Patent Publication Number: US-2021178417-A1

Title: Pressure Nozzle Support

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a non-provisional application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/949,401 entitled “Pressure Nozzle Support” filed on Dec. 17, 2019. The entire content of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/949,401 is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     The section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and should not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described in the present application in any way. 
     INTRODUCTION 
     Pressure washers provide a pressurized spray of a cleaning liquid to a surface for the purpose of cleaning or otherwise processing the surface with a pressurized steam of liquid. Pressure washers are commonly used for cleaning large surface areas such as patios and deck. Various nozzles and attachments are used to achieve various pressure washing goals. For example, nozzles can be configured to provide cleaning fluid at a desired pressure. In addition, nozzles can be configured to provide cleaning fluid to the surface with a desired spray pattern. Various attachments are sometimes used to assist the operator in directing the nozzle for particular applications. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present teaching, in accordance with preferred and exemplary embodiments, together with further advantages thereof, is more particularly described in the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The skilled person in the art will understand that the drawings, described below, are for illustration purposes only. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating principles of the teaching. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the Applicant&#39;s teaching in any way. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a pressurized fluid delivery apparatus commonly referred to as a pressure washer. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates one embodiment of a pressure nozzle support for vertical surfaces that includes a ring-shaped body with various components attached according to the present teaching. 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates the pressure nozzle support for vertical surfaces that includes the ring-shaped body of  FIG. 2A  with a nozzle secured in the nozzle coupling and positioned for pressure washing a vertical surface according to the present teaching. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of a pressure nozzle support for vertical surfaces that includes a ring-shaped body with various components attached according to the present teaching. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of a pressure nozzle support for vertical surfaces that includes a triangular-shaped body with various components attached according to the present teaching. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of a pressure nozzle support for vertical surfaces that includes three arms attached at a first end at a base according to the present teaching. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of a pressure nozzle support for vertical surfaces that includes three arms attached at a first end at a base and attached at a second end to a body according to the present teaching. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment of a pressure nozzle support for vertical surfaces that includes a frictional bottom surface according to the present teaching. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS 
     The present teaching will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings. While the present teachings are described in conjunction with various embodiments and examples, it is not intended that the present teachings be limited to such embodiments. On the contrary, the present teachings encompass various alternatives, modifications and equivalents, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. Those of ordinary skill in the art having access to the teaching herein will recognize additional implementations, modifications, and embodiments, as well as other fields of use, which are within the scope of the present disclosure as described herein. 
     Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the teaching. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. 
     It should be understood that the individual steps of the methods of the present teachings can be performed in any order and/or simultaneously as long as the teaching remains operable. Furthermore, it should be understood that the apparatus and methods of the present teachings can include any number or all of the described embodiments as long as the teaching remains operable. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a pressurized fluid delivery apparatus which is commonly referred to as a pressure washer  100 . The pressure washer  100  includes a power unit  102  that is typically a gas engine or an electric motor. However, numerous other types of power units can be used. Typically, lower pressure units use an electric motor power unit while relatively high-pressure units use a gas power unit. The output of the power unit  102  is coupled to a pump  104 . The pump  104  includes an input that is configured to receive a relatively low-pressure steam of liquid and an output that provides a relatively high-pressure stream of liquid. The power unit  102  and the pump  104  may be transportable by a wheeled cart  106 . However, the cart  106  is not an essential component of the pressure washer  100 . 
     The output of the pump  104  is typically coupled to what is commonly referred to as a wand  107  by a section of hose  108 . That is, one end of the hose  108  is coupled to the output of the pump  104  and the other end of the hose  108  is coupled to the input of the wand  107 . Numerous types of fluid couplings can be used to secure the hose  108  to the output of the pump  104 . The wand  107  is often a rigid conduit, but can also be a flexible conduit. The wand  107  can have a variable length. For example, the wand  107  can be a telescoping wand. There is often a flow control mechanism between the hose  108  and the input of the wand  107  that allows cleaning fluid to pass from the hose  108  to the wand  107 . 
     The flow control mechanism typically takes the form of a gun assembly  110  and is configured so that the wand  106  is an extension of the gun assembly  110 . In many commercial pressure washer systems, the gun assembly  110  includes a hand grip  112  for an operator to grasp with one hand, and a barrel  114  or some other type of hand hold for the operator to grasp with the other hand. A trigger  116  is located near the hand grip  112  to allow the operator to selectively operate the gun assembly  110 . 
     A nozzle  118  is coupled to the output of the wand  107 . Numerous types of coupling can be used to form a water tight coupling between the nozzle  118  and the output of the wand  107 . For example, the nozzle  118  can be coupled to the output of the wand  107  with a screw-type coupling or with a quick disconnect-type coupling. The nozzle  118  is configured to provide a desired spray pattern to a surface at a particular distance relative to the nozzle  118 . 
     In operation, the power unit  102  drives the pump  104  to produce a pressurized liquid at an output of the pump  104 . The pressurized liquid flows from the pump  104  through the hose  108  to the gun assembly  110  where the flow is controlled by the trigger  116 , which when activated, allows the fluid to flow through the wand  107  to the nozzle  118  where it flows through the nozzle  118  to the surface to be pressure washed. 
     Various attachments are sometimes used to assist the operator in directing the nozzle  118  to a desired surface. Some of these attachments support the nozzle  118  at a predetermined distance away from the surface. For example, some known attachments are designed to support the nozzle  118  at a predetermined distance away from a horizontal surface. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,927,003. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates one embodiment of a pressure nozzle support  200  for vertical surfaces that includes a ring-shaped body  202  with various components attached. The ring-shaped body  202  includes a plurality of attachment points  204  that can, for example, be an aperture partially or totally through the body  202  that is compatible with various types of fasteners. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the attachment points  204  are through-holes in the body  202  that receive a pin-type or through bolt-type fastener. 
     A first  206  and second fixed guide  208  are attached to the body  202  at respective attachment points  204 . The first and second guides  206 ,  208  are formed in a shaped that easily glides along a vertical surface during pressure washing operations. For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A , the first and second guides  206 ,  208  are “ski”- or “rocker”-shaped with raised ends that are shaped so to easily glide over uneven vertical surfaces during pressure washing conditions. 
     A nozzle coupling  210  is attached to the body  202  by an arm  212  that is attached at one of the plurality of attachment points  204 . In various embodiments, the nozzle coupling  210  is formed directly in the arm  212  or is attached to the arm  212  by one of numerous types of fasteners. The arm  212  is attached to the body  202  adjacent to the first and second fixed guides  206 ,  208 . 
     The arm  212  is generally configured to extend the nozzle coupling  210  to a position above the ring-shaped body  202 . The nozzle coupling is positioned at a height above a bottom surface of each of the first and second fixed guides  206 ,  208  so that the nozzle supported by the nozzle coupling will be at a predetermined distance away from the vertical surface. In various embodiments, the arm  212  positions the nozzle coupling  210  above the ring-shaped body  202  so that an outlet of a nozzle secured in the nozzle coupling  210  is positioned parallel to the body  202  or at some angle relative to the body  202  where a nozzle secured in the nozzle coupling  210  sprays the pressurize fluid in a desired area on a vertical surface. In many embodiments, the desired area is located within the ring-shaped body  202  and/or between the first and second fixed guide  206 ,  208 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A , the nozzle coupling  210  is barrel-shaped to accept a cylindrical nozzle and is shaped to firmly holds a nozzle in position during pressure washing operation at high pressure. During normal operation, the body  202  is oriented so that the first and second guides  206 ,  208  are positioned higher on the vertical surface being pressure washed than the nozzle coupling  210 . 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates the pressure nozzle support  250  for vertical surfaces that includes the ring-shaped body of  FIG. 2A  with a nozzle  252  secured in the nozzle coupling  210  and positioned for pressure washing a vertical surface  254 . The pressure nozzle support  250  is identical to the pressure nozzle support  200  described in connection with  FIG. 2A  that includes the body  202  with attachment points  204 , the first and second fixed guides  206 ,  208 , the nozzle coupling  210 , and the arm  214 . However, the pressure nozzle support  250  also includes a nozzle  252  having an input  254  that is coupled to an output of a pump that produces a pressurized liquid as described in connection with the pressurized fluid delivery apparatus or pressure washer of  FIG. 1 . The input of the nozzle  254  is coupled to the output of a pump via a fluid conduit, such as a high-pressure hose. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of a pressure nozzle support  300  for vertical surfaces that includes a ring-shaped body  302  with various components attached. The pressure nozzle support  300  is similar to the pressure nozzle support  200  described in connection with  FIG. 2A . Like the pressure nozzle support  200  of  FIG. 2 , the pressure nozzle support  300  includes a body  302  with attachment points  304 , a nozzle coupling  306 , and an arm  308 . Also, like the pressure nozzle support  200  of  FIG. 2 , the attachment points  304  are through-holes in the body  202  that receive a pin-type or through bolt fastener. 
     However, there are a first  310 , a second  312 , and a third guide  314  that are generally circular or ball shaped. For example, the first  310 , second  312 , and third guide  314  can be hard rubber balls or hollow core balls that are pressurized. The first  310 , second  312 , and third guide  314  can be fixed or can allow 360 degrees of motion on the vertical surface. The first  310 , second  312 , and third guide  314  can even be configured to have omni-directional motion in two or three dimensions. Like the pressure nozzle support  200  of  FIG. 2A , the nozzle coupling  306  is positioned at a height above a bottom surface of each of the first, second and third guides  310 ,  312 ,  314  so that the nozzle supported by the nozzle coupling will be at a predetermined distance away from the vertical surface. 
     In some embodiments, the first, second, and third guides  310 ,  312 ,  314  are generally circular fixed guides include grooves or channels  316  that can be aligned perpendicular to a radial axis  318  of the guides  306 ,  308 . Referring back to  FIG. 2B , in some embodiments, the channels  316  are aligned to the intended direction of movement along the vertical surface that is being cleaned. In some embodiments, the channels  316  are configured with a channel width  320  that passes the cleaning fluid during operation, which considers factors such as the flow rate of the cleaning fluid through the nozzle, the rate that pressure nozzle support is moving vertically up and down during operation, and the viscosity of the cleaning fluid. 
     In other embodiments, the first, second, and third guides  310 ,  312 ,  314  are generally circular fixed guides and have non-slip surfaces that are designed to grip the vertical wall. For example, the first, second, and third guides  310 ,  312 ,  314  are generally circular and can have rubber (or similar material) surfaces that are resistant to slipping on the vertical surface. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of a pressure nozzle support  400  for vertical surfaces that includes a triangular-shaped body  402  with various components attached. The pressure nozzle support  400  is similar to the pressure nozzle support  200  described in connection with  FIG. 2A . However, the body  402  is triangular-shaped instead of a ring-shaped body. Like the ring-shaped body  202 , the body  402  includes a plurality of attachment points  404  that can, for example, be an aperture partially or totally through the body  204  that is compatible with various types of fasteners. Like the body  202  shown in  FIG. 2A , the attachment points are through-holes in the body  202  that receive a pin-type or through bolt-type fastener. 
     The first  406  and second fixed guide  408  are attached to the body  402  at respective attachment points. The first and second guides  406 ,  408  are formed in a shaped that easily glides along a vertical surface during pressure washing operations as described in connection with  FIG. 2A . For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the first and second guides  406 ,  408  are “ski”- or “rocker”-shaped with raised ends. 
     A nozzle coupling  410  is attached to the body  402  by an arm  412  that is attached at one of the plurality of attachment points  404 . The nozzle coupling  410  can also be formed directly in the arm  412  or is attached to the arm  412  by one of numerous types of fasteners. The arm  412  is attached to the body  402  adjacent to the first and second fixed guides  406 ,  408 . 
     The arm  412  is generally configured to extend the nozzle coupling  410  to a position above the triangular-shaped body  402 . Also, like the pressure nozzle support  200  of  FIG. 2A , the nozzle coupling  410  is positioned at a height above a bottom surface of each of the first and second fixed guides  406 ,  408  so that the nozzle supported by the nozzle coupling will be at a predetermined distance away from the vertical surface. In various embodiments, the arm  412  positions the nozzle coupling  410  above the ring-shaped body  402  so that an outlet of a nozzle secured in the nozzle coupling  410  is positioned parallel to the body  402  or at some angle relative to the body  202  where a nozzle secured in the nozzle coupling  410  sprays the pressurize fluid in a desired area on a vertical surface. In many embodiments, the desired area is located within the triangular-shaped body  402  and/or between the first and second fixed guide  406 ,  408 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an embodiment of a pressure nozzle support  500  for vertical surfaces that includes three arms  502 ,  504 ,  506  attached at a first end at a base  507 . The pressure nozzle support  500  is similar to the pressure nozzle support  200 ,  300 ,  400  described in connection with  FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 . However, the pressure nozzle support  500  configuration does not include a body. The three arms  502 ,  504 ,  506  together form a support structure. 
     Attachment points  508  are formed at the second end of each of the three arms  502 ,  504 ,  506 . The attachment points  508  can be an aperture partially or totally through the arm  502 ,  504 ,  506  that is compatible with various types of fasteners. The attachment points  508  shown in  FIG. 5  are through-holes in the arms  502 ,  504 ,  506  that receive a pin-type or through bolt-type fastener. 
     A first fixed guide  510  is attached to the first end of the first arm  502  at the attachment point  508 . A second fixed guide  512  is attached to the first end of the second arm  504  at the attachment point  508 . The first and second fixed guides  510 ,  512  are formed in a shaped that easily glides along a vertical surface during pressure washing operations as described in connection with  FIG. 2A . For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the first and second guides  510 ,  512  are “ski”- or “rocker”-shaped with raised ends. 
     The pressure nozzle support  500  also includes a nozzle coupling  514  attached to the base  507 . The arms  502 ,  504 ,  506  are generally configured to have a length and angle relative to the base  507  that extends the nozzle coupling  514  to a position above the first and second fixed guides  510 ,  512  where an outlet of a nozzle secured in the nozzle coupling  514  sprays the pressurize fluid in a desired area on a vertical surface. In many embodiments, the desired area is located within the region defined by the arms  502 ,  504 ,  506 . In one embodiment, the desired area is located within a center region defined by the arms  502 ,  504 ,  506 . The nozzle coupling  514  is positioned at a height above a bottom surface of each of the first and second fixed guides  510 ,  512  so that the nozzle supported by the nozzle coupling will be at a predetermined distance away from the vertical surface. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of a pressure nozzle support  600  for vertical surfaces that includes three arms  602 ,  604 ,  606  attached at a first end at a base  608  and attached at a second end to a body  610 . The pressure nozzle support  600  is similar to the pressure nozzle support  500  described in connection with  FIG. 5 . However, the pressure nozzle support  600  configuration does include a body as described in connection with  FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 . The three arms  602 ,  604 ,  606  together form a support structure with the body  610 . 
     Attachment points  612  are formed at the second end of each of the three arms  602 ,  604 ,  606 . The attachment points  612  can be an aperture partially or totally through the arm  602 ,  604 ,  606  that is compatible with various types of fasteners. The attachment points  612  shown in  FIG. 6  are through-holes in the arms  602 ,  604 ,  606  that receive a pin-type or through bolt-type fastener. 
     A first fixed guide  614  is attached to the first end of the first arm  602  at the attachment point  612 . A second fixed guide  616  is attached to the first end of the second arm  604  at the attachment point  612 . The first and second fixed guides  616 ,  618  are formed in a shaped that easily glides along a vertical surface during pressure washing operations as described in connection with  FIG. 2A . For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the first and second guides  614 ,  616  are “ski”- or “rocker”-shaped with raised ends. 
     The pressure nozzle support  600  also includes a nozzle coupling  618  attached to the base  608 . The arms  602 ,  604 ,  606  are generally configured to have a length and angle relative to the base  608  that extends the nozzle coupling  618  to a position above the first and second fixed guides  614 ,  616  where an outlet of a nozzle secured in the nozzle coupling  618  sprays the pressurize fluid in a desired area on a vertical surface. In many embodiments, the desired area is located within the region defined by the arms  602 ,  604 ,  606 . In one embodiment, the desired area is located within a center region defined by the arms  602 ,  604 ,  606 . The nozzle coupling  618  is positioned at a height above a bottom surface of each of the first and second fixed guides  614 ,  616  so that the nozzle supported by the nozzle coupling will be at a predetermined distance away from the vertical surface. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment of a pressure nozzle support  700  for vertical surfaces that includes a frictional bottom surface according to the present teaching. The pressure nozzle support  700  is similar to the pressure nozzle supports described in connection with FIGS.  2 A,  2 B, and  3  in that it includes a ring-shaped body  702 . However, the pressure nozzle support  700  does not include the first and second fixed guides  206 ,  208  or the first  310 , a second  312 , and a third guide  314  that are generally circular or ball shaped. Instead, a bottom surface  704  of the body  702  includes a frictional surface, which in some method of use, assists the user in keeping the pressure nozzle support  700  on the vertical surface during use. For example, the bottom surface  704  can be formed of or include a type of weather stripping material. Alternatively, the bottom surface  704  can be formed of a gasket material. Alternatively, the bottom surface  704  can include a grove or recess that receives a gasket, such as an O-ring. The frictional material can be of various thicknesses such as ¼ inch to 1 inch thick. 
     A nozzle coupling  706  is attached to the body  702  by an arm  708  that is formed in the body  702  or attached at an attachment point. In various embodiments, the nozzle coupling  706  is formed directly in the arm  708  or is attached to the arm  708  by one of numerous types of fasteners. The nozzle coupling  706  is positioned at a height above the body  702  so that the nozzle supported by the nozzle coupling will be at a predetermined distance away from the vertical surface. 
     One skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous configurations of the pressure nozzle support for vertical surfaces according to the present teaching. Some configurations use bodies and others are supported by only the arms as described herein. In various embodiments, the bodies can be a continuous shape, such as a circular-, oval-, or triangular-shaped body or can be a non-continuous shaped, such as an arc. Also, the arms can be flexible or rigid in various configurations depending on the application. 
     In various embodiments, the guides are attached to the body or arms or are integrated directly into the body or arms. Also, the guides can be shaped so that they glide easily over a vertical surface that may have features such as siding. The guides can be formed of rigid or deformable material. Also, in various embodiments, the guides can be formed of a scratch-resistant material. In some embodiments, the guides are formed of a plastic material. 
     EQUIVALENTS 
     While the Applicant&#39;s teaching is described in conjunction with various embodiments, it is not intended that the Applicant&#39;s teaching be limited to such embodiments. On the contrary, the Applicant&#39;s teaching encompass various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, which may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the teaching.