GB2502125A

GB2502125A - A method of mixing paint

Info

Publication number: GB2502125A
Application number: GB1208704.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Charles Havell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-05-17
Filing date: 2012-05-17
Publication date: 2013-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 2032-05-17
Also published as: GB201208704D0; GB2502125B

Abstract

A method of mixing a base paint with a tint to produce a pre-determined colour mix comprises the steps of selecting a pot 10 containing a base paint 18 and having a sealable lid 13, removing the lid 1, adding a measured quantity of tint 20 to the paint 18, placing a cover 25 on the surface of the paint 18 and added tint 20 wherein the cover 25 fits closely to the side wall 11 of the pot 10, refitting the lid 13 to the pot 10 and shaking or vibrating the pot to mix the tint 20 into the paint 18. The cover 25 serves to restrict the deposition of tint 20 on the inner wall 11 of the pot 10 above the at-rest surface of the paint 18 and added tint 20, at least during the initial stage of the mixing. Ideally, the cover is resiliently flexible and formed of an impermeable material. The cover may comprise at least one gripping tab 29.

Description

Paint Mixing This invention relates to a method of mixing a base paint with a tint to achieve a predetermined colour mix. The invention also extends to apparatus for use in such a method.

Many DIY stores and other paint retailers provide computerised mixing machines for tinting and mixing of paints to produce a required colour mix.

Such machines are loaded with a plurality of colour dyes (referred to hereinafter as tints) so that a required colour mix can be produced by introducing selected volumes of the appropriate tints into a base paint. The machines are either pre-programed with a selection of paint mix recipes or include a spectrophotometer to analyse a colour sample and so determine the tints and base paint needed to form a matching colour mix. The machines are designed to match a required colour very closely and are extremely accurate in selecting the tints and amounts required.

In operation, a pot of the base paint is positioned on the machine and the program initiated to introduce the selected tints into the paint pot, as discussed above. The lid of the pot is fitted thereto and the machine is operated to shake or vibrate the contents of the paint pot so as to mix the base paint with the tints.

The paint is then ready for use when the lid is removed again.

After mixing a base paint with tint, using a computerised mixing machine, it has been found that tint residue often accumulates around the inner surface of the side wall of the paint pot containing the base paint, between the at-rest surface of the paint and the lid of the paint pot, and often also on the lid. Since this residue is not mixed fully with the base paint, the required colour cannot be guaranteed. In many cases this is not a problem but, where an exact colour match is needed, further mixing by hand is required and in some cases the addition of yet more tint to the mix. Achieving an exact colour mix in this way can be extremely time consuming and very difficult, particularly where more than one pot of colour is required.

It is a principal aim of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for use in such a method which addresses the above disadvantages to ensure an exact colour match can be achieved without the need subsequently to mix by hand the paint and tint colour mix produced by the mixing machine.

According to this invention, there is provided a method of mixing a base paint with a tint to produce a pre-determined colour mix, the method comprising the steps of: -selecting a pot containing a base paint and having a sealable lid; -removing the lid; -adding a measured quantity of tint to the paint; -positioning a cover on the surface of the paint and added tint, the cover fitting closely to the side wall of the pot; -re-fitting the lid to the pot; -shaking or vibrating the pot to mix the tint into the paint, the cover serving to restrict the deposition of tint on the inner wall of the pot above the at-rest surface of the paint and added tint, at least during the initial stage of the mixing.

It will be appreciated that the method finds particular use in mixing tint with a base paint where the tint is more or less of the same density or less dense than the base paint. In this case, the tint tends to rest on the surface of the base paint. Where the density of the tint is greater than that of the base paint, it will tend to flow into the base paint and thus the problem of residue deposition will not be as great.

Many paint pots have an in-turned rim extending around the opening for engagement by the lid. Where a rim is included, the cover may be resiliently flexible to allow the cover to be progressed past the rim by resilient flexing thereof.

Once the base paint and tint have been mixed fully, the mix is ready tor use. At this point the lid and cover may be removed from the pot. Preferably, the cover is formed from an impermeable material so that the structural integrity may be maintained throughout the mixing process and such that the cover may be re-usable. In this case, after the cover has been removed from the paint pot, the cover can be washed so that it is ready for further use. Alternatively, the cover may be designed for single use only, and so disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner. The cover may be biodegradable so that it will decompose naturally over time.

The step of positioning the cover in the paint pot and subsequently removing the cover may be difficult due to the requirement of the cover being closely fitted to the side wall. To make this step easier to perform, the cover may have a tab projecting therefrom so that the tab may be gripped to enable the cover to be positioned in and removed from the pot. Two, three or even more tabs may be provided to assist with the handling of the cover.

This invention extends to the combination of a paint pot and a cover for positioning within the paint pot for use in the method of this invention as discussed above, the cover being configured to fit closely to the side wall of the pot to allow mixing of base paint and a tint without substantial deposition of the tint on the inner wall of the pot above the at-rest surface of the paint and tint.

The most common paint pots are cylindrical in shape and come in a range of different diameters. Paint pots of other shapes are also available. A variety of differently shaped covers may be available and selected depending on the shape and size of the paint pot.

The cover is ideally configured to fit as closely as possible to the inner side wall of the paint pot while still allowing movement of the cover along the longitudinal axis of the pot. This enables the cover to move within the pot as the base paint and colour are being mixed.

Where the cover is to be used with a paint pot that is substantially cylindrical, the cover will preferably have a substantially circular outer periphery.

In this way, the circular outer periphery may fit snugly against the cylindrical inner wall of the paint pot.

By way of example only, one specific method of this invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a paint pot for use with a cover of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a cover for use when mixing tint with paint contained in the pot of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the paint pot with the lid removed; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing tint being added to the paint pot; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the paint pot with the cover arranged for positioning in the pot and the lid arranged for re-fitting on the pot; and Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view through line A-A of the paint pot of Figure 5 with the lid secured.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3 to 6, there is shown a conventional paint pot having a cylindrical side wall 11, a circular base 12 and a detachable lid 13.

The paint pot 10 has an opening 14 opposite the base 12. The opening 14 is defined by an in-turned rim 15 which extends around the top of the cylindrical side wall 11. The rim 15 serves to engage the lid 13 in a press-fitting arrangement and secure the lid 13 to the paint pot 10. The paint pot 10 is supplied containing paint 18 and with the lid 13 fitted to the rim 15 to maintain the paint 18 within the pot 10. The paint 18 is filled to a level such that a gap 19 is provided between the surface of the paint 18 within the pot and the lid 13.

This gap 19 enables the paint 18 to be mixed easily and also allows a tint 20 to be added if required. Two opposed connectors 21 are provided on the side wall 11 of the paint pot 10 for engagement by a handle 22 in a rotatable manner so that the position of the handle 22 relative to the paint pot 10 may be adjusted.

Each of the above pads of a paint pot is entirely conventional, though it will be appreciated that the method described herein may be used with paint pots which are not cylindrical in shape and such use will not detract from the scope of the invention.

A cover 25, as shown in Figure 2, is sheet-like, being generally circular with substantially flat upper 26 and lower 27 surfaces, and a relatively short cylindrical side surface 28. The cover 25 is configured to be received in the paint pot 10 through the circular opening 14, so that the side surface 28 is in close contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical side wall 11 and so that the lower surface 27 may rest on the surface of paint 18 contained in the paint pot 10. The cover 25 is configured for movement along the longitudinal axis of the paint pot 10. The cover 25 is resiliently flexible to assist positioning in and removal from a paint pot 10.

A tab 29 is provided on the cover 25 and projects from the upper surface 26. Though not shown in the drawings, the tab 29 could instead project from the side surface 28 of the cover 25. The tab 29 serves as a grip for a user, enabling the cover 25 to be easily positioned in and pulled out of the paint pot 10. More than one tab 29 may be provided on the cover 25 for ease of use.

The method of this invention is particularly suitable for use with computerised paint mixing machines 32. Computerised paint mixing machines 32 are loaded with the tint 20 necessary to form a chosen colour mix with a base paint 18. These machines 32 are either pre-programed with a selection of paint mix recipes or include a spectrophotometer to determine, based on a sample, the tints and base paint needed to form the required colour. A method of mixing a base paint 18 with a tint 20 using the present invention will now be described.

A paint pot 10 containing a base paint 18 is selected along with the tints necessary to form the required colour mix. Where a computerised mixing machine 32 is used, the machine 32 is set up with the selected tints 20. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the lid 13 of the paint pot lOis removed and the paint pot 10 is then placed on the tinting compartment 33 of the machine for automatic delivery of the tints 20 into the paint pot 10. Where the tint 20 is of a lower density than the base paint 18, the tint 20 will mostly lie on the surface of the base paint 18 rather than flow into the paint. Once the tint 20 has been added fully to the paint pot 10, the cover 25 may be positioned in the pot 10. To achieve this, the tab 29 on the cover 25 is gripped and the cover 25 is flexed so that it can pass through the opening 14, past the rim 15. The cover 25 is then carefully positioned so that the lower surface 27 rests on the surface of the tint 20. The lid 13 is then re-fitted to the paint pot 10. Next, the paint pot 10 is placed into the mixing compartment 34 of the machine 32 and the machine operated to hold the pot 10 using clamping mechanisms 35. The machine 32 is operated so that the clamping mechanisms 35 vibrate the paint pot 10. This vibration enables the base paint 18 to mix with the tint 20.

During the mixing process, the cover 25 restricts the tint 20 from depositing around the inner surface of the side wall 11 of the paint pot 10, around the region of the gap 19, so that the tint 20 may be mixed fully with the base paint 18. In this way, an exact colour match can be guaranteed. Once fully mixed, the lid 13 of the paint pot 10 is opened and the cover 25 removed by gripping the tab 29 and pulling the cover 25. The cover must be flexed to allow itto pass through the opening 14 in the paint pot 10. Once removed, the cover 25 can be washed and re-used or simply thrown away.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method of mixing a base paint with a tint to produce a pre-determined colour mix, the method comprising the steps of: -selecting a pot containing a base paint and having a sealable lid; -removing the lid; -adding a measured quantity of tint to the paint; -positioning a cover on the surface of the paint and added tint, the cover fitting closely to the side wall of the pot; -re-fitting the lid to the pot; -shaking or vibrating the pot to mix the tint into the paint, the cover serving to restrict the deposition of tint on the inner wall of the pot above the at-rest surface of the paint and added tint, at least during the initial stage of the mixing.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the paint pot has a rim for engaging the lid and the cover is progressed past the rim by resilient flexing thereof.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, and further comprising the subsequent steps of removing the lid and cover from the pot and washing the cover for re-use.
4. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, and in which the cover has a tab projecting therefrom and the tab is gripped to enable the cover to be positioned in and removed from the pot.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
6. The combination of a paint pot and a cover for positioning within the paint pot for use in the method of any of claims 1 to 5, the cover being configured to fit closely to the side wall of the pot to allow mixing of base paint and a tint without substantial deposition of the tint on the inner wall of the pot above the at-rest surface of the paint and tint.
7. The combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cover is resiliently flexible.
8. The combination as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, and further comprising at least one gripping tab extending from a surface of the cover.
9. The combination as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the cover is formed from an impermeable material.
10. The combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein the material is biodegradable.
11. The combination as claimed in any of claims 6 to 10, wherein the cover has a substantially circular outer periphery.
12. The combination as claimed in claim 6 and substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.