Handheld pet spray wand

• US 10,449,558 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2017
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Water Pik Incorporated (Church & Dwight Company Incorporated)
• Inventors: Thurgood, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Ganey, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US15/422,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20170216854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 239525, 239530, 239532, 239443, 239444, 239446, 239447, 2395811, 239566-568, 119603, 119604, 119665
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/001 Washing, cleaning, or drying devices for veterinary purposes A61D7/00, A61D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61D 11/00 Washing devices or gaseous curative baths specially adapted to veterinary purposes milking machine accessories for treatment of udders or teats A01J7/04
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1636 by relative rotative movement of the valve elements B05B1/1672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/18 Roses; Shower heads with means for adding soap or the like E03C1/046; jet regulators E03C1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/20 Arrangements of several outlets along elongated bodies, e.g. perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms spray booms for agricultural uses A01M7/0071; spray bars for treating roads E01C19/176; Outlet elements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/205 characterised by the longitudinal shape of the elongated body
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/3026 the controlling element being a gate valve, a sliding valve or a cock B05B1/3006, B05B1/326 take precedence; gate valves or sliding valves in general F16K3/00; cocks in general F16K5/00

Abstract

A handheld pet spray wand may be configured for use in washing or bathing a pet, for example, a dog. The handheld pet spray wand may be configured for attachment to a hose that is further attached to a water supply source. The handheld pet spray wand may be operable to have a number of spray modes to assist in the cleaning of the pet. The handheld pet spray wand may further be configured to provide selective nozzle array sizes designed for both small and large pets. The form factor of the spray wand may further be ergonomically formed to provide a spray pattern conforming to the body of the pet.

Claims

1. A handheld sprayer comprising:

a water supply connector;

a handle housing the water supply connector;

a mode control actuator attached to the handle;

a valve fluidly connected with the water supply connector and adjusted by the mode control actuator; and

an elongate nozzle wand in fluid communication with the valve and providing two linear nozzle arrays along a length of the elongate nozzle wand;

wherein;

the valve passes water flow through to a first of the two linear nozzle arrays in either a constant low-flow mode or in a graduated, increasing flow mode; and

the valve passes water flow through to a second of the two linear nozzle arrays, exclusive of the first linear nozzle array, in either a constant low-flow mode or in a graduated, increasing flow mode.

2. The handheld sprayer of claim 1, wherein the valve further comprises:

a valve body positioned between the water supply connector and the elongate nozzle wand defining a port in a surface thereof; and

a valve seat positioned against a base of the elongate nozzle wand and defining a first aperture in fluid communication with the first linear nozzle array and a second aperture in fluid communication with the second linear nozzle array.

3. The handheld sprayer of claim 2, wherein the valve body is configured to rotate with respect to the valve seat about a common central axis.

4. The handheld sprayer of claim 2, wherein:

the mode control actuator further comprises a control ring that seats over the valve body and defines a key feature on an inner surface thereof; and

the valve body further defines an opposing key feature extending radially from an outer surface of the valve body and which is configured to interface with the key feature in the control ring such that the control ring and the valve body rotate together about a central axis.

5. The handheld sprayer of claim 2 further comprising a connector shaft having a first end that is connected to the elongate nozzle wand and a middle section that passes through the valve;

wherein the valve seat further comprises;

a center aperture through which the connector shaft passes; and

an interface feature that interlocks with an opposing interface feature on a base of the elongate nozzle wand, whereby the combination of the interlocking interface features and an interface of the connector shaft and the center aperture prevent rotation of the valve seat with respect to the elongate nozzle wand.

6. The handheld sprayer of claim 2, wherein the valve seat further comprises a first recessed channel in a surface thereof facing the valve body and the first recessed channel extends from and is in fluid communication with an edge of the first aperture.

7. The handheld sprayer of claim 6, wherein the first recessed channel is graduated in depth and extends from a shallow end distal from the edge of the first aperture to a deep end proximal to the edge of the first aperture.

8. The handheld sprayer of claim 6, wherein the valve seat further comprises a second recessed channel in a surface thereof facing the valve body and the second recessed channel extends from and is in fluid communication with the edge of the first aperture.

9. The handheld sprayer of claim 8, wherein the second recessed channel is graduated in depth and extends from a shallow end distal from the edge of the second aperture to a deep end proximal to the edge of the second aperture.

10. The handheld sprayer of claim 2, wherein the valve seat further comprises a first trickle hole in fluid communication with the first linear nozzle array and a second trickle hole in fluid communication with the second linear nozzle array.

11. The handheld sprayer of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second trickle holes is positioned between the first and second apertures.

12. The handheld sprayer of claim 10 further comprising an elastomeric seal providing a fluid-tight seal about a perimeter boundary between the valve body and the valve seat and providing a fluid-tight seal separating all of the first and second apertures and the first and second trickle holes from each other.

13. The handheld sprayer of claim 10, wherein the port is located in the valve body in a position configured to allow fluid communication between the port and the first trickle hole and the first aperture simultaneously and further to allow fluid communication between the port and the second trickle hole and the second aperture simultaneously.

14. The handheld sprayer of claim 12, wherein the port is located in the valve body in a position configured to allow fluid communication between the port and the first trickle hole and the first aperture simultaneously and further to allow fluid communication between the port and the second trickle hole and the second aperture simultaneously.

15. The handheld sprayer of claim 2 further comprising an elastomeric seal providing a fluid-tight seal about a perimeter boundary between the valve body and the valve seat and providing fluid-tight seal between the first and second apertures.

16. The handheld sprayer of claim 1 further comprising a connector shaft having a first end that is connected to the elongate nozzle wand, a middle section that passes through the valve and the mode control actuator, and a second end that is connected to the water supply connector.

17. The handheld sprayer of claim 1, wherein a length of the first linear array of nozzles is longer than a length of the second linear array of nozzles.

18. The handheld sprayer of claim 17, wherein the second linear array of nozzles begins distally further from a proximal end of the elongate nozzle wand adjacent to the valve than the first linear array of nozzles.

19. The handheld sprayer of claim 1, wherein the elongate nozzle wand has an arcuate shape.

20. The handheld sprayer of claim 1, further comprising a hanger cap attached to a distal end of the elongate nozzle wand.