Abstract:
A multi-roller applicator for the application of paint having a handle member and a frame member, the frame member having secured thereto in parallel relationship, a pair of spaced apart axles for the receipt of a frame core member and paint absorbing sleeve member rotationally mounted thereon for the application of paint.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to painting and in particular to applicators such as paint rollers, and more particularly to a multi-roller paint applicator. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   The application of paint is accomplished normally in one of three ways. For large, uninterrupted areas, paint is normally applied by spraying. For small areas, or detail work such as around door frames and window frames, a paint brush is usually employed. For larger areas of walls or ceilings which have interrupted areas, the paint is normally applied with a paint roller which allows the user to cover a greater quantity of area in less time. 
   Present paint rollers are normally of one piece construction and fabricated from an elongate metal rod member. The metal rod is formed into a straight handle end which is then bent at an angle generally perpendicular to handle and then rebent to define a length which is parallel to the handle and rebent a third time to form the roller support portion which is perpendicular to the handle end and which would normally be bisected by the handle end if the handle end were extended beyond the first right angle. The roller support portion of the metal rod slidably mechanically receives the paint roller and the internal frame upon which the paint roller is mounted. The paint roller and frame rotate freely on the rod portion. The roller is constructed of an outer layer of paint absorbing material and depending upon the surface which it is going to be used to cover, the paint roller is normally characterized as a rough or a finish roller. 
   The paint is normally poured into a receptacle having a tilted base which allows the user to via the handle end of the paint roller to place the roller into a quantity of paint and rotate the roller on the angled surface so that sufficient paint is absorbed on the outer surface of the roller. The user then contacts the roller with the surface to be painted and with a back and forth, or up and down motion causes the roller to rotate applying paint to the surface. 
   The handle end of the roller can vary in length depending on the type of painting required. For high walls or for ceilings, the handle end may be several feet long to allow the user to reach the area to be painted without having to use an elevation means. For a standard height wall, the handle portion may average approximately one foot. 
   The design standard in the United States for paint rollers utilizes an internal frame member slidably frictionally or mechanically engaged to the roller support portion of the paint roller and an absorbent sleeve which slidably engages the frame member. When the slidable absorbent sleeve is worn out or has served its purpose, it is normally discarded, but the internal frame member is retained for use with a future clean absorbent sleeve. 
   In European practice, there is no internal frame member. The absorbent sleeve is formed with fixed end members which slidably engage the metal rod support of the paint roller. In European practice when the absorbent sleeve becomes worn out or has served its purpose, the sleeve and the end members are discarded as a unit. 
   Applicant&#39;s multi-roller applicator is adaptable to both the United States Standard and the European Standard. 
   Depending upon the surface to be painted, the user may have to apply several coats of paint. This could require two coats with the same type of roller or a first coat with a rough roller followed by a second coat with a finish roller. 
   While the application of paint by a paint roller is much quicker than if applied by a brush, the application by means of a paint roller may require the user to paint over the same surface area a plurality of times. 
   Applicant&#39;s invention provides for a multi-roller assembly in which two or more rollers are secured in parallel alignment on a single handle means. The rollers may rotate independently or the rollers may be juxtaposed such that the rotation of one roller causes the other roller to rotate by frictional engagement. This type of assembly allows the user to mount a combination of finish rollers or rough rollers on the applicator means depending upon the surface to be painted and allows for more paint to be applied in less time. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide for a novel paint applicator in which a plurality of paint rollers are mounted. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide for a novel paint applicator in which a plurality of rollers simultaneously apply painting to the surface desired. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel paint applicator in which the plurality of rollers rotate independently. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel paint applicator wherein one of the plurality of rollers in rotation causes the rotation of the adjacent roller. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel paint applicator in which the user can combine rollers of the rough finish type and the fine finish type. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel paint applicator which allows more paint to be deposited on the surface to be painted than with a single roller. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel paint applicator which decreases the number of coats of paint that may have to be applied to the surface to be painted. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide for a novel paint applicator adaptor which allows the paint applicator having a single roller to be converted to a paint applicator having a plurality of rollers. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A multi-roller applicator for the application of paint having a handle member and a frame member, the frame member having secured thereto in parallel relationship, a pair of spaced apart axles for the receipt of a frame core member and paint absorbing sleeve member rotationally mounted thereon for the application of paint. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent particularly when taken in light of the following illustrations wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the roller support of the paint roller assembly of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the roller support of the present invention, including handle member; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded cross section view of the handle member; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the roller support handle member and paint rollers; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the roller support with extended axles for accommodating multiple rollers for larger coverage area; 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the operation of the roller assembly; and 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective exploded view of a paint roller assembly of the prior art. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 7  is a planar top view of a painting roller assembly of the prior art. Paint roller  10  consists of a rod member  12  which is bent and/or angled so as to serve both as a handle portion  14  and an axle  16  for a rotational paint sleeve  18  and frame or core member  20 . The handle portion  14  of rod  12  is fitted with a frictional grip  22 . The handle portion  14  of rod  12  is first bent or angled at  24  so as to form a right angle or an obtuse angle with handle portion  14  and is identified by segment  26 . The rod member is then again bent or angled to form segment  28  which is substantially parallel to handle portion  14 . Segment  28  is then bent at a 90 degree angle to form the axle portion  16  for support of frame or core member  20  and paint sleeve  18  the circumference of which is covered by a paint absorbing material such as felt, fleece or foam. As a general design, the extension of handle member  14  would bisect the axle member  16  thereby providing ease of use by the user. 
   Typically frame or core member  20  paint absorbing sleeve member  18  are in snap fit engagement on axle member  16  and can be slidably removed therefrom with the paint sleeve member  18  being separated from frame or core member  20  for ease of cleaning. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views respectively of the roller support frame  40  of the present invention, and the roller support handle member. When viewed from above as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , roller support frame  40  has an S-shaped configuration. When viewed from the end as illustrated, the roller support frame  40  has an inverted V-shape configuration. 
   In the preferred embodiment, roller support frame  40  would be formed from bending a single metal rod at multiple 90 degree angles, however, roller support frame  40  could also be molded as one piece from plastic. 
   Roller support arm  40  comprises a first roller axle  42  and a second roller axle  44  parallelledly disposed. First roller axle  42  and second roller axle  44  have an open paint roller insertable end  46  and  48  respectively, and a closed support end  50  and  52 . Closed support ends  50  and  52  comprise an angularly disposed perpendicular arms  54  and  56  respectively, which communicate with a handle support arm  58 , which again is parallelledly disposed with the first roller axle  42  and second roller axle  44 . 
   The open paint roller insertable ends  46  and  48  of first roller axle  42  and second roller axle  44  are at opposing ends of the roller axles as are the angularly disposed perpendicular arms  54  and  56  at the closed support ends. As will be described hereafter, the paint rollers are slidably disposed onto first roller axle  42  and second roller axle  44  such that the paint rollers are disposed with a gap therebetween to allow the paint rollers to freely rotate on first roller axle  42  and second roller axle  44 . 
     FIG. 3  is an exploded, cross sectional view of the handle member  60  illustrating the preferred manner in which it is secured to handle support arm  58  of roller support member  40 . Handle member  60  is of two piece construction comprising a bolt portion  62  having a head portion  64  and a threaded shaft  66 . Shaft  66  has a transverse slot  68  extending from end  70  to a point proximate head  64 . Handle portion  72  is of tubular construction having an internal threaded bore  74 , cooperable with the external threaded shaft  66  on bolt portion  62 . Handle portion  72  can be of relative short length for the application of paint in an easily reachable area, or alternatively, handle portion  72  can be of greater length for the application of paint in elevated or hard to reach areas. 
   In assembly, the slot  68  on bolt portion  62  of handle member  60  is slidably engaged with handle support arm  58  of roller support frame  40 . Handle portion  72  is then threadedly mated with bolt portion  62  until the terminus  76  of handle portion  72  frictionally engages handle support arm  58 . Handle support arm  58  is thus wedged between the terminus  69  of slot  68  and the terminus  76  of handle portion  72  of handle member  60 . 
   By adjusting the friction and/or rotation of handle portion  72  in cooperation with bolt portion  62 , the degree of rotation of handle support arm  58  may be adjusted. For example, if handle portion  72  is threadedly tightened to securely engage handle support arm  58 , handle support arm  58  will not rotate in slot  68  and the first roller axle and second roller axle and their respective application sleeves will not change their angular position vis-à-vis handle portion  72 . If the frictional engagement between handle portion  72  and handle support arm  58  is lessened, then handle support arm  58  is allowed to slightly rotate in slot  68  and thus the orientation of first roller axle  42  and second roller axle  44  will change as respects handle portion  72  (See  FIG. 6 ). 
     FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the paint roller assembly utilizing a U.S. standard paint roller  78  and a European standard paint roller  79 . The U.S. standard paint roller  78  as illustrated in  FIG. 7  is adapted to fit the roller support axle  42  or  44  of the present invention. In the U.S. standard, a rotational paint sleeve  80  made of felt, fleece, or other paint absorbing textile, is secured to a core member  82 . Core member  82  is adapted to the roller axles  42  and  44  of the present invention by means of end caps  84  which frictionally snap fit into the core member  82 . End caps  84  have a central aperture  88  therethrough complimentary with the diameter of the roller axles  42  and  44  of the present invention. In this configuration, an assembled U.S. standard paint roller  78  can be slidably secured onto each of the roller axles  42  and  44 . When the U.S. standard paint roller  78  becomes worn through use and is no longer suitable or fit for performing paint application, the paint sleeve  80  and core member  82  may be discarded, or only the paint sleeve  80  need be discarded and a new paint sleeve slidably engaged with the core member. Thus the core member and the end caps are suitable for reuse. 
     FIG. 4  also illustrates the European roller standard  79 . In the European roller standard  79 , the paint applicator sleeve  90 , core member  92 , and end caps  94  are of single piece, unitary construction. In the European version, the paint application sleeve  90 , core member  92 , and end caps  94  are discarded when worn as a unit. However, Applicant&#39;s roller support frame  40  has dimensioned the roller axles  42  and  44  to accommodate the apertures  96  in the fixed end caps  94  of the European standard so that a European standard roller applicator may be used with Applicant&#39;s roller support frame  40 . 
     FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a roller support  40 A which would be utilized simultaneously to apply paint over a larger area with each passage of the roller support  40 A. In this configuration, roller axle  42 A, or roller axle  44 A, or both, could be extended to accommodate more than one paint roller  78  or  79  on each axle. In such a configuration, the interior rollers would apply paint in tandem since they would still remain in alignment with the exterior paint rollers applying only a single layer of paint. This embodiment would have advantages where it was desirable to quickly and efficiently apply paint to a large area without the concern of the finished texture. 
   While the present invention has been described with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications or changes can be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore it is manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims and the equivalence thereof.