U.S. patent application number 12/663238 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-18 for self regulating vent for a paint supply vessel.
This patent application is currently assigned to S.A.Omniform. Invention is credited to Eric Van Zele, Peter Van Zele, Alian Wambeke.
Application Number | 20100288772 12/663238 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38459585 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100288772 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wambeke; Alian ; et
al. |
November 18, 2010 |
SELF REGULATING VENT FOR A PAINT SUPPLY VESSEL
Abstract
A vessel (1), in particular for containing paint, comprising a
reservoir (2) and a closure lid (3) which reservoir (2) is provided
for being closed by said closure lid (3), which closure lid (3) is
applicable on top of a liquid application tool (4), said vessel (1)
having an air inlet comprising a plurality of openings (9), said
closure lid (3) comprises a conically shaped part, characterised in
that said air inlet being provided with a closure valve made of
flexible elastomer material, said valve being resiliently mounted
on said air inlet in such a manner as to cover said plurality of
openings, of which each opening having a surface area of at the
most 15 mm.sup.2, and as to open upon a predetermined pressure
difference between a first pressure inside said vessel and a second
pressure outside said vessel, said closure lid (3) being provided
with a protrusion applied on said conically shaped part and forming
a flat contact face for said valve.
Inventors: |
Wambeke; Alian; (Zoutleeuw,
BE) ; Van Zele; Peter; (Greer, SC) ; Van Zele;
Eric; (Hoeilaart, BE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
S.A.Omniform
Waver
BE
|
Family ID: |
38459585 |
Appl. No.: |
12/663238 |
Filed: |
June 6, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
June 6, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP08/57121 |
371 Date: |
July 26, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/373 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B05B 7/2408 20130101;
B05B 7/2478 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/373 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/16 20060101
B65D051/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 7, 2007 |
EP |
07109834.7 |
Claims
1. A vessel (1), in particular for containing paint, comprising a
reservoir (2) and a closure lid (3) which reservoir (2) is provided
for being closed by said closure lid (3), which closure lid (3) is
applicable on top of a liquid application tool (4), said vessel (1)
having an air inlet comprising a plurality of openings (9), said
closure lid (3) comprises a conically shaped part, characterised in
that said air inlet being provided with a closure valve made of
flexible elastomer material, said valve being resiliently mounted
on said air inlet in such a manner as to cover said plurality of
openings, of which each opening having a surface area of at the
most 15 mm.sup.2, and as to open upon a predetermined pressure
difference between a first pressure inside said vessel and a second
pressure outside said vessel, said closure lid (3) being provided
with a protrusion applied on said conically shaped part and forming
a flat contact face for said valve.
2. The vessel as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said
openings are applied along a circumference of a circle and wherein
said valve has a circularly shaped member covering said
openings.
3. The vessel as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that a
further opening (7) is applied in a centre of said circle, said
valve having a stem (15) extending from said member and penetrating
into said further opening.
4. The vessel as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said
seat is formed by a protrusion extending inside said vessel.
5. The vessel as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said
seat is applied approximately half way between a rim and a centre
of said lid.
6. The vessel as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said
closure lid is provided for receiving a filtering screen.
7. The vessel as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the
vessel comprises a mixing cup removably mounted therein.
8. A closure lid as part of a vessel according to claim 1.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a vessel, in particular for
containing paint, comprising a reservoir and a closure lid which
reservoir is provided for being closed by said closure lid, which
closure lid is applicable on top of a liquid application tool, said
vessel having an air inlet comprising a plurality of openings, said
closure lid comprises a conically shaped part.
[0002] Such a vessel is known from the International Patent
application WO 03/006170. The latter application relates to a
vessel being mounted on top of a liquid application tool. In such a
vessel gravity helps feeding the liquid into the application tool.
The vessel also comprises a conically shaped part, which allows to
easily apply a filter between the reservoir and the application
tool, which keeps the latter from clogging up. The conically shaped
part further allows feeding the liquid into the liquid application
tool even if the latter is used in a non-horizontal position.
Openings are provided on the reservoir to provide vacuum relief for
the liquid application tool. This implies that the reservoir is not
liquid-tight any more. The above mentioned patents therefore
describe the use of a flexible liner within the cavity of the
reservoir, which liner holds the liquid. The advantage is that the
reservoir can be used multiple times.
[0003] A drawback of the known vessel is that it requires an extra
element, namely the liner. It also requires at least one extra step
using such a vessel, namely placing the flexible liner into the
reservoir.
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a vessel
which allows using a reservoir multiple times, and which vessel is
easier to use than prior art vessels.
[0005] For this purpose, a vessel according to the present
invention is characterised in that said air inlet being is provided
with a closure valve made of flexible elastomer material, said
valve being resiliently mounted on said air inlet in such a manner
as to cover said plurality of openings, of which each opening
having a surface area of at the most 15 mm.sup.2, and as to open
upon a predetermined pressure difference between a first pressure
inside said vessel and a second pressure outside said vessel, said
closure lid (3) being provided with a protrusion applied on said
conically shaped part and forming a flat contact face for said
valve. Despite the openings, the vessel is capable of holding a
liquid because a valve is used to cover the openings. Because the
vessel is capable of holding a liquid, there is no need any more
for a flexible liner, and the liquid can be applied directly into
the reservoir. Because there is no flexible liner, in using the
vessel, there is no need to apply such a liner, which makes the use
of the vessel easier. No openings are to be provided in the
reservoir so as to keep the latter intact and consequently suitable
for using multiple times.
[0006] It should be noted that a combination of WO 03/006170 and
U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,997 would not lead to the present invention. A
person skilled in the art starting from WO 03/006170, and
confronted with the current technical problem of the requirement of
an extra element, namely the liner, and of at least one extra step
using such a vessel, namely placing the flexible liner into the
reservoir, could perhaps apply the teaching of U.S. Pat. No.
4,388,997, as the latter discloses a valve suitable for being used
in the present invention. However in WO 03/006170, openings are
provided on the top part of the vessel in a mounted position. So
when using the application tool, the openings are provided above
the liquid surface. Also in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,997, the valve
is applied above the liquid surface. In combining those documents,
a person skilled in the art would come up with the solution to
apply the valve on the top part of the vessel in a mounted
position.
[0007] However the solution provided by the present invention is
different from the solution the skilled person could come up with.
In the present invention, the valve is not applied on the reservoir
which forms the top part of the vessel in a mounted position, but
the valve is applied on the closure lid. No particular measures are
to be applied on the reservoir for vacuum relief, which makes any
cup which fits to the closure lid suitable for being used as
reservoir. Moreover the valve is applied on the closure lid, which
forms the lower part of the vessel in a mounted position, when air
enters the vessel through the valve, the air enters below the
liquid surface. This results in bubbles rising to the liquid
surface, thereby creating turbulences inside the liquid. These
turbulences induce a mixing effect to the liquid, which is
especially advantageous in multi component liquids.
[0008] To ensure a duly closing of the valve to the closure lid
comprising a conically shaped part, adaptation has to be made. By
creating a protrusion on the conically shaped part of the closure
lid, a flat surface is obtained on the closure lid. Due to the
valve being applied to the flat surface, openings can be duly
closed by the valve.
[0009] A first preferred embodiment of a vessel according to the
present invention is characterised in that said openings are
applied along a circumference of a circle and wherein said valve
has a circularly shaped member covering said openings. The circular
distribution of the openings stimulates a well distributed air
flow.
[0010] A second preferred embodiment of a vessel according to the
present invention is characterised in that a further opening is
applied in the centre of said circle, said valve having a stem
extending from said member and penetrating into said further
opening. In such a manner the stem is surrounded by the air flow
openings.
[0011] The invention also relates to a closure lid as part of a
vessel according to the present invention.
[0012] The invention will now be described in more details with
reference to the drawings showing a preferred embodiment of a
vessel according to the invention. In the drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 shows an overall view of the vessel mounted on a
spray gun;
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the closure lid;
[0015] FIG. 3 shows the inner side of the closure lid;
[0016] FIG. 4 shows a cross section along the line IV-IV';
[0017] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the plurality of holes;
and
[0018] FIG. 6 shows a cross section through the closure valve.
[0019] In the drawings a same reference sign has been allocated to
a same or analogous element.
[0020] The vessel 1 illustrated in FIG. 1, is mounted on a spray
gun 4 provided with a handle 5 for controlling the spray volume. In
this particular example a spray gun is used as a liquid application
tool. It will however be clear that other application tools than a
spray gun can be used. The vessel is provided for storing and
conveying paint to the spray gun. It will however be clear that the
present invention is not limited to vessels for storing paint and
that the vessels may contain any other liquid or viscous material
to be supplied to the application tool. The vessel also comprises a
reservoir 2, which is closed by means of a closure lid 3. The
closure lid is preferably clicked on a rim of the reservoir with a
pressure fit interlocking design. The vessel can also comprise a
mixing cup which is removably mounted thereto. The mixing cup is
used for preparing a mixture, in particular paint, prior to pouring
it into the vessel, which is subsequently mounted onto the
application tool. The removably mounted mixing cup enables to
incorporate the mixing cup as part of the vessel, thereby avoiding
the need to transfer the liquid to another vessel prior to the
application thereof. This extends the utility of a mixing cup,
reduces waste, and reduces the cost and the number of steps in the
liquid (paint) preparation process.
[0021] As illustrated in FIG. 2, which shows a top view of the
closure lid 3, the latter comprises a closure rim 6 for fixing the
closure lid on the reservoir 2. The closure rim is upright with
respect to the closure lid surface 11 extending from the closure
rim towards a central opening 7 applied on a protrusion and
provided for mounting the vessel 1 on the spray gun 4. Triangularly
shaped reinforcement elements 8 extend as from the closure rim's
upright part towards the central opening over a short section of
the closure lid surface 11. The reinforcement elements reinforce
the connection between the closure rim 6 and the closure lid
surface 11 and also the whole closure lid, in such a manner as to
firmly sustain the weight of the liquid when the vessel is applied
on the application tool.
[0022] The closure lid further comprises an air inlet 9. As
illustrated in the FIGS. 2 and 3, the air inlet crosses the closure
lid surface 11 and comprises a plurality of openings 10. The air
inlet is applied approximately half way between the closure rim 6
and the central opening 7. The openings are applied along a
circumference of a circle. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the air inlet
is preferably applied on a seat 12. Especially when the closure lid
comprises a conically shaped part, which is favourable when a
filtering screen is mounted, the seat 12 forms a triangularly
shaped protrusion (as seen in the sectioned view of FIG. 4) inside
the vessel and with respect to the cover lid surface 11. By this
protrusion, a flat surface is created on which the air inlet can be
provided. The air inlet location may be adjusted for various
reasons, such as to incorporate the aforementioned filtering
screen. In the illustrated embodiment the air inlet is applied on
the closure lid. Alternatively the air inlet could also be applied
on the reservoir 2, preferably in the upper part thereof.
[0023] The openings 10 are applied in the flat surface part of the
seat which extend substantially parallel with respect to line 13.
In such a manner, the air penetrates perpendicularly through the
openings 10 and turbulences are avoided which would be generated in
case that the openings would be applied in the conical surface.
When seen from the outer side of the closure lid (FIG. 2), the air
inlet 9 is as if to say applied in a cavity, applied on the closure
lid's surface 11.
[0024] As is illustrated in FIG. 5, which shows a detailed view of
the openings, the latter are rather small and have preferably a
diameter d1=1.6 mm. The dimension of the diameter d1 is determined
in function of the liquid to be applied and the amount of air flow
needed into the interior of the vessel. The diameter of each
opening can vary between 0.2 mm to 4 mm. At the most each of the
plurality of openings have a surface of 15 mm.sup.2. Preferably the
plurality of holes 10 are situated inside a circle C having a
diameter d2=6 mm. However, diameter d2 may also vary according to
the liquid to be applied and air flow needed into the vessel
interior.
[0025] The air inlet is further provided with a closure valve 14
made of a flexible elastomer material such as silicone rubber,
fluorosilicone, fluoroelastomers or perfluoroelastomers. The choice
of the elastomer material of which the valve is made, is in
function of the liquid that will be present in the vessel. Indeed,
care has to be taken that the latter material is chemically
resistant to this liquid. Nor is the location of the valve assembly
limited to placement in the closure lid, the valve assembly may
also be mounted in the reservoir if the air inlet is applied
there.
[0026] In order to apply the closure valve, the air inlet is
preferably provided with a further opening 14 as illustrated in
FIGS. 5 and 6. This further opening 14 is applied in a centre of
the circle C within which the openings 10 are applied. The valve
comprises preferably a stem 15 on which a circularly shaped member
16 is mounted as illustrated in FIG. 6. The circularly shaped
member is dimensioned in such a manner that it covers the plurality
of openings. Such a type of valve is also called an umbrella valve.
The circularly shaped member 16 extends on the inner side of the
closure lid, whereas the stem 15 penetrates through the further
opening 14 in order to reach the outer side of the closure lid 3.
The stem 15 is somewhat compressed inside the further opening 14 so
that it bulges out at the outer side, thereby firmly fixing the
valve to the air inlet. The valve thus covers the openings and
opens upon a pressure difference between a first pressure P1 inside
the vessel and a second pressure P2 outside the vessel.
[0027] When the user activates the handle 5 of the spray gun, the
gun will open thereby causing a pressure drop inside the vessel. As
the pressure P1, inside the vessel is then lower than the pressure
P2 outside the vessel, a pressure difference will be established
over the air inlet, causing the valve to open and thus allowing air
from the outside to flow via the plurality of openings 10 inside
the vessel. As soon as the handle is released, the pressure
difference becomes negligible, thereby causing the valve to close.
The valve is thus self regulating and as the valve closes after
release of the handle, the vessel is closed and there is no need to
change the closure lid, even if the liquid remains stored in the
vessel.
[0028] The closure lid and the reservoir are preferably made of
plastic disposable material so as to provide a low cost product.
Moreover, there is also no need to clean the reservoir. It has to
be noted that a silicone valve may swell upon exposure to certain
solvents which may be present in the liquid. However this will not
affect the operation of the valve as the member 16 does not cross
the boundaries of the seat.
[0029] The valve can be designed in such a manner that it opens at
predetermined pressure differential between the interior and
exterior of the vessel. The valve design can be optimized to open
at as low as 5 millibar of pressure or as high as 100 millibar,
depending on needs of the application. The valve has also a self
sealing feature, as even without pressure difference the stem holds
the valve closed due to the pre-tension in the stem. The self
regulating properties of the valve cause the air volume passing
through the plurality of openings to be directly dependent on the
amount of liquid sprayed. To increase the flow of air into the
vessel, the size of the valve and seat openings can be increased or
multiple valve mountings could be used.
* * * * *