Abstract:
An adjustable spray apparatus and method for attachment to a high pressure liquid source, such as a car wash wand, comprising a flexible hose, the spray end of which is directionally adjustable by flexing and straightening the hose through the use of a tensile connector attached at the end thereof. Preferably the hose is mounted inside a housing to assist in attaching it to a high pressure source and a sleeve slidable about the housing aids in adjusting the tensile connector.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to spray cleaning devices. More particularly the invention related to an adjustable spray nozzle apparatus adapted to a wand for conveniently spraying all surface of a vehicle including its underside. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many devices which utilize water or other liquids to clean or rinse an object, including the well known water wand which dispenses water under high pressure to spray deposits such as dirt and salt from vehicles. The high pressure aids in removing the deposits that would not ordinarily be removed by the pressure provided by domestic water supplies. 
     Previously, the removal of deposits from areas such as the underside of a vehicle, or any other object, posed difficulties. It is awkward to thoroughly clean the underside of vehicle with a garden hose or conventional water wand due to the fact that the angle of the spray is not easily changed except by substituting a custom wand. If one attempts to use a conventional wand, it is difficult to effect an upward spray orientation except to crouch down to the wet ground. Others have attempted to address this problem. A number of devices have been developed for directing a spray of liquid underneath the underbody of a vehicle while allowing the user of the device to remain standing upright. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,640 to Merritts describes a water spraying device for cleaning the underside of an automobile. Although this device allows a user to stand upright while directing a spray of water under the automobile a user is required to change to a different device or conventional wand to clean the remaining upper and side portions of the vehicle. 
     Application of a multiplicity of wands have disadvantages including: increased capital and maintenance costs, inconvenience to the user, danger in switching pressurized components and eventual loss of components. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,014 to Chan et al., an apparatus is disclosed which allows the operator to adjust the spray angle of a spray cleaning device. Chan teaches a water cleaning apparatus wherein a plurality of jets are angularly adjustable such that the device may be directed upwardly to clean the underside of a vehicle or laterally to clean the surface itself (e.g. a driveway). However, the spray device described by Chan is heavy and is mounted on a frame having supporting wheels and thus is not readily manipulated by hand nor is it convenient to clean the remainder of the vehicle. 
     Ideally, a device designed to conveniently clean a vehicle, including the side, the underside and even various other areas including the engine, would enable the spray device to be hand manipulated with some flexibility in selecting the direction of the spray nozzle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one preferred embodiment, the adjustable spray apparatus comprises a tubular housing, a flexible hose having a source end mounted to the housing and a nozzle end, a sleeve fitted over top of the housing and moveable relative thereto, and a tensile connector extending between the hose&#39;s nozzle and the moveable sleeve. The hose has a normally linear straight position and is capable of bending to a plurality of flexed positions. The housing is adapted for connecting to the wand of a conventional spray washer so as to direct the high pressure liquid source from the wand into the hose. A spray nozzle is fitted to the nozzle end of the hose. Movement of the sleeve results in a flexing of the hose. 
     When the sleeve is moved back by manual manipulation the tensile connector exerts a pulling force on the nozzle end and the hose is bent into a flexed position. The resistive resilience of the hose causes it to return to the normally linear straight position when released. Preferably, the sleeve has a plurality of helical slots which co-operate with a bolt in the housing so as to incrementally lock the sleeve, and thereby the hose, into a number of predetermined positions. 
     Therefore in a broad apparatus aspect of the invention, the adjustable spray nozzle comprises a flexible hose adapted at one end to connect to a high pressure source of liquid and at the other end to a spray nozzle. The flexible hose has a normally straight position and is capable of bending to a plurality of flexed positions. A tensile connector, having a length sufficient to extend from one end of the hose to the other, is attached at the nozzle end of the hose. The tensile connector is adjustable so as to alternately draw the nozzle end towards or away from the source end and thereby changing the angle of the spray exiting the spray nozzle relative to the high pressure source. 
     The described apparatus enables the implementation of novel methods for the spray cleaning of an object while selecting the direction of the spray nozzle comprising: providing a flexible hose having a source end adapted for connection to a source of pressurized liquid and having a nozzle end adapted for connection to a spray nozzle for dispensing the pressurized liquid and providing a tensile connector connected to the nozzle end; adjusting the tensile connector so as to alternately draw the nozzle end towards or away from the source end for flexing the hose to at least one of the one or more flexed positions or the normally straight position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of one embodiment of the invention with the tensile connector released and the hose in a straight position; 
     FIG. 2 a  is a schematic side view of an alternate embodiment of FIG. 1 a  with the wand end of the tensile connector manipulated away from the hose&#39;s nozzle flexing the hose; 
     FIG. 2 b  is a schematic side view of an alternate embodiment of FIG. 1 a  with the tensile connector shortened flexing the hose; 
     FIG. 2 c  is a schematic side view of yet another embodiment of the invention with the wand end of the tensile connector connected at any of a number of alternate and multiple points of attachments thereby flexing the hose; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of both of the alternate embodiments of FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  showing the flexing of the hose; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of a person using one embodiment of the spray apparatus in a variety of orientations; 
     FIGS. 5 a - 5   c  are perspective side views of another embodiment of the spray apparatus; 
     FIG. 6 is a sagittal section of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 a - 5   c  illustrating the attachment of the flexible hose to the housing and to a high pressure source of liquid; 
     FIGS. 7 a - 7   c  are perspective side views of another embodiment of the spray apparatus; and 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of one embodiment of the spray apparatus connected to car-wash wand as the source of high pressure liquid. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Having reference to FIGS. 1-3, in a simple embodiment, an adjustable spray apparatus  10  comprises a flexible hose  16  having a source end  16   c  connected to a wand  30  or other source of pressurized fluid—like hot water, solvent or steam. At an opposing nozzle end  16   b  of the hose  16  is a spray nozzle  20  for dispensing the pressurized fluid according to the nozzle  20  design. The nozzle end  16   b  is connected or linked to the wand  30  or some other structure adjacent the source end  16   c  of the hose  16  using a tensile connector  18 . Through adjusting means, the tensile connector  18  alternately pulled or released which respectively draws the nozzle end  16   b  towards the source end  16   c  or permits the nozzle end  16   b  to recede. As a result of the adjusting means and the tensile connector  18 , the flexible hose  16  is operable between a linearly extending, substantially straight position to one of a substantially infinite number of flexed positions. When flexed, the nozzle  20  is redirected from straight ahead to a variety of angled positions. 
     More particularly, in FIG. 1 a , the tensile connector  18  is released and the hose  16  is in the straight position. In FIGS. 2 a - 2   c , alternate adjusting means are illustrated. In FIG. 2 a , the tensile connector  18  is invariant in length and a wand end  18   b  of the tensile connector  18  is manipulated away from the hose&#39;s nozzle end  16   b  so as to flex the hose  16  and angle the nozzle end  16   b . In FIG. 2 b , the tensile connector  18  itself is shortened, such as through a turnbuckle or other connector tensioning means. In FIG. 2 c , the tensile connector  18  is invariant in length and the wand end  18   b  of the tensile connector  18  is connected at any of a number of alternate and multiple points of attachments  19  so as to flex the hose  16  and angle the nozzle end  16   b . The multiple connector attachments  19  are spaced apart and are progressively further away from the nozzle end  16   b  of the hose  16 . Preferably the adjusting means include a housing (not shown) onto which the multiple connector attachments  19  are mounted. 
     With reference to FIG. 3, both of the alternate embodiments of FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  are shown to result in the same effect, the hose  16  being flexed and the nozzle end  16   b  being manipulated to an angled position. In all cases, lengthening of the effective length of the tensile connector  18  (FIGS. 2 a , 3 ), or advancing of the wand end  18   b  of the tensile connector  18  (FIGS. 2 b ,  3 ) releases or returns the hose  16  to the straightened position. 
     In FIG. 4, a person  50  is illustrated being able to use the novel spray apparatus  10  in a variety of orientations. The adjustable spray apparatus  10  is adapted to connect to the wand  30  of a conventional spray washer  31 , replacing the usually nozzle. A source of pressurized fluid is routed through the wand  30  to the spray apparatus  10 . Three orientations of the wand are shown A,B and C, although the person  50  is only shown actually using the spray apparatus  10  adjusted to a flexed position and oriented A to spray the underside of an object  50 . The wand  30  and spray apparatus  10  can also be adjusted to a straight position and oriented B to spray the side of an object  50 , or adjusted again to a flexed position and oriented C to spray the topside of an object. For simplicity in illustrating orientation C, the wand  30  is shown as being rotated, however, the wand  30  could also be fitted with a swivel (not shown) so than the wand  30  need not be rotated to orient the spray apparatus  10  downwardly. Note that the person  50  using the adjustable spray apparatus  10  can remain standing upright for any of the possible orientations. 
     Turning to FIGS. 5 a - 5   c , in another embodiment, the adjustable spray apparatus  10  is shown comprising a tubular mandrel or housing  12  adapted for connection to the source such as a wand, an adjusting means in the form of a moveable connector attachment such as a sleeve  14 , a flexible hose  16  having a nozzle end  16   b  and a source end  16   c , and a tensile connector  18 . In this embodiment, the wand end  18   b  of the tensile connector  18  is connected to and is movable with the connector sleeve  14  for flexing the hose  16 . 
     Both the housing  12  and the connector sleeve  14  are rigid tubular members. The sleeve  14  is fit concentrically and slidably over the housing  12 . The diameters of both tubes  12 ,  14  are complementary so as to allow the sleeve  14  to move relative to the housing  12  by sliding over it along the longitudinal axis  3  of the housing  12 . 
     Turning to FIG. 6, the hose  16  is connected to the wand  30  at a female-to-female tubular coupler  24  formed part of or mounted within the housing  12 . Fitting  17  at the source end  16   c  the flexible hose  16  is connected to the coupler  24 , the coupler  24  having a bore  24   b  for conducting pressurized fluid to the hose  16 . The coupler  24  slides snuggly inside the housing  12 . Preferably the source of high pressure liquid is a car-wash wand  30 , but other sources can be utilized using appropriate couplers  24 . The coupler  24  is secured inside the housing  12  by fastening means such as a bolt  28  which extends through a hole  26  in the housing  12  and which threads into the side of the coupler  24  so as to restrain and stabilize it against the inside of the housing  12 . The wand end  18   b  of the tensile connector  18  is secured to the sleeve  14  with a suitable fastener. Preferably the fastener is a bolt  32  secured to the sleeve  14  with a nut  36 . The bolt  32  acts as an anchor for the tensile connector  18 . Preferably the nut  36  has a slim profile, or is counter sunk into the sleeve  14 , so as not to interfere with the sliding of the sleeve  14  relative to the housing  12 . 
     Referring again to FIGS. 5 a - 5   c , the adjusting means further comprises two or more adjusting helical slots  15  formed in the sleeve  14  for enabling adjustment of the tensile connector  18  between the straight position and one or more flexed positions. The bolt  28  for the coupler (not shown) conveniently cooperates with the slots  15  to restrain the sleeve  14 . Further aiding in the action of the adjusting means, the hose  16  has a resistive resilience which normally return the hose  16  to the straight position if released. Accordingly, the helical slots  15  are angled so that the resilience of the hose  16  causes the bolt  28  and slot  15  into more secure engagement and secure positioning. The slots  15  permit the sleeve  14  and tensile connector  18  to be locked in a number of predetermined positions along the longitudinal plane  3  of the housing  12 . A suitable tensile connector  18  is a cable (FIGS. 5 a - 5   c ). Another suitable connector  18  for implementation in an adjusting means having a movable wand end  18   b  is a linkage with pivoting ends at the nozzle end and the adjusting means. 
     The length of the connector  18  and the positioning of the slots  15  in the sleeve  14  cooperate to enable at least a substantially straight orientation and one or more flexed positions. 
     Accordingly with reference to FIG. 5 a  when the sleeve  14  is moved towards the flexible hose  16 , the connector  18 , the sleeve  14  and the slots  15  cooperate to allow the hose  16  to assume a linearly extending, straight position parallel to the longitudinal plane  3  of the housing  12 . 
     In FIGS. 5 b  and  5   c , as the sleeve  14  is moved further and further away from the flexible hose  16 , more and more tension is applied through the connector  18  to the nozzle end  16   b  to flex the hose  16  to an intermediate flexed position (FIG. 5 b ) and to an extreme flexed position which is substantially perpendicular to the housing&#39;s axis  3 . The hose  16  slightly resists flexing and to restrain the hose  16  at the selected position, an appropriate helical slot  15  is coupled with the bolt  28  by a slight rotation of the sleeve  14 . As the hose  16  flexes more and more, the nozzle end  16   b  assumes a greater and greater angle relative to the longitudinal axis  3  of the housing  12 . 
     FIGS. 7 a - 7   c  illustrate another embodiment of the adjustable spray apparatus  10 . Like the embodiment described above and in FIGS. 5 a - 5   c , the spray apparatus  10  comprises a housing  12 , a moveable connector sleeve  14 , a flexible hose  16  and a tensile connector  18 . The housing  12  of this embodiment extend longitudinally to encompass the hose  16  when in the straight position. This extension of the spray end  12   a  of the housing  12  aids in protecting the hose  16  and can also serve as an additional hand hold for a user during the operation of the spray apparatus  10 . A longitudinal groove  60  is formed in the spray end  12   a  of the housing  12  and which is sufficiently large to allow the hose  16  to flex out of, and as much as perpendicular to, the housing  12  when the connector sleeve  14  is moved away from the spray end  12   a  of the housing  12  and tension is applied through the connector  18  to the nozzle end  16   b  of the hose  16 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 5 a - 5   c ,  6  and  8 , the spray apparatus  10  is adapted for connection to a source of high pressure liquid such as a car-wash wand  30 . The apparatus  10  is threaded onto the end  30   b  of the wand  30 . The wand  30  comprises a handle  40  and flow control trigger  41 . Between the handle and the spray apparatus  10  is a swivel  42  and a grip  43  which can be used by a person to control rotation of the spray nozzle about the swivel  42  . For adaptation to conventional wands found in do-it yourself vehicle washing bays, one form of the spray apparatus  10  described above could have the following characteristics. Emphasizing a lightweight construction, a suitable housing  12  can be constructed using an  11 ″ long piece of PVC pipe with an inside diameter of 1-{fraction (1/16)}″ and an outside diameter of 1-⅜″. Likewise, a suitable connector sleeve  14  can be constructed using a 5″ long piece of PVC pipe with an inside diameter of 1-⅜″ and an outside diameter of 1-⅝″. The flexible hose  16  can be a 9″ long, ½″ inside diameter, steel braided high pressure rubber hose  16  having steel coupler fittings  17  crimped on at the source end  16   c  and the nozzle end  16   b . The fittings  17  have a ½″ threaded male end to enable threaded coupling of the hose  16  to the housing  12  and to the nozzle  20 . Both the hose  16  and fittings  17  are known and can be sourced through Princess Auto Ltd., Winnipeg, Manitoba. A female-to-female coupling fitting  21  is threaded onto the hose&#39;s nozzle end  16   b , and a spray nozzle  20 , with a 12″ diameter male end, is likewise threaded into the fitting  21 . Preferably, the outer diameter of the coupling  24 , which resides within the housing  12 , is machined to remove unneeded and heavy material from its midsection. At the hose&#39;s nozzle end  16   b , a point of connection or flange such as a washer  22  is sandwiched between the fitting&#39;s enlarged end  21   b  and an external snap ring (not shown). The washer  22  facilitates attachment of the connector  18  to the nozzle end  16   b.