Adapter assembly for a fluid supply assembly

• US 7,354,074 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carlisle Fluid Technologies Incorporated (Carlisle Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Kosmyna, Michael J., Wisniewski, Ralph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunwoody; Aaron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kee; Fannie C.
• Application Number:
  US10/860,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20060043217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 285/136.1, 285/139.1, 285/189, 285401-402, 285/414, 285/209, 285/361, 285/396, 239/345
• US Class Current: 285/139.1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2408 characterised by the container or its attachment means to the spray apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2478 Gun with a container which, in normal use, is located above the gun

Abstract

An adapter assembly for connecting a fluid supply assembly to a fluid applicator. The adapter assembly includes an outer lid for the fluid supply assembly and an adapter. The adapter assembly provides a connection between the fluid supply assembly and the fluid applicator that can be engaged quickly, easily, and securely, and which has a strong tight seal around the connection.

Claims

1. An adapter assembly for connecting a fluid supply assembly to a fluid applicator comprising:

an outer lid for the fluid supply assembly, the outer lid having a lid portion and an integral generally cylindrical fitting with an opening therethrough, the fitting having a connector on an inner surface, the connector selected from projections extending from the inner surface toward the centerline of the fitting or grooves in the inner surface; and

an adapter having a first end and a second end, and a bore between the first end and the second end, the first end having a connecting surface adapted to mate with a complementary connecting surface on the fluid applicator, the second end being generally cylindrical and having a top adjacent to the first end and a bottom at an opposite end from the top, the second end having a complementary connector on an outer surface, the complementary connector selected from complementary grooves in the outer surface or complementary projections extending outward from the outer surface, the complementary connector adapted to mate with the connector on the fitting, wherein the complementary grooves mate with the projections, and the complementary projections mate with the grooves.

2. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein the complementary connector is a complementary groove, and the complementary groove extends from the bottom of the second end of the adapter toward the top of the second end, or wherein the connector is a groove, and the groove extends from the top of the fitting toward the bottom.

3. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein the connector is a groove or the complementary connector is a complementary groove, and wherein the groove or the complementary groove forms a helix.

4. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein the complementary connector is a complementary groove, and wherein the complementary groove is formed at a first angle from a plane of the bottom of the second end of the adapter, or wherein the connector is a groove, and the groove is formed at a first angle from a plane of the top of the fitting.

5. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein the complementary connector is a complementary groove, and wherein the complementary groove has an additional portion near the top of the second end of the adapter, the additional portion extending at a second angle from a plane of the complementary groove, or wherein the connector is a groove, and the groove has an additional portion near the bottom of the fitting, the additional portion extending at a second angle from a plane of the groove.

6. The adapter assembly of claim 5 wherein the additional portion of the complementary groove extends parallel to a plane of the bottom of the second end or the additional portion of the groove extends parallel to a plane of the top of the fitting.

7. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein the connector is a projection and the complementary connector is a complementary groove.

8. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein the connector is a groove and the complementary connector is a complementary projection.

9. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein the fitting extends upward from the lid portion of the outer lid.

10. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein the fitting extends below the lid portion of the outer lid toward the bottom of the outer lid.

11. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein the projection is positioned below the top of the fitting, or the complementary projection is positioned above the bottom of the second end.

12. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein a portion of the bottom of the fitting is smaller than the top of the fitting to provide an interference fit with the adapter.

13. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein the first end is generally cylindrical.

14. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein the adapter is made of metal.

15. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer lid is made of plastic.

16. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein the connecting surface and complementary connecting surface are selected from threads, lugs and grooves, tapered connections, bayonet connections, or snap connections.

17. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein a diameter of the second end is greater than a diameter of the first end.

18. The adapter assembly of claim 2 further comprising a disposable lid having an integral generally cylindrical fitting with an opening therethrough, the fitting of the disposable lid adapted to fit inside the bore of the adapter when the adapter is locked to the outer lid, the opening of the disposable lid being in fluid communication with the bore of the adapter.

19. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein there are at least two connectors and at least two complementary connectors.

20. The adapter assembly of claim 1 wherein the fluid supply assembly is a paint supply assembly and wherein the fluid applicator is a paint sprayer.

21. An adapter assembly for connecting a fluid supply assembly to a fluid applicator comprising:

an outer lid for the fluid supply assembly, the outer lid having a lid portion and an integral generally cylindrical fitting with an opening therethrough, the fitting having a connector on an inner surface, the connector selected from projections extending from the inner surface toward the centerline of the fitting or grooves in the inner surface;

an adapter having a first end and a second end, and a bore between the first end and the second end, the first end having a connecting surface adapted to mate with a complementary connecting surface on the fluid applicator, the second end being generally cylindrical and having a top adjacent to the first end and a bottom at an opposite end from the top, the second end having a complementary connector on an outer surface, the complementary connector selected from complementary grooves in the outer surface or complementary projections extending outward from the outer surface, the complementary connector adapted to mate with the connector on the fitting, wherein the complementary grooves mate with the projections, and the complementary projections mate with the grooves; and

a disposable lid having an integral generally cylindrical fitting with an opening therethrough, the fitting of the disposable lid adapted to fit inside the bore of the adapter when the adapter is locked to the outer lid, the opening of the disposable lid being in fluid communication with the bore of the adapter.