Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02569638 2006-12-15
HOSE-END ASPIRATION-TYPE SPRAYER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to an aspiration-type dispenser adapted to be
connected to a source of pressurized carrier liquid, such as a garden hose,
and further
adapted to be coupled to a container of chemical liquid to be diluted upon
aspiration.
Aspiration-type dispensers of the general type aforedescribed are known, for
example, from patents 5,383,603, 5,320,288 and 5,100,059. In each of these
patents a
cylindrical valve is disclosed for controlling the flow of the carrier liquid
except that
aspiration takes place generally downstream thereof thereby requiring an
elongated and
more complex structure which includes additional ducting and passageways.
Also, parts
and details required for these known sprayers add to the cost of manufacturing
and
assembly, which is undesirable. Moreover, the known aspiration-type sprayers
are not user
friendly and have limited features which have stimulated the need for many
improvements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sprayer
assembly for
connection to a container of a liquid chemical to be diluted upon aspiration
by a
pressurized stream of carrier liquid, which has a minimum number of parts, is
compact and
economical yet highly efficient in aspirating the chemical liquid in a most
convenient and
user friendly manner.
Another object of this invention is to provide such an assembly which
comprises a
housing having a carrier liquid and chemical liquid inlet passages and a
discharge passage.
A rotatable valve located within the housing has a carrier liquid duct and an
intersecting
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chemical liquid duct interconnecting the inlet passages in a first rotative
position of the
valve, and the inlet passage is closed by the valve in a second rotative
position thereof.
Further object of the present invention is to provide such an assembly wherein
the
housing has couplings for connection to a source of the carrier liquid and to
a container of
the liquid chemical, the housing having an integral handle to be grasped by
the user for
holding the sprayer assembly when spraying, the handle extending outwardly
from an
upper wall of the housing and having a gripper bar for hand holding.
Another object is to provide such an assembly wherein a diverter is mounted
downstream of the discharge end of the housing, the diverter having a wall
sloping in one
direction lying along the path of the discharge passage for deflecting the
liquid flow from
the discharge passage to effect a flat spray pattern in that one direction.
Another object is to provide an assembly with such a diverter in the form of a
rotatable nozzle having a pair of spaced sloping walls lying in the path of
the discharge
passage upon nozzle rotation for selectively deflecting the liquid flow in one
or another
direction.
A still further object of this invention is to provide such a sprayer assembly
wherein
the housing has a support sleeve coaxial with its chemical inlet opening, a
dip tube retainer
being coupled to such sleeve, the retainer having a cylindrical wall for
suspending the dip
tube extending into the chemical container, and the retainer having a
transverse wall with
an inlet orifice coaxial with the chemical inlet opening, the orifice being of
a predetermined
size to effect a given chemical liquid-to-carrier liquid ratio.
Another object of the invention is to provide such an assembly wherein carrier
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liquid inlet and chemical liquid inlet passages extend into a cylindrical bore
of the housing
and the discharge passage extends from the bore which extends transversely to
the
passages, the cylindrical valve is rotatable within the bore about its central
axis thereof
between on and off positions, the valve having annular seal rings at opposite
ends in
engagement with the bore, and the entirety of the valve being of an injection
molded
polymeric material wherein the seal rings are of more softer and more
compliant material
compared to that of the valve material.
A still further object of this invention is to provide such an assembly
wherein the
coupler for connecting the housing to the liquid carrier source includes an
anti-siphon
means which permits only one-way flow of carrier liquid in a downstream
direction of the
housing via through the carrier liquid inlet passage.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more
apparently from the following detailed description of the invention when taken
into
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a sprayer assembly according to the
invention
shown coupled to the end of a hose;
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a structural detail end
section, the
valve shown in an open position with the spray diverted upwardly;
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, the valve shown in its on position
with the
spray diverted downwardly;
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, the valve shown in its on position
with the
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spray being undiverted;
Figure 4A is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4A-4A
of
Figure 4;
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the valve in a rotative
position with
the water carrier inlet open and the chemical inlet closed in a rinse
position;
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the valve rotated to its off
position;
Figure 7 is an expanded perspective view of an anti-siphon assembly of the
invention at the carrier inlet coupler end which is shown assembled together
in
Figures 2 to 6;
Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the cylindrical valve according to
the
invention in one rotative position;
Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 of the valve shown in another rotative
position;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the dip tube retainer of the invention; and
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the diverter nozzle of the invention shown
in
Figures 2 to 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Turning now to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like
and
corresponding parts throughout the several views, the sprayer assembly
according to the
invention is generally designated 20, the assembly having a housing 21 coupled
to both
container C (Figure 2) of liquid chemical, and coupled to a source of
pressurized carrier
liquid such as via the end of a garden hose 22 which extends from a standard
water faucet
(not shown).
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Applied to one side of the housing indicia is ON, OFF, or RINSE to identify
the
three positions of the sprayer to be described in more detail hereinafter.
As more clearly shown in Figure 2, the housing has a carrier liquid inlet
passage 23
and a chemical liquid inlet passage or opening 24 lying along perpendicular
axes and
extending into a transverse bore 25 of the housing. A discharge passage 26
extends from
the transverse bore of the housing and may be coaxial with or parallel and
offset to carrier
liquid inlet passage 23.
Rotatably mounted within the bore is a cylindrical valve 27 shown in
perspective in
Figures 8 and 9. The valve has a cylindrical outer wall 28 and may be closed
at one end by
an end wall 29. A pair of spring legs 31, extending outwardly of wall 29, are
adapted to
extend through a central opening of a confronting wall 33 of the housing
(Figure 9), the
legs having barbs 32 snapping behind an edge of the central opening to retain
the
cylindrical valve in place within the housing.
The valve has, as more clearly shown in Figures 2 to 6, a carrier liquid inlet
duct 34
extending along the diameter of the cylindrical valve, and a radially
extending chemical
liquid duct 35 in open communication with duct 34. And the cylindrical valve
has a
turning tab 36 or the like (Figures 8, 9) to be grasped by the operator for
rotating the valve
about its central axis, and an indicator bar 37 or the like extending
outwardly of its external
wall 28. Extending through wall 28 of the valve is a vent port 38 which, in
one of the open
positions of Figure 2, is in alignment with a corresponding vent port 39
provided in the
housing.
A dip tube 41 is coupled to the housing and extends into the liquid of
container C to
be aspirated.
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The cylindrical valve is shown in Figures l, 2 and 3 in its ON position in
that it has
been rotated manually into that position as confirmed by indicator 37 lying
adjacent the ON
marking on the housing. In that position a detent 42 (Figure 1 ) may be
provided on the
housing for arresting further counterclockwise rotation of the cylindrical
valve from that
shown in Figures 1 to 3.
In the ON position, as clearly shown in Figure 2, the carrier liquid, i.e.,
water under
pressure from the open garden hose, passes through inlet psasage 23 and as the
liquid
stream passes over the inner opening of duct 35 the chemical product is
aspirated or drawn
from the container up the dip tube and into the carrier liquid stream so as to
be thereby
diluted as the water and chemical mix is discharged through the assembly via
discharge
passage 26.
Referring to Figure 6, valve 27 is shown rotated clockwise until the indicator
bar
stops at position 37B shown in Figure l, at which it abuts against a stop
element 43 on the
housing in an OFF position. Ducts 34, 35 are thus rotated completely out of
alignment
with the passages irl the housing such that an elastomeric section 44 on the
outer periphery
of the cylindrical valve (Figure 8) to be described in more detail
hereinafter, overlies
carrier liquid inlet passage 23 for sealing the same tightly closed. Also in
the Figure 6
position, an external seal portion 45 (Figure 9) on the periphery of valve 27
seals tightly
over chemical liquid inlet passage 24.
Referring now to Figure 5, the outer surface of cylindrical wall 28 of the
valve is
notched as to provide a depression 48 which opens into upstream end 46 of duct
34 (see
also Figure 8). Similarly, the outer surface of cylindrical wall 28 of the
valve is notched to
form a depression 49 (Figure 9) which communicates with downstream end 47 of
duct 34
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when the valve is rotated into its Figure 5 position as confirmed by the
position 37A of
indicator bar 37 shown in Figure 1. The assembly has been rotated into its
RINSE position
as indicated by the indicia R in Figure 1. In such position, seal portion 45
on the outer
periphery of the valve overlies chemical liquid inlet passage 24 in tight
sealing relationship
for sealing it closed. However, duct 34 is in open communication with carrier
liquid inlet
passage 23 and with discharge passage 26 via their respective depressions 48
and 49. The
assembly may therefore be rinsed for cleansing the assembly prior to attaching
a container
of another chemical to this assembly if desired. Moreover, the operator can in
the rinse R
position simply spray or apply a stream of liquid to the plants or grass in
the garden without
the need to uncouple the assembly from the hose end.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the sprayer assembly can
be
conveniently, comfortably and securely held by the hand of the operator during
use by the
provision of a handle 51 integrally formed with housing 21 and extending
upwardly from
an upper wall thereof. The handle has a gripper bar 52 which may be contoured
on its
underside to provide a finger rest indentation 53 and a contour 54 along its
lower edge.
The gripper bar extends in an upstream direction substantially parallel to the
longitudinal
axis of housing 21.
Yet another feature of the invention is the provision of a diverter for
deflecting the
stream of liquid from the discharge passage in the form of a flat spray
dispersed over a
wide area. A rotatable nozzle 55 is mounted at the downstream end of the
housing, as
shown in Figures 1 to 6 and in more detail in Figure 11. The nozzle has a pair
of spaced
apart deflector plates 56, 57, and the nozzle when mounted in place has its
central axis
offset from the axis of discharge passage 26.
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In the manually rotated position of the nozzle shown in Figures 2 and 11,
deflector
plate 56 is positioned such that its inner surface 58 is in the path of the
liquid flow through
the discharge passage such that the liquid is thereby deflected in an upward
direction.
On rotation of the nozzle through I 80° shown in Figure 3, deflector
plate 57 is
positioned such that its outer surface 59 lies in the path of the flow of
liquid through the
discharge passage, thereby diverting the flow in a downward direction as
shown. In the
Figure 3 position, the valve 27 is in the same rotative ON position as in
Figure 2.
In each of the diverted spray up or spray down positions of Figures 2 and 3,
the
stream of liquid flowing through the discharge passage forms flat sprays over
a wide area.
To enhance the dispersion and to create a spray of bubbles surfaces 58 and 59
may be
roughened as shown in some known manner.
In the Figure 4 position with the valve likewise in an ON position, rotatable
nozzle
55 is rotated such that neither of surfaces 58 or 59 of the deflector plates
is in the path of
the flow of liquid through discharge passage 26. The liquid flow is thus not
deflected but
instead emerges as a stream as shown.
Likewise in the RINSE position of Figure 5, nozzle 55 is shown rotated to the
same
position as in Figure 4 in which neither of surfaces 58 or 59 of the deflector
plates is in the
path of the discharge passage. Thus in the RINSE position the flow of liquid
emerges as a
stream from the discharge passage.
It can be seen that in the ON positions of Figures 2, 3 and 4, vent ports 38
and 39
are aligned for venting the interior of the container to atmosphere via the
open end of the
cylindrical valve as shown in Figure 4A. However, in the RINSE position of
Figure 5 and
in the OFF position of Figure 6, vent port 38 in the valve and vent port 39 in
the housing
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are misaligned to thereby close the vent path to avoid leakage of chemical
from the
container in the OFF position if the assembly is placed on its side.
When spraying chemicals in the lawn or garden, such as pesticides and the
like, the
concern arises that chemical could be drawn into the water supply which is not
only
undesirable but potentially hazardous. To avoid this potential problem an anti-
siphon
assembly generally designated 61 in Figure 7 has been devised. Referring to
Figures 2 to
6, housing 21 is coupled to hose end 22 (Figure 1) by the provision of the
standard
internally threaded coupler 62 having an inwardly directed flange 63 in
engagement with
an external snap bead 64 at the distal end of conduit 65 which together with
the inlet port
leading into the bore 25 of the housing, defines the carrier liquid inlet
passage. Assembly
61 includes a valve disc 66, which may be of elastomeric material, the disc
having a central
cruciform opening 67 which defines a one-way valve therethrough. The assembly
further
comprises a flow regulator 68 having a plurality of carrier liquid inlet
openings 69 in a
circular array, the diameter of the circle exceeding the size of the opening
67 such that the
opening abuts against an imperforate inner portion 71 of the regulator. A
standard hose
washer 72 is located upstream of the flow regulator, and a cylindrical seal 73
is mounted
within conduit 65 on the downstream side of valve disc 66. Seal 73 is
resilient and has a
seal ring 74 in sealing engagement with valve disc at a diametral location
outwardly of
openings 69.
Cylindrical seal 73 at its upstream face has a plurality of notches 75 opening
into
cutout sections 76 located in the outer surface of the cylindrical seal.
In operation, the carrier liquid through hose 22 inlets openings 69, expanding
the
central portion of disc valve 66 permitting downstream flow through inner
sleeve 77 of
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seal 73. Any flow in an upstream direction is blocked as the central valve
area of disc 66
seats tightly against imperforate center section 71 of flow regulator 68. Also
upon creation
of any back pressure the same is relieved through notches 75 of cylindrical
seal 73 and
escapes in a downstream direction via cutouts 76 and through hole 80 in the
housing 21
(see Figure 3).
Housing 21 is likewise coupled to liquid chemical container C via a standard
internally threaded coupling 78 as an inner flange thereof engages a groove in
end collar 79
of the housing. Disc seal 81 is disposed between collar 79 and the upper end
of the
container neck. The seal may have a non-circular central opening, such as
rectangular,
surrounding sleeve 82 which depends from housing 21 in coaxial alignment with
liquid
inlet passage 24. The non-circular opening in disc seal 81 thereby defines a
plurality of
openings establishing communication between vent ports 38, 39 and the interior
of the
container.
It is desirable to provide, unlike that found in the prior art, for a variety
of
chemical/water ratios depending on the garden/lawn conditions to be treated. A
higher
chemical-to-water ratio may be more desirable for treatment during different
times of the
year compared to a lower chemical-to-water ratio. Such a mix is made possible
by the
invention by the provision of a dip tube retainer 83 shown in each of the
drawing Figures 2
to 6 and in more detail in Figure 10. The dip tube retainer is in the form of
an elongated
cylinder 84 telescoped within sleeve 82, and has a spaced outer sleeve 85 at
the lower end
of the cylinder which defines an annular groove in which the lower end of
sleeve 82 is
received for snugly and tightly securing the tube retainer to sleeve 82 of the
housing.
Cylinder 84 of the tube retainer has an upper end wall 86 containing an inlet
port 87
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coaxial with inlet passage 39. Thus in an open position of the valve the
chemical is
aspirated up the dip tube and into the liquid carrier stream via inlet ports
87 and 24 and
duct 35. A given chemical-to-water ratio can be determined by the size of
inlet port 87 in
the inner wall of the dip tube retainer. For a smaller chemical/water ratio a
dip tube
retainer having a smaller diameter inlet port 87 will be made available giving
instruction to
the user to simply replace one for the other. Of course should a larger
chemical/water ratio
is desired, a dip tube retainer having a larger diameter inlet port 87 will be
made available
to the user with instructions to replace that tube retainer.
Valve 27 is co-injection molded whereby a first material of relatively hard
plastic
forms the basic valve which includes its cylindrical outer wall, closed end
wall, spring legs
31, turning tab 36 and indicator bar 37. Annular seal rings 88, 89 are formed
adjacent
opposite ends of cylindrical outer wall 28 of the valve for sealing engagement
with the
confronting wall of bore 25 of the housing. And, seal portions 44 and 45 of
the outer
periphery of the valve wall, together with seal rings 88 and 89 are formed of
a slightly
softer plastic material compared to that of the end portion of the valve
during the co-
injection process. Channels 91 and 92 are formed in the outer periphery of the
valve
cylindrical wall for connecting seals 88, 89, seal portion 44 and seal portion
45 together.
Thus during the co-injection process, the seals and connecting channels are
formed of soft-
plastic material utilizing a known co-injection process for this purpose. This
avoids the
time consuming and relatively more costly process of formulating cylindrical
valves such
as this with end seals and the like requiring use of a different material
utilizing a separate
process and requiring a sub-assembly process.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that a hose end trigger sprayer has been
devised
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with a variety of distinctive features which simplify the operation, molding
and assembly
rendering the assembly according to the invention economical and easy to use
yet highly
efficient for outdoor garden and yard spray. The sprayer housing is easily
handled by the
operator by simply grasping the single handle bar thereby avoiding contact
with the
chemical/liquid mix being discharged. The manually rotatable nozzle diverts
the spray
forming a flat spray pattern upwardly or downwardly without the need for
changing the
attitude of the end held assembly. The nozzle likewise facilitates a rinsing
of the control
valve which permits a stream discharge with no flat pattern.
The replaceable dip tube retainer facilitates changing the chemical/water mix
depending on the needs of the user. And the anti-siphon assembly provides for
a unique
and simple solution to prevent flow of chemical into the water system and to
avoid the
creation of any back pressure problems during operation. Moreover the
cylindrical valve
may be produced by co-injection of different materials, one of which is softer
for providing
integral seal rings adjacent opposing ends of the valve. Obviously, many
modifications and
variations of the present invention are made possible in the light of the
above teachings. It
is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims,
the invention
may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
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