US3588264A

US3588264A - Paint roller

Info

Publication number: US3588264A
Application number: US790555A
Authority: US
Inventors: James L Mallindine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-01-13
Filing date: 1969-01-13
Publication date: 1971-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-28

Abstract

A PAINT ROLLER WITH A TUBULAR JOURNAL SUPPORTING A ROLLER ASSEMBLY IN THE FORK OF A HANDLE, THE JOURNAL HAVING A FILL CAP THAT CAN BE REMOVED TO PERMIT FILLING THE INTERIOR OF THE ROLLER ASSEMBLY WITH PAINT. THE ROLLER COMPONENTS ARE HELD IN AS-

SEMBLED RELATIONSHIP BY THE PRESENCE OF THE HANDLE FORK, PREVENTING AXIAL SEPARATION OF THESE COMPONENTS.

Description

Unite States Patent Inventor James L. Mallindine 923 Orange SL, Greenville, Mich. 48838 Appl. No. 790,555

Filed Jan. 13, 1969 Patented June 28, 1971 PAINT ROLLER 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 401/197, l5/230.1 1

Int. Cl 544d 3/28 Field of Search H 401/197,

196; 15/230.l1, 257.06,105, 103598, 97; 29/1 10.5; 101/375, 376, 331, 328; 118/258 (Roller Digests) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1937 Kitselman 1l8/258X 2/1952 Mattie 15/2301 1X 5/1953 Hesson 118/Roller 6/1967 Heilet al.. 118/258X 8/1967 Carlee 401/197 Primary Examiner-Walter A. Scheel Assistant Examiner-Leon G. Machlin Attorney--Glenn B. Morse ABSTRACT: A paint roller with a tubular journal supporting a roller assembly in the fork of a handle, the journal having a fill cap that can be removed to permit filling the interior of the roller assembly with paint. The roller components are held in assembled relationship by the presence of the handle fork, preventing axial separation of these components.

PATENTEU JUN28I9Y; 3588.264

SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR.

James L. Mollindine BY ATTORNEY PATENTEUJUNZBM 3,588,264

SHEET 2 OF 2 James L. Mollindi ATTORNEY PAINT ROLLER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The application of paint with a roller is a well-established procedure. The usual rollers involve some sort of central stiffening core surrounded by absorptive cover material, with this roller assembly mounted on a handle. The paint is usually applied to the roller by rolling the unit in a trough partially filled with paint, so that the permeable covering material of the roller is saturated. This load of paint is applied to the painted surface, and the roller is then reapplied to the trough for another charge.

The use of the trough, and the consequent application of an excess of paint to the exterior periphery of the roller, tends to produce a spattering action requiring either extreme care, or the liberal use of drop-cloths. The continued reapplication of the roller to the trough is also a time-consuming operation. Various arrangements have been proposed for using the interior space in a roller as a container, with the roller then being filled with a considerable quantity of paint by simply pouring the paint into the interior, rather than applying it to the exterior periphery. While this principle has been recognized as a possibility, applicant is not aware of the development of any inexpensive fully satisfactory devices along this line. Patents disclosing rollers of various structural details have been noted by applicant as follows:

Italy 430,928 1948 Jenking 435,606 1890 Dodd 451,400 I891 Roux 596,090 I897 Stuuenrauch 1,077,65l I913 Matsakas 2,325,867 I943 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a container-type paint roller in which at least one of the journals supporting the roller in a handle fork is a tubular configuration normally provided with a fill cap. The fill cap is removable to permit paint to be poured into the interior of the roller via the tubular journal, after which the fill cap is replaced. The roller is constructed to be permeable to paint, with the result that the paint finds its way through to the periphery of the roller, without the accumulation there of an excess such as tends to produce the objectionable spattering action.

The roller assembly itself is constructed of axially-separable components, which include a perforate tubular structural member functioning as a core, with paint-permeable padding surrounding this core. The outer component of the padding is preferably a tubular sleeve of fabric which is gathered together and tucked in around the ends of the core member, and held in place by application of the end-closure members containing the journals engageable with the fork of the handle. Preferably, the fork of the handle is proportioned to provide a resilient force holding the closure members axially in engagement with the remainder of the roller components. The handle is removable by outward deflection of the fork to a sufficient degree to disengage at least one end from its associated journal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The several features of the invention will be analyzed in detail through a discussion of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled paint roller embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the Plane 2-2 of FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale.

FlGrfigifit RQFSPflCtive view, on an enlarged scale over that of FIG. 1, of the end of the unit having the fill cap.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a funnel usable in conjunction with the filling of the unit with paint.

FIG. 5 illustrates the manner of the use of funnel shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing the components of the device illustrated in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The paint roller shown in FIG. I has a handle generally indicated at 10, including the hand grip 11 and the fork defined by the

opposite sides

12 and 13. The ends of these sides are provided with bearing holes 12a and 13a for receiving the

' journal portions

14 and 15, of the end-

closure members

16 and 17, respectively. The journal 15 of the closure member 17 is tubular, and is provided with the fill cap 18. This tubular journal forms a conduit leading from the exterior of the device into the interior, through which paint can be applied through the use of the funnel 19, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 5.

The roller assembly generally indicated at 20 includes a tubular core 21 which is perforated in the manner best shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. The core 21 acts as a stiffener for the roller as sembly, and may be constructed of cardboard with suitable perforations, or may be of a material similar to screening. This core 21 is surrounded by padding, which preferably includes a permeable layer of sponge 22 and a fabric cover 23. This cover is brought around the ends of the core 21 (and also the ends of the sponge material 22) and tucked in as shown in FIG. 2. The ends of the cover terminating on the inside of the assembly are indicated at 24, and the portion of the cover immediately adjacent the ends is entrapped between the inside diameter of the tubular member 21 and the

flanges

25 and 26 of the closure members, preferably with some degree of a force fit. The distance between the

ends

12 and 13 of the handlefork is selected so that a resilient force is applied to the base of the

journal bosses

14 and 15 to hold the components shown in FIG. 6 axially in engagement. The boss 14 is preferably not tubular throughout its length, although the exterior may be provided with some form of recess for design purposes.

The structure provided by the present invention not only lends itself well to filling and refilling of the roller, but also to complete disassembly to facilitate cleaning. The components are obviously of such a nature as to be produced very simply,

with the assembly of these components being merely a snap-in arrangement that does not require the use of fastenings. The paint 27 shown being applied via the funnel 19 from the spout 28 will normally be of sufficient quantity to permit the con tinued application of paint over a relatively large painted surface.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have been illustrated and discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appended claims. In these claims, it is my intent to claim the entire invention disclosed herein, except as I am limited by the prior art.

Iclaim:

l. A paint roller including a roll assembly and a handle, the handle having a fork engaging the opposite ends of the roll assembly, wherein the improvement comprises:

a perforate tubular member forming the structural core of said roll assembly;

permeable cover material surrounding said tubular member, and having portions normally enveloping the ends of said tubular member and extending axially inward from said ends; and

closure members at opposite ends of said roll assembly, said members having portions received axially within said tubular member and clamping said cover material against said tubular member, said closure members each having a journal boss detachably engageable with said fork, and at least one of said closure members having an axial passage in said boss communicating with the interior of said roll assembly, said one closure member being normally provided with an exterior stopper for said passage, said fork having openings in the ends thereof that are axially engageable over said journal bosses, and the normal .di be we theses? s i ess aaths distance between the bases of said journal bosses, said fork provid ing a resilient force holding said closure members in engagement with said tubular member and cover material.