Patent ID: 8312896

Claim:
A manually operated, compressed gas-aided coating material dispensing device including a valve for controlling the flow of compressed gas through the device, the valve including: a housing; a first valve seat; a first port upstream from first valve seat, the first port adapted to be coupled to a source for supplying compressed gas through the valve; a first valve closure member for cooperating with the first valve seat to close the valve, preventing the flow of compressed gas between the first valve closure member and the first valve seat; a second valve seat; a second valve closure member downstream from the first valve closure member in the flow of compressed gas and cooperating with the second valve seat to prevent the flow of compressed gas between second valve closure member and second valve seat; the second valve closure member being provided with one or more passageways extending through the second valve closure member from an upstream side of the second valve closure member to a downstream side of the second valve closure member; an operating member adapted to be manipulated by an operator to move the first closure member away from the first valve seat in a first stage of opening of the valve, permitting compressed gas to flow in a second port downstream from the valve to bring the pressure on the downstream side of the second valve closure member closer to the source pressure so that less force is required to move the second closure member away from the second seat.