Patent Publication Number: US-7905430-B1

Title: Spray system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is based upon U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/011,657 filed Jan. 20, 2008, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a spray system and more particularly pertains to dispensing contents of a container in a safe, convenient and economical manner while reducing finger stress and fatigue caused by continuous spraying. This invention allows the spraying to be accomplished by the simultaneous use of one or more fingers or alternating between fingers and thus further reducing the stress and fatigue. Holding and supporting the weigh of the container close to the center of gravity of the container reduces the stress and fatigue of the wrist and hand for the operator and improves maneuverability. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In this respect, the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of dispensing contents of a container in a safe, convenient and economical manner. 
     Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved spray system which can be used for dispensing contents of a container in a safe, convenient and economical manner and reducing finger fatigue for the user. This invention allows the spraying to be accomplished by the simultaneous use of one or more fingers or alternating between fingers and thus further reducing the stress and fatigue. Holding and supporting the weigh of the container close to the center of gravity of the container reduces the stress and fatigue of the wrist and hand for the operator and improves maneuverability. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the disadvantages inherent in the known types of spray systems of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved spray system. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved spray system and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
     To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a spray system. First provided is a container. The container has a top. The container has a bottom. The container has a side wall. The side wall is provided between the top and the bottom. The container has an interior chamber. The interior chamber receives contents under pressure to be dispensed. The container has an annular ring. The annular ring is provided on adjacent to the top. The container has an aperture. The aperture is provided in the top. The container has a head. The head is reciprocably co-operable with the aperture. The head has an upper surface to be depressed. The container has a passageway. The passageway extends between a lateral extent of the head and the chamber. In this manner contents are contents are dispensed from the chamber upon depressing the head. 
     A housing or adaptor is provided next. The housing has a peripheral wall. The housing has a upper face. The housing has a lower edge. The lower edge is positioned upon the side wall adjacent to the top. The peripheral wall has an opening. The opening is provided adjacent to the passageway. In this manner movement of contents of the container to exterior of the system is allowed. The housing has a plurality of securing members. The securing members are pivotally secured to the peripheral wall. Each securing member has a finger. Each finger has an inwardly extending tip. The tip is movable between an operative locking position beneath the annular ring and an inoperative unlocking position with the tip remote from the angular ring. The operative locking position holds together the housing and the container. The inoperative unlocking position removes the housing from the container. Each finger has an associated spring means. The spring means urges an associated tip into an operative position. The securement members and annular ring are preferably adjustable for use with containers of various sizes. 
     Provided last is a dispensing assembly. The dispensing assembly includes upstanding projections. The upstanding projections are provided on the upper face of the housing. The upstanding projections have axially aligned apertures. The dispensing assembly includes a rotatable member. The rotatable member has a linear region. The linear region is received in the aligned apertures. The dispensing assembly includes a handle. The handle is preferably provided in a curved configuration. The handle extends from the linear region to a location spaced from and partially encompassing the side wall of the container. The dispensing assembly includes a planar arm. The planar arm is secured to the linear region of the rotatable member, the planar arm having threaded apertures above the head. The dispensing assembly includes a threaded adjustment bolt adjustable horizontally and vertically in relation to the head of the container. The bolt is rotatably received in a threaded aperture above the head. The bolt has an enlargement. The enlargement is provided at an upper end of the bolt. The bolt has a tip. The tip is provided at a lower end of the bolt. The tip of the bolt is in contact with the head. In this manner the head may be depressed. Further in this manner contents may be dispensed from the container. The dispensing member includes a resilient member. The resilient member is located between the planar arm and the upper face of the housing. The resilient member urges the planar arm and adjustment bolt away from the head and to adjust the tension for proper function and feel for the user. A locking mechanism is provided. The locking mechanism includes a threaded hole. The threaded hole is provided in an intermediate extent of the handle. The locking mechanism includes a threaded member. The threaded member extends through the threaded hole for contacting the side wall of the housing. In this manner inadvertent movement of the handle is precluded. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved spray system which has all of the advantages of the prior art spray systems of known designs and configurations and none of the disadvantages and the advantage of reducing finger stress and strain caused by continuous spraying. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved spray system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved spray system which is of durable and reliable constructions. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved spray system which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such spray system economically available to the buying public. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a spray system for dispensing contents of a container in a safe, convenient and economical manner and reducing finger stress and fatigue caused by continuous spraying for the user. 
     Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved spray system. A housing is formed of a peripheral wall, an upper face and a lower edge. The housing is positionable upon a spray container. The housing has securing members holding the housing to a spray container. A dispensing assembly has projections. The dispensing assembly has aligned apertures. The dispensing assembly has a rotatable member. The rotatable member has a linear region. The rotatable member is received in the aligned apertures. The dispensing assembly has a handle extending from the linear region to a location spaced from a container. The dispensing assembly also has a planar arm secured to the linear region. The arm has a threaded aperture a threaded adjustment bolt. The bolt is rotatably received in the threaded aperture. The adjustment bolt has a lower tip in contact with a head for the depressing of a head and dispensing of contents from a container upon squeezing of the handle by a user. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated the primary and preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a spray system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the spray system taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the upper extent of the spray system taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various Figures. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1  thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved spray system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     The present invention, the spray system  10  is comprised of a plurality of components. Such components in their broadest context include a housing and a dispensing assembly. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective. 
     First provided is a container  14 . The container has a top  16 . The container has a bottom  18 . The container has a side wall  20 . The side wall is provided between the top and the bottom. The container has an interior chamber. The interior chamber receives contents under pressure to be dispensed. The container has an annular ring  22 . The annular ring is provided adjacent to the top. The container has an aperture  24 . The aperture is provided in the top. The container has a head  26 . The head is reciprocably co-operable with the aperture. The head has an upper surface  28  to be depressed. The container has a passageway  30 . The passageway extends between a lateral extent of the head and the chamber. In this manner contents are contents are dispensed from the chamber upon depressing the head. 
     A housing  34  is provided next. The housing has a peripheral wall  36 . The housing has a circular upper face  38 . The housing has a lower edge  40 . The lower edge is positioned upon the side wall adjacent to the top. The peripheral wall has an opening  42 . The opening is provided adjacent to the passageway  30 . In this manner movement of contents of the container to exterior of the system is allowed. The housing has a plurality of securing members  44 . The securing members are pivotally secured to the peripheral wall adjacent to the edge. Each securing member has a finger  46 . Each finger has an inwardly extending tip  48 . The tip is movable between an operative locking position beneath the annular ring and an inoperative unlocking position with the tip remote from the angular ring. The operative locking position holds together the housing and the container. The inoperative unlocking position facilitates removal of the housing from the container. Each finger has an associated coil spring  50 . The coil spring urges an associated tip into an operative position. The securement members and annular ring are preferably adjustable for use with containers of various sizes. 
     Provided last is a dispensing assembly  54 . The dispensing assembly includes upstanding projections  56 . The upstanding projections are provided on the upper face of the housing. The upstanding projections have axially aligned apertures. The dispensing assembly includes a rotatable member  58 . The rotatable member has a linear region  60 . The linear region is received in the aligned apertures. The dispensing assembly includes a handle  62 . The handle is provided, preferably in a curved configuration. The handle extends from the linear region to a location spaced from and partially encompassing the side wall of the container. The dispensing assembly includes a planar arm  64 . The planar arm is secured to the linear region of the rotatable member, the planar arm having threaded apertures  66  above the head. The dispensing assembly includes a threaded adjustment bolt  68 . The bolt is rotatably received in a treaded aperture above the head. The bolt has an enlargement  70 . The enlargement is provided at an upper end of the bolt. The bolt has a tip  72 . The tip is provided at a lower end of the bolt. The tip of the bolt is in contact with the head. In this manner the head may be depressed. Further in this manner contents may be dispensed from the container. The dispensing member includes a resilient member  74 . The resilient member is located between the planar arm and the upper face of the housing. The resilient member urges the planar arm and adjustment bolt away from the head and allows for the adjustment of the tension, feel and function. A locking mechanism is provided. The locking mechanism includes a threaded hole  76 . The threaded hole is provided in an intermediate extent of the handle. The locking mechanism includes a threaded member  78 . The threaded member extends through the threaded hole for contacting the side wall of the container. In this manner inadvertent movement of the handle is precluded. 
     The present invention is a device that is used in conjunction with and/or for modifying a spray container for the spraying of the content contained in that spray container. The use of this device relocates the controls and the direction of force required for the operation of spraying functions of a spray container and places the controls which are situated at an unfavorable over the top spray nozzle head location to a more favorable location allowing for ease of operation and reducing finger stress and fatigue caused by continuous spraying for the operator. The invention is purported to decrease the amount of force and effort required by the operator during the spraying function of the spay container. The invention reduces the stress and fatigue caused by continuous spraying and to ultimately improve the quality of the spray. 
     The pressure of the contents contained in the spray container varies and also the texture and the consistency of the contents contained in the spray container may vary. It is within the scope of this invention to design, modify, add to, and/or improve the location and designs of the components of this invention for convenience and performance and to optimize gas and fluid dynamics to adapt to such variations. 
     It is within the scope of this invention that this device in part or as a whole be incorporated and/or combined as an integral component of other devices or objects such as but not limited to a spray container and other objects or devices such as but not limited to a spray container in part or as a whole be incorporated and/or combined as a component of this invention. 
     It is within the scope of the invention to modify the components maintaining the primary scope and spirit of this invention. 
     The invention can be combined with other objects such as a spray container to form as one unit. One or more components of the invention can be incorporated as one or more components of another object or device such as the spray container and vice versa. 
     It is within the scope of this invention that one or more of the components and/or individual members of this invention be combined, added, omitted or modified. 
     As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.