Spraygun with built-in quick-fit connector

Abstract

A spray gun and a detachable liquid reservoir releasably attached to the spray gun by engagement of mateable, non-threaded formations provided on the spray gun and the reservoir. The spray gun has an integral connector boss with a socket for reception of a connector tube of the reservoir. The boss has an external flange at the distal end and the reservoir has hook members separate from the connector tube. The hook members are co-operable with the flange when the connector tube is received in the socket to secure releasably the reservoir to the spray gun. In another arrangement, the connector tube is an interference friction-fit in the socket to secure releasably the reservoir to the spray gun. In yet another arrangement, the connector tube has bayonet lugs co-operable with bayonet grooves in the wall of the socket when the connector tube is received in the socket to secure releasably the reservoir to the spray gun. In a still further arrangement, the reservoir has an integral spout received in the socket integral with the spray gun and provided with a helical projection co-operable with the underside of a radial lug externally of the socket to secure the reservoir.

1 . A lid for a reservoir of a gravity feed spray gun, the lid comprising an integral spout for direct connection to a socket of the spray gun, the spout having a first cylindrical portion, an externally threaded portion, and a second cylindrical portion, wherein the first cylindrical portion is provided with a helical projection for co-operating with a lug on a spray gun body, and further wherein an abutment is provided at an end of the helical projection to provide an end stop to limit rotation of the lid relative to the lug. 
     
     
         2 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein a free end of the spout is provided with a sealing face. 
     
     
         3 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the second cylindrical portion is provided with one or more sealing ribs. 
     
     
         4 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein the abutment comprises an axial abutment at an upper end of the helical projection. 
     
     
         5 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein a gap is provided between ends of the helical projection. 
     
     
         6 . The lid of  claim 1 , wherein, in use, the helical projection is co-operable with the lug on the spray gun body with a push-twist action requiring less than one complete rotation of the spout. 
     
     
         7 . The lid of  claim 6 , wherein the helical projection provides a ramp face co-operable with the lug so that, in use, the spout is displaced axially into the socket by engagement of the helical projection with the lug. 
     
     
         8 . The lid of  claim 7  wherein the helical projection extends for approximately 180 degrees in a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         9 . A liquid spraying apparatus comprising a gravity feed spray gun and a reservoir for a liquid to be sprayed, the reservoir having an outlet connectable to the spray gun to permit the liquid to be withdrawn from the reservoir in use, and the spray gun having an integral connector arranged for engagement with a co-operating connector on the reservoir by means of which the reservoir is releasably secured to the spray gun, wherein the reservoir comprises a container and a lid, the lid comprising an integral spout for direct connection to a socket of the spray gun, the spout having a first cylindrical portion, an externally threaded portion, and a second cylindrical portion, wherein the first cylindrical portion is provided with a helical projection forming the co-operating connector, and further wherein a stop is provided to limit rotation of the spout relative to the socket, the stop comprising an abutment at one end of the helical projection. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the socket provides a through bore leading to an inlet of the spray gun, and the outlet from the reservoir communicates with the inlet when the reservoir is connected to the spray gun for delivering liquid to the spray gun in use. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the spout and socket are tapered so that the spout is an interference friction fit in the socket to retain the reservoir on the spray gun. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the reservoir and spray gun are provided with mateable formations engageable with a push-twist action that requires less than one complete turn of the reservoir relative to the spray gun. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the stop is provided to limit relative rotation and axial displacement of the spout relative to the socket. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the stop comprises a rib axially spaced from the helical projection. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a fluid tight seal is provided by axial displacement of the spout causing an end face of the spout to engage an internal sealing face within the socket. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the container has an openable air vent at end remote from the connection to the spray gun to allow air to enter as liquid is withdrawn from the reservoir in use. 
     
     
         17 . A liquid spraying apparatus comprising a spray gun and a reservoir for a liquid to be sprayed, the reservoir having an outlet connectable to the spray gun to permit the liquid to be withdrawn from the reservoir in use, and the spray gun having an integral socket arranged for non-threaded engagement with a co-operating connector by means of which the reservoir is releasably secured to the spray gun, wherein the co-operating connector on the reservoir comprises a tubular coupling member that is a push-fit in the socket, the coupling member having a first portion that provides a fluid-tight connection between the coupling member and the socket, and a second portion that is co-operable with the spray gun externally of the socket to inhibit rotation of the coupling member in the socket without restricting relative axial movement between the coupling member and the socket to engage/disengage the coupling member. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the coupling member has a through bore leading to an inlet of the spray gun, and the outlet from the reservoir communicates with the inlet via the through bore when the reservoir is connected to the spray gun for delivering liquid to the spray gun in use. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the first portion of the coupling member and the socket are tapered so that the first portion is an interference friction fit in the socket to retain the reservoir on the spray gun. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the coupling member is an insert separate from the reservoir and the reservoir is connectable to the insert. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the insert is arranged to convert the socket for threaded connection to the outlet from the reservoir. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the outlet from the reservoir is connected to an internally threaded portion of the insert. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein a set of interchangeable inserts is provided allowing fitment of any selected one of the inserts to provide the socket with any desired connector formation. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the second portion of the insert is provided with a cut-out portion, and the spray gun has a formation externally of the socket that is received in the cut-out portion to inhibit rotation of the insert in the socket.