US2904813A - Paint applying devices - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 22, 1959 s. R. SCHLEICHER 1 4 PAINT APPLYING DEVICES I Filed June 16, 1955 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 620465 62w sic/7 t.

P 22, 1959 G. R. SCHLEICHER 2,904,313

I PAINT APPLYING DEVICES Filed June 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 INVENTCR I I 650400. R. Sauna/F4 BY n W Z.) WW

ATTORNEY United States Patent PAINT APPL ING DEVICES George R. Schleicher, Bronx, N.Y.

Application June 16,1955, Serial No. 515,246,.

9 Claims, (Cla 15-230) This, invention relates generally to. paint. applying devices, and more particularly is directed to improvements in rollers for applying paint, calcimineand other coating materials.

Although rollers for applying paint and the like are now widely used and it isrecognized that, with respect to the speed of application, the coverage achieved, with a given quantity of paint and the uniformity of the. coating, amateurs or relatively unskilled, painters are able to achieve practically professional results with rollers, the use of'rollers. has, for the. most part, been limited to, the application of paint to large, fiat surfaces, and it has e n c a y t p y conven i n l brushes for appl ing paint to other, less accessible areas, Heretofore, special rollers, have been developed, for use in corners, for example, where wall surfaces, or a wall surface and ceiling surface intersect, but such special rollers are of no, use in simultaneously applying paint and the like to all sides, or the complete outer periphery, off'elongated elements, such as, pipes, ducts, posts, columns and they like.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a device for applying paint to the complete periphery of an element which is elongated'or has a longitudinally extending axis, for example, a pipe, duct, post, column and the like. i

Another object is to provide a paint applying device having a plurality of rollers which may. be arranged to completely embrace an elongated element for simultaneously applying paint to all sides of the embraced element during the movement of the device along the latter.

Another object is, to provide a paint applying device capable of operation, as aforesaid, to apply paint to all sides of an elongated element embraced by the. device and along which the. latter is moved, and wherein the rollers may be positionally adjusted relative to each other to adapt the device for paint application at other inaccessible locations, such as, in corners and' along decorative mouldings and t like, whereby a single device may be employed in place of several specialized devices of limited application,

Still another object is to provide a handle construct-ien for a paint applying device of, the described character and which is adapted to receive several diiferent types of roller supports embodying this invention, so that the roller arrangement is, best adapted for a particular problem or situation. i

A further object is to provide an improved paint ap plying roller of' simple and inexpensive construction, and which is particularly adapted for use in paint applying devices embodying this invention where several rollers are arranged in series but no-lines of division are to appear on the painted, surface Where the successive rollers contact each other.

In an aspect of this invention, a device for applying paintto an elongated element along which the device ismoved comprisesseveral rollers, anda support for'the rollers having one portion, adapted to form at-least part ed a handle by which the device can be manipulated, and

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at least, one other portion-carrying the rollers and defining at least three axes of rotation for the rollers. The axes of rotation for the rollers are arranged so. that, when such axes are projected. into a plane normal. to the direction of movement of the device, the axes are angularly displaced relative to each other and intersect, by twos, in. a number of points equal to the number of axes so that the. rollers onthe axesare adapted to embrace an elongated element, and apply paint simultaneously to. all sides, or. the-complete, periphery, of the embracedelement..

Further, in the above aspect of the. invention, atcleast one of the axes about which the rollers rotate isspaced, in the direction of movement of the device, from another of the roller axes which it intersects, when, projected as above, so that a gap is provided between the related rollersv through which theelement to be painted may pass during the manipulation of the device to and from the operative. position of the: device where the. rollers. 6011b pletely embrace the element to be painted.

One form that the. invention may take is characterized by a, support having a roller carrying portion defined. by an elongated member, for example, of rigid Wire, which isbent, or otherwise manipulated, to format least one full turn of a. helix. The. word helix is here employed in its broadest sense and refers to the curve formed on any cylinder, whether it has circular, rectangular or other polygonal crosspsections, byastraight line-that iswrapped around the, cylinder and disposed at an acute angle with respect to, the axis; of the cylinder, Thus, .the.roller' carrying portion of the support, may be curved so that the rollers. that are evenly distributed therealong are adapted to embrace. and completely paint the. surface of a pipe, duct, post, columuend the like having the configuration of a right circular cylinder, or the roller carrying portion of the. support may include successive straight parts so that the. rollers rotatably mountedon; suchstraight parts, areadapted tov engage the. related side surfaces-forming thecomplete, periphery of an elongatedelementto; be

painted, for example, an element of square, rectangular, triangular or other polygonal cross-sections.

In either case, the, roller carrying portion of. the supp.ort,.is, connected, at one, end, to a portion of thesupport which forms. at least part, of a handle, whilevv the. other end of the; roller carrying portion is spaced from the first mentioned, end,- in the direction ofthe. axis. of a; helix, by a distance whichis, sufficiently large to. provide a gap between; the. related rollers. through which. the element to be painted can pass.

Another form. that. the invention may take is characterized by a support, having, a roller carrying portion which includes adjustablymounted, angled arms, spaced rom each other, in the, direction, of movement of the paint, applying device and capable of being, selectively positioned'relative to. each otherso. that the rollers; thereon will simultaneously Contact all, sides of an elongated element. to be. painted, or so that the rollers on; one; of the other of the angled a-rrns-rwill be: available for painting in corners, or other. similarly relatively inaccessible places.

Earthen. in; accordance: withthis; invention a roller for inclusion in a, paint: applying device comprises: a porous disc, for example, of, feltuor sponge. rubber, having a central aperture therethrouglr. for receiving the roller car ryin-g; portion of' the: support, and ametal eyelet type grommet inserted through the aperture of the porous disc.-

In order that the-invention may be fully understood, several illustrative embodimentsthereof are hereinafter described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings forming apart hereof, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a paint applying device embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 1 shown in its operative position in relation to an element to be painted, and with such element represented by broken lines;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1, but showing another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, but showing structure that may be included in paint applying devices embodying this invention;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly broken "away, of another form of handle structure that may be included in paint applying devices embodying this inven-- tion; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly broken away and in section, of a structural arrangement for coupling a handle to a selected one of a number of roller "supports embodying this invention so that an assembly can be erected that is best adapted to perform any particular painting task.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to.

Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, it will be seen that a paint applying device embodying this invention and there generally identified by the reference numeral 10 may be adapted particularl for applying paint and the like to the complete periphery of an elongated element of circular crosssection, for example, a pipe, duct, post, column and the like, the element to be painted being shown in broken lines and identified by the reference numeral 11. The 'device 10 includes a support 12 which may be formed 'of a single piece of suitably rigid, heavy gauge wire or the like, and has a roller carrying portion 120 bent, or 'otherwise manipulated, so that it has the configuration of slightly more than one full turn of a helix lying upon the surface of a right circular cylinder. The support 10 further has a straight mounting portion 12b, shown in broken lines on Fig. 1, which extends from one end 'of the roller carrying portion 12a and is adapted to be connected to, or form part of, a handle. In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the mounting portion 12b of the support extends axially into a handle 13 of wood or other suitable material and is secured within the handle in a conventional manner.

The paint applying device 10 further includes a se- 'ries of rollers 14 rotatably carried by the portion 12a of support 12. As seen in Fig. 6, each of the rollers '14 preferably includes a disc 15 of porous material, for example, felt or foam rubber, adapted to absorb and retain a quantity of paint or other liquid coating material and to dispense the paint at its periphery as the roller rolls along the surface to be painted. The disc 15 has a central aperture therethrough which receives a metal eyelet type grommet generally identified by the reference numeral 16. The grommet 16 includes a tubular bushing 17 extended through the central aperture of disc 15 and having a radial, outwardly directed flange 18 at one end adapted to bear against a side surface of the disc, and a washer-like element 19 fitting over the other end of the bushing 17 so that the central portion of the porous disc 15 is confined between the flange 18 and element 19. The grommet 16 is permanently assembled on the related disc 15 by swaging the free end of the bushing 17 so that the element 19 is displaced toward the flange 18 thereby to compress the central portion of the disc and ensure that the axial dimension of the roller 14 at its periphery will be substantially greater than the axial dimension at the hub or grommet. Such reduction of the thickness of the roller at its hub or grommet makes it possible for the successive rollers 14 to be urged axially into intimate contact with each other at their peripheries without contact occurring between their grommets, even when the successive rollers rotate about aligned axes, as in Fig. 6, so that no gaps can occur between the portions of the peripheries in contact with the surface being painted and lines or marks on the painted surface, at the divisions between, the rollers are avoided.

The grommets 16 of the several rollers 14 are rotatable on the portion 12a of the support and provide firm and precise foundations for the respective porous discs 15. Since the roller carrying portion 12a of the support in device 10 is in the form of a turn of a helix developed by a right circular cylinder, it is apparent that the axes of rotation of the successive rollers 14 are angularly displaced from each other and intersect, by twos, when viewed in the direction of movement of the device, that is, along the axis of the elongated element 11 to be painted, so that the rollers rotate in radial planes which are angularly spaced apart. Thus, when the rollers 14 are compacted along the roller carrying portion 12a of the support, for example, between a compression spring 20 hearing against the roller at one end of the series of rollers and a stop 21, which may be in the form of a nut threaded on the free end of the support, the peripheries of the successive rollers contact each other at the parts of their adjacent edges which face inwardly toward the axis of the helix, that is, where the peripheries of the rollers contact the surface of the element 11.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, a sufiicient number of rollers 14 are provided on the support 12. so that the opposite ends of the series of rollers will overlap when viewed in the direction of the axis of the helix or of the movement of the device 10 along the element 11. Thus, the rollers 14 are adapted to apply paint to the complete periphery of the element 11 embraced by the series of rollers on the helical roller carrying portion 12a of the support as the device 10 is manually, or otherwise, moved along the element to be painted.

In order to permit the device 119 to embrace an element to be painted which is supported at its opposite ends, or otherwise arranged, so that the paint applying device cannot be slipped axially onto the element, the free end of the roller carrying portion 12a of the support 12 is spaced, in the direction of the axis of the helix, from the initial portion of the helical turn by a distance d (Fig. 2), which represents the pitch of the helix and is sufliciently large to provide a gap between the rollers 14 at the opposite ends of the series of rollers through which the elongated element 11 can pass during the positioning of the device 10 on the latter preparatory to painting and during the removal of the device 10 from the painted element.

Although the roller carrying portion 12a of the support in the device 10 is in the form of a turn of a helix developed by a right circular cylinder and adapts the device for the painting of the complete periphery of a similarly shaped element, that is, an element having an outer configuration in the form of a right circular cylinder, it is apparent that the shape of the roller carrying portion of the support 12 can be varied in order to adapt the device for the painting of elongated elements having different external configurations.

Figs. 3 and 4 show one of the many possible variations or modifications of the above described device and represent a paint applying device which is generally identified by the reference numeral 10a and particularly adapted for use in connection with the painting of an element 11a having square, or other rectangular, cross-sections. The device 10a includes a support, generally identified by the n meral 22, which, as in the case of the support t2, may e ormed; of gid. heavy sense 13%. an in: clu es; a.- roller carry ng portion, h r na e dm ihed n detail, an a portion Hues-te d ng. immune; e d of; t e when carrying portion and ad ntedto be mounted in, r form part of, a handle 23...

Th roller ca yin po ion o supp rt 22 i in he form of at; least on complete turn of; a helix; developed on acylinder of re ta gular, p cifically: squ r cros sections. and in ludes stra gh parts, 2.211,. 220,-. 224 and 22a defining. x of: rotation f r relatedg-roup of} ro l rs which are indiv d lly he same as he. rollers 14 d scribed with reference.- to Fig; 6;. It: is: apnarentthat each ofv the straight parts of the roller carrying port on. of support 22- defines the axis.- ot rotation tor several rollers; andthatthe; several axes, Whenprojeetcd. into a plane normal to the. direction of movement; of; the device a alongthe; element 111a, that is, when viewed as in Big, 3, are. sing la y paced: frotn each' other. an inter ccuby tyres, in a. number of points. equal to; the number of straight parts or roller axes.

r ps. of rollers. 2.4.11, 4c..2.4d.- and. 2142,. ach made up of several rollers, 14, so that the. length of each group is at least as; great as the; width of. the. side surface of the. element; 31a. to be painted. by: that group, are. rotatably mounted on the. straight parts. 22b, 22c, 22d and; 22a, of the support 22;. The several groups; of rollers are held in spaced apart relationship along. the rollercarrying portion of'support 22*byrelatively tightly wound or rigid helicalsprings aud'the, supportbetween the. adjacent ends: of the successive groups of; rollers, and a helical spring 26 is provided. on. the support 22. between the handle 23 and; the adjacent endof roller: g-roup'24b. to yieldably urge the: spaced apart roller groups: along the support in the direction toward the free end of the. latter wheltez-a,suitablQsICpZ? (Fig. 4:) provided; Thus, the springs 25 ensure that the. roller groups 241:, 24c, 24d and; 24:: will; be properly positioned along the. straight parts ofthe support: 22. to extend across and apply paintto the full; width ofthe related side. surfaces; of element 11a, while, the. spring 26, which may be relatively: loosely wound, serves to axially compact the rollers in each group so that no gaps; will appear between the. peripheries; of the successive rollers in the group. to leave; corresponding marks or lines on the painted. surface.

In order. to permit the positioning of the device 1011 on the. element 11a, and its. removalfrom the latter upon the, completion of the paintingthereof, the pitch d: (Fig. 4) of the. helical turn represented by the straight parts 2%.,22'0, 22dand 222, that is, the distance fromthe free end ofpart 22a to. the end of part 22b connected. to part 22a. measured in the direction of movement of the device 10a, is large enough. to, provide a gap: between theroller groups. 24b and 242 through which the element 11a can 13.3882.

Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings illustrate two. modifications. of handle structures. that maybe; used. in connection with the. devices described in connectionwith Figs. 1' and 2. and Figs. 3: and 4, although theroller carrying portions of the, supports shown in Figs. 7 and 8 are both of the kind included in the device lit and particularly adapted for applying paintv to an element having circular cross-sections.

Referring to Fig. 7, it will be seenthat the handleand roller carrying support portion 12a are; formed of a single lengthof suitably bent wire. In order to: form a handle 13a, the portion 12b of the support is lengthened and connected, at the. end remote from the. portion 12a, with a curved bend 120 which, in turn, extends into a portion 12d extending generally parallel to the portion 12b and having a hook 122 1 at itsvfree end engageable in back of the. base end of .thev roller carrying portion 12cc. Normally, the curved. bend 1 1 would urge the portion 12d to diverge. away from the. portionv 12b so that the. hook 122-, which holds the. portions 12b. and 1211' in generally parallel relation, is. always; under load and cannot. be inadver ently iseng ed rom. the base of portion-12a. It is apparent. that, the portions 12 -b and 12d may be simultaneously grasped by the user and define. a, handle by which. the paint applying. device can be'manipulated.

In Fig. 8, the handle '13, of wood or a suitable molded plastic material has. a bore extending longitudinally therethrough to receive the. extended portion 12b of; the. support. 12, and the free end of portion 12b is.- threaded toreceive. a nut 28 which removably. Secures; the; Support 12 tov the handle 13..

Thu each of the. devices 10. nd 1.0a may have a handle wherein a. portion. of the support is. embedded molded or otherwise permanently secured in a wooden or molded plastic. ody. in Fig. 1., or handl s of the kind illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, respectively.

Referring now to. Fig:- 5. 0f. the drawing, wherein a. device constructed in accordance. with still another. em,- bodi'ment of the invention is illustrated and generally identified. by the reference numeral 1%, it will be seen that, such device includes asupporting rod 29' having arms 29a and 29b. extending radially from its ends in opposed directions. The; arms 29a and 2% have diametric. bores 30 extending therethrough, with the axes of such bores converging upwardly, as viewed in Fig. 5. Angled; roller carrying members 31a and 3111 each include; an arm 32 and an arm 33, and the, arms 32 thereof are adapted to be received, at their free ends, in the bores 3.9; of: the; support arms 29a and 2%, respectively. Set screws, 34. extend into the, arms 29a and 29b and are adapted; t e gage th ms 32 n the elated bores. 11 for adjustabl-y securing the. members 31a and 3,111 with respect to the supporting rod 29.

It is apparent that the members 31a and 31b may be; disposed; in parallel planes. and arranged so that their arms 32 and 33, which define the axes of groups of rollers thereon, when viewed in a direction normal to the parallel planes containing the members 31a and 31b, will intersect at the corners of a rectangle, specifically a square. Groups of rollers 35a and 35b are rotatably mounted on the arms 32 and 33, respectively, of the member 31a, while groups of rollers 35c and 35d are rotatably mounted on the arms. 32 and 33 of the member 31b. The rollers in each of the above identified groups preferably are. constructed in the manner described in connection with the rollers 14 of Fig. 6, so that the rollers of each group. can be axially compacted to elimie nate any gaps between the peripheries of adjacent rollers in the group.

In order to axially compact the rollers in each group and to properly position the latteralong the related meme ber 31a or 31b, a helical spring 36 under compression is provided on each arm 32 between the related group of rollers 35a or 350 and the related support arm 29a or 29.1 and relatively tightly Wound springs 37 are. provided on the. members 31d and 3112 between the groups 35 and 35d, respectively, to space apart the related groups in exactrelationship tov the corners involved. A suitable stop 38 is provided on the free. end of each arm 33 to limit the axial movement of the related roller group 35b, or 35d toward the free end. Thus, the springs 3.6 urge the related roller groups along the members 31a and 31b. toward the free ends of the latter, and the stops. 3.8, and spacing springs 37 ensure that the axially compacted groups ofrollers will be properly positioned on the related arms of the members 31a and 31b.

When the members 31a and 3112 are adjustably arranged to define the sides of a square. or rectangle, as previously described, the roller groups 35a, 35b, 35c and 35d will be adapted to simultaneously engage and apply paint to the four side surfaces of an elongated element (not shown) of square or rectangular cross=section. The arms 29a and 29b of support rod 29- are sufliciently long so that: the planes containing the members 31a and 31b arespaced apartby a distance providing a gap between 7 the roller groups 35b and 35d, in the direction of normal movement of the device 1012 along an element to be painted, which gap is large enough to permit the passage therethrough of the element during the displace ment of the device ltib to and from its operative position embracing the element to be painted.

It is apparent that the assembly illustrated in Fig. makes it possible to adjust the angular relationships between the axes of the rollers, and even to add or subtract rollers to, or from, the several groups so that the assembly can be adapted for the painting of elements or" different sizes and shapes. The device of Fig. 5 also can be used to provide in corner painting of walls. Further, it is apparent that one of the members 31a and 31b can be removed from the assembly, or adjusted to a position remote from the other of said members, so that the other member can then be conveniently employed for the painting of outside corners or trim and the like.

A handle structure used in connection with the above described assembly of the device 1% is generally identified by the numeral 39 and includes a handle member 40 threaded at its upper end and received in an internally threaded sleeve 41. The sleeve 41 has diametri- 'cally opposed openings adjacent its upper end through which a split tube or coilet 42 on the support rod 29 is adapted to extend. The handle member 40 has an axial, blind bore 43 (Fig. 9) at its upper end receiving a plug 44 so that, when the handle member 40 is turned relative to the sleeve 41 in the direction moving the plug 44 toward the collet 42, the latter is diametrically clamped in the sleeve 41 and prevents axial movement of the rod 29, while permitting the forceful turning of the rod 29 in the collet for adjustment of the positions of the members 31a and 31b relative to the handle member 49 to achieve the most convenient arrangement for painting in relatively inaccessible locations.

Further, with the handle construction 39, the support rod 29, members 31a and 31b and the related groups of rollers may be replaced by a roller support of the kind included in the device I so that a combination may be formed with the handle construction 39 that is particularly adapted, for example, for the painting of an element of circular cross-section. In order to combine a roller support 45 (Fig. 9), which is similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, with the handle construction 39, the sleeve 41 further has two diametrically opposed openings 46 (Fig. 5) through which a straight portion 47 (Fig. 9) of the roller support extends at right angles to the axis of the openings receiving the collet 42 in the combination of Fig. 5, and the collet 42 is replaced by a pin 48 (Fig. 9) having a peripheral groove 49 to receive the portion 47 of the roller support. Preferably, the groove 49 has a width smaller than the diameter of support portion 47 so that, when the latter is ripped between the plug 44 and the pin or adapter 48, the edges of the groove 4-9 will bite into the portion 47 to resist turning of the latter in the openings 46.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the handle construction 39 is adapted to be combined with various types of roller supports suited for particular painting situations, whereby a single handle construction can be used, instead of an individual handle for each different form of paint applying device, and a substantial saving results.

Although several illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be efiected therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l 1. In a paint applying device; the combination of a helically extending support which, at one end, is adapted 8 for mounting on a handle, and a plurality of rollers ro tatably carried by said support at locations along the latter so that said rollers completely overlap the peripheral surface of an element to be painted when the element is encircled by said support.

2. In a paint applying device for painting the complete periphery of an element having a longitudinally extending axis; the combination including a rod support means for encircling the element to be painted and extending helically along the axis of the element, one end of said rod support means being adapted to be carried by a handle and the other end of said rod support means being axially spaced from said one end, and a plurality of rollers rotatably carried by said rod support means at locations along the latter so as to overlap the periphery of an element encircled by the rod support means, the axial spacing between the opposite ends of said'rod support means being sufiiciently large to provide a gap between the related rollers through which the element to be painted can pass.

3. In a paint applying device for painting the complete periphery of an element having a longitudinally extending axis; the combination including a rod support means having the configuration of at least one full turn of a helix developed by a cylinder with cross-sections similar to those of the element to be painted so that said rod support means can encircle the element, one end of said rod support means being adapted to be carried by a handle, and a plurality of rollers carried by said rod support means at locations along the latter so that said rollers contact and apply paint to the complete periphery of an element encircled by said rod support means as the latter is moved along the element in the direction of the axis of the latter.

4. In a paint applying device for painting the complete periphery of an element having a longitudinally extending axis; the combination including a rod support means having the configuration of at least one full turn of a helix developed by a cylinder with cross-sections similar to those of the element to be painted so that said rod support means can encircle the element, one end of said rod support means being adapted to be carried by a handle, the other end of said rod support means being free, and a. plurality of rollers carried by said rod support means at locations along the latter so that said rollers contact and apply paint to the complete periphery of an element encircled by said rod support means as the latter is moved along the element with the axis of said helix concentric with the axis of the element being painted, the pitch of said helix being sufiiciently large so that a gap exists between the rollers adjacent the opposite ends of the rod support means and through which the element can pass when the device is disposed with the axis of said helix angled with respect to the axis of the element.

5. In a paint applying device for painting the complete periphery of an elongated element having circular crosssections; the combination including a rod support means having the configuration of at least one full turn of a helix developed by a right circular cylinder so that said rod support means can encircle the element and be uniformly spaced from the surface of the latter, one end of said rod support means being adapted to be carried by a handle, and a series of rollers carried by said rod support means along the latter and yieldably compacted together so that the peripheries of said rollers are in contact with each other at the inside of the helical turn to apply paint uniformly to the complete periphery of an element encircled by said rod support means as the latter is moved along the element with the axis of said helix concentric with the axis of the element being painted.

6. In a paint applying device for painting the complete periphery of an elongated element having polygonal crosssections; the combination of a rod support means having the configuration of at least one full turn of a helix de veloped by a cylinder with polygonal cross-sections similar to those of the element to be painted so that said rod support means can encircle the element and be uniformly spaced from the surfaces of the latter, one end of said rod support means being adapted to be carried by a handle, and at least one roller carried by each of the straight parts of said rod support means for rolling contact with the related surface of the element across the entire width of that surface, whereby the rollers apply paint to the complete periphery of the element as the device is moved along the latter with the axis of said helix concentric with the axis of the element being painted.

7. In a paint applying device for painting the complete periphery of an elongated element having polygonal crosssections; the combination of a rod support means having the configuration of at least one full turn of a helix developed by a cylinder with polygonal cross-sections similar to those of the element to be painted so that said rod support means can encircle the element and be uniformly spaced from the surfaces of the latter, one end of said rod support means being adapted to be carried by a handle, a group of axially aligned rollers carried by each of the straight parts of said rod support means for rolling contact with a related surface of the element across the entire width of that surface, spacing means between the groups of rollers on the successive straight parts of said rod support means so that said groups of rollers are maintained in predetermined positional relationship to the surfaces of an element encircled by said rod support means, and resilient means axially compacting the rollers of said groups so that the peripheries of the rollers in each group are in contact With each other and the groups of rollers uniformly apply paint to all of the related surfaces of the encircled element as said rod support means is moved along the latter with the axis of said helix concentric with the axis of the element being painted.

8. In a paint applying device according to claim 1, and further comprising a handle construction including a sleeve having a pair of opposed apertures therein, said one end of the helically extending support passing through said apertures and transversely across said sleeve, a handle member threaded at one end, into said sleeve, a plug member carried by said handle member within said sleeve to move axially with said handle member in response to turning of the latter relative to said sleeve, and clamping means engaging said one end of said helically extending support and securing the latter within said sleeve in response to axial movement of said plug toward said helically extending support.

9. In a device for painting the complete periphery of an element having a longitudinally extending axis; the combination according to claim 8, wherein said clamping means includes a pin extending diametrically across said sleeve at right angles to said one end of said helically extending support and having a peripheral groove receiving the latter, said plug being on the opposite side of said one end of the helically extending support from said pin and bearing against said one end of the helically extending support, thereby urging the latter into engagement with said grooved pin.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 615,627 Meinecke Dec. 6, 1898 1,174,488 Geiger et al. Mar. 7, 1916 1,284,443 Plant Nov. 12, 1918 2,091,131 Cone Aug. 24, 1937 2,168,842 Kesteven et al. Aug. 8, 1939 2,266,427 Levy-Hawes Dec. 16, 1941 2,291,524 Best et al July 28, 1942 2,355,667 Melton et a1 Aug. 15, 1944 2,455,098 Seelenfreund Nov. 30, 1948 2,788,539 Santina Apr. 16, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,990 Great Britain of 1908 218,345 Great Britain July 3, 1924 659,092 Great Britain Oct. 17, 1951 715,950 Great Britain Sept. 22, 1954

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