US3165772A

US3165772A - Paint roller construction

Info

Publication number: US3165772A
Application number: US308475A
Authority: US
Inventors: James J Mcginley
Original assignee: Baker Brush Co Inc
Current assignee: Baker Brush Co Inc
Priority date: 1963-09-12
Filing date: 1963-09-12
Publication date: 1965-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1982-01-19

Description

Jan. 19, 1965 J. J. M GINLEY PAINT ROLLER CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 12, 1965 INVENTOR.

BY WM 754mm A ORNEY 3,165,772 PAINT ROLLER CONSTRUTION James J. McGinley, Williston' Park, N.Y., assignor to Baker Brush Co., lnc fNew York, N311, a corporation ofNew York Filed Sept. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 308,475 4 Claims. (Cl. 15- 23t).11)

This invention relates to an applicator device for paint and the like, commonly known as a paint roller. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved paint roller device which features improved operation as compared with rollers heretofore known, coupled with s1m plicity of construction, economy of production and ready replaceability or substitutionof new roll units on the roller frame.

Basically, the paint roller is a simple structure including a handle and an axle disposed normal to the handle. A frame is rotatably carried on the axle and is provided with means for frictionally supporting on the outer periphery of the frame a cylindrical roller having a paint retaining outer surface. For efiicient performance and long life, as well as for easy replaceability of the cylindrical member, a paint roller should have the following characteristics:

(1) The frame carrying the cylindrical member should rotate freely about the axle;

(2) the roller should be easily slid on and off the roller retaining frame;

(3) application of the roller to the frame should not cause distortion of the frame, as such distortion might result in a binding effect of the frame with respect to the axle;

' (4) the frame should be coupled to the axle and shielded by the roller in such manner that the possibility of paint leakage to the interiorof the structure is minimized.

In the past, various forms of roller support structures and various means of applying these support structures to the axe have been suggested. For instance, in addition to a wide variety of shapes of bent wire support, there has been proposed the use of a single helix having center turns of greater diameter than the end turns-see United States Patent No. 3,019,466. While the use of a helix, as suggested in the above noted patent has, in a measure, provided a structure which is advantageous in certain respects, the structure of such patent has introduced other problems which greatly detract from the desirability of the therein suggested structure.

The above noted patent may be generally stated as disclosing the use of a single helix integrated with end cap members, which cap members are, in turn, rotatably mounted on an axle. Sleeving a roller onto the structure over the end caps results in the sleeves being frictionally supported on the center turns of the helix which are made wider than the end turns. 7

I have disclosed that the structure as above described has the serious drawback of interposing a considerable degree of frictional resistance to rotation of the frame in respect of the axle as soon as a roller is sleeved over the frame. More particularly, initially the frame may rotate freely about the'axle. However, as soon as a roller is sleeved over such frame, a frictional resistance to turning appears, which resistance greatly decreases the efficiency of the device as a paint applying medium.

It should be understood that in the proper use of a paint roller, a slight pressure between the paint applying surface and the wall surface should be suflicient to cause a rotation of the roller with respect to the axle, as the handle is moved across the surface to be painted. If a very free rotation between the roller and the axle is not present, the roller may skid across the area to be painted,

resulting in an uneven coating. Since the presence of paint on the outer surface of the roller greatl reduces the coefficient of friction between the roller and the surface to be painted, the danger of skidding is considerably increased. v

In order to prevent skidding with roller units which have the tendency to bind slightly, it is necessary to apply increased pressure to the handle. Where considerable pressure must be applied to assure rotation of the roller,- operation of the roller will prove tiring to the user. Moreover, the use of increased roller pressures requires that the roller be charged with smaller quantities of paint, thereby necessitating frequent applications of paint to the roller.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the in-' Still a further object of the invention is the provision of a paint roller device where the roller support framewill be freely rotatable with respect to the axle, both before and after application of the roller sleeve thereto.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a device'of the class described which is so constructed as to resist the entry of paint into the internal spaces between the sleeve and the axle, so that the initial free wheeling relationship of the parts is preserved after repeated use.

To attain these objects and such further objects as' may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a roller in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a magnified vertical section taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section-taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view to illustrate the manner of measuring the helix angle.

In accordance with the-invention, a paint roller-1t}, is

formed with the usual handle 11, from which thereis extended a wire rod 12 bent to provide an axle 13, spaced by bridge portion 14 from the wire rod 12, the axle 13 lying perpendicular to the handle 11.

Mounted on the axle 13, in spaced relation to each other, are end cap members 15 and 16, preferably com prised of plastic or the like. The caps 15 and 16 are provided with internal bores 17, 18, respectively, which fit about the axle or shaft 13 with relatively close tolerances. The cap 16 is prevented from shifting laterally outward along the axle 13 by lugs 20 formed on the axle, a washer 21 being interposed between the cap and the lugs 20. The end cap 15 is similarly supported against longitudinal movement along the axle 13 by means of a bolt 22 which is threaded into aperture 23 formed in the free end of the axle 13, a washer 24 preferably being interposed between the head of bolt 22 and the axle 13.

The roller support assembly 30 next to be described comprises a pair of helices 31, 32. The helices 31, 32 are preferably identical and are, as best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, fixed to each other so that the helices are rotated one with respect to the other. As will best be observed from FIGURE 3, any reference plane passing perpendicularly through the axle 13 will intersect a portion of each helix, the portions intersected by any such The helices are formed at their ends with one or more tight turns 33, which turns are connected to each other and also preferably

toshort sleeve sections

34, 34.

The end caps 15, 16 are provided with inwardly directed cylindrical portions 15a, 16a, the sleeves 34, 3-4. of the roller support structure being loosely supported over said cylindrical portions. The connection between the roller support assembly and the end caps thus per mits longitudinal movement of the support assembly with respect to the caps and further permits a transverse movement of the supportassembly or cage with respect to the caps in a' direction normaleto the axis of axle 13.

The freedom of movement aforesaid is important to the successful operation of the device.

-A roller member 50, of generally cylindrical configuration and including a cylindrical liner 1 and a paint applicator surface 52, is carried by the roller support 3%. The outside d'iameter'of the turns of the helices 31, 32 between the

end portions

34, 34 is such that the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 51 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the above mentioned parts.

The roller 50 applied in the usual manner, i.e. by sleeving the same over the end cap 15 and toward the end cap 16 until cylindrical portion 51 is stopped from further inward movement by engagement with radially extending flange 1611 on the end cap 16, the resilient material of which the helices 31, 32 are made enabling the same to compress and thereafter frictionally grip the inner diameter of theroller assembly. The ease with which the sliding operation above notedmay be carried out is greatly enhanced by the use of a helix angle of 45 or greater.

In the use of a lesser helix angle, as for instance that shown in Patent No. 3,019,466, there is a very considerable resistance to the sliding application of the roller over the frame. Such resistance may, in a short time, result in distortion of the frame, with a resultant uneven connection between the roller and frame, whereby the support between the frame and the roller may be concentrated at or near one end of the frame, with the other end of the frame providing clearance between the frame and the inner diameter of the roller.

I have discovered that the binding in the bearings which occurs in the use of a helix as exemplified in the above noted patent, is occasioned by the tendency of any single supporting helix to assume a bowed or curved configuration when placed under stress by the application of a roller thereover. This tendency is accentuated where, as noted in the said patent, the center turns of the helix are made wider than the other turns. In the applied position of the roller of a single helix, a three point stress system is set up, the central point of which is located at the point of contact of a center turn of the helix and the inner diameter of the roller, i.e. normally substantially medially of the roller, and the other two stress points are disposed adjacent the ends of the helix. As a result of this stress system which tends to how the helix, and as a further result of the integration of the end caps of the prior art and the ends of the helix, the end caps are tilted with respect to each other and do not maintain the position normal to the axle which they occupied prior to application of the roller. As a result of the tilting aforesaid, a frictional or braking connection between the end caps and the axle is achieved, which inhibits a free rotation of the mechanism after application of the roller sleeve.

In my device, the expedient of providing two helices in opposed relation, together with the expedient of providing play between the ends of the helices and the end caps, completely eliminate any additional friction upon application of the roller sleeve.

It is possiblein my construction to provide a relatively tight -fit, if desired, between the inner diameter of the cylindrical component 51 of the roller and the outer diameter 15b, 16b of the end caps. Such tight fit is desirable since the ingress of paints or solvents to the interior of the structure will be lessened.

Similarly, as previously noted, the close fit between borings i7, 18 of the end caps and the axle may be provided, in my device, without fear of binding resulting from a tilting of the end caps. The close fit aforesaid is a further factor limiting leakage of paint to the interior of the structure.

In contrast, structures heretofore known and utilizing a single helix roller support frame required the provision of oversize bearing apertures to overcome the bending efiiects above noted. By discovering the cause of the binding effect and by designing a device which obviates this effect, I :am, for the first time, able to provide a paint applicator device which successfully utilizes a helical roller support frame.

The resulting paint roller structure has been found to be highly improved as compared with paint roller structures heretofore known, and will be susceptible of long and efiicient usage.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A paint roller device comprising a support rod having one end leading to a handle and having its other end i ent to form an axle portion, a spaced pair of end cap members rotatably mounted on said axle portion, means on said axle for limiting outward relative movement of said end caps, cylindrical portions formed on said end cap members, a roll support carried on said cylindrical portions of said end cap members, said roll support comprising a pair of substantially identical helices of resilient material, said helices being disposed coaxially about said axle portion and being angularly rotated with respect to each other, an annulus formed at each terminal end of said roll support, each said annulus being loosely supported on the cylindrical portion of one of said end cap members and being movable relative to said cap members both longitudinally and transversely with respect to the axis of said axle, and a roller member sleeved over said roll support and having a cylindrical interior supported by contact with said helices, said roller member overlying portions of said cap members.

-2. A device in accordance :with claim 1 wherein the helix angle of said helices is at least 45.

-3. A paint roller device comprising a support rod having one end leading to a handle and having its other end forming an axle portion, a spaced pair of end cap members rotatably supported on said axle portion, means on said axle portion for limiting separating relative movement of said end caps, cylindrical portions formed on said end cap members, a roll support member carried on said cylindrical portions, said roll support member comprising first and second substantially identical helices of resilient spring material, said helices being disposed coaxially about said axle portion and being angular and rotated 180 with respect to each other, annular means formed at the ends of said helices and uniting the latter, each said annular means being loosely supported on the cylindrical portion of one of said end cap members and being movable with respect to said end cap members longitudinally and transversely with relation to said end cap members.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3 wherein the helix angle of each said helix is at least 45.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,019,466 2/42 Denholtz a 14-230.11

FOREIGN PATENTS 206,185 1/09 Germany.

CHARLES A. WILL'M'UTH, Primary Examiner.

Claims

3. A PAINT ROLLER DEVICE COMPRISING A SUPPORT ROD HAVING ONE END LEADING TO A HANDLE AND HAVING ITS OTHER END FORMING AN AXLE PORTION, A SPACED PAIR OF END CAP MEMBERS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID AXLE PORTION, MEANS ON SAID AXLE PORTION FOR LIMITING SEPARATING RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID END CAPS, CYLINDRICAL PORTIONS FORMED ON SAID END CAP MEMBERS, A ROLL SUPPORT MEMBER CARRIED ON SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTIONS, SAID ROLL SUPPORT MEMBER COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL HELICES OF RESILIENT SPRING MATERIAL, SAID HELICES BEING DISPOSED COAXIALLY ABOUT SAID AXLE PORTION AND BEING ANGULAR AND ROTATED 180* WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, ANNULAR MEANS FORMED AT THE ENDS OF SAID HELICES AND UNITING THE LATTER, EACH SAID ANNULAR MEANS BEING LOSSELY SUPPORTED ON THE CYLINDRICAL PORTION OF ONE OF SAID END CAP MEMBER AND BEING MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID END CAP MEMBER LONGITUDINALLY AND TRANSVERSELY WITH RELATION TO SAID END CAP MEMBERS.