Water spray nozzles capable of providing multiple spray patterns are well known. Such nozzles are useful, for example, as nozzles that may be attached to a garden hose. By selecting one of a plurality of spray patterns, the nozzle may be used to create a jet of water that may be projected to spray water a long distance, a mist spray, a gentle soaking spray, and/or other spray patterns. Such nozzles are thus useful in replacing a number of individual nozzles that generate only a single pattern.
Generally, multiple pattern spray nozzle assemblies include a rotary spray head with a number of different outlets. By aligning the different outlets with an internal water conduit, water is directed to the different outlets to obtain the different patterns of spray. Such nozzle assemblies suffer from various shortcomings. For example, the rotary spray head is generally at the front end of the nozzle assembly, where water exits the nozzle assembly. Accordingly, to change the spray pattern, the water supply to the spray head must be halted or else the user is doused with the water exiting the nozzle assembly since a user's hand must typically be advanced in front of the spray path of the nozzle assembly in order to perform such function. However, even when the water supply is halted, typically by releasing a spray trigger, some water remains on the spray head. Thus, a user's hand and/or glove become wet. Furthermore, the spray trigger may be accidentally activated as the user holds the nozzle assembly and attempts to rotate the spray head, dousing the user.
Another shortcoming is that the spray head area of the nozzle assembly frequently comes in contact with dirt and/or other debris as the nozzle assembly is placed on the ground. Because of the water that generally remains on the spray head even when the water supply to the spray head is halted, the debris becomes caked onto to the spray head. Subsequent rotation of the spray head moves the debris into the junction where the spray head joins the body of the nozzle assembly. Eventually, the presence of debris may cause binding of the rotary spray head and/or misalignment between the internal water conduit, causing difficulty in rotation and/or leakage.
What is needed is a multi-pattern spray nozzle that does not require a user to rotate a spray head located at the forward portion of a nozzle assembly by grasping the spray head itself or some other device at the front portion of the nozzle assembly. It would be beneficial if the multi-pattern spray nozzle were capable of providing multiple patterns of spray without the use of a rotating joint at the front of the nozzle assembly that is subjected to debris.