Roller cage assembly

• US 6,928,689 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Dove
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Dove
• Inventors: Dove, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/293,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20030188395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 152/301.1, 492/13, 492 16- 20
• US Class Current: 15/230.11
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/02 Rollers for applying toilet or cosmetic substances A45D34/04; Hand tools comprising coating rollers or coating endless belts

Abstract

A roller cage assembly for use with a support rod is described. The roller cage assembly has a roller sleeve, a pair of end hub members, and a tube for use with a support rod. Each end hub member has an inner hub, an outer hub, a cavity, and a keeper. Each cavity receives and allows rotational movement of a corresponding keeper. Each cavity has a slightly reduced outer aperture defined by an annular tab to facilitate rotational movement of the keeper. Each keeper has a passage for receiving the support rod, an expandable gap for securing the support rod, and slip ridges to facilitate rotational movement of the keeper. Each keeper also typically has a joined slit membrane for maintaining a substantially constant degree of tension on the support rod. The tube is connected between the inner hub of each end hub member, and the roller sleeve is connected between the outer hub of each end hub member. The roller sleeve, each end hub member, and the tube form an integral unit and are arranged to define a sealed inner cavity, whereby liquid transfer into the inner cavity is substantially prevented.

Claims

1. A roller case assembly for use with a support rod comprising:

a roller sleeve having a first end and a second end;

a primary keeper having a passage for receiving the support rod, and having an expandable gap for securing the support rod;

a secondary keeper having a passage for receiving the support rod, and having an expandable gap for securing the support rod;

a primary hub having an inner hub, an outer hub, and a cavity;

a secondary hub having an inner hub, an outer hub, and a cavity; and

a tube connected between the primary inner hub and the secondary inner hub;

wherein the cavity of the primary hub receives and allows rotational movement of the primary keeper, and has an inner aperture and an outer aperture, said outer aperture defined by a primary annular tab having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the inner aperture, said primary annular tab facilitating rotational movement of the primary keeper;

wherein the primary keeper has slip ridges to facilitate rotational movement of said primary keeper within the cavity of the primary hub;

wherein the cavity of the secondary hub receives and allows rotational movement of the secondary keeper, and has an inner aperture and an outer aperture, said outer aperture defined by a secondary annular tab having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the inner aperture, said secondary annular tab facilitating rotational movement of the secondary keeper;

wherein the secondary keeper has slip ridges to facilitate rotational movement of said secondary keeper within the cavity of the secondary hub;

wherein the outer hub of the primary hub is connected to the first end of the roller sleeve;

wherein the outer hub of the secondary hub is connected to the second end of the roller sleeve; and

wherein the primary keeper has a joined slit membrane for maintaining a substantially constant degree of tension on the support rod, and the secondary keeper has a joined slit membrane for maintaining a substantially constant degree of tension on the support rod.

2. The roller cage assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer hub of the primary hub has a wire-embossed negative for receiving an adhesive, and wherein the outer hub of the secondary hub has a wire-embossed negative for receiving an adhesive.

3. The roller cage assembly of claim 2, wherein the connection between the first end of the roller sleeve and the outer hub of the primary hub is facilitated by glue, and wherein the connection between the second end of the roller sleeve and the outer hub of the secondary hub is facilitated by glue.

4. The roller cage assembly of claim 1, wherein the primary hub, the tube, and the secondary hub are adapted to receive the support rod.

5. The roller cage assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cap secured to the secondary hub to substantially prevent liquid transfer into the tube.

6. The roller cage assembly of claim 1, wherein the primary hub and the secondary hub are substantially similar.

7. The roller cage assembly of claim 1, wherein the primary hub has a primary annular flange for engaging the first end of the roller sleeve, and the secondary hub has a secondary annular flange for engaging the second end of the roller sleeve.

8. A roller cage assembly for use with a support rod comprising:

a roller sleeve having a first end and second end;

a primary keeper having a passage for receiving the rod, and having an expandable gap for securing the support rod;

a secondary keeper having a passage for receiving the rod, and having an expandable gap for securing the support rod;

a primary hub having an inner hub, an outer hub, and a cavity;

a secondary hub having an inner hub, an outer hub, and a cavity; and

a tube connected between the primary inner hub and the secondary inner hub;

wherein the cavity of the primary hub receives and allows rotational movement of the primary keeper, and has an inner aperture and an outer aperture, said outer aperture having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the inner aperture;

wherein the primary keeper has slip ridges to facilitate rotational movement of said primary keeper within the cavity of the primary hub;

wherein the cavity of the secondary hub receives and allows rotational movement of the secondary keeper, and has an inner aperture and an outer aperture, said outer aperture slightly less in diameter than the diameter of the inner aperture;

wherein the secondary keeper has slip ridges to facilitate rotational movement of said secondary keeper within the cavity of the secondary hub;

wherein the outer hub of the primary hub is connected to the first end of the roller sleeve;

wherein the outer hub of the secondary hub is connected to the second end of the roller sleeve;

wherein the roller sleeve, the primary hub, the secondary hub, and the tube are arranged to define a sealed inner cavity, whereby liquid transfer into the inner cavity is prevented; and

wherein the primary keeper has a joined slit membrane for maintaining a substantially constant degree of tension on the rod, and the secondary keeper has a joined slit membrane for maintaining a substantially constant degree of tension on the rod.

9. The roller cage assembly of claim 8, wherein the outer hub of the primary hub has a wire-embossed negative for receiving an adhesive, and wherein the outer hub of the secondary hub has a wire-embossed negative for receiving an adhesive.

10. The roller cage assembly of claim 9, wherein the connection between the first end of the roller sleeve and the outer hub of the primary hub is facilitated by glue, and wherein the connection between the second end of the roller sleeve and the outer hub of the secondary hub is facilitated by glue.

11. A roller cage assembly for use with a support rod comprising:

a roller sleeve;

a tube; and

a pair of end hub members, each said end hub member comprising;

an inner hub;

an outer hub;

a cavity; and

a keeper;

wherein each cavity receives and allows rotational movement of a corresponding keeper, each cavity having an inner aperture and an outer aperture, each outer aperture having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the inner aperture;

wherein each keeper has;

a passage for receiving the support rod;

slip ridges to facilitate rotational movement of the keeper, and a joined slit membrane for maintaining a substantially constant degree of tension on the support rod; and

wherein the roller sleeve, each end hub member, and the tube are arranged to define a sealed inner cavity, whereby liquid transfer into the inner cavity is substantially prevented.

12. The roller cage assembly of claim 11, wherein each end hub member has a wire-embossed negative for receiving an adhesive.

13. The roller cage assembly of claim 12, wherein connection of the roller sleeve between the inner hub of each end hub member is facilitated by glue.

14. The roller cage assembly of claim 11, further comprising a cap secured to one of the end hub members to substantially prevent liquid transfer into the tube.

15. The roller cage assembly of claim 11, wherein the roller sleeve, the tube, and the pair of end hub members form an integral unit.

16. The roller case assembly of claim 11, wherein the outer aperture of each cavity further includes an annular tab to facilitate rotational movement of the keeper.