US3060555A - Paint roller - Google Patents

Description

Oct.

D. KIRSHENBAUM ETAL PAINT ROLLER Filed May 25, 1959 ya afl a 52M 5H 72 40 f2 B224# Mdm rares atnt 3,060,555 Patented Oct. 30, 1962 free baum

Filed May 25, 1959, Ser. No. 815,584 1 Claim. (Cl. 29-117) This invention relates generally to painting apparatus and is more particularly concerned with the provision of a novel and improved paint roller.

It has long been customary to utilize a roller-type device where it is desired to impress or stipple a design over such a surface. Use of a roller-type appliance to accomplish any one of the foregoing operations has proven to be considerably advantageous as compared to use of a conventional paint brush, both from a time and convenience standpoint.

On the other hand, use of a roller-type applicator to perform painting operations and the like has proven to be disadvantageous in certain aspects. Reference is made to the fact that the customary procedure is to frictionally engage a tubular applicator over the roller thereb-y posing a problem when it is desired to -remove said applicator. For example, during the course of a painting operation it may become necessary and desirable to use the same roller for applying different colored paints. In such a situation, it is, of course, necessary to remove. the roller which has been used to apply one color and replace it with a roller for applying the other desired color. the tubular applicator is frictionally maintained on the roller, it has heretofore been necessary to manually grasp the applicator in order to physically extract it from the roller, and this obviously poses a problem where the applicator being lremoved is either wet or sticky. In other words, either the painter is forced to soil his hands by gripping the applicator in order to effect its removal, or else it is essential to wear some sort of work gloves to remove same, or possibly some sort of scrap paper or the like might be used to protect the painters hands. All of these options are undesirable, however, since work gloves are not always conveniently available, while the use of scrap paper or the like will frequently result in the paper becoming stuck to the applicator, which means that the paper must lbe laboriously pulled or peeled off the applicator when it is desired to use the latter once again.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a paint roller having means whereby the tubular 'applicator may be automatically and selectively released from its frictional engagement with the roller so that said applicator will be free to drop off from said roller without the necessity of ever having to touch the applicator itself.

A further object is the provision of a paint roller wherein the tubular applicator may be mounted on the roller without having to grasp or in any Way touch the applicator.

Another object is the provision of a device of the character above described which is simple to actuate and which is effective in use regardless of whether the applicator being released is stilll wet or whether it has lbeen allowed to dry.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a paint roller having automatic applicator releasing means in which the essential Working parts are so designed as to be manufactured of molded plastic, thereby enabling the invention to be manufactured on an economically feasible scale.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

Since In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by us for carrying out the invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paint roller embodying this novel invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view, on an enlarged scale and partly in section, illustrating the roller inner assembly;

FIG. 3 is a perspective detail, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the end cap which forms a part of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective detail, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the cylindrical applicator support Which forms a part of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective detail, on an enlarged scale, of the cam sleeve which forms a part of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective detail, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the retaining ring which forms a part of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is an elevational detail, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the circular spring which forms a part of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown generally at 10 a paint roller comprising a handle12 having an elongated rod 1-4 extending therefrom, said rod having an offset portion 16 terminating in an inwardly extending elongated spindle 18. It will be understood that the rod 14 is constructed of any desired metallic or plastic material, preferably metal, and is secured to the handle 12 by any suitable means, said handle being of wood, plastic or the like.

Referring now primarily to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the spindle 1S has rotatably mounted thereon a tubular applicator 2li consisting of a cylindrical tube 22, of card-- board, plastic or the like, said tube or core being covered with a paint applying fabric 24 possessing a pile of Dynel, Orlon, nylon, or similar synthetic or natural material which holds the desired amount of paint or other coating material. It will be understood that the exact nature of the covering 24 will be determined by the specific type of painting or coating to be done.

The means for rotatably mounting applicator tube 20 on spindle 1S will now be described. At the free extremity of spindle 18 there is provided an end cap 26, preferably of molded plastic, having a hub 2S and a peripheral rim 30. Hub 28 defines a central bore 32, said bore being of sufficient diameter so as to enable the cap 26 to freely and rotatably slide over the end of the spindle 18 At the same time, the diameter of the peripheral rim 30 is substantially equal to or slightly less than the internal diameter of tube or core 22 whereby the latter is adapted to telescopingly engage over the said peripheral rim. As will be seen in FIG. 2, end cap 26 is maintained in its engagement with the spindle 18 and is incapable of being displaced therefrom by means of a screw 34 which threadedly engages the end of said spindle. It will be understood that other equivalent means could just as Well be utilized for rotatably attaching end cap 26 to spindle 18, and, for example, the end of said spindle could be provided with some sort of a detent over which the end cap would resiliently snap in order to seat and maintain itself in proper engagement and assembly.

At the opposite extremity of elongated spindle 18- there is provided a cam sleeve 36 having va bore 38 extending therethrough for freely and slidably receiving the spindle'. Referring specifically to FIG. 5, it will be seen that cam sleeve 36 comprises an elongated cylindrical body portion 4t) having a peripheral groove 42 adjacent one extremity thereof, the purpose of which will hereinafter become apparent, and having an outwardly extending circular flange 44 -at its opposite extremity. It is important to notel that the outer edge of ange 44 is beveled as at 46. Cam

sleeve 36 is maintained in proper position on the spindle 18 by means of a stop lug 48 and further by means of a tubular spacer 50 which extends between the outer face of flange 44 and the inner edge of hub 28. In this connection, it will be understood that other means, such as retaining washers or the like, could also be effectively employed to maintain end cap 26 and cam sleeve 36 in their proper axial positions relative to spindle 18.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a hollow cylindrical support S2, also preferably of molded plastic construction. As will be seen most clearly in FIG. 2, the support 52 is provided with a bearing portion 54 having a bore 56 extending therethrough which snugly but freely receives therein the body portion 40 of cam sleeve 36. Extending from the bearing portion 54 are a plurality of spaced fingers S8, each having an outwardly disposed groove `60 adjacent its free extremity. Due to the inherent resiliency of the material employed in the manufacture of support 52, the fingers 58 are radially movable through a limited degree, and the aligned grooves 60 receive therein a circular spring 62 which normally biases the fingers 58 to their inwardly disposed position. It is important to note that each of the fingers 58 is provided with an external bevel 64 and an internal bevel 66.

The above described cylindrical support 52 is maintained against displacement from cam sleeve 36 by means of a retaining ring l68 mounted in groove 42 and cooperating with enlarged end portion 70 of bore 56. Thus it will be seen when viewing FIG. 2 of the drawings that support 52 is restrained from further movement to the right relative to sleeve 36 by means of retaining ring 68. A coil spring 72 extends between bearing portion 54 and the inner surface or fiange 44 to normally urge support 52 against retaining ring 63. Referring again to FIG. 4, it will be seen that support 52 is provided with a tapered end ange 74.

When the aforedescribed parts are in the normal or operative position illustrated in FIG. 2, the beveled outer edge 46 of flange 44 is cooperating with the internal bevel 66 on fingers 58 to cam or force said fingers outwardly against the action of spring 62. The parts are normally maintained in this relative position by means of spring 72, and when in said normal position, the diameter of a circle defined by the outer surfaces of fingers 58 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of tube or core 22. Thus, when the parts are in this position, the tubular applicator 20 may be slid over end cap 26 until the inner edge of the applicator engages external bevels 64 whereupon the applicator is adapted to cam over said bevels and frictionally and telescopingly engage over the outer surface of the support 52 until the edge of the applicator abuts against tapered end fiange 74. When performing this mounting operation, it may be necessary or desirable to first effect inward movement of the fingers 58 in the manner hereinafter to be described so that the applicator can freely and easily slide to its mounted position. In fact, with the fingers 58 in their inwardly disposed position, it is possible to slide the roller and its associated structure into the applicator tube without even having to touch the latter. Once the applicator tube has been so mounted and the fingers 58 are caused to resume their normal or outward position, the applicator is maintained in engagement with support 52 by the frictional gripping action which exists therebetween, and the entire working assembly, including applicator 20, end cap 26, sleeve 36 and support 52, is free to rotate around spindle 18 as an axis.

When it is desired to release the frictional gripping engagement between support 52 and applicator 20, it is simply necessary to force the support 52 inwardly with respect to sleeve 36. Expressed differently, and viewing FIG. 2, support 52 must be moved to the left against the action of spring 72 in order to obtain the desired releasing action. Upon such relative movement, it will be apparent that the outward spreading force exerted by fiange 44 against fingers 58 will be gradually lessened, whereby spring 62 becomes effective to move the said fingers radially inwardly. This, of course, releases the frictional grip which the said fingers had heretofore been imparting against the inner surface of tube 22 whereupon applicator 20 is free to drop off the roller assembly.

In order to actuate inward movement of support 52 against the action of spring 72, I prefer to provide an elongated metallic lever 76 undulated in cross section so as to provide an actuating end extension 78 and a handle portion S0, the latter being slotted as at 82 so as to slidably engage over offset portion 16 of the rod 14. As will be seen most clearly in FIG. 2, curved portion S4 of lever 76 is in engagement with stop lug 48, the latter functioning as a fulcrum whereby outward movement of handle (movement to the right when viewing FIG. 2) causes actuating extension 78 to force support S2 inwardly relative to sleeve 36. An addition stop lug -86 may be provided on offset portion 16 of rod 14, said stop 86 cooperating with curved portion 88 of lever 76 to prevent handle 80 from moving inwardly too far to the left, viewing FIG. 2. If desired, stop lug 86 may be provided as a part of lever 76 rather than as a part of rod 14.

Although the above described lever 76 provides simple and convenient means for actuating and imparting movement to support 52, it will be appreciated that numerous other mechanical means could be employed for achieving the same object. The only thing that is important in this connection is that it be possible to impart a sufficient thrust to support 52 so as to cause it to move against the action of spring 72.

Although I prefer to utilize circular spring 62 to insure that the fingers 58 are normally inwardly biased, it will be understood that the inherent resilience of the fingers themselves may successfully achieve this object without the necessity of using spring 62. Even in such a situation the use of spring 62 is desirable in order to overcome the tendency of the fingers assuming an outward set whereby they would still remain outwardly disposed even though the outward pressure exerted by iiange 44 is released. It will also be apparent that the outer diameter of bearing portion 54 is slightly less than the inner diameter of tube 22, or, in other words, substantially equal to the diameter of peripheral rim 30 on end cap 26. This is important in order to insure that the only gripping action or force imparted to the applicator will be that which results from the outward disposition of fingers 58, whereupon when said fingers move inwardly, the applicator will be completely free to drop off the roller by gravity.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A paint roller comprising a tubular applicator of cylindrical configuration and means for rotatably supporting same, said means comprising an elongated spindle, a sleeve mounted for rotation on said spindle, means preventing relative axial movement between said sleeve and said spindle, a substantially cylindrical support slidably mounted over said sleeve and axially movable with respect thereto, said support slidably receiving said applicator, a plurality of radially movable fingers on said support having beveled inner surfaces and substantially smooth outer surfaces, said outer surfaces cooperating to define a cylinder-like surface, the leading edge portion of said `finger outer surfaces being inclined inwardly toward said spindle so as to facilitate sliding of said applicator onto said support, said sleeve having a cooperating beveled cam in slidable engagement with said finger beveled inner surfaces whereby movement of said support in one direction relative to said sleeve causes said fingers to be cammed radially outward to a position wherein said applicator is -frictionally maintained on said support without any penetration of said applicator, said applicator being maintained in its mounted position solely by means of its frictional engagement on said support, Ifirst resilient means normally biasing said ngers inwardly against said cam, second resilient means normally urging said support in said one direction, and actuating means for moving said support in the opposite direction whereby said lirst resilient means cause said lingers to move radially inward so that said applicator is free to drop olf said support, said cylindrical support being located adjacent one end of said sleeve, the `opposite end of said sleeve having a circular end cap of slightly lesser outer diameter than the inner diameter of said applicator, whereby said cap functions as a support for the adjacent end of said applicator without -frictionally engaging same.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,728,417 Lewis Sept. 17, 1929 1,887,790 Stogner Nov. 15, 1932 2,113,141 Huenlich et al. Apr. 5, 1938 2,263,439 Hansen Nov. 18, 1941 2,891,301 Conklin .lune 23, 1959

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