Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONTAINER, AND USE OF THE CONTAINER AS A TRIM PAINT PAIL
Field of the invention:
The present invention relates to a container. More particularly, in its
intended
preferred use, the present invention relates to an improved container, which
can be
used as a hand-held trim paint pail, and also relates to a kit for assembling
the same,
and to corresponding methods of assembling and use associated thereto.
Background of the invention:
Hand-held vessels are well known in the art.
For example, known to the Applicant is US patent No. 6,708,838 B2 granted on
March 231.d, 2004 to BERGMAN et at., as well as US patent No 6,991,829 82
granted
on January 31st, 2006 to BERGMAN (as well as corresponding Canadian
equivalents
Nos. 2,422,885 and 2,690,049).
These documents describe a hand-held vessel having a bottom wall, a sidewall
and a supportive strap attached to the bottom wall and the sidewall. The
bottom wall
and sidewall have an inner and outer surface. The sidewall extends from the
bottom
wall, whereby the inner surfaces of the bottom wall and sidewall define a
cavity for
holding fluids or loose materials therein. The strap has a first end and a
second end,
whereby the first end is fixedly attached to the sidewall and the second end
is
selectively secured to the bottom wall. The strap is adaptable to accept a
user's hand
disposed between the strap and the outer surface of the sidewall. The strap
urges the
hand against the outer surface of the sidewall to secure the vessel to the
hand and
stabilize the vessel with respect to movement relative to the hand.
=
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Also known the Applicant is US design patent No. D460,845 S granted on July
23, 2002, to BERGMAN, and relating to a "hand-held container".
Also known in the art are the substantial drawbacks associated with
conventional hand-held containers, such as, for example: a) some of them are
quite
elaborate in design, and as a result, are costly to manufacture and/or
assembled; b)
because most containers rely on "live" hinges (i.e. strap being made integral
to the
container, etc.), they do not enable for an interchangeability of components
(ex.
straps cannot be changed or interchanged, etc.); c) conventional containers
are not
easily nestable into one another for minimizing storage space when not in use;
d) etc.
Hence, in light of the aforementioned, there is a need for an improved
= container which would be able to overcome or at least minimize some of
the
aforementioned prior art problems.
Summary of the invention:
The object of the present invention is to provide a container, which by virtue
of
its design and components, would be an improvement over other related
containers
and/or containing methods known in the prior art.
In accordance with the present invention, the above object is achieved, as
will
be easily understood, with a container (or "pail"), such as the one briefly
described
herein, and such as the one exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
container
comprising:
a containment body for receiving and containing material therein, the
containment body being provided with at least one side wall, and a bottom
wall; and
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a fastening strap separate from the containment body, and selectively
cooperable with said containment body, the fastening strap having a first end
removably mountable onto a side wall of the containment body, and a second end
removably connectable onto a lower portion of the containment body via a
connection
mechanism.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a
container comprising:
a containment body for receiving and containing material therein, the
containment body being provided with at least one side wall, and a bottom
wall; and
a fastening strap separate from the containment body, and selectively
cooperable with said containment body, the fastening strap having a first end
removably mountable onto the at least one side wall of the containment body,
and a
second end removably connectable onto a lower portion of the containment body
via
a connection mechanism, wherein in such an operative configuration of the
fastening
strap, a passage is defined between the at least one side wall and the
fastening strap
for receiving a portion of a user's hand or an accessory.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided
a container comprising:
a containment body for receiving and containing material therein, the
containment body being provided with at least one side wall, and a bottom
wall, and
comprising at least one curved side wall, the at least one curved side wall
being
configured for receiving a palm of a hand of a user of the container; and
a fastening strap separate from the containment body, and selectively
cooperable with said containment body, the fastening strap having a first end
removably mountable onto the at least one side wall of the containment body,
and a
second end removably connectable onto a lower portion of the containment body
via
a connection mechanism, wherein in such an operative configuration of the
fastening
4
3a
strap, a passage is defined between the at least one side wall and the
fastening strap for receiving a portion of a user's hand or an accessory.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided a container comprising:
a containment body for receiving and containing material therein, the
containment body being provided with at least one side wall, and a bottom
wall, and
comprising at least one curved side wall, the at least one curved side wall
being
configured for receiving a palm of a hand of a user of the container; and
a fastening strap separate from the containment body, and selectively
cooperable with said containment body, the fastening strap having a first end
removably mountable onto the at least one side wall of the containment body,
and a
second end, wherein in an operative configuration of the fastening strap, a
passage
is defined between the at least one side wall and the fastening strap for
receiving a
portion of a user's hand or an accessory.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
container comprising:
a containment body for receiving and containing material therein, the
containment body being provided with at least one side wall, and a bottom
wall, the
containment body being further provided with an upper slit consisting of a
through-
slit extending through the at least one side wall, from an inner surface to an
outer
surface of said at least one side wall; and
a fastening strap separate from the containment body, and selectively
cooperable with said containment body, the fastening strap having a first end
removably mountable onto the at least one side wall of the containment body,
and a
second end removably connectable onto a lower portion of the containment body
via
a connection mechanism, wherein in such an operative configuration of the
fastening
strap, a passage is defined between the at least one side wall and the
fastening
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3b
strap for receiving a portion of a user's hand or an accessory, the fastening
strap
being shaped and sized for mounting onto the containment body via an insertion
of
the fastening strap through the upper slit of the containment body.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
container comprising:
a containment body for receiving and containing material therein, the
containment body being provided with at least one side wall, and a bottom
wall, the
containment body being further provided with an upper slit consisting of a
through-
slit extending through the at least one side wall, from an inner surface to an
outer
surface of said at least one side wall; and
a fastening strap separate from the containment body, and selectively
cooperable with said containment body, the fastening strap having a first end
removably mountable onto the at least one side wall of the containment body,
and a
second end, wherein in an operative configuration of the fastening strap, a
passage
is defined between the at least one side wall and the fastening strap for
receiving a
portion of a user's hand or an accessory, the fastening strap being shaped and
sized
for mounting onto the containment body via an insertion of the fastening strap
through the upper slit of the containment body.
Optionally, the container can be a hand-held container used as a trim paint
pail, although various others uses can be made with the container.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided a method of operating the above-mentioned container, containment body
and/or strap thereof.
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According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided a kit with components for assembling the above-mentioned container
(ex.
containment body and/or strap thereof).
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According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided
a set of components for interchanging with components of the above-mentioned
container, containment body and/or strap thereof.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided
a method of assembling components of the above-mentioned kit and/or set.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided
a method of manufacturing the above-mentioned container and/or components
thereof (ex. containment body, strap, etc.).
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided
a surface or an object having been treated with material from the above-
mentioned
container.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also
provided
a method of doing business with the above-mentioned container, containment
body,
strap, method(s), kit and/or set.
The objects, advantages and other features of the present invention will
become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description
of
preferred embodiments thereof, given for the purpose of exemplification only,
with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Brief description of the drawings:
Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a container according to an optional
embodiment of the present invention, the fastening strap being shown separate
from
the containment body, and a magnet being shown in an exploded relationship
with
respect to the first extremity of the fastening strap.
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Figure 2 is another top perspective view of what is shown in Figure 1, the
magnet being shown in an assembled configuration with respect to the fastening
strap, and said fastening strap being shown inserted through the upper slit of
the
5 containment body, a working tool being also shown adjacent to the
container.
Figure 3 is another top perspective view of the container shown in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view of what is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a top plan view of what is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of what is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 7 is a front elevational view of what is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 8 is a rear elevational view of what is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 9 is a left side elevational view of what is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of what is shown in Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along a longitudinal axis of what is
shown in Figure 10.
Figures 11a-11d are schematic representations of possible examples of slits
according to different optional embodiments of the present invention.
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Figure 12 is a top perspective view of a container according to another
possible embodiment of the present invention, the container being shown
without a
strap.
Figure 13 is a bottom perspective view of what is shown in Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a front elevational view of what is shown in Figure 12.
Figure 15 is a rear elevational view of what is shown in Figure 12.
Figure 16 is a right side elevational view of what is shown in Figure 12.
Figure 17 is a left side elevational view of what is shown in Figure 12.
Figure 18 is a top plan view of what is shown in Figure 12.
Figure 19 is a bottom plan view of what is shown in Figure 12.
Figure 20 is another top perspective view of what is shown in Figure 12, the
container being now shown with a corresponding fastening strap separate from
the
containment body of the container.
Figure 211s another top perspective view of what is shown in Figure 20, the
fastening strap being now shown inserted through the upper slit of the
containment
body.
Figure 22 is a top plan view of what is shown in Figure 21.
Figure 23 is a bottom plan view of what is shown in Figure 21.
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Figure 24 is a front elevational view of what is shown in Figure 21.
Figure 25 is a rear elevational view of what is shown in Figure 21.
Figure 26 is a right side elevational view of what is shown in Figure 21.
Figure 27 is a left side elevational view of what is shown in Figure 21.
Figure 28 is a bottom perspective view of what is shown in Figure 21.
Figure 29 is another bottom perspective view of what is shown in Figure 28,
the fastening strap being now shown in a connected configuration.
Figure 30 is a right side elevational view of what is shown in Figure 29.
Figure 31 is a left side elevational view of what is shown in Figure 29.
Figure 32-35 are bottom sequential perspective views of a fastening strap
cooperating with a connection mechanism according to a possible embodiment of
the
present invention.
Figure 36 is a perspective view of a user employing the container along with a
corresponding painting tool according to a possible embodiment of the present
invention.
Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention:
In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar
elements. Furthermore, for sake of simplicity and clarity, namely so as to not
unduly
burden the figures with several references numbers, not all the figures have
been
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provided with reference numbers, and components and features of the present
invention illustrated in some figures can also be easily inferred from others.
The
embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and/or dimensions
shown in the figures are preferred, for exemplification purposes only.
Moreover, although the present invention was primarily designed for hand-held
use, and for trimming and/or painting applications, as well as carrying out
other
possible functions related thereto (e.g. priming, varnishing, etc.), it may be
used with
other types of materials and objects and in other fields, as apparent to a
person
skilled in the art. For this reason, expressions such as "hand-held", "trim",
"paint",
"pail", etc., as used herein should not be taken as to limit the scope of the
present
invention and includes all other kinds of ways, materials, objects and/or
purposes with
which the present invention could be used and may be useful.
Moreover, in the context of the present invention, the expressions
"container",
"pail", "vessel", "tool", "device", "unit", "product", "apparatus", "system",
"kit" and
"assembly", as well as any other equivalent expressions and/or compounds word
thereof known in the art will be used interchangeably, as apparent to a person
skilled
in the art. This applies also for any other mutually equivalent expressions,
such as, for
example: a) "fastening", "tightening", "securing", "strapping", "holding",
"handling",
"manipulating", etc.; b) "strap", "handle", "belt", etc.; c) "engaging",
"hooking",
"mounting", "penetrating", "inserting", etc.; d) "extremity", "end",
"portion", "segment",
etc.; e) "slit", "hole", "slot", "recess", "notch", "hook", "inlet", socket",
etc.; f) "housing",
"shell", "body", "frame", etc.; g) "receiving", "containing", "holding",
"storing", etc.; h)
"material", "fluid", "paint", "substance", "particles", etc.; i) "top",
"upper", etc.; j)
"bottom", "lower", etc.; k) "edge", "rim", "lip", etc.; as well as for any
other mutually
equivalent expressions, pertaining to the aforementioned expressions and/or to
any
other structural and/or functional aspects of the present invention, as also
apparent to
a person skilled in the art.
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Furthermore, in the context of the present description, it will be considered
that
all elongated objects will have an implicit "longitudinal axis" or
"centerline", such as
the longitudinal axis of a handle or a strap for example, or the centerline of
a bore, for
example, and that expressions such as "connected" and "connectable", or
"mounted"
and "mountable", may be interchangeable, in that the present invention also
relates to
a kit with corresponding components for assembling a resulting fully assembled
and
operational container (and/or a containment body provided with a corresponding
strap).
In addition, although the preferred embodiment of the present invention as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises various components and
although the preferred embodiments of the container (i.e. containment body and
strap) as shown consists of certain geometrical configurations as explained
and
illustrated herein, not all of these components and geometries are essential
to the
invention and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense, i.e. should
not be
taken as to limit the scope of the present invention. It is to be understood,
as also
apparent to a person skilled in the art, that other suitable components and
cooperations thereinbetween, as well as other suitable geometrical
configurations
may be used for the container (i.e. containment body and strap), and
corresponding
parts, according to the present invention, as briefly explained and as can be
easily
inferred herefrom by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the
scope of
the invention.
List of numerical references for some of the corresponding preferred
components
illustrated in the accompanying drawings:
1. container
3. containment body
31. inner portion (of containment body 3)
3o. outer portion (of containment body 3)
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3c. containment portion (of containment body 3)
3w. wringing portion (of containment body 3)
5. fastening strap
5a. first end (of fastening strap 5)
5 5b. second end (of fastening strap 5)
5c. tapered section (of fastening strap 5)
7. side wall
7a. curved side wall
7b. straight side wall
10 71. inside surface (of side wail 7)
9. bottom wall
9a. outer surface (of bottom wall 9)
11. lower portion (of containment body 3)
13. connection mechanism
13a. male component (of connection mechanism 13)
13b. female component (of connection mechanism 13)
15. passage
17. slit
17a. upper slit
17b. lower slit
19. rim
19a. top rim
19b. bottom rim
21. slanted entry section (of lower slit 17b)
23. bottom supportive floor
25. connection point
25a. main connection point (provided by second male component 13a)
25b. complementary connection point (provided by first male component 13a)
27. guiding flange
29. abutment stopper
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29a. abutment flange
31. peripheral recess
33. contour
35. bottom portion (of containment body 3)
37. hole
39. magnet
39a. operative magnetic surface (of magnet 39)
41. working tool (ex. paint brush)
43. notch
45. label seat
47. ferrule (of paint brush)
49. top edge (of side wall 7)
51. bottom edge (of side wall 7)
53. extremity (of first male component 13a)
55. extremity (of second male component 13a)
57. ridge(s)
59. reinforcement flange(s)
Broadly described, the container (1) according to the present invention, as
shown in the accompanying drawings, is a container (1) which, in its preferred
intended use, is an improved container (1), with separate containment body (3)
and
fastening strap (5), that are cooperable with one another so as to form the
resulting
container (1), which may be hand-held by a user or hooked onto said user (ex.
on a
belt of a user, etc.), the fastening strap (5) being selectively adjustable
with respect to
the containment body (3), so as to ensure an adjustable effective length and
allow
firm gripping and/or securing of the container (1) by the user, in an
ergonomic
manner, due to different components and features of the present container (1),
as can
be easily understood by a person skilled in the art, in view of the following
description.
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The containment body (3) is configured for receiving and containing material
therein, and is provided with at least one side wall (7), and a bottom wall
(9). As can
be easily understood, the at least one side wall (7) and a bottom wall (9)
need not be
separate from one another, and could be made "integral" to one another, that
is, the
at least one side wall (7) and the bottom wall (9) could be made of the "same"
piece
and/or of the "same" material, via an appropriate manufacturing process.
As previously mentioned, the fastening strap (5) is separate from the
containment body (3), and selectively cooperable with said containment body
(3), the
fastening strap having a first end (5a) removably mountable or connectable
onto a
side wall (7) of the containment body (3), and a second end (5b) removably
mountable or connectable onto a lower portion (11) of the containment body (3)
via a
connection mechanism (13), wherein in such an operative configuration (i.e. a
"connected" configuration), a passage (15) is defined between the at least on
side
wall (7) and the fastening strap (5) for receiving a portion of a user's hand
or an
accessory (ex. belt of the user, etc.), as can be easily understood when
referring to
the accompanying drawings (see Figures 9, 29-31 and 36, for example).
The containment body (3) may comprise an upper slit (17a) for receiving a
portion of the first end (5a) of the fastening strap (5), although various
other ways of
removably connecting the first end (5a) of the fastening strap (5) onto the
containment body (3) are possible and intended according to the present
invention,
as can be easily understood by a person skilled in the art.
The upper slit (17a) may be provided proximate to a top edge (49) of the at
least one side wall (7), and according to an optional embodiment of the
present
invention, the upper slit (17a) is provided on (i.e. about, within, etc.) a
top rim (19a) of
the at least one side wall (7). Although only one upper slit (17a) has been
shown
provided on the containment body (3), it is worth mentioning that a plurality
of upper
slits (17a), provided at different locations, whether on the same side wall
(7), and/or
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different side walls (7), depending on the particular applications for which
the
container (1) is intended for, and desired end results, in terms of
"gripping", "holding",
"versatility of available options", etc., can be contemplated according to the
present
invention.
The containment body (3) may comprise a lower slit (17b) for receiving a
portion of the second end (5b) of the fastening strap (5). Similarly, to the
above-
described, different manners by which the second end (5b) of the fastening
strap (5)
could be selectively and adjustably mounted or connected onto another portion
of the
containment body (3), and would allow to adjust an effective operating length
of the
fastening strap (5), are intended according to the present invention.
The lower slit (17b) may be provided proximate to a bottom edge (51) of the at
least one side wall (7), and according to an optional embodiment, as shown in
the
accompanying drawings, the lower slit (17b) is provided on (i.e. about,
within, etc.) a
bottom rim (19b) of the at least one side wall (7), and the lower slit (17b)
preferably
comprises a slanted entry section (21) for facilitation entry of the second
end (5b) of
the fastening strap (5) into the lower slit (17b), as better shown in Figure
11.
As also shown, the lower slit (17b) may also comprise a bottom supportive
floor (23) for supporting the second end (5b) of the fastening strap (5) when
passing
through the lower slit (17b), and a pair of guiding flanges (27) for guiding
the second
end (5b) of the fastening strap (5) when passing through the lower slit (17b),
as better
shown in Figures 4, 5 ,13, 28, 29 and 32-34, for example.
As also shown, at least one connection point (25) of the connection
mechanism (13) is preferably provided distally from the lower slit (17b), and
according
to the optional embodiments illustrated, the at least one connection point
(25) of the
connection mechanism (13) is provided distally from the bottom supportive
floor (23)
of the lower slit (17b). The at least one connection point (25) can be
provided on an
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14
outer surface (9a) of the bottom wall (9) of the containment body (3), but
such a
connection point (25) could also be provided on other portions of the
containment
body (3), depending on the particular applications for which the container (1)
would
be intended for, and the desired end results. Indeed, for example, the at
least one
connection point (25) could be provided on a side wall (7) opposite to the
side wall (7)
upon which the fastening strap (5) is disposed. But the fact of having the at
least one
connection point (25) provided on a bottom portion (35) of the containment
body (3)
as per the optional embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
enables
for a very smooth and uninterrupted outer surface for the side wall (7) which
is
advantageous when handling the container (1), and also allows for similar such
containers (1) to be conveniently and advantageously nested into one another,
because the outer surface of the side wall (7) is deprived of protrusions,
etc.
As also shown in the accompanying drawings, each slit (17), whether a lower
slit (17b) or an upper slit (17a), preferably extends through the entire at
least one side
wall (7), so as to have a complete "through" slit (17), and each slit (17) is
preferably
closed-ended, as also shown in the accompanying drawings, but various other
types
of slits, "slots", "hooks", "engagement matches", or any other types of
structures could
be used for removably affixing the first and second ends (5a, 5b) of the
fastening
strap (5) onto first and second parts of the containment body (3), whether it
be the
side wall (7) thereof, or other portions thereof. Figures 11a-11 b exemplify a
couple of
different possible slits (17) that could be used according to the present
invention, the
slit (17) of Figure ha being referred to herein as "closed-ended", and the
slits (17) of
Figures 1lb-lid being referred to herein as "open-ended".
As can be easily understood when referring to the accompanying drawings,
and according to an optional embodiment of the present invention, a portion of
the
fastening strap (5) is insertable through an upper slit (17a), and the first
end (5a) of
the fastening strap (5) is provided with an abutment stopper (29) being
positioned,
shaped and sized for abutting against an inside surface (71) of the at least
one side
CA 02846733 2014-03-17
wall (7) and for preventing the first end (5a) of the fastening strap (5) from
going
outwardly through said upper slit (17a). It is worth mentioning that such an
abutment
stopper (29) can come in various different shapes, sizes and forms, and/or
that the
cooperation between slit (17) and first end (5a) of the fastening strap (5)
could be
5 substantially different, provided that the configuration allows the
fastening strap (5) to
be removably separated and cooperable (ex. mountable, insertable, etc.) onto
and/or
into the containment body (3), and allows for the first end (5a) of the
fastening strap
(5) to be steadily maintained in an operating position/configuration, when the
container (1) is being held and/or operated by a user.
Also according to the optional embodiments illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, the first end (5a) of the fastening strap (5) is preferably provided
with a
peripheral recess (31) for receiving a contour (33) of the upper slit (17a)
when the
abutment stopper (29) abuts against the inside surface (7i) of the at least
one side
wall (7), as can be easily understood when referring to Figures 1 and 2, and
Figure
11.
In order to allow the container (1) to be provided with an operating fastening
strap (5), and corresponding desired operating length, a portion of the second
end
(5b) of the fastening strap (5) can be insertable through a lower slit (17b).
Also
according to the embodiment exemplified in the accompanying drawings, top and
lower slits (17a, 17b) of the containment body (3) are provided on a same.
given side
wall (7), but similarly to the above-described, it is worth mentioning that a
plurality of
both top and lower slits (17a, 17b) could be provided on the containment body
(3),
and that their positioning and disposition along said containment body (3)
could be
varied, in that, top and lower slits (17a, 17b) could ultimately be provided
on different
side walls, depending on the particular applications for which the container
(1) is
intended for, and the desired end results, as can be easily understood by a
person
skilled in the art.
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16
Referring more specifically to Figure 5, the fastening strap (5) comprises at
least one tapered section (5c), but also, it is worth mentioning that the
fastening strap
(5) may come in various different shapes and forms, and one major advantage of
the
present invention over the prior art is that the fastening strap (5) can be
easily
changed and/or interchanged. Indeed, a worn-out or defective fastening strap
(5)
could be replaced by a same one, and/or, for the same containment body (3), an
original fastening strap could be interchanged with a different fastening
strap (5),
having a different profile, which would be more suitable for the particular
activity for
which the container (1) would be intended for, and/or the load contained
within the
containment body (3). For example, and as can be illustrated by a person
skilled in
the art, for a very big containment body (3) (and/or heavy load within), it
might be
more advantageous to have a fastening strap (5) with a wider profile so as to
more
evenly distribute the corresponding force resulting from the weight of the
containment
body (3), onto the back of a hand of a user for example, etc.
Referring now to more specifically to Figures 4-11 and 28-34, and according to
the embodiments exemplified, the connection mechanism (13) comprises at least
one
male component (13a) cooperating with at least one corresponding female
component (13b). Optionally, the at least one male component (13a) is provided
on
the containment body (3) and the at least one female (13b) component is
provided on
the fastening strap (5).
According to a given embodiment, the at least one male component (13a) is
provided on an outside surface (9a) of a bottom wall (9) or bottom portion
(35) of the
containment body (3), and the at least one female component (13b) is provided
about
the second end (5b) of the fastening strap (5), as better shown in Figures 4,
6, 11, 28,
29 and 32-34.
According to the optional embodiment exemplified in these drawings, the at
least one female component (13b) comprises a plurality of holes (37) for
selectively
CA 02846733 2014-03-17
17
adjusting an effective operating length of the fastening strap (5), as can be
easily
understood by a person skilled in the art, namely when referring to Figures 28-
36.
According to the optional embodiment(s) exemplified in the accompanying
drawings, the at least one male component (13a) may comprise first and second
male
components (13a) operatively projecting from an outer surface (9a) of the
bottom wall
(9) of the containment body (3). The first and second male components (13a)
may be
respectively positioned proximate and distally with respect to the lower slit
(17b).
As can be better understood when referring to Figures 4, 6, 11, 28, 29.and 32-
34, the first and second male components (13a) have extremities (53,55) being
positioned, shaped and sized for facilitating passing of the fastening strap
(5) over
said male components (13a) when the fastening strap (5) is inserted into and
past the
lower slit (17b). The first and second male components (13a) may be different
in
length. The first male (13a) component may have a substantially curved
extremity
(53), whereas the second male component (13a) may have a substantially
straight
extremity (55). As a result, the second male component (13a) can correspond to
a
main connection point (25a) of the connection mechanism (13), and the first
male
component (13a) can act as and/or correspond to a complementary connection
point
(25b) of the connection mechanism (13).
Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that various other types of connection
mechanisms (13), which use male and female components (13a,13b), interlocking
components, or other types of fastening capabilities (hooks-and-loops such as
VelcroTM, magnets, clips, etc.), could be used for enabling the second end
(5b) of the
fastening strap (5) to be removably mounted, fastened or connected onto a
portion of
the containment body (3) so as to enable to selectively and adjustably vary
the
effective operating length of the fastening strap (5) depending on the
particular needs
of a user, and/or the application(s) for which the container (1) is intended
for.
CA 02846733 2014-03-17
18
According to an optional embodiment of the present invention, the first end
(5a)
of the fastening strap (5) comprises a magnet (39) with an operative magnetic
surface
(39a) configured for removably maintaining thereon a metallic portion of a
working
tool (41) to be used with the container (1).
Preferably, the operative magnetic surface (39a) of the magnet (39) is
positioned, shaped and sized to face inwardly the containment body (3) when
the first
end (5a) of the fastening strap (5) is mounted onto a side wall (7) of the
containment
body (3), and thus, due to the embodiments exemplified in accompanying
drawings,
the magnet (39) can be placed at an extremity of the first end (5a) of the
fastening
strap (5), and preferably lodged within an abutment stopper (29) of the first
end (5a)
of the fastening strap (5), as better shown in Figure 1.
Preferably also, the abutment stopper (29) comprises at least one abutment
flange (29a) positioned, shaped and sized for abutting against an inside
surface (7i)
of a top rim (19a) of the side wall (7), and a segment of the first end (5a)
of the
fastening strap (5) comprises at least one notch (43) for facilitating bending
of said
segment, as better shown in Figure 11. The presence of such notches (43)
thereby
facilitates not only the bending of the segment of the first end (5a) of the
fastening
strap (5) provided with the notches (43), but also facilitates bending of the
remaining
fastening strap (5), such as the second end (5b) thereof, for facilitating
namely entry
into the lower slit (17b), as can be easily understood when referring to
Figures 9, 11
and 28-34, and also enables a better (more comfortable, more secure, etc.)
grip of a
user's hand, as can be easily understood when referring to Figure 36.
Although. the present container (1) can be used for various different types of
usages, purposes and/or applications, according to a preferred embodiment of
the
present invention, the container (1) is used as a hand-held trim paint pail,
and as a
result, the containment body (3) is configured (i.e. made of suitable material
¨ see
CA 02846733 2014-03-17
19
Figures 12-14) for receiving pain therein, or any other types of similar or
analogous
material (varnish, glue, epoxy, etc.).
Thus, the first end (5a) of the fastening strap (5) may comprise a magnet (39)
with an operative magnetic surface (39a) configured for removably maintaining
thereon a metallic ferrule (47) of working tool (41), such as a paint brush
given merely
as one possible example, the magnet (39) having a magnetic force being
configured
(i.e. strong enough, etc.) to sustain the weight of the paint brush (41).
However, it is
worth mentioning that the magnet (39) can be used for holding different types
of
objects, For example, if the container (1) is used for "arts and crafts", it
could be used
to hold scissors, paper clips, and/or any other different types of tools to be
used with
the container (1), as can be easily understood when referring to Figure 2.
Preferably, the containment body (3) is tapered from a top portion to a bottom
portion thereof, and preferably also, the containment body (3) comprises top
and
bottom rims (19a,19b), the top rim (19a) being circumferentially greater than
the
bottom rim (19b). Among different advantages, these particular components and
features enable for the container (1) to be easily nested into another similar
container
(1), so as to substantially minimize storage place when a plurality of
containers (1)
are nested into one another, and not being used, which can beneficial for
contractors,
wholesalers, distributors, and/or the like. This is due namely to the fact
that the
fastening strap (5) is separate and removably affixable onto the containment
body (3)
of the container (1).
As a result, and according to an optional embodiment, the containment body
(3) is configured so that an outer portion (3o) thereof is nestable into an
inner portion
(31) of a first other container (1), and the containment body (3) is further
configured so
that an inner portion (Si) thereof is configured for nesting the outer portion
(3o) of a
second other container (1), so that a plurality of containers (1) can be
nested (i.e.
stacked, etc.) into one another.
CA 02846733 2016-02-03
As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the containment body (3) may
comprise at least one curved side wall (7a), the at least one curved side wall
(7a)
being configured for receiving a palm of a hand of a user of the container
(1). The
5 container (1) may also comprise at least one straight side wall (7b),
which can for
example, be opposite to the least one curved wall (7a) configured for
receiving a palm
of a hand of a user of the container (1), as also shown in the accompanying
drawings,
namely Figure 36, for example. The containment body (3) may also comprises a
containment portion (3c) for selectively containing paint therein, and an
angled
10 wringing portion (3w) operatively connected to the containment portion
(3c) for
selectively wringing paint from a paint tool, the wringing portion (3w) being
provided
with a plurality of ridges (57) to improve a wringing capability of the
containment body
(3), as better illustrated in Figures 12-36. At least one side wall (7) may
also be
provided with a label seat (45), for receiving a corresponding label with
information
15 associated with the container (1), the manufacturer, the wholesaler, the
distributor,
the seller, etc. It is worth mentioning that the configurations, geometrical
profiles and
other aspects of the containment body (3) can be substantially different from
those
exemplified in the accompanying drawings, provided that according to the
present
invention, the fastening strap (5) is separate and removably affixable onto
such
20 containment body (3), such as in the various manners and examples given
hereinabove.
It is also worth mentioning that the present system is also meant to cover a
containment body and/or fastening strap sold separately, and meant and/or
capable
of being used with a container (1) such as the one briefly described herein,
and such
as the one exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
Finally, and according to the present invention, the container (1) and
corresponding parts (ex. containment body, rims, etc.) are preferably made of
substantially rigid materials, such as plastics, hardened polymers, composite
CA 02846733 2014-03-17
21
materials, and/or the like, whereas other components thereof (e.g. strap,
etc.) can be
made of substantially flexible materials, such as rubberized material, in
order to
achieve the resulting advantages briefly discussed herein (ex. better grip,
bending od
strap, etc.), depending on the particular applications for which the container
(1) is
intended for and the different parameters in cause (load applied to the
containment
body, strap, etc.), as apparent to a person skilled in the art. As also shown
in the
accompanying drawings, the containment body (3) may be provided with
reinforcement flanges (57) operatively connecting the bottom wall (9) of the
container
(1) to a bottom rim (19b) thereof for providing the bottom portion (35) and
thus the
overall container (1) with greater structural rigidity, etc.
Furthermore, the present invention is a substantial improvement over the prior
art in that, by virtue of its design and components, the tool is simple and
easy to use,
as well as is simple and easy to manufacture and/or assemble, without
compromising
the reliability of its functions. Hence, it may now be appreciated that the
present
invention represents important advantages over other tools known in the prior
art, in
that the container can be used a trim paint pail for such applications, in a
very quick,
easy and ergonomic manner, with improved performance, as briefly explained
hereinabove.
Moreover, the present invention is also advantageous in that it provides a
simpler, more easy-to-use and esthetically pleasing container (1) than those
of the
prior art.
In ending, the scope of the claims should not be limited by the possible
embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest
interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
