Abstract:
A foam producing nozzle for attachment to a spray nozzle which is readily attached and removed therefrom. The foam producing nozzle has air channels which do not lend themselves toward leaking. The dilution rate of the chemical concentrate is not affected by the foam producing nozzle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The field of the invention is nozzles for dispensing chemical concentrates, and particularly a nozzle which can be attached to a spray nozzle and provide a foam.  
         [0002]     Foam nozzles that attach to spray nozzles are well-known. These are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,603,812; 5,611,490; 5,647,539; and 6,164,565.  
         [0003]     U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,603,812; 5,611,490; and 6,164,565 utilize radial passages for introducing air into a foam nozzle. These have drawbacks in that water and foam can be expelled from the radial passages. Further, these nozzles are retained by a detent or locking arrangements which makes them very difficult to remove.  
         [0004]     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,371, axially positioned air vent channels are employed. However, they do not introduce air upstream of the nozzle body  10 .  
         [0005]     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,964,689, a nozzle means is disclosed to provide foam from a hose-end dispenser device. While air is introduced upstream of a screen  68 , this arrangement is not provided in a foam nozzle that attaches to a spray nozzle. Neither does the foam nozzle prevent leakage.  
         [0006]     What is needed is a foam nozzle attachment for a spray nozzle which reduces the incidence of water or foam leaking from it. Also desirable is a foam nozzle attachment which is readily removed from a spray nozzle when it is no longer wished to be used. In addition, it would be advantageous to have a foam nozzle attachment which does not affect the dilution rate of the chemical concentrate being dispensed.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention provides a foam nozzle for attachment to a spray nozzle which includes: a tubular member having one end portion constructed and arranged to fit over the spray nozzle. The tubular member receives a flow of aqueous chemical solution from an upstream to a downstream direction. A foam producing member is located in an opposing end portion. At least one air passageway extends into the tubular member and terminates a distance upstream from the foam producing member.  
         [0008]     In a preferred embodiment, the foam producing member is defined by radially extending rib members and includes a centrally positioned wall portion with the rib members extending radially therefrom.  
         [0009]     In one aspect, the air passages are four channel members which are spaced equidistantly from each other and communicate with a spacing of the tubular member from the spray nozzle.  
         [0010]     In another aspect, the foam producing member is positioned inwardly from the opposing end portion.  
         [0011]     In another preferred embodiment, the air passageway is at least one opening extending through the tubular member and a spacing of the tubular member from the spray nozzle.  
         [0012]     A general object of the invention is to provide a foam nozzle for attachment to a spray nozzle which reduces the incidence of leaking water or foam.  
         [0013]     Another object is a foam nozzle of the foregoing type which is readily removed from a spray type nozzle.  
         [0014]     Still another object is a foam nozzle attachment which while efficiently producing foam does not adversely affect the dilution rate of a chemical concentrate. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the foam nozzle attachment attached to a dispenser.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the foam nozzle attachment shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is an end view of the foam nozzle attachment shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0019]      FIGS. 5, 6  and  7  are views similar to  FIGS. 2, 3  and  4 , respectively, showing another embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the foam nozzle generally  10  is shown attached to a dispenser generally  12  which is described in a commonly owned patent application Ser. No. 09/956,294 filed Sep. 9, 2001 which teachings are incorporated herein. The dispenser has a body member  14  with a container connector  16  for connection to a container or bottle  18 . A preferred connector system is more fully described in commonly owned patent application Serial No. 10/037,569 filed Nov. 9, 2001 which teachings are incorporated herein. At one end of the body member  14  is a hose attachment  19  for supplying pressurized water to the dispenser which includes an eductor to siphon chemical concentrate from the container  18 . A handle  17  is provided below attachment  19 . At the other end there is a nozzle  20  for dispensing a mixed aqueous chemical solution.  
         [0021]     As seen in  FIGS. 3-5 , the foam nozzle  10  has a tubular body section  22  which receives a flow of mixed aqueous chemical solution from an upstream to a downstream direction. An annual opening  24  is provided by the spacing between body member  22  and the inner portion  23  of spray nozzle  20 . There are four internal grooves  26  which are equidistantly spaced inside body section  22 . They are in fluid communication with the opening  24 . These grooves  26  extend beyond the inner portion  28  of the nozzle  20  as shown at  30 . The body member  22  is attached to the inner portion  23  of the spray nozzle  20  by a friction fit.  
         [0022]     At the opposite end of body section  22 , there is connected a foam producing member  35  having radially disposed and spaced ribs and a central deflector  40 .  
         [0023]     As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the inner portion  23  of nozzle member  20  has four equidistantly disposed projections  32  which fit inside body section  22  of foam nozzle  10 . The inner portion  23  of nozzle member  20  includes a nozzle head  42  with two lips  44  and  45  having inwardly angled walls  47 . It is connected to nozzle member  20  by the rib and groove arrangement  49  and seal  50 .  
         [0024]     A preferred embodiment  10 A is shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . The same reference numbers are employed to designate similar parts except they are indicated with the “A” suffix. The major difference between embodiments  10  and  10 A is that there are no grooves  26  in embodiment  10 A, which serve as air passageways. Further, in place of air opening gap  24 A, there are 4 equidistantly spaced holes  24 A which introduce air into the inside of body section  22 A. This is facilitated by the spacing of inner portion  23 A from body section  22 A to provide an annular passage  52 A.  
         [0025]     The important feature of both embodiments  10  and  10 A is the introduction of air into the inside of body sections  22  and  22 A, and upstream of the foam producing members  35  and  35 A. This enhances foam production from the aqueous chemical solution exiting from the nozzle heads  42  and  42 A in conjunction with the foam producing members  35  and  35 A where the radial ribs  37 ,  37 A provide a screen portion which increases foam by agitation. At the same time, deflectors  40  and  40 A deflect back a portion of the foam to assure increased foam production. The indirect air passages such as the spacing  24  in combination with grooves or the air holes  24 A in combination with annular passage  52 A reduce the incidence of the aqueous solution leaking from the foam nozzle.  
         [0026]     It will thus be seen that there is now provided a foam nozzle attachment  10  and  10 A which is simple in construction yet can produce foam in an efficient manner. The foam nozzles  10  and  10 A are easily retrofitted to a spray nozzle and can be utilized in conjunction with a wide variety of aqueous detergent and disinfectant solutions.  
         [0027]     The preferred materials for producing foam nozzle members  20 ,  20 A, body sections  22  and  22 A and foam producing members  35  and  35 A is polypropylene. However, other materials such as die cast metals and other injection molded plastics or elastomers could also be employed.  
         [0028]     The foam producing members  35  has been described with a radial spoke arrangement. While this is preferred, other arrangements of spaced members such as screens of various configurations could be used. Radial ribs  37 ,  37 A and deflectors  40  and  40 A are illustrated as separate components. If desired, a stainless steel screen could be substituted such as a 100×100 mesh 316 stainless steel screen. However, the spoke arrangement offers the advantage of regular spacing for a consistent foam and a one piece design to eliminate secondary operations when the part is made. The only mandate is that there is sufficient impingement yet enough passage of the aqueous solutions to produce foam without affecting desired flow. All such and other modifications within the spirit of the invention are meant to be within its scope as defined by the appended claims.