Adjustable spray nozzle

Abstract

An adjustable spray nozzle provides control over spray flow rate and spray pattern. The adjustable 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 adjustable orifice for adjusting the spray pattern. The needle valve screws into the top of the nozzle body and is aligned with a fluid passage extending vertically through the nozzle body. The needle valve may be removed to facilitate cleaning the nozzle, and the adjustable orifice snaps into the nozzle body and may be rotated to select a vertical fan or horizontal fan spray pattern.

1 . An adjustable spray nozzle comprising: 
 a nozzle body comprising: 
 a fluid passage;  
 a coupling portion of the fluid passage, wherein the coupling portion is adapted to receive fluid from a fluid source;  
 a valving portion of the fluid passage, wherein the valving portion is aligned with the coupling portion; and  
 an orifice in fluid cooperation with the fluid passage, the orifice affecting a spray of fluid from the nozzle body; and  
   an adjuster adapted to cooperate with the valving portion of the fluid passage to vary a fluid flow through the fluid passage.    
   
   
       2 . The adjustable spray nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion is adapted to attach to an aerosol spray can stem.  
   
   
       3 . The adjustable spray nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the adjuster is a needle valve.  
   
   
       4 . The adjustable spray nozzle of  claim 3 , wherein the needle valve threadedly cooperates with the nozzle body to advance and to retreat the needle valve with respect to the valving portion.  
   
   
       5 . The adjustable spray nozzle of  claim 4 , wherein the needle valve includes a conical end which cooperates with the valving portion to adjust the flow of fluid through the fluid passage.  
   
   
       6 . The adjustable spray nozzle of  claim 5 , wherein the needle valve includes a valve groove above the conical end.  
   
   
       7 . The adjustable spray nozzle of  claim 4 , wherein the nozzle body includes stops and the needle valve includes tabs, and wherein the cooperation of the tabs and the stops provides an indication of a full open position of the needle valve.  
   
   
       8 . The adjustable spray nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the valving portion and the coupling portion are substantially coaxial.  
   
   
       9 . The adjustable spray nozzle of  claim 8 , wherein the adjuster is removable to clean the fluid passage.  
   
   
       10 . The adjustable spray nozzle of  claim 1 , further including an orifice body, wherein the orifice resides in the orifice body, and the orifice body is adjustable to adjust a plane of a spray pattern.  
   
   
       11 . The adjustable spray nozzle of  claim 10 , wherein the orifice body is adjustable to adjust a plane of a spray pattern between a horizontal plane and a vertical plane.  
   
   
       12 . The adjustable spray nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the orifice is a removable orifice having an orifice body.  
   
   
       13 . The adjustable spray nozzle of  claim 12 , wherein the orifice body includes an orifice ring and the nozzle body includes a ring groove, and wherein the orifice body is removably held in the nozzle body by cooperation of the orifice ring and the ring groove.  
   
   
       14 . An adjustable aerosol can spray nozzle comprising: 
 a nozzle body comprising: 
 a fluid passage;  
 a coupling portion of the fluid passage, wherein the coupling portion is adapted to attach to a stem of an aerosol spray can;  
 a valving portion of the fluid passage, wherein the valving portion is vertically aligned with the coupling portion; and  
 an orifice in fluid cooperation with the fluid passage, the orifice affecting a spray of fluid from the nozzle body; and  
   a needle valve adapted to cooperate with the valving portion of the fluid passage to vary a fluid flow through the fluid passage.    
   
   
       15 . The adjustable spray nozzle of  claim 14 , wherein the needle valve threadedly cooperates with the nozzle body to advance to retreat the needle valve with respect to the valving portion.  
   
   
       16 . The adjustable spray nozzle of  claim 14 , wherein the needle valve is removable to clean the fluid passage.  
   
   
       17 . The adjustable spray nozzle of  claim 14 , wherein the nozzle body includes at least one stop and the needle valve includes at least one tab, and wherein the cooperation of the tab and the stop provides an indication of a full open position of the needle valve.  
   
   
       18 . The adjustable spray nozzle of  claim 14 , wherein the orifice resides in an orifice body, and the orifice body is adjustable to adjust a plane of a spray pattern.  
   
   
       19 . An adjustable aerosol can spray nozzle comprising: 
 a nozzle body comprising: 
 a fluid passage;  
 a coupling portion of the fluid passage, wherein the coupling portion is adapted to cooperate with a stem of an aerosol spray can;  
 a valving portion of the fluid passage, wherein the valving portion is vertically aligned with the coupling portion; and  
 an orifice portion;  
   a needle valve adapted to cooperate with the valving portion of the fluid passage to vary a fluid flow through the fluid passage; and    an orifice body residing in the orifice portion and including an orifice in fluid communication with the fluid passage, wherein the orifice body is adjustable to adjust a plane of a spray pattern.    
   
   
       20 . The adjustable spray nozzle of  claim 18 , wherein the orifice body includes an orifice ring and the orifice portion includes a ring groove, and wherein the orifice body is removably held in the orifice portion by cooperation of the orifice ring and the ring groove.