GB2304022A

GB2304022A - Spray sheild device

Info

Publication number: GB2304022A
Application number: GB9516545A
Authority: GB
Inventors: June Pamela Mussenden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-08-11
Filing date: 1995-08-11
Publication date: 1997-03-12
Anticipated expiration: 2015-08-11
Also published as: GB2304022B; GB9516545D0

Abstract

A spray shield device comprises a shield (2) supported on a handle (6) so as to be disposed behind a plant (10) during spraying from a spray nozzle (13). Excess liquid from the spraying is arrested by the shield, a lower edge portion of the shield tapering to an apex (4) so that droplets arrested by a major surface (3) of the shield are collected and run off the shield at the apex. In use, the shield is held vertically with the apex above a plant pot (11) within which the plant is grown, thereby ensuring complete collection and use of the spray. The device is particularly useful for indoor pot plants located adjacent to household furniture or decoration or which are adjacent to other plants which are intolerant to the spray falling on their foliage.

Description

spraY Shield Device This invention relates to a device for use in conjunction with a spraying apparatus in the spraying of plants with liquid droplets and in particular but not exclusively to a device for use in spraying potted house plants.

It is known to spray the foliage of plants, particularly certain house plants having smooth leaves, which plants require watering by spray applied to the foliage in preference to water applied to the potting medium in which the plant is grown. Spraying apparatus for this purpose is typically a hand held container fitted with a trigger pump which provides an aerosol spray of liquid droplets. A problem with such spraying is that excess droplets passing through and beyond the foliage may damage household furniture or decoration or may fall upon other plants which are intolerant to droplets falling on their foliage.

According to the present invention there is disclosed a device for use in conjunction with a spraying apparatus in the spraying of plants with liquid droplets, the device comprising a shield having a body portion defining a major surface for arresting surplus droplets and having upper and lower edge portions which are uppermost and lowermost respectively when the shield is held in a vertically extending position in use, and a handle attached to the upper edge portion so as to extend away from the major surface, wherein the lower edge portion tapers to an apex which in the vertically extending position of the shield is lowermost whereby droplets arrested by the major surface in use collect and run off the shield at the apex.

An advantage of such a device is that the excess droplets may be arrested, collected and directed into the pot simply by holding the shield at a location such that the foliage is intermediate the spraying apparatus and the shield, the apex being positioned so as to direct the collected run-off of liquid to a preferred location.

Typically the collected liquid will be directed into the potting medium of the flower pot within which the plant is bedded.

Damage to surrounding furniture or decoration may thereby be avoided and the delivery of liquid droplets confined to the single plant or foliage intended to receive the spray.

Preferably the handle extends substantially at right angles to the major surface. The shield may thereby be conveniently held by a user at arms length so as to place the shield immediately behind the foliage of a plant to be sprayed while the user actuates a hand held spraying apparatus using their remaining hand.

Advantageously the shield comprises vertical edge portions intermediate the upper and lower edge portions, which vertical edge portions extend away from the major surface in the same direction as the handle.

The shield thereby partially extends around the foliage to be sprayed so as to provide improved collection of surplus droplets diverging from a spray nozzle of the spraying apparatus.

Conveniently the upper edge portion is curved to define rounded shoulder portions of the upper edge portion. The shield is thereby rendered manoeuvrable in confined spaces, for example between a display of potted plants, thereby improving the convenience of the device and avoiding damage to adjacent foliage.

Preferably the dimensions of the shield are such that the height of the shield when in the vertically extending position is greater than the length of the handle. The handle will thereby be relatively short and need only be sufficient in length for the user to grasp the handle in proximity with the shield.

A device in accordance with the present invention may be used in a method of spraying a plant with liquid droplets by locating a spraying apparatus adjacent a plant to be sprayed, locating the device at a location such that the plant is intermediate the spraying apparatus and the shield, actuating the spraying apparatus to direct a liquid spray at the foliage of the plant and such that surplus droplets are arrested by the shield, and collecting surplus droplets running off the apex.

Where the plant is grown in a pot, the collected surplus droplets may be received in the pot by locating the apex above the pot.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings of which; Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device in accordance with the present invention being used in conjunction with a potted plant and a spraying apparatus; Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the device of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic front elevation of the device of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1 shows a device 1 comprising a shield 2 in the form of a thin sheet of plastics material which, as shown in Figure 3, has a major surface 3 of generally oval profile but with a pointed apex 4 which is lowermost when the shield is held in a vertically extending position in use as shown in Figure 1.

The shield 3 has an upper edge portion 5 to which is connected a handle 6 extending at right angles to the major surface 3 and manually gripped in use to enable the shield to be positioned where required.

The upper edge portion 5 has rounded shoulder portions 7 enabling the shield to be easily manoeuvred into inaccessible locations.

The shield 2 is generally smooth contoured for the same purpose, with the exception of the apex 4.

The shield 2 includes left and right vertical edge portions 8 and 9 which are bent relative to the major surface 3 so as to project in the same direction as the handle 6. The major surface 3 presents a profile in front elevation which is 12 inches (30.5 cm) in height and 6 inches (15.2 cm) in width. The handle is 6 inches (15.2 cm) in length.

In use as shown in Figure 1, a plant 10 having foliage requiring spraying is potted in a plant pot 11 containing a potting medium within which the root system of the plant is embedded. A hand pumped spraying apparatus 12 having a nozzle 13 is positioned adjacent the plant 10 so as to eject a spray of liquid droplets in a generally horizontal direction towards the plant. The device 1 is deployed such that the shield 2 is substantially vertical with the major surface 3 facing the plant, the plant being intermediate the major surface and the nozzle 13 so that surplus droplets not landing on the foliage will be arrested and collected by the shield 2.

The handle 6 as shown in Figure 1 extends horizontally over the plant and can conveniently be held in the user's left hand if the right hand is used to trigger actuate the spraying apparatus 12.

Surplus droplets collected by the shield 2 will run downwardly over the major surface 3 and will collect and run off from the apex 4. The user therefore positions the apex 4 within the perimeter of the pot 11 so that the excess droplets run off into the potting medium contained in the pot.

Figure 1 illustrates the falling of a collected droplet 14 from the apex 4 following the collection of excess droplets 15.

The dimensions of the shield 2 may be varied to suit user requirements and it is envisaged that a range of devices having various sizes are provided. The handle 6 will generally be no longer than is required to grip the handle in proximity with the shield and therefore will generally have a length which is less than the height of the shield.

Claims

1. A device for use in conjunction with a spraying apparatus in the spraying of plants with liquid droplets, the device comprising a shield having a body portion defining a major surface for arresting surplus droplets and having upper and lower edge portions which are uppermost and lowermost respectively when the shield is held in a vertically extending position in use, and a handle attached to the upper edge portion so as to extend away from the major surface, wherein the lower edge portion tapers to an apex which in the vertically extending position of the shield is lowermost whereby droplets arrested by the major surface in use collect and run off the shield at the apex.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the handle extends substantially at right angles to the major surface.

3. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shield comprises vertical edge portions intermediate the upper and lower edge portions, which vertical edge portions extend away from the major surface in the same direction as the handle.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the upper edge portion is curved to define rounded shoulder portions of the upper edge portion.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the dimensions of the shield are such that the height of the shield when in the vertically extending position is greater than the length of the handle.

6. A method of spraying a plant with liquid droplets comprising the steps of; locating a spraying apparatus adjacent a plant to be sprayed; locating a device as claimed in claim 1 at a location such that the plant is intermediate the spraying apparatus and the shield; actuating the spraying apparatus to direct a liquid spray at foliage of the plant and such that surplus droplets are arrested by the shield; and collecting surplus droplets running off the apex.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5 used in spraying a plant which is grown in a pot, wherein the collected surplus droplets are received in the pot by locating the apex above the pot.

8. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.