Apparatus for cleaning roller applicators

Claim 1

An apparatus for holding a roller-type applicator, which applicator includes: an outer generally cylindrical surface, a centrally located bore, and a pair of opposed open ends, and for receiving pressurized liquid from a source thereof and for utilizing said liquid to rotate and clean said applicator, said apparatus comprising: a. a container including i. a continuous side wall, ii. a closed end, and iii. an open end; b. a cap detachably securable with the open end of said container and having fluid drainage means therethrough, said cap having i. a generally centrally located bearing support element carrying the other of said bearings, ii. at least two spaced apart arms extending outwardly from said bearing support element and having spaces therebetween defining said fluid drainage means, and iii. attachment means for detachably securing said cap to said container, said attachment means including a plurality of openings extending through the side wall of said container proximate the open end thereof, said openings sized and spaced to receive a terminal portion of said legs therethrough, and stop means carried by end of said legs for abutting the side wall of said container and limiting the length of the terminal portion of said legs received through said openings; c. a pair of spaced apart axially aligned bearings for rotatably supporting said applicator, one of said bearings being carried by the closed end of said container, the other of said bearings being carried by said cap; and d. fluid transfer means carried by said housing for receiving said pressurized fluid and for directing said fluid toward said applicator.

Claim 2

An apparatus for holding a roller-type applicator, which applicator includes: an outer generally cylindrical surface, a centrally located bore, and a pair of opposed open ends, and for receiving pressurized liquid from a source thereof and for utilizing said liquid to rotate and clean said applicator, said apparatus comprising: a. a container including i. a continuous side wall, ii. a closed end, and iii. an open end; b. a cap detachably securable with the open end of said container and having fluid drainage means therethrough, said cap having i. a generally centrally located bearing support element carrying the other of said bearings, ii. at least two spaced apart arms extending outwardly from said bearing support element and having spaces therebetween defining said fluid drainage means, and iii. attachment means for detachably securing said cap to said container, said attachment means including a plurality of openings extending through the side wall of said container proximate the open end thereof, said openings sized and spaced to receive a terminal portion of said legs therethrough, and stop means carried by end of said legs for abutting the side wall of said container and limiting the length of the terminal portion of said legs received through said openings; c. a pair of spaced apart axially aligned bearings for rotatably supporting said applicator, one of said bearings being carried by the closed end of said container, the other of said bearings being carried by said cap; and d. fluid transfer means carried by said housing for receiving said pressurized fluid and for directing said fluid toward said applicator.

Claim 4

An apparatus for holding a roller-type applicator, which applicator includes an outer generally cylindrical surface, a centrally located bore, and a pair of opposed open ends, and for receiving pressurized liquid from a source thereof and for utilizing said liquid to rotate and clean said applicator, said apparatus comprising: a. a container including i. a continuous side wall, ii. a closed end, and iii. an open end; b. a cap detachably securable with the open end of said container and having fluid drainage means therethrough; c. a pair of spaced apart axially aligned bearings for rotatably supporting said applicator, one of said bearings being carried by the closed end of said container, the other of said bearings being carried by said cap, each of said bearings including i. a first cylindrical element having a fixed end and a free end; and ii. a second cylindrical element having a fixed end and a free end, said second cylindrical element having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said first cylindrical element; and d. fluid transfer means carried by said housing for receiving said pressurized fluid and for directing said fluid toward said applicator.

Claim 5

An apparatus for holding a roller-type applicator, which applicator includes an outer generally cylindrical surface, a centrally located bore, and a pair of opposed open ends, and for receiving pressurized liquid from a source thereof and for utilizing said liquid to rotate and clean said applicator, said apparatus comprising: a. a container including i. a continuous side wall, ii. a closed end, and iii. an open end; b. a cap detachably securable with the open end of said container and having fluid drainage means therethrough; c. a pair of spaced apart axially aligned bearings for rotatably supporting said applicator, one of said bearings being carried by the closed end of said container, the other of said bearings being carried by said cap, each of said bearings including i. a first cylindrical element having a fixed end and a free end; and ii. a second cylindrical element having a fixed end and a free end, said second cylindrical element having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said first cylindrical element; and d. fluid transfer means carried by said housing for receiving said pressurized fluid and for directing said fluid toward said applicator.