Paint Cup Assembly With an Outlet Valve

• US 20120280063A1
• Filed: 05/04/2012
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Abrasives Incorporated (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain), Saint-Gobain Abrasifs (Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Abrasives Incorporated (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain), Saint-Gobain Abrasifs (Compagnie de Saint-Gobain SA)
• Inventors: Pellegrino, Biagio P., Zoellner, Clemens E., Nixon, Thomas R., Chilton, Christopher J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,944,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/302
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/40 Filters located upstream of the spraying outlets
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2481 with a flexible container for liquid or other fluent material
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/02 by gauge glasses or other apparatus involving a window or transparent tube for directly observing the level to be measured or the level of a liquid column in free communication with the main body of the liquid

Abstract

A paint cup assembly for a paint sprayer is disclosed and can include a paint reservoir, a cap configured to engage the paint reservoir, and a valve assembly disposed within the cap. The cap can include an outlet and the valve assembly can be operable from a closed configuration in which fluid flow through the outlet is prevented to an open configuration in which fluid flow through the outlet is permitted upon engagement with a paint sprayer.

Claims

1. A paint cup assembly for a paint sprayer, comprising:

a paint reservoir;

a cap configured to engage the paint reservoir, the cap having an outlet; and

a valve assembly disposed within the cap, wherein the valve assembly is configured to be operable from a closed configuration in which fluid flow through the outlet is prevented to an open configuration in which fluid flow through the outlet is permitted upon engagement with a paint sprayer.

2. The paint cup assembly of claim 1, wherein the open configuration is achieved automatically during engagement.

3. The paint cup assembly of claim 2, wherein engagement is achieved by reducing a distance between the paint cup assembly and the paint sprayer.

5. The paint cup assembly of claim 1, wherein engagement comprises a threaded engagement.

6. The paint cup assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a valve retainer installed within the cap, wherein the valve retainer is configured to retain the valve assembly within the cap.

7. The paint cup assembly of claim 6, wherein the valve assembly is installed between the outlet and the valve retainer.

8. The paint cup assembly of claim 7, wherein the valve assembly comprises a spring loaded valve assembly.

9. The paint cup assembly of claim 8, wherein the spring loaded valve assembly comprises:

a plunger having a head and a shaft, wherein the head of the plunger is configured to engage a valve seat formed in the outlet.

10. The paint cup assembly of claim 9, wherein the spring loaded valve assembly further comprises:

a spring disposed around the shaft of the plunger, wherein the spring is installed in compression between the head of the plunger and the valve retainer and wherein the spring provides a biasing force to move the valve assembly to the closed configuration as the paint cup assembly is disengaged with a paint sprayer.

14. The paint cup assembly of claim 6, wherein the valve retainer comprises a generally flat disk.

15. The paint cup assembly of claim 14, wherein the valve retainer is formed with one or more windows, wherein each of the one or more windows comprises a filter material disposed therein.

16. The paint cup assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an adapter, wherein the adapter is configured to be installed within a spray gun and configured to receive the paint cup assembly and wherein the adapter is configured to open the valve assembly as the paint cup assembly is engaged with the adapter.

17. The paint cup assembly of claim 16, wherein the adapter comprises:

an adapter body;

an outer wall; and

an internal bore formed along the length of the adapter body and circumscribed by the outer wall.

18. The paint cup assembly of claim 17, wherein the adapter further comprises:

a valve actuator disposed within the internal bore.

19. The paint cup assembly of claim 18, wherein the valve actuator comprises a post and wherein the post is configured to open the valve assembly as the outlet of the paint cup assembly is inserted into the adapter.

20. The paint cup assembly of claim 1, wherein the paint reservoir is a collapsible, disposable paint liner.

4. (canceled)

11-13. -13. (canceled)

21-25. -25. (canceled)

26. An adapter for a paint sprayer, the adapter comprising:

an adapter body formed with an internal bore along the length of the adapter body; and

a valve actuator disposed within the internal bore, wherein the valve actuator is configured to open a valve assembly of a paint cup assembly as the paint cup assembly is engaged with the adapter.

27. The adapter of claim 26, wherein the internal bore comprises:

a first bore portion extending from the proximal end of the adapter body toward the distal end of the adapter body;

a second bore portion extending from the first bore portion toward the distal end of the adapter body; and

a third bore portion extending from the second bore portion and terminating at the distal end of the adapter body.

28. The adapter of claim 27, wherein the valve actuator comprises:

a base; and

a post extending from the base, wherein the base is sized and shaped to fit into the second bore portion and wherein the post extends into the first bore portion.

29. A paint cup assembly for a paint sprayer, comprising:

a paint reservoir;

a cap configured to engage the paint reservoir, the cap having an outlet;

a valve retainer distanced from the outlet; and

a valve assembly disposed within the cap between the outlet and the valve retainer, wherein the valve assembly is configured to be operable from a closed configuration in which fluid flow through the outlet is prevented to an open configuration in which fluid flow through the outlet is permitted upon engagement with a paint sprayer.