Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Title: PAINT CONTAINER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of containers, and more particularly,
to the field of containers for use in construction and related activities.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When painting the interior of houses or other buildings, there are two
instruments that are typically used. The first is a paint roller, which is
usually
used for most of the surface area to be painted. The paint roller is
particularly useful for painting the large open surface areas of walls and
doors. However, rollers are not effective in painting areas adjacent to
intersection points between walls, or between a wall and a ceiling. These
edges and corner areas are typically painted with paint brushes.
Similarly, painting on the exterior of houses or other buildings may
require either rollers, for large flat surfaces, or paint brushes, where
rollers
are not suitable. For example, paint brushes would typically be used to paint
small or jagged surfaces such as eaves troughs, trim, fences, deck edges
and corners, window frames and other similar areas.
Historically, painters have used ordinary paint cans to hold paint while
painting with a paint brush. These paint cans are generally carried by a wire
handle which, when the can is being carried, extends in a semicircle over the
top of the can.
However, this wire handle creates a number of problems. One
problem is that it interferes with the easy insertion of the paint brush into
the
can when it is required to wet the brush with paint. In order to get the wire
handle out of the way to allow insertion of the paint brush, the painter will
typically adjust his grip on the wire handle so that the wire handle is
displaced from above the opening of the can. However, because of gravity,
the natural position of the can is directly below the wire handle. To displace
the wire handle from above the can, it is necessary for the painter to hold
the
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can in a manner that creates significant strain on the wrist of the painter.
This strain is particularly large when the can is full, or mostly full of
paint,
and is therefore heavy.
It is possible to reduce (though not eliminate) this wrist strain by
keeping only a small amount of paint in the can at any one time. However,
doing so would require the painter to reach to the bottom of the paint can to
put paint on the brush. This would slow down the painting process
significantly, and it would also be significantly messier. This is because the
painter would likely be unable to avoid getting paint from around the rim of
the can on his arm or sleeve when dipping the brush deep into the can.
A second problem with the use of wire handles is that the wire
handles can dig into the flesh of the painter's hand. This problem is
particularly acute when the paint can is full, and therefore heavy.
When painting with a paint brush, a painter will typically dip the end
of the paint brush into the paint and then dab the excess paint off of the
brush and on to the edge of the paint can. This is done in order to ensure
that excess paint is not smeared onto the wall being painted. However,
when traditional paint cans are being used, the wire handle and the hand of
the painter that is holding the wire handle can interfere with the painter's
ability to easily reach the paint can edge with a paint brush in order to dab
off the excess paint. In order to obtain easier access to the paint can edge,
the painter may need to hold the can so that the wire handle is not directly
above the paint can. This can also lead to wrist strain for the painter.
Furthermore, the use of the edge of the paint can as a surface for
dabbing off excess paint can require significant effort for the painter.
Specifically, the edge of the paint can provides quite a small surface area
for
the dabbing of the paint brush. As such, when dabbing off excess paint, the
painter needs to carefully aim the paint brush to ensure that the edge of the
paint brush hits the edge of the paint can. If the painter misses by even a
slight amount, he will not succeed in dabbing the excess paint off the brush,
and will have to try again. Because, in this scenario, the dabbing off of
excess paint requires a precise movement by the painter, it generally cannot
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be done quickly, but must be done slowly and carefully. This adds to the
time and effort that the painter must expend when painting with a paint
brush.
More recently, paint containers without wire handles have become
available. These containers are cylindrical in shape like traditional paint
containers, but do not have a semicircular handle which, when in use,
extends over the opening of the paint can. This design requires that the
paint container be held by the painter from the bottom, thus allowing easy
access for the paint brush into the top of the paint can.
However, this design creates problems. Specifically, in this design,
the painter cannot put the paint can down with one hand, because he is
holding it from the bottom. Thus, to pick up the can, he must put down his
paint brush and use his painting hand to take the paint container off of his
carrying hand and put it down. Similarly, this container cannot be easily
picked up with one hand. Because it is held from the bottom, the painter
must use his painting hand to pick up the paint can and place it in his
carrying hand before starting to paint. It will be appreciated that work with
paint brushes is often done on a step ladder, where it is important the
painter's hands be as free as possible. Not only does having free hands
increase the safety of the painter, who can use them for balance, but it
allows the painter to paint more quickly and efficiently.
Another problem with both traditional paint cans and the containers
without wire handles is that storing these containers is difficult. Generally,
these containers are one-gallon-sized cylindrical container. Because of their
shape, the only way they can be stored is to be piled one on top of another.
This consumes substantial space, particularly at the facilities of retail
outlets
that sell these containers.
U.S. Patent No. Des. 401, 704 issued on November 24, 1998 to Clark
("Clark") discloses a painter dispenser with a brush wipe and rest. The
container has a bar across the top of the opening which is used to wipe off
excess paint. The container also has narrow indentations at the bottom
edges of the container where the container is intended to be held.
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There are a number of problems with this design. First, this design
is uncomfortable to hold because it is held right at the bottom of the
container, and because the thumb of the user cannot fit properly into the
indentations without part of the thumb bearing against an unindented portion
of the container. Thus, because of the location and shape of the
indentations, the container is difficult to grip comfortably. Furthermore, the
bar across the top of the opening may interfere unnecessarily with the
insertion of the paint brush into the container. A painter would likely need
to be careful when inserting the paint brush into the container to obtain
fresh
paint, in order to avoid striking the bar across the top. This would entail
additional effort on the part of the painter, and would slow down the painting
process.
U.S. Patent No. 6,105,816 issued on August 22, 2000 to Shea
discloses a painter's aid for sealably holding paint and for holding a paint
brush having a brush portion and a handle portion. The painter's aid is a
container having a base, a wall extending upwardly from the base, the wall
comprising of front interior portion, a rear interior portion and a pair of
opposing side wall portions tapering outwardly from the base and connecting
to the front interior portion and the rear interior portion. The painters aid
includes a stepped wiping surface inside the painter's aid to allow excess
paint to be wiped off.
The container shown in Shea has a number of problems. First, there
is no clear means provided for firmly gripping the container. In the event
that the painter's hands are somewhat slippery, or that there is some kind
of slippery substance on the container, the container disclosed in Shea
could easily slip from the hand of the painter.
Second, the brush wiping surface disclosed in Shea is contained
substantially within the body of the container. Thus, as with the traditional
paint can, the painter must carefully aim the brush in order to cause the
brush bristles to meet the wiping surface. This requires additional time and
effort by the painter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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Therefore, what is desired is a container for holding paint, or similar
liquid substances, which is preferably easy and comfortable to hold, and
which can preferably be used efficiently and comfortably by a painter. The
container will also preferably be easy and efficient to store. Finally, the
container will preferably be simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
Thus, there is provided a container for holding paint, stain, varnish or
other similar substances, the container comprising:
a base;
a wall extending from the base in a generally upstanding direction, the
wall being closed so as to define a contained area and an opening;
a gripping means positioned on the wall, the gripping means
comprising at least one recess in the wall;
an excess-liquid-removal means comprising a tongue portion
extending from the wall, the tongue portion being sized, shaped and
positioned to permit a brush to be dabbed thereon for removing excess
liquid.
In another aspect of the invention, the wall tapers outward as the wall
extends from the base, such that the cross-sectional area of the opening
exceeds the cross-sectional area of the base, the wall and the at least one
recess being sized, shaped and positioned to permit the container to be
stacked within another said container.
In another aspect of the invention, the tongue portion extends
generally upwardly and outwardly from the wall.
In another aspect of the invention, the gripping means comprises a
first recess in the wall and a second recess in the wall, the first recess
being
spaced from the second recess so as to permit the container to be gripped
by the placement of a thumb of a hand in the first recess and at least one
finger of the hand in the second recess.
In another aspect of the invention, the wall comprises a bottom
portion extending from the base and a top portion extending from the bottom
portion, the at least one recess being positioned on the bottom portion.
In another aspect of the invention, the at least one recess extends to
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the base.
In another aspect of the invention, the container is composed of
molded plastic.
In another aspect of the invention, the tongue portion is at least about
2.8 inches in width.
In another aspect of the invention, the tongue portion is at least about
3.8 inches in width.
In another aspect of the invention, the tongue portion is about 4.25
inches in width.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the
drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in
which:
Figure 1 is a side view of the container;
Figure 2 is a top view of the container; and
Figure 3 is a rear view of the container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to Figures 1-3, a container 8 for holding paint, stain,
varnish or other similar substances is disclosed. The container includes a
base 10 and a wall 12. The wall 12 extends from the base 10 in a generally
upstanding direction. The wall 12 is closed so as to define a contained area
14 and an opening 16. The paint, varnish, stain or similar substance can be
held in the contained area 14 defined by the wall 12.
In this specification, "oufinrard" refers to a direction generally parallel
to the base 10 and away from the contained area 14. "Upward" refers to a
direction away from the base 10 and towards the opening 16. "Cross-
sectional area" refers to the area of a cross-section of the container 8 taken
substantially parallel to the base 10.
Preferably, the wall 12 is shaped so as to permit the container 8 to
be stackable within another container of the same size and shape as the
container 8. Thus, preferably, the wall 12 tapers outward as the wall 12
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extends upwards from the base, such that the cross-sectional area of the
opening 16 exceeds the cross-sectional area of the base 10.
It will be appreciated that, though the wall 12 preferably tapers
outward as it extends from the base 10, it need not taper outward all the way
to the opening 16. Rather, it need only taper outward sufficiently far to
allow
the container 8 to be stackable within another container 8.
The container 8 further comprises a gripping means in the form of a
first recess 18 and second recess 20, both positioned on the wall 12.
Preferably, the first recess 18 and the second recess 20 will be spaced from
one another so as to permit the container 8 to be gripped by a user placing
his thumb in the first recess 18 and one or more fingers ("fingers" does not
include "thumb") in the second recess 20.
It will be appreciated that the gripping means may comprise only one
recess, as opposed to the two-recess configuration of the preferred
embodiment. What is important is that at least one recess be present in the
wall 12 to assist a user in gripping the container 8 by placing his fingers
and/or his thumb into the at least one recess.
Preferably, the recesses 18 will include one or more ridges 36
thereon. It will be appreciated that the ridges 36 increase the effectiveness
of the recesses 18, 20 as gripping means by providing greater friction and
increased gripping surface for the hand of a user.
The wall 12 preferably comprises a bottom portion 22 and a top
portion 24. The bottom portion 22 extends from the base 10, and the top
portion 24 extends toward the opening from the bottom portion 22.
Preferably, the first recess 18 and the second recess 20 are positioned on
the bottom portion 22. It will be appreciated that by positioning the recess
on the bottom portion 22, an upper gripping surface 26 is created in each of
the first recess 18 and the second recess 20. This upper gripping surface
26 is formed as the upper portion of the recess extends generally outward
to meet the wall 12. The upper gripping surface 26, because it has an
outward direction, acts as a stop on the thumb and/or fingers of the user to
prevent the container 8 from slipping downward out of the hand of the user.
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Preferably, the first recess 18 and the second recess 20 will extend
downward to the base 10. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that this extension of the recesses 18, 20 makes available to the user a
greater area with which to grip the container 8. Also, extending the recesses
18, 20 to the base 10 facilitates the stackability of the container 8.
Specifically, by extending the recesses 18, 20 to the base 10, the container
8 can be stacked more efficiently, because each container 8 will be shaped
so to be insertable more deeply into another container 8 without being
interfered with by the recesses 18, 20 of the other container 8. In this
preferred configuration, when one container 8 is placed into another, the
recesses 18,20 of the top container can fit over the recesses 18, 20 of the
bottom container because the recesses 18, 20 of the top container extend
to the bottom, or base 10, of the container 8.
The container 8 preferably also includes an excess-liquid-removal
means comprising a tongue portion 28. The tongue portion 28 extends from
the wall 12 and is sized, shaped and positioned to permit a brush to be
dabbed thereon for removing excess liquid.
Preferably, the tongue portion 28 extends generally outwardly from
the wall 12. Most preferably, the tongue portion 28 extends upwardly and
outwardly from the wall. It will be appreciated, that when the tongue portion
28 extends upwardly and outwardly from the wall 12, liquid which is removed
from a brush by being dabbed on the tongue portion 28 will flow along the
tongue portion 28 and into the contained area 14.
It will further be appreciated that the dabbing of a brush to remove
excess liquid is facilitated by the tongue portion 28. Specifically, by
extending the tongue portion 28 away from the wall 12, greater surface area
is provided to allow the brush to be quickly and easily dabbed for the
removal of excess liquid. Furthermore, because of the preferred
configuration of the tongue portion 28, such excess liquid is less likely to
fall
over the edge of the container 8, and instead is more likely to flow to the
contained area 14.
Most preferably, the tongue 14 includes 2 side edges 30, 32 and a
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leading edge 34. The leading edge 34 is most preferably about at least as
wide as a conventional paint brush. It will appreciated that providing a
leading edge 34 of this width has a number of benefits. First, the tongue 28
will have a greater surtace area for dabbing the brush. By contrast, if the
tongue 28 ends in a point or if the leading edge 34 is narrower, less surface
area would be available. Second, this configuration permits the paint brush
to be more easily dabbed for the removal of excess liquid, because the paint
brush need not be turned side ways in order to fit on the tongue 28.
Specifically, it will be appreciated that paintbrushes typically have a wide,
flat
shape. If the edge 34 is as wide as the brush, the brush can be effectively
dabbed whether the width of the brush is parallel, diagonal or orthogonal to
the edge 34 when the brush is dabbed.
It will be appreciated that painting is often done with a three-inch
brush. To accommodate this size of brush, the tongue portion 28 is
preferably at least about 2.8 inches wide. This allows a three-inch brush to
be easily and effectively dabbed on the tongue portion 28 to remove excess
liquid. Sometimes, painting is done with a four-inch brush. Thus, more
preferably, to accommodate a brush of this size, the tongue portion 28 is at
least about 3.8 inches wide. This allows a four-inch brush to be easily and
effectively dabbed on the tongue portion 28 to remove excess liquid. Most
preferably, the tongue portion 28, and in particular the leading edge 34, will
be about 4.25 inches wide. It has been found that this sizing allows for easy
dabbing of excess paint, while still maintaining the container 8 at a small
enough size to be easily manipulable.
The container is preferably composed of moulded plastic. It will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that the container 8 can be
manufactured from moulded plastic simply, inexpensively, and in high
volume. This is because the moulding process is specifically well-suited to
producing one-piece containers such as the container 8 at high volume at
a low per-unit cost.
Preferably, the container 8 is composed of a translucent material. It
will be appreciated that the use of a translucent material allows the user to
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see through the container from any angle to determine how much liquid
remains, thus increasing convenience for the user.
While the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been set forth
for the purposes of disclosing the invention, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing
from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims. Some of
these variations have been discussed and others will be apparent to those
skilled in the art. For example, the container 8 (and in particular, the wall
12)
may be generally rounded at the grip end of the container 8, and rectangular
at the end of the container 8 adjacent to the tongue portion 28, as shown in
Figure 2. Alternatively, the container 8 may be cylindrical or frusto-conical
in shape, or may be some other shape. What is considered important is that
the container 8 be convenient for use by a painter using a paintbrush.
