Spray gun for use with an all surface cleaning apparatus

• US 7,028,925 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2004
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Karcher North America Incorporated (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Castle Rock Entertainment Incorporated (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Doll, Brian J., Pedlar, Roger, Guest, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dinh Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/839,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20040256483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 239/525, 239/532, 239/302, 239/378, 239/527, 239/526, 239/124, 239/569, 134/34, 134/100.1, 134/175, 134/184, 134/169.C
• US Class Current: 239/526
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4083 Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4088 Supply pumps; Spraying devices; Supply conduits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4091 Storing or parking devices, arrangements therefor; Means allowing transport of the machine when it is not being used
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2203/0217 Use of a detergent in high pressure cleaners; arrangements for supplying the same
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2203/027 Pump details
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/026 Cleaning by making use of hand-held spray guns; Fluid preparations therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a spray gun generally employed with a multi-functional surface cleaning machine having a fluid tank, a pump, a dispensing device, and at least one receptacle for holding concentrated cleaning chemicals. The dispensing device, or spray gun, of one embodiment of the present invention include a curved lance wand, a trigger mechanism, and a valve that provides selective alteration of fluid flow and pressure.

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing device for use with a portable surface cleaning device comprising:

a handle having a hand grip;

a conduit interconnected to the handle and adapted to receive at least one high pressure hose;

a valve in fluid communication with the conduit;

a lance wand having a proximal end in fluid communication with the conduit and a distal end;

a spray jet connected to the distal end of the lance wand;

a trigger operably connected to the handle and in communication with the conduit, said trigger having at least a first position and a second position, wherein said first position of the trigger substantially prevents fluid from entering the lance wand and the second position of the trigger allows fluid to be expelled through the spray jet at a predetermined pressure and mass flow; and

wherein said valve may be adjusted to selectively alter the predetermined pressure and mass flow of the exiting fluid when the trigger is situated at any position.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a fluid selection device connected to the conduit wherein the distributed percentages of a first fluid and a second fluid may be selectively varied.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the first fluid is substantially comprised of water.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the second fluid is substantially comprised of a cleaning agent.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a coupling device connected to the conduit that is adapted to receive a coupling device of the high pressure hose.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve is proximate to the handle.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve is a variable pressure reduction valve.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the lance wand includes a deflection a distance from the distal end of the lance wand.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the spray jet is either selectively adjustable or capable of altering the flow pattern of the fluid exiting the lance wand.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the valve is a needle valve.

11. The spray gun of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a deflection of a predetermined degree such that when the spray gun is in use a user'"'"'s wrist is in a neutral position.

12. A spray gun for distributing water, cleaning agent, or a combination thereof, for a cleaning machine comprising:

a handle that generally conforms to a user'"'"'s hand;

a high pressure fluid delivery mechanism connected to the handle;

fluid pressure alteration means in fluid communication with the fluid delivery mechanism;

a conduit in fluid communication with the fluid delivery mechanism, the conduit having a distal end with spray nozzle; and

an activation means in fluidic communication with the fluid delivery mechanism that has at least two positions of use, wherein a first position of use prevents the flow of high pressure fluid through the conduit, and wherein a second position of use allows a predetermined mass flow of fluid to be expelled from the conduit.

13. The spray gun of claim 12, further comprising a fluid selection means interconnected to said fluid delivery mechanism, wherein the distributed percentages of water and cleaning agent may be selectively varied.

14. The spray gun of claim 12, wherein said pressure alteration means is a variable pressure reduction valve.

15. The spray gun of claim 12, wherein said conduit includes a deflection a predetermined distance from the distal end of said second conduit.

16. The spray gun of claim 12, wherein said spray nozzle is selectively adjustable and capable of altering the flow pattern of the said exiting fluid.

17. The spray gun of claim 12, wherein said pressure alteration means is a needle valve.