A hand-held dispenser for precisely controlling the flow rate of water therethrough and for precisely controlling the metering of a liquid chemical into the water passing through the apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a hand-held dispenser and more particularly to a hand-held dispenser which is capable of controlling the flow rate of water therethrough and for controlling the metering of a liquid chemical into the water passing through the dispenser.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many types of dispensers have been previously provided which may be connected to the end of a water hose or the like wherein the device introduces chemicals into the water flow so that a lawn or the like may be sprayed. The devices of the prior art are also able to inject liquid chemicals into a water stream so that a mop bucket, etc., may be filled with water, detergent or other chemicals.

To applicant's knowledge, none of the prior art devices are able to conveniently and economically precisely control the rate of water flow through the device but to also precisely control the metering of liquid chemicals into the precisely controlled flow of water.

In applicant's co-pending application, a solution to the problems of the prior art is disclosed. The instant invention is believed to be an improvement in the invention of the co-pending application. Although the invention of applicant's co-pending application has been well-accepted, it has been found that certain customers have a preference for a single flow rate of water through the spool member such as two gallons per minute but some of those same customers desire to have at least two chemical injection rates for dispensing into the water available to them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A hand-held dispenser is described for precisely controlling the flow rate of water therethrough and for precisely controlling the metering of a liquid chemical into the water passing through the apparatus. The apparatus of this invention comprises a body member which includes a generally horizontally disposed first body portion having opposite sides, an inlet end, a discharge end, and a first fluid passageway extending between the inlet and discharge ends. The first body portion has a transversely extending spool opening formed thereon which extends between the opposite sides thereof and which communicates with the first fluid passageway. The inlet end of the first body portion is adapted to be secured to a source of water under pressure.

A spool member is mounted in the spool opening and has an inlet end, an outlet end, an upper end, a lower end, and first and second sides. The spool member has a second fluid passageway extending between its inlet end and its outlet end which communicates with the first fluid passageway. The spool member has a third fluid passageway formed therein which extends from the second fluid passageway to the lower end of the spool member.

The body member also includes a generally vertically extending second body portion, having upper and lower ends, and first and second sides. The second body portion has a transversely extending, horizontally disposed cylindrical bore, having first and second ends, formed therein below the spool opening which extends between the first and second sides of the second body portion. The body member also has a fourth fluid passageway formed therein which extends downwardly from the spool opening to the cylindrical bore. The second body portion also has a fifth fluid passageway formed therein which extends from the cylindrical bore to the lower end of the second body portion. The fifth fluid passageway is in communication with a source of liquid chemical.

A cylindrical chemical metering valve, having first and second ends, is selectively rotatably mounted in the cylindrical bore and is rotatable between first and second positions. The metering valve has radially spaced-apart first and second transversely extending metering passageways formed therein, each of which has an inlet end a discharge end. The first and second metering passageways permit different chemical flow rates therethrough due to the different sized metering tips associated therewith.

When the metering valve is in its first position, the inlet end of the first metering passageway is in fluid communication with the fifth fluid passageway and the discharge end of the first metering passageway is in fluid communication with the fourth fluid passageway. When the metering valve is in its second position, the inlet end of the second metering passageway is in fluid communication with the fifth fluid passageway and the discharge end of the second metering passageway is in fluid communication with the fourth fluid passageway.

Thus, the liquid chemical may be injected into the flow of water passing through the first body portion at two different rates depending upon whether the metering valve is in its first position or in its second position.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved chemical dispenser.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved hand-held dispenser which dispenses chemicals mixed with water.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of the type described which enables the precise controlling of the flow rate of water therethrough and the precise metering of a liquid chemical into the water passing through the dispenser.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hand-held dispenser which is either disposable or reusable.

Still another object of the invention is to a dispenser which permits chemicals to be injected into a flow of water passing therethrough in two different rates.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The dispenser of the co-pending application is illustrated inFIGS. 1-8while the dispenser of the instant application is illustrated inFIGS. 9-13. InFIGS. 1-8, the dispenser of the co-pending application is referred to generally by the reference numeral10and is preferably of the hand-held type. Dispenser10includes a dispenser body12which is generally T-shaped in configuration and which includes a generally horizontally disposed body portion14and a generally vertically disposed body portion16. Obviously, body portion14will not always be horizontally disposed when being used nor will body portion16always be substantially vertically disposed when in use.

Body portion14includes an inlet end18which preferably has a rotatable dispenser nut or connector20mounted thereon so that a water hose or the like may be secured thereto with the water hose being in communication with a source of water under pressure. It is preferred that a backflow preventer21of conventional design be imposed between the water hose and the inlet end18. The outlet or discharge end22of the body portion14may have any type of spray deflector nozzle23or the like mounted thereon, if so desired. Body portion14includes a first fluid passageway24extending from the inlet end18to the discharge end or outlet end22.

Body portion14is provided with a transversely extending spool opening28which intersects and which is in communication with the fluid passageway24. An elongated, preferably rectangular in cross section, spool30is slidably mounted in spool opening28and is movable between at least first and second positions. Spool30is provided with end caps32and34mounted on the opposite ends thereof which are removably mounted thereon and which limit the movement of the spool30with respect to the body portion14. For purposes of description, spool30will be described as having opposite ends36and38, opposite sides40and42, a lower end44and an upper end46.

At least two water flow control passageways50and52extend between sides40and42and have different diameters. At least two chemical flow passageways54and56extend upwardly into spool30from the lower end thereof so as to be in fluid communication with the water flow control passageways50and52, respectively. The chemical flow passageways54and56have different diameters.

When spool30is in its first position, water flow control passageway50is in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway24and the chemical flow passageway54will be in fluid communication with water flow control passageway50. When spool30is in its second position, water flow control passageway52is in communication with the first fluid passageway24and the chemical flow passageway56will be in communication with water flow control passageway52.

The vertically disposed body portion16is provided with a second fluid passageway58extending therethrough with the upper end thereof being in communication with the spool opening28. The numeral60refers to a rotary on-off valve which extends transversely through the first fluid passageway24so that the flow of water therethrough may be controlled.

The numeral62refers to a rotating collar mounted on the lower end of body portion16to enable the dispenser to be connected to a conventional chemical container.

With a liquid chemical container having liquid chemical therein is secured to the collar62and with the dispenser on-off valve60in its open position, and with the dispenser spool in its first position, liquid chemical will be drawn upwardly through the second fluid passageway58as water passes through first fluid passageway24. The liquid chemical in second fluid passageway58will pass through chemical flow passageway54, water flow control passageway50and into fluid passageway24. With the spool30in its second position, liquid chemical will be drawn upwardly through the fluid passageway58, through chemical flow passageway56, through water flow control passageway52and into fluid passageway24. By providing the dispenser spool30with the water flow control passageways50,52and the chemical flow passageways54,56, the chemical added to the water is precisely metered depending upon the diameters of the chemical flow passageways54and56. The flow of water through the dispenser is precisely controlled through the use of the variable diameter water flow control passageways50and52. Although the dispenser spool30is described as having a pair of chemical flow passageways and a pair of water flow control passageways formed therein, the dispenser spool30could be provided with additional sets of chemical flow passageways and water flow control passageways with the dispenser spool being selectively movable between a plurality of operating positions.

Referring now to the invention of this application, and more particularly toFIGS. 9-13, the dispenser of the instant application is referred to generally by the reference numeral110and is preferably of the hand-held type. Dispenser110includes a dispenser body112which is generally T-shaped in configuration and which includes a generally horizontally disposed body portion114and a generally vertically disposed body portion116. Obviously, body portion114will not always be horizontally disposed when being used nor will body portion116always be substantially vertically disposed when in use.

Body portion114includes an inlet end118which preferably has a rotatable dispenser nut or connector120mounted thereon so that a water hose or the like may be secured thereto with the water hose being in communication with a source of water under pressure. It is preferred that a backflow preventer121of conventional design be imposed between the water hose and the inlet end118. The outlet or discharge end122of the body portion114may have any type of spray deflector nozzle123or the like mounted thereon, if so desired, as seen inFIG. 12. Body portion114includes a first fluid passageway124extending from the inlet end118to the discharge end or outlet end122.

Body portion114is provided with a transversely extending spool opening128which intersects and which is in communication with the fluid passageway124. An elongated, preferably rectangular in cross section, spool130is selectively removably mounted in spool opening128. For purposes of description, spool130will be described as having opposite ends136and138, opposite sides140and142, a lower end144and an upper end146.

A second fluid passageway150extends between the inlet end and outlet end of the spool member130which communicates with the first fluid passageway124. The spool member130has a third fluid passageway152formed therein which extends from the second fluid passageway150to the lower end of the spool member130. The body112has a fourth fluid passageway154formed therein which extends downwardly from the spool opening128to a cylindrical bore156which is formed in body portion116below spool opening128. The second body portion116has a fifth fluid passageway158formed therein which extends from the cylindrical bore156to the lower end of the back portion116. The fifth fluid passageway158is in communication with a source of liquid chemical contained within container C which is connected to the lower end of body portion116.

A cylindrical chemical metering valve160, having end portions162and164, is selectively rotatably mounted in the cylindrical bore156and is rotatable between first and second positions. The metering valve160has radially spaced-apart first and second transversely extending metering passageways166and168, respectively, formed therein each of which has an inlet end and a discharge end. Metering tips170and172are mounted in the discharge ends of the metering passageways166and168, respectively, which permit different chemical flow rates therethrough. In other words, the orifices of the metering tips170and172have different diameters.

Handle174is mounted on end portion162of valve160while handle176is mounted on end portion164of valve160. End portions162and164are secured together by a screw178so that handles174and176are disposed at right angles to one another. Valve160is selectively rotatable between first and second positions relative to the spool130. When valve160is in its first position ofFIGS. 9 and 10, handle176will be horizontally disposed and spaced from the stop163. which extends outwardly from end portion136of spool130and handle176will be in engagement with stop163which extends outwardly from end portion138of spool130. In the first position, metering passageway168will be in communication with passageways154and158. In the second position of valve160, handle174will be in engagement with stop163and handle176will be horizontally disposed. In the second position, metering passageway166will be in communication with passageways154and158.

Thus, the dispenser110permits the user to pass water through the body at a particular flow rate which will depend upon the diameter of the passageway124. The user can select the chemical injection rate between two options available to the user by simply rotating valve160between its two positions. If the user desires a different water flow rate, the spool130may be replaced by a spool having a different diameter passageway extending therethrough.