Apparatus for spraying liquids, and disposable containers and liners suitable for use therewith

US 8,628,026 B2
Filed: 07/12/2011
Issued: 01/14/2014
Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1997
Status: Expired due to Fees

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First Claim

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1. A method of preparing a batch of paint, the method comprising:

(a) providing a receptacle having an open top end;

(b) providing a liner having an open end, a base, and a rim at its open end that corresponds in shape to the open top end of the receptacle, the liner being shaped to fit into the open top end of the receptacle so that a batch of paint can be added to the liner without coming into contact with the receptacle,wherein the liner is self-supporting;

(c) placing the liner into the open top end of the receptacle;

(d) adding a first volume of paint into the open end of the liner; and

(e) fitting a lid on the open end of the liner to create a reservoir containing a batch of paint, wherein the liner is collapsible as paint is withdrawn from within the liner, and wherein the liner is removable from the receptacle together with the lid.

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Abstract

A spray gun (1) has a fluid reservoir (11) with a removable liner (13) received in a container (12) having a detachable lid (15). The liner (13), which may be thermo/vacuum-formed from a planar material, has a shape that corresponds to and is a close fit within the interior of the container (12) and collapses as fluid is withdrawn from within the liner (13) during operation of the spray gun (1). The lid (15) has an outlet (16) connected to an inlet on the spray gun (1) for transfer of liquid from the reservoir (11) to the spray gun (1) and the container (12) has a vent (12A) in the base end for admitting air between the container (12) and the liner (13) as liquid is withdrawn from within the liner (13).

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33 Claims

1. A method of preparing a batch of paint, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a receptacle having an open top end;
  
  (b) providing a liner having an open end, a base, and a rim at its open end that corresponds in shape to the open top end of the receptacle, the liner being shaped to fit into the open top end of the receptacle so that a batch of paint can be added to the liner without coming into contact with the receptacle,wherein the liner is self-supporting;
  
  (c) placing the liner into the open top end of the receptacle;
  
  (d) adding a first volume of paint into the open end of the liner; and
  
  (e) fitting a lid on the open end of the liner to create a reservoir containing a batch of paint, wherein the liner is collapsible as paint is withdrawn from within the liner, and wherein the liner is removable from the receptacle together with the lid.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- - 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the receptacle comprises a measuring vessel.
  - 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the measuring vessel comprises a bottom end and markings that enable the volume of the contents of the measuring vessel to be determined;
    - whereby the markings on the measuring vessel account for space between the liner and the bottom end of the measuring vessel.
  - 4. The method of claim 2 comprisingproviding markings to enable the contents of the receptacle to be determined;
    - andusing the markings to determine the volume of the first volume of paint.
  - 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the markings are provided on a side wall of the receptacle.
  - 6. The method of claim 2 comprisingproviding markings to enable the contents of the receptacle to be determined;
    - using the markings to determine the volume of the first volume of paint;
      
      adding a second volume paint into the open end of the liner;
      
      using the markings to determine the volume of the second volume of paint; and
      
      mixing the first volume of paint with the second volume of paint.
  - 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the markings are provided on a side wall of the receptacle.
  - 8. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing the reservoir containing the batch of paint from the receptacle.
  - 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the receptacle comprises a framework for containing the liner.
  - 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the receptacle comprises a framework for containing the liner.
  - 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the lid comprises a fluid outlet.
  - 12. The method of claim 11 comprising providing a filter to filter paint before it can pass through the fluid outlet, the method comprising positioning the filter proximate the open end of the liner.
  - 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the lid comprises the filter.
  - 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the filter is integral to the lid.
  - 15. The method of claim 1 further comprising the base of the liner retaining its shape during the addition of the first volume of paint.
  - 16. The method of claim 1, wherein there are no locations on the inside of the liner in which paint can become trapped and remain unmixed.
  - 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the liner does not have any pleats.
  - 18. The method of claim 1 comprising adding a second volume paint into the open end of the liner;
    - and mixing the first volume of paint with the second volume of paint.

19. A method of preparing a batch of paint, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a receptacle having an open top end, the receptacle comprising a measuring vessel;
  
  (b) providing markings to enable the contents of the receptacle to be determined;
  
  (c) providing a liner having an open end, a base, and a rim at its open end that corresponds in shape to the open top end of the receptacle, the liner being shaped to fit into the open top end of the receptacle so that a batch of paint can be added to the liner without coming into contact with the receptacle,wherein the liner is self-supporting;
  
  (d) placing the liner into the open top end of the receptacle;
  
  (e) adding a first volume of paint into the open end of the liner, the base of the liner retaining its shape during the addition of the first volume of paint;
  
  (f) using the markings to determine the volume of the first volume of paint;
  
  (g) fitting a lid on the open end of the liner to create a reservoir containing a batch of paint, wherein the liner is collapsible as paint is withdrawn from within the liner, and wherein the liner is removable from the receptacle together with the lid.
- View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
- - 20. The method of claim 19 further comprisingadding a second volume paint into the open end of the liner;
    - using the markings to determine the volume of the second volume of paint; and
      
      mixing the first volume of paint with the second volume of paint.
  - 21. The method of claim 20 further comprising removing the reservoir containing the batch of paint from the receptacle.
  - 22. The method of claim 19 further comprising removing the reservoir containing the batch of paint from the receptacle.
  - 23. The method of claim 19 wherein, in determining the volume of the first volume of paint, the markings on the measuring vessel account for space between the liner and the bottom end of the measuring vessel.

24. A method of preparing a batch of paint, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a receptacle having an open top end, the receptacle comprising a measuring vessel;
  
  (b) providing markings to enable the contents of the receptacle to be determined;
  
  (c) providing a liner having an open end, a base, and a rim at its open end that corresponds in shape to the open top end of the receptacle, the liner being shaped to fit into the open top end of the receptacle so that a batch of paint can be added to the liner without coming into contact with the receptacle,wherein the liner is self-supporting; and
  
  (d) placing the liner into the open top end of the receptacle;
  
  (e) adding a first volume of paint into the open end of the liner;
  
  (f) using the markings to determine the volume of the first volume of paint;
  
  (g) providing a lid comprising a fluid outlet and a filter that is integral with the lid and proximate the fluid outlet;
  
  (h) fitting the lid on the open end of the liner to create a reservoir containing a batch of paint such that the filter is positioned to filter the paint before it can pass through the fluid outlet, wherein the liner is collapsible as paint is withdrawn from within the liner, and wherein the liner is removable from the receptacle together with the lid.
- View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
- - 25. The method of claim 24 further comprisingadding a second volume paint into the open end of the liner;
    - using the markings to determine the volume of the second volume of paint; and
      
      mixing the first volume of paint with the second volume of paint.
  - 26. The method of claim 25 further comprising removing the reservoir containing the batch of paint from the receptacle.
  - 27. The method of claim 24 further comprising removing the reservoir containing the batch of paint from the receptacle.
  - 28. The method of claim 24 wherein, in determining the volume of the first volume of paint, the markings on the measuring vessel account for space between the liner and the bottom end of the measuring vessel.
  - 29. The method of claim 24 comprising the base of the liner retaining its shape during the addition of the first volume of paint.

30. A method of preparing a batch of paint, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a receptacle having an open top end;
  
  (b) providing a liner having an open end, a base, and a rim at its open end that corresponds in shape to the open top end of the receptacle, the liner being shaped to fit into the open top end of the receptacle so that a batch of paint can be added to the liner without coming into contact with the receptacle, wherein the liner is self-supporting;
  
  (c) placing the liner into the open top end of the receptacle;
  
  (d) adding a first volume of paint into the open end of the liner, the base of the liner retaining its shape during the addition of the first volume of paint;
  
  (e) adding a second volume paint into the open end of the liner;
  
  (f) mixing the first volume of paint with the second volume of paint;
  
  (g) providing a lid comprising a fluid outlet;
  
  (h) fitting the lid on the open end of the liner to create a reservoir containing a batch of paint, wherein the liner is collapsible as paint is withdrawn from within the liner, and wherein the liner is removable from the receptacle together with the lid.
- View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
- - 31. The method of claim 30 further comprising removing the reservoir containing the batch of paint from the receptacle.
  - 32. The method of claim 30 further comprising providing a filter positioned proximate the fluid outlet, wherein fitting the lid on the open end of the liner further comprises the filter being positioned to filter the paint before it can pass through the fluid outlet.
  - 33. The method of claim 32 wherein the filter is integral with the lid.

Specification

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Litigation Data

Current Assignee
3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
Original Assignee
3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
Inventors
Joseph, Stephen C. P., Douglas, Malcolm F., Butler, Alan F., Bastow, David R., Salhus, Jerry E., Hartfel, Margaret A.
Primary Examiner(s)
Nguyen, Dinh Q

Application Number

US13/181,085
Publication Number

US 20110266368A1
Time in Patent Office

917 Days
Field of Search

239/346, 239/327, 239/328, 239/309, 239/1, 239/8, 239/345, 239/379, 239/600, 222/83, 222/95, 222/403, 222/404, 220/592.23, 220/908.1, 220/908.16, 220/574.2, 215/11.3, 215/11.6
US Class Current

239/1
CPC Class Codes

B01D 35/02   Filters adapted for locatio...

B01D 35/28   Strainers not provided for ...

B05B 7/2408   characterised by the contai...

B05B 7/247   a liquid being fed by gravi...

B05B 7/2478   Gun with a container which,...

B05B 7/2481   with a flexible container f...

B29C 2791/006   Using vacuum

B29C 2791/007   Using fluid under pressure

B29C 51/08   Deep drawing or matched-mou...

B29C 51/10   Forming by pressure differe...

B29K 2023/0633   LDPE, i.e. low density poly...

Y10S 239/14   Paint sprayers

Apparatus for spraying liquids, and disposable containers and liners suitable for use therewith

First Claim

0 Assignments

Litigations

1 Petition

Accused Products

Abstract

165 Citations

33 Claims

Specification

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Apparatus for spraying liquids, and disposable containers and liners suitable for use therewith

First Claim

0 Assignments

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

Litigations

1 Petition

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Accused Products

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Abstract

165 Citations

33 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

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