Metered twist paint stick

• US 7,556,447 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2005
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wagner Spray Tech Corporation (Wagner Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Diversified Dynamics Corporation
• Inventors: Simonette, Dallas, Bruggeman, Daniel J., Kohs, Stephen C., McDevitt, Dion M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak; David J
• Application Number:
  US11/188,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20070020035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,443 Days
• Field of Search: 401/197, 401/205, 401/173, 401/174, 401/176, 401/179, 401/182, 401/277, 222/390, 222/174
• US Class Current: 401/197
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/0062 Brushes where the reservoir is specifically intended for being refilled when empty
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/202 Applicator paint brush
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/0308 the liquid being supplied to the inside of the coating roller
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/0325 attached to the hand tool, e.g. into the handle
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/0341 attached to the hand tool

Abstract

An apparatus for painting a surface, having an absorbent paint applicator containing paint and contacting the surface; a tube filled with paint and connected to the applicator; and a metering device for incrementally metering paint onto the applicator from the tube. The metering device has a plunger reciprocating within the tube, with the plunger having a handle. The plunger can either be incrementally advanced within the tube by rotating the handle, thereby incrementally dispensing paint onto the applicator, or the plunger can be manually retracted within the tube to fill the tube with paint and manually advanced within the tube to dispense the paint. The plunger is helically grooved along its length and a converter translates rotation of the handle into linear motion of the plunger, thereby advancing the plunger within the tube.

Claims

1. Apparatus for painting a surface, comprising:

(a) an absorbent paint applicator containing paint and adapted to contact the surface;

(b) a tube fillable with paint, the tube connected to the applicator; and

(c) a metering device for incrementally metering paint onto the applicator from the tube;

(d) wherein the metering device further comprises a plunger reciprocating within the tube, the plunger having a handle, the plunger being incrementally advanced within the tube by rotating the handle, thereby dispensing paint onto the applicator;

(e) further comprising at least one helical groove along the plunger;

(f) wherein the metering device further comprises an outer collar and an inner collar rotating therein, and a raised portion on the inner collar contacting the helical groove;

(g) further comprising a lock engaging the inner collar; and

(h) wherein The lock can be moved between a first unlocked position in which the inner collar is free to rotate within the outer collar, thereby allowing the user to move The plunger within the tube, and a second position in which the inner collar is locked against rotation within the outer collar, thereby causing rotation of the plunger to be translated into the linear motion of the plunger within the tube.

2. Apparatus for painting a surface, comprising:

(a) an absorbent paint applicator containing paint and adapted to contact the surface;

(b) a tube fillable with paint, the tube connected to the applicator;

(c) a metering device for metering paint onto the applicator from the tube; and

(d) a plunger reciprocating within the tube, the plunger having a handle, the plunger being advanced within the tube, thereby dispensing paint onto the applicator;

(e) wherein the metering device can be set to a first position in which rotation of the plunger is translated into incremental linear motion of the plunger within the tube, and a second position in which the plunger can be freely moved within the tube;

(f) wherein the plunger is helically grooved along its length and wherein the metering device further comprises a converter translating rotation of the handle into linear motion of the plunger, thereby advancing the plunger within the tube; and

(g) wherein the converter further comprises an outer collar and an inner collar rotating therein, and a raised portion on the inner collar contacting the helical groove.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the inner collar can be free to rotate within the outer collar, thereby allowing the user to move the plunger within the tube, and can be locked against rotation within the outer collar, thereby causing rotation of the plunger to be translated into the linear motion of the plunger within the tube.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the inner collar further comprises a toothed wheel and further comprising a lock having teeth meshing with the toothed wheel and preventing the toothed wheel from rotating.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the lock pivots about an axis to alternately engage the teeth with the toothed wheel and disengage the teeth from the toothed wheel.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a lever pivoting the lock about the axis, the lever being accessible through an aperture in the outer collar.