US3102327A

US3102327A - Paint roller frame

Info

Publication number: US3102327A
Application number: US112419A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gene M Wiegand
Original assignee: Wooster Brush Co
Current assignee: Wooster Brush Co
Priority date: 1961-05-24
Filing date: 1961-05-24
Publication date: 1963-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 1980-09-03

Description

p 3, 1963 G. M. WIEGAND 3,102,327

PAINT ROLLER. FRAME Filed May 24, 1961 26 4 INVENTOR.

GENE M WIE6/4A/D Ej' BY W %WM4,A47M1%147.

ATTOEMEYS United States Patent R 3,102,327 PAINT ROLLER FRAME Gene M. Wiegand, Conneaut, Ohio, assignor to The Wooster Brush-Company, Wooster, Ohio, :1. corporationof Ohio j Filed May 24, 1961, Ser. No. 112,419

3 Claims. (Cl. 29-116) Ihis invention relates to devices for applying paint or other liquid coating material to a surface forrthe purposes Patented Sept. 3, 1963 portion 14 which is axially parallel" with the connector portion"13 and-is directed away from the spindle 11.

' The handle portion .14 is provided with an enlarged of protection, decoration, and the like; and more particu-.

larlyit relates to a rotary type paint applicator commonly referred'to as' a paint roller.

Paint rollers conventionallycomprise a rotatable fra-me upon which is removably and telescopically mounted a cylindrical member comprising'a rigid, tubular core having an outer peripheral covering of absorbent material.

The covering is first saturatedwith the liquid coating material to be appliedp'and subsequently by rolling said cylindrical memberaci oas a surface to ;be painted, said material is transferred in a thin, even layerupon the surface: j

:The presentinvention is directed to an improved paint roller frame adapted to receive and frictionally hold a cylindrical paint applying member as above described and has for ageneral object the provisions of a bird cage. type frame of improved construction.

iA-ruore specific object of this invention is to provide a frame of thegabove type whi'ch isdiametrically, 'resi1-.

iently compressiblewhereby itexerts a radially outwardly directed reactive force against a tubular applying member telescdped thereover.

Stillanother object ofthis invention is to provide such a frarn having longitud'iuallydisplaceable end bearing members which 'automatically -adjuspthemselves in r'esponseto a compressive force exerted diametrically inwardlyfupon the central portionof said frame.

a A further objectis toprovida a frame having the 'abov'e characteristics whichis provided with a plurality of removable, resilient longitudinal connecting members which graspedduringthe painting operation.

grippingportion' 15 whereby the paint roller is manually to each other by means of a plurality of bowed rods 21, u u and preferably formed or molded'nylon. As best shown.

in FIGS. 1 and 3, each rod 21.is bowed radially outwardly with respect to thespindle 11 throughout the generally medial portion (at said rod. As best seen in FIG. 3, the

ends ofeach rod 21 are provided with right angularly bent, radially inwardly directed hooks 22;. It will be understood that the book 22 as illustratedin FIG. 3 is identical with a similar hook disposed at [the opposite end of each rod 21. There are preferably four of said rods which are circumferentially evenly spaced around and 4, ea ch bearing 20 is prbfvided with a plurality of.

preferablyfour sockets 27 adjacent the periphery of saidgreatly facilitatethe manufacturel and assembly ofthe] frame. M i

Yet-another object of this invention is to provide such a paint roller frame which has improved connection means for mounting the resilient connecting members to theendj bearing members. i

Other-objects; of this {invention and the invention itself will-be readily understood-from the following descrip tion and the accompanying drawings, drawings:

FIG; 1" is a plan view associated parts;

in which said of the paint roller frame and FIG. 2; is a transverse section taken along the line 2 2of FIG.l; u

FIGQBisa section taken along the line 3 -'=3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an inner end bearing members alone;

Referring'now lto f the drawings in. all of which like parts arewdesignated by; likereference numerals, at 10 there is generally shown aroller frame rotatably mounted upon aspindl'e l lz Thespindle "11 is integrally connected elevation of one of the end 30,]31 reinforce hub 26.

with aj parallel, axially laterally spaced support member.

12 by means'of a straight, perpendicular connected por- I tion 13; As best seen in FIG. 11, the spindlefll. the support 12, and the connector portion 13 form a generally U- shaped element manufactured'froma sihgle. length of preferably hietalrod material wherein the spindle 11 is approximatelytwice the length of the suppor-t portion 12.

The end ofthe support portion 12. opposite the connector portion 13' is provided with a rightlangularly bent handle the roller-frame 10 with the bowed medial portion of each rod. projecting radially outwardly from the axis of said roller frame.

- Referring now.to FIGS. 24, the bearings 20 are generally cup-shaped having {flat bottom walls 23 and circumferential perpendicular flanges 24 at the periphery thereof. 3 Each bearing 20 has a substantially deep recess 25} inthe bottom 'wall23 and an axially extending bearingfbollar 26 which is.coaxially positioned and projects in the same direction as the flange 24 i As well shown in FIGS} bearing, Each socket 2.7 is in the form of a generally semi-circular depression in the flange 24, saiddepression extending throughout the length of the flange and tcrminatingat the bottom wall .23. \Adjacent said wall, each socket 27 isprovided with an intersecting, radially disposed socket 28 which extends inwardly as. far as a peripheral wall 25a of therecess 25. I

Referring particularly toFIG. 4, it will also be noticed that each socket 27 is provided with a pair of oppositely facihg,longitudinalprotuberan-ces 29 which tend to restrict and narrow thelateral opening of said socket adjacent the outer periphery ofthe bearing 20. It'will also be noted that eachbeariug 20lis provided with radially disposed reinforciug webs 30 which extend from the bearing collar 26Joutwardly to the walls of the socket 27. Additional reinforcing webs 31 are provided at circumferentially I evenly spaced intervals between thewebs 30, so that webs Webs 31 are disposed between and connect the bearing collar 2'6 with the. flange 24.

The pair of'bearingslltl are positioned telescopically upon the spindle 11 with the flanges Maud the. bearing collars 2'6 directed toward each other. forced or snapped into connection with the bearings 20 adjacent the ends of said rod. Each end ofeachrod is inserted with-the hook 22 being directedinto a radial socket 28 whereby said rod is forced laterally and radially into an associated socket 27 by a snap action. It will be understood that the protuberances 29 present some resistance to the entrance of the rod 211 into the socket 27 and that once said rodis seated within said .socket, protuber-. ances 29 prevent its'radially outward displacement and hook-s 22.i n..sockets 28 prevent turning of rod 21.

The roller frame :lllis retained upon the :spindle 11 by The rods 21 are- 3 means of a hat shape cap 40 mounted upon the distal end of said spindle adjacent the outwardly disposed bearing 20. Said retaining cap is adapted to be telescoped over the distal end of the spindle ill and is provided with a circumferentially continuous, radially outwardly projecting flange 4-1 which is positioned within the recess 25 of the outer bearing and is slightly smaller in diameter than said recess. The retaining cap 40 is provided with preferably two inwardly struck prongs 42 which are directed generally toward the distal end of said spindle. It will be readily seen that when the retaining cap 40 is seated upon the spindle 11, the prongs 42 tend to penetrate slightly the outer peripheral surface of said spindle thereby preventing removal of said retaining cap.

When the roller frame 10 is fully assembled and rotatably mounted upon the spindle 11 with the retaining cap 4% in place, it will be noted that slight endwise movement of said roller frame is possible due to a slight axial displacement between the circumferential flange 411 of said retaining cap and the bottom of the recess of the outer bearing 20. This amount of space, indicated at S in FIG. 3, allows for longitudinal expansion of the roller frame It When a paint applying member of conventional design is telescoped over the roller frame 10 (not herein illustrated), all of the bowed rods 21 are compressed slightly radially inwardly and hooks 22 move or rock in sockets 2 8 to thereby cause said roller frame to elongate with the resulting axial displacement of the bearings 20 in a direction away from each other. The space S is sufficient to allow this longitudinal expansion without causing the roller frame 10 to bind at either end, to highly stress bearings 26, or to in any way interfere with the free rotation thereof.

To use the paint roller device of this invention, a conventional paint applicator member having a rigid, tubular inner core and an outer absorbent peripheral covering is forcibly telescoped over the roller frame from the end thereof opposite the connector portion 13. The rods 21 are thereby squeezed inwardly and present to the inner peripheral surface of the rigid core suflicient outwardly expansive force to maintain the applicator member in position during use. The device is then grasped by the gripping portion -15, and covering of the applicator memher is saturated with paint or similar material, after which it is rolled across the surface to be painted by means of the rotatable frame 10. Since there is only line contact between the rods 21 and the applicator member, no difficulty is encountered in removing the applicator member after use regardless of whether or not it has become clogged with paint on the inside. The construction of rods 21 hold the outer cover concentric with rods 21 and periphery of ends caps 26 and prevent circular movement between this cover and frame.

The device as herein illustrated and described is extremely rigid and durable in construction and the snap-in type rods and sockets greatly facilitates the assembly of the frame 10. The hooks 22 seated within the radial sockets 28 positively maintain the rods 21 against rotation whereby the bowing of each rod is always maintained in a radially outwardly projecting position to exert equal outward holding pressure on the cover. The reinforcing webs 30-31 give the bearing 20 great strength and rigidity whereas the cuplike design of said bearing cause them to be light in weight.

It will be understood that many departures from the details of this invention as herein disclosed and illustrated may be made without, however, departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A supporting frame for a paint-applying tubular structure, said supporting frame being rotatably mounted in use thereof and comprising a pair of spaced end heads and a plurality of circumferentially disposed resilient rodlike members extending between and carried by said end heads said end heads being of a size to generally snugly fit within said paint-applying tubular structure and said rod-like members having portions thereof which normally extend outwardly for resilient retaining engagement with said tubular structure, at least one of said end heads having a disc-shaped end wall, a generally cylindrical rim flange, and a centrally disposed hub having a spindlereceiving bore, said rod-like members having at one end thereof inwardly extending end portions for assembly with the rim flange and the end wall of said end head, said rim flange having circumferentially disposed and longitudinally extending grooves to receive said rod-like members adjacent their inwardly extending end portions and said end wall having inwardly extending grooves in alignment with said rim fian-ge grooves to receive the inwardly extending end portions of said rod-like members, and said rim flange being provided with projections which restrict the width of the grooves therein and which projections are in spaced relation to the bottoms of said grooves, whereby in seating the rod-like members in said rim flange grooves, the rodlike members must be pushed past said projections, with the result that accidental escape of the rod-like members from said rim flange grooves is prevented.

2. A supporting frame for a paint-applying tubular structure, said supporting frame being rotatably mounted in use thereof and comprising a pair of spaced end heads and a plurality of circumferentially disposed resilient rodlike members extending between and carried by said end heads, said end heads being of a size to generally snugly fit within said paint-applying tubular structure and said rod-like members having portions thereof which normally extend outwardly for resilient retaining engagement with said tubular structure, at least one of said end heads having a disc-shaped end wall, a generally cylindrical rim flange, and a centrally disposed hub having a spindle-receiving bore, said rod-like members having at one end thereof inwardly extending end portions for assembly with the rim flange and the end wall of said end head, said rim flange having circumferentially disposed and longitudinally extending grooves to receive said rod-like members adjacent their inwardly extending end portions and said end wall having inwardly extending grooves in alignment with said rim flange grooves to receive the inwardly extending end portions of said rodlike members, the central portion of the end wall of said end head being recessed at the outer surface thereof to expose within said recess a portion of the spindle upon which the end head is rotatably mounted, and a hat shape retaining element telescoped over the end of said spindle for the retention of the end head thereon, at least a portion of said retaining element lying within said end head recess, said retaining element being provided with prong-like projections engageable with said spindle for end head retaining purposes.

3. A supporting frame for a paint applying tubular structure, said supporting frame being rotatably mounted in use thereof and comprising a pair of spaced end heads and a plurality of circumferentially disposed resilient rod-like members extending between and carried by said end heads, said end heads being of a size to generally snugly fit within said paint applying tubular structure and said rod-like members having portions thereof which normally extend outwardly for resilient retaining engagement with said tubular structure, at least one of said end heads having a disk shaped end wall, a generally cylindrical rim flange, and a centrally disposed hub having a spindle receiving bore, said rod-like members having at one end thereof inwardly extending end portions for assembly with the rim flange and the end wall of said end head, said rim flange having circumferentially disposed and longitudinally extending grooves to receive said rod-like members adjacent their inwardly extending end portions and said end wall having radially inwardly extending sockets in alignment with said grooves receiving the inwardly extending end portions of said rod-like members and retaining said members against endwise movementrelative to said end head, and said rim flange being provided with projections which restrict the width of the grooves therein and which projections are in spaced relation to the bottom of said grooves, whereby in seating the rod-like members in said rim flange grooves, the rod-like members must be pushed past said projections, with the result that accidental escape of the rodlike members from said rim flange grooves is prevented.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schubert June 7, Johnson June 7, Adams June 26, Messmer Apr. 10, Kreger June 12,

Johns May 2,

Claims

1. A SUPPORTING FRAME FOR A PAINT-APPLYING TUBULAR STRUCTURE, SAID SUPPORTING FRAME BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN USE THEREOF AND COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED END HEADS AND A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED RESILIENT RODLIKE MEMBERS EXTENDING BETWEEN AND CARRIED BY SAID END HEADS, SAID END HEADS BEING OF A SIZE TO GENERALLY SNUGLY FIT WITHIN SAID PAINT-APPLYING TUBULAR STRUCTURE AND SAID ROD-LIKE MEMBERS HAVING PORTIONS THEREOF WHICH NORMALLY EXTEND OUTWARDLY FOR RESILIENT RETAINING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TUBULAR STRUCTURE, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID END HEADS HAVING A DISC-SHAPED END WALL, A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL RIM FLANGE, AND A CENTRALLY DISPOSED HUB HAVING A SPINDLERECEIVING BORE, SAID ROD-LIKE MEMBERS HAVING AT ONE END THEREOF INWARDLY EXTENDING END PORTIONS FOR ASSEMBLY WITH THE RIM FLANGE AND THE END WALL OF SAID END HEAD, SAID RIM FLANGE HAVING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED AND LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GROOVES TO RECEIVE SAID ROD-LIKE MEMBERS ADJACENT THEIR INWARDLY EXTENDING END PORTIONS AND SAID END WALL HAVING INWARDLY EXTENDING GROOVES IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID RIM FLANGE GROOVES TO RECEIVE THE INWARDLY EXTENDING END PORTIONS OF SAID ROD-LIKE MEMBERS, AND SAID RIM FLANGE BEING PROVIDED WITH PROJECTIONS WHICH RESTRICT THE WIDTH OF THE GROOVES THEREIN AND WHICH PROJECTIONS ARE IN SPACED RELATION TO THE BOTTOMS OF SAID GROOVES, WHEREBY IN SEATING THE ROD-LIKE MEMBERS IN SAID RIM FLANGE GROOVES, THE RODLIKE MEMBERS MUST BE PUSHED PAST SAID PROJECTIONS, WITH THE RESULT THAT ACCIDENTAL ESCAPE OF THE ROD-LIKE MEMBERS FROM SAID RIM FLANGE GROOVES IS PREVENTED.