NOZZLE STRUCTURE FOR ATOMIZATION

Abstract: An atomization nozzle structure capable of freely turning is disposed on an atomization operation member having a valve stem fitting hole to be fitted over a valve stem of a mountain cap at a can upper end portion. While the atomization nozzle structure is suspended, a jet port of a jet port member is opened and the atomization nozzle structure is turned through 90 degrees to a horizontal position, the atomization nozzle structure is positioned in such a manner as to bring a horizontal holding plate into contact with, or close to, the upper surface of the jet port member at the position at which it covers the jet port of the jet port member, and the root portion of the atomization nozzle structure is shaped to have a surface suitable for rotation on the opposite side to the jet port so that an atomization operation member is turnably operated.

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a spray nozzle device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a spray nozzle device having a rotatable nozzle assembly which can be easily assembled thanks to its simple structure, and which has two types of spray outlets and a structure which can prevent leakage at a face which rotates when the spray outlet is switched. Such a nozzle assembly for spraying is highly versatile because an existing jet port of a valve stem can be used. BACKGROUND ART As shown in, for example, Figs. 9 through 10, a known switchable long nozzle device for spraying comprises a short base pipe 50 to project from the external face of a push button and a narrow pipe 51 of a required length which is coupled rotatably to the tip face of the pipe 50 (refer to Japanese Examined Utility Model Publication No. 13805/1978). In the nozzle device, a circular portion 52 of a larger diameter at the rear end portion of the narrow pipe 51 is rotatably received by way of its shaft between opposed holding pieces 53 formed at the tip of the base pipe 50. In the position shown in Fig. 9, the content is sprayed from a spray port 54, and in the position (not shown) where the narrow pipe 51 is rotated by 90 degrees into a horizontal orientation, the content is sprayed through an inlet port 55 and a passage 56 of the narrow pipe. In such a nozzle device, there is a risk of the content, which might remain at the spray port 54 after spraying operation, leaking from the spray port 54 when the narrow pipe 51 is rotated into the horizontal state. Further, a tip portion 58 of a spray port member tube 57 is likely to be deformed inwardly due to, for example, misengagement during pressure insertion of the inclined end of such tip portion since the tube 57 is merely fitted into a hole of the circular portion 52. In such a case, a gap is formed in the external periphery of the tip portion 58, thereby causing the problem of the passage 56 being communicated with the passage 59 leading to the spray port 54. The present invention aims to provide a spray nozzle device of a simple structure which can overcome such problems. Another known device having a rotatable nozzle switching arrangement is disclosed in JP-U-3-64276. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a rotatably operable nozzle device for an operating member for spraying which has a valve stem engaging hole for engageably receiving a valve stem of a mounting cap at an upper end of a canister, the nozzle device comprising: a base member including a passage for communicating with a said valve stem through said operating member for spraying; and a nozzle assembly mounted on said base member and forming a nozzle, said nozzle assembly including a spray port member having a spray port and on the side opposite the spray port a rotation face permitting the nozzle assembly to be rotated relative to the base member between a first position in which the nozzle points downwardly and the spray port is opened for spraying, and a second position in which the nozzle points horizontally and communicates with the passage, characterized in that the base member includes a cover plate positioned so that as the nozzle assembly is rotated by 90 degrees from said first to said second position a top face of said spray port member approaches and is brought into contact with said cover plate disposed horizontally so as to cover said spray port. In an embodiment, the nozzle assembly has a base portion including said rotation face, and a nozzle portion projecting from said base portion, said base portion, including an internal body of cylindrical shape forming a passage for spraying in said base portion, said passage for spraying communicating with the passage in the base member in said first rotational position of the nozzle assembly and said spray port member including a cylindrical portion fitted to a tip of said cylindric internal body. The nozzle may further include an elastic sealing member fitted between said rotation face and the base member and permitting rotation of the nozzle assembly. The sealing member may be an O ring. The rotation face of the nozzle assembly may be spherical. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a spray nozzle device according to the invention, in a position for spraying from a spray port of a spray port member in the rotatable nozzle assembly for spraying; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the Fig. 1 spray nozzle device in a position for spraying from the tip portion of the nozzle assembly for spraying, with the spray port having been rotated by 90 degrees and covered by a horizontal cover plate; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the spray nozzle device of Figs. 1 and 2 showing an arrangement where a rotating shaft portion functioning as a rotating center for the nozzle assembly is supported by two opposed side walls; Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing an arrangement of the spray nozzle device for spraying from the spray port, wherein a tip portion of a long nozzle assembly for spraying points downwardly; Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing the spray nozzle device of Fig. 4 arranged for spraying from the tip portion of the long nozzle assembly for spraying, with the spray port having been rotated by 90 degrees and covered by a horizontal cover plate; Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing the spray nozzle device of Figs. 4 and 5 as seen from the side of the spray port in the position of Fig. 4 for spraying from the spray port in; Fig. 7 is a schematic view of another spray nozzle device according to the invention showing an arrangement for spraying from a spray port of a spray port member in a spiral tube nozzle assembly for spraying; Fig. 8 is a schematic view showing the spray nozzle of Fig. 7 in which the content to be sprayed is sprayed from a tip, with a needle-shaped tip portion of the spiral tube nozzle assembly for spraying being inserted into a tatami mat; Fig. 9 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a connecting portion between a base pipe and a narrow pipe in a conventional long nozzle; and Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line I - I of Fig. 9. The nozzle device for spraying according to the present invention includes, ,for example, a long nozzle assembly for spraying and spiral tube nozzle assembly for spraying. These two types of nozzle assembly for spraying will be described respectively hereinbelow with reference to Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2. EMBODIMENT 1 In the present Embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 through 6, a long nozzle assembly for spraying is formed by connecting a long nozzle 20 for spraying with a nozzle assembly 1 for spraying. A rotatably operable nozzle assembly 1 for spraying is provided to an operating member 3 for spraying which has a valve stem engaging hole 10 for engageably receiving a valve stem of a mounting cap at an upper end of a canister. A spray port 7 of a spray port member 2 forming part of the nozzle assembly 1 is opened when the long nozzle assembly 1 for spraying points downwardly. On the other hand, when the long nozzle assembly for spraying 1 is rotated by ninety degrees relative to a base member 4 incorporating a passage 13 for the content from the canister, into a horizontal position, the top face of the spray port member 2 approaches and is brought into contact with a suitably positioned horizontal cover plate 6 of the base member in a position for covering the spraying port 7 of the spray port member 2. On the side opposite to the spray port 7, the base portion of the nozzle assembly for spraying is formed with a spherical face 12 or the like suitable for rotation. An elastic sealing member 5 such as an O ring and packing is provided, as occasion demands, at a position where it contacts with the face 12. A cylindrical portion of the spray port member 2 is externally fitted to the tip of an internal cylindrical body 14 which forms a passage in the base portion of the long nozzle assembly for spraying, so that it is difficult to detach the spray port member from the base portion. The spraying operation can be conducted with the spray port 7 of the spray port member 2 being opened in a condition where the long nozzle assembly for spraying points downwardly. When the long nozzle assembly for spraying is rotated by 90 degrees into a horizontal position, the spray port member 2 approaches and is brought into contact with the horizontal cover plate 6 in a position for covering the spray port 7 of the spray port member 2. An opening 11 provided in the base portion of the long nozzle assembly for spraying then communicates with the passage 13, thereby enabling the spraying operation from the tip of the long nozzle assembly for spraying. EMBODIMENT 2 In this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 1 through 3, and Figs. 7 and 8, a spiral tube nozzle assembly for spraying is formed by connecting a spiral tube nozzle 17 for spraying with a nozzle assembly 1 for spraying. A rotatably operable spiral nozzle assembly for spraying is provided to an operating member 3 for spraying which has a valve stem engaging hole 10 for engageably receiving a valve stem of a mounting cap at an upper end of a canister. A spray port 7 of a spray port member 2 forming part of the nozzle assembly 1 is opened when the spiral tube nozzle for spraying projects downwardly. On the other hand, when the spiral tube nozzle assembly for spraying 1 is rotated by 90 degrees relative to a base member 4 incorporating a passage 13 for the content from the canister into a horizontal position, the top face of the spray port member 2 approaches and is brought into contact with a suitably positioned horizontal cover plate 6 of the base member in a position for covering the spray port 7 of the spray port member 2. Further, on the side opposite to the spray port 7, a base portion of the nozzle assembly for spraying is formed with a face 12 suitable for rotation, and an elastic sealing member 5 is positioned, as occasion demands, so as to contact with the face 12. With this arrangement, and with the spiral tube nozzle assembly for spraying rotatably projected from the operating member 3 for spraying, the leakage from the communication path between the opening 11 provided in the base portion and the passage 13 can be eliminated thanks to provision of the elastic sealing member 5. In these embodiments of the invention, a cylindrical portion of the spray port member 2 is externally fitted to the tip of an internal cylindrical body 14 which forms a passage in the base portion of the nozzle assembly 1 for spraying, so that it is difficult to detach the spray port member 2 from the base portion. The spray port 7 of the spray port member 2 is opened to allow spraying when the nozzle assembly for spraying projects downwardly, and when the nozzle assembly 1 for spraying is rotated by 90 degrees into a horizontal position, the top face of the spray port member 2 approaches and is brought into contact with the horizontal cover plate 6 in a position for covering the spray port 7. Thus, in the case of the long nozzle assembly for spraying, the spraying operation can be surely conducted from the tip thereof, and the spraying operation can be surely conducted up to a location narrow in width and deep in length. Furthermore, a needle-shaped tip portion of the spiral tube may be pierced into a tatami mat in the case of the spiral tube nozzle assembly for spraying, so as to make it possible to spray from the tip thereof. Since the base portion of the nozzle assembly 1 is formed on the side opposite the spray port 7 with a face 12 suitable for rotation, an elastic sealing member 5 is provided at a position where it facingly contacts with the face 12, and the nozzle assembly for spraying 1 is rotatably projected from the operating member for spraying 3, the leakage from the communication path between the opening 11 provided in the base portion and the passage 13 can be eliminated. Furthermore, since the horizontal cover plate is formed in such a position that the spray port 7 of the spray port member 2 approaches and is brought into contact with it when the nozzle assembly 1 for spraying is rotated by 90 degrees into a horizontal position, thus covering the spray port, leakage from the spray port 7 is prevented, permitting effective spraying from the tip of the nozzle assembly 1 for spraying. Thus, a nozzle assembly for spraying having two types of spray ports with different spray directions can be easily assembled thanks to a simple structure thereof, and leakage can be prevented. Especially, the spraying operation can be conducted up to a location deep in length in the case of a long nozzle. Further, in the case of a spiral tube nozzle, it is useful as a nozzle assembly wherein the spraying operation can be conducted with the tip needle-shaped portion being pierced into a tatami mat.

Claims: A rotatably operable nozzle device for an operating member for spraying (3) which has a valve stem engaging hole (10) for engageably receiving a valve stem of a mounting cap at an upper end of a canister, the nozzle device comprising: a base member (4) including a passage (13) for communicating with a said valve stem through said operating member for spraying (3); and a nozzle assembly mounted on said base member and forming a nozzle, said nozzle assembly including a spray port member (2) having a spray port (7) and on the side opposite the spray port a rotation face (12) permitting the nozzle assembly to be rotated relative to the base member between a first position in which the nozzle points downwardly and the spray port is opened for spraying, and a second position in which the nozzle points horizontally and communicates with the passage characterized in that the base member includes a cover plate (6) positioned so that as the nozzle assembly is rotated by 90 degrees from said first to said second position a top face of said spray port member approaches and is brought into contact with said cover plate disposed horizontally so as to cover said spray port and block it. A rotatably operable nozzle device according to claim 1, wherein said nozzle assembly has a base portion including said rotation face, and a nozzle portion projecting from said base portion, said base portion, including an internal body (14) of cylindrical shape forming a passage for spraying in said base portion, said passage for spraying communicating with the passage in the base member in said first rotational position of the nozzle assembly and said spray port member including a cylindrical portion fitted to a tip of said cylindric internal body. A rotatably operable nozzle device according to claim 1 or claim 2, further including an elastic sealing member (5) fitted between said rotation face and the base member and permitting rotation of the nozzle assembly. A rotatably operable nozzle device according to claim 3, wherein said sealing member is an O ring. A rotatably operable nozzle device according to any preceding claim, wherein said rotation face is spherical.

Inventors: KITABAYASHI SEIICHI, TAKAHASHI NAOKI, KITABAYASHI, SEIICHI, TAKAHASHI, NAOKI
Applicants: EARTH CHEMICAL CO, EARTH CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B05B9
IPC codes: B05B9, B05B1, B05C11