Granted Patent B2

US 12,208,411 · App. 17/613,727 · Granted Jan 28, 2025

Inventors: Robert W. Kinne (Columbia Heights, MN); Diane L. Olson (Elk River, MN); Pamela J. Muetzel (Maple Lake, MN); Kirsten N. Norman (Oak Grove, MN)

Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.

B05B7/2408B01D29/085B67C11/02B05B9/0861

Abstract

Claims (46)

1. A spray system comprising:

a sprayer having a body and a pump configured to pump spray fluid to a spray tip;

a reservoir mountable to the sprayer by a first interface formed between a reservoir mount of the reservoir and a sprayer mount of the sprayer, wherein the reservoir mount extends around an opening that is open to an interior of the reservoir, wherein the reservoir mount is configured to connect to the sprayer mount such that the sprayer supports the reservoir by the sprayer mount connecting to the reservoir mount; and

a filling device mountable to the reservoir by a second interface formed between the reservoir mount and a fill mount, wherein the filling device includes a funnel having the fill mount and configured to route fluid to the reservoir through the opening, wherein the fill mount and the reservoir mount are configured to connect together such that the reservoir is connected to the filling device to move with the filling device.

2. The spray system of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir includes a cup and a lid removably connected to the cup, and wherein the reservoir mount includes a collar extending from the lid and at least one slot formed in the collar.

3. The spray system of claim 1 , wherein:

the sprayer mount includes a first neck and at least one first projection extending from the first neck; and

the fill mount includes a second neck and at least one second projection extending from the second neck.

4. The spray system of claim 1 , wherein the filling device comprises:

the funnel configured to lock to and unlock from the reservoir, the funnel comprising:

a funnel body extending between a top opening and a neck; and

a connector formed on the neck and configured to secure the funnel to the reservoir; and

a filter assembly mountable within the funnel, the filter assembly comprising:

a filter disk configured to engage an inner wall of the funnel body such that fluid through the funnel is routed through the filter disk.

5. The spray system of claim 4 , wherein the funnel further comprises a handle extending from the funnel body.

6. The spray system of claim 5 , wherein the handle includes a handle projection extending from a main body of the handle.

7. The spray system of claim 6 , wherein a notch is formed between the handle projection and the funnel body.

8. The spray system of claim 4 , wherein the connector includes at least one projection extending radially from the neck.

9. The spray system of claim 8 , wherein a seal groove is formed on an exterior of the neck between the at least one projection and an end of the neck opposite the funnel body.

10. The spray system of claim 4 , wherein the inner wall of the funnel body includes an upper sloped portion extending from the top opening, a vertical portion disposed at an end of the upper sloped portion opposite the top opening, and a lower sloped portion between the vertical portion and the neck.

11. The spray system of claim 10 , wherein a seat is formed between the vertical portion and the lower sloped portion, and wherein the filter disk is configured to engage the seat.

12. The spray system of claim 4 , wherein the filter disk includes a screen and a guide ring dispose about an outer edge of the screen, the guide ring configured to engage the inner wall.

13. A spray system comprising:

a handheld sprayer having a body and a pump configured to pump spray fluid to a spray tip;

a reservoir mountable to the handheld sprayer by a first interface formed between a reservoir mount and a sprayer mount; and

a filling device mountable to the reservoir by a second interface formed between the reservoir mount and a fill mount, wherein the filling device includes:

a funnel having the fill mount and configured to route fluid to the reservoir, the funnel configured to lock to and unlock from the reservoir, the funnel comprising:

a funnel body extending between a top opening and a neck; and

a connector formed on the neck and configured to secure the funnel to the reservoir; and

a filter assembly mountable within the funnel, the filter assembly comprising:

a filter disk configured to engage an inner wall of the funnel body such that fluid through the funnel is routed through the filter disk; and

a vent tube extending from the filter disk, the vent tube comprising:

an upper portion extending in a first direction from the filter disk; and

a lower portion extending in a second direction from the filter disk.

14. The spray system of claim 13 , wherein a vent path extends through the vent tube between a first opening through a first end of the upper portion and a second opening through a second end of the lower portion, wherein the first end of the upper portion is disposed at an opposite end of the upper portion from the filter disk and the second end of the lower portion is disposed at an opposite end of the lower portion from the filter disk.

15. The spray system of claim 14 , wherein the first opening and the second opening are the only openings through the vent tube.

16. The spray system of claim 14 , wherein a tube ring is formed at the first end of the upper portion, and wherein the first opening opens into an area defined by the tube ring.

17. The spray system of claim 13 , wherein the lower portion extends into a locating ring disposed within the neck, the locating ring have a diameter smaller than a diameter of the neck.

18. A method of filling a reservoir for a handheld fluid sprayer, the method comprising:

connecting a filling device to a reservoir by a first interface between a fill mount formed on a funnel of the filling device and a reservoir mount formed on the reservoir such that the reservoir is directly connected to the filling device;

pouring spray fluid into the funnel, the funnel directing the spray fluid to the reservoir through the first interface;

draining excess spray fluid from the funnel by pouring spray fluid out of the funnel while the reservoir remains connected to the filling device by connection between the fill mount and the reservoir mount;

disconnecting the filling device from the reservoir by breaking the first interface; and

connecting the reservoir to the handheld fluid sprayer by interfacing the reservoir mount and a sprayer mount of the handheld fluid sprayer, the reservoir mount connected to the sprayer mount such that the reservoir is supported by the handheld fluid sprayer to be carried with the handheld fluid sprayer.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

filtering the spray fluid with a filter assembly disposed within the funnel, the spray fluid flowing through a filter disk of the filter assembly before entering the reservoir.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (400)