Patent ID: 8104423

Claim:
A coating material atomizing and dispensing apparatus comprising an atomizer including a bulkhead having a first diameter, an electrode assembly including a base and a plurality of electrodes, each electrode extending from the base to a tip, the base having a second diameter larger than the first diameter and configured to be coupled to a supporting assembly, one of the base and the bulkhead including a first surface facing the other of the base and the bulkhead and providing a groove, the groove including a first portion extending axially of the atomizer and a second portion extending circumferentially of the apparatus, and the other of the base and the bulkhead including a protrusion on a surface thereof facing the first surface, insertion of the protrusion into the first portion and subsequent relative rotation of the bulkhead and base to move the protrusion into the second portion assembling the assembly and the atomizer to permit the atomizer to be disassembled from the base of the assembly, wherein the disassembled atomizer has a maximum diameter smaller than the second diameter to permit entry of the atomizer through an opening smaller than the atomizer-electrode assembly can pass through.