Abstract:
A water spray nozzle assembly includes an internal channel that is sealable by an internal valve having a seat and a disc. A tilting member is operable to tilt the disc at least partially off of the seat, allowing water to flow through the internal channel. The disc may be further tilted completely off of the seat to provide additional water flow through the water spray nozzle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to water spraying nozzles, and in particular, to a spray control mechanism for a water spraying nozzle.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Water spray nozzles for use with water hoses are well known. Various nozzles are available including nozzles with multiple spray patterns and nozzles that may be used to mix various fluids or soluble powders with water supplied to the nozzle. Generally, these water spray nozzles include a trigger mechanism which is used to control a valve internal to the spray nozzle. When the trigger mechanism is not activated, the internal valve is shut (or closed) and no water is allowed to flow through the nozzle. Conversely, activation of the trigger mechanism opens the internal valve, and water is allowed to flow through the water spray nozzle.  
         [0003]     Closure of the internal valve is typically effected by the provision of a biasing mechanism that operates against the disc of the valve, forcing the disc into sealing engagement with the seat of the valve when the trigger is not activated. Generally, the biasing mechanism forces the disc in the same direction that water moves through the water spray nozzle. Thus, the pressure of the water supplied to the water spray nozzle assists in ensuring that the internal valve does not allow any water to flow through the water spray nozzle until the trigger mechanism is activated.  
         [0004]     To activate the trigger mechanism so as to allow water to flow through the water spray nozzle a trigger on the water spray nozzle is typically squeezed. This causes the disc of the internal valve to move directly away from the seat of the internal valve and toward the biasing mechanism and the source of the water. As the disc moves away from the seat of the internal valve, water is allowed to flow around the periphery of the disc and past the seat through the water spray nozzle.  
         [0005]     While proving very effective in many respects, the above described internal valve design suffers certain limitations. As described above, the movement of the disc is directly away from the seat. Thus, the force applied to the disc must overcome the entire force of the water pressure and biasing mechanism acting against the disc. Of course, as the water pressure of the source increases, it becomes increasingly difficult to operate the trigger mechanism.  
         [0006]     One approach used to overcome this limitation is to fashion the trigger mechanism as a class “1” lever. A class “1” lever has a fulcrum located between the load and the location on the lever where a user applies force. Thus, application of force in a first direction causes the load to move in a direction opposite the first direction. As applied to a water spray nozzle, a class “1” lever is created by placing a fulcrum on the trigger between the portion of the trigger that is grasped by the user and the portion of the trigger that is operably connected to a stem that is used to move the disc. A mechanical advantage is thus achieved, allowing a user to open the internal valve while using less force to activate the trigger mechanism.  
         [0007]     Fashioning the trigger mechanism as a lever is very useful in allowing for opening of the internal valve of a water spray nozzle with a reduced amount of force. However, it is commonly desired to operate the water spray nozzle in a mode other than fully open or fully shut. Positioning of the internal valve to a position intermediate the fully opened and fully shut positions is frequently desired so as to govern the force and/or volume of the water exiting the water spray nozzle. Governing of the force of the exiting water is desired because a spray pattern at a given water pressure that provides a gentle spray when the spray is directed at a plant that is ten feet away from a user may provide a torrential blast of water when that same spray is directed at a plant that is two feet away from the user. The blast of water can result in damage to the plant and may splash the user. Similarly, when a specific amount of water is desired to be provided to the plant, a user may desire a slower flow of water to better determine when sufficient water has been supplied to the plant.  
         [0008]     However, even in water spray nozzles having a trigger in the form of a class “1” lever, the stem that is used to move the disc away from the seat generally operates to move the disc off of the seat in a uniform fashion forming a gap between the disc and seat around the entire periphery of the disc. Thus, when a user applies sufficient force to the trigger mechanism to move the disc off of the seat, a gap of a relatively large area is rapidly realized between the disc and the seat, allowing a large volume of water to flow through the water spray nozzle. This makes the volume of water passing through the water spray nozzle very difficult to manage. It would be beneficial if the effective cross section of the internal valve were reduced, particularly at lower flow rates.  
         [0009]     Additionally, the generation of a large gap between the disc and the seat results in an abrupt drop in the pressure applied to the disc by the pressure of the water source acting against the disc. Thus, once the seal between the seat and disc is broken, a user is typically not able to react quickly enough in reducing the pressure applied to the trigger mechanism to avoid fully opening the internal valve or at least opening the internal valve beyond the position desired. Accordingly, even when a user desires to place the internal valve in an intermediate position, the internal valve is typically opened beyond the desired position, and then the user attempts to adjust the force applied to the trigger mechanism to reduce the water flow to the desired amount. It would be beneficial if the reduction in pressure applied to the disc by the water source pressure and biasing mechanism were less severe.  
         [0010]     What is needed is a water spray nozzle that allows a user to easily open an internal valve so as to allow water to flow through the water spray nozzle, while ensuring a tight fit between the disc and seat of an internal valve when the trigger mechanism of the water spray nozzle is in the closed position. What is further needed is a water spray nozzle with an internal valve that is easily positioned to an intermediate position.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     A water spray nozzle in accordance with the present invention overcomes limitations previously encountered with garden hose spray nozzles. The water spray nozzle of the present invention includes a trigger mechanism that tilts the disc of a valve internal to the water spray nozzle with respect to the seat of the internal valve. The leveraging action of the disc when the trigger mechanism is activated provides ease of operation and increased control over the movement of the disc away from the seat.  
         [0012]     In one embodiment, a spray nozzle in accordance with the present invention includes a housing, an internal valve, a biasing mechanism and a trigger mechanism. The valve includes a seat and a disc. The disc is biased toward sealing engagement with the seat by the biasing mechanism. The trigger mechanism is operable to tilt the disc at least partially off of the seat.  
         [0013]     Advantageously, the trigger mechanism may include a plunger operable to act against a stem attached to the disc to tilt the disc off of the seat. In one embodiment, the trigger mechanism is operable to tilt the disc to the extent that the disc is completely off of the seat.  
         [0014]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a spray nozzle assembly that allows for ease of operation while maintaining a tight seal against leakage when the spray nozzle is not activated.  
         [0015]     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a spray nozzle assembly with an internal valve that is easily manipulated into a position intermediate a fully open position and a fully closed position, so as to allow a reduced flow of water through the spray nozzle assembly.  
         [0016]     It is a further object of the invention to provide a spray nozzle assembly wherein an internal valve is opened by using a lever action to tilt the disc of the seat at least partially off of the seat of the valve.  
         [0017]     These and other advantages and features of the present invention may be discerned from reviewing the accompanying drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     The present invention may take form in various system and method components and arrangement of system and method components. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating exemplary embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a spray nozzle assembly incorporating features of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded perspective view of the components of the handle portion of the spray nozzle assembly of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of a trigger of the spray nozzle assembly of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  shows a cross sectional view of the handle housing of the handle portion of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  shows a cross sectional view of the handle portion of  FIG. 2  with the internal valve in a closed position.  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  shows a cross sectional view of the handle portion of  FIG. 2  with the internal valve in an intermediate position.  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  shows a cross sectional view of the handle portion of  FIG. 2  with the internal valve in a fully open position.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]      FIG. 1  shows a spray nozzle assembly  10  which in this embodiment of the invention includes a spray control portion  12  and a handle portion  14 . The handle portion  14  includes a handle housing  16 , a trigger  18  and a handle portion water inlet  20 . The trigger  18  and handle housing  16  are preferably formed of plastic.  
         [0027]     The spray control portion  12  includes spray control portion housing  22 , spray head  24  and spray control knob  26 .  
         [0028]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the handle portion  14  of the spray nozzle assembly  10  is shown in an exploded view. The handle portion  14  includes a lock  28 , a seal  30 , a disc  32 , and a biasing mechanism  34 . The spray control portion  12  also includes two springs  36  and  38 , two o-rings  40  and  42 , a bushing  44  and a plunger  46 . The o-rings  40  and  42  and the seal  30  are made of resilient materials.  
         [0029]     The lock  28  includes locking stem  48  and spring return stem  50 . As shown more clearly in  FIG. 3 , the trigger  18  includes an off notch  52  and an adjacent lock-on notch  54 . The off notch  52  is longer than the lock-on notch  54 , and the off notch  52  and lock-on notch  54  are open to each other along the entire length of the lock-on notch  54 . The trigger  18  also includes two detent retention loops  56  and  58  and a lip  76 . Returning to  FIG. 2 , the disc  32  in this embodiment includes a stem  64 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  shows a cross sectional view of the handle housing  16 . The handle housing  16  includes a trigger well  60  and a trigger detent mechanism  62 . A spring return well  66  and a lock hole  68  are located at the forward portion of the handle housing  16  and a seal well  70  is located around an internal channel  72 . An internal passage  74  is formed between the internal channel  72  and the trigger well  60 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  shows a cross sectional view of the handle housing  16  fully assembled with the disc  32  sealingly engaging the seal  30 . When assembled, the seal  30  is located within the seal well  70  and the disc  32  is located within the internal chamber  72  with the stem  64  of the disc  32  extending through the seal  30 . The spring  34  is located between the disc  32  and the handle portion water inlet  20 . The handle portion water inlet  20  is screwed into the handle housing  16 . In a preferred embodiment, the handle portion water inlet  20  includes a swivel nut assembly as is known in the art.  
         [0032]     The spring  34  is sized such that when the disc  32 , the spring  34  and the handle portion water inlet  20  are assembled into the handle housing  16 , the spring  34  is placed into compression. The spring  34  thus acts as a biasing member urging the disc  32  into sealing engagement with the seal  30 . Accordingly, the seal  30  and the disc  32  form an internal valve, with the seal  30  functioning as a seat.  
         [0033]     The trigger mechanism is assembled with the o-ring  40  and the bushing  44  inserted within the internal passage  74 . The o-ring  42  and the plunger  46  are inserted within the bushing  44 . The plunger  46  extends completely through the internal passage  74  and abuts the stem  64  of the disc  32 . The spring  38  is located between the trigger  18  and the bottom of the trigger well  60 . The detent retention loops  56  and  58  hold the trigger  18  rotatably attached to the detent mechanism  62 . The trigger  18  also contacts the plunger  46 .  
         [0034]     The lock  28  is rotatably attached to the forward portion of the handle housing  16 , with the locking stem  48  inserted though the locking hole  68  of the handle housing  16  and into the off notch  52  of the trigger  18 . The spring  36  is compressed between the spring return well  66  and the spring return stem  50 .  
         [0035]     When the handle portion  14  is assembled as shown in  FIG. 5 , and the trigger mechanism is not activated, the spring  38  pushes against the trigger  18 . Because the locking stem  48  is within the off notch  52 , the trigger  18  is free to move away from the trigger well  60  until the lip  76  on the trigger  18  abuts the locking stem  48 . When the trigger  18  is in this position, the plunger  46  does not exert sufficient force on the stem  64  to tilt the disc  32  off of the seal  30 . More specifically, the spring  34  acts against the disc  32  in the direction of the seal  30  causing the disc  32  to sealingly engage the seal  30 .  
         [0036]     To operate the spray nozzle assembly  10 , a user activates the trigger mechanism by grasping the handle portion  14  and squeezing. This forces the detent retention loops  56  and  58  to rotate about the detent mechanism  62 . The trigger  18  thus pivots about the detent mechanism  62  against the spring  38 . As the spring  38  compresses, the trigger is allowed to move toward the trigger well  60  because the off notch  52  allows the trigger  18  to move with respect to the locking stem  48 . Movement of the trigger  18  forces the plunger  46  against the stem  64  of the disc  32 . As the plunger  46  is forced against the stem  64  of the disc  32 , the disc  32  is tilted partially off of the seal  30 . Initially, the disc  32  pivots about the seal  30  as shown in  FIG. 6 . As the disc  32  pivots, the spring  34  is compressed.  
         [0037]     Accordingly, the internal valve formed by the disc  32  and the seal  30  is placed into the intermediate position shown in  FIG. 6 . In  FIG. 6 , the disc  32  is tilted to a position partially off of the seal  30 . The lower portion of the disc  32  is still in contact with a portion of the seal  30 . Thus, the seal  30  functions as a fulcrum as the disc  32  is tilted against the spring  34  and the water pressure from the position of the disc  32  shown in  FIG. 5  to the position of the disc  32  shown in  FIG. 6 . The trigger  18  is located partially within the trigger well  60 , and the locking stem  48  is located at an intermediate position within the off notch  52 .  
         [0038]     Further opening of the internal valve of the spray nozzle assembly  10  is accomplished by further squeezing of the trigger  18  in the manner discussed above. This eventually results in the internal valve of the spray nozzle assembly  10  being positioned in the fully open position shown in  FIG. 7 . In the fully open position of this embodiment, the disc  32  contacts a portion of the wall of the internal channel  72 . Thus, a portion of the wall of the internal channel  72  functions as a fulcrum as the disc  32  is tilted against the spring  34  and the water pressure after the disc  32  is tilted off of the seal  30  to the position of the disc  32  shown in  FIG. 6 . This allows for the disc  32  to be positioned completely off of the seal  30 .  
         [0039]     Additionally, the locking stem  48  is located within the off notch  52  at a position wherein the off notch  52  and the lock-on notch  54  are open to each other. Accordingly, a user may rotate the lock  28  so as to position the locking stem  48  within the lock-on notch  54 . In this position, the trigger mechanism may be released, and the trigger  18  will be maintained in position by the locking stem  48  contacting the edge of the lock-on notch  54 . Thus, the internal valve formed by the disc  32  and the seal  30  is maintained in an open position.  
         [0040]     Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the above described water spray nozzle offers a number of advantages over prior art water spray nozzles. In addition to the additional control provided by a tiltable disc  32 , the trigger  18  is configured to act as either a class “2” or a class “3” lever. In a class “2” lever, the load is between the fulcrum and the point at which force is applied. In a class “3” lever, the force is applied at a location between the load and the fulcrum.  
         [0041]     With reference to  FIG. 5 , the effective load point on the trigger  18  is determined by combining the load applied to the trigger  18  by the spring  38 , the spring  34 , and the pressure of water applied on the disc  32 . The force of the springs  38  and  34  is a function of the respective spring constants. The force applied by the water is a function of the source water pressure and the size and shape of the disc  32 . The force of the spring  38  is applied to the trigger  18  at the location where the spring  38  contacts the trigger  18 . The force from the spring  34  and the water pressure is applied to the trigger  18  at the location where the plunger  46  contacts the trigger  18 . Thus, the effective load point on the trigger  18  will be at a point between the location where the spring  38  contacts the trigger  18  and the location where the plunger  46  contacts the trigger  18 .  
         [0042]     Accordingly, the trigger  18  may be used as a class “2” lever by applying force to the trigger  18  at a point farther away from the detent mechanism  62  than the effective load point. Alternatively, the trigger  18  may be used as a class “3” lever by applying force to the trigger  18  at a point between the effective load point and the detent mechanism  62  which in either case acts as the fulcrum. Accordingly, a user can obtain the benefits of using trigger  18  either as a class “2” or class “3” lever, merely by adjusting the placement of the spray water nozzle assembly  10  within the user&#39;s grasp.  
         [0043]     While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of exemplary processes and system components, and while the various processes and components have been described in considerable detail, applicant does not intend to restrict or in any limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will also readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broadest aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, implementations, or illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicant&#39;s general inventive concept.