Manual check valve for priming a collapsible fluid liner for a sprayer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9796492-B2
Application number	US-201514656138-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2015
Priority date	Mar 12, 2015
Publication date	Oct 24, 2017
Grant date	Oct 24, 2017

Abstract

A manual check valve for use when priming a fluid supply for a spray gun includes an orifice that opens from the fluid supply into a storage chamber, the storage chamber captures any fluid that is expelled from the fluid supply during priming, and the storage chamber is sealed with a closure. Sealing the storage chamber traps any expelled fluid in the storage chamber and prevents any of the expelled fluid from leaking onto another surface, which keeps the priming operation clean.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid supply for a liquid sprayer, the fluid supply comprising:
a liquid sprayer comprising a pump;
a collapsible liner for holding a liquid;
a cup for supporting the collapsible liner;
a lid for connecting to the cup to secure the collapsible liner relative to the lid and the cup;
a fluid channel extending through the lid, the fluid channel permitting the liquid to be sucked from the collapsible liner, through the fluid channel, and into the pump; and
a manual check valve attached to the lid, the manual check valve comprising:
a chamber for trapping fluid released from the collapsible liner comprising a floor, a sidewall extending from the floor, and an upper opening;
an orifice extending through the lid and the floor and between the collapsible liner and the chamber; and
a closure for sealing the upper opening of the chamber.

2. The fluid supply of claim 1 , wherein the orifice is circular with a diameter of about 0.020 inches to about 0.070 inches or any shape with equivalent area.

3. The fluid supply of claim 2 , wherein the closure comprises a press-fit plug.

4. The fluid supply of claim 2 , wherein the closure comprises:
a circular top portion comprising an inner surface, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, and an edge;
a cylindrical attachment portion comprising a receiving wall having an inner portion and an outer portion, an upper opening, and a lower opening for receiving the sidewall of the chamber.

5. The fluid supply of claim 4 , wherein the attachment portion further comprises:
a first set of threads on the inner portion of the receiving wall; and
wherein the sidewall of the chamber further comprises a second set of threads on an outer surface of the sidewall for receiving the first set of threads.

6. The fluid supply of claim 4 , wherein the top portion is integral with an upper edge of the receiving wall.

7. The fluid supply of claim 4 , wherein the closure further comprises:
a first annular portion extending from the inner surface of the circular top portion;
a second annular portion extending from the edge of the circular top portion; and
an annular ridge extending from an edge of the upper opening of the attachment portion.

8. The fluid supply of claim 7 , wherein the closure further comprises:
a radial seal affixed to a free end of the second annular portion.

9. The fluid supply of claim 7 , wherein the top portion is hingedly connected to the attachment portion.

10. A method of priming a fluid supply for a liquid sprayer with a pump, the method comprising:
providing a fluid supply comprising: a cup with a lid having an opening for connecting the lid to the pump, a collapsible liner for holding a liquid positioned in the cup, and a manual check valve for allowing air out of the fluid supply, wherein the manual check valve includes a chamber having a floor, a sidewall, and an upper opening, an orifice extending through the lid and the floor and between the collapsible liner and the chamber, and a closure for sealing the upper opening of the cylinder;
filling the collapsible liner with a liquid;
securing the collapsible liner to the cup with the lid;
sealingly connecting the fluid supply to the liquid sprayer;
squeezing the collapsible liner until the liquid begins to enter the chamber through the orifice; and
sealing the closure to seal the liquid within the chamber.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the closure comprises:
a press fit plug, wherein the plug fits securely within the upper opening of the chamber.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the closure comprises:
a circular top portion comprising an inner surface, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, and an edge;
a cylindrical attachment portion comprising a receiving wall having an inner portion and an outer portion, an upper opening, and a lower opening for receiving the sidewall of the chamber;
a first annular portion extending from the inner surface of the circular top portion;
a second annular portion extending from the edge of the circular top portion; and
an annular ridge extending from an edge of the upper opening of the attachment portion;
wherein the circular top portion is hingedly connected to the cylindrical attachment portion.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the closure comprises:
a circular top portion comprising an inner surface, an outer surface opposite the inner surface, and an edge;
a cylindrical attachment portion comprising a receiving wall having an inner portion and an outer portion, an upper opening, and a lower opening for receiving the sidewall of the chamber;
a first set of threads on the inner portion of the receiving wall;
wherein the sidewall of the chamber further comprises a second set of threads on an outer surface of the sidewall for receiving the first set of threads; and
wherein the top portion is integral with an upper edge of the receiving wall.

14. A fluid supply for a liquid sprayer, the fluid supply comprising:
a liquid sprayer comprising a pump;
a collapsible liner for holding a liquid;
a cup for supporting the collapsible liner;
a lid for connecting to the cup to secure the collapsible liner relative to the lid and the cup; and
a tube extending through the lid, the tube permitting the liquid to be sucked from the collapsible liner, through the fluid channel, and into the pump;
a manual check valve mounted on the lid, the manual check valve comprising:
a chamber for trapping fluid released from the collapsible liner comprising a floor, a sidewall extending from the floor, and an upper opening;
an orifice extending through the lid and between the collapsible liner and the chamber, the orifice narrower than the chamber; and
a closure for sealing the upper opening of the chamber, the closure attached to the sidewall by a hinge.

Assignees

• Graco Minnesota Inc

Inventors

• Luczak Mariusz J

Classifications

• B65B7/2821 Primary

  applying plugs or threadless stoppers (for bottles or jars B67B1/04) · CPC title

• B05B9/0861

  the motor being electric · CPC title

• B05B9/01 Primary

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

• B05B7/2481

  with a flexible container for liquid or other fluent material · CPC title

• B05B15/14

  Arrangements for preventing or controlling structural damage to spraying apparatus or its outlets, e.g. for breaking at desired places; Arrangements for handling or replacing damaged parts · CPC title