Patent Publication Number: US-4222525-A

Title: Arrangement for spraying liquid from a bottle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an arrangement for spraying. 
     More particularly, the present invention concerns an arrangement for spraying liquid from a bottle. 
     Arrangements of this type have already been proposed and are usually known as atomizers. Such arrangements deal with different types of liquid, e.g., different types of hair cosmetics, skin cosmetics or medications, and are becoming more and more important as a replacement for aerosols whose use is being curtailed in view of the finding that they may be harmful to the ozone layer of the earth. 
     An arrangement for spraying cosmetic preparation has been disclosed for example in German allowed application No. 25 21 694. According to this, a bottle, which contains preparation to be sprayed, is threaded onto a carrying arm so that, when the contents of the bottle are used up, the empty bottle can be replaced by a new full bottle. This arrangement has a shortcoming, in that the utilization of the following bottle in such a succession of interchangeable bottles is not always possible without additional cleansing of the elements which constitute the arrangement. This is especially essential in a situation where successive bottles contain different preparations which are not compatible with each other. Such a situation can occur, for example, when different preparations are of different colors or odors, or when two preparations which are to be used successively can create undesirable chemical reactions or produce some undesirable by-products when reacting with one another. Such situations are very likely to occur because the preparations run through the same passages or chambers all the way to the spraying nozzle. 
     To eliminate this shortcoming, it is known in the art (see German Offenlegungsschrift No. 14 75 170) to provide an arrangement which renders it possible to replace the bottle alone or together with an adapter having a nozzle. However, this also has disadvantages and a better solution to the problem is desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a general object of the present invention to provide an arrangement for spraying liquid from a bottle which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art arrangements. 
     More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a manually operable arrangement for spraying liquids such as e.g., cosmetic preparations, of such a construction which makes it possible to considerably facilitate manipulations of the arrangement. 
     A further object of the present invention resides in providing an arrangement for spraying liquid preparations which renders it possible to change the adapter together with the bottle containing the liquid to be sprayed. 
     In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in an arrangement for spraying liquid from a bottle, which arrangement comprises a piston pump, means for actuating the pump, air inlet means for operatively connecting the pump with the interior of the bottle for supplying air into the bottle when the pump is actuated to thereby pressurize the liquid. 
     The arrangement further comprises liquid outlet means which have a lower end extending into the liquid in the bottle and a discharge end outside the bottle. 
     In order to spray the liquid, the arrangement is provided with means for this purpose which are operable when the liquid under the pressure of the air supplied into the bottle enters the discharge end of the outlet means. 
     The air pump and the actuating means are enclosed in a housing which is connected to the bottle via an adapter which is provided with the spraying means. 
     The adapter is provided with a first passage for connecting the air inlet means with the interior of the bottle, a spraying nozzle and a second passage connecting the liquid outlet means with the spraying nozzle. The adapter is further provided with a third passage operative for connecting the first passage with the spraying nozzle. 
     Such a constructive feature is advantageous because it renders it unnecessary to adjust the pressure of the air in accordance with the viscosity of different preparations. This requirement is met by provision of the spraying nozzle which is rigidly connected with the bottle containing the liquid. 
     Moreover, the pressure created in first passage which connects the air inlet means with the interior of the housing, is distributed partially to the container and partially to the spraying nozzle, and therefore less pressure is required from the air pump for accomplishing the spraying action in comparison with known spraying heads. 
     Provision of the bottle and the spraying nozzle in one unit and connection of such a unit to the air inlet means, renders it possible to spend much less time on the replacement of such a unit when for example the bottle is empty. Inasmuch as no preparation has any contact with another, there is no problem about the possible incompatibility of the different preparations. 
     According to another advantageous feature of the present invention, the arrangement is provided with a hand-operated actuator which has a portion engageable during displacement of the actuators with an end stop (e.g., microswitch) connected to a motor which is coupled with the air pump. On the other hand the actuator is provided with a pin which is located adjacent to a pressure release valve. The actuator, on its movements from a rest position to a working position, urges the pin into the pressure release valve to thereby make the air come through the valve into the interior of the bottle. The actuator is provided with a spring which urges the actuator back towards its rest position. 
     Provision of the pressure release valve renders possible a rapid decrease of the pressure in the air inlet means and in the bottle upon interruption of the motor current, thereby eliminating undesirable drying of the liquid, because it is well known that if the pressure decreases slowly the fine liquid particles in the nozzle have a tendency to combine and form drops. Should the actuator be suddenly released, the pressure will also decrease suddenly and this prevents unsprayed liquid residue from forming in the nozzle and clogging the same. 
     If it is desired to turn the liquid into froth, or for other applications, the present arrangement can be provided with a tube-shaped, preferably elastic applicator nozzle which may be relasably secured on the spray nozzle. Such an applicator nozzle is provided with one or more sieve-like partitions (spaced longitudinally from each other if more than one) spaced at some distance from the outlet of the spray nozzle of the adapter. 
     Thus, it is possible to optionally use the present arrangement for either spraying a liquid or for turning the liquid into a froth or foam. The present arrangement can be employed for spraying purposes when for example a small amount of liquid is to be uniformly applied to the hair of a user and when the wetting influence of the preparation, for example hair lacquers, is desired to remain uniformly for a long time period, in other words when quick volitalization of the preparation is to be prevented. 
     The easy installation and removal of the preferably elastic applicator nozzle renders it possible to very quickly transfer the arrangement from its spraying function to its foaming function, and back again. 
     The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a vertical section showing an arrangement according to the invention; and 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectioned view, showing a detail of a further embodiment which, except for the illustrated differences, corresponds to that of FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 shows a top view of the adaptor head; 
     FIG. 4 shows a side cross-section of the nozzle; and 
     FIG. 5, shows a cross section of the nozzle at 5--5 of FIG. 4. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, it may be seen that an arrangement for spraying liquid from a bottle 17 is identified in toto by reference numeral 1 and formed as a housing or handle which is provided in its lower portion with a battery 2 and an air pump 4 driven by a motor 3. In the upper portion of the housing 1 there is provided an actuator 5 having a pin 6 which is guided in a helical spring 7. The actuator is further provided with a projection 8 which has a tapered lower surface engaged with a plunger or actuator 9 of the microswitch 10. There is provided in the housing a pressure release valve 11, which comprises three intercommunicated passages 11a, 11b, 11c. The passage 11a is adapted to closely receive therein the pin 6. The pressure release valve 11 interconnects air supplying conduits 12 and 14b, which are operative to transmit air pressure from the air pump 4 towards an air pressure coupling. This coupling includes a ball end pin 14 provided with a spring 13 and a central air passage 14a, so that pin 14 is located in the front portion of the carrying arm 15 of the housing 1. A downwardly directed support 16b is an element of a bayonet lock. Two radially and outwardly extended projections 16a are provided on another element of the bayonet lock, that is an adaptor. The adaptor is further provided with a throughgoing passage 18a, a spraying nozzle 19 and a transverse passage 18c which connects the passage 18a with the nozzle 19. Another passage 18b connects a riser tube 20 with the nozzle 19. The tube 20 extends into the liquid contained in a bottle 17, which is fixedly connected to the adaptor. The wall of the nozzle is shaped as a parabolic discharging funnel 21. A froth creating barrel member 22 can be optionally installed on the funnel 21. The member 22 is provided with an elastic tube-shaped discharging nozzle 23. The member 22 is provided inwardly with two sieve-like partitions 24 (see FIG. 2). 
     The present arrangement can be further provided with a rechargeable storage battery (not shown), in view of the battery 2. In such a case the storage battery can be recharged through terminals accessible outside the housing 1. 
     Further, the pressure release valve 11 can be actuated electrically (not shown) rather than mechanically as in the case of the discussed embodiment, through a magnet switch or the like which will be operated by a second contact position of the microswitch 10 upon pressing the actuator 5. 
     Rigid connection of the adaptor to the carrying arm 15 of the housing 1 can be accomplished also in another way than that shown in the above-mentioned embodiment, for example, by thread engagement (not shown), so that the adaptor may be correspondingly threaded on to the carrying arm 15. Similarly to that, the outer wall of the discharging funnel 21 and the froth-creating housing 22 as well can be provided with threads (not shown) to thereby employ threaded engagement with one another. 
     The present arrangement functions as follows: 
     Upon pressing the actuator 5 the tapered surface of projection 8 moves the plunger 9 of the microswitch 10. When this takes place the electrical circuit between the battery 2 and motor 3 is closed via a not illustrated contact in the switch 10. The shaft of the motor 3 is connected with the air pump 4, which generates air pressure during rotation of the motor 3. The air pressure is transmitted through the conduit 12 into the passage 11c of the pressure release valve 11. As long as the passage 11 is open the air pressure discharges through the passage 11a into the interior of the housing 1. Eventually the pin 6, due to the following pressure exercized by a user on the actuator 5, sealingly enters through the opening 11a into the passage 11a of the valve 11. From now on and until the user releases the actuator 5, the air pressure runs through the passage 11b into the conduit 14b which communicates with this passage. From the conduit 14b of the carrying arm 15 the air pressure enters into the central air inlet passage 14a of the ball end pin 14 and further into the air passage 18a of the adaptor where the air pressure distributes partially into the spraying nozzle 19 and partially into the interior of the bottle 17. The liquid in the bottle 17 will run, under the applied pressure, through the tube 20 into the passage 18b and further through the circumferential channel (which is coaxial with the passage 18c) of the nozzle 19 and from there further in the radial passages (only two of them are shown in FIG. 1) to the passage 18c. From passage 18c the turbulent flow of liquid (due to the air flow running in passage 18c) is eventually sprayed out of the nozzle 19. 
     The passage 18b is open into the circumferential channel at an angle of 80°. Due to this fact, the liquid becomes turbulent and in such a condition the liquid enters uniformly into the radial passages distributed along the circumference of the passage 18c. Further intensification of the turbulence of the flow becomes possible due to the fact that the radial passages are located on the wedge-shaped portion of the adaptor. This portion has a pointed angle between 140° and 180°, and preferably 160°. The tip of the wedge is directed in the direction of the liquid flow. A ratio of the smallest unobstructed cross-sectional portion of the passage 18c to the smallest unobstructed cross-sectional portion of the circumferential channel for example in the case of using the arrangement for spraying hair lacquer is 1.5; for other cosmetic preparations this ratio is between 0.5 and 2.5. 
     The rate of flow of the liquid, for example in the case of hair lacquer, is 12 ml/min and if a foam or froth is desired to be obtained the rate of flow then is 60 ml/min. 
     The ball end pin 14, as shown in FIG. 1, is movably mounted in the carrying arm 15 for axial movement along this arm 15. The spring 13 urges the end pin 14 into engagement with the adaptor which is rigidly connected to the bottle 17. Due to such a connection, the adaptor may be located in a desirable position relative to the housing provided that the spring 13 insures the sealing contact of the adaptor and the conduit for supplying air. When the user ceases to press the actuator 5, the latter is forced by the spring 7 to move backwards to the initial (rest) position. Simultaneously with movement of the actuator backwards, the pin 6 also moves backwards thereby opening the passages 11c and 11d and allowing air flow through into the interior of the housing 1. Thus the air pressure in the interior of the bottle 17 fastly becomes even with the air pressure in the spraying nozzle 19. After the actuator 5 is completely released the electrical circuit of the motor 3 through the microswitch 10 is open and supply of the air pressure is over. 
     In another not shown embodiment, to decrease the weight of the arrangement the air pressure is created not by an electrically driven air pump but is supplied inside the arrangement from the outside thereof through additional flexible air pressure conduits. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of arrangements for spraying liquid from a bottle differing from the types described above. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an arrangement for spraying liquid from a bottle, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly consitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.