Abstract:
A novel stand and support for gravity-fed spray guns wherein the spray gun is mounted to the present invention securely and placed in a substantially upright position. The stand is conformed to allow for the unobstructed passage of an attached air hose and further conformed to rest on the user&#39;s arm if necessary.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to stands that support spray guns and more particularly to a versatile stand for gravity fed spray paint guns. 
     The current state of the art in the field of painting with gravity led paint guns involves using separate hangers or stands for stationing the gun when it is idle. The guns themselves are not equipped with any device for placing the gun down in a substantially upright position. Thus, separate, unattached stands are commonly used. The use of a separate stand, however, is cumbersome and inconvenient. 
     One method for securing the paint gun in an upright position involves the use of stands mounted to a wall. Although the stands are stable, they are often not readily accessible or convenient. Regularly, the gun needs to be set down momentarily while adjustments are made to the article being painted. For these brief periods, it is difficult and bothersome to use permanently wall-mounted stands. 
     While some stands are more mobile, they frequently are unstable and cumbersome. Many current stands do not support the spray gun at the base of the gun, and thus do not provide desired stability. Beyond the difficulty of instability, these stands usually require that the air hose be disassembled from the gun before the gun is placed in the stand. The spray gun usually cannot be placed in a preferred upright position without disconnecting the air hose. An upright position is preferred so a user may mix paint &#34;on the spot&#34; in the spray gun. This eliminates the need to travel to a mixing station. Without a mobile and stable stand to secure the spray gun upright, mixing paint is a cumbersome routine involving disconnection of the hose, transport to the mixing station and reconnection of the hose. This procedure decreases in productivity and efficiency. 
     Another awkward condition in the current art is the inability to support the gun should it fall from the user&#39;s hand. The gun is frequently dropped and inevitably falls to the ground sustaining damage or spilling paint. Due to the cumbersome air hose, gravity fed paint guns are not outfitted with supports to prevent the gun from filling. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a novel spray gun stand and support. The support mounts to a gravity-fed spray gun at the base of the gun for maximum stability. The support is foldable and configured to rest upon the user&#39;s arm. Should the user drop the spray gun, it will not fall to the floor but will instead hang from the user&#39;s arm by the support. The support also has an opening through which an attached air hose can pass through unobstructed, without disconnection. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a spray gun stand and support that is stable, ambulatory and does not interfere with the operation of the spray gun. 
     It is a further object to provide a mountable support that allows for the unobstructed passage of an air hose that is connected to the spray gun. 
     It is a feature of the present invention that the stand may rest upon a user&#39;s arm and support the spray gun suspended from the user&#39;s arm should the user drop the spray gun. 
     It is an advantage of the present invention that the spray gun may be placed upon any substantially horizontal surface for momentary idle periods, paint mixing, or substrate preparation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of one embodiment of the support of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of one embodiment of the support of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of one embodiment of the support of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the present invention used as to stand a gravity fed paint gun on a substantially horizontal surface; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view showing a paint gun mounted to the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the present invention supporting a paint gun with attached air hose on a substantially horizontal surface; 
     FIG. 7 is a rear view of the present invention attached to a paint gun connected to an air hose; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view of the present invention resting upon a user&#39;s forearm during use of the paint gun 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the present invention supporting an air gun from a user&#39;s arm. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 depict a support 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention. Substantially rectangular mounting plate 12 is formed with a substantially centralized opening 18. The plate 12 is formed with a hollow barrel 20 along its bottom edge 14. Parallel to the tube 20, on the opposite edge 16 of the plate 12, a rod 22 is formed. Rod 22 has two ends 24, 26. Each end 24, 26 has two bends formed therein to curve the rod ends upwardly and outwardly, respectively. 
     Frame 30 preferably is formed by first threading a length of material through the hollow barrel 20. Preferably, the material is a resilient wire made of metal, such as steel; however, polymers such as polyethylene may be used. The inner diameter of hollow barrel 20 is larger than the outer diameter of the frame material 30. Upon threading the material through the hollow barrel, the material is bent symmetrically into a U-shaped frame 30, with the barrel 20 cooperating to form the bottom of the U. Then, the ends of the material are convoluted and welded forming a substantially planar foot 32 at each end. The frame, thus, has rotatable arms 34, 36 that rotate in co-planar fashion about the hollow barrel 20. Various details of design and construction may be (changed. For example, a frame of non-unitary construction with separate rotatable arms may be formed by appropriately mounting separate arms to the bottom edge of the mounting plate 12. 
     The rod 22 is longer than the width between the arms 34, 36 so as to form a stop 44, 46 on each side of the frame. The frame is formed with ribs 54, 56 on each arm 34, 36. The position of the rib coincides with the position where the stops 44, 46 touch the frame arms 34, 36. The ribs 54, 46 communicate with the stops 44, 46 to hold the frame 30 releasably secure to the mounting plate 12 in a substantially planar position. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 show a gravity fed paint gun 40 used with the present invention. The gun 40 is secured to the mounting plate 12. A user places the paint gun&#39;s air hose inlet 42 through the centralized opening 18 and thereafter screws an air hose connector 45 to the inlet 42. Thus, the gun 40 is securely mounted to the support 10. 
     By securing the arms 34, 36 to the rod 22 using the ribs 54, 56 and stops 44, 46, the gun 40 may be safely placed on any substantially horizontal surface, as shown in FIG. 6. Thus, the support 10 allows the paint gun 40 to be stored in this preferable upright position. Further, reloading and mixing may occur without the inconvenience of using a stand permanently mounted to a wall or workbench. 
     As also shown in FIG. 6, the frame 30 is formed leaving a passage 50 between the feet 32. The width of this passage preferably must be large enough so an air hose 52 may pass through it unobstructed. Thus, as seen in FIG. 6, once an air hose 52 is attached to the connector 45, the support allows a user to place the gun on the edge of any workbench, table or other substantially horizontal surface. The hose 52 need not be disconnected; rather, may conveniently remain attached to the gun 40. Thus, during momentary idle periods the hose remains connected and the user may resume painting without the inconvenience of reconnecting the hose. 
     As seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the passage 50 allows the frame 30 to be rotated about the hollow barrel 20 without obstruction by the hose 52. Thus, the frame 30 may be released from the stops 44, 46 and rotated to a position approximately 180° from that secured position. A user, as in FIG. 8, may place his hand through the frame 30 to grasp the air gun&#39;s grip and trigger. The user may comfortably paint while the frame 30 rests upon his forearm. Further, it is preferred that the frame 30 is contoured to the general shape of a forearm for grater comfort. Further, the frame 30 may be rotated to a position approximately 270° from the secured position. Preferably, the passage 50 is formed at an appropriate width such that the gun 40 can be wedged into the passage 50 to hold the frame 30 in an upright position. 
     FIG. 9 depicts another feature of the present invention. On occasion the user may drop the paint gun. This potentially causes damage to the gun, spills and injury. As shown in FIG. 9, should the user drop the gun, the frame 30 supports the gun from the user&#39;s forearm, preventing these potential misfortunes. To accomplish this feature, the opening 50 serves as a retainer and is small enough to allow the frame 30 to catch on the user&#39;s arm. Other forms of retainers, such as a single leg, strap, ring or hook could be used as well. While preferably the retainer is multi-functional and integral to and with the attachment, this is not essential. 
     It is to be understood that the above detailed description of the embodiment is provided for example only and should not be construed as constituting any limitation of the invention. Modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and all modifications that do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.