Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6698670
-
Patent Number
6,698,670
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, June 10, 200321 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 2, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Mancene; Gene
- Bui; Thach H
Agents
- Soltis; Lisa M.
- Croll; Mark W.
- Breh; Donald J.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 239 345
- 239 346
- 239 376
- 239 379
- 239 DIG 14
- 239 302
- 239 320
- 239 323
- 222 1465
- 222 189
- 222 158
- 222 570
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A cover-connector for covering and connecting a fluid supply container to a conduit is provided, wherein one of the container and the conduit has a male frustoconical connecting surface and the other one of said container and said conduit has a threaded connecting surface. The novel cover-connector comprises a conduit side with a conduit connecting region, a container side with a container connecting region, and a passageway between the connecting regions, wherein one of the connecting regions has a female frustoconical surface having an acute frustoconical angle complementary to the male frustoconical connecting surface for frictional connection therebetween, and wherein the other one of the connecting regions has a threaded portion complementary to the threaded connecting surface for threaded connecting therebetween.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to the connection between a fluid supply cup and an adapter for a fluid applicator, more particularly to the connection between a paint cup and an adapter for a paint sprayer.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, the connection between a fluid supply and a fluid applicator, such as a paint sprayer for automobile painting and repainting in body shops, is via an adapter between the fluid supply and the sprayer, such as with a threaded connection between a supply cup and the adapter. However, it is difficult to prevent leaking from threading connections without precision machining of the threads or the use of seals, particularly for threaded connections that have short lengths. Also, it is difficult to quickly engage and disengage a threaded supply cup and an adapter.
Attempts have been made to create a connection between a supply cup and an adapter that can be engaged and disengaged quickly and easily. U.S. Published Applications US 2003/0006311 and US 2002/0134861 disclose a connection between the paint cup and the adapter with several parts, including a bayonet type connection. However, the connections in these applications are unnecessarily complex and do not solve the problem of sealing between the supply cup and the adapter.
What is needed is a connection between a fluid supply cup and an adapter that can be engaged and disengaged quickly and easily, and that provides a strong, tight seal around the connection.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a cover-connector is provided for covering a fluid supply container and connecting the container to a conduit, wherein one of the container and the conduit has a male frustoconical connecting surface and the other one of the container and the conduit has a threaded connecting surface. The novel cover-connector comprises a conduit side with a conduit connecting region, a container side with a container connecting region, and a passageway between the connecting regions, wherein one of the connecting regions has a female frustoconical surface having an acute frustoconical angle complementary to the male frustoconical connecting surface for frictional connection therebetween, and wherein the other one of the connecting regions has a threaded portion complementary to the threaded connecting surface for threaded connecting therebetween.
In one embodiment, a novel cover-connector for covering and connecting a paint container to a male tapered hollow bore adapter for use with a paint sprayer includes a generally frustoconical cover having an axis and extending from a vertex region to an edge at an obtuse frustoconical angle facing toward the paint container when covering the paint container, a container connecting region with threads adjoining the cover edge and extending toward the paint container when covering the paint container, the threads being normal to the axis, a generally frustoconical female fitting integrally connected to the cover at the vertex region, the fitting extending from the cover generally axially opposite from the container connecting region for receiving the male tapered hollow bore adapter, the fitting being angled to open axially and radially outwardly at an acute angle from the axis to a distal fitting end generally defining a plane normal to the axis, the fitting being complementary to the adapter while providing for frictional engagement therebetween, a passageway between the container connecting region and the fitting, and a generally cylindrical support wall extending axially from the cover edge to a distal wall end in the plane, whereupon engagement of the threads with the paint container and the fitting with the adapter provides fluid communication between the paint container and the adapter.
Also in accordance with the present invention, a fluid supply assembly for use with a fluid applicator comprises a fluid container and a conduit, wherein one of the container and the conduit has a male frustoconical connecting surface and the other one of the cover and the conduit has a threaded connecting surface, and a cover-connector for covering the container and connecting the container to the conduit, the cover-connector including a conduit side with a conduit connecting region, a container side with a container connecting region, and a passageway between the connecting regions, wherein one of the connecting regions has a female frustoconical surface having an acute frustoconical angle complementary to the male frustoconical connecting surface for frictional connection therebetween and wherein the other one of the connecting regions has a threaded portion complementary to the threaded connecting surface for threaded connection therebetween.
Also in accordance with the present invention, a novel method of connecting a fluid container to a fluid applicator comprises the steps of providing a conduit in fluid communication with the fluid applicator, providing the container, wherein one of the container and the conduit has a male frustoconical connecting surface and the other one of the container and the conduit has a threaded connecting surface, providing a cover-connector having a conduit side with a conduit connecting region, a container side with a container connecting region, and a passageway between the connecting regions, wherein one of the connecting regions has a female frustoconical surface having an acute frustoconical angle complementary to the male frustoconical connecting surface, and wherein the other of the connecting regions has a threaded portion complementary to the threaded connecting surface, threadingly connecting the threaded portion and the threaded connecting surface, and engaging the male frustoconical connecting surface with the female frustoconical surface and rotating the male frustoconical connecting surface and the female frustoconical surface with respect to one another, for frictional connection therebetween.
These and other objects, features and advantages are evident from the following description of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a side elevation view of gravity-feed paint sprayer with a novel fluid supply assembly according to the present invention having friction fit tapered surfaces.
FIG. 2
is an exploded side sectional view of the fluid supply assembly of the present invention.
FIG. 3
is an assembled side sectional view of the fluid supply assembly of the present invention.
FIG. 4
is a side elevation view of an adapter of the fluid supply assembly of the present invention.
FIG. 5
is a perspective partial sectional view of the fluid supply assembly of the present invention.
FIG. 6
is an exploded side sectional view of a second embodiment of a fluid supply assembly according to the present invention.
FIG. 7
is an assembled side sectional view of the second embodiment of the fluid supply assembly of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referrng to
FIGS. 1
,
2
and
5
, a friction fit fluid supply assembly
10
,
10
b
for a fluid applicator
2
, is shown. The friction fit supply assembly
10
,
10
b
includes a cover-connector
14
,
14
b
for covering and connecting a fluid container
12
,
12
b
to a conduit, such as adapter
16
or a hollow bore channel
13
in fluid applicator
2
. One of the container
12
,
12
b
and the conduit has a male frustoconical connecting surface
62
,
44
b
, and the other has a threaded connecting surface, such as threads
28
on container
12
or threads
60
at channel
13
. The novel cover-connector
14
,
14
b
includes a conduit side
17
,
17
b
with a conduit connecting region
20
,
86
, a container side
15
,
15
b
with a container connecting region
80
,
80
b
, and a passageway between the conduit connecting region and the container connecting region, such as bore
24
b
, wherein one of the connecting regions has a female frustoconical surface
44
,
62
b
having an acute frustoconical angle complementary to the male fiustoconical connecting surface
62
,
44
b
for frictional connection therebetween, and wherein the other of the connecting regions has a threaded portion
30
,
58
b
complementary to the threaded connecting surface
28
,
60
for threaded connecting therebetween, whereupon frictional connection between the female frustoconical surface
44
,
62
b
and the male frustoconical surface
62
,
44
b
and threaded connection between the threaded portion and the threaded connecting surface provides for fluid communication between the container and the conduit.
The friction fit and engagement between cover-connector
14
and either container
12
b
or the conduit, such as adapter
16
, provides a strong seal preventing fluid from leaking, and is easy to engage and disengage allowing for easy assembly of fluid supply assembly
10
,
10
b.
In a preferred embodiment, fluid supply assembly
10
,
10
b
is for feeding liquid, such as paint, to a liquid applicator, such as a paint sprayer
2
; therefore the present invention will be described for a paint sprayer, such as a gravity feed paint sprayer for use in applying paint
1
to coat substrate surfaces. In one embodiment, paint sprayer
2
is used in the automotive refinishing market, such as automobile body shops, for repainting automobiles.
Although fluid supply assembly
10
is described herein for a paint sprayer, it alternatively can be used for supplying other flowable fluids, such as beverages, foods, condiments (such as ketchup), gasoline, petrochemicals and hydrocarbons, water, waterbased solutions, solvent-based solutions, emulsions, and adhesives. The container
12
, cover-connector
14
and adapter
16
must be compatible with the fluid being supplied and the fluid should flow from container
12
in a similar manner as paint from a paint container
12
.
A paint sprayer
2
is shown in FIG.
1
and includes a body
3
, a nozzle assembly
4
secured to a front end
5
of body
3
, and a handle
6
depending from a rear end
7
of body
3
. A trigger
8
is pivotally secured to body
3
for the manual actuation of sprayer
2
. A top mounted, gravity-feed paint container
12
is mounted to body
3
via cover-connector
14
and adapter
16
near front end
5
for feeding paint to nozzle assembly
4
. An air connector
9
is connected to an air hose (not shown) for the delivery of pressurized air to nozzle assembly
4
, wherein the delivery of pressurized air is controlled by trigger
8
.
Compressed air from air connector
9
is delivered through an internal passage (not shown) to nozzle assembly
4
and the compressed air acts to atomize paint and deliver it through nozzle assembly
4
to spray paint
1
about a spray axis
11
. Paint
1
is delivered to nozzle assembly
4
via gravity from paint container
12
. The level of paint
1
in paint container
12
must be higher than the sprayer connection channel
13
, or else paint
1
will not feed via gravity to the nozzle assembly
4
, a condition known as starvation.
FIGS. 1-5
show a first embodiment of a paint supply assembly
10
of the present invention. In the first embodiment, container
12
includes a cover-connector
14
for covering container
12
and connecting it to the conduit, wherein the conduit can be a tapered hollow bore adapter
16
for connecting cover-connector
14
to sprayer
2
. Cover-connector
14
shown in
FIG. 2
includes a conduit connecting region
20
comprising a fitting
34
at conduit side
17
and a container connecting region
80
at container side
15
. Conduit connecting region
20
includes a female frustoconical surface
44
for engaging with a complementary male frustoconical connecting surface
62
of adapter
16
. Frustoconical female surface
44
is angled radially outwardly at an acute angle from a cover axis
32
so that female frustoconical surface
44
of fitting
34
is complementary to tapered adapter
16
, providing for frictional connection therebetween. When cover-connector
14
is engaged with container
12
and when fitting
34
is engaged with adapter
16
, there is fluid communication between fluid container
12
and adapter
16
.
Container
12
includes an interior
18
for holding paint
1
and can be generally cylindrical in shape with an outlet end
26
for engaging with cover-connector
14
, such as with threading
28
on container
12
engageable with threading
30
on cover-connector
14
. Container
12
can have an interior volume of between about 8 fluid ounces and about 2.5 gallons, preferably between about 16 fluid ounces and about 2 liters, still more preferably about 1 liter. A one liter generally cylindrical container
12
has a length of about 4 inches and a diameter of about 6 inches. However, container
12
can have different proportions or geometry. Preferably, the size and shape of container
12
is conducive to the automobile refinishing industry so that sprayer
2
and paint container
12
are not unwieldy or overly heavy for an operator to handle.
Container
12
can be an unlined paint cup, as shown in
FIG. 4
, or container
12
can be lined (not shown) as disclosed in the commonly assigned, co-pending patent application Ser. No. 10/458,478 filed contemporaneously herewith, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Preferably, container
12
is made from a translucent material so that the level of paint
1
can be seen through container
12
. Both container
12
and cover-connector
14
should also be relatively durable and resistant to collapsing, be made from a relatively inexpensive material and be inexpensive to manufacture so that container
12
and cover-connector
14
can be disposable if desired, and be made from a material that is substantially unreactive to the fluid being delivered to sprayer
2
. In one embodiment, container
12
and cover-connector
14
are made from a molded plastic, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. In a preferred embodiment, container
12
and cover-connector
14
are molded from low-density polyethylene. Container
12
can be molded by any of several methods including injection blow molding, injection molding, rotational molding, suction molding, or extrusion molding. Injection blow molding is preferred because it is an inexpensive process. Cover-connector
14
also can be made by several molding methods, but preferably is made by injection molding because of its unique geometry, described below.
Turning to
FIGS. 2 and 5
, in a preferred embodiment, the interior of cover-connector
14
is shaped generally in the form of an hourglass having a waist
72
, a first lobe
74
extending from adapter side
17
outwardly at an obtuse angle from waist
72
to cover and engage with container
12
, and a second lobe
75
extending outwardly at an acute angle from waist
72
to frictionally engage generally complementary male tapered hollow bore adapter
16
for use with gravity-feed paint sprayer
2
, wherein first lobe
74
and second lobe
75
are preferably generally coaxial with one another.
In one embodiment, first lobe
74
forms the main part of cover-connector
14
and is generally frustoconical in shape having a cover axis
32
, wherein first lobe
74
extends from a vertex region
76
to an edge
78
at an obtuse generally frustoconical angle ù facing toward container
12
, see
FIG. 2. A
container connecting region
80
adjoins first lobe
74
at edge
78
on container side
15
and extends toward container
12
. Container connecting region
80
can include threads
30
for engaging with threading
28
on container
12
, wherein threads
30
are generally normal to cover axis
32
.
Second lobe
75
comprises an adapter connection region such as female generally frustoconical fitting
34
and is integrally connected to first lobe
74
of cover-connector
14
at vertex region
76
. Female generally frustoconical fitting
34
extends from cover-connector
14
generally axially opposite from container connecting region
80
for receiving male frustoconical connecting surface
62
of adapter
16
. Female fitting
34
is angled to open axially and radially outwardly at a predetermined angle á from cover axis
32
to a distal fitting end
82
generally defining a plane normal to cover axis
32
. Female fitting
34
is generally complementary to male adapter
16
, providing for frictional engagement between cover-connector
14
and adapter.
A passageway is provided between container connecting region
80
and fitting
34
of the adapter connecting region. In one embodiment, the passageway is formed by fitting
34
and frustoconical first lobe
74
, wherein paint can flow from container
12
, through container connecting region
80
, past first lobe
74
, through fitting
34
and into adapter
16
. The passageway can comprise a hole in cover-connector
14
, a passageway already formed between fitting
34
and container connecting region
80
, or a passageway that has to be formed between fitting
34
and container connecting region
80
, such as a perforable membrane
50
that is broken by adapter
16
, described below, to form the passageway.
In one embodiment, cover-connector
14
includes a generally cylindrical support wall
36
extending from edge
78
to a distal wall end
84
, wherein distal wall end
84
is in the same plane as distal fitting end
82
. Distal wall end
84
should extend at least to the plane of distal fitting end
82
, or farther, so that a paint shaker (not shown) can be used to agitate container
12
to mix paint
1
without deforming or damaging fitting
34
. Because distal wall end
84
extends to the plane of distal fitting end
82
, the forces exerted are distributed to fitting
34
and support wall
36
, thereby providing greater structural integrity and resistance against breaking or rupture of fluid supply assembly
10
and its parts.
In one embodiment, container
12
has a diameter of between about 4 inches and about 8 inches, preferably about 6 inches, and first lobe
74
extends from vertex region
76
to edge
78
from between about 2 inches to about 5 inches, preferably about 2½ inches. The obtuse angle ù of first lobe
74
may be between about 100° and about 150°, preferably about 120°. The preferred frustoconical shape of first lobe
74
helps to provide structural strength sufficient to withstand engagement with a friction-fitted component when an operator inserts and pushes adapter
16
into fitting
34
. The orientation of first lobe
74
, wherein obtuse angle ù opens toward container
12
is preferred because it helps to funnel paint into the passageway and thence to the conduit and applicator.
Frustoconical female surface
44
is angled from cover axis
32
at a predetermined angle acute angle á that may be between about 1° and about 7°, preferably between about 2° and about 5°, still more preferably about 3°. Angle á should be small enough to provide for a strong frictional force between male frustoconical connecting surface
62
and female frustoconical surface
44
, but should be large enough to allow for the insertion of male frustoconical connecting surface
62
into fitting
34
without difficulty.
The length of fitting
34
from vertex region
76
to distal fitting end
82
should be long enough to provide sufficient friction between fitting
34
and male frustoconical connecting surface
62
of adapter
16
. In one embodiment, the length of fitting
34
is between about ½ inch and about 3 inches, preferably between about ¾ inch and about 1½ inches, still more preferably about 1 inch. The inner diameter of fitting
34
at distal fitting end
82
should be large enough to easily receive male frustoconical connecting surface
62
to provide for easy engagement between cover-conmector
14
and adapter
16
. In one embodiment, the inner diameter of fitting
34
at distal fitting end
82
is between about ½ inch and about 1 inch, preferably about ¾ inch.
The geometry of cover-connector
14
should be chosen so that waist
72
, first lobe
74
, second lobe
75
, the engagements between fitting
34
of second lobe
75
and adapter
16
and between container connecting region
80
and container
12
are of a strength sufficient to hold container
12
and the paint
1
it contains in an operative position so that cover-connector
14
does not break during operation due to stress from container
12
and paint
1
. For example, waist
72
can be reinforced by making second lobe
74
thicker at waist
72
, as best seen in
FIG. 5
, to ensure that fitting
34
is strong enough to support container
12
and its contents.
Complementary generally fustoconical connecting surfaces
44
and
62
allow for easy engagement and disengagement of adapter
16
and cover-connector
14
simply by rotating one with respect to the other slightly, to frictionally lock or unlock adapter
16
and cover-connector
14
.
In one embodiment, fitting
34
includes a perforable membrane
50
across the passageway at waist
72
for keeping container
12
closed until use. Preferably, membrane
50
is radially inside of fitting
34
sealing container until membrane
50
is broken by adapter
16
, shown in FIG.
3
.
Continuing with
FIGS. 2 and 4
, cover-connector
14
frictionally connects with a conduit into paint sprayer
2
. In a preferred embodiment, the conduit is an adapter
16
for connecting between paint sprayer
2
and cover-connector
14
. Adapter
16
is preferably generally cylindrical in shape, including an adapter axis
52
, a first end
54
engageable with sprayer
2
, shown in
FIG. 1
, a second end
56
, and a hollow bore
24
between first end
54
and second end
56
. Adapter
16
includes a male frustoconical connecting surface
62
at the inlet into bore
24
to complement tapered fitting
34
so that adapter connecting region
20
and male frustoconical connecting region
62
can be frictionally engaged to lock adapter
16
and fitting
34
together.
In one embodiment, best seen in
FIG. 1
, first end
54
of adapter
16
includes threading
58
for engaging with the threading
60
of a sprayer connection channel
13
. Preferably, threading
58
is of a typical size and pitch for paint sprayers so that fluid supply assembly
10
can be used with any of several sprayers. In one embodiment, the outside diameter of threading
58
is between about ½ inch and about 1 inch, preferably about ¾ inch.
First end
54
of adapter can engage with sprayer
2
by means other than a threaded connection, including a tapered connection (not shown), a bayonet connection (not shown), a snap connection (not shown), or by first end
54
being integral with sprayer
2
so that the adapter
16
is a feed conduit into sprayer
2
.
Male frustoconical connecting surface
62
forms an acute angle â with respect to adapter axis
52
. In one embodiment, angle â is between about 1° and about 7°, preferably between about 2° and about 5°, still more preferably about 3° to form a self-locking taper. In a preferred embodiment, the angle â is approximately equal to the angle á of female frustoconical surface
44
so that male frustoconical connecting surface
62
complements female frustoconical surface
44
allowing for locking frictional engagement between adapter
16
and cover-connector
14
. As with angle á, angle â should be small enough to provide for tight frictional engagement, but should be large enough to allow for easy insertion of male frustoconical connecting region
62
into fitting
34
.
Complementary female frustoconical surface
44
of cover-connector
14
and male frustoconical connecting surface
62
of adapter
16
stay engaged with each other due to frictional forces. For example, for the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3
, after adapter
16
is inserted into fitting
34
, male frustoconical connecting surface
62
engages with female frustoconical surface
44
. As adapter
16
is continued to be pushed and rotated by an operator into fitting
34
, the male frustoconical connecting surface
62
begins to slightly deform the female frustoconical surface
44
of fitting
34
, creating a strong frictional force between adapter
16
and cover-connector
14
. This strong frictional force effectively seals adapter
16
into tapered outlet
20
to prevent leaking of paint.
The male frustoconical connecting surface
62
and complementary female frustoconical surface
44
also allow for releasable engagement between adapter
16
and fitting
34
. In order to release adapter
16
from engagement with cover-connector
14
, an operator simply has to rotate adapter
16
and cover-connector
14
, one with respect to the other, in the opposite rotational direction as when the operator frictionally engaged frustoconical surface
44
and
62
, as described below.
In one embodiment, adapter
16
includes a sharp edge or perforator
64
at second end
56
which acts as a bayonet for breaking perforable membrane
50
when adapter
16
is engaged with tapered outlet
20
, as shown in FIG.
3
.
Adapter
16
also can include a filter
66
in bore
24
to filter impurities, such as dust or other particulates, from flowing into sprayer
2
so that the impurities will not be applied to the surface being painted. Filter
66
is preferably removable, such as with a small handle
68
, so that filter
66
may be replaced if it becomes worn or soiled. An example of a filter that can be used is the model KGP-5-K5 filter manufactured by ITW DeVilbiss Automotive Refinishing.
Turning to
FIG. 5
, adapter
16
also can include a tool engaging portion
70
, which can have a cross-sectional shape adapted to be engaged by a tool to aid in rotation of adapter
16
, such as a wrench (not shown) to install or uninstall adapter
16
from engagement with sprayer
2
. Tool engaging potion
70
can have a cross-sectional shape such as a hexagonal shape for easy engagement with a tool.
Adapter
16
preferably is manufactured from a metal or other durable material that is substantially unreactive and resistant to corrosion by the fluid passing through adapter
16
. Preferably, adapter
16
is made from a metal so that adapter
16
will be durable and can be reused multiple times without needed to be replaced. In one embodiment, adapter
16
is made from aluminum, but it can be made from other metals or alloys including steel, zinc or powder metals. A metal adapter
16
can be made by several methods include machining, die casting, investment casting, precision casting or powdered metallurgical methods. Alternatively, adapter can be made from a plastic, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, or other engineered plastics by injection molding or other methods.
Although adapter
16
is shown as being one generally cylindrical piece, it is envisioned that adapter
16
can have other configurations, such as an adjustable adapter that allows the orientation of container
12
to be changed to ensure that paint
1
will flow into sprayer
2
. An example of an adjustable adapter is disclosed in the commonly assigned, co-pending patent application Ser. No. 10/458,548 filed contemporaneously herewith, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Turning to
FIGS. 6 and 7
, a second embodiment of the fluid supply assembly
10
b
of the present invention is shown. In the second embodiment, fluid supply assembly
10
b
does not include an adapter between the cover-connector and the sprayer, and cover-connector
14
b
engages directly with the sprayer conduit.
Container
12
b
includes a cover connecting region
88
that is tapered toward outlet end
26
b
so that the wall of container
12
b
is thinner at a top end
40
than at a bottom end
42
, forming a tapered surface
44
b
. In one embodiment, cover connecting region
88
is on a male frustoconical connecting surface
44
b
, forming a male frustoconical connecting surface
44
b
that converges toward outlet end
26
b
, wherein male frustoconical connecting surface
44
b
forms an acute predetermined angle ã with respect to container axis
32
b
. In one embodiment, angle ã is between about 1° and about 7°, preferably between about 2° and about 5°, still more preferably about 3° to form a self-locking tapered container outlet. In a preferred embodiment, male frustoconical connecting surface
44
b
complements a generally frustoconical female surface
62
b
on cover-connector
14
b
, described below.
Continuing with
FIG. 6
, cover-connector
14
b
of the second embodiment forms a mushrooming shape so that cover-connector
14
b
acts to both cover container
12
b
and to connect container
12
b
to a conduit of a paint sprayer. Cover-connector
14
b
includes a conduit side
17
b
with a conduit connecting region
86
having threads
58
for engaging a conduit and a container side
15
b
having a container connecting region
80
b
with a female frustoconical surface
62
b
for frictionally connecting to male frustoconical connecting surface
44
b
. Cover
14
b
also includes a bore or passageway
24
b
between conduit connecting region
86
and container connecting region
80
b.
Continuing with
FIG. 6
, in one embodiment, cover-connector
14
b
is generally frustoconical in shape having an axis
32
b
, wherein cover-connector
14
b
extends from a vertex region
76
b
to an edge
78
b
at an obtuse generally frustoconical angle ä facing toward container
12
b
. A conduit connecting region
86
is included at first end
54
b
. In one embodiment, conduit connecting region
86
includes threads
58
b
for engaging with threading on the sprayer, wherein threads
58
b
are preferably generally normal to adapter axis
32
b
. Cover-connector
14
b
also includes a tapered container connecting region
80
b
that complements cover connecting region
88
for engaging with container
12
b
. Container connecting region
80
b
adjoins cover-connector
14
b
at edge
78
b
and extends generally toward container
12
b
. Container connecting region
80
b
includes a female frustoconical surface
62
b
that compliments male frustoconical connecting surface
44
b
of container
12
b
, wherein female frustoconical surface
62
b
is angled from adapter axis
32
b
at an acute predetermined angle è so that female flustoconical surface
62
b
is complementary to male frustoconical connecting surface
44
b
of container
12
b
to provide for frictional engagement therebetween.
In one embodiment, angle è is between about 1° and about 7°, preferably between about 2° and about 5°, still more preferably about 3°. In a preferred embodiment, the angle è of adapter female frustoconical surface
62
b
is approximately equal to the predetermined angle ã of male frustoconical connecting surface
44
b
of container
12
b
so that female frustoconical surface
62
b
complements male frustoconical connecting surface
44
b
allowing for locking frictional engagement between cover-connector
14
b
and container
12
b.
The method that an operator uses to connect a fluid container
12
to a fluid applicator
2
includes the steps of providing a conduit, such as hollow bore adapter
16
, in fluid communication with fluid applicator
2
, providing a fluid container
12
, wherein one of the container
12
and the conduit include a male frustoconical connecting surface
62
and the other of the container
12
and the conduit includes a threaded connecting surface
28
, providing a cover-connector
14
having a conduit side
17
with a conduit connecting region
20
, a container side
15
with a container connecting region
80
, and a passageway between the connecting regions
20
,
80
, wherein one of the connecting regions
20
,
80
has a female frustoconical surface
44
having an acute frustoconical angle complementary to male frustoconical connecting surface
62
, and wherein the other of the connecting regions
20
,
80
has a threaded portion
30
complementary to the threaded connecting surface
28
, threading connecting threaded portion
30
with threaded connecting surface
28
, and engaging male frustoconical connecting surface
62
with female frustoconical surface
44
and rotating male frustoconical connecting surface
62
and female frustoconical surface
44
with respect to one another for frictional connection therebetween.
An operator uses fluid supply assembly
10
by loading a desired color of paint
1
and any desired tinting additives or solvents into a container. If container
12
of
FIGS. 1-5
is used, cover-connector
14
is engaged with container
12
, such as by engaging container threading
28
with cover threading
30
. Container and cover-connector
14
can then be placed in a paint shaker (not shown) to ensure that paint
1
and any tinting additives or solvents are thoroughly and evenly mixed. Perforable membrane
50
in cover-connector
14
prevents paint
1
from spilling out of container
12
. If container
12
b
of
FIGS. 6 and 7
is used, container
12
b
is engaged with cover-connector
14
b
, described below, after loading paint.
In
FIGS. 1-5
, engaging adapter
16
with container
12
includes inserting male frustoconical connecting surface
62
into fitting
34
so that male frustoconical connecting surface
62
of adapter
16
is engaged with female frustoconical surface
44
of fitting
34
. While adapter
16
is pushed into fitting
34
, perforator
64
cuts through membrane
50
, forming the passageway so that adapter bore
24
will be in fluid communication with interior
18
of container
12
. The operator continues pushing adapter
16
in an axial direction into fitting
34
until adapter
16
stops, at which point the operator continues to push in an axial direction while rotating adapter
16
with respect to container
12
and cover-connector
14
, or vice versa, until male frustoconical connecting surface
62
of adapter
16
is forcefully and rotationally engaged with female frustoconical surface
44
of receptacle. In one method, the operator rotates adapter
16
or container
12
between about 5° and about 90°, preferably between about 10° and about 15° with respect to the other. As adapter
16
is rotated, male frustoconical connecting surface
62
slightly deforms female frustoconical surface
44
to create a tight frictional seal between adapter
16
and container
12
. Adapter male frustoconical connecting surface
62
and female frustoconical surface
44
are not threads, so it does not matter which direction adapter
16
and container
12
are rotated. Either direction will cause male frustoconical connecting surface
62
and female frustoconical surface
44
to frictionally lock against each other to form a tight frictional seal.
In the embodiment of
FIGS. 6 and 7
, after container
12
b
is loaded with paint
1
, male frustoconical connecting surface
44
b
at outlet end
26
b
of container
12
b
is inserted into female frustoconical surface
62
b
of cover-connector
14
b
and container
12
b
and cover-connector
14
b
are rotated with respect to one another, in order to frictionally engage and lock male frustoconical connecting surface
44
b
with female frustoconical surface
62
b
. As with
FIGS. 1-5
described above, it does not matter which direction the operator rotates container
12
b
or cover-connector
14
b
because male frustoconical connecting surface
44
b
and female frustoconical surface
62
b
are not threads.
The operator then engages first end
54
of adapter with sprayer
2
, such as with adapter threading
58
and connector channel threading
60
. Sprayer
2
is turned upside down, generally opposite to what is shown in
FIG. 1
, so that paint
1
will not spill out of container through adapter
16
, and first end
54
is inserted into connection channel
13
of sprayer
2
. Either fluid supply assembly
10
or sprayer
2
is rotated so that adapter threading
58
engages with connector channel threading
60
. Sprayer
2
can now be used to apply paint
1
to a surface.
The operator can change the order of the steps to suit their own needs and preferences. For example, the operator could engage adapter
16
with sprayer
2
first, then engage male frustoconical connecting surface
62
of adapter
16
with female frustoconical surface
44
of fitting
34
, then engage cover-connector
14
with container
12
. All connections are to be made so that paint
1
will flow, without leaking, from container
12
, through adapter
16
, and into sprayer
2
.
After the operator is finished spraying paint, sprayer
2
and container
12
are again turned upside down, generally opposite to what is shown in
FIG. 1
, and cover-connector
14
and container
12
are disengaged from adapter
16
. In order to disengage tapered adapter
16
from cover-connector
14
, the operator simply rotates one or the other in the opposite direction as when the operator engaged adapter
16
and container
12
. For example, if the operator rotated adapter
16
in a clockwise direction relative to container
12
for engagement, the operator would rotate adapter
16
in a counterclockwise direction relative to container
12
for disengagement. Disengaging container
12
b
from cover-connector
14
b
of
FIGS. 6 and 7
is accomplished in a similar manner.
The present invention provides a tight and strong seal for a fluid supply assembly between a conduit and a container via a cover-connector that is easy to engage and disengage. A cover-connector for covering and connecting a fluid supply container to a conduit is provided, wherein one of the container and the conduit has a male frustoconical connecting surface and the other one of said container and said conduit has a threaded connecting surface. The novel cover-connector comprises a conduit side with a conduit connecting region, a container side with a container connecting region, and a passageway between the connecting regions, wherein one of the connecting regions has a female frustoconical surface having an acute frustoconical angle complementary to the male frustoconical connecting surface for frictional connection therebetween, and wherein the other of the connecting regions has a threaded portion complementary to the threaded connecting surface for threaded connecting therebetween.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific exemplary embodiments and methods herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiments or methods, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A cover-connector for covering a fluid supply container and connecting said container to a conduit, wherein one of said container and said conduit has a male frustoconical connecting surface and the other of which has a threaded connecting surface, said cover-connector comprising a conduit side with a conduit connecting region, a container side with a container connecting region, and a passageway between said connecting regions, wherein one of said connecting regions has a female fitting with a female frustoconical surface having an acute frustoconical angle complementary to said male frustoconical connecting surface for a friction fit connection therebetween, and wherein the other one of said connecting regions has a threaded portion complementary to said threaded connecting surface for threaded connection therebetween.
- 2. A cover-connector for covering a fluid supply container and connecting said container to a conduit, wherein one of said container and said conduit has a male frustoconical connecting surface and the other of which has a threaded connecting surface, said cover-connector comprising a conduit side with a conduit connecting region, a container side with a container connecting regon, and a passageway between said connecting regions, wherein one of said connecting regions has a female frustoconical surface having an acute frustoconical angle complementary to said male frustoconical connecting surface for frictional connection therebetween, and wherein the other one of said connecting regions has a threaded portion complementary to said threaded connecting surface for threaded connection therebetween, wherein said cover-connector is generally frustoconical in shape extending from a vertex region to an edge, said cover-connector having an obtuse frustoconical angle facing toward said container when covering same, wherein said conduit connecting region is integral with said cover-connector at said vertex region and wherein said container connecting region is integral with said cover-connector at said edge.
- 3. A cover-connector according to claim 1, wherein said conduit is in fluid communication with a fluid applicator.
- 4. A cover-connector according to claim 1, wherein said conduit includes said male frustoconical connecting surface, and wherein said conduit connecting region includes said female frustoconical surface.
- 5. A cover-connector for covering a fluid supply container and connecting said container to a conduit, wherein one of said container and said conduit has a male frustoconical connecting surface and the other of which has a threaded connecting surface, said cover-connector comprising a conduit side with a conduit connecting region, a container side with a container connecting region, and a passageway between said connecting regions, wherein one of said connecting regions has a female frustoconical surface having an acute frustoconical angle complementary to said male frustoconical connecting surface for frictional connection therebetween, and wherein the other one of said connecting regions has a threaded portion complementary to said threaded connecting surface for threaded connection therebetween, further comprising a membrane across said passageway, said membrane being perforable by a perforator on said conduit, whereupon frictional connection between said female frustoconical surface and said male frustoconical surface and threaded connection between said threaded portion and said threaded connecting surface provides for perforation of said membrane and fluid communication between said container and said conduit.
- 6. A cover-connector according to claim 1, wherein said container includes said male frustoconical connecting surface, and wherein said container connecting region includes said female frustoconical surface.
- 7. A cover-connector according to claim 1, further comprising a filter in said conduit.
- 8. A cover-connector for covering and connecting a paint container to a male tapered hollow bore adapter for use with a paint sprayer, comprising:a generally frustoconical cover having an axis and extending from a vertex region to an edge at an obtuse frustoconical angle facing toward said paint container when covering same; a container connecting region with threads for engaging said paint container, said container connecting region adjoining said cover edge and extending toward said paint container when covering same, said threads being normal to said axis; a generally frustoconical female fitting integrally connected to said cover at said vertex region, said fitting extending from said cover generally axially opposite from said container connecting region for receiving said male tapered hollow bore adapter, said fitting being angled to open axially and radially outwardly at an acute angle from said axis to a distal fitting end generally defining a plane normal to said axis, said fitting being complementary to said adapter while providing for frictional engagement therebetween; a passageway between said container connecting region and said fitting; and a generally cylindrical support wall extending axially from said cover edge to a distal wall end in said plane; whereupon engagement of said threads with said paint container and said fitting with said adapter provides fluid communication between said paint container and said adapter.
- 9. A fluid supply assembly comprising a fluid container and a conduit, wherein one of said container and said conduit has a male frustoconical connecting surface and the other of which has a threaded connecting surface, and a cover-connector for covering said container and connecting said container to said conduit, said cover-connector including a conduit side with a conduit connecting region, a container side with a container connecting region, and a passageway between said connecting regions, wherein one of said connecting regions has a female fitting with a female frustoconical surface having an acute frustoconical angle complementary to said male frustoconical connecting surface for a friction fit connection therebetween, and wherein the other one of said connecting regions has a threaded portion complementary to said threaded connecting surface for threaded connection therebetween.
- 10. A method of connecting a fluid container to a fluid applicator comprising the steps of:providing a conduit in fluid communication with said fluid applicator; providing said container; wherein one of said container and said conduit has a male frustoconical connecting surface and the other of which has a threaded connecting surface; providing a cover-connector having a conduit side with a conduit connecting region, a container side with a container connecting region, and a passageway between said connecting regions, wherein one of said connecting regions has a female fitting with a female frustoconical surface having an acute frustoconical angle complementary to said male frustoconical connecting surface, and wherein the other of said connecting regions has a threaded portion complementary to said threaded connecting surface; threadingly connecting said threaded portion and said threaded connecting surface; and engaging said male frustoconical connecting surface with said female frustoconical surface and rotating said male frustoconical connecting surface and said female frustoconical surface with respect to one another for a friction fit connection therebetween.
US Referenced Citations (16)