GB2041213A - Cleaning paint rollers - Google Patents

Abstract

A paint roller cleaning attachment 10 comprises a part-cylindrical cover portion 12 which extends across the deep end D of a paint roller tray T, the part-cylindrical portion being closed at one end and opening into a discharge opening 28 at the other end, flange 24 for positively engaging the rim of the paint tray and clips 34 for releasably supporting the frame F of a paint roller whereby the roller can be supported under the cover, said cover portion extending downwardly into the paint tray to define a water entry opening between its lower edge and the bottom of the tray. In use a water jet is directed through the entry opening and strikes the roller to spin the roller and clean it, the paint-laden water flowing out of the discharge opening. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Paint roller cleaning attachment This invention relates to a paint roller cleaning attachment of the type which may be attached to a paint tray to enable the paint roller to be cleaned by means of a jet of water under pressure.

Several different types of paint roller cleaning devices utilising a water jet to achieve cleaning of the roller have been proposed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Patent 3,837,035 to Habostad discloses a specially constructed paint tray having a cover attached to its deep end and a sliding cover fitted over its shallow end to define a slot through which a water jet is directed to spin and clean the roller. Similarly, U.S. Patent, 3,901,256 also to Habostad discloses an attachment to replace the lid of a paint container and having a slot through which a water jet is directed to clean the roller in a similar manner to the above. U.S. Patent 3,037,516 to Leach discloses a separate container for the paint roller once again having a slot through which a water jet is directed to clean the roller.

Other less pertinent examples of cleaning devices utilising water pressure are to be found and U.S.

3,087,190 to Werner discloses a roller cover attached to a paint tray and under which a roller is supported so that it may be manually spun using a pull cord.

The principal disadvantage of the arrangement disclosed by U.S. Patent 3,837,035 is that the tray is more complex than a standard tray, requiring a specially formed cover attached to the deep end of the tray and an additional sliding cover attached to the shallow end of the tray as well as specially formed discharge nozzles for the paint laden water. Furthermore, the roller must be held by hand and maintained in a position in which the water jet contacts the roller to spin the roller. In the case of U.S. Patent 3,901,256, the attachment is capable of use only where an empty paint container is available and in addition separate cleaning of the tray is required.

Similarly, the roller must once again be hand held during the cleaning operation. The device disclosed by U.S. Patent 3,037,516 is simply a shroud for the roller and once again the tray must be separately cleaned. Furthermore, the device is not readily susceptible to manufacture on a cheap mass produced basis. Similarly, the device shown in U.S. Patent 3,087,190 is not suitable for use in association with a water jet as the user would almost certainly be splashed and the access for the jet is limited.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved paint roller cleaning attachment adapted for use with a standard paint roller tray and which enables water jet cleaning of the roller with minimal water splashing.

The present invention therefore provides a paint roller cleaning attachment comprising a cover portion having attachment means adapted to engage the rim of a paint tray at the deep end thereof, said cover portion having a width corresponding to the width of the paint tray at its deep end and having a protective skirt which in use extends downwardly into the paint tray to define a water entry opening between the downwardly extending skirt and the bottom of the tray, a discharge outlet defined by the cover portion, means on said cover portion for releasably supporting the frame of a paint roller with the roller freely rotatable beneath said cover portion and means for constraining movement of said roller frame when engaged by said supporting means, said roller being aligned with said entry opening when the frame thereof is engaged by said supporting means whereby a jet of water passing through said entry opening strikes the roller to clean and spin same.

The cover portion preferably includes a partcylindrical portion which in use extends across the paint tray, said part-cylindrical portion being closed at one end and opening into said discharge outlet at the other end, said closed end and the rearward end of said cover portion being formed with flanges for positively engaging the rim of a paint tray.

The protective skirt comprises an extension of said part-cylindrical cover portion which in use extends into the tray to reduce water splash and to contain the jet of water within the confines of the cover portion and tray.

The paint roller cleaning attachment according to the invention facilitates substantially complete cleaning of a paint roller in a relatively short time with a minimum amount of water splash. The attachment firmly engages the paint tray and the paint roller is rigidly held in position between the cover portion and the paint tray during the cleaning operation. The discharge outlet is of such dimensions as to allow water to escape sufficiently rapidly so that the space surrounding the paint roller does not completely fill with water under normal conditions of use. To facilitate proper water discharge, the tray is tilted sideways at about 45 so that the discharge opening is lower than the rest of the attachment. It will of course be appreciated that during the cleaning of the paint roller, the tray also is cleaned.

The other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from consideration of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa perspective view of an attachment embodying the invention attached to a paint tray; Figure 2 is a plan view of the attachment shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front elevation of the attachment taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 2; Figure 4 is an end elevation of the attachment taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 2, and Figure 5 is a perspective view of an adaptor suitable for use with the attachment shown in Figures 1 to4.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the paint roller cleaning attachment 10 embodying the invention is shown in position attached to the rim of a paint tray Tat the deep end D thereof. The attachment 10 comprises a part-cylindrical cover portion 12 which terminates at its rear end in a flanged clip member 14 formed to positively engage the rim of the paint tray Tin the manner shown more clearly in Figure 4 of the drawings. At its front end the cover portion 12 extends downwardly and outwardly to a level which is substantially lower than the flanged clip 14 in the form of a protective skirt 16.

The skirt 16 has an upwardly turned edge 18 which strengthens the skirt 16 and incidentally defines a rest for the frame F of a paint roller having a handle H and a roller R attached to the frame F.

The cover portion 12 has one end closed by an end wall portion 20 (Figure 4) extending between the protective skirt 16 and a further end wall portion 22 which extends forwardly in a direction parallel to the wall portion 20 and is formed with a flanged clip member 24 (Figure 3) which engages the rim of the paint tray Tin the same manner as the clip 14. The space between the end wall portions 20 and 22 defines a slot 26 through which the frame F of the paint roller passes during the attachment procedure to be described further below.

At the opposite end, the cover portion 12 expands into a channel shaped discharge outlet 28 formed with a supporting lug 30 engaging the rim of the paint tray T.

Internally of the cover portion 12, a support plate 32 is formed to engage the rear wall of the paint tray T as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The support plate 32 ensures that the attachment 10 positively and firmly engages the paint tray T and will not move rearwardly of the tray T under the application of substantial pressures by water jets as described below. The plate 32 also prevents the escape of water between the cover portion 12 and the rear wall of the tray T.

The top of the cover portion 12 is formed with three longitudinally spaced clips 34 within which the frame F of the paint roller is in use securely engaged.

Where a small size paint roller is used, two only of the clips 34 are necessary to fully support the frame F of the roller. It will be noted from Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings that the roller R is supported under the cover portion 12 so as to be freely rotatable within the region between the cover portion 12 and the deep end of the tray D. The clips 34 firmly support the frame F which passes downwardly through the slot 26 and under the cover portion 12, and the end walls 20 and 22 defining the slot 26 engage the frame F to constrain it against movement longitudinally and laterally of the attachment 10. Thus the clips 34 and the end walls 20 and 22 effectively prevent movement of the frame Fso that the roller R is maintained in its freely rotatable position under the cover portion 12.

It will be noted particularly from Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings that an entry opening 0 is defined between the lower edge of the protective skirt 16 and the bottom of the paint tray T. As shown in Figure 4, the nozzle N of a garden hose or the like may be positioned adjacent the opening 0 and a water jet directed onto the roller R to thereby spin and clean the roller by the action of the water jet. During the cleaning operation, the tray T is tilted sideways at about 45D with the discharge outlet 28 lower than the closed end of the cover portion 12 so that the water continually empties from the tray/attachment through outlet 28 into a bucket or some other suitable receptacle.

When the roller cleaning attachment 10 is fitted to the paint tray T, the paint roller is initially located under the attachment with the frame F either resting on the lip 18 or firmly engaged in the clips 34. The attachment 10 is then located on the paint tray Tat the deep end D thereof with the clip members 14 and 24 engaging the rim of the tray T and with the support plate 32 in engagement with the rear wall of the tray. The roller R is then ready for cleaning in the manner described above.

Although the particular shape of the attachment 10 as shown in the accompanying drawings has been carefully designed for maximum efficiency and is therefore particularly preferred, it will be appreciated that modified cover portion shapes may be utilised with equal or similar efficiency. Accordingly, it should be understood that the invention is by no means restricted to the particular shape disclosed in the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to Figure 5 of the drawings, an adaptor 40 which facilitates the use of the cleaning attachment with roller frames having a 45" leg therein is shown. The body of adaptor 40 is formed with lugs 42 which engage the clips 34to rigidly support the adaptor on the cover 12. The top of the cover extends at 45 to the bottom thereof and is formed with clips 44 which receive and firmly hold The4 leg of the roller frame. The cleaning of the roller is achieved as before.

The attachment 10, and the adaptor 40, are most conveniently moulded from a suitable plastics material. Of course the attachment may be made of pressed metal with frame clips attached say by spot welding.

A moulded plastics product is preferred for mass production since a particularly durable and inexpensive product results.

Claims (8)

1. A paint roller cleaning attachment comprising a cover portion having attachment means adapted to engage the rim of a paint tray at the deep end thereof, said cover portion having a width corresponding to the width of the paint tray at its deep end and having a protective skirt which in use extends downwardly into the paint tray to define a water entry opening between the downwardly extending skirt and the bottom of the tray, a discharge outlet defined by the cover portion, means on said cover portion for releasably supporting the frame of a paint roller with the roller freely rotatable beneath said cover portion and means for constraining movement of said roller frame when engaged by said supporting means, said roller being aligned with said entry opening when the frame thereof is engaged by said supporting means whereby a jet of water passing through said entry opening strikes the roller to clean and spin same.

2. The paint roller cleaning attachment of claim 1,wherein said cover portion includes a partcylindrical portion which in use extends across the deep end of the paint tray, said part-cylindrical portion being closed at one end and opening into said discharge opening at the other end, said closed end and the rearward end of said cover portion being formed with flanges for positively engaging the rim of said paint tray.

3. The paint roller cleaning attachment of claim 2, wherein said means for releasably supporting the frame of said paint roller comprises a plurality of clips centrally located on the top of said cover portion and extending longitudinal thereof from a position adjacent said closed end to firmly support the frame of the paint roller.

4. The paint roller cleaning attachment of claim 1 or 2, further comprising an internal support plate extending from within said part-cylindrical cover portion to a position below said flanges, said support plate being positioned such that in use said support plate engages the rear wall of the paint tray to assist in positively locating the attachment on said paint tray and to prevent the escape of water between the attachment and the tray.

5. The paint roller cleaning attachment of claim 4, wherein said flanges are formed with clip portions which positively engage the rim of the paint tray whereby removal of the attachment under the action of the water jet is resisted.

6. The paint roller cleaning attachment of claim 2 or 3, wherein said closed end of said cover portion comprises two end wall portions, one extending from said protective skirt to said other end wall portion with the other end wall portion extending parallel to said one end wall portion to define a slot through which the frame of the paint roller may pass for connection with said supporting means, said end wall portions acting to locate said paint roller frame and constraining it against movement longitudinally and laterally of the attachment.

7. The paint roller cleaning attachment of claim 3, further comprising an adaptor having portions which engage the clips and having clips for supporting an angularly arranged portion of the frame of a paint roller.

8. The paint roller cleaning attachment substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.