The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 28, 2004
Filed:
May. 02, 2003
Thomas W. Schwartz, Hudson, WI (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A material supply assembly for use with a spraying device, which material supply assembly includes a housing of stiff material comprising a side wall having a top end defining an opening into a recess defined by the housing; and a pre-filled container comprising a stiff annular lip adapted to be positioned along the top end of the side wall, and a flexible portion fixed to the annular lip and adapted to extend into the cavity in the housing when the annular lip is positioned along the top end of the side wall. The flexible portion has an inner surface defining a cavity, and a quantity of material is within the cavity in the flexible portion. A polymeric membrane extends across and is sealed to the annular lip to retain the material in the cavity. The material supply assembly also includes an adapter assembly having a through opening, at one end of which is a transverse portion including a peripheral part adapted for engagement with the annular lip positioned on the top end of the container, and at the other end of which is a portion adapted to engage the inlet port of a liquid spraying device. Means are provided for securing the peripheral part to the housing with the annular lip therebetween. A piercing structure projects from the central portion and has a distal end portion adapted to pierce the membrane as the peripheral part is engaged with the annular lip positioned on the top end of the housing.