Apparatus, Process, and System for Cleaning Paint Roller Covers

A paint roller cleaner, comprising:

• a housing having an outlet configured to discharge a cleaning fluid from the paint roller cleaner;
• a handle connected to housing;
• an adapter disposed on an end portion of the handle, the adapter being configured to connect the paint roller cleaner to a supply of the cleaning fluid;
• a nozzle disposed inside the handle, the nozzle being configured to generate a cleaning fluid jet;
• a lever connected to the nozzle, the lever being configured to change a position of the cleaning fluid jet;
• an idler attached to an inside surface of the housing;
• a valve disposed on the handle, the valve being configured to control the flow of cleaning fluid;
• a clamp disposed on an outside surface of the housing, the clamp being configured to hold a first portion of a paint roller frame configured to support the paint roller cover;
• and
• a slot disposed on the housing on a location substantially opposite to the location of the inside surface of the housing where the idler is attached, wherein the idler is configured to support a paint roller cover to be cleaned and the slot is configured to receive a second portion of the paint roller frame so as to dispose the paint roller cover substantially in front of the cleaning fluid jet.

A method of cleaning a paint roller, the method comprising:

• providing a housing having an outlet configured to discharge a cleaning fluid;
• connecting a handle to the housing;
• disposing an adapter on an end portion of the handle, the adapter being configured to connect the paint roller cleaner to a supply of the cleaning fluid;
• disposing a nozzle inside the handle, the nozzle being configured to generate a cleaning fluid jet;
• attaching an idler to an inside surface of the housing;
• and
• disposing a slot on the housing on a location substantially opposite to the location of the inside surface of the housing where the idler is attached, wherein the idler is configured to support a paint roller cover to be cleaned and the slot is configured to receive a first portion of a paint roller frame configured to support the paint roller so as to dispose the paint roller cover substantially in front of the cleaning fluid jet.