Patent Description:
A spray gun is presented. The spray gun includes a fluid applicator configured to receive a pressurized liquid through an inlet and disperse the pressurize liquid through an outlet. The fluid applicator includes a body defining a fluid path. The fluid applicator includes a valve assembly with a first end portion opposite of a second end portion configured to be movable between a first position and a second position. The second end portion is configured to be in fluidic contact with the pressurized liquid at the first position. Both the first end portion and the second end portion are configured to be in fluidic contact with the pressurized liquid at the second position. The first end portion includes a portion of a blocking member configured to contact a seat within the body. The second end portion includes a distal portion of a guide. The fluid applicator also includes an actuating mechanism configured to couple to the valve assembly and selectively move the valve assembly within the body between the first position and the second position.

Document <CIT> relates to gun type fluid control devices employable particularly as garden hose nozzles. Such devices typically have the general form of a gun body, including a barrel section terminating in a nozzle orifice and a handle or grip section terminating in a hose connection. A valve chamber is disposed in the barrel section and a hose connecting chamber is disposed in the bottom of the grip section, the two chambers being maintained in fluid communication by means of a fluid tight communicating member which may be either the gun body itself or a hose member disposed therein.

Document <CIT> relates to fluid dispensers and, more particularly, to a pistol grip type hose nozzle having various modes of operation and a water saving feature.

Document <CIT> relates to an adjusting nozzle arrangement for high-pressure spray guns, comprising a nozzle head having a nozzle opening and an adjusting body movably arranged in the material inflow to the nozzle opening, characterized in that the inflow-side inner wall of the nozzle body in the region of the nozzle opening is in the form of a spherical cap, that the adjusting body is a rotatably mounted ball which is in contact under pressure with the spherical cap region of the nozzle body inner wall, the spherical cap region and the ball having the same radius of curvature, under pressure against the spherical cap region of the inner wall of the nozzle body, the spherical cap region and the ball having the same radius of curvature and the ball being provided in a partial region of its surface with a surface area and/or recess, and in that the ball is seated at one end of a rotary- or lever-joint-like drive linkage.

Document <CIT> relates to an improved airless spray gun for spraying fluids, such as paints and hydramastic materials, and more specifically relates to an improved airless spray gun that includes novel means for diffusing and dispersing fluid inadvertently or accidentally discharged from the spray gun while the spray tip thereof is removed, thereby significantly lessening the possibility that the fluid can penetrate a person's skin.

Document <CIT> relates to spray guns and more particularly to spray guns of the so-called airless type for spraying hot "paint" at high pressure.

In operation, spray guns require an application of pressure to actuate a trigger, which, in turn, drives a valve assembly towards an open, or second, position allowing for a dispersal of liquid. Alternatively, when a spray gun is not in use, a trigger is configured to maintain a non-actuated position effectively keeping a valve assembly in a closed, first, position to reduce a risk of accidental fluid discharge. However, during operation, this design causes user fatigue over a duration of a paint spraying operation as a user has to consistently apply pressure to the trigger to keep the valve assembly in the open position. Current attempts to offset the pressure exerting a force holding the valve open have included using a spring force to counter balance said pressure that will move the valve to a closed position when the trigger is released. However, a spray gun is desired that effectively reduces the pressure (holding the valve open) without necessitating a spring (to counter act the pressure force holding the valve open) proximate to the valve assembly. Some embodiments provided herein include a spray gun design that effectively reduces or eliminates the fluid pressure holding the valve assembly in the open position.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to spray guns, for example spray guns configured to dispense paint, coatings, textured material, plural components, etc. While the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to such applications, various aspects of the disclosure may be appreciated through a discussion of various examples, for example paint, in order to provide context.

<FIG> is a diagrammatic view of a spray gun in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As illustratively shown, spray gun <NUM> includes a fluid applicator <NUM>, a hose <NUM>, a front end portion <NUM>, a clip <NUM> and a handle <NUM>. Fluid applicator <NUM> is configured to receive a pressurized liquid through hose <NUM> and disperse the pressurized liquid through an outlet <NUM>. Hose <NUM> is attached to fluid applicator <NUM> using threaded member <NUM>. However, in other embodiments, hose <NUM> is coupled to fluid applicator <NUM> using other connection mechanisms. Front end portion <NUM> is configured to orient a dispersal of fluid in a particular direction as pressurized fluid is dispersed from outlet <NUM>. During operation, handle <NUM> is configured to be held by a user during a liquid spraying operation, and, in one embodiment, includes a top housing <NUM> and a bottom housing <NUM> configured to couple together. Further handle <NUM> is coupled to hose <NUM> using clip <NUM>.

Fluid applicator <NUM> includes a trigger <NUM> coupled to a body of fluid applicator <NUM> using a coupling mechanism <NUM> and a diffuser <NUM> configured to reduce a velocity and increase a static pressure of pressurized liquid as it is dispersed from outlet <NUM>. In operation, trigger <NUM> is configured to drive or otherwise actuate a valve assembly, within a body of fluid applicator <NUM>, between a first and second position. In one embodiment, when spray gun <NUM> is not in use, trigger <NUM> is biased towards a non-actuated position so that a valve assembly within a body of fluid applicator <NUM> remains in a first position preventing a dispersal of liquid from outlet <NUM>. Upon applying a pressure to trigger <NUM>, trigger <NUM> moves to an actuated position and simultaneously drives the valve assembly to a second position allowing for a dispersal of liquid from outlet <NUM>. In one example, while the valve assembly is in the first position, pressurized liquid remains within hose <NUM> and the body of fluid applicator <NUM> and is not dispersed as the valve assembly obstructs the pressurized fluid from outlet <NUM>. By subsequently moving the valve assembly to the second position, the valve assembly does not obstruct outlet <NUM> and the pressurized fluid within the body and hose <NUM> is able to be dispersed.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a spray gun in accordance with an embodiment not encompassed by the wording of the claims. As illustratively shown, spray gun <NUM> includes fluid applicator <NUM>, hose <NUM>, clip <NUM> and handle <NUM>. Handle <NUM>, in one embodiment, includes a top housing <NUM> and a bottom housing <NUM> and attaches to fluid applicator <NUM> at a coupling point <NUM>. Further, handle <NUM> may also connect to hose <NUM> using clip <NUM>. Handle <NUM> is configured to be held during a paint spraying operation. Fluid applicator <NUM> is configured to receive pressurized fluid from hose <NUM> along fluid path <NUM> and disperse pressurized fluid from outlet <NUM>.

Fluid applicator <NUM> includes a gasket <NUM>, a seat <NUM>, a valve assembly <NUM> and an actuating mechanism <NUM> within a diffuser <NUM>-body <NUM> coupling of fluid applicator <NUM>. Gasket <NUM>, seat <NUM> and valve assembly <NUM> are configured to prevent pressurized fluid from being dispersed from outlet <NUM> while valve assembly <NUM> is at a first position, as illustratively shown. In this embodiment, valve assembly <NUM> is in contact with a central aperture of seat <NUM>, while seat <NUM> and gasket <NUM> simultaneously contact diffuser <NUM> and body <NUM> of fluid applicator <NUM>. In operation, valve assembly <NUM> is configured to selectively move between the first position and a second position within body <NUM> of fluid applicator <NUM>. Alternatively, while the first position of valve assembly <NUM> blocks a dispersal of pressurized fluid from outlet <NUM>, the second position of valve assembly <NUM> allows for a dispersal of pressurized liquid as valve assembly <NUM> does not contact seat <NUM>.

Valve assembly <NUM> is coupled to an actuating mechanism <NUM> within body <NUM> of fluid applicator <NUM>. Actuating mechanism <NUM> is configured to selectively move valve assembly <NUM> between the first and second positions based on an operator applying pressure to a trigger <NUM>, effectively moving trigger <NUM> from a non-actuated position, as illustratively shown, to an actuated position. In this example, trigger <NUM> is coupled to actuating mechanism <NUM> using a coupling mechanism, e.g. coupling mechanism <NUM> of <FIG>.

In operation, upon applying a pressure to trigger <NUM>, a force is subsequently generated and transferred through a coupling mechanism, e.g. coupling mechanism <NUM> of <FIG>, to actuating mechanism <NUM>. Upon receiving the force, actuating mechanism <NUM> moves valve assembly <NUM> from a first position to a second position in order for a pressurized fluid to be dispersed out of outlet <NUM>. However, in order to maintain a dispersal of pressurized liquid, valve assembly <NUM> must remain in the second position. As a result, this requires a constant pressure from a user to maintain trigger <NUM> in an actuated position. However, over a course of a liquid application process, this may cause user fatigue in maintaining an applied pressure to trigger <NUM>. Specifically, as a pressurized fluid travels along flow path <NUM> and is dispersed out of outlet <NUM>, the pressurized fluid acts against a second end portion, or rear seal portion and, as such, requires an elevated amount of pressure from a user to counterbalance the spring force required to close the valve upon trigger release.

However, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a configuration of flow path <NUM> allows for an alleviation of pressure required in maintaining valve assembly <NUM> in a second position, and thus, trigger <NUM> in an actuated position. For example, by receiving a pressurized liquid through hose <NUM> located at a distal portion of fluid applicator <NUM>, the pressurized liquid is configured to travel through a rear portion of body <NUM> and a notch <NUM>, and, subsequently, a second end portion of valve assembly <NUM> as will be discussed in <FIG>. By having a pressurized fluid come into contact with a second end portion of valve assembly <NUM>, the pressurized fluid can counter a pressure placed on a first end portion, or obstruction portion, as the pressurized fluid is dispersed through outlet <NUM>. In one example, an equal pressure is then placed on all sides of valve assembly <NUM> within the pressure vessel, which eliminates a pressure force acting to maintain valve assembly <NUM> in the second position. By effectively reducing or eliminating the pressure holding the valve assembly in the second, open, position, there is no need for a strong spring in accordance with the present invention, which, in turn, eliminates user fatigue in carrying out a liquid spraying application.

<FIG> is an exploded view of a fluid applicator in accordance with an embodiment not encompassed by the wording of the claims. Fluid applicator <NUM> is similar to fluid applicator <NUM> and, as such, includes components numbered similarly. As illustratively shown, fluid applicator <NUM> includes diffuser <NUM>, gasket <NUM>, seat <NUM> and valve assembly <NUM>.

Gasket <NUM> and seat <NUM> are configured to be housed within a diffuser <NUM>-body <NUM> coupling, and, along with valve assembly <NUM> at a first position, obstruct pressurized fluid from being dispersed from an outlet. As illustratively shown, valve assembly <NUM> includes a blocking member <NUM>, a guide <NUM> and a biasing member <NUM>. Blocking member <NUM> is configured to couple to guide <NUM> and, while in a first position, sit against a central aperture of seat <NUM> serving as an obstruction for pressurized liquid. While in a second position, blocking member <NUM> and guide <NUM> are configured to move laterally so that blocking member <NUM> moves away from the central aperture of seat <NUM>, allowing pressurized liquid to be dispersed through an outlet of fluid applicator <NUM>. Biasing member <NUM> is coupled to guide <NUM> and is configured to be compressed between guide <NUM> and body <NUM> while blocking member <NUM> and guide <NUM> remain in the second position. In this embodiment, a biasing force is generated and acts on valve assembly <NUM> in the direction generally towards an outlet of fluid applicator <NUM>. In one embodiment, biasing member <NUM> is configured to remove any friction within the system.

Guide <NUM> includes grooves <NUM> configured to receive a flow of pressurized liquid as the pressurized liquid is dispersed from fluid applicator <NUM>. While two elongated grooves are illustratively shown, guide <NUM> can include any number of grooves <NUM>. Further, guide <NUM> includes a radial groove <NUM> configured to couple to actuating mechanism <NUM>. However, in other embodiments, guide <NUM> is able to couple to actuating mechanism <NUM> in a variety of ways.

As illustratively shown, fluid applicator <NUM> also includes actuating mechanism <NUM> and sealing mechanisms <NUM>. Actuating mechanism <NUM> includes a protrusion configured to couple to radial groove <NUM> of valve assembly <NUM> and arms configured to couple to sealing mechanisms <NUM>. While it is illustratively shown actuating mechanism includes two arms, it is expressly contemplated that actuating mechanism <NUM> may only include a singular arm and a protrusion in other embodiments. In this configuration, actuating mechanism <NUM> would only protrude from one side of fluid applicator <NUM>. Sealing mechanisms <NUM> include seals <NUM>, bushings <NUM> and retainers <NUM> and are configured to prevent a leakage of pressurized liquid from body <NUM> of fluid applicator <NUM>. Actuating mechanism <NUM> is a cam configured to receive a rotational force provided from trigger <NUM> and transform the rotational force into liner motion to selectively drive valve assembly <NUM> from a first position to a second position. Further, actuating mechanism <NUM> is configured to be housed within a bore of body <NUM>. In one embodiment, sealing mechanisms <NUM> are configured to couple to opposing sides of actuating mechanism <NUM> and are configured to provide a robust seal between body <NUM> and coupling mechanism <NUM>. However, while it is illustratively shown that sealing mechanisms <NUM> include seals <NUM>, bushings <NUM> and retainers <NUM>, it is expressly contemplated that other sealing components can be used to ensure that pressurized liquid does not leak out of body <NUM> during operation.

Fluid applicator <NUM> includes a coupling mechanism <NUM> that includes an arm <NUM>, a bottom <NUM> and fastening members <NUM>. Coupling mechanism <NUM> is configured to couple trigger <NUM> to actuating mechanism <NUM>. In operation, trigger <NUM> is coupled to arm <NUM> of coupling mechanism <NUM> using fastening members <NUM>. Additionally, an arm of actuating mechanism <NUM> is configured to couple to an arm <NUM>-bottom <NUM> coupling of coupling mechanism <NUM> using fastening members <NUM>. Additionally, as illustratively shown, fluid applicator <NUM> includes biasing members <NUM> configured to bias trigger <NUM> in a non-actuated position. Biasing members <NUM> couple to coupling mechanism <NUM> and body <NUM>.

While it is illustratively shown that coupling mechanism <NUM> includes arm <NUM> and bottom <NUM> as separate pieces, it is expressly contemplated that arm <NUM> and bottom <NUM> can also be a singular piece in some embodiments. Additionally, while it is illustratively shown that actuating mechanism <NUM> is separate from, and configured to couple to valve assembly <NUM>, in other embodiments, actuating mechanism <NUM> and valve assembly <NUM> may be a singular piece configured move between a first position and a second position within body <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a fluid applicator in accordance with an embodiment not encompassed by the wording of the claims. Fluid applicator <NUM> is similar to fluid applicator <NUM>, and, as such, includes components numbered similarly. Fluid applicator <NUM> includes a seat <NUM> and a gasket <NUM> within a diffuser <NUM>-body <NUM> coupling configured to serve as an obstruction for pressurized liquid while valve assembly <NUM> remains in a first position as illustratively shown. However, while valve assembly <NUM> is in the first position, a second end portion <NUM> of valve assembly <NUM> is configured to come into fluidic contact with the pressurized fluid as the pressurized fluid travels along a flow path <NUM>. Further, the pressurized fluid may contact grooves of valve assembly <NUM>. Additionally, the pressurized fluid may also come into contact with a notch <NUM> within body <NUM>. Notch <NUM> may include a groove or any other cavity configured to receive the pressurized fluid.

Once valve assembly <NUM> is moved to a second position through the movement of trigger <NUM> to an actuated position, a first end portion <NUM> of valve assembly is configured to come into fluidic contact with the pressurized fluid as the pressurized fluid is dispersed from fluid applicator <NUM>. In one embodiment, an equal pressure is then placed on all sides of valve assembly <NUM> within a pressure vessel, eliminating a pressure force acting to maintain valve assembly <NUM> at the second position within the pressure vessel. This eliminates a need for a strong spring which, in turn, removes or eliminates the pressure required in maintaining a trigger at an actuated position.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a fluid applicator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Fluid applicator <NUM> is similar to fluid applicator <NUM>, and, as such, includes components numbered similarly. As illustratively shown, fluid applicator <NUM> includes valve assembly <NUM>, trigger <NUM>, sealing mechanisms <NUM> and an actuating mechanism <NUM>. In the invention, actuating mechanism <NUM> includes a radially extending portion <NUM> and a longitudinal portion <NUM> configured to move valve assembly between the first and second positions based on a pressure applied to trigger <NUM>. In the invention, longitudinal portion <NUM> is configured to couple to sealing mechanisms <NUM> within body <NUM> and radially extending portion <NUM> is configured to couple to valve assembly <NUM>. Additionally, while it is illustratively shown that longitudinal portion <NUM> extends out of body <NUM> on both sides of fluid applicator <NUM>, it is expressly contemplated that longitudinal portion <NUM> may only extend through one side of fluid applicator <NUM> in other embodiments.

Additionally, longitudinal portion <NUM>, as illustratively shown, includes a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>. In one example, first end <NUM> and second end <NUM> have identical surface areas and are opposite of one another allowing for a cancellation of pressures when valve assembly <NUM> is in an open position. In this example, a similar pressure is placed on first end <NUM> and second end <NUM> and cancel out in accordance with the present invention. However, while first end <NUM> and second end <NUM> have identical surface areas, it is also expressly contemplated that either first end <NUM> or second end <NUM> have differing surface areas so that a pressure force is generated.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a fluid applicator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Fluid applicator <NUM> is similar to fluid applicator <NUM>, and, as such, includes components numbered similarly. Fluid applicator <NUM> includes longitudinal portion <NUM> with first end <NUM>. However, as illustratively shown, second end <NUM> of longitudinal portion <NUM> is coupled to valve assembly <NUM>. In this example, body <NUM> of fluid applicator <NUM> is configured to allow second end <NUM> to couple to valve assembly <NUM>. This allows for second end <NUM> to cross a boundary of the pressure vessel.

<FIG> is a flow diagram illustrating an operation of dispersing liquid in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Method <NUM> begins at block <NUM> where a source of pressurized fluid is received. In one embodiment, pressurized fluid is received within a notch of a fluid applicator body, as indicated in block <NUM>. In one example, pressurized fluid is received by an end portion of a valve assembly as indicated in block <NUM>. However, other components of a spray gun can receive pressurized fluid as indicated in block <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A spray gun (<NUM>) comprising:
a fluid applicator (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>)
configured to receive a pressurized liquid through an inlet
and disperse the pressurized liquid through an outlet (<NUM>), comprising:
a body defining a fluid path (<NUM>);
a valve assembly (<NUM>) comprising a first end portion (<NUM>) opposite of a second end portion (<NUM>) configured to be movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the second end portion (<NUM>) is configured to be in fluidic contact with the pressurized liquid at the first position, and both the first end portion (<NUM>) and the second end portion (<NUM>) are configured to be in fluidic contact with the pressurized liquid at the second position, and wherein the first end portion (<NUM>) comprises a portion of a blocking member (<NUM>) configured to contact a seat (<NUM>) within the body and the second end portion (<NUM>) comprises a distal portion of a guide (<NUM>); and
an actuating mechanism (<NUM>) configured to couple to the valve assembly (<NUM>) and selectively move the valve assembly (<NUM>) within the body (<NUM>) between the first position and the second position,
a sealing mechanism (<NUM>) configured to prevent the pressurized liquid from leaking from the body (<NUM>) during operation of the spray gun (<NUM>),
wherein the actuating mechanism (<NUM>) comprises a radially extending portion (<NUM>) configured to contact the valve assembly (<NUM>) and a longitudinal portion (<NUM>) configured to contact the sealing mechanism (<NUM>),
wherein the body (<NUM>) comprises a notch (<NUM>) configured to receive the pressurized liquid upon receiving the pressurized liquid through the inlet,
characterized in that the guide (<NUM>) further comprises grooves (<NUM>) configured to receive the pressurized liquid while the valve assembly (<NUM>) is at the second position,
wherein the grooves (<NUM>) are elongated and the guide (<NUM>) includes a number of grooves (<NUM>).