# US 2021/0078024 A1 · Fluid delivery assembly for a spray gun

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- Number: US 2021/0078024 A1
- Document ID: US20210078024A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/630,537
- Filed: 2018-07-13
- Published: 2021-03-18
- Earliest claimed: 2017-07-14
- Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company
- Applicants: 3M Innovative Properties Company
- Inventors: Anna M. Hegdahl; Stephen C.P. Joseph; Alexander T. Ebertowski; John W. Henderson; Steven J. Tarnowski; Scott D. Gullicks; Elaine M. Yorkgitis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210078024A1

## CPC

- B05B 7/2478: {Gun with a container which, in normal use, is located above the gun}
- B05B 9/0838: {supply being effected by follower in container, e.g. membrane or floating piston, or by deformation of container}
- B29C 51/10: Forming by pressure difference, e.g. vacuum
- B65D 90/046: {Flexible liners, e.g. loosely positioned in the container}
- B05B 7/2408: {characterised by the container or its attachment means to the spray apparatus}
- B05B 7/2481: {with a flexible container for liquid or other fluent material}
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid delivery assembly (1) for a spray gun, the assembly comprising a container (20) for holding paint. The container is self-supporting and configured to collapse as fluid is dispensed via the spray gun, wherein the container comprises at least one vent (26). The invention further relates to a spray gun including such fluid delivery assembly, a method of forming the container and a thermo/vacuum forming tool to be used in such method.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fluid delivery assembly (1) for a spray gun, the assembly (1) comprising a container (20) for holding paint, the container (20) being self-supporting and configured to collapse as fluid is dispensed via the spray gun, wherein the container (20) comprises at least one vent (26).

### Claim at position 2

2-9. (canceled)

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The fluid delivery assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the container (20) comprises a closure or a valve assembly that is configured to open and close the vent (26).

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The fluid delivery assembly (1) according to claim 10, wherein the valve assembly includes at least one first element (30), wherein the first element (30) has a first side (30-1) that is bonded to at least one of the container base (21) and a container sidewall (22).

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The fluid delivery assembly (1) according to claim 11, wherein the first element (30) is at least partially embedded into the at least one of the container base (21) and the container sidewall (22).

### Claim at position 6

13-15. (canceled)

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The fluid delivery assembly (1) according to claim 11, wherein the first element (30) comprises at least one flange (32).

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The fluid delivery assembly (1) according to claim 11, wherein the first element comprises an attachment portion (31) to which a second element (40) of the valve assembly is movably attached.

### Claim at position 9

18-39. (canceled)

### Claim 40 (depends on 1)

The fluid delivery assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the assembly (1) further comprises an outer cup (10), wherein the container (20) is received within the outer cup (10), and wherein the outer cup is more rigid than the container (20).

### Claim 41

(canceled)

### Claim 42

(canceled)

### Claim 43 (depends on 40)

The fluid delivery assembly (1) according to claim 40, wherein the assembly (1) further comprises a removable lid (50), wherein the removable lid (50) comprises an outlet (51) that is configured to be connected to an inlet of the spray gun.

### Claim 44

(canceled)

### Claim 45 (depends on 43)

The fluid delivery assembly (1) according to claim 43, wherein the assembly (1) further comprises a screw-on collar (60).

### Claim 46

(canceled)

### Claim 47

(canceled)

### Claim 48 (depends on 1)

A method of forming a container of a fluid delivery assembly for a spray gun, preferably a container of a fluid delivery assembly for a spray gun according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a sheet of polymeric material;
(b) inserting the sheet into a thermo/vacuum forming tool;
(c) thermo/vacuum forming the sheet into a container; and
(d) removing the container from the thermo/vacuum forming tool;
wherein the container is provided with a vent, and
wherein the vent is located in at least one of a container base and a container sidewall.

### Claim 49 (depends on 48)

The method according to claim 48, further comprising a step of bursting at least one hole through the container.

### Claim at position 20

50-52. (canceled)

### Claim 53 (depends on 48)

The method according to claim 48, wherein the vent is created by providing the sheet with at least one of a hole and a slit before thermo/vacuum forming the sheet into the container.

### Claim at position 22

54-56. (canceled)

### Claim 57 (depends on 48)

The method according to claim 48, wherein the vent is located in at least one of a container base and a container sidewall.

### Claim 58 (depends on 48)

The method according to claim 48, wherein the method further includes a step of bonding at least one first element of a valve assembly to the container, wherein the at least one first element is bonded to the container before the container is removed from the thermo/vacuum forming tool.

### Claim 59 (depends on 58)

The method according to claim 58, wherein the first element is at least partially placed in the first cavity before thermo/vacuum forming the sheet into the container.

### Claim at position 26

60-63. (canceled)

### Claim 64 (depends on 58)

The method according to claim 58, wherein the valve assembly is closed before removing the container from the thermo/vacuum forming tool.

### Claim 65 (depends on 64)

The method according to claim 64, wherein the valve assembly includes a second element and wherein the method comprises a step of rotating said second element relatively to the first element from an open position in which the valve assembly is opened to a closed position in which the valve assembly is closed before removing the container from the thermo/vacuum forming tool.

### Claim at position 29

66-98. (canceled)

### Claim 99 (depends on 1)

A thermo/vacuum forming tool for forming a container of a fluid delivery assembly for a spray gun, preferably a container of a fluid delivery assembly for a spray gun according to claim 1, wherein the tool comprises
at least one female mold member, wherein the female mold member provides at least one first cavity, wherein the first cavity has a cavity surface against which a surface of a sheet is pressed when thermo/vacuum forming the sheet into the container; and
at least one component holding receptacle that is adapted to receive at least one pre-formed first component of the container, wherein the thermo/vacuum forming tool is configured to at least one of bond, adhere, weld, or form lock the first element to the container during the thermo/vacuum forming process,
wherein the female mold member further comprises a heating element.

### Claim at position 31

100-107. (canceled)

### Claim 108 (depends on 99)

The tool according to claim 99, wherein the tool comprises a rotation mechanism configured to rotate two elements of a valve assembly that are placed in the tool before thermo/vacuum forming with respect to each other.

### Claim 109 (depends on 108)

The tool according to claim 108, wherein the tool further comprises a rotation restriction mechanism configured to prevent rotation of a first of said elements with respect to the container.

### Claim 110

(canceled)

### Claim 111

(canceled)