(19)
(11) EP 4 249 126 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
27.09.2023 Bulletin 2023/39

(21) Application number: 22164581.5

(22) Date of filing: 25.03.2022
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B05B 1/30(2006.01)
B05B 3/04(2006.01)
B05B 1/16(2006.01)
B05B 12/00(2018.01)
(52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC):
B05B 1/3013; B05B 12/0022; B05B 1/1654; B05B 3/0463
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA ME
Designated Validation States:
KH MA MD TN

(71) Applicant: Yuan Mei Corp.
LuKang Township, Changhua County 50547 (TW)

(72) Inventor:
  • CHENG, CHI-HAN
    50547 Changhua County (TW)

(74) Representative: Lang, Christian 
LangPatent Anwaltskanzlei IP Law Firm Ingolstädter Straße 5
80807 München
80807 München (DE)

   


(54) CONTROL DEVICE OF WATER SPRAY GUN


(57) A control device of a water spray gun is revealed. The water spray gun includes a handle portion and a tubular portion connected with each other. The handle portion consists of a first water channel with a water input end, and a second water channel while the tubular portion is composed of a third water channel and a spray head. The second water channel is extended and connected to the third water channel while the control device is disposed on the handle portion and used for being operated by pressing to control the amount of water flow from the first water channel to the second water channel or turn off the water flow into the second water channel. The water flow is further flowing to the third water channel and sprayed out of the spray head. Thereby various amounts of water are sprayed out in a multi-stage manner or just turned off.




Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION


Field of the Invention



[0001] The present invention relates to a water spray gun, especially to a control device of a water spray gun which not only turns on or off water flow but also controls the amount of the water sprayed.

Description of Related Art



[0002] The present device is an improvement on the device revealed in European patent appl. No. 20178634 with the same applicant. Refer to US Pat. No. 7434750, in order for the flow of the liquid to be continuous, it is necessary that the user pressure is constant. If extended spraying operations have to be carried out with the valve in maximum opening position, the effort of the users can become unpleasant. In order to prevent this, there are known pistols in which means suitable to keep the start lever in open valve position are provided. A liquid dispensing pistol provided with a button for locking in dispensing position revealed in US Pat. 7434750 includes a device for the locking/unlocking of a lever which is turnable between a closing position and a maximum opening position of a valve. However, the liquid dispensing pistol can't be locked in a multi-stage manner for control of the amount of water out. Thus there is room for improvement and there is a need to provide a novel control device of a water spray gun.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION



[0003] Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a control device of a water spray gun by which users can use a valve to open a gate in a multi-stage manner or close the gate with less effort. Thereby various amounts of water are turned on and sprayed during different stages or a water flow is turned off.

[0004] In order to achieve the above object, a control device of a water spray gun according to the present invention includes an operating member, a limit member, and a moving member. The water spray gun includes a handle portion and a tubular portion extended from the handle portion. The tubular portion consists of a third water channel and a spray head extended from a front end of the tubular portion while the handle portion is composed of a first water channel with a water input end, and a second water channel. The water input end is used to connect with an external water pipe for allowing water entering an inlet of the first water channel. The second water channel is extended and connected to the third water channel while the first water channel and the second water channel are connected and communicating with each other by a gate. The control device is disposed on the handle portion. The operating member has a first end pivotally connected to a position close to the water input end and a second end. A locking key is pivotally connected to a position close to the second end and able to be pressed down or up and moved like a seesaw. A multi-stage locking function or an unlocking function is provided by the locking key 14 being pressed in the seesaw-like mode so that the operating member is positioned at the position selected or released from the position temporarily. The moving member is driven by the operating member to move forward or backward according to the position of the operating member temporarily positioned or released. One end of the moving member is extended into the handle portion A and provided with a valve which is used to open and close the gate. Thereby the gate can be opened to various degrees during multiple stages or closed for control of the amount of water flow flowing from the first water channel to the second water channel or closing off the first water channel. The water flow which is then moving from the second water channel to the third water channel and sprayed out of a spray head or not is further controlled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



[0005] The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment showing a locking key and a main body of a water spray gun according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of an embodiment according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of an embodiment according to the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing operation of an embodiment to be locked at the first stage for control of water flow sprayed according to the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing operation of an embodiment to be locked at the second stage for control of water flow sprayed according to the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing operation of an embodiment to be locked at the third stage for control of water flow sprayed according to the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing an embodiment which is in an unlocked state and ready to shut off water flow according to the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing an embodiment in which a water flow is already turned off according to the present invention.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT



[0006] Please refer to the following embodiments with reference of related figures and detailed descriptions. In these embodiments, a plurality of components with respective functions are connected directly or indirectly so that the components interact with one another once being operated.

[0007] The following embodiments show structure and operations of a water spray gun as well as interaction of component of the water spray gun according to the present invention.

[0008] Please refer to Fig. 1, Fig. 2, and Fig. 3, features of a control device of a water spray gun according to the present invention are revealed. The water spray gun includes a handle portion A and a tubular portion B extended from the handle portion A. As shown in Fig. 3, the handle portion A consists of a water input end 18, a first water channel 19, and a second water channel 20 connected in turn. A gate 19a is arranged between the first water channel 19 and the second water channel 20 for communicating the first water channel 19 with the second water channel 20. The water input end 18 is used to connect with an external water pipe for allowing water entering an inlet of the first water channel 19. As to the tubular portion B, it is composed of a third water channel 21 and a spray head 22 extended from a front end of the tubular portion B. The second water channel 20 is extending from and communicating with the third water channel 21. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, a control device of the present invention is disposed on the handle portion A and composed of an operating member 1, a limit member 26, and a moving member 23. The operating member 1 includes a first end 1a provided with a connection part 11 and a second end 1b extended from and opposite to the first end 1a. A pivot shaft 27 is arranged at a position close to the water input end 18 and the connection part 11 is pivotally connected to the pivot shaft 27. Thereby the operating member 1 can be turned or rotated on the pivot shaft 27 which is used as a pivot. The pivot of the operating member 1 is located at the position close to the water input end 18 and the second end 1b extended from and opposite to the pivot can be pressed to turn around the pivot.

[0009] The operating member 1 is further provided a window 12 located close to the second end 1b, an axial hole 13 disposed on a surface of the window 12 correspondingly, a locking key 14 mounted into the window 12, a pivot part 15, and a locking member 16 extended from one end of the pivot part 15 and provided with at least one hook 16a formed by extension of a rear end of the locking member 16. As shown in Fig. 2, the locking key 14 includes an upper part 14a and a lower part 14b located at an upper end and a lower end respectively while the pivot part 15 is arranged at a junction between the upper part 14a and the lower part 14b and pivotally connected with the axial hole 13 correspondingly. The junction is at a central area of the locking key 14. Thereby the locking key 14 can be operated by being pressed up or down, and moved like a seesaw. Refer to Fig. 3, the moving member 23 is arranged at the position close to the water input end 18 and able to be moved forward and backward horizontally. One end of the moving member 23 is extended into the handle portion A to form a valve 24 which includes one end extended to abut against a spring 25. The spring 25 is used not only for stabilizing and limiting displacement of the valve 24 but also for pushing the valve 24. The valve 24 which is conical is aligned with and mated to the gate 19a for closing the gate 19a. Thereby the gate 19a is closed by the valve 24 or opened by the valve 24 being moved away while the moving member 23 is pressed by an external force. A size/ of the gate 19a opened is determined by a distance of the valve 24 moved away from the gate 19a. A surface of the operating member 1 corresponding to the moving member 23 is provided with an abutting surface 17. The abutting surface 17 and the moving member 23 are corresponding to and abutting against each other.

[0010] The limit member 26 is arranged close to a junction between the second water channel 20 and the third water channel 21 and corresponding to the locking member 16. The limit member 26 includes at least one engaging portion which is able to be engaged with the hook 16a of the locking member 16 selectively. In this embodiment, the limit member 26 includes a first engaging portion 26a, a second engaging portion 26b, and a third engaging portion 26c. According to the position the operating member 1 being pressed, the hook 16a is selected to be engaged with the first engaging portion 26a, the second engaging portion 26b, or the third engaging portion 26c correspondingly so that the operating member 1 is positioned at the selected position temporarily.

[0011] As shown in Fig. 3, while the operating member 1 is pressed by an external force, the hook 16a of the locking member 16 is engaged with the first engaging portion 26a, the second engaging portion 26b, or the third engaging portion 26c and thus the operating member 1 is temporarily positioned at the position required. At the same time, the abutting surface 17 presses the moving member 23 to move horizontally, along a direction perpendicular to an axis x of the first water channel 19. Thus the valve 24 at one end of the moving member 23 is synchronously moved to close the gate 19a or to open the gate 19a for shutting off water flow or control the amount of water flow from the first water channel 19 into the second water channel 20. The water flow which is then moving from the second water channel 20 to the third water channel 21 and sprayed out of the spray head 22 is further controlled.

[0012] Refer to Fig. 4-8, embodiments showing various amounts of water are turned on and sprayed during different stages and a water flow is turned off are revealed.

[0013] Refer to Fi. 4, an embodiment which is locked at the first stage for allowing water flow to pass through is revealed. First the operating member 1 is pressed and turned and the upper part 14a of the locking key 14 is also pressed so that the hook16a of the locking member 16 is engaged with the first engaging portion 26a of the limit member 26 and the operating member 1 is temporarily positioned at that position. At the same time, the abutting surface 17 pushes the moving member 23 so that the moving member 23 is moved a bit into the handle portion A. Thereby the valve 24 is getting away from the gate 19a and the size of the gate 19a is getting a bit bigger. Now only a small amount of water flow is allowed to flow from the first water channel 19 to the second water channel 20, passed through the third water channel 21, and sprayed out of the spray head 22 to give a little amount of water spray.

[0014] Please refer to Fig. 5, an embodiment which is locked at the second stage for allowing water flow to pass through is revealed. The operating member 1 is continuously pressed and turned while the upper part 14a of the locking key 14 is also pressed so that the hook16a of the locking member 16 is engaged with the second engaging portion 26b of the limit member 26 and the operating member 1 is positioned at that position temporarily. The abutting surface 17 also abuts against the moving member 23 at the moment so that the moving member 23 is moved further into the handle portion A. Then the valve 24 is moved a little further away from the gate 19a and the size of the gate 19a is becoming larger. Thereby a larger amount of water flow is flowing from the first water channel 19 to the second water channel 20, passed through the third water channel 21 and finally sprayed out of the spray head 22 to give a medium amount of water spray.

[0015] Refer to Fig. 6, an embodiment which is locked at the third stage for allowing water flow to pass through is revealed. Keep pressing the operating member 1 so that the operating member 1 is turned and also press the upper part 14a of the locking key 14 so that the hook16a of the locking member 16 is engaged with the third engaging portion 26c of the limit member 26 and the operating member 1 is temporarily positioned at the position. The abutting surface 17 also abuts against the moving member 23 at the same time so that the moving member 23 is moved further into the handle portion A. Thus the valve 24 is moved far away from the gate 19a and the size of the gate 19a is much larger (the maximum). Thereby a large amount of water flow is flowing from the first water channel 19 to the second water channel 20, passed through the third water channel 21 and finally sprayed out of the spray head 22 to give the maximum amount of water spray.

[0016] Refer to Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, which is in an unlocked state and ready to shut off a water flow and an embodiment in which a water flow is already turned off are revealed. The lower part 14b of the locking key 14 is pressed so that the locking member 16 is turned and moved upward to be released from the limit member 26 and thus the operating member 1 is no more limited and positioned. At the same time, the valve 24 is pushed by the elastically extended spring 25 and moved forward to press against the gate 19a. Now the gate 19a is completely closed by the valve 24. The front end of the moving member 23 is also abutting against the abutting surface 17 synchronously along with the forward movement of the moving member 23. The operating member 1 is further pushed to be turned and extended outward. Thereby the water flow from the first water channel 19 is unable to flow into the second water channel 20 and no more water is sprayed out of the spray head 22.

[0017] In summary, how the present device controls the amount of water flow in a multi-stage manner and turns off the water flow are shown in the above embodiments. The present water spray gun has the following advantages. The pivot of the operating member 1 is located at the first end 1a which is close to the water input end 18 while the locking key 14 is arranged close to the second end 1b which is adjacent to a junction between the handle portion A and the tubular portion B. Thereby the first operating member 1 uses the first end 1a as the pivot while the second end 1b is tilted to be extended outward or moved inward. Since the position where the user applies the force and presses is close to the second end 1b and the first end 1a is the pivot, the operation and the pressing are more labor-saving. Moreover, the locking key 14 is limited positioned, and unable to be tripped and displaced while being pressed to make the locking member 16 engage with the limit member 26 due to the outward extension of the operating member 1. The operating member 1 is temporarily positioned at the position selected. Thereby the moving member 23 is driven to move and the valve 24 is synchronously moved to open or close the gate 19a.

[0018] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, and representative devices shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalent.


Claims

1. A control device of a water spray gun comprising an operating member 1, a limit member 26, and a moving member 23; the water spray gun having a handle portion A provided with a water input end 18, a first water channel 19 and a second water channel 20 connected to each other, and a gate 19a arranged between the first water channel 19 and the second water channel for communicating the first water channel 19 with the second water channel 20;

a tubular portion B formed by extension of the handle portion A and including a third water channel 21 and a spray head 22 extended from a front end of the tubular portion B;

the second water channel 20 extending from and communicating with the third water channel 21; the control device is arranged at the handle portion A to turn on and turn off water flow out of the water spray gun and control the amount of the water flow out of the water spray gun in a multi-stage manner,

wherein the operating member 1 having a first end 1a provided with a connection part 11 and a second end 1b extended from and opposite to the first end 1a; the first end 1a of the operating member 1 is pivotally connected to a position close to the water input end 18 while a pivot of the operating member 1 is located close to the water input end 18 while the second end 1b of the first operating member 1 is able to be pressed and turned around the pivot,

wherein the operating member 1 includes a locking key 14 pivotally mounted to a position close to the second end 1b and provided with an upper part 14a and a lower part 14b located at an upper end and a lower end respectively, and a locking member 16 formed by extension of a junction between the upper part 14a and the lower part 14b and provided with at least one hook 16a formed by extension of a rear end of the locking member 16; thereby the locking key 14 is able to be pressed and moved like a seesaw for providing multi-stage locking function and unlocking function,

wherein the limit member 26 is arranged close to a junction between the second water channel 20 and the third water channel 21,

wherein the moving member 23 is arranged at the handle portion A, located close to the water input end 18 and able to be moved horizontally in a direction perpendicular to an axis x of the first water channel 19 while one end of the moving member 23 is extended into the handle portion A to form a valve 24 which is aligned with and mated to the gate 19a,

wherein a surface of the operating member 1 corresponding to the moving member 23 is provided with an abutting surface 17 while the abutting surface 17 and the moving member 23 are corresponding to and abutting against each other, wherein the limit member 26 is disposed corresponding to the locking member 16 and provided with at least one engaging portion which is able to be engaged with the hook 16a of the locking member 16 selectively.; while the operating member 1 being pressed to a position selectively, the operating member 1 is positioned at the position temporarily by the locking member 16 engaged with the engaging portion,

wherein the locking key 14 along with the operating member 1 being pressed provides the multi-stage locking function or the unlocking function; the moving member 23 is further driven to move and the valve 24 is synchronously moved to close the gate 19a or gotten away from the gate 19a to open the gate 19a to different sizes.


 
2. The control device of the water spray gun as claimed in claim 1, wherein the limit member 26 includes a first engaging portion 26a, a second engaging portion 26b, and a third engaging portion 26c.
 
3. The control device of the water spray gun as claimed in claim 2, wherein the operating member 1 is further provided a window 12 located close to the second end 1b and used for mounting the locking key 14 therein, an axial hole 13 disposed on a surface of the window 12, and a pivot part 15 arranged at a junction between the upper part 14a and the lower part 14b and pivotally connected with the axial hole 13 correspondingly; the junction is at a central area of the locking key 14; thereby the locking key 14 is able to turn around the axial hole 13.
 
4. The control device of the water spray gun as claimed in claim 2, wherein one end of the valve 24 is extended to abut against a spring 25.
 




Drawing




























Search report









Search report




Cited references

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description