Patent Publication Number: US-11046108-B2

Title: Paint roller cleaning system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/426,444 filed Nov. 25, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
     1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of cleaning tools and more specifically relates to a paint roller cleaning device. 
     2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     Many painters use paint rollers. A paint roller is a paint application tool used for painting large flat surfaces rapidly and efficiently. It typically consists of two parts: a roller frame, and a roller cover. The roller cover absorbs the paint and transfers it to the painted surface; the roller frame attaches to the roller cover. A painter holds the roller by the handle section. Paint rollers may be disposed of, or cleaned for future use; however, cleaning a paint roller can be a daunting task. Typically, a roller must be cleaned by hand, which can be messy. Washing the roller can be time consuming and it prevents the individual from cleaning up other supplies during the process. If more than one roller needs to be cleaned, the task can take even longer. A more efficient method is needed. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,258 to Richard F. Rossborough relates to an apparatus for cleaning paint rollers. The described apparatus for cleaning paint rollers includes an apparatus for cleaning a paint roller having a handle, connecting arm (17) and roller cover (18), the apparatus consisting of a hollow cylindrical housing (1), a water outlet member (10), and a locating clip (6) with three pairs of fingers for resiliently holding the connecting arm (17) of the paint roller in a predetermined position while water under pressure from the water outlet member (10) is directed so as to strike the roller cover (18) such that the roller cover (18) rotates thereby cleaning the paint roller. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known cleaning tools art, the present disclosure provides a novel paint roller cleaning system. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a device to simplify cleaning of paint rollers. 
     A paint roller cleaning system is disclosed herein. The paint roller cleaning system includes an elongated cylindrical member configured to receive a paint roller, a first-end-cap, and a second-end-cap. The elongated cylindrical member has a first-end and a second-end. The first-end-cap is configured for attachment at the first-end of the elongated cylindrical member. The second-end-cap configured for attachment at the second-end of the elongated cylindrical member. The first-end-cap comprises a threaded-member and may couple to a water supply and direct water through a receiving-aperture. The second-end-cap comprises an exit-aperture and a positioning-member for positioning the paint roller above the exit-aperture allowing for water to drain therethrough. The paint roller cleaning system is configured for cleaning the paint roller when inserted into the elongated cylindrical member and the water supply is activated and the water is directed through the receiving-aperture, through the elongated cylindrical member, and out the exit-aperture. 
     For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a paint roller cleaning system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the paint roller cleaning system during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the paint roller cleaning system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the paint roller cleaning system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the paint roller cleaning system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is another perspective view of the paint roller cleaning system of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to cleaning tools and more particularly to a paint roller cleaning system as used to improve the efficiency of cleaning paint rollers. 
     Generally, the present invention provides a paint roller cleaner that saves users time and energy when washing roller covers. It includes a tube that fits snugly around a roller to force water through the fibers under pressure. This enables homeowners and professional painters to clean 18-inch roller covers in under a minute. The present invention utilizes a water hose to provide water and with pressure of flow it effectively washes away paint without the need for the user to manually squeeze out the roller. Paint roller cleaning system provides users with a quick and effective method for cleaning 18-inch paint roller covers. Other sizes may be cleaned as well. 
     The device includes a cylindrical body and a water hose attachment. The paint roller cover may be inserted into the cylindrical body portion and using water fed under pressure, the paint roller cover is cleaned. The tubing may be made from PVC piping or other high grade plastic materials with entry and exit holes for the water to flow through. The cylindrical mold fits snugly around the roller to force water through the fibers and out a smaller hole at the end to create pressure. Users may place roller caps on the roller itself to force the water to flow on the outside rather than through the middle of the roller. 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , various views of a paint roller cleaning system  100 .  FIG. 1  shows a paint roller cleaning system  100  during an ‘in-use’ condition  150 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the paint roller cleaning system  100  may include an elongated cylindrical member  110  configured to receive a paint roller  10 , a first-end-cap  120 , and a second-end-cap  130 . The elongated cylindrical member  110  has a first-end  122  and a second-end  132 . The first-end-cap  120  is configured for attachment at the first-end  122  of the elongated cylindrical member  110 . The second-end-cap  130  is configured for attachment at the second-end  132  of the elongated cylindrical member  110 . The first-end-cap  120  comprises a threaded-member  124  and is configured to couple to a water supply and direct water through a receiving-aperture. The second-end-cap  130  comprises an exit-aperture and a positioning-member  134  for positioning the paint roller  10  above the exit-aperture allowing for water to drain therethrough. The paint roller cleaning system  100  is configured for cleaning the paint roller when inserted into the elongated cylindrical member  110  and the water supply is activated and the water is directed through the receiving-aperture, through the elongated cylindrical member  110 , and out the exit-aperture. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2  showing a perspective view of the paint roller cleaning system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the paint roller cleaning system  100  may include the elongated cylindrical member  110 , the first-end-cap  120 , and the second-end-cap  130 . The second-end-cap  130  comprises a substantially similar profile to the first-end-cap  120 . The first-end-cap  120  and the second-end-cap  130  may be removeably coupleable to the elongated cylindrical member  110 . The elongated cylindrical member  110 , the first-end-cap  120 , and the second-end-cap  130  may comprise polyvinyl chloride pipe (PVC), hard plastic, or other suitable material. The elongated cylindrical member  110 , the first-end-cap  120 , and the second-end-cap  130  comprise a water-tight seal when secured in an in-use position. In a preferred embodiment the threaded-member  124  comprises a garden house fitting. The water supply is transferred through a garden hose which may be attached to the threaded-member  124 . Water may then be directed through the receiving-aperture and pressurized through the elongated cylindrical member  110  to clean the paint roller. 
     The paint roller  10  when inserted into the elongated cylindrical member  110  allows a tolerance between such that the water can be pushed across and along a length of the paint roller  10  such that the water is able to remove paint-residue. The paint roller cleaning system  100  further includes an end-cap  140  configured to be secured to a paint-roller-end of the paint roller  10  and force the water between an interior-surface of the elongated cylindrical member  110  and an outer-surface of the paint roller  10 . The end-cap  140  directs water between the interior-surface of the elongated cylindrical member  110  and the outer-surface of the paint roller  10  rather than an inner-surface of the paint roller  10 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the paint roller cleaning system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the paint roller cleaning system  100  may include the elongated cylindrical member  110 , the first-end-cap  120 , and the second-end-cap  130 . The first-end-cap  120  comprises the threaded-member  124  and is configured to couple to the water supply and direct water through the receiving-aperture. The second-end-cap  130  comprises the exit-aperture and the positioning-member  134  for positioning the paint roller  10  above the exit-aperture allowing for water to drain therethrough. 
     The positioning-member  134  may include a spherical shape similar to a ball and is configured within a recess on a base of the second-end-cap  130 . The positioning-member  134  may include a plurality of holes configured to provide an exit for the water through the exit-aperture. The positioning-member  134  allows water to flow therethrough. The positioning-member  134  and the recess are approximately 1 inch in diameter. The positioning-member  134  is affixed within the recess as the water flows through the exit-aperture. The positioning-member  134  elevates the paint roller  10  in a position slightly above the exit-aperture to allow water to pass. 
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the paint roller cleaning system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the paint roller cleaning system  100  may include the elongated cylindrical member  110 , the first-end-cap  120 , and the second-end-cap  130 . In a preferred embodiment, the elongated cylindrical member  110  comprises an elongated-cylindrical-member-length of approximately 20 inches and an elongated-cylindrical-member-diameter of approximately 2 inches such that the elongated cylindrical member  110  is configured to receive a paint roller  10 . The paint roller  10  may comprise a roller-length of approximately 18 inches. Other sizes and shapes may be used. 
       FIG. 5  shows another perspective view of the paint roller cleaning system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the paint roller cleaning system  100  may include the elongated cylindrical member  110 , the first-end-cap  120 , and the second-end-cap  130 . The end-cap  140  may include an end-cap-recess approximately 1-inch deep which is configured to receive a tool such as a screwdriver for removing the end-cap  140  from the paint-roller-end of the paint roller  10  after use. The end-cap  140  rigid and is friction fitted within the paint-roller-end of the paint roller  10  during use. The end-cap  140  directs water between the interior-surface of the elongated cylindrical member  110  and the outer-surface of the paint roller  10  rather than an inner-surface of the paint roller  10 . This action creates greater water pressure for effectively cleaning the paint roller  10 . The device may be used in a method of use as disclosed and shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.