Ultrasonic atomizer and storage bottle and nozzle therefor

• US 4,793,339 A
• Filed: 02/04/1988
• Issued: 12/27/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. (Omron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. (Omron Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Kazuhiro, Asai, Kei, Yamamoto, Hirohito
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAY, RANDY CITRIN
• Application Number:
  US07/153,467
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.16, 222/563, 222/566, 222/571, 239/102.2, 239/338, 239/553.5, 141/31, 141/382
• US Class Current: 128/200.16
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0623 coupled with a vibrating horn
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0684 Wicks or the like

Abstract

This ultrasonic atomizer includes an oscillating member, a means for vibrating the oscillating member at a supersonic frequency, a bottle for liquid storage, with an opening, fitted generally above the oscillating member with regard to the preferred orientation of the atomizer during use, and a nozzle fitted into the opening of the bottle, this nozzle having a tip portion protruding outside the bottle in the generally downwards direction and approached closely to the oscillating member. The nozzle is formed with a fine groove for leading liquid in the bottle downwards to the tip portion of the nozzle by capillary action and by gravitational action, and with an aperture for introducing air from the outside into the bottle. Thereby liquid in the bottle may be properly supplied to the oscillating member to be atomized in a controlled fashion, and interruption of liquid supply and also dribbling of liquid are positively prevented. Constructions for the nozzle and for the bottle are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic atomizer for atomizing a liquid comprising:

an oscillating member;

a means for vibrating said oscillating member at an ultrasonic frequency;

a bottle, with an opening, for storing the liquid to be atomized, said bottle disposed above said oscillating member when said atomizer is oriented for use; and

a nozzle means fitted within said bottle opening for directing fluid downwardly from said bottle toward said oscillating member for atomization, said nozzle means having a tip portion extending from said bottle toward said oscillating member with a very narrow gap therebetween, said nozzle means having a fine liquid conducting groove means for leading liquid from said bottle downwardly to said tip portion by capillary action and gravitational action, and said nozzle means further having an air conducting groove means for introducing air from the outside of said bottle to the inside of said bottle, wherein the liquid to be atomized travels from the bottle, through the nozzle means to the vicinity of the oscillating member for atomization.

2. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 1, wherein said fine liquid conducting groove means is orientated in the longitudinal direction of said nozzle means.

3. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 2, wherein said air conducting groove means is orientated in the longitudinal direction of said nozzle means.

4. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 2, wherein said nozzle means is further formed with a liquid accumulation groove means substantially orientated in the circumferential direction of said nozzle means.

5. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 2, further comprising a tube member fitted between said nozzle means and said opening of said bottle, wherein said tube member serves for partly delimiting said fine liquid conducting groove means.

6. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 5, wherein said tube member is in the radially compressed state as fitted between said nozzle and said opening of said bottle.

7. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 1, further comprising a tube member fitted between said nozzle means and said opening of said bottle.

8. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 7, wherein said tube member is elastic.

9. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 8, wherein said tube member is in the radially compressed state as fitted between said nozzle means and said opening of said bottle.

10. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 1, wherein the portion of said bottle remote from said opening thereof is flexible.

11. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 1, wherein said bottle is flexible.

12. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 1, wherein said bottle is formed with a filling opening proximate to said opening thereof in which said nozzle is fitted.

13. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 12, further comprising a plug fitted into said filling opening of said bottle.

14. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 13, wherein said plug has a cross section generally resembling the letter "H.".

15. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 13 wherein said plug and said filling opening are both formed with threaded shapes, and are engaged together by their said threaded shapes.

16. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 12, wherein said filling opening of said bottle is formed substantially in a bottom planar portion of said bottle in which is also formed said said opening of said bottle in which said nozzle means is fitted.

17. An ultrasonic atomizer according to claim 12, wherein said filling opening of said bottle is formed substantially in a side planar portion of said bottle.