SPRAY APPARATUS

Abstract: A spray apparatus (10) characterised in that it comprises a cap means (12) having a first recess (18) arranged to be, in use, secured to an outlet nozzle (24) of a pressurized dispenser (16) and a second recess (20) provided in communication with the first recess (18) and arranged to direct and confine a quantity of fluid from the outlet nozzle (24) and the spray apparatus (10) comprising a handle means (14) arranged to be, in use, secured to an end of the pressurized dispenser (16) opposite the nozzle (24), the cap means (12) being arranged such that axial force applied by a user to the handle means (14) causes the cap means (12) to deflect the nozzle (24) to release a quantity of fluid.

Description: TITLE SPRAY APPARATUS DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a spray apparatus. . The spray apparatus of the present invention is partic¬ ularly envisaged for use in spraying weeds and the like with poison, although it is to be understood that it is of general applicability. FIELD OF THE INVENTION In general, poison sprays used to kill weeds and the like are packaged in pressurized dispensers such as aerosol cans and the like and comprise means to enable a user to direct a spray of the poison toward the weed. Such apparatus often result in wastage of the poison due to poor direction and/or lack of confinement of the spray. Also lack of sufficient direction and/or confinement may lead to accidental poisoning of non weed vegetation. " Further, operation of conventional pressurized dispen¬ sers may lead to overspray contacting the skin of an operator thereof. Thus, conventional pressurized dispensers are generally limited to containing and dispensing fluids which will substantially not affect the skin of an operator. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a spray apparatus capable of confining and directing a quantity of fluid from a pressurized dispenser and providing remote actuation of the pressurized dispenser. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a spray apparatus characterised in that it comprises a cap means having a first recess arranged to be, in use, secured to an outlet nozzle of a pressurized dispenser and a second recess provided in communication with the first recess and arranged to direct and/or confine a quantity of fluid from the outlet nozzle and the spray apparatus comprising a handle means arranged to be, in use, secured to. an end of the pressurized dispenser opposite the nozzle, the cap means being arrranged such that axial force applied by a user to the handle means causes the cap means to deflect the nozzle and release a quantity of fluid. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a cap means for a pressur- ized dispenser having an outlet nozzle, the cap means characterised in that it comprises a first recess arranged to be secured to the outlet nozzle, a second recess provided in communication with the first recess and arranged to direct and/or confine a quantity of fluid from the outlet nozzle, and a relatively narrow conduit disposed between and connecting the first recess and the second recess. In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a handle means for a press- urized dispenser having an outlet nozzle at one end and a circumferential lip at an opposite end, the handle means characterised in that it comprises a brace arranged to be secured about the circumferential lip and a handle attached to the brace and disposed away from the pressurized dispenser. Preferably, the cap means comprises a clip means arranged to clippably and slidably secure the cap means to the pressurized dispenser in a first condition so that the cap means may be moved substantially in line with the nozzle to actuate the nozzle to release a quantity of fluid. Preferably, the cap means also comprises a bevel to secure the cap means to the pressurized dispenser in a second condition to substantially cover and protect the nozzle. The present invention will hereinafter be described with particular reference to pressurized dispensers being aerosol cans although it is to be understood that it is of general applicability, for example utilising plastics material dispensers. " BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in whic :- Figure 1 is a schematic cross sectional side view of a spray apparatus in accordance with the present invention, shown in use connected to an aerosol can; Figure 2 is an enlarged schematic cross sectional side view of a handle means of the spray apparatus of Figure 1, shown in use connected to an aerosol can; Figures 3 and 4 are schematic cross sectional side views of a cap means of the spray apparatus of Figure 1, shown in use connected to an aerosol can; and Figure 5 is a schematic upper perspective view of a sled means having the spray apparatus of Figure 1 connected to it. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In Figure 1, there is shown a spray apparatus 10 comprising a cap means 12 and a handle means 14 shown secured to an aerosol can 16. As particularly shown in Figures 3 and 4 the cap means 12 comprises a first recess 18, and a second recess 20 and a connecting conduit 22. The first recess 18 is intended, in use, to be arranged about a nozzle 24 of the aerosol can 16. Preferably, the first recess 18 is arranged about the nozzle 24 such that a quantity of fluid exiting the nozzle 24 is directed by the first recess 18 to the conduit 22 and there through to the second recess 20. The conduit.22 is preferably relatively narrow so.as to cause the fluid passing through it to form a spray. The second recess 20 is relatively large and is intended to direct and confine the spray of fluid eminating from the conduit 22. It is further intended that the second mass 22 be of such a dimension as to surround an object, such as, for example, a weed, to be sprayed. Preferably, the induced spray of fluid substantially covers the cross sectional area of the second mass 20. The cap means 12 also comprises a clip means 26 located adjacentto the recess 18 and arranged to clippably and slidably secure the cap means 12 to a top 28 of the aerosol can 16 in a first condition ready for use. Specifically, the clip means 26 may clip to a ridge 30 or a lip 32 of the aerosol can 16. Preferably, the clip means 26 allows the cap means 12 to be slidable in relation ,to the aerosol can 16 so that, in use, the nozzle 24 may be depressed by the cap means 12, to release a quantity of fluid in known manner. The cap means 12 may also comprise a bevel 34 to allow the cap means 12 to be clippably secured to the top 28 of the aerosol can 16 in a second condition, considered as a storage condition. In the second condition the second recess 20 surrounds the nozzle 24 and thereby covers and protects it. Accordingly, the second recess 20 is to be at least large enough so that the nozzle 24 does not protrude into the conduit 22 when in the second condition. In the second condition a plug 36 may be located in an end of the cap means 12 adjacent the recess 18 to sub¬ stantially prevent entry of dirt and the like, or exit of surplus fluid collected about the recesses 18 and 20 and the conduit 22. The handle means, as best shown in Figure 2, convenien¬ tly comprises a shaft 50, a handle 52 connected to one end of the shaft 50 and a brace 54 connected to an opposite end of the shaft 50. The length of the shaft 50 may be varied according to the desired application. The brace 54 comprises an inner circumferential trough 56 arranged to receive, in use, an outer circumferential lip 58 of the spray can 16 in order to fix the handle means 14 to the aerosol can 16. It is envisaged that the brace 54 would be secured to the spray can 16 in an alternative manner, such as, for example, with a semispherical disc arranged to locate within the rib 58 adjacent a bottom 59 of the aerosol can 16. It is also envisaged that the circumferential trough 56 may be interrupted so"as to have, for example, a cross type shape. The handle means 14 is conveniently provided to allow a user to remotely operate the aerosol can 16, for example application of poison to weeds on the ground whilst the operator stands substantially erect. However, it is to be understood that the cap means 12 may be operated to actuate the nozzle 24 to release a quantity of fluid without the use of the handle means 14. In use, the spray apparatus 10 of the present invention is secured to opposite ends of the aerosol can 16. The brace 54 is secured about the lip 58 of the aerosol can 16. The cap means 12 is arranged so that the recess 18 fits about the nozzle 24 of the aerosol can 16 with the clip means 26 arranged to slidably secure the cap means 12 to the top 28 of the aerosol can 16, for example, as shown in Figure 3. The handle 52 of the spray apparatus 10,-with the aerosol can 16 attached, is grasped by a user and the second recess 20 directed toward a weed or the like to. be sprayed. The cap means 12 is rested upon the weed and to surround at least a part of the weed and axial force applied to the handle 52, by the user, to depress the nozzle 24 to release a quantity of poison from the aerosol can 16. The quantity of poison is conducted by the conduit 22 to the second recess 20. Upon exiting the conduit 22 the quantity of .poison is caused to form a spray of poison directed over a large extent of the cross sectional area of the recess 20. The walls defining the recess 20 confine the spray so that the poison is directed to the weeds or the like which are to be sprayed and substantially prevented from being accidentally sprayed onto neighbouring vegetation. It has been found that due to the relative large dimension of the second recess 20 the clip means 26 is required to guide the axial movement of the cap means 12 during operation. Otherwise, should the weed of the like subside a one side of the recess 20 or provide uneven resistance to the cap means 12 side ways movement of the cap means 12 with respect to the aerosol can 16 could result. Accordingly, it is likely that the nozzle 24 could be damaged thereby and the aerosol can 16 be rendered useless. The clip means 26 substantially obviates such difficulties.in useage. As shown in Figure 5, it is envisaged that the spray apparatus 10 could be coupled to a sled means 70. For such purpose the cap means 12 is provided with an outer circumferential abutment 71. The abutment 71 is arranged to abutt against a ring 71a fixed atop the sled means 70 and about a hole therein. The sled means 70 is intended to be dragged along a path or the like to which poison is to be applied. The edges 72 of the sled 70 confine the lateral divergence of the spray emerging from the hole. Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention. For example, the cross sectional area of the second recess 20 couldbe other than circular. Also, dye application means could be provided to dispense a portion of dye or the like, as desired, to provide a visual indication as to where the poison spray has been applied. Such a dye could be a water soluble and biodegradable dye.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A spray apparatus characterised in that it comp¬ rises a cap means having a first recess arranged to be, in use, secured to an outlet nozzle of a pressurized dispenser and a second recess provided in communication with the first recess and arranged to direct and/or confine a quantity of fluid from the outlet nozzle and the spray apparatus comprising a handle means arranged to be., in use, secured to an end of the pressurized dispenser opposite the nozzle, the cap means being arranged such that, axialforce applied by a user to the handle means causes the cap means to deflect the nozzle andrelease a quantity of fluid. 2. A spray apparatus according to Claim 1, charact- erised in that the cap means comprises a conduit disposed between and connecting the first recess and the second recess and formed to cause the fluid passing through it from the first recess to the second recess to form a spray. „ * 3. A spray apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterised in that the cap means comprises a clip means located adjacent the first recess and arranged to clippably and slidably secure the cap means to the pressurized dispenser in a first condition so that the cap means may be moved substantially in line with the nozzle to actuate the nozzle to release a quantity of fluid. 4. A spray apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cap means comprises a bevel arranged to secure the cap means to the pressurized dispenser in a second- ondition to substantially cover and protect the nozzle. * 5. A spray apparatus according to Claim 4, charact¬ erised in that the cap means comprises a plug arranged to seal off the cap means when in the second condition. 6. A cap means for a pressurized dispenser having an outlet nozzle, the cap means characterised in that it comprises a first recess arranged to be secured to the outlet nozzle, a second recess provided in communication with, the first recess and arranged to direct and/or confine a quantity of fluid from the outlet nozzle, and a conduit disposed between and connecting the first recess and the second recess. 7. A cap means according to Claim 6, characterised in that the conduit is formed to cause the fluid passing through it from the first recess to the second recess to form a spray. 8. A cap means according to Claim 6 or 7, character¬ ised in that it comprises a clip means Ipcated adjacent the first recess and arranged to clippably and slidably secure the cap means to the pressurized dispenser in a first condition so that the cap means may be moved substantially in line with the nozzle to actuate the nozzle to release a quantity of fluid. 9. A cap means according to any one of the preceding Claims 6 to 8, characterised in that it comprises a bevel arranged to secure the cap means to the pressur¬ ized dispenser in a second condition to substantially cover and protect the nozzle. lo. A cap means according to Claim 9, characterised in that it comprises a plug arranged to seal off the cap means when in the second condition. 11. A handle means for a pressurized dispenser having an outlet nozzle at one end and a circumferential lip at an opposite end, the handle means characterised in that it comprises a brace arranged to be secured about the circumferential lip and a handle attached to the brace and disposed away from the pressurized dispenser.

Inventors: GODWELL KENNETH FRANCIS, GODWELL, KENNETH, FRANCIS
Applicants: GODWELL KENNETH FRANCIS, GODWELL, KENNETH, FRANCIS
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B05B15
IPC codes: B65D83