Patent Abstract:
A marking wand includes a paint canister and a frame that receives the paint canister. The paint canister loads into a chamber provided at the bottom of the frame so that a dispenser of the paint canister faces downwardly toward the ground. Once the paint canister is loaded in the frame, a user can hold a handle at the top of the frame and pull a trigger included in the handle to actuate the dispenser by pushing the dispenser in a predetermined location thereby discharging paint from the paint canister and marking the ground.

Full Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/548,117, filed Oct. 17, 2011, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to spray paint marking systems configured to dispense paint in a downward direction for ground or surface marking. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to spray paint marking systems including paint canisters containing paint that are used in conjunction with a marking wand to dispense paint onto the ground or a surface. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to the present disclosure, a marking wand is used to mark lines of paint on the ground. The marking wand includes a paint canister and a frame that receives the paint canister. The paint canister loads into a chamber provided at the bottom of the frame so that a discharge outlet of the paint canister faces downwardly toward the ground. Once the paint canister is loaded in the frame, a user can hold a handle at the top of the frame and pull a trigger included in the handle to discharge paint from the paint canister and mark a line on the ground. 
     In illustrative embodiments, the paint canister includes a tapered container for holding paint and a dispenser for discharging paint from the tapered container. The tapered container is formed from a cylindrical side wall and a dome wall that tapers in from the cylindrical side wall to a container opening. A marking dispenser guard is provided to mount on the tapered container so that the paint canister is located properly in the chamber of the frame and the marking wand is able to dispense paint from the tapered container. 
     The dispenser guard includes a dispenser-locator shoulder that locates the dispenser of the paint canister properly in the chamber of the frame when the paint canister is loaded in the frame. The dispenser-locator shoulder is spaced apart from the tapered container and is supported by a shell included in the dispenser guard. The shell of the dispenser guard is coupled permanently to the tapered container and limits access to the dispenser so that a user does not move the dispenser and discharge paint inadvertently when gripping the paint canister by the dispenser guard. 
     In a first illustrative embodiment, the dispenser-locator shoulder is a rim that continuously extends around the outer surface of the tapered container. In a second illustrative embodiment, the dispenser-locator shoulder is an interrupted rim including four tabs spaced around the outer surface of the tapered container. 
     Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a marking wand for marking lines on the ground including a frame and a paint canister sized to be deposited in the frame, the paint canister including a downward-discharge spray can with a dispenser and a dispenser guard mounted permanently on the downward-discharge spray can to locate the dispenser relative to the frame when the paint canister is deposited in the frame; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the marking wand of  FIG. 1  showing that the frame includes a canister holder forming a chamber sized to receive the paint canister, an alignment wheel at the bottom end of the frame, and an actuation system including a handle with a trigger at the top end of the frame, and showing that the marking wand is used to discharge paint when a user pulls the trigger toward the handle to mark a line on the ground; 
         FIG. 3  is a partially exploded view of the paint canister of  FIG. 1  before the dispenser guard is mounted on the downward-discharge spray can showing that the downward-discharge spray can includes a tapered container, a dispenser support coupled to the top of the tapered container, and the paint dispenser extending through the dispenser support to dispense paint stored in the tapered container; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the paint canister of  FIG. 3  showing that the dispenser guard has been mounted on the downward-discharge spray can and showing that the dispenser guard includes a shell extending around the paint dispenser and a dispenser-locator shoulder extending out from the shell along the bottom edge of the shell and that the paint dispenser is accessible through a side-actuation window formed in the shell of the dispenser guard; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the paint canister of  FIG. 4  taken along line  5 - 5  showing that the shell of the dispenser guard includes an inner wall coupled to the dispenser support of the downward-discharge spray can and an outer wall spaced radially from the inner wall and supporting the dispenser-locator shoulder of the dispenser guard; 
         FIG. 5A  is a detail cross-sectional view of the paint canister of  FIG. 5  showing that the dispenser-locator shoulder of the dispenser guard is spaced apart from the tapered container of the downward-discharge spray can when the dispenser guard is mounted on the downward-discharge spray can; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of the marking wand of  FIG. 1  in which a portion of the paint holder has been cut away to show that the actuation system of the frame includes an actuation finger extending into the chamber of the paint holder to engage the paint dispenser of the downward-discharge spray can and to show that the canister holder of the frame includes a cylindrical support wall and a support rib arranged to extend inwardly in the radial direction from the cylindrical support wall to block the dispenser guard from sliding through the chamber entirely past the support rib; 
         FIG. 6A  is a detail view of the marking wand of  FIG. 6  showing that the dispenser-locator shoulder of the dispenser guard contacts the support rib of the canister holder when the paint canister is deposited in the frame to block the paint canister from sliding through the chamber so that the actuation finger of the actuation system is positioned to engage the paint dispenser of the downward-discharge spray can at a predetermined location spaced apart from the dispenser support of the downward-discharge spray can; 
         FIG. 6B  is a view similar to  FIG. 6A  showing the actuation finger engaging the dispenser in the predetermined location to move the dispenser from a closed position to an opened position so that paint is discharged through the dispenser; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view of the marking wand of  FIG. 6  taken at line  7 - 7  showing that the actuation finger of the actuation system extends through the side-actuation window formed in the shell of the dispenser guard when the paint canister is supported in the chamber of the frame; 
         FIG. 7A  is a detail cross-sectional view of the marking wand of  FIG. 7  showing that the paint dispenser includes a stem extending through the dispenser support of the downward-discharge spray can and a nozzle configured to be engaged by the actuation finger of the frame; 
         FIG. 7B  is a view similar to  FIG. 7A  showing the actuation finger engaging the nozzle to move the dispenser from the closed position to the opened position so that paint is discharged through the dispenser; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another marking wand including a frame and a paint canister sized to be deposited in the frame, the paint canister including an dispenser guard having an interrupted dispenser-locator shoulder for locating the paint canister relative to the frame when the paint canister is deposited in the frame; 
         FIG. 8A  is a detailed perspective view of the paint canister of  FIG. 8  showing that that interrupted dispenser-locator shoulder of the dispenser guard includes a number of tabs spaced apart from one another around the bottom end of the shell, each tab extending outwardly from the bottom of the shell; and 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the marking wand of  FIG. 8  taken at line  9 - 9  showing that the support rib arranged to extend inwardly from the cylindrical support wall of the canister holder is interrupted and includes a number of support tabs and showing that the locating tabs of the dispenser guard are configured to contact the support tabs of the canister holder when the paint canister is deposited in the chamber of the canister holder. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An illustrative marking wand  10 , shown in  FIG. 1 , is used to mark lines of paint on the ground. Marking wand  10  includes a frame  12  and a paint canister  13  configured to be deposited into a chamber  23  at a bottom end  12 B of frame  12  so that paint canister  13  is oriented in a downward direction as suggested by arrow  15  in  FIG. 1 . When paint canister  13  is deposited in frame  12 , a user can hold a handle  32  at a top end  12 T of frame  12  and pull a trigger  36  included in handle  32  to discharge paint from paint canister  13  and mark a line on the ground as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Paint canister  13  includes a downward-discharge spray can  14  with a tapered container  42  for holding paint as shown in  FIG. 3 . Paint canister  13  also includes a dispenser guard  16  configured to mount permanently on downward-discharge spray can  14 . Downward-discharge spray can  14  includes a dispenser  46  configured to discharge paint held by tapered container  42 . Tapered container  42  is formed from a cylindrical side wall  50  and dome wall that tapers in from the side wall  50 . Dispenser guard  16  of paint canister  13  is configured to contact frame  12  when paint canister  13  is deposited in frame  12  so that paint canister  13  is located properly relative to frame  12 . 
     Dispenser guard  16  includes a shell  18  and a dispenser-locator shoulder  20  that locates dispenser  46  of paint canister  13  in the chamber  23  of frame  12  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Shell  18  is coupled permanently to downward-discharge spray can  14  and limits access to dispenser  46  so that a user does not move dispenser  46  and discharge paint inadvertently when gripping paint canister  13  by dispenser guard  16 . Dispenser-locator shoulder  20  is spaced apart from an outer surface of tapered container  42  and is supported by shell  18  as shown, for example in  FIGS. 5 and 5A . 
     Frame  12  includes a canister holder  22  forming chamber  23 , an alignment wheel  24  located at bottom end  12 B of frame  12 , and an actuation system  26  including trigger  36  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 1 . Canister holder  22  is configured to support paint canister  13  when paint canister  13  is deposited in chamber  23 . Canister holder  22  and alignment wheel  24  are coupled to a sleeve  25  included in frame  12  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Alignment wheel  24  is configured to roll along a surface  11  being marked by marking wand  10  as paint is discharged in a line on surface  11  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Actuation system  26  is configured to engage downward-discharge spray can  14  in response to a user pulling trigger  36  so that paint is dispensed from marking wand  10  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Canister holder  22  includes a cylindrical support wall  28  and a support rib  30  extending inwardly from cylindrical support wall  28  as shown, for example, in cutaway  FIGS. 6 and 6A . Cylindrical support wall  28  is coupled to sleeve  25  at bottom end  12 B of frame  12  and forms chamber  23  sized to receive paint canister  13 . Support rib  30  extends into chamber  23  and includes a side surface  31  and a stop surface  33  extending substantially perpendicularly from cylindrical support wall  28 . Stop surface  33  of support rib  30  is configured to contact dispenser-locator shoulder  20  of dispenser guard  16  when paint canister  13  is deposited in chamber  23  of canister holder  22  to position downward-discharge spray can  14  relative to frame  12  during operation of marking wand  10 . 
     Alignment wheel  24  can be guided by a user along a string  31  or some other marker to dispense paint along a predetermined path as shown, for example, in  FIG. 2 . In some embodiments, alignment wheel  24  may be removable from frame  12 . 
     Actuation system  26  of frame  12  includes handle  32  with a grip  34  and trigger  36 , a linkage  38 , and an actuation finger  40  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Trigger  36  of handle  32  is pulled toward grip  34  of handle  32  to operate marking wand  10  so that marking wand  10  discharges paint. Linkage  38  couples trigger  36  to actuation finger  40  so that actuation finger  40  engages downward-discharge spray can  14  in response to a user pulling trigger  36  toward grip  34 . Actuation finger  40  extends into chamber  23  of holder  22  through cylindrical support wall  28  and moves to engage downward-discharge spray can  14  as suggested by arrow  40 A in response to a user pulling trigger  36  toward grip  34 . Actuation finger  40  is spaced along cylindrical support wall  28  of canister holder  22  (about 1.5 inches) from support rib  30  in the illustrative embodiment. 
     Linkage  38  of actuation system  26  includes a cable  35 , a pivot plate  37 , and a spring  39  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Cable  35  is coupled to trigger  36  and to pivot plate  37 . Cable  35  extends from handle  32  to sleeve  25  through an extension tube  41  included in frame  12 . Pivot plate is coupled to actuation finger  40  and is configured to transfer motion from cable  35  to actuation finger  40 . Pivot plate  37  is housed in and pivotally coupled to sleeve  25 . Spring  39  is configured to bias actuation finger  40  away from engagement with downward-discharge spray can  14 . 
     Downward-discharge spray can  14  includes tapered container  42 , a dispenser support  44 , and paint dispenser  46  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Tapered container  42  is formed from a single sheet of metal defining a bottom wall  48 , side wall  50 , dome wall  52 , and aperture  54 . Dispenser support  44  includes a pedestal  56  and an annular lip  58  coupled to tapered container  42  so that dispenser support  44  covers top aperture  54  of tapered container  42  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Paint dispenser  46  includes a stem  59  extending through dispenser support  44  and a nozzle  60  coupled to stem  59 . Paint dispenser  46  is configured to discharge paint stored in downward-discharge spray can  14  when stem  59  and nozzle  60  are moved relative to dispenser support  44  by actuation finger  40  or by the finger of a user. In some embodiments, downward-discharge spray can  14  may be of the type manufactured by DS Containers of Batavia, Ill. 
     Side wall  50  of downward-discharge spray can  14  has a diameter  50 D and dispenser support  44  has a diameter  44 D as shown in  FIG. 5 . Diameter  50 D of side wall  50  is larger than diameter  44 D of dispenser support  44 . Diameter  50 D is about 2.5 inches and diameter  44 D is about 1.3 inches in the illustrative embodiment. Dome wall  52  tapers in from side wall  50  and gradually decreases in diameter from side wall  50  to top aperture  54  forming a partial dome. 
     In illustrative embodiments, dispenser guard  16  is a unitary plastic component formed from shell  18  and dispenser-locator shoulder  20  arranged to extend outwardly from shell  18  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Shell  18  is configured to couple to dispenser support  44  of downward-discharge spray can  14  when dispenser guard  16  is mounted permanently on downward-discharge spray can  14  to form paint canister  13  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 5 . Dispenser-locator shoulder  20  is configured to contact support rib  30  of frame  12  to locate paint dispenser  46  of downward-discharge spray can  14  relative to actuation finger  40  of frame  12  when paint canister  13  is deposited in frame  12  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 6 and 6A . 
     Shell  18  extends around paint dispenser  46  and includes an inner wall  62 , a mount ring  63 , an outer wall  64 , a connection wall  66 , and an access wall  68  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 5 . Inner wall  62  is sized to mount to annular lip  58  of dispenser support  44 . Mount ring  63  extends inwardly in the radial direction from the bottom edge of inner wall  62  to couple shell  18  to the downward-discharge spray can  14 . Outer wall  64  is spaced apart from inner wall  62  and is spaced apart from tapered container  42  as shown in  FIG. 5A . Connection wall  66  extends between inner wall  62  and outer wall  64  around an end-spray opening  69  formed in the top of shell  18 . Access wall  68  extends between inner wall  62  and outer wall  64  along an side-actuation opening  70  formed in a side of shell  18 . Inner wall  62 , mount ring  63 , connection wall  66 , and access wall  68  cooperate to provide a guard mount  65  configured to support outer wall  64  and dispenser-locator shoulder  20  relative to downward-discharge spray can  14  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Shell  18  forms end-spray opening  69  and side-actuation opening  70  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 6A . End-spray opening  69  is located so that paint passes through dispenser guard  16  substantially along a longitudinal axis  72  of downward-discharge spray can  14  when paint is dispensed from downward-discharge spray can  14 . Side-actuation opening  70  is located for actuation finger  40  (or a user&#39;s finger) to pass through dispenser guard  16  so that the actuation finger  40  can access paint dispenser  46  perpendicular to an axis  72  of downward-discharge spray can  14  as shown in  FIG. 7 . End-spray opening  69  communicates with side-actuation opening  70  in the illustrative embodiment. In other embodiments, end-spray opening  69  may be separated from side-actuation opening  70 . 
     Dispenser-locator shoulder  20  extends outwardly from outer wall  64  of shell  18  and is spaced apart from tapered container  42  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 7 and 7A . Dispenser-locator shoulder  20  of dispenser guard  16  is located along axis  72  of downward-discharge spray can  14  between dispenser support  44  of downward-discharge spray can  14  and bottom wall  48  of tapered container  42  included on downward-discharge spray can  14 . Dispenser-locator shoulder  20  is further located between dispenser support  44  and side wall  50  of downward-discharge spray can  14  as shown in  FIG. 7 . In some embodiments, dispenser-locator shoulder  20  may be located along side wall  50  of downward-discharge spray can  14 . Dispenser-locator shoulder  20  is sized to be received in chamber  23  of canister holder  22 . 
     Dispenser-locator shoulder  20  is formed to include a top surface  73 , a bottom surface  74 , and an outer surface  76  as shown in  FIG. 5A . Top surface  73  of dispenser-locator shoulder  20  is configured to contact stop surface  33  of support rib  30  extending in from cylindrical support wall  28  when paint canister  13  is deposited in canister holder  22  of frame  12 . Bottom surface  74  of dispenser-locator shoulder  20  is configured to extend away from tapered container  42  of downward-discharge spray can  14  and may prevent downward-discharge spray can  14  from slipping through the fingers of a user holding downward-discharge spray can  14  in the upright position while dispenser guard  16  is mounted on downward-discharge spray can  14 . In illustrative embodiments, outer surface  76  of dispenser-locator shoulder  20  has a diameter  20 D that is larger than diameter  44 D of dispenser support  44  and smaller than diameter  50 D of side wall  50  included in tapered container  42 . 
     When downward-discharge spray can  14  is located relative to frame  12  properly by dispenser-locator shoulder  20 , actuation finger  40  of frame  12  is positioned to move through side-actuation opening  70  formed in dispenser guard  16  and engage nozzle  60  of paint dispenser  46  included in downward-discharge spray can  14  at a predetermined position spaced apart from dispenser support  44  of downward-discharge spray can  14  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 7B . Actuation finger  40  of frame  12  moves to engage nozzle  60  of downward-discharge spray can  14  in response to a user pulling trigger  36  of frame  12  toward grip  34  of frame  12 . When actuation finger  40  of frame  12  engages nozzle  60  of downward-discharge spray can  14 , paint is discharged from downward-discharge spray can  14 . 
     In certain embodiments, paint canister  13  may include downward-discharge spray can  14  and dispenser guard  16  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Downward-discharge spray can  14  illustratively includes container  42  and dispenser  46 . Container  42  may be formed to include an interior paint-storage region  43  and aperture  54  opening into interior paint-storage region  43 . Dispenser  46  may be coupled to container  42  and may be arranged to move from a closed position, shown in  FIG. 6A , to an opened position, shown in  FIG. 6B . When dispenser  46  is in the closed position, paint may be blocked from being discharged from interior paint-storage region  43  through the dispenser  46 . When dispenser  46  is in the opened position, paint may be discharged from interior paint-storage region  43  through the dispenser  46 . Dispenser guard  16  illustratively includes shell  18  and dispenser-locator means. Shell  18  may be mounted permanently to container  42  and may be arranged to extend around a portion of dispenser  46  to define end-spray opening  69  located in a plane spaced apart from container  42  and side-actuation opening  70 . Dispenser-locator means may be adapted for positioning the dispenser  46  relative to actuation finger  40  of frame  12  arranged to extend through side-actuation opening  70  to apply a finger force to dispenser  46  in response to a user pulling trigger  36  included in frame  14  so that dispenser  46  is contacted at a predetermined position by actuation finger  40  to move dispenser  46  from the closed position to the opened position thereby causing paint to discharge from interior paint-storage region  43  of container  42  to the surroundings. Dispenser  46  may be arranged to discharge paint from interior paint-storage region  43  to the surroundings through end-spray opening  69  as shown in  FIGS. 6B and 7B . 
     Shell  18  may include guard mount  65  with a bottom edge coupled to the container  42  and outer wall  64  coupled to guard mount  65  with a bottom edge spaced apart from container  42 . The dispenser-locator means may include dispenser-locator shoulder  20 . Dispenser-locator shoulder  20  may be arranged to extend outwardly in a radial direction from the bottom edge of the outer wall  64 . 
     Container  42  may be a monolithic component and may include side wall  50  and dome wall  52  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Dome wall  52  may have a convex outer surface extending from side wall  50  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Dispenser-locator shoulder  20  may be arranged to extend around a portion of dome wall  52  as shown in  FIGS. 5, 7, 7A, and 7B . 
     Dome wall  52  may be formed to include aperture  54  opening into interior paint-storage region  43  of container  42  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Dispenser-locator shoulder  20  may be located in the axial direction between side wall  50  and aperture  54 . 
     Dispenser  46  may include nozzle  60  located outside of container  42  and stem  59  with a first end coupled to nozzle  60  outside of container  42  and a second end located inside interior paint-storage region  43  as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . The second end of stem  59  may be located inwardly in the radial direction from dome wall  52  of container  42  so that dispenser  46  is adapted to discharge paint from interior paint-storage region  43  of container  42  when dome wall  52  is positioned below side wall  50  and the level of paint in interior paint-storage region  43  is low. 
     Dispenser-locator shoulder  20  has shoulder diameter  20 D as shown in  FIG. 5 . Cylindrical wall has wall diameter  50 D. Shoulder diameter  20 D is less than wall diameter  50 D as shown in  FIG. 5 . Aperture  54  has an aperture diameter  54 D and aperture diameter  54 D is less than shoulder diameter  20 D. In other embodiments, shoulder diameter  20 D may be equal to or greater than wall diameter  50 D. 
     Downward-discharge spray can  14  may include dispenser support  44  coupled to container  42  along an edge of aperture  54  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Dispenser support  44  may be arranged to cover aperture  54 . Dispenser  46  may be coupled to dispenser support  44 . 
     Guard mount  65  may include inner wall  62  arranged to extend around end-spray opening  69 , connection wall  66  arranged to extend from inner wall  62  to outer wall  64 , and mount ring  63  arranged to extend inwardly in the radial direction from a bottom edge of inner wall  62  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Mount ring  63  may be located between dispenser support  44  and container  42  to permanently mount dispenser guard  16  to downward-discharge spray can  14 . 
     In some embodiments, paint canister  13  may include downward-discharge spray can  14 , shell  18 , and dispenser-locator shoulder  20  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Downward-discharge spray can  14  may include container  42  and dispenser  46 . Container  42  may be formed to include interior paint-storage region  43  and aperture  54  opening into interior paint-storage region  43 . Dispenser  46  may be coupled to container  42  and may be arranged to move from a closed position to an opened position. When dispenser  46  is in the closed position, paint is blocked from being discharged from interior paint-storage region  43  through dispenser  46 . When dispenser  46  is in the opened position, paint is discharged from interior paint-storage region  43  through dispenser  46 . Shell  18  may include inner wall  62  mounted permanently to container  42 , connection wall  66  arranged to extend outwardly in a radial direction from inner wall  62 , and outer wall  64  arranged to extend from connection wall  66  along inner wall  62  in spaced-apart relation to inner wall  62 . Dispenser-locator shoulder  20  may be spaced apart from container  42  and may be arranged to extend outwardly in a radial direction from a bottom edge of outer wall  64 . Inner wall  62  may be formed to define end-spray opening  69  located in a plane spaced apart from container  42 . Inner wall  62  and outer wall  64  may cooperate to define a side-actuation opening  70 . Dispenser  46  may be is arranged to discharge paint from interior paint-storage region  43  to the surroundings through end-spray opening  69  as shown in  FIGS. 6B and 7B . 
     Container  42  may be a monolithic component and may include side wall  50  and dome wall  52  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . Dome wall  52  may have a convex outer surface arranged to extend from side wall  50 . Dispenser-locator shoulder  20  may be arranged to extend around a portion of dome wall  52 . 
     Dome wall  52  may be formed to include aperture  54  opening into interior paint-storage region  43  of container  42  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Dispenser-locator shoulder  20  may be located in an axial direction between side wall  50  and aperture  54 . 
     Dispenser  46  may include nozzle  60  and stem  59  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Nozzle  60  may be located outside of container  42 . Stem  59  may have a first end coupled to nozzle  60  outside of container  42  and a second end located inside interior paint-storage region  43  inwardly in the radial direction from dome wall  52  of container  42 . 
     Dispenser-locator shoulder  20  has shoulder diameter  20 D. Cylindrical wall has wall diameter  50 D. Shoulder diameter  20 D is less than wall diameter  50 D as shown in  FIG. 5 . Aperture  54  has an aperture diameter  54 D and aperture diameter  54 D is less than shoulder diameter  20 D. In other embodiments, shoulder diameter  20 D may be equal to or greater than wall diameter  50 D. 
     Downward-discharge spray can  14  may include dispenser support  44  coupled to container  42  along an edge of aperture  54  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Dispenser support  44  may be arranged to cover aperture  54 . Dispenser  46  may be coupled to dispenser support  44 . 
     Shell  18  may include mount ring  63  arranged to extend inwardly in the radial direction from a bottom edge of inner wall  62  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Mount ring  63  may be located between dispenser support  44  and container  42  to mount shell  18  to downward-discharge spray can  14 . 
     Container  42  may be made from a metal and may be a monolithic component as suggested in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . Shell  18  and dispenser-locator shoulder  20  may be made from a plastics material and may cooperate to form a monolithic dispenser guard  16  as suggested in  FIG. 3 . 
     Another illustrative marking wand  210  is shown in  FIGS. 8, 8A, and 9 . Marking wand  210  includes frame  212  and paint canister  213  sized to be deposited in frame  212 . Paint canister  213  includes a downward-discharge spray can  214  and an dispenser guard  216  configured to be mounted permanently on downward-discharge spray can  214 . Frame  212  includes a chamber  223  sized to receive paint canister  213  when paint canister  213  is deposited in frame  212  as suggested by arrow  215 . Dispenser guard  216  includes a shell  218  and an interrupted dispenser-locator shoulder  220  configured to locate a dispenser  246  included in paint canister  213  properly relative to frame  212  for marking lines on the ground. 
     Frame  212 , downward-discharge spray can  214 , and shell  218  of dispenser guard  216  included in marking wand  210  are substantially similar in structure and operation to frame  12 , downward-discharge spray can  14 , and shell  18  of dispenser guard  16  included in marking wand  10 . Therefore, similar reference numerals in the 200 series have been used denote like features and the discussion of marking wand  10  is hereby incorporated by reference into the description of marking wand  210 . 
     Frame  212  includes a canister holder  222  and an actuation system  226 . Canister holder  222  includes a cylindrical support wall  228  forming chamber  223  and a support rib  230  extending into chamber  223  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Support rib  230  is interrupted and includes four support tabs  230 A,  230 B,  230 C,  230 D spaced around cylindrical support wall  228 . Support tabs  230 A,  230 B,  230 C,  230 D extend inwardly from cylindrical support wall  228  and contact interrupted dispenser-locator shoulder  220  of dispenser guard  216  when paint canister  213  is deposited in chamber  223  of frame  212 . 
     Actuation system  226  of marking wand  212  includes a handle  232  and an actuation finger  240 . Handle  232  includes a grip  234  and a trigger  236 . Trigger  236  of handle  232  is pulled toward grip  234  of handle  232  to operate spray paint marking system  210  so that marking wand  210  discharges paint. Actuation finger  240  extends into chamber  223  of frame  212  through cylindrical support wall  228  of canister holder  222  and moves to engage downward-discharge spray can  214  in response to a user pulling trigger  236  toward grip  234 , thereby operating marking wand  210 . 
     Downward-discharge spray can  214  includes a tapered container  242 , a dispenser support  244 , and paint dispenser  246  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Tapered container  242  is formed from a single sheet of metal defining a bottom wall  248 , a side wall  250 , and a dome wall  252 . 
     In illustrative embodiments, dispenser guard  216  is a unitary plastic component formed from shell  218  and interrupted dispenser-locator shoulder  220 . Dispenser-locator shoulder  220  extends in an outward direction from shell  218  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 8A . Shell  218  is configured to couple to dispenser support  244  of downward-discharge spray can  214  when dispenser guard  216  is mounted permanently on downward-discharge spray can  214  to form paint canister  213 . Interrupted dispenser-locator shoulder  220  is configured to contact support rib  230  of marking wand  212  to locate paint dispenser  246  of downward-discharge spray can  214  relative to actuation finger  240  of marking wand  212  when paint canister  213  is received in marking wand  212 . 
     Interrupted dispenser-locator shoulder  220  extends in an outward direction from an outer wall  264  of shell  218  and includes four rim tabs  220 A,  220 B,  220 C,  220 D spaced around shell  218  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 8A . Rim tabs  220 A,  220 B,  220 C,  220 D are spaced apart from tapered container  242 . 
     Interrupted dispenser-locator shoulder  220  is configured to align with support rib  230  when paint canister  213  is received in canister holder  222  such that actuation finger  240  extends through an side-actuation opening  270  formed in dispenser guard  216  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 9 . Specifically, when paint canister  213  is deposited in chamber  223 , rim tab  220 A contacts support tab  230 A, rim tab  220 B contacts support tab  230 B, rim tab  220 C contacts support tab  230 C, and rim tab  220 D contacts support tab  230 D. In other embodiments, a single rim tab may contact one or more support tabs or more than one rim tab may contact a single support tab. The tab, tabs, or continuous rim locate the paint canister  213  in the frame  212  at a height so that the actuation finger  240  contacts the nozzle  260  of paint canister  213  at a predetermined position. 
     When paint canister  213  is located properly relative to frame  212  by interrupted dispenser-locator shoulder  220 , actuation finger  240  of frame  212  is positioned to move through an side-actuation opening  270  formed in dispenser guard  216  and engage paint dispenser  246  included in downward-discharge spray can  214  at a predetermined position spaced apart from dispenser support  244  of downward-discharge spray can  214 . Actuation finger  240  of marking wand  212  moves to engage nozzle  260  of downward-discharge spray can  214  in response to a user pulling trigger  236  of marking wand  212  toward grip  238  of marking wand  212 . When actuation finger  240  of marking wand  212  engages nozzle  60  of downward-discharge spray can  214 , paint is discharged from downward-discharge spray can  214  to mark a line on the ground. 
     In certain embodiments, paint canister  213  may include downward-discharge spray can  214  and dispenser guard  216  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Downward-discharge spray can  214  illustratively includes container  242  and dispenser  246 . Container  242  may be formed to include an interior paint-storage region  243  and aperture  254  opening into interior paint-storage region  243 . Dispenser  246  may be coupled to container  242  and may be arranged to move from a closed position to an opened position. When dispenser  246  is in the closed position, paint may be blocked from being discharged from interior paint-storage region  243  through the dispenser  246 . When dispenser  246  is in the opened position, paint may be discharged from interior paint-storage region  43  through the dispenser  246 . Dispenser guard  216  illustratively includes shell  218  and dispenser-locator means. Shell  218  may be mounted permanently to container  242  and may be arranged to extend around a portion of dispenser  246  to define end-spray opening  269  located in a plane spaced apart from container  242  and side-actuation opening  270 . Dispenser-locator means may be adapted for positioning the dispenser  246  relative to actuation finger  240  of frame  212  arranged to extend through side-actuation opening  270  to apply a finger force to dispenser  246  in response to a user pulling trigger  236  included in frame  214  so that dispenser  246  is contacted at a predetermined position by actuation finger  240  to move dispenser  246  from the closed position to the opened position thereby causing paint to discharge from interior paint-storage region  243  of container  242  to the surroundings. Dispenser  246  may be arranged to discharge paint from interior paint-storage region  243  to the surroundings through end-spray opening  269 . 
     Shell  218  may include guard mount  265  with a bottom edge coupled to the container  242  and outer wall  264  coupled to guard mount  265  with a bottom edge spaced apart from container  242  as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The dispenser-locator means may include dispenser-locator shoulder  220 . Dispenser-locator shoulder  220  may be arranged to extend outwardly in a radial direction from the bottom edge of the outer wall  264 . 
     Dispenser-locator shoulder  220  may be interrupted as shown in  FIGS. 8, 8A, and 9 . In some such embodiments, dispenser-locator shoulder  220  may include rim tabs  220 A,  220 B,  220 C,  220 D arranged to extend around portion of the outer wall, each of the plurality of rim tabs having a rectangular cross section.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1