Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Paint Can Attachment
FIELD OF INVENTIQN
This invention reiates to a replacement lid for a conveintional paint can,
which has means to deliver paint to a conventional paint tray, and optionally to stir
5 the paint.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Paint is often applied to a roller by means of rolling the roller along the
surface of a paint tray into which paint has been pour~d. Typically the paint can is
10 tilted to pour the paint into the paint tray. This is an awkward procedure, making it
difficult to control the amount of paint poured into the tray, resulting in either
additional pouring operations or wasted paint, depending on whether too little or too
much was initially pourecl. Also, pouring the paint in this manner can often resulg
in spillage.
Also, it is often b~neficial to stir paint before use, even if it has already
been premixed. The traditional wooden stir stick provided for this purpose is
generally inefficient and wastPful, since each stick is generally not reused. Using
a stick of this sort also requires that the cover be left off the paint tin, if the stick is
to remain in the paint tin. Alternatively, if the stick is removed, paint is removed with
20 it and wasted, and the stick must be placed somewhere where the paint on it will not
creiate a mess.
The present invention overcomes these difficulties, by providing a
cheap and reusable rneans of delivering paint to a paint tray without havin~ to rnove
the paint can. It is a further object of the present invention to provide simultaneously
25 a cheap, easy to use and reusable means for stirring the paint in the paint can.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a closure releasably mountable on a
conventional paint can. The closure supports a pumping mechanism for extracting
the paint from a can and delivering the paint to a conventional paint tray via delivery
5 means connected to the purnping mechanism. The delivery rneans is typically a
flexible hose releasably mountable to a variety of paint trays by means of an
attachment mechanism, typically a olamp, at the end of the hose.
The closure additionally can support a paint mixing mechanism ~or
stirring the pain~ in the paint can.
The closure is preferably in the form of a durable plastic lid capable of
fitting directly onto a conventional paint can and providing a substantially airtight seal
th~reto. The lid has openings to allow the mixing and pumping mechanisms access
to the paint in the can while supporting the mechanisrns, typicaily in an upright
fashion. Preferably the openings are fitted to accept seals about the mechanismsto prevent spillage, and to prevent ~xposure of the paint in the can to air. The seals
can be, for exampie, screw on caps which attach to the mixing and pumping
mechanisms. When the apparatus is not in use, the mixing and pumping
mechanisms, and these caps, can be removed, and the caps replaced with
conventional solid closure caps.
In a broad aspect of the present inven~ion there is provided a paint can
attachment for delivering paint from a paint can to a container, for supplying paint
to a brush, roller, or the like, comprising: a pump mechanism; a closure adapted to
cover an open paint can, said closure having an opening for receiving the said
pumping mechanism; and, delivery means for delivering paint from said pump
mechanism to said container, whereby paint can be pumped from the paint can to
the said container by way of said delivery means.
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DETAiLED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the preferred embodiment the pump mechanism comprises a
preferably cylindrical plastic pump supported within one o~ the said openings of the
lid, an intake hose inserted from the pump into the paint, a suitable valve system
5 activated by plunger connected to a pump handle, ancl an exhaust spout capableof releasably connecting to a delivery hose. Preferably the means for supporting the
pump can allow rotation, so that the paint can be directed in a particular direction.
To operate, the pump is actuated by vertically reciprocating the handle.
It is possibie within the scope of the present invention to provicle the
10 lid with only one opening for the pump mechanism. However, it is preferred that
there be two openings, and that the second receive a mixing mechanism which
extends downward into the paint tin. In the pre~erred embodiment, the mixing
mechanism comprises a housing, conveniently of cylindrical form, ~ handle
connected to a helical shaft which may be rnoved vertically in axial aiignment with
15 said housing, and a mechanisrrl for translating the vertical linear motion applied to
the ~haFt via the movement of the said handle into rotary motion in order to rotate
a mixing means submerged into the paint. This translating mechanism is preferably
a fixed, guide means axially aligned with the said helical shaft. The shaft passes
through the cylindrical guide means and said guide means includes grooves sized
20 to accept the helical threacls on the shaft to force the shaft to rotate as the shaft is
passed through it. To operate, the mixing means is therefore rotated by vertically
reciprocating the handle. A compression sprin~ may be utilized to return the said
shaft upwards once it has been pushed downwards. Alternately, the shaft can be
rotated by use of a manual crank handle located on the end of the shaft protruding
25 from the paint can, in which case the helical shaft can be replaced with a simple rod.
Typically, the mixing means comprises a paddle or blade. To improve
the stirring capabilities, the blade may be provided with holes to impart turbulent flow
to the paint. However, the use of a blacle is not ess~ntial in order to utilize the
present invention. The mixing mechanism can be fitted with any suitable rnember
30 to mix the paint. For example an ~gg-beater type of attachment could be aKached
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to, and rotate around the axis of the said shaft. Alternatively, an axially aligned disk
member can surround the shaft for mixing the paint, and the disk can have fins or
ridges extending out from the plane of the disk to facilitate the mixing of the paint
More then one such disk can be used, or the disk can be used in conjunction witha blade, with the disk, for ~xample, located at the bottom of the said shaft, below the
blade.
Cleaning can easily be accommodated by removing the entire unit,
including the lid, from the paint can and attaching it to a second conventional paint
can containing a cleaning solvent. The stirring blade or paddl~ and the pump canbe automatically cleaned by the solvent with little effort just by using the apparatus
in its normal manner with such second can.
These foregoing aspects of the invention, together with other aspects
and advantages thereof will be apparent from the following description of the
preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTI(:)N OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a partially cut away perspective vi~w of a preferred
embodiment in a preferred mode of operation.
FIGIJRE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pumping
mechanism shown in Figure 1.
FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the stirring
mechanism shown in Figure 1, having a modified mixing means.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 shows paint 90 being delivered to a conv~ntional paint tray
100 from conventional paint can 9 by means of the preferred embodiment of the
present invention. Replacement lid 10, having openings 5 and 6 for receiving pump
mechanism 40 and stirring mechanism 30 respectively, is shown attached to
conventional paint can 9. The rim of lid 10 is sized and shaped accordingly to
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s~curely fit on to can 9. Protrusion 69 circling opening 6 receives cap 20 whichsupports stirring mechanism 30 (described in detail below).
Protrusion 59 circling opening 5 receives cap 21 supporting which
supports pump mechanism 40 (described in detail below), having housing 41, handle
43 and exhaust spout 60 extending above lid 1û. Hose 70 is connected to exhaust
spout 60 at one end, and is clamped to a wall of paint tray 100 at the other end,
whereby paint pumped from pump 40 into hose 70 may be delivered to the surface
of the paint tray 100. Clamp 80 comprises a hose support ring 83 and clamp
grippers 81 and 82- for releasably mountin~ onto any wall of the paint tray 100.When not in use hose 70 may conveniently be wound and supported by hose holder
95 which extends outwardly from replacement lid 10.
In operation, the original paint can lid is removed and replaced with
replacement lid 10. Stirring mechanism 30, along with cap 20, is placed in opening
6 and pumping mechanism 40, along with cap 21 is placed in opening 5. While the
order of inserting mechanisms 30 and 40 is not important, to facilitate moving the
can, handle 7 should be lifted up before the second mechanism is inserted. Gap 66
is rernoved from ~xhaust spout 60, and hose 70 is connected to spout 60. The
other end of hose 70 is supported over paint tray 100 by clamp 80. The paint in can
9 is stirred by moving stirring handle 32 reciprocally in the vertical direction.
Similarly, in order to pump paint from paint can 9 into the hose 70 to be delivered
to the paint tray 1001 pump handle 43 is moved reciprocaliy in the verticai direction.
The clamp 80 should be readily releasable, so that the operator can
move ît (and therefore the hose 70~ to additional paint trays, should this be desired.
Clamp grippers 81 and 82 releasably grip the wall of the paint tray 100 by meansof a spring 85. Of course, many other types of clamp may be used. Preferably themeans of attaching the hose to the clamp shouid allow some rotation of the hose,to facilitate easy connection. At the end of the hose, a removable cover 96 can be
attached to the clamp end of the hose 70 when not in use, to prevent spillage and
exposure to the air. Conveniently, cover 96 can be slidably attached to hose 70 by
means of loop 97 to prevent the accidental loss of cover 96.
Typicaily, a conventionai paint tray, with a flat surface for applying paint
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to a roller is used with the invention. However, preferably the clarnp grippers should
be sufficiently flexible to be able to clamp on to a large variety of suitable containers
for administering the paint. The invention could thus be utilized to deliver paint to
a variety of containers for accommodating a variety of brushes and rollers.
Referring now to Figure 2, pumping mechanism 40 is shown inserted
into lid 10 on paint can 9 filled with paint to level shown generally at 8. Lid 10 has
outside protrusion 11 for engaging the outside rim of paint can 9, and inner lip 12,
protruding down from lid 10, to engage inside rim of paint can 9.
The pumping mechanism has generally cylindrical housing 41 sized to
receive a plunger 42, connected to shaft 44 terminating upwardly in hanclle 43.
Housing 41 is received in opening 5 in lid 10. A suitable support means is used to
support pump 40 within op~ning 5, preferably in such a manner as to allow rotation.
In the embodiment of such a support means shown in Figure 2, lid 10 has upwardlyprojecting circular protrusion 59 slightly outset from and encircling opéning 5,~orming ledg~ 57 between protrusion 59 and opening 5. Housing 41 has protruding
rib 58 which rests on ledge 57 when housing 41 is inserted within opening 5.
Axially aligned lid attaching cap 21, located immediately above rib 58 when in
operation, is attached to housing 41 in such a manner as to allow housin~ 41,
including rib ~8, to rotate relative to cap 21, in order to appropriately direct exhaust
~0 spout 60 towards tray 100. Housing 41 has an additional protruding curved rib 54,
located above rib 58. Cap 21 has a groove which receives and engag~s curved rib
54, in such a manner as to allow rib 54 to rotate within the groove, but to prevent
separation of rib 54 from cap 21. Preferably the outside of cap 21 and inside ofprotrusion 59 are correspondingly threaded, in order to keep pumping mechanism
40 in place. Thus housing 41 is supported by means of its projecting ribs 54 and 58,
and cap 21. Rib 54 is freo to rotate within the groove of cap 21, and rib 58 is free
to rotate in betwe~n cap 21 and ledge 57.
Hose 56 extends downwardly frorn housing 41 into the paint 8, and
exhaust spout 60 is connect~d to the upper portion of cylinder 41. Within cylinder
41 is a pump means to pump paint from the paint can 9 upwards and out of spout
60 in response to aotwation of handle 43. Any conventional pump can be used
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having regarcl to the fact that it should be one which can easily l~e cleaned t
remove paint from it after use. The preferrecl form of pump is a reciprocating force
pump with a ball-operated check valve. In the embodiment of such a pump shown
in figure 2, the shaft 44, proximate to plunger 42, includes hollow cavity 45 which
contains ball 46. Plunger 42 has c~nical hole 48 sized to receive ball ~6 so that ball
46 may seal the bottom of the cone 48. Cavity 45 has exit hole 47 proximate to
exhaust spout, sized to prevent escape of ball 46.
The bottom of housing 41 is funnel shaped, having conical section 53
sized to receive preferably flexible hose 50 which exte,lcls towards bottom of the
paint can 9. Ball 55 is sized to fit in conic section 53 in such a manner as to seal
the upper portion of hose 56. Connected to plunger 4~ is compression spring 50
extending downwardly towards fixed plate 51 within housing 41 proximate to cone
53. Disk 51 has openings 52 sized to form a barrier against bail 55 while allowing
paint to pass through.
Housing 41 may conveniently be formed from 2 pieces, connected at
4~, to allow insertion of spring 50, ball 55, and disk 51, during construction.
In operation, the operator would push down on handle 43 forcing
plunger 42 downwards into housing 41. This would force ball 55 into cone 53
causing a seal thereto, thus increasing the pressure within housing 41 forcing ball
46 out of cone 48. This would force any fluid (either paint or air) within housing 41
through cone 48 into cavity 45 and then out through hole 47 to exit via exhaust
spout 6û.
Spriny 50 then forces plunger 42 back upwards, preferably with
assistance from the operator pulling handle 43. As the plunger 42 is pulled
backwards ball 46 is ~orced into cone 48 producing a seal there to. This would
create a vacuum within housing 41, which would dislodge ball 55 out of cone 53
and force paint 8 through hose 56 up through con~ 53, through holes 52 of disk 51
into houslng 41~
Thus, the operator in applying a reciprocating vertical motion to handle
43 forces paint from can 9 into hose 56 and housing 41 as handle 43 is pulled
outward (or pushed by the operation of spring 50) and paint thus trapped within
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housing 41 is subsequently pushed through cavity 45 and hole 47 into exhaust spout
60 as plunger 42 is forced downward.
The end of exhaust spout 60 has an optional connector 62 (preferably
threaded) to engage the corresponding mating connector of hcse 70. Alternatively,
hose 70 may be sized to rec~ive spout 60, wZth the resiliency of hose 70 keepinghose 70 attached to spout 60, without the need for a threaded connector at each
end. When the pump is not in use, spout 60 may be sealed by attaching cover 66
to connector 62, or directly to the end of spout 60, if no connector is used.
Conveniently, cover 66 may be slidably attachPd to spout 6û by m~ans of loop 64
to prevent the accidental loss of cover 66.
Referring now to Figure 3, stirring mechanism 30 is shown inserted into
lid 10 on paint can 9 filled with paint to level shown generally at 8. Stirring
mechanism housing 31, typically cylindrical in construction, holds axially aligned
shaft 34 having handle 32 terminating in abutment 33 at its lower end. Shaft 34 has
helical threads 35 on its surface below abutment 33. Housing 31 ~orms cap 20 at its
bottom. Cap 2û is in turn received by an appropriately si~ed opening 6 encircled by
upwardly extending protrusion 69 of lid 10. Typically cap 20 and protrusion 69 are
correspondingly threaded. Lid protrusion 69, cap 20, housing 31 and shaft 34 areall axiaily aligned.
Shaft 34 extends through cap 20 and lid 10 into paint can 9. Stirring
blade 36 is attached to shaft 34 below bottom surface of lid 10. Preferably, blade
36 includes holes 38 in order to increase the turbulence to increase the mixing of
the paint as blade 36 rotates. Typically holes 38 are staggered.
Cap 20 includes fixed, cylindrical guiding means 25 axially aligned with
the said helical shaft, including mating helical grooves to receive the helical threads
35 on the shaft in order to cause the shaft to rotate as it is passed through the said
guiding means. As the operator forces the shaft handle downwards, the shaft
rotates, thus rotating the blade 36. Optionally a spring 37 surrounding shaft 34 in
between cap 20 and flxed flange 39 may be included to force shaft 34 back after
operation has pushed it down.
The stirring mechanism is provided with suitable means for allowing the
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handle to rotate relative to the shaft as the operator presses down on the handle.
Typically, the handle receives srnooth top portion of the shaft 34, in such a manner
as to allow the shaft to rotate freely within the handle in order to allow the shaft 34
to rotate as threads 35 are engaged by grooves 25, without forcing the handle in the
operator's hands to rotate.
Optionally, an axially aligned disk member may be located at the
bottom of shaft 34 in order to agitate paint from the bot~om of the can. This disk
member, as shown in he cut-away portion of Figure 1, comprises ring 26 supportedby radial spokes 28, with upturned fins 29, from hub 27 which is rotated by shaft
10 34.
For cleaning, the replacement lid, along with mechanisms 30 and 40,
may be attached to an other paint can filled with an appropriate cleaning solvPnt.
In this way, the normal operation of the apparatus would clean the apparatus.
Conveniently, the solvent may be pumped back into this can by first removing the15 stirring mechanism 30 (after it has been sufficiently cleaned by the solvent), and
then placing hose 90 into opening 6 before operatin~ the pumping mechanism 40.
In this way the solvent may be recycled for additional cleansing operations, or the
original paint can lid may be replaced and sa~e disposal of the used solvent may be
arranged.
It will be apparent that many other changes may be made to the
illustrative embodiments, while falling within the scope of the invention and it is
intended that all such changes be covered by the claims appended hereto.
