Patents by Inventor Steve J. Wrobel

Steve J. Wrobel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220213891
    Abstract: A pump rod has a head extending from a neck, and the head is received within a drive slot of a drive link. The head includes a projection, and has an area smaller than an area of the head. The projection contacts an inner surface of the drive slot. The drive link may include a projection aligned with a centerline of the drive link. The drive link projection contacts a head of the pump rod. The projections provide a reduced contact area between the pump rod and the drive link, thereby reducing any side-loading on the pump rod and increasing a lifespan of the wear parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: David J. Thompson, Christopher A. Lins, Andrew J. Kopel, Glen W. Davidson, Chad R. Taszarek, Chris W. Sydow, William M. Blenkush, Steve J. Wrobel
  • Patent number: 11319947
    Abstract: A paint sprayer includes an end bell, a motor connected to the end bell, a pump drive connected to the end bell, a pair of protrusions attached to an extending from the end bell such that each protrusion is cantilevered from the end bell, and a pump assembly comprising a pair of mounting holes and containing a piston. The pair of mounting holes is adapted to receive and slide onto the pair of protrusions to mount the pump assembly on the end bell as well as slide off of the pair of protrusions to remove the pump assembly from the end bell. The pump drive is configured to covert rotational motion output by the motor to reciprocal motion. The pump assembly is configured to pump paint when reciprocated by the pump drive while mounted on the end bell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Max Carideo, James M. Dalton, Justin G. Johnston, Steve J. Wrobel, Christopher A. Lins
  • Patent number: 11286926
    Abstract: A pump rod has a head extending from a neck, and the head is received within a drive slot of a drive link. The head includes a projection, and has an area smaller than an area of the head. The projection contacts an inner surface of the drive slot. The drive link may include a projection aligned with a centerline of the drive link. The drive link projection contacts a head of the pump rod. The projections provide a reduced contact area between the pump rod and the drive link, thereby reducing any side-loading on the pump rod and increasing a lifespan of the wear parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Thompson, Christopher A. Lins, Andrew J. Kopel, Glen W. Davidson, Chad R. Taszarek, Chris W. Sydow, William M. Blenkush, Steve J. Wrobel
  • Publication number: 20210308702
    Abstract: A sprayer includes a spray gun and a hopper. An air source provides compressed air to the sprayer to both eject fluid from the spray gun as a spray and to pressurize the hopper. The spray gun includes passages for providing compressed air to the nozzle for spraying and to the hopper for pressurizing the hopper. The spray gun further includes a relief valve for venting pressurized air from the hopper. The hopper receives the compressed air through a port in the hopper, and the compressed air assists the flow of material out of the hopper and into the spray gun.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Steven D. Becker, David M. Larsen, Steve J. Wrobel, Mark D. Shultz, Robert J. Gundersen
  • Publication number: 20210277890
    Abstract: A pump rod has a head extending from a neck, and the head is received within a drive slot of a drive link. The head includes a projection, and has an area smaller than an area of the head. The projection contacts an inner surface of the drive slot. The drive link may include a projection aligned with a centerline of the drive link. The drive link projection contacts a head of the pump rod. The projections provide a reduced contact area between the pump rod and the drive link, thereby reducing any side-loading on the pump rod and increasing a lifespan of the wear parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: David J. Thompson, Christopher A. Lins, Andrew J. Kopel, Glen W. Davidson, Chad R. Taszarek, Chris W. Sydow, William M. Blenkush, Steve J. Wrobel
  • Publication number: 20210231121
    Abstract: A piston includes a piston cap, a piston rod body, and a piston head, with the piston cap being removable from the piston rod body. The piston cap includes a cap body and a connecting portion extending from the cap body and away from the piston rod body. The connecting portion includes a neck and a cap head with the cap head connected to an end of the neck disposed opposite the piston rod body. The cap head is wider than the neck. A mounting portion of the piston rod body extends into a receiving portion of the cap body to connect the piston rod body to the piston cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: Jeromy D. Horning, Steve J. Wrobel
  • Patent number: 11052412
    Abstract: A sprayer includes a spray gun and a hopper. An air source provides compressed air to the sprayer to both eject fluid from the spray gun as a spray and to pressurize the hopper. The spray gun includes an airflow controller for controlling the flow of the compressed air to a nozzle of the spray gun, a pressure regulator for regulating a pressure of the compressed air flowing to the hopper, and a relief valve between the pressure regulator and the hopper. The hopper receives the compressed air through a port in the hopper, and the compressed air assists the flow of material out of the hopper and into the spray gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Becker, David M. Larsen, Steve J. Wrobel, Mark D. Shultz, Robert J. Gundersen
  • Patent number: 11035359
    Abstract: A pump rod has a head extending from a neck, and the head is received within a drive slot of a drive link. The head includes a projection, and has an area smaller than an area of the head. The projection contacts an inner surface of the drive slot. The drive link may include a projection aligned with a centerline of the drive link. The drive link projection contacts a head of the pump rod. The projections provide a reduced contact area between the pump rod and the drive link, thereby reducing any side-loading on the pump rod and increasing a lifespan of the wear parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Thompson, Christopher A. Lins, Andrew J. Kopel, Glen W. Davidson, Chad R. Taszarek, Chris W. Sydow, William M. Blenkush, Steve J. Wrobel
  • Publication number: 20210154691
    Abstract: A handheld sprayer (10) includes a fluid module (12?) mounted to a drive module (14?) at a static connection (16) and a dynamic connection (18?). The static connection (16) supportably attached the fluid module (12?) to the drive module (14). The dynamic connection (18?) connects a drive (84) of the drive module (14?) to a pump (24) of the fluid module (12) such that the drive (84) can power the pump (24) by the dynamic connection (18). The fluid contacting components of the handheld sprayer (10?) are in the fluid module (12?). The fluid module (12?) can be mounted to and dismounted from the drive module (14?) by a sliding motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: James C. Schroeder, Aaron R. Laho, Steve J. Wrobel, Joshua D. Roden
  • Patent number: 11002271
    Abstract: A wear sleeve is removably mounted on a piston rod. The piston rod includes a piston cap, a piston rod body, and a piston head, with at least one of the piston cap and the piston head being removable from the piston rod body. The wear sleeve is disposed over the piston rod body and prevents the piston rod from contacting dynamic seals disposed within a pump. The wear sleeve is mechanically secured in a cylindrical recess on the piston rod between a cap shoulder of the piston cap and a head shoulder of the piston head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Jeromy D. Horning, Steve J. Wrobel
  • Patent number: 10843211
    Abstract: A sprayer includes a spray gun and a hopper. An air source provides compressed air to the sprayer to both eject fluid from the spray gun as a spray and to pressurize the hopper. The spray gun includes an airflow controller for controlling the flow of the compressed air to a nozzle of the spray gun, a pressure regulator for regulating a pressure of the compressed air flowing to the hopper, and a relief valve between the pressure regulator and the hopper. The hopper receives the compressed air through a port in the hopper, and the compressed air assists the flow of material out of the hopper and into the spray gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Becker, David M. Larsen, Steve J. Wrobel, Mark D. Shultz, Robert J. Gundersen
  • Patent number: 10815990
    Abstract: A fluid dispensing system includes a motor housing and a piston pump assembly connected to the motor housing. A motor is mounted within the motor housing. The piston pump assembly includes a pump housing, a cartridge having a first end that extends into a second end of the pump housing, a piston that extends into a first end of the pump housing and the first end of the cartridge, and a packing stack within the cartridge and adjacent an inner surface of the cartridge and through which the piston extends. The cartridge is configured to be removed from the pump housing, and removal of the cartridge removes the packing stack from within the pump housing while leaving the pump housing connected to the motor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Shultz, David M. Larsen, Justin G. Johnston, Steve J. Wrobel
  • Publication number: 20200238315
    Abstract: A spray gun includes a gun body and valves configured to control flow of material and air through the gun body. A trigger is mounted to the gun body and is disposed relative to the valves such that the trigger actuates the valves in sequence to begin air flow and material flow. A sensor senses when the trigger is in an actuated state and the sensor causes a pump to begin pumping material to the spray gun. Release of the trigger causes the trigger to leave the actuated state. A detent mechanism holes the trigger in a detent state intermediate the actuated state and a resting state. The sensor does not sense the trigger with the trigger in the detent state. The trigger maintains the valves open with the trigger in the detent state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Jeremy P. Jurmu, Douglas S. Ryder, Quincy A. Kesti, Robert J. Gundersen, Jeromy D. Horning, Steve J. Wrobel, Chad R. Taszarek
  • Patent number: 10717097
    Abstract: A spray gun includes a valve cartridge configured to be axially installed and removed as a single piece. The valve cartridge includes the wear components of the spray gun. A trigger of the spray gun is configured to actuate a slider of the valve cartridge to control spraying by the spray gun. The trigger includes arms that are mounted to the spray gun by a pivot mechanism. The pivot mechanism can be disengaged from the arms to allow the trigger to slide between a spray position, where the trigger prevents forward axial movement of the valve cartridge, and a repair position, where the valve cartridge can move axially forward. The trigger also includes upper and lower portions that are movable relative to each other, such that the length of the trigger can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Justin G. Johnston, Steve J. Wrobel
  • Publication number: 20200217313
    Abstract: A paint sprayer includes an end bell, a motor connected to the end bell, a pump drive connected to the end bell, a pair of protrusions attached to an extending from the end bell such that each protrusion is cantilevered from the end bell, and a pump assembly comprising a pair of mounting holes and containing a piston. The pair of mounting holes is adapted to receive and slide onto the pair of protrusions to mount the pump assembly on the end bell as well as slide off of the pair of protrusions to remove the pump assembly from the end bell. The pump drive is configured to covert rotational motion output by the motor to reciprocal motion. The pump assembly is configured to pump paint when reciprocated by the pump drive while mounted on the end bell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Max Carideo, James M. Dalton, Justin G. Johnston, Steve J. Wrobel, Christopher A. Lins
  • Publication number: 20200156095
    Abstract: A spray gun includes a valve cartridge configured to be axially installed and removed as a single piece. The valve cartridge includes the wear components of the spray gun. A trigger of the spray gun is configured to actuate a slider of the valve cartridge to control spraying by the spray gun. The trigger includes arms that are mounted to the spray gun by a pivot mechanism. The pivot mechanism can be disengaged from the arms to allow the trigger to slide between a spray position, where the trigger prevents forward axial movement of the valve cartridge, and a repair position, where the valve cartridge can move axially forward. The trigger also includes upper and lower portions that are movable relative to each other, such that the length of the trigger can be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Justin G. Johnston, Steve J. Wrobel
  • Patent number: 10634132
    Abstract: A paint sprayer includes an end bell, a motor connected to the end bell, a pump drive connected to the end bell, a pair of protrusions attached to an extending from the end bell such that each protrusion is cantilevered from the end bell, and a pump assembly comprising a pair of mounting holes and containing a piston. The pair of mounting holes is adapted to receive and slide onto the pair of protrusions to mount the pump assembly on the end bell as well as slide off of the pair of protrusions to remove the pump assembly from the end bell. The pump drive is configured to covert rotational motion output by the motor to reciprocal motion. The pump assembly is configured to pump paint when reciprocated by the pump drive while mounted on the end bell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Max Carideo, James M. Dalton, Justin G. Johnston, Steve J. Wrobel, Christopher A. Lins
  • Publication number: 20200102951
    Abstract: A pump rod has a head extending from a neck, and the head is received within a drive slot of a drive link. The head includes a projection, and has an area smaller than an area of the head. The projection contacts an inner surface of the drive slot. The drive link may include a projection aligned with a centerline of the drive link. The drive link projection contacts a head of the pump rod. The projections provide a reduced contact area between the pump rod and the drive link, thereby reducing any side-loading on the pump rod and increasing a lifespan of the wear parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: David J. Thompson, Christopher A. Lins, Andrew J. Kopel, Glen W. Davidson, Chad R. Taszarek, Chris W. Sydow, William M. Blenkush, Steve J. Wrobel
  • Publication number: 20200088190
    Abstract: A wear sleeve is removably mounted on a piston rod. The piston rod includes a piston cap, a piston rod body, and a piston head, with at least one of the piston cap and the piston head being removable from the piston rod body. The wear sleeve is disposed over the piston rod body and prevents the piston rod from contacting dynamic seals disposed within a pump. The wear sleeve is mechanically secured in a cylindrical recess on the piston rod between a cap shoulder of the piston cap and a head shoulder of the piston head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Jeromy D. Horning, Steve J. Wrobel
  • Patent number: 10589303
    Abstract: A spray gun includes a valve cartridge configured to be axially installed and removed as a single piece. The valve cartridge includes the wear components of the spray gun. A trigger of the spray gun is configured to actuate a slider of the valve cartridge to control spraying by the spray gun. The trigger includes arms that are mounted to the spray gun by a pivot mechanism. The pivot mechanism can be disengaged from the arms to allow the trigger to slide between a spray position, where the trigger prevents forward axial movement of the valve cartridge, and a repair position, where the valve cartridge can move axially forward. The trigger also includes upper and lower portions that are movable relative to each other, such that the length of the trigger can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Justin G. Johnston, Steve J. Wrobel