Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6257786
-
Patent Number
6,257,786
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Date Filed
Thursday, May 11, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 10, 200122 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Huson; Gregory L.
- Nguyen; Tuan
Agents
- McGuire; George R.
- Hancock & Estabrook, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 401 268
- 401 286
- 401 289
- 401 291
- 004 903
- 239 310
- 239 398
- 239 423
- 239 433
- 239 754
- 222 630
- 222 129
- 222 1451
- 222 1455
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A sudser unit having an entry port, discharge port, and a fluid conduit. The discharge port and fluid conduit extend along a common longitudinal axis, and the entry port extends along a longitudinal axis that intersects the longitudinal axis of the discharge port and fluid conduit at an oblique angle. A water supply, such as a hose, is operably connected to the entry port. A converging nozzle having an opening of smaller diameter than that of the entry port is attached to the discharge port, and a detergent reservoir is attached to the fluid conduit. A valve is disposed between the reservoir and fluid conduit. A valve is disposed between the reservoir and fluid conduit to permit selective mixing of the water and detergent, and selective metering of the mixed composition. Due to the pressure differential created as a result of the relative sizes of the entry and discharge points, when the valve is open, a cycling effect of water and detergent is created, effectively mixing the two together and creating suds composition.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to automotive cleaning equipment, and more particularly to spray nozzles wherein water is mixed with a detergent concentrate prior to ejection from the nozzle.
Devices for metering the storage, release and mixture of concentrated soap into a water stream are well known in the automotive cleaning accessory industry. These devices are commonly referred to as “sudsers.” Sudsers generally include a connector for operably attaching a hose to one end thereof, a reservoir for storing concentrated soap and through which the water stream must pass to mix the water and soap, and a nozzle for dispensing the water/soap mixture. A cleaning device, such as a brush or squeegee, may be connected in fluid communication to the nozzle, and includes apertures through which the water/soap mixture finally passes.
The prior art sudser technology does effectively mix the soap concentrate and water. However, due to pressure differentials between the soap reservoir and water, the mixture of the two is inefficient and, at times, inconsistent. Thus, the expelled water/soap mixture is over or under saturated at various times of use. Examples of prior art sudsers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,335,481 to Slyaman; U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,401 to Stoyshin; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,154,086 to Barnes.
It is a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a sudser device that consistently mixes a soap concentrate with water.
It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide a sudser that is easily handled.
It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a sudser having an easily refillable soap concentrate reservoir.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious, and in part appear hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a Y-shaped sudser unit, wherein water is introduced into a first chamber via a hose attached to one leg of the unit, and a soap concentrate is positioned in a second chamber which is positioned rearwardly in the unit relative to the first chamber. A valve is operably positioned in the conduit between the first and second chambers. If the valve is closed, the water introduced in the first chamber will be discharged therefrom through an outlet. Due to the outlet being smaller in diameter than the opening through which the water first passes into the first chamber, the pressure differential will force the water through the opening. The velocity of the discharged water may be further enhanced by forming the outlet as a converging nozzle.
When the valve is open, the smaller outlet will create a pressure differential resulting in the flow of water from the first chamber into the second chamber. The pressure in the first and second chambers will ultimately reach an equilibrium causing a cycling effect (e.g., a very weak venturi effect) of the water circulating through the second chamber creating a mixture of the water with the viscous detergent gel concentrate housed in the second chamber. After circulating through the detergent, the thinner water will then exit the second chamber, and be expelled from the unit through the discharge opening.
A cleaning utensil, such as a scrubber brush or squeegee, can be operably attached to and positioned in fluid communication with the discharge opening. Openings formed in the cleaning utensil permit the soap/water (suds) mixture to pass therethrough, thereby permitting effective cleaning of a vehicle or other object.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be more fully understood by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a schematic representation of the fluid flow in the present invention with the valve positioned in its closed position;
FIG. 3
is a schematic representation of the fluid flow in the present invention with the valve positioned in its open position;
FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along lines
4
—
4
in
FIG. 1
; and
FIG. 5
is a perspective view of the present invention with a cleaning utensil attached thereto.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in
FIG. 1
a sudser unit, denoted generally by reference numeral
10
. Sudser
10
essentially comprises a water entry port
12
, a discharge port
14
positioned in fluid communication with and forward relative to entry port
12
, and a fluid conduit
16
positioned in fluid communication with and rearwardly relative to entry port
12
. Entry port
12
extends along a longitudinal axis Y—Y that intersects the common longitudinal axis X—X of discharge port
14
and fluid conduit
16
at an oblique angle which is acute between entry port
12
and fluid conduit
16
, and obtuse between entry port
12
and discharge port
14
(see FIG.
4
).
Entry port
12
includes an open end
18
defined by cylindrical wall
20
which transitions into a smaller diameter, internally threaded collar
22
at a shoulder
24
. Collar
22
terminates at a shoulder
26
at which point it transitions into passageway
28
through which liquid, such as water, may flow.
A conventional swivel connector, designated generally by reference numeral
30
, includes an externally threaded member
32
threadingly engaged with collar
22
, and an internally threaded member
34
rotatably attached to externally threaded member
32
. An O-ring
36
, or similar sealing member, is disposed at the interface between members
32
and
34
to prevent liquid from leaking from connector
30
. A hose
38
(see FIG.
5
), or other liquid supply, may be releaseably connected to connector
30
, thereby providing a source of liquid to sudser
10
. A valve
40
operable via a switch
42
(see
FIG. 5
) provides a shut-off for the liquid supply passing through entry port
12
. The entry point for water into sudser
10
is at connection
30
which accepts a hose
38
of diameter D. It should be noted that hose
38
could be attached directly to entry port
12
at threaded collar
22
(also of diameter D). In this arrangement, the unit loses its ability to prevent kinking of the hose through its twisting.
Discharge port
14
includes a reduced diameter entry point
44
which transitions into a larger diameter, externally threaded collar
46
. A converging nozzle
48
threadingly engages collar
46
, and includes an open tip
50
of diameter d, smaller than the diameter D of connection
30
, through which liquid or liquid soap mixture is discharged. Although sudser
10
can be used to spray the water/soap mixture directly from nozzle
48
, a cleaning implement
52
(see
FIG. 5
) may also threadingly engage collar
46
, thereby enhancing the versatility of sudser
10
. Although implement
52
is illustrated as a scrub brush, it should be understood that any type of conventional cleaning implement, such as squeegee, could engage collar
46
.
Fluid conduit
16
includes an open end
54
that steps down at a shoulder
56
to an internally threaded collar
58
. Collar
58
steps then down at a shoulder
56
to a passageway
60
.
A conventional valve unit
62
includes an externally threaded open end
64
that threadably connects it to collar
58
. Valve unit
62
further includes a body portion
66
extending rearwardly from end
64
, relative to sudser
10
, and terminates in an open end
68
. A valve mechanism
70
positioned within valve unit
62
is operable between open and closed positions via a switch
72
.
Removably attached to the open end
68
of valve unit
62
is a detergent reservoir
74
. Reservoir
74
includes a wall
76
extending transversely therein and having an opening
78
formed therethrough, a flange
80
extending forward from wall
76
(relative to sudser unit
10
), and a mixing chamber
82
defined by wall
84
extending rearwardly from wall
76
(relative to sudser unit
10
), and including an open end
68
. A cap
88
is removably attached in covering relation to end
86
, and a handle
90
is attached to the outwardly facing surfaces of reservoir
74
. Handle
90
is preferably composed of a resilient, gelatinous material to ergonomically contour to a user's hand.
As best illustrated in
FIGS. 2-3
, in operation, a conventional detergent concentrate, preferably in gel form as that constitution enhances the mixing of water and gel, fills reservoir
74
(if reservoir
74
is empty, cap
88
may be removed, reservoir
74
re-filled with detergent and cap
88
replaced), and a water hose
38
is attached to entry port
12
as described hereinabove. Valve
40
is then put in an open position, thereby permitting water to flow through entry port
12
and into unit
10
. If valve
70
is in its closed position, the water will flow into fluid conduit
16
and out nozzle
48
. Due to the reduced diameter of nozzle
48
relative to connector
34
, the pressure in fluid conduit
16
will reach an equilibrium prior to water being discharged. The converging nature of nozzle
48
will result in an acceleration of the water as it passes through end
50
.
To induce a mixture of the water with the detergent concentrate, valve
70
is moved to its open position. Due to the smaller diameter of nozzle
48
relative to connector
34
, the water flowing through entry port
12
, the water will flow rearwardly through valve unit
62
, and into mixing chamber
82
of reservoir
74
. Due to the lower density of the water relative to the detergent concentrate, a cycling effect of the water through the detergent will be created (e.g., a slight venturi will be created), thereby circulating the water and concentrate through mixing chamber
82
, as indicated by the arrows
92
in FIG.
3
. Ultimately the pressure in chamber
82
will come to an equilibrium with the pressure in fluid conduit
16
, and the mixed water/gel composition (i.e., the diluted detergent composition) will exit reservoir
74
through valve unit
62
, and ultimately through nozzle
48
. Selective control of valve
70
permits selective metering of the diluted detergent composition from sudser
10
. It should be understood that the present invention would work equally well by switching the positions of entry port
12
and fluid conduit
16
(and associated structures) relative to discharge port
14
.
Once the water and detergent have had time to mix with one another, a useful application of device
10
is to pulse valve
62
between its open and closed positions. When valve
62
is first opened, the pressure differential created thereby results in a proportionately large rush of the mixed water and detergent flowing through nozzle
48
. Conversely, closing valve
62
will eliminate mixed water and detergent from existing device
10
. Thus, by pulsing valve
62
between its open and closed positions, large quantities of suds can be expelled from unit
10
in periodic intervals.
Claims
- 1. A sudser unit adapted to receive a water supply and mix said water supply with a detergent concentrate, said sudser unit comprising;(a) an entry port having an open end of a first diameter adapted to receive said water supply and extending along a first longitudinal axis, a discharge port and a fluid conduit each having respective open ends, and each extending along a common second longitudinal axis, wherein said entry port, discharge port and fluid conduit are in fluid communication relative to one another; (b) a discharge element connected to said open end of said discharge port, and having an open end of a second diameter smaller than said first diameter; (c) a valve operably connected to said open end of said fluid conduit; and (d) an enclosed reservoir extending along said second longitudinal axis, having first and second opposed ends and attached to said valve, opposite said fluid conduit, at its said first end.
- 2. The sudser unit of claim 1, and further comprising a swivel connection having opposing open ends and being operably attached at one of its said open ends to said open end of said entry port, and its other said open end is adapted to operably receive said water supply.
- 3. The sudser unit of claim 1, and further comprising a handle positioned in covering relation to said reservoir.
- 4. The sudser unit of claim 3, wherein said handle is composed of a gelatinous material.
- 5. The sudser unit of claim 1, wherein said reservoir further includes a cap removably attached to its said second end.
- 6. The sudser unit of claim 1, wherein said discharge element is a converging nozzle.
- 7. The sudser unit of claim 1, wherein said discharge element includes a cleaning implement attached thereto.
- 8. The sudser unit of claim 7, wherein said cleaning implement is a brush.
- 9. The sudser unit of claim 1, wherein said first longitudinal axis intersects said second longitudinal axis at an oblique angle and at a point between said discharge port and said fluid conduit.
- 10. The sudser unit of claim 9, wherein said oblique angle is acute between said entry port and said fluid conduit.
- 11. The sudser unit of claim 1, wherein said valve is selectively operable between open and closed positions via a user accessible switch.
- 12. The sudser unit comprising:(a) an entry port having an open end of a first diameter adapted to receive said water supply and extending along a first longitudinal axis, a discharge port and a fluid conduit each having respective open ends, and each extending along a common second longitudinal axis, wherein said entry port, discharge port and fluid conduit are in fluid communication relative to one another; (b) a discharge element connected to said open end of said discharge port, and having an open end of a second diameter smaller than said first diameter; (c) means for supplying detergent concentrate to said sudser unit comprising an enclosed reservoir extending along said second longitudinal axis, having first and second opposed ends and being operably attached to said fluid conduit, at it's said first end; and (d) means for metering the mixture and release of said detergent concentrate.
- 13. The sudser unit of claim 12, wherein said reservoir includes a cap removably attached to its said second end.
- 14. The sudser unit of claim 12, wherein said reservoir includes a wall positioned therein between its said first and second ends and extending transversely there across, said wall including an opening formed there through.
- 15. The sudser unit of claim 12, wherein said metering means is comprised of a valve operably disposed between said fluid conduit and said detergent supply means.
- 16. The sudser unit of claim 15, wherein said valve is selectively operable between open and closed positions via a user accessible switch.
- 17. The sudser unit of claim 12, and further comprising a swivel connector having opposing ends and being operably attached at one of its ends to said open end of said entry port, and its other said open end is adapted to operably receive said water supply.
- 18. The sudser unit of claim 12, and further comprising a handle positioned in covering relation to said reservoir.
- 19. The sudser unit of claim 18, wherein said handle is composed of a gelatinous material.
- 20. The sudser unit of claim 12, wherein said discharge element is a converging nozzle.
- 21. The sudser unit of claim 12, wherein said discharge element includes a cleaning implement attached thereto.
- 22. The sudser unit of claim 21, wherein said cleaning implement is a brush.
- 23. The sudser unit of claim 12, wherein said first longitudinal axis intersects said second longitudinal axis at an oblique angle.
- 24. The sudser unit of claim 23, wherein said oblique angle is acute between said entry port and said fluid conduit.
US Referenced Citations (14)