Patent Publication Number: US-2007122227-A1

Title: Assembly for mounting paint spray gun to extension pole with paint applicator

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention is broadly concerned with paint application equipment, such as pole-type paint application assemblies having both a spreading device (e.g., a roller or pad) together with a pole-mounted selectively operable paint sprayer. More particularly, the invention is concerned with such application assemblies wherein a trigger-operated spray gun is mounted to the extension pole adjacent the paint applicator. The present invention is particularly useful as a retrofit onto a conventional pole-type paint applicator, although the principles of the invention are not so limited.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      It has long been recognized that extending a user&#39;s reach through an extension pole is advantageous in painting wall or ceiling surfaces. A paint roller mounted on a pole allows the user to work beyond his or her natural reach and thus makes a painting job easier and more efficient.  
      In recent years, paint rollers have been provided which have a tubular handle and an optional tubular extension pole which are designed to convey paint through the pole and handle to a specially designed roller. In this regard, paint must flow in passageways in the pole and roller frame and pass through a uniquely designed roller cover. Those ordinarily skilled in the art will appreciate that such a configuration is particularly problematic when changing paint colors or types. Furthermore, as with all reusable painting equipment, the device must be thoroughly cleaned after use; however, the unique construction and paint passageways cause such cleaning thereof to be time consuming and tedious.  
      Another type of paint application assembly utilizes a tubular handle with a distally mounted paint applicator and an adjacent sprayer. The sprayer communicates with a passageway in the pole, such that paint is supplied through the pole and through the sprayer. Here again, these units are relatively expensive and present problems similar to those noted above.  
      It has also been known in the past to equip an extendable pole with a paint sprayer. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,922 describes such a device having an accessory (which presumably could comprise a paint spray head) mounted adjacent the distal end of a telescoping pole. The device includes an operating lever adjacent the opposite distal end of the pole to selectively actuate the accessory. However, this type of pole mechanism is of complicated design and has several shortcomings. For example, the device depicted in the &#39;922 patent is not suitable for use with a standard trigger-operated paint sprayer. Nor does the device show or suggest the use of a paint applicator on the pole. Finally, the device is not suitable for use in retrofit applications, where an existing extension pole is converted for use with the proximally controlled but distally mounted accessory.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention overcomes the problems outlined above and provides a paint application assembly that is particularly in applying paint to a surface using preexisting trigger-controlled paint sprayers.  
      In particularly, according to one aspect of the present invention, a paint application assembly comprises an elongated pole presenting opposite proximal and distal ends. The assembly further includes a paint applicator secured to said pole adjacent the distal end thereof, as well as a sprayer mounting assembly detachably securing a trigger-controlled sprayer to the pole adjacent the distal end thereof in order to emit paint in proximity to the applicator. The mounting assembly includes a shiftable element selectively engageable with the trigger to control actuation thereof. The mounting assembly further includes a manually operable actuator adjacent the proximal end of the pole, with the actuator and element being operably interconnected so that the actuator is operable to control actuation of the sprayer trigger.  
      Another aspect of the present invention concerns a mounting assembly permitting detachable mounting of a trigger-controlled paint sprayer onto an elongated pole provided with a distally mounted paint applicator. The mounting assembly comprises a clamp operable for detachable connection to the pole. The clamp supports a mounting element for receiving the sprayer and a shiftable element selectively engageable with the trigger to control actuation thereof. The mounting assembly further comprises an actuating assembly for detachable connection to the pole. The actuating assembly includes a manually operable actuator and a coupler extending from the actuator to the shiftable element so that the actuator is operable control actuation of the trigger.  
      Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
      Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a paint application assembly constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the assembly being shown during application of paint to a wall surface;  
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective view of the application assembly illustrated in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary side view of the application assembly shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , showing the assembly in its non-spray condition with the lever actuator released;  
       FIG. 4  is a fragmentary side view similar to that of  FIG. 3 , but illustrating operation of the assembly upon actuation of the manual actuating lever;  
       FIG. 5  is a fragmentary side view of the application assembly depicted in  FIG. 4 , but showing the sprayer oriented to apply paint directly to the surface of the paint roller;  
       FIG. 6  is a fragmentary, enlarged, exploded view of the assembly, illustrating the components of the preferred pole mounting assembly for the paint sprayer;  
       FIG. 7  is a fragmentary, enlarged, exploded view similar to that of  FIG. 6 , but showing the components from the side opposite that of  FIG. 6 ; and  
       FIG. 8  is a fragmentary, enlarged view of the assembly, again illustrating the paint sprayer pole mounting assembly. 
    
    
      The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Turning now to the drawings, a paint application assembly  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5  and broadly includes an elongated telescopic pole  12 , an end-mounted paint applicator  14 , paint sprayer  16 , and a mounting assembly  18  for detachably securing the sprayer  16  and associated control structure onto pole  12 . The application assembly  10  is designed for rapid and easy application of paint onto a wall surface  20  or the like. A particular feature of the invention is that it permits a standard pole-type painting device to be retrofitted with a conventional sprayer.  
      In more detail, the pole  12  is itself conventional and includes a pair of telescopically interfitted sections  22  and  24 . The section  22  provides a hand grip, whereas the section  24  is designed to support a paint applicator  14  (or other accessory). The pole  12  has a locking mechanism  26  adjacent the upper end of section  22  for locking the section  24  in place at a selected extension length. In this fashion, the pole  12  may be extended to various lengths, at the discretion of the user. Other adjustable length pole configurations are encompassed by the principles of the present invention. Furthermore, those ordinarily skilled in the art will appreciate that the principles of the present invention are not limited to an adjustable length pole. For example, it is entirely within the ambit of the present invention to utilize a fixed length extension handle.  
      The applicator  14  in the illustrated embodiment is a standard paint roller  28  having a synthetic resin handle  30 , a rigid bar-type support  32 , and an outermost, rotatable roller  33  covered with a replaceable, paint-spreading roller sleeve  34 . As illustrated, the lower end of handle  30  is removably secured to the upper end of pole section  24  by threading or other conventional means. If desired, the applicator  14  can alternatively be permanently affixed to the pole  12 . Furthermore, it will be appreciated that a variety of other paint applicators, such as flat or corner pads, may be used in lieu of roller  28 .  
      Paint sprayer  16  is in the illustrated embodiment a conventional spray gun  36  having a pistol-type body  38  including handle  40 , spray outlet head  42 , and paint conveying tube  44  secured to a threaded nipple  45 . The body  38  also supports a spring-loaded, pivotally mounted operating component in the form of a trigger  46 . The sprayer  16  may be of the airless type, or any other known sprayer design.  
      The mounting assembly  18  includes two principal assemblies, namely a sprayer mounting assembly  48  and an actuator assembly  50 . The assembly  48  is mounted adjacent the upper end of pole section  24  proximal to paint applicator  14 . As best illustrated in  FIGS. 6-8 , the assembly  48  includes a pole clamp  52 , a first extension leg  54 , and a sprayer-supporting plate or leg  56  mounted to the outboard end of leg  54 . In more detail, the clamp  52  is of two-piece design including clamp halves  58  and  60  disposed about the lowermost end of handle  30  and interconnected by means of nut and bolt assemblies  62 . Additionally, the leg  54  is secured to the clamp  52  by means of a tightening knob  64  having a threaded shank  66  extending through the clamp halves  58 ,  60  (see  FIG. 7 ). As shown, the leg  54  is offset from the clamp  52  by means of annular spacer  68 . The second leg  56  is attached to the outboard end of leg  54  by means of a clamping knob  70  having a threaded shank received within a correspondingly threaded opening in leg  56 . Tightening of the knob  70  secures leg  56  in a desired orientation relative to leg  54  and pole  12 . The knobs  64  and  70  provide respective axes of adjustment for the mounting assembly. Preferably, these axes are substantially parallel to one another and generally transverse relative to the pole axis.  
      The leg  56  includes hardware for mounting of spray gun  36  and to permit selective actuation thereof. Specifically, the leg  56  supports a generally U-shaped bracket  72 , secured in place by means of screws  74 . The bracket  72  carries a knob-type set screw  76  as illustrated. Additionally, the leg  56  has a pivotally mounted, rod-type operating element  78 . The latter is mounted for pivotal movement on an obliquely oriented pivot arm  80  secured to the forward end of leg  56  by means of an apertured mounting screw  82 . The arm  80  also includes an apertured cable set  84  having a tightening screw  86 . Finally, an apertured coaxial cable block  87  is fixedly secured to leg  56  and has a coaxial cable mounting assembly  87   a.    
      The actuator mounting assembly is mounted in spaced relationship to the assembly  40  on pole section  22 . The assembly  50  includes a two-component clamp  88  identical with pole clamp  52 , but has a handle mounting plate  90  secured to one side thereof equipped with a coaxial cable mounting assembly  90   a . An operating lever  92  is pivotally supported on the plate  90  via link  94 . The overall assembly  50  further includes an automotive-type coaxial coupling cable  96  having a central, metallic, shiftable actuating cable  98 . As depicted, the cable  96  is operatively connected to lever  92  by means of assembly  90   a  and extends upwardly to block  87  where it is secured in place through assembly  87   a . A leading segment  100  of the shiftable cable  98  extends through block  87 , screw  82 , and cable set  84 , and is maintained in place by tightening of screw  86 . The principles of the present invention are equally applicable to other types of mounting and actuating assemblies, although it is most preferred to have the sprayer  16  adjustably supported on the pole adjacent the applicator  14 . For example, a rigid coupling device could interconnect the manual actuator (at the proximal end of the pole) with the sprayer trigger control.  
      The construction and assembly of application assembly  10  can be readily understood from the foregoing description. A conventional pole-type painting device, including pole  12  and applicator  14 , may be retrofitted with the sprayer  16  using mounting assembly  18  to provide enhanced painting utility, although the principles of the present invention are equally applicable to original equipment provided with the mounting assembly for removably supporting the sprayer  16  adjacent the applicator  14 . First, the assembly  48  is secured to pole section  24  by installation of the clamp  52  and associated hardware. The assembly  50  is also attached to pole section  24  by means of clamp  88 . Next, the cable  96  is installed between the mounting assemblies  90   a  and  87   a , with the cable lead  100  extending through block  87 , screw  82 , and cable set  84 . When it is desired to apply paint using the assembly  10 , the spray gun  16  is located with the handle  40  thereof within bracket  72 , and set screw  76  is tightened to secure the gun in place. In this orientation, the component  78  is located in close adjacency with the trigger  46  of gun  36 . If necessary, the orientation of the first and second legs  54  and  56  is appropriately adjusted using the clamping knobs  64  and  70 . In order to operate the application assembly, it is only necessary to attach a conventional paint tube  102  to the threaded nipple  45 , with the tube  102  extending to an appropriate supply of paint and pressurization source.  
      The use of application assembly  10  is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4  for example. Specifically, when it is desired to apply paint to the surface  20 , user merely grasps and pivots lever  92  thereby effecting retractive movement of the element  78  through the medium of cable  96 . Such movement in turn depresses spray gun trigger  46  causing a paint spray pattern  104  to be delivered from head  42  to surface  20 . At the same time or thereafter, the user manipulates handle  12  so as to spread the spray-applied paint onto surface  20  using roller  28 . It will be appreciated that altering the orientation of gun  36  can be readily accomplished through adjustment of assembly  48 . For example, if desired the spray pattern  104  from gun  36  may be aimed for direct application onto roller sleeve  34  (see  FIG. 5 ).  
      The preferred forms of the invention described above are to be used as illustration only, and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present invention. Obvious modifications to the exemplary embodiments, as hereinabove set forth, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention.  
      The inventor hereby states his intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of the present invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.  
      Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: