Pump connection

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6394148
  • Patent Number
    6,394,148
  • Date Filed
    Monday, February 26, 2001
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 28, 2002
    24 years ago
Abstract
A sprayer kit comprising a sprayer container adapted to be filled with a fluid, a hand pump for pressurizing fluid in the sprayer container and a fluid transfer device. The fluid transfer device is configured to be inserted into an opening in a commercial container, with the fluid transfer device being adapted to transport fluid from the commercial container to the sprayer container. The hand pump is adapted to be alternatively placed in the sprayer container for pressurizing fluid in the sprayer container and placed in the fluid transfer device for pressurizing the fluid in the commercial container to force the fluid in the commercial container through the fluid transfer device and into the sprayer container.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to sprayers, and in particular to portable sprayers for praying fluids.




Portable sprayers have been used to spray stains, sealants or protective coatings on decks, fences, brick walls, concrete walks, or other wood and masonry objects. Portable sprayers have also been used to spray acids, chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, degreasers, disinfectants, water proofing, carpet treatments, cleaners, sealers, curing compounds, form release agents, germicides, herbicides, insect control fluids, or any other fluid one would desire to spray onto an object.




Heretofore, portable sprayers have typically included a tank for holding the fluids, a pump in the tank for pressurizing the fluids in the tank and a spraying gun for spraying the fluids onto a predetermined object. The tanks of the portable sprayers usually included a top opening wherein the fluids are added to the tanks by pouring the fluids from one gallon or larger commercial containers into the tanks. To assist in this fluid transfer, some tanks have included funnel shaped openings in the top of the tanks for easily accepting the fluids from the commercial containers. However, even with the funneled tops, some of the fluid from the commercial containers would sometimes spill as the fluid is poured into the tank. Since the fluid typically comprises various chemicals, spillage of the fluids is very undesirable. Furthermore, the commercial containers typically are very large and heavy, and it can be difficult for one person to lift the commercial container and tilt the commercial container such that the fluid in the commercial container will flow into the top of the tanks.




Accordingly, a practical, economical packaging system solving the aforementioned disadvantages and having the aforementioned advantages is desired.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The apparatus and methods of the present invention utilize a fluid transfer device configured to be inserted into an opening in a commercial container, to transport fluid from the commercial container to a sprayer container. A hand pump is adapted to be alternatively placed in the sprayer container for pressurizing fluid in the sprayer container and placed in the fluid transfer device for pressurizing fluid in the commercial container to force the fluid in the commercial container through the fluid transfer device and into the sprayer container.




The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a spraying kit that can be used to transfer a fluid from a commercial container to a spraying container without spilling any of the fluid. When a spraying container, a spraying gun, a hand pump and a fluid transfer device of the present invention are combined in a kit, fluid from various commercial containers can be transferred easily to the sprayer container without spilling. The spraying kit is efficient in use, economical to manufacture, capable of a long operable life, and particularly adapted for the proposed use.




These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims and appended drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a sprayer kit and commercial container embodying the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a cross-sectional view of a hand pump of the preferred embodiment.





FIG. 3

is a perspective view of a fluid transfer device of the first alternative embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 4

is a side view of the fluid transfer device of the first alternative embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 5

is a top view of the fluid transfer device of the first alternative embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 6

is a cross-sectional view of the fluid transfer device of the first alternative embodiment of the present invention taken along the line VI—VI of FIG.


5


.





FIG. 7

is a perspective view of a fluid transfer device in a commercial container of the second alternative embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 8

is a perspective view of the fluid transfer device of the second alternative embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 9

is a top view of the fluid transfer device of the second alternative embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as orientated in FIG.


1


. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.




The reference number


10


(

FIG. 1

) generally designates a sprayer kit embodying the present invention. In the illustrated example, a sprayer kit


10


includes a sprayer container


12


adapted to be filled with a fluid, a hand pump


14


for pressurizing fluid in the sprayer container


12


and a fluid transfer device


16


. The fluid transfer device


16


is configured to be inserted into an opening


18


in a commercial container


20


, with the fluid transfer device


16


being adapted to transport fluid from the commercial container


20


to the sprayer container


12


. The hand pump


14


is adapted to be alternatively placed in the sprayer container


12


for pressurizing fluid in the sprayer container


12


and placed in the fluid transfer device


16


for pressurizing the fluid in the commercial container


20


to force the fluid in the commercial container


20


through the fluid transfer device


16


and into the sprayer container


12


.




The illustrated sprayer container


12


is preferably used to spray a fluid located within the sprayer container


12


onto a predetermined object for covering the object with the fluid. The hand pump


14


connects to the sprayer container


12


and is actuated to pressurize the fluid in the sprayer container


12


. A spraying gun


22


also connects to the sprayer container


12


for spraying the pressurized fluid. In use, the fluid in the spraying container


12


is pressurized with the hand pump


14


and a handle


24


on the spraying gun


22


is depressed to eject the fluid out of a nozzle


26


of the spraying gun


22


. Preferably, the sprayer container


12


holds a stain, a sealant or a protective coating for application to a deck, fences, brick walls, concrete walks, or other wood and masonry objects. The sprayer container


12


could also hold acids, chemicals, pesticides or herbicides for spraying chemicals, degreasers, disinfectants, water proofing, carpet treatments or cleaners for janitorial use, sealers, curing compounds or form release agents for concrete, germicides, herbicides or insect control fluids for agricultural use, or any other fluid to be sprayed.




In the illustrated example, the sprayer container


12


includes feet


28


for maintaining the sprayer container


12


in an upright position and an open top


30


. The feet


28


maintain the sprayer container


12


upright so that any fluid in the sprayer container


12


will not spill out of the sprayer container


12


. The open top


30


includes a tubular neck


32


with an outside threaded surface


34


for connection to the hand pump


16


. Alternatively, the neck


32


can be flared outward for ease of filling and pouring out leftover fluid. When the neck


32


is flared outward, the neck


32


preferably includes an inside threaded surface for connection to the hand pump


16


. The sprayer container


12


also includes a male connection


33


for coupling with a female connection


36


of a hose


38


of the spraying gun


26


to connect the sprayer container


12


to the spraying gun


22


. The sprayer container


12


is preferably blow-molded out of a high-density polyethylene and is translucent such that the level of fluid in the sprayer container


12


can readily be seen. The sprayer container


12


could also include a pressure relief valve or a carrying strap (not shown).




The illustrated hand pump


14


(

FIG. 2

) includes a handle


40


, a plunger


42


, a sleeve


44


and a cylinder


46


. The plunger


42


extends into the cylinder


46


from the handle


40


, and the handle


40


is actuated up and down to force air towards the bottom of the cylinder


46


with the plunger


42


. A check valve


48


is located in the bottom of the cylinder


46


so that the air forced towards the bottom of the cylinder


46


can escape through the check valve


48


, but air cannot enter the cylinder


46


through the check valve


48


. The sleeve


44


extends downward and outward over the cylinder


46


and includes an inside threaded surface (not shown). The hand pump


14


is connected to the spraying container


12


by inserting the cylinder


46


into the open top


30


of the spraying container


12


and screwing the sleeve


44


about the tubular neck


32


. Once the sleeve


44


is screwed fully onto the tubular neck


32


, an air tight seal is created in the open top


30


of the spraying container


12


. The fluid in the spraying container


12


is pressurized by repetitively pressing down on the handle


40


of the hand pump


14


and forcing air into the spraying container


12


. If the neck of the spraying container is flared outward as described above, the cylinder


46


of the hand pump


14


could have an outside threaded surface instead of the sleeve


44


for connecting the hand pump


14


to the spraying container


12


. The spraying container


12


, the hand pump


14


and the spraying gun


22


described above are currently sold as Model 1992D Wood & Masonry Sprayer by Root-Lowell Manufacturing Company of Lowell, Mich.




In the illustrated example, the commercial container


20


initially contains the fluid to be used in the spraying container


12


. The commercial container


20


typically includes the opening


18


located in a top surface


51


of the commercial container


20


for accessing the fluid located in the commercial container


20


. The opening


18


in the top surface


51


has an annular shape. The fluid transfer device


16


is inserted into the opening


18


for transporting the fluid in the commercial container


20


to the sprayer container


12


.




The illustrated fluid transfer device


16


includes a body


52


(

FIGS. 3-6

) and a tube


54


(FIG.


3


). The body


52


has a substantially tubular cross-section with a longitudinal passage


56


and a tapered, funnel shaped outer surface


57


. The body


52


includes an upper portion


58


and a lower portion


60


defined in the preferred embodiment by an internal ring-shaped annular horizontal flange


62


. The upper portion


58


of the body


52


includes an aperture


64


leading to the passage


56


. The passage


56


in the upper portion


58


is tapered inward towards the lower portion


60


of the body


52


. The upper portion


58


of the body


52


also includes an undulated outer grip


66


. As explained in more detail below, the grip


66


is used to remove the fluid transfer device


16


from the commercial container


20


. The lower portion


60


of the body


52


includes an orifice


70


through a side wall


72


of the body


52


into the passage


56


. The body


52


also includes a cylindrical flange


73


extending upwards from the ring-shaped annular flange


62


towards the aperture


64


of the upper portion


58


of the body


52


. The body


52


is preferably made of polypropylene. The tube


54


is preferably flexible tubing extending into the body


52


through the side wall


72


of the lower portion


60


, into the passage


56


and out of the body


52


through a hole


74


in the bottom


76


of the lower portion


60


.




The fluid transfer device


16


is used to transfer fluid from the commercial container


20


to the spraying container


12


by first inserting the body


52


into the opening


18


in the top surface


51


of the commercial container


20


. The body


52


is pressed into the opening


18


until the outer surface


57


of the lower portion


60


is wedged into the opening


18


. The body


52


should be wedged into the opening


18


until an air tight seal is created. The diameter of the lower portion


60


of the body


52


should be larger than the diameter of the opening


18


at a position below the orifice


70


in the side wall


72


of the lower body


52


. Therefore, the tube


54


will extend out of the body


52


through the side wall


72


of the body


52


at a location above the top surface


51


of the commercial container


20


. The tube


54


is preferably allowed to slide within the orifice


70


in the side wall


72


of the lower portion


60


of the body


52


such that a first end of the tube


54


will always be adjacent the bottom of the commercial container


20


. Therefore, the tube


54


can be slid towards the bottom of larger commercial containers


20


. Alternatively, the tube


54


can be fixed to the body


52


and can flex into a circular shape at the bottom of the commercial container


20


if the tube


54


extends from the hole


74


in the lower portion


60


to a position farther than the bottom of the commercial container


20


.




The cylinder


46


of the hand pump


16


is then inserted into the aperture


64


in the upper portion


58


of the body


52


. Since the passage


56


in the upper portion


58


is tapered inward towards the lower portion


60


of the body


52


, the cylinder


46


of the hand pump


16


is wedged into the passage


56


. The cylinder


46


should be wedged into the passage


56


until an air tight seal is created. Preferably the cylinder


46


will rest on the cylindrical flange


73


extending upwards from the ring-shaped flange


62


. The cylindrical flange


73


has a diameter larger than the diameter of the check valve


48


of the hand pump


16


so that air entering the body


52


through the check valve


48


will be forced through a bore


80


in the ring-shaped flange


62


and into the lower portion


60


of the body


52


.




A second end of the tube


54


is then placed into the top opening


30


of the spraying container


12


. The handle


40


of the hand pump


16


is thereafter repetitively pressed up and down to force air through the check valve


48


, into the body


52


, through the hole


74


in the lower portion


60


of the body


52


and into the commercial container


20


. The fluid in the commercial container


20


will therefore become pressurized and will be forced up through the first end of the tube


54


and out of the second end of the tube


54


into the spraying container


12


.




The hand pump


14


is removed from the fluid transfer device


16


when the spraying container


12


is filled with the fluid and screwed onto the spraying container


12


. The body


52


is also removed from the opening


18


in the commercial container


20


by grabbing the grip


66


and simultaneously turning and pulling on the body


52


. The spraying container


12


is therefore filled with a fluid without any spillage and ready to be used to spray the fluid onto any object a user of the spraying gun


22


desires.




The reference numeral


16




a


(

FIGS. 7-9

) generally designates a second preferred embodiment of the invention, having a second preferred embodiment of the fluid transfer device. Since fluid transfer device


16




a


is similar to the previously described fluid transfer device


16


, similar parts appearing in

FIGS. 1-6

and

FIGS. 7-9

, respectively, are represented by the same, corresponding reference numeral, except for the suffix “a” in the numerals of the latter. The fluid transfer device


16




a


is preferably used to transport a fluid to the sprayer container


12


from a commercial container


20




a


similar to a one gallon paint can, wherein the top surface of the commercial container


20




a


comprises the annular opening


18




a.






The illustrated fluid transfer device


16




a


includes a body


52




a


and a tube


54




a


. The body


52




a


includes a plate


100


and an outside funnel-shaped annular wall


102


extending from the plate


100


. The body


52




a


also includes a cylindrical flange


104


extending downward from the bottom surface of the plate


100


. The body


52




a


is configured to be inserted into the annular opening


18




a


of the commercial container


20




a


by first inserting the cylindrical flange


104


in the in the annular opening


18




a


of the commercial container


20




a


by first inserting the cylindrical flange


104


in the annular opening


18




a


and then forcing the outside funnel-shaped wall


102


to wedge in the annular opening


18




a


to create an air tight seal. Although the outside funnel-shaped wall


102


is shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

as extending upwards and outwards from the perimeter of the plate


100


, it is contemplated that the cylindrical flange


104


could be removed from the body


52




a


and the outside funnel-shaped wall


102


could extend downward and inward from the plate


100


. The illustrated tube


54




a


extends through the plate


100


. As seen in

FIG. 8

, a first portion of the tube


54




a


is connecting to a fitting


106


extending upward from the plate


100


and a second portion of the tube


53




a


extends downward from the plate


100


below the fitting


106


to create a fluid path. It is contemplated that the tube


54




a


could also comprise a one piece tube extending through the plate


100


. Both confirmations of the tube are considered to comprise a tube extending through the plate


100


. Furthermore, any fluid path is considered to comprise a tube extending through the plate


100


. In the illustrated example, the body


52




a


of the fluid transfer device


16




a


also includes a funnel shaped wall


110


extending from a central portion of the plate


100


. An opening


112


is located in the plate


100


within the funnel shaped wall


100


.




In use, the fluid transfer device


16




a


is used to transfer a fluid from the commercial container


20




a


to the spraying container


12


by first wedging the body


52




a


of the fluid transfer device


16




a


into the annular opening


18




a


of the commercial container


20




a


. The cylinder


46


of the hand pump


16


is then inserted into the funnel shaped wall


110


of the body


52




a


. Since the funnel shaped wall


110


is tapered inwards towards the body


52




a


, the cylinder


46


of the hand pump


16


is wedged in the funnel shaped wall


110


. The cylinder


46


should be wedged into the funnel shaped wall


110


until an air tight seal is created.




A second end of the tube


54




a


is then placed into the top opening


30


of the spraying container


12


. The handle


40


of the hand pump


14


is thereafter repetitively pressed up and down to force air through the check valve


48


and into the commercial container


20




a


. The fluid in the commercial container


20




a


will become pressurized and will be forced up through the tube


54




a


and out of the tube


54




a


into the spraying container


12


to thereby fill the spraying container


12


.




In the forgoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.



Claims
  • 1. A sprayer kit comprising:a sprayer container adapted to be filled with a fluid; a hand pump for pressurizing fluid in said sprayer container; and a fluid transfer device configured to be inserted into an opening in a commercial container, said fluid transfer device adapted to transport fluid from the commercial container to said sprayer container; wherein said hand pump is adapted to be alternatively placed in said sprayer container for pressurizing fluid in said sprayer container and placed in said fluid transfer device for pressurizing the fluid in the commercial container to force the fluid in the commercial container through the fluid transfer device and into said sprayer container.
  • 2. The sprayer kit as defined in claim 1, wherein:said fluid transfer device includes a body and a tube; said body being configured to be wedged into the opening in the commercial container; and said tube being configured to extend through said body and between the commercial container and said sprayer container.
  • 3. The sprayer kit as defined in claim 2, wherein:said body includes an upper portion for removably accepting said hand pump and a lower portion including a tapered outer surface for wedging said body into the opening on the commercial container, wherein said tube extends through a side wall of said body and through a hole in the bottom of said lower portion.
  • 4. The sprayer kit as defined in claim 3, wherein:said upper portion includes a passage, said hand pump being accepted by said upper portion by inserting said hand pump into said passage, said passage including an inside taper for frictionally engaging said hand pump.
  • 5. The sprayer kit as defined in claim 4, wherein:said upper portion has an undulated outer grip for assisting in turning said body to thereby remove said fluid transfer device from the opening in the commercial container.
  • 6. The sprayer kit as defined in claim 5, wherein:said body including an internal annular flange defining said upper portion and said lower portion of said body.
  • 7. The sprayer kit as defined in claim 6, further including:a spraying gun adapted to be connected to said sprayer container for spraying pressurized fluid in said sprayer container onto a predetermined object.
  • 8. The sprayer kit as defined in claim 2, wherein:said body includes a plate, an outside tapered wall extending from said plate, an inside tapered wall extending from a central portion of said plate for accepting said hand pump and an opening through said plate within said inside tapered wall for allowing pressurized air from said hand pump to enter the commercial container, wherein said tube extends through said plate.
  • 9. A method of transporting fluid from a commercial container to a sprayer container comprising:providing a fluid transfer device; inserting said fluid transfer device into an opening in said commercial container; placing a hand pump in said fluid transfer device; pressurizing said fluid in said commercial container with said hand pump; transporting fluid from said commercial container to said sprayer container with said fluid transfer device; removing said hand pump from said fluid transfer device; and inserting said hand pump into said sprayer container.
  • 10. The method of transporting as defined in claim 9, further including the step of:pressurizing said fluid in said sprayer container with said hand pump.
  • 11. The method of transporting as defined in claim 10, further including the step of:spraying said fluid in said sprayer container onto a predetermined object with a spraying gun.
  • 12. The method of transporting as defined in claim 9, wherein:said fluid transfer device includes a body and a tube; said step of inserting said fluid transfer device into an opening in said commercial container includes wedging into said opening in said commercial container; and further including the step of extending said tube through said body and between said commercial container and said sprayer container.
  • 13. The method of transporting as defined in claim 12, wherein:said body includes an upper portion for removably accepting said hand pump, a lower portion including a tapered outer surface for wedging said body into said opening on said commercial container, wherein said tube extends through a side wall of said body and through a hole in the bottom of said lower portion.
  • 14. The method of transporting as defined in claim 13, wherein:said upper portion includes a passage, said passage including an inside taper for frictionally engaging said hand pump; wherein the step of placing said hand pump in said fluid transfer device includes inserting said hand pump into said passage of said upper portion.
  • 15. The method of transporting as defined in claim 14, wherein:said upper portion has an undulated outer grip for assisting in turning said body.
  • 16. The method of transporting as defined in claim 15, wherein:said body including an internal annular flange defining said upper portion and said lower portion of said body.
  • 17. The method of transporting as defined in claim 12, wherein:said body includes a plate, an outside tapered wall extending from said plate, an inside tapered wall extending from a central portion of said plate for accepting said hand pump and an opening through said plate within said inside tapered wall for allowing pressurized air from said hand pump to enter said commercial container, wherein said tube extends through said plate.
  • 18. A fluid transfer device for transporting fluid from a commercial container to a sprayer container with a hand pump comprising:a body having a plate, an outside tapered wall extending from said plate and tubing extending through said plate, said body further including an inside tapered wall extending from a central portion of said plate for accepting the hand pump and an opening through the plate within said inside tapered wall for allowing air from the hand pump to enter the commercial container; wherein said body is configured to be inserted into an opening in the commercial container and said inside tapered wall is configured to accept the hand pump such that air from the hand pump can pressurize fluid in the commercial container to force the fluid in the commercial container through said tubing and into the sprayer container.
  • 19. A fluid transfer device for transporting fluid from a commercial container to a sprayer container with a hand pump comprising:a body being configured to be wedged into an opening in the commercial container, said body including an upper portion for removably accepting the hand pump, a lower portion including a tapered outer surface for wedging said body into the opening on the commercial container, said upper portion further including a passage having an inside taper for frictionally engaging the hand pump, and a tube extending through said body through a side wall of said body and through a hole in the bottom of the lower portion, said tube being configured to transport fluid from the commercial container to the sprayer container; wherein said body is configured to be inserted into the opening in the commercial container and said upper portion is configured to accept the hand pump such that air from the hand pump can pressurize fluid in the commercial container to force the fluid in the commercial container through said tube and into the sprayer container.
  • 20. The fluid transfer device as defined in claim 19, wherein:said upper portion has an undulated outer grip for assisting in turning said body.
  • 21. The fluid transfer device as defined in claim 20, wherein:said body including an internal annular flange defining said upper portion and said lower portion of said body.
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