Abstract:
Adjustable nozzles are disclosed. Nozzles of the present invention include an adjustable component for controlling the water flow through the nozzle. Instead of disassembling the nozzle, a tool may be used to adjust the adjustable component. For example, the adjustable component may be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the axis of the nozzle or rotationally using the tool, thereby increasing or decreasing the volume, velocity and distance of the water stream exiting the nozzle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/808,300, entitled “Adjustable Flow Nozzles” and filed May 25, 2006, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by this reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to nozzles and more particularly to adjustable nozzles configured to control the flow of water through a conduit.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Water flow devices such as ornamental water fountains generally include means for providing water from a source, filling an area such as a basin and draining the water away. In some conventional water fountains, one or more jets are utilized to force water into the air, under pressure, to a desired distance. In other conventional water fountains a nozzle causes the water to reach a certain distance.  
         [0004]     Ornamental water fountains may utilize a plurality of nozzles to provide separate streams of water. For instance, the plurality of nozzles may be configured to provide streams of water that travel to the same point. In other arrangements, plurality of nozzles may be configured to provide streams of water that travel to different points and are tailored to be aesthetically pleasing to a viewer. It is often desirable to adjust the nozzle to control the distance of each stream. Over time, streams configured to travel to the same point may need adjusting to continue traveling to the same point. Furthermore, it may be desirable to change the characteristics of streams, such as the volume and velocity of a stream and the distance that one or more streams travels.  
         [0005]     In conventional nozzles, a fountain owner or technician adjusts the characteristics of a stream by disassembling the nozzle, adjusting the internal components, and reassembling the nozzle or adjusting upstream valving that controls the water flow to the nozzle. After testing the distance of the water flowing from the adjusted nozzle, the fountain owner or technician may be required to disassemble the nozzle, adjust the internal components a second time, and reassemble the nozzle. These steps may need to be repeated until desired water stream characteristics are achieved.  
         [0006]     Disassembling, adjusting the nozzle components, and reassembling the nozzle take a relatively long amount of time. If the nozzle must be reassembled, tested, and adjusted again, the amount of time is even longer. Accordingly, a need exists for a fountain nozzle in which the characteristics, such as volume, velocity, and distance, of the water stream may be adjusted without disassembling the nozzle.  
         [0007]     In some conventional water fountain systems, a secondary valve, separate from the nozzle, may control water flow characteristics. These systems may require water fountain owners to purchase a nozzle and a secondary valve to provide the user with control over water flow characteristics. Therefore, a need exists for a water fountain system that does not require the user or water fountain owner to purchase and install a secondary valve in order to allow the user to control the water flow characteristics.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     Various aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide a nozzle having a first end for receiving water, a second end for allowing water to exit and an internal valve for controlling the flow of water through the nozzle. Unlike existing fountain nozzles, the nozzle of the present invention may include a valve having an adjustable component that may be adjusted using a tool or manually. Instead of disassembling the nozzle, the tool may be used to adjust the adjustable component. For example, the adjustable component may be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the axis of the nozzle using a tool (or manually), thereby increasing or decreasing (or otherwise changing) water flow characteristics, such as the volume, velocity and distance of the water stream exiting the nozzle, as desired.  
         [0009]     In one embodiment of the invention, the nozzle includes a valve having an adjustable component configured to controllably impinge the flow of water. The adjustable component may be essentially tubular with at least part of the surface threaded for communicating with a nozzle wall and include a first end configured to connect to a tool. A tool may be inserted through a nozzle second end, connected to the adjustable component and used to rotate the adjustable component, thereby changing the adjustable component&#39;s position and the amount in which the water flow is impinged.  
         [0010]     In another embodiment of the invention, a nozzle may include an adjustable component that is essentially tubular and include a first end for connecting to a tool and a tapered second end for impinging the flow of water. At least part of the adjustable component&#39;s outer surface may be threaded for coupling with an internal nozzle wall. The tapered second end cooperates with an internal wall of the nozzle first end to impinge the flow of water. The amount that the water is impinged depends on the location of the adjustable component within the nozzle. A tool inserted into a second end of the nozzle may be used to adjust the location of the adjustable component.  
         [0011]     In another embodiment of the invention, a nozzle is provided having an adjustable component that is a spout. The spout may have an outside surface, a first end configured to impinge the flow of water, and a second end configured to connect to a tool for changing the location of the spout. The spout first end may include a plurality of openings located in the first end and configured to allow more or less water to flow through the valve depending on the position of the spout. When the spout changes position, for example by rotating or translating the spout with a tool, the openings allow more or less water to flow through the nozzle, as desired.  
         [0012]     In some embodiments of the invention, the nozzle may include a ball socket to allow the angle of the water stream to be adjusted.  
         [0013]     In some embodiments of the invention, the tool may be a Phillips, hex or flat screwdriver.  
         [0014]     In some embodiments of the invention, water flow characteristics through a nozzle may be adjusted by inserting a tool into a first end of the nozzle, detachably coupling the tool to an adjustable component associated with a valve in the nozzle, rotating the tool to change the position of the adjustable component, and removing the tool from the nozzle first end.  
         [0015]     Optional, non-exclusive objects of the present invention include providing a fountain nozzle in which water flow characteristics, such as the volume, velocity, and distance of a water stream may be easily adjusted.  
         [0016]     Another optional, non-exclusive object of various embodiments of the present invention is to provide a nozzle in which the volume, velocity, and distance of a water stream may be adjusted without disassembling the nozzle.  
         [0017]     It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of some embodiments of the present invention to provide a valve having an adjustable component that may be accessed, using a tool, to adjust the location of the adjustable component.  
         [0018]     It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of some embodiments of the present invention to provide a nozzle having an internal valve to adjust the volume and velocity of the flow of water through the nozzle without needing a secondary valve in the water fountain system.  
         [0019]     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the remainder of the text and the drawings of this application. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle according to one embodiment of the present invention having a different water impinging configuration than  FIG. 1 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle according to one embodiment of the present invention having an adjustable plug for impinging the water flow.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3B  shows the adjustable plug of  FIG. 3A  impinging the flow of water through the nozzle.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a cut-away view of a nozzle having an adjustable spout according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a cut-away view of a nozzle having a rotatable adjustable spout according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle having an adjustable spout according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle having an adjustable component and spout according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a nozzle having an adjustable component according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  depicts the assembled nozzle of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0030]     Shown in  FIG. 1  is an example of an adjustable water fountain nozzle  10  of the present invention. Nozzle  10  contains a first end  12  to allow water, or other fluid, to exit the nozzle, as illustrated by arrow  13 , and a second end  14  to allow water to enter the nozzle, as illustrated by arrows  15 . The first end  12  may be a spout  16  connected to a ball socket  18  to optionally allow the angle of the spout  16  to be changed. The ball socket  18  may be connected to a nozzle chamber  19  to allow water to flow through the nozzle  10 . The nozzle  10  may also contain a first inner wall  20  and a second inner wall  22 . The first inner wall  20  and second inner wall  22  may form a channel  24  for water to flow through. An internal valve, such as an adjustable component  26  may also be included in the nozzle  10 .  
         [0031]     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the adjustable component  26  is a screw having a first end  28  for cooperating with the nozzle chamber to impinge the water flow through the nozzle  10  and configured to receive a tool. The screw may be essentially tubular and also include a tapered second end  30  and a threaded outer surface (not shown). The first inner wall  20  may be configured to receive the threaded outer surface (not shown) of the adjustable component  26 . The adjustable component  26  may be made from any material that is not susceptible to rusting due to exposure to water. For example, the adjustable component  26  may be made from plastic, brass, stainless steel, or nickel plated metal.  
         [0032]     The location of the adjustable component  26  may be adjusted in accordance with double-headed arrow  32 . To adjust the adjustable component  26 , a tool such as a screwdriver is inserted through the spout  16  of nozzle first end  12 . The tool is connected to the adjustable component first end  28 , such as by inserting the tool into a slot or other opening in the adjustable component first end  28  and rotating the tool in one direction to change the adjustable component  26  to further from the nozzle first end  12  and an opposite direction to change the position of the adjustable component  26  to closer to the nozzle first end  12 . Depending on the location of the adjustable component  26  relative to the nozzle first end  12 , the flow of water through the nozzle may be impinged more or less. For instance, the area available for the water to flow through the nozzle  10  decreases as the adjustable component  26  is adjusted closer to the nozzle first end  12 . Accordingly, the volume and velocity of the water exiting the nozzle first end  12  is decreased while the velocity of the exiting water is increased. Similarly, as the adjustable component  26  is adjusted further away from the nozzle first end  12 , the volume of the exiting water increases while the velocity decreases. The adjustable component  26  may be adjusted while water is exiting the spout  16  or when water is not flowing through the nozzle  10 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 2  shows a nozzle  100  according to one embodiment of the present invention having an adjustable component  126  that may be adjusted to impinge the water flow through the nozzle  100  to obtain desired water flow characteristics, such as volume and velocity. The nozzle  100  may also include a first end  112  having an opening to allow water, or other fluid, to exit the nozzle, as illustrated by arrow  113  and a second end  114  having an opening to allow water to enter the nozzle, as illustrated by arrows  115 . The first end  112  may be a spout  116  connected to a ball socket  118  to optionally allow the angle of the spout  116  to be changed.  
         [0034]     The ball socket  118  may be connected to a nozzle chamber  119  to allow water to exit the nozzle  100  at an angle. In some embodiments, an O-ring (not shown) may be conventionally located at the bottom and/or top of the ball socket  118  to form a seal. An O-ring located at the bottom and/or top of the ball socket  118 , however, may not allow the ball socket  118  to fully rotate and change angles and/or may allow leaks when the ball socket  118  is rotated since water may flow past the O-ring when the ball socket  118  is rotated to certain positions. Therefore, in some embodiments of the present invention, an O-ring  125  may cooperate with the ball socket  118  at the equatorial position of the ball socket  118  to form a seal. When the O-ring  125  is located at the equatorial position, the ball socket  118  is allowed to fully rotate and the angle of the ball socket  118  may be changed without leaks occurring since the O-ring  125  is not at a position in which water might flow around it. The position of the ball socket  118  may be changed manually or by using the same or a different tool to change the position of the adjustable component  126 .  
         [0035]     The nozzle  100  may also contain a first inner wall  120  and a second inner wall  122 . The first inner wall  120  and second inner wall  122  may form a channel  124  for water to flow through and the adjustable component  126  may be in the channel  124 . The adjustable component  126 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , is a screw and may include a threaded outer surface (not shown) for connecting with the nozzle first inner wall  120 . The adjustable component  126  may further include a first end  128  for receiving a tool and a second end  130  configured to cooperate with the nozzle second end  114  to impinge the flow of water through nozzle  100 . The adjustable component second end  130  may be tapered, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Depending on the location of the adjustable component  126  relative to the nozzle second end  114 , the water flow through the nozzle may be impinged more or less. For instance, the adjustable component  126  may be adjusted using a tool inserted in the nozzle first end  112  and connected to the adjustable component first end  128 . When the tool is rotated in one direction, the adjustable component  126  is adjusted closer to the nozzle second end  114 , thereby decreasing the area through which the water may flow through the nozzle and thus decreasing the volume of water exiting the nozzle first end  112  and increasing the velocity of the exiting water flow. When the tool is rotated in the opposite direction, the adjustable component  126  is adjusted further away from the nozzle second end  114 , thereby increasing the area through which the water may flow and thus increasing the volume of water exiting the nozzle first end  112  and decreasing the velocity of the exiting water flow.  
         [0036]      FIG. 3A  shows a nozzle  200  having a first end  202  having an opening for allowing water to exit the nozzle  200  and a second end  204  for allowing water to enter the nozzle  200 . The nozzle first end  202  may include a spout  216  connected to a ball socket  218  to optionally allow the angle of the spout  216  to be changed. The nozzle  200  may further include a nozzle chamber  220  having a first end  222  connectable to the ball socket  218  and a second end  224  having an opening and cooperating with an adjustable component  226  to impinge the flow of water through the nozzle  200 .  
         [0037]     The adjustable component  226 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3A , may be a plug having a first end  228  for receiving a tool to adjust the location of the plug and a second end  230  for cooperating with the nozzle chamber second end  224  to impinge the flow of water, indicated by arrows  201 , through the nozzle  200 . The plug may be any shape or configuration adapted to cooperate with the nozzle chamber second end  224  to impinge the flow of water through the nozzle at different levels depending on the location of the plug. The outer surface of at least a portion of the adjustable component first end  228  may be threaded and cooperate with a nozzle chamber inner wall (not shown) to hold the adjustable component  226  in a desired location or allow the location of the adjustable component  226  to be changed as desired.  
         [0038]     For example, a tool, such as a screwdriver or other similar device, may be inserted through the spout  216 , connected to the adjustable component first end  228 , and rotated to change the location of the adjustable component  226 . As the adjustable component  226  is adjusted closer to the nozzle chamber second end  224 , the impingement of the water flow is increased, thereby decreasing the volume of water exiting the nozzle spout  216  and increasing the velocity of the exiting water. As the adjustable component  226  is adjusted further away from the nozzle chamber second end  224 , the impingement of the water flow is decreased, thereby increasing the volume of water exiting the nozzle spout  216  and decreasing the velocity of the exiting water.  
         [0039]     As illustrated in  FIG. 3B , the adjustable component  226  may cooperate with the nozzle chamber second end  224  to completely prevent the flow of water through the nozzle  200 . In some embodiments, an O-ring  232  may be connected to the adjustable component  226  to assist in completely preventing the flow of water through the nozzle  200 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 4  shows a nozzle  300  having an adjustable spout  302  to control the volume and velocity of the flow of water, as shown by arrows  303 , through the nozzle  300 . The adjustable spout  302  includes a first end  304  having an opening to allow water to exit the nozzle and a second end  306  having a one or more openings  308 ,  310 ,  312  for allowing water to enter the adjustable spout  302  from a nozzle chamber  316 . The nozzle chamber  316  has a nozzle chamber ledge  314  defining a nozzle chamber second end  315  connected to a nozzle second end  317 . The nozzle second end  317  has an opening for allowing water to enter the nozzle  300  and nozzle chamber  316 .  
         [0041]     The adjustable spout  302  may have an outer surface  318  with at least a portion that is threaded  320  for connecting the adjustable spout  302  to an inner wall of the nozzle or a ball socket  322 . In some embodiments, the ball socket  322  may allow the angle of the adjustable spout  302  to be changed and include a surface  324  for receiving the adjustable spout threaded portion  320 . The adjustable spout first end  304  is configured to receive a tool, such as a wrench or other similar device, to rotate the adjustable spout  302  from the outside. Although the adjustable spout first end  304  in  FIG. 4  has a hexagonal shape, it may be any shape configured to receive a tool or otherwise allow rotation of the adjustable spout  302 .  
         [0042]     The adjustable spout openings  308 ,  310 ,  312  cooperate with the nozzle chamber ledge  314  to impinge the flow of water. Depending on the location of the adjustable spout  302  relative to the nozzle chamber ledge  314 , the flow of water through the nozzle may be impinged more or less. To change the position of the adjustable spout  302 , a tool is connected to the adjustable spout first end  304  and is used to rotate the adjustable spout  302 . When the adjustable spout  302  is rotated in one direction, the adjustable spout  302  is adjusted downward and towards the nozzle chamber ledge  314 , thereby increasing the impingement experienced by the water flowing through the nozzle  300 , decreasing the water flow volume, and increasing the water flow velocity. When the adjustable spout  302  is rotated in the opposite direction, the adjustable spout  302  is adjusted away from the nozzle chamber ledge  314 , thereby decreasing the impingement experienced by the water flowing through the nozzle  300 , decreasing the water flow volume, and increasing the water flow velocity.  
         [0043]     The adjustable spout  302  illustrated in  FIG. 4  may further include a groove  326  for receiving a seal, such as an O-ring, to prevent water or other liquid from reaching other nozzle components, such as portions of the ball socket  322 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  shows a nozzle  400  having an adjustable spout  402  that may be rotated using a tool but, unlike the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , is not translated upward and downward. Instead, the adjustable spout  402  has a second end  403  having a plurality of openings or channels  405 ,  407 ,  409  that cooperate with a nozzle chamber first end  404 . The nozzle chamber first end  404  has a plurality of openings  406 ,  408 ,  410  to impinge the flow of water through the nozzle  400 . For example, the adjustable spout  402  may be rotated in a first position allowing water to flow through openings  406  and  410 . Alternatively, adjustable spout  402  may be rotated to a second position allowing water to flow only through opening  406 . Other alternatives include, for example, rotating the adjustable spout  402  such that water flows through only a portion of one or more of openings  406 ,  408 ,  410  or through none of the openings. In addition, those skilled in the art will recognize that openings  406 ,  408 ,  410  may be any shape or size. Accordingly, the volume and velocity of water flowing through the nozzle may be controlled by rotating the adjustable spout  402 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 6  shows a nozzle  500  having an adjustable spout  502  that cooperates with an impinging component  504  preferably located in a nozzle chamber  506  to impinge the flow of water, as shown by arrows  507 . The impinging component  504  may have a first end  508  that is tapered to impinge the flow of water at different levels, depending on the location of the adjustable spout  502 , and a second end  510  that is rounded for directing the flow of water through the nozzle chamber  506 . The impinging component  504 , however, may be any size or shape configured to cooperate with the adjustable spout  502  to impinge the flow of water through nozzle  500 .  
         [0046]     The adjustable spout  502  may have a first end  512  having an opening for allowing water to exit the nozzle and configured to receive a tool, a second end  514  for cooperating with the impinging component  504  to impinge the flow of water through the nozzle  500 , and a outer surface  516 . A portion of the outer surface  516  may be threaded to connect the adjustable spout  502  to an inside wall  518  of the nozzle  500 . To control the volume and velocity of the water flow, a tool, such as a wrench or other similar device, is connected to the adjustable spout first end  512  and used to rotate the adjustable spout  502 . When the adjustable spout  502  is rotated in one direction, the adjustable spout  502  may be moved downward and toward the impinging component  504 , thereby increasing the impingement experienced by the flow of water through the nozzle  500 , decreasing the volume of water exiting the nozzle  500  and increasing the velocity of the water flow. When the adjustable spout  502  is rotated in the opposite direction, the adjustable spout  502  may be moved upward and away from the impinging component  504 , thereby decreasing the impingement experienced by the flow of water through the nozzle  500 , increasing the volume of water exiting the nozzle  500  and decreasing the velocity of the water flow. Accordingly, the volume, velocity, and thus the distance of the stream of water exiting the nozzle may be adjusted without disassembling the nozzle.  
         [0047]      FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of a nozzle  600  having a valve  602  with an adjustable component  604 . The adjustable component  604  includes a threaded outer surface  606  mechanically communicating with a threaded nozzle inner surface  608 . The adjustable component  604  may be adjusted manually, or by using a tool to, rotate or otherwise change the position of the adjustable component  604  within the nozzle  600 . In some embodiments, the valve  602  extends outside of the nozzle cavity, allowing a portion of the valve  602  to be accessible. The portion may be rotated manually or using a tool to adjust the position of the valve  602  within the nozzle cavity. For example, the nozzle  600  may be removed from a fountain and the valve portion extending outside the nozzle cavity may be accessed manually or using a tool to rotate the valve  602  to change the position of the valve  602  within the nozzle cavity.  
         [0048]     The nozzle  600  also includes a spout  610  having a ball socket  612 . The ball socket  612  may be adapted to change position to allow water to exit the nozzle  600  at a desired angle.  
         [0049]      FIG. 8  shows an exploded view of a nozzle  700  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The nozzle  700  includes a first end  704  including a spout  706  that can be connected to a valve  708  with nut  710 . The valve  702  includes an adjustable component having a plurality of openings  712  that cooperate with the first end  704  to impinge the flow of water through the nozzle  700 . The valve  702  can be connected to a nozzle second end  714  with nut  710  and an O-ring  716 .  FIG. 9  shows the nozzle  700  assembled. A tool (not shown) may be inserted through an opening in the second end  714  and used to adjust the position of the adjustable component.  
         [0050]     The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. Further modifications, adaptations and additional components added to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.