Single-dose spray system for application of liquids onto the human body

• US 7,387,684 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2004
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SUNLESS Incorporated (Sunless Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: Mystic Tan Incorporated (Sunless Holding Co.)
• Inventors: Cooper, Steven C., Croft, Ricky C., Cooper, Troy H.
• Primary Examiner(s): KOCH, GEORGE R
• Application Number:
  US10/841,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20050008577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 118/695, 118/696, 118/679, 118/680, 118/681, 118/684, 118/685, 118/300, 118/323, 604/289, 604/290, 604/296
• US Class Current: 118/684
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/057 Spray nozzles; Generating atomised liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/25 specially adapted for the application of sunscreen, tanning or self-tanning lotions
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/00 Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/62 Arrangements for supporting spraying apparatus, e.g. suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 3/14 with oscillating elements; with intermittent operation
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2416 characterised by the means for producing or supplying the atomising fluid, e.g. air hoses, air pumps, gas containers, compressors, fans, ventilators, their drives
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2472 comprising several containers

Abstract

A spray device for coating a surface of a human body with a spray liquid, the spray device including at least one nozzle and at least one liquid container, wherein the at least one liquid container is adapted to hold a volume of spray liquid substantially equal to an amount required to apply a single dosage of the spray liquid for coating a surface of a human body. The spray device further includes a liquid channel adapted to connect the at least one liquid container to the at least one nozzle, and a spray valve adapted to cause the spray liquid to flow from the at least one liquid container to the at least one nozzle using the liquid channel. The spray device still further includes a control device adapted to control the operation of the spray device; and a mounting device for mounting the spray device to a mounting surface.

Claims

1. A spray device comprising:

at least one nozzle;

a housing supporting the at least one nozzle;

a receiver vessel within the housing, the receiver vessel configured to receive a user inserted liquid container, the received liquid container sized to contain, when filled, a maximum volume of spray liquid not to exceed that which is substantially equal to an amount required to apply a single dosage of the spray liquid for coating a surface of a human body;

a liquid channel adapted to connect the received liquid container to the at least one nozzle;

a spray valve controlling spraying of the spray liquid received from the received liquid container by the at least one nozzle; and

a control device which controls the operation of the spray device to perform a single spraying operation with respect to coating the surface of the human body, at the completion of which the liquid container is substantially empty of the spray liquid.

2. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the liquid container comprises a removable liquid container.

3. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the liquid container comprises a disposable liquid container.

4. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the liquid container comprises a refillable liquid container.

5. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the spray liquid comprises a sunless tanning compound.

6. The spray device of claim 1, further including means for mounting the housing to a mounting surface wherein the mounting means includes means for making an angular adjustment of the housing.

7. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the control device comprises a remote control.

8. The spray device of claim 7, wherein the remote control is connected to the spray device by a wire.

9. The spray device of claim 7, wherein the remote control is connected to the spray device via a tube.

10. The spray device of claim 7, wherein the remote control is voice activated.

11. The spray device of claim 7, wherein the remote control operates to control the operation of the spray valve via at least one of a light signal, a radio signal, a motion signal, and a sound signal.

12. The spray device of claim 7, wherein the remote control device comprises at least one of a hydraulic flow device and a pneumatic flow device.

13. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the control device comprises an automatic control device.

14. The spray device of claim 13, wherein the automatic control device comprises at least one of a timer and a programmable controller.

15. The spray device of claim 13, wherein operation of the automatic control device is initiated by an electrical switch.

16. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the control device is further adapted to electrically connect an operator of the control device to a ground.

17. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the at least one nozzle comprises a plurality of nozzles, and the spray device further comprises a metering device adapted to contiol the flow of spray liquid through the plurality of nozzles.

18. The spray device of claim 1 further comprising:

a pressurized gas conduit, the pressurized gas conduit adapted to connect a source of compressed gas to the at least one nozzle through the valve, wherein the flow of pressurized gas to the at least one nozzle facilitates flow of the spray liquid from the liquid container to the at least one nozzle using the liquid channel.

19. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the maximum volume of spray liquid is in a range of 100 milliliters to 500 milliliters.

20. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the maximum volume of spray liquid is in a range of 100 milliliters to 150 milliliters.

21. A spray device comprising:

at least one nozzle;

a housing supporting the at least one nozzle;

a receiver vessel within the housing to receive a removable liquid container having an open end closed by a liquid seal, the received liquid container sized to contain, when filled, a maximum volume of spray liquid not to exceed that which is substantially equal to an amount required to apply a single dosage of the spray liquid for coating a surface of a human body during a single spraying operation, at the completion of which the liquid container is substantially empty of the spray liquid;

a receiver conduit placed within the receiver vessel and adapted to puncture the liquid seal of the received at least one removable liquid container;

a liquid channel connecting the received liquid container to the at least one nozzle; and

a spray valve, wherein activation of the spray valve causes spraying of the spray liquid received from the received liquid container by the at least one nozzle.

22. The spray device of claim 21, wherein an inside shape of the receiver vessel is similar to an outside shape of the removable liquid container.

23. The spray device of claim 21, wherein the receiver vessel includes an air vent.

24. The spray device of claim 21, wherein the removable liquid container includes an air vent.

25. The spray device of claim 21, wherein the removable liquid container comprises a disposable liquid container.

26. The spray device of claim 21, wherein the removable liquid container comprises a refillable liquid container.

27. The spray device of claim 21, wherein the spray liquid comprises a sunless tanning compound.

28. The spray device of claim 21, further comprising means for mounting the housing to a mounting surface wherein the mounting means comprises means for making an angular adjustment of the housing.

29. The spray device of claim 21, further comprising a control device adapted to control the operation of the spray device.

30. The spray device of claim 29, wherein the control device comprises a remote control.

31. The spray device of claim 29, wherein the control device comprises an automatic control device.

32. The spray device of claim 21, wherein the maximum volume of spray liquid is in a range of 100 milliliters to 500 milliliters.

33. The spray device of claim 21, wherein the maximum volume of spray liquid is in a range of 100 milliliters to 150 milliliters.

34. A system for coating a surface of a human body with a spray liquid comprising:

a liquid container sized to contain, when filled, a maximum volume of spray liquid not to exceed that which is substantially equal to an amount required to spray apply a single dosage of the spray liquid for coating a surface of a human body;

a spray system which receives the liquid container, comprising;

at least one nozzle;

a housing to which the nozzle is mounted and including an opening in the housing;

a receiver vessel within the housing for receiving an end of the liquid container which is inserted by a user through the opening in the housing;

a liquid channel connecting the received liquid container to the at least one nozzle;

a spray valve controlling spraying of the spray liquid from the received liquid container by the at least one nozzle; and

a controller that controls spray system operation to perform a single user spraying operation with respect to coating the surface of the human body of the user, at the completion of which the received liquid container is substantially empty of the spray liquid.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the liquid container comprises a removable liquid container.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the liquid container comprises a disposable liquid container.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the liquid container comprises a refillable liquid container.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein the spray liquid comprises a sunless tanning compound.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein the maximum volume of spray liquid in the range of 100 milliliters to 500 milliliters.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein the maximum volume of spray liquid in the range of 100 to 150 milliliters.

41. A spray device for coating a surface of a human body with a spray liquid comprising:

at least one nozzle;

a housing to which the nozzle is mounted and including an opening in the housing;

a receiver vessel within the housing for receiving an end of a liquid container which is inserted by a user through the opening in the housing;

a liquid channel connecting the received liquid container to the at least one nozzle;

a spray valve controlling spraying of the spray liquid from the received liquid container by the at least one nozzle; and

a controller that controls spray device operation to perform a single user spraying operation with respect to coating the surface of the human body of the user, at the completion of which the received liquid container is substantially empty of the spray liquid.

42. The device of claim 41 wherein the controller stops the single spraying operation upon detecting an emptying of the inserted liquid container.

43. The device of claim 41 wherein the controller stops the single spraying operation upon detecting an elapsing of a predetermined time period.

44. The device of claim 41, wherein an inside shape of the receiver vessel is similar to an outside shape of the liquid container.

45. The device of claim 41, wherein the liquid container comprises a disposable liquid container.

46. The device of claim 41, wherein the liquid container comprises a refillable liquid container.

47. The device of claim 41, wherein the spray liquid comprises a sunless tanning compound.

48. The device of claim 41 wherein the spray valve is located on an air line supplying air to the nozzle.

49. The device of claim 41 wherein the spray valve is located on the liquid channel.