3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

3m Company

David R Bastow

Malcolm F Douglas

Alan F Butler

Margaret A Hartfel

Stephen C P Joseph

Jerry E Salhus

Jerome E Salhus

Stephen Cp Joseph

David J Francis

Margaret E Hartfel

Stephen CP Joseph

Apparatus and methods for spraying a liquid relating to a gravity-fed spray gun are disclosed. Disclosed gravity fed spray guns may comprise a body and an attachment point located at a top portion of the body; and a spray nozzle located at a front portion of the body. An apparatus may further comprise a fluid reservoir configured to contain a fluid to be sprayed through the spray nozzle, the fluid reservoir comprising a container comprising an open end; a lid for cooperative engagement with the open end of the container, the lid comprising a connector to couple the fluid reservoir to the attachment point of the spray gun and an aperture through which the fluid can flow from the fluid reservoir to the spray nozzle in use; and a filter positioned to filter the fluid before reaching the spray nozzle.

Apparatus for spraying liquids, and adapters and liquid reservoirs suitable for use therewith

A spray gun () has a fluid reservoir () with a removable liner () received in a container () having a detachable lid (). The liner (), which may be thermo/vacuum-formed from a planar material, has a shape that corresponds to and is a close fit within the interior of the container () and collapses as fluid is withdrawn from within the liner () during operation of the spray gun (). The lid () has an outlet () connected to an inlet on the spray gun () for transfer of liquid from the reservoir () to the spray gun () and the container () has a vent (A) in the base end for admitting air between the container () and the liner () as liquid is withdrawn from within the liner ().

Apparatus for spraying liquids, and disposable containers and liners suitable for use therewith

A spray gun is disclosed, including components and kits of components thereof, comprising a body comprising an attachment point for a compatible liquid reservoir and an adapter. The adapter comprises, at a first end, a non-threaded connection for attachment to a connector of a compatible liquid reservoir, the adapter being attached at a second end to the attachment point on the body such that the adapter remains attached to the body upon removal of a compatible liquid reservoir from the non-threaded connection.

A spray gun has a fluid reservoir that contains a removable liner. The liner, which may be thermo/vacuum-formed from a plastics material, is a close fit within the interior of the reservoir and collapses as fluid is withdrawn from within the liner during operation of the gun. Preferably, the liner has a comparatively-rigid base and is capable of standing, unsupported, outside the reservoir. The side walls of the liner are preferably thin in comparison to the base and can be collapsed for disposal of the liner. The reservoir has a removable lid and is capable of standing, inverted, on its own so that it can be filled with fluid. The lid also functions to secure the liner in the reservoir and, at the end of a spraying operation, the lid and the liner are removed together from the reservoir and discarded, thereby simplifying the cleaning of the spray gun.

Apparatus for spraying liquids, disposable containers and liners suitable for use therewith

The &ldquo;B&rdquo; post of an automobile between its front and rear doors is masked before the vehicle is painted by (1) providing a resiliently conformable strip of masking material having a width greater than the maximum distance between the trailing edge of the front door adjacent the &ldquo;B&rdquo; post and the leading edge of the rear door adjacent the &ldquo;B&rdquo; post and a length at least equal to the length of those edges along the &ldquo;B&rdquo; post to be masked, which strip has pressure sensitive adhesive on a surface adjacent a longitudinal edge of the strip; (2) opening the front door; (3) applying the strip to the inner surface of the leading edge of the rear door so that the pressure sensitive adhesive securely adheres the strip to conform with the profile of the leading edge and the strip extends across the &ldquo;B&rdquo; post to an extent sufficient to overlap with the trailing edge of the front door when said front door is closed; and (4) closing the front door to abut the overlap and thereby mask the &ldquo;B&rdquo; post.

Masking method

An adhesive-free, dry, free-flowing powder composition suitable for use in surface defect detection, where the powder composition comprises a physical mixture of particles of a colorant and particles of an extender, which mixture includes particles of colorant and particles of extender each having a particle size of less than 100 .mu.m. The powder compositions of the invention provide a simple, effective guide coat which readily highlights surface imperfections, such as scratches, orange peel effect and dry over-spray without the need for solvents. Also, there are disclosed methods of using such a powder composition to detect surface imperfections, an apparatus for applying same, a device for refilling such applying apparatus, and coated surfaces formed thereby.

Surface defect detection powder composition, methods of using same and

Guide coat detect surface defects and method of sanding therewith

Container

Masking methods using a foam web

Elongate foam strips are formed by cold welding a flat foam web using blunt rotary cutters. A manually separable array of foam strips is formed by welding a flat foam web along a series of parallel lines, using cold welding or other joining methods, and packaging the array without separating the individual strips from one another.

Growing community of inventors

Staffordshire, United Kingdom

David R Bastow