Patent Abstract:
A lawn and garden sprayer system having a container and a spray wand fluidly connected to the container is provided. The spray wand includes a wand housing that has a slot formed in one side thereof that is configured to engage a lug formed on one side of the container for purposes of stowing the wand during shipping and when not in use. A communications card assembly is detachably connected between the container and spray wand during shipment and prior to its first use. The hose includes a coupler end that engaged a cap on the container and facilitates creation of a fluid circuit between the fluid contents in the container and the wand.

Full Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application relates and claims priority to Applicant&#39;s U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/876,379, filed Sep. 11, 2013, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to lawn and garden sprayers. 
         [0004]    2. Background of Art 
         [0005]    Lawn or garden sprayers use pressure to apply liquid fertilizers, pesticides, or other chemicals. A recent development is to utilize a battery-powered electric motor in the sprayer wand to provide the spraying pressure, rather than hand pumping. 
         [0006]    For present-day sprayers packaged at point of sale, the wand and its hose are stored separately from the sealed container and held in a separate “holster” carry device that is attached to the container, with the wand pointing up. Once the wand and hose are unpackaged and assembled for use, the holster may then be used for continued carry and storage of the wand. The holster uses tabs and knobs to reattach the wand, which is cumbersome for the user, and as a result does not hold the wand and hose as securely as originally packaged. 
         [0007]    The hose is typically connected to the container by sliding the hose end plug onto the horizontally positioned spout on the container cap. In this position the spout mechanism is designed such that the container is sealed. To use the sprayer, the spout must be rotated from the horizontal to the vertical position. With the spout in the up position, the fluid circuit to the wand is opened. Simultaneously, a small open port in the cap under the spout is exposed which permits air to enter the container; without this air port the fluid would not flow. For storage, the spout can be repositioned horizontally, in order for the spout mechanism to seal the container. 
         [0008]    For contemporary battery-powered wand sprayers, the batteries, electric motor, pump mechanism, and related electrical and fluid circuits are housed in the wand handle. A user-operated trigger functions to actuate the motor and to simultaneously allow fluid to flow to the pump. Fluid flow to the pump is controlled by a valve body that is separate from the motor housing. Having the valve body separate from the motor housing adds complexity to the design. 
         [0009]    3. Objects and Advantages 
         [0010]    It is a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a sprayer that enables improved ease of operation and increased functional efficiency. 
         [0011]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part appear hereinafter and in part be obvious. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, an embodiment of the present invention provides a lawn and garden sprayer system having a container and a spray wand fluidly connected to the container is provided. The spray wand includes a wand housing that has a slot formed in one side thereof that is configured to engage a lug formed on one side of the container for purposes of stowing the wand during shipping and when not in use. A communications card assembly is detachably connected between the container and spray wand during shipment and prior to its first use. The hose includes a coupler end that engaged a cap on the container and facilitates creation of a fluid circuit between the fluid contents in the container and the wand. In another embodiment of the invention a motor is housed in a wand handle and includes a fluid valve body integrated therein which is actuable between open and closed positions via a manually operable trigger mounted to the wand housing. 
         [0013]    In one aspect, the present invention provides a sprayer assembly, comprising a container; a spray wand; a hose fluidly interconnecting the spray wand to said container; and a fluid circuit that comprises: a coupler attached to the hose and adapted for attachment to the container; a stem extending downwardly from the coupler along a longitudinal axis; air and fluid passageways extending from within the container through the coupler; a plunger extending along the longitudinal axis and movable between sealed and unsealed relation to the air and fluid passageways; and a spring extending along the longitudinal axis and positioned between the stem and the plunger, whereby the spring is compressed when the coupler is attached to the container and biases the plunger out of sealing relationship with the air and fluid passageways. 
         [0014]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a sprayer assembly, comprises: a container; a spray wand; a hose fluidly interconnecting the spray wand to the container; and a fluid circuit that comprises: a coupler attached to the hose and adapted for attachment to the container; a stem extending downwardly from the coupler along a longitudinal axis; an air passageway extending from within said container through the coupler; a fluid passageway extending from within the container through the coupler a plunger extending along the longitudinal axis and movable between sealed and unsealed relation to the one of air and fluid passageways; a dip tube holder extending along the longitudinal axis; a valve mounted within the container and movable between sealed and unsealed relation to the one of the air and fluid passageways to which the plunger is not relatively movable; and a spring extending along the longitudinal axis and positioned between the dip tube holder and the plunger, whereby the spring is compressed when the coupler is attached to the container and biases the plunger out of sealing relationship with the one of the air and fluid passageways and biases the dip tube holder which in turn moves the valve out of sealing relationship with the one of the air and fluid passageways. 
         [0015]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a sprayer assembly, comprising: a container; a spray wand comprising a handle portion and a wand portion, the handle portion comprising a slot formed therein; a hose fluidly interconnecting the spray wand to the container; a lug formed on the container and to which the slot can engage and mount the spray wand to the container; and a communication card assembly comprising a card retaining surface and an assembly portion that engages the lug, the communication card assembly being positioned between the container and the spray wand. 
         [0016]    In another aspect, the present invention provides a sprayer assembly, comprising a container for storing fluid therein; a spray wand comprising a handle portion and a wand portion; a motor contained within the handle portion; and a fluid circuit assembly, comprising a manually actuable trigger mounted to the spray wand; a fluid inlet that is in fluid communication with fluid contained within the container; a fluid outlet positioned in fluid communication with the wand portion; and a valve that is movable upon user actuation of the trigger from a first position that prevents fluid from flowing from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet and a second position wherein fluid can flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sprayer assembly with the spray wand detached from the container in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a sprayer assembly with the spray wand attached to the container in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the sprayer assembly in its shipped/unused condition; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of a refill container in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a communications card assembly in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 6A-6C  are partial, sequential perceptive views illustrating connection of a hose to a container in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 7A-7C  are perspective, exploded, and cross-sectional views, respectively, of the hose coupler and container cap in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are cross-sectional views of a first configuration of the hose coupler and container cap in detached and attached relation to one another, respectively; 
           [0026]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are cross-sectional views of a second configuration of the hose coupler and container cap in detached and attached relation to one another, respectively; 
           [0027]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  are cross-sectional views of a third configuration of the hose coupler and container cap in detached and attached relation to one another, respectively; 
           [0028]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  are cross-sectional views of a fourth configuration of the hose coupler and container cap in detached and attached relation to one another, respectively; and 
           [0029]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  are cut-away and exploded perspective views, respectively, of a motor housing, motor and valve body in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2  a sprayer system designated generally by reference numeral  10  essentially comprising container  12  and spray wand  14  fluidly connected to container  12  by flexible hose  16 . More specifically, flexible hose  16  extends between wand  14  and a cap  18  positioned on top of container  12 . 
         [0031]    Spray wand  14  comprises a handle/wand housing  20  and wand portion  22  that is telescopically attached to handle  20  for sliding movement between stored (non-operational) and extended (operational) positions. A lug  24  is formed on the rear wall of container  12  and provides a mounting point for spray wand  20 . Handle  20  includes a slot  26  formed therein that is sized and shaped to securely slidingly engage lug  24  from the top, thereby permitting spray wand  14  to be stored on container  12  with wand portion  22  facing downward during shipment/display and when not in use and stored away. Having the wand portion  22  pointing down prevents liquid from falling back into the wand when it is being stored. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , another feature associated with container  12  is a communication card assembly  28  that attaches to lug  24  and is positioned between container  12  and spray wand  14  when the sprayer system is shipped and displayed for sale. Communication card assembly  28  comprises a card retaining portion  30  to which a card  31  may be adhered or otherwise attached and an assembly attachment portion  32  and functions to communicate product information to the consumer; contain the wand  14  and coiled hose  16 ; and provides security to the packaging. Card assembly  28  may be released from container  12  by tearing along perforation lines  34  and then discarded or recycled by the customer during the connection of the hose  16  to the container  12 .  FIG. 4  simply represents a refill container  12  that can be supplied/sold without the wand assembly  14  which is facilitated due to the use of lug  24  and slot  26  that permits reuse of the wand assembly  14 . 
         [0033]    To retain wand  14  and coiled hose  16 , card assembly  28  includes locking mechanism  36  that engages slot  26  and prevents detachment of the wand until the card assembly is detached from container  12  via performation lines  34 . 
         [0034]    With reference to  FIGS. 6A-6C  and  7 A- 7 C, container  12  includes a cap  18  that is shipped with a safety seal  40  adhered there over. Upon removal of safety cap  40  and detachment of wand  14  and hose  16  from the container  12 , the coupler end  42  of hose  16  may be snappingly engaged with an exposed opening  44  on cap  38 . Coupler  42  includes a pair of opposed, biased latches  46 ,  48  extending downwardly therefrom that snappingly and securely engage a flanged rim  50  formed on the underside of cap  18  to secure hose  16  to container  14 , and create a fluid circuit between the fluid contents within container  12  and wand  14 , as will be described hereinafter. Once connected, coupler  42  is capable of swiveling 360 degrees relative to cap  18 . 
         [0035]    With reference to  FIGS. 8-11 , there are four versions or configurations in which the hose  16  establishes a fluid circuit with the fluid contents of container  12 . In the first version shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , coupler  42  includes a separate stem  52  that extends downwardly from the coupler  42  and through cap  18 . In this version both the necessary air and fluid sealing is controlled by a spring loaded plunger  54  that is positioned along the longitudinal axis X-X that extends centrally through the cap  40  and is separated from stem  52  by a spring  56  that is co-axially sandwiched between a dip tube holder  57  (that holds/retains dip tube  59 ) and plunger  54 . In  FIG. 8A  which shows the coupler  42  disconnected from the cap  18 , spring  56  biases plunger  54  upwardly which annularly seals the fluid circuit at point  58  and annularly seals the air passage at point  60 . In  FIG. 8B  which shows coupler  42  connected to cap  18 , stem  52  engages and compresses spring  56 , thereby opening a fluid passageway as reflected by arrow  62  as well as an air passageway as reflected by arrow  64 . The simultaneous opening of passageways  62  and  64  permits the flow of fluid out of container  38  (when the trigger on the wand is manually activated and compressed air is present within container  38  as understood in the art). 
         [0036]    With reference to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , a second version or configuration in which hose  16  establishes a fluid circuit with the fluid contents of container  18  is shown. In  FIG. 9A , an umbrella valve  66  is positioned in sealed relation to an air passageway located at the bottom of cap  18 . As shown in  FIG. 9B , when the stem  52  engages and compresses spring  56  it displaces the plunger  54  which in turn causes the fluid passageway  62  (same as first configuration) to open and also causes umbrella valve  66  to pop and open air passageway  68 . The simultaneous opening of passageways  62  and  68  permits the flow of fluid out of container  18  (when the trigger on the wand is manually activated and compressed air is present within container  38  as understood in the art). 
         [0037]    With reference to  FIGS. 10A and 10B , a third version or configuration in which hose  16  establishes a fluid circuit with the fluid contents of container  12  is shown. In this configuration, everything is identical to the first version except that stem  52  is integral with coupler  42  instead of separate as it is with the first version. Otherwise, this third version and the first version are identical. 
         [0038]    With reference to  FIGS. 11A and 11B , a fourth version or configuration in which hose  16  establishes a fluid circuit with the fluid contents of container  38  is shown. In this configuration everything is identical to the second version except that stem  52  is integral with coupler  42  instead of separate as is with the second version. Otherwise, this fourth version and the second version are identical. 
         [0039]    With reference to  FIGS. 12A and 12B , an aspect of the present invention is shown that includes integration of a valve body into a pump/motor housing. In this aspect of the invention, a wand handle  100  includes a hollow interior volume in which a motor  102  is stowed. Integrated with motor  102  is a valve body  104  that is operational between open and closed positions by means of a trigger  106  mounted on the underside of the handle  100 . The wand  108  is pivotally mounted to handle  100  and in fluid communication with a fluid outlet  110  that extends from valve body  104 . A fluid inlet  112  is placed in fluid communication with the fluid contents of container  38  (not shown in these figures) by means of a dip tube, such as dip tube  59  shown in other Figures. Upon manual movement of trigger  106 , the fluid passageway between inlet  112  and outlet  110  is opened and upon release of the trigger the passageway is closed, thereby fluidly sealing container  38 . The use of a motor to drive a pump and provide the pumping necessary to compress and expel fluid from a container is otherwise well understood in the art.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0