GB2287449A

GB2287449A - Paint kettle with handle

Info

Publication number: GB2287449A
Application number: GB9416993A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norman Harry Connah
Original assignee: CONNAH MICHAEL
Current assignee: CONNAH MICHAEL
Priority date: 1994-03-17
Filing date: 1994-08-23
Publication date: 1995-09-20
Also published as: GB9405241D0; GB9416993D0

Abstract

A paint kettle comprises a paint holding base 22 and a top handle 26, the base and the handle being connected together by side walls and there being an opening 29 in one side wall through which a paint brush may pass to reach the paint in the base. The handle may be a carrying handle (figure 1) or a hooked portion for mounting the kettle on a rung of a ladder. A hook 34 may be provided for supporting the brush head and/or a holder 36 may be attached to the internal surface of a side wall. One kettle may fit at least partly within another similar kettle and two kettles may be joined together side by side as a unitary article (figures 3 and 9). <IMAGE>

Description

PAINT KETTLE Field of the Invention The present invention relates to paint kettles.

Background to the Invention Paint for "do it yourself" purposes can be purchased in pots and trays. In either case, the paint can be applied directly from the pot or tray. However, it is often desirable to transfer the paint to a paint kettle for ease of handling before application. Typically, these kettles comprise buckets with looped handles over the openings in their tops.

In use, these known paint kettles suffer from several disadvantages. To carry the kettles, for instance up a ladder, it is necessary to use the handle and, when applying paint, this means that both hands are required: one for the paint kettle and one for the brush. Not only does this make the painter less stable on the ladder, but it means that it can be very awkward to reach for anything else (eg a rag) or to transfer the paint brush from one hand to the other. Furthermore, in use, the paint kettle handle tends to get in the way of the paint brush as it enters and leaves the bucket of the kettle in which the paint is held. This can cause further imbalance to a painter on a ladder or result in the painters' hands being covered in paint.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or alleviate at least one of the disadvantages encountered in the prior art.

Summarv of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a paint kettle comprising a paint holding base and a handle, the base and the handle being connected together, and in which there is an opening in another side wall of the kettle through which a paint brush may pass to reach the paint holding base.

Such a paint kettle has the advantage that it can provide a large hole through which a paint brush can be inserted into the kettle which is far more convenient for the user.

Conveniently, the base and the handle are connected together by a substantially rigid side wall.

Preferably, the handle comprises a carrying handle.

Preferably the handle comprises means for mounting the kettle on a rung of a ladder. Conveniently the mounting means may comprise a hooked portion which can engage the rung. Normally the mounting means will be over the centre of gravity of the kettle to keep it level on a rung.

Preferably the handle projects no more than half way along the base of the paint kettle, which allows the opening to be as large as possible.

Advantageously, there is also provided a paint brush holder forming part of the kettle. The paint brush holder may comprise an L-shaped supporting arm into which the head of the brush may be inserted. Conveniently the paint brush holder is on the inside of the kettle on a side wall.

By providing both means for mounting the kettle on the rung of a ladder and a paint brush holder safety is enhanced considerably. No more than one hand need be in use when climbing or descending the ladder or when painting.

Suitably, the kettle may additionally comprise means for connecting the kettle to a second kettle in a side by side relationship. In this way, two different types of paints, or colours of paints can be carried up a ladder and used conveniently by a painter.

Advantageously, one kettle can fit at least partly within another similar kettle to cut down on the storage space required for bulk handling.

Suitably, there are two paint kettles of the type described above joined together to form a unitary article.

Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings that follow; in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a paint kettle in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic front view of the paint kettle shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic front view of two paint kettles joined together, each paint kettle being substantially as shown as in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a side view of a paint kettle in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a front view of the paint kettle shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a front view of the paint kettle shown in Figures 4 and 5 in use.

Figure 7 is a cut-away side view of the paint kettle shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a cut-away side view of the paint kettle shown in Figures 4 and 5 in use in a different way.

Figure 9 is a front-view of a pair of paint kettles shown in Figures 4 and 5 in use.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings that follow, there is shown a paint kettle 2 comprising a paint holding base 4 and a handle 6. Between the handle 6 and the base 4 is a substantially rigid side wall 8.

The base 4 comprises a bottom 7 and truncated bucket 9 of substantially rectangular cross section. The handle 6 comprises a hollow carrying handle 10 and a hooked portion 12. The carrying handle 10 extends for just under onehalf of the overall length of the base 4 of the paint kettle 2. The hooked portion 12 comprises a hook shaped element 13 in either side of the handle 6. It is to be noted that when on a rung, the top of the hook shaped element 13 is over the centre of gravity of the kettle 2 to keep it level.

The rigid side wall 8 connect the base 4 to the handle 6.

The side wall 8 can extend at least partly into another side of the paint kettle 2 to increase the rigidity of the side wall 8. In the side of the paint kettle 2 there is an opening 5 into which may be inserted a paint brush (not shown).

On the inside of the rigid side wall 8 is a paint brush holder 14 which comprises a resiliently flexible L-shaped member attached (integrally or by a glue or clip) to the side wall 8. The head of a paint brush can be inserted into the holder 14 so that the painter has somewhere to put the brush when not in use. Thus, for instance, on a ladder a painter can have both hands free by hooking the kettle 2 onto a rung using the hooked portion 12, and by inserting the paint brush into the holder 14.

A paint kettle 2 can be inserted at least partly into another similar paint kettle 2 by inserting the handle 6 of one kettle 2 into the opening 5 of the other.

The paint kettle 2 may be produced from a plastics material, such as polypropylene. The material needs to be impervious to oil based paint and to turpentine.

Currently, it is believed that the product will be manufactured by injection moulding.

Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings that follow there are shown two paint kettles 2 substantially as described above. The paint kettles 2 are connected so that a painter can, for instance, carry up a ladder two different types or colours of paint. In Figure 3 it can be seen that the paint kettles 2 are connected by a carrying band 16 looped around the carrying handles 10.

It would be possible for the paint kettles 2 additionally to be joined by a stud or clip on their side walls 8 which bear against each other for additional security. However, it is to be noted that when using the carrying handle 10 or band 16, the weight of paint in the bases 4 helps to hold the paint kettles 2 together.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings that follow, there is shown a second embodiment of the present invention. In Figures 4 and 5 there is shown a paint kettle 20 comprising a paint holding base 22 connected by rigid side walls 24 to handle 26.

The base 22 and side walls 24 comprises a bucket 28 into which paint may be deposited and stored through opening 29. Extending from the base 22 are side walls 24 and an inclined rear wall 30. The walls 24, 30 end in the handle 26 which comprises a hook-shaped element 32.

At approximately the height of the handle, along the rear wall 30 are three brush hooks 34.

Substantially inside the bucket 28 mounted on a side wall 24 is a generally L-shaped brush holder 36.

As shown in Figures 6-8 of the drawings that follow, when in use the bucket 28 forms a paint reservoir for the kettle 20. A brush (or brushes) 38 can be stored in the kettle 20 on a brush hook 34 (Figures 6 and 7) or in the paint brush holder 36 (Figure 8).

The location of the hook-shaped element 32 is directly above the centre of gravity of the kettle 20 so that, in use, the hook 32 can be placed over the rung of a ladder to safely hold the kettle 20. Further, the hook-shaped element 32 can be used as a carrying handle.

Thus, a plurality of brushes 38 can, if desired be carried in the kettle 20.

Referring now to Figure 9 of the drawings that follow, there is shown a double kettle 40 which comprises two of the kettles 20 of the second embodiment joined together.

The kettles 20 may be joined temporarily, by a band or fixing stud for instance, or permanently and sold as a double unit. Such a unit has the advantage that two types or colours of paint can be carried. Further, the paint brush 38 hung on a hook 34 above the paint not in use acts as a deterrent to any inadvertent use of this paint.

Alternatively, various items such as. painting aids, sand paper, rags, a scraper and other small tools may be carried in the second of the two kettles 20.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1 A paint kettle comprising a paint holding base and a handle, the base and the handle being connected together, and in which there is an opening in another side wall of the kettle through which a paint brush may pass to reach the paint holding base.

2 A paint kettle according to Claim 1 in which the base and the handle are connected together by a substantially rigid side wall.

3 A paint kettle according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the handle comprises a carrying handle.

4 A paint kettle according to any preceding Claim, in which the handle comprises means for mounting the kettle on a rung of a ladder.

5 A paint kettle according to Claim 4, in which the mounting means comprise a hooked portion which can engage the rung.

6 A paint kettle according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which the mounting means is over the centre of gravity of the kettle.

7 A paint kettle according to any preceding Claim, in which the handle projects no more than half way along the base of the paint kettle.

8 A paint kettle according to any preceding Claim, in which there is also provided a paint brush holder forming part of the kettle.

9 A paint kettle according to Claim 8, in which the paint brush holder comprises an L-shaped supporting arm into which the head of the brush may be inserted.

10 A paint kettle according to Claim 8 or Claim 9, in which the paint brush holder is on the inside of the kettle.

11 A paint kettle according to Claim 8, in which the paint brush holder comprises a hook for carrying the handle of the paint brush.

12 A paint kettle according to any one of Claims 8 to 11, in which there are a plurality of paint brush holders.

13 A paint kettle-according to any preceding Claim, in which the kettle additionally comprises means for connecting the kettle to a second kettle in a side by side relationship.

14 A paint kettle according to any preceding Claim, in which one kettle can fit at least partly within another similar kettle.

15 A paint kettle according to any preceding Claims, in which there are two kettles joined together as a unitary article.

16 A paint kettle substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3, or Figures 4-8 or Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.