Patent Publication Number: US-9421568-B1

Title: Spray gun extension adapter

Description:
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of the following patent application which is hereby incorporated by reference: None. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to devices for spraying materials and more particularly to adapters for handheld paint spray guns used, for example, to apply paint to motor vehicles. 
     Spray gun devices are generally known in the art for applying materials to surfaces. Spray guns typically include a nozzle or orifice from which a liquid, gas, or powdered material is ejected toward a substrate to be coated. Common applications of spray gun devices include spray guns for applying paint, varnish, sealant, lacquer, pigment, cleaners, abrasives, etc. Spray guns are used in a variety of industries, including in the automotive industry for painting vehicle components and in other industrial and agricultural applications. 
     Spray guns typically include one or more handles configured to be grasped by a user. The handle or handles are typically attached to a frame or body. A nozzle or orifice may also be attached to the frame or body of the spray gun. Spray guns typically also include an actuation mechanism such as a trigger or button for selectively releasing the material to be sprayed. Additionally, spray guns may include a container for storing the material to be sprayed. During use, a user will grasp the handle and engage the actuation mechanism to control the flow of spray material. 
     One problem associated with the use of spray guns is the limited reach of the spray gun device. Spray guns are usually dimensioned such that a user can lift and manipulate the gun. To achieve this goal, spray guns are usually of a size that can be easily handled by a user. When a user extends his or her arm while holding the spray gun, the range of spray coverage is generally limited by the distance the user can extend the arm. When the spray gun is extended to the user&#39;s maximum reach, the user must either move to a new position or move the substrate to further extend coverage with the spray gun. 
     Another problem associated with conventional spray guns is that they may be heavy. As a user holds a spray gun and extends the spray gun away from the user&#39;s body, a mechanical moment is created acting downwardly against the spray gun. This may cause the spray gun to inadvertently rotate in the user&#39;s hand. One example of the aforementioned problems is seen in the application of automobile paint spraying. When a user is painting an automobile or similar object using a handheld spray gun, such as an HVLP spray gun, the user must extend the user&#39;s arm to reach areas such as the center of a hood or top of the automobile. The area a user can spray may be limited by the user&#39;s reach. As such, users of handheld spray guns often struggle to extend the reach to cover large areas. This can cause the spray gun to tilt or rotate to a position that does not emit the sprayed material in a direction normal to the substrate surface. This is generally undesirable. 
     What is needed, then, are improvements in the devices and methods for extending the reach of a spray gun. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a spray gun extension adapter. The adapter allows a user to extend the reach of a spray gun. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a spray gun extension adapter having a mount shaped to receive a spray gun. The adapter also includes a handle spaced from the mount. An adapter trigger is positioned near the adapter handle. When a user engages the adapter trigger, an actuator on the adapter operates the spray gun to emit a spray of material. When a user releases the adapter trigger, the spray is terminated from the spray gun. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a spray gun extension adapter having a frame with a mount and an adapter handle. An adapter trigger is also disposed on the frame. The adapter trigger is linked to an adapter actuator. When the adapter trigger is engaged, the adapter actuator moves and operates the spray gun. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of extending the reach of a spray gun. The method includes the steps of providing an extension adapter having an adapter handle, an adapter trigger and an actuator; and mounting the spray gun on the adapter. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a spray gun extension adapter that is compatible with high velocity, low pressure (HVLP) spray guns. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a spray gun extension adapter with a mount that does not interfere with a hose fitting installed on the spray gun handle. 
     Numerous other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art upon a review of the following drawings and description of a preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a partially exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a spray gun and an adapter apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a spray gun adapter and spray gun held in a user&#39;s hand. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side elevation view of an embodiment of a spray gun adapter and spray gun. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side elevation view of the embodiment of a spray gun adapter and spray gun of  FIG. 3  with the adapter trigger in an engaged position. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a spray gun adapter. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a spray gun adapter. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a detail perspective view of an embodiment of an actuator on a spray gun adapter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, various embodiments of the invention are illustrated. An embodiment of a spray gun adapter  10  positioned to receive a spray gun  100  is shown in  FIG. 1 . Spray gun  100  generally includes a spray gun handle  102  and a spray gun trigger  104 . During use, a user or operator typically grasps the spray gun handle  102  and engages the spray gun trigger  104  to cause material to be sprayed from nozzle  106 . Additionally, in some embodiments, spray gun  100  may include a tank  108  for storing the material to be sprayed. A finger guard, or spray gun trigger guard  116 , may also be positioned on the spray gun  100  to prevent a user&#39;s finger from being pinched by spray gun trigger  104 . 
     Spray gun adapter  10  includes an adapter handle  12  and a mount  22  in some embodiments. Spray gun  100  is generally attached to the spray gun adapter  10  at mount  22 . Mount  22  can include any suitable structure or location on adapter  10  for attaching the spray gun  100  to adapter  10 . As seen in one exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 1 , mount  22  includes a mount recess  24  having a recess geometry configured or adapted by shape, size and/or depth for receiving spray gun handle  102 . Spray gun handle  102  slides into mount recess  24 , and a clamp  26  on adapter  10  may be used to secure the spray gun handle  102  in the mount recess  24 . In some embodiments, clamp  26  includes a threaded post that may be tightened against the spray gun  100  to secure the spray gun  100  to the adapter  10 . Clamp  26  can include other suitable clamping structures in various other embodiments. 
     Mount recess  24  includes front and rear openings to allow passage of a pressurized gas line to be coupled to the handle on spray gun  100 . For example, as seen in  FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, when spray gun handle  102  is installed in mount recess  24  on adapter  10 , a gas fitting on spray gun handle  102  may extend from mount  22  allowing ease of attachment or disconnection with a pressurized gas line from a compressor. Embodiments may include a supply line  27  (which may be at least one of the gas fitting and the pressurized gas line described above) extending away from the adapter handle  12  when the spray gun handle  102  is installed in the mount recess  24  on the adapter  10 . 
     Also seen in  FIG. 1 , adapter  10  includes an adapter trigger  14 . Adapter trigger  14  is linked either directly or indirectly to an adapter actuator  16  on adapter  10 . Adapter actuator  16  is positioned to engage spray gun trigger  104  when spray gun  100  is installed on adapter  10 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . When a user engages adapter trigger  14 , adapter actuator  16  is configured to operate spray gun  100  by engaging spray gun trigger  104 . Thus, a user may operate spray gun  100  without directly engaging the spray gun trigger  104 . For example, as seen in  FIG. 2 , a user may grip adapter  10  at the adapter handle  12 . Adapter trigger  14  may be engaged by one or more user fingers  114 . When the adapter trigger  14  is engaged, a mechanical linkage causes movement of adapter actuator  16 , thereby operating the spray gun  100 . By selectively engaging and releasing the adapter trigger  14 , a user may control the spray emitted from the spray nozzle  106  on spray gun  100 . Spray gun trigger  104  is thus selectively engageable, as a user may engage the adapter trigger  14  to spray material and then release the adapter trigger  14  to stop spraying material. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , an embodiment of a spray gun adapter  10  with a spray gun  100  mounted thereto is shown. Adapter  10  in  FIG. 3  is shown with adapter trigger  14  in an unengaged position. In this position, adapter actuator  16  is not depressing spray gun trigger  104  enough to cause material to be emitted from nozzle  106 . In  FIG. 4 , adapter trigger  14  is shown in an engaged position. In this position, spray gun trigger  104  is pushed toward spray gun handle  102  by actuator  16 . This causes material to be sprayed from nozzle  106 . In some applications, the amount of material emitted from nozzle  106  may be controlled by the displacement of adapter trigger  14 . When adapter trigger  14  is only slightly depressed or engaged, a small amount of material may be sprayed from nozzle  106 . However, as adapter trigger  14  becomes more fully engaged, or depressed toward adapter handle  12 , a greater volume of material may be sprayed from nozzle  106 . 
     Referring further to  FIGS. 1-6 , in some embodiments, adapter actuator  16  includes an actuator arm  18  and an actuator head  20 . Actuator head  20  includes a distal head end  20   a , seen in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 . Distal head end  20   a  on actuator head  20  forms the portion of adapter actuator  16  that is operable to engage spray gun trigger  104  in some embodiments. Adapter actuator  16  is linked to adapter trigger  14  in a mechanical linkage. Forced movement of adapter trigger  14  generally causes a corresponding movement in adapter actuator  16 . As seen in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, adapter trigger  14  is coupled to actuator  16  using a linkage member  38 . Thus, as seen in  FIG. 6 , when adapter trigger  14  is engaged, or pressed toward adapter handle  12 , linkage member  38  pulls upwardly on actuator arm  18  and causes actuator head  20  to move upwardly generally toward the spray gun trigger  104 . As such, adapter trigger  14 , linkage member  38 , and actuator  16  form a four-bar linkage, or four-bar mechanism. In some alternative embodiments, actuator  16  is integrally formed as part of adapter trigger  14  in a unitary construction. As such, forced movement of adapter trigger  14  causes a corresponding movement of adapter actuator  16  for operating the spray gun. 
     Adapter  10  includes a frame  48  in some applications. Frame  48  includes a handle  12  and a mount  22  disposed on the frame. Frame  48  provides a longitudinal extension for extending the reach of a spray gun when the spray gun is installed on the mount  22 . A user may grasp handle  12 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . Adapter trigger  14  is pivotally attached to frame  48  at a trigger pivot  32 . Additionally, adapter actuator  16  may be pivotally attached to frame  48  at an actuator pivot  34  in some embodiments. Linkage member  38  is also pivotally attached to adapter trigger  14  at a first linkage pivot  40   a , and linkage member  38  is also pivotally attached to adapter actuator  16  at a second linkage pivot  40   b  in some embodiments. 
     Referring further to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 7 , in some embodiments, adapter actuator  16  includes an actuator arm  18  and an actuator head  20 . Actuator arm  18  is pivotally attached to frame  48  at actuator pivot  34 . Actuator head  20  may be adjustable to accommodate different spray guns. Adjustability of actuator head relative to actuator arm allows adapter  10  to be used interchangeably with different spray guns that may have different spray gun trigger geometries. For example, as seen in  FIG. 7 , actuator head  20  is moveable relative to actuator arm  18 . In some embodiments, actuator head  20  includes one or more travel slots such as first and second travel slots  46   a ,  46   b . Actuator head  20  may be attached to actuator arm  18  via a plurality of head fasteners  36 . A first head fastener  36   a  is disposed in first travel slot, and a second head fastener  36   b  is disposed in second travel slot. Each head fastener secures actuator head  20  to actuator arm  18 . Actuator head  20  may be moved longitudinally relative to actuator arm  18 , and then first and second head fasteners  36   a ,  36   b  may be tightened against actuator head  20  to fix actuator head in place relative to actuator arm  18 . Although adapter actuator  16  is shown in  FIG. 7  with travel slots and fasteners, various other suitable mechanical configurations for providing adjustability to actuator head may be utilized. 
     As seen in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, adapter  10  includes an adapter trigger guard  44  protruding downwardly from adapter handle  12 . Adapter trigger guard  44  provides a longitudinal reference point for a user to grasp adapter handle  12 , as seen in  FIG. 2 . A user may grasp adapter handle  12  adjacent trigger guard  44  such that none of the user&#39;s fingers become trapped or pinched between the underside of adapter trigger  14  and adapter handle  12 . 
     Referring further to  FIG. 5 , in some embodiments, clamp  26  includes a clamp knob  26   a  attached to a threaded clamp post  26   b . A user may manually turn clamp knob  26   a  to tighten clamp distal end  26   c  against spray gun  100 . Additionally, in some embodiments, mount  22  is shaped to receive the handle of spray gun  22  such that the spray gun trigger guard  116  provides a longitudinal stop when spray gun handle  102  is inserted into mount recess  24 , as seen in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, adapter  10  includes an arm support  28  protruding from adapter handle  12  on adapter  10 . Arm support  28  includes a longitudinal extension protruding toward a user&#39;s forearm  112  when the user is grasping adapter handle  12 . Arm support  28  may include a longitudinal rod attached to adapter handle  12  on adapter  10 . In some embodiments, arm support  28  is removable, or detachable, from adapter  10  via one or more arm support fasteners  42 , seen in  FIG. 5 . For example, a user may choose to operate adapter  10  without arm support  28 . Additionally, a detachable arm support  28  allows adapter  10  to attain a lower profile for storage, use, or shipment. Also seen in  FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, an arm brace  30  is disposed on the arm support  28 . Arm brace  30  may have a curved profile to correspond to a user&#39;s forearm  112  in some embodiments. In some embodiments, arm brace  28  is telescoping and may be longitudinally adjustable to fit different users. 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , attachment of spray gun  100  to mount  22  on adapter  10  extends the reach of the spray gun nozzle  106  away from the user&#39;s hand  110 . This allows a user to cover more area with spray gun  100 . Additionally, the user&#39;s hand  110  may serve as fulcrum between adapter handle  12  and arm support  28 . As such, the weight of spray gun  100  is counterbalanced by the engagement of arm support  28  and arm brace  30  with the user&#39;s forearm  112 . This makes it easier for a user to operate spray gun  100  and reduces user fatigue in some applications. 
     Adapter  10  may be constructed of any suitable material, such as polymers, plastics, metals, composites, etc. In some embodiments, adapter  10  is made of machined metal such as aluminum for reduced weight. 
     In further embodiments, the present invention provides a method of extending the reach of a spray gun. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a spray gun extension adapter having a handle, an adapter trigger and an adapter actuator; and (b) mounting the spray gun on the adapter. 
     Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful Spray Gun Extension Adapter apparatus, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.