Patent Publication Number: US-9901950-B1

Title: Telescopic paint pole system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of spraying or atomizing apparatus for separating or mixing materials, more specifically, a spraying apparatus and associated mounting not otherwise provided for. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The telescopic paint pole system is an extensible spray painting system that is adapted for use in painting raised surfaces without the use of a supporting structure such as a ladder. The telescopic paint pole system comprises a telescopic shaft, a paint pump system, and a spray head. The paint pump system is integrated into the telescopic shaft. The spray head is attached to the paint pump system. The spray head is detachable and replaceable. The length of the telescopic shaft is adjustable which allows for the adjustment of the height that the telescopic paint pole system can reach. 
     These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the telescopic paint pole system will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the telescopic paint pole system in detail, it is to be understood that the telescopic paint pole system is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the telescopic paint pole system. 
     It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the telescopic paint pole system. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. They are meant to be exemplary illustrations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure across  2 - 2  as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure across  4 - 4  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure across  5 - 5  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6A  is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6B  is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6C  is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6D  is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6E  is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments of the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. 
     Detailed reference will now be made to one or more potential embodiments of the disclosure, which are illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 8 . 
     The telescopic paint pole system  100  (hereinafter invention) comprises a telescopic shaft  101 , a paint pump system  102 , and a spray head  103 . The paint pump system  102  is integrated into the telescopic shaft  101 . The spray head  103  is attached to the paint pump system  102 . The invention  100  is an extensible spray painting system that is adapted for use in painting surfaces  171  without the use of a supporting structure such as a ladder. The spray head  103  is attached to the paint pump system  102 . The spray head  103  is detachable and replaceable. The length of the telescopic shaft  101  is adjustable which allows for adjustment of the height the invention  100  can reach. 
     The telescopic shaft  101  comprises a first arm  111 , a second arm  112 , a third arm  113 , and a tip arm  114 . The first arm  111  is a hollow rigid cylindrical pipe that is further defined with a first end  161  and a second end  162 . The second arm  112  is a hollow rigid cylindrical pipe that is further defined with a third end  163  and a fourth end  164 . The third arm  113  is a hollow rigid cylindrical pipe that is further defined with a fifth end  165  and a sixth end  166 . The tip arm  114  is a hollow rigid cylindrical pipe that is further defined with a seventh end  167  and an eighth end  168 . 
     The outer dimension of the second arm  112  is less than the inner dimension of the first arm  111  such that the second arm  112  can be inserted into the first arm  111  in a telescopic manner. This telescopic arrangement of the telescopic shaft  101  allows the length of the telescopic shaft  101  to be adjusted by adjusting the relative position of the second arm  112  within the first arm  111 . The position of the second arm  112  relative to the first arm  111  is held in position using a first detent  123 . The first detent  123  is a mechanical device that connects and secures the first arm  111  to the second arm  112 . The outer dimension of the third arm  113  is less than the inner dimension of the second arm  112  such that the third arm  113  can be inserted into the second arm  112  in a telescopic manner. This telescopic arrangement of the telescopic shaft  101  allows the length of the telescopic shaft  101  to be adjusted by adjusting the relative position of the third arm  113  within the second arm  112 . 
     The position of the third arm  113  relative to the second arm  112  is held in position using a second detent  124 . The second detent  124  is a mechanical device that connects and secures the second arm  112  to the third arm  113 . The outer dimension of the tip arm  114  is less than the inner dimension of the third arm  113  such that the tip arm  114  can be inserted into the third arm  113  in a telescopic manner. The position of the tip arm  114  relative to the third arm  113  is held in position using a third detent  125 . The third detent  125  is a mechanical device that connects and secures the third arm  113  to the tip arm  114 . The third detent  125  allows for the axis angle  106  of the center axis of the tip arm  114  relative to the center axis of the third arm  113  to be adjusted. 
     To assemble the telescopic shaft  101  the third end  163  of the second arm  112  is inserted into the second end  162  of the first arm  111  and is secured using the first detent  123 . The fifth end  164  of the third arm  113  is inserted into the fourth end  164  of the second arm  162  and is secured using the second detent  124 . The seventh end  167  of the tip arm  114  is inserted into the sixth end  166  of the third arm  113  and is secured using the third detent  125 . The span of the length of the telescopic shaft  101  is along the direction of the center axes of the first arm  111 , the second arm  112 , and the third arm  113  is determined by the relative position of the first arm  111  to the second arm  112  and the relative position of the second arm  112  to the third arm  113 . The axis angle  106  of the center axis of the tip arm  114  and the center axis of the third arm  113  is determined by and locked into position with the third detent  125 . 
     The first detent  123  is selected from the group consisting of a cotter pin  151 , a G snap collar  152 , a threaded clutch  154 , a split collar lock  155 , or a spring loaded ball lock  156 . The second detent  124  is selected from the group consisting of the cotter pin  151 , the G snap collar  152 , the threaded clutch  154 , the split collar lock  155 , or the spring loaded ball lock  156 . The cotter pin  151 , the G snap collar  152 , the threaded clutch  154 , the split collar lock  155 , and the spring loaded ball lock  156  are all readily found and commercially available. The third detent  125  is a readily and commercially available locking universal joint  157 . 
     The first arm  111  further comprises a rear handle  117 , a strap  118 , and a reservoir aperture  119 . The reservoir aperture  119  further comprises an interior screw thread  122 . The rear handle  117  is a grip that is attached to the first arm  111  to provide a hand hold for the purpose of controlling the invention  100  during use. The strap  118  is a strip of flexible material that is attached to the first arm  111  such that a loop is formed by the strap  118 . This allows the strap  118  to be looped around the shoulder of a user thus allowing the bulk of the weight of the invention  100  to be better supported by the body. The reservoir aperture  119  is an aperture formed within the face of the first arm  111 . The purpose of the reservoir aperture  119  is to provide access to the hollow interior of the first arm  111  such that paint can be drawn into the paint pump system  102  through the reservoir aperture  119 . 
     The second arm  112  further comprises a front handle  115 . The front handle  115  is a grip that is attached to the second arm  112  to provide a hand hold for the purpose of controlling the invention  100  during use. The third arm  113  further comprises a guide wheel  116 . The guide wheel  116  further comprises a pole  120  and a wheel  121 . The wheel  121  is attached to the pole  120 . The pole  120  of the guide wheel  116  is a support and guide that is mounted at the sixth end  166  of the third arm  113 . The guide wheel  116  is used such that the wheel  121  is positioned against and rolled along the painted surface  171  by the invention  100 . This allows the spray head  103  to be held at a constant distance from the surface to be painted  171 . 
     The paint pump system  102  comprises a reservoir  131 , a pump  132 , a battery  133 , a flexible hose  134 , and a valve  135 . The reservoir  131  further comprises a container  136  and an exterior screw thread  137 . The container  136  contains the fluid  172  which the paint pump system  102  will pump. While it is anticipated that the invention  100  will primarily be used with paints, the fluid  172  can be selected from the group consisting of a paint, a stain, a solvent, or water. The container  136  is further fitted with the exterior screw thread  137 . The exterior screw thread  137  is designed to join the interior screw thread  122  of the first arm  111  such as to form a threaded connection that joins the reservoir to the first arm  111 . 
     As shown most clearly in  FIG. 3 , the pump  132  is a readily and commercially available pump that is mounted in the interior of the first arm  111  such that the pump  132  is directly over the reservoir aperture  119 . It is assumed in this disclosure that the pump  132  is powered by an internal electrical motor provided with the selected pump  132 . The purpose of the pump  132  is to draw the fluid  172  from the reservoir  131 , place the drawn fluid  172  under pressure and to discharge the drawn fluid  172  into the flexible hose  134 . As shown most clearly in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the electric motor of the pump  132  is powered using a readily and commercially available rechargeable battery  133  that is mounted on the first end  161  of the first arm  111 . The flexible hose  134  is a hose that runs through the hollow interiors of the first arm  111 , the second arm  113 , the third arm  113 , and the tip arm  114  from the pump  132  to the eighth end of the tip arm  114 . The purpose of the flexible hose  134  is to transport the fluid  172 , while under pressure, to the eighth end  168  of the tip arm  114  such that the fluid  172  can be delivered to the spray head  103 . 
     As shown most clearly in  FIG. 3 , the valve  135  is a readily and commercially available trigger  138  valve  135  that is placed within the fluid  172  flow of the flexible hose  134  and that is used to control the volume of fluid  172  that will flow through the flexible hose  134  at any point in time. The valve  135  is mounted inside the first arm  111  such that the trigger  138  of the valve  135  is accessible from the exterior of the first arm  111 . 
     The flexible hose  134  and the eighth end  168  of the tip arm  114  are joined together using a fitting  139  that allows a spray head  103  to be attached directly to the flexible hose  134 . Such fittings are commercially available. The purpose of the spray head  103  is to receive the fluid  172  under pressure and to release that fluid  172  towards the surface to be painted  171 . The spray head  103  is interchangeable such that the spray head  103  can be adapted to the fluid  172  being used. For example, when water or a solvent is selected for use as the fluid  172 , a jet spray head  141  would be appropriate as the spray head  103 . When a paint or a stain is selected for use as the fluid  172 , an atomizing spray head  142  would be appropriate as the spray head  103 . 
     The following definitions were used in this disclosure: 
     Battery: As used in this disclosure, a battery is a container consisting of one or more cells, in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of power. 
     Center: As used in this disclosure, a center is a point that is: 1) the point within a circle that is equidistant from all the points of the circumference; 2) the point within a regular polygon that is equidistant from all the vertices of the regular polygon; 3) the point on a line that is equidistant from the ends of the line; 4) the point, pivot, or axis around which something revolves; or, 5) the centroid or first moment of an area or structure. In cases where the appropriate definition or definitions are not obvious, the fifth option should be used in interpreting the specification. 
     Center Axis: As used in this disclosure, the center axis is the axis of a cylinder or cone like structure. When the center axes of two cylinder or like structures share the same line they are said to be aligned. When the center axes of two cylinder like structures do not share the same line they are said to be offset. 
     Cotter Pin: As used in this disclosure, a cotter pin is a metal shaft that is used to hold two mechanical components together. 
     Detent: As used in this disclosure, a detent is a device for positioning and holding one mechanical part in relation to another in a manner such that the device can be released by force applied to one or more of the parts. 
     Electric Motor: In this disclosure, an electric motor is a machine that converts electric energy into rotational mechanical energy. 
     Exterior Screw Thread: An exterior screw thread is a ridge wrapped around the outer surface of a tube in the form of a helical structure that is used to convert rotational movement into linear movement. 
     Handle: As used in this disclosure, a handle is an object by which a tool, object, or door is held or manipulated with the hand. 
     Hose: As used in this disclosure, a hose is a flexible hollow cylindrical device that is used for transporting liquids and gasses. When referring to a hose in this disclosure, the terms inner diameter and outer diameter are used as they would be used by those skilled in the plumbing arts. 
     Inner Diameter: As used in this disclosure, the term inner diameter is used in the same way that a plumber would refer to the inner diameter of a pipe. 
     Interior Screw Thread: An interior screw thread is a groove that is formed around the inner surface of a tube in the form of a helical structure that is used to convert rotational movement into linear movement. 
     Loop: As used in this disclosure, a loop is the length of a first linear structure including, but not limited to, lines, cords, or ribbons, that is: 1) folded over and joined at the ends forming an enclosed space; or, 2) curved to form a closed or nearly closed space within the first linear structure. In both cases, the space formed within the first linear structure is such that a second linear structure such as a line, cord or a hook can be inserted through the space formed within the first linear structure. Within this disclosure, the first linear structure is said to be looped around the second linear structure. 
     Outer Diameter: As used in this disclosure, the term outer diameter is used in the same way that a plumber would refer to the outer diameter of a pipe. 
     Paint: As used in this disclosure, when used as a noun the term paint refers to a pigment based colloid or solution that is applied to a surface as a coating of the surface. When used as a verb, the term paint refers to the application of paint to a surface. 
     Pipe: As used in this disclosure, a pipe is a hollow cylindrical device that is used for transporting liquids and gasses. In this disclosure, the terms inner diameter of a pipe and outer diameter are used as they would be used by those skilled in the plumbing arts. 
     Pump: As used in this disclosure, a pump is a mechanical device that uses suction or pressure to raise or move liquids, compress gasses, or force a gas into an inflatable object. 
     Spring Loaded Lock Ball: As used in this disclosure, a spring loaded lock is a detent formed from a spring loaded bearing located in a first object which retracts and then snaps into an opposing hole or groove formed in a second object to hold the second object in position. They are also commonly referred to as ball detents, spring loaded plungers, spring plungers, and ball locks. 
     Strap: As used in this disclosure a strap is a strip of leather, cloth, or other flexible material, often with a buckle, that is used to fasten, secure, carry, or hold onto something. 
     Strip: As used in this disclosure, the term describes a long and narrow object of uniform thickness that appears thin relative to the length of the object. Strips are often rectangular in shape. 
     Telescopic: As used in this disclosure, telescopic is an adjective that describes an object made of sections that fit or slide into each other such that the object can be made longer or shorter by adjusting the relative positions of the sections. 
     Textile: As used in this disclosure, a textile is a material that is woven, knitted, braided or felted. Synonyms in common usage for this definition include fabric and cloth. 
     Threaded Connection: As used in this disclosure, a threaded connection is a type of fastener that is used to join a first tube shaped and a second tube shaped object together. The first tube shaped object is fitted with fitted with a first fitting selected from an interior screw thread or an exterior screw thread. The second tube shaped object is fitted with the remaining screw thread. The tube shaped object fitted with the exterior screw thread is placed into the remaining tube shaped object such that: 1) the interior screw thread and the exterior screw thread interconnect; and, 2) when the tube shaped object fitted with the exterior screw thread is rotated the rotational motion is converted into linear motion that moves the tube shaped object fitted with the exterior screw thread either into or out of the remaining tube shaped object. The direction of linear motion is determined by the direction of rotation. 
     Universal Joint: As used in this disclosure, a universal joint is a method of joining a first shaft to as second shaft such that the center axis of the first shaft and is offset from the center axis of the second shaft. When a universal joint is formed with a locking mechanism, a universal joint can further be used to lock the angle between the first shaft and the second shaft into a fixed position. Universal joints are often used to transfer rotation from the first shaft to rotate the second shaft. 
     Valve: As used in this disclosure, a valve is a device that is use to control the flow of a fluid (gas or liquid) through a pipe. 
     Wheel: As used in this disclosure, a wheel is a circular object that revolves around an axle or an axis and is fixed below an object to enable it to move easily over a surface. For the purpose of this disclosure, it is assumed that a wheel can only revolve in a forward and a backward direction. 
     With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationship for the various components of the invention described above and in  FIGS. 1 through 8  include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function, and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the invention. 
     It shall be noted that those skilled in the art will readily recognize numerous adaptations and modifications which can be made to the various embodiments of the present invention which will result in an improved invention, yet all of which will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims. Accordingly, the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.