Patent Publication Number: US-2007114301-A1

Title: Personal water misting apparatus with counter pressure delivery

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Keeping cool in any hot environment can be challenging. Water has long been recognized as a preferred means for cooling, but carrying and using water to cool a person is a challenge. Misting water assists further in cooling and requires less water. Portable personal misting devices, though, are a further challenge, especially without using electrical powered delivery. Additionally, a proper mist requires significant pressure, something few portable powering devices can effectively supply. The current invention solves these problems.  
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The current invention relates to water misting devices and more specifically to a portable personal water misting apparatus with counter pressure delivery.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The general purpose of the personal water misting device with counter pressure delivery, described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a personal water misting device with counter pressure delivery which has many novel features that result in an improved personal water misting device with counter pressure delivery which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by prior art, either alone or in combination thereof.  
      The personal pressurized water misting apparatus with counter pressure delivery is comprised of a rigid reservoir with a flexible bladder within. The bladder is designed to hold water. The bladder is acted upon by a movable pressure shelf. The pressure shelf moves within the length of the reservoir. One example of the invention offers a flexible, bendable bladder. This example allows edges of the bladder to fold as needed in passing the edges of the pressure platform. Other examples employ a flexible, expandable bladder such that the bladder expands and contracts within the reservoir and below the pressure shelf as needed with the influx and outflow of water. One example of the invention is supplied as a backpack. Yet another example is supplied as a belt with the reservoir positioned as chosen. A filler with a check valve is conveniently disposed on all examples of the invention. A filler cap covers the filler. A one way check valve resides just within the filler. The check valve is in sealed communication with the bladder. The filler is a threaded female fitting. The fitting is a typical water hose female fitting. The female hose fitting is designed to accept a typical water hose threaded male fitting.  
      A water hose is used to fill the bladder of the invention. Water hoses typically supply water pressure from 35-100 pounds per square inch (psi).  
      A pressure shelf is disposed within the reservoir. A compression spring is anchored within the reservoir. Still other examples of the invention utilize more than one spring. In the backpack example of the invention, each spring is anchored against the inside of the top of the reservoir in a spring rest. The opposite end of each spring is anchored in a spring rest against the pressure shelf. In the waist belt example of the invention, the spring is anchored against in inner end of the reservoir opposite the filler end. The spring is between the end of the reservoir and the pressure shelf. The pressure shelf acts against the bladder to pressure the water contained within the bladder. As water hose is used to fill the bladder. Water pressure presses against the pressure shelf. The spring is thereby compressed. Spring compression ceases when pressure within the bladder equals water pressure from the hose supplied to the invention. The air within the reservoir but not within the bladder is compressed. Therefore the springs and the air pressure are imposing an expansion force against the pressure shelf. When internal pressure equals that of the water pressure applied, the check valve sees equilibrium and closes. Withdrawing the water hose from the invention therefore does not allow water flow out of the invention.  
      In an additional example of the invention, the pressure within the bladder is further enhanced by a handle operated mechanism. The mechanism is used after the bladder is filled with water.  
      The handle operated mechanism comprises a handle external to the reservoir. The handle is generally T-shaped. The handle extends into a sleeve. The sleeve passes through the reservoir top. The passage of the sleeve through the reservoir is fitted with a seal. Air pressure is prevented from escaping from the reservoir by the seal. A plunger is fitted to the sleeve, within the reservoir. As the handle is pushed inward toward the reservoir, the plunger compresses the spring circling about the handle sleeve. The sleeve is guided by a rod that slideably fits within the sleeve. The rod is anchored to the pressure shelf. The sleeve exterior to the reservoir is fitted with a perpendicularly affixed t-lock. The top of the reservoir exterior is fitted with a lock tab. The lock tab accepts the t-lock of the sleeve. The T-handle is pushed into the reservoir until the t-lock is aligned with the abbreviated lock tab. The t-lock is then twisted. The sleeve and handle are thereby held in a position which compresses the spring within the reservoir, thereby retaining the spring pressure resulting from compressing the plunger against the spring force. This additional spring pressure provides for the plunger to exert more pressure against the pressure shelf, thereby further pressuring the water held within the reservoir bladder to a psi greater than what only the water pressure filling can provide.  
      The filling water pressure exerts pressure against the pressure shelf, such that pressurized filling of the bladder moves the pressure shelf, thereby compressing springs within the bladder, whereby counter pressure delivery is actuated with the on/off control. The on/off control is fitted within the flex tube. The flex tube exits the bladder and passes outside of the reservoir.  
      The flex tube provides for positioning the delivery of water from the bladder as desired. One example of the invention provides a misting nozzle at the end of the flex tube. The misting nozzle is, in one example, fitted to the top of a hat. Turning on the on/off control allows for water pressure to force water into the misting nozzle, thereby spraying water mist above and outward from the top of the hat. The on/off control offers graduated opening such that mist volume is controlled. Still another example of the invention offer a stream nozzle with a trigger. The water stream provided is controlled by the trigger, much as a typical water gun. Various other nozzles and water deliveries are provided.  
      The invention therefore offers counter pressure delivery of water in mist or stream form. The reservoir&#39;s internal compression of air and springs by the pressurized introduction of water stores the potential energy. The examples of the invention featuring added spring pressure via the plunger and handle further store additional energy. The on/off control provides for releasing that stored energy by forcing water out through the delivery system. No pumping or electric pumps are required.  
      Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the personal water misting device with counter pressure delivery so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.  
      Numerous objects, features and advantages of the personal water misting device with counter pressure delivery will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, examples of the personal water misting device with counter pressure delivery when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current examples of the personal water misting device with counter pressure delivery in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. The invention is capable of other examples and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
      Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the personal water misting device with counter pressure delivery. It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
      Objects of the personal water misting device with counter pressure delivery, along with various novel features that characterize the invention are particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part of this disclosure.  
      For better understanding of the personal water misting device with counter pressure delivery, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, refer to the accompanying drawings and description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a back elevation cross sectional view of the reservoir with related components, illustrating the flexible bladder as acted upon by spring pressure, taken along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is the belted worn reservoir of the invention, as connected to a hat with misting nozzle.  
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the reservoir of  FIG. 3  taken along the line  4 - 4 .  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the reservoir of the invention, with T-handle fully pressed into the reservoir and held in the locked position by t-lock  33  and lock tabs  35 .  
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional elevation of the reservoir of  FIG. 5  taken along the line  6 - 6 , the springs in mid travel. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      With reference now to the drawings, and in particular  FIGS. 1 through 6  thereof, example of the personal water misting device with counter pressure delivery employing the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference number  10  will be described.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , the invention  10  is comprised of a reservoir  12 . The reservoir  12  is further comprised of vertical panels: front (not shown), an opposite spaced apart back  47 , and two opposing spaced apart sides  46 . The back  47  and the sides  46  are connected by vertical rounded corners  45 . The front is meant to be worn against a user (not shown) in a backpack (not shown). The threadably removable filler cap  24  is disposed on the lower portion of one side  46 . The horizontal top  48  and bottom  43  affix to the outer edges of the front, back  47 , sides  46  and rounded corners  45  to seal the reservoir. A flex tube  14  transfers water from the reservoir  12  to the nozzle  16 . The nozzle  16  is fitted atop the hat  18 . Water mist  50  emanates from the nozzle  16  to surround the hat  18  and fall beyond the hat  18 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , the reservoir is internally comprised of a flexible bladder  20 . The bladder  20  fits internally against sides  46 , bottom  43  and back  47  ( FIG. 1 ), and front (not shown). The bladder  20  also substantially fits against the pressure shelf  34 .  
      Edges of the bladder  20  are provided for passing relief beyond the edges of pressure shelf  34  as the pressure shelf  34  moves downward against the water  52 . The springs  30  are therefore in a partially compressed state. The springs  30  reside vertically and are captured at both top and bottom by springs rests  31 . The upper spring rests  31  are supportedly fixed against the top inside  49  of the reservoir  12 . The lower spring rests  31  are supportedly affixed to the top of the pressure shelf  34 . The compression springs  30  are thereby captured and forced to work in the vertical plane in compression. The flex tube  14  is fitted with on/off control  32 . On/off control  32  provides for metered release of water  52  from bladder  20 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , the belt  38  example of the invention  10  is clasped about a user by the typical buckle  40 . The reservoir  12  is disposed horizontally along a portion of the belt  38 . The reservoir  12  is fitted with easily accessed threaded filler cap  24 . Filler cap  24  covers filler  21 . the flex tube  14  extends to meet the hat  18 . The mist nozzle  16  is fitted atop hat  18 . Mist nozzle  16  disperses water mist  50  about and beyond hat  18 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , the reservoir  12  of  FIG. 3  is partially filled with water  52 . The spring  30  is half compressed. Water hose  56  is connected to the female connection (not shown) of the filler  21 . Water flow  58  is flowing toward and within the bladder  20  of the reservoir  12 . Water  52  pressure is acting against the spring pressure of spring  30 . Spring  30  is pushing against the plunger  26 . Water  52  pressure is pushing against the bladder  20 . Bladder  20  thereby pushes against the plunger  26 . Water  52  pressure causes the spring  30  to compress until pressure is equalized between incoming water flow  58  and spring  30  pressure.  
      The plunger  26  is affixed to linear sleeve  25 . The sleeve  25  slideably surrounds the rod  28 . The rod  28  is firmly affixed to the rod stop  29  within the end of the reservoir  12  opposite the filler  21 . The spring  30  is fully compressed when the sleeve  25  reaches the rod stop  29 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 , the T-handle of the backpack example of the invention  10  is in the fully compressed locked position. The sleeve  25  is fitted with perpendicular t-lock  33 . The T-handle  23  has been twisted such that the t-lock  33  is caught under the lock tabs  35 . The lock tabs  35  are affixed to the top  48  of the reservoir  12 . The flex tube  14  emanates from the side  46  of the reservoir  12  opposite the filler  21  and filler cap  24 . The flex tube  14  is fitted with a tube clip  54  for conveniently clipping to a user.  
      Referring to  FIG. 6 , the sleeve  25  of the T-handle  23  partially surrounds rod  28 , within the reservoir. The t-lock  33  is above and disengaged from the lock tabs  35 . Lock tabs  35  are affixed to the top  48  of the reservoir  12 . the sleeve  25  passes into the reservoir  12  via sleeve seal  27 . Sleeve seal  27  prevents air pressure leak from the inside of reservoir  12 . Plunger  27  is affixed to the bottom of the sleeve  25 . Plunger  27  is forced against the top inside  49  of the reservoir  12 . The springs  30  are extended. The on/off control  32  of flex tube  14  is off.  
      In use, the filler cap  24  is removed from the filler  21 . A male fitting of a water hose  56  is hooked to the female fitting (not shown) of the filler  21 . The on/off control  32  is turned off. The hose  56  is turned on. Water flow  58  flows into the bladder  20  of the invention  10 .  
      The pressure shelf  34  pushes against springs  30 , thereby compressing the springs  30  until the water  52  pressure equals the air pressure and the spring  30  pressure within the reservoir. Water  52  ceases to flow into the bladder  20 . The hose  56  is removed. The check valve (not shown) within the filler  21  prevents backflow of the water  52  from within the bladder  20 . The water  52  within the reservoir  12  is pressurized equivalent to the water  52  that was dispensed to the reservoir from a water  52  faucet. With the more complete example of the invention  10 , the T-handle  23  with sleeve  25  and plunger  26  is employed to further increase internal water  52  pressure within the bladder  20 . The T-handle  23  is used after the bladder  20  is filled with water  52 . The T-handle  23  is then twisted a partial turn and pushed within the reservoir  12  until the t-lock  33  stops against the top  48  of the reservoir  12 . The plunger  26  is thereby pushed against the spring  30 . The spring  30  is compressed. The T-handle  23  is twisted back such that the t-lock engages the lock tabs  35 . The T-handle  23  thereby locks into position and holds the tension against the spring  30 . This tension increases the pressure applied to the pressure shelf  24 , thereby increasing outflow pressure of water  52  through the flex tube  14 .  
      In one example of use, the hat  18  is placed atop a user&#39;s head. The on/off control  32  is turned on. The flow of the water  52  through the control  32  is adjustably metered by the control  32  position. The water  52  flows to and through the misting nozzle  16 . Water mist  50  is thereby dispersed above a user&#39;s head.  
      In an additional example of the invention  10 , the stream nozzle (not shown) is used. The stream nozzle is fitted with a trigger switch (not shown) for triggering the stream spray of water  52  from the nozzle. In either example of the invention  10 , the tube clip  54  is clipped to a user to more conveniently position and hold the flex tube  54 .  
      With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the personal water misting device with counter pressure delivery, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.  
      Directional terms such as “front”, “back”, “in”, “out”, “downward”, “upper”, “lower”, and the like may have been used in the description. These terms are applicable to the examples shown and described in conjunction with the drawings. These terms are merely used for the purpose of description in connection with the drawings and do not necessarily apply to the position in which the present invention may be used.  
      Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.