Paint roller cleaner

• US 4,606,777 A
• Filed: 04/21/1983
• Issued: 08/19/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald Brow
• Original Assignee: Donald Brow
• Inventors: Brow, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, S. Leon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hastings, K. M.
• Application Number:
  US06/487,276
• Time in Patent Office: 1,216 Days
• Field of Search: 134/33, 134/34, 134/38, 134/138, 134/139, 134/100, 134/101, 134/172, 134/199, 68/213, 118/203, 239/543, 239/544, 239/545, 239/598, 15/104.04, 15/104.92
• US Class Current: 134/38
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/207 the elongated body being a closed loop
• CPC Class Codes: B44D 3/006 Devices for cleaning paint-applying hand tools after use removing dry paint from surfaces B44D3/16; apparatus for dissolving dry paints B44D3/24; devices for cleaning brushes A46B17/06; cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 134/90 Paint roller

Abstract

A paint roller cleaning device comprising an annular sleeve adapted to have an interference fit with a pad on a roller of a paint roller, liquid passage means within the sleeve, liquid entry means to said liquid passage means and liquid outlet means communicating with the liquid passage means on the inner surface of the annular sleeve.

Claims

1. A one piece cleaning device for a roller applicator of the type which includes a cylindrical core carrying an external pad of porous material, said pad having an outer diameter, said cleaning device comprising a hollow annular sleeve within the sleeve between the inside and outside surfaces thereof having inner and outer surfaces and open at both ends, and having an inside surface the diameter of which is substantially equal to the outside diameter of the pad of the roller applicator to be cleaned so as to provide an interference fit between the pad and the inside surface of said sleeve, annular liquid passage means within the sleeve between the inner and outer surfaces thereof, liquid entry means to said liquid passage means and liquid outlet means communicating with the liquid passage means and disposed on the inner surface of the annular sleeve making contact with the pad of the paint roller applicator whereby liquid emerging from said liquid outlet means is forced to enter deep within the porous material of the pad when the roller applicator is slid in an axial direction through said sleeve.

2. A paint roller cleaning device as in claim 1 wherein the liquid outlet means comprise a plurality of apertures whereby to provide in use a plurality of impingement jets.

3. A paint roller cleaning device as in claim 1 wherein the liquid outlet means comprises a slot completely around the circumference of the inner surface of the annular sleeve whereby to provide in use a continuous impingement jet.

4. A device as in claim 1, wherein the liquid entry means includes a screw thread whereby the device may be mounted onto a tap.

5. A device as in claim 4 wherein the liquid entry means further includes a handle.

6. A paint roller cleaning device as in claim 1 further including detergent dispensing means attached to said device for dispensing detergent into said liquid passage.

7. A paint roller cleaning device as in claim 6 wherein the detergent dispensing meas comprises a receptacle on the sleeve, the receptacle having a sealable aperture whereby to insert detergent and at least one aperture communicating with a liquid passage means.

8. A paint roller cleaning device as in claim 5 wherein a detergent dispensing means is incorporated into the handle.

9. A cleaning device for a roller applicator of the type which includes a cylindrical core carrying an external pad of porous material having an outside diameter, said cleaning device comprising a one-piece annular sleeve open at both ends and having a generally cylindrical inside surface, an outside surface, an internal annular passage and an integral connection projecting radially from said outside surface for supplying cleaning liquid to said passage, the axial length of said sleeve being substantially less than the length of the roller applicator, said inside surface having at least one liquid outlet means therein, the diameter of said inside surface being substantially equal to and slightly less than the outside diameter of the pad of the roller applicator to be cleaned so that upon axial insertion of the roller applicator into said sleeve, the pad of the roller applicator contacts said outlet means and said generally cylindrical inside surface of said sleeve, whereby liquid emerging from said liquid outlet means is forced to enter deep within the porous material of the pad when the roller applicator is slid in an axial direction through said sleeve.

10. A method of cleaning a roller applicator of the type including a cylindrical core carrying an external pad of porous material, said method comprising passing the roller applicator axially through a hollow annular cleaning sleeve of substantially less axial length than said roller applicator, said cleaning sleeve having an inside and an outside surface, at least one liquid outlet opening in said inside surface and annular passage means of substantially less axial length than said roller applicator and for supplying liquid to said outlet opening, said pad contacting said inside surface and said outlet opening so that liquid emerging from said outlet opening is forced to enter deep within the porous material of the pad as said roller applicator is moved axially through said cleaning sleeve.