Abstract:
A container holder in a fluid delivery system is provided. In one example, a portable fluid sprayer includes a sprayer housing, a sprayer handle for carrying the portable fluid sprayer above a support surface, and a base for supporting the portable fluid sprayer on the support surface. The base is free of wheels. The fluid sprayer includes a fluid container having a handle and an attachment feature receiving the fluid container handle. The attachment feature and the base support the fluid container with the handle of the fluid container at an angle with respect to vertical when the portable fluid sprayer is carried in an upright position by a user using the sprayer handle.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation of and claims priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/399,116, filed Mar. 6, 2009, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     One example of a fluid delivery system comprises a spray-coating system including a device configured to spray a coating (e.g., paint, ink, varnish, texture, etc.) through the air onto a surface. Such spray-coating systems often include a fluid source and, depending on the particular configuration or type of system, a motor for providing pressurized fluid to an output nozzle or tip that directs the fluid in a desired spray pattern. For example, some common types of paint spraying systems employ compressed gas, usually air compressed by an air compressor, to atomize and direct paint particles onto a surface. Other common types of paint spraying systems include airless systems that employ a pumping unit for pumping paint from a paint source, such as a paint can. Pressurized paint is pumped from the source through a hose, for example, to a spray gun having a tip with a particular nozzle shape for directing the paint in a desired pattern. 
     Many painting applications require user mobility. Some examples include, but are not limited to, painting an exterior of a building, painting interior walls and ceilings of a building, staining a deck or fence, to name a few. Further, such painting applications require that a paint source (e.g., a paint can) is carried with the spraying system by a user as the user moves during the paint application process. 
     The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides a container holder in a fluid delivery system. In one exemplary embodiment, a portable fluid sprayer includes a sprayer housing, a sprayer handle for carrying the portable fluid sprayer above a support surface, and a base for supporting the portable fluid sprayer on the support surface. The base is free of wheels. The fluid sprayer includes a fluid container having a handle and an attachment feature receiving the fluid container handle. The attachment feature and the base support the fluid container with the handle of the fluid container at an angle with respect to vertical when the portable fluid sprayer is carried in an upright position by a user using the sprayer handle. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, a portable fluid sprayer for spraying fluid supplied from a fluid container is provided. The portable fluid sprayer includes a sprayer housing, a sprayer handle for carrying the portable fluid sprayer, an attachment feature configured to receive a handle of the fluid container, and a non-wheeled base configured to support the portable fluid sprayer on a support surface. The base has a bottom surface and a recess forming a portion of an opening for accommodating the fluid container. The opening is at and extends from the bottom surface plane of the base. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, a portable fluid sprayer for spraying fluid supplied from a fluid container is provided. The portable fluid sprayer includes a sprayer housing, a sprayer handle for carrying the portable fluid sprayer, an attachment feature configured to receive a handle of the fluid container, and a base for supporting the portable fluid sprayer on a support surface. The base has a recessed surface formed at least in part by a plurality of container engaging faces oriented at an angle with respect to each other. 
     These and various other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a fluid delivery system including a holder for a fluid container. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the fluid delivery system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the fluid delivery system of  FIG. 1  illustrating a fluid container attached to a handle. 
         FIG. 3B  is a side view of one embodiment of the fluid container illustrated in  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the fluid delivery system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the fluid delivery system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of a recess, under one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fluid delivery system  100 . As illustrated, system  100  comprises an airless fluid delivery system having a housing  102  including a pumping unit for pumping fluid (e.g., paint, stain, ink, varnish, etc.) from a fluid container (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). The housing  102  is supported by a frame  104  that extends along at least a portion of a periphery of the housing  102  and is configured to support the housing  102  on a surface (e.g., floor, table, etc.). The pumping unit within housing  102  comprises a motor that pumps the fluid from the container through at least one conduit  108 . Conduit  108  has an end  112  that is placed in fluid in the container. Conduit  108  is attached to housing  102  by a coupling unit  110  and provides a fluid path from the container. In one embodiment, coupling unit  110  removably couples conduit(s)  108  to housing  102 . 
     While system  100  is illustrated as comprising an airless fluid delivery system, it is noted that in other embodiments system  100  can comprise other types of fluid delivery systems such as, but not limited to, compressed-air systems, air-assisted systems, electrostatic systems, high volume low pressure (HVLP) systems, low volume low pressure (LVLP) systems, to name a few. 
     Fluid delivery system  100  also includes an output port  105  through which pressurized fluid is discharged by the pumping unit. A conduit (not shown in  FIG. 1 ), such as a tube, can be connected to housing  102  at output port  105  for supplying the pressurized fluid to a spray gun, for example. 
     Airless fluid delivery system  100  includes an electrical plug  114  and cord  113  for supplying power to the motor of the pumping unit in housing  102 . Fluid delivery system  100  includes a power switch (i.e., an on/off switch) (not shown in  FIG. 1 ). System  100  also includes a pressure adjustment mechanism  106  (illustrated as a rotatable dial) that controls operation of the pumping unit for providing desired pressures and fluid flows through port  105 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , system  100  comprises a portable fluid delivery system and includes a handle  116  configured to enable system  100  to be carried by a user. As illustrated, handle  116  extends from and is transverse to housing  102 . In one embodiment, handle  116  is substantially horizontal. Handle  116  has a first end  115  and a second end  117  attached to housing  102  at a joint  118 . Joint  118  is designed with sufficient strength characteristics (in the form of material selection, geometry, dimensions, etc.) to support the weight of system  100  when a user carries system  100  by handle  116 . 
     Fluid delivery system  100  also includes at least one attachment feature for supporting a fluid container.  FIG. 2  is a side view of system  100  and illustrates handle  116  having an attachment feature  122  at end  115 .  FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of system  100  illustrating an exemplary fluid container  150  supported by attachment feature  122 .  FIG. 3B  is a side view of the exemplary fluid container  150 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3A , attachment mechanism  122  is configured to receive a bail  152  of container  150 . Container  150  is illustratively a bucket or pail having a cylindrical shape. However, in other embodiments container  150  and bail  152  can have other shapes and configurations. Attachment mechanism  122  secures the bail  152  of container  150  such that when a user lifts system  100  using handle  116  container  150  is also lifted and suspended from end  115  of handle  116 . In the illustrated embodiment, attachment mechanism  122  includes a hook  124  for securing bail  152 . Bail  152  is supported by a recessed surface  123  formed by hook  124  (see  FIG. 2 ) of attachment mechanism  122 . A height  140  of hook  124  is selected such that the bail  152  of the container  150  remains secured within attachment mechanism  122  during movement (e.g., lifting, placement, etc.) of system  100 , for example on a surface  144  such as a floor. In one embodiment, the height  140  of hook  124  is between approximately 0.25 and 0.75 inches. In one particular embodiment, height  140  is approximately 0.425 inches. However, it is noted that in other embodiments attachment mechanism  122  can include any other suitable sizes and configurations. For example, hook  124  and recess  123  can be sized based on the particular dimensions of bail  152 . Moreover, in other embodiments attachment mechanism  122  can include other types of fasteners such as, but not limited to, pins, loops, clamps, to name a few. 
     In one embodiment, attachment mechanism  122  is removably attached to handle  116 . In this manner, attachment mechanism  122  can be removed and/or interchanged with other attachment mechanisms having different sizes and/or shapes. 
     Further, in accordance with one embodiment the container  150  is in contact with and at least partially supported by one or more portions of housing  102  and/or frame  104 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, fluid delivery system  100  includes a lateral container support  120  that extends from housing  102  and is configured to engage a first portion of container  150 . Support  120  limits or prevents lateral movement of container  150  in one or more directions. Further, as discussed below in the context of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , frame  104  of system  100  is also configured to engage and at least partially support a second portion of container  150 . In one embodiment, support  120  and frame  140  are configured to orient container in a substantially upright or vertical position. The particular configuration of support  120  and frame  104  can be designed based on the particular dimensions of container  150 . One example of container  150  is illustrated in  FIG. 3B . 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 3B , container  150  is configured to hold a gallon of fluid (e.g., paint, varnish, stain, etc.). However, other sizes of container  150  are within the scope of the concepts described herein. In the example of  FIG. 3B , container  150  has an outside diameter  160  of approximately 6.69 inches and a height  154  of approximately 7.75 inches. Further, container  150  has an overall height  158  (including bail  152 ) of approximately 11.06 inches and a length  162  from a tip of bail  152  to an axis at the connection point of bail  152  is approximately 4.9 inches. Again, it is noted that  FIG. 3B  is one example of container  150  and is not intended to limit the scope of the concepts described herein. For example, in other embodiments container  150  can have a non-cylindrical shape. Further, in another example diameter  160  is between approximately 6 and 7 inches and height  154  is between approximately 7.25 and 8.25 inches. Further, in one embodiment height  158  is between approximately 10 and 12 inches and length  162  is between approximately 4 and 6 inches. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3A , the attachment and container support components of system  100  can be configured depending on the particular dimensions of container  150 . For instance, depending on the particular dimensions of container  150  the container support  120  and frame  104  are configured such that when container  150  is suspended from handle  116  the container  150  is in a substantially upright or vertical position and bail  152  is at an angle  155  with respect to vertical. In one example, angle  155  is approximately 45 degrees with respect to vertical. However, it is noted that angle  155  can be greater than or less then 45 degrees. The angle  155  of bail  152  causes at least a portion of the force resulting from the weight of the container  150  to be in a direction toward support  120  and frame  104 . 
     Further, the height  142  from surface  123  of attachment mechanism  122  that supports bail  152  to bottom surface  143  of frame  104  is configured such that container  150  rests on surface  144  when frame  104  is placed on surface  144 . In this manner, the weight of container  150  does not exert, or exerts a minimal amount of, downward force upon handle  116  when system  100  is placed on surface  144 . Also, the height  142  is configured such that the bail  152  of container  150  remains within the attachment mechanism  122  when container  150  and frame  104  are placed on surface  144 . 
     In one embodiment, to accommodate the dimensions of exemplary container  150  illustrated in  FIG. 3B , the height  142  between surface  123  of attachment feature  122  and the bottom surface  143  is approximately 10.13 inches. Further, a distance  126  between support  120  and a vertical plane defined by hook  124  is approximately 1.12 inches. A distance  128  between support  120  and a vertical plane defined by the outer edge of hook  124  is approximately 1.35 inches and support  120  is positioned a height  148  of approximately 6.15 inches from surface  143 . Again, it is noted that these dimensions are exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the concepts described herein. 
     When a user lifts fluid delivery system  100  using handle  116 , the weight of housing  102  (including internal components such as the pumping unit) and frame  104  is supported by joint  118  that connects end  117  of handle  116  to housing  102 . In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the weight of the container  150  and any fluid contained therein is supported on end  115  of handle  116  that is opposite end  117 . In this manner, when a user lifts system  100  using handle  116  the weight of container  150  on attachment mechanism  122  is not supported by joint  118 . 
     Fluid delivery system  100  has an “empty container” center of mass when container  150  is empty, or alternatively a “no container” center of mass when container  150  is not attached to handle  116 . Further, when container  150  is full of fluid the weight of container  150  upon attachment mechanism  122  offsets a portion of the weight of system  100 . As such, a “full container” center of mass of system  100  is different than the “empty container” or “no container” center of mass of system  100 . Lines  130  and  134  illustrate axes through the “empty container” center of mass and “full container” center of mass, respectively, in the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2 . In accordance with one embodiment, as a function of the center of masses of the “full container” and “empty container” configurations, an “empty container” balance point  132  and “full container” balance point  136  exist along a length of handle  116 . The “empty container” balance point  132  represents a position along the handle  116  where system  100  is substantially balanced when a user lifts system  100  (with an empty container). Further, the “full container” balance point  136  represents a position along the handle  116  where system  100  is substantially balanced when a user lifts system  100  (with a full container). While  FIGS. 2 ,  3 A, and  4  illustrate points  132  and  136  at particular positions along handle  116 , it is noted that the balance points  132  and  136  can exist along the handle  116  at different positions depending on the particular weight characteristics of system  100 , including container  150  and any fluid contained therein. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , frame  104  includes a first portion  170  defining an outer periphery  172  of frame  104 . Frame  104  also includes a recessed portion  180  having a recess that is displaced (as indicated by double arrow  182 ) from the outer periphery  172  of frame  104 . Recess  180  is configured to receive and support a portion of container  150 . The size and shape of recess  180  can be configured based on the particular shape and size of container  150 . For example, in the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 5  recessed portion  180  has an arcuate shape that is similar to the cylindrical shape of container  150 . However, in other embodiments the shape of recessed portion  180  is not arcuate. For example, surfaces of recess  180  can form angles for receiving non-cylindrical containers. For instance, a container can be polygonal, square-shaped, triangular, etc.  FIG. 6  illustrates one embodiment of a recess  600  having a plurality of container engaging faces  602  oriented at an angle with respect to each other. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a distance  166  between the apex  181  of recess  180  and a vertical plane defined by hook  124  is substantially the same as the distance  126  between support  120  and the vertical plane defined by hook  124  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). For example, in one embodiment distances  126  and  166  are approximately 1.12 inches. In this manner, recess  180  and support  120  of system  100  support container  150  in a substantially upright or vertical position. 
     It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments of the disclosure, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. For example, the particular elements may vary depending on the particular application for the system or method while maintaining substantially the same functionality without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure and/or the appended claims.