Patent Publication Number: US-2006013709-A1

Title: Battery-powered spray wand

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to liquid sprayers, and more particularly to an improved battery-powered, hand-held spray wand used for convenient spraying of a desired liquid.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Sprayers have long been used to spray liquids of various types, such as water, pesticides, herbicides and the like. Typically, conventional sprayers include at least a liquid container, a pump and a discharge device such as a spray nozzle. The pump is used to supply the pressure necessary to deliver the liquid from the liquid container to, for example, a hand-held wand assembly for application of the liquid. The significant shortcoming associated with these conventional devices is that considerable time and effort is often required to fill the liquid container prior to spraying. Additionally, the volume of the liquid container may be inadequate for the volume of liquid needed for larger spraying operations, thereby requiring refilling of the liquid container during the spraying operation.  
      Accordingly, a need exists for a portable sprayer that allows for more convenient spraying of a desired liquid that is not limited by the size and location of the liquid reservoir. Additionally, there is a need for a portable sprayer that does not require filling of a liquid reservoir in the apparatus prior to and during spraying.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      To overcome these and other disadvantages associated with known portable sprayers, a system, apparatus and method are provided for spraying liquid contained in a reservoir remote from said apparatus. The spray apparatus includes a housing in which a pump is positioned. The pump has an inlet and an outlet. An electric motor positioned within the housing drives the pump when a power supply located in the housing selectively provides power to the motor. A flexible intake hose connected to the inlet of the pump extends out of the housing to provide a path for liquid to flow from the remote reservoir to the pump. A discharge device in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump discharges liquid from the apparatus in a desired spray pattern.  
      The housing also includes a hose compartment for storing a predetermined length of the intake hose when the apparatus is not in use so that the intake hose can be extracted from and inserted into the hose compartment. The spray apparatus may further include an extension for varying the distance between the discharge device and the housing. Additionally, a portion of the housing may pivot with respect to another portion of the housing.  
      The foregoing specific objects and advantages of the invention are illustrative of those that can be achieved by the present invention and are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting of the possible advantages which can be realized. Thus, these and other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the description herein or can be learned from practicing this invention, both as embodied herein or as modified in view of any variations which may be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the present invention resides in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The accompanying figures best illustrate the details of the preferred apparatus, system and method of the present invention. Like reference numbers and designations in these figures refer to like elements.  
       FIG. 1  is a detailed illustration of a spray apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a detailed illustration of a spray apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a detailed illustration of a spray apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention that includes a hose compartment;  
       FIG. 4  is a detailed illustration of a spray apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention that includes a compartment;  
       FIG. 5  illustrates a spray apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention that includes a portion that pivots with respect to the main body of the apparatus;  
       FIG. 6  illustrates a spray apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention that includes a portion that pivots with respect to the main body of the apparatus;  
       FIG. 7  is a detailed illustration of a spray apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention that includes an extension for increasing the distance between the discharge device and the main body of the apparatus;  
       FIG. 8  illustrates a system using a spray apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 9  illustrates a method of using a spray apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a spray apparatus or wand assembly  1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The main components of the spray apparatus or wand assembly  1  preferably include a power supply  2 , motor  3 , gear box or transmission  7 , pump  9 , intake hose  12 , and spray or discharge device  11 . The motor  3  preferably drives the transmission  7 , which drives the pump  9 . The power supply  2 , motor  3 , transmission  7  and pump  9  are preferably mounted within the main body or housing of the spray apparatus  1 .  
      The power supply  2  can be one or more rechargeable batteries, one-time disposable batteries, or battery packs. The power supply  2  should be of sufficient voltage to adequately supply power to the internal electrical components of the spray apparatus  1 , such as the motor  3 . By way of example, the power supply  2  can be any voltage between 1 and 12 volts DC. However, the voltage of the power supply  2  is in no way limited to these sizes and may vary depending on the size and power requirements of the spray apparatus  1 . The power supply  2  is able to provide power to the internal components of the spray apparatus  1  (e.g., motor  3 ) by depressing an on/off switch  5 , which closes the circuit between the power supply and the electrical components of the spray apparatus  1 . A more detailed description of the communication between the on/off switch  5  and the electrical power circuit will be addressed in the figures that follow.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , the intake hose  12  is preferably a flexible hose that is capable of being wound or folded as necessary. The intake hose  12  is preferably made from a flexible or pliable material such as, but in no way limited to, rubber, plastic or other similar material. One end of the intake hose  12  is connected to the pump  9  in a conventional manner and the intake hose exits the spray apparatus  1  proximate to the front of the spray apparatus  1  or proximal to the discharge device  11 . Liquid passes through the intake hose  12  to the pump  9 , where the pressurized liquid then passes through pump output conduit  10  for discharge by the discharge device  11 . The pump output conduit is preferably made from a flexible or rigid hose, pipe or tubing that is connected to the pump in a conventional manner. The discharge device  11  is preferably a spray nozzle attached to the pump output conduit  10  in a conventional manner, such as by threading the nozzle onto the free end of the pump output conduit. The discharge device  11  is preferably capable of providing a fixed and/or variable spray pattern. Preferably, if a variable spray pattern is desired, the discharge device  11  can be rotated relative to the pump output conduit  10  to vary the spray pattern.  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a spray apparatus or wand assembly  1  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The  FIG. 2  embodiment differs from the embodiment in  FIG. 1  in that the intake hose  12  enters the spray apparatus  1  proximate to the rear of the spray apparatus  1  or distal to the discharge device  11 . In this embodiment, a first portion of intake hose  12  passes through the body or housing of the spray apparatus  1  to connect to the pump  9  in a conventional manner.  FIG. 3  illustrates an example of how the intake hose  12  passes through the body or housing of the spray apparatus  1  and connects to the pump  9 . However, unlike the intake hose  12  shown in  FIG. 3 , the intake hose  12  shown in  FIG. 2  that extends outside the spray apparatus  1  is not meant to be recoiled on a recoil member.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates an embodiment of the spray apparatus or wand assembly  1  that includes a hose compartment  14  at the rear of the spray apparatus  1  for storing the intake hose  12  when the spray apparatus is not in use. The hose compartment  14  includes an open chamber in which a recoil member  15  is located. The recoil member  15  is preferably rotatably connected to the main body or housing of the spray apparatus  1 . The recoil member  15  is preferably bolt-shaped having a slotted end  17 . However, the recoil member  15  is not limited to this particular shape. For example, instead of having a slotted end, the end  17  can be rounded or hexagon-shaped, or have a handle formed thereon, to allow for easy manipulation when assisting in the recoiling of the portion of the intake hose  12  extending outside the spray apparatus  1 .  
      Preferably, at least a portion of the intake hose  12  is fixed to the recoil member  15  within the hose compartment  14 . In this way, when the slotted end  17  of the recoil member  15  is rotated using a screw driver, finger or the like, the second portion of the intake hose  12  extending outside the spray apparatus  1  will wind around the recoil member  15  for storage within the hose compartment  14  when the apparatus is not in use. The hose compartment  14  has an opening  13  that allows the second portion of the intake hose  12  to be moved freely to and from the hose compartment  14 . The recoil member  15  can be used for either inserting or extracting the intake hose  12  from the hose compartment  14 . However, it is understood that the intake hose  12  can also be extracted by gently pulling the intake hose  12  from the hose compartment  12 .  
      In addition, the recoil member  15  may be spring-loaded such that rotation in a first direction (e.g., to unwind the intake hose  12 ) compresses the spring and when the rotating force is released, the spring causes the recoil member  15  to rotate in the opposite direction to recoil or wind the intake hose  12 .  
      In this embodiment, the first portion of the intake hose  12  in the hose compartment  14  preferably communicates with the second portion of the intake hose  12  passing through in the main body or housing of the spray apparatus  1  via a tube member or coupling  16  that passes between the main body of the apparatus  1  and the hose compartment  14 . The tube member  16  can preferably be made from a material similar to that of the intake hose or from a more rigid material such as metal. The tube member  16  is at least partially hollow to allow liquid to pass freely through the intake hose  12  to the pump  9 .  
       FIG. 3  also illustrates a preferred power circuit used to supply power from the power supply  2  to the other electrical components (e.g., motor  3 ) in the spray apparatus  1 . The preferred power circuit in the spray apparatus  1  includes normally-opened electrical contacts  4  that come together or close when the switch  5  is depressed or otherwise actuated. The contacts  4  close the power circuit in the spray apparatus  1  so that the motor  3  receives power from the power supply  2  to drive the transmission  7  and pump  9 . Power is preferably removed from the power circuit when the switch  5  is released or otherwise actuated a second time, to separate the normally-open contacts  4  and thereby open the circuit and disconnect power to the motor  3 .  
       FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of the spray apparatus or wand assembly  1  that includes a hose compartment  14 . However, the hose compartment  14  shown in  FIG. 4  does not include a recoil member  15 . In this embodiment, the intake hose  12  is both manually inserted and extracted from the hose compartment  14 . Additionally, the intake hose  12  is preferably a single, continuous flexible hose that passes through the main body or housing of the spray apparatus  1  to the hose compartment  14  without the need for a tube member or coupling  16 . A hook  18  is also provided, preferably on the upper part of the body of the spray apparatus  1  for conveniently storing the apparatus after use.  
       FIG. 5  illustrates another embodiment of the spray apparatus or wand assembly  1  that includes an upper portion  19  that pivots with respect to a lower portion or main body  25 . This embodiment differs from the aforementioned embodiments in that the body of the spray apparatus  1  is essentially two components that are hinged together via a bearing member or pivot  21 . The bearing member  21  allows for the upper or pivot portion  19  of the spray apparatus  1  to pivot with respect to the lower or main body  25  of the apparatus  1 . In this embodiment, the power supply  2  is preferably located in the lower or main body  25 , and the motor  3 , transmission  7  and pump  9  are preferably located within the upper or pivot portion  19  of the spray apparatus  1 .  
       FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment of the spray apparatus or wand assembly  1  that also includes an upper or pivot portion  19  that pivots. Like the previous embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the spray apparatus  1  shown in  FIG. 6  has an upper or pivoting portion  19  that is hinged to the lower or main body  25  of the spray apparatus  1  by a bearing member or pivot  21 . This embodiment differs slightly from the previous embodiment both in appearance and function. Specifically, the spray apparatus  1  shown in  FIG. 6  includes a hose compartment  14  similar to that previously discussed in  FIG. 4  in which the flexible hose  12  is manually inserted into/retracted from the hose compartment  14 .  
       FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment of the spray apparatus or wand assembly  1  that includes an extension  22  for varying the distance  22  between the discharge device  11  and the main body of the spray apparatus  1 . By way of example, the extension  22  can be permanent or removable from the main body of the spray apparatus  1 . The length of the extension  22  may vary between 3-12 inches, and the extension may also be straight in its entirety or curved at the end proximate to the discharge device  11 . However, the length of the extension  22  is in no way limited to the range of 3-12 inches and can vary depending on the desired spray operation to be completed. One end of the extension  22  may, for example, be removably threaded onto the main body  25  or onto the free end of the pump output conduit  10  to provide fluid communication between the conduit  10  and the discharge device  11 . Additionally, the discharge device  11  may be removably threaded onto the opposing end of the extension  22  for attachment to and removal from the main body of the spray apparatus  1 .  
       FIG. 8  illustrates a preferred system for using a spray apparatus or wand assembly  1  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The system shown in  FIG. 8  preferably includes two main components—a liquid reservoir  24  and the spray apparatus or wand assembly  1 . The components of the spray apparatus  1  are the same as, for example, those already discussed with respect to  FIG. 3 .  
      In  FIG. 8 , the flexible intake hose  12  extending from the spray apparatus or wand assembly  1  is preferably attached to the liquid reservoir  24  using a clip, tie, hose clasp or the like, such that the free end of the intake hose  12  is positioned below the surface of the fluid contained within the liquid reservoir  24 . In the alternative, the free end of the flexible intake hose  12  can be inserted directly into the liquid reservoir  24  as a freestanding hose without the need for an attachment mechanism. The liquid reservoir  24  can be a portable or stationary container of liquid. The size of the liquid reservoir  24  can vary depending on the desired spraying operation. By way of example, the liquid reservoir  24  can be a single gallon container or a container large enough to hold several gallons or more. Also, by way of example, the liquid reservoir  24  can contain any desired liquid to be sprayed, such as water, pesticides, herbicides and the like. However, the type on liquid used by the spray apparatus  1  will vary depending on the desired spray operation and the spray apparatus  1  is in no way limited to any specific type of liquid. It is recognized that the spray apparatus components should be compatible with the type of liquid being used.  
      Upon depression of the switch  5  on the spray apparatus  1 , power is supplied to the motor  3  to drive the pump  9  via the transmission  7 . The pump  9  draws liquid from the reservoir  24  through the intake hose  12  and out through the outlet conduit  10  to the discharge device  11 , resulting in the spray pattern  23  defined by the characteristics of the discharge device  11 . The switch  5  is released or depressed again to disconnect power to the motor  3  when the spray operation is completed. After completion of the spray operation, the intake hose  12  is recoiled onto the recoil member  15  and stored in the hose compartment  14  on the spray apparatus  1 .  
       FIG. 9  illustrates a preferred method of using the spray apparatus or wand assembly  1 . In Step Si, the intake hose  12  is extracted from the hose compartment  14  of the spray apparatus  1 . The intake hose  12  is preferably extracted from the hose compartment  14  either by rotating the recoil member  15  to unwind the recoiled hose and/or by gently pulling the intake hose  12  from the hose compartment  14 .  
      Once a sufficient length of intake hose  12  is extracted from the spray apparatus or wand assembly  1 , the free end of the intake hose  12  is preferably attached to or otherwise inserted into the liquid reservoir  24  in Step S 2  such that the free end of the hose is below the surface of the liquid to be sprayed. The intake hose  12  can be attached to the liquid reservoir  24  using a conventional attachment mechanism known in the art such as a clip, tie, hose clasp or the like. The free end of the intake hose  12  may also pass through a cap or closure (not shown) on the liquid reservoir  24  and extend into and below the surface of liquid contained in the reservoir. As mentioned previously, the intake hose  12  can also be inserted directly into the liquid reservoir  24  as a freestanding hose.  
      Once the free end of the intake hose  12  is attached to or otherwise inserted within the reservoir  24 , the switch  5  on the spray apparatus  1  is depressed in Step S 3 . The depression of the switch  5  will result in power being supplied from the batteries  2  to the motor  3 , which drives the transmission  7  and pump  9  of the spray apparatus  1 . The driven pump  9  draws liquid from the reservoir  24  through the intake hose  12 .  
      In Step S 4 , pressurized liquid from the pump  9  passes through pump outlet conduit  10  and is discharged via the discharge device  11 . The pattern of spray  23  from the discharge device  11  is determined by the characteristics of the discharge device, as well as by the rotation or movement of the discharge device  11  relative to the pump outlet conduit  10 .  
      At the completion of the spray operation, the switch  5  is released or depressed again to disconnect power to the motor  3 . In Step S 5 , the intake hose  12  is then preferably inserted or recoiled back into the hose compartment  14  by rotating the recoil member  15  to wind some or all of the intake hose  12  extending outside the spray apparatus or wand assembly  1  about the recoil member for storage in hose compartment  14  when the spray apparatus is not in use. Alternatively, the intake hose  12  can be manually inserted back into the hose compartment  14 , such as is in the embodiment described above with respect to  FIG. 4 .  
      Although illustrative embodiments have been described herein in detail, its should be noted and understood that the descriptions and drawings have been provided for purposes of illustration only and that other variations both in form and detail can be added thereupon without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The terms and expressions have been used as terms of description and not terms of limitation. There is no limitation to use the terms or expressions to exclude any equivalents of features shown and described or portions thereof.