Abstract:
A nozzle assembly including a nozzle member, a cap member, a spinner and a foam tube. The cap member is rotationally mounted on the nozzle member and may be rotated from an “off-position” to a “foam-position” with continued rotation bringing the cap member to a “spray-position” and then to a second “foam-position” and then to the “off-position.” Rotation of the cap member drives foam tube from a retracted position to an extended position extending forward of the nozzle member when the cap member is in the “foam-position.” The spinner rotates to atomize liquid flowing through the assembly.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to the field of sprayer equipment and more particularly, to a telescoping foamer nozzle.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The prior art related to atomizers and sprayer equipment includes the following U.S. patents.  
           [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 1,900,087 to Aronson teaches an atomizer in which the operating elements are locked when the device is not in use, thereby preventing objectionable projection of the elements.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,841 to Tada shows a sprayer which suctions a liquid and squirts the liquid in an atomized form by applying a pressure to the liquid. The sprayer includes a piston which defines a liquid chamber in combination with a cylinder portion. When the piston is moved into proximity to the closed end of the cylinder, the volume of the liquid chamber formed by the cylinder is minimized, thereby resulting in high pressure squirting of liquid within the chamber.  
           [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,973 to Focaracci shows a sprayer for producing a foam from a spray of liquid and air. An interrupter is located in the path of a controlled portion of the outer periphery of a continuous stream of liquid. By controlling the amount of peripheral flow impinged upon by the interrupter in the stream periphery, turbulence is created with consequent pressure drop and ingress of counterflowing ambient air which mixed with and causes foaming of the liquid constituent of the flow.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,779 to Blake shows a device for producing foam which incorporates a porous element.  
           [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,307 to Calillahan et al. shows a dispenser which has a circular mixing chamber immediately in front of a mixing nozzle. A first channel leads into the mixing chamber from material located in a squeezable container. A second channel leads into the mixing chamber from an air space. A sieve covers the outlet channel.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,233 to Foster et al. shows a nozzle assembly with a foam-inducing tube in front of its nozzle outlet orifice. A door is provided with an elongated pin having a convex tip for sealing the outlet orifice.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,031 to Neuhaus et al. shows a foaming head and includes a discharge nozzle which has a deflecting plate having passage slits which open out radially to an outlet slit.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,070 to Tasaki et al. shows a foaming nozzle which is shaped so that the foam is ejected in the form of a band which may be elliptical, rectangular or triangular in shape. The foam is formed by the impingement of mist upon an inner face of the mouth of the foaming nozzle.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,160 to Balderama shows a foamer nozzle which incorporates opposing pairs of spaced apart looped ribs which are in a plane downstream from the discharge orifice. The ribs are teardrop shaped in cross-section and have a pair of spaced legs which define an opening.  
           [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,389 to Knickerbocker shows an orifice device which incorporates a spin chamber communicating with the terminal orifice. A plurality of feed channels communicate with the spin chamber for the purpose of spinning the spray product within the spin chamber prior to discharge.  
           [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,539 to Dobbs et al. shows an assembly which incorporates a foam enhancer chamber having a plurality of ribs which define uniform openings. The ribs have flat surfaces which are perpendicular to the inner wall of the chamber for the purpose of generating foam as foam bubbles impact against the ribs to mix with air.  
           [0014]    Despite the various developments in the prior art, there remains a need for a nozzle which can easily and reversibly switch from operation in a foam dispensing mode to operation in a spray dispensing mode.  
         OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0015]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a telescoping foamer nozzle which can be easily and reversibly switched from a foam dispensing mode of operation to a spray dispensing mode of operation.  
           [0016]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a telescoping foamer nozzle in which a foamer tube projects forward of a dispensing orifice when in the foam dispensing mode of operation.  
           [0017]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a telescoping foamer nozzle which has a relatively small number of component parts resulting in reliable long-term operation.  
           [0018]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a telescoping nozzle which has a relatively small number of component parts which can be manufactured easily in volume resulting in a relatively low unit cost.  
           [0019]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly hereinafter.  
           [0020]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a telescoping foamer nozzle which include a nozzle member which has a feed tube connected to a supply of spray material. A cap member is rotationally mounted on the nozzle member. The cap member may be rotated relative to the nozzle member from an off-position to a foam-position with continued rotation bringing the cap member to a spray-position and then a second foam-position and then to the off-position. The cap member supports a foam tube which includes a cam boss which engages a cam groove formed in the nozzle member.  
           [0021]    Rotation of the cap member drives the foam tube. The cam groove and cam boss drive the foam tube from a retracted position in which the cap member is in the off-position and in the spray-position to an extended position projecting forward of the discharge nozzle when the cap is in the foam position. The cap includes indicia which clearly mark the off-position, foam-position and spray position and the cap is proportioned to fit flush against the nozzle in each of the operating positions.  
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a telescoping foamer nozzle made in accordance with the present invention, with the telescoping foamer nozzle shown mounted on a spray canister;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1 showing the components in the off-position;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  3 - 3  of FIG. 2;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1 similar to FIG. 3 but showing the components in the foam-position;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  5 - 5  of FIG. 4;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1 similar to FIG. 3 but showing the components in the spray-position;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  7 - 7  of FIG. 6;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIGS. 8A through 8D are fragmentary perspective views showing the components in the off-position, foam-position, spray-position and foam-position, respectively, as the cap is rotated successively in the clockwise direction starting from the off-position;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the various components;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 10 is a cross-section view similar to FIG. 4 showing the components in the foam position and showing the flow of spray material; and  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 6 showing the components in the spray position, and showing the flow of spray material. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0034]    With reference to the drawings, in which like reference numbers designate like or corresponding parts throughout, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a telescoping foamer nozzle generally designated by reference number  10 , made in accordance with the present invention, which includes a nozzle member  12 , a spinner member  14 , a foamer tube  16 , and a cap member  18 .  
         [0035]    As shown in FIG. 2, the nozzle member  12  is an integrally formed component which includes a central portion  20  and a centrally disposed feed tube  22  which projects from the rear surface  24  of the central portion. The feed tube  22  communicates via a port  28  formed in the central portion  30  with a cavity  32  which is defined by walls  34 ,  36  which project from the central portion  30 .  
         [0036]    A shaft  40  projects from the central portion  30 . The shaft  40  is centrally located with respect to the walls  34 ,  36 . The shaft  40  has a step portion  42 , a generally square cross-section, and the end  44  of the shaft  40  is formed as a conical point  46 .  
         [0037]    The outside surface  48  of the walls  34 ,  36  have a step portion  50  which is defined by the wall portions  52 ,  54 ,  56 .  58 . The wall portions  52 ,  54  have an integrally formed collar  60  which retains the cap member  18  in a manner which will be presently described. The front portion  62  of the walls  52 ,  54  is tapered to facilitate ease of assembly of the cap member  18 . The outer surface  48  of the walls  52 ,  54  includes a cam groove  64  which forms a key feature of the present invention. The cam groove  64  is shown in cross-section in FIGS. 2, 4 and  6  and in perspective in FIG. 9.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 1 shows the nozzle member  12  encased in a housing  66  which includes a top panel  68  and side panels  70 ,  72 ,  74 . The telescoping foamer nozzle  10  is operated by a trigger  76  which is connected via plunger  78  to a valve  80  which is contained with the reservoir  82 . The trigger  76  and the plunger  78  are conventional in nature and, therefore, have not been illustrated or described in detail. During use, the feed tube  22  receives a supply of spray material in liquid form via the conduit  84 .  
         [0039]    The cap  18  is a hollow member which includes side wall portions  86 ,  88 ,  90 ,  92  and a front wall portion  95 . The cap member  18  includes an inwardly projecting generally cylindrical portion  94  which has a central nozzle  96 . The nozzle  96  includes a converging portion  98  which communicates with an exit port  100 . The converging portion  98  also communicates with a central bore  102 . The central bore  102  accommodates the shaft  104  of spinner member  14 .  
         [0040]    The projecting portion  90  includes a v-shaped groove  106  and a rectangular groove  108 . The v-shaped groove  108  results in a degree of flexibility in the portion  110  adjacent to the rectangular groove. The rectangular groove  108  includes an undercut  112  which accepts the collar  60  formed on the nozzle member  12 . The v-shaped groove  106  allows the cap member  18  to snap onto the collar  60  and allows the cap member  18  to rotate relative to the nozzle member  12  as is shown by the arrow  114  in FIG. 1. The side wall portions  86 ,  88 ,  90 ,  92  of the cap  18  are proportioned to closely match the surfaces  116 ,  118 ,  120 ,  122  of the nozzle member  12  and the end  124  of the cap  18  abuts the surface  125  of the nozzle member  12 .  
         [0041]    The spinner member  14  includes a central portion  126  which has a square bore  128  fits on the square shaft  40 . The square shaft  40  and the square bore  128  prevent rotation of the spinner member  14  relative to the shaft  40 . The end  129  of the bore  128  abuts the conical point  46  on the shaft  40 . The spinner member  14  includes an integrally formed tapered flange portion  136 .  
         [0042]    The flange portion  136  has the overall configuration of a hollow cone. The outer edge  139  of the flange portion  136  is proportioned to form an interference fit with the bore  142 .  
         [0043]    The flange  136  portion is relatively thin and is molded in a relatively flexible plastic material. This construction results in a degree of flexibility of the flange portion  136  in the radial direction shown for reference by the arrow  144  in FIG. 10. This flexibility enables spray material to flow past the flange portion  136  as is shown by the arrows  146 ,  147 ,  148  in FIGS. 10 and 11 and prevent the flow of air in the opposite direction shown by the arrow  149  in FIG. 10.  
         [0044]    The flexible flange portion  136  and the bore  142  thus form a bias-closed valve. During use, the spray material flows past the flange portion  136 .  
         [0045]    As is shown in FIG. 9, the face portion  150  of the spinner member  14  includes three apertures  152 ,  154 ,  156 . Each aperture is defined by a pair of side walls  158 ,  160  as shown in FIG. 3. The side wall  158  forms an acute angle with the surface  162  and the side wall  160  forms an obtuse angle with the surface  162 . During use, the spray material flows through the channels  163 ,  165 ,  167  and enters the spinner cavity  164 . The angular orientation of the sidewalls  158 ,  160  causes the spray material to enter the spinner cavity  164 , which is relatively small, in a generally tangential direction with reference to the surface  162  thereby causing the rotation of the spray material and thereby resulting in atomization of the flow of the spray material.  
         [0046]    The foamer tube  16  includes a central portion  168  which includes a central bore  170  and a pair of guide legs  172 ,  174  as is best shown in FIG. 9. The central bore  170  accepts the end portion  176  of the nozzle member  12 . The outer surface  178  of the foamer tube  16  has a pair of air openings  180 ,  182  which extend through the central portion  168 . The outer surfaces  184 ,  186  of the guide legs  172 ,  174  are generally curved and are proportioned to slide within complementary curved portions  188 ,  190  of the cap member  18 .  
         [0047]    The guide legs  172 ,  174  project through apertures  192 ,  194  which are formed in the cap member  18  so that rotation of the cap member  18  causes rotation of the foamer tube  16 . The end portions  196 ,  198  of the guide legs  172 ,  174  each have a cam follower boss  200 ,  202  which engage the cam groove  64  in the nozzle member  12  as is shown in FIG. 10.  
         [0048]    The sidewall portions  86 ,  88 ,  90 ,  92  of the cap have the following integrally molded indicia formed thereon, respectively, “off,” “foam,” “spray” and “foam”  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 . Rotation of the cap  18  in the direction  212  shown by the arrow in FIG. 1 from the “off-position” shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to the “foam-position” shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 rotates the foamer tube  16  and the cam groove  64  drives the foamer tube  16  to the extended position shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0049]    Continued rotation of the cap member  18 , in the order of ninety (90) degrees, in the direction shown by the arrow  114  in FIG. 1 from the “foam-position” shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to the “spray position” shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 again rotates the foamer tube  16  and the cam groove  64  drives the foamer tube  16  to retracted position shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0050]    Further rotation of the cap  18 , in the order of ninety (90) degrees, in the direction shown by the arrow  212  in FIG. 1 from the “spray-position” shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 again rotates the foamer tube to the extended position shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0051]    Still further rotation of the cap  18  in the order of an additional ninety (90) degrees brings the cap  18  again to the “off-position” which is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 10 shows the various components in the foam position and the direction of flow of the spray material is illustrated by the arrows  147 ,  148 . The spray material flows from the feed tube  22  via the port  28  into the cavity  32  and the channels  33 . The spray material in the liquid state enters the spinner face  150  through at least two of the three apertures  152 ,  154 ,  156  which are formed in the spinner body.  
         [0053]    The liquid enters the spinner face  150  in a direction which is generally tangential to the outer surface  162  of the spinner member  14  resulting in a spin action on the spray material. This spin action in combination with the velocity of liquid and the compressed area of the liquid action results in atomization of the liquid.  
         [0054]    During operation in the “foam position,” the foamer tube  16  projects beyond the cap member and the flow of spray material through the foamer tube  16  creates a venturi action which causes air to be drawn into the foamer tube  16  through the air openings  180 ,  182 . This flow of air mixes with the liquid which has been atomized by the spinner member  12  resulting in the creation of foam.  
         [0055]    The outside air flows through the air openings  180 ,  182  in the direction shown by the arrow  218  in FIG. 9. This direction is opposite to the flow of spray material which flows through the telescoping foamer nozzle  10  as shown by the arrows  214 ,  216  in FIGS. 10, 11. The opposing flow directions of the air and the spray material as the air and the liquid start the mixing process combined with the action of the spinner  14  in atomizing the flow of liquid results in the effective production of foam product.  
         [0056]    Rotation of the cap member  18  to the spray position halts the production of foam and allows the discharge of the liquid spray materials.  
         [0057]    The telescoping foamer nozzle  10  thus provides a means for rapidly and efficiently switching from discharging a liquid spray product to a foam product in a reversible manner.  
         [0058]    The foregoing specific embodiment of the present invention as set forth in the specification herein is for illustrative purposes only. Various deviations and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention without departing from the main theme thereof.