3m Innovative Properties Company

Phillip J Bouic

Stephen C P Joseph

Neil Delbridge

Malcolm F Douglas

A connector system for releasably securing a reservoir to a spray gun includes hook members on a lid of the reservoir that engage a flange of an inlet adaptor on the spray gun with a push/twist action to secure the reservoir to the spray gun. A retainer clip mounted on the inlet adaptor is movable between an inoperative position to allow the reservoir to be connected to and disconnected from the spray gun, and an operative position in which the clip blocks release of the reservoir. The clip provides security against accidental release of the reservoir in use of the spray gun.

Security clip for spray gun connector

A reservoir for use with a spray gun has a body and a flexible diaphragm that define a chamber for liquid to be supplied to the spray gun. The body has an outlet opening leading to a spout connectable to the spray gun and the diaphragm deflects to reduce the volume of the chamber as liquid is withdrawn from the reservoir. The diaphragm gradually conforms to the internal surface of the body as the liquid is withdrawn to prevent pockets forming in which the liquid may be trapped so that substantially all the liquid can be dispensed. The reservoir may be supplied pre-filled with the liquid.

Conformable pouch reservoir for spray gun

A paint reservoir has an outlet connectable to a spray gun for transferring paint from the reservoir to the spray gun in use. The outlet is provided with a valve device for opening and closing the outlet to control flow of paint from the reservoir. The valve device has an outer sleeve axially slidable on a spout between a retracted position in which the outlet is closed and an extended position in which the outlet is open. The spout is integral with a lid of the reservoir and the sleeve is a push fit in an adapter for attaching the reservoir to a spray gun. The sleeve is provided with support arms for retainer hooks engageable with the adapter to releasably secure the reservoir to the spray gun.

Valve closure for spray gun reservoir

Masking strip design

A masking material ( ) comprising an elongate strip ( ) at least partially coated with a layer of a pressure-sensitive adhesive ( ), the strip having a curved surface which is convex when the strip is viewed in cross-section and is positioned such that when the strip is adhered to a substrate by the layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive a portion of the curved surface overhangs the substrate, characterized in that the masking material comprises a removable edge portion ( ) comprising said portion of the curved surface detachably secured to a remainder of the strip which may be removed to expose a second curved surface on the remainder of the strip which is convex when viewed in cross-section and which is positioned to overhang the substrate, said removable portion ( ) and remainder of the strip ( ) having different dimensions.

Masking materials and method of use

A foam article for use as a masking material when spray painting a vehicle comprises a plurality of foam strips joined together by a common seam along at least one side edge to form a cord The cord can be adapted for masking across gaps of different size in different locations by superimposing the appropriate combination of foam strips to provide the required thickness of cord The cord may be secured by wedging in the gap or by attaching an adhesive stripe on at least one of the foam strips to a surface on the inside or outside of the gap. The cord may also be re-used by removing any painted foam strips or by re-arranging the foam strips to conceal any painted foam strips.

Foam articles

A masking material comprises an elongate strip at least partially coated with a layer of a pressure-sensitive adhesive, die strip having a curved surface which is convex when the strip is viewed in cross-section and is positioned such that when the strip is adhered to a substrate by the layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive a portion of the curved surface overhangs the substrate. The masking material comprises a removable edge portion comprising said portion of the curved surface detachably secured to a remainder of the strip and which may be removed to expose a second curved surface on the remainder of the strip which is convex when viewed in cross-section and which is positioned to overhang the substrate. The removable portion and remainder of the strip have different dimensions. Methods for making such masking material are also described.

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Warwicks, United Kingdom

Phillip J Bouic