U.S. patent application number 10/293193 was filed with the patent office on 2003-06-26 for cone-shaped aerosol can spray nozzle.
Invention is credited to Haroian, Andrew.
Application Number | 20030116591 10/293193 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46281514 |
Filed Date | 2003-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030116591 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Haroian, Andrew |
June 26, 2003 |
Cone-shaped aerosol can spray nozzle
Abstract
A cone-shaped nozzle for an aerosol spray can is disclosed. The
nozzle preferably has a tip with a top end, and an opposing bottom
end that connects to a stem in the release valve on the top of the
can Through the nozzle from the top center of the tip to its bottom
center is a central cylindrical passageway. The top end of the
passageway is the tip orifice, through which is discharged the
contents of the can, and the bottom end of the passageway is an
orifice, which orifice receives the stem and the contents of the
can for passage to the tip. The bottom orifice cooperates with the
top of a stem of the release valve in the top of the can, so that
the nozzle is supplied through the stem into the orifice. The
bottom orifice permits the cone-shaped nozzle to be depressed on
its top, and travel downwardly far enough to activate the release
valve. Optionally, there is an opening in the wall of the nozzle to
permit the ingress of aspirating air into the central cylindrical
passageway when the release valve is activated.
Inventors: |
Haroian, Andrew; (Nampa,
ID) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PEDERSEN & COMPANY, PLLC
P.O. BOX 2666
BOISE
ID
83701
US
|
Family ID: |
46281514 |
Appl. No.: |
10/293193 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10293193 |
Nov 12, 2002 |
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09906584 |
Jul 13, 2001 |
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6478198 |
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60218645 |
Jul 14, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
222/402.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/402.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 083/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A aerosol can spray nozzle for cooperating with a release valve
in the top of an aerosol can comprising: a cone-shaped tip with a
top and a bottom; an orifice near the center of the top of the tip;
an orifice near center of the bottom of the tip; and a central
passageway extending through the center of the tip, from the
orifice near the center of the top, to the orifice near the bottom
of the nozzle; wherein said orifice near the bottom of the tip is
adapted to receive a stem of the release valve in the top of the
can.
2. The nozzle of claim 1 wherein there is an opening in the wall of
the nozzle to permit the ingress of aspirating air into the central
passageway when the release valve is actuated.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This application is a continuation in part application of,
and claims priority from, U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/906,584, filed on Jul. 13, 2001, entitled "Cone-Shaped Aerosol
Can Spray Nozzle", now U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,198, which claims
priority of Provisional Application Serial No. 60/218,645, filed on
Jul. 14, 2000, the disclosure of which applications is incorporated
herein by this reference.
DESCRIPTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to aerosol spray cans, and
more specifically to a cone-shaped nozzle for an aerosol spray
can.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] Knight (U.S. Pat. No. 4,239,407), issued Dec. 16, 1980,
describes an aerosol spray can with several nozzles for application
of the spray can contents into hard-to-reach places. This patent
discloses a cone-shaped nozzle which discharges through orifices in
its outer conical surface, but not through its tip. The release
valve in this patent is activated by a push-button in the side of
the can.
[0006] Still, there is a need for a simple and economical aerosol
can spray nozzle which can also activate the release valve. This
invention addresses this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] This invention is a cone-shaped nozzle for an aerosol spray
can. The nozzle discharges through an orifice in the tip of the
cone. The tip orifice is the top of a cylindrical passageway near
the center of the top of the cone. The central cylindrical
passageway extends through the center of the cone. Preferably, at
or near the bottom of the cone is a cylindrical stem sleeve,
through which the central cylindrical passageway also extends.
[0008] The nozzle is supplied through an orifice in the bottom of
the central cylindrical passageway. Preferably, the bottom of the
cylindrical passageway has a wider stem sleeve that cooperates with
the top of a stemmed release valve in the top of the aerosol can.
The stem sleeve is long enough to permit the cone-shaped nozzle to
be depressed on its top, and travel downwardly far enough to
activate the release valve. Optionally, there is an opening in the
wall of the nozzle to permit the ingress of aspirating air into the
central cylindrical passageway when the release valve is
activated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a top side perspective view of one embodiment of
the invention mounted on the top of an aerosol can.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a bottom side perspective view of the embodiment
of the invention depicted in FIG. 1, but without the spray can.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side, cross-sectional view of the embodiment of
the invention depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a side, cross-sectional view of another embodiment
of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Referring to the Figures, there is depicted one, but not
all, of the embodiments of the invention. Conical nozzle 10 is
mounted on the top of aerosol spray can 12. Nozzle 10 has a tip
orifice 14 in its tip, a conical section 15 and a cylindrical base
16. Can 12 has a release valve (not shown) in its top. Typically,
the release valve is centrally located and activated by downward
pressure on its top.
[0014] The top of the release valve attaches to a cylindrical stem
(not shown) that cooperates with stem sleeve 26 through orifice 20
in the bottom of cylindrical base 16 of nozzle 10. The stem
preferably fits into stem sleeve 26, but is too large to fit into
cylindrical passageway 22. Orifice 20 is the bottom of a
cylindrical passageway 22, which extends from the bottom to the top
of nozzle 10. The top of central cylindrical passageway 22 is tip
orifice 14. Preferably, nozzle 10 has an opening 24 in its base
that permits the ingress of aspirating air into cylindrical passage
22 when the release valve is activated.
[0015] Conical nozzle 10 may be any convenient size. Smaller, finer
nozzles 10 will be more appropriate for supplying the aerosol can
contents to smaller spaces, and vice-versa. Preferably, nozzle 10
is cone-shaped, but other, tapering shapes will also do. For
example, instead of rounded sides, nozzle 10 may also have
squared-off, but tapering sides, as long as the top of the nozzle
terminates in a fine or pointed tip. Cylindrical base 16 is
optional, but when it is present, it may be rounded or squared-off
also.
[0016] Nozzle 10 may be made of any suitable material, including
metal or plastic, and may be made by any conventional technique,
including machining, forging, stamping, or molding.
[0017] Aerosol spray can 12 may be any conventional spray can with
a gas propellant and liquid contents for dispensing. Preferably,
spray can 12 has a release valve in its top which is activated by
downward pressure on nozzle 10. When the release valve is
activated, propellant gas and liquid contents of the spray can are
released.
[0018] Preferably, spray can 12 is an aerosol can containing a
light, low viscosity lubricant and a light propellant gas, like
hexane, for example. This way, spray can 12 and nozzle 10 may be
used to effectively dispense the lubricant to a specific, small
area. For example, nozzle 10 may conveniently be inserted into the
small lubricant hole opening in the nose of a chain saw sprocket.
This way, when nozzle 10 is depressed, the release valve is
activated, and the pressurized contents of the spray can 12, namely
lubricant and hexane, are discharged from the top of the release
valve. This way, the new lubricant sprayed into the hole can clean
out the old lubricant and other debris on the surface to be
lubricated, blasting it away. Then, the excess hexane propellant
will evaporate quickly, leaving a cleaner and freshly-lubricated
surface. Therefore, this apparatus and technique have advantages
over the prior art pumping liquid-lubricant-only technique.
[0019] A friction fit is preferably established between the top of
the release valve stem and the stem sleeve 26. This way, the
discharged contents exiting through the valve are directed through
stem orifice 20 into central cylindrical passageway 22, up through
the center of nozzle 10, and out tip orifice 14. Preferably,
additional aspiration air is admitted into passageway 22 through
opening 24 in the side wall of nozzle 10. This way, a more
turbulent mixing of the can 12 discharged contents is effected, for
ultimately better distribution of the lubricant.
[0020] The preferred friction fit between the top of stem and the
stem sleeve 26 also permits convenient change-out of the nozzle 10
to prevent accidental discharge of the can's contents, or to permit
the installation instead of a different size or type nozzle, for
example.
[0021] Tip orifice 14 may be any effective size of shape.
Preferably, tip orifice 14 is a flat circle. However, a slanted
oval, or a slot, or a plurality or combination of any of these
orifices may be used. Tip orifice 14 may be the same diameter as
central cylindrical passageway 22, or of different diameter.
Additional aspirators and/or diffusers may be included in orifice
tip 14.
[0022] Conical section 15 may have any effective angle of taper.
Shorter, blunter conical sections 15 may be more appropriate for
tighter spaces, while longer, sharper conical sections may be more
appropriate when there is more room for the user to work in.
[0023] The release valve stem has an outer diameter slightly
smaller than stem sleeve 26. Stem sleeve 26 must be long enough to
allow the stem to enter and create a preferred friction fit, yet be
shallow enough to allow depression of stem to trigger the release
valve. Therefore, the difference between the lengths of the stem
and stem sleeve 26 must be at least as long as the downward travel
or movement during activation of the valve.
[0024] Stem orifice 20 is the bottom of cylindrical passageway 22,
and orifice 20 and stem sleeve 26 are preferably larger in diameter
than passageway 22. Passageway 22 is preferably smaller than the
stem to prevent ingress of the stem into passageway 22 in order to
insure function of the release valve when nozzle 10 is
depressed.
[0025] Opening 24 in the side wall of nozzle 10 is for allowing
aspirating air to enter central cylindrical passageway 22 when the
release valve is activated. Therefore, opening 24 preferably exists
on a location on the side wall of passageway 22 where air can flow
into passageway 22 when the release valve is activated, preferably
at least a distance up from the bottom of passageway 22 greater
than the length of the stem.
[0026] Although this invention has been described above with
reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, it is to
be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed
particulars, but extends instead to all equivalents within the
scope of the following claims.
* * * * *