GB2266348A

GB2266348A - Liquid dispenser.

Info

Publication number: GB2266348A
Application number: GB9306337A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jon Douglas Craig Mcgregor
Original assignee: MCGREGOR DEANNE ELIZABETH
Current assignee: MCGREGOR DEANNE ELIZABETH
Priority date: 1992-03-26
Filing date: 1993-03-26
Publication date: 1993-10-27
Also published as: GB9306337D0

Abstract

A liquid dispenser (1) has particular use in dispensing herbicides. The dispenser (1) has an elongate body (2) for the liquid and a trigger operated pump (20) for generating a spray from a nozzle located in a shroud (6). The shroud directs spray from the nozzle onto a plant to be eradicated, whilst substantially preventing any adjacent plants from being unintentionally sprayed. Means, such as sleeve (50), for fastening the trigger (16) of the pump in a fixed position for storage may also be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

Liquid Dispenser Thins invention relates to a liquid dispenser, particularly but not exclusively to a dispenser for dispensing herbicides.

Mcthods of eradicating weeds by use of herbicide include the use of sprays or chemically imprcgnatcd wicks. In the case of sprays, it is generally difficult to isolate the arca to be spraycd and therefore other plants may be unintentionally affected by the herbicide. Wicks of the other hand, require actual contact between a plant or weed to be killed and the wick itsclf, and as such the method utilising the wick is generally time consuming and inconvenient.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a liquid dispenser operable by a user for remote dispensing of liquid, the dispenser comprising an elongate body which is adapted to be grasped by a user, a reservoir for the liquid, exit means at one end of the body for egress of the liquid from the dispenser, pump means having an inlet for the liquid and an outlet communicating with the exit means, actuating means for actuating the pump means, the actuating means being positioned at an other end of the body opposite said one end, and the inlet being coupled to said reservoir so as to provide fluid flow to said pump means from a location adjacent said one cnd of the dispenser.

Preferably, said actuating means is in the form of a trigger operable by one hand of the user by inward deprcssion towards said body whereby the user may simultaneously grasp the said other end of the body and actuate the actuating means.

Preferably, said exit means comprises a directing means in the form of an outwardly divergent duct configurcd to cause said liquid to egress from the dispenser with a principal componcnt of motion in the lengthwise direction of the body from said one end and away therefrom.

Preferably, the duct is in the form of shroud and the shroud preferably has an outer peripheral edge which when brought substantially adjacent to a ground surface, with the body extending at an acute angle to the normal thereto, substantially confines the flow of liquid to not extend substantially outside the shroud.

In another aspect there is provided a liquid dispenser comprising: an elongate body containing liquid; a spray means for producing spray of said liquid from one end of said body; actuating means adjacent an other cnd of said body, opposite said one end, for actuating said spray means; and directing means fittcd to said one cnd for directing spray from said spray means, said body being adapted to be grasped adjacent said othcr cnd to pcrmit a user of the dispenser to hold the dispenser whilst simultaneously actuating said actuating means with one hand only, whereby to dispense the spray onto an object remote from said hand over an area limited by said spray directing means.

Preferably, said spray means comprises a spray nozzle located at said one end and a pump arranged to draw the liquid thereinto, pressurise the liquid and force the so pressurised liquid through said nozzle to thereby produce said spray Preferably, the actuating means comprises a trigger pivotally attached to a handle of said elongate body, a portion of said trigger abutting a trigger bearing element which is connected to a plunger of said pump, whereby movement of the trigger inwardly and outwardly of the elongate body rcsults in associated movement of the said plunger to thereby draw the liquid into the pump and force pressurised liquid through said nozzle.

Preferably, said spray directing means comprises an outwardly divergent duct having an outer peripheral edge shaped generally in the form of an cllipsoid, having a minor axis normal to the extent of said elongate body and a major axis angled away from the normal to the extent of the body.

Preferably the dispenser also comprises means for fastening the trigger in a furcd position for storage of the dispenser.

Preferably the means for fastening comprises a sleeve which is positioned over a free cnd of the trigger when said trigger is in a substantially closed position.

Preferably said sleeve is formed intcgrally with a cap which fits securely over said onc cnd of the dispenser, said sleeve having annular slots extending radially into the inside periphery thereof, said free end being rcccivcd in one of said slots.

Preferably said cap has female screw threading which engages with male screw thrcading on said one cnd and said slots arc arrangcd to allow ratchct movement of the slots over said frce cnd so as to allow the cap to be securely screwed onto the one cnd.

To unscrew said cap the trigger is fully closed to disengage said free end from the slots of the sleeve.

The invention will now be more fully described, with reference only, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross-scction of a liquid dispenser in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary diagrammatic cross-section of a pump of the dispenser of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a fragmentary diagrammatic cross-section of a spray nozzle of the dispenser of Figure 1; Figure 4 is an cnd view of a cap of the dispenser, as viewed from a direction represented by the line D-D as shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a cross-section of the dispenser taken along the line A-A as shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a fragmcntary diagrammatic cross-section of a handle of a modified liquid dispenser; and Figure 7 is a fragmentary diagrammatic cross-section of a spray nozzle and pump of the dispenser of Figure 6.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is illustrated a liquid dispenser 1, comprising a spray assembly 3 which includes an exit means formed of a spray nozzle and a spray directing means in the form of a shroud or outwardly divergent duct 6.

The asscmbly 3 has an elongate body 2, at one cnd 5 of which is attached a handle 4, the duct 6 being attached at the other end 7. The duct 6 has an outer peripheral edge shaped generally in the form of an ellipsoid, having a minor axis normal to the extent of said elongate body and a major axis angled away from the normal to the extent of the body, such that when brought substantially adjacent to a ground surfacc, with the body extending at an acute angle to the normal thereto, the duct serves to substantially confine spray from the dispenser 1 to not extend substantially outside the duct. The duct may be of any other suitable configuration which seems to limit the spread of spray as required. The body 2 is generally hollow and is in liquid communication with a cavity 8 in the handle 4, so as to form a liquid reservoir 9 throughout the assembly 3.The end 7 of the body 2 is sealed by a valve cap 12, while end 14 of the handle 4 is scaled by a cap 10.

Incorporated in the handle 4 is a pump 20 and a trigger 16. The trigger 16 is attached to handle 4 by a hinge 13 which allows rotation of the trigger thcrcabouts so that a central spine 15 on the trigger 16 maintains contact with a trigger bearing portion 19 of plunger 18 of the pump 20. When the trigger 16 is closed, the plunger 18 is depressed, as shown. When the pressure is released from the trigger 16, a spring 28 forces the plunger in a direction to the right, as viewed, and thereby opens the trigger 16. The extent to which the trigger may open is controlled by abutmcnt of cnd 17 of trigger 16 against the handle 4.

Pump 20 is illustrated more clearly in Figure 2. It comprises an inlet 22 and an outlet 24 in communication with a cylindrical chamber 26. Movement of plunger 18 in a direction to the right, as viewed, is facilitated by means of the resiliently biased spring 28. Such movement increases the volume of the chamber 26 and, in usc, draws liquid from the inlet 22.

Air or liquid is prevented from being drawn externally into and through the outlet 24 by means of a valye 36 located in the nozzle cap 12 (see Figure 3).

In order to discharge the liquid from the cavity 26, a force may be applied on the plunger 18 by closing the trigger 16 so as to facilitate movement of the plunger in a direction to the left, as viewed. Upon such movement of the plunger, liquid will be forced through the outlet 24. The liquid is prevented from exiting the cavity 26 through inlet 22 by virtue of ball valve 30. The ball valve 30 comprises a ball 31 scatcd in the inlet opening 33. When liquid is drawn in through the inlet the ball lifts out of seat 35 to allow liquid to flow. The ball 31 is prevented from escaping into the cavity 26 by a portion of the spring 28 being placed over the opening 33.When trigger pressure is applied, compression of the liquid takcs place and the ball is forced into its seat, thus closing off the inlet 22 and forcing liquid through the outlet 24.

The inlet 22 and outlet 24 are connected to tubes 32 and 34 respectivély. As can be seen in Figure 1, tube 32 terminates adjacent end 7 of the body 2, whilst tube 34 is connected to the cap 12.

A portion of cap 12, illustrating valve 36 (mentioned above) is shown in Figure 3. The cap 12 incorporates a receiving portion 42 for receiving the tube 34, a valve 36 and a spray nozzle 44.

Valve 36 has a spring 38 which resiliently urges a plunger 40 into engagement with a shoulder 46. Such engagement prevents air being drawn through the nozzle 44 when the pump 20 is drawing liquid. When the trigger 16 is closed, however, liquid passing from the pump 20, through tube 34 is sufficiently pressurised to force the plunger 40 against the rcsilient bias of spring 38 to thereby allow the pressurised liquid to exit the dispenser 1 via spray nozzle 44. Spray generated from the spray nozzle 44 is then directed by dua 6.

The duct 6 is secured to cap 12 by, for example, a friction fit and is located in a correct orientation by means a bevelled edge 46 across a tangent of the cap, as illustrated in Figure 4.

To prevent a vacuum being cstablishcd within the dispenser 1 when liquid is being drawn by the pump 20, an air-permeable membrane 61, or valve, is incorporated into the cap 10. This membrane does not, however, permit liquid to pass therethrough; Cap 10 may be secured to the end 14 of handle 4 by means of screw thrcading. The cap 10 is, in the present example, integrally fonned with a sleeve 50.

The sleeve 50 scrvcs the purpose of securing a free end 51 of the trigger 16 in a closed position as shown, such as when the dispenser is in storage.

To secure the free end 51 under the sleeve 50, the cap 10 is partially unscrewed and the trigger completely closed. The cap 10 is then rcscrcwcd onto the cnd 14. Annular slots 52, shown in Figure 5, may be provided along thc. inside periphery of the sleeve SO. The slots 52 may be bevelled along one edge 54 to allow for ratchct scrcwing of the cap 10 onto the end 14, but straight on the other edge thereby prcvcnting unscrewing of the cap without firstly closing the trigger 16.

The dispenser may thus be secured against tampering by children.

In operation, cap 10 is removed to allow liquid to be introduccd into the dispenser 1 through open end 14 of handle 4. In removing the cap 10, the trigger 16 is released and spring 28 forces the plunger 18 in a direction to the right, as viewed.

The cap 10 is securely screwed onto end 14 once the required amount of herbicidal liquid has bccn inserted in the dispenser 1. The trigger 16 is squeezed close and released a number of times until liquid is drawn through tube 32 and into the chamber 26 of the pump 20, if the liquid waS not previously present.

The dispenser, which is arranged to be hand held, is approximately one metre in length so that a user of the dispenser 1, whilst remaining upright, may hold the dispenser at arms length and still be able to conveniently position the duct immediately over a plant which lies close to the ground. Once so positioned, the trigger 16 is squeezed closed so as to cause the spine 15 to force the plunger 18 to the left, as viewed, which thereby forces liquid through tube 34 and out through the spray nozzle 44. Spray from the spray nozzle 44 is then directed via duct 6 onto the specified plant.

Modifications may be made to the dispenser 1 so that the chamber 26 is located adjacent cnd 7 of the dispenser 1 to thereby rcduce the numbcr of timcs the trigger 16 needs to be squeezed in order to draw liquid into the chamber 26. Such a modified dispenser 100 is shown in Figures 6 and 7.

The dispenser 100 is generally similar to the dispenser 1 of Figurcs 1 to 5 and like reference numcrals will denote like parts. The following description will therefore be restricted to differences between the dispensers 1 and 100 only. As mentioned above, the chamber 26 is located adjacent end 7 of the dispenser 100.

Liquid can therefore be drawn from the reservoir 9 directly into the chamber 26 and then forced through a spray nozzle 78, without the need for either tube 34 or 32 of dispenser 1.

The chamber 26 is formed integrally with duct 6 within casing 76 and is sealed by a piston 74 of a plungcr 65 which extends between the chamber 26 and the spine 15 of trigger 16. The plunger 65 also comprises a plunger rod 70 attached at one end to the piston 74 and at the other cnd to a trigger bearing portion 67. A spring 84, extending between the piston 74 and the inner surface 92 of the chamber 26 remote from the piston 74 serves to bias the plunger 65 in a similar manner as spring 28 of dispenser 1 biased plunger 18.

The rod 70 comprises a hollow cylinder having perforations therein (not shown) so that liquid in the reservoir 9 may pass therethrough and the volume of the reserVoir 9 is thereby maximised. Guides 72 restrict lateral movement of the rod 70.

A sealing ring 68 is located between a flange 69 of the trigger bearing portion 67 and shoulder 66 to prevcnt liquid leaking to the exterior of the dispenser 100 from around the portion 67.

Piston 74 has inlet valves 80 covering inlets 82. The valves 80 are biased against the inlets 82 by spring 84. The chamber 26 has outlet valvcs 86 which, when opcncd, are in fluid communication with spray outlets 88 of the spray nozzle 78.

Operation of the pump mechanism of dispenser 100 is similar to that of the pump 20 of dispenser 1. As the trigger 16 is movcd from a closed to an open position by the bias force of spring 84, outlet valves 86 are closed and inlet valves 80 are opened due to the pressure differential between the chamber 26 and the reservoir 9, to thereby draw liquid into the chamber 26.

Upon closing the trigger 16 against the resilient bias of spring 84 the plunger 65 is forced to the left, as viewed, and inlet valves 80 are closed. As piston 74 psssurises the liquid within the chamber 26 the outlet valves 86 are forccd -bpcn so that pressurised liquid may exit the chamber 26 and pass through spray outlcts 88 of spray nozzle 78 to thereby be rendered in a spray form. The spray is then directed by duct 6.

As can be appreciated, the dispensers as above described are effective in localising the spray generated therefrom and can therefore be used to eradicate weeds without adversely affecting neighbouring plants. The dispensers l and 100 may also be securely stored, by virtue of sleeve 50 enabling the trigger 16 to be secured in a closed position. Also the elongate form of the dispenser I permits particularly easy use since, when hand held, it is not necessary for a user to bend over to use the dispenser 1 or 100.

The invention has been described merely by way of cxamplc, and many modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which includes every novel feature and combination of novcl features defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A liquid dispenser operable by a user for remote dispcnsing of liquid, the dispenser comprising an elongate body which is adapted to be grasped by a user, a reservoir for the liquid, exit means at one end of the body for egress of the liquid from the dispenser, pump means having an inlet for the liquid and an outlet communicating with the exit means, and actuating means for actuating the pump means, the actuating means being positioned at an other end of the body opposite said one end, and the inlet being coupled to said reservoir so as to provide fluid flow to said pump means from a location adjacent said one end of the dispenser.

2. A liquid dispenser as claimed claim 1, wherein said elongate body is substantially hollow so as to form said reservoir.

3. A liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein said actuating means is in the form of a trigger operable by one hand of the user by inward depression towards said body whereby the user may simultaneously grasp the said other end of the body and actuate the actuating means.

4. A liquid dispenser as claimed in any one of claims I to 3, wherein the pump means is located at said one end.

5. A liquid dispenser as claimed in any one of claims I to 3, wherein said pump means is located at said other end.

6. A liquid dispenser as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said exit means comprises a directing means in the form of an outwardly divergent duct configured to cause said liquid to egress from the dispenser with a principal component of motion in the lengthwise direction of the body floin said one end and away therefrom.

7. A liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 6, wherein said exit means is effective to cause said egress of liquid to occur such that the liquid forms an outwardly divergent flow from the one end.

8. A liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 7, wherein the exit means includcs a divergent shroud extending from said one cnd of said body.

9. A liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 8, wherein said shroud has an outer peripheral edge which when brought substantially adjacent to a ground surfacc, with the body extending at an acute angle to the normal thereto, substantially confines the flow of liquid to not extend substantially outside the shroud.

10. A liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 9, wherein said actuating means is positioned at a side surface portion of the body which is at the underside of the body when the body is positioned.

11. A liquid dispenser comprising: an elongate body containing liquid; a spray means for producing spray of said liquid from one end of said body; actuating means adjacent an other end of said body, opposite said one end, for actuating said spray means; and directing means fitted to said one cnd for directing spray from said spray means, said body being adapted to be grasped adjacent said other end to permit a user of the dispenser to hold the dispenser whilst simultaneously actuating said actuating means with one hand only, whereby to dispense the spray onto an object remote from said hand over an area limited by said spray directing means.

12. A liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 11, wherein said spray means comprises a spray nozzle located at said one end and a pump arranged to draw the liquid thercinto, pressurise the liquid and force the so pressurised liquid through said nozzle to thereby produce said spray.

13. A liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 12 wherein said pump is located adjacent said one end.

14. A liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 12 wherein said pump is located adjacent said other end.

15. A liquid dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the actuating means comprises a member which is arranged to be deprcsscd inwardly of said elongate body to actuate said pump.

16. A liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 15, wherein the member comprises a trigger pivotally attached to a handle of said elongate body, a portion of said trigger abutting a trigger bearing element which is connected to a plunger of said pump, whereby movement of the trigger inwardly and outwardly of the elongate ody rcsults in associated movement of the said plunger to thereby draw the liquid into the pump and force pressurised liquid through said nozzle.

17. A liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 16, wherein the dispenser also comprises mcans for fastening the trigger in a fixcd position for storage of the dispenser.

18. A liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 17, wherein the means for fastening comprises a sleeve which is positioned over a free and of the trigger whcn said trigger is in a substantially closed position.

19. A liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 18, wherein said sleeve is formed integrally with a cap which fits securely over said other end of the dispenser, said sleeve having annular slots extending radially into the inside periphery thereof, said free end being received in one of said slots.

20. A liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 19, wherein said cap has female screw threading which engages with male screw threading on said one end and said slots are arranged to allow ratchet movement of the slots over said free end so as to allow the cap to be securely screwed onto the other end.

21. A liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 19 or 20, wherein to unscrew said cap the trigger is fully closed to discngage said free end from the slots of the sleeve.

22. A liquid dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 21, wherein said spray directing means comprises an outwardly divergent duct having and outer periphcral edge shaped generally in the form of an ellipsoid, having a minor axis normal to the extent of said elongate body and a major axis angled away from the normal to the extent of the body.

23. A liquid dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 22, wherein said elongate body is substantially hollow so as to form a reservoir for said liquid therein.

24. A liquid dispenser as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the liquid s a herbicide.

25. A liquid dispenser is claimed in any previous claim, wherein the dispenser is in the order of one metre in length.

26. A liquid dispenser substantially as hercinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.