IP Library › Patent Application 10504061
Patent Application
App. No. 10/504,061

Liquid spray head, apparatus comprising a liquid spray-head and container therefore

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
10/504,061
Abstract

The invention relates to a liquid spray-head, container and apparatus for exterminating crawling insects. The liquid spray-head comprises: a housing to be secured to a container containing a sprayable liquid; a liquid ejecting member connected to said housing, to be contacted with a liquid providing member for providing liquid to said liquid ejecting member; and a vibrating actuator connected to said liquid ejecting member for actuating said liquid ejecting member so as to generate a spray of liquid. The spray-head comprises a flexible member extending from an outer perimeter of said liquid ejecting member to an inner wall of the housing for providing a flexible connection between said housing and said liquid ejecting member, the flexible member being arranged so as to provide a stable working contact between said liquid ejecting member and said liquid providing member.

Claims (40)

1 . Liquid spray-head, comprising:

a housing, to be secured to a container containing a sprayable liquid;

a liquid ejecting member connected to said housing, to be contacted with a liquid providing member for providing liquid to said liquid ejecting member;

a vibrating actuator connected to said liquid ejecting member for actuating said liquid ejecting member so as to generate a spray of liquid; and

a flexible member extending from an outer perimeter of said liquid ejecting member to an inner wall of the hosing for providing a flexible connection between said housing and said liquid ejecting member, the flexible member being arranged so as to provide a stable working contact between said liquid ejecting member and said liquid providing member.

2 . The liquid spray-head according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is annulus-shaped, extending around the liquid ejecting member.

3 . The liquid spray-head according to claim 1 wherein the flexible member is provided with a radial cross-section extending from an outer perimeter of said liquid ejecting member to an inner wall of the housing for providing a flexible connection between said housing and said liquid ejecting member.

4 . The liquid spray-head according to claim 3 , wherein the flexible connection allows a certain amplitude of lateral movement along a line extending from the perimeter of the liquid ejecting member to the inner wall of said housing so as to freely suspend the liquid ejecting member.

5 . The liquid spray-head according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is provided with at least one undulation between a central opening and its periphery.

6 . The liquid spray-head according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is cone-shaped, the cone extending in a direction normal to an ejection side of the liquid ejecting member.

7 . The liquid spray-head according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible member comprises inwardly extending surface areas contacting opposite surfaces of said liquid ejecting member so as to enclose said liquid ejecting member.

8 . The liquid spray-head according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is provided with an inner perimeter that is matingly connected to a rim of the liquid ejecting member.

9 . The liquid spray-head according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is provided with an inner perimeter comprising a plurality of through-holes, the spray-head further comprising an enclosing member comprising protrusions entering said through-holes, for enclosing said liquid ejecting member by said enclosing member and said flexible member.

10 . The liquid spray-head according to claim 1 , wherein the inner perimeter comprises a notch for passage of connecting wires of the vibrating actuator.

11 . The liquid spray-head according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is provided with a perimeter that is sealingly connectable to a rim of an opening of a liquid containing container.

12 . The liquid spray-head according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is provided with a reinforced perimeter.

13 . The liquid spray-head according to claim 1 , further comprising a liquid providing member, the liquid spray-head further comprising an annular fixing member, for fixing said liquid providing member relative to the liquid ejecting member.

14 . The liquid spray-head according to claim 13 , wherein said liquid provided member comprises a chamfered surface to be contacted with the liquid ejecting member.

15 . The liquid spray-head according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is molded from an elasatomeric material from a group comprising silicones, fluorinated elastomers, fluorosilicones, nitrile-butadiene (NBR), hydrogeneated nitrile-butadiene (HNBR), thermoplastic polyester-elastomer, neoprene (cloroprene), terpolimer of etylpropilene (EPDM) and EPDM peroxide.

16 . The liquid spray-head according to claim 15 , wherein the elastomeric material is the fluorinate elastomer FKM 60.

17 . The liquid spray-head according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible member is monolithically formed to the housing.

18 . A container for comprising liquid and including a liquid spray-head, said liquid spray-head comprising:

a housing, to be secured to a container containing a sprayable liquid;

a liquid ejecting member connected to said housing, to be contacted with a liquid providing member for providing liquid to said liquid ejecting member;

a vibrating actuator connected to said liquid ejecting member for actuating said liquid ejecting member so as to generate a spray of liquid; and

a flexible member extending from an outer perimeter of said liquid ejecting member to an inner wall of the hosing for providing a flexible connection between said housing and said liquid ejecting member, the flexible member being arranged so as to provide a stable working contact between said liquid ejecting member and said liquid providing member.

19 . A container according to claim 18 , further comprising a liquid providing member and an annular fixing member, for fixing said liquid providing member.

20 . A container according to claim 19 , wherein the fixing member comprises an outer surface providing a sealing contact between the periphery of a flexible member of a spray-head and an inner surface fixedly contacting said liquid providing member.

21 . A container according to claim 18 , wherein the liquid providing member has a chamfered surface to be contacted with the liquid ejecting member.

22 . Apparatus for spraying a liquid, including a liquid spray-head comprising:

a housing, to be secured to a container containing a sprayable liquid;

a liquid ejecting member connected to said housing, to be contacted with a liquid providing member for providing liquid to said liquid ejecting member;

a vibrating actuator connected to said liquid ejecting member for actuating said liquid ejecting member so as to generate a spray of liquid; and

a flexible member extending from an outer perimeter of said liquid ejecting member to an inner wall of the hosing for providing a flexible connection between said housing and said liquid ejecting member, the flexible member being arranged so as to provide a stable working contact between said liquid ejecting member and said liquid providing member.

23 . The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the apparatus comprises an electrical control circuit for controlling the liquid spray-head, the control circuit comprising a timer circuit and/or an intensity switch.

24 . The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the apparatus comprises a fan and a conduit for ducting fanned air over the spray-head.

25 . The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the apparatus delivers fragrances.

26 . The apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein the fan comprises a rotorwheel having an axis of rotation parallel to an ejecting direction of the spray-head, wherein the conduit deflects fanned air in a direction transverse to said ejection direction.

27 . The apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein the control circuit is arranged to control the spray-head in at least two different operation modes previously programmed and stored in a memory associated to said control circuit, wherein in a first operation mode a first predetermined does of liquid is sprayed during a first predetermined period of time for detection of crawling insects, and wherein in a second operation mode a second predetermined does of liquid is sprayed during a second predetermined period of time, separated by a predetermined period from said first predetermined period of time, for effective extermination of crawling insects.

28 . The apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein said operation modes are selectable by a selector switch.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2010
From: SARA LEE/DE N.V.
To: THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025163/0732 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2010
From: LEE, SARA/DE N.V.
To: PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY, THE
Reel/Frame 025138/0195 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2005
From: AMENOS, JORDI MIRO; RODRIQUEZ, ELISABET MARTINEZ
To: SARA LEE/DE N.V.
Reel/Frame 016993/0655 →