Fluid dispensing assembly and adapter means therefor

Claim 1

A fluid dispensing assembly (10) of the type for dispensing a precise stream of fluid, said assembly (10) comprising: (a) fluid source means (12) for supplying the fluid, said fluid source means (12) comprising: (i) fluid pressurizing means (18) for maintaining the fluid under continuous pressure; (ii) a fluid supply line (20) having an outlet (22) for discharging the fluid from said pressurizing means (18), said outlet (22) having a plurality of exterior outlet threads (32); and (iii) a valve (24) disposed in said fluid supply line (20) for terminating the flow of the fluid from said outlet (22); (b) a needle apparatus (14) comprising: (i) a hollow needle (34) for receiving the fluid at an inlet end (36) thereof and discharging a precise stream of the fluid at a discharge end (38) thereof; (ii) a hollow hub (40) providing fluid communication to said inlet end (36) of said hollow needle (34), said hollow hub (40) having a first flange (42); and (c) an adapter (16) for establishing fluid communication between said inlet end (36) of said needle apparatus (14) and said outlet (22) of said fluid source means (12), said adapter (16) comprising: (i) a conduit (44) extending between a first end (50) and a second end (52) for providing fluid communication between said ends (50, 52) thereof; (ii) a first connector (46) positioned at said first end (50) of said conduit (44) and comprising a cylindrical inner surface (56) having two identical spiral locking threads (58) with starting ends (60) spaced 180 degrees apart for surrounding and holding said first flange (42) of said hollow hub (40) to hold said first end (50) of said conduit (44) in said hollow hub (40) to establish fluid communication between said first end (50) of said conduit (44) and said inlet end (36) of said hollow needle (34); (iii) a second connector (48) rotatably and slidably coupled about said second end (52) of said conduit (44) and comprising a cylindrically shaped inner wall portion (62) having at least one thread (64) for engaging said outlet threads (32) to connect said outlet (22) of said fluid source means (12) to said second connector (48) and to hold said second end (52) in said outlet (22) of said fluid source means (12) to establish fluid communication therebetween; and (iv) a washer assembly (66) for rotatably and slidably coupling said second connector (48) to said second end (52) of said conduit (44), said washer assembly (66) comprising a groove (68) about said conduit (44), a rubber ring (70) surrounding said conduit (44) and disposed in said groove (68), and a conical plastic spacer (72) surrounding said conduit (44) and adjacent said rubber ring (70).