1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to adapters to be utilized in conjunction with aerosol spray cans particularly of the type providing a pistol grip spray gun attachment.
2. Description of Prior Art
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,803,383; 2,820,578; 2,868,421; 2,877,934; 2,884,166; 3,112,849; 3,237,809; 3,304,797; and 3,506,159 relate to pistol grip type adapters for use with aerosol spray cans.
As far as is known, all of the spray can holders and adapters in the prior art have certain limitations in stability and ease of use. U.S. Pat. No. 2,803,383 disclosed a holder manufactured of spring steel designed to grip the aerosol can around the raised bead which surrounds the plunger element. That adapter is secured to the cannister by a spring loop of steel or wire which surrounds the uppermost bead of the cannister. That adapter does not provide a secure grip upon the body of the cannister and grips the can at its uppermost point thereby leaving the entire weight of the can below the gripping point. U.S. Pat. No. 2,820,578 disclosed a similar adapter that utilized a flange support member to engage the uppermost bead of the cannister. That adapter was secured to the cannister by a flange partially surrounding the circumference of the uppermost bead on the cannister thereby leaving the majority of the weight of the cannister below the gripping point of the adapter and failing to provide a secure grip upon the cannister.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,868,421 disclosed a pistol grip type adapter wherein the uppermost bead of the cannister was received in a rectangular sleeve member which surrounded half the perimeter of the raised bead. That adapter provided only a partial support for the uppermost bead of the cannister.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,877,934 disclosed a pistol grip type adapter which was secured to the cannister utilizing flexible finger members which engaged the uppermost bead of the cannister.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,884,166 disclosed a pistol grip type adapter which utilized a clamping loop of spring steel to support the cannister from the uppermost bead. U.S. Pat. No. 3,112,849 disclosed a pistol grip type adapter similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. 2,877,934 embodying only a change in the method of joining the handle member to the cannister support member and utilized similar resilient finger flanges to engage the uppermost bead of the cannister.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,237,809 disclosed a pistol grip adapter for use with specially designed aerosol containers and supported them in an inverted position. U.S. Pat. No. 3,304,797 disclosed a pistol grip type holder which was mounted to the cannister utilizing a resilient flange which snapped around the uppermost bead of the cannister. U.S. Pat. No. 3,506,159 disclosed a spray can holder which was mounted to the cannister by a resilient flange member which snapped onto the uppermost bead of the cannister.
As far as known, all of the prior art spray can adapters provide an inadequate grip upon the cannister so that the user cannot shake the cannister or move it quickly without fear of disengaging the adapter from the cannister. All of the known prior patents are designed to grip the cannister at the uppermost raised bead which immediately surrounds the plunger element in the cannister. Gripping the cannister at this point leaves the majority of weight and mass of the cannister below the gripping point, making the composite assembly of the cannister and the holder unbalanced and bottom heavy.