Cover member for a robot used in a painting process having absorptive properties

Abstract

A cover member for a robot used in a painting process includes an inner knitted substructure, an outer knitted substructure and a spacer yarn positioned between and secured to the inner and outer knitted substructures. The cover member has stretchability, compressibility and resiliency similar to conventional resilient foam materials while at the same time providing characteristics for absorbing paint to substantially reduce paint dripping.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cover member for a robot used in a painting process, the cover member comprising:
 an inner fabric layer;   an outer fabric layer; and   a spacer yarn positioned between and secured to the inner and outer fabric layers,   wherein the outer fabric layer is porous to allow paint to pass therethrough into a cavity defined between the inner and outer fabric layers.   
     
     
         2 . The cover member of  claim 1 , wherein the inner and outer layers are inner and outer knitted substructures, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The cover member of  claim 2 , wherein the inner and outer knitted substructures are both flexible and stretchable. 
     
     
         4 . The cover member of  claim 1 , wherein the cover member has a shape of a sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The cover member of  claim 2 , wherein the outer knitted substructure defines a plurality of holes for absorbing paint into an area between the inner and outer knitted substructures. 
     
     
         6 . The cover member of  claim 5 , wherein the outer knitted substructure has a honeycomb pattern. 
     
     
         7 . The cover member of  claim 2 , wherein the inner and outer knitted substructures have a length of approximately 18 inches and a width of approximately 13 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The cover member of  claim 2 , wherein the spacer yarn has an uncompressed thickness of approximately 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The cover member of  claim 2 , wherein the inner and outer knitted substructures are generally rectangular. 
     
     
         10 . The cover member of  claim 1 , wherein the inner fabric layer is non-porous to prevent paint from passing from the cavity through the inner fabric layer. 
     
     
         11 . A method of covering a portion of a robot used in a painting process and for and absorbing paint overspray, the method comprising:
 providing a cover member including an inner knitted substructure, an outer knitted substructure and a spacer yarn positioned between and secured to the inner and outer knitted substructures;   securing the cover member to the portion of the robot with the inner knitted substructure position against the portion of the robot; and   absorbing paint into an area between the inner knitted substructure and the outer knitted substructure.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the outer knitted substructure includes a plurality of holes and absorbing paint into an area between the inner knitting substructure and the outer knitted substructure includes absorbing paint through the plurality of holes. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the inner knitted substructure is non-porous and the outer knitted substructure is porous. 
     
     
         14 . A method of protecting a portion of a robot used in a painting process from paint overspray, the method comprising:
 providing a cover member including an inner fabric layer and an outer fabric layer;   positioning the cover member relative to the robot for protecting the robot from paint overspray; and   absorbing paint into an area between the inner fabric layer and the outer fabric layer.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cover member is a sleeve and positioning the cover member relative to the robot includes securing the sleeve around a portion of the robot. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cover member includes a spacer yarn positioned in the area between the inner and outer fabric layers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising retaining the absorbed paint within the area between the inner and outer fabric layers with the spacer yarn. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the inner fabric layer includes a plurality of holes through which paint may pass into the area between the inner and outer fabric layers. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising preventing absorbed paint from passing through the inner layer of fabric. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the inner knitted substructure is non-porous and the outer knitted substructure is porous.