Patent ID: 7883174

Claim:
A cover for a fluid jet device having a surface defining at least one orifice formed therein through which a fluid is jetted, the cover comprising: a movable cover element, the cover element movable parallel to the surface between a covered position in which the cover element overlies the at least one orifice and an uncovered position in which the cover is moved to expose the at least one orifice, the cover including a mounting portion configured to maintain the cover spaced from the surface to define a vapor space region; and at least one hinge element operably mounting the cover to the fluid jet device, the hinge element including a first leg mounted at a free end to a stationary portion of the fluid jet device and a second leg mounted at a free end to the cover portion, the first and second legs connected to one another by a flexible region such that movement of the legs slides the cover between the covered and exposed positions, wherein the vapor space region maintains a level of fluid vapor concentration around the orifices to reduce the rate of evaporation of the fluid.