Multi-use portable hand-held sprayer

Abstract

The present application is directed to a cordless Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer with a pump connected to an electric motor which is powered by a rechargeable battery that has been designed to produce a continuous spray from an internal liquid on-board liquid containing reservoir, or from external liquid sources through a suction tube when larger quantities of liquid are required, followed by a positive shut-off. It is made from non-corrosive materials that will not be affected by fluids containing salts or acids. More particularly, a battery powered multi-use portable Hand-Held sprayer device is provided which can be constructed in multiple sizes, mini, small, medium and large, for multiple uses, and configured to pick-up liquid from any liquid source, as well as configured to hold any liquid in an internal reservoir. The unit's nozzle is adjustable from a fine mist to a strong direct line spray.

Claims

1. A multi-use portable hand-held sprayer comprising: (a) a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion with side walls, including an interior portion having rail slots configured to accept rails running along said side walls, an open bottom portion with an open slot located in said bottom portion and a nozzle extension tube receiver opening including a nozzle tube connection ratchet in said upper portion, and further including a nozzle release switch; (b) a frame including frame rails integral to said frame configured to slide into said rail slots located on said interior portion of said housing, having a motor assembly mounted thereon, including a pump assembly mounted on said frame wherein said pump includes a fluid source tube attached thereto, a battery compartment housing a battery, fluid flow tubes extending from said pump to a fluid flow control valve and to said nozzle extension tube, and an on/off switch; and (c) an external removeable replaceable nozzle extension tube having an upper portion having a threaded nozzle accepting section and a lower portion having an extension tube insertion section which engages with said nozzle extension tube receiver opening located on said housing, further including an extension tube insertion slot, wherein an external removeable replaceable nozzle is attached to said extension tube upper portion; wherein said frame is inserted into the open bottom of housing and said external removeable replaceable extension tube lower portion insertion section is attached to said external removeable replaceable nozzle extension tube receiver opening, whereby when fluid is available from said fluid source tube, the on/off switch is turned on to activate the motor powered by the battery which actuates the pump causing fluid to flow through said fluid flow tubes and said fluid flow control valve, through said nozzle extension tube, out through said nozzle and further wherein said external removeable replaceable nozzle extension tube and said external removeable replaceable nozzle is configured to be readily removed and replaced.

2. The multi-use portable hand-held sprayer according to claim 1, wherein said fluid source tube includes a fluid pick-up tube having a hose connect portion extending outside said housing and said frame, capable of sourcing external fluids from outside the housing, and delivering liquid to said pump when said motor is powered to actuate said pump.

3. The multi-use portable hand-held sprayer according to claim 1, wherein said housing is configured to enclose an on-board internal reservoir to contain fluid therein.

4. The multi-use portable hand-held sprayer according to claim 3, wherein said reservoir further includes a fluid source tube attached thereto, and said reservoir is thereby in fluid communication with said pump.

5. The multi-use portable hand-held sprayer according to claim 1, wherein said motor assembly further includes a motor attached to said frame, a motor shaft gear connected to a bull gear wherein said bull gear is connected to a pump piston crank shaft on said pump assembly, whereby said motor drives said motor shaft gear which in turn rotates said bull gear actuating said pump piston crank shaft.

6. The multi-use portable hand-held sprayer according to claim 1, wherein said external removeable and replaceable nozzle is adjustable from a fine mist spray to a direct line strong spray.

7. The multi-use portable hand-held sprayer according to claim 1, wherein said frame is configured in multiple sizes, including mini, small, medium and large sizes for multiple uses.

8. The multi-use portable hand-held sprayer according to claim 1, wherein said housing, frame, fluid flow tube, fluid flow control valve, external removeable and replaceable nozzle extension tube and external removeable and replaceable nozzle are all constructed of non-corrosive materials.

9. The multi-use portable hand-held sprayer according to claim 1, wherein said motor assembly is powered by said battery, and further wherein said battery is rechargeable.

10. The multi-use portable hand-held sprayer according to claim 1, wherein said frame includes a battery charge port and said housing slot exposes said charge port wherein said battery is rechargeable by connection with said charge port.

11. A method for making a multi-use portable hand-held sprayer, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion with side walls, including an interior portion having rail slots configured to accept rails running along said side walls, an open bottom portion with an open slot located in said bottom portion and a nozzle extension tube receiver opening including a nozzle tube connection ratchet in said upper portion, and further including a nozzle release switch; (b) providing a frame including frame rails integral to said frame configured to slide into said rail slots located on said interior portion of said housing, having a motor assembly mounted thereon, including a pump assembly mounted on said frame wherein said pump includes a fluid source tube attached thereto, a battery compartment housing a battery, fluid flow tubes extending from said pump to a fluid flow control valve and to said nozzle extension tube, and an on/off switch; and (c) providing an external removeable replaceable nozzle extension tube having an upper portion having a threaded nozzle accepting section and a lower portion having an extension tube insertion section which engages with said nozzle extension tube receiver opening located on said housing, further including an extension tube insertion slot, wherein an external removeable replaceable nozzle is attached to said extension tube upper portion; (d) assembling said frame and said housing by inserting said frame into said housing by sliding said rails integral to said frame configured to slide into said rail slots located on said interior portion of said housing into said rail slots located on said interior portion of said housing and securing said frame to said housing; (e) inserting said external removeable replaceable nozzle extension tube into said nozzle extension tube receiver opening including a nozzle tube connection ratchet; and (f) threading an external removeable replaceable nozzle on to said external removeable replaceable nozzle extension tube having an upper portion having a threaded nozzle accepting section; wherein said frame is inserted into the open bottom of housing and said external removeable replaceable extension tube lower portion insertion section is attached to said external removeable replaceable nozzle extension tube receiver opening, whereby when fluid is available from said fluid source tube, the on/off switch is turned on to activate the motor powered by the battery which actuates the pump causing fluid to flow through said fluid flow tubes and said fluid flow control valve, through said nozzle extension tube, out through said nozzle and further wherein said external removeable replaceable nozzle extension tube and said external removeable replaceable nozzle is configured to be readily removed and replaced.

12. The method of making a multi-use portable hand-held sprayer according to claim 11, wherein said fluid source tube includes a fluid pick-up tube having a hose connect portion extending outside said housing and said frame, capable of sourcing external fluids from outside the housing, and delivering liquid to said pump when said motor is powered to actuate said pump.

13. The method of making a multi-use portable hand-held sprayer according to claim 11, wherein said housing is configured to enclose an on-board internal reservoir to contain fluid therein.

14. The method of making a multi-use portable hand-held sprayer according to claim 13, wherein said reservoir further includes a fluid source tube attached thereto, and said reservoir is thereby in fluid communication with said pump.

15. The method of making a multi-use portable hand-held sprayer according to claim 11, wherein said motor assembly further includes a motor attached to said frame, a motor shaft gear connected to a bull gear wherein said bull gear is connected to a pump piston crank shaft on said pump assembly, whereby said motor drives said motor shaft gear which in turn rotates said bull gear actuating said pump piston crank shaft.

16. The method of making a multi-use portable hand-held sprayer according to claim 11, wherein said external removeable and replaceable nozzle is adjustable from a fine mist spray to a direct line strong spray.

17. The method of making a multi-use portable hand-held sprayer according to claim 11, wherein said frame is configured in multiple sizes, including mini, small, medium and large sizes for multiple uses.

18. The method of making a multi-use portable hand-held sprayer according to claim 11, wherein said housing, frame, fluid flow tube, fluid flow control valve, external removeable and replaceable nozzle extension tube and external removeable and replaceable nozzle are all constructed of non-corrosive materials.

19. The method of making a multi-use portable hand-held sprayer according to claim 11, wherein said motor assembly is powered by said battery, and further wherein said battery is rechargeable.

20. The method of making a multi-use portable hand-held sprayer according to claim 11, wherein said frame includes a battery charge port and said housing slot exposes said charge port wherein said battery is rechargeable by connection with said charge port.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

(2) FIG. 1 depicts a side view of the internal parts of the large size Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer.

(3) FIG. 2 depicts a top plan view of the large size Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer housing.

(4) FIG. 3 depicts bottom view of the large size Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer illustrating the internal parts.

(5) FIG. 4 depicts top view of the large size Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer illustrating the internal parts.

(6) FIG. 5 depicts front view of the preferred embodiment of the large size Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer.

(7) FIG. 6 depicts front view of the first alternate embodiment of the medium size Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer including an internal reservoir for containing liquid therein.

(8) FIG. 7 depicts front view of the second alternate embodiment of the small size Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer.

(9) FIG. 8 depicts front view of the third alternate embodiment of the mini Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer.

(10) FIG. 9 depicts an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the large size Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer.

(11) FIG. 10 depicts an exploded perspective view of the fluid flow control valve.

(12) FIG. 11 depicts an exploded perspective view of the pump assembly.

(13) FIG. 12 depicts a perspective view of the On-off switch assembly.

(14) FIG. 13 depicts a perspective cross section of the internal on-board reservoir assembly fluid container with the fluid suction tube, illustrating the two compartments therein.

(15) FIG. 14 depicts perspective view of the internal reservoir fluid fill lid and O-ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(16) As required, detailed embodiments of the present application are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the design that may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional and structural details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as basic for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present embodiments of the Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayers 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

(17) FIG. 1 depicts a side view of the internal parts of the large size Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer 10A illustrating the sprayer main internal parts frame 12 with the motor assembly 14, motor frame mount 16 showing where the motor shaft gear 19 meshes with the bull gear 18. On the right side of the sprayer main internal parts frame 12 is the pump assembly 22, pump piston crank shaft 34, fluid flow tube (pump to nozzle) 24 and the on-off switch assembly 28. At the bottom is the lower suction tube (liquid source to pump) 20 and on top is the nozzle extension tube receiver 32. All of the disclosed Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer are constructed using non-corrosive materials that will not be affected by fluids containing salts or acids.

(18) FIG. 2 depicts a top plan view of the large size Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer 10A with the large sprayer housing 40, the power indicator light 42, on-off switch 44 nozzle release switch 46 and the nozzle extension tube receiver 32 at the top.

(19) FIG. 3 depicts bottom view of the large size Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer 10A internal parts illustrating the locations of the sprayer main internal parts frame 12 with the rubber seal 48 around the perimeter edge. The piston crankshaft receiver mount 34 connects to the lower suction tube (liquid source to pump) 20 and the lower suction tube (pump to nozzle) 24 to transmit the fluid through the fluid flow control valve 26 and out through the nozzle extension tube receiver 32.

(20) FIG. 4 depicts top view of the large size Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer 10A internal parts illustrating the locations of the sprayer main internal parts frame 12 with the rubber seal 48 around the perimeter edge. The motor assembly 14 with the motor shaft gear 19 is engaged with the bull gear 18 by the means of the motor frame mount 16. The rechargeable battery pack 30 is connected to the battery charger port 31, the motor assembly 14 and the on-off switch assembly 28. The lower suction tube (liquid source to pump) 20 extends below the surface of the sprayer main internal parts frame 12.

(21) FIG. 5 depicts front view of the preferred embodiment of the large size Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer 10A illustrating the locations of the power indicator light 42, on-off switch 44 and the nozzle release switch 46 on the 10A large size Sprayer housing 40 with the lower suction tube (liquid source to pump) 20 on the bottom. The 10A nozzle tube connection ratchet 56 engages with the nozzle extension tube receiver 32 and the 10A removeable and replaceable nozzle extension tube 36 with the 10A removeable and replaceable nozzle spray head 38 at the top. The nozzle release switch 46 when activated by pushing, enables the removeable and replaceable nozzle extension tube 36 and the removeable and replaceable nozzle spray head 38 to be readily removed and replaced. For more detail on the construction and operation of the removeable and replaceable nozzle extension tube 36 see FIG. 9. The nozzle spray head 38 is adjustable from a fine mist spray pattern to a strong concentrated direct line of liquid spray pattern.

(22) FIG. 6 depicts front view of the first alternate embodiment of the medium size Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer 10B illustrating the locations of the power indicator light 42, on-off switch 44 and the nozzle release switch 46 on the 10B medium size Sprayer housing 50. The 10B nozzle tube connection ratchet 58 engages with the nozzle extension tube receiver 32 and the 10A removeable and replaceable nozzle extension tube 52 with the 10B removeable and replaceable nozzle spray head 54 at the top. The nozzle release switch 46 when activated by pushing, enables the removeable and replaceable nozzle extension tube 52 and the removeable and replaceable nozzle spray head 54 to be readily removed and replaced. For more detail on the nozzle release switch 46 see FIG. 9. The broken away section of Sprayer housing 50 reveals and internal reservoir assembly 51 and an internal reservoir fluid transfer tube 53. The internal reservoir assembly 51 is filled by holding the sprayer upside-down and pouring fluid through fill door 55 (not shown). The internal reservoir assembly 51 is comprised of two separate compartments, a watertight fluid containing compartment and a mechanism compartment for housing the motor pump and battery. The fluid is contained within the watertight compartment and the mechanism is kept dry. This is further described in more detail in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14.

(23) FIG. 7 depicts front view of the second alternate embodiment of the small size Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer 10C illustrating the locations of the power indicator light 42, on-off switch 44 and the nozzle release switch 46 on the 10B medium size Sprayer housing 60. The 10C removeable and replaceable nozzle extension tube 62 with the 10C removeable and replaceable nozzle spray head 64 is at the top. The nozzle release switch 46 when activated by pushing, enables the removeable and replaceable nozzle extension tube 62 and the removeable and replaceable nozzle spray head 64 to be readily removed and replaced. For more detail on the nozzle release switch 46 see FIG. 9. An internal refillable fluid container 66 will be at the lower end of the device.

(24) FIG. 8 depicts front view of the third alternate embodiment of the mini Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer 10D illustrating the locations of the power indicator light 42, on-off switch 44 and the nozzle release switch 46 on the 10B medium size Sprayer housing 70. The 10D removeable and replaceable nozzle extension tube 72 with the 10D removeable and replaceable nozzle spray head 74 is at the top. The nozzle release switch 46 when activated by pushing, enables the removeable and replaceable nozzle extension tube 72 and removeable and replaceable nozzle spray head 74 to be readily removed and replaced. For more detail on the nozzle release switch 46 see FIG. 9. An internal refillable fluid container 66 will be at the lower end of the device.

(25) FIG. 9 depicts an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the large size Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer 10A illustrating the locations of the sprayer main internal parts frame 12 with the motor assembly 14 and motor shaft gear 19 that meshes with the bull gear 18. The motor assembly 14 is held in place by the means of the motor frame mount 16. The rechargeable battery pack 30 sits securely within a cavity in the sprayer main internal parts frame 12 that will slide within the 10A large Sprayer housing 40. Sprayer housing 40 includes housing rail accepting slots 41 running from top to bottom on the side walls in the interior of the sprayer housing 40. Sprayer main internal parts frame 12 has integral rails 43 running from top to bottom on both sides of sprayer main internal parts frame 12. The Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer 10A is assembled by sliding the frame 12 into the housing 40 by sliding the frame rails 43 integral to frame 12 into and along housing rail accepting slots 41 within the interior of the housing 40. The housing 40 is then secured to the frame 12 using screws located at the base of frame 12.

(26) Nozzle extension tube 36 includes a nozzle accepting portion 39 having a nozzle accepting threaded section 37 for accepting a nozzle head 38. To replace the nozzle head 38 the old nozzle head is unthreaded from the threaded section 37 and removed and the new nozzle head is threaded back on to the threaded section 37. On the opposite end, nozzle extension tube 36 has an extension tube insertion section 33 including an extension tube insertion section slot 35. To replace the nozzle extension tube 36, activation switch 46 is pushed and the extension tube insertion portion slot 35 is released enabling the extension tube insertion section 33 to slide out of the housing nozzle extension tube receiver 32. In this way, both the extension tube and the nozzle head are readily removeable and replaceable. It is anticipated that varying lengths of the extension tubes and varying spray heads will be employed, as seen in FIGS. 5-8.

(27) FIG. 10 depicts an exploded perspective view of the fluid flow control valve 26 with the nozzle extension tube receiver 32.

(28) FIG. 11 depicts an exploded perspective view of the pump assembly 22, Fluid flow tube (pump to nozzle) 24, lower suction tube (liquid source to pump) 20 and fluid suction tube 82.

(29) FIG. 12 depicts a perspective view of the on-off switch assembly 28.

(30) FIG. 13 depicts a perspective cross section of the internal on-board reservoir assembly 80 with the fluid suction tube 82 broken out. The internal on-board reservoir assembly 80 is housed within the sprayer units having on-board reservoirs to contain liquids therein. The internal on-board reservoir assembly 80 is comprised of two separate compartments, a watertight fluid containing compartment 81 and a dry mechanism containing compartment 83, for housing the motor assembly, pump assembly and rechargeable battery in a dry environment. The fluid is contained within the watertight compartment 81 and the mechanism compartment 83 is kept dry. The internal on-board reservoir assembly 80 of FIG. 13 is filled by holding the sprayer unit upside-down and pouring fluid through fill door 84 (pointed to but not shown here in this FIG. 13 perspective view, see detail on this fluid fill door 84 in FIG. 14 below).

(31) FIG. 14 depicts perspective view of the additional fluid container lid 84 with the fill lid O-ring 86. The internal on-board reservoir assembly 80 of FIG. 13 is filled by holding the sprayer unit upside-down and pouring fluid through fill door 84 and is sealed to prevent leakage by O-ring 86.

(32) The Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D shown in the drawings and described in detail herein disclose arrangements of elements of particular construction and configuration for illustrating preferred embodiments of structure and method of operation of the present design. It is to be understood, however, that elements of different construction and configuration and other arrangements thereof, other than those illustrated and described may be employed for providing a Multi-Use Portable Hand-Held Sprayer 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D in accordance with the spirit of this application, and such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this application as broadly defined in the appended claims.

(33) Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.