Patent ID: 8029427

Claim:
A paint roller system comprising: a handle; an applicator support frame depending from the handle, wherein the applicator support frame (i) has a base portion that includes a first opening, (ii) is contoured so as to define an axle portion, the axle portion including a free distal end including a second opening, and (iii) includes an interior frame channel extending between, and communicating with, the first and second openings; an actuator carried by the handle and including a finger-engaging portion accessible from the exterior of the handle for reciprocation of the actuator between first and second actuator positions; a flexible linkage snaked through the frame channel and including a first linkage end coupled to the actuator and a second linkage end corresponding with the distal end of the axle portion and terminating in one of (i) a lug with a keyed periphery and (ii) a socket with a keyed interior boundary; a roller disposed for rotation about the axle portion and configured to support for rotation about the axle portion a cylindrical paint applicator, the roller including the other of (i) the lug with the keyed periphery and (ii) the central socket with a keyed interior boundary; wherein (i) the second linkage end is prevented from rotating relative to the distal end of the axle portion, (ii) the first actuator position is such that the keyed periphery of the lug is not engaged with the keyed interior boundary of the socket such that the roller is free to rotate about the axle portion, and (iii) the second actuator position is such that the keyed periphery of the lug is at least partially engage with the keyed interior boundary of the socket such that the roller is prevented from rotating about the axle portion.