Paint booth cabinet and brackets
A removable, wall mounted enclosure, specifically for use in a paint booth, affixed to a set of mounting brackets (17) for easy removal and for holding the enclosure in a position that distances the main body (1) away from the paint booth wall at least ¼″ distance for the purpose of air to flow around the enclosure. Exterior Brackets (6) & (7) are connected to the main body (1) for the purpose of holding painting equipment, namely spray guns, at exterior of the enclosure. The interior of the enclosure comprises hooks (11), shelves (4) and brackets (13) & (14) for organization of the stored items within the enclosure.
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/536,577, filed 2003 Jan. 15 by the present inventor.
This application claims the benefit of a second provisional patent application filed 2004 Dec. 29, Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/639,891 depicts my alternative embodiment within in this patent application.
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCHNot Applicable
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAMNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to an enclosed storage device intended for use inside of paint booths to store various tools and materials and hanging spray guns on the exterior at connected brackets while painting cars, trucks or other objects.
2. Prior Art
The inventor has recognized, in the Automotive Refinish and Industrial Painting Industries, a specific need for an enclosure with brackets and attachments to provide storage of certain tools and materials while working in a paint booth. This enclosure, with brackets and attachments, is to be affixed upon a set of hooks or magnets to allow for simple removal by lifting away from a paint booth wall.
The result of not having a proper place to store the described tools and materials can result in the need for a painter to exit the paint booth in search of these items. This exit and reentry activity can create a problem of dirt being introduced to the painting atmosphere. Furthermore, this act of exiting the paint booth during a paint job can disturb any of the existing loose dust and over-spray that exists in a paint booth. The combination of dust and over-spray can easily find its way to the paint finish, creating defects in the paint film and resulting in a poor quality paint finish. Aside from dust and over-spray at risk of damaging a paint film, the tools and materials are also prone to damage from exposure to the paint's over-spray.
In most cases, OEM paint booths are not equipped with any type shelving, cabinets or other enclosures for the purpose of storing the said necessary tools and materials. Therefore, a painter does not usually have a place to put items, tools and materials while working in a paint booth, aside from a top the object being painted or on the floor. Although some OEM spray booth models have been known to provide a corner shelf that is bolted directly to the wall, it is not a common item that is offered for sale, nor is it seen in the market place often. Any type of product that will hold the tools and materials needed in a paint booth must usually be purchased as an aftermarket accessory, or is fabricated by the operators or owner of the spray booth in use.
Inventors have created various forms of designs to hold or store items in spray booths for use while painting a car. Most of these items have been relative to holding many of the items mentioned above. U.S. Pat. No. D314,486 to Day (1991) discloses a shelf for an automobile spray booth, however this shelf is permanently bolted and to the wall and offers no enclosure device to help protect the materials from dust and over-spray. This design is most appropriately used as a mixing shelf and storage shelf for paint that is to be applied on the vehicle or object in the paint booth at that time. Other items may be stored on the shelf such as tack cloth, razor blades etc.
U.S. Pat. No. D378,893 to Nordeen (1997) discloses a wall hanger for blow guns and spray guns. This design is also available as a permanent accessory for a mixing bench, prep station or mixing room. It is limited in its ability to hold many other items except a single spray gun, blow gun and air hose. It offers no enclosure for protection from over-spray within a paint booth.
Of the list of tools and materials my invention is intended to hold is an air hose, commonly used in a paint booth. The air hose that delivers the compressed air to the spray gun needs to be suspended or stored for use within a paint booth. U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,937 to Habib (1997) discloses a hose organizer that holds an air hose in such a way that it moves on a track along the ceiling while the painter walks along the object to be painted. The majority of the air hose's length is kept off of the floor due to this device, although the end of the air hose is not suspended by this device unless another air hose or paint gun holding bracket/accessory is present. Although this device shares a common purpose, my invention is quite different in relationship of other purposes.
Many types of storage units may be capable of holding the items necessary for inside a spray booth, although the available known art suffers from some or all of similar disadvantages. An example can be used to depict the reason for not using so many different types of cabinets or enclosures to be mounted inside a spray booth for reasons given similar to U.S. Pat. No. D315,995 to Miller (1991). This patent discloses a mobile storage unit for other purposes and industry. The construction of this embodiment would not apply well to a spray booth since is moved about on casters, therefore would not work well in most spray booths due to their grated floors. Although this is a small cabinet and offers many storage compartments, the overall design of it would attract and accumulate dust and over-spray on its surface, without allowing air to flow behind it when against the paint booth wall, making it undesirable to be placed in a paint booth. The lack of bracketing for spray guns and air hoses would also differentiate from my invention.
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- (a) Protection of said tools and materials from over-spray is not possible with any of the mentioned open air models
- (b) All discovered OEM or aftermarket enclosure accessory or shelf intended for use in a paint booth is bolted or placed directly against the wall, not offering air passage gaps behind or around the enclosure.
- (c) Special bracketing for placement of tools, spray guns, air hose and accessories of other designs would be the primary purpose of those inventions, where as the spray gun brackets that are attachable to my cabinet are of different design and are secondary to the application.
- (d) Ability to remove a shelf, enclosure or bracket without the requirement of tools is not always an option with other designs.
Reference list of prior art cited:
- U.S. Pat. No. D314,486 to Day (1991)
- U.S. Pat. No. D378,893 to Nordeen (1997)
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,937 to Habib (1997
- U.S. Pat. No. D315,995 to Miller (1991)
Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of the enclosure and brackets to hold and store variously needed tools and materials inside the spray booth in my above patent, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:
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- (a) To provide method of portability and easy removal of the enclosure from the paint booth wall at any time, by using specially designed mounting brackets or high-powered magnets for suspension at the paint booth wall. Key importance is placed on the removable feature since it accommodates for cleaning ability of the booth wall and cleaning of the enclosure and brackets. Paint booths must be cleaned often due to the constant accumulation of dried paint over-spray. Any object mounted permanently to a paint booth wall becomes and obstacle for cleaning and may pocket over-spray.
- (b) To allow for the connection and height adjustability of spray gun hangers
- (c) To provide a gap between the cabinet and the wall to allow the booth's moving airflow to pass behind and around the device. Key importance is placed on this feature since it helps to avoid undesired turbulence of airflow, and reduces the pocketing, or build-up, of over-spray within the paint booth.
- (d) To allow for sand paper, spray out cards and other items to be held upright and in place, via the brackets on the inside door frames
- (e) To allow for tape, of various sizes, to be held upright inside the enclosure via the tape hooks.
- (f) To allow for easy clean up due to the disassembly/removal of the shelves and doors from the cabinet's body, in addition to the above mentioned removal method of the cabinet from the wall.
- (g) To allow for alternative mounting adjustments due to obstructions, variations on booth sizes, and designs, via its auxiliary mounting holes
- (h) To allow for minimized damage to spray guns and gun cups due to the soft edge guard on the spray gun hanger contact point
In accordance with the present invention, a removable, wall or corner mounted enclosure, temporarily affixed to a set of mounting brackets and held in a position that distances the cabinet body away from the wall of a paint booth of at least ¼″ for purposes of air to flow around the enclosure. Exterior Brackets are connected to the cabinet for the purpose of holding painting equipment, namely spray guns, on the exterior of the enclosure. The interior of enclosure comprises hooks, shelves and brackets for organization of the stored items within.
In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.
DRAWINGS—Figures
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- 1. Cabinet Body
- 1a. Protrusion Flange to create distance gap from wall
- 1b. Flat Flange section for Gun Hanger positions
- 1c. Mounting Hook Flange
- 1d. Gun Hanger Positioning/Screw Holes
- 1e. Tape Hook Holes
- 1f Upper Ledge
- 1g. Lower Ledge
- 1h Main Body
- 1i Rear Left Wall
- 1j Rear Right Wall
- 2. Left Door
- 2a. Door Handle Holes
- 3. Right Door
- 4. Interior Shelf
- 4a Mounting and Reinforcement Flange
- 4b. Hanging Hole (for shelf to be powder coated)
- 5. Door Handle Assembly
- 5a. Pull Position
- 5b. Screw Holes
- 5c. Screws
- 5d. Locking Nut
- 6. Upper Gun Hanger (channeled bracket)
- 6a. Reinforcement Flange
- 6b. Spray Gun Position
- 6c. Spray Gun Roll/Flange (identifies as upper or lower bracket)
- 6d. Channeled Bracket Body
- 7. Lower Gun Hanger (channeled bracket)
- 8. Edge Guard/Spray Gun Protector
- 9. Gun Hanger Pressed-In (Pem) Nuts
- 10. Gun Hanger Screws
- 11. Tape Hook
- 12. Company Emblem
- 12a. Emblem Made In USA
- 13. Sand Paper Bracket Upper
- 14. Sand Paper Bracket Lower
- 15. Main Mounting Hole
- 16. Auxiliary Mounting Hole
- 17. Mounting Bracket
- 18. Cabinet Mounting Tab
- 18a. Support and Extension Flange
- 19. Screw Hole
- 20. Self Drilling Screw
- 20a. Shim
- 21. Door Hinge Assembly
- 21a. Male Hinge
- 21b. Female Hinge
- 22. Door Frame
- 22a Center Post
- 23. Item Holding Magnets
- 24. Shelf Mounting Tabs
- 25. Door Latch Magnets
- 26. Center Post Dust Strip
Alternative Embodiment (Straight Wall Design) - 27. Main body
- 28. Hole-body construction rivet location
- 29. Hole-mounting magnet
- 30. Hole-mounting bracket
- 31. Rivet
- 32. Upper shelf
- 33. Lower shelf
- 34. Hole-gun hanger
- 35. Gun hanger
- 36. Upper door
- 36a. Upper hinge
- 37. Lower door
- 37a. Lower hinge
- 38. Mounting bracket collar
- 39. Mounting bracket stud
- 40. Mounting magnet
- 41. Mounting magnet rivet
- 42. Wall (of paint booth)
- 43. Upper spray gun flange
- 44. Lower vented shelf
- 44a. Main body wall
- 45. Vent holes
- 46. Hanging holes
- 47. Hanging enclosure
- 48. Hanging wire
- 1. Cabinet Body
Main body 1h, shown as a flattened view in
Main body 1h has a series of two sets of vertically spaced holes 1d at flat flange section 1b of main body 1b, shown in
Spot welded to the interior of main body 1h and center post 22a are the shelf mounting tabs 24 to hold interior shelves 4 into place by fitting the mounting and reinforcement flanges 4a behind mounting tabs 24, creating a moderately snug fit to hold each of the two said shelves 4 into place.
Main body 1h, shown as a top view in
The 45° protrusion flange 1a creates ½′ distance between the cabinet and wall 42, forcing the main body 1h to be further away from wall 42 by ½″.
The flange section for gun hanger positions 1b, shown in
Door frame 22 is connected to main body 1h, along with upper ledge 1f and lower ledge 1g, as shown in
Door handles shown on
Mounting brackets 17 are affixed to walls 42 by three self-drilling screws 20. Each mounting bracket 17 has two cabinet holding tabs 18. Cabinet body 1 sets on two mounting brackets 17 at main mounting holes 15. Therefore, cabinet body 1 is positioned on all four cabinet mounting tabs 18. Cabinet mounting tab 18 is extended ¼″ away from wall 42 due to the length of the support and extension flange 18a, shown in
Upper and lower gun hangers 6&7 affix to the rear of the main body 1h at the desired gun hanger positioning screw holes 1d. The gun hanger pressed-in (pem) nuts 9 are positioned at gun hanger positioning screw holes 1d, and fastened to flat flange section 1b by gun hanger screws 10. The height distance of the spray gun position 6b in relation to upper ledge 1f or lower ledge 1g depends on the group of (four) gun hanger positioning/screw holes 1d used.
Strength and stability of the upper and lower gun hanger vertical body 6d is obtained by a combination of the thickness of the steel (13 gauge), and by the reinforcement flange 6a on both sides of vertical body 6d.
Vinyl Edge guard/spray gun protector strips are pressed on to the ends of the spray gun positions 6b for protection against scratches and damage to spray guns being stored on gun positions 6b.
The determining difference between upper gun hanger 6 and lower gun hanger 7 is the direction of the spray gun roll 6c. The gun hanger is upright with the spray gun roll 6c faces upward as shown on
Operation—
This paint booth cabinet and brackets are designed to provide specific storage areas for the necessary and common tools and items for painters' use while in a spray booth as shown in
The interior sections of cabinet body 1 comprise a plurality of removable shelves 4. Shelves 4 are removed and replaced by lifting up and out of the mounting tabs shown in
As shown in
Sand paper brackets upper and lower 13 & 14 as shown on
Left and right side doors 2 & 3 are removable due to the ‘pin style’ door hinge assembly 21 shown in
Upper ledge 1f, shown in
Air passage and airflow are key elements in a spray booth for the purpose of evacuating paint mists, solvents and dust. Due to this air movement within a spray booth atmosphere, any ledge, shelf, or protrusion from the wall can create turbulence or pocketing of dust and over spray if there is no passage for the air to escape. Said turbulence and said pocketing of dust and overspray have the ability to produce defects in a paint film. The space, or gap, between cabinet body 1 and wall 42 of approximately ¾″ will overcome the element of said turbulence and pocketing of over spray. Both moving air and stagnant air is free to travel behind and in front of cabinet body 1, guarding against said turbulence or pocketing of dust and overspray. Space between cabinet body 1 and wall 42 is created by a combination of protrusion flange 1a in cabinet body 1 combined with extension from the wall by mounting bracket 17, more specifically support and extension flange 18a. A certain gap/space will still exist with or without the combination of said extension flange 18a and extension caused by said mounting bracket 17, although the combination of the two provide for the lengthiest gap of approximately ¾″. Other widths of gaps, larger or smaller, are suitable. Protrusion flange 1a of a 45° angle creates a ½″ distance between cabinet body 1 and wall 42, forcing main body 1h to be further away from wall 42 by ½″.
Due to space confinements in a spray booth, spray gun hangers 6 & 7 attach directly to cabinet body 1 at flat flange section 1b for added convenience and central storage ability for the user. Upper and lower gun hangers 6 & 7 affix to the rear of the main body 1h at desired gun hanger positioning screw holes 1d. The gun hanger pressed-in (pem) nuts 9 are positioned at screw holes 1d, and fastened by screws 10 through flat flange 1b. The distance of spray gun position 6b in relation to upper ledge 1f or lower ledge 1g depends on the group of (four) gun hanger positioning/screw holes 1d used. Each user may find a particular height setting is desirable for the gun hangers 6 & 7. Factors that could influence a user's preference are the user's height, reach, or purpose for using the device. Other factors that may force a certain setting to be used are various obstructions within the mounting area.
Alternative Embodiments:
There are various styles of this invention that are used.
Both said mounting methods create similar air space between cabinet main body 27 and said booth wall 42 as described in the preferred embodiment. Said air space allows the said air flow within said spray booth to move, thus eliminating the possibility of said air turbulence or said pocketing of said over spray, in the same context as the preferred embodiment.
Cabinet body 27 similarly attaches a pair of spray gun hangers 35, of specific design to be relative with the preferred design. Difference among spray gun hangers 35 of alternative embodiment in comparison to spray gun hangers 6 & 7 of preferred embodiment is primarily the overall shape of a 90° angle, the smaller size in comparison, and alternative holds just one spray gun per bracket instead of the preferred embodiment, which holds two guns per spray gun hanger 6 or 7. The alternative embodiment's gun hangers 35 also include the identical style of edge guard 8. The gun hangers 35 are bolted to the side of the cabinet body 27, in position at gun hanger holes 34, by use of nut 5c and bolt 5d. They may also be riveted or welded to cabinet body 27.
Alternative embodiment, similar to preferred body, includes two tape hooks 11 and two item holding magnets 23. The purpose of these items is the same as in the preferred embodiment.
Alternative embodiment body style shown in
Door 36 and 37 are attached to cabinet body 27 by piano hinge type hinges 36a and 37a. Four rivets are used to connect each door 36 and 37 to its hinge 36a and 37a. Other methods of attachment can be used such as varying amounts of rivets, or fasteners, or welding/spot welding.
Spray gun hanger positions 6b have identical spray gun roll flange 6c and edge guard 8 for holding and protecting spray guns. One tape hook 11 is attached in an identical procedure with tape hook holes 1e. More tape hooks 11 may also be used, primarily in other similar designs or sizes of this type of embodiment.
Item holding magnet 23 is included with embodiment. Magnet 23 can be moved anywhere within embodiment for storage of certain items.
CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPEAccordingly, the reader will see that a paint booth cabinet and brackets of the types described will improve the painting atmosphere and productivity for a painter within a spray booth environment. The design, mounting methods, brackets, and attachments create a system for the user that the invention is intended to perform.
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- It permits itself to be placed in a spray booth without the fear of causing air turbulence or pocketing of over spray due to the body design and mounting brackets, magnets, or hooks
- It permit the user to remove the unit with ease at any time due to the mounting designs that restrict permanent mounting due to the mounting brackets, magnets, or hooks
- It provides tape hook(s) for holding tape upright within the enclosure or main embodiment
- It provides special bracketing for holding sandpaper, or other paper type goods, in place for neater and safer organization.
It provides an attached, and adjustable, place for setting spray guns with the main embodiment. Special protection to spray guns is met by the edge guard that is equipped with the spray gun hangers
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- It provides multiple sections or compartments within its enclosure design for storage of various types of items.
Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the enclosure portion can have other shapes and sizes such as square, circular, size differences etc. The attachment to the wall can be in other forms such as with magnets or mounting hooks and brackets of other designs such as z channel, hooks and many other forms etc.
Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
Claims
1. A wall hanging enclosure comprising
- (a) a plurality of brackets connected to main body of said wall hanging enclosure comprising spray gun positions for enabling spray guns to be held in place by said brackets, and
- (b) a plurality of mounting brackets to provide a means for removal of said wall hanging enclosure from hanging position in a procedure that requires lifting said enclosure away from said wall, and
- (c) a gap in excess of ¼″ distance between said enclosure and said wall suitable for air to flow between said wall hanging enclosure and said wall, and
- (d) a plurality of brackets and hooks attached inside said wall hanging enclosure suitable for holding contents inside said wall hanging enclosure
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 12, 2005
Publication Date: Aug 25, 2005
Inventor: Clifford Silverman (Green Oaks, IL)
Application Number: 11/034,369