Patent Publication Number: US-9427755-B2

Title: Spraying device with interchangeable cartridge

Description:
The present application is a continuation of an claims priority to U.S. patent application 13/524,827, filed Jun. 15, 2012, entitled d “Spraying Device with Interchangeable Cartridge,”which is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. patent application 12/797,415, filed on Jun. 9, 2010, entitled “Spraying Device with Interchangeable Cartridge,” which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application 11/368,963, filed on Mar. 6, 2006, entitled “Spraying Device with Interchangeable Cartridge,” which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application 10/712,970, filed on Nov. 13, 2003 entitled “Spraying Device with Interchangeable Cartridge.” The disclosure of these priority applications is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a spraying device and more particularly to a spraying device that includes a sprayer body, a cartridge containing a first fluid, the cartridge being oriented such that gravity exerts a downward force on the first fluid, and a valve for mixing a second fluid with the first fluid by creating a vacuum that draws the first fluid out of the cartridge, without the need for a dip tube, and into the valve thus enabling the first and second fluids to mix and be dispensed. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many known spraying devices for dispensing chemicals for lawn and garden applications. Typical spraying devices include a sprayer body connected to a container filled with a fluid (e.g., a concentrated chemical) and connected to a water hose. The fluids are mixed and dispensed via a spray head. Typical sprayers include a dip tube that extends downwardly into the container. The dip tube provides a direct passageway between the fluid in the container and the sprayer body. The constant flow of water through the sprayer produces a vacuum that draws the fluid through the dip tube, mixes the fluid with the water and dispenses the mixture from the spray head. Typical sprayers also include sealed containers for storing the fluid to be dispensed. These containers can only be used with a spraying device, they can not be used to manually dispense the contained fluid. 
     Other known sprayers divert a portion of the water from a hose into a container connected to the sprayer body. The water mixes with the contents of the container, filing the container. The pressure of the mixture in the container forces the mixture out of the container, into the sprayer body, and out the spray head. 
     However, there are drawbacks to the known sprayers, including complex construction and the inability to manually select the amount of chemical mixed with water. Therefore, a need exists for a spraying device that is capable of mixing a predetermined or selected ratio of a first fluid with a second fluid without the need for a dip tube and without having to mix the fluids in the container. 
     It is desirable to provide an inexpensive cartridge that is interchangeable. 
     It is also desirable to provide a cartridge that is substantially simpler and more economical to produce. 
     It is desirable to provide a sprayer body that is durable and reusable multiple times. 
     It is also desirable to provide a cartridge that allows small amounts of fluid to be dispensed without the use of a sprayer. 
     It is desirable to provide a spraying device that allows a user to adjust the ratio of a first fluid that is mixed with a second fluid (e.g., water) via an adjustable metering selector. 
     It is also desirable to provide a spraying device that includes a metering orifice for mixing a predetermined amount of a first fluid with a second fluid. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a spraying device that includes a cartridge containing a first fluid, the cartridge being removably connected to a sprayer body. The cartridge is oriented such that gravity exerts a downward force on the first fluid. The sprayer body includes a conduit for receiving a second fluid. A valve is coupled to the conduit. The valve allows the second fluid to flow through the valve, thereby creating a Venturi vacuum that draws the first fluid out of the cartridge and into the valve to enable the first and second fluids to mix and form an outlet stream. An orifice meters a predetermined amount of the first fluid into the valve to achieve a predetermined ratio of the first fluid to the second fluid in the outlet stream. The outlet stream may then be dispensed from a spray nozzle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features of the present invention will be more fully disclosed when taken in conjunction with the following Detailed Description of the Invention in which like numerals represent like elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a spraying device according to the present invention that includes a sprayer body and a cartridge. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an assembled spraying device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of an assembled spraying device according to the present invention in the “feed” position. 
         FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of an assembled spraying device according to the present invention in the “water only” position. 
         FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of an assembled spraying device according to the present invention in the “off” position. 
         FIG. 6  shows an exploded view of one embodiment of a cartridge according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows a partial exploded view of another embodiment of a cartridge according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  shows an exploded view of one embodiment of a spraying device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  shows a partial cross-sectional view of one embodiment of an assembled spraying device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  shows a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a sprayer body according to the present invention including an adjustable metering disc. 
         FIG. 11  shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a sprayer body according to the present invention including an adjustable metering disc. 
         FIG. 12  shows a side view of another embodiment of a spraying device according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, a spraying device of the present invention generally includes two primary parts: a sprayer body  10  and a cartridge  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The cartridge  12  is removably connected to the sprayer body  10  via threads  24 , or other suitable connecting means, as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . When the cartridge  12  is connected to the sprayer body  10 , a first fluid  36  contained in the cartridge  12  flows into the sprayer body  10  and is mixed with a second fluid  37  (e.g., water) in valve  20 , as explained below. The cartridge  12  can be made of flexible plastic, or any other suitable material. The cartridge  12  can have many different shapes and forms, including a flexible bottle, pouch or bag shape. An alternative cartridge design is illustrated in  FIG. 12 . The first fluid  36  may comprise liquid fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, mildewcides, nematicides, growth regulators, insect repellents, cleaning products, and the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , fluid conduit  17  is disposed in the sprayer body  10 , which can be constructed from any suitable material, such as plastic. A first end of fluid conduit  17  is coupled to hose coupler  14 . The sprayer body  10  connects to a typical home water supply (e.g., a garden hose) at coupler  14 . In one embodiment, the coupler  14  includes an anti-siphon unit  16  (shown in  FIG. 8 ), which is well known in the art, for preventing or minimizing back flow and leaking from fluid conduit  17 . A second end of fluid conduit  17  is coupled to a valve  20 , which is coupled to spray nozzle  48 . As used herein, the terms “connected” and “coupled” both mean connected directly or indirectly through intervening components. 
     In one embodiment, the valve  20  includes a valve knob  22  for rotatably selecting between three conditions: off, feed and water only. The valve  20  is coupled to and actuated by the valve knob  22 . The valve  20  further includes a Venturi location  18  for creating a vacuum for siphoning the first fluid from the cartridge  12 . When the valve knob  22  is in the “feed” position, the second fluid  37  (e.g., water) flows into the valve  20  creating a Venturi vacuum that draws the first fluid  36  out of the cartridge  12 . 
     Specifically, the flow of the second fluid  37  through the valve  20  creates a vacuum therein. Because the cartridge  12  is oriented such that gravity exerts a downward force on the first fluid  36 , the valve  20  is able to draw the first fluid  36  out of the cartridge  12  without the need for a dip tube. The first fluid  36  travels through cartridge adapter  38  and filter assembly  40 . In one embodiment, the valve  20  includes a metering orifice  42  through which the first fluid flows into the valve  20  where it is mixed with the second fluid  37  at Venturi location  18 . The mixture is then dispensed out of the spray nozzle  48 . In one embodiment, the spray nozzle  48  is rotatably adjustable to provide different spray patterns via three different nozzle orifices: flat  50 , jet  52  and shower  54 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the spraying device in the “feed” position, which mixes the two fluids and dispenses the mixture.  FIG. 4  shows the spraying device in the “water only” position, which dispenses the second fluid  37  only.  FIG. 5  shows the spraying device in the “off” position, which prevents either fluid from being dispensed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the cartridge  12  includes a two-way check valve  30  that keeps the cartridge sealed until the vacuum generated by the sprayer body  10  actuates the “duckbill” portion  32 , which allows the first fluid  36  to be siphoned from the cartridge  12 . Air is allowed back into the cartridge  12  via the “umbrella” portion  34  thus allowing proper venting and consistent mixing of the first fluid  36  with the second fluid  37  in the valve  20 . The second fluid  37  does not enter the cartridge  12  during this process. 
     The check valve  30  allows the cartridge  12  to be removed from the sprayer body  10  at any time without leakage because the check valve  30  will return to a closed position when no vacuum is present. Another advantage of the cartridge  12  is that the first fluid can be manually dispensed from the cartridge  12  by squeezing the flexible cartridge  12  when it is in an inverted position. This allows a user to manually mix small quantities of the first fluid with a second fluid (e.g., water) in a bucket or watering can without the use of the sprayer body  10 . This allows the first fluid to be distributed in small areas without the need for a garden hose. Previously known cartridges are sealed containers that can only be used with a corresponding spraying device. 
     In one embodiment, the cartridge  12  includes a cap  26  having threads that correspond to the threads  24  on the cartridge  12 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The cartridge  12  can be a sealed, non-refillable container, as shown in  FIG. 6  or a refillable container that includes a secondary threaded closure  28 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     In one embodiment, fixed fluid metering is accomplished by including a metering orifice  70  within cartridge insert  72 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . This allows mix ratio customization based on the particular fluid  36  contained within the cartridge  12 . In another embodiment, the metering orifice  70  is included in the secondary threaded closure  28 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . In both embodiments, cartridges containing different types of fluids can each have appropriately sized orifices to mix the proper ratio of the first fluid  36  with the second fluid  37 . Providing the metering orifice within the cartridge  12  eliminates having to make or use different sprayers for different types of fluids. 
     Variable fluid metering is accomplished by using an adjustable metering disc  56 , as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The metering disc  56  rotates about axis  58 . The disc  56  is manually rotated via a selector  60  that allows selection of one of several orifice sizes  62 . The metering disc  56  is engaged against the valve  20  and a continuous seal is maintained by a floating plunger  66  that is kept against the metering disc  56  by a compression spring  68 . 
       FIG. 10  shows a spraying device that includes both a fixed metering orifice  70  within the cartridge insert  72  and a variable metering disc  56  within the sprayer body  10 . Any of the described fluid metering embodiments can be used independently or in conjunction with each other. The metering orifice determines the amount of the first fluid that is mixed with the second fluid so that a predetermined ratio of the first fluid to the second fluid can be dispensed in the outlet stream. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3, 6, 7, 8 and 10 , fluid filters  74  and/or  76  may be included to assure that metering orifices  42  and/or  70  are kept open and functional. 
     An alternative embodiment of the spraying device is shown in  FIG. 12 . This embodiment includes a sprayer body  10  and cartridge  12  having different designs than the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-2 . However, the internal operation of this embodiment is generally the same as described above. 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications of the present invention, in its various embodiments, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Other elements, steps, methods and techniques that are insubstantially different from those described herein are also within the scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the particular embodiments described herein but should be defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.