Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Particular handle
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-13
2001-07-10
Graham, Gary K. (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Particular handle
C015S230110, C016S110100, C016S430000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256828
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a paint roller.
Conventional paint rollers consist of a cylindrical roller body, also referred to below as a roller or paint roll, with an inner cylindrical tubular body which serves to receive a roller coating made of plush, felt or foamed material or similar material. In the interior of the tubular body, a slotted, radially widening clamp sleeve is generally provided. In one embodiment, on one side in the tubular body, the clamp sleeve is secured by a corresponding projection against axial displacement. On the other side, in the direction of the opening of the tubular body, an end piece is engaged in order to prevent the sleeve falling out. In many cases, the end piece, like the clamp sleeve, is also rotatably mounted and both individual parts serve to receive and bear a handle to be inserted into the roller body. The clamp sleeve performs the function of fixing the roller body axially on the handle. The handle as a rule consists of a bent metal wire and, on its lower end, a handgrip made of plastic.
Such a construction nevertheless suffers from disadvantages. On the one hand, a number of individual parts are necessary for the paint roller, which is frequently thrown away after use, and these parts not only make production more expensive but are also undesirable from an environmental point of view. In particular the construction of the handle as a combination of metal and plastic which is injection-molded on can be exploited only with great difficulty in raw material recovery.
For this reason, attempts have been made in the past to manufacture the handle from plastic as a single piece.
In some embodiments, however, it had to be admitted that the handle does not have adequate stability for the practical application.
It is true that adequate stability is achieved in other embodiments through the use of fiber-reinforced plastics, but this makes production more expensive at the same time. The possibility exists, moreover, of simply dimensioning the handle so it is larger but this leads to increased material consumption and is therefore equally inadvisable for reasons of cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a paint roller with a one-piece handle made of plastic which, using a small amount of material and with low production costs, has a rigidity comparable with that of a conventional handle made of, for example, metal wire. Furthermore, a simple and effective and at the same time universal possibility for fastening between the handle and the roller body is to be ensured.
The invention pertains to a paint roller that consists of a one-piece handle made of plastic provided with a handgrip and of a paint roll which can be mounted rotatably on the front end of the handle. The handle comprises over at least part of its length transversely running reinforcement elements which are interconnected in a reinforcing manner by longitudinal bracing. In this way, as is the case in the ribbing of an aircraft aerofoil made of frames and spars, excellent rigidity is achieved with low weight. It is consequently not necessary to use a plastic which is, for example, fiber-reinforced, and this results in reduced production costs. Moreover, the circumstance that comparatively less material is necessary for production contributes to a further reduction of the costs. The low weight of the construction of the handle has the advantage for the user of bringing on fatigue less rapidly in the execution of tedious work.
In order to form the reinforcement particularly efficiently, it is furthermore proposed to make the longitudinal bracing by means of wall sections. In this respect, it is especially preferred to design the wall sections as an open hollow profile and in particular as a half-shell. In the case of a hollow profile, the reinforcement elements are expediently arranged on its inner side.
So as to achieve a comfortable and ergonomic handgrip, it is further proposed to make the transversely running reinforcement elements protrude on the open side of the hollow profile at least in the region of the handgrip. The three-dimensional shape of the handgrip is thus defined on one side by the outer contour of the hollow profile and on the other side by the shape of the reinforcement ribs. In this respect, it is advantageous if the reinforcement elements have a spacing of 2 to 6 mm so as to avoid pressure points in the hand of the user.
To optimize the use of material in production, it is also proposed that the spacings of the reinforcement elements arranged outside the handgrip are greater than those of the reinforcement elements arranged in the region of the handgrip.
For the same reasons, it is furthermore proposed to make the width and/or the cross section of the hollow profile decrease continuously or at least by sections from the handgrip to the front end of the handle.
So as to achieve a further improvement of the quality of grip of the handle, it is furthermore proposed to provide a ribbed grip surface on the outer side of the hollow profile at least in a part region of the handgrip.
To achieve great rigidity and to save production material, it is moreover proposed to make the front part of the handle, in front of the region where the paint roll is received, in the form of a U-shaped profile. This region is preferably also ribbed to increase stability.
In an especially preferred embodiment, the front region of the handle is also designed directly as a roller bearing for a roller body, which here too is referred to as a paint roll or roller. In this way, the number of individual parts of which a paint roller is usually composed is reduced. For example, the clamp sleeve described in the state of the art and the end piece for fixing the clamp sleeve can preferably be formed on in one piece at the front end of the handle to produce the roller bearing in the present invention. The handle can accordingly be designed in its end region in such a manner that it engages in such a manner in a groove or the like provided on the inner side of the tubular body that the tubular body rotates on the handle itself. In order to obtain a simple construction, it is proposed to make the paint roll so that it can engage on the roller bearing at the front end of the handle. In this respect, it is advantageous if the roller bearing has an engagement web for engaging in a circumferential groove in the tubular body of the paint roll. In this respect, the dimensions of the engagement web and the groove are preferably to be fixed in such a manner that the paint roll is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. Mutual transposition of the engagement web and the groove on the respective parts may be advantageous.
For especially advantageous mounting of the paint roll, it is furthermore proposed to arrange the engagement web in the region of the center of the roller bearing.
In order to ensure stable rolling of the paint roll on the roller bearing, at least one additional bearing web can be provided, on which the tubular body of the paint roll can run and is supported against tilting.
Lastly, it is advantageous if a limit web is provided on the roller bearing for the handle-side end of the rotatably mounted paint roll. The limit web prevents paint being able to enter into the tubular body of the roll. The limit web furthermore defines the mounting travel, i.e. the insertion length can be predetermined in this way.
In special cases, it may also be advantageous if the connection between the roller bearing and the tubular body is made via a separate clamp sleeve or adhesion bush which has the corresponding engagement means in its inner tubular surface. In this way, a simple cylindrical tubular body of suitable length in each case can be used, into which the clamp sleeve is introduced by a simple press fit.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 269650 (1983-07-01), Allison
patent: 2517247 (1950-08-01), Seley
patent: 3394423 (1968-07-01), Bischoff
patent: 3623179 (1971-11-01), Roth
patent: 4361923 (1982-12-01), McKay
patent: 4557011 (1985-12-01), Sartori
patent: 457
FIA Farbwerkzeug GmbH & Co. KG
Graham Gary K.
Kinberg Robert
Spencer George H.
Venable
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