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

• US 7,297,211 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2004
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• 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:
  US10/841,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20050039678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 118/695, 118/696, 118/679, 118/680, 118/681, 118/684, 118/685, 118/320, 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 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 at least one nozzle producing a spray jet of the spray liquid. The spray device still further includes a control device adapted to control the operation of the spray device, and a sweeping device for sweeping the spray jet from the at least one nozzle to coat at least a portion of the human body.

Claims

1. A spray device comprising:

a housing including;

at least one nozzle mounted to the housing for spraying a user;

a receiver configured to allow the housing to receive at least one user-insertable/removable single-use liquid container; and

a liquid channel within the housing connecting the received at least one single-use liquid container to the at least one nozzle;

a spray valve controlling spraying of a spray liquid from the received at least one single-use liquid container by the at least one nozzle onto the user the at least one nozzle producing a spray jet of the spray liquid; and

a pivoting sweeping means coupling the housing to a mounting surface, the pivoting sweeping means for allowing movement of the housing so as to sweep the spray jet from the at least one nozzle to coat at least a portion of the user.

2. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the at least one single-use liquid container comprises a disposable liquid container.

3. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the at least one single-use liquid container comprises a refillable liquid container.

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

5. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the pivoting sweeping means is adapted to allow an oscillating motion of the housing.

6. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the pivoting sweeping means allows a substantially vertical movement of the housing.

7. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the pivoting sweeping means allows a substantially horizontal movement of the housing.

8. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the pivoting sweeping means allows a horizontal movement and a vertical movement of the housing.

9. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the pivoting sweeping means comprises an automatic sweeping means.

10. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the pivoting sweeping means comprises a manually-operated sweeping means.

11. The spray device of claim 10, wherein the manually-operated sweeping means comprises a manually-operated lever.

12. The spray device of claim 1, further comprising a control device adapted to control the operation of the pivoting sweeping means.

13. The spray device of claim 12, wherein the control device is further adapted to control a speed of movement of the pivoting sweeping means.

14. The spray device of claim 12, wherein the control device comprises a remote control.

15. The spray device of claim 14, wherein the remote control is connected to the spray device by a wire.

16. The spray device of claim 12, wherein the control device is adapted 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.

17. The spray device of claim 12, wherein the control device comprises an automatic control device.

18. The spray device of claim 17, wherein the automatic control device comprises at least one of a timer and a programmable controller.

19. The spray device of claim 17, wherein operation of the automatic control device is initiated by an electrical switch.

20. The spray device of claim 12, wherein the control device is further adapted to electrically connect an operator of the control device to a ground.

21. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the mounting surface comprises a horizontal surface.

22. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the mounting surface comprises a vertical surface.

23. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the mounting surface comprises a gantry system.

24. 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 control the flow of spray liquid through the plurality of nozzles.

33. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the at least one single-use liquid container holds 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 in a single spray session for coating a surface of the user'"'"'s body.

34. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the at least one single-use liquid container holds a maximum volume of spray liquid in the range of 100 milliliters to 500 milliliters.

35. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the at least one single-use liquid container holds a maximum volume of spray liquid in the range of 100 to 150 milliliters.

36. The spray device of claim 1, wherein the at least one single-use liquid container holds a maximum volume of spray liquid of less than one liter.

37. The spray device of claim 1, further comprising:

a pressurized gas conduit, the pressurized gas conduit connecting a source of compressed gas to the at least one nozzle, wherein the flow of pressurized gas to the at least one nozzle facilitates flow of the spray liquid from the at least one single-use liquid container to the at least one nozzle using the liquid channel.

25. A spray device for coating the surface of a user'"'"'s human body with a spray liquid, the spray device comprising:

a housing having a pivot attachment mechanism to allow movement of the housing to sweep a spray jet to coat at least a portion of the user'"'"'s human body, the housing including;

at least one nozzle mounted to the housing to spray the user;

a receiver vessel for receiving within the housing a first end of at least one user-insertable/removable single-use liquid container; and

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

a spray valve controlling spraying of a spray liquid from the received at least one single-use liquid container by the at least one nozzle, the at least one nozzle producing a spray liquid; and

a control device which controls operation of the spray device to perform a single spraying operation onto the user at the completion of which the received single-use liquid container is substantially empty.

26. The spray device of claim 25, wherein the at least one single-use liquid container holds a volume of spray liquid substantially equal to that required to apply a predetermined multiple of a single application of the spray liquid to the surface of the user'"'"'s human body.

27. The spray device of claim 25, wherein the spray liquid comprises a sunless tanning compound.

28. The spray device of claim 25, wherein the pivot attachment mechanism supports an oscillating motion of the spray jet.

29. The spray device of claim 25, wherein the pivot attachment mechanism comprises an automatic sweeping means.

30. The spray device of claim 25, wherein the pivot attachment mechanism comprises a manually-operated pivot attachment mechanism.

31. The spray device of claim 25, wherein the control device is further adapted to control operation of the pivot attachment mechanism.

32. The spray device of claim 25, further comprising a mount for mounting the spray device to a surface.

38. A spray device comprising:

a housing including;

at least one nozzle mounted to the housing;

a receiver vessel for receiving through an opening in the housing a first end of at least one insertable/removable single-use liquid container, the received at least one single-use liquid container holding 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 in a single operation session for coating a surface of a human body; and

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

a spray valve controlling the spraying of the spray liquid from the received at least one single-use liquid container by the at least one nozzle, the at least one nozzle producing a spray jet of the spray liquid; and

a pivot attachment mechanism coupled to the housing, the pivot attachment mechanism allowing movement of the housing to sweep the spray jet from the at least one nozzle to coat at least a portion of the human body.

39. The spray device of claim 38, wherein the pivot attachment mechanism is adapted to allow an oscillating motion of the spray jet.

40. The spray device of claim 38, wherein the pivot attachment mechanism comprises an automatic sweeping means.

41. The spray device of claim 38, wherein the sweeping means comprises a manually-operated sweeping means.

42. The spray device of claim 38, further comprising a control device adapted to control operation of the pivot attachment mechanism.

43. A spray device for coating a surface of a human body with a spray liquid, the spray device comprising:

a housing including;

at least one nozzle mounted to the housing for spraying a user;

a receiver vessel for receiving within the housing a first end of at least one user-insertable/removable single-use liquid container, the first end of the received at least one single-use liquid container having an open end closed by a liquid seal;

a receiver conduit placed within the receiver vessel to puncture the liquid seal of the received at least one single-use liquid container; and

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

a pivoting sweeping means coupled to the housing, the pivoting sweeping means for allowing movement of the housing to sweep a liquid spray jet from the at least one nozzle to coat at least a portion of a human body.

44. The spray device of claim 43, wherein the pivoting sweeping means is adapted to allow an oscillating motion of the spray jet.

45. The spray device of claim 43, wherein the pivoting sweeping means comprises an automatic sweeping means.

46. The spray device of claim 43, wherein the pivoting sweeping means comprises a manually-operated sweeping means.

47. The spray device of claim 43, further comprising a control device adapted to control operation of the sweeping means.

48. A spray device comprising:

a housing including;

at least one nozzle mounted to the housing;

a receiver vessel for receiving within the housing an open end of at least one insertable/removable single-use liquid container closed by a liquid seal, the at least one single-use liquid container holding 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 in a single spray session for coating a surface of a human body;

a receiver conduit placed within the receiver vessel to puncture the liquid seal of the received at least one single-use liquid container; and

a liquid channel connecting the received single-use liquid container the at least one nozzle; and

a pivoting sweeping means coupled to the housing, the pivoting sweeping means allowing for movement of the housing to sweep a spray jet from the at least one nozzle to coat at least a portion of a human body.

49. The spray device of claim 48, wherein the pivoting sweeping means is adapted to allow an oscillating motion of the spray jet.

50. The spray device of claim 48, wherein the pivoting sweeping means comprises an automatic sweeping means.

51. The spray device of claim 48, wherein the pivoting sweeping means comprises a manually-operated sweeping means.

52. A spray device comprising:

a housing including;

at least one nozzle mounted to the housing for spraying a user;

a receiver adapted to receive within the housing a first end of at least one user insertable/removable single-use liquid container, wherein a second end of the single-use liquid container extends outside the housing after insertion by the user and reception by the receiver; and

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

a spray valve controlling spraying of the spray liquid from the received at least one single-use liquid container to the at least one nozzle, the at least one nozzle producing a spray jet of the spray liquid for application onto the user; and

an attachment mechanism for mounting the housing to a fixed surface, wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to allow the housing to move with respect to the fixed surface.

53. The spray device of claim 52, wherein the fixed surface is a vertical surface.

54. The spray device of claim 52, wherein the fixed surface is a horizontal surface.

55. The spray device of claim 52, wherein the movement of the housing with respect to the fixed surface is a sweeping movement.

56. The spray device of claim 52, wherein the movement of the housing with respect to the fixed surface is an oscillatory movement.

57. The spray device of claim 52, wherein the movement of the housing with respect to the fixed surface is a vertical movement.

58. The spray device of claim 52, wherein the movement of the housing with respect to the fixed surface is a horizontal movement.

59. The spray device of claim 52, wherein the movement of the housing with respect to the fixed surface is a horizontal movement and a vertical movement.

60. The spray device of claim 52, wherein the movement of the housing with respect to the fixed surface is a pivotal movement.