CA2783086A1 - Paint container - Google Patents

Abstract

A container for holding paintable liquid, the container comprising: a base; a continuous wall extending up from the base and forming a top opening; a gripping means formed in the wall and being sized, shaped, and positioned to permit a user to grip said gripping means to hold said container; a dipping section adjacent to said gripping means, said dipping section being sized, shaped, and positioned to permit a brush to be inserted into said dipping section through said top opening to contact said liquid; and an inclined tongue portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the wall adjacent to said dipping section and terminating in a leading edge having a reinforced lip, the tongue portion being sized, shaped and positioned to permit the brush to be dabbed thereon to remove excess liquid from said brush, and to permit said excess liquid to drain into said dipping section, the leading edge being sized and shaped to provide a wiping surface for the brush.

Description

PAINT CONTAINER
BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field [0001]This invention relates to the field of containers, and more particularly to containers that hold paintable liquids for use in painting, construction, and related activities.

2. Description of Related Art [00021 Buildings and physical structures such as fences and bridges generally require painting when newly constructed, as well as periodic repainting, to maintain a fresh, clean, and attractive appearance. Two types of painting instruments are commonly used, rollers and brushes. Paint rollers are generally appropriate for painting large open surface areas such as walls and doors, while paint brushes are typically used for smaller and finer areas such as window frames, trim, fences, baseboards, deck edges, and wall and ceiling intersections.

(0003] When painting it is necessary to have a container to hold the paint being applied.
In particular, when using a brush a painter will typically hold the brush with one hand and the container with the other hand. In many paint projects the painter will move about extensively, including climbing scaffolding and ladders, to brush paint in the various places where detail work is required. Painter mobility for extended periods is particularly the case in large or professional paint jobs. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a paint container that is comfortable to hold, particularly for long periods, and that is not too heavy.

[0004]For each brush application the paint brush is usually first dipped in the paint so that it is completely immersed. When removed the brush is usually soaked and dripping with excess paint. The painting does not usually proceed with the brush in this condition since there is a risk that too much paint will be applied to the surface being painted.
Also, when moving the brush to the paint surface there is a chance that random drops of excess paint will drip onto the floor, making a mess. Accordingly, the brush is usually wiped or dabbed to reduce the excess, and to produce a desired paint profile on the brush that is suitable for the particular surface being painted.

[0005] Brush wiping generally involves scraping or moving a broad side of the brush against an edge, and is an effective means of removing most of the paint from the portion of the brush being wiped. The movement usually begins at or near the top of the brush, where the bristles join the brush handle, and proceeds down the bristles towards their unattached or free end. The movement is stopped at whatever point it is desired to leave paint on the brush. It is desirable if the edge used for wiping is at least as wide as the brush being wiped, since that reduces the likelihood that repeated wiping strokes will be needed.

[0006] A typical profile produced by wiping is a line of paint along the bottom edge or free end of the brush. Further variations are possible in that the paint may be left only along a portion of the bottom edge, or even just a corner, rather than along the whole edge. The brush wiping profile is useful for fine work where care must be taken to avoid getting paint on a surface adjacent to the surface being painted. This may include, for example, painting the part of a window frame adjacent to the glass windowpane.

[0007] Brush dabbing involves laying all or a portion of a broad side of the soaked brush against a dabbing surface so that the excess drips off or is removed by adhesion. The brush may be "tapped" lightly to accelerate the process. The dabbing movement is continued until the desired amount of paint is left on the side of the brush being dabbed. For efficiency purposes, to reduce the need for overlapping and extra dabbing strokes, it is desirable for the dabbing surface to be at least as wide as the brush being dabbed. The resulting paint profile on the brush is a relatively uniform coat having a desired thickness, without any dripping excess. Dabbed brushes are well suited for painting broad areas that are not finely detailed and that are too narrow to be served by rollers, such as baseboards, for example.

[0008]The above described container and brush application features are helpful in improving painting efficiency. However, many of the devices and containers in current use or that have been proposed lack or inadequately address these desired features.

[0009]For example, the containers in which paint is commonly sold present a number of problems. Large paint cans that hold one gallon (about 3.79 litres) are too large and heavy, at about 71/2 inches high, 61/2 inches in diameter, and 10-12 lbs. in weight, to be conveniently carried for any length of time. Further, the only available surface for wiping and dabbing is the narrow and curved rim of the can, which is far from optimal.

[0010]Further problems are also caused by the wire handle that is usually provided for these cans. The handle extends in a semicircle over the top of the can, and can therefore obstruct the opening and interfere with easy insertion of the paint brush into the can. To avoid this, the painter will sometimes shift weight to displace the handle, which can cause wrist strain. The painter may put less paint in the can, to reduce the weight and therefore the wrist strain. However, this approach forces the painter to reach deeper into the can, which both slows the process and often results in paint from the rim getting on the painter's arm. The wire handle itself can dig into the painter's hand, which is obviously uncomfortable.

[0011]Some paint containers have become available which replace the wire handle with an alternative type of semicircular handle. However, in this design the container is held from the bottom, and the painter is required to put down the brush and use both hands to put down or pick up the container. This is not only inconvenient, but can result in a loss of balance when working on a ladder.

[0012]The smaller size retail paint cans are generally more manageable, being about 5 inches in height, 43% inches in diameter, and weighing about 4 lbs. Unlike the larger cans it is possible to hold the small cans directly in one hand without a handle.
However, the diameter of the cans is still large enough to be uncomfortable for many people to hold. Further, even stronger or larger people who are initially comfortable may experience some hand strain after holding a can of this diameter for extended periods.

In addition, the cylindrical shape of the can provides a poor gripping surface and is susceptible to slipping, particularly when wet. Dropping such a can could not only create a mess but also present a risk of injury.

[0013]Another aspect of the small cans is that the open top is only about 31/4 inches in diameter. The small cans therefore could not be used with paint brushes that are four inches in width, and would be awkward and inconvenient when used with the popular three inch brush size. In addition, the only surface available for wiping and dabbing is the rim, which is not only narrow like the rim of the large cans, but has an even more pronounced curvature due to its smaller diameter.

[0014]As a result of the above problems with retail paint cans, it is common for painters to make their own ad hoc paint containers out of everyday items such as, for example, old margarine containers or cut-off plastic juice bottles. These containers however continue to suffer from many of the same problems such as being uncomfortable to hold, having inadequate wiping and dabbing surfaces, and low paint capacity in some cases.

[0015]Some attempts have been made in the past to provide a convenient paint container. For example, U.S. Design Pat. No. 401,704 to Clark discloses a paint dispenser with a brush wipe and rest, and an indented handle. However, the brush wipe is a bar across the top opening, which partly obstructs the opening and compels the painter to take care not to hit the bar when inserting the brush. The brush wipe also cannot function as a dabbing surface. In addition, the handle appears difficult to grip comfortably because it is positioned at the bottom of the container, and because it forces part of the user's thumb to press against an unindented portion.

[0016]Another example is Shea, U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,816, which discloses a painter's aid to hold paint, a paint brush rest, and a stepped wiping surface. One problem with Shea is that the gripping surface is a smooth, relatively large diameter cylinder similar to the retail paint cans described above. Therefore, the device will likely be uncomfortable to hold and prone to slippage. Another problem is that the brushed wiping surface is substantially within the body of the container. Attempts to wipe the brush may therefore result in the brush picking up more paint if the bristle tips make contact with the paint. There is also no dabbing surface provided. As shown in FIG. 15, the platform 22 is used as a brush rest. Dabbing on the platform 22 would cause it to be covered in paint, which is contrary to its use as a brush rest.
BRIEF SUMMARY

[0017]According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for holding paintable liquid, the container comprising:
a base;
a continuous wall extending up from the base and forming a top opening;
a gripping means formed in the wall and being sized, shaped, and positioned to permit a user to grip said gripping means to hold said container;
a dipping section adjacent to said gripping means, said dipping section being sized, shaped, and positioned to permit a brush to be inserted into said dipping section through said top opening to contact said liquid; and an inclined tongue portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the wall adjacent to said dipping section and terminating in a leading edge having a reinforced lip, the tongue portion being sized, shaped and positioned to permit the brush to be dabbed thereon to remove excess liquid from said brush, and to permit said excess liquid to drain into said dipping section, the leading edge being sized and shaped to provide a wiping surface for the brush.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]The present invention will be further understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

[0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paint container consistent with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 2 is a see through view of FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 3A is a top view of the paint container of FIG. 1;

[0022]FIG. 3B is a side view of the paint container of FIG. 1;

[0023]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of three paint containers of FIG. 1 arranged in a stack;

[0024]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the paint container of FIG. 1 showing a user's hand gripping the gripping means and a paint brush inserted in the dipping section;

[0025]FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the paint container of FIG. 1 showing a paint brush being wiped on the leading edge of the tongue portion;

[0026]FIG. 6B is a view of the paint brush of FIG. 6A after it has been wiped;

(0027] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the paint container of FIG. 1 showing a paint brush being dabbed on the tongue portion;

[0028]FIG. 7B is a view of the paint brush of FIG. 7A after it has been dabbed;

[0029]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of a paint container having a lip and ribs, consistent with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030]FIG. 9 is another perspective view of the paint container of FIG. 8;

[0031]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an interior space of a paint container having a stop, consistent with an embodiment of the present invention; and [0032]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of three paint containers of FIG. 10 arranged in a stack, with hidden elements shown in dashed line.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033]Reference will now be made in detail to embodiment(s) of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiment(s) is/are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

[0034]The paint container of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, and is generally indicated with reference numeral 10. For additional clarity, a "transparent"
version of the drawing of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2. It can be seen that paint container 10 comprises a base 12 and a continuous wall 14 extending up from the base and forming a top opening 16. It can be appreciated that this structure defines an interior space or contained volume 18 inside container 10 between base 12, wall 14, and top opening 16.

[0035]The paint container 10 further broadly comprises a gripping means 20, a dipping section 22, and a tongue portion 24. For convenient reference, the container may be considered to have a first end or back 26 and a second end or front 28. As will be described in greater detail below, gripping means 20 begins at back 26 and extends into the container. As shown in the top view of FIG. 3A, dipping section 22 is a portion of interior space 18 adjacent to front 28 or tongue portion 24. The tongue portion 24 extends outwardly and upwardly from the front or second end 28 of the wall 14, adjacent to dipping section 22.

[0036]The paint container 10 of the present invention is configured to hold a paintable liquid or paint 30, and to enable the paint to be dispensed onto a paint brush 32 for application on a surface by a painter. As discussed in greater detail below, container 10 also includes features that enable the user to hold the container in one hand, and to adjust the amount and distribution of paint on the brush.

[0037]In one embodiment of the present invention wall 14 is perpendicular to the base, and accordingly extends up to top opening 16 in a substantially vertical orientation.
However, it is preferred that wall 14 taper outwardly as the wall extends up from the base. In this way the width, length, and cross-sectional dimensions of top opening 16 at the top of container 10 will be larger than the corresponding dimensions of base 12 at the bottom of container 10. The present invention comprehends any degree of outward taper, but adequate results may be achieved with an outward taper that is relatively small. For example, an outward taper of 0.103 inches for a vertical rise of 1 inch has been found to be adequate.

[0038] Extending wall 14 with an outward taper is preferred because the outward taper enhances the ability of container 10 to be stackable. More particularly, wall 14 and other features such as gripping means 20 are preferably sized, shaped, and positioned to permit at least one of the containers 10 to be stacked inside another of the containers 10.

[0039]The stackable feature of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4, which shows a group of three containers 10 arranged inside one another in a single stack. It can be appreciated that the stack arrangement greatly reduces the total space occupied by the constituent containers, in comparison to the space that the containers would otherwise occupy if they were separated and laid out side by side.
Stackability of container 10 is accordingly a desired feature because it reduces the space required to transport and store multiple containers, and also reduces the shelf space needed to display the containers in a retail environment.

[0040]The gripping means 20 is preferably formed in wall 14, and is generally sized, shaped, and positioned to permit a user to grip, handle, or hold container 10.
As will be discussed in greater detail below, gripping means 20 comprises several elements of container 10.

[0041]The preferred embodiment of gripping means 20 includes at least one recess 34 in wall 14. For additional clarity, FIG. 2 shows dotted lines 36 to indicate the path that wall 14 would have taken if not for recess 34. It can be seen that wall 14 first breaks its path by following a side tapered section 38. In the embodiment shown recess 34 joins side tapered section 38 at a termination gripping point 40, and then extends towards the back 26 of the container to gripping back edge 42a.

[0042]In FIG. 2, corresponding gripping back edge 42b on the other side of the container is shown, as well as corresponding gripping forward edges 43a and 43b which are situated at the bottom of termination gripping point 40. It is preferred for the distance between 43a and 43b to be slightly less than the distance between 42a and 42b. In this way the gripping means converges slightly along its length, which generally provides a more secure and comfortable grip.

[0043]It can be appreciated that other embodiments of recess 34 and side tapered section 38 are possible. For example, the transition between the sections may be more gradual, so that termination gripping point 40 is less distinct and recess 34 and side tapered section 38 may be less distinguishable as separate elements. However, regardless of the particular embodiment, it can be appreciated that recess 34 represents a break or narrowing in wall 14 of container 10 so that a smaller and more comfortable gripping surface is available to the user. A smaller gripping surface will be more likely to reduce the chance of the user experiencing hand strain when gripping container 10, and will generally be more comfortable.

[0044]It is also preferable that recess 34 include termination gripping point 40 to provide a convenient point at which the user's thumb and fingers can receive support and rest against. The resting feature is a result of the user's digits naturally pressing or resting against the surface of adjacent side tapered section 38.

[0045]While the present invention contemplates a gripping means comprising a single recess 34, more than one recess is also possible. An embodiment having two recesses 34 is preferred because a user's hand will grip the gripping means in two places. In particular, where the gripping means comprises first and second recesses 34 in wall 14, the first recess will preferably be spaced sufficiently apart from the second recess so as to permit the container 10 to be gripped by the placement of a thumb of the user's hand in the first recess and at least one finger of the user's hand in the second recess.

[0046] FIG. 5 shows this embodiment with a user's hand illustrated, the user's thumb gripping one recess 34 and the other fingers gripping the other recess. In a further grip variation, instead of all four fingers gripping recess 34, upper or index finger 35 may be raised above recess 34 and pressed against wall 14, in particular at an upper portion 15 of wall 14. In that case, the user's bottom three fingers would move up recess 34, so that the user's middle finger would be positioned at or near the top of recess 34.

[0047]Also as shown in the drawing, it is preferable for the user's palm to fit snugly against and have substantial contact with back 26 of container 10. For this reason, back 26 preferably has a curved profile, as shown in the figures.

[0048]The gripping means 20 will preferably also include ridges 44 to facilitate gripping of gripping means 20 by the user. The ridges 44 may be grooves embedded in the surface of recess 34, but other forms of ridges, or other grip enhancement features, are also contemplated. For example, pieces of material having grip enhancement properties may be glued or otherwise attached to a smooth surface such as recess 34 to provide similar benefits. The ridges 44 may also be formed on side tapered section 38, since the user's digits will preferably also rest against that surface.

[0049]As seen most clearly in the side view FIG. 3B, recess 34 extends upward from base 12 to an upper transition level 46. From there a portion of wall 14 designated as upper tapered section 48 expands upwardly and outwardly until it reaches the outer part of container 10. This configuration is preferred because, as shown in FIG. 5, upper tapered section 48 provides a comfortable resting or support surface for the user's digits in an upward direction similar to the support and rest provided by side tapered section 38 in a forward direction. This preferred embodiment may alternatively be characterized as wall 14 having a wall height, with at least one recess 34 extending upwards from base 12 for a distance less than the wall height. It can be appreciated however that other embodiments are also comprehended, such as for example, extending recess 34 all the way up from base 12 to top opening 16.

[0050] It is to be appreciated that different users will choose to grip container 10 in different ways according to personal preference. However, it is believed that substantially every user will place their palm, thumb, and fingers against or in contact with back 26 and the two recesses 34. Accordingly, gripping means 20 may be considered to include at least these elements. Further, gripping means 20 also comprehends side tapered section 38, upper tapered section 48, and upper wall portion 15, since as noted some users will grip or maintain finger contact with container 10 at these places as well.

[0051]It is also preferred that recess 34 extend up from base 12, regardless of the eventual height of recess 34. This is because container 10 will not generally be stackable if there is any outward divergence at the bottom of the container.
Accordingly, it is less preferred for there to be an outward tapered section at the bottom of the container, with recess 34 commencing some distance above base 12. Of course, if the stackable feature were not important in a particular application then such an embodiment might be more acceptable or preferred.

[0052]The dipping section 22 is preferably sized, shaped, and positioned to permit a brush to be inserted into dipping section 22 through top opening 16, to contact paint 30 contained inside.

[0053]As noted, dipping section 22 comprises a portion of the interior space or contained volume 18 of container 10. In particular, dipping section 22 may be viewed as the portion of the contained volume that is not bounded by back 26 and recesses 34.
More particularly, and as shown in the top view of container 10 in FIG. 3A, dipping section 22 extends between termination gripping points 40 and the front 28 of the container.

[0054]The dipping section 22 may be viewed as including side tapered section followed by a longer section having a uniform width "w" adjacent to the front 28 of the container. In FIG. 3A, the dipping section is shown having the uniform width "w"
between an intersection point 50, where side tapered section 38 meets wall 14, and the front 28 of the container 10. If desired, dipping section 22 may alternatively be considered as comprising the uniform width section only. With reference to FIG. 3A, it is preferable that the distance from 40 to 50 be relatively short compared to the distance between 50 and 28.

[0055]The function of dipping section 22 is to provide a suitable interior space for a brush to be dipped. The present invention comprehends that a brush may be inserted from anywhere along top opening 16 into contained volume 18, including that portion bounded by back 26 and recesses 34. However, it is expected that users will generally prefer to dip the brush in dipping section 22 because it is wider than that back portion, and accordingly easier to dip into, and also because it is closer to tongue portion 24.

[0056]It is also appreciated that brushes are available in many sizes, from tiny artist brushes to, most commonly, the three and four inch brushes used for painting building interiors and the like. To enhance the general flexibility and usefulness of container 10, and in particular with respect to use in building and large scale painting applications, it is comprehended that container 10 be preferably configured to accommodate at least three inch brushes, and preferably four inch brushes as well. As will be discussed in more detail below, this entails making tongue portion 24 have a width of at least three or four inches.

[0057]It is preferred that dipping section 22 have a dipping section width and the tongue portion have a tongue portion width, and that the dipping section width be substantially equal to the tongue portion width. The "dipping section width"
is not meant to include side tapered section 38, regardless of whether side tapered section 38 is formally viewed as part of the dipping section. In FIG. 3A it can be seen that the dipping section and the tongue portion have the same width "w". It is also comprehended that the dipping section width will be substantially equal to the tongue portion width if its average width, not including any side tapered section 38, is within the range of 85% to 115% of the tongue portion width. Therefore, rather than the dipping section have a completely uniform width, it may be designed to diverge or converge slightly, as long as the average width, not including a side tapered section 38, is within the above specified range. However, it is most preferred for the dipping section width to be equal to the tongue portion width, as shown in the drawings.

[0058] It is preferred for the width of the two sections to be close or preferably equal because such a configuration enhances dipping efficiency. Specifically, it enables a user to dip the brush into the dipping section, and then move the brush directly onto the tongue portion without having to re-orient the brush. This saves time and reduces or eliminates the need for the painter's wrist to turn or twist, as would be needed if the brush had to be re-oriented. It can be appreciated that painting is a very repetitive task, and that re-orientation of a brush, when repeated hundreds if not thousands of times, can lead to muscle strain and soreness, and even debilitating injury in some cases.
Accordingly, it is preferred that the dipping section have the same width, or be within a close range, of the width of the tongue portion.

[0059]As can be seen in the figures, tongue portion 24 is inclined, and extends upwardly and outwardly from wall 14 adjacent to dipping section 22. The tongue portion is also preferably sized, shaped, and positioned to permit a brush to be dabbed thereon to remove excess paint from the brush, and also to permit the excess paint to drain into the dipping section.

[0060]The tongue is inclined so that paint on the tongue's surface will be able to move by force of gravity back into the container. This feature of the invention is desirable because it helps keep the tongue relatively clean, so that it can be re-used effectively for dabbing purposes. The angle at which the tongue extends upwardly can vary as long as it is sufficient to permit paint to drain into the dipping section.
However, the angle should also not be too high because that could make the tongue awkward to work with, particularly for dabbing brushes. It has been found that an inclination angle of approximately 45 degrees from the horizontal allows for both draining of excess paint and good workability, and accordingly this angle is preferred.

[0061] It can be seen from the figures that the preferred embodiment of the tongue portion is a rectangle. There is a leading edge 52, a bottom edge 54 where tongue 24 joins wall 14 at front 28, and sides 56. Collectively, edges 52 and 54 and sides 56 may be said to define a broad planar surface suitable for dabbing a paint brush.
It can be appreciated that other embodiments are also possible, as long as the tongue functions , , to provide a surface for dabbing and an edge for wiping, and is inclined to permit paint to drain into the dipping section.

[0062]The leading edge 52 is preferably sized and shaped to provide at least one distinct edge or point suitable for wiping a paint brush. If the brush is positioned so that the side of the brush to be wiped is pressed against leading edge 52, and with the brush handle down and the bristles pointed up, as the brush is moved in a downward direction excess paint will be wiped off and be transferred to the surface of the tongue, from where it can drain into the dipping section. The user can increase the amount of paint drained by increasing pressure on the brush as it is being wiped. Brush wiping may also be performed along bottom edge 54, particularly as the brush is being removed from dipping section 22. However, in cases where container 10 is filled near capacity and the paint level is near that of bottom edge 54, it may be more convenient to wipe the opposing side of the brush along leading edge 52.

[0063]As noted, tongue portion 24 is also preferably sized and shaped to have a broad planar surface suitable for dabbing. In order to accommodate brushes of three or four inches in width, the tongue portion should be suitably wider, preferably about 31/2 inches or 4% inches respectively. The tongue portion should also have a length that is sufficiently long relative to the length of the brush being dabbed so that the full length of the brush can be dabbed without needing too many dabbing strokes.

[0064] It can be seen from the figures that sides 56 of tongue portion 24 are bounded by attached vertical portions or edge barriers 58. The edge barriers are useful in that they prevent excess paint on the tongue portion, particularly paint that is near the edge of sides 56, from spilling off the side. In the preferred embodiment shown, edge barriers 58 comprise an extension of wall 14. It can be appreciated that other embodiments of the edge barriers may also be used, as long as they function to block spilling of paint off sides 56. It can also be appreciated that the tongue portion could be made without edge barriers. However, this configuration would not be preferred, since it could result in paint spilling off of the sides.

[0065]The preferred embodiment of paint container 10 of the present invention may now be described in greater detail. As a starting point, it is worth noting that small size retail paint containers generally contain about 900 ml of paint, and that this amount of paint weighs approximately in the range of 4 lbs. The amount of paint in 900 ml, or more broadly 800-1000 ml, is sufficiently large for most applications so that the container should last for a reasonable amount of time before replenishment is required.
The 4 lb. weight will be familiar to most people since it is the common retail size. It can be appreciated that people who find 4 lbs. too heavy can simply avoid filling the container to capacity, and instead use as much paint as they can comfortably hold.
Similarly, it can be appreciated that the container of the present invention can be made in other embodiments that are scaled up or down in size, to hold more or less paint and be accordingly heavier or lighter, as desired.

[0066]It is also preferable for the paint container to be flexible enough to accommodate a wide variety of paint jobs, and accordingly to accommodate paint brushes having widths of at least 3 inches, and preferably 4 inches. It has been found that designing the container to have a tongue portion width of 4.5 inches is adequate to service a 4 inch paint brush. It can be appreciated again that the present invention can be designed with larger or smaller tongue portions, as appropriate for individual situations.

[0067] It has been found that a paint container having the following additional dimensions provides adequate results. The container of the preferred embodiment has a height, from base 12 to top opening 16, of about 6.5 inches, and a thickness "t" of wall 14 of about 1.65 mm.

[0068]With reference to FIG. 3A, at the base or bottom of the container the length "x"
from back 26 to termination gripping point 40 is 2 inches, and the length "m"
from back 26 to front 28 is about 3.43 inches. At the top of the container, the length from back 26 to front 28 is about 4.03 inches.

[0069]At front 28 of the container, the width at the base or bottom is 3.93 inches, the width at the top of wall 14 where it meets tongue bottom edge 54 is about 4.375 inches, and the width at tongue leading edge 52 is 4.6 inches. It can be appreciated therefore that in the preferred embodiment there is an outward taper of about 0.67 inches from base 12 to the top of the container, which represents an outward increment of about 0.103 inches for every 1 inch in vertical height.

[0070]The length of the tongue portion from bottom edge 54 to leading edge 52 is 1.25 inches, and the tongue is inclined upwards at 45 degrees from the horizontal.
This results in a total length along the top of the container from back 26 to tongue leading edge 52 of about 5.05 inches.

[0071]The width of the gripping means along the back 26, between 42a to 42b, is about 2.76 inches. This narrows down by about 1/8 of an inch to the far end, between 43a and 43b, to approximately 2.65 inches.

[0072]An aspect of the preferred embodiment is that since the area bounded by recesses 34 of gripping means 20 is narrower than the dipping section, the center of gravity ("COG") of container 10 will frequently be located in the dipping section. This may cause a rotational torque about the gripping means which will have the effect of tilting container 10 forward. As will be discussed below, this forward tilt can be beneficial to the user of paint container 10. However, the forward tilt should not be too large or it could be uncomfortable to the user.

[0073]FIG. 3A shows a dotted line 60 drawn through the center of container 10.
The user's hands will grip the container at about termination gripping point 40.
This is represented as a dotted line 62, with a center point 64. The CoG is shown in the dipping section, at a distance "d" from point 64. In the circumstances shown, a rotational torque or moment will be produced about the gripping means equal to the weight of the container and its contents multiplied by the distance "d". The effect of the torque will be to tilt the container forward, in the sense that tongue portion 24 will be urged downward, and base 12 at back 26 will be urged upward. This torque factor is represented by curved arrow 66 in FIG. 5.

[0074] It has been found that in general, designing container 10 so that the length "x" of the gripping means is preferably at least 40%, more preferably at least 45%, and most preferably at least 50% of the length "m" of base 12 will provide a reasonably low torque value that will be comfortable to most users. It can be appreciated that if the container is made larger, for example, to hold more paint, the torque will increase because the weight of a full container through the CoG will increase. This would suggest extending the length of the gripping means towards or past 50% would be desirable.
Conversely, for a smaller container a shorter grip means may be adequate.

[0075]More broadly, where the container has a center of gravity positioned between the recesses 34 of gripping means 20 and the tongue portion, so that a torque is created about the gripping means when the container is held by a user at the gripping means, the container is preferably sized and shaped to limit the torque to no more than one foot-pound, more preferably 0.8 foot-pounds, and most preferably 0.6 foot-pounds, when the container is full of paintable liquid.

[0076]It can now also be appreciated that if the recessed grip means is made narrower or wider it will change the distribution of volume of the container, which will have an effect on the resulting torque. In particular, if the recessed grip means between 42a and 42b, and between 43a and 43b, is made narrower, the CoG will move farther away, towards front 28, which will increase "d". On the other hand, the overall capacity of the container may decline because the volume of the gripping means is smaller, so that the weight at the CoG may be somewhat less. Therefore, according to the present invention, the distribution of volume within the container is optimized to a predetermined agreeable level of torque, which may in turn help to determine the appropriate width of the recessed grip means.

[0077]Similarly, if the container is scaled larger the weight at the CoG will increase, which will increase the torque. It may then be preferable to reduce the length of the dipping section while increasing the height of the container, so that the torque will remain within the preferred range and not be too high so as to be uncomfortable to a user. It is preferable for the container of the present invention to remain within the , CA 02783086 2012-07-09 preferred torque range regardless of the size or volume capacity of the particular embodiment of the container.

[0078]The paint container 10 of the present invention is preferably made from plastic due to that material's light weight and strength, low cost, compatibility with paintable liquids, and ease of manufacturing. In particular, "co-polymer polypropylene"
plastic has been found to provide adequate results, as it is relatively strong, durable, and low cost.
This embodiment of container 10 can be made using standard plastic manufacturing techniques such as injection moulding. It can be appreciated that other materials, such as stainless steel, aluminium and other metals, may also be used if they have some or all of the functional benefits of plastic. In some cases a higher cost material might be preferred if it offers certain benefits, such as being more durable or easier to clean than plastic, for example.

[0079]As discussed above, tongue portion 24 includes leading edge 52 for brush wiping, and a broad planar surface for brush dabbing. It is to be appreciated that these functions are best or optimally provided to a user of container 10 when leading edge 52 forms a straight, clean line or edge throughout it's length "w", and similarly, when the broad planar surface of tongue portion 24 maintains a flat and uniform profile throughout its area. Several factors however may cause some distortion or interruption to the ideal contour of these elements.

[0080]The plastic injection moulding process that would most commonly be used to produce container 10 involves liquefying a plastic raw material and forcing it into a mould cavity at high temperature and pressure. Upon cooling and hardening, the resulting plastic object, container 10, is ejected from the mould. In modern high speed machines this process may be repeated several times a minute. As a by-product or artifact of this process, it sometimes develops that long, thin edges in the plastic object being produced, such as tongue leading edge 52 of container 10, emerge from the mould with a noticeable and undesirable curve, bend, or "crown".

[0081]Another factor that may lead to deformation of tongue portion 24 relates to the general manner in which painting and construction tools are handled and stored in the course of daily trade. Whether deliberately or carelessly, container 10 is subject to being thrown or knocked about, and/or packed or stored underneath much heavier objects. For example, at the end of the day or upon completion of a paint job container may be thrown into a garage, shed, or back of a truck, where it may be squeezed or crushed under the weight of much heavier equipment such as ladders, workbenches, mechanical tools, and the like. Further, container 10 may be left bearing this weight for extended periods of time, possibly even for as long as months or years in some cases.
In this way, leading edge 52 and the broad surface area of tongue portion 24 may become bent, chipped, or broken, so that the utility of container 10 is compromised.

[0082]These risks to the structural integrity of tongue portion 24 may be addressed by providing additional reinforcement and support to container 10. According to some embodiments of the invention, and as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, container 10 may be constructed with a lip 70 and one or more ribs 72. As indicated, three ribs 72 may be used in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0083]The lip and ribs reinforce and buttress tongue portion 24 and leading edge 52, so that these latter two elements have increased mechanical strength. More particularly, it has been found that lip 70 substantially reduces or eliminates the risk of crowning of leading edge 52 that may occur during production of container 10 by plastic injection moulding. Further, the combination of lip 70 and ribs 72 act to strengthen tongue portion 24 so that it is less likely to be chipped, bent, deformed, or warped when subject to rough handling or pressure from a heavy load.

[0084]Turning now to FIGS. 8 and 9, as indicated lip 70 adds a measurable degree of thickness and solidity to tongue leading edge 52. More particularly, lip 70 comprises an upper surface 74 that extends leading edge 52 in the horizontal plane, and a vertical surface 76 that extends leading edge 52 in the vertical plane. According to some embodiments of the invention, lip 70 having an upper surface thickness "h" of 2.6 mm and a vertical surface thickness "v" of 3 mm is preferred. These dimensions have been found to be adequate in substantially reducing or eliminating the risk of crowning of leading edge 52 by the injection moulding production process.

[0085]As noted above, the thickness of wall 14 of container 10, shown as "t"
in FIG. 8, is preferably 1.65 mm. In order to provide additional reinforcement and rigidity to tongue portion 24, it is preferable that upper surface thickness "h" and vertical surface thickness "v" each be somewhat thicker than wall thickness "t", or at least no less than the same as wall thickness "t". As noted, at 2.6 mm and 3 mm respectively, surface thicknesses "h" and "v" are both larger than wall thickness "t" in the preferred embodiment. Both dimensions "h" and "v" may be made larger if greater protection is desired, and/or if a version of container 10 is made that is substantially larger than the preferred embodiment.

[0086] Ribs 72 are shown in perspective view in FIGS. 8 and 9. As indicated, each rib 72 is in the form of a four-sided plane, with three of the sides attaching to three surfaces of container 10, specifically a bottom surface 78 of lip 70, an outside surface of tongue portion 24, and the top of wall 14 on the front side 28 of the container. It is to be appreciated that since each rib 72 is anchored to a surface on either side of tongue portion 24, ribs 72 provide effective support and reinforcement for tongue portion 24.

[0087]The three ribs 72 are spaced approximately equidistant from one another and from edge barriers 58 of container 10. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this distance is about 1.12 inches (28.5 mm). Further, as shown in FIG. 9 by distance "p", in the preferred embodiment each rib 72 has a vertical projection on container 10 of about 1.3 inches (28.2 mm).

[0088]The thickness of each rib 72 is preferably about 1 ¨ 1.5 mm. More particularly, in injection moulding plastic technology it is often preferable for elements to taper along their length. As a result, according to some embodiments ribs 72 may be about 1.44 mm thick at their base, or where they attach to wall 14, and taper to a thickness of about 1.41 mm where they attach to bottom surface 78 of lip 70. Unlike lip 70, it is preferable that ribs 72 be thinner than thickness "t" of wall 14, as ribs that are thicker than "t" may lead to a downward sag of tongue portion 24.

[0089]It is to be appreciated that lip 70 and ribs 72 do not interfere with the brush dabbing and wiping utility of tongue portion 24. Neither element covers any part of the inner, broad surface area of tongue portion 24 that is used for dabbing. With respect to brush wiping, the brush may be wiped against the inner or outer edge of lip 70 by adjusting the brush handle orientation upwards or downwards, respectively.
Wiping may also be performed across upper lip surface 74, which while thicker than either edge, is still very narrow relative to the side of a brush and accordingly still provides an effective edge for wiping.

[0090]As discussed above, container 10 is configured to be stackable. However, when items such as container 10 are stacked, there is a risk that one or more of them may become stuck or otherwise difficult to dislodge from the stack. This is undesirable in a retail environment, since it could lead to frustrated customers and lost sales.

[0091]This problem may occur due to the presence of excess friction between adjacent containers, particularly if a container has been jammed into the stack with a greater force than necessary. Such action may be inadvertent, and might occur, for example, by a production worker hurriedly packing boxes for shipping, or by a retail clerk seeking to fit more items into a single stack to maximize shelf space.

[0092]Another factor that may cause adjacent stacked containers to stick relates to the design of container 10. As described above, gripping means 20 is effectively formed from a "hollowed-out space" defined by recess 34, side tapered section 38, and upper tapered section 48 on opposing sides of the container. Also as noted, upper wall portion 15 is a part of wall 14 that is between the top of upper tapered section 48 and top opening 16. In the figures wall portion 15 is shown as a dashed arrow to represent its fixed or specific height at its highest point, which is about 1.3 inches in the preferred embodiment. As a result of this configuration, and as shown in FIG. 4, when adjacent containers 10 are placed on top of one another in a stack, the top of wall portion 15 of the lower container may overlap with the bottom of wall portion 15 of the adjacent upper container. In such a case the hollowed-out space in the upper container may become enclosed on all sides and form a type of vacuum effect that acts to resist separation of the two adjacent containers.

[0093]It may be noted that in practice the overall resistance would be approximately double this value, since in the preferred embodiment there are two such hollowed-out spaces. It is also to be appreciated that any such vacuum effect resistance would be generally cumulative or additional to any separation resistance that may already be present due to excess friction between the containers.

[0094]According to some embodiments of the invention, and as shown in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 10, the problem of stuck or difficult to remove containers in a stack may be substantially reduced or eliminated by including a stop, block, or spacer 80 in container 10. Stop 80 in a lower container prevents or blocks another, upper container inserted into interior space 18 from descending any further than a minimum separation distance or height "s" above base 12 of the lower container. As will be explained in greater detail below, in the preferred embodiment "s" is 1.5 inches (38.1 mm).

[0095]Stop 80 may be conveniently implemented, according to some embodiments, by positioning a rigid element in interior space 18 so that its upper surface is at a distance "s" above base 12. As shown in FIG. 10, stop 80 may be a rectangular tab or panel that is attached to the juncture of base 12 and wall 14, at the back 26 of container 10. For a height "s" of 1.5 inches, stop 80 extends outward from wall 14 by about 5 mm.
While this is a relatively short length, it has been found to be adequate since stop 80 only needs to catch an edge of base 12 to effectively block further penetration of the upper container. The thickness of stop 80 at its base, where it attaches to base 12, may be about 1.4 mm, with a taper to about 0.8 mm at the top, or distance "s" above base 12.
Stop 80 may be made longer and/or wider if a more robust element is desired.

[0096]Stop 80 may be attached to wall 14 at any point but is preferably attached to back 26, since placement at front 28 would put it in dipping section 22 where it could interfere with a brush being dipped by a user. More than one stop 80 may be used in container 10, but it has been found that a single stop 80 is adequate.

[0097]It is to be appreciated that since stop 80 physically limits the distance that an upper container can penetrate into a lower container, the stacked containers cannot be forced, pushed, or jammed together any closer than the minimum separation distance "s", regardless of whether the person doing the pushing is acting deliberately or inadvertently.

[0098] Further, it may be noted that when the containers are positioned at the minimum separation distance "s", there will be maximum contact between adjacent walls 14 and a corresponding maximum amount of stickiness due to friction. Accordingly, when designing stop 80, the distance "s" may be selected to be large enough so that the expected maximum amount of frictional contact at that separation distance is generally acceptable, i.e. one that allows the adjacent containers to be separated relatively easily and without too much difficulty.

[0099]Stop 80 is also configured to substantially remove the risk of separation resistance due to trapped air in the hollowed-out space of gripping means 20.
This may be accomplished by sizing the separation distance "s" to be at least slightly larger than the distance represented by wall portion 15. When configured in this way, adjacent stacked containers will be separated by a distance greater than wall portion 15, the wall portions 15 of the two containers will not overlap, and there will always be an opening permitting air to enter the hollowed-out space of the upper container.
Accordingly, air will not be trapped in the upper container, and that source of separation resistance is eliminated.

[00100]
Figure 11 illustrates this aspect of the invention by showing a stack of three containers 10, with hidden elements represented by dashed lines. It may be seen that base 12 of the middle container rests on stop 80 of the bottom container, and base 12 of the top container rests on stop 80 of the middle container. Since the height of each stop 80 is separation distance "s", or 1.5 inches, which is greater than wall portion distance 15 of 1.3 inches, wall portions 15 of the top and middle containers are each above top opening 16 of their corresponding lower containers. As shown, there is an opening into the hollowed-out spaces of the top and middle containers, just below wall portions 15, so air cannot be trapped and form a vacuum effect in these containers.

[00101] Yet another consideration in the design of stackable container 10 is to ensure that ribs 72 of the upper container do not contact or interfere with any part of the lower container. This may be achieved by selecting separation distance "s" to be at least slightly larger than vertical projection distance "p". In the preferred embodiment "s"
is 1.5 inches, which is larger than "p" of 1.3 inches. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, ribs 72 of the upper container (shown by dashed lines) do not contact the middle container.

[00102] Having a stop 80 to prevent adjacent containers in a stack from sticking is particularly useful for containers having a ratio of height to top opening length or width that is greater than one, because in such configurations the adjacent containers have a relatively large amount of frictional contact. As noted, the preferred embodiment of container 10 has a height of 6.5 inches, a length at top opening 16 of 5.05 inches, and width "w" of 4.6 inches. Accordingly, for container 10 the ratio of height to top opening length is 6.5/5.05 = 1.29, and height to top opening width is 6.5/4.6 = 1.41, both of which are greater than one.

[00103] It is to be appreciated that injection moulding production technology may be employed to enhance a variety of aspects of container 10. For example, the mould may be adapted to provide a course texture on all or part of gripping means 20. A
course texture is beneficial because it enables a user to maintain a more secure grip on container 10, particularly when the user's hand or the container is wet.
Preferably the course texture would be applied to all parts of the hollowed-out space, i.e.
recesses 34, side tapered sections 38, and upper tapered sections 48.

[00104] Another enhancement is to adapt the mould to round off any sharp edges, both on the outside of the container and in interior space 18. This has the benefit of 1 " , CA 02783086 2012-07-09 making interior space 18 easier to clean, and also provides a generally more attractive look and feel to container 10.

[00105] The operation of the present invention can now be described.
The user will begin by selecting a paintable liquid appropriate for the project. While painting a building using latex or oil based paint is most common, other paintable liquids such as varnish or stain, such as might be used with furniture or wooden fences, may also be used with the present invention.

[00106] The user will pour a designated amount of paint into the paint container.
The user can choose to pour to the maximum capacity of the container, or a lesser amount if less is needed or if the weight of a full container is too high.
Full capacity preferably means up to a level slightly below the bottom edge 54 of the tongue, for example about 1/4 inch or % inch, and not to the very top of the container 10.
This level is preferred because paint higher than bottom edge 54 will overlap the tongue portion and interfere with the use of the tongue for dabbing. Further, paint at the bottom edge 54 will overlap the tongue portion when the container is tilted forward. Also, it is preferable for there to be an unfilled but walled space above the maximum paint level so that there will always be some protection against paint spilling out of the container inadvertently as the user moves about. Such a space is available in the present invention due to wall 14 extending as high as leading edge 52.

[00107] When the container is filled with the desired amount of paint, the user can pick it up in one hand, as shown in FIG. 5, and should find that it can be held comfortably. This is because the weight should not be excessively heavy, the gripping means is formed in a hollowed out space that more closely fits the user's hand and does not require the user's hand to stretch excessively, and further because ridges and possibly a course texture in the gripping means provides additional grip security. As well, any forward torque should not be excessive, being preferably no more than 1 foot-pound and more preferably less than that. As a result, the user should be able to comfortably move about the paint site for extended periods while holding the paint container 10 in one hand. This may also result in the user experiencing a reduced or 1 ' . CA 02783086 2012-07-09 substantially eliminated level of strain in the hand or arm holding the paint container, in comparison with the strain that might be experienced from holding a large or small paint can or a container of the prior art.

[00108] When the user begins painting, the first step will be to dip the brush in the paint container. This procedure may be efficiently and easily done due to the design of the present invention. The paint container has an unobstructed top, unlike some of the prior art, so the user does not have to slow down to check for an obstruction with each dip of the brush. The container is sized to have a reasonable capacity, so that an adequate amount of painting can be done with the container at full or even partial capacity. There may be a slight forward tilt due to the torque operating on the gripping means. This may be beneficial in that it is easier to insert a brush into an opening that is tilted forward rather than one that is rigidly vertical. In addition, the tilted position may make the contents of the container easier to view by the user. The dipping is also rendered more efficient by the fact that the brush does not have to be re-oriented when it is removed from the container.

[00109] After the brush is dipped, excess paint may be removed and a preferred paint profile achieved by wiping or dabbing the paint brush. As shown in FIG.
6A, the brush bristles may be wiped or scraped against leading edge 52 of the tongue.
The excess paint goes onto the tongue and is free to drain into dipping section 22. A sample profile of a wiped brush is shown in FIG. 6B, which shows a brush with a thin line of paint 30 along the bottom edge of the bristles.

[00110] If the user needs to dab the brush, the side of the brush may be dabbed against the dabbing surface of the tongue 24, as shown in FIG. 7A. It can also be appreciated that the dabbing motion can begin in the same motion by which the dipped brush is removed from the dipping section. For example, the brush can be dragged past the tongue as it is being removed so that all of the side of the brush will be dabbed. A
sample profile of a dabbed brush is shown in FIG. 7B, which shows paint 30 on almost the full height of the bristles. The thickness of the paint will be determined by the user according to the degree of dabbing applied.

[00111] It can be appreciated that through a combination of wiping and dabbing of the paint brush, an experienced painter can optimize the use of paint, save time in brush preparation, and more effectively paint the surfaces requiring application by brush.

[00112] When the user has completed the paint brushing job, the paint container may be washed and re-used at a later time. Alternatively, since it is preferably made of plastic, it may be discarded and recycled. Due to the expected low cost of the container, it should be relatively convenient to purchase additional containers for other paint jobs or for use with different colours of paint.

[00113] Although selected embodiment(s) of the present invention has/have been shown and described, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiment(s). Instead, it is to be appreciated that changes may be made to this/these embodiment(s) without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims (20)

1. A container for holding paintable liquid, the container comprising:
a base;
a continuous wall extending up from the base and forming a top opening;
a gripping means formed in the wall and being sized, shaped, and positioned to permit a user to grip said gripping means to hold said container;
a dipping section adjacent to said gripping means, said dipping section being sized, shaped, and positioned to permit a brush to be inserted into said dipping section through said top opening to contact said liquid; and an inclined tongue portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the wall adjacent to said dipping section and terminating in a leading edge having a reinforced lip, the tongue portion being sized, shaped and positioned to permit the brush to be dabbed thereon to remove excess liquid from said brush, and to permit said excess liquid to drain into said dipping section, the leading edge being sized and shaped to provide a wiping surface for the brush.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the reinforced lip comprises an extended upper surface and an extended vertical surface.

3. The container of claim 2, wherein the extended upper surface is 2.6 mm thick and the extended vertical surface is 3 mm thick.

4. The container of claim 1, further including at least one rib sized and shaped to reinforce the inclined tongue portion.

5. The container of claim 4, wherein the at least one rib is attached to an outer surface of the inclined tongue portion and to surfaces on either side of the inclined tongue portion.

6. The container of claim 4, wherein the at least one rib comprises three ribs.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein said wall tapers outwardly as said wall extends up from said base, said wall and said gripping means being sized, shaped and positioned to permit at least one of said containers to be stacked inside another of said containers.

8. The container of claim 7, further including a stop, the stop being sized, shaped, and positioned to prevent the base of a stacked container from getting closer than a minimum separation distance to the base of an adjacent stacked container.

9. The container of claim 8, wherein the stop is a rigid element fixedly attached to the base in an interior space of the container, the stop having an upper surface positioned at a height above the base equal to the minimum separation distance.

10. The container of claim 8, wherein the gripping means is formed in a hollowed-out section of the wall, and the minimum separation distance is at least slightly larger than a length of a portion of the wall between the top opening and the hollowed-out section.

11. The container of claim 1, wherein said container has a center of gravity positioned between the gripping means and the tongue portion, wherein a torque is created about the gripping means when said container is held by said user at said gripping means, said container being sized and shaped to limit said torque to no more than one foot-pound when said container is full of paintable liquid.

12. The container of claim 11, wherein said torque is no more than 0.6 foot-pounds.

13. The container of claim 1, wherein said base has a length and said gripping means extends at least 40% of said length.

14. The container of claim 1, wherein said gripping means comprises at least one recess in said wall.

15. The container of claim 14, wherein said gripping means comprises first and second recesses in said wall, and wherein said first recess is spaced sufficiently apart from said second recess so as to permit said container to be gripped by the placement of a thumb of said user's hand in said first recess and at least one finger of said hand in said second recess.

16. The container of claim 14, wherein said wall has a wall height and said at least one recess extends upwards from the base of the container for a distance less than said wall height.

17. The container of claim 1, wherein said gripping means includes ridges to facilitate gripping of said gripping means by said user.

18. The container of claim 1, wherein said dipping section has a dipping section width and said tongue portion has a tongue portion width, and said dipping section width is substantially equal to said tongue portion width.

19. The container of claim 1, wherein said dipping section includes a tapered section adjacent to said gripping means.

20. The container of claim 1, wherein said tongue portion extends upwardly at an angle approximately 45 degrees from the horizontal.