Patent Publication Number: US-2005138750-A1

Title: Apparatus for cleaning a paint roller

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
      The invention relates to painting apparatus and particularly to apparatus for cleaning a paint roller that includes both apparatus for removing paint from paint rollers as well as apparatus for the removal of the roller from the structure that supports the roller. Paint rollers are a convenient means for applying paint and the like to many surfaces. Typically, a paint roller handle assembly includes (1) a handle, having a first axis, dimensioned and configured for the gripping by the user and (2) an attached rotatably mounted cylindrical support, having a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. Replaceable covers or cartridges are dimensioned and configured for frictional engagement with the outer face of the rotatably mounted cylindrical member. A problem with such apparatus is the difficulty of cleaning the apparatus after it has been used to apply paint or other coatings. The problem includes both the problem of removing the entire roller as well as extracting paint from the roller to avoid wasting the paint. A variety of apparatus have been used for these purposes. The known apparatus for cleaning has not been wholly satisfactory. Users of such equipment often rinse the cover in a running stream of water or soak the roller in a container in an effort directed solely to saving the cover for future use. Such a practice does not seek to save the paint or other coating that may be on the cover at the time that cleaning process is started. This practice corresponds to the practice that is traditional with paint brushes. More particularly it is common, particularly with water-based paints, to clean the brush with a running stream of water and/or soak the brush in water or other solvent. Such practices ignore the value of the paint or other coating that may be on the roller when the cleaning process is started.  
      In addition, the process for removing the cover from the handle assembly, even when the user of such apparatus only desires to remove the used cover and dispose of that cover, is difficult. This process is complicated by the messiness of the cover as well as the slipperiness of the wet cover. Thus, the user will instinctively attempt to avoid soiling him or herself as well as his or her clothing despite the difficulty of firmly gripping the cover.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus that will maximize the recovery of the paint or other material that may be deposited on the cover when the painting process has been completed.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.  
      Yet another object invention is to provide apparatus that is easy to use and which makes possible the easy removal of paint from the cover that would be otherwise wasted.  
      Still another object invention is to provide apparatus that facilitates gripping the cover for removal from the handle assembly in a manner that is both neat and effective despite the messiness and slipperiness of the removable cover.  
      It is now been found that these and other objects of the invention may be attained in a paint roller cleaning apparatus that includes both apparatus for removing paint from paint rollers as well as apparatus for the removal of the roller from the structure that supports the roller which includes a first elongated open channel, a second elongated open channel, and apparatus for registering the first elongated open channel with the second elongated open channel in opposed relationship.  
      In some forms of the invention the paint roller cleaning apparatus the apparatus for registering the first open channel with the second open channel in opposed relationship includes first and second arms and a pivot joining the first and second arms. In some cases the first open channel has a first axis, the second open channel has a second axis and the pivot has a third axis, and each axis is parallel to each other axis. In some forms of the invention the first and second open channels are each cylindrical sections and the apparatus may further include a locking mechanism engaging the first and second arms to hold of the first and second open channels in abutting facing relationship to define a passageway for an associated roller cover. The first and second open channels may define a generally cylindrical passageway.  
      In some forms of the invention the first and second open channels have a rough interior face abutting the passageway to maximize engagement with an associated roller cover. The rough interior face may be a metallic surface having protrusions extending toward an associated roller cover disposed within the passageway and the protrusions may have sharp edges.  
      In some forms of the invention the apparatus may include structure defining a circular opening dimensioned and configured for engaging the outer surface of an associated roller cover to extract paint on the surface thereof. The structure defining the circular may be concentric with the passageway and may have a smaller diameter than the passageway. In some cases the structure defining a circular opening defines that opening as a substantially cylindrical surface.  
      The first and second open channels may extend beyond the substantially cylindrical surface. The substantially cylindrical surface may have a first axial extremity and a second axial extremity and the first and second open channels may include at least a first axial portion thereof that extends beyond the first axial extremity of the substantially cylindrical surface and the first axial portion includes at least a part thereof that is generally cylindrical. Similarly, the substantially cylindrical surface may have a second axial portion thereof that extends beyond the second axial extremity of the substantially cylindrical surface and the second axial portion may include at least a part thereof that is generally cylindrical.  
      The invention also includes the method for extracting paint from the nap of a paint roller which includes providing a body having a circular opening therein that is dimensioned and configured for interfering relationship with the nap of an associated paint roller and pushing the associated paint roller through the circular opening. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of one form of a first embodiment of the present invention that is particularly adapted for removal of a replaceable cover from a paint roller assembly and which shows the jaws thereof in the open position.  
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1  in which the jaws thereof are closed about a bag that surrounds a roller which is mounted on a handle assembly that includes a rotatably mounted cylindrical support.  
       FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of one form of a second embodiment of the present invention that is particularly adapted for removal of paint from the replaceable cover while the cover is mounted on a paint roller assembly that includes a rotatably mounted cylindrical support and which shows the jaws thereof in the open position.  
       FIG. 4   a  is a fragmentary section view of the jaws of the apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 3  which shows the jaws thereof positioned to move coaxially with respect to the roller tool a positioned in which the jaws compress the surface of the roller.  
       FIG. 4   b  is a fragmentary section view of the jaws of the apparatus illustrated in figure three which shows the jaws thereof positioned to approach the roller radially, after which the jaws will be closed against the side of the roller to compress the surface of the roller.  
       FIG. 4   c  is a fragmentary side elevation view of the jaws of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 3  after the jaws had been moved axially along the axial extend of the roller to extract paint from the roller. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2  there is shown one form of a first embodiment of apparatus  10  that is particularly adapted for removal of a roller cover or cartridge  12  from a handle assembly  14 . The apparatus  10  includes, in a preferred embodiment, a modified form of ratcheting pliers  16  such as the QUICK-GRIP HANDI-CLAMP manufactured by Irwin Industrial Tools, a unit of Newell Rubbermaid Inc. based in Atlanta Ga. Other embodiments utilize other plier mechanisms.  
      This commercially available product combines essentially a conventional plier mechanism having opposed handles  18   a  and  18   b . Squeezing of the handles  18   a  and  18   b  causes opposed jaws  20   b  and  20   a  to clamp about a workpiece, namely the roller  12 . In addition the ratcheting pliers  16  includes an arcuate arm  22  fixed to the handle  18   b . The arcuate arm  22  moves freely with respect to the handle  18   a . A locking member  24  engages teeth  25  on the upper edge of the arcuate arm  22  to achieve a ratcheting function whereby when the opposed handles  18   a  and  18   b  are squeezed together, the opposed jaws  20   a  and  20   b  we&#39;ll not move apart and tell the locking member  24  is touched. Movement of the locking member  24  by the user releases the ratcheting lock.  
      Mounted on the opposed jaws  20   a  and  20   b  are respective opposed cylindrical section elements  26   a  and  26   b . In some cases the dimensions of the ratcheting plier  16  and the roller cover or cartridge  12  may require respective a spacer  28  intermediate the jaw  20   a  and the cylindrical section element  26   a  as well another spacer  28  intermediate the jaw  20   b  and the cylindrical section element  26   b . Other embodiments will have plier mechanisms that are dimensioned and configured in a manner that will not require such spacers  28 .  
      In the preferred embodiment the opposed cylindrical section elements  26   a  and  26   b  each have an angular extent of 180° whereby when the jaws  20   a  and  20   b  are closed the mating cylindrical section elements  26   a  and  26   b  will collectively defined a cylindrical passageway therebetween. Each of the cylindrical section elements  26   a  and  26   b  has an inner face  30  that is intentionally very rough. This roughness is important to ensure that there is positive engagement between the surfaces  30  and the associated roller cover  12  that is to be removed from a handle assembly  14 . In a preferred embodiment the inner face  30  is manufactured with a surface that resembles a cheese grater. In other words, the surface has a plurality of teeth like elements extending over the entire surface thereof. Other embodiments will utilize various very rough surfaces to insure the requisite gripping. The inner face  30  may be riveted to a discrete cylindrical section member in some embodiments. Other embodiments may have the inner face  30  molded as an integral part of the respective mating cylindrical section elements  26   a  and  26   b.    
      The preferred manner of use of this apparatus is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . A bag  32  for disposal of the roller cover or cartridge  12  is placed over the roller cover  12  while it is mounted on the handle assembly  14 . Then the user clamps the inner surfaces  30  against the roller cover  12  with the bag  32  intermediate the inner surfaces  30  and the roller cover  12 . The user then uses the apparatus  10  as a handle to apply a force that is axial with respect to the roller cover  12  to move the roller cover  12  off of the handle assembly  14 . The users can then release the engagement of the inner surfaces  30  from the roller cover  12  by touching the locking number  24 . The user then moves the bag  32  to the upright position to cause the roller cover  12  to fall to the bottom of the bag  32  for ease in final disposal.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 3-4   c  there shown another embodiment of the present invention that is particularly adapted for removal of paint from the replaceable cover  12  while a cover is mounted on a paint roller assembly  14 . This embodiment is also intended to clean a roller cover  12 , however, it is particularly adapted to recovering paint that may be on a roller  12  when a painting job is completed. It is desirable to remove this paint to reduce the environmental impact of the paint that might otherwise be thrown away as well as to save paint that can be used at some later time instead of being wasted by being thrown away.  
      The embodiment of  FIGS. 3-4   c  includes apparatus  38  including a ratcheting plier  16  of the type shown in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-2 . Although conventional pliers may also be used there is an advantage to the locking mechanism in each embodiment. The difference between the apparatus  10  and the apparatus  38  and particularly the embodiment of  FIGS. 3-4   c  is the cylindrical section elements  40   a  and  40   b  mounted with respective spacers  28  therebetween, respectively on the jaws  20   a  and  20   b  in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The cylindrical section elements  40   a  and  40   b  are mirror images of each other. The geometric configuration of cylindrical section elements  40   a ,  40   b  is best seen in  FIG. 3 . Each cylindrical section element  40   a ,  40   b , in the preferred embodiment, includes an inner face defined by successive cylindrical axial sections. The first cylindrical axial section  42  having a first inner diameter and a second cylindrical axial section  44  having a smaller inner diameter. The interface between the first axial section  42  and the second axial section  44  thus define a shoulder or step  46 .  
      As best seen in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   b  the apparatus  38  is preferably used by moving the section elements  40   a  and  40   b  apart and either moving the cylindrical section elements  40   a  and  40   b  of the apparatus  38  axially with respect to the roller  12  as shown in  FIG. 4   a  or radially with respect to the roller  12  as shown in  FIG. 4   b  and then placing the second cylindrical axial section  44  having a smaller inner diameter in firm interfering engagement with the roller cover  12  near the upper (as viewed in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   b ) end thereof. As shown in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   b  second cylindrical axial section  44  having a smaller inner diameter is positioned at a higher elevation than the first cylindrical axial section  42  having a first inner diameter. Thereafter the user uses the apparatus  38  to force the second cylindrical axial section  44  having a smaller inner diameter along the entire axial extent of the replaceable cover  12 . During this movement the first axial section  42  assists in directing paint removed from the roller cover  12  downwardly (as best seen in  FIG. 4   c ) into a paint bucket (not shown).  
      Various embodiments of the invention may have various configurations of the cylindrical section elements  40   a  and  40   b . Each of them will ordinarily include a cylindrical shape. Although not preferred it is possible that some embodiments may have a planar member having a circular hole therein through which the roller cover is forced to extract the paint from the nap of the roller cover  12 . It is this snug engagement that is essential to extracting paint from the nap of the roller cover  12 . The precise dimensions of the apparatus will vary with the construction of the individual roller cover  12  including the nap on the face thereof and the nature of the paint or other material with which the roller cover  12  is being used. In other words, the inner diameter of the collar  44  (or planar member having a circular hole) with the roller cover  12  will ordinarily be smaller if the nap of the roller cover  12  is less dense or the viscosity of the paint is less than the usual paint.  
      The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Persons skilled in the art of such inventions may upon exposure to the teachings herein, conceive other variations. Such variations are deemed to be encompassed by the disclosure, the invention being delimited only by the following claims.