Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02299917 2007-05-30
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 replacement 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 expen'sive 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 cover on
the
cage assembly during use and allows for easy assembly and removal of the
roller
cover from the cage assembly as needed.
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In accordance with a broad aspect, the invention provides a paint roller
frame and plastic cage assembly, said frame comprising a handle portion and a
shaft portion, said cage assembly being mounted on said shaft portion for
rotation
and for limited axial movement in opposite directions relative to said shaft
portion,
said cage assembly comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially
extending support rails joined together by a plurality of axially spaced
annular
support members, cam members on radial inner walls of a plurality of said
support rails intermediate two of said annular support members, and a hub
member mounted on said shaft portion, said cam members being movable into
and out of engagement with said hub member during such limited axial
movement of said cage assembly in opposite directions relative to said shaft
portion to cause portions of said support rails to flex radially into and out
of
frictional engagement with an inner wall of a roller cover when inserted over
said
cage assembly.
In accordance with another broad aspect, the invention provides a paint
roller frame and cage assembly, said frame comprising a handle portion and a
shaft portion, said cage assembly being mounted for rotation and for limited
axial
movement in opposite directions relative to said shaft portion, said cage
assembly comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending
support rails joined together intermediate their ends by one or more axially
spaced annular support members and by inboard and outboard end caps at
opposite ends of said support rails, cam members on radial inner walls of said
support rails intermediate said outboard end cap and an adjacent annular
support
member, and a hub member mounted on said shaft portion, said cam members
being movable into and out of engagement with an annular hub surface on said
hub member during such limited axial movement of said cage assembly in
opposite directions relative to said shaft portion to cause portions of said
support
rails between said outboard end cap and said adjacent annular support member
to flex radially outwardly and inwardly.
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In accordance with another broad aspect, the invention provides a paint
roller frame and plastic cage assembly, said frame comprising a handle portion
and a shaft portion, said cage assembly being mounted on said shaft portion
for
rotation and for limited axial movement in opposite directions relative to
said shaft
portion, said cage assembly comprising a plurality of circumferentially
spaced,
axially extending support rails joined together by a plurality of axially
spaced
annular support members, radially movable portions, cam members on said
radially movable portions, and at least one hub member mounted on said shaft
portion, said cam members being movable into and out of engagement with said
hub member during such limited axial movement of such cage assembly in
opposite directions relative to said shaft portion, said cam members when
moved
into engagement with said hub member causing said radially movable portions to
move radially outwardly into frictional engagement with an inner wall of a
roller
cover when inserted over said cage assembly.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the plastic cage assembly
includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally
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extending plastic support rails joined together at their ends by integral
end caps and at a plurality of axially spaced locations intermediate their
ends by one or more integral 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 with 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 the radial inner
walls of the plastic rails to move into and out of engagement with an
outer annular surface on the hub assembly, forcing portions of the rails to
flex into and out of frictional engagement with the inner wall of a roller
cover inserted over the cage assembly.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the cam
members on the inner walls of the plastic rails have radially inwardly
sloping walls to make 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 flexing of the rails
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
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. . .
of the cage assembly from a roller cover locking position to a roller cover
unlocking position.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the hub
assembly includes male and female hub members that are snapped
together and the hub assembly is retained in place on the shaft by a self-
retaining locking ring that fits inside the hub assembly and tightly grips
the shaft.
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 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 inner wall of the plastic rails up over the
annular hub surface thus causing the plastic rails to flex 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
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
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surfaces on the inner walls of the plastic rails 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 in the claims, the following description and the
annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment
of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one 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 a preferred 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; and
Fig. 7 is an end elevation view of the outboard end cap of the cage
assembly as viewed from the right hand end of Fig. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now in detail to the drawings, and initially to Figs.1
through 3, there is shown a preferred 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 end of the hand grip 6 for threaded attachment of
an extension pole to the frame as desired.
The cage assembly 2 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
intermediate 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 rings
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 the drawings as having
three support rails 7 each spaced approximately 120 apart, it will be
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appreciated that the cage assembly may include more than three support
rails 'rF 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
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 permit limited axial movement of the cage assembly
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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 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.
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 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.
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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.
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.
Although the invention has been shown and described with
respect to a certain preferred embodiment, it is obvious that equivalent
alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon
the reading and understanding of the specification. The present invention
includes all such equivalent alterations and modifications, and is limited
only by the scope of the claims.
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