US 11,738,358 B2
Electrostatic handheld sprayer
Robert W. Kinne, Columbia Heights, MN (US); Mark E. Ulrich, Oak Grove, MN (US); and Diane L. Olson, Elk River, MN (US)
Assigned to Graco Minnesota Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed by Graco Minnesota Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed on Feb. 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/178,630.
Application 17/178,630 is a continuation of application No. 17/029,678, filed on Sep. 23, 2020, granted, now 10,926,275.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/047,236, filed on Jul. 1, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/044,333, filed on Jun. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0402422 A1, Dec. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. B05B 5/16 (2006.01); B05B 9/08 (2006.01); B05B 5/043 (2006.01); B05B 5/053 (2006.01)
CPC B05B 5/1691 (2013.01) [B05B 5/043 (2013.01); B05B 5/1675 (2013.01); B05B 9/0861 (2013.01); B05B 5/0533 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
3. A method of electrostatic spraying with a portable fluid sprayer, the method comprising:
pumping a spray fluid with a moving fluid displacement member disposed within a sprayer body of the portable fluid sprayer, the portable fluid sprayer having a handle extending from the sprayer body, the fluid displacement member comprising a material that is electrically conductive, wherein pumping the spray fluid includes:
drawing the spray fluid from a reservoir disposed upstream of the fluid displacement member by the movement of the fluid displacement member; and
driving the spray fluid downstream from the fluid displacement member to a nozzle supported by the sprayer body by the movement of the fluid displacement member;
generating an electrostatic charge with an electrostatic module;
providing the electrostatic charge to the electrically conductive material of the fluid displacement member;
charging the spray fluid with the electrically conductive material of the fluid displacement member while the electrically conductive material of the fluid displacement member moves to pump the fluid; and
emitting electrostatically charged spray fluid from the nozzle of the portable fluid sprayer due to pressure from the movement of the fluid displacement member.