Painting apparatuses and methods
First Claim
1. A hand held paint edging apparatus configured for being held and operated by a single hand of a user, comprising:
- (a) a main body configured to detachably receive a disposable painting module;
(b) a disposable painting module arranged and configured to be operably rapidly detachably engaged with and carried by said main body, said painting module having all paint carrying and contacting components of the edging apparatus, comprising;
(i) a paint reservoir configured for rapid detachable engagement with said main body, comprising a syringe body having a fluid outlet and a plunger slidable within said syringe body for discharging paint from said body and through said fluid outlet;
(ii) a paint applicator arranged and configured for rapid detachable engagement with said main body and operable to slidably apply paint in edging manner to a work surface; and
(iii) a fluid coupling operatively connected to deliver paint from said reservoir fluid outlet to said paint applicator;
(c) flow control apparatus cooperatively engaging said fluid coupling for controllably regulating flow of paint through said fluid coupling between closed and selectively open positions;
(d) an urging mechanism including a constant force spring coupled to said main body and movable to impart a substantially constant force on said reservoir plunger throughout its operative travel through said syringe body, to discharge paint from said reservoir through said fluid outlet;
(e) an electric vibrator mounted to said main body and operatively connected to said paint applicator and to receive energizing power from a power source, for imparting when energized through a switch, oscillatory vibrating motion to said paint applicator; and
(f) a trigger mechanism mounted to said main body and operatively connected to said switch, said flow control apparatus and said urging mechanism, said trigger mechanism being operable between non-actuated and actuated modes by the same hand of a user that operatively holds the paint edging apparatus;
said trigger mechanism being operable when moved to said actuated mode to;
(i) close said switch to provide said energizing power to said electric vibrator;
(ii) move said flow control apparatus to selectively enable fluid flow through said fluid coupling; and
(iii) impart a momentary break away force to said reservoir plunger through said urging mechanism in addition to that of said constant force, to overcome any initial sticking of said plunger within said syringe body.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A paint edging apparatus includes a body having front and rear ends defining a longitudinal axis therebetween, the body receiving a paint reservoir for supplying paint to an applicator portion of the apparatus, the body including a handle extending rearwardly at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis. An urging mechanism selectively engages the paint reservoir to discharge paint therefrom. A vibrator mounted to the body and operatively connected to the paint applicator portion of the apparatus imparts an oscillatory motion to the paint applicator. A trigger is pivotally mounted to the handle for activating the vibrator, wherein a user can move the apparatus over a work surface to apply paint to the work surface and also pivot the trigger at the same time by grasping the handle with a single hand.
83 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A hand held paint edging apparatus configured for being held and operated by a single hand of a user, comprising:
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(a) a main body configured to detachably receive a disposable painting module; (b) a disposable painting module arranged and configured to be operably rapidly detachably engaged with and carried by said main body, said painting module having all paint carrying and contacting components of the edging apparatus, comprising; (i) a paint reservoir configured for rapid detachable engagement with said main body, comprising a syringe body having a fluid outlet and a plunger slidable within said syringe body for discharging paint from said body and through said fluid outlet; (ii) a paint applicator arranged and configured for rapid detachable engagement with said main body and operable to slidably apply paint in edging manner to a work surface; and (iii) a fluid coupling operatively connected to deliver paint from said reservoir fluid outlet to said paint applicator; (c) flow control apparatus cooperatively engaging said fluid coupling for controllably regulating flow of paint through said fluid coupling between closed and selectively open positions; (d) an urging mechanism including a constant force spring coupled to said main body and movable to impart a substantially constant force on said reservoir plunger throughout its operative travel through said syringe body, to discharge paint from said reservoir through said fluid outlet; (e) an electric vibrator mounted to said main body and operatively connected to said paint applicator and to receive energizing power from a power source, for imparting when energized through a switch, oscillatory vibrating motion to said paint applicator; and (f) a trigger mechanism mounted to said main body and operatively connected to said switch, said flow control apparatus and said urging mechanism, said trigger mechanism being operable between non-actuated and actuated modes by the same hand of a user that operatively holds the paint edging apparatus;
said trigger mechanism being operable when moved to said actuated mode to;(i) close said switch to provide said energizing power to said electric vibrator; (ii) move said flow control apparatus to selectively enable fluid flow through said fluid coupling; and (iii) impart a momentary break away force to said reservoir plunger through said urging mechanism in addition to that of said constant force, to overcome any initial sticking of said plunger within said syringe body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A hand held paint edging apparatus configured for being held and operated by a single hand of a user, comprising:
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(a) a main body configured to detachably receive a disposable painting module; (b) a disposable painting module arranged and configured to be operably rapidly detachably engaged with and carried by said main body, comprising; (i) a paint reservoir configured for rapid detachable engagement with said main body, comprising a syringe body having a fluid outlet and a plunger slidable within said syringe body for discharging paint from said body through said fluid outlet; (ii) a paint applicator arranged and configured for rapid detachable engagement with said main body and operable to slidably apply paint in edging manner to a working surface, comprising; (1) A porous applicator configured to accept discharged paint from said paint reservoir and to apply said paint to a working surface; (2) An applicator housing defining a manifold for receiving and dispersing paint, said housing forming a recessed portion sized and configured to receive and substantially contain said porous applicator therein except for a lower portion thereof configured to discharge and apply paint to a working surface;
said manifold being configured to apply paint passing therethrough to said porous applicator; and(3) A plurality of projection members downwardly extending from said applicator housing to lower edges configured to contact said working surface when pressure is applied to said applicator housing, to compress said porous applicator between said applicator housing and the working surface;
said projections limiting the amount of operative compression on said porous applicator, wherein an even, uniform flow of paint is dispersed through said porous applicator to said working surface; and(iii) a fluid coupling operatively connected to deliver paint from said reservoir fluid outlet to said paint applicator housing; (c) a first flow control apparatus cooperatively engaging said fluid coupling for controllably regulating flow of paint through said fluid coupling between closed and selectively open positions; (d) an urging mechanism including a constant force spring coupled to said main body and movable to impart a substantially constant force on said reservoir plunger throughout its operative travel through said syringe body, to discharge paint from said reservoir through said fluid outlet; (e) a trigger mechanism mounted to said main body and operatively connected to said first flow control apparatus, said trigger mechanism being operable between non-actuated and actuated modes by the same hand of a user that operatively holds the paint edging apparatus, and being operable when moved to said actuated mode to move said first flow control apparatus to selectively enable fluid flow through said fluid coupling; and (f) a second fluid control apparatus cooperatively engaging said fluid coupling and having a control mechanism to adjust the volumetric rate of uniform flow through said fluid coupling, independent of the first fluid control apparatus that is operated by the trigger mechanism, and being suitable for adjusting flow rate to accommodate different paint viscosities. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification