Patent ID: 7160391

Claim:
An electrostatic nozzle apparatus, comprising: a nozzle spray head having: a nozzle body, a fluid inlet at a first surface of the nozzle body, a plurality of fluid outlets at a second surface of the nozzle body, said plurality of fluid outlets comprising a plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports, an internal fluid channel between said fluid inlet and fluid outlets, and an electrode that is electrically charged to a predetermined first voltage magnitude, wherein said electrode is positioned proximal to said fluid channel and imparts an electrical charge to at least a portion of a fluid moving through said fluid channel; and a target member that is spaced-apart from said plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports, said target member exhibiting a proximal surface that faces said plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports; wherein: said plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports extend at predetermined lengths from said second surface of the nozzle body to a plurality of outlet orifices, such that a plurality of predetermined distances are created between said plurality of outlet orifices and said proximal surface of the target member, and said predetermined distances between said proximal surface and the plurality of outlet orifices are not substantially constant, for one of the plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports as compared to at least another one of the plurality of individual nozzle outlet ports, and wherein the predetermined lengths between said second surface and the plurality of outlet orifices exhibit at least one slope, taken along a radial line that extends outward from a central point of said second surface.