NL1044078B1

NL1044078B1 - Smart water sprayer

Info

Publication number: NL1044078B1
Application number: NL1044078A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Achmed Basarat Rafi
Original assignee: Achmed Basarat Rafi
Priority date: 2021-06-29
Filing date: 2021-06-29
Publication date: 2023-01-09

Abstract

A sprayer for spraying water which allows for regulating water at a comfortable temperature for use by for example a hairdresser. The sprayer comprises a water container (120), a nozzle (113) for directing the spraying of the water, a pump device (110) for pumping the water (200) from the water container (120) and/or arranged for forcing the water through the nozzle (113) and a handle arranged for operating the pump device (110), whereby the sprayer (100) comprises a regulator (130) arranged for regulating the temperature of the water. The regulator (130) comprises means such as a heating unit for heating the water, a means for keeping the water within a temperature range, a control unit for keeping the water within a temperature range, a cooling unit for cooling of the water. The regulator is exchangeable and can be heated separately from the water sprayer container. Arrangements are provided to prevent contamination of the water and burns. 1044078

Description

SMART WATER SPRAYER

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to handheld water sprayers. More particular the invention relates to water sprayers for use in hairdressing.

BACKGROUND Currently, hairdressers usually apply some water on a customer's hair before or during hairdressing of the client. For this purpose, a waters prayer is often used which can be manually operated. The most known deices for this purpose usually share a commonly used technology of a container having a spray control device attached to it at the top of a water container. The way of work is as follows. The hairdresser unscrews the spray control leaving an opening at the top of the container. Then the container is filled with water and the spray control device is screwed back on to the container. There are some variations in types of spray controls as there are variations in containers. Containers may be made of plastic, or metal, or other material or a combination of materials.

It may be inconvenient for a customer to be sprayed on the head with cold water, especially when the environment is a bit cold already because of air conditioning or just cold days. To increase comport, the hairdresser may therefore fill the container with warm water. At the end of a haircut or after a few customers the water may be cooled down, and the hairdresser may have to replace the water in the container with new warm water. To prolong the time in which the water remains at a sufficiently high temperature to be comfortable, the container may be configured as a thermos, being double-walled.

In summer it may even be preferred to spray some refreshing cold water on the customer's hair. For this purpose, the container may be filled with cold water, or even ice water.

Disadvantage of the current art solutions are: - replacing water every time with fresh warm water is spillage of drinking water

- A drop in water temperature is inconsistent and/or unpredictable and measurement of the temperature of the water in the container is not possible. - New warm water in the container be too hot to be comfortable, or even be dangerous when too hot, even causing burns on the customer's head. - When little water is left in the container the water temperature drops quite fast. - When the sprayed water needs to be cold, the water may be too cold for a customer, without any control of the temperature by the hairdresser, other than to add warm water, and make an estimated guess on the resulting temperature. - When warm water stays in the container overnight, and used the next day, the water may be contaminated by for example the legionella bacteria. This bacteria thrives at a temperature between 25 and 51 degrees Celsius and may cause severe illness when inhaled.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a handheld water sprayer with a water container, which is easy to hold and to manipulate and which is capable of reaching and maintaining a desired water temperature to be sprayed on eg. a customer’s hair when dressing the customer’s hair. It is a further object of the invention to provide a safe operation for customer and/or operator of the water sprayer. It is yet a further object of the invention to provide control over the water temperature and the spraying action.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The figures show views of embodiments in accordance with the present invention. FIGURE 1 shows a water sprayer as an example of the invention. The references as used in the figured are listed below for facilitating the ease of reading of the figures. 100 an embodiment of the invention 110 spray control 111 connector of nozzle section to container 120 112 handle

113 nozzle 114 tube 120 container 121 outer wall 122 inner wall 123 insulating layer, such as a vacuum 130 regulator 131 insulating outer wall 132 active heating or cooling unit, or passive heat- or cold storage unit 135 contact area/heat exchanger 140 housing for storage unit 132 141 threaded part of housing 140 for connecting housing to container 120 142 insulating layer of housing 140 200 water body 300 external temperature regulating module 301 power cord

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The object is realized by the invention and its embodiments which are described hereinafter as clauses.

1. A sprayer 100 for spraying water 200, the sprayer 100 comprising: - a water container 120 arranged for containing the water 200; - anozzle 113 arranged for directing the spraying of the water 200; - a pump device 110 arranged for pumping the water 200 from the water container 120 and/or arranged for forcing the water 200 through the nozzle 113; - a handle arranged for operating the pump device 110, characterized in that the sprayer 100 comprises a regulator 130 arranged for regulating the temperature of the water 200.

2. The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the regulator 130 comprises a means of the group comprising: - a heating unit for heating the water 200; - a means for keeping the water 200 within a temperature range;

- a control unit for keeping the water 200 within a temperature range, - a cooling unit for cooling of the water 200.

3. The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the regulator 130 comprises an active heating unit 132 for converting electrical energy into heat.

4. The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the active heating unit 132 is a built-in heating unit, such as an immersion heater integrated in the water container.

5. The sprayer according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the regulator 130 is arranged for heating up the water 200 to an operating temperature in the range of 40-60 degrees Celsius. This temperature range is in particular perceived as comfortable by an average hairdresser client.

6. The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the regulator 130 is arranged for temporarily heating up the water 200 to a temperature above 60 degrees Celsius. When water stays too long in a container at a temperature between 25 and 50 degrees Celsius legionella bacteria may develop. In order to kill the bacteria, the water may be heated up to a safe temperature well above this temperature range.

7. The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the regulator 130 is arranged for temporarily heating up the water 200 to a temperature in the range of 70-75 degrees Celsius. At this temperature decontamination of the water is effective.

8. The sprayer according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the sprayer 100 comprises a thermostat arranged for a user of the sprayer 100 to set a maximum temperature to which the regulator heats the water. This is to prevent burns on the client or on the user, when spraying too hot water.

9. The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the sprayer comprises a storage unit 132 arranged for storing heat or cold, arranged for being heated respectively cooled to a temperature higher respectively lower than the operating temperature of the water 200, and a heat exchanger 135 arranged for releasing heat from the storage unit to the water 200 respectively absorb heat from the water 200 to the storage unit 132.

10. The sprayer 100 according to clause 9, characterized in that the storage unit 132 comprises any one of the group comprising: : - a high density ceramic brick; - a feolite block; 5 - areservoir containing a heat transfer fluid, such as a coolant, water or oil.

11. The sprayer 100 according to clause 9, characterized in that the storage unit arranged for storing heat comprises an electrically conducting element, such as a metal element, arranged for being heated by electromagnetic induction.

12. The sprayer 100 according to any clause 9-11, characterized in that the sprayer 100 comprises a control means 142 for controlling the heat exchange between the storage unit 132 and the water 200.

13. The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the regulator 130, the heating unit 132, the cooling unit 132 and/or the storage unit 132 is exchangeable.

14.The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the temperature of the storage unit 132 is arranged for being regulated by the regulator 130.

15. The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the temperature of the storage unit 132 is arranged for being regulated by an external temperature regulating module 300.

16. The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the storage unit 132 is arranged for being inserted in a holder 140 arranged for making thermal contact with the water container 200.

17. The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the water container 120 comprises a thermos flask.

18. The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the water container 120 comprises two or more thermally separated compartments, characterized in that the sprayer 100 further comprises a switch mechanism arranged for switching the pumping of water 200 from one compartment to another compartment of the two or more compartments.

19. The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the regulator 130 is arranged for regulating the temperature of at least a part of the water 200 after the pump has pumped the water from the water container before the water is sprayed.

20. The sprayer 100 according to clause 19, characterized in that the regulator 130 is comprised in or co-located with the nozzle. A heat element may be incorporated in the nozzle for example.

21.The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the sprayer 100 comprises one or more sensors arranged for sensing parameters in relation to the status of the sprayer 100.

22.The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the sensors comprise any one of the group comprising: - a fluid level sensor arranged for determining a level of the water 200 in the water container 120; - a temperature sensor arranged for sensing the temperature of the water 200; - A temperature sensor arranged for sensing the temperature of the storage unit

132.

- A thermocouple arranged for controlling a thermovalve arranged for activating a blocking mechanism arranged for preventing the spraying of the water 200 when the water exceeds a predetermined maximum temperature.

23. The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the blocking mechanism is arranged for preventing operating the pump device 110 and/or the handle 112.

24. The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the sprayer 100 comprises a control unit for processing the values of the one or more sensors and for providing indications of the values by means of visual, or audible indications.

25.The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the sprayer 100 comprises a wireless transceiver arranged for wirelessly communicating the values to a mobile device, central device or a server.

26. The sprayer 100 according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterized in that the sprayer 100 comprises a memory for storing threshold values of the parameters, whereby the values are communicated by the control unit via the wireless transceiver, when the values are closes to, exceeding or falling below predetermined threshold values.

The invention is now described by the following aspects and embodiments, with reference to the figures. FIGURE 1 shows a water sprayer 100 which is comprised of four modules. A first element comprises a spray control 110. Spray controls are known in the prior art. They are for example used for water sprayers for plants, and also for conventional water sprayers as used by hairdressers. A tube 114 is arranged for being brought into a body of water 200 as held by a container. Spray control 110 is arranged for pumping up water though tube 114 by operating handle 112. The pressing of the handle causes a pumping mechanism to pump the water from tube 114 through nozzle 113 out of spray control 110. Spray control may be removed from the container by unscrewing connector

111. After removal of spray control 110, a user has access to the container at the top, for example to fill, empty or clean the container. A second module in accordance with the invention comprises a container 120. Instead of using a regular container, the invented water sprayer provides for a container which is configured to allow the contained water to be heated or to be cooled. Preferably container 120 is also configured to maintain the temperature of the water at a desired level. It is therefore preferred that container 120 comprises a double wall comprised of an outer wall 121 an inner wall 122 and an insulating layer such as a vacuum. The insulating layer may also comprise a material suitable for insulation, such as extruded polystyrene foam. Container 120 is preferably configured with an opening at the top allowing a spray control to be connected and allowing container 120 to be fill, emptied and/or cleaned. A third module in accordance with the invention comprises a regulator 130 for regulating heat- or cold. Hereinafter the version of a regulator 130 configured as heat regulator having a heating unit 132 (active or passive) is further discussed, but the cooling of water is an option as well. Instead of a heating unit (which may comprise an active heating element or a passive heat storage unit), an active cooling unit and/or passive cold storage unit may be configured which cools down the water for container

120. Wherever heating is discussed, the text should therefore be read mutatis mutandis for cooling. Heat and cold storage unit are both referred to as storage unit, unless otherwise stated.

One example of an active heating unit comprises an immersion heater which may be incorporated in container 120. This has the advantage that water body 200 may be efficiently and quickly heated up to the desired temperature.

Alternatively, regulator 130 may comprise an active heating unit arranged for being placed at the bottom of container 120, in a similar manner as an electrical water cooker.

A connection with mains power may be provided by electrical connectors at the bottom of the heating unit which can engage with a plate or the like which is provided with counter electrical connectors and a cord and plug for connecting to mains power.

A preferred embodiment of regulator 130 comprises a passive heat storage unit 132, such as a block of material which is especially suitable for storing heat, but which needs an external heat source to be heated up.

Hereinafter a passive heat storage is referred to as heat storage unit.

As a heat storage medium, a phase Change Material (PCM) may be used which changes phase when heating up, thereby storing heat, and which releases heat when changed to the previous phase.

This effect is known form for example a sodium acetate heating pad.

A relatively new development in heat storage comprises heat storage ceramic.

This new material can be used as heat storage material and releases the stored heat energy on demand by application of weak pressure.

When using a removable regulator 130, a connection is made between container 120 and regulator 130. In a preferred embodiment, the connection is made at the top of regulator 130 and bottom of container 120. In figure 1, the contact area is indicated by arrow 135. The contact area is effectively a heat exchanger.

The bottom surface area of container 120 may for this purpose be made of a heat conducting material such as metal, whereas the top surface area of regulator 130 may be made of heat conducting material as well.

When the heat conducting surface of the top of regulator 130 is brought into close contact with the heat conducting of the bottom of container 120, heat may be transferred from regulator 130 to water body 200. Preferably regulator 130 is held in a housing 140, which provides insulation for regulator 130, such that heat is only transferred to the top and not to the sides.

Heat insulation by housing 140 also provides safe handling for the operator by preventing burning one’s hands when handling regulator 130. Housing 140 is preferably arranged for connecting regulator 130 to container 120, such that a tight connection of heat conducting upper surface of regulator 130 and bottom heat conducting surface of container 120.

Housing 140 may be configured with a threaded inner wall and container 120 may be configured with a matching threaded outer wall, so housing 140 together or without regulator 130 may be screwed over the bottom part of container 120.

Regulator 130 may be replaced by another regulator when the placed regulator has lost its heat to the water of container 120. The new regulator may be heated while the old regulator is placed in container 120. By changing regulators in this way and reheating regulators, a continuous heating up of water 200 in container 120 is possible.

When regulator 130 is used, heat storage unit 132 may be heated up in several ways.

A first option comprises that heat storage 132 is made of material which may be heated in an oven and which is able to store heat and transfer heat when placed to container 120.

A second option comprises that heat storage 132 is made of material such as a metal which may be heated by induction. For this purpose, external temperature regulating module 300 is provided, which may comprise an induction plate. Induction is an energy efficient manner of heating up heat storage unit 132 wirelessly. It is known from cooking utensils to use induction heating. Heating unit 300 may be connected to mains power by power cord 301.

A third option comprises that heat storage 132 may be heated by another type of external temperature regulating module 300, comprising for example an electric cooking plate.

A further improvement comprises regulation of the temperature of water body 200, for which the invention proposes several solutions for temperature regulation.

A first embodiment comprises adding an indicator on the water sprayer which provides information on the temperature of water body 200. Adding a strip of color changing material on the water container for example, may provide an indication of the water temperature. In the case of container 120 configured as thermos, the strip may be applied to the outside of inner wall 122 for direct heat conduction or conversion from water body 200 through inner wall 122 to the strip. To allow visibility of the strip and the color changing of the strip, a transparent viewing window may be incorporated in outer wall 121 at the location of the strip. The user may choose to reheat or cool off water body 200, or refill container 120, depending on the indicated temperature or temperature range.

A second embodiment comprises that a temperature control unit having a temperature sensor is positioned in or near water body 200 to measure the temperature of water body 200. A preset desired safe temperature range (hereinafter a desired temperature range is referred to as “working temperature”) may be default, or the user may select a working temperature using an interface with the control unit.

The control unit may either show the temperature on a display of the control unit or give a visual or audible warning when the measured temperature is above or below working temperature.

The user may choose to reheat or cool off water body 200 depending on the indicated or measured temperature or temperature range.

The control unit may also be part of a control system for regulator 130 to heat up or cool down water body 200. For example, when an immersion heater is used, the heater may be activated until the working temperature is reached.

The control unit may also be part of a control system for module 300 to heat up or cool down regulator 130. In case of a configuration with removable regulator 130, module 300 may be activated until the desired water temperature is reached.

When heat storage unit 132 is heated up to a certain level, heat storage unit 132 will transfer heat even after regulator 130 is deactivated.

A user may also regulate the temperature of water body 200 manually by turning off or removing regulator 130. To prevent heating up of water body 200 too fast, orto a too high temperature, the user may also choose to not completely screw housing 142 tight to container 120. By leaving an air gap, heat is transferred slower to container 120. When regulator 130 transfers heat to container 120 by direct contact of heat storage unit 132 through heat exchanger 135, heat is transferred by heat conduction, whereas in the case of leaving an air gap between regulator 130 and container 120, heat is transferred from heat storage unit 132 to container 120 by heat convection, which is in general a slower and less efficient heat transfer method.

When the air gap is larger, heat is transferred slower, therefor heating up of water body 200 is a more gradual process when the air gap is larger.

The control unit for the temperature measurement and alert may also be configured to calculate the remaining time that water body 200 stays at working temperature, and give an advanced warning when it is expected that the temperature will drop below working temperature. A timer may be included which displays the remaining time as well. In combination with a volume sensor for measuring the volume of water body 200, the calculation of remaining working temperature may be calculated even more precisely. | As stated above, instead of heating up water body 200, it may be desirable to cool down water body 200, for which purpose a cold storage unit 132 may be used instead of heat storage unit 132. Cold storage units are known in applications, and are usually filled with a cooling fluid, which retains a cold temperature longer and which may be cooled down in a refrigerator without crystallizing.

Instead of using module 300 configured as heating module, a thermoelectric cooling module such as a Peltier element may also be used to cool down water body 200 directly (in which case it is comprised as active cooling unit 132) or through cooling of cold storage unit 132 (in which case it is comprised as external cooling module 300).

The advantage of the invention also comprises that regulators are easy changeable, so the user (the hairdresser in particular) does not need to wait for heating up a heat storage unit of a single regulator every time heat runs out of the heat storage unit and the water body cools off below working temperature. This enables efficient work for the hairdresser and increased comfort for the client.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that a person skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb "to comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The article "the" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

CONCLUSIONS

A sprinkler (100) for spraying water, the sprinkler (100) comprising: - a water container (120) adapted to contain the water (200); - a nozzle (113) adapted to direct the flushing of the water (200); - a pumping device (110) arranged to pump the water (200) out of the water container (120) and/or arranged to force the water (200) through the nozzle (113); - a handle arranged for operating the pumping device (110), characterized in that the sprinkler (100) comprises a regulator (130) adapted to regulate the temperature of the water (200).

The sprinkler (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controller (130) comprises means from the group comprising: - a heating unit for heating the water (200); ~ no means to keep the water (200) within a temperature range; - a control unit to keep the water (200) within a temperature range; ~ gen cooling unit for cooling the water (200).

3. The sprinkler (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controller (130) comprises an active heating unit (132) for converting electrical energy into heat.

The sprayer (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the active heating unit (132) is a built-in heating unit, such as an immersion heater integrated in the water tank.

The sprinkler according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controller (130) is adapted to heat the water (200) to an operating temperature in the range of 40-60 degrees Celsius.

S. The sprinkler (100) as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the regulator (130) is arranged for temporarily heating the water (200) to a temperature above 80 degrees Celsius.

The sprinkler (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controller (130) is arranged for temporarily heating the water (200) to a temperature in the range of 70-75 degrees Celsius.

A sprinkler according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sprinkler (100) comprises a thermostat arranged for a user of the sprinkler (100) to set a maximum temperature to which the controller heats the water

The sprinkler (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sprinkler comprises a storage unit (132) arranged for storing heat or cold, arranged to be heated or cooled to a temperature higher than is respectively lower than the operating temperature of the water (200), and a heat exchanger (135) which is adapted to transfer heat from the storage unit (132) to the water (200), respectively heat from the water (200) in the storage unit (132).

The sprinkler (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the storage unit (132) comprises one of the group comprising: - a high density ceramic stone; - gene fenlite block; - a reservoir with a heat transfer fluid, such as coolant, water or oil.

The sprayer (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the storage unit adapted to store heat comprises an electrically conductive element, such as a metal element, adapted to be heated by electromagnetic induction,

The sprayer (100) according to any one of claims 9-11, characterized in that the sprayer (100) comprises a control means (142) for controlling the heat exchange between the storage unit (132) and the water ( 200).

The sprayer (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controller (130), the heating unit (132, the cooling unit {132} and/or the storage unit (132) is interchangeable.

The sprayer (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the temperature of the storage unit (132) is arranged to be controlled by the controller (130).

The sprinkler (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the temperature of the storage unit (132) is arranged to be controlled by an external temperature control module (300).

The sprinkler (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage unit (132) is arranged to be placed in a container (140) arranged to make thermal contact with the water container (120). .

The sprayer (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water container (120) comprises a thermos flask,

The sprayer (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water container (120) comprises two or more thermally separated compartments, characterized in that the sprayer (100) further comprises a switching mechanism arranged for switching the pumping of water (200) from the fast compartment to the other of the two or more compartments.

The sprayer (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controller (130) is adapted to regulate the temperature of at least one part of the water (200) after the pump has removed all the water from the water tank has pumped before the water is sprayed,

The sprinkler (100) according to claim 19, characterized in that the regulator (130) is located in or co-located with the sprinkler,

The sprinkler (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sprinkler (100) comprises one or more sensors adapted to detect parameters relating to the status of the sprinkler (100).

The sprinkler (100} according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensors comprise one of the group, falling over: - a liquid level sensor adapted to determine a level of the water (200) in the water container ( 120); - a temperature sensor adapted to measure the temperature of the water (200); - a temperature sensor adapted to measure the temperature of the storage unit (132); - a thermocouple adapted to control an esn thermovalve which is arranged to activate a blocking mechanism arranged to prevent the spraying of the water (200) when the water exceeds a predetermined maximum temperature,

The sprinkler (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking mechanism is arranged to prevent operation of the pump device {110} and/or the handle (112).

The sprinkler (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sprinkler (100) comprises a control unit for processing the values from the one or more sensors and for providing indications of the values by means of visual or audible indications.

The sprinkler (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sprinkler {100} comprises a wireless transmitter/receiver adapted to wirelessly communicate the values to a mobile device, central device or a server .

The sprinkler (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sprinkler (100) comprises a memory for storing threshold values of the parameters, the values being communicated by the control unit via the wireless transceiver when the values approach, exceed or fall below the predetermined thresholds.