Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02638207 2008-07-22
POUNDING STATION
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.
60/014,898 filed December 19, 2007, the entire contents of which are hereby
incorporated by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to the field of supports for commercial paint
mixers,
particularly for mixing paint in one gallon containers.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In the past, paint mixers were used by retail stores selling paint to
blend tinting
material with a base material to achieve a desired color of paint vended in
conventional one
gallon paint containers. Historically such containers have been metal
cylinders with a press
on lid. The lid was required to be removed from the container so that the
tinting material
could be added, and then the lid was required to be replaced on the container,
often by
pounding with a rubber mallet or the like until the lid was completely seated
on the container.
The base material and tinting material was then blended in a paint mixer
receiving the one
gallon container.
[0004] Stores selling paint have, in the past, required counter space or
workbench space
to have a work surface to pound the lid back on the paint can after tinting
and before mixing.
In addition, some stores have multiple mixers, to allow faster response to
customers. It was
known for mixer manufacturers to offer a stand to allow vertical stacking of
one gallon type
mixers, to save floor space. However, the problem remained of still requiring
a "pounding
station" surface to recluse the one gallon cylindrical paint container.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by
providing a
pounding station in combination with a paint mixer support (in one embodiment)
and in
combination with a vertical stacking paint mixer stand (in an alternative
embodiment). In one
CA 02638207 2008-07-22
aspect, the pounding station may be a shelf or tray extending out from the
stand at a height
somewhat intermediate the mixers on the stand, when there are two mixers on
the stand.
[0006] In another aspect, the present invention provides for a folding tray to
allow the
tray to be rotated up out of the way to provide more convenient access to the
lower mixer on
the stand. Additionally, the tray may be moved out of the way when a roller
conveyor is used
in conjunction with the mixer or mixers. In this aspect, the present invention
may utilize
means for holding the tray in the storage position, which, in one embodiment
may be at least
one magnet to hold the tray in a folded-up condition, through attraction
between the magnet
on the tray and a front (ferromagnetic) panel on an upper mixer on the stand.
When the tray
is pulled away from the upper mixer, the tray comes to rest in a horizontal
position when arms
extending from the rear of the tray contact cross members on the sides of the
stand.
[0007] In another aspect, the tray of the present invention may be rotated to
a shipping
position in the absence of an upper mixer, to reduce the shipping volume of
the tray and stand,
without requiring assembly by a purchaser. When the stand is placed into
operation, the tray
is rotated out of the shipping position and is ready to use.
[0008] While the container mentioned above has a one gallon capacity, it is to
be
understood that the present invention is not limited to use with any
particular size paint
container, but may advantageously be used with a variety of sizes of paint
containers. In
addition, although a specific type of paint mixer, i.e., a vortex mixer, is
shown and referenced
herein, it is to be understood that the present invention may be used with
other types of paint
mixers as well, for example, oscillating or shaker type mixers or gyroscopic
type mixers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Figure 1 shows a perspective view from the front and above of a
vertical stacking
paint mixer stand and tray apparatus useful in the practice of the present
invention, with the
tray in an operating position.
[0010] Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the apparatus in Figure 1.
[0011] Figure 3 is a front elevation view of the apparatus of Figure 1.
[0012] Figure 4 shows a perspective view similar to that of Figure 1, except
with a pair
of paint mixers resting on the stand.
2
CA 02638207 2008-07-22
[0013] Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the mixers and stand of Figure 4.
[0014] Figure 6 is a section view along line VI-VI of Figure 5 to illustrate
the location of
the feet of the upper mixer on the stand.
[0015] Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the tray of Figure 1 from
the front
and above.
[0016] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the tray of Figure 7 from the front
and below.
[0017] Figure 9 is a view similar to that of Figure 4, except with a paint
container resting
on the tray.
[0018] Figure 10 is a side elevation view of the arrangement shown in Figure
9.
[0019] Figure 11 is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 4, except
with the tray in
a storage position.
[0020] Figure 12 is a perspective view from the front and above of the
apparatus of
Figure 1, except with the tray in a shipping position.
[0021) Figure 13 is a side elevation view of the apparatus of Figure 12.
[0022] Figure 14 is a front elevation view of the apparatus of Figure 12.
[0023] Figure 15 is a perspective view from the front and below of the
apparatus of
Figure 12.
[0024] Figure 16 is a perspective view from the rear and below of the
apparatus of Figure
12.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] Referring now to the Figures, and most particularly to Figures 1-3, a
vertical
stacking paint mixer stand and tray apparatus 10 useful in the practice of the
present invention
may be seen with a tray 12 in an operating position.
[0026] Apparatus 10 includes a stand 14 to which the tray 12 is preferably
pivotably
mounted at pivots 16 and 18. Stand 14 is preferably formed of sheet metal
plates 20 and 22
connected by rectangular braces or members 24. Each sheet 20, 22 may have
raised ridges 26
forming locator pockets for mixers to be (respectively) positioned thereon, in
a manner shown
infra.
3
CA 02638207 2008-07-22
[0027] Ridges 26 may be formed by welded on pieces, or by raised lips formed
in plates
20 and 22, or in some other conventional manner, as desired. It is to be
understood that stand
14 of the present invention may be the same as that shown in published United
States Patent
Application US 2007/0209893 Al, or it may be a stand similar to that, but
without the tuned
spring and mass system. The entire contents of US 2007/0209893 Al is expressly
incorporated herein.
[0028] Tray 12 may have one and preferably has two magnets 28 permanently
secured
thereto. Tray 12 also has a pair of arms 30 extending toward and in contact
with the stand,
more particularly with braces 24, to hold the tray in the horizontal operating
position.
Enlarged views of the tray may be seen in Figures 7 and 8.
[0029] Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, a pair of mixers 32 and 34 are shown
resting on
the stand 14, and in one aspect, may be considered to be part of the present
invention. Upper
mixer 32 and lower mixer 34 may be the same or different types. As shown
mixers 32 and 34
are of the type shown in United States Patent Application US 2007/0247967 A1,
or it may be
a mixer similar to that, such as a model 1015 one gallon mixer available from
the Red Devil
Equipment Company of Plymouth, Minnesota. The entire contents of US
2007/0247967 A l
is expressly incorporated herein. It is to be understood that the apparatus 10
can be used as a
pounding station with only one mixer, (or even no mixers) if desired. The
present invention
may be used with another types of mixer, as well.
[0030] Figure 6 shows a plan layout illustrating how the support feet 36 of
the upper
mixer 32 are preferably constrained by the raised ridges 26 to positively
locate and restrain
the upper mixer 32 from moving laterally with respect to the stand 14.
[0031] Referring now most particularly to Figures 9 and 10, the tray 12 is
shown in the
operating position, with a cylindrical one gallon paint container 40 resting
thereon. This is the
"pounding station" of the present invention. Tray 12 provides a support for
the paint can 40
to allow a user to reseal a lid on the container 40 conveniently by pounding
it with a rubber
mallet or the like while container 40 is resting on tray 12.
[0032] Referring to Figure 11, the tray may be rotated up and out of the
operating
position when not needed. Once tray 12 approaches upper mixer 32, magnets 28
will retain
tray 12 in the storage position shown in Figure 11, allowing easy access to
the interior of both
4
CA 02638207 2008-07-22
mixers 32 and 34, and especially lower mixer 34. It is to be understood that
in the practice of
the present invention, tray 12 may be held in the storage position using other
techniques or
mechanisms, such as, but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, one or more
shock cords,
one or more straps, one or more detent features or a pin and slot arrangement,
with the pin on
one of the tray and stand and the slot on the other of the tray and stand,
with the pin captured
in, but movable along the slot to retain the tray in the storage position.
[0033] Referring now to Figures 12-16, the tray 12 is shown in a shipping
position. With
the tray 12 in this position, the apparatus 10 takes up minimum volume,
reducing the space
needed to ship the apparatus 10, (and to store the apparatus 10 in, for
example, pre-sales
inventory). In the shipping position, tray 12 is rotated about pivots 16 and
18 until the tray 12
contacts the upper plate 20 of the stand 14.
[0034] In one aspect, the invention may thus be seen to be a pounding station
in
combination with a vertical stacking paint mixer stand. In another aspect, the
present
invention may be seen to be a pounding station in combination with another
type of paint
mixer support, such as a mixer base or riser which supports a paint mixer at a
desired height.
[0035] More particularly, in the first aspect mentioned, the present invention
may be seen
to be an apparatus of a pounding station in combination with a vertical
stacking paint mixer
stand for supporting a lower paint mixer and an upper paint mixer located
above the lower
paint mixer on the stand, and a generally planar tray pivotably attached to
the stand at or near
the level of an upper planar support for the upper paint mixer and sized to
receive a paint
container of a size and shape to be mixed in at least one of the paint mixers,
wherein the tray
is positionable to an operating position wherein the tray is oriented
horizontally to permit
resealing a lid to the paint container on the tray, and (alternatively) to a
storage position
wherein the tray is oriented generally vertically against the upper paint
mixer. The stand can
be used with only one mixer, if desired.
[0036] In another aspect, the tray may include means for holding the tray in
the storage
position.
[0037] In another aspect, the invention may also include at least an upper
paint mixer
received on the stand.
CA 02638207 2008-07-22
[0038] In another aspect, the invention may also include both upper and lower
paint
mixers received on the stand.
[0039] In another aspect, the means for holding the tray in the storage
position may
include at least one magnet holding tray adjacent a ferromagnetic surface of
the upper paint
mixer.
[0040] In another aspect, the means for holding the tray in the storage
position may
include a hook and loop fastener.
[0041] In another aspect, the means for holding the tray in the storage
position may
include a resilient shock cord.
[0042] In another aspect, the means for holding the tray in the storage
position may
include a strap.
[0043] In another aspect, the means for holding the tray in the storage
position may
include a detent between the tray and the stand.
[0044] In another aspect, the means for holding the tray in the storage
position may
include a pin and slot, with the pin on one of the tray and stand, and the
slot on the other of
the tray and stand.
[0045] In yet another aspect, the present invention may be seen to be an
apparatus of a
pounding station in combination with a paint mixer support or base for
supporting a paint
mixer, with a generally planar tray pivotably attached to the base, with the
tray sized to
receive a paint container of a size and shape in which the various
constituents of the paint are
to be mixed, wherein the tray is positionable to an operating position wherein
the tray is
oriented horizontally to permit resealing a lid to the paint container on the
tray, and
(alternatively) to a storage position wherein the tray is oriented generally
vertically.
[0046] The present invention may be found especially useful in installations
having a
roller conveyor in front of the mixer or mixers, with the roller conveyor
positioned to assist
the lateral transfer of paint containers to or from the mixer. In this
arrangement, the present
invention allows a user to move the tray to the operating position convenient
to close the paint
container, and (alternatively) to the storage position where the tray is
located out of the way to
avoid interference with a paint container moving along the roller conveyor.
6
CA 02638207 2008-07-22
[0047] The invention is not to be taken as limited to all of the details
thereof as
modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or
scope of the
invention.
7
