Patent Abstract:
A pistol-grip kitchen spray device with elongated nozzle and handle portions. Using one hand, separate front upper and lower triggers actuate within the handle a rinse liquid valve and a soap pump to selectively dispense from the nozzle rinse liquid from a retractable hose and/or a soap liquid from a reservoir within the handle. A swivel connection is provided between the supply hose and the handle. A hose-retracting base with manual temperature control may supply rinse liquid at a selectable temperature solely to the hose of the spray device. The base includes a momentary valve with spigot for filling a drinking glass. The nozzle supports various non-rotatable latched scouring brush and abrasive accessories or a pet brush. One elongated brush on the elongated nozzle enables cleaning the entire length of a tall container. Alternative spray device mounting may be at bathroom shower head.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Spray heads providing manually controlled spray from a nozzle at the end of a retractable hose mounted on a horizontal surface in the vicinity of a kitchen or marine galley sink have been popular for many years. However, most heads have no provision for selective dispensing of liquid soap or detergent with or in lieu of the water discharge. Moreover, it is desirable that in a spray head dispensing water and soap that the head be movable and operable using one hand so that the other hand can be used to hold a dish or other item to be sprayed. The configuration of a spray head should be readily graspable with one hand and have individual controls operable for water and soap without interfering with retention of the grasp of the hand. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides for selectably controlling the dispensing of water and/or soap from a spray head connected to a retractable supply hose and having a pistol like handle grip with a plurality of individual trigger controlled actuators at the front of the grip to be operated by the user&#39;s finger-pulling actions toward the thumb of the user&#39;s hand. Preferably dispensing of water is controlled by means of one control which includes a water control valve enabling a continuously variable water flow dependent on the degree of depression of a valve actuator at the front of the handle grip. Control of soap dispensing is preferably achieved by means of a soap pump providing an ejection of a quantity of soap dependent on the displacement during one or more strokes of a soap pump actuator at the front of the handle grip. Comfort in holding and manipulating the spray device during use is improved by means providing a swivel connection between the retractable hose and the device handle to make angular and rotational positioning of the device less dependent on stiffness or flexibility of the hose. 
     The invention also provides a unitary assembly including a mounting base for the spray device and its retractable hose which incorporates, in addition to the water flow control in the spray device, a dedicated base structure with separate manually controlled temperature selection and flow control which can remain in a preselected condition with the spray device providing total regulation of the volume of water being used. Orientation of the spray device on the base may be such as to enable the spray device to be used without withdrawing it from the base in a kitchen or camping environment without need for additional temperature controlled water outlets. However, this unitary structure may also include a momentary cold water valve with a tall slender crooked spigot for filling a drinking glass. 
     The compact unitary assembly of this invention is particularly useful in space restricted recreational environments of camping and mobile land and marine vehicles. In such environment not only is space often limited but also available water is often limited. Water use can be limited by relying on the normally closed condition of the water control valve of the spray device for regulating principal water use. 
     Among the features of the present invention is a comfortable convenient arrangement of support for and operating controls for manipulating with one hand a water and soap dispensing retractable spray device. 
     Additional features of the invention related to its simplicity and low cost of manufacture will be apparent from the ensuing description details. Most of the components of the invention can be conveniently molded or machined at low cost because of their design. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a low cost, easily installed and space saving spray device. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a low cost, easily installed and space saving spray device assembly with its own separated dedicated manually controlled temperature and flow regulation. 
     Another object is to achieve reduced effort required to manipulate a water spray device from both mere holding of the device as well as operating the controls thereof. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide for orientation or indexing of the rotated position of an accessory brush attachment to assure alignment of latching and non-rotating cooperating mechanisms on the nozzle and on the brush accessory to facilitate brush attachment and avoid damage to the mechanisms. 
     Another object of the invention is to prevent rotation of an accessory brush which is releasably latched to the spray nozzle. 
     Among the objects of the invention is to provide an elongated spray device nozzle portion in combination with a brush accessory enabling scouring of a deep or tall tumbler or quart size mason jar. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a bulbous-tipped accessory brush with omni-directional bristles at its distal end to facilitate cleaning the lower inner corners of a tumbler or jar. 
     A further object of the invention is to enable mounting of a spray device for dispensing water and/or soap from the distal end of a hose in a bathroom shower stall. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide at a bathroom shower head a diverting valve connection for a water/soap spray scrubbing device with a hose of sufficient length for human or pet bathing as well as for scouring the extremities of a shower stall or bathtub area. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a spray head with an accessory brush with soft flexible knobby bristle-like projections to bathe, massage and groom pets. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide the discharge end of a manually controlled spray head with a releasably latched accessory scrubbing or scouring device having a flexible abrasive surface which may be under control of a user be manually selectively saturated with soap and/or water by the spray head. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an uninstalled spray head assembly as seen from the left side above and behind the spray head. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an uninstalled spray head assembly as seen from the right side below and to the front of the spray head. 
     FIG. 3 is a left side view of the uninstalled spray head assembly with an accessory brush attached. 
     FIG. 4 is a section on line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 4A is an enlarged section of the circled brush attachment area of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing internal water valve and soap pump components in section along the center plane of the spray head and showing the spray hose extending vertically through counter mounting hardware as in an installed orientation. 
     FIG. 5A is an enlarged view of the circled area of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the water spray valve subassembly removed from the spray head assembly. 
     FIG. 7 is a section of the soap reservoir and soap pump assembly removed from the spray head assembly. 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the soap pump and reservoir subassembly of FIG.  7 . 
     FIGS. 9-13 show an alternative spray head assembly and mounting base arrangement for the spray head of FIGS. 1-4. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a temperature control and mounting base assembly for the spray head and hose with a supplemental elevated glass filling outlet. 
     FIG. 10 is a view showing a spray head seated in the mounting base assembly. 
     FIG. 11 is a section on line  11 — 11  of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is a section on line  12 — 12  of FIG. 11 showing details of the valve for the glass filling outlet. 
     FIG. 13 is a section on line  13 — 13  of FIG. 11 showing hot/cold water mixing valve details. 
     FIG. 14 schematically illustrates the hot and cold liquid supply flow paths for the apparatus of FIGS. 9-13. 
     FIG. 15 is a side view of an elongated accessory brush. 
     FIG. 16 is an outer end view of the brush of FIG.  15 . 
     FIG. 17 is a longitudinal section of the brush of FIGS. 15-16 on line  17 — 17  of FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 18 is a side view of a pet brush accessory. 
     FIG. 19 is an outer end view of the brush of FIG.  18 . 
     FIG. 20 is a longitudinal section of the brush of FIGS. 18-19 on line  20 — 20  of FIG.  19 . 
     FIG. 21 schematically illustrates the connection of the spray head invention in a shower bath with a selectably operable diverter valve connected ahead of a conventional shower head. 
     FIG. 22 is a view of the discharge end of the nozzle of the spray head of FIGS. 5-5A. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention incorporating a spray head assembly including a pistol grip spray head  10  swivelably attached to a retractable spray liquid supply hose  12  and a base unit  14  adapted with a clamping nut  15  and threaded mounting sleeve  17  for mounting in a hole in a horizontal kitchen counter or sink platform. The hose  12  extends through the sleeve to a suitable source of spray liquid such as water to be released from the spray head. The outer surface of the spray head is principally formed by two mirror image molded shells  18  and  19  joined or secured together by adhesive or other suitable means along a central plane of symmetry. 
     The spray head has a handle  20  connected to the hose by means of an axially-hollow ball-headed connector  22  screwed into the base  21  of the handle with its ball head swivelably sealed in a fitting on the end of the hose  12 . The handle base  21  has an hexagonal multi-sided shape to fit within a mating hexagonal opening on the base unit  14  to keep the head  10  erect in any of several selectable positions when the hose is fully retracted through the base unit  14 . The spray head has a dispensing head nozzle portion  23  extending forwardly from the handle  20  with central axes of the handle  20  and the dispensing head portion  23  intersecting in a common central plane of symmetry at an obtuse angle of about 120 degrees. The distal end  24  of the nozzle  23  is provided with ports for discharging spray liquid and soap. 
     The spray head handle  20  is readily grasped by either hand of the user with the thumb and fingers encircling the handle in opposite directions. At the front of the handle  20  are two finger-operable triggers  25  and  26 , the pivoted trigger  25  providing means for variably controlling a valve  28  to regulate discharge of spray liquid from the spray head  10 . The trigger  26  slidably reciprocates in the handle to provide means for variably actuating and controlling a pump  30  to discharge soap from a soap reservoir  32  to exit the spray head  10 . The triggers  25  and  26  may be selectively operated to dispense from the nozzle  23  a desired mix of spray liquid and soap or either trigger may be operated independently to select only a respective spray liquid or soap. The valve  28  has an operating valve chamber  29  with lateral side walls portions  33  and  34  as seen in FIG.  6 . The pump  30  has an operating pump chamber  3  with fore and aft coaxial chamber portions  35  and  36  as seen in FIG.  7 . 
     The two mirror-image shell portions  18  and  19  forming the body of the spray head  10  are symmetrical with respect to a center plane defined by the intersecting longitudinal axes of the handle  20  and the nozzle  23 . These shell portions  18  and  19  enclose within the handle  20  an elongated chamber  44  within which are mounted the spray liquid control valve  28  and the soap pump  30  and soap reservoir  32 . The inside walls of the shells  18  and  19  have appropriate supporting seats at spaced points along the outer cylindrical housing surfaces of the valve  28  and the reservoir  32  for firmly securing these housing surfaces. The soap reservoir is made of a transparent plastic enabling soap level to be visually checked. At the rear of the handle  20  the two shell portions  18  and  19  are separated at  27  along the rear transparent wall of the soap reservoir to provide visibility along the length of the reservoir of the quantity of soap in the reservoir  32  in chamber  44 . Elongated side openings  45  at opposite sides of the handle provide similar means for alternative additional places for checking soap level. 
     Both the valve  28  and the pump  30  have linearly reciprocating spring biased actuators and operating elements which are solids of revolution with parallel axes essentially intersecting and perpendicular to the longitudinal center or axis of the handle and in the common plane of symmetry defined by the intersecting axes of the handle  20  and the nozzle  23 . These respective actuators and operating elements  48  and  50  have ball-like ends which snap into cups  49  and  51  on the rear inside faces of the respective triggers  25  and  26 . 
     FIG. 6 shows an exploded or preassembled arrangement of the components of the spray liquid valve  28 . The cylindrical housing of this valve which forms the valve operating chamber  29  comprises two molded mirror-image shell members  33  and  34  which, when assembled, are joined or secured together at the common plane of symmetry by a suitable adhesive. The trigger  25  and the valve actuator  48  are biased by coil spring  53  to a closed valve position in which a conical valve member  54  engages a conical valve seat  55 . The valve is provided with appropriate annular sealing members around the valve member  54 . Connector members  56  and  58  are sealed in apertures in the top of the valve housing for connection to respective spray liquid inlet conduit  57  and outlet conduit  59 . 
     FIG. 8 shows an exploded or preassembled arrangement of the components of the soap pump  30  and soap reservoir  32  of FIG.  7 . Two complimentary molded front and rear shell components  60  and  62 , when assembled and adhesively secured at their complimentary edges on opposite sides of the central plane of symmetry of the spray device  10 , define the soap reservoir chamber  32  and a duck-billed soap filling passage structure  63  extending upwardly from the reservoir  32  within the handle  20 . Near the top rear of the handle  20  the rear shell member  62  has an annular fill opening forming a reservoir filling neck  64  which is closed by a molded snap plug  66  pivotally supported on the handle  20  of the spray head  10 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 5A,  7  and  8 , the front and rear shell components  60  and  62  have longitudinal peripheral or side edges bonded together at a plane containing the axis of handle  20  and orthogonal to the symmetry plane of the intersecting handle/nozzle axes, this bond being on opposite sides of the symmetry plane. The components  60  and  62  are symmetrical with respect to the symmetry plane of the spray device  10 . Within the reservoir  32  the shells  60  and  62  have further complementary integrally molded coaxial portions  35  and  36  forming fore and aft portions of the structure of the chamber  31  of soap pump  30  as well as other molded portions forming inlet and outlet coaxial passage means  68  and  69  to and from the pump chamber  31 . These further complementary portions are bonded or joined along their edges on opposite sides of the symmetry plane of device  10 . The axis of passages  68 - 69  is parallel to the handle axis and rearwardly offset with respect to this axis in the central plane of symmetry of the spray head  10 . A coaxial plastic sleeve  71  is bonded in the lower entrance end of inlet passage and projects into closely spaced relationship to the bottom end of the soap reservoir  32  remote from the dispensing head  23  to allow stored soap to be essentially completely pumped from the reservoir. Only one-way upward flow through the passages  68  and  69  is assured by flexible rubber one-way duckbill check valves  72  and  73  having annular entrance ends secured in an annular grooves in the walls of respective inlet passage  68  and outlet passage  69 . Another like duckbill valve may be similarly secured in a connector between the spray liquid valve  28  and its outlet conduit  59  to prevent reverse flow into the valve  28 . 
     In FIG. 5A, annular piston member  76  secured to the inner end of pump actuator  50  and having a sealing O-ring in a peripheral groove is slidable within the cylindrical wall of the pump chamber  31 . The piston member  76 , pump actuator  50  and pump trigger  26  are outwardly or forwardly biased by a coil compression spring  77  to the positions in FIG.  5 A. Repeated partial or complete depression of the trigger  26  controls the pumping of soap from passage  69  through an outlet fitting  78  which connects the pump to conduit  79  leading to a soap outlet means including a nozzle element  80  at the distal end of the nozzle portion  23  of the spray head  10 . 
     FIG. 5A shows the ball head of connector swivelably mounted for angular and rotational movement between a pair of O rings within an annular cap member  82  threaded on a connecting member sealed on the end of the spray liquid supply hose  12 . 
     As seen in FIGS. 3,  4  and  4 A, an annular cup-shaped brush accessory  85  is releasably latched to the distal end of the nozzle portion  23  of the spray head  10  to facilitate scrubbing, cleaning and rinsing of dishware. Different shapes and diameters of accessory brushes (not shown) may be similarly latched to the spray head  10  to suit a variety of shapes of dishware or other objects to be scrubbed and sprayed. The brush  85  has a cup-shaped member  86  surrounding the end of the nozzle portion  23  and carrying a plurality of bristle tufts  87  extending omnidirectionally from the outer surface of cup-shaped member  86 . 
     As seen in FIGS. 4 and 4A the distal end of the nozzle structure portion  23  includes inside the ends of the shell portions  18  and  19  an annular support member  90  spaced from the shell portions  18  and  19  to form therewith an unobstructed annular recess space  92  of sufficient length to receive and support with a sliding fit an annular attachment sleeve  93  extending axially from the inside bottom of the cup-shaped member  86 . The peripheral end of the sleeve  93  within the recess  92  has latching means such as outer projections or an annular latching ring  95  by means of which the brush accessory  85  is held securely and releasably latched to the pistol grip spray head  10 . Each of the shell portions  18  and  19  is molded with latching and unlatching means comprising an oval latch release lever element  97  centrally pivoted at each side of the lever (FIGS.  1  and  4 A). Each element  97  has a front pivoted latching end portion and a rear externally accessible manually depressible actuating end portion for unlatching. The lever elements are biased to the positions of FIG. 4A by inherent resiliency of the plastic material of shell portions  18  and  19  which support the elements  97  only at the side pivot points by means of small bridges resiliently connecting the oval elements  97  with main forward portions of the external nozzle shells  18  and  19 . The front latching end portions of elements  97  extend into the recess  92  and are cammed outwardly by the latching projections or ring  95  as the brush accessory  85  is attached. The latching portions automatically snap behind the projections or ring  95  to secure the brush accessory  85 . Release of the brush accessory is achieved by simultaneously manually squeezing together the actuating rear end portions of the latching levers  97  and pulling the brush accessory  85  off of the spray head  10 . 
     The inner end of the annular support member  90  has an outer shoulder  100  bonded to insides of the shell portions  18  and  19 . The outer end of member  90  carries a spray liquid and soap dispensing structure comprising a spray liquid plenum  102  feeding a ring of spray openings  103  at the end of the spray head fed from the spray liquid conduit  59 . Within the ring of spray openings  103  the dispensing structure includes the soap dispensing nozzle element  80  fed from the soap pump outlet conduit  79 . 
     The brush accessory of FIGS. 3-4A may have a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal slots in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the section of FIG. 4A cooperating with a pair of longitudinal ribs  104  at diametrically opposite sides on the support member  90 , as seen in FIG. 22, to make the latched brush  85  non-rotatable in the end of the nozzle portion  23 . Such longitudinal slots are shown at  179  in the accessory brush of FIGS. 15-17. 
     Referring to FIGS. 10-12, the spray head  10  is like that of FIG. 1, but it is mounted in a base structure  114  which includes an adjustable-temperature valve assembly  111  to be mounted below a countertop (not shown) by means of a clamping nut  115  on a threaded mounting sleeve  117  which extends through the countertop and accommodates the retractable flexible hose  12  to be connected to a hose connection outlet  120  on a valve body  121  of the valve assembly  111 . The valve body  121  is suspended beneath the upper exposed valve housing portion  124  of the valve assembly by means of a shouldered valve body extension  126  accommodated in a hole in the countertop and secured in the valve housing portion  124  with a nut  128  concealed in a recess in the housing portion  124  beneath a valve operating handle  130  secured by a concealed screw to an extension stem  132  of the main operating valve member  134  which axially slides and rotates in the valve body  121  to provide actuator means for selectably controlling water volume and temperature in a conventional manner by lifting and turning the handle  130 . The handle  130  and stem  132  are keyed by mating flat or splined surfaces to fix their relative positions during temperature selection. In the “off” position of the valve handle  130  its lower horizontally extending cylindrically curved surface mates with a similar but shorter complementary horizontally extending curved surface on the valve housing portion  124 . Opposite ends of the handle  130  extend beyond this complementary surface to provide a convenient means for lifting and turning the handle. In the valve body  121  is a hot water input plenum  140  and a cold water inlet plenum  142 . For each plenum there are two external openings for selective connection of a fitting  143  for the respective water line and a plug  144  for convenience of making plumbing connections. 
     As seen in FIGS. 9-12 a tall slender crook shaped swiveling spigot tube  150  for filling a drinking glass is sealed in the top of the base structure member  114  and is provided with a normally closed and momentarily open valve means  152  within the member  114  member. The valve  152  is spring biased with operating elements similar to those of valve  28 . The cold water plenum  142  of the mixing valve  111  is connected by suitable means to the depending stem  153  to supply the valve  152  and the spigot tube with the cold liquid from the mixing valve. A manually operable push button  154  on the top of the member  114  is spring biased upwardly to the closed valve position and may be manually depressed to momentarily open the valve means  152  for adding cold water to a drinking glass as long as the push button  154  is depressed. The enlarged dispensing head  155  on the spigot tube  150  is internally threaded to provide means for attachment of conventional aeration or filter devices. 
     If it is desired to mount the spray head  10  in spaced relationship relative the apparatus of FIG. 9, this can be done with separate hardware as shown in FIG.  3 . In this case a plug  156  is inserted into the spray head receiving opening in the base structure member  114 . The tube  150  is screwed into a female fitting (not shown) in the member  114 . Tube  150  can be removed and a sealing plug can be inserted into the female fitting. 
     FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of the flow paths from hot (H) and cold (C) water supply sources to hose  12  through mixing valve  111  under control of the valve actuator  130  and to the glass filling spigot  150  under control of the momentary valve  152  and its actuator  154 . 
     To prepare the spray head for spray use under control of trigger  25 , the valve handle  130  is lifted to a first flow rate selecting position and rotated to a temperature selecting position to select a desired mix of hot and cold spray liquid to be supplied to the spray head through the spray hose  12 . 
     FIGS. 15-17 illustrate en elongated spray brush accessory  170  which can be latched to the outer end of the spray head  10  to facilitate scrubbing or scouring of deep objects such as a tall glass tumbler or the interior of a well known quart size mason jar. Such objects are typically about 6½ inches deep. The brush  170  has an elongated cylindrical bristle supporting portion  171  with a plurality of elongated slots  172  along the brush length and end opening  173  allowing discharged liquid or soap from the spray head  10  to saturate all of the brush bristles. Between several annular rows of radially extending bristles  174  along the slots  172  and concentric rings of axially extending end bristles  175  are annular rings of longer bristles  176  and angularly oriented bristles  177  which form a bulbous mass of essentially omni-directionally oriented bristles to facilitate scrubbing inner corners and undercut shoulders of the deep objects. The cylindrical latching end of brush  170  has opposite latching projections  178  corresponding to the projections  95  of FIG. 4A and a longitudinally extending diametrically opposite pair of slots  179  orthogonally located relative to the latching projections  178 , as seen in FIG. 22, providing means for orienting the brush on outer longitudinally extending ribs or projections  104  on the annular supporting member  90  in the annular space  92  to keep the latched brush from rotating relative to the spray head  10  during scouring or scrubbing use. 
     If necessary because of the diameter of the discharge end of the nozzle portion  23 , the portion of the bristle supporting brush portion  171  extending beyond this discharge end may be of reduced diameter and of sufficient length to enable the bristles thereon to enter the small diameter open end of a common 8 oz. baby bottle and clean its entire length. Such a bottle has a round opening about 1-¼ inches in diameter and an internal length of about 6 inches. 
     FIGS. 18-20 illustrate a pet spray brush accessory  180  which can be latched to the outer end of the spray head  10  to facilitate bathing, massaging and grooming a pet. The brush has a plurality of short stubby finger-like resilient knobby projections  181  as are commonly found on pet bathing implements. Such projections facilitate removing pet hair from between the projections. The resilient projections  181  of brush  180  are supported by a short generally conical supporting surface portion  182  and an end supporting surface  183  extending around a water and/or soap discharge opening  183 . The cylindrical latching end of brush  180  has diametrically opposite latching projections  186  corresponding to the projections  95  of FIG. 4A and a longitudinally extending diametrically opposite pair of slots  185  orthogonally located relative to the latching projections  186  for orienting the brush on outer longitudinally extending ribs or projections  104  on the annular supporting member  90  to keep the latched brush accessory  180  from rotating relative to the spray head  10  during use. 
     FIG. 21 schematically shows selectable alternative flow paths of conventionally temperature controlled water from a wall outlet  200  to a diverting T-valve  201  which provides means for selecting water flow to either a conventional shower head (Sh)  203  or to a spray head (Sp)  10  via a flexible hose  12 . The valve  201  may a valve which can be manually operated to select the desired path, or it may be an automatic valve which is operated by means known and commercially available in the art which interrupts the flow path to the shower head  203  when the hose  12  is connected to the valve  201  and restores the flow path to the shower head when the hose  12  is disconnected from the valve  201 . The length of the hose  12  may be selected to reach any point in a shower or bath installation to enable use of the spray head  10  for cleaning bath or shower walls and facilities. For long lengths the hose may be a resiliently coiled hose for self retraction. 
     Although the illustrated embodiments refer to the accessory brushes as having bristles or finger-like projections, the invention contemplates that similarly shaped brush configurations can be used having suitable similar shapes with porous flexible abrasive tough surfaces made of material commonly used for kitchen scouring purposes but attached, adhered or otherwise secured to connecting means to be releasably latched in the end of the spray head in a manner described in detail in the specification. 
     Other variations within the scope of this invention will be apparent from the described embodiments and it is intended that the present descriptions be illustrative of the inventive features encompassed by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0