IMPROVED SPRAYERS AND NOZZLES FOR LIQUIDS AND FOAMS

("Rota Nozzle and Fan Sprayer") CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS:

This application claims the benefit of United States Provisional Patent Application No. 61/456,635, filed on November 8, 2010, the disclosure of which is hereby fully incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD:

The present invention relates to dispensing technologies, and in particular to a nozzle head for a sprayer that can be rotated between spray and foam settings, and which is operable in its foam setting with a Venturi effect so as to suck back exiting foam into the foam path and thus prevent leakage. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Liquid dispensing devices such as spray bottles are well known. Some offer both spray and foam settings, and allow users to choose between them. For purposes of illustration, that portion of the sprayer head from which a spray or a foam of liquid is ejected will be referred to herein as a "nozzle head." The same liquid is involved in the spray and foam settings. The only difference is that in a foam setting the liquid stream is caused to be mixed with air as it hits a screen placed in front of the spray stream. There, as the liquid hits the screen it is divided into small particles, which then mix with air. For example, some popular sprayers are provided with a screen on the outside of the nozzle which is connected along one edge of the nozzle head, and pivots back to be stored on one side, or on the top or bottom, of the nozzle head when no foam is desired. Thus, the foam screen is actually an appendage to the outer surface of the nozzle head. To overcome these drawbacks, what is needed in the art is an integrated sprayer/foamer, where a user can conveniently switch between spray and foam settings with ease, and where the foaming setting does not involve an apparatus, essentially an appendage, that can easily break off or become damaged, thus destroying the foaming functionality of the foamer/sprayer.

What is further needed in the art is a set of such integrated sprayer/foamers with easily manufacturable nozzle heads, each with a minimum of parts, where, as appropriate, foams with various degrees of atomization and density can be delivered using various screen types. Finally, what is need are nozzles which allow for more than standard conic spray output, in both foaming and spraying configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention a liquid spraying device offers both a spraying and a foaming configuration, where a user can easily switch between them by a quarter turn (90 degrees) of an outer nozzle. In some exemplary embodiments an exemplary nozzle for such a device can be made of three parts, namely an inner nozzle, a woven mesh screen, and an outer nozzle. In such exemplary embodiments the woven screen can be welded to the inner surface of the outer nozzle. By turning the outer nozzle a quarter turn - for example, either clockwise or counter-clockwise - a user can move the outer nozzle forward of the inner nozzle by a predetermined distance, and thus switch between spraying and foaming configurations. In the foaming configuration, as the outer nozzle is turned outward, it is displaced by a given distance from the inner nozzle. This insures that he spray stream leaving the inner nozzle will fall upon the screen, thus creating foam. The use of the woven screen, for example, allows for the creation of a dense foam with atomizing around the foam to create a mist. A user can, for example, by turning the outer nozzle a quarter turn in the reverse orientation, close the distance between the inner and outer nozzles, and thus return to a spraying configuration. In a spraying configuration the liquid stream leaving the inner nozzle goes through a hole in the center of the screen (now flush against the outer surface of the inner nozzle) and thus no foam is created. In alternate exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an exemplary nozzle for such a device can be made of just two parts, namely, an inner nozzle, and an outer nozzle with an integrated molded screen that can be made as an integral part of the outer nozzle. Just as is the case with the three-part embodiments, by turning the outer nozzle a quarter turn - for example, either clockwise or counter-clockwise - a user can move the outer nozzle forward of the inner nozzle by a predetermined distance, thus insuring that the spray stream will encounter the screen, and thus switch between the spray (outer nozzle at back-most position) and foam (outer nozzle at forward-most position) configurations. In such exemplary embodiments, the use of the molded screen, for example, not only allows for a simpler and less costly manufacture, but also allows for the creation of a relatively less dense foam with minimal atomizing, which is appropriate and desired for various sprayed liquids which can be harmful or toxic if allowed to atomize. Various fan type nozzles can alternatively be used, and additionally, any nozzle, rotary, foaming, spraying or fan, can be used in connection with a Flair system, which allows for a completely closed system, and does not require a dip tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

Fig. 1 depicts respective exemplary perspective and head-on views of an exemplary three-part rotatable nozzle, the nozzle shown as installed on an exemplary OpAd sprayer/foamer head according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 depicts the exemplary sprayer/foamer of Fig. 1 , in each of three possible configurations, namely Stop, Spray and Foam, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 depicts a longitudinal section view of the exemplary three-part rotatable nozzle of Fig. 1 , showing its three parts, namely a woven mesh screen, an outer nozzle, and an inner nozzle, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 depicts the exemplary nozzle of Fig. 4 in a foaming configuration, where the air vents are open, illustrating the venturi effect, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 depicts the exemplary nozzle of Fig. 4 in a spraying configuration, where the air vents are closed, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 depicts an exemplary perspective and head-on views of an exemplary two- part rotatable nozzle, the nozzle is shown as installed on an exemplary OpAd sprayer/foamer head according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 depicts the exemplary sprayer/foamer of Fig. 6, with its nozzle shown in each of three possible configurations, namely Stop, Spray and Foam, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8 depicts a longitudinal section view of the exemplary two-part rotatable nozzle of Fig. 6 in a foam configuration, showing its two parts, namely an outer nozzle with an integrated molded screen and an inner nozzle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 9 depicts a longitudinal section view of the exemplary two-part rotatable nozzle of Fig. 6 in a spray configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 10-11 depict the longitudinal section view of Fig. 8, illustrating the function of the air vents provided in the outer nozzle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 12 depicts front and cut-away views of two exemplary types of molded screens, concentric and regular grid, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 13 depicts detail of the concentric molded screen of Fig. 12 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

Figs. 14A-K depict various details of exemplary sprayer nozzles according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 15 depicts another set of respective exemplary perspective and head-on views of an exemplary three-part rotatable nozzle with an injection molded type screen, the nozzle shown as installed on an exemplary OpAd sprayer/foamer head according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 16 depicts the exemplary nozzle of Fig. 15 in a spraying configuration, where the air vents are closed, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 17 depicts the exemplary nozzle of Fig. 15 in a foaming configuration, where the air vents are open, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 18-31 depict an exemplary OpUs type fan sprayer with a fan spray nozzle, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

Figs. 32-33 depict details of the fan sprayer and its swirl principle according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

Figs. 34-36 depict the exemplary OpUs type fan sprayer of Figs. 18-33 with an alternate cone type nozzle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 37-45 depict an exemplary OpAd type fan sprayer with a fan spray nozzle, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

Figs. 46-52 depict an alternate OpUs type fan sprayer, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 53 depicts an exemplary Flair® trigger sprayer without a dip tube which can be used with any of the nozzles shown in Figs. 1 -52 according to an exemplary

embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 54 illustrates how pre-compression allows the exemplary sprayer of Fig. 53 to pump air;

Fig. 55 depicts pumping air out of a headspace according to a Flair sprayer exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 56 depicts repeating pump sequence to remove headspace according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 57 depicts the separation of product and dispensing medium into two separate circuits according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION: A. Rotary Nozzle ("Rota Nozzle")

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention a liquid spraying device offers both a spraying and a foaming configuration, where a user can easily switch between them by a quarter turn (90 degrees) of an outer nozzle. In some exemplary embodiments an exemplary nozzle for such a device can be made of three parts, namely an inner nozzle, a woven mesh screen, and an outer nozzle. By turning the outer nozzle a quarter turn - for example, either clockwise or counter-clockwise - a user can move the outer nozzle forward of the inner nozzle by a predetermined distance, and thus switch between the spray and foam configurations. The use of a woven screen, for example, allows for the creation of a dense foam with atomizing around the foam. This can be desired where the foam is provided with a fresh scent, such as citrus or herbal oils, for example, and, in addition to, for example, the foam's cleaning properties, a mist with a fragrance is desired.

In alternate exemplary embodiments of the present invention, an exemplary nozzle for such a device can be made of only two parts, namely an inner nozzle, and an outer nozzle with an integrated molded screen. Just as is the case with the three-part exemplary embodiments, by turning the outer nozzle a quarter turn - for example, either clockwise or counter-clockwise - a user can move the outer nozzle forward of the inner nozzle by a predetermined distance, and thus switch between the spray and foam configurations. In such exemplary embodiments, the use of the molded screen, for example, allows for the creation of a relatively less dense foam with minimal atomizing. Details of the invention are next described in connection with Figs. 1 through 17, wherein Figs. 1 -5 depict the three-part woven screen embodiments, and Figs. 6-13 and 15-17 depict the two-part molded screen embodiment. In addition, Figs. 14A-14K are also provided showing details of both embodiments and various variations thereof.

1 . Three-Part Woven Screen Embodiment

Fig. 1 depicts respective exemplary perspective and head-on views of an exemplary three-part rotatable nozzle, the nozzle shown as installed on an exemplary OpAd sprayer/foamer head according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. OpAd sprayers, as well as various other sprayer types, are provided by assignee hereof. With reference thereto, there can be seen an inner nozzle shown in white, and an outer nozzle provided in front of it, shown in orange.

Fig. 2 depicts the exemplary sprayer/foamer of Fig. 1 , in each of three possible configurations, namely Stop, Spray and Foam, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The inner nozzle can be turned to stop all flow, in a Stop position, as shown (left image). To move from Stop to Spray (center image), as shown, the inner nozzle can be turned by a quarter turn. Once this occurs, if the white inner nozzle is turned so as to allow flow, as in the Spray and Foam configurations, then the position of the outer nozzle, shown here in orange, can, for example, be used to select between a Spray and a Foam (right image) configuration. As shown, the outer nozzle has two positions which it can assume, relative to the inner nozzle. In a Spray configuration, as shown in the center image of Fig. 2, the outer nozzle is substantially flush against the inner nozzle. However, in a Foam configuration, as shown in the rightmost image of Fig. 2, the outer nozzle is at a forward position relative to the inner nozzle, such that there is an air gap between them and the flow stream interacts with the screen, as described below.

Fig. 3 depicts a longitudinal sectional view of the exemplary three-part rotatable nozzle of Fig. 1 , showing its three parts, namely a woven mesh screen 301 (for example from polypropylene), an outer nozzle 320, and an inner nozzle 330, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The woven screen 301 can be welded to the inner surface of outer nozzle 320. The woven screen 301 can be made from, for example, polypropylene, or for example, from various other plastics. Further, it is shown how the outer nozzle has a ring shaped space around its inner periphery, by means of which it can fit over, and slide forwards and backwards along the inner nozzle, which has a corresponding ring-like protrusion around its periphery. By sliding the outer nozzle outward (distally) the screen is thus moved forward as well, creating a space between the screen and the distal face of the inner nozzle, and putting the screen in the liquid flow path. Finally, as can also be seen, there is a hole in the center of woven screen 301 , which is used to allow an unobstructed flow of the liquid in the Spray configuration without the liquid contacting the woven screen.

Fig. 4 depicts the exemplary nozzle of Fig. 3 in a foaming configuration. Here can be seen two air vents, provided at the top and bottom of the outer periphery of the outer nozzle, which is accomplished by perforations in the flat surface between the two rings at the periphery of the outer nozzle. It is noted that by having an inner and an outer ring structure, as shown, the foam is kept within the inner ring, and thus air can enter through the air vents without its flow being obstructed by the exiting foam. When a foaming spray flows through the screen and out the inner ring of the outer nozzle in this configuration, a back air flow flows through the now open air vents, due to a Venturi effect. This allows any drips that form in front of the nozzle to be sucked back in the foam pattern, as shown by the blue arrows. This feature obviates the problem in the prior art, where drops often formed at the nozzle during foaming, and fall on a user's hands and fingers, or clothing.

The use of two air vents insures that there will always be an air vent at the bottom, or 6 o'clock position, under the inner ring. The drops that drip down under gravity are best captured at this lower air vent position. The fact that there are two vents corresponds to the fact that the outer nozzle can be turned from Spray to Foam configurations by a quarter turn of the outer nozzle from whichever orientation a user uses to change from the Stop to Spray configurations. As shown in Fig. 2, from Stop a user can turn the inner nozzle (white square) either clockwise or counter clockwise, to reach a Spray configuration, and thus, once at Spray the outer (orange) nozzle can be turned to reach a Foam configuration. This rotational freedom of moving from Stop to Spray allows for a Foam configuration in either of two orientations. Thus, in order to insure that there is a vent hole at the bottom of the outer nozzle, actually two vents need to be provided.

Given this, it is also noted that in alternate exemplary embodiments of the present invention a single air vent can also be used, and with preferable results. It is noted that the Venturi effect works better with one air vent, located directly underneath the screen, as shown by the lower opening in Fig. 4, for example. This allows any drops that have formed out of the foam spray to be caught before they drip on a user's hand or fingers, and be sucked back due to the underpressure created behind the screen due to the velocity of the spray stream. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention such a single air vent outer nozzle can be provided, and the nozzle restricted to a single configuration for Foam, such as, for example, by only allowing one direction by which a user can turn from Stop to Spray.

Fig. 5 depicts the exemplary nozzle of Fig. 4 in a spraying configuration, where the air vents are now closed, inasmuch as the outer nozzle is at its rearward position in the Spray configuration, thus closing the air vents against the front surface of the inner nozzle, making the nozzle effectively air-tight. Here the liquid flows through the hole in the center of the screen, and thus does not interact with the screen as it passes through the nozzle. Thus, the liquid does not foam.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the hole in the screen to allow such spray flow can be made slightly larger than the opening for the spray in the inner nozzle, such that during a spray operation no spray encounters the screen, as shown in Fig. 5.

2. Two-Part Molded Screen Embodiment

As noted, Figs. 6-13 and 15-17 depict a molded screen embodiment, in most respects similar to the woven screen embodiment of Figs. 1 -5. Fig. 6 depicts perspective and head-on views of an exemplary two-part rotatable nozzle, the nozzle is shown as installed on an exemplary OpAd sprayer/foamer head according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As noted, OpAd sprayers, as well as various other sprayer types, are provided by assignee hereof.

Fig. 7 depicts the exemplary sprayer/foamer of Fig. 6, with its nozzle shown in each of three possible configurations, namely Stop, Spray and Foam, as described above. Fig. 15 shows identical views, adding a "spray" and "foam" depiction in the Spray and Foam configurations, respectively. Fig. 8 depicts a longitudinal sectional view of the exemplary two-part rotatable nozzle 820 of Fig. 6 in a foam configuration, showing its two parts, namely an outer nozzle with an integrated molded screen 810, and an inner nozzle 830 according to alternate exemplary embodiments of the present invention. This version is, except for the integrated molded screen, substantially equivalent to the nozzle described above, in connection with Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 depicts a longitudinal section view of the exemplary two-part rotatable nozzle of Fig. 6 in a spray configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 16 depicts a similar injection molded device, with a finer spray pattern. Figs. 10-1 1 depict the longitudinal section view of Fig. 8, illustrating the function of the air vents provided in the outer nozzle facilitating the Venturi effect, as described above. As noted, and as shown in Fig. 1 1 , the molded screen, with larger spaces between its rings, creates a less dense (more spreaded) foam without atomizing around the foam stream. Such an exemplary device is useful where the liquid being foamed is a cleaner with some toxic or harsh ingredients, such as an ammonia or bleach based cleaner, for example. Thus, atomizing is not desired, as a user should not breathe in a toxic or caustic mist. Because there is no atomizing of the liquid, there is less odor. The molded screen embodiment is also less expensive to manufacture, as it only uses two parts, the screen being integrally molded with the outer nozzle. Fig. 12 depicts front and cut-away views of two exemplary types of molded screens, concentric and regular grid, according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. It is noted that the regular grid molded screen has a significantly larger spacing than a woven screen, as shown by the comparison shown in Fig. 141.

Fig. 13 depicts detail of the concentric molded screen of Fig. 12 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The bottom left image is a longitudinal cross section (plane parallel to the plane of the images), showing the somewhat oval shaped concentric rings (rising up out of the plane of the page) and the sharp angles between the various faces of such rings. Underneath the four rings shown (representing one half of the screen) is shown the horizontal spoke of the molded screen. Visible on the top face of the horizontal spoke are marks showing where the two portions of the mold used to make the screen were placed. As is known, a flowing liquid will hug a surface. Here, by having faces at an angle less than 90 degrees, the flow is spread out as it moves out to the left as the vertical face of the rings changes direction. This spreads out the foam, allowing the foam to fall in a thinner layer on a greater surface area, such as, for example, a tiled wall of a shower, and to thus have greater activity on that surface.

This is shown in detail in Fig. 17. Fig. 17 depicts a foam pattern generated with a molded screen, and shows how an initial spray, upon interacting with the screen and its specialized geometry turns into a foam. As shown, there are air vents provided in the outer nozzle facilitating the Venturi effect at 1720. The specialized geometry, shown at 1710 on the right panel of Fig. 17, illustrates how on both the top (outer ring) and the bottom (inner ring) of any circular ring of the molded screen the angle of the faces of the ring changes abruptly. The cross section of any portion of any such ring is essentially a rounded diamond shape, and the faces at an angle less than 90 degrees, as noted, causes the flow to spread out as it moves through the screen and out of the nozzle. The abrupt change in direction of the planes of the faces of the ring causes fluid drops to veer off at the juncture of the faces along the direction of the plane nearer to the sprayer (i.e., the plane facing the right in Fig. 17), as shown in the left panel of Fig. 17. Thus, the unique geometry of the screen rings acts like a "ski jump", launching each drop off of the screen surface at the juncture of the faces, and thus causes the liquid to split off into many diverse droplets, causing a fine foam.

Finally, Figs, 14A-14K provide additional views and details of the various foam nozzles described above. With reference thereto, Fig. 14A shows a foam nozzle as seen in the preceding figures. The foam nozzle has markings on it indicating to a user the stop position and the flow position represented by an "X" and a "Δ", respectively.

Fig. 14B shows various nozzle parts and assembly of the nozzle. In this example, the screen is a molded screen in the rotary form consisting of a series of concentric rings with four supporting lines running across the rings as can be seen in the left panel of Fig. 14B. As can be seen in the remaining panels, there is a certain pitch at which the liquid flows out of the sprayer and there is a ridge on the inside of the nozzle cover which can attach to a corresponding groove on the inside of the nozzle as shown (right panel).

Fig. 14C shows exemplary steps in assembling the exemplary rotary nozzle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 14D shows various portions of an exemplary nozzle base according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 14E illustrates an exemplary nozzle cap according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. This is a molded screen type, as noted.

Fig. 14F illustrates the bi-directional turning of the nozzle wherein from the stop or home position (indicated by the X) a user can turn either 90° clockwise or counter-clockwise. As shown in the left side of Fig. 14F from the home position turning counter-clockwise opens up a flow in the spray mode and by turning 90° twice clockwise, one can obtain a foam spray position. In this exemplary embodiment a stop position can exist even with the outer cap at a front position, as long as the inner nozzle is at the "X".

Fig. 14G illustrates the spray principle according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention wherein, as described above, the liquid in the spray does not interact with the screen in any way.

Similarly, Fig. 14H shows the alternative, where in a foam position, the screen is pulled forward of the sprayer head by turning it (the outer nozzle) as describe above. This causes the liquid spray to now have to interact with the screen, and generates foam as shown.

Fig. 141 shows possible variations for the screen including (i) an injection molded concentric screen, (ii) an injection molded straight type screen, which is a grid of vertical and horizontal bars, or (iii) a woven separate screen which is a third piece not integrated with the nozzle head as described above. Fig. 14J illustrates the injection molded concentric screen and how foam is generated due to its unique geometry, as described below in detail in connection with Fig. 17. Finally, Fig., 14K illustrates the position of the sprayer nozzle relative to an exemplary OpAd sprayer, shown in more detail below, in connection with the Fan Sprayer embodiments, and the right portion of Fig. 14K shows details of the swirl chamber which is the portion of the sprayer head from which the liquid emerges prior to interacting with the nozzle.

B. Fan Sprayers And Nozzles

Figs. 18-52, next described, depict various embodiments and versions of an exemplary Fan Sprayer according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. A fan sprayer allows a user to generate a spray in essentially a plane, subsuming an obtuse angle.

Figs. 18-31 depict an exemplary OpUs type fan sprayer, Figs. 32-33 depict details of the fan sprayer nozzle and its swirl principle (the same nozzle can be used with an OpUs, OpAd or any other type sprayer as may be desired) according to exemplary

embodiments of the present invention, and Figs. 34-36 depict the exemplary OpUs type fan sprayer of Figs. 18-31 with an alternate cone type nozzle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Similarly, Figs. 37-45 depict an exemplary OpAd type fan sprayer with a fan spray nozzle, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and Figs. 46-52 depict an alternate OpUs type fan sprayer, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention;

With reference thereto, Fig. 18 shows an exemplary fan sprayer with the nozzle closed, and therefore no spray emitting. Thus, for example, the sprayer nozzle's "X" is aligned with an indicator, here an arrow, It is noted that the exemplary sprayer head shown in Figs. 18-31 is the OpUs sprayer provided by assignee hereof, Dispensing Technologies, B.V., of Helmond, The Netherlands. It is further noted that the fan sprayer technology which is next described could also be used in connection with other sprayer heads such as, for example, the OpAd sprayer, also provided by assignee hereof, Dispensing Technologies, B.V., and essentially any sprayer that can accommodate the nozzle, as described below.

Fig. 19 depicts the exemplary fan sprayer of Fig. 18 in a horizontal spray configuration. It is noted that a horizontal spray is one that is essentially within a plane in one direction (or more precisely between two essentially parallel planes having a short distance between them) and having wide angle of spray within that plane. Here the spray is essentially within a thin plane (although it is understood that there will be fan-out in the vertical direction above and below the nominal horizontal plane of fan sprayer) which is essentially horizontal relative to the sprayer. Fig. 20 also shows a horizontal spray as in Fig. 19. Fig. 20 also shows - via the large arrow - how a user can, for example, trace out a larger square or rectangle, such as a wall of a bathroom or shower, for example, by choosing a horizontal planar spray and moving down in the direction of the large arrow. This allows for significant efficiencies. Most sprayers produce a conic spray. with a circular cross-section. To cover a larger rectangular surface, a number of overlapping circular areas is generally sprayed with the sprayer. Each instance of overlap is wasted, and also produces a non-uniform amount of liquid sprayed on the rectangular surface as a whole. The fan sprayer remedies this problem.

Fig. 21 depicts a top view of the fan sprayer of Fig. 1 emitting a horizontal spray as shown in Figs. 19 and 20, except here the sprayer shroud has been removed as well as the top of the spray nozzle for easy viewing of the internal structures. Thus we see a horizontal cross section of the fan sprayer of Figs. 19 and 20 in Fig. 21 .

Fig. 22 shows what occurs when a user turns the fan spray nozzle by 90° counter clockwise from the closed position of Fig. 18. This allows a horizontal spray to occur. Similarly, Fig. 23 shows what happens when the nozzle is turned by yet another 90° resulting in a vertical spray, where now the thin plane of spray is essentially a vertical plane, and as shown, the spray subtends an obtuse angle, generally in the range of 100-150 degrees (any greater angle would not generally be useful).

Fig. 24 shows a perspective view of the vertical spray of Fig. 23, and Fig. 25 again shows the vertical spray as shown in Figs. 23-24. Once again, the large arrow indicates how a user can, for example, trace out a larger square or rectangle, such as a wall of a bathroom or shower, for example, or a front face of a refrigerator or cabinet, for example, by choosing a vertical planar spray and moving rightwards or leftwards in the direction (or anti-direction) of the large arrow. Fig. 26 shows a summary of the figures just shown for a horizontal and a vertical spray. The top left panel is essentially Fig. 22, and the top right panel shows a user spraying over a rectangular area by moving the sprayer downwards. The bottom left panel is essentially Fig. 23, and the bottom right panel shows a user spraying over a rectangular area by moving the sprayer rightwards, as described above.

Fig. 27 depicts details of the nozzle in a horizontal spray as shown in Figs. 23-24.

Fig. 28 shows the working principle of a fan spray nozzle according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. With reference thereto, there is a lens shaped opening which allows for an extra wide spray pattern along essentially a plane. The lens shaped opening is magnified in the upper center panel of Fig. 28, and the lower left panel of Fig. 28 shows various fluid flow paths which emerge from the lens shaped opening. The right panel of Fig. 28 depicts the cut away top view of Fig. 21 , for reference.

Fig. 29 is a vertical cross section through an exemplary OpUs type fan sprayer as shown above and Figs. 30 depict details of the nozzle head and end of swirl chamber of a fan sprayer according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In the top panel, the rear inside of the nozzle head is shown both in perspective, and magnified, positions. As can be seen, the sprayer head has a central cylinder with a single groove 3010 located on its top. Correspondingly, the nozzle has three nozzle grooves 3020, located at 3, 6 and 9 o'clock - relative to the home or closed position of the nozzle. In the home position, there is no matching of single groove 3010 with any nozzle groove 3020, and thus no flow. As a user rotates the nozzle, one of the nozzle grooves matches up with the single groove 3010 on the central cylinder, and flow results.

Fig. 31 illustrates the four nozzle positions of an exemplary fan sprayer according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. With reference thereto, moving clockwise from the upper left panel, there is a stop position which can be signified to a user by the X visible on the top of the sprayer. Next, if the user turns 90° counterclockwise (as one looks into the front of the nozzle head) a horizontal spray can be achieved; the same horizontal spray can be achieved by turning 90° clockwise, as shown in the bottom left of Fig. 31 . This is because of the two nozzle grooves (at 3 and 9 o'clock in the home position, both of which allow horizontal flow). And finally a vertical spray can be achieved by turning 180° from the starting position (in either orientation) which puts the X at a 180° different position from where it started in the upper left panel of Fig. 31 , namely on the bottom -- as is barely visible in the bottom right panel of Fig. 31 .

Fig. 32 depicts the detailed vertical cut away views of the stop, horizontal spray, and vertical spray configurations of the exemplary Fan Sprayer shown above.

Fig. 33 illustrates the swirl principle by which the fan sprayer operates. The liquid swirls around an elongated spherical section 3010 provided in the nozzle. The lens shaped opening 3020 is a notch or "V" shaped cut out into the front face of the nozzle, so as to intersect with this interior spherical section 3010. As the liquid swirls as it leaves the sprayer head 3350, via sprayer head top groove 3370, it rotates and exits spherical section 3010 via the essentially linear lens shaped opening 3020, causing the fan shaped essentially planar spray. By rotating the nozzle, one obtains either a horizontal or vertical orientation of the lens shaped opening, and a corresponding horizontal or vertical planar spray.

Fig. 34 shows an alternate spray pattern according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, namely a cone spray pattern. The cone spray pattern can be achieved by using not a wide lens shaped opening as above, which is long along only one direction and short along the other, but rather, a more symmetric circular cone shaped opening which does not therefore output a planar spray but rather a cone of spray, essentially symmetric about a central axis. Here, in each of the three spraying positions where spray is possible, a cone spray would result. Fig. 35 depicts an exemplary cone spray type nozzle, and a vertical cross section therethrough, and Fig. 36 illustrates the swirl principle as used in the cone spray pattern of Figs. 34 and 35. As can be seen therein, the outgoing flow trajectories result in a cone shaped spray, being guided by the circular/cylindrical nozzle opening. Figs. 37-45 show a fan sprayer, as shown above, for a different or an alternate sprayer head known as the OpAd sprayer, also provided by Dispensing Technologies, B.V.. The OpAd sprayer is characterized by a flat top on the shroud upon which can be placed advertising or labels or the like (hence the tern "OpAd"). The OpAd sprayer gives a kind of a flat surface area on which information can easily be presented. Other than the outward shape of the shroud, the OpAd is functionally equivalent to the OpUs sprayer.

Fig. 37 shows the OpAd for sprayer with the nozzle in the closed configuration, and Fig. 38 shows a horizontal spray obtained, as above, by rotating the nozzle by 90°. Figs. 39-40 show exemplary "push-pull" functionality, used to switch between spray and foam, by causing the spray to respectively either (i) go through, or (ii) interact with, screen 4010, exactly as described above in connection with the Rota Nozzle. Fig. 39 is in a spray configuration.

In contrast, Fig. 41 shows a horizontal fan spray where foam is created as opposed to regular spray being output, and this is further detailed in Figs. 42 and 43. As shown, to create foam, the nozzle screen is pulled out forward so that the fluid interacts with it, as shown in Fig. 43. There, in Fig. 43, the fluid flow lines interfere with the structure of the nozzle screen exactly as described above in detail in connection with Fig. 17 for the Rota Nozzle. The functionality is equivalent, the only difference being the shape of molded screen 4010. However, it is noted, that the functional aspect of the linear bars of screen 4010 is the same "rounded diamond" shape in cross-section as described for the rings of screen 1710, and the same liquid splitting effect is thus produced, generating foam.

Fig. 44 shows an exemplary vertical spray pattern, as described above, and Fig. 45, the vertical foam pattern. That concludes the figures illustrating exemplary OpAd sprayers with fan sprayer functionality.

Next, Figs. 46-52 are completely analogous to Figs. 37-45 except that here instead of the OpAd sprayer a very similarly colored and similarly shaped OpUs sprayer is shown. Except for that change, the figures illustrate the same functionality described above in connection with Figs. 37-45.

Thus, Figs. 47 and 48 depict a horizontal fan spray, obtained by a user turning the nozzle by 90 degrees in either direction from the home position shown in Fig. 46. Fig. 49 shows a foam spray, due to pulling outward the nozzle screen from the home position as shown by arrow 4910. The elongated distance between the swirl chamber and the nozzle screen is clearly shown in Fig. 50 as Distance 5010, which is a magnified cut away top view.

Similarly, Figs. 51 and 52 show a vertical fan spray, with plain spray and foam spray, respectively. In Fig. 51 the nozzle has been turned to the 180 degree position (relative to the home position of Fig. 46), and in Fig. 52 the nozzle screen has been pulled forward to elongate the distance between said swirl chamber and said screen and thus cause the interaction of the liquid and the screen needed to generate foam as described above. C. Flair Sprayer Functionality

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention various liquid spraying devices, outfitted with any of the various nozzles and sprayer heads shown and described above, can be based on the "bag within a bag" or inner container/outer container Flair® technology developed and provided by Dispensing Technologies , B.V. of Helmond, The Netherlands.

It is noted that Flair® technology generally involves various bag in bag, or bag in bottle devices integrally molded from one or more performs in which a displacing medium can be introduced between the outer container and an inner container so as to empty the contents of the inner container without said contents ever coming in contact with the displacing medium. Flair® Technology also includes valves, nozzles, pumps and other parts and ancillary equipment used in connection with such bag in bag, bag in bottle, or inner container/outer container technologies. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention various Flair sprayers can be provided, where there are two separate and distinct circuits; one for the product or liquid to be dispensed, and another for a propellant or venting medium (often, for example, air).

Fig. 53 depicts an exemplary OpUs type Flair® trigger sprayer without a dip tube. As can be seen at the bottom of Fig. 53, the body of the sprayer is fitted with an integrated small riser 5310 in place of a dip tube. In alternate exemplary embodiments of the present invention, even this riser can be eliminated, inasmuch as the liquid can be brought to the necessary level by pumping whenever the sprayer is operated, as described below.

Figs. 54 illustrate how pre-compression allows such an exemplary sprayer to pump air. Pre-compression is a technique also developed and improved upon by AFA Polytek, B.V., a company related to the assignee hereof, and involves requiring the liquid in a sprayer or sprayer type device (such as, for example, a Flair Sprayer device as described below) to reach a certain pressure before it can be ejected. This guarantees that there is always a strong stream and that the stream has a small distribution of particle velocities due to the fact that overall pressure is precisely controlled. Pre- compression is achieved by a set of valves by which liquid 5410 is drawn into a piston chamber, but cannot leave the piston chamber to an outlet channel unless it exceeds a predetermined pressure. As shown in Fig. 54D, this predetermined pressure is the force by which a valve, here, for example, a dome valve (but various other types of valves can be used as well), closes the outlet channel, and can be, for example, between approximately 1 .0 to 4.0 bar, or, for example, the pressure necessary to open such valve can have various other values, as appropriate. The liquid ultimately sprayed from such pre-compression devices can have a range of pressures, according to a normal (Gaussian) distribution, and can be, and often is, higher than such minimum pressure, up to a certain maximum for that sprayer, but they all must exceed this minimum outlet valve opening pressure or there is no spray (or foam, as the case maybe).

As can be seen with reference to Figs. 54, an exemplary sprayer has an outer container wall as well as an inner bag or inner container (when full of liquid, the inner container's outer walls are pushed up against the inner walls of the outer container, as here in Fig. 54, better views of the inner/outer containers are seen in Fig. 57 for this example). As shown below, a displacing medium, such as air, for example, can be provided between these two layers. With reference to Fig. 54A, there is a liquid 5410 in the inner container, as well as a headspace 5405 on top of the liquid. Headspace 5405 can contain air, or, for example, air mixed with a gas released by the liquid. As shown in Fig. 54B, air pressure in the piston chamber is initially equal to environmental pressure.

With reference to Fig. 54C it is also noted that the sprayer is normally closed to the outside, thus there can be no contamination from the outside air via some backflow into the outlet channel through the dome valve in the bottle. Moreover, there is no venting hole in the sprayer as is commonly found beneath the piston chamber or thereabouts, as shown in Fig. 54C and pointed to by the orange arrow. The air pressure in the piston chamber is originally equal to environmental pressure, as shown in Fig. 54B, but once a user squeezes on the trigger, the air in the piston chamber is compressed, which thereby creates an overpressure in the piston chamber. This overpressure is applied on the left side of the dome (outlet) valve (shown in pink at the top right of the sprayer in these figures), from the liquid in the piston chamber. Details of this dome valve are provided in Figs. 54D and 54F. The pressure in the piston chamber can also increase due to off-gassing from a gas containing liquid in the inner container of the bottle (without any compression due to user pumping), as described more fully below.

As shown in Fig. 54D, the dome valve can have, for example, a cracking pressure which depends on its geometry and can be, for example, between approximately 1 .0 to 4.0 bar. Continuing with reference to Fig. 54E, once the air in the piston chamber is compressed (or increased due to off-gassing form the liquid), if the overpressure is high enough it exceeds the cracking pressure of the dome valve, which then forces the dome to flex open and allows the air (or gas) to enter the sprayer's outlet channel. It is also noted, as seen in Fig. 54F, that the exemplary dome valve performs "double duty." Thus, is also a one way ("non-return") inlet valve inasmuch as there is a non return valve functionality associated with it, as shown, gating the inlet to the piston chamber. This closes off the inlet to the piston chamber during a compression stroke. In a compression stroke the piston also fully fills and closes the piston chamber in a flush fit, there being no volume left in the piston chamber at all, given the shape and geometry of the piston and the outer ring at its right side, as shown below. This is sometimes known as "making the volume dead." It is noted, as shown in Fig. 54, that the [sprayer head + inner container] system is normally closed, and thus has no open air path to the outside. It is this normal condition that allows its functionality of no dip tube being required, and its ability to pump out air from the headspace.

Fig. 55 is an enlarged view of the exemplary Flair sprayer of essentially Fig. 54C, but after all of the air has been completely pumped out of the piston chamber (competing the process shown in Figs. 54B and 54C). It is noted that because sprayer heads which can be used according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, such as, for example, the OpUs or OpAd sprayers provided by AFA Polytek, B.V., are normally closed systems, with no open air inlets, they can pump air out of the bottle or container to which they are attached. As noted in connection with Fig. 54C, there is no open air intake path to/from the outside into either the piston chamber or the outlet channel when the valves are in their normal (i.e., closed) positions. The liquid or product path is thus isolated from the ambient atmosphere.

Fig. 56 illustrates six exemplary steps regarding what happens as the air in the headspace is pumped out of the top of the sprayer container and into the piston chamber of the sprayer, as described above. Beginning at the left of Fig. 56 and ending on the far right of Fig. 56, air is pumped out of the headspace such that the liquid rises to cover and then rise slightly above the riser. As can be seen, as the air is being pumped out of the headspace the inner container actually shrinks widthwise, which is what allows for the level of the liquid to rise. The reason the inner container shrinks is because as the headspace air is pumped out of the inner container an under pressure occurs in the inner container. In order to equalize the pressure air is sucked in from a one way vent 5610 at the bottom of the sprayer bottle between the two layers of the bottle, which causes air to fill the gap between the inner and outer containers and the inner container to thereby shrink. Fig. 56 shows this air movement by the blue arrows in the first, third and fifth of the illustrated steps (starting form the leftmost image). Notwithstanding such venting, the contents of the inner container never contact the atmosphere, because, as noted, the sprayer being normally a closed system, except when gas or liquid is sprayed out the outlet channel.

Finally, Fig. 57 shows various side views of an exemplary Flair sprayer, according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Here, we see a Flair inner container/outer container system provided in the container or "bottle" portion of the sprayer such that the product never interacts with the air (or other propellant) and therefore no air bubbles of any kind enter the product circuit. Thus, all that is required to fully dispense the contents of the inner container is to maintain an overpressure between the outer container and the inner container by pressurizing the gap. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention this can be achieved by, for example, simply having a vent, as shown in Fig. 57, such that when liquid is pumped out of the inner container an under pressure is created in the gap which is immediately filled by air, or, for example, a pump can be affixed to the bottom of an exemplary Flair type bottle and said pump can inject a displacing medium at a higher than atmospheric pressure, as described above. As seen in Fig. 57, at the bottom of the standard Flair container, the inner container is attached to the outer container by a small protrusion of the inner container through the outer container wall, and the vent 5750 (in the form of a set of holes surrounding the central protrusion) is provided adjacent to such protrusion. It is noted that in traditional dispensing systems the liquid/product to be dispensed, and the air or other venting medium/propellant are uncontrolled, and allowed to be mixed up in a dispensing head via venting or re-venting valves. Moreover, these valves are normally open due to the fact that the pump will not prime if there is air inside, so they allow air to be expelled as a user initiates a downstroke. In contrast, as in exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a better method is to control the content and the propellant re-vent medium. This can be done by (i) removing springs or resilient media from the pump chamber itself, and also by (ii) making sure that at the end of the down stroke (piston all the way forward in piston chamber), the volume of the piston chamber is complete dead (zero), so that air is completely out of the dispensing circuit. Further, by using (iii) normally closed, inlet and outlet valves (which can be integrated into one valve or provided as separate valves), which open by a predetermined pressure differential or "cracking pressure," and finally (iv) by creating two different circuits, one for product/content and another for propellant or re-venting medium. These two circuits are wholly isolated, and only brought together, if necessary, downstream of a one-way and normally closed outlet valve to create/implement other dispensing properties and functionalities, such as, for example, foam creation, etc..

The above-presented description and figures are intended by way of example only and are not intended to limit the present invention in any way except as set forth in the following claims. It is particularly noted that the persons skilled in the art can readily combine the various technical aspects of the various exemplary embodiments described.