Patent Publication Number: US-6907639-B2

Title: Paint roller

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to an improvement to a paint roller to allow a user to remove the paint roller from the paint roller frame while minimizing paint contacting the user. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Paint rollers are extremely popular for painting projects, especially for do-it-yourself (DIY) type projects. Paint rollers are a fast, simple and effective way of applying paint to large areas. Paint rollers have three major components: core, adhesive, and fabric. The core is the base of the paint roller. The core can be constructed from a wide range of materials known to one skilled in the art (e.g. plastic, cardboard, and phenolic-impregnated materials). The type of core typically is based on the type of paint to be applied as well as desired durability and potential re-use of the paint roller. Untreated cardboard cores are typically utilized in throwaway or disposable covers. 
   An adhesive is applied to the outside of the core and is utilized to attach the fabric. Typically, the adhesive is epoxy based. Other adhesives known to one skilled in the art are also utilized. The fabric of the roller typically comprises fibers woven or knitted to a backing and adhesively applied to the roller core. Fabrics include natural fibers (e.g. wool, mohair, and lambskin) as well as synthetic fibers (e.g. nylon, polyester, acrylic, rayon, and blends of one or more synthetic fibers). 
   A paint roller frame is typically utilized to support a paint roller and apply paint to a surface. In order to keep the paint roller securely attached to the paint roller frame and prevent the paint roller from sliding off the paint roller frame, the paint roller frame is configure to provide a snug fit for the paint roller. However, after the paint roller has been used to apply paint to a surface, a user typically must remove the paint roller from the paint roller frame for either cleaning or disposal of the paint roller. Due to the snug fit, a user typically has to apply one or more digits of their hands onto the fabric (nap) of the paint roller to gain leverage to slide the paint roller off of the paint roller frame. This typically results in the user having paint contacting the user&#39;s skin or clothes. In addition, the paint roller covered with paint can often provide a slippery surface further frustrating the removal process. As such, it is desired to have a paint roller that allows removal of the paint roller from a paint roller frame while minimizing paint contacting the user. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel paint roller which overcomes one or more disadvantages of the prior art. 
   It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a paint roller which is configured to allow a user to remove the paint roller from a paint roller frame while minimizing contact of paint with the user. 
   These and additional objects and advantages are provided by the paint roller of the present invention. 
   More particularly, an improved paint roller for easy removal from a paint roller frame is provided. The paint roller comprises: a paint roller tube having an outer surface and a proximal and distal end, wherein the outer surface of the paint roller tube comprises a paint receiving substrate; an end cap attached to the distal end of the paint roller tube; and a removal interface attached to or part of the end cap, wherein the end cap and the removal interface are configured to aid in removal of the paint roller tube from a paint roller frame. 
   Still other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which is simply by way of illustration various modes contemplated for carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different obvious aspects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the present invention, it is believed the same will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  depicts a schematic illustration of an exemplary paint roller according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  depicts a schematic illustration of an end view of an exemplary paint roller according to the present invention drawn along the line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  depicts a schematic illustration of an end view of an exemplary paint roller according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  depicts a schematic illustration of an exemplary end cap according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  depicts a schematic illustration of an end view of an exemplary paint roller according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  depicts a schematic illustration of an end view of an exemplary paint roller according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  depicts a schematic illustration of an end view of an exemplary paint roller according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  depicts a schematic illustration of an exemplary coupling adapter according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  depicts a schematic illustration of an end view of an exemplary paint roller according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  depicts a schematic cross-section illustration of an exemplary paint roller according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 11A  depicts a schematic cross-section illustration of an exemplary paint roller according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 11B  depicts a schematic cross-section illustration of an exemplary paint roller according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 12A  depicts a schematic illustration of a side view of an exemplary paint roller according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 12B  depicts a schematic illustration of an exemplary hook according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 12C  depicts a schematic cross-section illustration of an exemplary paint roller according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 13  depicts a schematic illustration of an end view of an exemplary paint roller according to the present invention; and 
       FIG. 14  depicts a schematic cross-section illustration of an exemplary end cap according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals indicate the same element throughout the views. 
     FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary embodiment of the improved paint roller  20  of the present invention. The paint roller  20  has a paint roller tube  21  having a proximal end  22  and a distal end  24 . Attached to the distal end  24  of the paint roller tube  21  is an end cap  25 . The end cap  25  has a removal interface  30  (e.g. ring) attached to or part of the end cap  25 , wherein the removal interface  30  is configured to aid in removal of the paint roller  20  from a paint roller frame by allowing a user to insert a digit into the removal interface  30  to remove the paint roller  20  from the paint roller frame. The end cap  25  can be attached to or within the distal end of the paint roller  20  by various attachment technologies known to one skilled in the art. For example, exemplary attachment technologies include adhesives, chemical bonding, heat sealing, and screw threads. The end cap  25  can be constructed from various materials known to one skilled in the art. Such materials include plastics, metals, ceramics, composites, and wood. In one embodiment, the end cap  25  is formed integral with the paint roller. For example, the end cap may be molded or extruded as part of the paint roller. 
     FIG. 2  depicts an end view of the improved paint roller  20 . In one exemplary embodiment, a ring securing bracket or hinge  35  secures a ring  30  to the end cap  25  of the paint roller  20 . The securing bracket or hinge  35  may be configured to allow the ring  30  to be removable from the end cap  25 . In one embodiment, the ring  30  can be removed to allow reuse of the paint roller  20 . After reuse of the paint roller  20 , the ring  30  can be reattached to the end cap  25  of the paint roller to aid in removal of the paint roller from the paint roller frame. 
   Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is depicted in FIG.  3 . An improved paint roller  20  comprises an end cap female coupler  40  at the distal end  24  of the paint roller  20 . The end cap female coupler  40  is configured to receive an end cap having a male coupler  45  as depicted in  FIG. 4  to secure the end cap  25  to the distal end  24  of the paint roller  20 . The end cap female coupler  40  and male coupler  45  may be configured in various socket/adapter technologies known to one skilled in the art. For example, as depicted in  FIG. 3 , the end cap female coupler comprises teeth  100  which interlock with corresponding teeth  105  of the end cap male coupler  45 . Other attachment technologies for the end cap  25  to be connected to the distal end  24  of the paint roller  20  include screw threads  90  in  FIG. 14  on the end cap  25  and corresponding threads  90  on the paint roller  20  (page 9) to receive the end cap  25  on the distal end  24  of the paint roller  20 . The end cap  25  can be attached to the distal end  24  of the paint roller  20  after the paint roller  20  has been utilized in painting operations and is now ready to be removed from the paint roller frame. The paint roller  20  may comprise a removable mask  50  which can be removed to prevent the threads  90  on the distal end  24  of the paint roller  20  from being fouled by paint. The end cap  25  can then be screwed on and attached to the paint roller  20  and the removal interface  30  on the end cap  25  can then utilized to remove the paint roller  20  from the paint roller frame. 
   In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as depicted in  FIG. 5 , the end cap  25  of the improved paint roller  20  comprises a removable mask  50  which covers at least a portion of the end cap  25  of the paint roller  20 . The removable mask  50  is configured to prevent paint from contacting the ring  30  on the end cap  25  of the paint roller  20 . The mask  50  can then be removed partially or entirely to expose the ring  30  by a user after the paint roller  20  has been used and the user can then insert a digit into the ring  30  without paint interfering with the operation of the ring and minimizing paint on the user&#39;s digit. The removable mask  50  may be selected from any material known to one skilled in the art which will prevent or minimize paint from contacting the ring  30  on the end cap  25 . Exemplary removable mask  50  materials comprise metal foil, plastic sheet, paper and other woven and non-woven materials of natural and synthetic origins. The mask  50  may be applied and secured to the end cap  25  by any method known to one skilled in the art. For example, the mask  50  can be secured to the end cap  25  by induction, conduction, chemical bonding or adhesives. In one exemplary embodiment as depicted in  FIG. 6 , the removable mask  50  covers the entire end cap  25  of the improved paint roller  20 . 
   In one exemplary embodiment, the removable mask  50  is further coated with a non-stick surface. Alternatively, the end cap  25  may be coated with a non-stick coating  70  as shown in  FIG. 9  or be configured from non-stick materials. Non-stick is defined as a coating or surface in which paint contact is minimized. Exemplary non-stick coating materials comprise silicon based and fluorocarbon (PTFE) based materials. An alternative embodiment, the end cap  25  may be configured from a material which has non-stick properties. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention depicted in  FIG. 7  comprises an improved paint roller  20  with an end cap  25 , wherein the end cap  25  is configured to have an end cap socket  60 . The end cap socket  60  may be configured to any configuration known to one skilled in the art to allow an adapter  65  or key to be inserted and to be secured to the end cap  25  of the paint roller  20 . One exemplary adapter is depicted in FIG.  8 . The male adapter  65  comprises a corresponding configuration which can be inserted into the end cap socket  60  of the end cap  25  of the paint roller to secure the male adapter  65  to the end cap  25 . The male adapter  65  further comprises a removal interface  30  configured to allow a user to exert force on the removal interface and male adapter  65  connected to the end cap  25  to allow for removal of the paint roller  20  from a paint roller frame. 
     FIG. 10  depicts cross-sectional side view of the improved paint roller  20 . In one embodiment, the ring  30  and ring securing bracket or hinge  35  are configured to be flush with or recessed within the end cap  25  on the paint roller  20 . In another exemplary embodiment as depicted in  FIG. 11A , a removal mask  50  is placed over the end cap  25  flush with the end of the paint roller  20 , wherein the end cap  25  comprises a ring  30  and ring securing bracket or hinge  35  being flush with the end cap  25 . In another exemplary embodiment as depicted in  FIG. 11B , a removal mask  50  is placed over the end cap  25  flush with the end of the paint roller  20 , wherein the end cap  25  comprises a ring  30  and ring securing bracket or hinge  35  recessed within the end cap  25 . 
   Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is depicted in  FIGS. 12A ,  12 B and  12 C. In this embodiment, the improved paint roller  20  comprises an end cap  25  having a eyelet  75 . The eyelet  75  is configured to receive a hook  80 , wherein the hook  80  is configured to allow a user to apply force to the paint roller and remove the paint roller  20  from the paint roller frame. One exemplary embodiment of the hook  80  is depicted in FIG.  12 B. The hook  80  further comprises a finger grip  85  allowing the user to grip the hook  80  and apply a force to the paint roller  20  when the hook  80  is in communication with the eyelet  75  to remove the paint roller  20  from the paint roller frame. In another embodiment of the invention depicted in  FIG. 12C , the eyelet  75  of the end cap is located within the end cap  25  at the distal end  24  of the paint roller. In this embodiment, the hook  80  is inserted into the end cap  25  and secured in the eyelet  75  on the interior of the end cap  25 . Force can then be applied to the hook  80  to remove the paint roller  20  from the paint roller frame. 
   Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is depicted in FIG.  13 . On the distal end  24  of the paint roller  20 , a criss-cross mechanism  125  allows a user to insert a digit in the open area  130  of the criss-cross mechanism  125  and grip the criss-cross mechanism  125  and exert force on the criss-cross mechanism  125  and the paint roller  20  to separate the paint roller  20  from the paint roller frame. Alternative embodiments for the criss-cross mechanism  125  may comprise an eyelet  75  sized to receive a human digit allowing a human digit to be inserted into a hole and to exert force by pulling from the eyelet to remove the paint roller  20  from the paint roller frame. In addition, a removable mask may cover the criss-cross mechanism  125  or eyelet  75  to minimize contact with paint. 
   The foregoing description of the various embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art of the above teaching. Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications, and variations that have been discussed herein, and others that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the claims.