Claims
- 1. A mechanical actuator for an airless paint sprayer having a pump housing coupled to an electrical housing, the electrical housing including a switch and a motor, the mechanical actuator comprising:a first portion positioned in the vicinity of an exterior of the pump housing; and a second portion that extends into the pump housing, said second portion configured to engage the switch in the electrical housing to operate the motor.
- 2. The mechanical actuator of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions are configured to maintain the pump housing and electrical housing in fluid isolation such that fluid is deterred from entering the electrical housing through the pump housing.
- 3. The mechanical actuator of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the actuator comprises a button that is movable by a user and the second portion comprises an arm that is movable in concert with the button.
- 4. The mechanical actuator of claim 3, further comprising a pivot bar positioned between the button and the arm, with the pivot bar being configured to be pivotally positioned in a paint sprayer and the actuator pivots about the pivot bar such that the button moves in concert with the arm.
- 5. An airless paint sprayer for spraying a fluid comprising: a main housing that comprises:an electrical housing having a motor and a switch; and a pump housing comprising a pump and a fluid passage, with the pump being configured to pump a fluid through the fluid passage and the motor configured to operate the pump; a handle coupled to the main housing; a paint cup coupled to the handle for the storage of a fluid, said paint cup being in communication with the fluid passage; and the mechanical actuator of claim 1, wherein the mechanical actuator is coupled to the pump housing for operating the motor.
- 6. The paint sprayer of claim 5, wherein the handle is positioned between the main housing and the paint cup and is attached to the pump housing, with the pump housing being fluidly isolated from the electrical housing so that fluid is deterred from entering the electrical housing through the pump housing.
- 7. The paint sprayer of claim 5, wherein the handle comprises an elongated member having a top end and a bottom end, said elongated member having a generally rectangular cross-section at the top end and a generally circular cross-section at the bottom end, with a first transition zone positioned between the top and bottom ends where the cross-section transitions from the generally rectangular cross-section to the generally circular cross-section.
- 8. The paint sprayer of claim 5, wherein the first portion of the actuator comprises a button that is movable by a user and the second portion comprises an arm that is movable in concert with the button.
- 9. The paint sprayer of claim 5, wherein the switch comprises a microswitch.
- 10. The paint sprayer of claim 5, further comprising a seal coupled to the switch for deterring the passage of fluid between the pump housing and the electrical housing in the vicinity of the switch.
- 11. A mechanical actuator for an airless paint sprayer having a pump housing, an electrical housing, and a handle, with the pump housing coupled to the electrical housing and the electrical housing comprising a motor and a switch, the mechanical actuator comprising:a first portion positioned outside the pump and electrical housings; and a second portion having a first end and a second end, with the first end coupled to the first portion and the second end extending into the pump housing for communication with the switch of the electrical housing, wherein the first portion is movable from a first position to a second position and the first and second portions are coupled such that movement of the first portion moves the second portion from a first position to a second position in the pump housing, and the second portion engages the electrical switch of the electrical housing when in the second position to activate the motor.
- 12. The mechanical actuator of claim 11, wherein the first portion is a button and the second portion is an arm.
- 13. The mechanical actuator of claim 12, further comprising a pivot bar positioned between the button and a first end of the arm, the pivot bar being configured to be pivotally positioned in a slot in an airless paint sprayer, wherein the mechanical actuator pivots around the pivot bar such that the button moves from its first position to its second position and the arm moves from its first position to its second position.
- 14. The mechanical actuator of claim 12, wherein the button is positioned adjacent the handle such that when a user grips the handle, the users' hand engages the button.
- 15. A mechanical actuator for an airless paint sprayer having a pump housing coupled to an electrical housing, with the pump housing including at least one fluid passage and the electrical housing including at least one electrical component, said mechanical actuator comprising:a member extending through the pump housing and being in communication with the electrical housing, said member being configured to provide fluid isolation of the at least one fluid passage of the pump housing from the at least one electrical component of the electrical housing, wherein the member is actuatable by a user to operate the at least one electrical component.
- 16. The mechanical actuator of claim 15, wherein the member comprises a first portion positioned outside the pump and electrical housings and a second portion that extends through the pump housing to the electrical housing, said member being movable from a first position wherein the at least one electrical component is not activated to a second position wherein the at least one electrical component is activated.
Parent Case Info
Cross-Reference to Related Application
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/192,470, filed Jul. 10, 2002, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (48)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Web page for PS 2001 Power Sprayer and Product Fact Sheet. |