Vehicular paint applicator for corrugated surfaces

• US 5,201,953 A
• Filed: 05/31/1991
• Issued: 04/13/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lowry, Joseph W.
• Original Assignee: Lowry, Joseph W.
• Inventors: Lowry, Joseph W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, W. Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRIEDMAN, CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US07/708,903
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 118/305, 239/148-150
• US Class Current: 118/305
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/005 mounted on vehicles or designed to apply a liquid on a very large surface, e.g. on the road, on the surface of large containers

Abstract

A continuous or intermittent vehicular paint applicator for applying paint to a corrugated surface, has one of four types of a carriage body attached to a wheel-roller skid assembly or a wheel tractor belt assembly. The carriage body and wheel-roller assembly or tractor belt assembly serves as a vehicular base for screw attachment of the component parts of the paint applicator including handle means, an electric power assembly, a paint can hold base assembly with puncture and drain means, and a fixture for securing a paint dispenser in a fixed position relative to the carriage body. Skid guards attached to the carriage body in the wheel-roller assembly embodiments of the invention extend laterally between each set of side wheels and extend downwardly beyond the carriage body to a point 1/16th to 1/4th inch above the bottom of the wheels to minimize the fall of the vehicular paint applicator'"'"'s wheels into the valleys of a corrugated surface no more than 1/4th of an inch.

Claims

1. A continuous or intermittent paint applicator for applying paint to a desired surface, comprising:

(A) a carriage body having two side walls opposite each other integral with or joined to an upper plate, each side wall being attached near separate ends of a pair of wheel bearing axles;

(B) a wheel roller-skid assembly having four wheels each of which are rotatably mounted near separate ends of said pair of wheel bearing axles, and a first skid guard attached adjacent to one side wall and a second skid guard attached adjacent to the other side wall, each skid guard extending laterally between the wheels on the same side of each side wall and extending downwardly beyond said side wall to a point 1/16th to 1/4th inch above the bottom of said wheels;

(C) handle means attachable to said carriage body and extending upwardly therefrom for gripping by an operator to push or pull said carriage body relative to said surface;

(D) an electric power assembly mounted to said carriage body including interconnecting electric lines providing an electric circuit, and at least two electrical outlets, one for electric circuit communication with an electric power source, and the other for electric circuit operation of an airless cup suction pump paint dispenser by a jog control switch capable of selectively activating an electric circuit to initiate and terminate the release of paint from said paint dispenser as desired;

(E) means attached to the carriage body for holding a paint container in fluid communication with means for delivering the contents of the paint container to a suction delivery line of said paint dispenser for spraying therefrom;

(F) a fixture for securing fixed position including a vertical rod attached to said carriage body at its lower end and mountably supporting a detachable horizontal arm at a selectable distance above said lower end, said detachable horizontal arm including means for clamping said arm to the vertical rod in adjustable position vertically, traversely, or invertedly, and having two portions, a first portion capable of being locked to a second portion to, when locked together, secure a squeeze trigger of said paint dispenser in operational mode.

2. The carriage paint applicator of claim 1 wherein each of said wheels rotate substantially in a plane parallel with the plane of rotation of each other wheel for movement of said carriage body in a substantially straight line in response to a force applied to said handle means by an operator.

4. The carriage paint applicator of claim 1 wherein the electric outlet for electric circuit operation of said paint dispenser is normally biased to a non-working position wherein an electric circuit is not operable to release paint from said paint dispenser and is responsive to the operation of a jog switch for releasing paint from said paint dispenser.

5. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 1 wherein one of said interconnecting electrical lines providing an electric circuit is fitted with a quick disconnect electric plug fitting for the jog control.

6. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 1 wherein the means attached to the carriage body for holding a paint container in fluid communication with means for delivering the fluid contents of the paint container to a suction delivery line of the paint dispenser for spraying therefrom includes a paint can hold base assembly comprising a paint can hold wall and an arm support base, each mounted to the upper plate of the carriage body and positioned in such spaced relation to each other as to secure a paint container therebetween or a paint container and a spacer therebetween, said arm support base pivotally supporting a clamping arm having means for locking said clamping arm with said paint can hold wall, and a piercing valve located between said hold wall and support base and extending upward from said upper plate, said piercing valve being in fluid communication with means attached to the carriage body for delivering the contents of the paint can to a suction delivery line of said paint dispenser for spraying therefrom.

7. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 6 wherein the means for delivering the contents of the paint can to a suction delivery line of said paint dispenser comprises a feeder reservoir having an outlet pipe extending therefrom, said feeder reservoir being mounted to the lower surface of the upper plate and beneath said piercing valve such that when the clamping arm is locked to the paint can hold wall the bottom of a paint can is punctured by the piercing valve to provide gravity drain communication of the paint can contents to said feeder reservoir for feeder pipe delivery of the paint to a delivery line of an airless cup suction pump paint dispenser.

8. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 7 wherein the means for delivering the contents of the paint can to a suction delivery line of said paint dispenser further comprises a second outlet pipe extending from the feeder reservoir for communication with either an overflow line of said paint dispenser or a locking cap.

9. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 6 wherien the means for locking the clamping arm with the paint can hold base comprises a toggle lock attached to said paint can hold base wall for cooperation with a receiving end of said clamping arm.

10. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 6 wherein the piercing valve is a replaceable cylinder having an upper angled piercing edged end extending above said upper plate and having a hole above its lower end and beneath said upper plate, said lower end being supported by the floor surface of said feeder reservoir.

11. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 1 further including wheel locking means.

3. The carriage paint applicator of claim I wherein the upper plate of said carriage body is tilted.

12. A continuous or intermittent paint applicator for applying paint to a desired surface, comprising:

(A) a carriage body having four downwardly extending axle legs integral with or joined to an upper plate, each leg being attached near separate ends of a pair of wheel bearing axles;

(B) a wheel roller-skid assembly having four wheels each of which are rotatably mounted near separate ends of said pair of wheel bearing axles, and a first skid guard attached adjacent to one side set of axle legs and a second skid guard attached adjacent to the other side set of axle legs, each skid guard extending laterally between each side set of axle legs and extending downwardly beyond said legs to a point 1/16th to 1/4th inch above the bottom of said wheels;

(C) handle means attachable to said carriage body and extending upwardly therefrom for gripping by an operator to push or pull said carriage body relative to said surface;

(D) an electric power assembly mounted to said carriage body including interconnecting electric lines providing an electric circuit, and at least two electrical outlets, one for electric circuit communication with an electric power source, and the other for electric circuit operation of an airless cup suction pump paint dispenser by a jog control switch capable of selectively activating an electric circuit to initiate and terminate the release of paint from said paint dispenser as desired;

(E) means attached to the carriage body for holding a paint container in fluid communication with means for delivering the contents of the paint container to a suction delivery line of said paint dispenser for spraying therefrom;

(F) a fixture for securing said paint dispenser inn a fixed position including a vertical rod attached to said carriage body at its lower end and mountably supporting a detachable horizontal arm at a selectable distance above said lower end, said detachable horizontal arm including means for clamping said arm to the vertical rod in adjustable position vertically, traversely, or invertedly, and having two portions, a first portion capable of being locked to a second portion to, when locked together, secure a squeeze trigger of said paint dispenser in operational mode.

13. The carriage paint applicator of claim 12 wherein each of said wheels rotate substantially in a plane parallel with the plane of rotation of each other wheel for movement of said carriage body in a substantially straight line in response to a force applied to said handle means by an operator.

14. The carriage paint applicator of claim 12 wherein the upper plate of said carriage body is tilted.

15. The carriage paint applicator of claim 12 wherein the electric outlet for electric circuit operation of said paint dispenser is normally biased to a non-working position wherein an electric circuit is not operable to release paint from said paint dispenser and is responsive to the operation of a jog switch for releasing paint from said paint dispenser.

16. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 12 wherein one of said interconnecting electrical lines providing an electric circuit is fitted with a quick disconnect electric plug fitting for the jog control.

17. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 12 wherein the means attached to the carriage body for holding a paint container in fluid communication with means for delivering the fluid contents of the paint container to a suction delivery line of the paint dispenser for spraying therefrom includes a paint can hold base assembly comprising a paint can hold wall and an arm support base, each mounted to the upper plate of the carriage body and positioned in such spaced relation to each other as to secure a paint container therebetween or a paint container and a spacer therebetween, said arm support base pivotally supporting a clamping arm having means for locking said clamping arm with said paint can hold wall, and a piercing valve located between said hold wall and support base and extending upward from said upper plate, said piercing valve being in fluid communication with means attached to the carriage body for delivering the contents of the paint can to a suction delivery line of said paint dispenser for spraying therefrom.

18. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 17 wherein the means for delivering the contents of the paint can to a suction delivery line of said paint dispenser comprises a feeder reservoir having an outlet pipe extending therefrom, said feeder reservoir being mounted to the lower surface of the upper plate and beneath said piercing valve such that when the clamping arm is locked to the paint can hold wall the bottom of a paint can is punctured by the piercing valve to provide gravity drain communication of the paint can contents to said feeder reservoir for feeder pipe delivery of the paint to a delivery line of an airless cup suction pump paint dispenser.

19. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 17 wherein the means for delivering the contents of the paint can to a suction delivery line of said paint dispenser further comprises a second outlet pipe extending from the feeder reservoir for communication with either an overflow line of said paint dispenser or a locking cap.

20. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 17 wherein the means for locking the clamping arm with the paint can hold wall comprises a toggle lock attached to said paint can hold wall for cooperation with a receiving end of said clamping arm.

21. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 17 wherein the piercing valve is a replaceable cylinder having an upper angled piercing edged end extending above said upper plate and having a hole above its lower end and beneath said upper plate, said lower end being supported by the floor surface of said feeder reservoir.

22. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 12 further including wheel locking means.

23. A continuous or intermittent paint applicator for applying paint to a desired surface, comprising:

(A) a carriage body having four downwardly extending axle legs integral with or joined to an upper plate, each leg being attached near separate ends of a pair of wheel bearing axles and a plurality of downwardly extending skid guard support legs integral with or joined to said upper plate and positioned between each side set of axle legs;

(B) a wheel roller-skid assembly having four wheels each of which are rotatably mounted near separate ends of said pair of wheel bearing axles, and a first and second skid guard, each skid guard having a plurality of leg receiving cavities downwardly extending from the upper edge of the skid guard and between the outer and inner surfaces of the skid guard, said cavities dimensioned to receive said four axle legs and a corresponding plurality of skid guard support legs, and each skid guard extending laterally between each side set of axle legs and extending downwardly beyond said axle legs and skid guard support lens to a point 1/16th to 1/4th inch above the bottom of said wheels;

(C) handle means attachable to said carriage body and extending upwardly therefrom for gripping by an operator to push or pull said carriage body relative to said surface;

(D) an electric power assembly mounted to said carriage body including interconnecting electric lines providing an electric circuit, and at least two electrical outlets, one for electric circuit communication with an electric power source, and the other for electric circuit operation of an airless cup suction pump paint dispenser by a jog control switch capable of selectively activating an electric circuit to initiate and terminate the release of paint from said paint dispenser as desired;

(E) means attached to the carriage body for holding a paint container in fluid communication with means for delivering the contents of the paint container to a suction delivery line of said paint dispenser for spraying therefrom;

(F) a fixture for securing said paint dispenser in a fixed position including a vertical rod attached to said carriage body at its lower end and mountably supporting a detachable horizontal arm at a selectable distance above said lower end, said detachable horizontal arm including means for clamping said arm to the vertical rod in adjustable position vertically, traversely, or invertedly, and having two portions, a first portion capable of being locked to a second portion to, when locked together, secure a squeeze trigger of said paint dispenser in operational mode.

24. The carriage paint applicator of claim 23 wherein each of said wheels rotate substantially in a plane parallel with the plane of rotation of each other wheel for movement of said carriage body in a substantially straight line in response to a force applied to said handle means by an operator.

25. The carriage paint applicator of claim 23 wherein the upper plate of said carriage body is tilted.

26. The carriage paint applicator of claim 23 wherein the electric outlet for electric circuit operation of said paint dispenser is normally biased to a non-working position wherein an electric circuit is not operable to release paint from said paint dispenser and is responsive to the operation of a jog switch for releasing paint from said paint dispenser.

27. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 23 wherein one of said interconnecting electrical lines providing an electric circuit is fitted with a quick disconnect electric plug fitting for the jog control.

28. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 23 wherein the means attached to the carriage body for holding a paint container in fluid communication with means for delivering the fluid contents of the paint container to a suction delivery line of the paint dispenser for spraying therefrom includes a paint can hold base assembly comprising a paint can hold wall and an arm support base, each mounted to the upper plate of the carriage body and positioned in such spaced relation to each other as to secure a paint container therebetween or a paint container and a spacer therebetween, said arm support base pivotally supporting a clamping arm having means for locking said clamping arm with said paint can hold wall, and a piercing valve located between said hold wall and support base and extending upward from said upper plate, said piercing valve being in fluid communication with means attached to the carriage body for delivering the contents of the paint can to a suction delivery line of said paint dispenser for spraying therefrom.

29. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 28 wherein the means for delivering the contents of the paint can to a suction delivery line of said paint dispenser comprises a feeder reservoir having an outlet pipe extending therefrom, said feeder reservoir being mounted to the lower surface of the upper plate and beneath said piercing valve such that when the clamping arm is locked to the paint can hold wall the bottom of a paint can is punctured by the piercing valve to provide gravity drain communication of the paint can contents to said feeder reservoir for feeder pipe delivery of the paint to a delivery line of an airless cup suction pump paint dispenser.

30. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 28 wherein the means for delivering the contents of the paint can to a suction delivery line of said paint dispenser further comprises a second outlet pipe extending from the feeder reservoir for communication with either an overflow line of said paint dispenser or a locking cap.

31. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 28 wherein the means for locking the clamping arm with the paint can hold wall comprises a toggle lock attached to said paint can hold wall for cooperation with a receiving end of said clamping arm.

32. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 28 wherein the piercing valve is a replaceable cylinder having an upper angled piercing edged end extending above said upper plate and having a hole above its lower end and beneath said upper plate, said lower end being supported by the floor surface of said feeder reservoir.

33. The carriage paint dispenser of claim 23 further including wheel locking means.