Paint can adapter for handheld spray device

Abstract

An adapter allows direct connection of a handheld spray device to paint cans of varying dimensions. The adapter includes a cage for holding the paint can, a cap that connects the cage to the handheld spray device, and a gasket that seals the open upper end of the paint can to the cap. The adapter may also include a suction tube extension that is connectable between the pump inlet and the suction tube of the spray device. A can spacer insert is positionable in the cage to elevate paint cans of varying heights so that the upper ring of the paint can engages the gasket.

1 . An adapter for connecting a paint can to a pump inlet of a handheld spray device, the adapter comprising:
 a cage for holding an open paint can, the cage comprising a sidewall, a bottom at a lower end, and an open top at an upper end;   a connector for connecting the cage and open paint can to the handheld spray device;   a gasket for forming a seal with an upper end of the open paint can;   a cap mountable on the upper end of the cage and carrying the connector and the gasket;   a suction tube; and   a suction tube extension connectable between the pump inlet and an outlet end of the suction tube.   
     
     
         2 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the cage includes a mount aperture for receiving and holding the suction tube extension when the adapter is not in use. 
     
     
         3 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the cap includes a neck and wherein the connector comprises threads on the neck for engaging threads on the handheld spray device, and wherein the cage includes external threads at the upper end of the cage, and the cap includes internal threads for engaging the external threads of the cage to mount the cap on the upper end of the cage. 
     
     
         4 . The adapter of  claim 1 , wherein the suction tube extension includes each upper section configured to receive a lower end of the pump inlet and a lower section conjured to insert into the outlet end of the suction tube. 
     
     
         5 . An adapter for connecting a paint can to an inlet of a handheld spray device, the adapter comprising:
 a cage for holding an open paint can, the cage having a sidewall, a bottom at a lower end, and an open top at an upper end;   a connector for connecting the cage and open paint can to the handheld spray device;   a cap mountable on the upper end of the cage;   a gasket for forming a seal with an upper end of the open paint can; and   a can spacer insert for positioning on the bottom of the cage to support a bottom end of the paint can at spaced distance above the bottom of the cage.   
     
     
         6 . The adapter of  claim 5 , wherein the can spacer insert comprises:
 a cylindrical body having an open first end and an open second end; and   a shelf positioned within the cylindrical body at a location between the open first end and the open second end.   
     
     
         7 . The adapter of  claim 6 , wherein the shelf is positioned within the cylindrical body closer to the open second end than the open first end. 
     
     
         8 . The adapter of  claim 7 , wherein the shelf has a first support surface and a second support surface. 
     
     
         9 . The adapter of  claim 8 , wherein the first support surface includes an outer ring adjacent the cylindrical body and an inner ring adjacent the outer ring. 
     
     
         10 . The adapter of  claim 9 , wherein the inner ring is recessed with respect to the outer ring. 
     
     
         11 . The adapter of  claim 10 , wherein the second support surface includes an outer ring adjacent the cylindrical body and an inner ring adjacent the outer ring. 
     
     
         12 . The adapter of  claim 8 , wherein the inner ring of the second support surface is recessed with respect to the outer ring of the second support surface. 
     
     
         13 . The adapter of  claim 8 , wherein the first support surface carries a first label identifying a height range of paint cans supportable by the first support surface; and wherein the second support surface carries a second label identifying a height range of paint cans supportable by the second support surface. 
     
     
         14 . The adapter of  claim 5 , wherein the open first end is castellated. 
     
     
         15 . A paint spraying system comprising:
 a handheld spray device having an inlet for receiving paint to be sprayed; and   an adapter that connects and seals an open paint can to the handheld spray device so that paint from the paint can is supplied to the inlet, wherein the adapter comprises:
 a cage for holding an open paint can, the cage comprising a sidewall, a bottom at a lower end, and an open top at an upper end; 
 a cap mounted on the upper end of the cage for connecting the cage and the paint can to the handheld spray device so that a suction tube extends from the inlet through the cap and into the open paint can; 
 a gasket positioned within the cap for sealing an upper ring of the paint can to the cap; and 
 a can spacer insert for positioning on the bottom of the cage to elevate the paint can with respect to the bottom so that the upper ring of the paint can engages the gasket. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the can spacer insert comprises:
 a cylindrical body having an open first end, an open second end; and 
 a shelf positioned within the cylindrical body at a location between the open first end and the open second end. 
 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the shelf is positioned within the cylindrical body closer to the open second end than the open first end. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the shelf has a first support surface and a second support surface, wherein the first support surface includes an outer ring adjacent the cylindrical body and an inner ring adjacent the outer ring, and wherein the second support surface includes an outer ring adjacent the cylindrical body and an inner ring adjacent the outer ring. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the inner ring of the first support surface is recessed with respect to the outer ring, and wherein the inner ring of the second support surface is recessed with respect to the outer ring of the second support surface. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first support surface carries a first label identifying a height range of paint cans supportable by the first support surface, and wherein the second support surface carries a second label identifying a height range of paint cans supportable by the second support surface.