WO1993000226A1

WO1993000226A1 - Storage container for paint applicators

Info

Publication number: WO1993000226A1
Application number: PCT/DK1992/000201
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hasse Kjaer
Original assignee: Hasse Kjaer
Priority date: 1991-06-26
Filing date: 1992-06-26
Publication date: 1993-01-07
Also published as: DE9208457U1; DK174991D0; AU2311192A; DK174991A

Abstract

A storage container for paint brushes or paint roller, and which encloses these in a substantially airtight state so that the paint on the brush or roller does not dry up. By using the paint applicators of the above-mentioned type, it is necessary to clean these for paint, even for short-term painting. In order to avoid cleaning the applicators too often, they are placed in the container which consists of two parts (1, 2) that are mutually connected with a hinge connection (11), and which is sealed together by a spring and groove-connection (5, 6) extending along the joint surface between the two parts.

Description

STORAGE CONTAINER FOR PAINT APPLICATORS. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.

The present invention relates to a storage container for a paint ap¬ plicator; e.g. a paint brush, a paint roller or a paint pad, and which consists of two parts, each constituting a part of a cylindrical mem¬ ber which is divided along a generatrix, which two parts are provided with a first recess and a projection, respectively.

The container is primarily intended for preventing drying of paint in the applicator when not in use.

Containers which are intended for preventing drying of brushes and paint rollers are known in varying embodiments. Many of these are con¬ tainers which comprise a bucket or a tray which with the paint appli- cator placed therein is provided with a lid preventing access of air to the paint and the paint applicator. An example is for instance known from US-Patent No. 4,802,576.

US-Patent No. 4,802,576 discloses a storage container for a paint rol- ler including its shank and handle. The container consists of two halves which are mutually connected through a hinge connection. Each half has a groove for the paint roller, for the handle and shank of the paint roller, and for a roll of film, which is intended for wrap¬ ping the actual roller when it is placed in the container. However, a risk exists that the user gets paint on his/her fingers when wrapping the roller. Moreover, each half is provided with rubber sealings which hermetically seal the container when it is closed. Interlocking of the two halves is effected by outer means in the form of a locking mecha¬ nism. This container is very complex in its form and structure.

Another type container is known from GB-Patent Application No. 2,203,066 which discloses an envelope consisting of a hollow cylindri¬ cal container, which is closed at the one end. The envelope is inten¬ ded for storage of a paint roller. The actual roller is placed in the envelope either with or without the shank and the handle part mounted. A lid is placed on the other end of the cylindrical envelope, thereby making it airtight and preventing the roller from drying. This contai¬ ner is disadvantageous, as by placing the roller in the envelope, there is a great risk of paint being wiped on the edge of the opening of the envelope and running down the other side of the envelope. Thereby, the handling of the envelope is made difficult as wet paint thus is on the outer side of the envelope.

French Patent No. 2,169,652 discloses a container consisting of two parts which are mutually connected. However, the container according to this patent is intended for being sealed by gluing or by heat-weld¬ ing, which results in that the container may only be used once, and after opening, it cannot be sealed again. Furthermore, a container according to this patent is not fit for containing an element of which certain parts such as the shank or the handle on a paint applicator can pass through the encircling of the container.

From US-Patent No. 4,533,044 a container is known which also consists of two parts. These parts are provided with a recess and a projection, making it possible to connect the two parts in a releasable way. How¬ ever, the recess and the projection are only a simple indication of a method for placing a lid on a bucket. The container is fit for accom¬ modating paint applicators or parts hereof passing through holes in the lid. The container according to this patent also involves disad¬ vantages because the placing of the paint applicator in the container is rather difficult, and because the container cannot be placed in an arbitrary orientation.

However, the present invention only relates to containers for storing the actual paint applicator. Other examples of such containers are known; e.g. from US-Patent No. 4,533,044 and FR-Patent No. 2,169,652 having the above-mentioned characteristics.

It is the object of the present invention to remedy the disadvantages of the known containers by providing a simple container for paint ap¬ plicators; e.g. paint rollers, paint brushes and paint pads, which container encloses these in a substantially airtight way, which is simple and quick to use, which in use does not give risk of paint on fingers or hands, and which also may be used as display packing with the possibility of suspending the container both on a storage stand and a sales stand.

This is obtained with a container, characterized in that the first recess and the projection form an engaging closing mechanism in a re¬ silient way, which in a releasable way locks the two parts of the con¬ tainer together in a substantially airtight state, and that second recesses are provided in the edge areas of the container comprising the first recess and the projection which second recesses form and opening through which the handle part of the paint applicator projects outside the container.

For the sake of explanation, the two parts of the container are deno- ted as a bottom part and a lid part. However, the two parts may be identical, and the mutual orientation of the two parts may be chosen arbitrarily, side by side, or above each other. As the first recess and the projection form a locked state between the two parts of the container, this remains in an airtight state until a force is exerted in order to disengage the two parts. Thus, the paint applicator, brushes, or the like will be prevented from drying, and at the same time it is ensured that no unintended opening of the bottom part and the lid part takes place which will result in a damaging drying while storing the wet paint applicator. The container is easy to open, as a user only needs to bring the recess and the projection out of engage¬ ment. The user will have little chance of getting paint on his/her fingers or hands while using the container as the handle part of the paint applicator is projecting outside the container, which minimizes the risk of the handle part being smudged. Thus, the container may easily be suspended in a traditional way by being suspended from the handle part or by being suspended from flaps, having projections at the edge area of the container, an area outside the first recess, re¬ spectively, the projection.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the container is provided with flaps which form grips for separation and assembling of the two parts, and which also may form the above-mentioned means for suspend¬ ing the container. Thus, such flaps will make it easier to use the container, just as the possibilities of suspension is increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.

The invention will now be further explained with reference to the ac¬ companying drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows an embodiment for a container according to the inven¬ tion and intended for a paint roller,

Figs. 2A and 2B show a side view or a sectional view through the con¬ tainer shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment for a container according to the invention and intended for a paint brush, and

Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment for a container for a paint brush.

Fig. 1 shows a container according to the invention. The container is made of vacuum formed, transparent plastic and consists of a bottom part and a lid part 1,2 with a hollow space 3,4 in each for accommoda¬ ting the actual roller on the paint roller when the container is closed. The locking devices are formed by a first recess 5 in the bot- torn part 1 and a thereto corresponding projection 6 in the lid part 2. When the container is closed, the first recess 5, respectively the projection 6, will engage and establish a locking. In the embodiment shown, the first recess and the projection extend along the one long side 7 and along the two shorter sides 8,9 of the container, and thereby form a spring and groove connection. This ensures a satisfac¬ tory tightening along these edges, unlike if the first recess and the projection only formed surfaces on the edge areas.

Along the one side 10, the container is provided with a hinge-like connection 11 between the lid part 1 and the bottom part 2. In the embodiment shown, the hinge 11 forms an integral part of the contai¬ ner. On the side 7 opposite the hinge 11, the container is provided with flaps 12,13 which primarily serve as finger grips when opening and closing the container. These flaps may extend over a longer or a shorter part of the side 7 upon which they are placed.

These flaps are provided with holes 17 which give the possibility for suspending the container from a hook. The holes 17 in the flaps 12,13 are slightly displaced in relation to a symmetric plane across the longitudinal axis of the container. By suspending it is thereby com¬ pensated that the centre of gravity for the paint roller including handle lies outside a plane, extending through the roller along the handle. On one of the short sides 8, the lid part and the bottom part 1,2 are provided with a second semi-circular shaped recess 14, which together form a circular hole when the container is closed. The second recesses 14 give the possibility for the shank, in shape of a solid metal wire mounted on the actual roller, to pass through one side of the contai¬ ner when the paint roller is placed in the container.

Fig. 2 is a side view or a sectional view of the container shown in Fig. 1 and illustrates how the locking of the two parts 1,2 is made. Fig. 2A shows the container just before closing and locking. The figure explains how the first recess 5 and the projection 6 are formed for obtaining the locking of the two parts 1,2. Each one has a surface 15, respectively 16, far from the corresponding opposite edge 10 of the container where, in the embodiment shown, a hinge connection 11 is provided. These surfaces 15,16 form an angle α with a plane p running along the joint surface of the two parts 1,2. The angle α is greater than 90^β which results in displacing the bottom part elastically a short distance in the direction away from the opposite edge 10 of the container (the dot-and-dash outline) when at closing, the bottom part 1 with the first recess 5 engage the top part 2 with the projection 6. This occurs in order to make it possible for the first recess 5 to extend beyond the projection 6, and when this has occured, the first recess 5 is displaced backwards in the direction towards the opposite edge 10, in such a way that the surface 15 abuts the surface 16, as shown in Fig. 2B. This surface to surface contact gives an almost air¬ tight sealing of the container, though not a hermetical sealing.

Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment for a container according to the invention. The container is intended for use in connection with brushes. Like the container for paint rollers, the container comprises a bottom part 1 and a lid part 2 with a hollow space 3,4 in each for accommodating the head of the brush, a mutual connection of the lid part and the bottom part, which connection forms a hinge connection 11, and flaps 12,13 when opening and closing the container. Further- more, the container comprises locking devices of the spring and groove-type (not shown) extending along the sides 7,8 and 9 of the container and second recesses 14 along the side 7 so that the brush shank may pass through the one side of the container. In the embodiment shown the one flap 12 is provided with a hole inten¬ ded for suspending the container. The flap 13 is shaped into two parts 13A and 13B on each side of the second recess 14, making it possible for the shank of the brush to pass through when the container is closed.

The specific embodiment of the locking devices is shown and described with reference to Fig. 2.

The flaps 12,13 may have various forms. For instance, the flap 12 may be longer, so that it extends beyond over the uttermost side of the shank of the brush. In this way, the brush and the container may be suspended from the flap in an easier and a more space-saving way.

Fig. 4 also shows a storage container for brushes. In this embodiment the brush is placed differently in the container than in the embodi¬ ment shown in Fig. 3. This results in some constructive changes. Flaps 12,13 are placed on the opposite edge 7 of the edge 10 upon which the hinge connection 11 is placed. These flaps 12,13 are primarily inten- ded for opening and closing the container. Moreover, flaps 12',13' are placed on the opposite edge 9 whereof the shank of the brush passes through the container. These flaps 12',13' are provided with holes 17 and are primarily intended for suspending the container from a hook. The latter edge 9 of the container may alternatively be provided with only one flap on either the bottom part 1 or the lid part 2. The one flap provided with a hole 17 is sufficient for suspending the contai¬ ner.

According to the invention the container will preferably be made of transparent plastic. Thereby, the advantage is obtained that in a storage situation or sales situation, it will immediately be possible to see which type of brush, roller or pad the container holds without opening it first. Furthermore, the advantage is obtained that in a situation of use, it can immediately be seen which colour of paint the applicator was last used for.

In the figures, the containers are formed with two halves, a lid part and a bottom part, of which the cross section profile forms a trapezi¬ um when the container is observed from across the plane of the hinge connection and in the direction of the hinge connection. This gives a spacious and rigid construction of the container. However, it will be possible to shape the two halves with other cross section profiles; for instance rectangular, circular, elliptical, polygonal, or other curves.

Furthermore, it shall not be considered a limitation that the contai¬ ners shown in the figures consist of two mainly equal parts. Alterna¬ tively, the two parts may be of different size.

Claims

L A I M S

1. Storage container for a paint applicator; e.g. a paint brush, a paint roller or a paint pad, and which consists of two parts (1,2), each constituting a part of a cylindrical member which is divided along a generatrix, which two parts are provided with a first recess (5) and a projection (6), respectively, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the first recess (5) and the projection (6) form an engaging closing mechanism in a resilient way, which in a releasable way, locks the two parts (1,2) of the container together in a substantially air- tight state, and that second recesses are provided in the edge areas of the container comprising the first recess and the projection which second recesses form an opening through which the handle part of the paint applicator projects outside the container.

2. Container according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the first recess (5) and the projection (6) form a spring and groove connection, which at least extends along three of four sides of the container.

3. Container according to claims 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it consists of two separate parts (1,2).

4. Container according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that a mutual connection between the two parts is provided with means which form a hinge connection (11) between the two parts.

5. Container according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that one or both of the two parts (1,2) comprise flaps (12,13) which form grips for the separation and assembling of the two parts.

6. Container according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that the flaps (12,13) form means for suspending the container.

7. Container according to any of the preceding cl ims, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the container is made of a transparent material.