Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
paint tray cover
NAME OF INVENTOR:
Edmund Jacob Nickel
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The pre~ent invention relates to a paint tray cover.
P~K~ROUND OF THE INVENTION
When a painter takes a break from painting, the paint in
his tray, on his roller and on his brush starts to dry. The
break is, typically, over a lunch hour or over night. With
some types of latex paint this drying is particularly rapid,
and sufficient drying can occur over a coffee break to have
detrimental effects. When a continuous warm air stream is
provided by nature or ventilation, fifteen minutes is more than
sufficient time to dry many brands of latex paint. In such
conditions, if a paint tray filled with latex paint is left
uncovered, a skin or layer starts to form on the surface of the
paint. To retard this drying process, paint tray covers are
used.
United States Patent 3,406,812 which issued to Henry in
1968 discloses an air impervious bag that is placed around a
tray and paint roller. The bag is then sealed to prevent the
circulation of air, thereby retarding the drying process.
Although no material is specified, the bag appears to be of
polymer plastic.
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United States Patent 4,541,542 which issued to Florentino
in 1985 discloses two further embodiments of paint tray cover.
A first embodiment consists of a flexible semi-rigid
polyethylene cover, which provides a snug airtight fit over a
paint tray. A second embodiment consists of a cover made from
a flexible material which is secured around an edge of a paint
tray by an elastic band. Both embodiments have what is
described as a "spacial protrusion" to accommodate a handle of
a paint brush or roller. The covers are intended to be used
when a paint covered brush or roller is to be left overnight
is an empty paint tray.
Flexible polymer plastic paint tray covers, have an
inherent drawback. In order to place a cover onto and take the
cover off of a paint tray, the cover must be flexed. After
repeated use, the cover becomes soiled with dried paint.
Flakes of this dried paint fall off the cover and into the
paint tray, as the cover is placed on and taken off. In
addition, the time duration that a paint tray can be left with
a polymer plastic cover i~ severely limited. Even with a
polymer plastic cover, paint will dry in a matter of a few
days.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a paint tray cover that will enable
paint to be left in a paint tray for longer periods and which
will not shed unwanted flakes of dried paint.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided A paint tray cover including a body having a paint
tray receiving cavity. The body has an outer air impervious
layer extending across the paint tray receiving cavity and an
inner moisture absorbing liner extending across the paint tray
receiving cavity.
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The body can be similar in form to the paint tray cover~
disclosed in the Henry and Florentino references. It is
preferred, however, that the paint tray cover be in the form
of a frame which defines the paint tray receiving cavity. An
outer air impervious layer, preferably of polymer plastic, is
secured to the frame and extends across the paint tray
receiving cavity. An inner moisture absorbing liner,
preferably of cloth, is secured to the frame and extends across
the paint tray receiving cavity.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the paint tray cover, as described above, room is
required to accommodate a paint brush or a roller. Even more
beneficial results may, therefore, be obtained when an opening
is provided along one side of the frame, whereby a handle of
either a paint brush or a paint roller is accommodated.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the paint tray cover, as described above, by merely
setting the frame so it overlays the paint tray. In some
situations it may be preferred to have the frame secured to the
paint tray. Even more beneficial results may, therefore, be
obtained when means is provided to secure the frame to a paint
tray.
According to another aspect of the invention there is
provided a method of preventing paint in a paint tray from
drying between uses. Firstly, providing a paint tray cover as
described above. Secondly, wetting with water the inner
moisture absorbing liner, such that the moisture absorbing
liner retains moisture. Thirdly, positioning a paint tray with
wet paint within the paint tray receiving cavity. The rate
that paint dries is directly related to humidity. Air within
the paint tray is kept moist by moisture provided by the inner
moisture absorbing liner and retained by the outer air
impervious layer.
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BRIEF n~RTPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 i8 a perspective view of a paint tray cover made
in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view, in section, of the
paint tray cover illustrated in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of an alternative
embodiment of paint tray cover made in accordance with the
teachings of the present invention.
DET~TT-~n _ ---PTPTION OF THE l~KK~ EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, a paint tray cover generally
identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with
reference to FIGURES 1 through 3.
Referring to FIGURE 2, paint tray cover 10 includes a
frame 12 which defines a paint tray receiving cavity 14. An
outer air impervious layer of polymer plastic 16 is secured to
frame 12 and extends across paint tray receiving cavity 14.
An inner moisture absorbing cloth liner 18 is secured to frame
25 12 and also extends across paint tray receiving cavity 14. An
opening 20 is provided along one side 22 of frame 12. Opening
20 can be slotted, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, or can be formed
in frame 12, as illustrated in the alternative embodiment of
FIGURE 3. Frame 12 will stay in position on a paint tray 26,
by virtue of its weight or, optionally, clips 24 may be
provided to secure frame 12 to a paint tray 26, as illustrated
in FIGURE 2.
The preferred method of use of paint tray cover 10 will
now be described with reference to FIGURES 1 through 3. The
method includes the following steps. Firstly, providing paint
tray cover 10, as described above. Secondly, wetting with
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water inner moisture absorbing cloth liner 18, such that cloth
liner 18 absorbs and retains moisture. Thirdly, positioning
paint tray 26 cont~;n;ng a quantity of paint 28 within paint
tray receiving cavity 14. In most cases, there will also be
either a paint brush or a paint roller. In FIGURES 1 through
3, a paint roller 30 is illustrated having a handle 32. It is
not desirable to leave paint roller 30 immersed in paint 28.
Paint roller 30 is, therefore, pulled toward side 22 of frame
12 with handle 32 of paint roller 30 accommodated by opening
20.
The underlying principle of paint tray cover 10, is that
the rate at which paint dries is directly related to humidity.
Air within paint tray 26 is, therefore, kept moist by moisture
within cloth liner 18. Polymer plastic layer 16 serves a dual
function of ret~;n;ng moisture within paint tray 26 and
excluding dry air. If only cloth liner 18 were used, it would
dry out rapidly and paint roller 30 would stick to the cloth.
Polymer plastic layer 16 helps slow down the rate at which
cloth liner 18 dries. As long as cloth liner 18 remains moist,
paint tray cover 10 will function in a manner superior to the
previously described prior art paint tray covers. Should cloth
liner 18 become soiled by paint, paint will not come off in
flakes. If cloth liner 18 becomes so covered in paint that it
is no longer absorbent, it should be replaced. Paint tray
cover 10 and the described method of use is particularly
effective with latex paints, although it also has utility with
oil based paints by keeping humidity high to slow the drying
process.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter defined in the Claims.
