GB2501264A

GB2501264A - Tubular container with a lid fitted with a stirring device

Info

Publication number: GB2501264A
Application number: GB1206712.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Subash Vasudevan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-04-16
Filing date: 2012-04-16
Publication date: 2013-10-23
Also published as: GB201206712D0

Abstract

A tubular container, suitable for viscous substances, comprises a body 8 with a lid 2 which has a displaceable and rotatable mixer handle 4 connected to a spindle 7. The spindle 7 passes into the body 8, and provides an attachment point for a number of mixing paddles 6. The container may be fitted with a handgrip 1. The lid 2 is equipped with a sealable exit 10 which may be closed with a plug 3 which is fitted to the handle 4 in association with the handle grip 5. The handle 2 is hinged so that in use it may be folded up into a working position, or folded down into a stored position when the sealable plug 3 engages with the exit 10. The mixing paddles 6 may have at least one lacuna 9 to ease passage of the paddle through the material during the stirring process.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION

OF

SUBASH VASUDEVAN

FOR

A TUBULAR CONTAINER

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tubular container; more particularly a tubular container for viscous substances, such as paint or varnish.

Background

As property prices in many countries increase due to over population and other pressures, many homeowners, and owners of commercial properties, are increasingly looking to improve the properties rather than move.

A large part of the process of improving property involves improvement work such as decorating.

Painting in particular can be a lengthy, messy and time-consuming job. The right utensils must be used and the correct application and treatment of surfaces and materials is paramount.

In particular invariably paint typically needs a large amount of stirring to achieve consistency of colour and finish, after settling in storage and transit. Stirring the paint is time consuming and typically requires a long utensil that will need cleaning after stirring. The paint typically gets spilled in these situations, obscuring the paint pot outer frequently, and forming a large amount of mess.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed and granted in the past in an effort to deal with this problem or similar, including the following: Granted United States patent US 7 686 168 (SMILEY), discloses a container comprising: a side wall having a top, a middle and a bottom, the side wall forming a containing portion, the top having an opening to the containing portion, the side wall having a recess adjacent to the bottom; a bottom wall, the containing portion extending from the bottom wall to the opening; a top handle adjacent to the top of the side wall; and a recess handle extending from the bottom of the side wall to the middle of the side wall adjacent to the recess, the recess handle having a hanging hook.

Granted French patent FR 2 885 842 (FILLON) discloses a cover, preferably a measuring stirring apparatus, for closing a can, such as a paint can, equipped with an internal, radially peripheral rim that is generally close to its opening, whereby said cover comprises at least two rotary cam levers, spring-loaded, and axially movable by so-called complementary surfaces, respectively borne by the cover and the cam lever, working together during the driving in rotation of the levers to pass from a closed position of the cover, in which the cam rests under the rim of the can, to an open position, in which the cam is released from said rim, whereby the axial movement of the lever in the direction in which the cam is removed from the cover causes a compression of the spring, characterized in that the so-called complementary surfaces are shaped to have at least one zone of less stress on the spring corresponding to the open position of the cover for the purpose of preventing any premature wear on the cover and fatigue of the plastic parts.

Granted French patent FR 2 882 299 (KRZYWDZIAK) discloses a stirring device for mounting on a measuring-out lid that has a central orifice and that can be adapted to a cylindrical paint pot having a top opening, characterised in that it is composed of two parts in different plastic materials, joined together by means of an assembly system, the first part being a modifiable, interchangeable drive system mounted to rotate in the central orifice, and the second part being a stirring system of the shaft and stirrer-blade type that can be adapted to the size of the pot and with at least one stirrer blade.

Granted European patent EP 1 510 363 (KRZYWDZIAK et al) discloses a cover assembly for a paint can having a tubular cylindrical sidewall, an open top and an outwardly protruding rim around the open top, the rim having a downwardly facing annular surface, said cover assembly comprising: a lid dimensioned to overlie the open top of the paint can, said lid having a spout, means for attaching said lid to the paint can, said attaching means comprising at least two spaced apart resilient locking tabs which automatically engage the downwardly facing annular surface of the rim as said lid is positioned onto said top of the paint can.

Granted United States patent US 6 634 785 (FRENCH) discloses a mixer assembly comprising: a container having a closed sidewall, a closed bottom and a rim forming an open top, said container adapted to contain a product to be mixed, a cover adapted to overlie said open top of said container, means for detachably securing said cover to said container rim, a tubular conduit attached to said cover so that opposite ends of said conduit are open to opposite sides of said cover, a stirrer assembly having a driven shaft and an agitator secured to one end of said shaft, said shaft extending through said conduit when said agitator is positioned in said container.

Granted European patent EP 1 808 224 (KING) discloses a mixing structure comprising: a shaft extending along an axis; a support mounted to said shaft for rotation with said shaft; and a number of vanes mounted for rotation with said support and extending outwardly from said support, said vanes having a length and a width, said length greater than said width, said vanes having an inner edge and an outer edge, said vanes having a first end and a second end, said first ends of said vanes arranged in a generally circular configuration and said second ends of said vanes arranged in a generally circular configuration, said vanes generally defining at least a portion of an interior area of said mixing structure, said vanes being curved between their inner and outer edges, each vane curving inwardly from its outer edge towards said interior area and said axis to its inner edge, said vanes spaced apart from one another and defining curved openings there between through which fluid may flow, said vanes having a width between their inner and outer edges, the width of one or more of said vanes at said second end exceeding the width at the first end.

Granted European patent EP 1 161 295 (ROGERS et al) discloses a mixing apparatus which includes: a liquid container having a bottom wall and a side wall; and a mixing device having a generally planar mixing head disposed substantially parallel to said bottom wall, and a limb which extends substantially perpendicularly from the mixing head with reciprocating means located above the container for moving the mixing head up and down in the container; characterised in that the limb is secured to a peripheral edge region of the head adjacent to the side wall of the container; the reciprocating means is coupled to the limb by releasable connection means; and said releasable connection means is located within the container.

Granted European patent EP 0 825 930 (DESINANO) discloses a mixing cover, specifically designed for paint vessels, comprising a plate element which can be tightly coupled to a vessel, and rotatably supporting a mixing screw element, characterized in that said mixing cover further comprises, on a delivery spout thereof, a shutter element adapted to provide a partial opening by sliding across said spout and a full opening by tilting said shutter element.

In contrast the present invention provides a multiple use mixing all-in-one apparatus, storage and transport container that effectively mixes paint and may be used in replacement of a standard paint pot and furthermore allows easy pouring of mixed paint and easy cleaning.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a tubular container for viscous substances, with a lid and body, wherein the lid has a displaceable and rotatable mixer handle connected to a spindle that passes into the body, and the lid is equipped with a sealable exit.

In preferred embodiments the substance is paint or varnish, and at least part of the container is formed in a transparent plastic.

Transparent or translucent plastic is preferable at least for the container's side wall, in order that a user is able to monitor the container's contents and review how well-mixed the material is.

The lid is preferably detachable by provision of a screw thread to the lid and body.

Further embodiments may have a hinge opening or clip fit such as reliant upon a resiliently deformable seal. Others may have a combination of these features as is appropriate.

The preferred embodiment of the container has a hinged handgrip for a user to carry the container. This handgrip typically extends a chord across the container diameter.

Preferably it is rotably hinged at two opposing points of the container or lid, such that the handgrip may be rotated up for container carrying usage and rotated down for storage, or when the mixing handle is in use. Ideally therefore when the handgrip is rotated down, or otherwise in a storage position, it does not interfere with the handle usage.

According to a second aspect of the present invention the exit may be sealed by a plug. The plug may be located on a member that is movable with respect to the lid, for example being hinged such that the plug may be removed from the exit by folding back the member wherein the member is hinged in relation to the lid.

Further embodiments may have sprung members or pop-out members, such as where wherein a resiliently deformable pad is incorporated. Yet further embodiments may have further mechanisms for displacing the member.

This plug ideally seals the exit thoroughly and with a watertight seal, and accordingly some part of the plug may be resiliently deformable, being provided in plastic, rubber or elastomer, typically wherein said part is interfaced in use with the lid exit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention the spindle provides an attachment point for at least one mixing paddle.

Preferably a plurality of paddles are provided on the spindle, wherein each paddle is wide and elongate and has at least one lacuna to ease passage of the paddle through the material, and the rotation of the spindle and handle.

Further embodiments may have at least one elongate flexible paddle, either as a sole embodiment of paddle, or in combination. A flexible paddle may be combined with rigid paddles in order to provide countering agitation.

Yet further embodiments may have secondary spindles or paddles, disposed to focus mixing motions on the body base or side wall, or lid.

In preferred embodiments the spindle is centrally located in the tubular in order that the spindle rotates centrally turning the paddles to describe a centrally located circular mixing motion. This motion ideally mirrors the internal dimensions of the body. Further embodiments may describe ovals or lemniscates.

Typically the paddles are disposed about the spindle to ensure that the container's contents are thoroughly and exhaustively mixed. It is envisaged that two sets of two orthogonal paddles are prelerable but any combination of paddles, paddle spacing and paddle attitude as devised to be more effective is possible.

Typically the paddles are provided in a rigid material in order that heavily viscous substances are not inclined to break the paddle(s). For example metal paddles may be utilised, or carbon fibre or stiff plastic.

A plurality of lacunee are preferably provided on the paddle in order that a proportion of the substance may be passed through the paddle and/or agitated. For this reason although the preferred embodiment of the paddle has simple circular horizontal pass through lacunae, other embodiments may have lacunae which are disposed to describe sinuous lines, diversion or agitation of the substance as it passes through the paddle.

For example lacunae may be larger to one side of the paddle than the other, or lacunae may be for example stelliform or pentagonal.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore. the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the container; Figure 2 shows a second isometric view of the preferred embodiment; Figure 3 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment; And Figure 4 shows a top view of the preferred embodiment.

Detailed Description of Figures

The pictured and preferred embodiment has the following parts: Polypropylene handgrip (1); Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) lid (2); Rubber sealant plug (3); Hinged ABS mixing handle (4); ABS mixing handle grip (5); Polypropylene mixing paddles (6); Mixing spindle (7); Translucent polypropylene body (8); A plurality of lacunae (9). And

An exit (10).

In user therefore the user pulls out mixing handle 4 and folds back into position against the lid 2. The user then rotates the mixing handle 360 degrees by turning the grip 5 to mix the paint inside the body 8.

Once mixed to the user's preference, they then hold the container by the handgrip 1 and pour the paint from the exit 10.

Once the user has finished with the container, they return the handle 4 to its original position to shut the paint pot and create an air tight seal as the grip 5 fits into the exit and the sealant plug 3 closes the exit 10.

Claims

Claims 1. A tubular container for viscous substances, with a lid and body, wherein the lid has a displaceable and rotatable mixer handle connected to a spindle that passes into the body, and the lid is equipped with a sealable exit.
2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the exit may be sealed by a plug.
3. A container according to claim 2 wherein the plug is located on a member that is movable with respect to the lid.
4. A container according to claim 3 wherein the member is hinged such that the plug may be removed from the exit by folding back the member.
5. A container according to claim 3 wherein the member is hinged such that the plug may be removed from the exit by springing out the member.
6. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the spindle provides an attachment point for at least one mixing paddle
7. A container according to any claim 5 wherein the spindle has two sets of two orthogonal paddles.