U.S. patent number 3,711,030 [Application Number 05/155,456] was granted by the patent office on 1973-01-16 for multi-pattern spraying apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Imperial Oil Limited. Invention is credited to Gerald D. Jones.
United States Patent |
3,711,030 |
Jones |
January 16, 1973 |
MULTI-PATTERN SPRAYING APPARATUS
Abstract
Apparatus for dispensing liquid in a plurality of spray patterns
includes an aerosol container having an upwardly directed valve
stem mounted on its top. An overcap is fitted over the top of the
aerosol container and a spray head having a plurality of nozzle
outlet apertures, each corresponding to a different predetermined
spray pattern is mounted to said overcap for rotational indexing
motion and for rectilinear valve actuation motion. THe spray head
includes a plurality of inlet ports each communicating with an
associated outlet aperture. The inlet ports lie in equally spaced
relation to the pivotal axis of the spray head such that when the
spray head is indexed to select a desired spray pattern, one of
said inlet ports is brought into alignment with the valve stem of
the aerosol container. When the spray head is depressed, the valve
stem and the inlet port aligned therewith are brought into fluid
communication with one another and the valve stem is actuated to
permit escape of the contents of the container through the desired
nozzle outlet thus producing the spray pattern desired.
Inventors: |
Jones; Gerald D. (Ontario,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Imperial Oil Limited (Toronto,
Ontario, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
4087057 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/155,456 |
Filed: |
June 22, 1971 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/397;
222/402.17 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
83/205 (20130101); B65D 83/7532 (20130101); B05B
1/1645 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B05B
1/14 (20060101); B05B 1/16 (20060101); B65D
83/16 (20060101); B65D 83/14 (20060101); A62c
031/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;239/390,391,392,397,337
;222/402.17,402.21,402.13,402.11 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wood, Jr.; M. Henson
Assistant Examiner: Culp, Jr.; Thomas C.
Claims
I claim:
1. Apparatus capable of dispensing liquid in a plurality of spray
patterns comprising: an aerosol container having an upwardly
directed valve stem mounted on the top thereof and adapted, upon
actuation, to open a normally closed discharge control valve
mounted on the container to effect discharge of the contents of
said container through said valve stem, and a spray head mounted on
said container and having a plurality of nozzle outlet apertures
therein with each nozzle aperture adapted to produce a
predetermined spray pattern different from the others, the spray
head further having a plurality of inlet ports therein with each
inlet port communicating with an associated one of said nozzle
apertures, means mounting said spray head for rotational indexing
movement about a pivot axis spaced from and generally parallel to
said valve stem to a plurality of predetermined positions each
corresponding to a desired one of the predetermined spray patterns,
said inlet ports being arranged such that they lie in spaced
relation on a circular arc whose center is at said pivot axis such
that upon rotational movement of the spray head to any one of said
predetermined positions the valve stem and that inlet port which
communicates with the nozzle aperture having the desired spray
pattern are brought into substantial alignment with one another,
said means mounting said spray head further being arranged to
provide rectilinear valve stem actuating movement parallel to said
pivot axis such that when said valve stem actuating movement of the
spray head is effected with the latter indexed to any one of said
predetermined positions the aligned inlet port and valve stem are
brought together to define a path of fluid communication
therebetween with said ports and said valve stem being constructed
to cooperate with one another to depress said valve stem to effect
release of the contents of said container with said contents
passing along said path of fluid communication and outwardly of the
nozzle aperture having the desired spray pattern.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising indexing means
arranged to assist in manually indexing said spray head to any one
of said predetermined positions.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 further including overcap means
mounted on said container and enclosing said valve stem and the
lower portion of said spray head while leaving the upper portion of
the latter exposed for manual manipulation thereof, said overcap
having an opening therein arranged such that the nozzle aperture
having the spray pattern desired comes into alignment therewith
when the spray head has been indexed to one of said plurality of
predetermined positions and actuation of the valve stem has taken
place.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said indexing means
comprise indexing elements defined on said overcap means and on
said spray head and adapted to cooperate with each other to define
each of said predetermined positions.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1 further including overcap means
mounted on said container and enclosing said valve stem and the
lower portion of said spray head while leaving the upper portion of
the latter exposed for manual manipulation thereof, said means
mounting said spray head for said indexing movement and said valve
stem actuating movement comprising a pivot axle mounted within a
sleeve centered at and extending along said pivot axis to permit
rotational and rectilinear movement to take place, one of said last
mentioned components being secured to said overcap and the other
being secured to said spray head.
6. Apparatus for dispensing fluid in any one of a plurality of
spray patterns and adapted for use with an aerosol container having
an upwardly directed valve stem mounted on the top thereof which is
adapted, upon actuation, to open a normally closed discharge
control valve mounted on the container to effect discharge of the
contents of said container through said valve stem, said apparatus
comprising a spray head having a plurality of nozzle outlet
apertures therein with each nozzle aperture adapted to produce a
respective one of a plurality of desired different spray patterns
and a plurality of inlet ports in said spray head each
communicating with an associated one of said outlet apertures,
means for mounting said spray head on an aerosol container and
defining a pivot axis laterally offset from said valve stem when
said apparatus is mounted on said container for permitting
rotational indexing motion of the spray head to a plurality of
angular positions each corresponding to one of said spray patterns
upon manual manipulation of said spray head, said inlet ports being
arranged in spaced relation to said pivot axis on a circular arc
whose center is at said pivot axis such that at each said angular
position, that inlet port having the desired spray pattern is
brought into alignment with said valve stem, said means for
mounting the spray head further being arranged to permit
rectilinear valve stem actuating movement thereof parallel to said
pivot axis, such that when valve stem actuating motion is effected,
a path of fluid communication can be established between said valve
stem and the inlet port aligned therewith and said valve actuated
so that the contents of said container can pass outwardly of that
one of the nozzle apertures having the spray pattern desired.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the mounting means for
said spray head is associated with overcap means adapted to be
mounted on said container in such a way as to enclose said valve
stem, the lower portion of said spray head being partially enclosed
by said overcap and the upper portion of the latter being exposed
for manual manipulation thereof, said mounting means comprising
sleeve and axle means for mounting said spray head to said overcap
and permitting both said rotational indexing movement and said
rectilinear valve actuating motion of said spray head.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 further including indexing
elements defined on said overcap means and on said spray head and
adapted to cooperate with each other to define each of said
predetermined positions.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said indexing means are
arranged to permit valve actuating motion of said spray head only
when the latter has been indexed to one of said predetermined
positions.
Description
This invention relates to improved apparatus for dispensing fluid
in any one of a plurality of different spray patterns.
Over the past several years, various types of fluid dispensers
capable of dispensing controlled amounts of fluid in a spray
pattern have appeared on the market. Generally speaking, these
dispensers include an aerosol container having a pressurized supply
of fluid therein and a suitable spray head connected to the outlet
valve of the aerosol container and having one or more spray
orifices therein adapted to provide the spray pattern or patterns
desired.
The particular spray pattern used will, in general, be a function
of the intended use of the spray. For certain applications a
pattern having a broad spray angle, a fine particle size and a
short trajectory is desirable; other applications require a
relatively narrow spray angle, a larger particle size and a long
trajectory. In other words, for each intended use, there is a spray
angle, particle size, and trajectory length which will yield the
best overall result. In certain cases, even though the spray has
only one general use, e.g. as a pesticide, different spray patterns
are desirable depending on the particular environment in which the
spray is being used. For example, when a pesticide is being used in
the home or cottage, a fine low-output spray, which does not have
large droplets of liquid therein which could miss the target and
fall down on counters and tables, is desired. When the pesticide is
being used among garden plants, shrubs, and flowers, a somewhat
higher output, wetter, insect killing spray is desirable to ensure
contact. When the insecticide is being used to "fog" a relatively
large outdoor area, such as a patio, a high-output, relatively wet
spray is desirable to more effectively eliminate pests for a period
of time.
Devices for dispensing fluid in any one of a plurality of different
spray patterns are not, broadly speaking, new. Reference may be
had, for example, to Colb U.S. Pat. No. 2,997,243 issued Aug. 22,
1961 which discloses a multi-spray pattern device including an
aerosol container having a spray head rotatably mounted thereon to
permit either fine or coarse spray pattern to be selected. In the
Colb arrangement the spray head rotates about the axis of the
upwardly directed valve stem on the aerosol container. This valve
stem is provided with a radially extending port in its wall
adjacent its upper end and as the spray head is rotated about the
valve stem this port is brought selectively into communication with
an aperture in the spray head capable of producing the coarse spray
or alternatively with the aperture for producing the fine
spray.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a spray
head which may be indexed or rotated about an axis which is
parallel to but offset from the axis of the valve stem. This spray
head, of course, includes a plurality of nozzle outlet apertures
for producing the different predetermined spray patterns, each
communicating with an associated inlet port. As the novel spray
head arrangement is indexed to the various index positions these
inlet ports on the spray head are selectively brought into
alignment with the axis of the valve stem. The spray head is also
mounted for rectilinear valve actuating motion parallel to such
pivot axis such that upon depression of the spray head, fluid
communication between the selected inlet port and the valve stem is
established with the subsequent consequent depression of the valve
stem permitting release of the aerosol contents through the
selected nozzle outlet aperture. In the preferred embodiment the
inlet ports are spaced apart from one another and lie in a circular
arc which is centered at the above mentioned pivot axis. The
preferred embodiment is also provided with a suitable overcap
arrangement which gives the device an attractive appearance. The
means for mounting the spray head, in the preferred embodiment,
comprise sleeve and axle means extending between the spray head and
overcap arrangement and adapted to provide the pivotal indexing
movement and the rectilinear movement in the valve actuating motion
referred to above.
The apparatus of the present invention possesses a distinct
advantage over prior art arrangements wherein the spray head
rotates about an axis centered with the valve stem in that the
present invention does not require the use of radially directed
ports or the like in the aerosol valve stem; in addition, there is
no need to provide means for preventing rotation of the valve stem
itself. By eliminating the need for these two features, the cost of
manufacturing the aerosol valve arrangement is greatly reduced;
furthermore the device of the present invention can be applied to
any standard aerosol container having an upwardly directed hollow
valve stem adapted to be actuated upon downward depression thereof.
These advantages are particularly significant taking into
consideration the vast quantities of aerosol devices produced and
marketed each year.
A better understanding of the invention and the various features
and advantages thereof will be had from the following description
of a preferred embodiment of same with reference being made to
drawings wherein:
FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of spray apparatus
incorporating the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the apparatus;
FIG. 4 is an elevation view, in cross-section, of the overcap and
spray head;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the overcap and spray head;
FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 comprise a cross-sectional-elevation view, a
frontal view, and a top plan view respectively of the spray head
per se.
Referring to the drawings, the apparatus shown includes an aerosol
container 10 per se of standard construction which contains a
suitable fluid therein as, for example, a pesticide, together with
a pressurizing agent or propellant, such as "Freon" (Reg. Trade
Mark). The container 10 has an upwardly directed hollow valve stem
12 located centrally of its top 14, stem 12 being adapted to open,
upon downward depression thereof, a spring biased normally closed
discharge control valve (not shown) located in top 14 to permit
discharge of the contents of the container axially through said
valve stem.
Mounted on said container 10 is a spray head 16, the upper portion
of which projects upwardly through an opening 18 provided in the
top of an overcap 20. Overcap 20 fits over and encloses the entire
top portion of container 10 including top 14, valve stem 12 and the
lower portion of spray head 16. The overcap 20 is connected to
container 10 by means of the annular overcap portion 22 formed on
the lower portion of overcap cylindrical sidewall 24 including
inwardly directed lip means 26 which engages beneath the rolled
edge 28 extending about the upper portion of the container
sidewall. Overcap 20 has a frontal outlet opening 27 therein
through which the spray exits when the spray head 16 is actuated as
hereinafter described.
As best seen in FIGS. 6-8 the spray head 16 comprises a main body
portion 30 connected by arm 32 to a relatively short pivot axle 34.
Body portion 30 contains three inlet ports 36 disposed therein
whose axes are parallel to the rotation axis defined by pivot axle
34 and lie in closely spaced relation in the arc of a circle
centered at said rotation axis. Each inlet port is sufficiently
large as to receive and come into sealing engagement with the valve
stem 12 of the container as will be hereinafter described. Each
port 36 is connected to a respective one of three passages 38 which
extend upwardly within the body portion of the spray head 16 in
spaced relation to one another. Since ports 36 have greater
diameters than their associated passages 38, shoulders 37 are
defined therebetween. Disposed in the forwardly directed surface 40
of spray head 16 are three nozzle outlet apertures 42, each being
defined by a shallow cup-like depression, in the center of which is
located an aperture 44. Each aperture 44 communicates with its
associated passage 38 whereby a path for fluid communication
between each inlet port 36 and its associated nozzle outlet
aperture 42 is established. Each nozzle outlet aperture 42 is
designed to produce one of three different spray patterns and this
can easily be accomplished by properly selecting the relative
diameters of their associated apertures 44. For example, one
aperture 44 may have a diameter of about 0.016 inch to produce a
fine spray for use within a home or cottage; a somewhat heavier
spray for garden use is provided for by giving the next aperture a
diameter of about 0.018 inch, while the third aperture has a
diameter of about 0.045 inch to produce a dense, heavy, "fogging"
spray for outdoor use.
As best seen in FIGS. 3-5 the spray head 16 is mounted in overcap
20 such that it is capable of (a) valve stem actuating movement and
(b) indexing movement to a plurality of positions each
corresponding to a desired one of the three different spray
patterns. To provide these two degrees of freedom, overcap 20 has a
sleeve means 46 therein which receives pivot axle 34 of spray head
16. Pivot axle 34 can rotate within sleeve means 46 to permit
pivotal indexing motion of spray head 16 and can also move inwardly
or outwardly thereof to permit rectilinear, valve actuating, motion
of spray head 16.
The radius of the above mentioned circular arc in which the three
inlet ports 36 lie is chosen such that any one of the ports 36 may
be brought into alignment with the upper end of the valve stem 12
as the spray head is indexed to different positions. In order to
assist in locating or indexing the valve head correctly, the latter
is provided with a short forwardly projecting tab 50 which may be
brought into alignment with any one of three indexing slots 52 cut
into the top of the overcap 20 adjacent the opening 18 through
which the top portion of the spray head projects. To index the
spray head 16 the upper portion thereof is grasped by the fingers
thus lifting the spray head 16 upwardly until the latter is clear
of the top of the valve stem 12. At this point tab 50 is slightly
above the top surface of the overcap and the spray head 16 may then
be pivoted or indexed around until the tab 50 is aligned with the
indexing slot 52 corresponding to the spray pattern desired. To
assist in selecting the correct spray pattern, suitable indicia 54
are provided on the overcap 20 adjacent indexing slots 52 as shown
in FIGS. 1 and 3. At this point, the valve stem 12 will be aligned
with that inlet port 36 which communicates with the nozzle outlet
aperture having the desired spray pattern and said nozzle outlet
will be aligned with the frontal outlet opening 27 in overcap 20.
The spray head may then be depressed downwardly by finger pressure
on the upper end thereof thus causing the top part of valve stem 12
to enter into the inlet port 36 aligned therewith thereby to define
a path of fluid communication therebetween. Upon further depression
of the spray head 16, valve stem 12, which engages shoulder 27 in
the spray head, is also depressed downwardly. This causes the
outlet or discharge control valve to open whereupon the pressurized
contents of the container pass along said path of fluid
communication and outwardly of the selected nozzle aperture and
outlet opening 27 in overcap 20 to produce the desired spray
pattern. Spraying continues until manual pressure on the spray head
is released. To change the spray pattern, the spray head 16 may
simply be lifted up and the above described procedure repeated.
Naturally, it will not normally be necessary to change the spray
pattern each time the device is used; if no spray pattern change is
required, simple depression of the spray head 16 is all that is
required to effect operation of the device.
It is to be understood that the above disclosure of the preferred
embodiment of the invention has been made only by way of example
and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the
combination and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without
departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as
hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *