FR2689422A1 - Device for impregnating an application tool with paint. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for impregnating with paint (P) an application tool (30), comprising a container (100) for containing the paint and a grid (200) shaped to float on the surface of the paint while being susceptible. to sink into the latter under the action of a force (F) exerted downwards, so as to present above the upper surface (2100) of the grid, suitable for serving as a support for the 'tool, the desired paint thickness to impregnate the tool.

Description

I The present invention relates to the field of devices for

  impregnate an application tool with paint.

  It is known, to impregnate an application tool such as a brush or a roller, to arrange the paint in a container and to provide the latter with a grid, hung on a rim of said container, for wringing the tool out. application after having immersed it in paint Such a device according to the prior art is shown by way of illustration in FIG. 1, where we can see the container 10 containing the paint P and the grid 20, hung on a rim 15 of the container 10 To impregnate the roller 30, the user generally begins by immersing the roller on a third of its periphery, then, by rolling it on the grid 20, makes it perform a third of a turn, and starts again twice these operations immediately, by each time shifting the roller by a third of a turn before submerging it. Correct impregnation of the roller thus requires significant labor time, and nothing guarantees the user against the risk. to immerse too profo roller 30, which would cause paint to penetrate into the interior of the roller, with for

  disadvantage of requiring an extended spin time.

  The subject of the present invention is an improved device, permitting an application tool to be impregnated with paint, remedying the

aforementioned drawbacks.

  The present invention therefore provides a device for impregnating an application tool with paint, of the type comprising a container for containing the paint, characterized in that it comprises a shaped grid for floating on the surface of the paint, being capable of sink into it under the action of a force exerted downward, so as to present above the upper surface of the grid, suitable for serving as a support for the tool, the thickness of paint wanted for

impregnate the tool.

  The present invention also relates to a grid, taken separately, suitable for being used to form a device according to the invention. Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the following description of a nonlimiting embodiment of the invention, and on examining the appended drawing in which: FIG. 1, previously described, shows a device for impregnating an application tool with paint, according to the prior art, FIG. 2 is a top view of a device according to the invention, FIG. 3 is a sectional view along a cutting line III-III of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV of Figure

2,

  FIG. 4A is a view in axial section on an enlarged scale, of a channel 220, FIGS. 5 to 7 are schematic views taken in the section plane of FIG. 3, showing the relative positioning of the upper surface of the grid relative to the level of paint in the container, respectively for a grid alone, a grid provided with an application tool resting by its own weight on the grid and a grid immersed in the liquid under the action of a downward force. We see in Figures 2, 3 and 4 a device according to the invention, comprising a container 100 adapted to contain paint and a grid 200 According to a characteristic of the invention, the grid 200 has an upper surface 2100 suitable for serve as a support for an application tool not shown in these figures The grid 200 is shaped to float in the container on the surface of the paint, being capable of sinking into it under the action of a force exerted downward, so as to present above the surface 2100 a thickness of paint desired to impregnate the tool. For the sake of clarity, the device has been shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 in a configuration

  o the container 100 does not contain paint.

  In the present invention, the term "paint" means any impregnation or treatment product in general, in liquid form,

  gelled or pasty, i.e. all kinds of glyceric paints

  rophthalic or acrylic, but also lacquers, waxes, varnishes, fungicides, resins, sealants, and other products for treating a support

or impregnation.

  The term “application tool” means any instrument capable of being used for applying the paint to a support, that is to say all the paint brushes, brushes, applicators of the paint pads type, rollers, etc. The container 100 comprises a bottom 105, preferably flat as shown, bordered laterally by a raised wall 110,

  extending substantially at right angles to the plane of the bottom 105.

  In the embodiment described, the container 100 in the form of a rectangular tank, but it goes without saying that it is possible to propose other container geometries without departing from the scope of the invention, the raised wall being able to further be adapted to receive a closure cover

not shown.

  Preferably, as shown, the grid 200 extends over a surface covering almost the entire bottom 105 of the container 100, and has an external contour 2300 matching the internal contour of the raised wall 110 of the container 100, so that the movements possible for the grid 200 in the container 100 are essentially translational movements in a vertical direction perpendicular to the plane of the bottom

  105, that is to say in the plan of the top view of FIG. 2.

  Of course, in the case of an alternative embodiment o the container 100 and the grid 200 would have a symmetrical contour of revolution around a vertical axis, the grid would then be capable of rotating around this axis, in addition to the movement of translation according to

  previously mentioned vertical direction.

  The grid 200 comprises a central part or sole 210, delimited according to its thickness above by the surface 2100, suitable for serving as a support for an application tool not shown, and below by

a flat surface 2110.

  Advantageously, the sole 210 is bordered on its periphery by a bulged part 230, of greater thickness than the sole 210, intended in particular to improve the flotation of the grid on the surface of the paint and to provide comfort in use, by presenting a peripheral wall 2350 sufficiently raised above the upper surface 2100 so as to avoid penetration of paint by the outer edges

  of the grid when it is pressed into the paint.

  The bulged portion 230 comprises four parallel rectilinear portions two by two, that is to say, more particularly, two first portions 231 parallel to one another and two other parallel portions 232

  between them, shorter than the portions 231, arranged perpendicular

culinary to these.

  According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention,

  grip ears 240 are provided on two opposite sides of the grid.

  I O Preferably, these are the sides of the grid along which the

  two portions 232 of shorter length.

  According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, there is provided a passage opening onto said upper surface 2100, through which the paint is capable of covering this surface when the

  grid is embedded in the paint.

  This passage is preferably, as shown, constituted by a plurality of channels 220 extending through the thickness of the

  sole and opening onto the upper 2100 and lower 2110 surfaces.

  These channels 220 each preferably have a symmetrical internal section around a vertical axis, referenced X for the channel 220 shown in FIG. 4 A, and can have internal sections

  various, circular or polygonal.

  In accordance with an advantageous characteristic of the invention

  tion, the channels 220 have a generally flared section upwards, opening onto the upper surface 2100, so as to facilitate the flow of the paint from the upper face 2100 towards the bottom 105

from container 100.

  More particularly, as shown in FIG. 4 A, the channels 220 comprise a lower part 221 extending from the lower face 2110 upwards, over approximately 7/8 of the thickness of the sole 210, having an internal surface frustoconical diverging from the lower surface 2110, by an angle of a few degrees, about 5 in the example of embodiment described, extending upwards by a

  milling 222 leading to the upper surface 2100.

  The geometry of the countersinks 222 has been, in the embodiment described, chosen circular in order to simplify the machining of the molds used for the production of the grid, but it is advantageously possible to propose making the countersinks 222 with a square geometry , which would make it possible to reduce the portions of the upper surface 2100 serving as a bearing surface for the application tool between the millings 222, therefore to improve the paint shrinkage by increasing the cross-section of

passage for painting.

  The lower surface 2110 of the grid 200 is advantageous-

  ment shaped to match the shape of the bottom 105 of the container 100, so as to minimize the volume of paint remaining in the container when the grid rests on the bottom and is no longer usable, with the advantage of allowing, when the grid is removed, resumption of work under the same conditions as those obtained by the use of the grid, that is to say with a small thickness of paint to impregnate the application tool. The use of a device according to the invention will be

  described with reference to Figures 5 to 7.

  Preferably, as shown in FIG. 5, the grid is shaped so that the upper surface 2100 emerges out of the paint P in the absence of the application tool. The level N 1 of the plane of the upper surface 2100 , measured by taking as a reference the plane of the bottom of the container 100, is then greater than the level N 2 of the surface of the

paint P in the container.

  According to the physical characteristics of density, viscosity, surface tension, etc. of the paint, the person skilled in the art will choose the material in which the grid is made, so that the Archimedes thrust due to the volume of material immersed is sufficient to

  maintain the upper surface 2100 emerged.

  Advantageously, the grid covers a major part of the free surface of the paint in the container, preferably more than three quarters, which makes it possible to reduce the surface of paint in direct contact with the ambient air, thus limiting the losses of solvent. by evaporation and allows

  thus a better conservation of the painting.

  If necessary, the upper surface 2100 of the grid 200 can be flush with the surface of the paint or lie slightly below this situation, however, this should be avoided since the loss of solvent by

evaporation increases.

  The grid 200 can be produced by injecting plastic foam into a mold or by hermetically assembling two hollow half-shells, the air trapped between the shells then ensuring the buoyancy of the grid. Preferably, the grid is made by injection of foam.

polyurethane in a mold.

  The geometrical distribution of the volume of material necessary to ensure the buoyancy of the grid is carried out at the choice of the skilled person, in the thickness of the sole 210 and the bulged part 230, so as to give the grid the most great stability possible at the surface of the paint when a downward force applied near an edge of the

  grid, tends to unbalance it.

  We will also preferably try to give the grid sufficient rigidity to ensure a regular distribution of paint.

  regardless of the point of application of the downward force.

  According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the grid 200 is shaped so that the upper surface 2100 continues to emerge out of the paint when one or more application tools 30

  rest by their weight on the grid 200.

  By way of illustration, FIG. 6 shows a roller 30 which rests by its weight on the upper surface 2100 while remaining out of the paint P. According to a characteristic of the invention, the grid is capable of sinking in paint P under the action of a force F exerted downwards, so as to present, above the upper surface 2100, a thickness of paint N 2 -N 1 desired to impregnate

the application tool.

  The expression "desired thickness of paint" should be understood, within the context of the present invention, as the thickness of paint which provides the user with optimal comfort of use, that is to say, allows him to '' impregnate the application tool with an adequate amount of paint In the case of the example of a roller 30, shown in Figure 7, it is preferred to impregnate only the peripheral part 31 of the roller 30, generally in foam or fibers, avoiding penetration of paint into the interior space 32 of the mandrel of the roller 30. Thus, in the case of the example presented in FIG. 7, the force F exerted will be such that the thickness of paint N 2-N 1 remains

  less than the thickness of the peripheral part 31 of the roller.

  The internal section of the channels 220 is, as previously mentioned, preferably flared, opening onto the upper surface, to facilitate rapid removal of the paint from the upper surface 2100 when the application tool is removed. that is to say when

  the upper surface 2100 tends to emerge from the paint.

  The internal section of the channels 220 is adapted, at the choice of a person skilled in the art, to the viscosity and surface tension characteristics of the paint, so that the pressure drop encountered by the paint when crossing the channels 220 does not constitute embarrassment for

  the user by limiting the paint flow too much.

  Preferably, an internal section will be chosen having a geometry making it possible to cover, using a single grid model, a

  widest range of paint viscosities.

  In general, the more viscous the paint, the more

  internal channel section will be chosen important.

  Finally, a device according to the invention for impregnating an application tool with paint, thanks to its particularly simple structure, proves to be robust in its use, and allows better conservation of the paint, savings in solvent as well as gains. labor time allowing rapid impregnation of the tool

  application with just the right amount of paint.

Claims (17)

  1 / Device for impregnating with paint (P) an application tool (30), of the type comprising a container (100) for containing the paint, characterized in that it comprises a grid (200) shaped to float on the surface of paint, being capable of sinking into it under the action of a force (F) exerted downwards so as to present above the upper surface (2100) of the grid, suitable for serving tool support, the thickness of paint desired to impregnate the tool.   2 / Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the grid (200) is shaped so that said upper surface (2100)   emerges out of the paint in the absence of the application tool.   3 / Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the grid (200) is shaped so that said upper surface (2100) continues to emerge from the paint when one or more tools   by weight on the grid.   4 / Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized   in that said upper surface (2100) is planar.   5 / Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized   in that at least one passage (220) is provided which opens onto said upper surface, through which the paint is capable of covering the upper surface (2100) when the grid (200) is pressed into the painting (P).   6 / Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said passage (220) comprises a plurality of channels (220) opening onto said upper surface (2100).   7 / Device according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one of said channels (220) has a flared internal section   opening onto said upper surface (2100).   8 / Device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at least one of said channels (220) has an internal section symmetrical about an axis.   9 / Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized   in that the grid (200) has on its periphery a bulged part (230) suitable for use as a float.   / Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized   in that the grid (200) has a raised peripheral wall (2350) surrounding said upper surface (2100), so as to avoid penetration of paint by the edges of the grid when it is pressed into the paint during the tool impregnation phase of application.   11 / Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized   in that gripping ears (240) are provided on two sides of the grid.   12 / Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized   in that the bottom of the grid has a lower surface (2110)   adapted to match the shape of the bottom (105) of the container (100).   13 / Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized   in that the grid covers, when the upper surface (2100) emerges from the paint, more than three-quarters of the free surface of the paint in the recipient.   14 / Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized   in that the grid is produced by injecting foam into a mold.   / Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the foam is polyurethane.   16 / Device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized   in that the grid is formed by the assembly of two molded half-shells.   17 / Device according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized   in that the paint (P) is chosen from the following list of products: gelled, pasty or liquid paint, lacquer, varnish, product for treating a support, product for impregnating a support, wax, resins, fungicides, sealants.   18 / Device according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized   in that the application tool is chosen from the following list: brush,   brush, roller, applicators such as paint pads.   19 / Grid capable of being used to form a device   according to one of claims 1 to 18.