Patent Abstract:
Provided is an adapter configured for use with an aerosol can spray nozzle and an extension tube. The adapter is configured to fit onto an extension tube and to receive a second extension tube to provide a more rigid and fluidly secure connection between the extension tubes. The adapter includes a portion for a first extension tube and a second extension tube portion. Each extension tube portion includes an inner channel extending therethrough, and is sized and configured to allow the extension tube to be insertable therein to create friction-tight engagement between the extension tube and the adapter.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a Continuation-in-Part of and claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 USC §120 of patent application Ser. No. 14/490,510, filed Sep. 18, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
     (Not Applicable) 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to an adapter for extension tubes for use with an aerosol can, and more specifically, to an adapter configured to connect two extension tubes to allow engagement between the two extension tubes. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Aerosol cans are well-known in the art and are extensively used to deliver a wide variety of products, including lubricants, paints, personal care products, food products, insulation and caulks, herbicides and insecticides, as well as compressed air for cleaning. In recent years, annual production of aerosol cans in the United States alone has surpassed 10 billion cans. 
     Aerosol cans generally include a can body defining an internal reservoir or chamber which stores a pressurized gas/liquid mixture to be dispensed through a spray nozzle connected to the can&#39;s dispensing mechanism, i.e., valve stem, orifice, etc. Aerosol cans are typically operated by depressing the spray nozzle to actuate dispensing of the contents stored within the internal reservoir. The spray nozzle may be specifically designed to control the spray pattern and droplet size of the fluid emitted from the aerosol can. 
     Some aerosolized products require precise control onto remote, hard to reach areas. Current methods of dispensing such products may employ a spray nozzle having an orifice sized to allow for insertion of an extension tube so that the point of disbursement is on the order of a few inches to several inches away from the spray nozzle (depending on the size of the extension tube). 
     Typically, the extension tubes are seated within a recess formed about the fluid dispensing orifice in the spray nozzle to connect the extension tubes to the spray nozzle and to facilitate fluid communication there between. Thus, as the spray nozzle emits the product, the product travels through the extension tube and is emitted out an end portion thereof. 
     A common deficiency associated with aerosol cans and extension tubes relates to the ability of an aerosol can with extension tube attached to reach areas that are not within reach of a single extension tube, or areas that do not allow the aerosol can to be maneuvered freely. Current solutions for reaching difficult to reach areas with aerosolized sprays require jury-rigging straws together with adhesive tape, glue or other means of attaching straws together. The user may attempt to connect two or more straws together, resulting in an inefficient delivery of aerosolized spray; adhesive tape is prone to failure because the pressurized substances travelling through the extension tubes can dislodge the tape, allowing the aerosol to escape before reaching its intended destination. 
     Accordingly there is a need in the art for a device which can improve the connection between extension tubes to mitigate unwanted disconnection between said extension tubes. 
     The present invention addresses this particular need, as will be discussed in more detail below. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a removable adapter configured for use with two extension tubes. The adapter is configured to fit onto the distal end of an extension tube and to receive the proximal end of an extension tube to provide a more rigid and fluidly secure connection between the extension tubes. 
     According to one embodiment, the adapter includes an adapter body having a first surface, a second surface, and a side surface extending between the first and second surfaces. The first and second surfaces each have one opening that is configured with tolerances as to allow the adapter to squeeze/grip an extension tube. An inner channel extends from the first surface to the second surface; the center of the channel contains a constriction section that narrows the inner channel to a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of that of the extension tube, stopping the tube from crossing the center of the adapter, and creating a continuous and substantially uniform flow channel. 
     The inner channel of the adapter body may be configured to allow the extension tube to be inserted therein by a first force and to allow the extension tube to be removed by a second force equal to or greater than the first force. Along these lines, the adapter body may include a plurality of projections extending into the inner channel to facilitate the friction-tight engagement between the adapter body and the extension tube. The adapter body may additionally include a plurality of annular protrusions extending into the inner channel to facilitate the friction-tight engagement between the adapter body and the extension tube. The adapter body may further include a helical protrusion extending into the inner channel to facilitate friction-tight engagement between the adapter body and the extension tube. 
     The adapter body may be formed from a resilient material, such as rubber, plastic or the like to allow the inner channel to expand to increase the size of the opening. The material used should ideally have a hardness rating of 75 on the Shore A hardness scale. This level of hardness would allow for an expandable friction fit that is hard enough to prevent backwash of the aerosol; backflow could potentially blow the adapter off of a straw. The opening may then decrease in size, i.e., contract, around the extension tube to tightly engage the tube. It is contemplated that a suitable material may include ENFLEX®. However, the instant invention may include alternative materials suitable to achieve the functionality and purposes herein. 
     The present invention is best understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an adapter for securely and fluidly connecting two extension tubes; 
         FIG. 2  is a view of one end of an adapter for securely and fluidly connecting two extension tubes; 
         FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view of the adapter; 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the adapter including uni-directional teeth formed within an inner channel; 
         FIG. 3C  is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of the adapter including a plurality of annular protrusions formed within an inner channel; 
         FIG. 3D  is a cross sectional view of a further embodiment of the adapter including a helical projection formed within an inner channel; 
         FIG. 3E  is a cross sectional view of still another embodiment of the adapter including a gripping insert disposed within the inner channel; and, 
         FIGS. 4A-4J  are top views of various embodiments of extension tubes configured for use with the adapter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The detailed description that follows is intended to describe the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and sequences of steps for constructing and operating the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by a variety of different embodiments and that they are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an adapter  10  for securely connecting an extension tube  14   a  to a second extension tube  14   b . The adapter  10  is configured to be easily connected to the first extension tube  14   a , and to allow the extension tube  14   a  to fluidly connect the second extension tube  14   b . The adapter  10  is configured to frictionally engage the first extension tube  14   a  and second extension tube  14   b  to maintain the engagement and fluid connection between the first extension tube  14   a  and the second extension tube  14   b  during usage. In this regard, the adapter  10  prevents leakage between the first extension tube  14   a  and second extension tube  14   b . The adapter  10  is also configured to allow for disassembly of the first extension tube  14   a  from the second extension tube  14   b  during nonuse of the adapter  10 . 
     Referring now specifically to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the adapter  10  includes an adapter body  24  having a first surface  26  extending generally across the adapter body  24 , and two side surfaces  30 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the surfaces  26 ,  30  are not limited to planar surfaces, and that the surfaces  26 ,  30  may be angled, slanted, curved, arcuate, etc. without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Now, referring specifically to  FIGS. 2 and 3   a , an inner wall  40  extending from the side wall  30  to the inner recess  23  define an inner channel  42 . The inner channel  42  is sized and configured to allow the extension tube  14  to be insertable therein to engage with the spray nozzle  12 , as shown in  FIG. 3 a   . When an end portion of the extension tube  14   a  is inserted within the inner channel  42 , the end of the extension tube  14  may seat within the recess  23  formed within the adapter  10  to fluidly connect the extension tube  14   a  to the extension tube  14   b . Therefore, when the extension tube  14   a  is connected to the adapter  10  fluid may be communicated from the first extension tube  14   a  to the second extension tube  14   b.    
     The inner channel  42  is sized and configured to mitigate inadvertent removal of the extension tube  14  therefrom. According to one embodiment, the inner channel  42  frictionally engages the extension tube  14  to maintain the extension tube  14  in fluid connection with the spray nozzle  12 . In this regard, in order to remove the extension tube  14  from the spray nozzle  12  and adapter  10 , a force must be applied to the extension tube  14  to overcome the frictional engagement between the extension tube  14  and the adapter  10 . 
     The size of the inner channel  42  may expand during insertion of the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b  and subsequently contract around the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b  to tightly engage the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b . Thus, the diameter or other peripheral dimension of the inner channel  42  may be smaller than the corresponding dimension of the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b  (i.e., the outer diameter), such that insertion of the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b  causes the inner channel  42  to expand and impart a frictional force on the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b.    
       FIGS. 3B-3E  show several side sectional views of various embodiments of the adapter body wherein the inner channel is configured to maintain engagement between the adapter body and the extension tube. Referring now specifically to  FIG. 3B , there is shown an embodiment of the adapter  10   b  wherein the second inner wall  40   b  defines a plurality of unidirectional teeth  44  extending at an angle into the inner channel  42  toward the first inner wall  36 . The uni-directional teeth  44  make it easier to insert the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b  into the inner channel  42  and more difficult to remove the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b  from the inner channel  42 . Thus, a first force may be used to insert the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b  into the inner channel  42  and a second force may be required to remove the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b  from the inner channel  42 , wherein the second force is larger than the first force. 
     Referring now specifically to  FIG. 3C , there is shown another embodiment of the adapter  10   c  wherein the inner channel  42  is configured to maintain the first extension tube  14   a  in fluid engagement with the second extension tube  14   b . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3C , the second inner surface  40   c  forms a plurality of concentric annular rings  46  which extend into the inner channel  42 . The rings  46  are configured to allow the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b  to be inserted therein and to exert a frictional force on the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b  to make it difficult to remove the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b . In this regard, the rings  46  define an opening having an inner diameter that is sized to receive the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b  in friction tight engagement. 
     Referring now specifically to  FIG. 3D , there is shown a different embodiment of the adapter  10   c , wherein the second inner surface  40   d  forms a helical protrusion  48  extending into the inner channel  42 . The helical protrusion  48  provides a frictional force similar to the annular rings  46  or teeth  44  discussed above to “grip” the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b  when the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b  is inserted within the inner channel  42 . The helical protrusion  48  defines an opening which is sized to allow the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b  to be inserted therein and to allow the helical protrusion  48  to frictionally engage the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b.    
       FIG. 3E  shows still another embodiment of an adapter  10   e  having a gripping insert  41  positioned within the inner channel  42  to enhance the gripping capability of the adapter  10   e . The adapter  10   e  is designed to allow the gripping insert  41  to assume a nested configuration within the adapter  10   e . Along these lines, the inner channel  42  of the adapter  10   e  defines a first recess  43  disposed at one end of the inner channel  42  and a second recess  45  disposed at the opposite end of the inner channel  42 . The gripping insert  41  includes a first flange  47  which fits within the first recess  43  and a second flange  49  that fits within the second recess  45  and a tubular body  51  that extends between the first and second flanges  47 ,  49  and defines a gripping member channel  53 . The adapter  10   e  is preferably formed from a resilient material which is deformable to allow the gripping insert  41  to be placed therein, yet assumes the depicted configuration when the gripping insert  41  is completely inserted within the adapter  10   e . When the gripping insert  41  is placed within the adapter  10   e , the gripping member channel  53  is preferably coaxially aligned with the inner channel  42  of the adapter  10   e , such that when the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b  is inserted into the adapter  10   d , the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b  pass through the gripping member channel  53 . The gripping insert  51  additionally includes a plurality of gripping members  55  extending into the gripping member channel  53  to “grip” or engage with the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b  when the extension tubes  14   a ,  14   b  are inserted therein. In the exemplary embodiment, the gripping members  55  include teeth which extend into the gripping member channel  53 , although it is understood that the gripping member(s)  55  may define other shapes or configurations, such as a helical protrusion, annular protrusions, a reduced diameter, a grippable material, threads or other gripping elements known by those skilled in the art. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4A-4J , there is shown several different embodiments of extension tubes which may be used in connection with the adapter body. Each extension tube defines a first end portion and an opposing second end portion and a middle portion extending between the first and second end portions. The extension tube may define several different configurations to facilitate disbursement of the pressurized fluid to hard to reach areas, such as around corners and in tight spaces. For instance, the extension tube may have a generally 90° bend, as is shown in  FIG. 4A , or may be substantially linear. Furthermore, the extension tube may have two generally 90° bends, as is shown in  FIGS. 4C and 4E .  FIG. 4B  shows an extension tube having a bend which is each less than 90°. It is additionally contemplated that the length of the extension tube may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     It is contemplated that the extension tubes may be selectively inserted within the inner channel of the adapter body to connect the extension tube to another extension tube. Several different extension tubes may be sold as a kit, and may be selectively interchanged as needed. 
     It is contemplated that the extension tubes may be selectively inserted within the inner channel of the adapter body to connect the extension tube to the adapter body and the spray nozzle. Several different extension tubes may be sold as a kit, and may be selectively interchanged as needed. 
     Furthermore, it is also contemplated that the adapter and the extension tube(s) may be packaged as a kit for sale. The kit may include one or more configurations of the adapter (such as those shown in  FIGS. 3A-3E ) as well as one or more configurations of the extension tube (such as those shown in  FIGS. 4A-4J ). It is also contemplated that the kit may include one or more dampeners, as described above. 
     The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combinations described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5