Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PAINT STORAGE CONTAINER
Cross Reference to Related Application
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/337,237 filed on December 5, 2001.
Field of the Disclosure
[0002] The disclosure generally relates to painting apparatus and, more
particularly, relates to containers for storing paint after initial use.
Background of the Disclosure
[0003] After completion of a typical painting job, home owners or
professionals are
confronted with the prospect of storing the unused paint left over from
completion of the job.
In almost all current instances, such storage consists of reattaching a metal
lid to a metal paint
can. More specifically, the metal paint can typically includes a circular
bottom wall from
which a cylindrical side wall upwardly extends and terminates in an upper lip
having a
circumferential groove. The lid is manufactured to be substantially planar but
to include a
circumferential rim adapted to be received in the lip of the can. If
sufficient pressure, i.e.,
hand pressure or that from the tapping of a hammer, is applied, the lid can be
forced into the
can lip to create an effective seal.
[0004] While such a system is effective, it does suffer from a number of
drawbacks. For example, painting, be it through use of a brush, a roller or
the like, typically
results in substantial drippage of the paint over the side of the can. For
example, when
pouring the paint from the can into a paint tray for use of a roller, the
cylindrical nature of the
can does not lend itself to clean, drip-free pouring. Accordingly, the outside
of the can
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becomes covered in dried paint thereby covering valuable information printed
on the label of
the can, such as brand or color. At the very least, such dried paint is messy
and unattractive.
This is especially so when reattaching the lid to the can, in that paint
residing in the
circumferential top rim of the can will splatter outwardly when the lid is
tapped closed.
[0005] Moreover, while such a metal lip to metal lid does create a seal, its
effectiveness is directly related to the degree of care exercised by the user
when storing the
paint. Such cans are also often difficult to open, either at initial purchase,
or after initial use.
In either event, a separate tool such as a screwdriver or the like is needed
to pry the lid from
the can at various locations.
[0006] In addition, as such cans are typically manufactured from metal, they
are
necessarily opaque thereby preventing the user from immediately identifying
the color of the
paint stored within the can. The use of metal also lends itself to the
creation of rust,
especially when the cans are typically stored in basements or other damp
environments which
can lead to oxidation of the metal.
[0007] Finally, given the cylindrical nature of such cans, they are not
directly
stackable in that the diameter of the base of one can directly corresponds
with the diameter of
the top of another can, and thus if not perfectly balanced, will not stack.
This problem is
accentuated if the lids are not fully and completely tapped down, thus
resulting in a non-flat
surface upon which to stack.
Summary of the Disclosure
[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a reusable paint
container is
disclosed which may include a tub, a lid, and a handle. The tub may include a
bottom wall
from which a side wall upwardly extends and terminates at a rim defining an
open top. The
lid may be removably attached to the top rim and include a flange. The handle
may be
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pivotably attached to the tub and include a groove. The handle may be movable
between
locked and open positions with the flange being held within the handle groove
when in the
locked position, and being removed from the groove when in the open position.
(0009] In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method of
storing
paint is disclosed which may include the steps of pouring paint into a tub,
attaching a lid to
the tub and substantially sealing the paint therein, and locking the lid onto
the tub by rotating
the handle, pivotably mounted to the tub, into engagement with the lid.
[0010] In accordance with yet another aspect of the disclosure, a reusable
paint
container is disclosed which may comprise a tub, a lid removably attached to
the tub, a
handle pivotably attached to the tub, and means associated with the handle for
locking the
handle onto the tub.
[0011] These and other aspects and features of the disclosure will become more
apparent upon reading the following detailed description when taken in
conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0012] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a reusable paint container constructed
in
accordance with the teaching of the disclosure, and depicted in a first locked
configuration;
[0013] Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1, but with the container
depicted
in a second locked configuration;
[0014] Fig. 3 is a side view of the tub of the container of Figs. 1 and 2;
[0015] Fig. 4 is a side view of the lid of Figs. 1 and 2;
[0016] Fig. 5 is a top view of the tub of Figs. 1 and 2;
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[0017] Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the container of Fig. 2, taken along line
6-6 of
Fig. 2.
[0018] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and
alternative
constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown in the
drawings and
will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that
there is no intention
to limit the disclosure to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary,
the intention is to
cover all modifications, alternatives constructions, and equivalents falling
within the spirit
and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Detailed Description of the Disclosure
[0019] Referring now to the drawings, and with specif c reference to Fig. l, a
paint
container constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure is
generally referred
to by reference numeral 20. While the container 20 will be described herein
for use in
conjunction with paint, it is to be understood that in the detailed
description that follows, as
well as the appended claims, the term "paint" is defined as any type of
material adapted to be
applied to a surface for protection or decoration thereof. Accordingly,
"paint" as used herein
includes not only paint, but stain, lacquers, varnishes, sealants, and the
like. Moreover, while
the drawings depict a container 20 having a given size, it is to be understood
that the teaching
of the disclosure can be used to construct containers of a variety of
different sizes including,
but not limited to, pints, quarts, half gallons, and gallons.
[0020] Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, the container 20 is shown to include
a tub
22, a lid 24, and a handle 26. The lid 24 is adapted to be removably attached
to the tub 22
and the handle 26 is adapted to pivot about the tub 22. More specifically, the
handle 26 can
pivot to a first locked position above the tub when it is desired to carry the
container 20, and
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to pivot into alignment with the lid 24 to a second locked position to lock
the lid 24 onto the
tub 22 as will be described in further detail herein.
[0021] Refernng now to Figs. 3 and 5, the tub 22 is shown to include a bottom
wall
28 from which a side wall 30 upwardly extends. The side wall 30 terminates in
an upper rim
32 and flares outwardly from the bottom wall 28 to the rim 32 in that it
increases in diameter
from the bottom wall 28 to the rim 32. Moreover, as will be appreciated from
Fig. 5, the side
wall 30 progresses from a circular shape at bottom wall 28 to a substantially
rectangular
shape at the upper rim 32. As defined herein "substantially rectangular" is
used to connote
the unique shape of the upper rim 32 in that it includes four discernable side
walls or edges
34. The rim 32 further includes two pouring spouts 36, and two handle
attachment points 38.
Moreover, while the upper rim 32 may be described herein as being
"substantially
rectangular" and including side edges 34, it will be noted from Fig. 5 that
the side edges 34
are in fact not linear but are slightly arcuate.
[0022] The tub 22 further includes a flange 40 which radially extends
outwardly
from the tub side wall 30 proximate the upper rim 32. The tub 22 further
includes first and
second handle pivots or hubs 42 which extend outwardly from the handle
attachment points
38. As will be noted, the handle pivots 42 are of a conventional design in
that they include a
pivot recess 44 accessible by a wedge recess 46. Accordingly, by manufacturing
the handle
26 to have ends 47 with axles 48 of a similar or slightly greater diameter
than the pivot recess
44 extending therefrom, when the axles 48 are snapped into the pivot recesses
44, the handle
26 is retained onto the tub 22 and able to pivot thereabout. The axles 48 may
each include
retainers 49 at ends thereof to limit lateral movement of the handle ends 47
as shown best in
Fig. 5.
[0023] Referring now to Figs. 1 and 4, the lid 24 is shown to include a shape
matching that of the upper rim 32. In addition, the lid 24 includes a planar
top surface 50
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from which the mounting lip 52 downwardly extends at a circumference 54
thereof. A
retaining rim 55 further extends downwardly from the mounting lip 52 and
therebetween
defines a retention notch 56, as shown best in Fig. 6, adapted to fractionally
receive the flange
40 therein when the lid 24 is attached to the tub 22. Moreover, when the lid
24 is attached to
the tub 22, and the flange 40 is received in the notch 56, mounting cleats 58,
or other similar
structure, provided on the retaining rim 55 snap over the flange 40, and thus
reside below the
flange 40 to thereby provide a positive means for retaining the lid 24 onto
the tub 22 until
significant force is applied to the lid 24 for removal thereof.
[0024] As will also be noted from Fig. 4, the lip 52 is provided with first
and
second semi-circular recesses 60 adapted to be mounted over the handle
attachment pivots
38. In addition to providing a notch 56 on an inside surface 62 of the
mounting lip 52, the lid
24 is provided with a radially outwardly extending locking ledge 64. The
locking ledge 64
serves not only as a surface which can be easily grasped by a user for
removing the lid 24
from the tub 22, but is also provided to interact with the handle 26 in
locking the lid 24 onto
the tub 22 as described in further detail herein. Moreover, the recesses 60
provide a surface
adapted to interact with the handle ends 47 to hold the lid 24 to the tub 22
in a first locked
position.
[0025] Referring now to Fig. S, as well as Fig. 2, the second locking position
of the
handle 26 is shown in detail. An inside surface 66 of the handle 26 is
provided with a locking
channel 68 adapted to receive the locking ledge 64 of the lid 24 when the lid
24 is locked
onto the tub 22. By providing the locking channel 68, and appropriately
dimensioning the
handle 26, the handle 26 is placed under significant tension and into the
locked position,
thereby holding the lid 24 onto the tub 22. Only when sufficient and
relatively significant
force is exerted by the user upon the handle 26, is the handle 26 dislodged
from the lid 24,
thereby freeing the lid 24 for removal from the tub 22 by the user. In
alternative
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embodiments, it is to be understood that alternative means for locking the lid
24 onto the tub
22 are certainly envisioned and encompassed within the scope of the present
invention. Such
means may include, but are not limited to, threaded arrangements, snaps,
clips, and ties.
[0026] As far as material selection is concerned, the container 20 can be
manufactured from any suitable type of material, but given the desire for the
container 20 to
be reusable, easily washable, and to provide a surface to which paints are not
likely to stick,
any number of polymers are suitable candidates, including but not limited to
polypropylene.
[0027] While the structure and use of the container 20 has been described
above in
terms of a user desiring to store unused paint therein, the structure
described above is also
advantageous to retailers or other vendors of such containers. For example, by
providing the
side wall 30 so as to flare outwardly from the bottom wall 28 upwardly toward
the upper rim
32, the tubs 22 are easily nestable one within another, thereby conserving
shelf space, as well
as limiting transportation and storage costs.
(0028] In operation, the structure described above can be used to construct a
paint
storage container 20. Such a container 20 can be used whenever desired by the
user, but
perhaps most advantageously after completing a painting job, and it is desired
to store the
remaining paint from typical conventional metal paint pans. In addition,
excess paint poured
into a paint roller tray or the like can be easily poured into such a
container for subsequent
storage and use. After such paint is poured into a tub, the lid 24 can be
secured onto the
upper rim such that the groove 56 of the mounting lip 52 is fully surrounding
the flange 40 of
the tub 22. The handle 26 can then be rotated from the position depicted in
Fig. 1 to that
depicted in Fig. 2 such that the groove 62 in the handle 26 receives the
locking ledge 64 of
the lid 24 therein. If used in conjunction with other similar containers 20,
such containers 20
can be easily stacked in that since the side wall 30 is tapered so as to flare
upwardly the
bottom wall 28 is sized to be received in the lid 24 in an easily stackable
fashion.
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[0029] By manufacturing the container 20 from suitable polymers such as
polypropylene and manufacturing the container to relatively high tolerances,
the lid 24 can be
secured to the tub 22 in a substantially sealed fashion thereby ensuring the
effectiveness of
the paint stored therein. Once the user again wishes to use the paint stored
in the container,
the handle 26 can be rotated to remove the locking ledge 64 from the groove
62, thus
enabling the user to remove the lid 24 from the tub 22. Once in such an open
configuration,
the shape of the tub 22 provides certain additional advantages. For example,
the built-in
pouring spouts 36 of the tub 22 enable the user to easily pour from the tub 22
in an accurate
fashion with less likelihood of any spillage.
[0030] In addition, the side edges 34 of the upper rim 32 are provided in a
substantially linear shape to provide a suitable surface against which a brush
can be wiped to
thus accurately meter the paint provided on the brush and do to so in a clean
fashion.
Preferably, the material from which the container is manufactured is
transparent to thus
enable the user to easily identify the contents contained within the container
20. To further
assist the user in identifying the contents of the container 20, any number of
stickers, labels,
or the like can be provided for attachment to the container 20 or lid 24. For
example, the user
can transfer information from the original container from which the paint is
sold to thereby
providing such information as brand, color, pigment formula, date of storage,
or the like. The
tub 22 may further be provided with a number of graduations 70 to provide
indicia to the user
as to the volume of paint held within the container.
[0031] From the foregoing, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily
appreciate
that the teachings of the disclosure can be used to construct a paint storage
container enabling
paint to be stored in a clean, easily stackable, easily storable, easily
identifiable fashion, and
to do so in a container which enables the paint stored therein to the easily
poured or metered
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therefrom. Moreover, the paint container is provided with an effective, user
friendly locking
device for ensuring the lid remains attached to the tub while stored.
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