Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05C17/00—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces
  • B05C17/02—Rollers ; Hand tools comprising coating rollers or coating endless belts

Definitions

• the present invention refers to a paint roller comprising a frame arranged to hold two roller end pieces, i.e. a wheel that retains a roller tube on the frame. More specifically, the invention refers to a roller comprising a frame having recesses and ribs and designed to hold a roller end piece arranged at or comprising a bushing, whereby said roller end piece is mounted in bearings at said bushing.
• the paint roller of the prior art has usually roller end pieces that directly abut against the frame of the roller.
• a mechanical wear will thus occur at the contact surface of roller end piece against the frame, due to the rotational friction between the roller end piece and the frame.
• a problem with the prior art paint roller, wherein the roller end piece of a plastic material rotates directly around a frame of metal is that certain types of paints, e.g. paints comprising chalk or certain types of filling material, may give rise to precipitation from the metal. This precipitation may in turn affect the quality and the tint of the of the paint.
• the above-mentioned problem is especially common when the roller end piece is manufactured of a plastic material and the frame of e.g. galvanised iron or a stainless material.
• the present invention solves the above-mentioned problem in that a roller end piece manufactured of a plastic-like material is arranged at or comprises a bushing which also is manufactured of a plastic-like material and which at mounting directly abut against the frame. Further, the roller end piece is mounted in bearings at the bushing, whereby the roller end piece can rotate around the frame. Thus, a bearing of the roller end piece where plastic wears against plastic is provided.
• US 3,711,887 describes a paint roller unit for attachment to a spindle of a paint roller frame, comprised of a thin core having the paint applicator material fixed about the outer surface thereof and a pair of molded end caps press-fitted within the respective ends of the core, each providing a reduced diameter female bearing sleeve for bearing engagement on a pair of spaced apart inner and outer bearing elements, press-fitted on the spindle, the inner bearing element being a collet bearing which holds the roller unit in a fixed longitudinal position on the spindle.
• US 4,985,959 describes end support members mountable at each end of a paint-applying cover sleeve and adapted to receive the axle of a roller handle.
• Each support comprises a central hub which defines a chamber greater in diameter being the axle of a handle member.
• a radially expansible split tube is positioned in the chamber. When the axle is inserted into the split tube the latter expands radially outwardly and exerts a radially inward pressure on the axle to frictionally retain the axle in its logitudinally adjusted position.
• the present invention solves the fastening problem of the bushing by providing a frame comprising a first part formed to hold a handle and a second part formed to hold a cylindrical tube with absorbent material, wherein the frame in an outer end of its second part comprises one or several recesses and one or several ribs, and wherein an outer bushing can be arranged at said rib.
• the inventor of the present invention has discovered that by providing such a frame, the fastening of a bushing is increased approximately three times as compared with the fastening according to the paint roller of the prior art. This means that the force needed to remove the bushing from the inventive frame has to be approximately three times larger than the force needed to remove a bushing from a conventional paint roller.
• the present invention provides a paint roller comprising a frame having a first part designed to hold a handle and a second part designed to hold a cylindrical tube with absorbent material.
• Two roller end pieces are arranged at said second part and arranged to secure said cylindrical tube in the axial direction of the tube.
• two bushings are arranged at said second part, whereby said roller end pieces are mounted in bearings at said bushings.
• the frame comprises in an outer end of its second end one or several recesses and an outer bushing is arranged at said recesses by means of e.g. friction locking. Said recesses are further stamped and has an approximately oval cross section. An outer roller end piece is mounted in bearings at said outer bushing.
• the frame comprises a lug.
• An inner bushing is arranged at said lug, which is arranged to restrict the axial movement of the inner bushing.
• the inner bushing can further be adjustably arranged at said lug.
• Fig. 1 schematically shows a cross sectional view of a paint roller according to the invention
• Fig. 2a schematically shows a plan view of an end piece according to the invention
• Fig. 2b schematically shows a cross sectional view of the end piece of Fig. 2a taken along the line A- A;
• Fig. 3 a schematically shows a side view of an inner bushing according to the invention
• Fig. 3b schematically shows a cross sectional view of the inner bushing of Fig. 3 a taken along the line A- A;
• Fig. 3c schematically shows an end view of the inner bushing of Fig. 3a seen from the inside;
• Fig. 3d schematically shows a perspective view of the inner bushing of Fig. 3a;
• Fig. 4a schematically shows an end view of an inner end piece according to the invention, seen from the inside;
• Fig. 4b schematically shows a cross sectional view of the inner end piece of Fig. 4a taken along the line A- A;
• Fig. 4c schematically shows a perspective view of the inner end piece of Fig. 4a;
• Fig. 5a schematically shows a side view of an outer bushing according to the invention
• Fig. 5b schematically shows a cross sectional view of the outer bushing of Fig. 5a taken along the line A- A;
• Fig. 5c schematically shows an end view of the outer bushing of Fig. 5a, seen from the inside;
• Fig. 5d schematically shows a perspective view of the outer bushing of Fig. 5a
• Fig. 6a schematically shows an end view of an outer end piece according to the invention, seen from the inside;
• Fig. 6b schematically shows a cross sectional view of the outer end piece of Fig. 6a taken along the line A- A;
• Fig. 6c schematically shows a cross sectional view of the outer end piece of Fig. 6a taken along the line B-B ;
• Fig. 6d schematically shows a perspective view of the outer end piece of Fig. 6a.
• Fig. 6e schematically shows a side view of the outer end piece of Fig. 6a.
• the present invention thus provides a paint roller comprising a frame and a roller end piece, which roller end piece is arranged at the frame in a preferred manner by means of a bushing having a bearing function.
• Fig. 1 shows a roller 100 comprising a frame 110 having a first part 112 designed to hold a handle (not shown).
• the roller 100 is thus held by a painter by means of the handle, which may have a more or less ergonomically elaborated design and may be equipped with a holding device etc as is common in the art.
• the frame 110 has a second part 114 arranged to hold the roller tube itself (not shown), which roller tube has an absorbing surface for the application of paint during painting operations.
• the roller 100 further comprises in an outer end 115 of the second part 114, an outer end piece 150 which is mounted in bearings at an outer bushing 130, and in an inner end 116 of the second part 114, an inner end piece 140 which is mounted in bearings at an inner bushing 120.
• the outer end piece 150 and the inner end piece 140 are arranged to fix the roller tube at the frame 110 and arranged to rotate around said bushings 120, 130 when e.g. the painter paints.
• the end pieces 140, 150 are approximately cup-shaped or cylindrically shaped and fitted at the frame 110 with the openings pointed towards each other.
• FIG. 2a and 2b An embodiment of a frame 110 according to the invention is shown in Figs. 2a and 2b.
• the frame 110 comprises in an outer end 115 of its second part 114, one or several recesses or grooves 117. These recesses 117 are pressed or stamped and have an approximately oval cross section. Further, the outer end 115 has at the recesses 117 a number of ribs 119. The recesses 117 and the ribs 119 are arranged to provide an improved fixation or fastening of an outer bushing at the outer end
• ribs 119 have an outer diameter that is larger than the inner diameter of the outer bushing, whereby the ribs 119, at assemblage, are arranged to engage the outer bushing.
• Fig. 2b a cross section of a frame 110 along the line A-A in Fig. 2a is shown, whereby it is seen from the figure that the frame 110 has an approximately circular cross section and the recesses 117 has an approximately oval cross section.
• the second part 114 has in its inner end 116 one or several knobs or lugs 118. These lugs 118 are arranged to restrict the axial position of the inner bushing 120 at the inner end
• the bushings are in an embodiment of the invention manufactured of a plastic-like material or of a plastic material.
• the bushings may be manufactured of a material comprising a polyamide or of a material comprising an acetal polymer.
• the bushings are arranged at the inner or outer end of the second part of the frame by means of e.g. cold press-fitting, i.e. the bushings are pushed onto the frame without heating.
• the inner bushing is arranged in such a way at the inner end that its axial position may be adjusted.
• the outer bushing is preferably fastened at the outer end, whereby the outer bushing is kept in position by e.g. friction locking, i.e. by the friction obtained between the inner surface of the outer bushing and the frame.
• the recesses are arranged to provide an improved fixation or fastening of the outer bushing at the outer end of the frame's second part, whereby an improved holding is achieved.
• the inner bushing 120 has the form of a cylinder having an approximately cylinder-shaped through hole.
• the through hole is defined by the inner surface 121 of the inner bushing 120.
• the inner bushing 120 has a first or inner part 126 and a second or outer part 127.
• the through hole is further arranged in such a way that its diameter in the inner part 126 is larger than its diameter in the outer part 127.
• the inner part 126 faces the centre of the second part 114 of the frame 110, i.e. the inner part 126 faces the outer bushing.
• the inner part 126 has at its end a shoulder 122 and the outer part 127 has at its end a flange 123.
• the shoulder 122 and the flange 123 are arranged to restrict the axial movement of the inner end piece, when the inner end piece is arranged at the bushing 120.
• the inner part 126 of the inner bushing 120 comprises two tapered slots 124, which preferably are opposite each other. These slots 124 enable compression of the inner part 126 of the inner bushing 120 which simplifies the assemblage of the inner bushing 120 at an inner end piece.
• the inner bushing 120 and the inner end piece are mounted before they are arranged at the frame 110.
• the inner bushing 120 is mounted at the frame 110 in such a way that the shoulder 122 is directed towards an outer bushing.
• the inner end piece 140 is approximately cup-shaped or cylindrically shaped and has an open end side and a closed end side.
• the open end side i.e. the side that after assemblage faces the outer bushing, is shown in a plan view in figure 4a.
• the inner end piece 140 has a whole envelope surface 141 around the circumference and a hub 142 for mounting on an inner bushing.
• a number of protrusions 143 are spaced around the circumference, which protrusions 143 have an approximately rectangular shape and extend over about half the axial length of the inner end piece 140.
• the protrusions 143 are aimed at providing a balanced friction between the roller tube and the envelope surface 141 of the inner end piece 140.
• the protrusions 143 provides a friction locking of the roller tube, whereby the inner end piece 140 rotates when the roller tube rotates.
• a number of spokes 144 extend in order to give the inner end piece 140 sufficient strength.
• the spokes 144 may have a stabilising structure 145 in order to further increase the strength of the inner end piece 140.
• the envelope surface 141 of the inner end piece 140 is elastic between the spokes 144.
• the inner end piece 140 further has in its outer end side a flange 146 arranged to restrict the axial movement of a mounted roller tube.
• a flange 146 arranged to restrict the axial movement of a mounted roller tube.
• the number of protrusions are four and the number of spokes eight, but these number can of course be varied.
• Figs. 5a - 5d show an embodiment of an outer bushing 130 according to the invention.
• the outer bushing 130 has the shape of a cylinder with a cylinder-shaped hole. This hole is preferably not a through hole.
• the cylindrical hole is defined by the inner surface 131 of the outer bushing 130.
• the outer bushing 130 has a first or inner part 136 and a second or outer part 137. The hole is further arranged in such a way that its diameter in the inner part 136 is larger than its diameter in the outer part 137. After assemblage, said inner part 136 faces the centre of the second part 114 of the frame 110, i.e. the inner part 136 faces the inner bushing.
• the end of the inner part 136 has a shoulder 132 and the end of the outer part 137 has a flange 133.
• the shoulder 132 and the flange 133 are arranged to restrict the axial movement of an outer end piece, when the outer end piece is arranged a the outer bushing 130.
• the inner part 136 of the outer bushing 130 has two tapered slots 134, which preferably are opposite to each other. These slots 134 enable compression of the inner part 136 of the outer bushing 130, which simplifies mounting of the outer bushing 130 in an outer end piece.
• the outer end piece and the outer bushing 130 are mounted before they are arranged at the frame 110.
• the outer bushing 130 is mounted at the frame 110 in such a way that the shoulder 132 is directed towards the inner bushing.
• the outer end piece 150 is approximately cup-shaped and has an open end side and a closed end side.
• the open end side i.e. the side that after assemblage faces the inner bushing and the inner end piece, is shown in a plan view in figure 6a.
• the outer end piece 150 has a whole envelope surface 151 around the circumference and a hub 152 for mounting on an outer bushing.
• a number of protrusions 153 are spaced around the circumference, which protrusions 153 have a rounded tip shape and tapering off from its thickest point at the inner end side of the outer end piece towards the rounded tip.
• the protrusions 153 are aimed at providing a balanced friction between the roller tube and the envelope surface 151 of the outer end piece 150.
• a number of spokes 154 extend in order to give the outer end piece 150 sufficient strength.
• the number of protrusions are suitably four and the total number of spokes are eight, but this number can of course be varied.
• the spokes 154 may have a stabilising structure 155 in order to further increase the strength of the outer end piece 150.
• the envelope surface 151 is further arranged less elastic than the envelope surface of the inner end piece, whereby the fastening of a roller tube is greater at the outer end piece 150 than at the inner end piece.
• the outer roller end piece 150 is also somewhat elastic. This is achieved in part by the material being elastic itself, and in part by the shape of the spokes.
• the spokes extending between the protrusions 153 and the hub 152 are somewhat elastic. This is obtained by the spokes having a tapering, i.e. these spokes do not support the whole way from the protrusions on the envelope surface to the hub. The outer part of the spokes can thus flex somewhat inwards, towards the hub.
• the intermediate spokes are not tapered and thus are relatively stiff.
• the bushings and roller end pieces according to the invention are preferably manufactured of a plastic-like material.
• the present invention provides a good bearing of the roller end pieces without risking deformation of or precipitation from the frame material.
• this is achieved by providing bushings having a bearing function between the frame and the end pieces, whereby the end pieces are arranged to rotate around the bushings instead of directly rotate around the frame.
• the roller end pieces can be arranged at or integrated with a roller tube, whereby the roller tube with the end pieces are arranged at the bushings at the frame.

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20288614

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (5)

Citations (6)

• 2002
  • 2002-07-23 SE SE0202295A patent/SE525557C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2003
  • 2003-07-22 EP EP03765421A patent/EP1551565B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-07-22 DK DK03765421T patent/DK1551565T3/da active
  • 2003-07-22 DE DE60315053T patent/DE60315053D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-07-22 WO PCT/SE2003/001236 patent/WO2004009250A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2003-07-22 AT AT03765421T patent/ATE367213T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-07-22 AU AU2003247314A patent/AU2003247314A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2005
  • 2005-02-22 NO NO20050953A patent/NO337369B1/no not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (6)

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