GB2210850A

GB2210850A - Air excluding paint kettle

Info

Publication number: GB2210850A
Application number: GB8811908A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roland Thurston Snell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-10-10
Filing date: 1988-05-20
Publication date: 1989-06-21
Also published as: GB2210849A; GB8723820D0; GB8811908D0

Abstract

A paint kettle, from which air is expelled and excluded so preventing the formation of skin on the surface of the paint and thus preventing wastage and paint deterioration due to the evaporation of its constituents, comprises a flexible, collapsible bag 2 with a specially shaped diaphragm sealed to its top rim 3 inside a cylindrical kettle 1. The diaphragm has a depression 4 in its centre which serves as a receptacle for the paint being applied by brush. The paint enters the receptacle through a hole 6 in its base after all air has been expelled through a vent 5 at the highest point of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is so shaped that only enough paint for a single brush loading enters the receptacle and when this is taken up by the brush it is immediately replenished by the paint in the main container finding its own level and taking the diaphragm down with it. After use the hole 6 is sealed with a screw stopper after ensuring that all air has been expelled by opening air vent 5 and pressing on the diaphragm until paint appears at the air vent 5. <IMAGE>

Description

2 2 101 d. b0 AIR EXCLUDING PAINT KETTLE This invention relates to an

air-expelling and excluding paint, (Or other material applied by brush) container.

It is well known that much paint and time is wasted because of the formation of skin on the surface of partially used tins of paint, and that paint quality deteriorates after the evaporation of its constituents. It is also well known that much inconvenience is caused by the messy task of skin removal.

According to the present invention skin cannot form on the surface of the paint because air is exluded from it. This is achieved by the use of a flexible., collapsible container inside a cylindrical rigid container to give it support. A diaphragm with a depression in the centre to accept the paint-brush,.w.5..s sealed to the upper rim of the flexible container and is free to move up and down inside the rigid container. At the base of the central depression or receptacle is a threaded hole through which paint passes when pressure is put upon the diaphragm, in this case, air pressure. At the highest point of the diaphragm, that is, between the outer rim of the receptacle and the outer rim of the diaphragm, is situated an air vent..This air vent, which may be opened or closed by hand, is for the' purpose of expelling air from the surface of the paint by exerting hand pressure on the diaphragm. It is closed as soon as paint appears at the vent hole. This operation is carried out while the threaded hole at the base of the central is receptacle has its stopper screwed in place. Thus all air excluded from contact with the paint. When the central stopper is unscrewed from the base of thecentral receptacle, a prescribed amount of paint will enter it as the paint finds its natural level, at the same time pulling the diaphragm down with it because of the vacuum below its surface. This process recurs each time paint is,taken by brush frm the central receptacle, maintaining a constant and adequate level of paint in the receptacle until the entire amount of paint in the main container is used. By raising the diaphragm by hand with the vent open and the central plug removed, the main container may be refilled by pouring the contents of a new tin into the central receptacle.

It is widely appreciated that with the conventional paint-pot and brush, much time and material is lost due to paint hardening in the tin and on the brustiand before a painting task can be started it is ngcessary to remove skin and clean brushes. In the new system of the invention, any painting task however small may be done without any of these inconveniences. Another advantage of the new system of the invention is that the brush may be placed in the central container, instead of being left precariously.balanced on the rim of the paint tin, because in so doing it cannot become overloaded as there is only the correct amount of paint for one loading in the receptacle. The brush may also be left in the paint for rest periods during painting A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a cross- section of the paint kettle of the invention. 1 is the rigid container which serves to support the flexible tube 2 which is cylindrical and sealed at the bottom to a rigid, circular base? and at its top to the diaphragm 3 which is a single plastic moulding incorporating the central receptacle 4 from which paint is taken by brush, and the hand operated airvent 5. The central receptacle has a threaded hole 6 at its base through which paint enters when pressure is placed on the diaphragm, and into which the stopper 7 is screwed during storage. The diaphragm is made to slide easily up and down within the container 1 and is so shaped that when all air has been expelled through the air vent, only enough paint for one brush load will pass through hole 6 when the paint finds its own level after overcoming the inertia involved.

The operation of the new system will now be describedRemove stopper 7 from the threaded hole at the base of receptacle 4. Raise the diaphragm 3 to its highest position. Pour the whole contents of the tin of paint to be used into the central receptacle from which the paint will enter the main container, that is, the flexible bag within the container 2. After all paint has drained from the central receptacle 4. screw in the stopper 7. open air vent 5 and press on the diaphragm 3 until paint appears at the air vent 5. Close the air vent 5. The paint kettle is now loaded ready for use.

To use- Unscrew stopper 7. Paint will now enter the central receptacle and settle at a level below that of the main container. Paint may now be taken by brush from the central receptacle and used in the normal way. The paint taken will now be replenished by paint from the main container 1 as the paint finds its level and takes the diaphragm down with it.

During use, the central receptacle becomes like a small paint tin which always has the same amount of paint in it however much is taken from it. The brush may left in it without any fear of it becoming overloaded. In fact it provides a very convenient place to leave the brush temporarily while some other task is attended to, or a break is taken. It may be left even for days if precaution is taken to cover the area not taken by the brush with an impermeable, flexible material, such as polythene.

The new system of the invention, by avoiding the undesired and inconvenient problems of skin formation and hardening of brushes, transforms painting into a clean and pleasant occupation which can be undertaken without loss of paint or patiencelwith the whole time spent applying paint to surface, be it for five minutes or five hours.

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Claims

I. A paint kettle from which air is excluded from the surface of the paint (or any other material applied by brush) preventing the formation of skin.
2. As in claim 1. but with the added advantage that the paint constituents do not evaporate to cause its deterioration.
3. AS in claims 1 & 2, but withe the added advantage that, because of the. small surface exposure to the atmosphere during painting, the paint remains clean.

1 J Published 1988 at The Patent Office. Stat. House. 6671 High Holborn. London MIC1R 4TP- Puxther copies may be obtained from The Patent Office.