Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02788385 2012-09-04
TITLE: APPARATUS FOR COVERING A PAINT TRAY
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application
No. 61/530,883, filed September 2, 2011, and incorporates the disclosure of
the
application by reference.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] Paint and paint application devices are subject to oxidation,
dehydration, and
contaminants when being used or stored. To avoid dehydration after use, paint
is
often stored in an air tight container and paint application devices are
cleaned when
not in use. During a painting process, there are often instances when the
painting
process is temporarily interrupted or halted for minutes or hours at a time.
During
these times it is necessary to protect the unused paint from drying out. A
common
method is to return the unused paint to its air tight container and clean the
application
device. This method may be time consuming and wasteful.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] An apparatus for a paint tray cover according to various aspects of the
present
invention comprise a covering surface that is configured to be positioned over
a paint
tray to reduce the rate at which any paint contained within a paint tray
reservoir
dehydrates. The paint tray cover may be configured with one or more conforming
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sections adapted to receive an object such as a paint application device
located within
the paint tray.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived
by
referring to the detailed description when considered in connection with the
following
illustrative figures. In the following figures, like reference numbers refer
to similar
elements and steps throughout the figures.
[0005] Figure 1 representatively illustrates a prior art paint tray and paint
application
device;
[0006] Figure 2 representatively illustrates a top view of a cover in
accordance with
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0007] Figure 3 representatively illustrates a side view of a cover in
accordance with
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0008] Figure 4 representatively illustrates the cover positioned over a paint
tray and
a paint application device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
[0009] Figure 5 representatively illustrates a top view of the cover
positioned over the
paint tray and the paint application device in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0010] Figure 6 representatively illustrates a front view of the cover and the
paint tray
in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0011] The present invention may be described in terms of functional block
components and various processing steps. Such functional blocks may be
realized by
any number of components configured to perform the specified functions and
achieve
the various results. For example, the present invention may employ various
types of
covers, seals, storage equipment for various types of painting materials and
the like,
which may carry out a variety of functions. In addition, the present invention
may be
practiced in conjunction with any number of processes such as temporary
covering
and protection of a paint tray, the protection and storage of paint and paint
supplies,
and providing a covering to prevent paint from drying out, and the system
described
is merely one exemplary application for the invention. Further, the present
invention
may employ any number of conventional techniques for preventing materials from
drying out, spilling, providing protection against damage, and/or secure
storage.
[0012] An apparatus for covering a paint tray according to various aspects of
the
present invention may operate in conjunction with any suitable paint
application
system and/or paint material. Various representative implementations of the
present
invention may be applied to any system for covering and storing paint
supplies.
[0013] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a cover 200 may comprise any suitable
device
for covering an object having an interior volume. In an exemplary embodiment
of the
present invention the cover 200 may be adapted to cover a paint tray 100 to
help
protect a volume of paint contained within a paint well 102 at least partially
defined
by four side walls 110, 112, 114, 116 of the paint tray 100 and/or one or more
a paint
applicator tools such as a paint roller 104 from oxidation, dehydration,
contaminants
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such as dust, and/or inadvertent waste of the paint caused by object falling
into the
paint well 102. The cover 200 may comprise any suitable device for covering
the
paint tray 100 such as a lid or a cap. For example, in a representative
embodiment,
the cover 200 may comprise a body having a substantially rectangular covering
surface 202 and a securing end element 204.
[0014] The cover 200 may be comprised of any suitable material or materials
such as
plastic, rubber, metal, cardboard, or the like. Further, the cover 200 may be
formed
by any suitable method such as by extrusion, molding, or assembled from
multiple
sections. For example, in one embodiment, the cover 200 may comprise a
polyvinyl
chloride or similar thermoplastic polymer molded to form a substantially flat
surface.
The material used to form the cover 200 may also be suitably adapted to
provide
sufficient strength such that the cover 200 can withstand the application of
weight or
similar loading to the covering surface 202. For example, in one embodiment,
the
cover 200 may be formed to be substantially rigid such that when the cover 200
is
positioned over the paint tray 100, the cover 200 may withstand the
application of a
load applied to the covering surface 202 without any permanent and/or
temporary
buckling or other similar deformation. Alternatively, the material forming the
cover
200 may be configured to be semi-rigid and light weight and may experience
some
plastic deformation under an applied load.
[0015] The covering surface 202 is adapted to cover the paint tray 100 and any
contents therein such as paint or the paint roller 104. For example, referring
now to
Figures 3 and 4, in one embodiment, the covering surface 202 may have a top
side
304 and a bottom side 302, wherein at least a portion of the bottom side 302
is
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configured to engage a top edge or surface of one or more side walls 110, 112,
114,
116 of the paint tray 100 to cover and seal an interior portion of the paint
tray 100,
including the paint well 102, from the ambient air. The covering surface 202
may
also comprise additional elements suitably adapted to conform to and/or fit
around
portions of the paint tray 100 and/or paint roller 104. For example,
referring. now to
Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, in a representative embodiment, the covering surface
202
comprise a conforming section 206 and a notch 208.
[0016] The cover 200 may also comprise any suitable device or system for
selectively
coupling the covering surface 202 to the side walls of the paint tray 100. For
example, the bottom side 302 of the covering surface may comprise a clip, tab,
or
clamp that is configured to secure the covering surface 202 to the paint tray
100.
[0017] The conforming section 206 may comprise any suitable structure or
device
adapted to account for items such as the paint roller 104 that may be on or in
the paint
tray 100 when the cover 200 is positioned over the paint tray 100_ The
conforming
section 206 may comprise a raised portion disposed in the covering surface
202. The
conforming section 206 may be formed integrally with the covering surface 202
as a
single one-piece unit or the conforming section 206 may comprise a separate
structure
suitably adapted to be coupled to the covering surface 202.
[0018] The conforming section 206 may be formed in any suitable shape or size.
The
conforming section 206 may be disposed at any suitable location on the
covering
surface 202. For example, in one embodiment, the conforming section 206 may
comprise a substantially concave section that rises outwardly from the top
side 304 of
the covering surface 202, wherein the concave section may be oriented
substantially
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perpendicular to a centerline 108 extending between the inclined surface 106
and the
paint well 102 of the paint tray 100. The conforming section 206 may also be
of
sufficient height to account for a paint roller 104 of up to several inches in
diameter.
The conforming section 206 may also be sized to conform to a particular width
or
length of paint roller 104 or the conforming section 206 may be configured to
receive
any number of different sized paint roller 104 of up to a width of the
covering surface
202.
[0019] The notch 208 may comprise a recessed area, which provides a section in
the
cover 100 allowing the paint roller 104 to extend outwardly from the paint
tray 100
through the cover 200 allowing the cover 100 to sit substantially flush
against an
upper surface of the paint tray 100. The notch 208 may comprise any suitable
element for allowing passage of structural elements of the paint roller 104.
Referring
now to Figures 2, 5, and 6, in one embodiment, the notch 208 may comprise an
opening in an end portion of the cover 100 and/or the conforming section 206.
The
opening may comprise any suitable size or shape. For example, the notch 208
may be
sized to allow a frame member of the paint roller 104 to fit through but not a
handle
portion of the paint roller 104 thereby helping to secure the paint roller 104
within the
space formed by the cover 100 and the paint tray 200.
[0020] The cover 200 may also comprise a sidewall portion (not shown) forming
a lip
along one or more edges of the covering surface 202. The sidewall portion may
comprise any suitable element for extending one or more sides of the covering
surface 202 past the top edge of the paint tray 100 when the cover 100 is
positioned
on the paint tray 100. The sidewall portion may be formed integrally with the
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covering surface 202 or the sidewall portion may comprise a separate structure
suitably adapted to be coupled to the covering surface 202.
[0021] The securing element 204 helps secure the cover 1 00 to the paint tray
200 and
may comprise any suitable device or structure. Referring to Figures 3, 4, and
6, in
one embodiment, the securing element 204 may comprise and edge piece
configured
to extend downward from the covering surface 202 and engage an edge of the
paint
tray 100. The securing element 204 may also comprise a portion of the notch
208.
The securing element 204 may be formed integrally with the covering surface
202
forming a single one-piece unit or the securing element 204 may comprise a
separate
structure suitably adapted to be coupled to the covering surface 202.
[0022] The particular implementations shown and described are illustrative of
the
invention and its best mode and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope
of the
present invention in any way. Indeed, for the sake of brevity, conventional
manufacturing, connection, preparation, and other functional aspects of the
system
may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the
various figures are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships
and/or
steps between the various elements. Many alternative or additional functional
relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system.
[0023] In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with
reference
to specific exemplary embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be
made, however, without departing from the scope of the present invention as
set forth
in the claims. The specification and figures are illustrative, rather than
restrictive, and
modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present
invention.
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Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by the claims and
their
legal equivalents rather than by merely the examples described.
[0024] For example, the steps recited in any method or process claims may be
executed in any order and are not limited to the specific order presented in
the claims.
Additionally, the components and/or elements recited in any apparatus claims
may be
assembled or otherwise operationally configured in a variety of permutations
and are
accordingly not limited to the specific configuration recited in the claims.
[0025] Benefits, other advantages and solutions to problems have been
described
above with regard to particular embodiments; however, any benefit, advantage,
solution to problem or any element that may cause any particular benefit,
advantage
or solution to occur or to become more pronounced are not to be construed as
critical,
required or essential features or components of any or all the claims.
[0026] As used herein, the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprising",
"having",
"including", "includes" or any variation thereof, are intended to reference a
non-
exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, composition or
apparatus
that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements
recited, but
may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such
process,
method, article, composition or apparatus. Other combinations and/or
modifications
of the above-described structures, arrangements, applications, proportions,
elements,
materials or components used in the practice of the present invention, in
addition to
those not specifically recited, may be varied or otherwise particularly
adapted to
specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters or
other
operating requirements without departing from the general principles of the
same.
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