Painting apparatuses and methods

Abstract

This document discusses, among other things, an apparatus for painting a work surface including a handle housing. A disposable painting module is configured to be removably engaged with the handle housing. The painting module includes a paint applicator configured to be removably engaged with the handle housing. The paint applicator is configured to apply paint to the work surface. A paint reservoir is fluidly coupled with the paint applicator and is configured to be removably engaged with the handle housing. An urging mechanism is coupled to the handle housing and configured to interact with the paint reservoir to substantially uniformly discharge the paint from the paint reservoir and supply the paint to the paint applicator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for painting a work surface, comprising:
 a handle housing;   a disposable painting module configured to be removably engaged with the handle housing, the painting module including:
 a paint applicator configured to be removably engaged with the handle housing, the paint applicator configured to apply paint to the work surface; and 
 a paint reservoir fluidly coupled with the paint applicator and configured to be removably engaged with the handle housing; and 
   an urging mechanism coupled to the handle housing and configured to interact with the paint reservoir to substantially uniformly discharge the paint from the paint reservoir and supply the paint to the paint applicator.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the paint applicator includes a manifold having an opening, the manifold configured to receive paint from the paint reservoir and discharge the paint though the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the manifold includes more than one opening configured to discharge paint. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the paint applicator includes a pad attached to the manifold, the pad configured to accept the paint discharged from the opening and apply the paint to the work surface. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the paint applicator includes a pad configured to apply the paint to the work surface. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the urging mechanism includes a constant force spring. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , comprising an enclosure at least partially surrounding the constant force spring, the enclosure configured to limit radial expansion of the constant force spring. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the paint reservoir includes a piston configured to interact with the urging mechanism, the piston configured to force the paint out of the paint reservoir, the urging mechanism configured to apply a substantially constant force to the piston to substantially uniformly supply the paint to the paint applicator. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the handle housing includes an attachment surface configured to vibrate with respect to the handle housing. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the attachment surface is configured to reciprocate with respect to the handle housing. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the attachment surface is configured to be selectively powered to vibrate with respect to the handle housing. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the attachment surface is configured to vibrate with respect to the handle housing in a direction substantially in line with a longitudinal axis of the handle housing. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising a flow control configured to alter a rate at which the paint is supplied from the paint reservoir to the paint applicator. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the urging mechanism is configured to selectively continuously discharge the paint from the paint reservoir. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for painting a work surface, comprising:
 a handle housing including an attachment surface configured to vibrate with respect to the handle housing;   a disposable painting module configured to be removably engaged with the handle housing, the painting module including:
 a paint applicator configured to be removably engaged with the attachment surface, the paint applicator configured to apply paint to the work surface; and 
 a paint reservoir fluidly coupled with the paint applicator and configured to be removably engaged with the handle housing; and 
   an urging mechanism including a constant force spring, the urging mechanism coupled to the handle housing and configured to interact with the paint reservoir to substantially uniformly discharge the paint from the paint reservoir and supply the paint to the paint applicator.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the paint applicator includes a manifold having an opening, the manifold configured to receive paint from the paint reservoir and discharge the paint though the opening. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the paint applicator includes a pad attached to the manifold, the pad configured to accept the paint discharged from the opening and apply the paint to the work surface. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the attachment surface is configured to be selectively powered to vibrate with respect to the handle housing. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the urging mechanism is configured to selectively continuously discharge the paint from the paint reservoir. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the attachment surface is configured to vibrate with respect to the handle housing in a direction substantially in line with a longitudinal axis of the handle housing.