A ROLLER TUBE END PIECE

Abstract: The invention relates to a roller tube end tube piece (4) for a paint roller, for holding the roller tube on the roller frame. The tube end piece (4) is provided with protrusions (7) spaced around the circumference of its peripheral surface (5), and with supports in the shape of spokes having a radial and axial extension, running from the peripheral surface inwards to a hub (6). Some spokes (8) are flexible to achieve a secure holding of the roller tube. Preferably, the spokes (8) located underneath the protrusions (7) are flexible through having a tapered recess (13).

Description: MA : L APPLICANT: A ZA AB TITLE OF THE INVENTION: A ROLLER TUBE END PIECE Field of the invention The present invention relates to a roller tube end piece for a paint roller, i.e. a trundle for holding a roller tube on the frame of the roller. More particularly, the invention relates to a roller tube end piece which is provided with protrusions and supports to achieve a good and durable holding of the roller tube, whilst still allowing easy removal of the roller tube from the roller assembly. State of the art The roller tube end pieces of the prior art are provided with axial slots to make the peripheral surface of the roller tube end piece elastic. They also have protrusions, frequently in the form of rectangular studs, on the peripheral surface. In order to achieve sufficient strength and rigidity, roller tube end pieces of the prior art also have spokes, running axially, and radially inwards, towards a hub mounted on the frame itself. Due to the axial slots, these roller tube end pieces are subject to permanent deformation during extended storage of rollers having roller tubes fitted onto the tube end pieces. This results in an inferior holding of the roller tube, which might, in the worst case, come off during painting. The present invention solves this problem by the roller tube end piece having a continuous peripheral surface, without slots, and by the roller tube end piece being made flexible by means of flexible supports in the shape of tapered spokes . Summary of the invention The present invention thus provides a roller tube end piece for a roller comprising a handle, a frame and a roller tube in a conventional manner. The roller tube end piece is cup- shaped and has a generally cylindrical circumferential surface and a hub for mounting it on the frame. Two such tube end pieces are fitted as sliding trundles on the frame, with their openings pointing towards each other and carrying the roller tube on their peripheral surfaces. According to the invention, a number of protrusions are spaced around the circumference of the peripheral surface, and a number of supports in the form of axial and radial spokes extend inwards from the peripheral surface, towards the hub, at least some of these spokes being flexible. Preferably, the flexible spokes are elastic due to a tapered recess. Preferably, the protrusions have the shape of a rounded tip, being radially thickest at the inner axial edge of the roller tube end piece and tapering off towards the tip. The invention is defined in detail by the accompanying claims. Brief description of the drawings The invention will be described in detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a paint roller which can incorporate the present invention, Fig. 2 is an end view of a roller tube end piece according to the present invention, seen from the inside, Fig. 3 is a side view of a roller tube end piece according to the present invention, Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view along the line IV in Fig. 2, showing flexible spokes according to the present invention, and Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view along the line V in Fig. 2, showing conventional spokes. Detailed description of a preferred embodiment The present invention thus provides a roller tube end piece that holds the roller tube on a paint roller, in an advan- tageous way. Fig. 1 shows a conventional paint roller 1, to which the present invention may be applied. The roller com¬ prises a frame 2, carrying the actual roller tube 3 which has an absorbing surface for the application of paint during painting operations. The roller tube 3 is held by tube end pieces, of which only the outer roller tube end piece 4 is visible on the drawing. As may be seen from the other drawings, the tube end pieces are generally cup-shaped and fitted, with their open ends pointing towards each other, aε sliding trundles on the frame. The outer roller tube end piece 4 is fixed to the frame 2 by a rivet 10 and washer 11, mounted in its recess 12. Thus, the tube end pieces cannot be removed from the frame, but the roller tube may be pulled off the tube end pieces, which are holding the roller tube by friction only. The painter holds the paint roller 1 by a handle (not shown) , which may have a more or less ergonomically elaborate design, and may be equipped with holding devices etc. as is common in the trade. The roller tube end piece 4 according to the present invention is described with reference particularly to Figs. 2-5. The tube end piece is generally cup-shaped and has an open end side and a closed end side. The open end side is shown in an end view in Fig. 2. The tube end piece has a continuous peripheral surface 5 around its circumference and a hub 6 for fitting onto the frame. A number of protrusions 7 are spaced around the circumference. Several spokes 8, 9 extend between the peripheral surface and the hub in order to give sufficient strength to the tube end piece. As may be seen from Fig. 3, the protrusions 7 have a rounded tip shape, tapering off from a thickest point at the inner edge of the tube end piece towards the rounded tip. They extend over about half the axial length of the tube end piece . The protrusions are provided in order to obtain a balanced friction between the roller tube 3 and the tube end piece peripheral surface 5. In order to provide adequate holding and yet simple removal of the tube, the roller tube end piece according to the present invention is also somewhat elastic. This is achieved in part by the material being elastic in itself, and in part by the structure of the spokes. In particular, the spokes 8, running from the protrusions 7 to the hub 6, are somewhat flexible. This is achieved by the spokes 8 having a tapered recess 13, as can be seen from Fig. 4, and from the dashed lines in Fig. 3. Consequently, the outer section of the spokes can flex somewhat inwards, in the direction of the hub. The intermediate spokes 9 do not have a tapered recess, as shown in Fig. 5, and thus are relatively stiff. The roller tube end pieces 4 according to the present invention are preferably made from a plastic resin. They are particularly well suited for using together with roller tubes also being made of plastic, thus inherently being somewhat elastic, but they can also be used together with cardboard tubes. Consequently, the present invention provides an extremely stable holding of the roller tube onto the tube end piece, during painting as well as during long-term storage of rollers with fitted tubes, due to the stable, yet flexible design of the roller end pieces. This also makes the roller tube easy to remove from the mounted position. In summary, this is achieved through supports in the shape of internal spokes, some (8) of the supports being flexible and some (9) acting as fixed counter-holds when fitting the roller tube. The flexible properties are achieved through the supports underneath the protrusions on the peripheral surface not supporting said protrusions all the way to the hub 6. The number of protrusions is preferably four and the total number of spokes 8, 9 is eight. Naturally, the numbers may be varied, as may other details of the invention, the scope of which shall only be limited by the appended claims.

Claims: bairns 1. A roller tube end piece for a paint roller (1) com¬ prising a handle, a frame (2) and a cylindrical tube (3) covered by an absorbing material, said roller tube end piece (4) being cup-shaped and having a generally cylindrical circumferential surface (5) and a hub (6) for mounting on the frame (2) , two such tube end pieces (4) being fitted as sliding trundles on the frame (2) with their openings pointing towards each other, carrying the roller tube (3) on their peripheral surfaces (5), c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y having a number of protrusions (7) spaced around the circumference of the peripheral surface (5) , and a number of supports in the form of axial and radial spokes (8, 9) running inwards from said peripheral surface, towards the hub (6) , whereby at least some of these spokes (8) are flexible. 2. A roller tube end piece according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that some of the spokes (8) are flexible due to their having a tapered recess (13) . 3. A roller tube end piece according to claims 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the protrusions (7) have the shape of a rounded tip, being radially thickest at the inner edge of the roller tube end piece and tapering off towards the tip. 4. A roller tube end piece according to claims 1, 2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the protrusions (7) extend over about half the axial length of the tube end piece (5) . 5. A roller tube end piece according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that every other spoke (8) is located underneath a protrusion (7) and every other spoke (9) is located halfway between two protrusions (7) . 6. A roller tube end piece according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the spokes (8) located underneath a protrusion (7) are flexible. 7. A roller tube end piece according to claims 5 or 6 , c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the spokes (9) located halfway becween two protrusions (7) have no tapered recess. 8. A roller tube end piece according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the roller tube end pieces (4) and the tube (3) are made of plastic.

Inventors: AXELSSON JAN, AXELSSON, JAN
Applicants: ANZA AB, AXELSSON JAN, AXELSSON, JAN
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B05C17
IPC codes: B05C17