FR3116812A1 - Container Dust Remover - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a skirt (2) for a container comprising a sheet having a peripheral zone (21) used for its attachment to the container and an opening (23), said skirt comprising, between the peripheral zone and said opening, an intermediate zone ( 22) having a conical profile, said skirt comprising at least one point of inflection (Pi) making it capable of assuming a first position in which the intermediate zone retains its conical profile and a second position in which the skirt is deformed so that the intermediate zone has a conical profile which differs from that of the first position.

Description

Container Dust Remover

The present invention relates to the field of tools or devices used in the context of the manufacture of coating or mortar in building construction.

Prior art

In the field of building construction, coatings or mortars are regularly made and used in various stages. These coatings or mortars can be used as a binding layer for the construction of a wall, or as a smoothing or protective coating for finishing a wall or floor.

These coatings or mortars consist of a binder such as water mixed with a filler such as more or less fine size aggregates to form a more or less viscous paste.

These coatings or mortars are made by successively pouring the filler and the water into a container, then mixing everything to obtain a homogeneous paste. This operation is carried out with a mixer. The container used is usually a plastic bucket. Such a bucket usually consists of a previously used and empty plaster container.

The disadvantage of this method is that it generates dust. Indeed, the pouring of the load into the container generates dust which tends to spread. The use of the mixer has the same consequences since after the pouring of water, all of the dust is not moistened. This dust makes working conditions more difficult for construction workers.

A known solution is to place a cover C with holes on the container R as seen in . This lid can be flat or funnel-shaped allowing the filler and the water to be poured into the container through the opening, said lid preventing dust from coming out and spreading.

However, this perforated cover has the disadvantage of having only one function: anti-dust. This unique function obliges the operator to remove said lid later to pour the coating. Furthermore, the coating prepared in said container becomes complex to pour due to the weight and configuration of the bucket.

The present invention therefore seeks to solve this problem by providing an apparatus or tool or accessory having a wider use.

As such, the invention relates to a skirt for a container comprising a sheet having a peripheral zone used for its attachment to the container and an opening, said skirt comprising, between the peripheral zone and said opening, an intermediate zone having a conical profile, said skirt comprising at least one point of inflection making it capable of assuming a first position in which the intermediate zone retains its conical profile and a second position in which the skirt is deformed so that the intermediate zone has a conical profile which differs from that of the first position.

According to one example, the skirt comprises at least two inflection points allowing said skirt to have a greater number of stable positions.

According to one example, the peripheral zone has a right-angled shape suitable for attaching to a container.

According to one example, the peripheral zone is capable of elastically deforming to attach to a container.

According to one example, the opening is centered.

According to one example, the sheet has a uniform thickness.

According to one example, the peripheral zone of the sheet has a greater thickness than that of the intermediate zone.

According to one example, said skirt comprises at least one groove and/or at least one protruding part in order to locally modify the rigidity

According to one example, the sheet is made of a material capable of elastically deforming.

According to one example, the material capable of elastically deforming is a plastic, preferably an elastomer.

According to one example, the peripheral zone is made of a first material, the intermediate zone is made of a second material, the first material and the second material being welded together.

According to one example, the peripheral zone fits the container.

The invention further relates to a kit comprising a container closed by a lid and a skirt according to the invention, said skirt being capable of replacing said lid once the latter has been removed.

The invention further relates to a container comprising a lid, said lid being the skirt according to the invention.

According to one example, the opening of the skirt is closed by a detachable cover or a plug.

The invention also relates to a process for manufacturing a coating or mortar comprising the following steps:

• Provide yourself with an open container in which a load is placed;
• Take the skirt and attach it to said container to close said container;
• Manipulate, if necessary, the skirt so that, in the first position, the conical profile of the intermediate zone extends towards the bottom of the container, this manipulation consisting of a force applied to said intermediate zone in the direction of the bottom of the container;
• Pour water into the container through the opening in the skirt;
• Mix the water and the filler to form the said coating or mortar;

According to one example, the method comprises, after the step consisting in mixing the water and the filler, the following steps:

• Manipulate the skirt to pass from the first position to the second position in which the conical profile of the intermediate zone extends in a direction opposite to that of the first position, this manipulation consisting of a force applied to the said intermediate zone according to a direction moving away bottom of container;
• Handle the container for the said coating or mortar.

According to one example, the method further comprises, before the step consisting in providing a container, the following steps:

• Bring a container closed with a lid;
• Remove the cover;
• Filling the container with a charge if said container is empty.

Description of figures

Other features and advantages will emerge clearly from the description given below, by way of indication and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

-there is a schematic representation of a lid for a container according to the prior art;

-there is a schematic representation of an accessory of the skirt type for a container according to the invention;

-figures 3, 4, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b and 6c are schematic representations of the two forms of the skirt according to the invention;

-figures 7, 8a, 8b and 9 are schematic representations of the transition from one position to another of the skirt according to the invention;

-there is a schematic representation of a variant of the skirt according to the invention allowing more stable positions;

FIGS. 11a to 11d are schematic representations of the force necessary for the passage from one position to another of the skirt according to the invention;

-figures 12a, 12b and 12c are schematic representations of a second variant of the skirt according to the invention with a variable thickness;

- Figures 13 and 14 are schematic representations of a skirt according to the invention with an off-center opening;

FIGS. 15a and 15b are schematic representations of a skirt according to the invention provided with grooves or projecting lines;

-figures 16a, 16b, 16c and 17 are schematic representations of a skirt according to the invention provided with a cap or a plug;

Detailed description of the invention

There represents an accessory according to the present invention. Said accessory is a skirt 2 attaching to a container R as seen in . This container R may be made of plastic or even metal. This container is used to produce a coating or mortar consisting of a binder such as water mixed with a filler such as more or less fine size aggregates making it possible to form a more or less viscous paste. The skirt 2 comprises a membrane 20 provided with an opening 23.

The shape of the membrane 20 is dependent on the shape of the container R, that is to say that for a circular container R the membrane is circular. For a container R of square shape then the membrane is of square shape. The membrane is made of a plastic material capable of elastically deforming like a material of the polymer type.

The opening can take various shapes such as a circle or square or ovoid or triangular shape. Preferably, the opening 23 is central.

The membrane 20 comprises, first, a peripheral zone 21. This peripheral zone 21 is used for fixing the membrane 20 to the container R. For this, the peripheral zone 21 comes in two different forms as can be seen in Figures 3 and 4.

A first form consists in having a peripheral zone 21 having an L-shaped or right-angled profile. The peripheral zone 21 then comprises a portion 21a parallel to the wall of the container and a portion 21b orthogonal thereto. The portion parallel to the wall of the container is the portion which will be brought into contact with the wall of the container to fix said membrane. This bringing into contact can be effected by insertion or by screwing. In the case of screwing, the portion parallel to the wall of the container is provided with a thread as visible in Figures 5a and 5b.

A second form of the peripheral zone 21 consists in having a flat, deformable peripheral zone. The deformability of the peripheral zone is such that the operator can deform, stretch the peripheral zone to allow attachment to the container as seen in Figures 6a, 6b and 6c.

The membrane 20 comprises, between the peripheral zone 21 and said opening 23, an intermediate zone 22.

Cleverly according to the invention, the intermediate zone 22, by its shape and its dimensions and its manufacture in an elastically deformable material, allows the skirt to take several positions.

Indeed, the intermediate zone 22 is designed to have a conical shape. This conical shape of the profile of the membrane 20 is such that it has at least one point of inflection Pi as visible at . Such a point of inflection is a point from which the profile changes direction. More particularly, this point of inflection Pi allows the skirt 2 to take several positions. Indeed, the point of inflection Pi is such that it allows the intermediate zone, with the help of the elastically deformable material in which it is made, to deform from this point, the geometry of the skirt making it possible to have at least two stable positions as shown in Figures 8a, 8b and 9.

In a variant, the intermediate zone 22 comprises at least one second point of inflection Pi. The presence of this second point of inflection Pi makes it possible to increase the number of stable positions since each point of inflection makes it possible to have two positions as seen at

Thus for two inflection points Pi, the skirt 2 comprises four stable positions.

In the case of a single inflection point Pi, the skirt 2 is able to assume a first position in which the conical shape of the intermediate zone 22 is similar to that of a funnel. The skirt 2 can assume a second position in which the conical shape of the intermediate zone 22 is similar to that of an inverted funnel or a pyramid. These positions are said to be stable, i.e. without external constraints, a change of position is not possible.

These two positions allow you to operate a specific function. The first position in which the conical shape of the intermediate zone is similar to that of a funnel allows an anti-dust function. This function is the consequence of the skirt provided with its opening which reduces the possibilities for dust to be expelled from the container. In addition, the funnel shape tends to channel dust inside the container.

In addition, this allows, in the event of water splashes, that the drops of water run off on the internal wall of the intermediate zone to fall back into the container.

Regarding the second position, this advantageously allows to have a spout function. Indeed, the container R on which the skirt 2 is fixed makes it possible to create a coating or a mortar. This coating or mortar is then transferred to a tray before being applied to a wall or is directly spread on a surface to be coated. In both cases, the presence of a spout allows for a better quality transfer. This is due to the fact that in second position, the conical pyramidal shape of the skirt makes it possible to concentrate the flow of plaster and therefore to control it better.

According to the invention, the transition from one position to another takes place by deformation of said skirt 2. This deformation is the result of a force F applied to skirt 2, preferably to intermediate zone 21 of the skirt. This force F applied to the intermediate zone 22 is applied by the worker or operator. This force consists of a push or a pull as shown in Figures 8 and 9. Indeed, if a force is necessary to pass from one position to another, the force necessary to pass from the first position to the second position is not not of the same type as that required to pass from the second position to the first position. Thus, to pass from the first so-called funnel position to the second so-called pyramid position, a tensile force is applied. This traction force is a force where the operator pulls the intermediate zone 22 towards him.

On the contrary, to pass from the second so-called funnel position to the first so-called pyramid position, a thrust force is applied. This pushing force is a force where the operator pushes the intermediate zone 22 to move it away from him.

The force F applied must then allow the elastic deformation of the skirt, in particular of the intermediate zone 22, at the level of the inflection point, until reaching a threshold Fs at the level of which the release of the force applied to the intermediate zone 22 causes the transition from the initial position to the final position. If this threshold is not crossed then the release of the force applied to the intermediate zone causes the return to the initial position as visible in Figures 11a to 11d.

In the case of several inflection points Pi, it can then be considered that the intermediate zone 22 is composed of several segments. These segments require different forces to move from one position to another.

In a first variant, the skirt 2 is composed of different elastically deformable materials. Indeed, if the skirt 2 can be made entirely of a single material, the presence of different materials can be advantageous. This possibility is offered by the structure of the skirt in a peripheral zone for the function of function and the intermediate zone 22 used for the anti-dust function and the spout function. Having different functions is a factor in using different materials.

In a first example, the skirt 2 thus comprises a peripheral zone made of a material called A and an intermediate zone made of a material called B. In this first example, the peripheral zone 21 has an L-shape allowing the fixing of the skirt to the container by insertion or screwing. In this case, the material called A cannot have a lower deformation capacity than that of the material called B, the material called A then being more rigid.

In a second example, the skirt 2 thus comprises a peripheral zone 21 made of a material called A′ and an intermediate zone 22 made of a material called B. In this second example, the peripheral zone 21 is flat and deforms for fixing from the skirt 2 to the container. In this case, the material called A cannot have a deformation capacity greater than that of the material called B, the material called A then being less rigid.

In a third example, the skirt thus comprises a peripheral zone 21 made of a material called A or A'. In this example, the intermediate zone 22 has at least one point of inflection, that is to say that said intermediate zone 22 has at least two segments. In this case, the segments can be made of a material called B or each segment can be made of a material of its own called B or B' or B''. This possibility of having different materials according to the segments depends on the segments, inflection points and their use.

To achieve this variant, the different parts of the skirt 2 are made independently and then are joined by welding.

In a second variant visible in Figures 12a, 12b and 12c, the skirt has a variable thickness E. This variable thickness E is used in order to locally modify the rigidity. This local modification of the rigidity makes it possible for different zones or segments of the skirt to behave differently. It is therefore an alternative to the first variant, the two variants being compatible since it is possible to have the peripheral zone 21 and the intermediate zone 22 made of different materials and to have two segments of the intermediate zone 22 having a different thickness as seen in .

Likewise, it is possible for the peripheral zone 21 or the intermediate zone 22 to locally have a different thickness. For example, the peripheral zone has a thicker zone forming a kind of sausage which makes it possible to locally have better rigidity as visible in . In another example, a thicker zone forming a sort of sausage can be arranged at the level of each point of inflection Pi as visible in .

This variable thickness can, alternatively, be in the form of grooves 24 or projecting parts 24 like lines arranged on the skirt as visible in FIGS. 15a and 15b. These grooves or projecting lines 24 are arranged so as to locally modify the rigidity of said skirt. This modification is used for the intermediate area to be deformed. Indeed, the intermediate zone of the skirt 2 is deformed to pass from the first stable position to the second stable position. This deformation can be facilitated by cleverly positioned grooves to locally lower the stiffness and facilitate deformation.

Conversely, it is also possible to have a skirt 2 having a material and/or a thickness such that said skirt has low rigidity making deformation simple. The skirt 2 then comprises projecting lines locally increasing the rigidity to allow it to have stable positions.

In a third variant, the opening of the membrane forming the skirt is offset as seen in Figures 13 and 14. This offset of the opening 23 leads to a modification of the profile of the skirt in its different positions. In the second position in which the skirt performs a spout function, this modification of the profile is advantageous. The advantage comes from the fact that the profile of the skirt can present different slopes potentially allowing a better control of the pouring. Indeed, when the container is placed on the ground so that the coating is produced, then the skirt has a portion having a steeper slope than the others. This portion with the steepest slope, when the container is placed in the pouring position, becomes the portion with the gentlest slope. This advantageously allows better control of the flow and less need to raise the container to pour.

The skirt according to the invention can be in the form of a single piece which is used by the workers.

Alternatively, the skirt according to the invention is integrated into a kit comprising a container provided with its lid and said skirt. The container can be delivered empty or filled with the filler used for the manufacture of the coating.

In another alternative, the skirt is used as a cover. For this, it further comprises a cover 30 ( ) or stopper 31 (FIGS. 16a to 16c) used to temporarily close the skirt opening. In the case of a stopper, this may be reusable.

Thus, the container is supplied filled with the load or empty and closed by the skirt used as a lid. The operator then removes the cover or the cap in order to free the opening and allow the use of the skirt and the container to make a coating. The skirt is then manipulated to move from the anti-dust position to the spout position to pour the coating created.

Subsequently, the user can use the or a plug to close the opening.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the example illustrated but is susceptible to various variants and modifications which will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims (18)

Skirt (2) for a container comprising a sheet having a peripheral zone (21) used for its attachment to the container and an opening (23), said skirt comprising, between the peripheral zone and said opening, an intermediate zone (22) having a profile conical, said skirt comprising at least one point of inflection (Pi) making it able to assume a first position in which the intermediate zone retains its conical profile and a second position in which the skirt is deformed so that the intermediate zone has a profile conical which differs from that of the first position. Skirt according to the preceding claim, in which the skirt comprises at least two inflection points allowing said skirt to have a greater number of stable positions. Skirt according to one of the preceding claims, in which the peripheral zone has a right-angled shape capable of being fixed to a container. Skirt according to one of Claims 1 or 2, in which the peripheral zone is able to deform elastically in order to be fixed to a container. Skirt according to one of the preceding claims, in which the opening is centred. Skirt according to one of the preceding claims, in which the sheet has a uniform thickness. Skirt according to one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the peripheral zone of the sheet has a greater thickness than that of the intermediate zone. Skirt according to one of the preceding claims, in which the said skirt comprises at least one groove and/or at least one projecting part (24) in order to locally modify the rigidity Skirt according to one of the preceding claims, in which the sheet is made of a material capable of elastically deforming. Skirt according to the preceding claim, in which the material capable of elastically deforming is a plastic, preferably an elastomer. Skirt according to the preceding claim, in which the peripheral zone is made of a first material, the intermediate zone is made of a second material, the first material and the second material being welded together. Skirt according to one of Claims 1 to 11, in which the peripheral zone (21) fits the container. Kit comprising a container closed by a lid and a skirt according to claim 1 to 12, said skirt being capable of replacing the lid. Container comprising a lid, said lid being the skirt according to claim 1 to 12. Container according to the preceding claim, in which the opening of the skirt is closed by a detachable cover. Process for manufacturing a coating or mortar comprising the following steps:

• Provide yourself with an open container in which a load is placed;
• Take the skirt according to one of claims 1 to 12 and attach it to said container to close said container;
• Manipulate, if necessary, the skirt so that, in the first position, the conical profile of the intermediate zone extends towards the bottom of the container, this manipulation consisting of a force applied to said intermediate zone in the direction of the bottom of the container;
• Pour water into the container through the opening in the skirt;
• Mixing the water and the filler to form said coating or mortar;

Process according to the preceding claim further comprising, after the step consisting in mixing the water and the filler, the following steps:

• Manipulate the skirt to pass from the first position to the second position in which the conical profile of the intermediate zone extends in a direction opposite to that of the first position, this manipulation consisting of a force applied to the said intermediate zone according to a direction moving away bottom of container;
• Handle the container for the said coating or mortar.

Method according to claim 16 further comprising, before the step of providing a container, the following steps:

• Provide yourself with a container closed by a lid;
• Remove the lid;
• Filling the container with a charge if said container is empty.