Device to spray omnidirectionally and avoid backflow

Abstract

A device to allow for the continuous spraying of pressurized liquid from an aerosol spray can at any angle required, and in locations that can only be accessed through an openings through which an aerosol spray can does not fit, all while automatically preventing backflow of the pressurized liquid through the device and being able to accommodate and press valve stems of different heights.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A device attachable to an aerosol spray can containing pressurized liquid, said can having a valve stem that releases said pressurized liquid from said can through said valve stem when said valve stem is pressed, and a raised lip surrounding said valve stem, comprising:
 a snap on cap that removably snaps onto said lip;   a temporary cap fastener attached to said cap;   a valve stem actuator movably attached to said cap, having an attachment end and a tab end, with a tab at the tab end, a channel that is positioned over said valve stem when said cap is snapped onto said lip, and a port in fluid communication with said channel;   a temporary actuator fastener attached to said tab and configured to engage said temporary cap fastener;   an internal ridge in said channel that presses said valve stem without blocking said valve stem or said channel when said valve stem actuator is actuated by pressing on said tab until said tab reaches a position where said ridge is retained over said valve stem and presses said valve stem;   a one-way valve having a cap end and a tube end, removably sealingly attached at said cap end to said port so that said one-way valve is in fluid communication with said port, whereby said pressurized liquid can flow from said cap end to said tube end, but not from said tube end to said cap end, whereby backflow of said pressurized liquid from said tube end to said cap end is prevented;   a flexible tube having a proximal end, a distal end, a length and a diameter, said proximal end being removably sealingly attached to said tube end of said one-way valve so that said flexible tube is in fluid communication with said one-way valve; and   a remote actuator having a distal spray nozzle providing a desired spray pattern, removably sealingly attached to said distal end of said flexible tube so said distal spray nozzle and said remote actuator are in fluid communication with said flexible tube;   wherein said remote actuator and said distal spray nozzle can be placed at any desired location allowed by said length of said flexible tube, at any desired orientation, while keeping said can substantially upright to maximize continuous spraying,   whereby when said cap is snapped onto said lip and said valve stem actuator is actuated by pressing on said tab until said valve stem actuator reaches said position where said ridge is retained over said valve stem to press said valve stem, said temporary cap fastener and said temporary actuator fastener engage to retain said ridge to press said valve stem and release said pressurized liquid, whereby said pressurized liquid flows through said channel, said port, said one-way valve, and said flexible tube to said remote actuator;   whereby, when said remote actuator is actuated, said pressurized liquid flows through said remote actuator and said distal spray nozzle, and said pressurized liquid is sprayed in said desired spray pattern at said desired location in said desired orientation;   wherein said tab can be moved to, and retained in, different positions to enable said ridge to press valve stems of different heights by engaging said temporary actuator fastener and said temporary cap fastener at user selected positions relative to one another so said ridge presses said valve stem;   wherein when said valve stem actuator is released by removing said cap from said lip or releasing said tab so that said temporary actuator fastener is disengaged from said temporary cap fastener, said ridge stops pressing said valve stem so said flow of pressurized liquid through said valve stem stops, and said one-way valve automatically retains said pressurized liquid within said flexible tube to prevent backflow of said pressurized liquid from said flexible tube through said channel; and   wherein said one-way valve also automatically prevents backflow of said pressurized liquid from said channel by suctionally retaining said pressurized liquid in said channel when said valve stem actuator is released and said pressurized liquid in said channel is exposed to atmospheric pressure.   
     
     
         2 . A device attachable to an aerosol spray can containing pressurized liquid, said can having a valve stem that releases said pressurized liquid from said can through said valve stem when said valve stem is pressed, and a raised lip surrounding said valve stem, comprising:
 a snap on cap that removably snaps onto said lip;   a temporary cap fastener attached to said cap;   a valve stem actuator movably attached to said cap, having an attachment end and a tab end, with a tab at the tab end, a channel that is positioned over said valve stem when said cap is snapped onto said lip, and a port in fluid communication with said channel;   a temporary actuator fastener attached to said tab and configured to engage said temporary cap fastener;   an internal ridge in said channel that presses said valve stem without blocking said valve stem or said channel when said valve stem actuator is actuated by pressing on said tab until said tab reaches a position where said ridge is retained over said valve stem and presses said valve stem;   a one-way valve having a cap end and a tube end, removably sealingly attached at said cap end to said port so that said one-way valve is in fluid communication with said port, whereby said pressurized liquid can flow from said cap end to said tube end, but not from said tube end to said cap end, whereby backflow of said pressurized liquid from said tube end to said cap end is prevented;   a flexible tube having a proximal end, a distal end, a length and a diameter, said proximal end being removably sealingly attached to said tube end of said one-way valve so that said flexible tube is in fluid communication with said one-way valve; and   a remote actuator having a distal spray nozzle providing a desired spray pattern, removably sealingly attached to said distal end of said flexible tube so said distal spray nozzle and said remote actuator are in fluid communication with said flexible tube;   wherein said remote actuator and said distal spray nozzle can be placed at any desired location allowed by said length of said flexible tube, at any desired orientation, while keeping said can substantially upright to maximize continuous spraying,   whereby when said cap is snapped onto said lip and said valve stem actuator is actuated by pressing on said tab until said valve stem actuator reaches said position where said ridge is retained over said valve stem to press said valve stem, said temporary cap fastener and said temporary actuator fastener engage to retain said ridge to press said valve stem and release said pressurized liquid, whereby said pressurized liquid flows through said channel, said port, said one-way valve, and said flexible tube to said remote actuator;   whereby, when said remote actuator is actuated, said pressurized liquid flows through said remote actuator and said distal spray nozzle, and said pressurized liquid is sprayed in said desired spray pattern at said desired location in said desired orientation;   wherein when said valve stem actuator is released by removing said cap from said lip or releasing said tab so that said temporary actuator fastener is disengaged from said temporary cap fastener, said ridge stops pressing said valve stem so said flow of pressurized liquid through said valve stem stops, and said one-way valve automatically retains said pressurized liquid within said flexible tube to prevent backflow of said pressurized liquid from said flexible tube through said channel; and   wherein said one-way valve also automatically prevents backflow of said pressurized liquid from said channel by suctionally retaining said pressurized liquid in said channel when said valve stem actuator is released and said pressurized liquid in said channel is exposed to atmospheric pressure.   
     
     
         3 . A device attachable to an aerosol spray can containing pressurized liquid, said can having a valve stem that releases said pressurized liquid from said can through said valve stem when said valve stem is pressed, and a raised lip surrounding said valve stem, comprising:
 a snap on cap that removably snaps onto said lip;   a temporary cap fastener attached to said cap;   a valve stem actuator movably attached to said cap, having an attachment end and a tab end, with a tab at the tab end, a channel that is positioned over said valve stem when said cap is snapped onto said lip, and a port in fluid communication with said channel;   a temporary actuator fastener attached to said tab and configured to engage said temporary cap fastener;   an internal ridge in said channel that presses said valve stem without blocking said valve stem or said channel when said valve stem actuator is actuated by pressing on said tab until said tab reaches a position where said ridge is retained over said valve stem and presses said valve stem;   a short connector hose having a connector hose near end, a connector hose far end, a connector hose assembled internal volume, said connector hose near end removably sealingly attached to said port so that said connector hose is in fluid communication with said port;   a one-way valve having a cap end and a tube end, removably sealingly attached at said cap end to said connector hose at said connector hose far end so that said one-way valve is in fluid communication with said connector hose, whereby said pressurized liquid can flow from said cap end to said tube end, but not from said tube end to said cap end, whereby backflow of said pressurized liquid from said tube end to said cap end is prevented;   a flexible tube having a proximal end, a distal end, a length and a diameter, said proximal end being removably sealingly attached to said tube end of said one-way valve so that said flexible tube is in fluid communication with said one-way valve; and   a remote actuator having a distal spray nozzle providing a desired spray pattern, removably sealingly attached to said distal end of said flexible tube so said distal spray nozzle and said remote actuator are in fluid communication with said flexible tube;   wherein said remote actuator and said distal spray nozzle can be placed at any desired location allowed by said length of said flexible tube, at any desired orientation, while keeping said can substantially upright to maximize continuous spraying,   whereby when said cap is snapped onto said lip and said valve stem actuator is actuated by pressing on said tab until said valve stem actuator reaches said position where said ridge is retained over said valve stem to press said valve stem, said temporary cap fastener and said temporary actuator fastener can be engaged to retain said ridge to press said valve stem and release said pressurized liquid, whereby said pressurized liquid flows through said channel, said port, said connector hose, said one-way valve, and said flexible tube to said remote actuator; whereby, when said remote actuator is actuated, said pressurized liquid flows through said remote actuator and said distal spray nozzle, and said pressurized liquid is sprayed in said desired spray pattern at said desired location in said desired orientation;   wherein when said valve stem actuator is released by removing said cap from said lip or releasing said tab so that said temporary actuator fastener is disengaged from said temporary cap fastener, said ridge stops pressing said valve stem so said flow of pressurized liquid through said valve stem stops, and said one-way valve automatically retains said pressurized liquid within said flexible tube to prevent backflow of said pressurized liquid from said flexible tube through said channel; and   wherein said one-way valve also automatically prevents backflow of said pressurized liquid from said connector hose and said channel by suctionally retaining said pressurized liquid in said connector hose and said channel when said valve stem actuator is released and said pressurized liquid in said connector hose and said channel is exposed to atmospheric pressure.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2  or  3 , wherein said tab can be moved to, and retained in, different positions to enable said ridge to press valve stems of different heights by engaging said temporary actuator fastener and said temporary cap fastener at user selected positions relative to one another so said ridge presses said valve stem. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said cap and said temporary cap fastener are integrally formed. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said tab and said temporary actuator fastener are integrally formed. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said temporary actuator fastener and said temporary cap fastener are chosen from the group consisting of interlocking teeth, a hook and loop fastener, an adhesive fastener, or a friction fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein said one-way valve is removably sealingly attached at said cap end to said port through a barbed inlet mounted on said cap end and pressed into and frictionally retained in said port. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said connector hose near end is removably sealingly attached to said port through a connector hose fitting configured to receive said connector hose near end. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said one-way valve is removably sealingly attached at said cap end to said connector hose through a barbed inlet mounted on said cap end and pressed into and frictionally retained in said connector hose. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said proximal end of said flexible tube is removably sealingly attached to said tube end of said one-way valve through a barbed outlet mounted on said tube end and pressed into and frictionally retained in said proximal end of said flexible tube. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said distal end of said flexible tube is removably sealingly attached to said remote actuator through a remote actuator barbed inlet mounted on said remote actuator and pressed into and frictionally retained in said distal end. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein said one-way valve and said port are integrally formed at said tube end. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said connector hose and said port are integrally formed at said connector hose near end. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said connector hose and said one-way valve are integrally formed at said connector hose far end. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said flexible tube is integrally formed with said one-way valve at the proximal end of said flexible tube. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said flexible tube is integrally formed with said remote actuator at the distal end of said flexible tube. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said remote actuator and said distal spray nozzle are integrally formed. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said valve stem actuator is movably attached at said attachment end to said cap through a hinge. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said cap has two upwardly extending appendages affixed on opposite sides of said cap that are pressed together to remove said cap from said lip. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said connector hose assembled internal volume is small enough to prevent backflow of said pressurized liquid from said channel. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said connector hose assembled internal volume is at most approximately 5 cubic millimeters. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said length of said flexible tube is between 0.91 meters and 1.52 meters. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said diameter of said flexible tube is between 1.5 millimeters and 4.0 millimeters. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said length of said flexible tube is between 1.07 meters and 1.37 meters. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , wherein said diameter of said flexible tube is between 2.3 millimeters and 3.2 millimeters. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 1 ,  2 , or  3 , further comprising an o-ring attached to said ridge and configured to removably, sealingly receive said valve stem when said valve stem actuator is actuated.