GB2286961A - Paint roller cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for cleaning a paint roller 9 comprises a shell 1 for receiving the roller for rotational movement, an inlet for allowing cleaning fluid to enter the shell and to impinge on the roller and an outlet eg vents 5 for allowing cleaning fluid to exit the shell wherein in use the clearance between the arcuate surface of the roller and the inside wall of the shell does not exceed 2 cm. A spring 21 acts via a carrier plate 20 to bias the roller longitudinally in order to be able to accommodate rollers of different lengths. A connector having a non-return valve is described for connecting the device to a tap (Fig. 5). The device may be mounted on a paint tray so that fluid exiting the device washes the tray. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR CLEANING PAINT ROLLER This invention relates to a device for cleaning a paint roller.

Paint rollers comprising a foam or hair roller rotatably mounted on a handle are well known for use in for example applying water based paints to walls and ceilings.

After use the roller must be rinsed of paint. This is a troublesome task to do effectively and a user tired by the exertion ofthe painting may not be inclined to do so and an expensive roller may be ruined.

Attempts have been made to devise paint roller cleaners but none are believed to have been of commercial success. An example is GB-2220840. In GB-2220840 a paint roller carried on the handle is received by clips in a large chamber. Water is directed against the roller and causes the roller to rotate. The water then emerges from the chamber to waste.

The arrangement suffers from a number of disadvantages. Primarily the device is not very efficient and quite large quantities of water have to pass into the device for quite long periods of time. In recent years there have been water shortages and proposals to meter water supply. On both environmental and cost grounds it would be desirable to provide a more efficient roller cleaner. In common with the other non-motor driven cleaners known to the applicants the roller is carried on its handle. A secondary disadvantage is that dilute paint can exit the device from unexpected directions through orifices receiving the handle.

Thirdly, the roller needs to be held during the cleaning process.

The invention seeks to at least partially address the primary problem. Some embodiments of the invention seek to at least partly address the secondary problem.

According to the invention there is provided a device for cleaning a paint roller comprising a shell for receiving an inlet for rotational movements, an inlet for allowing cleaning fluid to enter the shell and to impinge on the roller and an outIet for allowing cleaning fluid to exit the shell wherein in use the cIearance between the arcuate surface of the roller and the inside wall of the shell does not exceed 2 cm preferabIy it does not exceed 1.5cm more preferably it does not exceed I cm still more preferably it does not exceed O.5 cm.

According to the invention there is provided a device for cleaning a paint roller comprising a shell having means for receiving the roller for rotational movement, an inlet for allowing fluid to enter the sheII and to impinge on the roller and an outlet for allowing fluid to exit the shell wherein the receiving means are provided with a resilient bias for urging the roller along its longitudinal axis when mounted on the receiving means.

Embodiments of the invention will be illustrated by reference to the accompanying Figures of which: Figure I is a partial exploded view of a first embodiment; Figure 2 is an end view ofthe embodiment of Figure I; Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention, and Figure 4 is a cross-sectionaI view of a yet further embodiment.

Figure 5 is a cross-section view of a connector.

The device is provided with a sheII I. The shell is tubular and preferably cylindrical. In the embodiment of Figure I an end of the shell is closed. A shaft 2 is disposed within the shell generally along the axis ofthe shell I. The other end of shelI I is provided with a cap 3. In the embodiment shown an end of the shaft 2 is received in a hole 4 in the cap but this is not essentiaI.

Vents 5 are disposed along the shell 2. A conduit 6 is provided along the sheII preferably about opposite the vents 5. Conduit 6 is provided with an inlet 7 suitable for connecting to a washing fluid source. Conduit 6 terminates internally in at least one nozzle 8. The disposition of nozzle 8 will be discussed in more detail hereinafter.

In use the used paint roller 9 is preferably demounted from its handle and inserted on the shaft 2. Remounting is preferred since it allows support at each end ofthe roller 9 and aIso reduces escape of water.

The shell I is cIosed by cap 3 and conduit 6 connected to a supply of washing fluid for example to mains water by a flexible hose. Washing fluid is caused to enter the conduit under pressure. The nozzle 8 is arranged so that the washing fluid impinges on the roller so as to cause the roller to rotate. In the embodiment shown nozzle 8 is angled but this is not essential. The nozzle need only be positioned so that in use a movement arm about the shaft is generated.

Alternatively the roller couId be carried on a carriage which is caused to rotate and the fluid impinges on the roller with or without generating a movement arm.

The washing fluid washes out paint carried on the roller and the waste fluid through vents 5. Initially the fluid will be strongly contaminated with paint and hence will be coloured but as the roller is cleaned the fluid colouration will become less. The cleaning process can thus be monitored.

The invention allows roller cleaning to be conducted rapidly and with little effort by the user. By way of example when connected to a UK mains water supply a roller was cleaned in about 2 minutes. In a comparative test the same roller took between five and ten minutes to clean manually under a tap. The invention may thus save water. It is noted that cleaning in accordance with the invention proceeds much more rapidly than reported in GB-2247I63.

It is desirable that the nozzles be positioned so as to maximise the rate of rotation this results in faster cleaning. Additionally when the water supply is cIosed the roller may continue to spin in air and excess water may be thrown form the roller. If desired after the roller is washed it may be at least partially dried by connecting the device to a gas, such as air especiaIly warm air supply to further this process.

The shell can be made of a wide range of materiaIs which wilI suggest themselves to the skilled. Conveniently it is made of a plastics material. of at least partially oftransparent material the rotation ofthe roller during the cleaning can be observed. This may be desirable from the point of view of providing a diverting display during use.

In the embodiment of Figures I and 2 the shell is the form of a cyIinder having one open end. Other arrangements are certainIy possible and will suggest themseIves to the skilled. By way of example in the embodiment of Figure 3 the shell is hinged laterally. In this embodiment the end cap can be formed integrally with the shelI.

InternaIIy the dimensions of the shell are chosen to be slightIy greater than the dimensions ofthe roller. Iftoo small then rotation ofthe roller is inhibited. If the shell cavity is too large then cleaning may be Iess effective than it could since less turbulence occurs during passage ofthe washing fluid. The skilled worker will be abIe to deduce suitable sizes by routine experiment. By way of example for a conventional, domestic roller a I cm gap between the roller and the shell will be found to give good results.

The shaft is conveniently of aluminium, steel or pIastics. In the embodiment of Figure 3 the shaft is the shaft of the handle the shell is fastened around the roller while stffl carried on the handle. This has advantages both in cost and in that the paint contaminated roller requires Iess handling.

In some embodiments of the invention suckers are provided on the shell to enable it to be fixed to a surface during cleaning.

Paint rollers tend to come in one of a few sizes, nominal 7ref, nominal 9" and nominal 12'. In the previously described embodiments for very good results several sizes of cleaner may need to be produced. One way of overcoming this problem is shown in Figure 4. In this embodiment the device is provided with a shell, a conduit vents and nozzles as described hereinbefore. A carrier plate 20 is slidably received in the chamber. Typically the diameter of the carrier plate is about 2 mm less than the inside diameter of the chamber. The carrier plates is resiliently biased for example by a spring ÇI intermediate the closed end of the chamber and the carrier plate. Other biasing arrangements wilI suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

The free end of the shaft is fitted into a bush 22 mounted on the carrier plate. The roller is pushed into the cavity and hinged lid 23 cIosed. The resilient bias biases the roller away from the cIosed end. The amount of the bias wilI depend on the size ofthe roller but shouId prevent undue longitudinal movement.

In this embodiment there is a use a dead volume between the carrier plate and the end of the chamber. This will generally fill with cleaning fluid (although it may be possible to seal the dead volume) but because there is only a small gap between the end of the chamber and the carrier plate little mixing will occur. A better performance per unit of cleaning fluid should thus be experienced.

The device can then be used as described herein. The device can have for example some ofthe features ofthe other embodiments ofthe invention.

In some embodiments of the invention the device is formed integrally with or mounted on a paint tray. This arrangement is advantageous since it can be cheap to manufacture and cleaning fluid exiting the roller cIeaner can be used t3 cIean the paint tray.

A preferred connector for connecting the apparatus to a water supply such as from a tap is shown in Figure 5. It is cIearIy to be understood that the connector may be used for connecting other kinds of apparatus to a fluid supply such as air or water. Conduit 100 for supplying fluid water receives connector 101. Connector 101 is provided with a resilient retainer IOZ in this case an elastic ring for clamping the connector IOI to the conduit 101. In this respect some embodiments are similar to commercially available connector for connecting shower heads to taps. The connector of this aspect of the invention differs in or both ofthe following respects.In some aspects a non-return valve 103 is produced to allow water to Ieave the connector via exit 104 but to prevent backfiow. In the illustrated embodiment the non-return vaIve comprises a ball 105 resiIiently biased by a resilient bias such as a spring I06. Other non-return vaIves such as duck bilI vaIves will suggest themselves to the skilled. For convenience in assembly the nonreturn valve may be in the form of a subassembly such as a cage 107 received in the exit 104. The cage 107 may be secured for example by adhesive or solvent welding.

In some embodiments ofthe invention chamber 108 ofthe connector is at least partially resilient. This can be achieved by providing resilient membranes 109 which stretch as the water pressure increases and shrink as the water pressure decreases. In some embodiments of the invention the chamber walls 110 are resilient. This can be achieved for example by making them of latex.

Claims (6)

CLANS

1. A device for cleaning a paint roller comprising a shell having means for receiving the roller for rotational movement, an inlet for allowing cleaning fluid to enter the sheII and to impinge on the roller and an outIet for aIIowing cleaning fluid to exit the sheII, wherein the receiving means are provided with a resilient bias for urging the roller along its longitudinal axis when mounted on the receiving means.

2. A device wherein in use the cIearance between the arcuate surface of the roller and the inside wall of the shelI does not exceed 2 cm.

3. A device as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2, wherein the shell comprises a cylinder having an openable end.

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims mounted on a paint tray such that fluid exiting the device washes the paint tray.

5. A device as cIaimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising transparent plastics materiaI.

6. A device for cleaning a paint roller substantially as herein before described by reference to any one the figures.