Patent Publication Number: US-2023142318-A1

Title: Improvements in or relating to decorating rollers

Description:
This invention relates to a retention assembly for a hollow tubular decorating roller and to a decorating roller assembly. 
     It is known to use a hollow tubular decorating roller to apply paint to a surface, for example a wall. Typically, the hollow tubular decorating roller is rotatably secured to a roller frame to permit use of the hollow tubular decorating roller to apply paint. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a retention assembly for a hollow tubular decorating roller comprising:
         a fixed mount member securable in use to a roller frame and including a first primary support formation and a first retention formation extending radially beyond the first primary support formation; and   a separable mount member selectively couplable with the fixed mount member, the separable mount member including a second primary support formation and a second retention formation extending radially beyond the second primary support formation, the first and second primary support formations being received, in use, by a respective end of a hollow tubular decorating roller, the first and second retention formations cooperating with one another while the separable mount member is coupled with the fixed mount member to in use retain a hollow tubular decorating roller therebetween   wherein each of the first and second primary support formations includes a respective mutually engageable attachment formation, one of the mutually engageable attachment formations is a receivable attachment formation and the other one of the mutually engageable attachment formations is an insertable attachment formation, the receivable attachment formation includes an opening and the insertable attachment formation incudes an inserting portion for inserting into the opening of the receivable attachment formation,   the insertable attachment formation further including a locking member configured to cooperate with the receivable attachment formation when the inserting portion is inserted into the opening to couple the receivable and insertable attachment formations to one another, wherein the locking member includes first and second locking member portions protruding from the insertable attachment formation and being spaced from one another to locate a portion of the receivable attachment formation therebetween.       

     Having each of the first and second retention formations extend radially beyond a respective first or second primary support formation provides a means of retaining a hollow tubular decorating roller between the separable and fixed mount members. As such, the risk of the hollow tubular decorating roller working its way off of the fixed and separable mount members during painting is much reduced. Meanwhile, selectively coupling the separable mount member with the fixed mount member permits ready replacement of a hollow tubular decorating roller, for example, for maintenance or cleaning purposes. 
     The inclusion first and second locking member portions as defined above permits coupling of the receivable and insertable attachment formations to one another which not only prevents separation of the attachment formations from one another, but also prevents oscillating, i.e. bending and/or twisting, movement of the fixed and separable mount members relative to one another when the assembly is being used. Such movement might otherwise cause the fixed and separable mount members to separate unexpectedly. 
     The retention assembly is therefore capable of holding a hollow tubular decorating roller in a desired position during painting, while permitting ready removal of the hollow tubular decorating roller from the retention assembly as required. 
     Optionally the first and second locking member portions each take the form of a barb portion, each barb portion having a tapered end and a non-tapered end. 
     Such an arrangement reliably prevents separation of the mutually engageable attachment formations. The barb portion is also not susceptible to becoming dislodged by relative rotational movement of the separable and fixed mount members, e.g. as may occur when painting, and so the mutually engageable attachment formations are less likely to become unintentionally detached from one another. 
     The non-tapered ends of each barb portion preferably face one another. 
     Such an arrangement means that the tall end of each barb portion, e.g. the end which protrudes the most from the inserting portion, forms the sides of the gap created by the barb portions being spaced apart from one another. Thus, the portion of the receivable attachment formation that is located between the barb portions is locked between the sides defined by the tall end of the barb portions. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second locking portions locate at either side of the opening of the receivable attachment formation. 
     As such, an existing part of the receivable attachment formation is used to locate between the locking member portions so as to hold the components in place. 
     Optionally at least one of the mutually engageable attachment formations is or includes a resiliently deformable attachment formation. 
     Providing a resiliently deformable attachment formation allows ready attachment and detachment of the mutually engageable attachment formation while maintaining secure and robust attachment functionality. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the receivable attachment formation includes first and second slots formed on an outer face of the corresponding mutually engageable attachment formation, and further includes first and second stop portions formed within the receivable attachment formation, and
         wherein the insertable attachment formation includes first and second resiliently deformable attachment legs each having first and second locking member portions spaced from one another, the first and second attachment legs being configured to deform, in use, towards one another to selectively permit entry and exit of the legs into and out of a respective slot, and wherein the first and second locking member portions of each first and second attachment legs are configured to locate a corresponding stop portion between the first and second locking member portions to resist separation of the mutually engageable attachment formations.       

     One of the mutually engageable attachment formations may be elongate so as to extend, in use, along the length of a hollow tubular decorating roller. 
     One of the mutually engageable attachment formations being elongate aids in the attachment of the mutually engageable attachment formations to one another since the mutually engageable attachment formation being received by a hollow tubular decorating roller is visible at one end of the roller. 
     At least one of the first and second retention formations may include a plurality of discrete projection portions. 
     A plurality of discrete projection portions provides a means for retaining a hollow tubular decorating roller between the separable and fixed mount members while reducing the weight and material cost of the retention assembly. 
     Preferably at least one of the first and second retention formations includes a single projection portion extending fully around the corresponding primary support formation. 
     Such an arrangement provides the retention functionality of the first and/or second retention formation while also simplifying fabrication of the retention assembly. 
     Optionally the fixed mount member includes a roller frame fixedly secured thereto. 
     The fixed mount member may be rotatably secured to the roller frame. Moreover, the separable mount member may rotatably receive the roller frame such that, when the separable mount member is coupled to the fixed mount member, the separable mount member is also rotatably secured to the roller frame. 
     Such an arrangement allows rotational movement of a hollow tubular decorating roller relative to the roller frame in use. 
     The separable mount member may include a guide portion to guide the position of the roller frame relative to the separable mount member. 
     The inclusion of such a guide portion aids in the positioning of the separable mount member relative to the roller frame. For example, the guide portion may help to centralise a portion of the roller frame within the separable mount member. This is particularly useful when the separable mount member has been received by a hollow tubular decorating roller such that the second primary support formation is at least partially obscured from view. 
     At least one of the fixed and separable mount members may include a secondary support formation to in use support an interior of a hollow tubular decorating roller. 
     Such a secondary support formation abuts in use an interior surface of a hollow tubular decorating roller so as to help prevent the hollow tubular decorating roller deforming during use, thereby providing better painting performance. 
     The secondary support formation may extend along a length of the hollow tubular decorating roller so as to prevent deformation along the whole length thereof. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a decorating roller assembly comprising:
         a retention assembly as described hereinabove; and   a hollow tubular decorating roller within respective ends of which is received a corresponding first or second primary support formation of the retention assembly.       

     The decorating roller assembly shares the advantages set out above in relation to the retention assembly of the first aspect of the invention. 
     Optionally each of the first and second retention formations extends radially beyond an internal cavity of the hollow tubular decorating roller. 
     Such an arrangement holds the hollow tubular decorating roller in position relative to the retention assembly, and so the risk of the hollow tubular decorating roller working its way off of the retention assembly during painting is reduced. 
    
    
     
       There now follows a brief description of preferred embodiments of the invention, by way of non-limiting example, with reference being made to the following drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    shows a retention assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  2    shows a fixed mount member which forms a part of the retention assembly shown  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3   a    shows mutually engageable attachment formations which form a part of the retention assembly shown in  FIG.  1     
         FIG.  3   b    shows a separable mount member which forms part of the retention assembly shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    shows a further view of the retention assembly shown in  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  5    shows a second separable mount member which forms a part of a retention assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG.  6    shows a decorating roller assembly according to a third embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     A retention assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral  10  and is shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     The retention assembly  10  includes a fixed mount member  12  and a separable mount member  14 . 
     The fixed mount member  12  has a first primary support formation  16  and a first retention formation  18  that extends radially beyond the first primary support formation  16 . 
     The separable mount member  14  is selectively couplable with the fixed mount member  12 , and it has a second primary support formation  20  and a second retention formation  22  that extends radially beyond the second primary support formation  20 . 
     In the embodiment shown, each of the first and second retention formations  18 ,  22  is a single projection portion  24  that extends fully around its corresponding primary support formation  16 ,  20 . Each single projection portion  24  is integrally formed with its corresponding primary support formation  16 ,  20 . The single projection portion  24  may, in other embodiments of the invention, instead extend only part-way around its corresponding primary support formation  16 ,  20 . The single projection  24  may also be separately formed from but secured to its corresponding primary support formation  16 ,  20 . 
     In other embodiments of the invention (not shown) one or both of the first and second retention formation  18 ,  22  may be formed from a plurality of discrete projection portions. In further embodiments of the invention (not shown) one of the first or second retention formations  18 ,  22  may be formed from a plurality of discrete projection portions while the other one of the first or second retention formations  18 ,  22  may be formed from a single projection portion  24 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the fixed mount member  12  is fixedly secured to a roller frame  26 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the roller frame  26  is formed from a single length of round bar  28 . The roller frame  26  includes a mount portion  30 , a handle portion  32  and a connection portion  34  lying between the mount portion  30  and the handle portion  32 . 
     The mount portion  30  includes an abutment formation  36  against which the fixed mount member  12  abuts to prevent the fixed mount member  12  from moving along the mount portion  30  of the roller frame  26 . 
     The abutment formation  36  is shown in more detail in  FIG.  2   . In this embodiment, the abutment formation  36  is a crimp  38  inserted through the wire  28  of the roller frame  26 . The abutment formation  36  may take another form such as a spot of welded metal. The fixed mount member  12  abuts the crimp  38  via a washer  40  that lies between the crimp  38  and the fixed mount member  12 . In other embodiments of the invention (not shown), the washer  40  may be omitted such that the fixed mount member  12  abuts the crimp  38  directly. 
     The fixed mount member  12  includes an aperture  42  which rotatably receives the bar  28  of the mount portion  30  of the roller frame  26  such that the fixed mount member  12  is rotatable relative to the roller frame  26 . The separable mount member  14  also includes an aperture  43  to rotatably receive the bar  28  of the mount portion  30  of the roller frame  26  such that the separable mount member  14  is similarly rotatable relative to the roller frame  26 . In the embodiment shown, the aperture  43  of the separable mount member  14  extends fully therethrough. The aperture  43  may instead extend part-way through the mount member  14  such that a cap (not shown) is formed at one end of the separable mount member  14 . In such a further embodiment, the cap may abut an end of the bar  28  received in the aperture  43 . 
     The fixed mount member  12  and/or the separable mount member  14  may include a bearing assembly to aid in the rotation of the fixed and/or separable mount members  12 ,  14  relative to the roller frame  26 . 
     In other embodiments of the invention (not shown), the first and second retention formations  18 ,  22  may be fixed to the mount portion  30  of the roller frame  26 , and the first and second primary support formations  16 ,  20  may be rotatable relative to the corresponding first or second retention formation  18 ,  22 . 
     Returning to  FIG.  1   , the handle portion  32  of the roller frame  26  extends substantially perpendicularly to the mount portion  30  of the roller frame  26  and is spaced from the mount portion  30  by the connection portion  34 . 
     Moreover, the handle portion  32  extends substantially perpendicularly opposite a midpoint of the mount portion  30 . In other embodiments of the invention (not shown), the handle portion  32  may instead extend opposite a point offset from the midpoint of the mount portion  30 . 
     The handle portion  32  includes a handle  44  secured thereto. The handle  44  may be secured to the handle portion  32  by, for example, a friction fit and/or by an adhesive. The handle  44 , in this embodiment, includes an aperture  46  to in use receive an extension pole or other accessory. 
     Each of the first and second primary support formations  16 ,  20  includes a respective mutually engageable attachment formation  48 ,  50 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the first primary support formation  16  includes a receivable attachment formation  48  that receives a insertable attachment formation  50  of the second primary support formation  20 . 
     Moreover, when the receivable attachment formation  48  receives the insertable attachment formation  50 , the insertable attachment formation  50  lies wholly within the first primary support formation  16 . In this way, when the fixed and separable mount members  12 ,  14  are coupled with one another, the insertable attachment formation  50  does not protrude beyond the extent of the first primary support formation  16 . 
     In the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG.  3   , the receivable attachment formation  48  includes first and second slots  52   a ,  52   b  formed within a face  54  of the first primary support formation  16 . The slots  52   a ,  52   b  lie parallel with one another on opposite sides of the aperture  42  which receives the mount portion  30  of the roller frame  26 . 
     The receivable attachment formation  48  further includes first and second stop portions  56   a ,  56   b . The first and second stop portions  56   a ,  56   b  are formed from respective internal corners of each of the first and second slots  52   a ,  52   b.    
     Meanwhile, the insertable attachment formation  50  includes an attachment body  58  and first and second attachment legs  60   a ,  60   b  that extend laterally from the attachment body  58 . 
     Each of the first and second attachment legs  60   a ,  60   b  are resiliently deformable, as shown in  FIG.  3   , and each includes a respective pair of barb portions  62   a ,  62   b  spaced from one another to form a gap  63  therebetween. The first and second pairs of barb portions  62   a ,  62   b  cooperate with a corresponding first or second stop portion  56   a ,  56   b , when the receivable attachment formation  48  fully receives the insertable attachment formation, so as to resist separation of the insertable attachment formation  50  from the receivable attachment formation  48 . 
     In particular, the first and second attachment legs  60   a ,  60   b  deform towards one another to allow each of the legs  60   a ,  60   b  to enter one of the slots  52   a ,  52   b , and to allow the stop portions  56   a ,  56   b  to locate in the gap  63  formed between a respective pair of barb portions  62   a ,  62   b.    
     In other embodiments of the invention, it may be a portion of the receivable attachment formation  48  other than the stop portions  56   a ,  56   b  that is located between the barb portions  62   a ,  62   b . For example, there may be another protruding portion formed on an inner surface of the receivable attachment formation  48  which locates in the gap  63  formed between the pairs of barb portions  62   a ,  62   b.    
     An example of the insertable attachment formation  50  is shown in more detail in  FIG.  3   b   . Each of the barb portions  62   a ,  62   b  includes a tapered end  65   a  and a non-tapered end  65   b . The non-tapered end  65   b  is the end that extends from the attachment body  58  by the most, i.e. the tallest section of the barb portion  62   a ,  62   b . The non-tapered end  65   b  slopes downwards towards the tapered end  65   a . The barb portions  62   a ,  62   b  are positioned so that the non-tapered ends  65   b  face each other. Thus, the gap  63  is created between the non-tapered ends  65   a ,  65   b  with the non-tapered ends  65   a ,  65   b  defining the walls of the gap  63 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the non-tapered end  65   b  of each barb portion  62   a ,  62   b  extends vertically from the attachment body  58  so as to form a straight edge (thus, the walls of the gap  63  have a straight edge). In other embodiments, the non-tapered end  65   b  may extend at an angle so as to form an angled edge. 
     In the embodiment shown, the barb portions in each pair of barb portions  62   a ,  62   b  are not identical. In particular, the tapered portion  65   a  of the barb portion  62   a ,  62   b  closest to the legs  60   a ,  60   b  of the insertable attachment member  50  is longer than the tapered portion  65   a  of the opposing barb portion  62   a ,  62   b . In other embodiments, the barb portions  62   a ,  62   b  in each pair may be identical. 
     In other embodiments, the barb portion  62   a ,  62   b  that is located away from the legs  60   a ,  60   b  may not include a tapered portion at all. 
     The insertable attachment formation  50  includes an elongate connection body  64 . The elongate connection body  64  connects the second primary support formation  20  to the attachment body  58  and it includes a cavity  66  to rotatably receive the mount portion  30  of the roller frame  26 , as shown in  FIG.  4   . The elongate connection body  64  may house, e.g. within the aforementioned cavity  66  thereof, a bearing assembly so as to aid in the rotation of the separable mount member  14  relative to the mount portion  30  of the roller frame  26 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the second primary support formation  20 , the elongate connection body  64 , the attachment body  58  and the first and second attachment legs  60   a ,  60   b  are all integrally formed with one another. In other embodiments of the invention (not shown) one or more of the aforementioned features may be separately formed from the others. 
     In the foregoing manner, the first primary support formation  16  includes a receivable attachment formation  48  (i.e. first and second slots  52   a ,  52   b  and corresponding stop portions  56   a ,  56   b ), and the second primary support formation  20  includes an insertable attachment formation  50  (i.e. the first and second attachment legs  60   a ,  60   b  and corresponding pairs of barb portions  62   a ,  62   b ), the receivable attachment formation  48  selectively receiving the insertable attachment formation  50  to selectively secure the attachment formations  48 ,  50  to one another. 
     In other embodiments of the invention (not shown), the first primary support formation  16  may instead include first and second attachment legs  60   a ,  60   b , and the second primary support formation  20  may include first and second slots  52   a ,  52   b  formed on a face of the second primary support formation  20 . In further still embodiments of the invention (not shown), the first primary support formation  16  may include an elongate connection body  64  with first and second attachment legs  60   a ,  60   b  extending therefrom. 
     As shown in  FIG.  4   , the elongate connection body  64  includes two guide portions  68 . Each of the guide portions  68  extends from the cavity  66  at an angle less than 90° relative to the cavity  66 . In this embodiment, the guide portions  68  are staggered along the length of the elongate connection body  64 . In other embodiments of the invention (not shown), the elongate connection body  64  may include fewer or more guide portions  68 . 
       FIG.  5    shows a second separable mount member  114  according to another embodiment of the invention. The second separable mount member  114  includes similar features to the first separable mount member  14  shown in  FIGS.  1 ,  3  and  4   , and like features share the same reference numerals. The second separable mount member  114  differs from the first in that it additionally includes a secondary support formation  116 . 
     The secondary support formation  116  extends laterally from the second primary support formation  20  and lies between the second primary support formation  20  and the attachment body  58  to form an elongate insertable attachment formation  118   
     The secondary support formation  116  includes a plurality of secondary support formation portions  120  that define a secondary support frame  122 . The secondary support frame  122  includes two structural support formations  124 , each of which joins the plurality of secondary support formation portions  120  to one another. The structural support formations  124  are also staggered along the length of the secondary support frame  122 . The secondary support frame  122  may include fewer than or more than two structural support formations  124 . 
     The fixed and separable mount members  12 ,  14  are made from a plastic, for example polypropylene. Meanwhile the roller frame  26  is made from zinc plated steel. The roller frame  26  may instead be made from stainless steel or aluminium (e.g. grade 6061). Meanwhile the washer  40  is made from nylon. Other materials may however be used for these elements. 
     A decorating roller assembly according to a third embodiment of the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral  200  and is shown in  FIG.  6   . 
     The decorating roller assembly  200  includes a retention assembly  10  described hereinabove and as shown in  FIGS.  1  to  5   . The decorating roller assembly  200  further includes a hollow tubular decorating roller  202  which has first and second ends  204   a ,  204   b . The first end  204   a  receives the first primary support formation  16  while the second end  204   b  receives the second primary support formation  20 . 
     The hollow tubular decorating roller  202  includes a decorating sleeve  206  which extends around a roller cartridge  208 . The decorating sleeve  206  is made from a knitted polyester, although other materials may also possible such as a woven acrylic material. 
     The roller cartridge  208  has an internal cavity  210  within which the first and second primary support formations  16 ,  20  are received. The first and second retention formations  18 ,  22  extend radially beyond the internal cavity  210 . 
     It will be understood that the hollow tubular decorating roller  202  is a standard component. Typically, the hollow tubular decorating roller  202 , and more particularly its roller cartridge  208 , is made in one of three possible diameters, namely 1.5″ (approximately 38 mm), 1.75″ (approximately 44 mm) and 2.25″ (approximately 57 mm). Other diameters are however also be possible. The hollow tubular decorating roller  202  is also typically 4″ (approximately 100 mm) or 9″ (approximately 220 mm) long. However, other lengths of the hollow tubular decorating roller  202  are also possible, such as 2″ (approximately 50 mm), 7″ (approximately 180 mm), 10″ (approximately 250 mm) or 12″ (approximately 305 mm). 
     Prior to use of the retention assembly  10  of the invention for decorating purposes, the handle portion  32  of the roller frame  26  is inserted into the washer  40  and the aperture  42  of the fixed mount member  12 . The washer  40  and the fixed mount member  12  are then slid along the handle and connection portion  32 ,  34  of the roller frame  26  and towards the mount portion  30  of the roller frame  26 . 
     The washer  40  abuts the crimp  38  and lies between the crimp  38  and the face  54  of the first primary support formation  16 . The fixed mount member  12  is positioned between the crimp  38  and the junction at which the connection portion  34  meets the mount portion  30  of the roller frame  26 . 
     The handle portion  32  of the roller frame  26  is then inserted into the aperture  46  of the handle  44  so as to secure the handle  44  to the roller frame  26 . The additional step of applying an adhesive to the handle  44  may be taken. 
     The aforementioned steps are typically carried out during manufacturer of the retention assembly  10 , however they may be carried out by a user of the retention assembly  10 . 
     In readiness for using the retention assembly  10  for decorating purposes, the separable mount member  14  is separated from the fixed mount member  12  and inserted into the roller cartridge  208  of a hollow tubular decorating roller  202  such that the second primary support formation  20  is received by the second end  204   b  of the hollow tubular decorating roller  202 . Meanwhile, the first and second attachment legs  60   a ,  60   b  of the insertable attachment formation  50  lie within the first end  204   a  of the hollow tubular decorating roller  202 . 
     The insertable attachment formation  50  extends along the length of the hollow tubular decorating roller  202 . If the second separable mount member  114  (i.e. as shown in  FIG.  5   ) is used instead, then the secondary support formation  116  internally abuts the roller cartridge  208 . 
     The separable mount member  14  is then secured to the fixed mount member  12  via the receivable and insertable attachment formations  48 ,  50  so as to retain the hollow tubular decorating roller  202  between the fixed and separable mount members  12 ,  14 . 
     More specifically, the mount portion  30  of the roller frame  26  is inserted into the cavity  66  of the elongate connection body  64 , and the separable mount member  14  is slid along the mount portion  30  of the roller frame  26  towards the fixed mount member  12 . 
     When sliding the separable mount member  14  along the mount portion  30  of the roller frame  26 , the guide portions  68  act to guide the mount portion  30  along the length of the elongate connection body  64  so as to centralise the mount portion  30  of the roller frame  26  within the elongate connection body  64 . 
     The first and second attachment legs  60   a ,  60   b  are then deformed towards one another so that they enter into a corresponding first or second slot  52   a ,  52   b  of the receivable attachment formation  48 . Once entered, the separable mount member  14  is pushed further towards the fixed mount member  12  so that the stop portions  56   a ,  56   b  locate in the gap  63  formed between each pair of barb portions  62   a ,  62   b , thereby allowing the first and second attachment legs  60   a ,  60   b  to return to their undeformed, i.e. relaxed, state. In the relaxed state, the non-tapered ends  65   b  of each pair of barb portions  62   a ,  62   b  abut against either side of a respective stop portion  56   a ,  56   b  so as to secure the separable mount member  14  to the fixed mount member  12 . 
     A user is then able to load the decorating sleeve  206  with paint and apply the paint to a surface, e.g. a wall, by rolling the hollow tubular roller  202  over the surface without the hollow tubular roller  202  coming away from the roller frame  26 . 
     To remove the hollow tubular roller  202  from the roller frame  26 , the first and second attachment legs  60   a ,  60   b  are again deformed towards one another so as to release the barb portions  62   a ,  62   b  from the respective stop portion  56   a ,  56   b . The separable mount member  14  is then pulled away from the fixed mount member  12  along the mount portion  30  of the roller frame  26 . 
     The hollow tubular roller  202  can then be removed from the separable mount member  14  by sliding the hollow tubular roller  202  along the elongate connection body  64  and away from the second primary support formation  20 . The hollow tubular roller  202  can then be replaced or cleaned as desired.