Patent Application
20150129685
The invention relates generally to a handle for spray guns for applying fluids, by way of example and not limitation, such as paints, and more particularly concerns a handle providing ergonomic characteristics to reduce the user stress and fatigue from supporting the weight of the spray gun.
When loaded with a fluid to be supplied, by way of example and not limitation, such as paint, a spray gun is heavy and can be difficult to properly maneuver when applying fluid onto surfaces to be coated. Known spray gun handles do not contain ergonomic features that allow the user to support the weight of the sprayer through multiple contact and support points. The lack of this feature can cause excessive tension and stress on the hand and arm of the operator of the spray gun. Repetitive stress is thus placed on specific areas of the operators hand and arm because the grip design of the spray gun does not adequately allow for the operator to balance the weight of the fluid reservoir when moving the sprayer around. Examples of various configurations of known spray gun handles can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,129; U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,156; U.S. Pat. No. D661,964; U.S. Pat. No. D285,749; U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,046; U.S. Published Application No. 2003/0042333. While each of these examples appears suitable for its intended purpose as a fluid applicator sprayer, the configurations disclosed do not contain the features that allow for better control and reduced stress and fatigue on the operator. The problem with traditional fluid applicator sprayer handles is that the top heavy fluid reservoir can become unwieldy to the operator and cause discomfort for the operator when used for extended periods of time.
The present invention is directed to a device that satisfies the need of the fluid applicator sprayer operator to have a handle that ergonomically conforms to the hand of the operator to reduce stress and strain placed on the operator with a standard handle assembly. When using the fluid applicator sprayer the operator can reduce the stress and strain placed on the arm and hand by having additional, strategically placed points of contact to help better support the sprayer. In each configuration of the present invention, the placement of these points of contact is outlined to provide support to differing portions of the hand of an operator. The placement of each of the supports corresponds with the differing types of stress and fatigue that the operator can encounter while using the fluid applicator sprayer.
In one configuration, the sprayer handle extends from the fluid applicator sprayer to form an elongated body portion with a convex shape form. The body can have a proximal and distal end with the proximal end connecting to the sprayer. The convex outer portion of the elongated body is shaped in a manner to conform to the hand of an operator. This ergonomic shape allows the operator to comfortably grip the handle and distribute the weight evenly across the entire hand and reduce the stress placed on the hand with traditional shaped handles. This type of fluid applicator sprayer handle can be installed onto the fluid applicator sprayer at the time of production, or can be provided as an after market product to attach over a convention fluid applicator sprayer handle.
A fluid applicator sprayer handle can include a first support shoulder extending laterally from the elongated body. The first support shoulder can have a first proximal surface and a first distal surface. The first support shoulder can be located spaced from the proximal end of the elongated body. The first proximal surface can be shaped in a manner to support a thumb of an operator, in either a right hand or left hand version, to grip the handle, and can reduce the potential for tipping of the fluid reservoir either toward or away from the operator. This reduction in potential for tipping of the fluid reservoir can reduce the tension and fatigue placed on the operator when using the fluid applicator sprayer.
The fluid applicator sprayer handle can include a second support shoulder extending laterally from the elongated body opposite the first support shoulder. The second support shoulder can have a second proximal surface and a second distal surface and can be located closer to the proximal end of the elongated body than the first support shoulder. The second distal surface of the second support shoulder can be shaped in a manner to be supported by an index finger of an operator, in either a right hand or left hand version of the handle. The second support shoulder can reduce the potential for tipping of the fluid reservoir either toward or away from the operator and make the sprayer more comfortable to use.
The fluid applicator sprayer handle can include a third support shoulder extending laterally from the elongated body. The third support shoulder can have a third proximal surface and a third distal surface and can be located closer to the distal end of the elongated body. The third support shoulder can be located on the same side as the second support shoulder. The third proximal surface of the third support shoulder can be shaped in a manner to be in supporting contact with a pinky finger of the operator, in either a right hand or left hand version of the handle. The third support shoulder can reduce the potential for tipping of the reservoir either toward or away from the operator and make the sprayer more comfortable to use.
The fluid applicator sprayer handle can include a set of channels located on the elongated body for accommodating individual fingers of the operator in a pistol grip fashion. These channels can allow for the operator to grip the handle in a more secure and comfortable manner.
The fluid applicator sprayer handle can be manufactured to allow the handle to be attachable and removable from an existing sprayer handle by being formed with an interior surface conforming to an external surface of an existing handle of a fluid applicator sprayer. The sprayer handle can include an internal aperture extending from the proximal end to the distal end allowing for the handle to be overlaid in a manner sheathing at least a portion of the exterior surface of the existing handle of a fluid applicator sprayer.
The fluid applicator sprayer handle can be removable in nature by being formed in a manner that conforms to the existing handle of a fluid applicator sprayer. The handle assembly would have a base portion at the proximal end with two longitudinally extending side portions. The two longitudinally extending side portions would form the convex external gripping section for the operator. The two longitudinally extending side portions would also form an internal aperture that would be placed around the outside of the existing sprayer handle. The base portion would have a port for an air hose to connect to the fluid applicator sprayer.
A fluid applicator sprayer handle can be split into two opposite halves that can then be connected around an existing fluid applicator sprayer handle via a fastener. This embodiment will allow for the sprayer handle to be retrofitted onto an existing fluid applicator sprayer that does not contain ergonomic features. By way of example and not limitation, a fluid applicator sprayer handle can be made from a hard molded polymer or from a hard metal.
The ergonomic handle assembly can be incorporated into spray guns with a top loading reservoir along with other known reservoir configurations. Other applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the following description of one mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
The following description is of one presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention of an ergonomic handle assembly for use on a spray gun. The handle assembly of the present invention can be configured for right or left hand use and multiple varieties of spray guns with various fluid reservoirs. It should be noted that the attached illustrations are for a right hand version of the ergonomic handle. It should be recognized by those skilled in the art that a left hand version of the ergonomic handle would be a mirror image of the attached illustrations. It should be recognized by those skilled in the art that a fluid applicator spray gun can be used for a wide variety of fluid material applications. By way of example and not limitation, materials applied by a fluid applicator spay gun can include paint, powder, fiber glass, resin, gel coat, adhesives, sealers, fillers, foam, insulation, coatings for protection against oxidation or scratches, solvents, cleaning solutions, and any combination thereof.
Referring now to
A first support shoulder 22 can extend transversely from the elongated body 14 and can be located nearer to the proximal end 16 of the elongated body 14 than the distal end 18. The first support shoulder 22 can have a proximal transverse surface 24 and a distal transverse surface 26. The first support shoulder 22 can accommodate and provide a support surface with respect to a thumb of an operator on the proximal transverse surface 24. A thumb of an operator can be placed on the proximal transverse surface 24 of the first support shoulder 22 in order to provide the operator with greater control of the spray gun 10 and deter or prevent tipping of the spray gun 10 toward the operator.
A second support shoulder 28 can extend laterally from the elongated body 14 and can be located on an opposite side with respect to the first support shoulder 22 in a position closer to the proximal end 16 of the elongated body 14 than the first support shoulder 22. The second support shoulder 28 can have a proximal lateral surface 30 and a distal lateral surface 32. The second support shoulder 28 can accommodate and provide a support surface with respect to an index finger of an operator on the distal lateral surface 32. The second support shoulder 28 can allow an operator to better distribute the weight of the spray gun assembly 10 to deter or prevent tipping of the spray gun 10 away from the operator.
A third support shoulder 34 can extend laterally from the elongated body 14. The third support shoulder 34 can be located nearer to the distal end 18 of the elongated body 14 than the proximal end 16 and can be oriented on the same side of the elongated body 14 as the second support shoulder 22. The third support shoulder 34 can have a proximal surface 36 and a distal surface 38. The proximal surface 36 on the third support shoulder 34 can accommodate and provide a support surface with respect to a pinky finger of an operator. The third support shoulder 34 can allow an operator to support additional weight of the fluid applicator spray gun 10 and deter or prevent the spray gun 10 from tipping toward the operator.
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A first support shoulder 22 can extend transversely outward from the first longitudinally extending side portion 48 and can be located nearer to the proximal end 16 of the elongated body 14 than the distal end 18. The first support shoulder 22 can have a proximal transverse surface 24 and a distal transverse surface 26. The first support shoulder 22 can accommodate and provide a support surface with respect to a thumb finger of an operator on the proximal transverse surface 24. A thumb of an operator can be placed on the proximal transverse surface 24 of the first support shoulder 22 in order to provide an operator with greater control of the spray gun 10 and to deter or prevent tipping of the spray gun 10 toward the operator.
A second support shoulder 28 can extend laterally outward from the second longitudinally extending side portion 50. The second support shoulder 28 can have a proximal lateral surface 30 and a distal lateral surface 32 and can be located on an opposite side of the handle with respect to the first support shoulder 22 in a position closer to the proximal end 16 of the elongated body 14 than the first support shoulder 22. The second support shoulder 28 can accommodate and provide a support surface with respect to an index finger of an operator on the distal lateral surface 32. The second support shoulder 28 can improve distribution of the weight of the sprayer assembly over a larger surface area of a hand of an operator and can assist to deter or prevent the tipping of the fluid applicator spray gun assembly away from the operator.
A third support shoulder 34 can extend laterally outward from the second longitudinally extending side portion 50. The third support shoulder 34 can be located nearer to the distal end 18 of the elongated body 14 than the proximal end 16 and can be oriented on the same side of the elongated body 14 as the second support shoulder 28. The third support shoulder 34 can have a proximal surface 36 and a distal surface 38. The proximal surface 36 of the third support shoulder 34 can accommodate and provide a support surface with respect to a pinky finger of an operator. The third support shoulder 34 can provide additional support for distribution of the weight of the fluid applicator sprayer over a greater area in three dimensions with respect to a hand of an operator and can help deter or prevent a fluid applicator spray gun from tipping toward the operator.
It should be recognized that a combination of any of the first, second and third shoulders 22, 28, 32 can provide increased support surface area in three dimensions with respect to a hand of an operator supporting the fluid applicator spray gun 10 by distributing weight across both the palm and fingers through the proximal support surface of the first support shoulder 22, the distal support surface of the second support shoulder 28, and the proximal support surface of the third support shoulder 34. The increased support surface area can allow an operator to support and handle the fluid applicator spray gun 10 with reduced gripping force when compared to existing fluid applicator spray guns. The reduced gripping force required by the ergonomic handle to support and use the fluid applicator spray gun 10 can reduce the likelihood of repetitive stress syndrome injuries to the hand and arm of an operator.
Referring now to
A first support shoulder 22 can extend transversely outwardly from the first longitudinally extending side portion 48 and can be located nearer to the proximal end 16 of the elongated body 14 than the distal end 18. The first support shoulder 22 can have a proximal transverse surface 24 and a distal transverse surface 26. A thumb of an operator can be placed on the proximal transverse surface 24 of the first support shoulder 22 in order to provide the operator with greater control of the spray gun 10 and to deter or prevent tipping of the spray gun 10 toward the operator.
A second support shoulder 28 can extend laterally outwardly from the second longitudinally extending side portion 50. The second support shoulder 28 can have a proximal lateral surface 30 and a distal lateral surface 32 and can be located on an opposite side of the handle 12 with respect to the first support shoulder. The second support shoulder 28 can be in a position closer to the proximal end 16 of the elongated body 14 than the first support shoulder 22. The second support shoulder 28 can accommodate and provide a support surface with respect to an index finger of an operator on the distal lateral surface. The second support shoulder 28 can allow an operator to better distribute the weight of the sprayer assembly and prevent the tipping of the assembly away from the operator.
A third support shoulder 34 can extend laterally from the second longitudinally extending side portion. The third support shoulder 34 can be located nearer to the distal end of the elongated body and can be oriented on the same side of the elongated body as the second support shoulder. The third support shoulder 34 can have a proximal surface 36 and a distal surface 38. The proximal surface 36 defined on the third support shoulder 34 can accommodates the pinky finger of the operator. The third support shoulder 34 can allow for the operator to have additional support of the weight of the fluid applicator sprayer and prevent the sprayer from tipping towards the operator. The elongated body 14 can include at least one protruding tab 40a defining at least one groove 40b to accommodate at least one finger of the operator formed on at least one of the first and second longitudinally extending side portions. On the distal end of the elongated body 14, a port 44 can be provided to allow for the coupling of an air-hose to extend through.
Referring now to
While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.
