Abstract:
A carrying case is provided for a paint sprayer that, when the paint sprayer is removed, functions as a paint container for the paint sprayer. The case has a removable top wall or lid to provide good access into the container for placing or removing the sprayer and other accessories. A standard, medium-sized garbage can liner can be placed inside the container, held in place when the lid is snapped on, to greatly simplify clean-up.

Description:
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 232,082, filed Aug. 15, 1988, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is related to carrying cases for paint spray equipment and, more particularly to a carrying case for a cup gun airless sprayer. 
     Painting equipment, and including airless cup gun paint sprayers commonly are sold in a kit form which includes a paint sprayer, extra nozzles, swirl valves, suction kits and hoses, cleaning supplies and other small parts, all of which are oftentimes carried in a molded plastic container. The type of container commonly used by the assignee of the present application is a clam shell like container in which the two halves are joined along one edge in a molded hinge and latch portions are molded onto the sides opposite the hinge so that as the container is unlatched and pivoted open, the hollow interior provides the space for receiving all of the parts of the kit. Thus, the container provides a handy means for transporting all of the pieces of the kit to the work site and for acting as a storage receptacle for all of the parts while the paint sprayer is not in use. 
     Oftentimes there are other components or parts utilized in paint spraying which cannot fit within the carrying case, such as a large capacity paint reservoir or container which is sometimes provided and is connected to a cup gun in lieu of the smaller reservoir cup. In some instances, these larger capacity reservoirs are provided with straps so that the container can be carried by the person doing the painting, such as on the person&#39;s back so that the entire system is portable with the user. 
     Since the extra capacity reservoir is useful in connection with many painting jobs, it would be an improvement in the field if a carrying case were provided which would also accommodate the large paint reservoir. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an improved carrying case for paint spraying equipment which, when all of the equipment is removed from the carrying case, doubles as a large capacity reservoir thereby reducing the need for an additional component, being either the carrying case or reservoir, reducing storage space necessary for the entire assembly of components, and providing such an additional feature at a cost substantially less than providing a carrying case and separate large capacity reservoir. The carrying case has a removable top wall or cover providing access to the interior thereof for storage of the components. The carrying case also includes attachment points for straps so that once the components have been removed, the carrying case can act as a large capacity paint container which can be carried on the person through the use of such straps. An extension tube is provided which can be attached to the bottom of the lid to extend down into the container so that most of the paint in the reservoir will be drawn out through the tube. 
     The back pack has a large removable lid covering the entire top of the container which snaps on and off to provide access to the interior for storage of the components and for receiving a supply of paint. The lid has formed in it a pair of tubes or nipples for receiving hoses connected to the cup gun, one being a supply hose and one being a return hose. 
     Straps can hook on to recessed ears on the side of the container to permit the container to be carried on the back of the user. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the back pack/storage case of the present invention, being carried by a user in its capacity as a back pack reservoir. 
     FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the back pack/storage container of the present invention in use as a back pack reservoir. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial side sectional and partial elevational view taken generally 90° to the view of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 4 is a top elevational view of the container of FIG. 2. 
     FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the back pack/storage container. 
     FIG. 6 is a large sectional view of the lid attachment area. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the back pack/storage container with the lid removed illustrating the components being carried when the combined device is functioning as a storage container. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a back pack/storage container generally at 10 embodying the principles of the present invention and is shown in use as a back pack paint reservoir. The principal component of the invention is a box-like housing 12 which is generally rectangular in shape and has four solid side walls, 14, 16 a solid bottom wall 20 and a removable top wall forming a lid or cover 22. 
     As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, cover 22 has a pair of apertured nipples 24, 26 for receiving the ends of hoses 28, 30 which are attachable to an airless paint spray cup gun 34 or other type of paint sprayer. A first one of the hoses 28 is a supply hose for the cup gun which draws the paint from the reservoir back pack 10, through the hose 28, and to an inlet fitting on the cup gun. The second hose 30 is provided to direct paint back into the reservoir that is &#34;blow by&#34; paint which passes the piston in the cup gun. A pair of straps 36 with shoulder pads 38 (FIG. 1) are provided which clip onto recessed ears 40 on the side walls 14, 16 of the container to permit the container to be readily carried on the user&#39;s back. The container bottom wall has four spaced feet 41 which extend slightly from the bottom wall and assure that the container will rest steadily on a support surface engaged by the feet when the container is not being carried by the user. 
     When the container is in use as a paint reservoir, an extension tube 42 is inserted onto a downwardly extend portion 43, of the suction nipple 24 and a pickup tube 44 with a screen filter end 45 is attached to that. This pickup tube 44 is the same one that is used by the cup gun when using a small cup reservoir. The pickup tube extends down to the bottom wall 20 of the container so that paint is drawn from near the bottom of the container to assure that as much paint as possible is withdrawn from the interior of the container. Preferably, a plastic liner 46 such as a medium size trash can liner is inserted into the container 12 prior to filling the container with paint so that clean-up is accomplished merely by discarding the plastic liner after the excess paint has been poured out. However, the use of such a liner is not necessary and the container will function properly if paint is applied directly into the interior of the container. 
     As most clearly seen in FIG. 6, the removable lid 22 snaps onto a top end 50 of the sidewalls 14, 16 of the container 12 and has an S-shaped perimeter 52 with a downwardly opening channel 54 for receipt of the top ends 50. The top ends 50 have an outwardly directed rib 56 formed thereon and the lid 22 has an inwardly directed rib 58 which is pressed down over the sidewall rib 58 such that a liquid tight seal is provided when the lid is snapped onto the container. The container and lid are formed of a resilient plastic material such that there is sufficient flexibility between the parts to permit a liquid tight seal with or without a plastic liner inserted between the liquid and container. 
     The lid also includes a well 60 (FIG. 2) where the two nipples 24, 26 are located. Thus, the tops of the nipples are not at an elevated position relative to a top face 62 of the top wall or lid 22. A vent hole 64 is also provided in the well 60 to prevent the formation of a vacuum within the container as paint is drawn from the container into the cup gun for spraying. 
     A fill line 65 (FIG. 5) is provided on the exterior of the container at approximately the 1 gallon level which represents an amount that can be carried on the user&#39;s back without being too great of a load while standing or climbing a ladder. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the container when it is functioning as a storage container for the paint spraying equipment. Thus, it is seen that the cup gun 34 and its smaller capacity cup 66 as well as additional components such as extra nozzles 68, the hoses 28, 30, instruction manuals 32, viscosity cup 33 and other component parts and accessories can all be carried and stored within the container when the container is not being used as a paint reservoir. Thus, transportation of all of the materials necessary for completing a painting project can be carried in a single container which is compact and which doubles as a large paint reservoir which can be used either setting on a support surface or being carried by the user. The use of the paint reservoir container as the storage container also reduces storage space requirements for the painting components since a separate carrying case and paint reservoir container are not required. By recessing the ears 40 and the nipples 24, 26 so that they do not project beyond the surrounding surface, packaging of the container into a carton is simplified and damage to the carton from protruding parts is avoided. 
     As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the invention is susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and modifications which may differ particularly from those that have been described in the preceding specification and description. It should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.