WO2009077812A2

WO2009077812A2 - Roller liquid dispensing system

Info

Publication number: WO2009077812A2
Application number: PCT/IB2007/055141
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gustavo Velez
Original assignee: Gustavo Velez
Priority date: 2007-12-16
Filing date: 2007-12-16
Publication date: 2009-06-25
Also published as: WO2009077812A3

Abstract

A roller liquid dispensing system includes a liquid dispenser housing having a housing interior and a liquid dispensing assembly rotatably mounted in the housing interior of the liquid dispenser housing.

Description

ROLLER LIQUID DISPENSING SYSTEM Background of the Invention Field of the Invention

[1] The present invention generally relates to liquid dispensing apparatus such as roller painters, and more particularly, to a roller liquid dispensing system including a paint dispensing assembly which dispenses liquid such as paint on a surface in an easy, clean and effective manner as the assembly is rolled against the surface.

Description of the Prior Art

[2] Conventional roller painters include a roller handle from which extends a roller frame. An elongated, cylindrical roller, which includes an outer layer of liquid absorbing material is rotatably mounted on the roller frame. Paint is applied to the liquid-absorbing material of the roller typically by pouring the paint in a roller pan and rolling the roller in the paint. The paint is then applied from the roller to a wall, ceiling or other surface by gripping the roller handle and rolling the roller in a back-and- forth motion against the surface. After most of the paint from the roller has been applied to the surface, the roller can be re-applied to the paint in the roller pan to continue painting.

[3] One of the drawbacks which is associated with conventional roller painters is the tendency of the roller to drip paint when the roller is transferred from the roller pan to the surface to be painted. Moreover, after the supply of paint has been exhausted from the roller, the roller typically must be returned to the roller pan for another application of paint to the roller. Furthermore, the quantity of paint, which is dispensed from the roller may be non-uniform as large quantities of paint tend to become applied to the surface after the roller is removed from the roller pan and the quantity of paint gradually decreases thereafter as rolling progresses.

[4] Therefore, what is needed is a roller liquid dispensing system, which provides an easy, clean, and effective means to apply paint or other liquid to a surface.

Summary of the Invention

[5] The present invention is generally directed to a roller liquid dispensing system having a paint dispensing assembly which dispenses liquid such as paint on a surface in an easy, clean and effective manner as the assembly is rolled against the surface. In one aspect, an illustrative embodiment of the roller liquid dispensing system may include: a liquid dispenser housing having a housing interior; and a liquid dispensing assembly rotAC ably mounted in the housing interior of the liquid dispenser housing.

[6] In another aspect of the roller liquid dispensing system, a handle may extend from the liquid dispenser housing.

[7] In still another aspect of the roller liquid dispensing system, the liquid dispensing assembly may include a dispensing shell rocαr 3bly carried by the liquid dispenser housing, a liquid container provided in the dispensing shell and a plurality of perforations provided in the liquid container.

[8] In yet another aspect of the roller liquid dispensing system, the dispensing shell may include a liquid-absorbent material.

[9] In a still further aspect of the roller liquid dispensing system, the liquid-absorbent material may include a sponge material.

[10] In yet another aspect of the roller liquid dispensing system, the liquid container may have a generally elongated, cylindrical shape .

[11] In a still further aspect of the roller liquid dispensing system, the liquid dispenser housing may include a generally elongated dispenser housing wall and a pair of dispenser housing end plates provided on the dispenser housing wall, and the liquid dispensing assembly may be .>. ocatAbly carried by the pair of dispenser housing end plates.

[12] These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow.

Description of the Drawings

[13] The invention will be further understood, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

[14] FIG. 1 is a front view of an illustrative embodiment of the roller liquid dispensing system;

[15] FIG. 2 is an end view of a liquid container element of an illustrative embodiment of the roller liquid dispensing system;

[16] FIG. 3 is a side view of the liquid container element of an illustrative embodiment of the roller liquid dispensing system;

[17] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an end cap of an illustrative embodiment of the roller liquid dispensing system;

[18] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a liquid dispenser housing and handle elements of an illustrative embodiment of the roller liquid dispensing system;

[19] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a packaged liquid dispensing assembly of an illustrative embodiment of the roller liquid dispensing system; and

[20] FIG. 7 is a side view of a packaged liquid dispensing assembly of an illustrative embodiment of the roller liquid dispensing system.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[21] Shown throughout the drawings, the present invention is generally directed towards a roller liquid dispensing system, which includes a liquid dispenser housing from which extends a handle. A liquid dispensing assembly, which may include a dispensing shell and a liquid container inside the dispensing shell, is rot.aca.bly mounted in the liquid dispenser housing. A liquid, such as glue or a paint having a selected color, for example, is provided in the liquid container of the liquid dispensing assembly. The liquid is applied to a surface by rolling the dispensing shell against the surface typically during grasping of the handle. Accordingly, the liquid flows from the liquid container by centrifugal force and is dispensed through the dispensing shell and against the surface in an easy, clean and effective manner.

[22] Referring initially to Figures 1-5 of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the roller liquid dispensing system, hereinafter system, is generally indicated by reference numeral 1. The system I includes a liquid dispenser housing 2 having a dispenser-housing wall 3. The dispenser-housing wall 3 of the liquid dispenser housing 2 may have a generally semicircular cross-section, as illustrated in FIG. 5. A pair of generally semicircular, spaced-apart dispenser housing end plates 4 is provided on the dispenser-housing wall 3. The dispenser housing-wall 3 and dispenser housing end plates 4 define a housing interior 8. Tabs 5 may extend from the respective dispenser housing end plates 4, into the housing interior B. A generally elongated handle 9 may extend from the liquid dispenser housing 2.

[23] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a liquid dispensing assembly 12 is rocatafoiy mounted in the housing interior 8 of the liquid dispenser housing 2 according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. The liquid dispensing assembly 12 includes a dispensing shell 22 which may have a generally elongated, cylindrical shape. The dispensing shell 22 is capable of facilitating flow of a liquid from a liquid container 13 provided in the dispensing shell 22 to the exterior of the dispensing shell 22. In some embodiments, the dispensing shell 22 may be a liquid-absorbent material such as a sponge material, for example and without limitation. The dispensing shell 22 has a dispensing shell interior 23.

[24] As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the liquid container 13 is provided in the dispensing shell interior 23 of the dispensing shell 22. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the liquid container 13 has a liquid container wall 14 which may have a generally elongated, cylindrical shape. End walls 14a are provided at respective ends of the liquid container wall 14. The liquid container wall 14 and the end walls 14 a define a liquid container interior 15 which is adapted to contain a supply of liquid (not illustrated) such as paint, for example and without limitation. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a tab cavity 19 may extend into each end wall 14a. As illustrated in FIG. 3, in some embodiments multiple undulations 16 and intervening channels 17 may be provided cdrcuτnferent.i.a^"J. Iy in the liquid container wall 14. The undulations 16 enhance the structural strength of the liquid container 13 while enabling use of a relatively light and thin material for the liquid container 13. Additionally, the undulations 16 facilitate even distribution of the liquid contents of the liquid container 13 on a surface during use of the system 1, which will be hereinafter described. As illustrated in FIG. 2, multiple perforations 18 extend through the liquid container wall 14, such as through the side portions of each undulation 16, for example, and communicate with the liquid container interior 15 for purposes, which will be hereinafter described.

[25] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a pair of end caps 26 is provided on the respective ends of the dispensing shell 22 and closes the dispensing shell interior 23 of the dispensing shell 22. Each end cap 26 has an end cap recess 27, which extends into the corresponding tab cavity 19 (FIG. 3) in the end wall 14a (FIG. 3) of the liquid container 13. Accordingly, the liquid dispensing assembly 12 can be rcrc.ata.bly mounted in the housing interior 8 of the liquid dispenser housing 2 by inserting the tabs 5 on the respective dispenser housing end plates 4 of the liquid dispenser housing 2 into the respective end cap recesses 27 in the end caps 26 of the liquid dispensing assembly 12. Alternative techniques, which are known by those skilled in the art may be used to rotatably mount the liquid dispensing assembly 12 in the housing interior 8 of the liquid dispenser housing 2.

[26] Referring next to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, the liquid dispensing assembly 12 of the roller liquid dispensing system 1 may be contained and sold in a package 30. The package 30 may be transparent plastic, for example, and may have a generally elongated, cylindrical configuration, which approximates the configuration of the liquid dispensing assembly 12. A package tab cavity 31 may extend from each end of the package 30, into the corresponding end cap recess 27 of the liquid dispensing assembly 12.

[27] In typical use of the system 1, the liquid container 13 of the liquid dispensing assembly 12 contains a liquid (not illustrated) such as paint or glue, for example and without limitation. Multiple liquid containers 13 may be pre-filled with the liquid and sold in packages 30 (FIGS. 6 and 7) . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the packages 30 may be a transparent or translucent material, in which case the liquid may be a paint of selected color inside the liquid container 13 and may be visible through the package 30. This would aid in selection of a liquid container 13 having a particular color.

[28] The liquid container 13 is removed from the package 30 and placed in the housing interior 8 (FIG. 5) of the liquid dispensing housing 2. Accordingly, in some embodiments the tabs 5 of the dispensing housing end plates 4 extend into the respective end cap recesses 27 in the respective end caps 26 of the liquid dispensing assembly 12. Therefore, the liquid dispensing assembly 12 is capable of freely rotating in the housing interior 8. As the handle 9 is grasped by a user (not illustrated) , the dispensing shell 22 of the liquid dispensing assembly 12 is pressed and rolled against a surface (not illustrated) , on which the liquid is to be applied. The dispensing shell 22 may be rolled in a back.-and- forth motion against the surface to ensure uniform application of the liquid to the surface. Accordingly, centrifugal force acts upon the liquid in the liquid container interior 15 (FIG. 2) of the liquid container 13, pulling the liquid outwardly through the perforations 18 (FIG. 2) in the liquid container wall 14 of the liquid container 13 and through the dispensing shell 22 of the liquid dispensing assembly 12. The dispensing shell 22 contacts the surface and applies the liquid to the surface as it is rolled against the surface. The liquid is substantially uniformly distributed inside and outside the liquid container 13. The undulations 16 and channels 17 in the liquid container 13 facilitate substantially uniform application of the liquid to the dispensing shell 22 and from the dispensing shell 22 to the surface of application. The dispensing shell 22 may be continually rolled against the surface of application until the supply of liquid is exhausted from the liquid container 13, at which time a replacement liquid dispensing assembly 12 may be placed in the housing interior 8 for continued application of the liquid to the surface.

[29] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims :

A roller liquid dispensing system, comprising:

A liquid dispenser housing having a housing interior; and

A liquid dispensing assembly rotstably mounted in said housing interior of said liquid dispenser housing.