Abstract:
A system is provided for the spraying of a fluid, that system having: a spray handle; a fluid channel disposed within the handle, through which the fluid is introduced into the handle; a trigger disposed within the handle; a stopper actuated by the trigger whereby flow of the fluid from the fluid channel is regulated; a wand removably coupled to a distal end of the fluid channel and through which the fluid exits the system.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Applications No. 60/911,750, filed Apr. 13, 2007, and No. 60/941,451, filed Jun. 1, 2007. Each of these applications is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to spray wands, and more particularly, to a spray handle with a detachable wand adaptor. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Spray guns are used in a variety of applications: painting, extermination, cleaning, etc. Known spray handles are susceptible to a variety of faults, including but not limited to clogging, frozen lines. 
         [0004]    On occasion different spray wands are required during a application, likewise wands may become clogged and may require removal to facilitate cleaning. Current spray guns are equipped with wands that are difficult to replace, requiring the replacement of the entire spray handle, or the arduous disassembly thereof. 
         [0005]    What is needed, therefore, are techniques for providing spray handles with readily removable wands with disassembly facilitating cleaning of valve parts. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for the spraying of a fluid, the apparatus having: a spray handle; a fluid channel disposed within the handle, through which the fluid is introduced into the handle; a trigger disposed within the handle; a stopper actuated by the trigger whereby flow of the fluid from the fluid channel is regulated; a wand removably coupled to a distal end of the fluid channel and through which the fluid exits the system. 
         [0007]    Another embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the stopper comprises a sealing plunger assembly disposed within the spray handle and controlling emissions of the fluid from the distal end of the fluid channel. 
         [0008]    A further embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the plunger assembly includes an o-ring disposed at a distal end of the plunger such that the o-ring is compressed by the plunger against the interior of the distal end of the fluid channel 
         [0009]    Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides such a system further comprising a detachable wand adaptor, configured to be affixed to a distal end of the spray handle and for receiving the wand. 
         [0010]    A yet further embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the detachable wand adaptor comprises the distal end of fluid channel such that its detachment exposes the stopper. 
         [0011]    Even another embodiment of the present invention provides such a system further comprising a filter disposed between the stopper and the distal end of the fluid channel. 
         [0012]    An even further embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the filter comprises a perforated filter. 
         [0013]    Still another embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the filter comprises a frit. 
         [0014]    A still further embodiment of the present invention provides such a system further comprising a second fluid channel. 
         [0015]    Still yet another embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the second fluid control channel is uncontrolled by the stopper. 
         [0016]    A still yet further embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the second fluid is different from the first fluid. 
         [0017]    Still even another embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the second fluid is a gas. 
         [0018]    A still even further embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the fluid is a liquid. 
         [0019]    One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for the spraying of fluid, the system having: a spray handle; a removable wand attachment nozzle; a fluid valve accessible by removal of the wand attachment nozzle. 
         [0020]    Another embodiment of the present invention provides such a system further comprising an o-ring seal disposed within the fluid valve. 
         [0021]    A further embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the o-ring is comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene. 
         [0022]    Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides such a system further comprising a wand disposed in the wand attachment nozzle, the wand comprising a elongate tubular member, and a flexible tube disposed with the tubular member. 
         [0023]    A yet further embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the tube comprises polyurethane tubing. 
         [0024]    The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of the left side and hose attachment end of a spray handle configured in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2A  is a front elevation view of a spray nozzle configured according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2B  is a cross sectional elevation view of a spray nozzle configured according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the right side of a spray handle depicting the separated detachable wand adapter configured in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a spray handle depicting the separated detachable wand adapter configured in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of a spray nozzle configured according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a section view from the right side and a view of the hose attachment end of a spray handle configured in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is an expanded side elevation view of a spray nozzle configured according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a spray nozzle configured according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a spray nozzle configured in accord with one embodiment of the present invention further comprising a line control valve. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0035]    According to one embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the handle  10  combines a single port  12  which allows chemical entry and exit of liquids. The body  10  is conformed into a simple gun spraying device controlled by a hand operated handle  14  which controls the plunger  16  which seals itself into the O-Ring  18  housed in the detachable wand adapter body  20 . The plunger  16  controls the flow of fluid through the liquid inlet channel  22 . The detachable wand adapter body  20  allows simple changing of wand types and sizes. The Detachable Front Wand Adapter  20  allows the user to simply remove the Detachable Front Wand Adapter  20  and change wands. One embodiment of the invention provides a handle  10  that will include a filter port  24  which will be accessible by a thumb screw with no tools needed to clean and service the filter  26 . Thumb screw  48  is, in one embodiment, provided to secure a filter housing  46  and the filer  26 . The chemical line can be connected from the detachable nose  20  to the spray tip  30  via polyurethane or other suitable tube  28 . The chemical will run inside of the rubber tube  28  instead of freely running through the metal wand  32  allowing expansion, thereby preventing cracking of the wand  32  in cold weather. In one embodiment, wand  32  is coupled to the tip  30  by means of a clip or coupling  50 . 
         [0036]    As noted above, a Spray Handle Body  10  is provided with a Detachable front wand adapter (Detachable Front Wand Adapter)  20 . Disposed within the handle is a plunger  16  which extends from the handle body to the Detachable Front Wand Adapter. The plunger  16  is secured to the trigger  14  of the handle body  10  by lock nuts  44  and  46 . The distal end of the plunger  16  is configured to stop the liquid inlet channel  22  by means of a o-ring seal or other suitable compliant seal  18 . 
         [0037]    In one embodiment of the present invention a straight through drill port allowing proper connection of a female port which inverts into the (Detachable Front Wand Adapter) this port also has an indentation for flat perforated filter screen which seats in the indentation at the bottom of the port. The filter is locked in by an O-Ring  18  (#202) which also seats into the bottom of the port. 
         [0038]    A thumb screw or other suitable retaining means  34 , such as a clip, wing nut, bolt or latch may be used to connect the spray body  10  to Detachable Front Wand Adapter  20  may be used in conjunction with a retention means receiving port  38 . This connection between the adaptor  20  and the body  10  is made by mating a male coupler  36  extending from spray body  10  to connect to a corresponding female receiving port disposed in the detachable front wand adaptor  20 . The male coupler  34  may, in one embodiment be equipped with as #14 O-ring for sealing the liquid inlet channel  22 . Additional means from minimizing leakage and contamination of the liquid passing through the handle  10  including a Teflon housing indentation  40  configured to receive Teflon seal  42  and a Teflon packing screw  42 . 
         [0039]    In one embodiment, the handle consists of a plunger rod  16  which is pushed forward into the #202 O-ring  18  by a spring  52  which is housed inside of the spray handle body  10 . The plunger  16  continues through the entire spray body and communicating with the handle  14 . In such an embodiment, the plunger passes through washers and nuts  40 ,  42 . The handle  10  attaches on plunger between locking nuts  44 ,  46 . When the handle trigger  14  is in a resting position the plunger  16  will seal into the O-ring in port  18 . When the handle  10  is manually squeezed the plunger  16  will pull back and the intended substance will be pass through filter port  24 . From the filter port  24 , the fluid passes through the inlet channel  22 , through the plunger spring  52 , and past the plunger  16  and the o-ring  18 . Once the solution continues through port sealed by o-ring  18 , it is free to exit the handle  10  and nose  20  via the connected tube  28  and discharges through the spray tip  30 . 
         [0040]    Another embodiment of the present invention provides dual port spray handle which combines two ports which allow dual entry and exit of separate liquids, air, or a combination of materials. The body is conformed into a simple gun spraying device controlled by a hand operated handle which controls the plunger which seals itself into an o-ring housed in the detachable wand adaptor body. The detachable wand adaptor body allows simple changing of wand types and sizes. The majority of atomizers require separation of substances until point of entry. This can be difficult when there are two lines or ports in a wand. The detachable front wand adaptor detachable front wand adaptor.) allows technicians to remove the detachable front wand adaptor and change wands simply. 
         [0041]    A handle configured according to one embodiment of the present invention is advantageous in atomizing procedures. For example, this handle can serve as a controlling device for mixing air and liquid pesticides to create an atomized fog. A use of this handle is as a controllable device for atomizing substances such pesticides and insecticides as well as soap and other chemical agents which need to be transformed from a simple liquid or a gaseous state to an atomized state that may activate a controlled ingredient to affect the insects, pests, mold, fungicides etc. 
         [0042]    The process of operation of one embodiment of the present invention is described by referring to  FIG. 6 . A spray handle body  60  is provided with a detachable front wand adaptor  62 . A plunger  64  extends from the handle body to the detachable front wand adaptor  62 . A controlled inlet  64  for a controlled fluid such as air, compressed gas, liquid, or chemical agents, is provided, and controlled by the plunger  64  and seal (o-ring)  78 . A straight through drill port  68  allowing proper connection of an uncontrolled inlet  70  for uncontrolled variable substance. A male port  72  extends from the detachable front wand adaptor  62  and may be sealed with a o-ring, in one embodiment a size #11 o-ring, or other suitable seal  71 . The port  72  is allows for continuous flow of whichever substance is utilizing the port  72 , as the fluid bypasses the valve controlled by the plunger  64 . A female port  74  is provided in the detachable front wand adaptor  62  to receive a male mating member  80  of the spray handle  60 . This female port  74  may also have an indentation  79  for a flat perforated filter screen or frit  100  disposed at the bottom of the port  74 . The filter is locked in by an o-ring  78 , such as #202, which also seats into the bottom of the port  74 . A thumb screw  76  connects the spray body  60  to detachable front wand adaptor  62 . An o-ring  78  which seats in the female part  74 , is secured by the male port  80  extending from spray body  60  to connect to the female port  74 . This o-ring  78  is compressed by the plunger  64  when the trigger is not engaged, closing the fluid channel  66 . A second female port housing  82  is disposed in the in spray handle  60  for connection of a packing screw  88 . A housing indentation  84  is provided in one embodiment manufactured from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) such as that sold under the trademark Teflon® in which are disposed seals  86 , also manufactured from, in on embodiment polytetrafluoroethylene. No claim is made to the trademark Teflon®. A first and second lock nuts  90 ,  92  are provided to couple the plunger to the trigger  94 . In such a duel port design, mixing of the controlled and uncontrolled fluids occurs in the nozzle chamber  96 , immediately prior to the passage of the mixture of the two fluids into the wand. 
         [0043]    As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , in one embodiment of the present invention, the controlled inlet  64  is controlled by a line control valve  65  disposed at the proximal end of the inlet  64 . In one embodiment, this line control valve  65  is a ball valve. This ball valve  65  regulates flow into the inlet  64 , and when the inlet  64  is detached from the ball valve  65 , stops the flow of fluid, preventing or minimizing emission or spillage of potentially hazardous chemical agents. One skilled in the art will appreciated that other valve types may be used where pressure a pressure imbalance between sides of the valve causes the valve to close. 
         [0044]    The handle  94  comprises a plunger rod  64  which is pushed forward into an o-ring  78  such as a #202 o-ring, by a spring  98  which is housed inside of the spray handle body  60 . The plunger  64  continues through the entire spray body exiting through a series of seals  86 , 84  and a packing screw  88 . The handle attaches on plunger between first and second locking nuts  90 ,  92 . When the handle  94  is in a resting position, the plunger  64  will seal into the o-ring  78  disposed within the female port  74  of the removable wand adaptor  62 . When the handle  94  is squeezed, the plunger  64  will pull back and the intended substance will be pass through Port  74  into the wand (not shown). Once the solution continues through port  74 , it may mix with the other solution in the uncontrolled port  68  in port chamber  96 . In alternative embodiments, the fluid of port  74  can continue down into the wand assembly and atomize at a further point within the wand. 
         [0045]    The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of this disclosure. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.