Abstract:
An apparatus for spraying lawn products adapted for use with a fluid supply source and a reservoir includes a housing defining a mixing chamber therein and a reservoir coupled to the housing. A process for use of the apparatus is also disclosed. The housing includes a substantially cylindrically shaped cap portion having discontinuous internal threads forming flats therein, a lip portion, and an open end portion. The reservoir includes a generally cylindrically shaped neck portion having a partial exterior shoulder, external threads thereon, and an end portion. Internal threads of the neck portion of the reservoir interengage the discontinuous internal threads having flats therein of the cap portion. The partial exterior shoulder of the reservoir interengages the open end portion of the cap portion such that the end portion of the neck of the reservoir does not engage the lip portion of the cap portion aspirating of the reservoir and housing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the art of liquid spray applicators and more particularly to liquid seed applicators. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,206 to Gavin is incorporated herein by reference and is substantially copied herein and quoted below, in this, the BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION, section of the instant patent application.  FIGS. 1-8  are duplicates from U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,206 and  FIG. 11  is a view of the related art cover (spray applicator)  12 . 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,206 to Gavin, quoted below, is incorporated herein by reference and states, in pertinent part: 
         [0004]    “ . . . an inlet chamber is typically provided for receiving an input fluid flow from a source such as a garden hose. The inlet chambers are typically provided with two exhaust passages including an approach passage having a reduced cross-sectional area and a smaller passage forming an inlet into a reservoir containing seed. The approach passage in turn connects the inlet chamber with a mixing chamber. Within the mixing chamber, the slurry created by the inputted fluid received through the smaller passage and combined with the seed is mixed with the inputted fluid which flows through the approach passage. Lastly downstream, a nozzle is provided for limited control over the resultant spray pattern.” 
         [0005]    “ . . . a convertible spray nozzle is provided for application of both soluble and non-soluble materials over a surface. The convertible spray nozzle comprises an inlet end, a distribution section, a mixing section, and an exhaust end. Fluid, such as water, is received into a primary chamber located at the inlet end. The inputted fluid is then divided into two partial flows while within the distribution section. The first partial flow is directed to a canister coupled to the nozzle and provided with the soluble or non-soluble application materials. The second partial flow is directed to a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber is open to the slurry created within the canister whereby the passing of the second partial flow through the mixing chamber draws the slurry from the canister and through an outletchannel for distribution at the exhaust end taking advantage of the venturi principles . . . .” 
         [0006]    “ . . . the distribution section is provided with a direct fluid passage for permitting the fluids received into the secondary inlet chamber to pass therethrough confined within a predetermined longitudinal cross-sectional area. Further, the mixing section is provided with an outlet channel formed above the predetermined longitudinal cross-sectional area of fluid flow through the direct passage. An outlet channel deflector substantially deflects the portions of the fluid flow obliquely through the mixing chamber against a bottom surface of a flared nose provided at the exhaust end of the spray nozzle.” 
         [0007]    “ . . . a pair of discs are provided for easy conversion between soluble and non-soluble applications. A stationary disc is received into the spray nozzle housing to partially restrict a passage between the canister and the mixing chamber. The stationary disc is further provided with centering holes for receipt of positioning dimples formed on a movable . . . . The movable disc is apertured having a plurality of outflow orifices of varying size to control the passage between the reservoir and the mixing chamber by means of modifying the cross-sectional area of the passage to “throttle” the flow therethrough.” 
         [0008]    “ . . . a method of mixing and spraying non-soluble particles using a spray nozzle is provided. A preselected ratio of an inputted fluid stream is constrained to flow through a mixing chamber and directly into an output channel deflector to thereby be deflected through an outlet channel after mixedly combining with portions of a slurry created within the mixing chamber itself. An exhaust end having a flared nose comprising guide ribs and a bottom surface creates an even flow for uniform seed distribution.” 
         [0009]    “ . . . the FIGURES show a convertible spray nozzle apparatus  10  capable of receiving a canister or jar  16  and a fluid supply as, for example, a garden hose  18 .” 
         [0010]    “More particularly with reference to  FIG. 1 , the convertible spray nozzle 10 is generally divided into four regions A, B, C, D. The inlet end A is adapted to receive a garden hose  18  or the like for supply of fluids such as water. An internally threaded nut  22  is received over a flared end of the spray nozzle. The distribution section B and mixing section C combine to form channels which first divide the inputted fluid into at least two partial flows and subsequently downstream recombine the divided flows along with soluble or non-soluble products from within the canister  16 . The expelled combination flows through the exhaust end which forms a flared nose for control over the width of exhaust spray.” 
         [0011]    “Now with particular reference to  FIG. 2 , the convertible spray nozzle  10  of the instant invention is shown in an exploded view along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  to expose the constituent components. The inlet end section A contains a number of individual valving parts for control over the inputted fluid stream. Fluid enters the spray nozzle from the right side as viewed from  FIG. 2  through a one-way (uni-directional flow) valve  20 . To guard against backflow into the supply fluid line and to meet code requirements in certain states, a “raspberry” valve is typically used. The raspberry valve permits the flow of fluid into the housing  11  when the pressure to the right of the valve is greater than the pressure to the left of the valve as viewed in the FIGURE. The valve  20  comprises a small slit for the passage of water therethrough, the material surrounding the slit being resiliently biased toward the closed position wherein, absent any pressure differentials, the valve slit denies the flow of fluids therethrough. A backpressure, manifested as an increasing pressure differential gradient toward the left as viewed in the FIGURE, causes the material of the valve to close the slit with a pressure greater than what exists in accordance with the bias of the material itself.” 
         [0012]    “A plunger  26  is adapted to receive an O-ring  28  into a circumferential groove  29 . In addition, a pair of larger circumferential grooves  25  are adapted to receive an O-ring pair  24  onto the plunger  26 . The O-rings  24 ,  28  and plunger  26  are sized to be slideably received within a primary inlet chamber  32  of housing  11 . When received as such within the chamber  32 , the O-rings  24  engage the inner walls of the primary inlet chamber itself to block the flow of water around the plunger as between the plunger  26  itself and the primary inlet chamber walls. At an end of the plunger  26 , O-ring  28  is accordingly sized to engage the inner walls of a secondary inlet chamber  34  when positioned to the extreme left as viewed from the FIGURE. When in such position, the combination of plunger  26  and O-ring  28 , deny flow of fluids from the primary inlet chamber  32  into the secondary inlet chamber  34 .” 
         [0013]    “With continued reference to the inlet end section A, a portion of a trigger  30  passes through the housing  11  to engage a recess  27  within the plunger  26 . Actuation of the trigger  30 , as by a toggle action, serves to slide the plunger assembly  26  longitudinally within the primary inlet chamber  32 . Actuation of the trigger  30  in a direction F causes the plunger assembly  26  to slide within the primary inlet chamber  32  leftwardly as viewed in the FIGURE. This has the effect of closing off fluid flow through the secondary inlet chamber  34 . Conversely, actuation of the trigger  30  in a direction E longitudinally slides the plunger  26  rightwardly as viewed in the FIGURE to open or allow fluid flow into the secondary inlet chamber  34  through perforations in the plunger  26  spaced radially outward from the O-ring  28  and extending longitudinally through the plunger body.” 
         [0014]    “An intemally threaded nut  22  mechanically attaches a fluid supply hose such as a garden hose to the housing  11 . The nut  22  grips the housing  11  by means of a ridge  23  circumferentially provided on the housing  11  as illustrated.” 
         [0015]    “Referring next to the distribution section B, the secondary inlet chamber  34  forms an elongate generally cylindrical hollow section having a longitudinal axis CL, which is collinear with a longitudinal axis of the primary inlet chamber  32  in the preferred embodiment. However, the secondary chamber  34  is of considerably smaller cross-sectional area than the primary chamber, as can be seen from the FIGURE. Fluid flowing into the secondary chamber  34  escapes through one of two openings. A fill passage  38  comprises a small capillary-type passageway which directs the fluid from the secondary inlet chamber  34  into a canister (not shown) received into the housing  11  and coupled thereto as by threads  15 . A direct passage  40  forms the second opening and is constrained to lie below the longitudinal axis CL of both chambers  32  and  34  as viewed from the FIGURE. Generally, fluid flowing through the secondary inlet chamber  34  exists the direct passage  40  as a directed spray according to the size of the opening  40  and below the axis CL of the inlet chambers  32  and  34 . Fluid which flows through the fill passage  38  mixes with seed or other materials or substances which may be contained in the canister  16  to create a slurry.” 
         [0016]    “The axis CL is used for ease of reference in the preferred embodiment, although it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that the relative positioning between the direct passage  40  and a deflector/outlet channel pair described below is primarily responsible for the advantageous results realized by the instant invention.” 
         [0017]    “Next referring to the mixing section C, fluid which passes through the direct passage  40  enters a mixing chamber  36  striking an outlet channel deflector surface  52 . The flow of fluid through the mixing chamber  36  and across a slurry communicating passage  54 , creates a venturi effect which tends to draw the slurry present within the canister  16  into the mixing chamber  36  according to the well-known phenomenon described above. The outlet channel deflector  52  is set at an angle from the longitudinal axis above the uppermost extreme of passage  40  and common to the inlet chambers  32  and  34 . The angle is 45.degree. in the preferred embodiment. In addition, the outlet channel  50  and outlet channel deflector  52 , meet at a plane defined by the longitudinal axis CL to, in effect, create a “misalignment” between the direct passage  40  and outlet channel  50 . That is, fluids escaping the secondary inlet chamber  34  through the direct passage  40 , must necessarily first strike the outlet channel deflector  52 , before passing through the outlet channel  50 . As such, it is apparent that the actual configuration of the chambers  32  and  34  may be modified to conform with any number of applications without departing from the misalignment concept described above.” 
         [0018]    “In addition, the cross-sectional area of the secondary chamber  34  in a plane transverse to the axis CL is “tuned” with the area of outlet channel  50 . That is, in the preferred embodiment, the chamber  34  and the channel  50  are sized to have corresponding (matching) cross-sectional areas. This arrangement results in the optimum operational characteristics in the preferred embodiment. Experimentation with sizing indicates that for a fixed cross-sectional area of secondary chamber  34 , a large outlet channel  50  resulted in a “gasping” or “sputtering” of the product from the reservoir  16 . For a small outlet channel  50 , the inputted fluid accumulates within the reservoir  16  in turn causing threads  15  to leak the accumulated slurry.” 
         [0019]    “The quantity and capacity of the expulsion of the slurry contained within the canister  16  is controlled by a selective adjustment of the slurry communicating passage  54 . In the preferred embodiment, a means for controlling the aperture size of the slurry communicating passage  54  comprise a stationary disc  60  and a moveable disc  70 .” 
         [0020]    “With continued reference to  FIG. 2 , but more particularly with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7  which illustrate views taken along line  6 - 6  and  7 - 7  of  FIG. 2 , respectively, the stationary disc  60  comprises an output orifice  61 , a mushroomed center  62 , a retainer ridge  63 , an orientation clearance  64 , a socket  66 , and positioning holes  68 . The output orifice  61  is selected to determine the absolute maximum size of the slurry communicating passage  54  for all conceivable applications of the spray nozzle. As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the housing  11  is adapted to receive the stationary disc  60  over the fill passage wall  39  and up into the rim  14  past the internal threads  15 . The stationary disc  60  is provided with an orientation clearance  64  through which the fill passage wall  39  extends. An integral socket  66  mates with a corresponding integral male part formed on the housing  11  to ensure that the stationary disc  60  is properly oriented. A mushroomed center  62  provides for easy manual manipulation of the stationary disc for removal or the like. The stationary disc itself is adapted to receive the movable disc  70  by means of a retainer ridge  63  and centering holes  68 .” 
         [0021]    “With the stationary disc  60  received into the housing  11  and oriented according to the orientation criteria established by the socket  66 , the moveable disc  70  may then be installed into the housing  11  abutted against the stationary disc  60 . The moveable disc  70  is provided with a plurality of outflow orifices  72 , dimples  74 , tabs  76 , and an internal centering frictional surface  78 . The dimples  74  are positioned about the moveable disc  70  to correspond with the positioning holes  68  provided in the stationary disc  60 . As illustrated, the preferred embodiment comprises four hole/dimple sets, to provide for four individual orientations of the moveable disc  70  about an axis loosely defined by the fill passage  38 . As can be seen from the FIGURES, the surface  78  is sized to frictionally engage the retainer ridge  63  and in this manner is held thereby during attachment of reservoir  16  to the spray nozzle. Actual control over the resultant size of the slurry communicating passage  54  is controlled by a combination of the output orifice  61  and selection of a one of the plurality of outflow orifices  72 . As seen in the FIGURES, the outflow orifices  72  may be sized and numbered according to a wide variety of particular applications. That is, it is possible to provide a single large outflow orifice, or a plurality of small orifices, or any combination thereof, to achieve a desired slurry outflow characteristic.” 
         [0022]    “However, it is to be noted that the spray nozzle  10 , as illustrated, functions to disperse both soluble and non-soluble products from the reservoir even without the use of either the discs  60  or  70 . As would be expected, of course, without the expedient of the discs  60 ,  70  to govern the flow of the concentrated product, soluble substances are expelled from the nozzle and applied over the desired surface rather quickly, as to make use of the device without the control provided by the discs  60 ,  70  to be unwise.” 
         [0023]    “In operation, a single large outflow orifice is manually selected through use of tabs  76  by rotating the moveable disc  70  about the fill passage axis until the dimples  74  engage the positioning holes  68 . In that orientation, a slurry comprising grass seed and water may be applied to a surface. A small outflow orifice  72  for spreading soluble products is possible by manually rotating the moveable disc  70  in quarter-turn increments where the dimples  74  mate with the positioning holes  68 . Through this simple expedient, the spray nozzle is easily convertible in the field for use with both soluble and non-soluble products presented within the canister  16 . In addition, both discs are easily removable for cleaning or the like.” 
         [0024]    “Referring next to  FIG. 3 , the spray nozzle of the preferred embodiment is illustrated with the moveable disc  70  removed. As can be seen in the FIGURE, the mixing chamber  36  is formed by a combination of mixing chamber walls  42 , cover  12 , and portions of the stationary disc  60 . A passage into the mixing chamber is provided by the output orifice  61  of the stationary disc. Control over the size of the passage is possible with the moveable disc  70  as is described above.” 
         [0025]    “With continued reference to  FIG. 3 , the exhaust end D of the spray nozzle comprises a flared nose so, having guide ribs  82 , and a bottom surface  84 . The guide ribs  82  are formed to be separated by a gap near the mixing chamber and to protrude forward at an angle from the mixing chamber such that the two ribs are separated by a greater gap at their tips furthest from the housing. The guide ribs forming the flared nose define an angle alpha, which in the preferred embodiment is approximately 25. degree.” 
         [0026]    “Referring next to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , taken on the lines  4 - 4  and  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 , respectively, the unique positioning of the direct passage  40  and outlet channel  50  of the preferred embodiment will be described. Referring first to  FIG. 4 , a first end of the mixing chamber  36  is illustrated being formed in part by the cover  12 , mixing chamber walls  42 , and the housing  11 . As can be seen in the FIGURE, the direct passage  40  is configured in a “half-moon” shape in the preferred embodiment. The direct passage  40  opens into the mixing chamber  36  below the longitudinal axis CL.” 
         [0027]    “Referring next to  FIG. 5 , a second end of the mixing chamber  36  is shown being formed in part by the cover  12 , the mixing chamber walls  42 , and the housing  11 . The outlet channel  50  provides an exhaust opening from the mixing chamber  36  above the longitudinal axis CL. Outlet channel deflector  52  extends away from the longitudinal axis CL a distance at least as large as that by which the direct passage  40  extends from the longitudinal axis CL, as illustrated in FIG.  4 .” 
         [0028]    “By the arrangement of the direct passage and outlet channel as described above, fluid exiting the secondary inlet chamber  34  through the direct passage  40  necessarily strikes the outlet channel deflector  52  formed to lie in a direct path distanced from and parallel with the longitudinal axis CL. A plane H is defined by the longitudinal axis CL illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5  and substantially perpendicular with the fill passage  38 . The direct passage  40  and the outlet channel  50  are constrained to lie on opposite sides of plane H.” 
         [0029]    “With reference next to  FIG. 8 , the general flow of fluids through the spray nozzle will be described with respect to the preferred embodiment. A first flow is received from a fluid supply source into the primary inlet chamber  32 . From the primary inlet chamber  32 , the first fluid enters a secondary inlet chamber  34 , the inlet chambers being aligned on a common longitudinal axis CL. The fill passage  38  communicates a first portion of the first fluid from the secondary inlet chamber  34  into canister  16 . The direct passage  40  communicates a second portion of the first fluid from the secondary inlet chamber  34  into the mixing chamber  36 . The second portion of the first fluid is substantially directed by the direct passage against the outlet channel deflector  52 . The movement of the second portion of the first fluid flow across the slurry communicating passage  54  draws the slurry into the mixing chamber  36  as a mixed composition flow F.sub.s according to the venturi effect.” 
         [0030]    “The outlet channel deflector  52  creates a constant turbulence of the fluids in and near the mixing chamber  36 . Some of the turbulence is due in part to flows from the mixing chamber  36  into reservoir  16 . Overall, the turbulence performs at least two beneficial functions. First, the progress of the material from the reservoir  16  and out channel  50  is held in check for better control over the concentration of the material applied to the desired spray surface area. Also, the turbulence prevents a “bunching” up of non-soluble products within the mixing chamber  36  which would tend to clog the nozzle.” 
         [0031]    “The mixture exiting mixing chamber  36  through outlet channel  50  is substantially directed by the reflected fluid flow from the outlet channel deflector  52 . As such, the bottom surface  84  of the flared nose  80  provides a second reflecting surface against which the mixture exiting the spray nozzle is guided. Further, the guide ribs  82  comprising the flared nose  80  determine the “spread” of the mixture exiting the spray nozzle  10 . This “doubly reflected” fluid flow according to the inherent misalignment between the direct passage  40  and the outlet channel  50  prevents clogging of the mixing chamber  36  and accommodates a uniform distribution of the expelled fluids.” 
         [0032]    “Removal of the flared nose  80  results in a fluid exhaust substantially parallel to the plane defined by the surface  52 . But for the nose  80 , the expelled fluid flow would generally follow the direction illustrated as F.sub.N.” 
         [0033]      FIG. 9  is a side view  900  of a prior art Miracle Gro® spray applicator comprising a thick and rigid plastic bottle  902  spray housing  901 , inlet  903  and outlet  904 . Inlet  903  is adaptable for use with a typical garden hose. Outlet  904  is adaptable for use with a diffusion spraying device such as a sprinkler head (not shown). 
         [0034]      FIG. 10  is a partial cut-away view  1000  of the prior art Miracle Gro® spray applicator illustrated in  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 10  illustrates the sealing of the rigid plastic bottle  902  against the elastomeric seal  912 . Specifically, the neck of the bottle  906  includes exterior threads  908  which interengage with internal threads  907  on an interior wall  905  of the spray applicator  901 . Elastomeric seal  911  is trapped by walls  909 ,  910  and  911  of the spray applicator. 
         [0035]    The two most common sprayers being offered to the lawn and garden consumer are the siphoning style and the inflow style. The siphoning style uses the venturi effect to deliver product to the exiting orifice of the sprayer. In order to maintain the venturi these designs must have an air inflow to replace the product outflow and maintain the venturi effect. The inflow styles being offered purport to use a venturi to deliver product to the outflow orifice but in fact do not since these designs do not have an air inflow mechanism. 
         [0036]    Neither the Gavin &#39;206 patent quoted above nor other inflow type sprayers recognize the need for a strong venturi effect with an air intake to enable the venturi. The lack of a strong venturi causes malfunctions both in the application of the product and in the emptying process. Without airflow to replace the emitted product from the container the venturi effect is defeated. 
         [0037]    Previous designs do not indicate any bottle neck ring design and do not indicate the manner in which the sprayer head is to be affixed to the container. In fact, as indicated above in connection with  FIGS. 9 and 10 , some of the designs in fact are sealed so that no air may enter the sprayer head or the container. These designs are typically made with full 360° threads for both the head and the container. When the head and container are combined they seal the jar (container) to prevent leaks from the threads during use. This sealing prevents airflow through the threads defeating the venturi. These designs utilize pressure applied into the container to force the product up and out of the container. However, there is a pressure imbalance across the body of the container. Without equalizing pressure inside and outside of the container, the container walls must be thick and rigid as disclosed above in connection with the Miracle Gro® spray applicator in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The requirement to design heavy duty containers also limits the size of the container and creates additional cost. The force out design also prevents the units from emptying completely unless they are inverted (turned upside down) and the container is unscrewed one full turn from the sprayer head while the water pressure is on and the unit is upside-down usually causing a wet and annoyed user. 
         [0038]    The Gavin &#39;206 design without the disc assembly allows for proper air input only when not over tightened and does not disclose any way to prevent over tightening. The Gavin &#39;206 design with the disc assembly will dispense slurry through the largest orifice (insoluble) when the threads are not tightened to seal air off. When the smaller orifice is used in the Gavin &#39;206 and air is allowed to flow (i.e. threads are loosened), then pulsation and malfunction of the discharge occurs. In soluble position the disc assembly of the Gavin &#39;206 design does not perform better than other soluble sprayers on the market. 
         [0039]      FIG. 11  is a view  1100  of a prior art cover as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Specifically,  FIG. 11  is an interior view  1100  the of prior art spray applicator. Flats  1101  in threads  15  are illustrated as is the lip  1102  in the spray applicator. Reference numeral  1103  is the interior of the upper portion of the spray applicator. Reference numeral  1103 A indicates the head portion of the housing or, put another way, the interior of the upper portion of the spray applicator. Reference numeral  1105  indicates the bottom lip (sometimes referred to herein as the open end portion) of the cap portion of the housing of the spray applicator. Reference numeral  1106  is the outer top of the spray applicator. Reference numeral  1109  is the male part for interengagement with socket  66  of a fixed disc to secure the fixed disc to the cap portion of the housing. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    The invention protects against the defeat of the flow venturi formed in the flow channel passageways and orifices therein through the proper aspiration of the head portion of the cap portion of the housing and through the proper aspiration of the reservoir. Air is supplied to the head portion and the reservoir to prevent the defeat of the venturi. 
         [0041]    The invention enables the venturi and allows for larger, thinner wall containers at less cost and greater volume without refilling which also saves time and labor. The invention allows the container to empty automatically when inverted without unscrewing or rotating the threads of the head and the container with pressure applied thereto. The invention includes a “stop” position on the bottle and the head so that the threads cannot be tightened to the point of sealing off air inflow which is accomplished through the flat areas spaced 90 degrees between the partial threads of the head. Additionally, the flat areas may extend past the lip in the cap portion of the housing in the event that the bottle is accidentally over-tightened or intentionally over-tightened. By allowing the air inflow the venturi effect draws the slurry up into the head for distribution and keeps an equalizing pressure in the container preventing distortion of a thin-walled container. The equalizing pressure also allows the container to empty automatically in the inverted position without rotating the threads as is required with the related art set forth in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
         [0042]    The invention includes a stationary or fixed disc having eight (8) orifices or apertures. Four of the orifices are rectangularly shaped and four of the orifices are circularly shaped. One of the rectangular orifices aligns with the mixing chamber and maximize&#39;s slurry entering the mixing area. Six of the seven additional apertures are for air input to the head and reservoir (sometimes referred to herein as the bottle, jar or container). One aperture is not used in that it abuts against the elongate passageway carrying water to and through the spray applicator. The invention includes a movable or rotatable disc with four (4) selectable outlet flow orifices (one rectangularly shaped and one circularly shaped) one of which is used as an outlet orifice and with the remaining orifices for air inflow to the head and then to the reservoir (i.e., aspiration of the head and reservoir). One of the orifices, however, will be substantially blocked at all times as it resides above the wall of the elongate flow passageway. There are four additional circularly shaped orifices or apertures which are used for aspiration of air. The stationary and fixed discs of the invention along with other features disclosed herein enable interchangeability between soluble fertilizer and insoluble grass seed. Another aspect of the invention includes a bottle neck ring which prohibits threading of the extension of the bottle too deeply into the sprayer head. 
         [0043]    An apparatus for spraying lawn products adapted for use with a fluid supply source and a reservoir holding said lawn products includes a housing defining a mixing chamber therein. Soluble and insoluble products may be used in the reservoir. Further, detergent may be used in the reservoir. The apparatus is substantially made of plastic. The reservoir is coupled to the housing. A fluid supply source communicates a supply of a first fluid from the fluid supply source into the housing through an elongate passageway. A first passageway (fill passageway) communicates a first portion of the first fluid from the fluid supply source into the reservoir as a mixing fluid flow. A second passageway communicates the remaining portion of the first fluid from the fluid supply source into the mixing chamber through the direct passage. The mixing chamber empties through the outlet channel. 
         [0044]    The housing includes a substantially cylindrically shaped cap portion having discontinuous internal threads forming flats therein, a lip portion, and an open end portion. The reservoir includes a generally cylindrically shaped neck portion having a partial exterior shoulder, external threads thereon, and an end portion. 
         [0045]    The external threads of the generally cylindrically shaped neck portion of the reservoir interengage the discontinuous internal threads having flats therein of the substantially cylindrically shaped cap portion. The partial exterior shoulder of the generally cylindrically shaped neck portion of the reservoir interengages the open end portion of the substantially cylindrically shaped cap portion such that the end portion of the neck portion of the reservoir does not engage the lip portion of the substantially shaped cap portion enabling aspiration of the reservoir and the housing past the partial shoulder, the threads of the housing and reservoir and the flats of the housing. 
         [0046]    An apparatus for spraying lawn products adapted for use with a fluid supply source and a reservoir holding the lawn products includes a housing defining a mixing chamber therein. The reservoir is coupled to the housing. The fluid supply source communicates a supply of a first fluid from the fluid supply source into the housing through an elongate passageway. A first passageway communicates a first portion of the first fluid from the fluid supply source into the reservoir as a mixing fluid flow. A second passageway communicates the remaining portion of the first fluid from the fluid supply source into the mixing chamber. The housing includes a substantially cylindrically shaped cap portion having discontinuous internal threads forming flats therein, a lip portion, and an open end portion. The reservoir includes a generally cylindrically shaped neck portion having a partial exterior shoulder, external threads thereon, and an end portion. 
         [0047]    The internal threads of the generally cylindrically shaped neck portion of the reservoir interengage the discontinuous internal threads having flats therein of the substantially cylindrically shaped cap portion. A fixed disc is mounted to the cylindrically shaped cap portion of the housing and comprises a plurality of rectangularly shaped apertures. The fixed disc is in loose engagement with the lip of the cap portion of the housing such that air may flow between the fixed disc and the lip into the head portion. One of the rectangularly shaped apertures communicates with the mixing chamber. The fixed disc further includes four circularly shaped apertures which communicate with a head portion of the housing. A rotatably adjustable disc is in loose engagement with the fixed disc. The rotatably adjustable disc includes a rectangularly shaped-mixing flow aperture, a square shaped mixing flow aperture, an oval shaped mixing flow aperture and a circularly shaped mixing flow aperture any one of which may be selectively aligned with the one of the rectangularly shaped apertures communicating with the mixing chamber. The remaining apertures not aligned with the mixing chamber are aligned with the rectangular apertures of the fixed disc such that two of the remaining apertures communicate with the head of the housing. The rotatably adjustable disc further includes four circularly shaped apertures which align with the four circularly shaped apertures of the fixed disc. The apertures aligning with the mixing chamber control flow therethrough and the apertures aligned with each other aspirate the head of the housing and the reservoir. The partial exterior shoulder of the generally cylindrically shaped neck portion of the reservoir interengages the open end portion of the substantially cylindrically shaped cap portion such that the end portion of the neck portion of the reservoir does not engage the fixed and rotatable discs or the lip portion of the substantially shaped cap portion enabling aspiration of the reservoir and the housing past the partial shoulder, the threads of the housing and reservoir, the fixed and rotatable discs, and the flats of the housing. 
         [0048]    A bottle and spray applicator is disclosed and claimed. The spray applicator includes a housing having a head and a passageway through the housing. The bottle includes a stop. The housing is threadedly interconnected with the bottle and interengages the stop on the bottle such that air may flow past the stop and the threaded interconnection and into the head of the housing and the bottle. The fixed disc includes four rectangularly shaped orifices located 90° apart. Any one of the four rectangularly shaped orifices of the fixed disc may be positioned adjacent to and aligned with the passageway. 
         [0049]    Two of the four rectangularly shaped orifices are in communication with the head of the housing. The fixed disc also includes a plurality of circularly shaped orifices in communication with the head of the housing. A selectively rotatable disc resides adjacent the stationary disc. The rotatable disc typically is selectively rotated in 90° increments so as to adjust the flow apertures with respect to the fixed disc. The rotatable disc includes a plurality of flow control orifices, any one of which may be selectively aligned with the selected one of the four rectangularly shaped orifices of the fixed disc adjacent the passageway so as to control flow through the passageway. 
         [0050]    Two of the flow control orifices of the rotatable disc are aligned with two of the rectangularly shaped discs for communication of air to and from the head. The rotatable disc further includes a plurality of circularly shaped apertures in alignment with the circularly shaped apertures of the fixed disc for communication of air to and from the head of the cap portion of the housing. 
         [0051]    A process for aspirating a bottle and spray applicator is claimed and disclosed wherein the bottle (reservoir or container) includes a neck portion having exterior threads thereon, an end portion and a partial shoulder thereon. The spray applicator includes a housing which in turn includes a cap portion. The cap portion includes interior threads having flats therein, a passageway, a head portion, an end portion, and a lip. The cap portion further includes a fixed disc having a plurality of flow apertures and aspirating apertures. Further, the cap portion includes a rotatable disc having a plurality of flow apertures and aspirating apertures. The steps of the process include: inserting the fixed disc into engagement with the cap portion; aligning one of the flow apertures of the fixed disc with the passageway; inserting the rotatable disc into engagement with the fixed disc; rotatably selecting from one of a rectangular, square, oval or circular flow aperture of the rotatable disc and aligning it with the one of the flow apertures aligned with the passageway of the fixed disc, and, aligning the remaining flow and aspirating apertures with each other; interengaging the exterior threads of the neck portion with the interior threads of the cap portion; interengaging the end portion of the cap with the partial shoulder of the neck portion of the bottle; and, flowing air past the partial shoulder of the bottle, the threads and flats, and into the reservoir and the head portion. Alternatively, the flats in the threads of the cap portion of the housing extend past the lip so as to provide an airflow path above and below the fixed disc. 
         [0052]    It is an object of the present invention to provide fixed and rotatable discs which permit aspiration of air between the reservoir and the head. 
         [0053]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a partial shoulder or stop on the exterior of the reservoir which interengages the cap portion of the housing thus preventing the reservoir from bottoming out on a lip of the cap portion or on the rotatable and fixed discs and thus allowing aspiration of air between the reservoir and the head. 
         [0054]    It is an object of the present invention to provide fixed and rotatable discs which include apertures therethrough which align which each other forming passageways between the reservoir and the head of the cap portion of the housing. 
         [0055]    It is an object of the present invention to provide flats on the threaded interior cap portion of the housing which communicates air along the flats to an annular space formed between an end portion of a neck of the reservoir and the rotatable and fixed disc and then to the reservoir and head portion of the housing. 
         [0056]    It is an object of the present invention to provide flats on the threaded interior cap portion of the housing which communicates air along the flats past the rotatable and fixed discs and then to exchange the air between the rotatable and fixed discs. 
         [0057]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a process for aspirating a reservoir in combination with a spray applicator. 
         [0058]    It is an object of the present invention to provide aspiration means to improve venturi performance. 
         [0059]    It is an object of the present invention to protect against the defeat of the venturi through proper aspiration of the device. 
         [0060]    It is an object of the present invention to provide air to the head portion and then into the container (reservoir). 
         [0061]    It is an object of the present invention to provide indicia on the reservoir and the cap portion of the housing to prevent over-tightening of the cap to the housing. 
         [0062]    These and other objects of the invention will be best understood when reference is made to the BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS and the DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION which follow hereinbelow. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0063]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the prior art spray nozzle shown attached on one end to a fluid supply hose and at another end to a canister; 
           [0064]      FIG. 2  is an exploded and enlarged sectional view taken along the line  2 - 2  of prior art  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0065]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line  3 - 3  of prior art  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0066]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line  4 - 4  of prior art  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0067]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line  5 - 5  of prior art  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0068]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line  6 - 6  of prior art  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0069]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line  7 - 7  of prior art  FIG. 2 ; and, 
           [0070]      FIG. 8  is a partial enlarged sectional view taken on the line  2 - 2  of prior art  FIG. 1 , illustrating the flow patterns arising due to the nature of the spray nozzle configuration. 
           [0071]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a prior art Miracle Gro® spray applicator. 
           [0072]      FIG. 10  is a partial cut-away view of the prior art Miracle Gro® spray applicator illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0073]      FIG. 11  is a view of a prior spray applicator as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0074]      FIG. 11A  is a view of a spray applicator having extended flats. 
           [0075]      FIG. 11B  is a view similar to  FIG. 11  together with the fixed and adjustable discs of the invention. 
           [0076]      FIG. 11C  is a view similar to  FIG. 11A  together with the fixed and adjustable discs of the invention. 
           [0077]      FIG. 12  is a view of the fixed disc of the invention. 
           [0078]      FIG. 13  is a view of the adjustable disc of the invention. 
           [0079]      FIG. 13A  is another example of the adjustable disc of the invention. 
           [0080]      FIG. 14  is a perspective cross-sectional view of the fixed and adjustable discs mounted in the cap of the housing of the invention taken along the lines  14 - 14  of  FIG. 11B . 
           [0081]      FIG. 14A  is a cross-sectional view of the fixed and adjustable discs mounted in the cap of the housing of the invention taken along the lines  14 - 14  of  FIG. 11B . 
           [0082]      FIG. 14B  is a perspective cross-sectional view of the fixed and adjustable discs mounted in the cap of the housing of the invention taken along the lines  14 B- 14 B of  FIG. 11C . 
           [0083]      FIG. 14C  is a cross-sectional view of the fixed and adjustable discs mounted in the cap of the housing of the invention taken along the lines  14 B- 14 B of  FIG. 1C . 
           [0084]      FIG. 15  is a top view of bottle of the invention. 
           [0085]      FIG. 15A  is a side view of the bottle of  FIG. 15 . 
           [0086]      FIG. 15B  is an illustration of a bottle having flats in the threads of the bottle which may be used in, for example, a cap portion of the housing which does not have flats in its threads. 
           [0087]      FIG. 16  is a top view of the bottle of the invention with the sprayer mounted thereon. 
           [0088]      FIG. 16A  is a side view of the bottle of the invention with the sprayer mounted thereon. 
           [0089]      FIG. 16B  is a cross-sectional view of the bottle taken along the lines  16 B- 16 B of  FIG. 16 . 
           [0090]      FIG. 16C  is a cross-sectional view of the bottle taken along the lines  16 C- 16 C of  FIG. 16 . 
           [0091]      FIG. 16D  is an enlargement of a portion of  FIG. 16C . 
           [0092]      FIG. 16E  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 16B  of another example of the invention taken along the lines  16 B- 16 B of  FIG. 16  with the fixed and rotatable discs mounted into the cap portion of the head of the housing. 
           [0093]      FIG. 16F  is an enlargement of a portion of  FIG. 16E . 
           [0094]      FIG. 16G  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 16C  of another example of the invention taken along the lines  16 C- 16 C of  FIG. 16  with the fixed and rotatable discs mounted into the cap portion of the head of the housing. 
           [0095]      FIG. 16H  is an enlargement of a portion of  FIG. 16G . 
           [0096]      FIG. 17  is a schematic diagram of the process steps for using the improved reservoir and spray applicator. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0097]      FIGS. 1-8  have been described in the related art Gavin &#39;206 patent and are quoted hereinabove in the BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION section of this patent application.  FIGS. 1-8  and the description from the Gavin &#39;206 patent have been substantially copied hereinabove and are incorporated by reference herein and may be relied upon as part of the disclosure hereof in combination with some or all of the novel features of the instant invention as described and depicted herein. 
         [0098]      FIG. 11A  is a view  1100 A, more specifically, an interior view of the spray applicator with extended flats  1101 A in the cap portion of the housing. The cap portion  1199  as seen in  FIG. 11A  and other drawing figures that it comprises the portion of the spray applicator which is threadedly interconnected with the bottle or reservoir as illustrated, for example, in  FIG. 15  as well as the head portion  1103 A. 
         [0099]    Cap portion  1199  includes a circumferential wall defined by outer surface or rim  14  and inner surface  14 A. Interior threads  15  are discontinuous. Lip  1102  is formed in the circumferential wall. Head portion  1103 A is defined by the inner interior wall  1120  and the upper portion  1103  of the interior of the cap portion  1199  of the housing. Referring to  FIG. 16B  which is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines  16 B- 16 B of  FIG. 16 , a fluid supply source enters from the hose connection on the right side of the drawing into the elongate passageway  34  through both direct passageway  40  and indirect passageway  38  (toward the reservoir). Fluid and solids in the reservoir are mixed and educted (i.e., sucked) into the mixing chamber created by the venturi formed by the principal flow through the direct passageway  40  and the outlet passageway  50 . 
         [0100]    Still referring to  FIG. 11A , extended flats  1101 A terminate in notch  1107  in the lip  1102 . Walls  1108  form the notch  1107  in the lip  1102  and create a volume (space) which permits air to flow past the fixed  1220  and rotatable  1320  discs as will be explained in more detail hereinbelow. 
         [0101]    Still referring to  FIG. 11A , reference numeral  1103  represents the interior of the upper portion of the spray applicator which together with the inner interior wall  1120  of spray applicator forms the head portion  1103 A. Head portion  1103 A of the spray applicator is a volume in which air and/or a combination of air or fluid resides. 
         [0102]    The cap portion  1199  of the spray applicator terminates in a bottom lip or end portion  1105 . The outer top of the cap portion of the spray applicator is indicated by reference numeral  1106 . Cap portion  1199  further includes male protrusion  1109  for interengagement with corresponding socket  66 . 
         [0103]      FIG. 11B  is a view  1100 B similar to  FIG. 11  together with the fixed  1202  and adjustable discs  1302  of the invention placed in the cap portion  1199  of the housing. The diameter of discs  1220 ,  1230  is such that they are placed within the cap portion  1199  of the housing. As illustrated in  FIG. 11B , fixed disc  1220  engages but does not seal against lip  1102 .  FIG. 12  is a view  1200  of the fixed disc  1220  and  FIG. 13  is a view  1300  of the adjustable disc  1320 . Fixed disc  1220  is mounted to the cylindrically shaped cap portion  1199  of the housing. Fixed disc  1220  includes a plurality of rectangularly shaped apertures  61 ,  1202 ,  1203 ,  1204  and is in loose engagement with the lip  1102  of the cap portion of the housing. One of the rectangularly shaped apertures  61 ,  1202 ,  1203 ,  1204  communicates with the mixing chamber  36 . The fixed disc  1220  further includes four circularly shaped apertures  1201 ,  1201 A,  1201 B,  1201 C which communicate with the head portion  1103 A of the housing as viewed in  FIGS. 11B ,  11 C,  14 ,  14 A,  14 B, and  14 C. 
         [0104]    The fixed and rotatable discs are approximately 0.40 inches thick. The cap portion  1199  is approximately 2.875 inches in diameter (outside diameter) and has a height of approximately 1.125 inches (outside dimensions). 
         [0105]    Referring to  FIGS. 11B and 13 , rotatably adjustable disc  1320  is in loose engagement with the fixed disc  1220 . Rotatably adjustable disc  1320  is adjusted by gripping tabs  76  and rotating them 90° clockwise or counterclockwise until dimples  74  engage recesses or positioning holes  68  of the fixed disc. The rotatably adjustable disc  1320  includes a rectangularly shaped-mixing flow aperture  72 , a square shaped mixing flow aperture  1302 , an oval shaped mixing flow aperture  72 A, and a circularly shaped mixing flow aperture  72 B, any one of which may be selectively aligned with the selected one of the rectangularly shaped apertures  61 ,  1202 ,  1203 ,  1204  communicating with the mixing chamber. The remaining three apertures (any three of  72 ,  1302 ,  72 A and  72 B) not aligned with the mixing chamber are aligned with a corresponding three of the rectangular apertures  61 ,  1202 ,  1203 ,  1204  of the fixed disc such that two sets of the remaining aligned apertures communicate with the head  1103 A of the housing. The other set of apertures will be aligned with the enclosed elongate passageway  1177 . Surface  78  of the rotatable disc  1320  is sized to frictionally engage the retainer ridge  63  of the fixed disc  1220 . 
         [0106]    Referring to  FIGS. 11B ,  11 C,  16 B, and  16 C, it is apparent that oval shaped aperture  72 A is not capable of communicating fluid even though aligned with one of the rectangularly shaped apertures, for instance, aperture  1203  of the fixed disc, as it is substantially blocked by the enclosed elongate passageway  1177 . 
         [0107]    Rotatably adjustable disc  1320  further includes four circularly shaped aspirating apertures  1301 ,  1301 A,  1301 B,  1301 C which align with the four circularly shaped aspirating apertures  1201 ,  1201 A,  1201 B,  1201 C of the fixed disc. One of the fixed disc flow apertures ( 61 ,  1202 ,  1203 ,  1204 ) aligns with one of the rotatable disc flow apertures ( 72 ,  1302 ,  72 A and  72 B) for direct flow control through the mixing chamber. The apertures aligned with each other and which are not aligned with the mixing chamber or elongate passageway  1177  aspirate head  1103 A of the cap portion  1199  of the housing and the reservoir. 
         [0108]      FIG. 13A  is another example  1300 A of the adjustable disc  1321  of the invention. First, second, third, and fourth cords  1310 ,  1310 A,  1310 B,  1310 C of adjustable disc  1300 A are viewed in  FIG. 13A  and provide additional flow area for aspirating air. First, second, third and fourth arcs  1311 ,  1311 A,  1311 B,  1311 C of rotatable disc are viewed in  FIG. 13A  as well. Adjustable disc  1300 A includes notch  1313  formed of walls  1312  of the notch in adjustable disc. 
         [0109]      FIG. 15  is a top view  1500  of bottle of the invention holding solubles and/or insolubles.  FIG. 15A  is a side view  1500 A of the bottle of  FIG. 15 . Reference numeral  1501  indicates the wall of the bottle with the interior of the bottle designated by reference numeral  1501 A.  FIG. 15B  is an illustration of a bottle having flats  1583  in the threads of the bottle which may be used in, for example, a cap portion of the housing which does not have flats in its threads. 
         [0110]    The reservoir or bottle includes a top lip  1502  and a neck  1503 . Spiral shaped exterior threads  1510  are illustrated on the neck  1503  of the bottle. A partial shoulder forming stop  1520  is illustrated with a large discontinuity in the shoulder represented by reference numeral  1530  indicated. Sometimes hereinafter the discontinuity in the threads may be indicated as a flat on the exterior of the bottle between the stops  1520 . 
         [0111]    The partial exterior shoulder  1520  of the generally cylindrically shaped neck portion of the reservoir interengages the end portion  1105  of the substantially cylindrically shaped cap portion  1199  such that the end or lip portion  1102  of the neck portion  1103  of the reservoir does not engage the fixed  1220  and rotatable  1320  discs or the lip portion  1102  of the substantially cylindrically shaped cap portion enabling aspiration of the reservoir and the head portion of the housing past the partial shoulder  1520 , the threads  15 ,  1510  of the cap portion of the housing and reservoir, the fixed and rotatable discs, and the flats of the cap portion of the housing. 
         [0112]      FIG. 11C  is an interior view  1100 C of the cap portion  1199  of the spray applicator with extended flats  1101 A similar to  FIG. 11A  together with the fixed  1220  and adjustable discs  1320  secured to the cap portion of the housing as described herein.  FIG. 11C  has a cutaway portion which exhibits the notch  1107  formed by walls  1108 . Fixed  1220  and rotatable  1320  discs are illustrated. Fixed disc  1220  is in loose engagement with lip  1102  and rotatable disc  1320  is snugly fit over the fixed disc  1220 . Since the discs  1220 ,  1320  do not seal against the lip  1102  air may flow between lip  1102  and the discs  1220 ,  1320 . Additionally, the discs are made of thin plastic which enable air to flow by them as they are secured in the cap portion of the housing. Discs  1220 ,  1230  are mounted within the cap housing and are diametrically smaller than the thread diameter of the cap portion of the housing. 
         [0113]    Fixed disc  1220  includes a crown or mushroomed portion  1277  over which aperture  78  of the rotatable disc  1320  fits to snugly fit the discs together, together with the dimples and recesses previously described. Disc  1220  includes a socket  66  for reception of the male protrusion  1109 . Male protrusion may be square or rectangularly shaped. Other shapes of the protrusion and corresponding socket shapes are contemplated. 
         [0114]      FIG. 14  is a perspective cross-sectional view  1400  of the fixed  1220  and adjustable  1320  discs mounted in the cap of the housing of the invention taken along the lines  14 - 14  of  FIG. 11B . In this example it will be noticed that airflow along the flats will occur which allows equal pressurization when the housing is mounted to the bottle through the threaded interconnection of the bottle and the cap portion of the housing. Air moves circumferentially along the passageway of the threads of the bottle as well. As is described elsewhere herein, air flows around the plates to the head portion  1103 A as indicated by air flow arrows  1430 ,  1440 . A gap  1401 A exists between wall  14 A of the cap portion  1199  and the discs  1220 ,  1320 . 
         [0115]      FIG. 14A  is a cross-sectional view  1400 A of the fixed  1220  and adjustable  1320  discs mounted in the cap portion of the housing of the invention taken along the lines  14 - 14  of FIG.  11 B. Referring to  FIG. 14A , air flow is indicated by arrow  1430  as extending past plates  1220  and  1320 . Fixed disc  1220  is shown engaging lip  1102  as viewed in  FIG. 14A .  FIGS. 11-11C  and  14 - 14 C are shown inverted to reveal the interior of the cap portion and its components. Further,  FIGS. 14-14C  illustrate the generally cylindrically shaped cap portion of the housing not connected to a corresponding bottle. Flow arrow  1440  in  FIG. 14A  illustrates airflow under fixed disc  1220  into head portion  1103 A formed by the interior  1103  of upper portion of the housing and the generally cylindrically shaped wall  1120 . Although no airflow arrow is shown in  FIG. 14A  along the surface  1320 A of the rotatable disc  1320 , air will flow there as well. Air flow along flow arrow  1440  in  FIGS. 14 and 14A  is possible as the bottle (reservoir) not shown does not compressively engage the rotatable disc  1320 . Therefore the discs  1220 ,  1320  do not seal against the lip  1102 . 
         [0116]      FIG. 14B  is a perspective cross-sectional view  1400 B ofthe fixed  1220  and adjustable  1320  discs mounted in the cap of the housing of the invention taken along the lines  14 B- 14 B of  FIGS. 11A and 11C .  FIGS. 11A and 11C  illustrate the cap portion of the housing with extended flats  1101 A and that cross-sectional view is taken along these flats. Again, air flows along the flats  1101 A and along the spaces intermediate threads  15  and the mating threads of the bottle (not shown).  FIG. 14C  is a cross-sectional view  1400 C of the fixed  1220  and adjustable  1320  discs mounted in the cap of the housing of the invention taken along the lines  14 B- 14 B of  FIGS. 11A and 11C .  FIG. 14C  shows the extended flats well and notch  1107  in the lip  1102  of the cap. In the example of the extended flats  1101 A it can be seen that air flow is unimpeded to the head  1103 A. 
         [0117]    The spray applicator described herein and all of its constituent parts are primarily made of light weight plastics. The cap portion  1199  of the housing is plastic as is the bottle (reservoir). The plastic parts are preferably molded and are of light weight. 
         [0118]      FIG. 16  is a top view  1600  of the bottle  1501  and sprayer mounted thereon.  FIG. 16A  is a side view  1600 A of the bottle of the invention with the sprayer mounted thereon illustrating the partial shoulder forming a stop  1520  and a flat (or discontinuity)  1530  extending between the stop enabling ingress of air to the head  1103 A of the cap  1199  of the housing and to the reservoir to substantially equalize the pressure outside and inside the reservoir bottle. If no partial shoulder or other stop is utilized then indicia  1683  on the cap portion and indicia  1684  on the container portion may be employed to prevent over-tightening of the cap with respect to the bottle thus insuring that inwardly directed air flow is not prohibited. The indicia  1683 ,  1684  may be simply aligned to prevent over-tightening. 
         [0119]      FIG. 16B  is a cross-sectional view  1600 B of the bottle taken along the lines  16 B- 16 B of  FIG. 16 . It will be noticed that in  FIG. 16B  no discs  1220 ,  1230  are illustrated. Gaps  1601 ,  1602  are formed between the top lip of bottle  1502  (sometimes referred to herein as the end portion of the bottle) and lip  1102  so as to allow air passage therebetween. It will further be noticed that stop  1520  abuts the end portion  1105  preventing over-tightening of the bottle such that the top lip  1502  of the bottle does not engage lip  1102 . Still referring to  FIG. 16B , exterior threads  1510  of the bottle interengage threads  15  of the cap to securely interengage the bottle and the cap while still allowing air passage along the threads of the bottle and the flats (not shown in this view). The fluid supply source communicating a supply of first fluid from the fluid supply source into the housing through an elongate passageway is illustrated in  FIG. 16B  as well. A first passageway  38  for communicating a first portion of the first fluid from the fluid supply source into the reservoir  1501  as a mixing fluid flow is also illustrated in  FIG. 16B . A second passageway communicating the remaining portion of the first fluid from the fluid supply source into the mixing chamber  36  is also shown as is the back-splash plate. 
         [0120]      FIG. 16C  is a cross-sectional view  1600 C of the bottle taken along the lines  16 C- 16 C of  FIG. 16 .  FIG. 16D  is an enlargement  1600 D of a portion of  FIG. 16C  illustrating the airflow passageways  1540 ,  1541  and the gap  1601  between the lip  1502  of the bottle and lip of the cap portion. Interior recesses  1513  of the bottle&#39;s teeth are illustrated in  FIGS. 16B-D . Also illustrated well in  FIG. 16D  is the flat  1530  between the partial shoulder  1520 . 
         [0121]      FIG. 16E  is a cross-sectional view  1600 E similar to  FIG. 16B  of another example of the invention taken along the lines  16 B- 16 B of  FIG. 16  with the fixed  1220  and rotatable  1230  discs mounted into the cap portion of the head  1103 A of the housing. In  FIG. 16E  the depth of the cap portion of the housing is different than the depth of the cap portion of the housing in  FIG. 16B  to accommodate for the discs  1220 ,  1230 .  FIG. 16E  illustrates gaps  1601 ,  1602  between the lip of the bottle  1502  and the rotatable disc  1320 . These gaps allow the ingress of air as indicated by flow arrows  1554  and  1553  in  FIG. 16F . Air also passes between plate  1220  and lip  1102 .  FIG. 16F  is an enlargement of a portion of  FIG. 16E .  FIG. 16F  illustrates as indicated by reference numeral  1555  that air is aspirated above and below the discs  1220 ,  1320  and that air and/or a mixture of air and water is exchanged between the mixing chamber and the reservoir depending on volumetric fluid flow and pressure through the elongate passageway, the nature of the fluids and or mixture of fluids and solids to be conveyed from the reservoir and other parameters. 
         [0122]      FIG. 16G  is a cross-sectional view  1600 G similar to  FIG. 16C  of another example of the invention taken along the lines  16 C- 16 C of  FIG. 16  with the fixed  1220  and rotatable  1320  discs mounted into the cap portion of the head  1103 A of the housing. In  FIG. 16G  the depth of the cap portion of the housing is different than the depth of the cap portion of the housing in  FIG. 16C . In the example of  FIG. 16G , however, no partial shoulder on the bottle (reservoir) is being used. As such, the bottle may be over-tightened and the disc  1320  presses against disc  1220  to secure same to lip  1102 . In this example, even if the bottle is over-tightened, aspiration of air to the head portion  1103 A of the cap of the housing is facilitated as air easily travels along elongated slots  1101 A into notches  1107  and past the discs  1320 ,  1220 . The cross-sectional views illustrated in  FIGS. 16G and 16H  are taken through the elongated slots  1101 A. Therefore, even if provision is not made for one or more stops as has been described herein, provision is made for unimpeded airflow via extended flats in the cap portion of the housing in the event the bottle is accidentally or even intentionally over-tightened. Flow arrows  1550 ,  1552  indicate an exchange or aspiration of air between the head  1103 A and the reservoir. As used herein “exchange” means aspiration.  FIG. 16H  is an enlargement of a portion of  FIG. 16G  and notch  1107  in lip  1102  is viewed with the flow of air past the discs indicated by flow arrow  1541 . 
         [0123]      FIG. 17  is a schematic diagram  1700  of the process steps for using the improved reservoir and spray applicator. A process for aspirating a bottle and spray applicator wherein the bottle includes a neck portion having exterior threads thereon, an end portion and a partial shoulder thereon is disclosed herein. The spray applicator includes a housing, the housing includes a cap portion, the cap portion includes interior threads having flats therein, a passageway, a head portion, an end portion, and a lip. A fixed disc having a plurality of flow apertures and aspirating apertures is employed in the process as is a rotatable disc having a plurality of flow apertures and aspiration apertures. 
         [0124]    The steps of the process include: inserting the fixed disc into engagement with the cap portion- 1701 ; aligning one of the flow apertures of the fixed disc with the passageway- 1702 ; inserting the rotatable disc into engagement with the fixed disc- 1703 ; rotatably selecting from one of a rectangular, square, oval or circular flow aperture of the rotatable disc and aligning it with the one of the flow apertures aligned with the passageway of the fixed disc- 1704 ; aligning the remaining flow and aspirating apertures with each other- 1705 ; interengaging the exterior threads of the neck portion with the interior threads of the cap portion- 1706 ; interengaging the end portion of the cap with the partial shoulder of the neck portion of the bottle- 1707 ; and, flowing air past the partial shoulder of the bottle, the threads and flats, and into the reservoir and the head portion- 1708 . Alternatively, the flats  1001 A in the threads of the cap portion of the housing extend past the lip so as to provide an airflow path above the fixed disc. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
         A—inlet region 
         B—distribution region 
         C—mixing region 
         CL—longitudinal axis 
         D—exhaust end region 
         E—direction 
         F—direction 
         H—plane 
           10 —convertible spray nozzle apparatus 
           11 —housing 
           16 —canister or jar 
           18 —garden hose 
           12 —intemally threaded nut  22   
           14 —rim 
           14 A—inner portion of rim 
           15 —threads 
           16 —reservoir 
           20 —valve 
           22 —internally threaded nut 
           23 —ridge 
           24 —O-ring pair 
           25 —pair of circumferential grooves 
           26 —plunger 
           27 —recess 
           28 —O-ring  28   
           29 —circumferential groove 
           30 —trigger 
           32 —primary inlet chamber  32  of housing  11   
           34 —secondary inlet chamber 
           36 —mixing chamber 
           38 —fill passage  38   
           39 —fill passage wall 
           40 —direct passage 
           42 —chamber walls 
           50 —outlet channel 
           52 —outlet channel deflector surface  52   
           54 —slurry communicating passage 
           60 —stationary disc 
           61 —output orifice 
           62 —mushroomed center 
           63 —retainer ridge 
           64 —orientation clearance 
           66 —integral socket 
           68 —positioning holes 
           70 —moveable disc 
           72 ,  72 A,  72 B—outflow orifices 
           74 —dimples 
           76 —tabs 
           78 —frictional surface 
           80 —flared nose 
           82 —guide ribs  82   
           84 —bottom surface 
           900 —prior art Miracle Gro® spray applicator 
           901 —spray housing 
           902 —thick and rigid plastic bottle 
           903 —inlet 
           904 —outlet 
           905 —interior wall of spray applicator 
           906 —neck of bottle  902   
           907 —internal threads 
           908 —exterior threads 
           909 ,  910 ,  911 —walls of spray applicator 
           1000 —enlarged cutaway view of prior art spray applicator 
           1100 —interior view of prior art spray applicator 
           1100 A—interior view of cap portion of housing of spray applicator with extended flats 
           1100 B—interior view of spray applicator with fixed and adjustable discs 
           1100 C—interior view of spray applicator with extended flats and with fixed and adjustable discs 
           1101 —flats 
           1101 A—extended flats 
           1102 —lip in the spray applicator 
           1103 —interior of the upper portion of the spray applicator 
           1103 A—head portion of the cap portion of the spray applicator 
           1105 —bottom lip of spray applicator 
           1106 —outer top of spray applicator 
           1107 —notch in lip  1102   
           1108 —wall forming notch in lip  1102   
           1109 —male protrusion for interengagement with socket  1109   
           1120 —interior wall of spray applicator 
           1177 —enclosed elongate passageway 
           1199 —cap portion of housing 
           1200 —example of fixed disc of the invention 
           1201 —first cylindrically shaped aspirating aperture in the fixed disc 
           1201 A—second cylindrically shaped a aspirating aperture in the fixed disc 
           1201 B—third cylindrically shaped aspirating aperture in the fixed disc 
           1201 C—fourth cylindrically shaped aspirating aperture in the fixed disc 
           1202 —second rectangular aperture in the fixed disc 
           1203 —third rectangular aperture in the fixed disc 
           1204 —fourth rectangular aperture in the fixed disc 
           1220 —fixed disc 
           1277 —crowned or mushroomed center 
           1300 —example of adjustable disc of the invention 
           1300 A—another example of an adjustable disc of the invention 
           1301 —first cylindrically shaped aspirating aperture in the adjustable disc 
           1301 A—second cylindrically shaped aspirating aperture in the adjustable disc 
           1301 B—third cylindrically shaped aspirating aperture in the adjustable disc 
           1301 C—fourth cylindrically shaped aspirating aperture in the adjustable disc 
           1310 —first chord of adjustable disc 
           1310 A—second chord of adjustable disc 
           1310 B—third chord of adjustable disc 
           1310 C—fourth chord of adjustable disc 
           1311 —first arc of adjustable disc 
           1311 A—second arc of adjustable disc 
           1311 B—third arc of adjustable disc 
           1311 C—fourth arc of adjustable disc 
           1312 —wall of notch in adjustable disc 
           1313 —notch in adjustable disc 
           1320 —adjustable disc 
           1320 A—surface of adjustable disc  1320   
           1321 —adjustable disc 
           1400 —perspective view along the line  14 - 14  of  FIGS. 11 and 11B   
           1400 A—cross-sectional view along the line  14 - 14  of  FIGS. 11 and 11B   
           1400 B—perspective view along the line  14 B- 14 B of  FIGS. 11A and 11C   
           1400 C—cross-sectional view along the line  14 B- 14 B of  FIGS. 11A and 11C . 
           1401 —gap between wall  14 A and discs  1220 ,  1320   
           1430 —air flow arrow 
           1440 —air flow arrow 
           1500 —top view of bottle holding soluble/insoluble substances 
           1500 A—side view of bottle 
           1500 B—side view of bottle having flats in threads of bottle 
           1501 —wall of bottle 
           1501 A—interior of bottle 
           1502 —top lip of bottle 
           1503 —neck of bottle 
           1510 —exterior threads on neck of bottle 
           1513 —interior indentations forming exterior threads on neck of bottle 
           1520 —stop 
           1530 —flat on exterior of bottle between stops  1520   
           1540 —air flow arrow 
           1541 —air flow arrow 
           1550 —air flow arrow 
           1552 —air flow arrow 
           1553 —air flow arrow 
           1554 —air flow arrow 
           1555 —air flow arrow 
           1583 —flats in bottle threads 
           1600 —top view of the spray applicator and the bottle 
           1600 A—front side view of the spray applicator and the bottle 
           1600 B—cross-sectional view of the spray applicator and the bottle taken along the lines  16 B- 16 B of  FIG. 16 . 
           1600 C—cross-sectional view of the spray applicator and the bottle taken along the lines  16 C- 16 C of  FIG. 16 . 
           1600 D—enlarged portion of  FIG. 16C   
           1601 ,  1602 -gap between top of bottle  1502  and lip  1102   
           1683 —indicia on cap portion 
           1684 —indicia on container portion 
           1700 —process for aspirating a bottle and spray applicator 
           1701 —inserting the fixed disc into engagement with the cap portion 
           1702 —aligning one of the flow apertures of the fixed disc with the passageway 
           1703 —inserting the rotatable disc into engagement with the fixed disc 
           1704 —rotatably selecting from one of a rectangular, square, oval or circular flow aperture of the rotatable disc and aligning it with the one of the flow apertures aligned with the passageway of the fixed disc 
           1705 —aligning the remaining flow and aspirating apertures with each other 
           1706 —interengaging the exterior threads of the neck portion with the interior threads of the cap portion 
           1707 —interengaging the end portion of the cap with the partial shoulder of the neck portion of the bottle 
           1708 —flowing air past the partial shoulder of the bottle, the threads and flats, and into the reservoir and the head portion 
       
     
         [0277]    The invention has been set forth by way of example only. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that changes may be made to the invention as described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth below in the Claims.