically correct shape for the user's finger so that the user can easily identify the activation button 46. In this manner, the user may naturally and quickly orient the container 10 in the correct direction before activating the activation button 46 and dispensing the aerosol self-defense spray from the aerosol self-defense spray canister. This ensures that the user sprays the aerosol self-defense spray in the correct direction, away from themselves.
With reference to FIG. 17 , the activation button may also include a lock 54 configured to engage with the cylindrical side wall 16 of the spray head 14 at the top end 28. For example, the lock 54 may include a lock projection 56 extending axially outward from the activation button 46, past an outer diameter of the cylindrical side wall 16 and through a stepped cutout 58 in the cylindrical side wall 16. The lock projection 56 may therefore be moveable relative to the stepped cutout 58 of the cylindrical side wall 16, for example by rotating the lock projection 56 relative to the cylindrical side wall 16. The lock projection may be movable between a locked position (FIG. 17 ), in which the lock projection 56 is engaged with a top step 60 of the stepped cutout 58, thereby preventing movement of the activation mechanism 44 from the inactivated position to the activated position when the activation button 46 is pressed, and an unlocked position in which the lock projection is disengaged with the top step 60 of the stepped cutout 58, thereby allowing movement of the activation mechanism 44 from the inactivated position to the activated position when the activation button 46 is pressed. The user may therefore secure or lock the activation mechanism 44 in the inactivated position by rotating the lock projection 56 into engagement with the top step 60 of the stepped cutout 58 to prevent movement of the activation mechanism 44 from the inactivated position to the activated position when the activation button 46 is pressed and therefore prevent dispensing of the aerosol self-defense spray from the aerosol self-defense spray canister. When ready to dispense the aerosol self-defense spray from the aerosol self-defense spray canister, the user may rotate the lock projection 56 out of engagement with the top step 60 of the stepped cutout 58 such that the lock mechanism 44 is free to move from the inactivated position to the activated position when the activation button 46 is pressed, therefore allowing dispensing of the aerosol self-defense spray.
Although the above disclosure has been shown and described with respect to a certain preferred embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such elements are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specified function of the described element (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodiments. In addition, while a particular feature may have been described above with respect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.

Claims

1. A reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container configured to house a replaceable aerosol self-defense spray canister, the reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container comprising:

a transparent housing having a cylindrical side wall; and

a spray head removably attached to the cylindrical side wall of the transparent housing;

wherein the cylindrical side wall of the transparent housing is configured to be spaced apart from the replaceable aerosol self-defense spray canister when the reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container houses the replaceable aerosol self-defense spray canister, such that the cylindrical side wall of the transparent housing is configured to house a decorative sheet of material between the cylindrical side wall of the transparent housing and the replaceable aerosol self-defense spray canister.

2. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 1, wherein the transparent housing includes a bottom wall closing off the cylindrical side wall of the transparent housing at a bottom end of the cylindrical side wall.

3. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 2, further including a keychain hook at the bottom end of the cylindrical side wall.

4. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 3, wherein the keychain hook is provided on the bottom wall of the transparent housing.

5. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 3, wherein the keychain hook is provided on the cylindrical side wall of the transparent housing at the bottom end of the cylindrical side wall.

6. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 1, wherein the transparent housing includes a fastener at a periphery of a top end of the cylindrical side wall of the transparent housing for removably attaching the transparent housing to the spray head.

7. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 6, wherein the fastener includes at least one projection extending from the cylindrical side wall radially inwardly.

8. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 1, wherein the spray head includes a cylindrical side wall that is open at a top end and a bottom end of the cylindrical side wall of the spray head.

9. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 8, wherein the cylindrical sidewall of the spray head includes a spray hole extending through the cylindrical side wall of the spray head.

10. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 8, wherein the spray head includes a corresponding fastener at a periphery of the bottom end of the cylindrical side wall of the spray head for removably attaching the spray head to the transparent housing.

11. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 10, wherein the corresponding fastener includes at least one recessed track into which the at least one projection of the fastener of the transparent housing slides as the spray head is rotated relative to the transparent housing.

12. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 1, further comprising a spray activation mechanism housed within the spray head and movable between an inactivated position and an activated position.

13. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 12, wherein the spray activation mechanism includes a nozzle, an activation button and an exit aperture.

14. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 13, wherein the nozzle is configured to fluidly connect with pressurized aerosol self-defense spray in the replaceable aerosol self-defense spray canister when the spray head is attached to the transparent housing and the reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container houses the replaceable aerosol self-defense spray canister.

15. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 13, wherein the activation button is accessible from the open top end of the spray head and includes a tactile depression on a top surface of the activation button.

16. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 13, wherein the activation button includes a lock that is configured to engage with the cylindrical side wall of the spray head to selectively lock the activation button in the inactivated position.

17. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 15, wherein the lock includes a lock projection extending axially outward from the activation button and being engageable with a stepped cutout in the cylindrical side wall of the spray head.

18. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 17, wherein the lock projection is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.

19. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 18 wherein in the locked position, the lock projection is engaged with a top step of the stepped cutout, thereby preventing movement of the activation mechanism from the inactivated position to the activated position.

20. The reusable aerosol self-defense spray canister container according to claim 18, wherein in the unlocked position, the lock projection is disengaged with the top step of the stepped cutout, thereby allowing movement of the activation mechanism from the inactivated position to the activated position.