GB2358177A

GB2358177A - Paint trays

Info

Publication number: GB2358177A
Application number: GB0000489A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Stephen West
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-01-12
Filing date: 2000-01-12
Publication date: 2001-07-18
Also published as: GB0000489D0

Abstract

A paint tray comprises a bottom, an end wall 3, side walls 5, and a top 7 which overlies the bottom so as to define a cavity. The bottom has a main planar portion and a dished portion forming a sump 11 in the vicinity of the end wall. Legs 15 having feet 17 are arranged at the other end of the tray. The tray may be supported on the sump and feet with the planar portion of the bottom at a slight inclination. The legs and feet may serve as hooks for supporting the paint tray on a ladder. A handle 13 is provided.

Description

2358177 IMPROVEMENTS IN PAINT TRAYS A wall or ceiling may be painted using

a paint roller loaded with paint from a paint tray. A typical paint tray has a flat, inclined base provided with an end wall and sidewalls so as to form a receptacle for the paint. Disadvantages of a paint tray are that it must be supported on a horizontal surface when in use, so that it may not be readily accessible to a workman using a stepladder, cannot be moved easily from one place to another, and may spill the paint if jogged.

The proposed paint tray shown by way of example in the drawing and described below overcomes these problems.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the proposed paint tray, and Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the proposed tray, showing its use with a paint roller.

Referring to the drawing, a paint tray may be assembled from a sheet metal blank so as to have a bottom 1, an end wall 3, sidewalls 5, and a top 7 extending from the end wall. The top overlies a portion of the bottom nearer the end wall, but leaves the remainder of the bottom uncovered. The sidewalls are shown as extending the length of the top so as to define a roofed cavity with the top and the bottom. It may, however, be preferred for the sidewalls to extend the full length of the bottom. The bottom has a planar portion 9 which extends over the major part of its length, with a dished portion forming a sump I I where the bottom meets the end wall.

The edge of the bottom remote from the end wall 3 is provided with a carrying handle 13 and a pair of legs 15, each of the legs having a foot 17 directed towards the end wall. When placed on a horizontal surface, the sump I I and feet 17 support the tray such that the planar part of the bottom is inclined. The legs and feet may also serve as hooks to enable the tray to be hung from a rung of a ladder. In use, with the tray arranged as shown in Figure 2, a quantity of paint P poured into the tray will collect in the sump. A roller R may be inserted into the cavity formed between the bottom and top and pushed as far as the sump so as to take up the paint. The paint will work into the roller as it is drawn back along the surface of the planar portion of the bottom.

Because the paint is contained within a roofed cavity, the tray may be tilted into an upright position, carried from place to place using the handle, and hung from the rung of a ladder, without spillage. A roller may also be used with the tray in the hanging position. A cover may be provided to seal the mouth of the cavity after use so as to keep paint fresh. A sealed tray may be sold with a quantity of paint in situ, so as to dispense with the need for a separate paint can.

Modifications may be made to the tray described above. For example, the end wall may form a continuation of the curvature of the sump, as shown by broken lines in Figure 2. The sump may be arranged in the planar bottom at a distance from the end wall. Instead of providing a pair of legs, one at each side edge of the tray as shown, the rear edge of the tray may be turned down to form a support, with the exception of a portion 2 which forms the handle. Hooks for hanging the tray from a ladder may be formed by members separate from the feet. The tray may be moulded in one piece from plastics.

3

Claims

1. A paint tray comprising a bottom, end wall and side walls, and a top overlying the bottom so as to define a cavity into which a paint roller may be inserted to take up paint contained within the tray.

2. A paint tray as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom has a planar portion and a dished portion forming a sump, support means being provided remote from the sump, whereby the tray may rest on the sump and support means with the planar portion of the bottom at an angle to the horizontal.

3. A paint tray as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a handle is provided at the end of the bottom remote from the end wall.

4. A paint tray as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein hooks are provided for supporting the paint tray on a ladder.

A paint tray substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the drawings.

4