Disconnectable Supply Conduit For Hair Spray Systems

Abstract

A manually disconnectable flexible dual conduit for interconnection between a fluid and pressurized air supply receptacle at one end and a hair spray gun at the other end is described. A molded connector body member at each end of the conduit has swivelingly supported in parallel through openings therein a pair of tubular receptacle members, each communicating at one end with an end portion of one of the conduit members of the dual conduit, and being adapted to interfittingly receive similarly swiveled projecting prong members of the supply receptacle and the spray gun. Yieldable snap-fit mechanism is provided at each of the connector members to effect interlocking connection, yieldable for manual disconnect upon the application of a withdrawal force substantially greater than that which would be required merely for withdrawal from the connecting prongs.

Description

In my U.S. Pat. No. 3,758,039, issued Sept. 11, 1973, there is described a spray gun for applying hair setting fluids and the like in which pressurized air and the fluid to be sprayed are fed or supplied separately through side-by-side flexibel conduits for mixing in a mixing chamber of the spray gun prior to discharge through the spray gun nozzle. Heretofore in such hair spray systems, the dual supply conduit was fixedly jointed at its respective ends to the supply receptacle and the spray gun during the manufacturing process. Thus, whenever it became necessary for one reason or another, such as wear due to heavy useage, or clogging of the fluid conduit because of lacquer solids build-up, or the like, much of the equipment had to be disassembled to properly install a new conduit. Such replacement not only was difficult and time consuming, but could be performed only by a technician having the requisite knowledge and materials.

It is, accordingly, the principal object of this invention to provide a flexible dual supply conduit having manually releasable connector means at each end for connecting between a fluid and pressurized air supply receptacle, and a spray gun of the type disclosed in my above-identified patent.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide interconnection mechanism at each end of a flexible dual supply conduit of the above nature which incorporates snap-fit means serving to capture the connectors with respect to their associated supply receptacle and spray gun interconnecting mechanism, so as to require substantial manual withdrawal force for disconnect, thereby minimizing any possibility of accidental or inadvertent disconnection of the supply conduit during use of the spray system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a manually disconnectable flexible dual supply conduit for hair spray systems utilizing a pressurized air propellant spray gun wherein the interconnecting mechanism between the ends of the conduit and the supply receptacle and spray gun comprise tubular ferrule receptacles or female members within which are removably received tubular prong members comprising the connector means of the supply receptacle and the spray gun, and wherein O-ring means within each prong-receiving receptacle is utilized to minimze the posibility of leakage at the connection junctures even under the force of the pressurized air supplied through the supply receptacle for operating the spray gun.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a flexible dual supply conduit of the character described which can be inexpensibly molded of a synthetic plastic material, and which will be easy to connect and disconnect with respect to a fluid and pressurized air receptacle at one end, and a spray gun at the other end.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a flexible dual supply conduit of the above nature which will be simple in construction, attractive in appearance, economical in cost, and dependable and long wearing in operation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 illustrates a spray gun apparatus including a readily disconnectable flexible dual spray gun feed or supply conduit embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view of the snap-fit spray gun female connector member at one end of the dual supply conduit;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the spray gun snap-fit connector member illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view of the snap-fit supply connector member at the other end of the dual supply conduit; and

FIG. 5 is a top view of the supply connector member illustrated in FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates, generally, a disconnectable, dual, fluid and pressurized air supply conduit embodying the invention, showing its use in association with a supply receptacle or container 11 and a spray gun 12, which, taken together, comprise a spray system for applying hair treating and hair setting fluids in beauty salons and the like. This invention is directed to the connector mechanism at the spray gun end of the supply conduit 10, comprising the female connector 13 cooperative with the male connector mechanism 14 of the spray gun, and the female connector member 15 at the other end of the supply conduit and cooperative with the male connector mechanism 16 provided at the connection to the supply container 11. Since the construction and operational details of the spray gun 12, other than as modified herein, are fully disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,758,039, only so much thereof is illustrated and described herein as is deemed necessary to fully disclose the present invention.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the female connector 13 comprises an integrally formed body member 17, which may be of a tough, substantially rigid, synthetic plastic material having a substantially flat front face portion 18 merging, at its lower edge, with a rectangular, outwardly-extending tongue portion 19. The underside of the tongue portion 19 merges, along its inner end, with a comparatively short, receding front face portion 20 the planar face of which defines an angle of approximately 30 degrees with the extended planar face of the front face portion 18. Integrally formed within the body member 17 is a pair of side-by-side through, cylindrical openings 21, 22 (only opening 22 illustrated in FIG. 2). Received within each of the through openings 21, 22 is a receptacle ferrule 23, which is preferably fabricated of metal, having a forward, substantially cylindrical prong receiving portion 24 extending into a rearward, reduced-diameter connector sleeve portion 25. At its foreward end the prong receiving portion 24 is formed with an outer peripheral annular bead 26 which serves to capture and retain the receptacle ferrule 23 in place by interfitting engagement with a complementary annular recess 27 provided within the through cylindrical opening 22. In this connection, it is to be noted that the outer diameter of the cylindrical surface of the prong receiving portion 24 is slightly less than that of the through opening of the body member 17 in which it fits to provide for limited swiveling movement with respect to the retaining complementary recess 27. The outer end of the prong receiving portion 24 of the receptacle ferrule 23 is provided, near the outer end of the cylindrical opening 24a of said prong receiving portion with an annular recess of substantially semi-circular cross-sectional shape for the reception and retention of a complemental O-ring 28. Projecting outwardly of the front face portion 18 of the body member 17, at a position just below the through cylindrical openings 21, 22 thereof, are three laterally-extending, equidistantly-spaced, rounded projections 29, 30, 31. The upper end of the front surface portion 18 of the body member 17 merges into a central, slightly upwardly-extending catch portion 32 having a rearwardly-extending, upwardly-inclined upper surface portion 32a terminating in an arcuately-rounded back surface portion 33. As best illustrated in FIG. 2 the arcuately rounded back portion 33 comprises a rearwardly and downwardly-extending surface portion 34 and a substantially vertical rear surface portion 35.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, end portions of the dual supply conduit 10 at one end thereof are connected to their respective ferrules 23 by slide fit in telescoping fashion over the respective sleeve portions 25, to which they are preferably secured by use of a suitable adhesive.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1, the spray gun 12, which is preferably fabricated of a tough synthetic plastic material, comprises a body member 36 integrally formed with a handle portion 37. Secured against an outer surface portion of the handle portion 37 is a handle cover member 38, having an outer end portion 39 extending somewhat beyond the end face 40 of said handle portion. As further illustrated in FIG. 1 the underside of the outer end portion 39 of the cover member 38 is formed with an arcuate recess 41 for the purpose hereinafter appearing. The outer end of the handle portion 37, moreover, is formed with a longitudinally-extending, rectangular recess 42 receivable within which is trigger member 43 upon manual actuation of the spray gun. Projecting outwardly of the end face 40 of the handle portion 37 is a pair of tubular laterally-spaced male connector members or prongs 44, 45 which, at their inwardly-extending ends, connect with flexible conduits for communication with the mixing chamber and nozzle mechanism of the spray gun. The male connector members 44, 45 are retained in place in their respective cylindrical openings in a manner similar to that utilized in retaining the female connector ferrules 23, in their respective openings of the body member 17 of the female connector 13, as is hereinabove described. As so assembled, it will be understood that the male connector members 44, 45 are permitted limited swiveling movement with respect to the handle portion 37 of the spray gun 12, for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

In use, interconnection of the female connector 13 with the spra gun at 12 is effected, as best illustrated in FIG. 1, by inserting the male connector members 44, 45 into the respective female connector ferrules 23 while at the same time pushing downwardly slightly upon rear end portion of the body member 17 of said female connector to permit the upwardly-extending catch portion 32 thereof to pass by the underside of the outer end portion 39 of the spray gun handle cover member 38. The above-described swivel action of the receptacle ferrules 23 and their associated male connector members 44, 45 permits such non-axial movement of the female connector 13 with respect to the spray gun 12. During this plug-in operation, the tongue portion 19 of the female connector 13 is loosely received within the rectangular recess 42 of a spray gun. The laterally-disposed, rounded projections 29, 30, 31 in the front face portion 18 of the body member 17 serve as a fulcrum about which the female connector 13, once pushed home against the end face 40 of the spray gun handle portion 37, can be rocked upwardly to resiliently force the catch portion 32 up into the arcuate recess 41 for securely retaining the female connector 13 in interconnected relation with respect to spray gun. In this connection, it will be noted that the relief zone provided by the receding front face portion 20 of the female connector 13 permits the above-described downward rocking motion of said connector member about the pivotal projections 29, 30 and 31 upon carrying out the interhooking attachment motions as described above.

The female connector member 15 at the other end of the dual supply conduit comprises an integrally moled, substantially-rectangular body portion 46 (see FIGS. 1, 4 and 5) having a pair of longitudinal, side-by-side, through openings 47 (only one illustrated in FIG. 4) receivable within which are metal receptacle ferrules 48 (only one illustrated), connected one each to the individual tubular end portions of the supply conduit 10a, 10b. The receptacle ferrules 48 are similar in construction to the receptacle ferrules 23 of the female connector 13, and are similarly assembled for limited swiveling motion within and with respect to their respective through openings 47. As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the outer end face of the rectangular body portion 46 of the female connector member 15 is substantially flat, and said body portion is further integrally formed with a tongue portion 49 extending outwardly of the upper surface of said body portion and defining an angle of approximately 90 degrees with respect to said front face. The tongue portion 49 is provided with a circular through opening 50 which opens into the outer end of said tongue portion through an entranceway defined by opposed side walls 51, 52 converging inwardly from the outer end of said tongue portion. The opening or recess thus defined by opposed side walls 50, 51 and the circular through opening 50 is thus of key-hole shape.

The supply container 11 is also preferably formed of a tough synthetic plastic material, and comprises a screw-on cap member 53 having an integrally-molded, upwardly-extending, substantially semi-circular projection or connector head 54. The connector head 54 has integrally molded, laterally extending conduit prong members 55 (only one illustrated in FIG. 4). The conduit prong members 55,55 conduct pressurized air and fluid under pressure to the individual conduits of the supply conduit 10 for controlled supply to the spray nozzle mechanism of the spray gun 12.

As best illustrated in FIG. 4, interconnection of the female connector member 15 with the fluid and pressurized air supply prongs of the cap member 53 is effected simply by pushing said female connector member straight upon the supply prongs for interengagement with the respective receptacle ferrules 48, whereupon the opening of the tongue portion 49 of the connector member 15 will receive an integral locking post 56 extending upwardly of the cap connector head 54 to interhookingly engage said tongue portion. In this connection, it is to be noted that the diameter of the locking post 56 is somewhat greater than that of the opening into the circular through opening 50 of the tongue portion 49 so that the outer end portions of said tongue portion spread somewhat apart during the connecting process, thereafter to return to normal position again in embracing relation with respect to said locating post portion after the female connector 15 is pushed home against the connector head 54. It will further be understood that the tongue portion 49 of the female connector member 15 is of such length with respect to the prong members 55, 55 that the entrance opening or mouth at the outer end of said tongue member begins to receive the locating post member 56 just before the prongs are received in their respective receptacle ferrules 48 to serve as indexing or guide means for the manual push-on connection of the female connector member 15. Upon removal or disconnection of the female connector member 15 it will be understood that sufficient direct withdrawal force must be exerted upon the body of the female connector member 15 to spread the somewhat embracingly interhooking outer end portions of the tongue portion 49 thereof, which requires substantially greater pulling force than would otherwise be required for withdrawal with respect to the connector prongs 55, 55. It will thus be understood that this interlocking means of the female connector member 15 and the above-described mechanism of the female connector 13 serve to prevent inadvertent loosening and disconnecting of the supply conduit 10 at either end. Whenever it is required to replace the supply conduit 10, however, this can readily be done manually and without the use of tools as hereinabove described.

While I have illustrated and described herein only one form in which the invention can conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to be understood that this form is presented by way of example only and not in a limiting sense. The invention, in brief, comprises all the embodiments and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

Claims

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a disconnectable supply conduit for hair spray systems including a fluid and pressurized air supply receptacle, a spray gun, and a flexible supply conduit communicating between the fluid and pressurized air supply receptacle, and the spray gun, the spray gun and the supply receptacle each having a pair of outwardly-projecting, side-by-side connector prongs and mechanism for interhookingly connecting with a connector member, the improvement comprising, a pair of flexible side-by-side conduit members, a molded connector body member at each end of said conduit members, a pair of side-by-side cylindrical through openings in each of said molded connector body members, a tubular receptacle member in one each of said connector body member through openings and communicating at one end with an end portion of one each of the ends of said pair of flexible side-by-side conduit members, and means for swivelingly supporting opposite end portions of each of said tubular receptacle members within their respective through openings, said connector body members each comprising yieldable hook means cooperative with the interhooking mechanism of the spray gun and the supply receptacle, respectively, the connector prong pairs of said spray gun and said supply receptacle being interfittingly receivable within respective pairs, each, of said connector body members.

2. The improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said tubular receptacle members are of metal and wherein said swiveling means comprises an annular bead formed about the outside of each of said tubular receptacle members receivable in complementary recesses formed within each of said body member through openings, the exterior diameter of each of said tubular receptacle members being somewhat less than the diameter of their respective through openings.

3. The improvement as defined in claim 2, including a resilient O-ring fitted within a complementary interior recess near said opposite end portion of each of said tubular receptacle members.

4. The improvement as defined in claim 3, wherein one of said connector body members is formed with a planar outer end face into which its pair of side-by-side cylindrical through openings extend, and a catch portion extending upwardly and rearwardly of one end of said face portion, said catch portion being operative to snap-fit behind the rear wall portion of a recess in the spray gun comprising its interhooking mechanism.

5. The improvement as defined in claim 4, wherein said face portion of said connector body member, at the opposite side thereof with respect to said catch portion, is provided with projection means serving as a fulcrum for rocking said last-mentioned connector member against an end face portion of the spray gun upon interhookingly connecting said last-mentioned connector body member to said spray gun.

6. The improvement as defined in claim 5, wherein said projection means comprises three laterally-extending, equidistantly-spaced rounded projections.

7. The improvement as defined in claim 4, wherein the other of said connector body members if formed with a planar outer end face into which its pair of side-by-side cylindrical through openings extend, and a tongue portion extending outwardly of the upper end of said last-mentioned planar outer end face, said tongue portion having, at its outer end, means operative to snap-fit in partially surrounding relation about a locking post of the supply receptacle comprising its interhooking mechanism.

8. The improvement as defined in claim 7, wherein said snapfit means comprises a through circular opening near the outer end of said tongue portion, and an entranceway communicating between the outer end of said tongue portion and said through opening in said tongue portion, said entranceway being defined by opposed side wall portions converging inwardly from the outer end of said tongue portion to a spacing therebetween that is less than the diameter of said through circular opening.