Patent Publication Number: US-11378391-B2

Title: Closed spray testing container for spray measurement verification

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present specification generally relates to closed spray testing containers for spray measurement verification and methods of verifying spray measurements. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Wax may be applied to areas of a vehicle in order to inhibit damage due to wear and tear over time. In some instances, the wax may be sprayed using nozzles into certain regions of the vehicle that are susceptible to wear, such as within rocker panels that are near to the road and other locations. The nozzles may become worn and clogged over time with repeated usage. Worn or clogged nozzles may provide a spray pattern that does not meet desired measurements. However, changes in the spray pattern can be difficult to detect visually. Further, cleaning of the wax from a surface used for a test can be difficult and time-consuming. The wax may also migrate and cover unintended surfaces, which may be difficult to detect and clean. 
     What is needed is a closed spray testing container for spray measurement verification. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a method of verifying measurements of a spray pattern from a nozzle is provided. The method includes inserting the nozzle through an opening in a bottom wall of a closed spray testing container. The closed spray testing container includes a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls connected to the side walls. A top wall is opposite the bottom wall and is connected to the pair of side walls and the pair of end walls to provide a volume. The top wall is transparent. The bottom wall includes at least one of a scale and a spray pattern representation provided on a surface of the bottom wall. At least one of the scale and the spray pattern is used to verify a spray pattern provided using the nozzle. 
     In another embodiment, a closed spray testing container includes a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls connected to the side walls. A bottom wall is connected to the pair of side walls and the pair of end walls. A top wall is opposite the bottom wall and is connected to the pair of side walls and the pair of end walls to provide a volume. The top wall is transparent. The bottom wall includes at least one of a scale and a spray pattern representation provided on a surface of the bottom wall. 
     These and additional features provided by the embodiments described herein will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a closed spray testing container, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of a bottom wall of the closed spray testing container of  FIG. 1 , according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the closed spray testing container of  FIG. 1  in use, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a method of verifying one or both of dimensions and shape of a spray pattern using the closed spray testing container of  FIG. 1 , according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present description is generally directed to a closed spray testing container into which a spray nozzle can be inserted and sprayed to measure dimensions of the spray pattern. The spray testing container may be considered closed in that the container includes opposite side walls, opposite end walls, a top wall and a bottom wall. The top wall may be transparent in order to allow viewing of the spray pattern applied to the bottom wall of the closed container. In some embodiments, the side walls and end walls may also be transparent. The bottom wall may be tinted in order to emphasize a measurement pattern applied to an interior surface of the bottom wall. The measurement pattern may include a longitudinal scale and a lateral scale. Both the longitudinal scale and the lateral scale may include marks that represent a distance. Further, a spray pattern representation may be provided on the interior surface of the bottom wall. The spray pattern representation may be used to further verify the spray pattern. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a closed spray testing container  10  includes opposite side walls  12  and  14  and opposite end walls  16  and  18  that are connected to the side walls  12  and  14 . The closed spray testing container  10  further includes a top wall  20  and an opposite bottom wall  22  that are connected to the side walls  12 ,  14  and end walls  16 ,  18  to form a closed box-shaped volume  24 . The box-shaped volume may correspond to a particular region of the vehicle, such as within a rocker panel. An opening  25  is provided through the bottom wall  22 . The opening  25  is sized to allow a nozzle to be inserted through the opening  25  and into the volume  24  for a spray measurement verification. 
     The side walls  12  and  14 , end walls  16  and  18  and top and bottom walls  20  and  22  may be formed of any suitable material, such as plastic (e.g., polycarbonate). The top wall  20  may be transparent. An object is transparent if the object transmits light without appreciable scattering so that items are seen clearly through the object. The side walls  12  and  14  and end walls  16  and  18  may also be transparent. The bottom wall  22  may be tinted opaque, such as tinted black, to facilitate viewing of the spray pattern once the spray is applied. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the bottom wall  22  may also be tinted in order to emphasize a measurement pattern  30  applied (e.g., printed) to an interior surface  32  of the bottom wall  22 . The measurement pattern  30  may include a longitudinal scale  34  and a lateral scale  36 . Both the longitudinal scale  34  and the lateral scale  36  may include marks  38  that represent a distance. In the illustrated embodiment, the marks represent millimeters, however inches may be represented. Further, a spray pattern representation  40  may be provided on the interior surface  32  of the bottom wall  22 . The spray pattern representation  40  may be used to further verify the shape of the spray pattern. For example, the spray pattern representation  40  may include diverging perimeter lines  42  and  44  that diverge from the opening  25  to represent a desired fan shape. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the closed spray testing container  10  in use with a spray pattern S located on the bottom wall  22 . As represented, a perimeter  46  of the spray pattern S is shown as nearly following the spray pattern representation  40 . Also, the spray pattern S extends further than the longitudinal scale  34  and is wider than the lateral scale  36  which can represent an in-parameter spray pattern. In instances where the spray pattern S is shorter than the longitudinal scale  34  and narrower than the lateral scale  36 , the marks  38  can be used to measure whether an out-of-parameter condition exists. After the test is complete, the top wall  20  may be removed and the bottom wall  22  may be cleaned of the spray pattern. In some embodiments, the spray pattern may be formed using a spray wax. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a method  100  of verifying one or both of dimensions and shape of a spray pattern is shown. At step  102 , a spray nozzle of a wax spray gun is inserted through the opening of the bottom wall of the closed spray testing container. At step  104 , the spray nozzle is aligned with the spray pattern representation and the longitudinal scale. The wax spray gun is then activated to create a spray pattern on the interior surface of the bottom wall at step  106 . At step  108 , the length and width of the spray pattern is determined. At step  110 , an overall shape of the spray pattern is verified using the spray pattern representation. 
     The above described closed spray testing containers provide a closed volume in which a spray pattern can be measured to determine if an out-of-parameter condition exists. The closed spray testing containers may include various indicia, such as longitudinal and lateral scales that can be used to determine both length and breadth of the spray pattern. The closed spray testing containers may also include a spray pattern representation that can be used to provide an overall indication of a desired shape of the spray pattern. 
     It is noted that the terms “substantially” and “about” may be utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. These terms are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue. 
     While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be understood that various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, although various aspects of the claimed subject matter have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. It is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the claimed subject matter.