GB2521642A - A device for holding a reservoir of paint and for use in conjunction with a paint applicator - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for holding a reservoir of paint and for use in conjunction with a paint applicator such as a roller is disclosed. The device 10 has a paint receiving portion 24 for receiving and retaining a volume of paint and an attachment device 20 for attaching a connector to a belt 18 from which the device is suspended. There is also a paint manipulating surface 30 which, when said body 16 is suspended from the belt, extends substantially vertically from the paint receiving portion 24. The device 10 may be provided with a removable rubberised liner (36, Fig.4), a lid (42, Fig.5) and a paint applicator holder (46, Fig.8).

Description

A Device for Holding a Reservoir of Paint and for Use in Conjunction with a Paint Applicator The present invention relates to a device for holding a reservoir of paint and for use in conjunction with a paint applicator and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to a paint tray for use in painting and decorating when using a roller type paint applicator.

The use of a roller to apply paint to a surface is well known and it is also commonplace to use a tray to hold a reservoir of paint and to manipulate the paint so as to produce an even layer on the roller which in turn transfers an even layer of paint to the service being painted. Such trays typically have a recess portion that can contain a reservoir of paint and a paint manipulating surface onto which an operator transfers a small volume of paint and then rolls the roller on this paint manipulating surface to obtain the even spread of paint on the roller.

The use of a tray and roller of this type has the disadvantage that its operation requires the constant use of at least one of the operator's hands. When simply holding the tray and roller this requires at least one hand holding the tray even if the roller is rested thereon. Furthermore, when an operator is applying paint to a wall this requires one hand to hold the tray and the other to hold and use the roller. This is a particular problem when an operator is working at a height off the ground, for example on a ladder, since when they are climbing the ladder one hand must hold the tray and roller leaving only one hand free to assist with the climb. Once the operator is in position they must balance on the ladder without using either hand for support as one hand must hold the tray whilst the other uses the roller.

Systems that attempt to overcome these problems generally utilise fixing the tray to the ladder or hanging it therefrom. Such solutions do not resolve the problem of one hand being required to carry the tray when climbing a ladder and also restrict the operator's movement where they are, for example, working on a platform.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome the above described disadvantages of the prior art.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for holding a reservoir of paint and for use in conjunction with a paint applicator, the device comprising a body having:-a paint receiving portion for receiving and retaining a volume of paint therein; an attachment device for attaching a suspension device to said body; and a paint manipulating surface which, when said body is suspended from said attachment device, extends substantially vertically from said paint receiving portion.

By providing a paint holder that has a paint manipulating surface extending substantially vertically from a paint receiving portion and can be suspended, for example from a belt, the advantage is provided that an operator can carry around a working quantity of paint without having to hold a paint tray in their hand. As a result, they can apply paint to a surface, in the way that was previously possible with trays of the prior art by rolling some paint from the paint reservoir onto the paint manipulating surface whilst keeping one hand free to, for example, help maintain balance when working on a ladder or platform. Furthermore, when the operator is climbing a ladder the roller can be placed into the device allowing the paint and roller to be carried whilst maintaining both hands free to assist with climbing the ladder.

In a preferred embodiment the paint manipulating surface extends between sent paint receiving portion and said attachment device.

By suspending the body of the device from adjacent the top of the paint manipulating surface and having the paint receiving portion at the other end of the paint manipulating surface, the advantage is provided that the body of the device can be easily suspended, for example from a belt, and can assist in maintaining the stability of the body of the device. This stability is achieved because the vast majority of the weight of the combination of the body of the device and paint is located in the paint receiving portion thereby making the centre of gravity of the body of the device very close to the bottom of the paint receiving portion. As a result, paint is extremely unlikely to accidentally tip out of the paint receiving portion.

In another preferred embodiment the paint receiving portion has a depth, measured when said body is suspended from said attachment device, which is greater than at least one of its width and length.

The device may further comprise a lining, formed from a rubberised material, and adapted to substantially cover internal surfaces of said paint receiving portion and said paint manipulating surface.

By using a lining, formed from a rubberised material, the advantage is provided that the device can be easily cleaned. Any paint that does dry on the rubberised lining can be easily flaked off and washing of the lining is easily achieved by turning it inside out.

The device may also further comprise at least one suspension device comprising at least one belt to be worn by an operator and for suspending said body therefrom.

The device may further comprise at least one connector for connecting said attachment device to said belt.

By providing a connector for connecting the attachment device to a belt, the advantage is provided that the device is able to swing under the influence of gravity. As a result, when an operator bends over or moves in any other way that causes a tilting of the pelvis, around which the belt is attached, the weight of the device, and the paint contained therein, keeps the device upright and reduces the chances of the paint spilling. This is particularly important forless viscous paints such as undercoats.

The device may also further comprise at least one lid for enclosing the opening formed between edges of said paint receiving portion and said paint manipulating surface.

The device may further comprise at least one paint applicator holder for suspending a paint applicator over said paint receiving portion.

In a preferred embodiment the holder comprises an extension member having an aperture therein and a cutaway portion allowing access to said aperture.

In another preferred embodiment the holder further comprises a plurality of at least partially flexible support members extending radially inwards of said aperture.

By providing a holder for the paint applicator the advantage is provided that an applicator, such as a roller, can be stably retained within the device ensuring that it does not fall out when the operator is, for example, climbing a ladder. Furthermore, by providing a cutaway portion to an aperture and flexible support members the advantage is provided that the holder is able to accommodate various different types of applicator. For example, different sized rollers as well as paintbrushes can all be securely retained.

A holder of this type can be formed by injection moulding and allows the body and holder to be formed as a single component in the injection moulding tool.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for applying paint to a surface, the apparatus comprising:-a device according to any one of the preceding claims; and at least one paint applicator for applying paint to a surface.

The least one said paint applicator may comprise a roller or a brush.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and not in any limitative sense, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device of the present invention; Figures 2 and 3 are front and side views of a body portion of the device of figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the body portion of figures 2 and 3 together with a liner component used in the present invention; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the body portion of figures 2 and 3 together with a lid component used in the present invention; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the body portion of figures 2 and 3 together with a paint applicator device used in the present invention; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a body portion of another embodiment of the present invention together with a paint applicator device used in the present invention; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of a part of the body portion of figures 2 and 3.

Referring to figures 1 to 3, a device 10 for holding a reservoir of paint (not shown) is provided for use in conjunction with a paint applicator, for example a roller (indicated at 12 and 14 on figures 6 and 7) . The device 10 has a body 16 which is suspended from a belt 18 that is designed to be worn around the waist of an operator. The body 16 of the device is joined to the belt 18 via a connecting belt 20. The body 16 has an attachment device to which the connecting belt 2C attaches. In the embodiment shown the attachment device is in the form of a slot shaped aperture 22 formed in body 16.

The body 16 also has a paint receiving portion 24 which is provided to receive and retain a volume of paint. The device shown in figures 1 and 6 is designed for use with a standard roller and has a length (indicated on figure 2 as L) that is slightly longer than the roller to be used. The paint receiving portion 24 tapers from an opening end 26 towards the base 28. The width of the paint receiving portion 24 at base 28 (indicated on figure 3 as W1) is a little larger than the diameter of a roller for which the device 10 is designed to be used. The width of the opening end 26 (indicated on figure 3 as W2) is larger than the width W' to facilitate easy access for the roller into the paint receiving portion 24. The depth (indicated on figures 2 and 3 as D) is greater than W' and is generally greater than W2. This greater depth than width of the paint receiving portion 24 helps to ensure that a sufficient volume of paint can be contained within the paint receiving portion 24 whilst preventing the paint from accidentally slopping out of the device.

The body portion 16 also has a paint manipulating surface 30 that is formed as part of a rear wall 32 that extends from the base 28 of paint receiving portion 24 and ends adjacent the slot shaped aperture 22. The paint manipulating surface 30 has a pattern of protrusions 34 formed thereon and is provided to allow the operator to gather paint on the roller from the paint receiving portion 24 and distributed evenly over the outer surface of the roller, in preparation for applying to a surface, by rolling the paint covered roller against the surface 30, in a way familiar to persons skilled in the art and used in trays of the prior art. As can be clearly seen in figure 3 the rear wall 32, and therefore the paint manipulating surface 30, are curved slightly inwards towards the paint receiving portion 24. This assists with the comfort of the device, as it is worn by an operator and rests, most applications that lake, and also assists with the stability of the device when in use. It will be noted that the paint manipulating surface 30 extends into the paint receiving portion 24 and therefore forms part of the rear wall of the paint receiving portion.

Referring to figure 4, the device 10 is preferably provided with a liner 36 that is designed to fit within the body portion 16 and engage the inner surfaces of paint receiving portion 24 and paint manipulating surface 30. A lip 38 is preferably provided around the outer edge of liner 36 so as to engage the equivalent edge, indicated at 40, of body portion 16 and 2 thereby assist in retaining the liner 36 in engagement with the body portion 16. The liner 36 is preferably formed from a rubberised material and most preferably from a silicone rubberised material because of its strength. The rubberised material makes cleaning of the liner much easier than the rigid body portion 16 since the liner can be manipulated to flake off dried paint and can be turned inside out to make removal of wet paint much easier.

Referring to figure 5, the device is also preferably provided with a lid 42 that extends around and covers the edge 40 of body portion 16 thereby substantially sealing the body portion. This lid 42 can be used to temporarily seal the paint receiving portion 24 so that paint that is temporarily not in use does not immediately dry. The lid 42 can also be used in packaging the device 10. In the embodiment shown in figure 5 a protrusion 44 is provided in the lid to accommodate the handle of a roller 12 that is preferably sold in conjunction with the device 10.

Referring to figures 6 and 7, figure 7 shows an alternative body portion 16 that is designed to be used with a smaller roller 14, which is one where the length of the roller is less than the roller 12. As a result, the length of the paint receiving portion 24 in the body portion shown in figure 7 is less than that shown in the preceding figures.

Referring to figure 8, the device may also have an applicator holder, generally indicated at 46, for holding and suspending a paint applicator, roller or brush, over the paint receiving portion 24. The holder 46 has an aperture 48 formed in a holder body 50 that is formed as part of the body 16 in an injection moulding process. When formed, the body portion 16 and holder 46 are joined by a so called live hinge with the holder 46 extending backwards from rear wall 32 in the opposite direction to that shown in all of the figures. The hinge allows the holder 46 to be folded into the position shown in figures and locks into position. As a result, the aperture 22 is formed both in the edge of wall 32 and holder 46 thereby providing greater strength.

The aperture 48 has a cutaway portion 52 that allows the handle of a paint applicator, roller or brush, to be slid through cutaway 52 and into aperture 48. Extending radially inwards of the edge of aperture 48 are tabs 54 that are formed from thinner sections of the same material forming the rest of the holder 46. Because the tabs 54 are thinner than the surrounding material they are flexible and can flex to accommodate different sized handles of rollers and brushes.

For the majority of paint applicators the paint covered part of the application will extend into the paint receiving portion 24. However, even those that are shorter are maintained in close proximity to surface 30 and well away from the edges of the paint receiving portion. As a result it is extremely unlikely that dripping paint will not return back to the paint receiving portion 24. Furthermore, the proximity of the holder 46 relative to the attachment device or aperture 22, which acts as a pivot point from which any movement of the body portion 16 will take place, means that the amount of movement experienced by, for example a short paint brush, is kept to an absolute minimum making it unlikely that the brush will drip or s1op paint outside the edge of paint receiving portion 24.

It will be appreciated by person skilled in the art that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense, and that various alterations and modification are possible without departure from the scope of protection which is define by the appended claims. For example, the attachment device or aperture 22 need not be located at the top of the body portion 16. It is advantageous to suspend the body portion 16 from the top as this maintains stability in the body portion. However, it is equally possible to suspend and bear the weight of the body portion and paint from adjacent the bottom of the body portion as long as means is provided to prevent the body portion from tipping over and jettisoning the paint from the paint receiving portion.

Claims (14)

1. Claims 1. A device for holding a reservoir of paint and for use in conjunction with a paint applicator, the device comprising a body having:-a paint receiving portion for receiving and retaining a volume of paint therein; an attachment device for attaching a suspension device to said body; and a paint manipulating surface which, when said body is suspended from said attachment device, extends substantially vertically from said paint receiving portion.
2. 2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one suspension device comprising at least cne belt to be worn by an operator and for suspending said body therefrom.
3. 3. A device according to claim 2, further comprising at least one connector for connecting said attachment device to said belt.
4. 4, A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said paint manipulating surface extends between sent paint receiving portion and said attachment device.
5. 5. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said paint receiving portion has a depth, measured when said body is suspended from said attachment device, that is greater than at least one of its width and length.
6. 6. A device according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a lining, formed from a rubberised material, and adapted to substantially cover internal surfaces of said paint receiving portion and said paint manipulating surface.
7. 7. A device according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one lid for enclosing the opening formed between edges of said paint receiving portion and said paint manipulating surface.
8. 8. A device according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one paint applicator holder for suspending a paint applicator over said paint receiving portion.
9. 9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said holder comprises an extension member having an aperture therein and a cutaway portion allowing access to said aperture.
10. 10. A device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said holder further comprises a plurality of at least partially flexible support members extending radially inwards of said aperture.
11. 11. A device for holding a reservoir of paint and for use in conjunction with a paint applicator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. 12. An apparatus for applying paint to a surface, the apparatus comprising: -a device according to any one of the preceding claims; and at least one paint applicator for applying paint to a surface.
13. 13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein at least one said paint applicator comprises a roller.
14. 14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein at least one said paint applicator comprises a brush.