Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02343667 2001-04-11
ATTORNEY DOCKET WOOSP0126CA
TITLE: PAINT ROLLER FRAME AND PLASTIC CAGE ASSEMBLY
WITH SLIDING LOCK
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a paint roller frame and plastic
cage assembly including a sliding lock for securely retaining a roller cover
in place on the cage assembly during use while allowing the roller cover
to be quickly and easily removed from the cage assembly for ease of
cleaning and replacemerit as desired.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is generally known from U.S. Patents 5,345,648 and
5,490,303, assigned to the same assignee as the present application, to
provide a plastic cage assembly for a paint roller frame that allows for
easy assembly and removal of a roller cover from the cage assembly and
yet positively retains the roller cover in place on the cage assembly
during use.
However, it would be desirable to provide a plastic cage assembly
for a paint roller frame especially for the consumer market that has most
of the advantages of such previous known plastic cage assembly but
includes fewer, less expensive parts, making it less expensive to
manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a paint roller frame and plastic
cage assembly of simplified construction that securely retains the roller
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over on the cage assembly during use and allows for easy assembly and
removal of the roller cover from the cage assembly as needed.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the plastic cage
assembly includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally
extending plastic support rails joined together at their ends by end caps
and at a plurality of axially spaced locations intermediate their ends by
one or more partitions or walls that also aid in supporting the roller cover
when inserted over the cage assembly.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the inboard
end cap and intermediate partitions or walls have coaxially aligned holes
extending therethrough that closely slidably receive the shaft portion of
the roller frame for rotatably supporting the cage assembly on the shaft
portion.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the outboard
end of the roller frame shaft is supported by an annular hub assembly
axially inwardly of the outboard end cap, whereby the outboard end cap
may be completely closed to better prevent paint and the like from
getting inside the roller cover through the outboard end cap.
In accordance witti another aspect of the invention, the cage
assembly is mounted for limited axial movement in opposite directions on
the roller frame shaft, which causes cam members on radial inner walls
of radially movable portions of the cage assembly to move into and out
of engagement with an outer annular surface on the hub assembly,
causing the radially movable portions of the cage assembly to move into
and out of frictional engagement with the inner wall of a roller cover
inserted over the cage assembly.
In accordance witti another aspect of the invention, the cam
members on the inner walls of the radially movable portions have radially
inwardly sloping walls to rnake it easy for the cam members to ride up
and down the annular hub surface, and axial walls at the radial innermost
ends of the sloping walls that limit the extent of radial outward
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movement of the radially movable portions into frictional engagement
with the inner wall of the roller cover when the annular hub surface is in
contact with the axial walls.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, radiused
shoulders may be provided at the juncture between the sloping walls of
the cam surfaces and the associated axial walls to resist axial movement
of the cage assembly from a roller cover locking position to a roller cover
unlocking position.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, axially spaced
stops on the plastic cage assembly limit the extent of axial movement of
the cage assembly in opposite directions relative to the roller frame shaft
between the roller cover locking and unlocking positions.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the stops are
formed by the outboard end cap or stop shoulders on the cam surfaces
and the outboard-most partition or wall intermediate the ends of the
plastic rails which are respectively engaged by opposite ends of the hub
assembly during axial movement of the cage assembly in opposite
directions between the roller cover locking and unlocking positions.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a roller cover
is frictionally retained on the cage assembly after the roller cover has
been inserted completely over the cage assembly and up against a
radially outwardly extending flange on the inboard-most end of the
inboard end cap by pressing on the outboard end cap to cause the cage
assembly to move axially inwardly relative to the roller frame shaft which
forces the cam surfaces on the radially movable portions of the cage
assembly up over the annular hub surface thus causing the radially
movable portions to move radially outwardly into frictional engagement
with the inner wall of the roller cover.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the roller cover
is easily released from the cage assembly either by pressing on the
inboard end cap or by rapping the handle portion of the roller frame on
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the edge of a bucket or 'trash can to cause the cage assembly to move
axially outwardly relative to the roller frame shaft to disengage the cam
surfaces on the radially movable portions of the cage assembly from the
annular hub surface.
These and other objects, advantages, features and aspects of the
present invention will become apparent as the following description
proceeds.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the
invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and
particularly pointed out iin the claims, the following description and the
annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments
of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but several of the
various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the annexed drawings:
Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of one form of roller
frame and cage assembly in accordance with the present invention
showing the cage assembly in the fully retracted roller cover locking
position;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation view of the roller frame shaft
and cage assembly of Fig. 1 but showing the cage assembly in the fully
extended roller cover unlocking position;
Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the roller frame shaft and
cage assembly of Fig. 2, taken generally along the plane of the line 3-3
thereof;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation view of the roller frame shaft
and cage assembly of Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a further enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section
through the outboard end of the roller frame shaft and cage assembly of
Fig. 4;
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Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the roller frame shaft and
cage assembly of Fig. 5, taken generally along the plane of the line 6-6 of
Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is an end elevation view of the outboard end cap of the cage
assembly as viewed frorn the right hand end of Fig. 5;
Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation view of another
form of roller frame and cage assembly in accordance with the present
invention showing the cage assembly in the roller cover unlocking
position;
Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the roller frame and
cage assembly of Fig. 8 but showing the cage assembly in the roller
cover locking position;
Figs. 9 and 11 are further enlarged transverse sections through the
roller frame shaft and cage assembly of Figs. 8 and 10, respectively,
taken generally along thE: respective planes of the lines 9-9 and 1 1-1 1
thereof; and
Fig. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the radially
movable portions of the roller frame and cage assembly embodiment of
Figs. 8-1 1 .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now in cietail to the drawings, and initially to Figs.1
through 3, there is shown one form of paint roller frame 1 and plastic
cage assembly 2 in accordance with this invention. The frame 1 may be
made from a heavy gauge wire or rod 3 bent to shape to provide a handle
portion 4 at one end and a shaft portion 5 at the other end for rotatably
supporting the cage assembly 2 thereon. Attached to the outer end of
the handle portion 4 is a hand grip 6 to facilitate grasping of the paint
roller frame in one hand. A threaded socket (not shown) may be
provided in the outer enci of the hand grip 6 for threaded attachment of
an extension pole to the frame as desired.
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The cage assembly 2 shown in Figs. 2-6 is preferably molded in
one piece out of a suitable plastic material such as acetal or similar
thermoplastic material, and includes a plurality of circumferentially
spaced, longitudinally extending plastic support rails 7 joined together at
their opposite ends by integral end caps 8 and 9 and at one or more
axially spaced locations iintermediate their ends by one or more integral
partitions or walls 10 which give the cage assembly increased strength
and rigidity. Preferably, the outer peripheries of the walls 10, like the
end caps 8 and 9, blend with the sides of the plastic rails 7 to form
axially spaced annular ririgs 11 each having an outer diameter slightly
less than the inner diameter of a paint roller cover 12 (shown in phantom
lines in the various figures) to be supported thereby.
Although the cage assembly 2 is shown in Figs. 1-6 of the
drawings as having three support rails 7 each spaced approximately 120
apart, it will be appreciat:ed that the cage assembly may include two or
more support rails if desired. Also, where the cage assembly 2 is
approximately nine inches long, two intermediate partitions or walls 10
are desirably provided, each located approximately three inches apart and
approximately three inches from the adjacent end caps 8, 9. However, it
will be appreciated that a greater or lesser number of partitions or walls
may be provided as desired.
Extending through the inboard end cap 8 and intermediate
partitions or walls 10 are coaxially aligned holes 15, 16 and 17 that
closely slidably receive the roller frame shaft 5 for rotatably supporting
the cage assembly 2 on the shaft.
The length of the roller frame shaft 5 is somewhat less than the
length of the cage assembly 2 (see Fig. 5), whereby the outboard end 18
of the roller frame shaft 5 does not extend through the outboard end cap
9. This has the advantage that the outboard end cap 9 may be
completely closed as schematically shown in Figs. 5 and 7 to better
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resist paint and the like from getting inside the roller cover 12 through
the outboard end cap 9.
Attached to the outboard end 18 of the roller frame shaft 5 is an
annular hub assembly 20 having an outer annular surface 21 of a radius
slightly less than the radius of the radial inner walls 22 of the support
rails 7 when in the unstressed condition. The hub assembly 20 includes
a female hub member 23 that is slipped over the outboard end of the
roller frame shaft 5 and a male hub member 24 that is snapped into the
female hub member 23. Fitted within the hub assembly 20 is a self-
retaining locking ring 25 that tightly grips the shaft to secure the hub
assembly in place on the: shaft as schematically shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
The combined length of the roller frame shaft 5 and outer end
portion 26 of the hub assembly 20 protruding axially outwardly beyond
the outboard end 18 of the shaft is somewhat less than the length of the
cage assembly 2 to perniit limited axial movement of the cage assembly
in opposite directions on the roller frame shaft. During axial inward
movement of the cage assembly 2 relative to the roller frame shaft 5,
cam members 30 on the radial inner walls 22 of the support rails 7
intermediate the outboard end cap 9 and adjacent partition or wall 10
ride up over the annular hub surface 21 to cause portions of the support
rails to flex or move radially outwardly between the outboard end cap 9
and adjacent partition or wall 10 into frictional contact with the inner
wall 31 of a roller cover 12 inserted over the cage assembly as
schematically shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Referring further to Fig. 5, the
cam members 30 have radially inwardly sloping walls 32 that allow the
cam members to ride up over the annular hub surface 21. At the radial
innermost ends of the inwardly sloping walls 32 are axial walls 33 that
are engaged by the annular hub surface 21 when the cage assembly is
pushed all the way in on the shaft to limit the extent of radial outward
flexing of the rails into frictional engagement with the inner wall of the
roller cover.
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During axial outward movement of the cage assembly 2 relative to
the roller frame shaft 5, the cam members 30 on the support rails 7
move axially out of engagement with the annular hub surface 21, thus
allowing the previously outwardly flexed rail portions 34 to move radially
inwardly to return to their original unstressed condition providing a
clearance space with the; inner wall of the roller cover as schematically
shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In order for the rails to function in this way, the
cage assembly must be made out of a suitable plastic material such as
acetal that won't unduly stretch or grow when stressed and has good
memory characteristics that allows the rails to return to their original radii
when unstressed. A radiused shoulder 35 may be provided at the
juncture between the sloping walls 32 of the cam members 30 and the
associated axial walls 33 to resist axial movement of the cage assembly
2 from the fully retracted locking position shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5 to
the fully extended unlocking position shown in Fig. 2.
Axial outward and inward movement of the plastic cage assembly
2 between the two extreme end positions shown in Figs. 2 and 5 is
limited by engagement of opposite ends 36, 37 of the hub assembly 20
with the adjacent partition 10 and outboard end cap 9, respectively.
To assemble the roller cover 12 on the cage assembly 2, the cage
assembly 2 must first be in or moved to the fully extended roller cover
unlocking position shown in Fig. 2 to permit the roller cover to be easily
inserted completely over the cage assembly and up against a radially
outwardly extending flange 38 on the inboard-most end of the inboard
end cap 8. Next the outboard end cap 9 is pressed axially inwardly to
cause the cage assembly 2 to move axially inwardly relative to the roller
frame shaft 5. This forces the cam members 30 on the inner walls of
the support rails 7 up over the annular hub surface 21, causing the rail
portions 34 between the outboard end cap 9 and adjacent partition 10 to
flex outwardly into frictional engagement with the inner wall of the roller
cover as schematically shown in Figs. 1 and 4 through 6.
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To release the roller cover from the cage assembly, the inboard
end cap 8 is either pressed axially outwardly or the handle portion 4 of
the wire frame 1 is rapped on the edge of a bucket or trash can to cause
the cage assembly 2 to move axially outwardly relative to the roller frame
shaft 5 to disengage the cam members 30 on the support rails 7 from
the annular hub surface 21 as schematically shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thus
freeing the roller cover from the cage assembly.
Figs. 8-12 show another form of paint roller frame 1' and plastic
cage assembly 2' in accordance with this invention which is similar in
many respects to the frame 1 and cage assembly 2 of Figs. 1-7.
Accordingly, the same reference numerals followed by a prime symbol
are used to designate like parts.
The cage assembly 2' of the Figs. 8-12 embodiment differs from
the cage assembly 2 shown in the Figs. 1-7 embodiment in that rather
than providing cam menibers 30 on radial inner walls of the support rails
7, a pair of axially spaced cam members 40 are provided on radial inner
walls 41 of radially movable portions or components 42 of the cage
assembly 2' which are received in radial slots 43 in the support rails 7'
(see Figs. 9 and 11) for guiding the movable portions or components 42
during such radial movement. During axial inward movement of the cage
assembly 2' along the roller frame shaft 5' from the Fig. 8 position to the
Fig. 10 position, the cam members 40 on the radial inner walls 41 of the
radially movable comporients 42 ride up over outer hub surfaces 44 of a
pair of axially spaced hub assemblies 45 fixedly mounted on the roller
frame shaft 5' to cause the radially movable components 42 to move
radially outwardly withiri the rail slots 43 into frictional contact with the
inner wall 31 of a roller cover 12 inserted over the cage assembly 2' as
shown in phantom lines in Figs. 8-1 1.
Each of the cam rnembers 40 has radially inwardly sloping walls
50 that allow the cam members to ride up over the outer hub surfaces
44 and onto axial walls 51 of the cam members that are engaged by the
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outer hub surfaces 44 when the cage assembly 2' is pushed all the way
in on the shaft 5' as schematically shown in Fig. 10 to limit the extent of
radial outward movement of the radially movable components 42 into
frictional engagement with the inner wall of the roller cover.
During axial outward movement of the cage assembly 2' along the
roller frame shaft 5' (frorn the Fig. 10 position to the Fig. 8 position), the
cam members 40 on the radially movable components 42 move axially
out of engagement with the outer hub surfaces 44, thus allowing the
radially movable components 42 to move radially inwardly within the
respective slots 43 in the support rails 7' to provide a clearance space 52
between the radially movable components 42 and the inner wall 31 of
the roller cover 12 as schematically shown in Figs. 8 and 9 for ease of
insertion and removal of the roller cover on and from the cage assembly.
Axial movement of the plastic cage assembly 2' between the two
extreme end positions shown in Figs. 8 and 10 is limited by engagement
of the axial innermost hub assembly 45 with the adjacent partition 10' of
the cage assembly 2' (when moved to the axial outermost position
shown in Fig. 8) and engagement of the hub assemblies 45 with radial
shoulders 53 at the axial outermost ends of the cam members 40 (when
moved to the axial innerrnost position shown in Fig. 10).
The radially movable components 42 are retained within the radial
slots 43 in the support rails 7' by transverse flanges 54 on the radially
movable components 42 underlying the radial inner walls 55 of the rails.
(See Figs. 9 and 11.) The radial outer walls 56 of the radially movable
components 42 are transversely rounded, with a radius substantially
corresponding to the raduus of the outer peripheries of the partitions 10',
end caps 8' and 9', and plastic rails 7' to help support a paint roller cover
12 when inserted over the plastic cage assembly 2'. Also, compressible
material 57 may be overmolded onto the radial outer walls 56 of the
radially movable components 42 (see Figs. 9, 11 and 12), whereby when
the radially movable components are moved radially outwardly, the
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compressible material 57 will compress against the inner wall of the paint
roller cover creating additional friction preventing movement of the paint
roller cover relative to the cage assembly when the cage assembly is in
the locked position shovvn in Figs. 10 and 1 1.
To insert the roller cover 12 on the cage assembly 2', the cage
assembly 2' must first be in or moved to the fully extended roller cover
unlocking position shown in Figs. 8 and 9 to permit the roller cover to be
easily inserted onto the cage assembly and up against the radially
outwardly extending flarige 38' on the inboard-most end of the inboard
end cap 8'. Next the outboard end cap 9' is pressed axially inwardly to
cause the cage assembly 2' to move axially inwardly along the roller
frame shaft 5' (from the Fig. 8 position to the Fig. 10 position), forcing
the cam members 40 ori the radial inner walls 41 of the radially movable
components 42 up over the outer hub surfaces 44. This causes the
radially movable comporients 42 to move radially outwardly into frictional
engagement with the inrier wall 31 of the roller cover 12 as
schematically shown in Figs. 10 and 1 1.
To release the roller cover 12 from the cage assembly 2', the
inboard end cap 8' is either pressed axially outwardly or the handle
portion of the wire frame 1' is wrapped on the edge of a bucket or trash
can or the like to cause the cage assembly 2' to move axially outwardly
relative to the roller frarne shaft 5' to disengage the cam members 40 on
the radially movable cor7iponents 42 from the outer hub surfaces 44 as
schematically shown in Figs. 8 and 9, thus freeing the roller cover from
the cage assembly.
Although the invention has been shown and described with
respect to certain embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations
and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading
and understanding of the specification. In particular, with regard to the
various functions perforrned by the above described components, the
terms (including any reference to a"means") used to describe such
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components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to
any component which performs the specified function of the described
component (e.g., that is functionally equivalent), even though not
structurally equivalent to the disclosed component which performs the
function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention.
In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been
disclosed with respect to only one embodiment, such feature may be
combined with one or more other features of other embodiments as may
be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.
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