Patent Application
20080073451
Referring to
The nozzle 10 may have a housing 14. The housing 14 may define and/or hold various components of the nozzle 10 in a fixed or otherwise predetermined relationship. The nozzle 10 may comprise at least one inlet 16 and at least one outlet 18 remote therefrom. Intermediate the inlet 16 and the outlet 18 may be a chamber for containing the fluid in a flow path 20 therebetween.
While nozzles 10 having single and/or plural inlets 16 and single and/or plural outlets 18 are contemplated and within the scope of the invention, the invention will be described hereinbelow as having only a single inlet 16 and outlet 18 for simplicity. However, one of ordinary skill will recognize the invention is not so limited.
The housing 14 may provide a frame for the nozzle 10. The housing 14 may be unitary or comprised of multiple parts. A suitable nozzle 10 may be injection molded and made of plastic or other polymeric materials or of metal. The choice of materials for the nozzle 10 may depend upon the fluid intended to be used therewith, the expected operating environment, the necessity of maintaining sanitary conditions, etc. The housing 14 may contain one or more external features, such as a key 15 suitable for mounting the nozzle 10 in a device usable for spraying or otherwise dispensing the fluid.
Fluid may enter the nozzle 10 through the inlet 16. Fluid may be provided in batch or continuous form from a reservoir or other fluid supply. The fluid may be supplied under pressure from a tank, a pump, provided by gravity feed, etc.
Fluid may flow through the nozzle 10 in a flow path 20 from the inlet 16 to the outlet 18. Fluid may dynamically be disposed in a chamber intermediate the inlet 16 and outlet 18 as the fluid travels through the flow path 20. The chamber may be of generally constant cross-section, or may converge as the nozzle 10 outlet 18 is approached. The convergence may have a linear taper, arcuate taper, a step-wise convergence, be monotonic, nonmontonic, etc.
The chamber may be elongate, as shown. Such a chamber may have a longitudinal axis, which axis may be coincident a primary flow direction. The chamber may have a distal end, remote from the inlet 16 of the nozzle 10. The distal end of the chamber may be generally hemispherically shaped.
The nozzle 10 outlet 18 may comprise the last portion of the flow path 20 of the fluid before ejection from the nozzle 10. The nozzle 10 outlet 18 may comprise an outlet 18 channel 40. The outlet 18 channel 40 may have a channel entrance 42 and a channel exit 44. The outlet 18 channel 40 may diverge from the channel entrance 42 to the channel exit 44.
Such divergence defines an included angle 30. The included angle 30 is comprised of two contiguous subangles 31, 32. Each subangle 31, 32 is defined by two legs. The subangles 31, 32 have a common leg, lying on the primary flow direction. The other leg of the subangles 31, 32 is defined by the wall of the nozzle 10 outlet 18 channel 40. A straight line may be drawn relative to the outlet 18 channel 40 and connecting the channel entrance 42 and channel exit 44. This line defines the other leg of the subangle 31, 32.
Referring to
For simplicity, the primary flow direction is shown in the figures to be coincident the horizontal. However, the invention is not so limited. The primary flow direction may be oriented horizontal, vertical (upwards or downwards), or any direction therebetween. The primary flow direction may also be oriented outwardly from and directly forward of the user, angled to the left or right, oriented behind the user, or any angle therebetween.
Referring to
The nozzle 10 shown in
Referring back to
If the subangles 31, 32 are distributed about a horizontal axis, as shown, the larger subangle 32 may be disposed above the smaller subangle 31, or vice versa. If the subangles 31, 32 are distributed about a vertical axis, the larger subangle 32 may be distributed in the direction desired to receive less spray.
This nonlimiting exemplary geometry provides a spray pattern, particularly suitable for applying a fluid to a horizontal surface. For example, such a spray pattern may be used to spray a cleaning solution onto a floor. Such a spray pattern may be accomplished using a cleaning implement, as discussed below.
Such an exemplary spray pattern may have two discernible zones. A first zone may be located directly in front of the nozzle 10 and comprise a relatively greater density of the fluid, indicating a greater amount of the fluid was sprayed per unit area in the first zone. A second zone may be disposed outward of and beyond the first zone. The second zone may comprise a relatively lesser density of the fluid, indicating a lesser amount of the fluid was sprayed per unit area in the second zone. The second zone may be laterally wider than the first zone.
Taken in the longitudinal direction, the density may change as a step function from the relatively greater density of the first zone to the relatively lesser density of the second zone. The step function may have a relatively steep slope or a more gradual slope. However, the densities between the two zones need not gradually change as an imperceptible gradient from a relatively greater density to a relatively lesser density. Instead, the user may visually discern the two zones of relatively greater and relatively lesser density.
The discernible difference between the two zones may provide the benefit to the user of a visual cue. The visual cue may indicate to the user that the relatively greater density zone immediately in front of the nozzle 10 is present and available for use on the respective surface. For example, the fluid may be utilized for cleaning, applying a protective layer to the surface, disinfecting, changing the appearance of the surface, etc. The relatively lesser density zone may provide a visual cue to the user that an applicator, such as a cleaning cloth, may be utilized to spread and apply fluid from the first zone into the second and fluid from either zone onto the surface. This arrangement may be particularly advantageous for cleaning a relatively large horizontal surface, such as a floor.
The nozzle 10 described hereinabove has been exemplified as having an asymmetric divergence, relative to a single plane. Particularly, the nozzle 10 described hereinabove is illustrated to have a single asymmetrical divergence about a horizontal plane coincident the primary flow direction. However, the invention is not so limited. The nozzle 10 may also have an asymmetric divergence relative to other planes as well. For example, the nozzle 10 may have an asymmetric divergence, relative to the horizontal plane and/or relative to the vertical plane, or relative to any other multiple planes, as desired.
Furthermore, if the nozzle 10 has plural asymmetric divergences, such divergences may or may not be mutually equal. The nozzle 10 may have a greater amount of asymmetry in one plane than in another plane, according to the desired spray pattern and intended use.
The nozzle 10 according to the present invention can be incorporated into the various devices suitable for spraying or otherwise dispensing the fluid through the nozzle 10. Certain devices are suitable for consumer use in the home, while other devices may be for commercial applications, manufacturing etc.
Devices suitable for use in the home to produce sprays and using the claimed nozzle 10 may include, but are not limited to hand-held sprayers. Exemplary hand-held sprayers include trigger sprayers, pumps, pressurized sprayers, pre-compression sprayers, sprayers fueled by propellant, chambers with mechanical sprayers, steamers, steam irons, etc. Such a sprayer may provide a spray pattern with a volume per unit surface area of less than about 0.07 ml/inch2 (0.011 ml/cm2) with a standard deviation in the volume per unit surface area of less than about 0.056 ml/inch2 (0.0087 ml/cm2). Nonlimiting examples of suitable spray dispensers that may provide a suitable spray pattern include the T-8500 and 813N sprayers manufactured by Indesco, Inc. of St. Peters, Mich. and TS-800-2 and TS-800-2E available from Calmar, Inc. An exemplary electric hand-held sprayer is the 460PH sprayer manufactured by Solo Inc., of Newport News, Va.
Another device suitable for use with the nozzle 10 of the claimed invention is a mop-type cleaning implement. Such an implement may have a handle and a mop head attached to the handle. A disposable cleaning cloth may be removably attached to the mop head for contacting the surface to be cleaned. The device may further comprise a reservoir for holding a fluid, such as a liquid cleaning solution, sanitizer, etc. The reservoir may be refillable or, upon depletion, may be removed and replaced with a reservoir having a suitable quantity of fluid therein.
Suitable devices may be made according to the teachings of commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,391 B2 issued Dec. 30, 2003 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,814,519 B2 issued Nov. 9, 2004.
While limited embodiments have been described, all variations and equivalent structures are within the scope of the appended claims.
