Patent Publication Number: US-6702206-B2

Title: Water adjustable trigger nozzles

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to trigger nozzle which has a water adjustable device located away from the spout of the nozzle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A conventional trigger nozzle used for watering in garden generally includes a barrel with a handle connected thereto and a water hose is connected to an end of the handle so as to provide water in the barrel. A trigger device is pivotably connected to the barrel and can be pulled to allow the water to go out from a spout located at a front end of the barrel. In order to meet different needs, a water adjustable device is connected right beside the spout so that the user may operate the adjustable device to change the ways that the water goes from the spout. Nevertheless, due to the position of the adjustable device, the user&#39;s hand will be soaked when operating the device and this is not convenient for the user. In some area, the temperature of the water is just freezing which makes the user feel not comfortable. 
     The present invention intends to provide a trigger nozzle wherein the adjustable device is located at a rear end of the barrel so that the user&#39;s hand is away from the spout while operating the device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a trigger nozzle which comprises a barrel connected to a handle in which a passage is defined. A tunnel is defined through an upper section of the handle and has a first partition communicating with the barrel and a second partition communicating with the passage. A trigger is pivotably connected to the barrel and a nozzle head is connected to a front end of the barrel. 
     A water adjustable device is received in the tunnel and includes an operation shaft which includes a first end which extends from the tunnel and is engaged with the trigger. A seal section of the operation shaft is rotatably received in the first partition and has a groove defined longitudinally in an outer periphery thereof. A second end is connected to the seal section and received in the second partition of the tunnel. An end cap is engaged with the tunnel and a knob is rotatably mounted to the end cap. A spring is mounted to the second end of the operation shaft and biased between the seal section and a connection member which securely receives a part of the second end of the operation shaft. The connection member is received in the end cap and connected to the knob. 
    
    
     The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the trigger nozzle of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the trigger nozzle and the water adjustable device of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view to show the trigger nozzle of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line S—S in FIG. 3, 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view to show the operation shaft of the trigger nozzle of the present invention is rotated an angle; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view to show the position of the groove in the seal section is changed; 
     FIG. 7 shows the knob is rotated; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view to show the volume of water is adjusted to smallest scale; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view to show the position of the groove in the seal section is changed corresponding to FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 shows the knob is rotated corresponding to FIG. 9, and 
     FIG. 11 shows the trigger is pulled. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 to  4 , the trigger nozzle  1  of the present invention comprises a barrel  11  connected to a handle  10  in which a passage  12  is defined. A trigger  19  is pivotably connected to the barrel  11  by a pin  17  covered by a trigger cover  18 . A nozzle head  15  is threadedly connected to a front end of the barrel  11  and seals  13  are used to prevent leakage from the threads in connection portion. A rotatable collar  16  is mounted to the nozzle head  15  and a central piece  14  is movably received in the nozzle head  15 . 
     A tunnel  20  is inclinedly defined through an upper section of the handle  10  and has a first partition  21  and a second partition  22 . The first partition  21  communicates with an interior of the barrel  11  and the second partition  22  communicates with the passage  12  with which a hose for providing water is connected. A water adjustable device  2  is received in the tunnel  20  and includes an operation shaft  30  which is rotatably and movably received in the tunnel  20  with a seal  23  mounted thereto at the opening of the barrel  10 . The operation shaft  30  includes a first end  31  which extends from the tunnel  20  and is engaged with the trigger  19 . A seal section  34  of the operation shaft  30  is rotatably received in the first partition  21  and has a groove  35  defined longitudinally in an outer periphery thereof. A second end  33  is connected to the seal section  34  and received in the second partition  22  of the tunnel  20 . A shoulder surface  32  is formed at an end of the seal section  34 . A seal  40  and a ring  50  are mounted to the second end  33  of the operation shaft  30 . 
     An end cap  80  has a threaded section  81  which is engaged with an inner threaded section  24  of the tunnel  20  and seals  23  are used to prevent from leakage. A connection member  70  securely receives a part of the second end  33  of the operation shaft  30 , wherein the second end  33  of the operation shaft  30  includes a flat surface  33  and the connection member  70  has a hole  71  which has a flat surface in an inner periphery thereof so as to be engaged with the second end  33  of the operation shaft  30 . The connection member  70  is received in a through hole  83  in the end cap  80  and has a tongue  73  extending therefrom which has a key  74 . A knob  90  is rotatably mounted to the end cap  80  and has a hole  91  which has a key-way  92  defined in an inner periphery thereof so that the key  74  on the tongue  73  is engaged with the key-way  92  in the hole  91  of the knob  90 . A bolt  94  extends through the knob  90  and is threadedly connected to a threaded hole  75  in the tongue  73  of the connection member  70 . 
     A spring  60  is mounted to the second end  33  of the operation shaft  30  and biased between the ring  50  and the connection member  70  which has an annular groove  72  so as to receive an end of the spring  60 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 5 to  7 , when rotating the knob  90 , the operation shaft  30  is co-rotated and the seal section  34  is rotated to position the groove  35  so that a large gap is defined in communication between the interior of the barrel  11  and the first partition  21 . Therefore, a large amount of water enters the interior of the barrel  11 . Referring to FIGS. 8 to  10 , when rotating the knob  90  in opposite direction, the operation shaft  30  is co-rotated and the seal section  34  is rotated to position the groove  35  so that a small gap is defined in communication between the interior of the barrel  11  and the first partition  21 . Therefore, only a small amount of water enters the interior of the barrel  11 . Referring to FIG. 10, when pulling the trigger  19 , the first end of the operation shaft  30  is pushed so that the seal  40  and the ring  50  are moved with the operation shaft  30  and water is allowed to enter the interior of the barrel  11 . 
     It is noted that the position of the knob  90  is located at the rear end of the barrel  11  so that the user can operate the knob  90  without being soaked by the water coming from the nozzle head  15 . 
     While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.