Patent Publication Number: US-2015068561-A1

Title: System, method and apparatus for paint roller cleaning

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Paint roller cleaning systems are commonly used to rinse and clear paint rollers from any excess paint. Current technologies often require the user to physically remove the paint roller cover from the handle and place it into a tube, or onto a drill, in order to begin the cleaning process. This often results in some paint dripping on to the user&#39;s hands and surroundings during the removal and excessive paint splashing during operation. Therefore, it can be desirable to increase the efficiency and reduce splashing onto the user during operation. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to at least one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus for cleaning paint rollers may be disclosed. The apparatus can include a container with a top portion, bottom portion, and one or more side portions, where the top portion may be hingendly securable to the one or more side portions. The top portion of the container may also have a delivery slot formed therethrough. A securing slot may be formed at an intersection between the top portion and the one or more side portions, and one or more clamping mechanisms may be disposed proximate the securing slot to further secure a paint roller a desired distance off the bottom portion of the container. One or more drainage pipes may also be disposed on at least one of the one or more side portions or the bottom portion. 
     According to at least one exemplary embodiment, a system for cleaning paint rollers may be disclosed. The system can include a container with a top portion, a bottom portion, and one or more side portions, where the top portion may be hingedly securable to the one or more side portions. The top portion of the container may also have a delivery slot formed therethrough to allow for liquid to be delivered from an exterior environment to the interior of the container and onto a paint roller cover disposed within the container. A securing slot may be formed at an intersection between the top portion and the one or more side portions of the container, and one or more clamping mechanisms may be disposed proximate the securing slot to further secure a paint roller a desired distance off the bottom portion of the container. One or more drainage pipes may also be disposed on at least one of the one or more side portions or the bottom portion. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. The following detailed description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exemplary perspective view of a paint roller cleaning apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary perspective view of a paint roller cleaning apparatus with top portion open. 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary perspective view of a paint roller cleaning apparatus with a paint roller contained within and the top portion open. 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary perspective view of a paint roller cleaning apparatus in operation. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows. 
     As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiment are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
     Generally referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , an apparatus and system to clean paint rollers may be described. In the exemplary embodiments described by the figures, a container may house a paint roller within and under a top portion having an open delivery slot. The paint roller cover may be placed under the open delivery slot, allowing for water or paint cleaners to be sprayed through the delivery slot and onto the paint roller. The top portion could act as a shield for any splattering paint, and the container may hold the excess liquid or waste products. The container may also have a drainage pipe with a cap to facilitate the containing or draining of liquid or waste products. 
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a paint roller cleaning device. The device may be a container  100  having a top portion  102  connected to container  100  with hinges  106 . Top portion  102  can be made of transparent material, such as glass or a type of plastic, and may have an open delivery slot  104  of any shape, for example a rounded rectangular shape. Delivery slot  104  may be sized such that it can allow for a complete view of an inserted paint roller cover. For example, delivery slot  104  may have a major axis of about  20  inches and a minor axis of about  1 . 5  inches, or a size as otherwise desired that may accommodate a paint roller within. Container  100  may be made from wood, such as pine, or a similar light-weight composite or plastic material, and may be coated with a waterproofing agent, such as clear acrylic or a similar material, so as to form a substantially watertight seal and to prevent warping or distortion. Additionally, container  100  edges may be sealed with watertight sealants, such as enamel caulk or a similar material. 
     Still referring to exemplary  FIG. 1 , container  100  may have a front wall  116  and a side wall  118 . Front wall  116  may have a securing mechanism  114 , such as a hook latch or similar mechanism, to secure top portion  102  to container  100  in a substantially watertight fashion. A rubber seal or gasket may be formed on the bottom of top portion  102  or the top of open container  100  to facilitate a substantially watertight connection when closed. Side wall  118  may have a handle  108  for carrying and transporting the device, and in other exemplary embodiments, container  100  may have wheels to facilitate transportation. Side wall  118  may also have a drainage pipe  110  proximate the bottom to facilitate the drainage of liquid or other waste products from an interior position to an exterior position of container  100 . Drainage pipe  110  may be made of PVC pipe or similar material as desired, and be sized such that it achieves a desirable flow. Drainage pipe  110  may have a removable cap  120  to seal it substantially and allow the liquid or waste product to remain inside container  100 , and also may have a filter  122  to allow only liquid or small particulates to drain while keeping larger particulates and waste products within container  100 . In other exemplary embodiments, container  100  may have more than one drainage pipe  110  in similar or other locations as desired, such as one or more drainage pipes or holes formed on the bottom portion of container  100 , for example. 
       FIG. 2  shows an exemplary embodiment with top portion  102  in an open position. Securing slot  112  may be exposed when top portion  102  is open, which can allow for the placement of a paint roller within securing slot  112 . The interior of container  100  may be substantially hollow to allow for accumulation of liquid or waste products and for placement of a paint roller. In another exemplary embodiment, the bottom of container  100  may have a raised portion to create a slope, which may allow for ease of draining via drainage pipe  110 . In yet another exemplary embodiment, a slope may be formed at the bottom of container  100  with an external insert, which can be made of plastic or a similar material, placed onto the floor of container  100  and adhered thereto in a substantially watertight fashion. Alternatively, the bottom of container  100  may be formed in an angular fashion or have a groove or set of grooves to direct liquid waste towards drainage pipe  110 . 
       FIG. 3  shows an exemplary embodiment with top portion  102  in an open position and paint roller  300  placed inside container  100 . Paint roller handle  304  can rest on securing slot  112  so that paint roller cover  302  is suspended inside at a desired distance off the bottom portion and near the center of container  100  or at another desired position. In a further exemplary embodiment, paint roller  300  may be secured in place with a clamping mechanism. 
     The clamping mechanism may be, for example a rubber seal that forms a clamp around a handle of paint roller  300  when the container is in a closed position that may hold paint roller with a friction tight grip and position paint roller cover  302  a desired distance off of the bottom portion of container  100 . Also one or more clamps, grips, brackets or the like may be utilized. The one or more clamps, grips, brackets or the like could maintain paint roller cover  302  in a suspended position a desired distance off the bottom portion of container  100  either alone or in conjunction with a rubber seal 
       FIG. 4  shows an exemplary use of container  100 . In this example, top portion  102  may be closed and paint roller  300  may be disposed in a cleaning position. Paint roller handle  304  may be resting on securing slot  112 , with paint roller cover  302  under delivery slot  104 . Securing mechanism  114  may be locked so that the system is substantially watertight. A hose or nozzle  400  may be positioned so that water or other cleaning solutions may flow therethrough and into delivery slot  104 . In another exemplary embodiment, hose or nozzle  400  may be fixed to container  100  or removably connected thereto. Emitted stream  402  may impact paint roller cover  302  for rinsing or cleaning purposes. In one exemplary embodiment, paint roller cover  302  may be positioned proximate the rear wall so that a stream  402  normal to the ground would cause paint roller cover  302  to rotate about its handle. Excess liquid may be emitted from drainage pipe  110  when cap  120  is open and drained into a suitable location desirable to the user. In another exemplary embodiment, paint roller  300  may be moved or rotated while impacted by stream  402  to further clean different locations. 
     Still referring to exemplary  FIG. 4 , top portion  102  may act as a shield to protect against splashing of paint or liquid waste. As paint roller cover  302  rotates, stream  402  may clean or rinse an entire area while excess liquid and waste may remain fall to bottom floor of container  100 . Once at the bottom of container  100 , liquid waste may remain contained within container  100  if cap  120  is attached to drainage pipe  110 . If cap  120  is not attached to drainage pipe  110 , liquid waste may flow within and exit drainage pipe  120  into an exterior environment. In another exemplary embodiment, bottom floor of container  100  may be connected with hinges or a securing mechanism, similar to hinges  106  or securing mechanism  114 , so that the floor of the container may be removable, allowing container  100  to be placed in a sink or a similar waste container during operation. In another exemplary embodiment, an exterior of bottom portion of container  100  may be coated with rubber or a similar material to increase friction in order to maintain position with the ground. In yet another exemplary embodiment, container  100  may house a paint brush or other tool with a handle to be cleaned or rinsed in a similar fashion. 
     Still referring to exemplary  FIG. 4 , top portion  102  may be removed or kept in an open position so that container  100  and paint roller  300  may dry in ambient temperature. In alternate embodiments, a jet of warm or ambient air may be provided through delivery slot  104  to further accommodate drying. 
     The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
     Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.