Spray apparatus and method

Claim 3

The spray apparatus of claim 1 including: a pressure accumulator associated with said main air line.

Claim 4

The spray apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said spray applicator means comprises a spray gun.

Claim 5

The spray apparatus of claim 1 including: a plurality of said spray reservoirs associated with an equal plurality of spray applicator means; said main air line connected to each of said spray applicator means; an air pressure supply branch disposed between said main air line in each of said reservoirs; and a one-way valve disposed in each said air pressure supply branch.

Claim 6

The spray apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sequential valving means includes: a valve casing defining a valve chamber; air inlet means to the valve chamber and connected to the main air line; spray product inlet means to the valve chamber and connected to the product line; air outlet means from the valve chamber; spray product outlet means from the valve chamber; a valving element movably located in said valve chamber; said valving element having a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage; said valving element sequentially movable between a first position blocking fluid communication between the air inlet means and the air outlet means and blocking fluid communication between the spray product inlet means and spray product outlet means; a second position with the first fluid passage in position to allow fluid communication between the air inlet means and the air outlet means and in blocking relationship between the spray product inlet means and the spray product outlet means; a third position with the first fluid passage in position to allow fluid communication between the air inlet means and the air outlet means, and the second fluid passage in position to allow fluid communication between the spray product inlet means and the spray product outlet means; said actuator means being adapted to sequentially move said valving element.

Claim 7

The spray apparatus of claim 5 wherein: said air outlet means includes a pair of air outlet ports communicating with the valve chamber; and including means to selectively restrict the flow of air through one of said air outlet ports.

Claim 8

The spray apparatus of claim 5 including: bias Means associated with the actuator means to bias said valving element in the first position.

Claim 9

The spray apparatus of claim 5 wherein: said air inlet means is comprised of at least one air inlet port; said air outlet means is comprised of at least one air outlet port; said spray product inlet means is comprised of at least one spray product inlet port; said spray product outlet means is comprised of at least one spray product outlet port; said valving element is constituted as a plunger linearly movable in said valve chamber; said plunger having a first head movable into and out of blocking relationship between said air inlet port and said air outlet port, a first neck in linear alignment with said first head and providing said first fluid passage, a second head in linear alignment with said first neck and movable into and out of blocking relationship between the spray product inlet port and spray product outlet port, and a second neck linearly aligned with said second head and providing said second fluid passage.

Claim 10

A spray applicator for the concurrent discharge of a first fluid and a second fluid with staged initiation and termination of spraying of the first fluid and second fluid, said applicator comprising: an applicator housing; sequential valve means located in said applicator housing; said sequential valve means including a valve casing defining a valve chamber; first fluid inlet means to the valve chamber adapted to receive a first fluid under pressure from a first fluid delivery line; second fluid inlet means to the valve chamber adapted to receive a second fluid under pressure from a second fluid delivery line; first fluid outlet means from the valve chamber; second fluid outlet means from the valve chamber; a valving element movably located in said valve chamber; said valving element having a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage; said valving element sequentially movable between a first position blocking fluid communication between the first fluid inlet means and the first fluid outlet means, and blocking fluid communication between the second fluid inlet means and the second fluid outlet means; a second position with the first fluid passage allowing fluid communication between the first fluid inlet means and the first fluid outlet means, and blocking fluid communication between the second fluid inlet means and the second fluid outlet means; and a third position with the first fluid passage allowing fluid communication between the first fluid inlet means and the first fluid outlet means, and the second fluid passage allowing fluid communication between the second fluid inlet means and the second fluid outlet means; actuator means adapted to sequentially move said valving element; a spray nozzle associated with said spray applicator housing; and means establishing fluid communication between the first outlet means and the second outlet means, and the spray nozzle.

Claim 11

A spray applicator for the concurrent discharge of a first fluid and a second fluid with staged initiation and termination of spraying of the first fluid and second fluid, said applicator comprising: an applicator housing; sequential valve means located in said applicator housing; said sequential valve means including a valve casing defining a valve chamber; first fluid inlet means to the valve chamber adapted to receive a first fluid under pressure from a first fluid delivery line; second fluid inlet means to the valve chamber adapted to receive a second fluid under pressure from a second fluid delivery line; first fluid outlet means from the valve chamber; second fluid outlet means from the valve chamber; a valving element movably located in said valve chamber; said valving element having a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage; said valving element sequentially movable between a first position blocking fluid communication between the first fluid inlet means and the first fluid outlet means, and blocking fluid communication between the second fluid inlet means and the second fluid outlet means; a second position with the first fluid passage allowing fluid communication between the first fluid inlet means and the first fluid outlet means, and blocking fluid communication between the second fluid inlet means and the second fluid outlet means; and a third position with the first fluid passage allowing fluid communication between the first fluid inlet means and the first fluid outlet means, and the second fluid passage allowing fluid communication between the second fluid inlet means and the second fluid outlet means; actuator means adapted to sequentially move said valving element; a spray nozzle associated with said spray applicator housing; and means establishing fluid communication between the first outlet means and the second outlet means, and the spray nozzle.

Claim 12

The spray applicator of claim 9 wherein: said first fluid outlet means includes a pair of fluid outlet ports communicating with the valve chamber; and including means to selectively restrict the flow of the first fluid through one of said first fluid outlet ports.

Claim 13

The spray applicator of claim 9 including: bias means associated with the actuator means to bias said valving element in the first position.

Claim 14

The spray applicator of claim 9 wherein: said first fluid inlet means is comprised of at least one first fluid inlet port; said first fluid outlet means is comprised of at least one first fluid outlet port; said second fluid inlet means is comprised of at least one second fluid inlet port; said second fluid outlet means is comprised of at least one second fluid outlet port; said valving element is constituted as a plunger linearly movable in said valve chamber; said plunger having a first head movable into and out of blocking relationsHip between said first inlet port and said first outlet port, a first neck in linear alignment with said first head and providing said first fluid passage, a second head in linear alignment with said first neck and movable into and out of blocking relationship between the second fluid inlet port and said fluid outlet port, and a second neck in linear alignment with said second head and providingly said second fluid passage.

Claim 15

The spray applicator of claim 12 wherein: said first fluid outlet means is comprised of a pair of first fluid outlet ports; and including means to selectively restrict the flow of first fluid through one of said first fluid outlet ports.

Claim 16

The spray applicator of claim 13 wherein: means establishing fluid communication between the first fluid outlet means and the spray nozzle includes a flexible, tubular fluid line extending from one of said first fluid outlet ports to said spray nozzle; and wherein the means to selectively restrict the flow of first fluid through one of said fluid outlet ports includes a ledge secured to said spray applicator housing, a plate located adjacent said ledge and attached to a shaft extending out of said applicator housing, a button attached to the opposite end of said shaft outside of said applicator housing, said flexible tubular fluid line having a portion passing over said ledge between said ledge and said plate whereby upon application of digital pressure to said button said flexible tubular fluid line is pinched off.

Claim 17

The spray applicator of claim 12 wherein said actuator means to actuate the sequential valving means includes: a plunger shaft extending from said plunger linearly outward of said valve chamber and said applicator housing, and a trigger connected to the outward end of said plunger whereby digital pressure upon said trigger is operable to move said valve plunger between said first, second and third positions.

Claim 20

The method of claim 16 wherein the step of sequentially discharging first the air and then the spray product upon the initiation of spraying, and sequentially terminating first the spray product and then the air upon the completion of spraying includes: directing the spray product to the spray product inlet of a sequential valve means having a movable valving element and spray product inlet means, spray product outlet means, air inlet means and air outlet means; directing the air to the air inlet means of the valving means; sequentially moving the valving element to initiate spraying, from a first position blocking fluid communication between the spray product inlet means and spray product outlet means, and between the air inlet means and air outlet means; to a second position blocking fluid communication between the spray product inlet means and spray product outlet means, and allowing fluid communication between the air inlet means and air outlet means; to a third position allowing fluid communication between the spray product inlet means and spray product outlet means, and allowing fluid communication between the air inlet means and air outlet means; providing fluid communication between the air outlet means and a spray nozzle, and between the spray product outlet means and the spray nozzle; and moving the valving element from the third to the second then the first position upon completion of spraying.

Claim 23

The spray apparatus of claim 18 wherein: said air pressure supply branch terminates in a hollow, pointed needle, said air pressure supply branch needle penetrating said elastically penetrable insert and communicating with the interior of the container.

Claim 24

The spray apparatus of claim 18 wherein: the closure means includes a plug located in said open neck having outer wall portions in sealing engagement with interior portions of said open neck to seal the open neck.

Claim 25

In a spray apparatus of the type having a spray product reservoir, a main air line adapted to receive a supply of air under low pressure from an air supply means, spray applicator means operable to concurrently discharge air and a spray product in a fine, particulate spray, said main air line connected directly to the spray applicator means to supply air under low pressure to the spray applicator means, an air pressure supply branch disposed between the main air line and the reservoir to supply air under pressure to the reservoir, a one-way air valve disposed in said pressure supply branch orientated to allow free passage of air from the main air line into the reservoir and restrict passage of air from the reservoir to the main air line, and a product line disposed between the reservoir and the spray applicator means to deliver spray product to the spray applicator means, an improved spray reservoir including: a closed container having an open neck, closure means sealably closing the open neck of the container, said closure means having a central opening, an elastically penetrable insert located in sealing relationship to said central opening and adapted to be penetrated by a portion of the product line whereby spray product is carried from the interior of the container through the product line to the spray applicator.

Claim 26

In a spray apparatus of the type having a spray product reservoir, a main air line adapted to receive a supply of air under low pressure from an air supply means, spray applicator means operable to concurrently discharge air and a spray product in a fine, particulate spray, said main air line connected directly to the spray applicator means to supply air under low pressure to the spray applicator means, an air pressure supply branch disposed between the main air line and the reservoir to supply air under pressure to the reservoir, a one-way air valve disposed in said pressure supply branch orientated to allow free passage of air from the main air line into the reservoir and restrict passage of air from the reservoir to the main air line, and a product line disposed between the reservoir and the spray applicator means to deliver spray product to the spray applicator means, an improved spray reservoir including: a closed container having an open neck, closure means sealably closing the open neck of the container, said closure means having a central opening, an elastically penetrable insert located in sealing relationship to said central opening and adapted to be penetrated by a portion of the product line whereby spray product is carried from the interior of the container through the product line to the spray applicator.

Claim 27

The spray apparatus of claim 21 wherein: the closure means includes a plug located in said open neck having outer wall portions in sealing engagement with interior portions of said open neck to seal the open neck.

Claim 28

The spray apparatus of claim 22 wherein: the open neck portion of the container has an interior, outwardly facing ledge; said plug having a peripheral, inwardly facing ledge in mating contact with the outwardly facing ledge of the open neck.

Claim 29

A liquid product reservoir comprising: a closed container having an open nEck portion with interior walls defining an open throat; an interior, outwardly facing ledge integral with said interior walls of said throat; a plug located in said throat having outer walls closely conforming to the interior walls of said neck portion to close the neck portion; said plug having a peripheral, inwardly facing ledge in mating contact with the outwardly facing ledge in said throat; the end portion of said neck being fused to the end of said plug to secure said plug in said throat; said plug having a central opening; an elastically penetrable insert sealably located in said central opening of said plug.

Claim 30

A liquid product reservoir comprising: a closed container having an open nEck portion with interior walls defining an open throat; an interior, outwardly facing ledge integral with said interior walls of said throat; a plug located in said throat having outer walls closely conforming to the interior walls of said neck portion to close the neck portion; said plug having a peripheral, inwardly facing ledge in mating contact with the outwardly facing ledge in said throat; the end portion of said neck being fused to the end of said plug to secure said plug in said throat; said plug having a central opening; an elastically penetrable insert sealably located in said central opening of said plug.