AU2007100810A4 - Extendable Spray Wand - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Invention Title: EXTENDABLE SPRAY WAND The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing known to us: 2 C- FIELD OF THE INVENTION SThe present invention relates to liquid delivery systems and, in particular, to extendable spray wvands used for applying liquids to hard to reach locations. Although the C invention will be described with particular reference to applying liquids, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to applying liquids and could be used for applying other materials gas).

00 SBACKGROUND ART [Mere reference to background art herein should not be construed as an admission Sthat such art constitutes common general knowledge in relation to the invention.] Typically, in a spraying apparatus a liquid is pressurised and delivered through a hose to the location at which the liquid is to be applied. A trigger valve is commonly provided to enable the operator to control the flow of pressurised liquid. Some sprayers are connected to a liquid container with a hand pump. The operator pumps the container by hand to increase the pressure in the container. When the trigger is released, the pressurised liquid traverses the hose and is discharged at the distal end of the wand.

Where an operator wishes to apply liquid to a large area or to locations at a distance, a rigid wand or arm can be employed to carry the hose. Liquid is then discharged at the distal end of the wand to the location to be affected. The hose carrying the liquid is sometimes internal and sometimes external to the wand, or sometimes the wand itself can be used as the liquid carrying means.

To improve the portability and compactness of such wands, they can usually be collapsed for travel or storage and only extended when necessary. For example, the wand may be telescopic where at least one portion can slideably extend (and retract) and lock with respect to another.

Although more convenient for storage, such telescopic devices are more complex and also have their own inherent problems. For example, some wands have the hose running through the longitudinal centre of the telescopic wand which means that when collapsing the wand, the hose must be fed out of the wand carefully. Often, the hose becomes dirty and it can carry dirt and debris inside the hollow wand. As the internal space of the wands cannot be cleaned, the dirt can build up and clog or erode the telescoping mechanism.

3 In other embodiments, if the wand itself is used to convey the liquid no separate C1 hose), complex and costly seals are required that can pro\vide a water tight seal and also allow movement of the telescopic portions with respect to each other. Additionally, prior to collapsing or storing the wand, it is necessary for the operator to drain the wand of any C s residual liquid.

Many of the known wands are made completely of metal, such as brass, which is not only heavy but can also conduct electricity. This makes working in an environment 00 Swith exposed electricity sources nearby, such as power lines, extremely hazardous to the ,.operator. For example, should the operator engage an overhead power line with the distal end of the wand, the electricity can conduct through the wand to the operator and there is a high likelihood that the operator would be electrocuted.

It is an aim of this invention to provide an extendable spray wand which overcomes or ameliorates one or more of the disadvantages or problems described above, or which at least provides a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, an extendable spray wand is provided that comprises a telescopically extendable member having a handle at a proximal end thereof, and an outlet at a distal end thereof, valve means having an actuator located adjacent the handle, whereby the actuator may be manually operated by a user's hand upon the handle, and a hose extending from the valve means to the outlet and coiled around the telescopically extendable member and/or handle.

Preferably, the exterior surface portions of the handle and actuator adapted to come in contact with the user's hand are electrically insulated from the telescopically extendable portion and even more preferably, the electrically insulated exterior surface portions are coated with a heat shrunk material rated to at least 500 kVA. A heat shrunk material rated to 1000 kVA is preferable, but no limitation is meant thereby.

In a preferred embodiment, the extendable spray wand is extendable to greater than 3 metres in length and retractable to less than 2 metres, yet weighs no more than 3 kilograms. More specifically, in this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the extendable spray wand weighs approximately 2.5 kilograms and has a length of approximately 1.5 metres in the collapsed position and approximately 3.5 metres in the extended position.

SPreferably, the outlet at the distal end of the wand is an angularly adjustable nozzle C which can deliver liquid in more than one configuration. For example, the adjustable o nozzle could deliver liquid in any of the following configurations: in a broad or fine jet, a spray, a fan shape, or annularly. This list is not exhaustive and man other configurations N 5 could also be used. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, the angle of the nozzle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wand can be varied and locked to affect the direction of liquid delivery.

00 SPreferably, the extendable spray wand further comprises a second, D shaped, handle.

Preferably thile D shaped handle is secured to the wand using a bracket, but alternative means may include the use of adhesives, or the D shaped handle may also be a moulded component of the handle.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practice, one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in the collapsed state.

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention in the fully extended state.

Figure 3 is a close-up of the proximal end of the preferred embodiment as shown in Figure 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of an extendable spray wand 10 having a proximal end 20 and a distal end 30. Typically, when in use, the proximal end 20 is closest to the operator and the distal end 30 is pointing in a desired direction away from the operator.

The extendable spray wand 10 has at least two states, a collapsed or retracted state (as illustrated in Figure 1) and an extended state (as illustrated in Figure The spray wand 10 of the illustrated embodiment is extendable to approximately 3.5 metres and retractable to approximately 1.5 metres, and weighs approximnately 2.5 kilograms.

The extendable spray wand 10 has a cylindrical fibreglass handle I1 that is CI substantially hollow. The hollow portion of the handle 11 is arranged such that a first 4 telescopically extending member 12 can be slideably received in a longitudinal direction inside the distal end of the handle 11. To allow the first telescopically extending member 12 to easily fit within the handle 11, the first telescopically extending member 12 is also cylindrical and has a smaller outer radius than the inner radius of the handle 11.

A second telescopically extending member 13 is also provided that can be slideably 00 Sreceived in a longitudinal direction inside the first telescopically extending member 13.

Like the first telescopically extending member 12 with respect to the handle 11, the second telescopically extending member 13 is also cylindrical and has a smaller outer radius than CI the inner radius of the first telescopically extending member 12.

Preferably both telescopically extending members 12 and 13 are made of aluminium and have an internal braking mechanism (not shown). The internal braking mechanism engages and disengages when the telescopically extending members 12 and 13 are rotated in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction with respect to their receiving members. This allows the extendable spray wand 10 to be locked and used at any length between the collapsed and extended states.

Raised lips 14, 15, and 16 are provided on the distal ends of the handle 11, first telescopically extending member 12, and second telescopically extending member 13. The raised lips 14. 15, 16 prevent the telescopically extending members 12 and 13 from retracting wholly within the respective hollow portion from which they extend (handle 11 and first telescopically extending member 12 respectively).

This telescopically extending arrangement, in either extended or collapsed states, provides a longitudinal shaft. When in the collapsed state the longitudinal shaft primarily consists of the handle 11 as the telescopically extending members 12 and 13 are contained within it. When in the extended state, the shaft comprises three substantially equal length parts: the handle 11 and the two telescopically extending members 12 and 13. In either state, a hose 17 is coiled around the shaft, reaching substantially from the proximal end to the distal end 30 of the extendable spray wand 10. The number of coils for the hose is preferably enough for the hose 17 to stretch out and reach from the proximal end 20 to the distal end 30 when the extendable spray wand 10 is in its fully extended state. Preferably, the hose 17 is pressure rated to 100 PSI or more so that it can withhold a liquid at high pressure.

6 A second. shaped, handle 18 is provided on the handle 11 to assist the operator in manoeuv'ring the extendable spray wand 10. This is particularly important to support the weight from the proximal end 20 when the extendable spray wand 10 is fully extended.

The shaped handle 18 can be secured to the handle 10 at any suitable location and by c 5 any means, but preferably by a screw-on bracket 19. The use of a screw-on bracket 19 allows the shaped handle 18 to be moved (or even removed) if necessary.

At the proximal end 20, the hose 17 is connected to a valve assembly 21. The valve At th rxmled2,tehs 7i once oavleasml .Thvae 00 Sassembly 21 has a non-drip snap on fitting 22 that allows quick connection and release of a hose connected to a liquid source (not shown). The liquid source is preferably an electric or motorised pump, but may also be any other source such as a hand pressurised container.

The liquid supplied by the liquid source is preferably at sufficient pressure to travel up the hose 17 to the distal end 30 regardless of the length or orientation of the extendable spray wand A valve between the non-drip snap on fitting 22 and the hose 17 is operated by an actuator which may be in the form of a spring-loaded trigger 23 connected to the valve assembly 21. Preferably, the trigger 23 is positioned close to the handle 11, and can be operated by the operator by the fingers of the same hand which holds the handle 11. In its rest state, the valve is closed by the trigger. When the trigger 23 is pulled, it opens the valve, allowing the pressurised liquid to flow through the valve into the coiled hose 17. Preferably, the trigger 23 provides the operator with an adjustable flow control, wherein the flow of liquid in the hose 17 can be varied according to the pressure applied by the operator to the trigger 23.

The distal end of the hose 17 is connected to an inlet of an end fitting 31 mounted to the distal end of the extendable spray wand 10. A nozzle 33 is interchangeably fitted to the outlet 32 of the end fitting 31. Typically, the nozzle 33 is adjustable and can point in a variety of directions. Furthermore. it is preferable that the nozzle 33 can discharge liquid in different configurations. For example, the nozzle 33 may be capable of discharging liquid in a fine jet in one mode and in a broad spray in another mode.

When using the extendable spray wand 10, particularly in the extended state, there is a possibility of the wand, or liquid discharged from the nozzle 33, coming into contact with electrical power sources. As various portions of the extendable spray wand 10 are conductive the telescopically extending members 12, 13) it is preferable that the handle 11 be made of a non-conductive material, such as fibreglass, to electrically isolate 7 the operator. Advantageously, in case of a failure in the insulating properties of the handle 11, insulation 24 rated to 1 kVA is applied to the proximal end of the handle 11 by heat O1)2 shrinking. Additional insulation 25, also rated to 1 kVA, is applied to the trigger 23 by heat shrinking. This additional heat shrunk insulation 25 is particularly important if the liquid in 5, S the hose 17 is conductive. No limitation is meant by the aforementioned rating of the heat shrunk insulators 24 and 25 and it is envisaged that any rating above 500 kVA, will be suitable.

00 STo use the extendable spray wand 10, the operator will typically connect a liquid source to the non-drip snap on fitting 22, adjust the nozzle 33 to the desired direction and/or S 10O configuration, telescopically extend the extending members 12 and 13 to their desired length, point the nozzle 33 at the area they wish to affect, and pull the trigger 23 to discharge the pressurised liquid from the nozzle 33. To manoeuvre the extendable spray wand 10, the operator would usually have one hand on the heat shrunk insulated portion 24 of the handle, with their fingers around the heat shrunk insulated portion 25 of the trigger 23. Their other hand would typically hold the shaped handle 18. Preferably, the 'D' shaped handle 18 is made of a non-conductive material, such as plastic.

It is to be understood that the terminology employed above is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The foregoing embodiments are intended to be illustrative of the invention, without limiting the scope thereof. The invention is capable of being practised with various modifications and additions as will readily occur to those skilled in the art.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction and operation described and illustrated, but only by the following claims which are intended, where the applicable law permits, to include all suitable modifications and equivalents within the spirit and concept of the invention.

Throughout this specification, including the claims, where the context permits, the termnn "comprise" and variants thereof such as "comprises" or "comprising" are to be interpreted as including the stated integer or integers without necessarily excluding any other integers.

Claims (3)

1. 2. An extendable spray wand as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrically insulated exterior surface portions are coated with a heat shrunk material rated to at least 500 kVA.
2. 3. An extendable spray wand comprising a telescopically extendable member having a handle at a proximal end thereof, and an outlet at a distal end thereof. valve means having an actuator located adjacent the handle, whereby the actuator may be manually operated by a user's hand upon the handle, and a hose extending from the valve means to the outlet and coiled around the telescopically extendable member and/or the handle, wherein the spray wand is extendable to greater than 3 metres in length and retractable to less than 2 metres, and weighs no more than 3 kilograms.
3. 4. An extendable spray wand comprising a telescopically extendable member having a handle at a proximal end thereof, and an outlet at a distal end thereof, valve means having an actuator located adjacent the handle, whereby the actuator may be manually operated by a user's hand upon the handle, and a hose extending from the valve means to the outlet and coiled around the telescopically extendable member and/or the handle, 9 wherein the outlet is an angularly adjustable nozzle which can deliver liquid in more C than one configuration. An extendable spray wand as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the c extendable spray wand further comprises a D shaped handle. 00 t-- 00 O-