Fluid reservoir for a paint spray gun

• US 9,878,336 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2007
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sata GmbH & Co. KG (SATA Holding GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Sata GmbH & Co. KG (SATA Holding GmbH)
• Inventors: Gehrung, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): KIRSCH, ANDREW THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US11/949,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20080128533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,711 Days
• Field of Search: 22020307, 2203671, 22020313, 220835, 239348, 239345
• 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

The invention relates to a fluid reservoir for a paint spray gun with a container (1) and a cover (2) that is attachable on this container and has a connection part (3) to enable attaching the fluid reservoir on the paint spray gun or on an adapter, wherein the container (1) has a ventilation opening (6) that can be closed by a valve (5). In a fluid reservoir known from the state of the art, the valve is constructed in the form of a sliding valve. Here, there is the risk that the ventilation opening is not completely closed if the slide of the sliding valve has not been pushed completely into the valve housing. In order to provide a fluid reservoir with a valve that can be easily actuated manually and that can be closed reliably, it is provided for the fluid reservoir according to the invention that the valve (5) has a closing element (8) that can pivot like a rocker about a pivot axis (7) for closing the ventilation opening (6) in a fluid-tight way.

Claims

1. A fluid reservoir for a paint spray gun comprising:

a cup-shaped container, the cup-shaped container comprising;

a substantially open end;

a substantially closed end opposite the open end, the substantially closed end defining a base of the container;

a sidewall joining the open and closed ends;

a cover sized and dimensioned to releaseably close the substantially open end;

a ventilation opening in the base or in the sidewall, the ventilation opening encircled by a ring formed by projections of the base or of the sidewall; and

a valve assembly positioned on the closed end and cooperative with the ventilation opening to releaseably close the ventilation opening, the valve assembly comprising;

a bearing block having a cylindrical recess forming a receiver bearing; and

a rocking arm, the rocking arm comprising;

a pivot bearing having a cylindrical portion and an extension portion, the extension portion integrally formed with or attached to the rocking arm, having a length that extends from a first end of the cylindrical portion to a second end of the cylindrical portion, and a trapezoidal cross section, wherein the cylindrical portion of the pivot bearing is pivot-mounted to the receiver bearing for pivoting the rocking arm between a closed position and an open position, wherein the ventilation opening is open in the open position and closed in the closed position;

a first arm portion having a valve plug sized and dimensioned for releaseably closing the ventilation opening arranged on a plug plate, the plug plate having a cylindrical or a frustoconical form and a diameter greater than a diameter of the valve plug; and

a second arm portion opposite the first arm portion, the second arm portion pressable for releasing the valve plug from closing the ventilation opening,

wherein the ring of the ventilation opening engages in a circular groove formed in the plug plate when the rocking arm is in the closed position.

2. The fluid reservoir for a paint spray gun according to claim 1, wherein the ring of the ventilation opening is configured for blocking fluid splatter occurring when the valve assembly is pivoted to close the ventilation opening.

3. The fluid reservoir for a paint spray gun according to claim 1, wherein the circular groove formed in the plug plate has a width greater than a width of the ring encircling the ventilation opening.

4. A paint cup for a paint spray gun comprising:

a cup-shaped container, the container comprising;

a substantially open end having a threaded connector portion around a periphery thereof, the substantially open end defining a top end of the container;

a substantially closed end opposite the open end, the substantially closed end defining a bottom end of the container;

an air vent formed through the bottom end of the container;

a ring formed around the air vent projecting from the bottom end of the container;

a sidewall joining the open and closed ends;

a cover sized and dimensioned to releaseably close the substantially open end; and

a valve assembly positioned on the closed end and cooperative with the air vent to releaseably close the air vent, the valve assembly comprising;

a bearing block having a cylindrical recess forming a receiver bearing having a catch tab;

a rocking arm having a first arm portion, a second arm portion extending in a direction opposite to the first arm portion, and a pivot bearing pivot-mounted to the receiver bearing of the bearing block for pivoting the rocking arm between a first position and a second position, the pivot bearing having a cylindrical portion and an extension portion, the extension portion integrally formed with or attached to the rocking arm, having a length that extends from a first end of the cylindrical portion to a second end of the cylindrical portion, and a trapezoidal cross section, wherein the air vent is closed in the first position and open in the second position;

a plug plate formed on the first arm portion of the rocking arm; and

a cylindrical or frustoconical valve plug formed on the plug plate having a smaller diameter than a diameter of the plug plate, the valve plug sized and dimensioned for releaseably closing the air vent fluid-tight;

wherein the rocking arm pivots on the cylindrical portion of the pivot bearing at a point between the first and the second arm portions, the second arm is pressable to rotate the pivot bearing in the receiver bearing from a first position in which the air vent is closed to a second position in which the air vent is open, and wherein the ring engages in a circular groove formed in the plug plate when the pivot bearing is pivoted from the second position into the first position.

5. The paint cup for a paint spray gun according to claim 4, wherein the circular groove formed in the plug plate has a width greater than a width of the ring formed around the air vent.

6. The paint cup for a paint spray gun according to claim 4, wherein the air vent and the valve assembly are positioned proximate a periphery of the closed end of the container.

7. The paint cup for a paint spray gun according to claim 4, further comprising a stop arranged for limiting movement of the pivot bearing substantially beyond the second position.

8. The paint cup for a paint spray gun according to claim 7, wherein the stop is an inclined surface on the bearing block.

9. The paint cup for a paint spray gun according to claim 4, wherein the cylindrical portion of the pivot bearing is mateably and pivotably-connectable to the cylindrical recess of the bearing block.

10. The paint cup for a paint spray gun according to claim 4, wherein the first and the second arm portions of the rocking arm extend to each side of the pivot bearing.

11. A paint container for a paint spray gun comprising:

a substantially open end having a connector portion around a periphery thereof;

a substantially closed end opposite the open end;

an air vent formed through the closed end;

a ring surrounding the air vent projecting from the closed end;

a cylindrical sidewall joining the open and closed ends;

a rim surrounding and extending beyond the closed end in a direction away from the open end;

the rim configured to support the paint container in a filling and storage position in which the open end is positioned topmost with respect to the closed end;

a cover sized and dimensioned to releaseably close the substantially open end, the cover including;

a. a connector portion mateable with the connector of the open end to form a liquid tight seal, and

b. a dispensing port having a connector portion for affixing the cover and attached container onto the paint spray gun;

a valve assembly positioned on the closed end and cooperative with the air vent to releaseably close the air vent, the valve assembly including;

a. a bearing block integrally formed from material of the closed end, the bearing block having a cylindrical recess forming a receiver bearing, a first catch element, and a second catch element; and

b. a rocking arm pivotally connected to the bearing block, the rocking arm including;

i. a first arm portion having a valve plug dimensioned for releaseably closing the air vent arranged on a plug plate, the plug plate having a cylindrical or a frustoconical form, a circular groove formed therein, and a diameter greater than a diameter of the valve plug;

ii. a second arm portion extending opposite the first arm portion, the second arm portion pressable for releasing the valve plug from closing the air vent; and

iii. a pivot bearing having a cylindrical portion and an extension portion, the extension portion integrally formed with or attached to the rocking arm, having a length that extends from a first end of the cylindrical portion to a second end of the cylindrical portion, and a trapezoidal cross section, wherein the cylindrical portion of the pivot bearing is pivot-mounted to the receiver bearing of the bearing block for pivoting between a first position in which the air vent is closed and a second position in which the air vent is open;

wherein the ring surrounding the air vent engages the circular groove in the plug plate when the pivot bearing is in the first position.

12. The paint container for a paint spray gun according to claim 11, wherein the pivot bearing comprises:

a third catch element mateable with the first catch element of the bearing block, the mating first and third catch elements configured to releaseably maintain the valve assembly in the first position when the air vent is closed; and

a fourth catch element mateable with the second catch element of the bearing block;

the mating second and fourth catch elements configured to releaseably maintain the valve assembly in the second position when the air vent is open,

whereby the valve assembly is prevented from moving from the first position to the second position when the first and third catch elements are mated and the valve assembly is prevented from moving from the second position to the first position when the second and fourth catch elements are mated.

13. The paint cup for a paint spray gun according to claim 11, wherein the circular groove formed in the plug plate has a width greater than a width of the ring surrounding the air vent.

14. The paint container for a paint spray gun according to claim 11, wherein the valve plug has a conical, tapered form sized and dimensioned for inserting into and sealing the air vent.

15. The paint container for a paint spray gun according to claim 11, wherein the pivot bearing of the rocking arm is snap connected to the receiver bearing of the bearing block.

16. The paint container for a paint spray gun according to claim 12, wherein the third and fourth catch elements are formed as recesses in the pivot bearing.