Prior art devices for spraying fragrances, deodorising agents and sanitising fluids into a room generally consist of a device containing a removable source of fluid. With such an arrangement once the source of fluid has been completely exhausted, the source can be replaced rather than replacing the entire device. Typically such sources come in many forms including containers, bottles, canisters and cartridges (generically, all such containers, bottles, cans and cartridges hereinafter will be referred to as “refills”). Such refills can be pump sprays or aerosols, including metered and non-metered versions thereof.
Known prior art devices are typically provided with a recess to permit wall mounting and with a flat base to permit the device to be free standing on a flat surface. These devices typically comprise a two-part housing of a main body and a cover, the main body holds an actuation mechanism typically consisting of an electrically powered motor, gears, actuation arm, batteries and the like. The main body is further provided with a refill receiving means which typically is formed of a support plate at or adjacent the base to support the base of a refill. The main body is further provided with a support channel adjacent the actuation mechanism, the support channel being present to laterally support a spray head of the refill during actuation, ie—during depression of the spray head by the actuation arm of the actuation mechanism during operation to spray a quantity of fluid from the refill out into the surrounding environment through the spray head. The cover is provided with a spray opening configured to be adjacent the support channel such that an exit nozzle of the spray head will face the opening to permit, in use, sprayed fluid to exit the device. The main body and cover are connected via a hinge adjacent the base of the device to form a closure via a clamshell arrangement to seal the refill inside the device. There are also examples of prior art where the hinge is provided along the side of the main body to produce the clamshell arrangement.
Despite the prior art devices being commonplace anecdotal data suggests that upwards of 25% of refills are purchased without the purchaser knowing that such refills are intended for use in an automatic spraying device and/or without the purchaser knowing which automatic spraying device the purchased refill is intended to be used with.
It is an object of the present invention to remove, reduce or ameliorate the above-mentioned drawbacks as well as address other concerns with the prior art devices.