Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DOUBLE-SWIVEL SPRAY WAND
The present invention relates to directional
applicators for aerosol packages for use in dispensing
the contents thereof, and more particularly to a simple
and inexpensive directional applicator providing three-
dimensional variations in dispensing direction.
The present invention is particularly useful in
the dispensing of fluids for which accurate application
is critical or highly desirable. Examples of such fluids
include insecticides for application in cracks and
crevices, pharmaceuticals for application into body
cavities, and lubricants for relatively inaccessible
bearing points.
Various directional applicators, including
applicators with long wands, have been disclosed in the
prior art and some prior applicators have found commer-
cial usefulness for various purposes. However, the
directional applicators of the prior art have often
been restricted in their directional adjustability
and/or have been unsatisfactory because of their incon-
venient shape or size, their unreliability or expensive
construction. There has been a need in the art for a
reliable, inexpensive directional applicator which
provides easy, wide-range, three-dimensional variation
in the direction of application.
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The present invention overcomes these problems
by a directional dispensing device for use with an aerosol
package having a projecting valve stem, comprising: a
button engageable in fluid flow relation to the stemj a
first swivel connected in downstream fluid flow relation
to the button and rotatable with respect thereto about a
first axis, and a second swivel connected in downstream
fluid flow relation to the first swivel and rotatable
with respect thereto about a second axis transverse the
first axis, and including a downstream portion trans-
verse the second axis, providing three-dimensional varia-
tions in dispensing direction.
In certain preferred embodiments the angles
between the first and second axis and the second axis
and the downstream portion of the second swivel are sub-
stantially equal and such angles are preferably substan-
tially perpendicular~ The first and second axes are
preferably substantially coplanar and the second axis
and the downstream portion of the second swivel are
also substantially coplanar. In certain preferred
embodiments the first swivel is rotatable 360 and the
second swivel is rotatable at least 180, thereby
providing three-dimensional freedom of directional
movement, allowing a wand, for example, to be aimed
in any direction of a hemisphere. The first axis in
one preferred embodiment is substantially perpendicular
to the valve stem of the aerosol package.
In most preferred embodiments the downstream
portion of the second swivel includes an extension wand
oE considerable length. The wand length preferably
approximates the length of the aerosol container, thereby
allowing it to be oriented beside the aerosol container
in its unused position while not interfering with
placement of the package in an upright position on a
horizontal surface. The wand is most preferably
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resiliently flexible, allowing it to be bent from its
normal straight condition for improved accessibility at
certain extreme application points for the aerosol
product. Such resiliently flexible wands will return
to their original straight line condition upon release
of the user's hand or other bending means.
The button to which the first of the two swivel
members is attached may be part of an actuator-overcap
structure engageable with the aerosol package and having
an outer wall dimensioned for alignment with the wall
of the aerosol package, which is typically a cylindrical
metal can~ In such embodiments, the second axis is
preferably located outside the outer wall, and may be a
skew line to the axial line defined by the valve stem.
In such embodiments, the extension wand can lie alongside
the aerosol container in ïts position of nonuse.
The device thus provides for three-dimensional
directionally adjustable aerosol dispensing which is
superior in a number of ways to other possible devices
having three-dimensional adjustability. Ball-and-socket
devices or other universal joint devices typically could
not provide the range of movement provided by this in-
vention. Furthermore, such devices are relatively
impractical and/or more expensive to produce. Such
devices are typically subject to leakage problems
while the present invention displays excellent sealing
qualities. Such devices are less forgiving than the
present invention, being susceptible to dislocation
upon attempted movement beyond their limits of adjust-
ability, while the present invention is sufficientlyforgiving to allow adjustability without as much concern
for dislocation or leakage~
The directional aerosol dispenser allows
improved application of fluids in and onto specific
locations which are substantially inaccessible to
fluids dispensed by normal aerosol containers.
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In the drawings:
FIGURE l is a perspective view of an aerosol
package including a preferred directional dispensing
device;
FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the device
of EIGURE l;
FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the device
of FIGURE l;
FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, partially cutaway,
exploded, perspect;ve view of the device of FIGURE 1
excluding, however, the aerosol container portion
thereof;
FIGURE 5 i5 a side sectional view of the device
shown in Figure 4, taken along section 5-5 as indicated
in FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken
along section 6-6 as indicated in FIGURE 5, excluding,
however, the actuator-overcap;
FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective
view of the device of FIGURE l illustrating an oblique
orientation of the directional device.
FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective
view of the device of FIGURE 1 illustrating the extension
wand used in this invention in a bent orientation.
FIGURES 1-3 show an aerosol device 10. Aerosol
device 10. includes an aerosol package 12, which is a
standard pressurized aerosol container, and an actuator-
overcap 14 engaged thereto at or near doubleseam 16.
Aerosol package 12 i.s a cylindrical container having
a projecting valve stem (.not shown) along its axis at
the end of the container engaged with an actuator-overcap
14.
As illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5, 7, and 8,
actuator-overcap 14 includes a button 18, which.may be
integrally molded therewith or connected thereto in some
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other manner. Button 18 defines a valve stem-receiving
recess 20, shown in FIGURE 5, which is axially aligned
with the valve stem and engageable therewith in fluid .,
flow relation. Button 18 is hinged to the remainder
of actuator-overcap 14 by hinge 22, also shown in
FIGURE 5. Button 18, when depressed by a finger of
the operator, depresses the valve stem to actuate the
aerosol device.
Button 18 defines laterally directed passage-
way 24, shown in FIGURE 5, which communicates with stem-
receiving recess, 2Q. The fluid from aerosol package 12
flows through the valve stem, stem-receiving recess 20,
and passageway 24, and then enters the downstream members
of the directional dispensing device.
A first swivel 26 is connected in downstream
fluid flow relation to button 18. Button 18 defines a
laterally facing, annular, cylindrical void 28, shown
in FIGURES 4 and 5, into which a cylindrical upstream
wall 30 is snugly inserted. The frictional engagement
of wall 30 in void 28 provides a rotatable connection
of first swivel 26 to button 18. First swivel 26 rotates
about a first axis which is the axis of cylindrical void
28 and cylindrical wall 30. Such first axis intersects
and is substantially perpendicular to the valve stem of
aerosol package 12. As il]ustrated in E'IGURE 2, first
swivel 26 is rotatable 360 about the first axis.
First swivel 26 defines fluid flow passageway
32 which extends from its upstream end in engagement
with button 18 to a downstream engagement as will be
explained hereafter. First swivel 26 includes a trans-
verse portion 34 at its downstream end. Transverse
portion 34 is oriented substantially perpendicular to
the first axis and defines a cylindrical opening 36,
shown in FIGURE 6, which receives a second swivel 38
Second swivel 38 includes a generally cylindrical
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upstream wall 40, shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, by which
second swivel 38 is rotatably engaged in opening 36 of
first swivel 26.
Cylindrical wall 40 includes an annular
recessed center portion 42 defining an aperture 44,
shown in FIGURE 6, which allows fluid from first swivel
26 to enter an interior fluid flow passageway 46 which
extends downstream through second swivel 38. The mating
configuration of cylindrical wall 40 of second swivel
38 and opening 36 of first swivel 26 provides a sub-
stantially fluid-tight rotatable connection of second
swiveI 38 in downstream fluid flow relation to first
swivel 26.
Second swivel 38 is rotatable with respect to
first swivel 26 about a second axis transverse the
aforementioned first axis~ The second axis is the axis
defined by cylindrical opening 36 and cylindrical
upstream wall 40. The second axis is substantially
perpendicular to the first axis and is substantially
coplanar therewith~ Second swivel 38 includes a down-
stream portion 48 which is oriented transverse to, in
faat substantially perpendicular to and coplanar with,
the second axis. The angle between downstream portion
48 and the second axis is, therefore, about equal to
the angle between the first and second axes. This
allows a particular orientation of first swivel 26 and
second swivel 38 for dispensing of fluid in a direction
parallel to the direction of passageway 24 of button 18.
Downstream portion 48 includes a resiliently
flexible extension wand 50 which is inserted into and
frictionally engaged to the other portion of second
swivel 38. Wand 50 defines a passageway through its
entire length so that wand tip 52 defines the final
discharge orifice of the dïrectional dispensing device.
Wand 5Q is resïliently flexible; that is, it may be
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bent as illustrated in FIGURE 8, but will return to its
original line upon release.
The resilient flexibility of wand 50 provides
an added measure of variability and adaptability in the
directional dispensing device. Even without such
resilient flexibility, a high degree of directional
adjustability is made available by this invention.
FIGURE 3 illustrates that second swivel 38 is rotatable
at least 180 about the second axis. This span of
movement together with the aforementioned 360 rotation
about the first axis, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, allow
even an inflexible wand to be oriented in any direction
within a hemisphere generally centered at the swivels.
FIGURE 7 illustrates an oblique orientation of wand 50
in which both swivels have been turned to some extent
from their storage positions illustrated in FIGURE 1.
This device provides easy adjustability through-
out an entire hemisphere of positions without particular
concern for which swivel is being used and to what extent
it is being used. Direction adjustment may be ~ade
simply by gripping downstream portion 48 (by wand 50)
and moving it to the desired orientation.
As illustrated in FIGURES 1-3, wand 50 has a
length which approximates the length of aerosol package
12. Furthermore r actuator-overcap 1~ has an outer wall
54 which is cylindrical and is dimensioned for alignment
with the wall of aerosol package 12. The second axis
is located just outside outer wall 54 in a skew line to
the axis of aerosol package 12, allowing downstream
portion 48 (includin~ wand 50) to be oriented immediately
beside the wall of container 12 for convenient cartoning
and storage.
Actuator-overcap 14 including its button 18,
first swivel 26, second swivel 38, and wand 50 are
preferahly constructed of plastic~ Actuator-overcap 14
and the swivels are preferably molded parts while wand
52 is preferably an extruded part.
