Spray gun and components for spraying paints and other coatings

A sprayer comprising:

• a body defining a longitudinal spray axis and having a bore;
• a valve cartridge disposed within the bore;
• an actuator configured to engage a slider of the valve cartridge to shift the slider axially to control spraying by the sprayer;
• wherein the actuator is movable relative to the body between a first state, in which the actuator interfaces with the slider such that the actuator can displace the slider to open a valve of the valve cartridge, and a second state, in which the actuator is spaced from the slider such that the slider can pass axially by the actuator;
• wherein the actuator is configured to shift upward away from a handle extending from the body to move from the first state to the second state;
• wherein a trigger is mounted to the body with the actuator in both the first state and the second state, the trigger including a first arm connected to the body by a pivot mechanism such that the trigger pivots on the pivot mechanism;
• wherein the pivot mechanism includes a pivot spring disposed within a lateral bore formed in the body and a first detent disposed at least partially within the lateral bore, the pivot spring configured to bias the first detent laterally relative to the body;
• wherein the first arm includes a first aperture extending through the first arm;
• and
• wherein the first detent is configured to engage the first aperture such that the first detent and the first aperture form a pivot point of the trigger.

A sprayer comprising:

• a body defining a longitudinal spray axis and having a bore, the body comprising:
• a front end having a bore aligned on the spray axis;
• a back end having a cavity aligned on the spray axis;
• a void disposed between the front end and the back end, wherein the void is open at least through a top side of the body, a first lateral side of the body, and a second lateral side of the body;
• a valve cartridge disposed within the bore, the valve cartridge containing a valve for controlling spraying from the sprayer, wherein a slider of the valve cartridge is at least partially disposed in the void, the slider configured to shift axially to actuate the valve between an open state and a closed state;
• a trigger mounted on the body, the trigger comprising:
• a pull disposed on a bottom side of the body;
• a first arm extending from the trigger and disposed on the first lateral side of the body;
• a second arm extending from the trigger and disposed on the second lateral side of the body;
• an actuator extending between the first arm and the second arm, wherein the actuator is disposed within the void and is configured to engage a slider of the valve cartridge to shift the slider axially to control spraying by the sprayer;
• a pivot mechanism supported by the gun body, the trigger mounted to the pivot mechanism such that the trigger can pivot on the pivot mechanism;
• wherein the trigger is movable relative to the pivot mechanism and relative to the body between a spray state, in which the actuator is aligned with the slider such that pulling of the trigger causes the actuator to engage the slider and displace the slider to open the valve, and a disengaged state, in which the actuator is misaligned with and spaced away from the slider such that the actuator is disposed radially outward of any portion of the slider and such that the slider can move axially past the actuator along the longitudinal spray axis and towards the front end during dismounting of the valve cartridge from within the bore;
• wherein the trigger is mounted to the body by the pivot mechanism with the trigger in both the spray state and the disengaged state.

A sprayer comprising:

• a body defining a longitudinal spray axis and having a bore;
• a valve cartridge disposed within the bore;
• an actuator configured to engage a slider of the valve cartridge to shift the slider axially to control spraying by the sprayer;
• wherein the actuator is movable relative to the body between a first state, in which the actuator interfaces with the slider such that the actuator can displace the slider to open a valve of the valve cartridge, and a second state, in which the actuator is spaced from the slider such that the slider can pass axially by the actuator along the longitudinal spray axis to allow the valve cartridge to move out of the bore to dismount the valve cartridge from the body, the actuator moving away from the spray axis from the first state to the second state, and the actuator moving towards the spray axis from the second state to the first state;
• wherein the actuator is configured to shift upward away from and relative to a handle extending from the body to move from the first state to the second state;
• and
• wherein a trigger is mounted to the body with the actuator in both the first state and the second state.