Paint roller support

Abstract

Embodiments of a paint roller support for rotatably supporting a conventional paint roller cover are disclosed. In one embodiment, a paint roller support comprises a frame having an elongated shaft and at least one hub rotatably coupled to the shaft for supporting a conventional roller cover. A locking spring exerts a retaining force against an inner surface of the roller cover for frictionally retaining the roller cover on the hub while the paint roller support is used to deliver paint to a surface. Embodiments of a method for manufacturing a paint roller support also are disclosed.

1 . A paint roller support comprising:
 an elongated shaft;   first and second bearings disposed on the elongated shaft at spaced apart locations such that the bearings are retained against rotational and axial movement relative to the shaft; and   first and second rotatable hubs disposed on the first and second bearings, respectively, the hubs being configured to rotate relative to the bearings and to each other and having outer surfaces on which a roller cover is placed during use;   wherein the first and second hubs are retained on the shaft by the first and second bearings, respectively.   
   
   
       2 . The paint roller support of  claim 1 , wherein the first hub substantially encloses the first bearing and the second hub substantially encloses the second bearing. 
   
   
       3 . The paint roller support of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first bearing has a central portion having a first diameter and opposite end portions having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, and the first hub has opposite end portions that rotate on respective end portions of the first bearing; and   the second bearing has a central portion having a first diameter and opposite end portions having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, and the second hub has opposite end portions that rotate on respective end portions of the second bearing.   
   
   
       4 . The paint roller support of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first hub has a central portion extending between the opposite end portions thereof, the central portion positioned generally co-axially with respect to the central portion of the first bearing and having an inner diameter that is greater than the inner diameters of the opposite end portions thereof; and   the second hub has a central portion extending between the opposite end portions thereof, the central portion positioned generally co-axially with respect to the central portion of the second bearing and having an inner diameter that is greater than the inner diameters of the opposite end portions thereof.   
   
   
       5 . The paint roller support of  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing mechanism disposed on the first hub, the biasing mechanism configured to exert a radially outwardly directed biasing force against an inner surface of the roller cover sufficient to retain the roller cover on the hubs while in use yet allowing removal of the cover when desired. 
   
   
       6 . The paint roller support of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft has first and second embossed surface portions, the first bearing is frictionally retained at a fixed position on the shaft by the first embossed surface portion, and the second bearing is frictionally retained at a fixed position on the shaft by the second embossed surface portion. 
   
   
       7 . The paint roller support of  claim 6 , wherein the first embossed surface portion has a larger diameter than the second embossed surface portion. 
   
   
       8 . The paint roller support of  claim 5 , wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a non-circular split ring. 
   
   
       9 . The paint roller support of  claim 1 , wherein the first hub comprises respective first and second hub portions, and the second hub comprises respective first and second hub portions. 
   
   
       10 . The paint roller support of  claim 9 , wherein the hub portions of each of the first and second hubs are secured to each other by a snap-fit connection. 
   
   
       11 . The paint roller support of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second bearings are retained against rotational and axial movement relative to the shaft by frictional engagement of the bearings with the shaft. 
   
   
       12 . The paint roller support of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second bearings frictionally engage first and second raised surface portions, respectively, on the shaft. 
   
   
       13 . A paint roller support comprising:
 an elongated shaft;   a first cover support assembly located at a first location on the shaft, the first cover support assembly comprising a first bearing retained against rotational and axial movement relative to the shaft and a first rotatable hub mounted on the first bearing, the first hub having opposite end portions configured to retain the first hub on the first bearing in the inboard and outboard directions; and   a second cover support assembly located at a second location on the shaft spaced from the first location, the second cover support assembly comprising a second bearing retained against rotational and axial movement relative to the shaft and a second rotatable hub mounted on the second bearing, the second bearing having opposite end portions configured to retain the second hub on the second bearing in the inboard and outboard directions, the first and second hubs being rotatable relative to each other on their respective bearings.   
   
   
       14 . The paint roller support of  claim 13 , wherein the shaft has first and second raised surface portions, the first bearing is frictionally retained on the shaft by the first raised surface portion, and the second bearing is frictionally retained on the shaft by the second raised surface portion. 
   
   
       15 . The paint roller support of  claim 14 , wherein first and second raised surface portions are embossed surface portions of the shaft. 
   
   
       16 . The paint roller support of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first hub has a central portion extending between the opposite end portions thereof, the central portion having an inner diameter that is greater than the inner diameters of the opposite end portions thereof, the first bearing having a central portion positioned between the opposite end portions of the first hub;   the second hub has a central portion extending between the opposite end portions thereof, the central portion of the second hub having an inner diameter that is greater than the inner diameters of the opposite end portions thereof, the second bearing having a central portion positioned between the opposite end portions of the second hub.   
   
   
       17 . The paint roller support of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first bearing comprises end portions on opposite sides of its central portion, the end portions of the first bearing having an outer diameter that is less than the outer diameter of central portion of the first bearing; and   the second bearing comprises end portions on opposite sides of its central portion, the end portions of the second bearing having an outer diameter that is less than the outer diameter of central portion of the second bearing.   
   
   
       18 . The paint roller support of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second cover support assemblies are positioned on the shaft so as to support only opposite end portions of a roller cover placed on the cover support assemblies. 
   
   
       19 . A paint roller support comprising:
 an elongated shaft comprising first and second raised surface portions;   first and second bearings disposed on the first and second raised surface portions, respectively, the bearings frictionally engaging the raised surface portions such that the bearings are retained against rotational and axial movement relative to the shaft; and   first and second rotatable hubs disposed on the first and second bearings, respectively, the hubs being configured to rotate relative to the bearings and having outer surfaces on which a roller cover is placed during use.   
   
   
       20 . The paint roller support of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second raised surface portions comprise first and second embossed surface portions, respectively. 
   
   
       21 . The paint roller support of  claim 20 , wherein the first embossed surface portion has a larger diameter than the second embossed raised surface portion.