Patent ID: 11931765
Assignee: GRACO MINNESOTA INC.
Field: Surface technology, coating (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 10:
11. An apparatus for supplying paint under pressure to a paint applicator, the apparatus comprising:
a spray gun comprising:
a housing;
a fluid pump having an outlet disposed within the housing; and
a spray tip assembly fluidly connected to the outlet of the fluid pump at a rear end of the spray tip assembly and having a bore in a side of the spray tip assembly configured for receiving and holding a spray tip so that an inlet of the spray tip is aligned with and in fluid communication with the outlet of the fluid pump, and a front end of the spray tip assembly, wherein when the spray tip is aligned with and in fluid communication with the outlet of the fluid pump and the fluid pump is activated, paint is atomized and flows out the front end of the spray tip assembly; and

a spray gun adapter configured to be installed in the bore of the spray tip assembly in place of the spray tip, the spray gun adapter comprising:
an adapter body having a first portion configured to fit in the bore of the spray tip assembly and a second portion configured to extend out of the bore of the spray tip assembly;
an adapter inlet configured to be aligned with and in fluid communication with the outlet of the fluid pump when the first portion of the adapter body is located in the bore;
an adapter outlet in fluid communication with the adapter inlet, so that when the first portion of the adapter body is located in the bore and the fluid pump is activated, fluid flow is established from the fluid pump of the spray gun through the adapter inlet, through the adapter outlet, and thereby through the adapter body and the spray gun adapter, and to an applicator accessory connected to the adapter outlet; and
an adapter bore within the adapter body that connects the adapter inlet and the adapter outlet;
wherein the spray gun adapter is configured to be installed in the bore of the spray tip assembly by removing the spray tip from the bore of the spray tip assembly and installing the spray gun adapter into the bore of the spray tip assembly without removing the spray tip assembly from the spray gun.