GB2446817A

GB2446817A - Paint roller and paint roller sleeve support

Info

Publication number: GB2446817A
Application number: GB0701656A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart Hobbs
Original assignee: LG Harris and Co Ltd
Current assignee: LG Harris and Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-01-30
Filing date: 2007-01-30
Publication date: 2008-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 2027-01-30
Also published as: GB0701656D0; GB2446817B

Abstract

A paint roller (10) comprising a roller frame (12) having a shaft (16), and a paint roller sleeve support (14) rotatably mounted on the shaft. The width of the paint roller sleeve support varies along its length and includes at least one enlarged portion (38) for engagement with the inner surface of a roller sleeve mounted on the paint roller sleeve support in use. The enlarged portion of the roller sleeve support enables the roller sleeve support to engage the inner surface of the roller sleeve at one or more positions along its length. The paint roller sleeve support is generally cylindrical having an outer surface (36) which is curved in the longitudinal direction. The curvature of the outer surface of the sleeve support in the region of the enlarged portion is convex such that the curvature of the enlarged portion readily enables a roller sleeve to be mounted on and removed from the sleeve support.

Description

PAINT ROLLER AND PAINT ROLLER SLEEVE SUPPORT

The present invention relates to paint rollers and in particular concerns improvements in or relating to paint roller sleeve supports for holding a removable paint roller sleeve in position on a roller.

It is known, for example from US 5490303, US 5806129 and US 6438788, to provide a paint roller having a paint roller sleeve support in the form of a metal or plastic cage rotatably mounted on a shaft part of the roller frame. The cage is adapted to receive a tubular paint roller sleeve. A roller sleeve can be removably mounted on the cage by the action of urging the sleeve axially over the cage to radially compress the cage. The resilience of the cage holds the cage against the inner surface of the tubular sleeve. The resilience of the cage holds the sleeve on the roller during normal use and allows the sleeve to be removed from the roller when desired.

A problem encountered with the above type of paint roller is know as walk-off, that is the tendency of the sleeve to remove itself from the cage by gradual and incremental axial movement of the sleeve on the cage due to the force applied to the roller and sleeve during painting. Another drawback associated with this type of arrangement is that the cage is mechanically complex and therefore both difficult and costly to manufacture. S 2

There is a requirement therefore for an improved paint roller which reduces the tendency of a roller sleeve to move axially with respect to the roller sleeve support and which is less mechanically complicated than hitherto know arrangements. In this respect the present invention seeks to address the problems with known paint roller supports, and in particular to address the problem of roller walk-off'.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a paint roller comprising a roller frame having a shaft, and a paint roller sleeve support rotatably mounted on the shaft, wherein the width of the paint roller sleeve support varies along its length and includes at least one enlarged portion for engagement with the inner surface of a roller sleeve mounted on the paint roller sleeve support in use.

The enlarged portion of the roller sleeve support enables the roller sleeve support to engage the inner surface of the roller sleeve at one or more positions along its length.

Preferably, the paint roller sleeve support is generally cylindrical having an outer surface which is curved in the longitudinal direction of the paint roller sleeve support. The curvature of the outer surface of the roller sleeve support in the region of the enlarged portion is convex such that the curvature of the enlarged portion readily enables a roller sleeve to be mounted on and removed from the sleeve support.

In preferred embodiments the curvature of the outer surface of the sleeve support removed from the enlarged portion is concave. In this respect the profile of the sleeve support may be considered to be defined by an inflexion curve comprising adjacent concave and convex parts.

In preferred embodiments the paint roller sleeve support is bulbous having a single enlarged portion part way along its length. The bulbous shape of the roller sleeve support regularly enables a rollàr sleeve to be mounted on and removed from the roller, particularly since the only contact with the roller sleeve support occurs in the region where the sleeve support is widest, that is to say where its diameter is greatest.

In preferred embodiments the enlarged bulbous portion is positioned at a substantially central position along the length of the paint roller sleeve support.

This enables the roller sleeve to be supported mid-way along its length by the roller sleeve support mid-way between the end cap fixing supports at the end of the roller shaft.

In preferred embodiments a plurality of gripping elements are provided on the outer surface of the enlarged portion of the roller sleeve support. The gripping elements are specifically adapted to grip the inner surface of a roller sleeve mounted on the roller sleeve support. S 4

In preferred embodiments the gripping elements are arranged in an array around the periphery of the enlarged portion so that the roller sleeve is engaged by the gripping elements around the whole of its circumference over a sufficient area to prevent inadvertent axial movement of the sleeve on the roller sleeve support in use.

Preferably the gripping elements comprise an elastomeric material, for example a thenno plastic elastomer (TPE).

Preferably the gripping elements extend radially outwards from the outer surface of the enlarged portion of the roller sleeve support. In this respect the gripping elements constitute raised surface projections however, the present invention also contemplates embodiments where the gripping elements are either flush with the surface of the roller sleeve support or in fact define the surface of the roller sleeve support in the region of the enlarged portion in the sense that they are only slightly raised with respect to the adjacent surfaces of the roller sleeve support. The present invention also contemplates embodiments where a continuous or non-continuous band of gripping material extends around the periphery of the roller sleeve support in the region of the enlarged portion.

In preferred embodiments the paint roller sleeve support is a hollow tubular structure and the paint roller is provided with end caps at the axial ends of the roller sleeve support for engagement with the inner surface of a roller sleeve mounted on the roller in use.

Various embodiments of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a paint roller according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the paint roller of Figure 1; and, Figure 3 is an end view of the paint roller of Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a paint roller assembly 10. In the drawings only the paint roller assembly is shown, although it will be understood that a paint roller sleeve would nonnally be attached to the assembly 10 for use as a painting tool. The assembly 10 comprises two main parts including a frame 12 and a cage, or roller sleeve support, 14 which is rotatably mounted on a shaft part 16 of the frame.

The frame is of a typical known construction comprising a wire metal frame, typically 6mm gauge metal wire, which is bent at various positions along its length to the shape and configuration shown to provide the shaft part 16, an adjacent radial part 18 bent 90 degrees with respect to the shaft part, an angled part 20 and a handle part 22. The handle part 22 lies parallel and offset to the radial part 18 and S 6 perpendicular to the shaft part 16 and is joined to an elongate hand grip 24 at the end of the frame.

The roller sleeve support is rotatably mounted on the shaft 16 and restrained axially on the shaft by captivating means (not shown). The sleeve support is positioned between two end caps 26 and 28 located at respective opposite ends of the shaft. The end caps 26 and 28 function to engage the inner surface of a roller sleeve, at the respective axial ends of the sleeve, when mounted on the roller, as is known in the art.

The ends caps are both generally cylindrical and have a shape and size to fit conventional size roller sleeves, for example 38mm (1.5 inch) diameter sleeves.

The end cap 26 at the distal end of the shaft 16 has a regular circular cylindrical shape. The end cap 28 at the proximal end of the shaft, i.e. the end adjacent to the radial part 18, has a more elaborate shape in that it comprises a series of circumferentially spaced axial slots 30 which define a plurality of cantilevered fingers 32 which extend from a disc shape end plate 34 which forms the base of the cylindrical end cap.

The fingers extend axially from the end plate 34 towards the end cap 28 at the other end of the shaft. As can best be seen in the drawing of Figure 2, the fingers each comprise tapered ends 27 which taper radially inwards towards their distal ends. This arrangement provides for alignment of the roller sleeve when mounting the sleeve on the roller.

The sleeve support comprises a bulbous shape cylindrical body 35 having an outer surface 36 which is curved in the longitudinal direction of the body such that the width, or in this embodiment the diameter, of the sleeve support varies along its length. The bulbous body comprises an enlarged diameter portion 38 at its centre for engagement with the inner cylindrical surface of a roller sleeve.

The curvature of the outer surface in the region of the enlarged diameter portion 38 is convex. The adjacent parts of the outer surface on both sides of the enlarged diameter portion have a concave curvature and a point of inflexion 40 exists between the respective concave and convex surfaces on both sides of the enlarged diameter portion of the bulbous body.

A plurality of griping elements 42 are provided on the outer surface 36 around the circumference of the enlarged diameter portion for enhanced gripping engagement of the inner surface of a roller sleeve mounted on the support in use. The gripping elements comprise surface extensions or formations, generally cylindrical in shape, which extend radially outwards from the surface 36 by a few mm or so.

The gripping elements preferably comprise an elastomeric material such as a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or other suitable material. In the illustrated embodiment the gripping elements are arranged in an annular array of four axially spaced circumferential rows centred on the maximum diameter part of the bulbous body. S 8

In the illustrated embodiment the bulbous body comprises a solid outer surface, however the invention also contemplates embodiments in which the sleeve support comprises a wire frame structure having an approximate shape similar to the bulbous body of the illustrated embodiment. The invention also contemplates embodiments in which a single gripping element is provided around the periphery of the enlarged diameter portion of the sleeve support. S 9

Claims

1. A paint roller comprising a roller frame having a shaft, and a paint roller sleeve support rotatably mounted on the shaft, wherein the width of the paint roller sleeve support varies along its length and includes at least one enlarged portion for engagement with the inner surface of a roller sleeve mounted on the paint roller sleeve support in use.

2. A paint roller as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the paint roller sleeve support is generally cylindrical having an outer surface which is curved in the longitudinal direction of the paint roller sleeve support.

3. A paint roller as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the curvature of the outer surface in the region of the said enlarged portion is convex.

4. A paint roller as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the curvature of the outer surface remote from the enlarged portion is concave.

5. A paint roller as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the said paint roller sleeve support is bulbous having a single enlarged portion part way along its length.

6. A paint roller as claimed in claim 5 wherein the said enlarged portion is positioned at a substantially central position along the length of the paint roller sleeve support.

7. A paint roller as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a plurality of gripping elements are provided on the outer surface of the said enlarged portion.

8. A paint roller as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the said gripping elements are arranged in an array around the periphery of the enlarged portion.

9. A paint roller as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein the gripping elements comprise an elastomeric material.

10. A paint roller as claimed in any of Claims 7 to 9 wherein the gripping elements extend from the said outer surface of the enlarged portion of the paint roller sleeve support.

11. A paint roller as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the paint roller sleeve support is a hollow tubular structure.

12. A paint roller substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A paint roller as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the paint roller sleeve support comprises a frame type structure

S