US3739983A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-jet spray nozzle with a movable shutter member
Assignee: INST RECHERCHE WOOG CH
•
Filing: 1971-07-07
•
Granted: 1973-06-19
•
Expires: 1991-07-07
Abstract
Abstract A spray nozzle for expelling a jet of fluid, particularly suited for use in massaging the gums by the use of a liquid and for cleaning the teeth, comprises a nozzle body which defines an inner fluid cavity therein and an opening which is limited by a seating surface. A freely-movable shutter member is contained within the inner cavity in the spray nozzle and is arranged so that a bearing surface of the shutter member is pressed against the seating surface of the opening to cover the opening under the action of a fluid pressure. The seating surface of the opening and/or the bearing surface of the shutter member cooperate to define the nozzle aperture having at least one groove which permits passage of the fluid from the inner cavity of the spray nozzle to the exterior thereof. A number of possible configurations for the movable shutter member are disclosed. The grooves which define the nozzle apertures may be located either on the seating surface of the opening in the nozzle body or on the exterior surface of the movable shutter. Preferably, the nozzle is made from a plastic material, or from a plastic material with a metal insert.
Inventors
- 👤 P Jousson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:55
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C17/00; A61C17/02; A61C17/0202; A61H; A61H13/00; A61H13/005; B; B05; B05B; B05B1/00; B05B1/02; B05B1/08; B05B1/083; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7837; Y10T137/7869
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
A spray nozzle for expelling a fluid therefrom comprising: a nozzle body which defines a cavity therein and includes a surface which defines an opening communicating with the cavity and the exterior of the nozzle body, at least a portion of said surface being characterized as a seating surface, said nozzle body including fluid receiving means for receiving a fluid under pressure, and a freely-movable shutter member disposed in said cavity, said shutter member being free from permanent structural connection to said nozzle body and capable of being located at least in a first position in said cavity substantially free from structural contact with said seating surface on said opening, said shutter member including a bearing surface characterized as being capable of securely cooperating in a second position with said seating surface on said opening when said shutter member is subjected to a fluid pressure to cover substantially said opening to define in said second position at least a nozzle aperture for directing the passage of said fluid from said cavity to the exterior of said nozzle body and for directly discharging a jet of said fluid from said nozzle body, said nozzle aperture being readily accessible from the exterior of the nozzle body when said shUtter member is in said first position in the absence of fluid pressure for cleaning said aperture and said nozzle body, said freely-movable shutter member being further characterized as being freely-movable from said first position to said second position under fluid pressure and capable of retreating from said bearing surface to said cavity in the absence of said fluid pressure to substantially uncover said opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
A spray nozzle for expelling a fluid therefrom comprising: a nozzle body which defines a cavity therein and includes a surface which defines an opening communicating with the cavity and the exterior of the nozzle body, at least a portion of said surface being characterized as a seating surface, said nozzle body including fluid receiving means for receiving a fluid under pressure, and a freely-movable shutter member disposed in said cavity, said shutter member being free from permanent structural connection to said nozzle body and capable of being located at least in a first position in said cavity substantially free from structural contact with said seating surface on said opening, said shutter member including a bearing surface characterized as being capable of securely cooperating in a second position with said seating surface on said opening when said shutter member is subjected to a fluid pressure to cover substantially said opening to define in said second position at least a nozzle aperture for directing the passage of said fluid from said cavity to the exterior of said nozzle body and for directly discharging a jet of said fluid from said nozzle body, said nozzle aperture being readily accessible from the exterior of the nozzle body when said shUtter member is in said first position in the absence of fluid pressure for cleaning said aperture and said nozzle body, said freely-movable shutter member being further characterized as being freely-movable from said first position to said second position under fluid pressure and capable of retreating from said bearing surface to said cavity in the absence of said fluid pressure to substantially uncover said opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 1 wherein either one of said seating surface or said bearing surface includes at least a groove thereon, said groove defining said nozzle aperture when the bearing surface of said shutter member cooperates in said second position with said seating surface when said nozzle member is subjected to said fluid pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 2 wherein at least one of said seating surface and said bearing surface taper outwardly so that at least a portion of said shutter member can be engaged with said opening without expelling said shutter member from said nozzle body when said shutter member is subjected to a fluid pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 3 wherein said seating surface tapers more rapidly than said bearing surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 4 wherein either of said seating surface and said bearing surface is conical and the other is curved in the direction of the escape of said fluid from said nozzle body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 4 wherein both of said seating surface and said bearing surface are curved in the direction of the escape of said fluid from said nozzle body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 3 wherein both of said seating surface and said bearing surface are conical.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 3 wherein said shutter member is defined by a symmetrical body of revolution and said nozzle body structurally cooperates with said shutter member to maintain said shutter member in a predetermined orientation relative to said opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 8 wherein said predetermined orientation is maintained by the clearance between said nozzle body and said shutter member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 8 wherein said shutter member comprises a generally spherical forward portion and a generally cylindrical rearward portion, said shutter member further being characterized as having a generally U-shaped axial cross section, said forward portion extending into said opening when said shutter member is subjected to fluid pressure, and wherein stop means are provided in said nozzle body for impeding the complete inward sliding of said shutter member from said opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 10 wherein said stop means comprise the inner wall of said nozzle body opposite said opening.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 3 wherein said shutter member is spherically-shaped.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 2 wherein said shutter member includes a rearwardly extending protrusion which cooperates with said nozzle body to maintain said shutter member in a predetermined orientation relative to said opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 13 wherein said protrusion is generally piston-shaped and occupies the largest portion of the cavity in said nozzle body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the portion of the cavity of said nozzle body which cooperates with said protrusion is shaped like said protrusion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
126 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 1 wherein either one of said seating surface or said bearing surface includes a plurality of grooves thereon, said grooves defining a plurality of nozzle apertures in said nozzle body for the passage of a plurality of jets of fluid from said cavity to the exterior of said nozzle body when said shutter member cooperates in said second position with said opening when subjected to a fluid pressure, and wherein at least one of said seating surfaCe and said bearing surface tapers outwardly so that at least a portion of said shutter member can be engaged with said opening without expelling said shutter member from said nozzle body when said shutter member is subjected to a fluid pressure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 16 wherein said shutter member is defined by a symmetrical body of revolution and said nozzle body structurally cooperates with said shutter member to maintain said shutter member in a predetermined orientation relative to said opening.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 17 wherein said predetermined orientation is maintained by the clearance between said nozzle body and said shutter member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
78 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 16 wherein said shutter member comprises a generally spherical forward portion and a generally cylindrical rearward position, said shutter member further being characterized as having a generally U-shaped axial cross section, said forward portion extending into said opening when said shutter member is subjected to fluid pressure, and wherein stop means are provided in said nozzle body for impeding the complete inward sliding of said shutter member from said opening.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 19 wherein said stop means comprise the inner wall of said nozzle body opposite said opening.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 16 wherein said shutter member is spherically-shaped and said grooves are provided in said seating surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 16 wherein said shutter member is spherically-shaped and said grooves are provided on said shutter member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 16 wherein said shutter member includes a rearwardly extending protrusion which cooperates with said nozzle body to maintain said shutter member in a predetermined orientation relative to said opening.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 23 wherein said protrusion is generally piston-shaped and occupies the largest portion of the cavity in said nozzle body.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 23 wherein the portion of the cavity of said nozzle body which cooperates with said protrusion is shaped like said protrusion.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 16 wherein said seating surface and said bearing surface cooperate to produce a plurality of jets of fluid which converge.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 26 wherein the focal point for the converging plurality of jets is located at a distance of about 8 to 12 mm. from said nozzle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 16 wherein said seating surface and said bearing surface cooperate to produce a plurality of jets of liquid which are substantially parallel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 16 wherein said seating surface and said bearing surface cooperate to produce a plurality of jets of liquid which form a generally cylindrical streamline.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 16 wherein said seating surface and said bearing surface cooperate to produce a plurality of jets of liquid which diverge.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
73 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 16 wherein said seating surface and said bearing surface cooperate to produce a plurality of jets of fluid which converge, and wherein said nozzle body defines a generally tubular opening which communicates with said opening defined by said surface, the axial length of said opening being greater than the distance of the focal point of the converging jets from the apertures of said nozzle body.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 16 wherein said shutter member includes an outwardly-extending protrusion which projects outwardly of said opening when said shutter member is subjected to fluid pressure.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 32 wherein said outwardly-extending protrusion cooperates with said opening to produce a plurality of jets of fluid which diverge.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 16 wherein the cross-sectional configuration of said grooves is any one of the following: round triangular, rectangular, or circularly arcuate.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 16 wherein the cross-section of said grooves diverges in the longitudinal direction of said seating surface of said opening.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 16 wherein said nozzle body and said shutter member are made from plastic material.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
36 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 16 wherein said nozzle body is defined by a first member made from plastic and a second member made from metal and said second member defines said opening.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The spray nozzle as defined in claim 1 wherein said spray nozzle is particularly adapted for cleaning the teeth and massaging the gums by the use of said fluid.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
29 words
The spray nozzle as defined in claim 16 wherein said spray nozzle is particularly adapted for cleaning the teeth and massaging the gums by the use of said fluid.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
31 words
The spray nozzle as set forth in claim 1 in combination with: a source of fluid, and means for providing said fluid under pressure from said source to said nozzle body.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
302 words
A method for expelling a fluid from a nozzle body comprising the steps of: providing a source of fluid to a nozzle body which defines a cavity therein and includes a surface which defines an opening communicating with the cavity and the exterior of the nozzle body, at least a portion of said surface being characterized as a seating surface, said nozzle body including fluid receiving means for receiving said fluid under pressure, a freely-movable shutter member disposed in said cavity, said shutter member being free from permanent structural connection to said nozzle body and capable of being located at least in a first position in said cavity substantially free from structural contact with said seating surface on said opening, said shutter member including a bearing surface characterized as being capable of securely cooperating in a second position with said seating surface on said opening when said shutter member is subjected to a fluid pressure to cover substantially said opening in said second position to define at least a nozzle aperture for directing the passage of said fluid from said cavity to the exterior of said nozzle body, and for directly discharging a jet of said fluid from said nozzle body, said nozzle aperture being readily accessible from the exterior of the nozzle body when said shutter member is in said first position in the absence of fluid pressure for cleaning said aperture and said nozzle body, said freely-movable shutter member being further characterized as being freely-movable from said first position to said second position under fluid pressure and capable of retreating from said bearing surface to said cavity in the absence of said fluid pressure to substantially uncover said opening; and causing said fluid to pass under pressure from said source of fluid through said nozzle aperture to produce said jet.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
302 words
A method for expelling a fluid from a nozzle body comprising the steps of: providing a source of fluid to a nozzle body which defines a cavity therein and includes a surface which defines an opening communicating with the cavity and the exterior of the nozzle body, at least a portion of said surface being characterized as a seating surface, said nozzle body including fluid receiving means for receiving said fluid under pressure, a freely-movable shutter member disposed in said cavity, said shutter member being free from permanent structural connection to said nozzle body and capable of being located at least in a first position in said cavity substantially free from structural contact with said seating surface on said opening, said shutter member including a bearing surface characterized as being capable of securely cooperating in a second position with said seating surface on said opening when said shutter member is subjected to a fluid pressure to cover substantially said opening in said second position to define at least a nozzle aperture for directing the passage of said fluid from said cavity to the exterior of said nozzle body, and for directly discharging a jet of said fluid from said nozzle body, said nozzle aperture being readily accessible from the exterior of the nozzle body when said shutter member is in said first position in the absence of fluid pressure for cleaning said aperture and said nozzle body, said freely-movable shutter member being further characterized as being freely-movable from said first position to said second position under fluid pressure and capable of retreating from said bearing surface to said cavity in the absence of said fluid pressure to substantially uncover said opening; and causing said fluid to pass under pressure from said source of fluid through said nozzle aperture to produce said jet.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as set forth in claim 41 further including the step of utilizing said jet for body care.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as set forth in claim 42 wherein the step of utilizing includes the step of cleaning the teeth.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as set forth in claim 42 wherein the step of utilizing includes the step of massaging the gums.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |