Abstract:
A pivoting blow-gun with a pivoting barrel having sufficient strength to receive pressurized air while at the same time dimensioned to allow the manipulation of the pivoting barrel into non-linear configurations which non-linear configurations are maintainable during use of the blow-gun in order to use the pivoting blow-gun to reach areas which would otherwise be hard to reach. A quick-connect attachment device can be used to permit relatively fast and easy changing of barrels.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to a corresponding provisional application U.S. Ser. No. 60/206,432, filed May 23, 2000 in the name of the applicant of this application. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to blow-guns used to remove debris in a work environment and, more specifically, to a pivoting blow-gun having a pivoting barrel dimensioned to be manipulated into non-linear configurations in order to reach areas which might otherwise be difficult or impossible to reach with a non-pivoting barrel. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Blow-guns are commonly used to remove debris in a work environment, including for example in the engine compartment of a vehicle. When the area requiring the attention of a blow-gun is directly accessible, a standard linear barrel is generally sufficient. However, certain hard-to-reach or obstructed places may be shielded by the blast of air from the linear barrel of a standard blow-gun. Because areas of use vary greatly, it has been heretofore necessary to have multiple blow-guns of variously configured fixed barrels. 
     The use of two or more separate blow-guns requires disconnection of a pressurized air hose to the intake of one blow-gun and then subsequent reconnection of the pressurized air hose to the intake of a second blow-gun. This procedure is both time and labor-intensive and often requires a delay in work. Moreover, this procedure is largely unnecessary since the handle of a blow-gun serves the same function (i.e. receiving air from a pressurized air source via the air intake and then distributing the air to the barrel attachment) regardless of the barrel attached thereto. 
     A single blow-gun having a pivoting barrel capable of achieving non-linear configurations can respond to any number of different situations in a work environment, without the cost and inconvenience of maintaining a plurality of blow-guns having differently-configured fixed barrels. Similarly, a blow-gun with a quick-connect attachment device can allow for the easy swapping of barrel attachments, such as pivoting, telescoping, swiveling, fixed length, etc., thus enabling the use of a single blow-gun with many attachments instead of multiple separate blow-gun units. 
     A need therefore existed for a blow-gun having a quick-connect attachment device capable of coupling to, among other barrels, a pivoting barrel with sufficient strength to act as a barrel for a blow-gun, while at the same time allowing the manipulation of the barrel into non-linear configurations which could then be maintained during use of the blow-gun. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a pivoting blow-gun with a pivoting barrel having sufficient strength to act as a barrel for a blow-gun, while also allowing the manipulation of the pivoting barrel into non-linear configurations which would then be maintained during use of the blow-gun and the passage of air through the barrel. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a blow-gun with a quick-connect attachment device to allow for the easy swapping of barrel attachments, thus enabling the use of a single blow-gun handle unit with a plurality of attachments. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a pivoting blow-gun is disclosed, comprising, in combination, a handle having an intake end and an outtake end and a trigger disposed therebetween, the handle is dimensioned to receive pressurized air through the intake end and deliver the pressurized air through the outtake end, the trigger is dimensioned to regulate the flow of the pressurized air, and a pivoting barrel coupled to the outtake end of the handle, the pivoting barrel having sufficient strength to receive pressurized air from the outtake end of the handle while at the same time the pivoting barrel is dimensioned to allow the manipulation of the pivoting barrel into non-linear configurations, the non-linear configurations are maintainable during passage of air through the pivoting barrel. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a blow-gun is disclosed, comprising, in combination, a handle having an intake end and an outtake end and a trigger disposed therebetween, the handle is dimensioned to receive pressurized air through the intake end and deliver the pressurized air through the outtake end, the trigger is dimensioned to regulate the flow of the pressurized air, a barrel having an intake end and an outtake end; and a quick-connect attachment device comprising two mating members, one of the mating members being located on the outtake end of the handle and a corresponding other of the two mating members being located on the intake end of the barrel. 
     In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a blow-gun useful in cleaning operations is disclosed. The blow-gun comprises, in combination: a handle having an intake end and an outtake end and a trigger disposed therebetween, the handle is dimensioned to receive air through the intake end and deliver the air through the outtake end, the trigger is dimensioned to regulate the flow of the air; a pivoting barrel coupled to the outtake end of the handle, the pivoting barrel having sufficient strength to receive air from the outtake end of the handle while at the same time the pivoting barrel is dimensioned to allow the manipulation of the pivoting barrel into non-linear configurations, the non-linear configurations are maintainable during passage of air through the pivoting barrel; and a cleaning solution hose coupled proximate the outtake end of the handle so as to permit mixing of cleaning solution passing therethrough with the air and discharge of the cleaning solution and the air through the barrel. 
    
    
     The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective, partially exploded view of an embodiment of the pivoting blow-gun of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side, partially cross-sectional view of the pivoting blow-gun of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side, partially exploded view of the pivoting blow-gun of FIG. 1, illustrating flexing of the blow-gun. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the pivoting blow-gun of FIG. 2, taken along line  4 — 4 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective, partially exploded view of another embodiment of the pivoting blow-gun of the present invention, showing the quick-connect attachment device coupling the barrel and handle unit. 
     FIG. 6 is a side, partially cross-sectional view of the pivoting blow-gun of FIG. 5 about the attachment point between the barrel and handle. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of a blow-gun having a shampoo dispensing attachment coupled thereto. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, reference number  10  refers generally to one embodiment of the pivoting blow-gun of the present invention. The pivoting blow-gun  10  generally comprises a handle  12  of the type known in the art. The handle  12  has an intake end  14  and an outtake end  15  and a trigger  17  disposed therebetween. The handle  12  is dimensioned to receive pressurized air through the intake end  14  and deliver the pressurized air through the outtake end  15 . The trigger  17  is dimensioned to regulate the flow of the pressurized air. The pivoting blow-gun  10  further comprises a pivoting barrel  16  coupled to the outtake end  15  of the handle  12 . The pivoting barrel  16  has sufficient strength to receive pressurized air from the outtake end  15  of the handle  12  while at the same time the pivoting barrel  16  is dimensioned to allow the manipulation of the pivoting barrel  16  into non-linear configurations, which non-linear configurations could then be maintained during use of the pivoting blow-gun  10  and the passage of air through the pivoting barrel  16 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the pivoting blow-gun  10  further comprises a tip  18  having an intake end  23  and an outtake end  21 . The intake end  23  of the tip  18  is coupled at an end of the pivoting barrel  16  opposite the handle  12 . The outtake end  21  of the tip  18  is narrower than the intake end  23  of the tip  18  resulting in a more pressurized air flow exiting the outtake end of the tip  18 . The tip  18  preferably has a safety by-pass opening  19  therethrough (see FIG. 4) to allow an exit for the pressurized air in the event that the outtake end  21  of the tip  18  becomes obstructed. While, in the preferred embodiment, the pivoting blow-gun  10  comprises a tip  18  with a safety by-pass opening  19 , it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the pivoting blow-gun  10  which either lacks a tip  18  or which comprises a tip  18  without a safety by-pass opening  19 . 
     The pivoting barrel  16  is comprised of any material or combination of materials having sufficient strength to act as a barrel for a blow-gun, while also allowing the manipulation of the pivoting barrel  16  into non-linear configurations, which non-linear configurations would then be maintained during use of the pivoting blow-gun  10  and the passage of air through the pivoting barrel  16 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the pivoting barrel  16  is comprised of a plurality of hard-plastic interlocking members  20 , although it should be understood that materials other than hard-plastic may be used so long as the material has sufficient strength to act as a barrel for a blow-gun, while also allowing the manipulation of the pivoting barrel  16  into non-linear configurations, which non-linear configurations could then be maintained during use of the pivoting blow-gun  10 . As best shown in FIG. 2, each interlocking member  20  comprises a substantially spherical projection  22 , a substantially triangular base  26 , and a sleeve  24  joining the spherical projection  22  to the triangular base  26 . (Each individual interlocking member  20  is preferably injection-molded.) A channel  28  extends through the interior of the interlocking member  20 , through each of the spherical projection  22 , the triangular base  26 , and the sleeve  24 . As shown in FIG. 2, the channel  28  broadens at the base of the spherical projection  22  and at the top of the triangular base  26 , so that the channel  28  remains open during pivoting of the interlocking members  20  relative to each other, discussed below. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the triangular base  26  has an opening in the bottom portion thereof that is dimensioned to receive and retain a spherical projection  22  from a second interlocking member  20 . The fit between the spherical projection  22  and the triangular base  26  is such that the spherical projection  22  cannot be pulled from the triangular base  26  without the application of a relatively high amount of force not likely to be encountered during typical use of the pivoting blow-gun  10 —so as to avoid accidental separation of interlocking members  20  during use. At the same time, the fit is sufficiently loose so that the individual interlocking members  20  can be pivoted relative to each other in a horizontal or vertical plane (while still keeping the channel  28  open as discussed above), yet sufficiently tight so that the interlocking members  20  will substantially retain their post-pivoted position during use of the pivoting blow-gun  10 . Exemplary positions of the pivoting barrel  16  are shown in FIG. 3, but myriad other configurations are possible. Depending on the particular work environment, it may, for example, be desired to create a particular sharp angle in the pivoting barrel  16 , or even a plurality of angles such as an S-shape. 
     In the preferred embodiment, as discussed herein, the pivoting barrel  16  comprises a plurality of interlocking members  20 . While the interlocking members  20  preferably have the configuration shown and described herein, a virtually infinite number of geometric configurations could yield substantially the same result, and this invention is by no means limited to the specific configuration shown in FIG.  2 . (Whether the interlocking members  20  have the configuration shown and described herein or some other configuration, a further advantage to the use of interlocking members  20  is that the length of the pivoting barrel  16  may be modified, as desired, by adding or removing any number of the interlocking members  20 .) Moreover, a tubing material having substantially the same qualities of flexibility—i.e., allowing bending, etc.—and rigidity—i.e., the barrel remains substantially in position in use after being bent—could also be used without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5-6, an alternative embodiment of the pivoting blow-gun  10 , hereinafter  100 , is shown. The pivoting blow-gun  100  is substantially the same as before, except that a quick-connect attachment device  30  is used to couple the handle  12  to the barrel  16 . The quick-connect attachment device  30  is of the type known in the art. The quick-connect attachment device  30  consists of a male member  32 , preferably located at the base of the pivoting barrel  16 , and a corresponding a female member  34  located at the outtake end  15  of the handle  12 . (Of course, the location of the male member  32  and female member  34  could be reversed.) In the preferred embodiment of the pivoting blow-gun  100 , the barrel coupled to the quick-connect attachment device  30  is the same pivoting barrel  16  described in the pivoting blow-gun  10 , above. However, it should be clearly understood that one benefit of the quick-connect attachment device  30  is that a variety of different barrels, such as telescopic, fixed, swiveling, etc. can be easily swapped for one another in the blow-gun  100  using the quick-connect attachment device  30 , provided that such barrel has thereon the mating member needed to couple with the quick-connect member located on the handle  12 . 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     For example, the blow gun  10  or  100  may be used to discharge air—alone or in combination with other matter. For example, FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of a blow gun  200 , which is adapted to discharge air. The blow gun  200  comprises a handle  212  having an intake end  214  and an outtake end  215  and a trigger  217  disposed therebetween. The handle  212  is dimensioned to receive air through the intake end  214  and deliver the air through the outtake end  215 . The trigger  217  is dimensioned to regulate the flow of the air. A barrel  216 , constructed like the barrel  16  described above, is coupled to a two-in-one coupler  218 , to which two-in-one coupler  218  is also attached a cleaning solution hose  220 . (The cleaning solution hose  220  is, in turn, be coupled to a source of cleaning solution (not shown). The two-in-one coupler  218  is positioned at the outtake end  215  of the handle  212 . 
     As air, is discharged through the outtake end  215  of the handle  212  and into the barrel  216  through the two-in-one coupler  218 , cleaning solution is drawn through the cleaning solution hose  220  in the direction of the two-in-one coupler  218 . The cleaning solution and air will mix and be dispensed through the barrel  216 . In this manner, a cleaning solution can be applied to an area that cannot readily be reached using a linear barrel.