FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a spray head of an aerosol container, more particularly a spray head that has an adjustable actuator for adjusting a flow rate of content to be dispersed from the aerosol container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Aerosol paint is commonly used for small painting tasks. Various paint types and container sizes are used to meet a variety of needs. The paint is generally contained in a pressurized can, and a simple nozzle resides on a stem extending from the top of the can. The stem extends from an underlying valve which is activated or opened by pressing downwardly on the stem. While aerosol paint cans provide ease of use, they are not very versatile. In contrast, common air brushes allow adjustment of a spray pattern, and thus allow for much more detailed or controlled painting. Unfortunately, air brushes also have added cost and require a separate compressed air source. As a result, aerosol cans with nozzles are much more common than air brushes.

Many technologies have been implemented to improve on spray head attachments for aerosol containers. A United States patent with publication no. US20140346246A1 discloses a spray nozzle configured to be disposed on to of and coupled to a standard spray paint canister whereby compressed gas within the spray paint canister serves as a propellant which expels the liquid paint out of the canister when the nozzle is actuated. The paint and compressed gas travel through the internal passageways of the nozzle and are ejected from the nozzle in a three-dimensional conical discharge. An adjustable valve is disposed on a side of the spray nozzle to manipulate and change the emitted three-dimensional discharge from the canister. An international publication WO20 16029245 Al discloses a nozzle head for an aerosol container comprising a first actuator which includes a valve stem engaging portion for engaging the valve stem of the aerosol container to form a seal therewith, a spray outlet, and a fluid passage extending between the spray outlet and the valve engaging portion. The nozzle head further includes a second actuator for controlling a rotatable valve, wherein the second actuator is rotatably coupled to the first actuator. Another Unite States patent with publication no. US20160325917A1 discloses an adjustable nozzle assembly for dispensing an aerosol fluid from an aerosol container which includes a main nozzle body, an adjustable insert tip, an orifice insert, and a cam. The nozzle body serves as the principal housing or conduit by which a user actuates the flow of fluid being dispensed from the aerosol container, while the cam, insert tip, and orifice insert cooperate to both regulate how the fluid flows through the nozzle body and affect how the fluid exits the nozzle body, thereby controlling the spray pattern of the dispensed aerosol mixture. Yet another technology as disclosed in a United States patent with publication no. US20070125879A recites an adjustable spray nozzle which provides control over spray flow rate and spray pattern, in which the adjustable spray nozzle fits common aerosol paint cans and may replace a non-adjustable nozzle which is provided with the aerosol paint can. The nozzle includes a nozzle body, a needle valve for adjusting flow, and an adjusting orifice for adjusting the spray pattern, wherein the needle valve screws into the top of the nozzle body and is aligned with a fluid passage extending vertically through the nozzle body. Further, the adjustable orifice snaps into the nozzle body and may be rotated to select a vertical fan or horizontal fan spray pattern.

The aforementioned prior arts describe the many configurations of a spray head of an aerosol container, which is the key component in the proposed invention. A major drawback arises therefrom as neither of the above-mentioned prior arts provide an upwardly angled adjustable nozzle for varying spray pattern and providing an ergonomic holding position of the aerosol container when in use. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a means to easily adjust volume of fluid content to be dispersed from an aerosol container, either by an external tool or by using a user’s fingers. It is also an object of the present invention to be able to provide a more comfortable holding position when spraying the fluid from the aerosol container.

An aspect of the present invention is to provide a spray head of an aerosol container comprising a housing formed with a recess for connection with a body of the aerosol container, and a passage that is connected to the recess for directing fluid from the body to the spray head, a nozzle connected to the passage, and an adjuster having a tip connected to the passage and positioned upstream to the nozzle with respect to flow direction of the fluid out of the body, that is rotatable between an open configuration and a closed configuration for adjusting volume of the fluid dispersed from the aerosol container, wherein the tip is formed to be slanted at a predetermined angle so that opening degree of the nozzle is dependent on the rotation of the adjuster, where the tip unblocks the nozzle when the adjuster is in the open configuration, and the tip blocks the nozzle when the adjuster is in the closed configuration.

Preferably, the adjuster is perpendicular to the passage.

Preferably, the predetermined angle ranges from 30° to 60°.

Preferably, the adjuster has an exposed knob that is configured to receive a tool to rotate the valve in either a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction.

Preferably, the nozzle and the adjuster are detachable from the housing. Preferably, the nozzle is formed with an outlet of a shape.

Preferably, the nozzle is rotatable for changing spray pattern of the fluid based on the rotated shape of the outlet.

Preferably, the nozzle is angled upwards with respect to the passage at an angle ranging from 30° to 60°.

Preferably, the nozzle is interchangeable with nozzles of varying sizes.

One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiment described herein is not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings the preferred embodiments from an inspection of which when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its construction and operation and many of its advantages would be readily understood and appreciated.

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a spray head of an aerosol container.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the spray head of the aerosol container.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional front view of the spray head of the aerosol container. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the invention shall be described according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention and by referring to the accompanying description and drawings. However, it is to be understood that limiting the description to the preferred embodiments of the invention is merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention and it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

The present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the drawings herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a spray head 1 of an aerosol container comprising a housing formed with a recess 19 for connection with a body of the aerosol container and a passage 21 that is interconnected to the recess 19 for directing fluid from the body to the spray head 1. The spray head 1 may be made of materials such as plastic which is lightweight but rigid, such that the spray head 1 is able to sustain repetitive actuation during operation. The housing of the spray head 1 may comprise two portions, a top portion 10 and a bottom portion 11, whereby the bottom portion 11 is configured with the recess for connection with the body of the aerosol container, and the top portion 10 is configured with another recess which may be pressed down by means of a user’s fingers or an external tool, in order to actuate a valve on the aerosol container.

In a preferred embodiment, the spray head 1 further comprises a nozzle 12 connected to the passage 21, in which the nozzle 12 is detachable from the housing of the spray head 1, easing replacement of the nozzle 12 if said nozzle 12 sustains any form of damage including cracks or dents due to external forces. In a preferred embodiment, the nozzle 12 may be interchangeable with other nozzles 12 of varying sizes, allowing for a variety of volume of fluid to be dispersed from the aerosol container. For example, a first nozzle 12 may be interchangeable with a second nozzle 12 having a larger outlet 13 as compared to the first nozzle 12, which would cover a larger surface area of an object to be sprayed. A smaller sized nozzle 12 may be used for spraying areas which require precision such as corners, intersections, or edges of the object being sprayed.

In another preferred embodiment, the nozzle 12 is formed with the outlet 13 of a shape being, by way of example but not limited to, a circular shape, a triangle, a cross shape, a rectangle or the likes. Preferably, the outlet 13 is rectangular in shape with rounded ends which may produce smooth lines when spraying. Additionally, the nozzle 12 is rotatable for changing spray pattern of the fluid based on the rotated shape of the outlet 13, whereby the nozzle 12 may be rotatable within 360° of its radial axis and the spray pattern will rotate accordingly as well. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the nozzle 12 may be angled upwards with respect to the passage at an angle ranges from 30° to 60°. Preferably, the nozzle 12 is angled upwards at a 45° angle.

In an aspect of the present invention, the spray head 1 comprises an adjuster 14 having a tip 15 connected to the passage and positioned upstream to the nozzle 12 with respect to flow direction of the fluid out of the aerosol container. Preferably, the adjuster 14 is disposed perpendicular to the passage, from either a left side or a right side of the passage 21, with the tip 15 of the adjuster 14 being formed to be slanted at a predetermined angle, ranging ranges from 30° to 60°, which can be seen in FIG. 3. Preferably, the tip of the adjuster 14 is angled at 45°. The adjuster 14 may be made of a plastic material and is detachable from the spray head 1 to be replaced with another adjuster 14. Furthermore, the adjuster 14 has a stepped design from one end of the adjuster 14 to its tip 15, in which the top portion 10 of the housing has stepped grooves coinciding with each “steps” of the adjuster, allowing the adjuster 14 to be snap fitted into the spray head 1 with the stepped grooves having tolerances which allow rotation of said adjuster 14. In a particular embodiment, the adjuster 14 has an exposed knob 16 at the one end that is configured to receive a tool to rotate the adjuster 14 in either a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction, whereby the tool may include a Phillips-head screwdriver, a flathead screwdriver or the likes. Alternatively, the knob 16 of the adjuster 14 may comprise a plurality of grooves which provides additional grip for users to rotate the knob 16 using their fingers. Further, there is also a clearance between the knob 16 and the spray head 1, which allows users to remove the adjuster 14 from the spray head 1 using their fingers or tools. In another particular embodiment, the adjuster 14 is configured to be rotatable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, whereby the adjuster 14 comprises indicators disposed above the knob 16 which indicate a direction of rotation, either in the clockwise direction or counterclockwise direction, such as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Rotating the knob 16 in the counter-clockwise direction as denoted by the “+” symbol 17, may cause the adjuster 14 to rotate to the open configuration, whereby volume of fluid to be dispersed may be increased to its maximum capacity, essentially unblocking the nozzle 12 from the flow of fluid from the aerosol container. However, rotating the knob 16 towards the clockwise direction as denoted by the symbol 18 may cause the adjuster 14 to rotate to the closed configuration, gradually lessening the volume of fluid to be dispersed until it decreases to a minimum capacity, in turn blocking the nozzle 12 from the flow of fluid from the body of the aerosol container.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional front view A-A of the spray head 1 of the aerosol container. In a preferred embodiment, the spray head further 1 includes a valve engaging element 20 centrally disposed within the recess 19 of the spray head 1, in which the valve engaging element 20 is configured to engage a valve member of the aerosol container when the spray head 1 is attached to said body of the aerosol container, forming a seal between the valve engaging element 20 and the valve member. Preferably, said valve member may be either a male valve or a female valve extending from the aerosol container. Also preferably, the recess 19 of the spray head 1 may be of a size less than or equal to a diameter of a neck of the body of the aerosol container, such that there is no overhang of the spray head 1 when attached.

In a particular embodiment, the passage 21 of the spray head 1 may be divided into a plurality of sections. Preferably, the passage may be divided into a first tube section 21a, a second tube section 21b, and a third tube section 21c. The first tube section 21a may be disposed adjacent to the valve engaging element 20 and may be typically frustoconical in shape, whereby the first tube section 21a has a diameter significantly larger than said valve engaging element 20 which then tapers upwards to a smaller diameter as the first tube section 21a extends to the second tube section 21b. The frustoconical shape of the first tube section 21a enhances and streamlines the flow of the fluid being dispersed from the aerosol container into the spray head 1. The second tube section 21b then extends upwards to the third tube section 21c and has a diameter equal to the first tube section 21a and greater than the third tube section 21c. In a particular embodiment, the third tube section 21c extending upwards of the passage 21 in which the fluid flows through prior to being directed to the nozzle 12. The tip 15 of the adjuster 14 extends for a predetermined distance towards the third tube section 21c with a clearance space that allows excess fluid to flow through and accumulate on said clearance space when the adjuster 14 is in the closed configuration, more particularly on the tip 15 as it is slanted. When the adjuster 14 is rotated to the opened configuration, the accumulated fluid may flow together with the tip 15 as the adjuster 14 rotates axially to have the tip 15 slanted downwards, causing the accumulated fluid to flow downwards too, which will then be dispersed with the fluid from the body of the aerosol container when the spray head 1 is actuated.

The present disclosure includes as contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a degree of particularly, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention.