Patent Application
20240216934
Provided are containers and related methods of use for a spraying apparatus. More particularly, containers are provided for use with fluid spraying devices including, for example, spray guns and spray head assemblies.
Handheld spray guns are commonly used in a variety of commercial and industrial applications, including for example automotive refinishing. Such spray guns can be used with any of a number of coating media, including primers, paints, clearcoat, slurries, fine powders, and other fluid media capable of being atomized and directed through a spray nozzle onto a substrate. Applications for spray guns include painting and texturizing architectural surfaces such as walls and ceilings, as well as painting and body repair for marine and automotive exteriors.
Spray guns usually have a reusable gun platform connected with a compressed air source and liquid pipeline in communication with a spray nozzle. The air and liquid are generally directed into a flow channel, where the air atomizes the liquid into fine droplets that are propelled out of the nozzle. Some spray gun setups, including some used in automotive and industrial refinishing applications, have fluid reservoirs that use disposable collapsible liners that are received in rigid containers called paint cups. Commonly, these reservoirs also employ disposable lids and a corresponding retaining collar that releasably couples the lid to the rigid container. Advantageously, the liner and lid collectively protect the non-disposable components from becoming exposed to the paint, or other fluid, to be dispensed. After use, the liner and lid can be removed together from the rigid paint cup and discarded. These configurations are used, for example, in the PPS brand Paint Preparation System and HG ACCUSPRAY brand System (3M Company, St. Paul, MN).
The fluid containers used in spray gun systems can vary substantially in volumetric capacity depending on the application at hand. While handheld spray guns typically use fluid containers ranging in size from 6 to 28 fluid ounces, bulk spray applications often involve containers that are considerably larger. Use of a large fluid container can help minimize waste associated with fluid transfer and cleanup procedures for large scale applications.
One of the technical problems associated with large volume containers relates to the handling and storage of the container contents. Following a spraying operation, fluid remaining in the container is usually transferred or stored by removing a retaining collar from the rigid outer cup, then lifting out the disposable lid and liner together along with the fluid. The lid and liner themselves are either not attached or attached to each other by a relatively weak interference fit. If the amount of fluid in the container is substantial, then the lid has a tendency to spontaneously detach from the liner and cause spillage of the fluid contents. This problem is exacerbated when dealing with modern, high-solids coating fluids for low volatile organic compound (or “VOC”) applications, which can put a significant strain on the coupling between the lid and liner.
The problem also extends to storage of the container contents between spraying operations. Even after the lid and liner are removed from the cup, the coupling between these components may not be sufficient to withstand the positive pressure therein, resulting in fluid leakage. Such pressurization can be induced by any of a number of factors. For example, volatility of the fluid contents can lead to an expansion of the gases within the liner/lid, creating positive pressure over time and rupturing the seal between the lid and liner. Nominal increases in temperature can also lead to such positive pressure.
The containers, assemblies, and related methods described herein overcome the foregoing technical difficulties and provide substantial time-savings and other conveniences for the spray gun operator.
In one aspect, a liner for a fluid container is provided. The liner comprises: a side wall defining a fluid-containing portion and an open end; a flange extending outwardly from the side wall; and a latching member coupled to the flange, the latching member comprising a retaining feature for releasably coupling the side wall to a lid compatible with the liner.
In another aspect, a fluid container for a spraying apparatus is provided, comprising: a lid having a fluid outlet adapted to couple the lid to the spraying apparatus; and a liner that collapses as a fluid contained within the liner is withdrawn from the container, wherein either the liner or lid comprises a latch that releasably couples the liner and the lid to each other.
In still another aspect, a method of storing a fluid in a container is provided. The method comprises: transferring the fluid into a collapsible liner; placing the liner at least partially within a rigid cup; at least partially covering an open end of the liner with a lid; and moving a latching member of either the liner or the lid from a first position where the liner and lid are separable to a second position where the liner and lid are secured to each other.
The above summary is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation of the fluid containers described herein. Rather, a more complete understanding of the invention will become apparent and appreciated by reference to the following Detailed Description and Claims along with accompanying figures of the drawings.
As used herein:
As used herein, the terms “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments described herein that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred, under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the invention.
As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a” or “the” component may include one or more of the components and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Further, the term “and/or” means one or all of the listed elements or a combination of any two or more of the listed elements.
It is noted that the term “comprises” and variations thereof do not have a limiting meaning where these terms appear in the accompanying description. Moreover, “a.” “an,” “the,” “at least one,” and “one or more” are used interchangeably herein.
Relative terms such as left, right, forward, rearward, top, bottom, side, upper, lower, horizontal, vertical, and the like may be used herein and, if so, are from the perspective observed in the particular figure. These terms are used only to simplify the description, however, and not to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “certain embodiments,” “one or more embodiments” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrases such as “in one or more embodiments,” “in certain embodiments,” “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment of the invention.
A fluid container according to one exemplary embodiment is shown in
Referring to
In some embodiments, the fluid container 100 is operatively coupled to an integrated nozzle assembly that includes a fluid inlet releasably coupled to the fluid container 100. Preferably, the integrated nozzle assembly is disposable, as described in PCT Application No. WO 2010/085801 (Escoto, et al.). Advantageously, such a configuration directs the fluid through the nozzle assembly while minimizing or avoiding altogether fluid contact with the spray gun platform, thereby reducing the need for the operator to clean the spray gun platform.
As shown, the fluid container 100 includes a rigid outer cup 102, a lid 104, and an outer collar 106. In the illustration, the cup 102 has a bottom wall 103 and a cylindrical side wall 105 (symmetrical about longitudinal axis 109) that collectively define an open end 107 (visible in
In the particular embodiment shown, the cup 102 has a threaded screw-type connection with the outer collar 106, allowing the outer collar 106 to be securely tightened against the cup 102 by clockwise rotation. The lid 104 is disposed between the open end 107 of the cup 102 and the outer collar 106 of the lid 104, allowing a fluid-tight seal to be formed between the lid 104 and a liner 108 (not visible in
In some embodiments, the bottom wall of the cup 102 is omitted, with the cup 102 instead having two open ends that are diametrically opposed to each other. Such a configuration could be useful, for example, in cases where the cup 102 is not normally pressurized during a spraying operation.
Optionally and as shown, the cup 102 is either transparent or translucent and has horizontal volumetric markings or other visual indicia to assist the operator in measuring the quantities of fluid received in the fluid container 100. If desired, such indicia could be provided on a translucent or transparent indicating sheet that is inserted into the cup 102 along the inner surface of the side wall 105. Alternatively, the indicating sheet could be wrapped around the outer surface of the side wall 105. The cup 102 itself is preferably made from a rigid material, such as a clarified polypropylene, and has a wall thickness sufficient to prevent the cup 102 from changing shape when filled and/or pressurized.
The lid 104 includes a fluid outlet 101 adapted for connecting the fluid container 100 to the fluid adapter 56, which is in turn adapted for coupling to a spraying apparatus such as the spray gun platform 52. In high volume applications where large volumes of fluid are involved, the fluid outlet 101 may instead be adapted for releasable connection to a high pressure fluid line.
During storage, the coating fluid is normally contained in the enclosed or semi-enclosed space provided between the lid 104 and the liner 108. Optionally and as shown, the liner 108 has a size and shape generally conforming to the inner surfaces of the bottom wall 103 and side wall 105 of the cup 102. Similar to the cup 102, and as illustrated in
The liner 108 additionally includes a flange 114 that extends outwardly from the side wall 112 along a plane perpendicular to the axis 109. When the container 100 is assembled, the flange 114 of the liner 108 resides between, and flatly engages, both the lid 104 and a terminal edge 116 of the side wall 105 of the cup 102. Particular options and advantages associated with the use of a lined fluid reservoir such as container 100 are described in detail in PCT Publication No. WO 98/32539 (Joseph, et al.).
It is to be understood that the shapes and sizes of the foregoing components in the illustrations are merely exemplary and alternative constructions are possible. For example, the cup 102, lid 104, and liner 108 could also have a generally rectangular or elliptical cross-section, so long as the functionality of the container 100 is preserved.
As further shown in
In still other embodiments, the container 100 includes only the lid 104 and the liner 108, with both the cup 102 and the frame member 228 omitted. Such a configuration could be advantageously used in cases where there is essentially no pressurization of the fluid needed to transfer the fluid from the container 100 to the atomizer in the nozzle assembly 54.
The pair of latches 120 are further described with reference to
In the closed position shown in
In the latch embodiments described herein, the tab 122 provides a first surface that can be brought to bear against a second, opposing surface located on the lid 104. In the example of
Preferably, the latching members that comprise the latches 120, particularly the tabs 122, hinges 121, and protrusions 124, have a suitable configuration, size and material strength whereby the liner 108 can be filled to its capacity with a high solids, low VOC fluid and then suspended securely from the lid 104 without risk of detachment and/or leakage. In some embodiments, the liner 108 has a fluid capacity of at least about 830 milliliters (28 fluid ounces), at least about 1180 milliliters (40 fluid ounces), or at least about 1900 milliliters (64 fluid ounces). In some embodiments, the liner 108 has a fluid capacity of at most about 1000 milliliters (34 fluid ounces), at most about 1900 milliliters (64 fluid ounces), or at most about 2400 milliliters (80 fluid ounces).
Generally, the liner 108 has relatively thin walls that enable the liner 108 to collapse under positive external pressure and/or negative internal pressure as its fluid contents are withdrawn and dispensed from the spraying apparatus. It is also preferable, however, that the liner 108 has sufficient structural rigidity to stand entirely self-supported on a horizontal surface to allow an operator to pour a fluid into its open end 130 without deforming its shape. Alternatively, the liner 108 could be configured to deform to, for example, increase its fluid capacity for the application at hand.
The lid 104 preferably has a configuration that is compatible with that of the liner 108.
In some embodiments, the latch 120 includes a camming member that operates to pry the liner 108 and the lid 104 apart from each other as the latch 120 pivots from its closed position to its open position. This can be especially advantageous when there is resistance to separating the lid 104 from the liner 108, as may be the case if there is an interference fit between these components. As another possibility, the tabs 122 can act as an anchor points (that may be pinched between thumb and forefinger, for example) for facilitating release of the lid 108 from the liner 108 when there is a tight engagement between these components. The existence of these anchor points can allow a user to hold the liner 108 during separation of the liner 108 from the lid 104 without deforming the liner 108 and potentially spilling its contents.
As shown in subsequent figures, the latches and latching members can implement various types of retaining features.
In some embodiments, the opposing surfaces 240, 242 on the lid 204 and liner 208 include features having undercuts that provide at least some degree of mechanical retention between these opposing surface 240, 242 along directions normal to the mating surfaces. Such undercuts could be provided by either microreplicated or non-microreplicated surfaces. One such microreplicated surface, characterized by mushroom-type hooks, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,375 (Miller, et al.). In other embodiments, the opposing surfaces 240, 242 may be asymmetric. For example, the opposing surfaces 240, 242 could engage each other using a hook-and-loop mechanism, such as described in European Patent No. EP 0258015 (Ott, et al.).
Yet another possibility is to provide a latch with a tabbed configuration similar to those in latches 220, 320, but using a hook and loop mechanism to secure the tab to the lid. For example, the tab could include a multiplicity of tiny hooks, while a mating surface on the lid includes a multiplicity of tiny loops that interlock and fasten these surfaces together.
In general, the latches 220, 320 can be released by grasping the distal edge of the tab 222, 322 and gently peeling it away from its opposing surface on the lid 204, 304. In some embodiments, the latch 220, 320 can use microreplicated surfaces, a hook and loop mechanism, or adhesive that is engineered to have a peel bond strength significantly lower than its shear bond strength. This feature can help preserve reliable retention of the lid 204, 304 on the liner 208, 308 under normal operating conditions (which subject the latch 220, 320 to shearing forces) while facilitating peel removal of the tab 222, 322 upon demand.
Use of microreplicated patterns and adhesives need not be exclusive or independent of each other. For example, the opposing surfaces on the tabs 322 and lid 304 could optionally have interlocking microreplicated features, like the latches 220 in the container 200. In some embodiments, one or more latches could use a pressure sensitive adhesive that is itself formed into a microreplicated pattern, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,215 (Mazurek, et al.). Advantageously, the combination of the pressure sensitive adhesive 342 and interlocking microreplicated features could further enhance the retention between the lid 304 and the liner 308, while retaining the ability to easily release the latch 320.
Further aspects of the containers 200, 300 are essentially analogous to those already described with respect to the container 100 and shall not be discussed here.
As another option, the flange 414 of the liner 408 could have registered receptacles (not shown) that engage with the penetrating features 460 when the latch 420 is engaged. The receptacles could be sized to facilitate mutual engagement and disengagement of the lid 404 and the liner 408. Optionally, the receptacles could be disposed in a resilient polymeric material that elastically expands and contracts to facilitate passage of the penetrating features 460 without permanent damage to the flange 414 of the liner 408. As a time-saving feature, the penetrating features 460 could have a configuration whereby the act of securing the outer collar to the rigid cup (for example, by screwing the outer collar onto the cup) induces the latch 420 to assume its closed position by urging the lid 404 towards the liner 408.
It is noted that the penetrating features 460 are distinguishable from features of prior art embodiments because the penetrating features 460 pierce the flange 414 to secure the liner 408 and lid 404 to each other in a reversible manner (e.g. if desired, the penetrating features 460 can be subsequently plucked out of their openings in the flange 414 to remove the lid 404). To avoid interference between the penetrating features 460 and the rim of an outer cup surrounding the liner 408, the rim of the outer cup could include an annular groove that receives the penetrating features 460 when the flange 414 of the liner 408 is compressively secured between the lid 404 and the outer cup.
Yet another embodiment is illustrated in
As shown, the latch 520 includes a tab 522 that is coupled to the side wall 512 by a hinge 521 represented by a strip of material with a reduced cross-sectional thickness to facilitate pivoting of the tab 522 relative to the side wall 512. The tab 522 has a generally flat body 568 and a terminal end 570 optionally provided with a friction enhancing texture 572 to assist an operator in grasping the tab 522 between thumb and forefinger without slippage when securing and releasing the latch 520. Located between the body 568 and the terminal end 570 is a clasping feature 574 that has an undercut configuration enabling the clasping feature 570 to extend over the outer edges of the lid 504 when the latch 520 is in its closed position.
To retain the tab 522 in its closed position, in which the latch 520 secures the lid 504 and liner 508 to each other, the side wall 512 of the liner 508 further includes a pair of flexible clips 576. The flexible clips 576 are resilient, clasp-like stubs that project outwardly from the cylindrical side wall 512 and include terminal hooks 578 pointing inwardly toward each other. The hooks 578 engage the lateral sides of the body 568 of the tab 522 in an interference fit when the latch 520 is in its closed position (not shown). Advantageously, the flexible clips 576 allow the latch 520 to be maintained in its closed position even when the tab 522, owing to its resilience, has a bias for springing back toward its open position, shown in
Optionally and as shown, there is a recess 582 in the peripheral edge of the lid 504 to accommodate the tab 522 when the latch 520 is in its closed position. In the depicted embodiment, the recess 582 matingly engages the clasping feature 574 of the tab 522 to help provide a secure coupling. Such a recess may also be present in any of the earlier described lid embodiments to provide sufficient clearance for the hinging of the tab. If so desired, this portion of the tab 522 can be received in the recess 582 such that the tab 522 is flush against the adjacent portion of the lid 504 when the latch 520 is closed, thereby decreasing the overall profile of the latch 520 and minimizing interference between the latch 520 and outer collar (if present).
If an outer collar is present in the embodiment of
In the aforementioned embodiments, it can be advantageous for the lid, liner, or both to be provided as disposable parts of a spray gun assembly, since these components contact the contents of the container. The cup and collar, which do not normally contact the contents of the container, can be reused. To provide even greater time savings to the end user, the manufacturer could also pre-fill the lid/liner assembly with a fluid to be dispensed, thus allowing an operator to conveniently drop the pre-filled assembly into an outer cup, secure the cup assembly with an outer collar, and then mount it to a suitable spray gun platform.
Any of these components can be manufactured from plastic using any of a number of processing methods known in the art. For example, either or both of the lid and liner can be injection molded in part or in whole. In the embodiment of
In one preferred method of making, the liner is provided by a thermoforming method where the a plastic sheet is heated to a pliable forming temperature, urged against either a positive or negative mold to form the sheet to the desired shape, and then trimmed to create the final product. This process enables the flange and latch to be made integral with the liner. In a preferred embodiment, the tabs of a latch are coplanar extensions of a flange of the liner which are shaped by the molding step or, alternatively, created when the liner is trimmed. The hinge component of a latch may be provided, for example, by thermoforming the liner to include a thin webbing between an outwardly extending tab and a cylindrical side wall.
The aforementioned fluid containers are especially useful in high volume industrial painting applications. The containers facilitate the storage of leftover coating fluids as well as switching out pre-filled fluid containers between spraying operations to reduce or eliminate the lag time associated with repeatedly refilling a lined paint reservoir. The ability to secure the lid and liner of a container for long term storage also creates the possibility of maintaining an inventory of paints that can be rapidly dispensed and exchanged in a series of spraying applications.
In an exemplary method of storing a fluid in a container, an operator can transfer the paint (or some other fluid) into a collapsible liner, place the liner within a rigid cup or frame member, then use a latching member located on either the liner or the lid to fasten the liner and lid to each other, as described above. If desired, the liner can then be further secured to the lid by with the assistance of a collar, buckle, or other fastening mechanism as described earlier. If a fluid outlet is built into the lid (as in the embodiments above), a separate cap can be used to seal this opening prior to long term storage of the fluid container and its contents.
Advantageously, if the liner is self-supporting, the paint transfer step can occur either before or after the placement of the liner in the cup or frame member. Further, it is contemplated that the fluid container may not require the assistance of an additional fastening mechanism where the latch or latches maintain and/or enhance the fluid-tight seal between the liner and lid of the container.
As a general remark, the latching members described above can be easily reversed without disrupting their function. For example, the pivotal tab component of a given latch can be provided on either on the liner or the lid of the fluid container. As another example, the protrusions and receptacles situated on the surfaces of the lid and tab, respectively, may be reversed such that the protrusion is located on the tab while the receptacle is located on the lid.
The latch or latches between the lid and liner could assume various combinations of the above retaining features and mechanisms (e.g, protrusions, undercuts, adhesives, etc.). Moreover, the disclosed retaining features may be mixed and matched with mating surfaces in a manner not expressly shown in the figures. For example, the latch or latches could operate based on a PSA that adheres the flange of a liner to an opposing surface on a lid, or penetrating features could be disposed on respective surfaces of a tab hingedly coupled to the liner.
In the spirit of the aforementioned description, the invention can be further exemplified by one or more of following enumerated embodiments (A-AQ):
All patents and patent applications mentioned above are hereby expressly incorporated by reference. Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the method and apparatus of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention include modifications and variations that are within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/072,617, filed Nov. 30, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/091,034, filed Nov. 6, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/101,439, filed Jun. 3, 2016, which is a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 of PCT/US2014/067058, filed Nov. 24, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/912,038, filed Dec. 5, 2013, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61912038 | Dec 2013 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 18072617 | Nov 2022 | US |
| Child | 18605562 | US | |
| Parent | 17091034 | Nov 2020 | US |
| Child | 18072617 | US | |
| Parent | 15101439 | Jun 2016 | US |
| Child | 17091034 | US |
