Trigger locking device for a liquid applicator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10399105-B2
Application number	US-201715664102-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2017
Priority date	Apr 17, 2015
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

A fluid applicator configured to deliver fluid at a pressure is provided. The fluid applicator comprises an inlet and an outlet. The fluid applicator also comprises a fluid path extending from the inlet to the outlet. The fluid enters the inlet and exits the outlet at the pressure. The fluid applicator also comprises a trigger configured to, when actuated, facilitate the fluid flow through the fluid path. The fluid applicator also comprises a locking mechanism configured to extend through a body of the fluid applicator, and configured to transition between a locked position and an unlocked position. In an unlocked position, the trigger can actuate and, in a locked position, the trigger is inhibited from actuating.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A paint applicator comprising:
an inlet configured to receive paint, wherein a fluid path extends through the paint applicator from the inlet to an outlet configured to emit the paint from the paint applicator;
a trigger actuatable in a trigger actuation direction between a closed position in which the fluid path is closed and an open position in which the fluid path is open to allow the paint flow from the inlet to the outlet;
a locking mechanism disposed in an aperture of the paint applicator and configured to slide within the aperture in a lateral direction, that is transverse to the trigger actuation direction, between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein,
when the locking mechanism is in the unlocked position, the locking mechanism extends from a first side of the paint applicator and the trigger is actuatable to the open position,
when the locking mechanism is in the locked position, the locking mechanism extends from a second side, that is opposite the first side, and the trigger is inhibited from actuating to the open position; and

a detent mechanism configured to provide a force that holds the locking mechanism in one of the locked position or the unlocked position.

2. The paint applicator of claim 1 , and further comprising an applicator body, wherein the trigger is rotatably coupled to the applicator body and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, between the closed and open positions.

3. The paint applicator of claim 2 , wherein
the lateral direction is along a locking axis;
movement in a first direction toward the first side of the paint applicator along the locking axis moves the locking mechanism to the locked position, and
movement in a second direction toward the second side of the paint applicator, that is opposite the first direction, along, the locking axis moves the locking mechanism to the unlocked position.

4. The paint applicator of claim 2 , wherein first and second apertures are formed on the trigger, and when in the locked position, a portion of the locking mechanism contacts a component of the applicator body to prevent actuation of the trigger.

5. The paint applicator of claim 2 , wherein the aperture comprises a first aperture on the first side of the paint applicator, and the locking mechanism is:
disposed in the first aperture and a second aperture on the second side of the paint applicator, and
configured to slide within the first and second apertures in the lateral direction.

6. The paint applicator of claim 2 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured to engage an interior feature of the applicator body.

7. The fluid applicator of claim 3 , wherein the locking axis is parallel to the axis of rotation of the trigger.

8. The paint applicator of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured to receive a portion of the paint applicator.

9. The fluid applicator of claim 1 , wherein the detent mechanism is configured to actuate when the locking mechanism is at the locked position.

10. A locking mechanism for a paint applicator, the locking mechanism comprising:
a locking mechanism body configured to lit within a body of the paint applicator, wherein the locking mechanism body is configured to translate within the body of the paint applicator between:
a locked position in which the locking mechanism body extends from a first side of the paint applicator and inhibits a trigger of the paint applicator from actuating, and
an unlocked position in which the locking mechanism body extends from a second side of the paint applicator, that is opposite the first side, and allows the trigger of the paint applicator to actuate; and

a detent mechanism configured to allow the locking mechanism body to move between the locked and unlocked position, and, when the locking mechanism is in a selected one of the locked or unlocked positions, provide a biasing force that biases the locking mechanism body to remain in the selected position.

11. The locking mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the locking mechanism body comprises a lock position feature corresponding to the locked position.

12. The locking mocha Si of claim 11 , wherein the lock position feature comprises an indentation.

13. The locking mechanism of claim 12 , wherein the detent mechanism comprises a snap including a ridge, wherein the snap is configured to actuate when aligned with the lock position feature, such that the ridge is received by the indentation at the lock position.

14. The locking mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the locking mechanism body is configured to fix the locking mechanism body within the body of the paint applicator.

15. The locking mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the detent mechanism is configured to allow the locking mechanism body to move along a locking axis, wherein the locking axis is defined as the axis extending between the locked and unlocked positions.

16. A paint applicator comprising:
a trigger actuatable in a trigger-actuation direction from a dosed position to an open position that opens a fluid path allowing paint flow through the paint applicator, wherein the trigger includes an aperture;
a locking mechanism disposed within the aperture formed on the trigger, and configured to slide within the aperture, in a direction that is transverse to the trigger-actuation direction, between a first position that allows actuation of the trigger to the open position and a second position that prevents actuation of the trigger to the open position; and
a detent mechanism configured to provide a force that holds the locking mechanism in one of the first position or the second position.

17. The paint applicator of claim 16 , wherein the locking mechanism actuates between the first and second position on a first axis that is parallel to an axis of rotation of the trigger.

18. The paint applicator of claim 16 , wherein the aperture comprises a first aperture on a first side of the trigger, and the locking mechanism is:
disposed in the first aperture and a second aperture on a second side of the trigger that is opposite the first side, and
configured to slide within the first and second apertures in a lateral direction.

Assignees

• Wagner Spray Tech Corp

Inventors

• Tullney Heiko
• Mazur Matthias
• Kieffer Joseph W

Classifications

• B05B9/01

  Spray pistols, {discharge devices}(B05B9/03 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05B12/0026 Primary

  to inhibit delivery · CPC title