WO2017199195A1

WO2017199195A1 - Liquid container device

Info

Publication number: WO2017199195A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/052931
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hayden Temblett
Original assignee: Hayden Temblett
Priority date: 2016-05-18
Filing date: 2017-05-18
Publication date: 2017-11-23
Also published as: GB2550387A; GB201608741D0; GB2550387B

Abstract

A portable device for containing a volume of liquid, comprising: a canister, which canister is temporarily situate within an open ended sleeve joined to a distal end of an open ended container so that the open ends of the container and sleeve face away from the distal end of the container; and a trough for liquid intermediate the sleeve and container; characterised in that the trough is increasingly constricted volumetrically from an outlet intermediate the open ends towards the distal end of the container.

Description

LIQUID CONTAINER DEVICE

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid container device, in particular a device for containing liquid coatings such as paint or varnish; more particularly but not exclusively a device for containing such a coating whilst using it.

Background

Increasing numbers of users across many societies are taking greater pride in their built environments. An easy way to improve homes or commercial premises is to paint, varnish or coat surfaces. However, painting can also be problematic and messy, in particular as a result of the containers that the paint comes in, which are generally used as paint from directly and are liable to become covered in paint spills and drips as the paint is used, from spillage run-off and from the user wiping their brush, roller or stirrer. In addition, or the alternative, the utensils used for application of the coating, such as brushes or rollers, may cause extra mess, wherein the coating is liable to need cleaning off the utensil after every application of coating, and/or separate storage may be an issue. Still further problems may be created by need for touching up of painted surfaces, where a large container may be unwieldy.

Prior Art Accordingly, a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following:

United States patent US 9 102 193 (MAHOWALD) discloses in combination, a brush bucket buddy and an open top liquid-containing receptacle. United States patent US 8 701 899 (PAGA et al) discloses a one-piece paint brush holder for removable-insertion use with a container.

United States patent application US 4 852 833 (LOCKWOOD) discloses a paint brush support for removal insertion into a containe.

International patent application WO-A2-2006049971 , United Kingdom patent application GB-A-2126978, French patent application FR-A1 -2725158, and French patent application FR-A1 -2547774 disclose a bucket and a canister together.

However, the brushes and buckets disclosed in the prior art do little to solve the problems mentioned above.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable device for containing a volume of liquid, comprising: a canister, which canister is temporarily situate within an open ended sleeve joined to a distal end of an open ended container so that the open ends of the container and sleeve face away from the distal end of the container; and a trough for liquid intermediate the sleeve and container; characterised in that the trough is increasingly constricted volumetrically from an outlet intermediate the open ends towards the distal end of the container. In the first aspect, the device comprises the canister, the container, the sleeve, and the trough.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable device for containing a volume of liquid, comprising: an open ended canister, which canister is situate within an open ended container, the distal end of the canister joined to the distal end of the container so that the open ends of the container and canister face away from the distal end of the container; and a trough for liquid between the canister and container; characterised in that the trough is increasingly constricted volumetrically towards the distal end of the container. In the second aspect, the device comprises the canister, the container, and the trough. In use the device is oriented with the open ends of the container, the canister, and the sleeve directed upwards. In use, the trough holds the coating liquid such as liquid paint, varnish, oil, whitewash, for coating a surface. The trough and the canister may also hold tools for applying the coating liquid.

Preferably the device is manufactured filled with coating liquid and provided ready for use with the coating liquid sealed in the trough.

Preferably the trough outlet is located intermediate and limited by the rim of the container opening and the rim of the canister opening. Before or after use, the canister may hold and preserve a brush or other tool from drying out.

Preferably, the canister and container are joined by a securement means arranged to allow their unjoining for displacement of the canister from the container. The securement means is arranged to provide temporary securement of the canister to the container, and to allow the canister to be removed from the container.

Preferably the container comprises an outer wall extending from a base located at the distal end. In use the base of the container is the container bottom.

Preferably the outer wall is joined around the perimeter of the base. The outer wall extends from the base to the container opening. The rim of the outer wall is the rim of the container opening. Preferably the canister is fixed or temporarily secured to the container by being joined directly to the base of the container. Preferably the base comprises the securement means for the canister.

Preferably the location where the canister is joined to the base is proximate the centre of the base.

Preferably the securement means comprises a screw-thread. Preferably the screw- thread is on an internal wall of the sleeve to engage a screw-thread on the exterior of the canister. In this way, the canister may be docked into the sleeve and secured with a turn, for example a quarter-turn. Preferably, the trough is sealed to the canister or container or the securement means proximate where the canister and container are joined.

Preferably the outer wall of the container is a boundary of the trough, a preferably the outer boundary. Coating liquid wiped off the rim of the outer wall drips in the trough.

Preferably the base of the container is a boundary of the trough. Preferably a portion the base adjoined to the outer wall is a bottom boundary of the trough. Preferably a portion of the base adjoined to the sleeve is a bottom boundary of the trough.

Preferably the sleeve is a boundary of the trough. Preferably the sleeve is sloped as a staircase of steps that is a boundary of the trough.

Preferably the trough has a trough wall sloping away from the outer wall of the container, wherein the trough wall is a boundary of the trough. Preferably the trough wall is sloped as a staircase of steps that is a boundary of the trough.

Preferably the trough wall is sealed to the container. Preferably the trough wall slopes inward into the interior of the container from proximate the distal end of the container.

Preferably the trough wall slopes inward into the interior of the container from proximate the open end of the container.

Preferably the trough wall is sealed to the sleeve. Preferably the trough wall comprises the sleeve. Preferably the trough boundary comprises: the outer wall as the outer portion of the boundary; and a portion of the base adjoined to the outer wall; and the trough wall, wherein the trough wall is adjoined to the portion of the base. The rim of the outer wall forms the outer rim of the trough outlet. Preferably the sleeve comprises the trough wall and slopes inward into the interior of the container from proximate the distal end of the container where the trough wall is adjoined to the base. The upper rim of the trough wall is distal from the where the trough wall is adjoined to the portion of the base because the portion of the base is the bottom of the trough is use. Preferably an upper portion of the trough wall proximate the rim of the trough wall has a slip fit with the canister. Advantageously the canister is stabilised by the trough wall, removable from the container by the slip fit, and defines the inner rim of the trough outlet. The trough is increasingly constricted volumetrically from an outlet intermediate the open ends towards the distal end of the container by the slope of the trough wall inward from proximate the rim of the sleeve down to the base proximate the outer wall. Preferably the trough boundary comprises: the trough wall as the outer portion of the boundary; and the sleeve as the inner portion of the boundary. The trough wall slopes inward into the interior of the container from proximate the open end of the container. The rim of the trough wall is sealed to the container proximate the rim of the outer wall of the container. The distal end of the trough wall from the rim is sealed to the sleeve proximate the bottom of the trough. The trough wall comprises a substantially horizontal portion proximate where the trough wall joins the sleeve. The rim of the sleeve defines the inner rim of the trough outlet. The trough is increasingly constricted volumetrically from an outlet intermediate the open ends towards the distal end of the container by the slope of the trough wall inward from the outer wall proximate the rim of the container down to the sleeve proximate the distal end of the container.

Preferably the canister and container are joined below the open ends, preferably where the trough is sealed to the devicerri]. From this location of sealing, the trough or an upright sloping surface of the trough wall may be inclined up and away from the canister towards the open end or rim of the container. In other embodiments, the trough or upright sloping surface of the trough wall may incline in the other direction, or may comprise more than one direction of inclination. The trough may be relatively narrow proximate its bottom and widen toward its top due to the incline of the upright sloping surface of the trough wall; preferably either sloping either away from the outer wall of the container and toward the rim of the canister opening, or sloping away from the side of the canister and toward the rim of the container opening. The trough is increasingly constricted volumetrically towards the distal end of the container by the incline the trough or side of the trough from a wide opening to a narrow bottom. Advantageously the incline of the upright sloping surface of the trough wall is an aid to the user in accessing all paint available in the trough by constricting the trough volumetrically towards the distal end of the container.

Advantageously the incline provides accessibility of the trough bottom and a high level of liquid in the trough above the trough bottom because the upright sloping surface increasingly constricts the trough volumetrically from an outlet intermediate the open ends towards the distal end of the container.

Preferably the lowermost surface of the trough in use is a horizontal surface adjacent to the canister. Preferably the horizontal surface is defined by a portion of the base of the container. Preferably a first edge of the horizontal surface is adjacent and connected to the upright sloping surface. Preferably a distal edge of the horizontal surface is adjacent to where the canister and container are joined forming a trough.

The trough may be used for storage of brushes or roller heads during application of the coating liquid. In this way the user may be enabled to keep the brush or roller head ready for use with the coating liquid, creating little mess and avoiding clean-up.

Preferably the trough comprises at least one step or the trough wall is corrugated and inclined as a staircase of steps. The brush or roller may be rested on a step above the level of coating liquid in the trough to keep the brush or roller head ready for use. Preferably an interior surface of the trough comprises protrusions into the interior of trough. The volume of the trough for holding coating liquid is thereby reduced by the volume of the protrusions causing the level of coating liquid in the trough to raised that advantageously a dips deeper into the coating liquid for full use all the coating liquid even after there is very little coating liquid left.

Preferably an interior surface of the trough comprises depressions away from the interior of the trough. Advantageously the depressions had a small amount of coating liquid even when there is very little coating liquid left so that a brush dipped in the trough can use all the coating liquid.

Preferably the protrusions and depressions are dimple shaped or ripple shaped. Preferably the bottom of the trough is be narrow so that the volume of the trough proximate the bottom is relatively small. Preferably the bottom of the trough is bounded by a narrow portion of the base of the canister.

The trough is an internal volume separate from the interior of the sleeve and the interior the canister. Preferably the device comprises a closable cover. Preferably the cover comprises a first seal. When the cover is in use, the first seal forms a closure that seals the container closed. Preferably the cover comprises a second seal. When the cover is in use, the second seal forms a closure that seals the sleeve closed. Preferably the cover forms a lid over the container and sleeve which seals closed the open ends of the container and the sleeve, preferably with the canister inside the sleeve.

Preferably placing the closable cover on the container so that the first and second seals are formed, also seals the trough closed. Preferably the canister is filled with tools soaked with the coating liquid after use and the closable cover is closed over the device seals the tools in the canister to prevent the tools from being rendered useless by dried out coating liqud. Preferably the device comprises the closable cover with the coating liquid sealed within the trough. Advantageously after initial use, the canister may be empty or empty or nearly empty of coating liquid and holds a wet painting tool or brush wet with the coating liquid. Also advantageously the trough may hold coating liquid left over after initial use.

Preferably the canister and the trough contain the coating liquid and the closable cover is closed over the device to seal the coating liquid in the canister and separately in the trough to prevent the coating liquid in the canister and trough from drying. Advantageously the painting tool is also sealed in the canister or trough. The painting tool does not dry out and does not have to be washed clean of coating liquid after initial use. When the cover is removed, the tool and coating liquid are immediately accessible and ready for use. Preferably in use the closable cover forms an upper surface or lid over the container in the sleeve.

Preferably the container may comprise a kettle, which kettle is filled with coating in or before use.

Preferably the container and canister are formed in a metallic or polymeric material impervious to coating liquids including paints, varnishes, and paint solvents. The embodiments shown may be formed entirely in thermoplastics such as polyethylene or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (abs).

The device may be wholly or partly comprised of a polymeric material. The material may be formable by moulding, pressing, rolling or extrusion such as thermoplastics or thermosets, for example in a known format for paint containers. Preferably the device may comprise alloy or metal such as steel at least in part.

Preferably the canister comprises a closed bottom, and an open ended top. Preferably the device comprises a closable lid to close the canister by covering and closing the open ended top. Preferably the closable lid comprises a handle for carrying the canister as a portable means for carrying tools separately from the container. Preferably the container comprises its own separate handle as the container is portable means for carrying coating liquid in the trough and tools in the canister or in the sleeve together. Advantageously the distal end of canister is sealed off by the base of container. Preferably the closable cover is arranged to seal off the open end of the canister when the closable cover is in a closure position on the device.

Preferably the canister and container are formed as a single unit with the canister permanently fixed to the container. The trough may be formed with the single unit and fixed permanently to the unit such that the entire device, save for the closable cover is a single unit.

In other embodiments the device comprises the container and canister as separable parts. Preferably the user may displace the canister so that the canister is separately portable from the container. The canister is displaced from the container for cleaning and for carrying tools for use with the coating liquid. Preferably the distal end of the sleeve is fixed to the container, and preferably to the base of the container. Advantageously the distal end of sleeve is sealed off by the base of container. Preferably the closable cover is arranged to seal off the open end of the sleeve when the closable cover is in a closure position on the device. Preferably the sleeve is joined to the base of the container and extends up towards the open end of the container. Preferably the sleeve and container are single unit. Preferably the sleeve and base are moulded together.

Preferably the canister is received through the open end of the sleeve and thereby received in the sleeve. Preferably when in the sleeve the open end of the canister faces away from the distal end of the container, and so also away from the base.

Advantageously the sleeve is useful as docking means for docking the canister the distal end of the container and preferably on the base of the container.

Advantageously the canister may be docked in the base during use. The container thereby provides stable base on which to dock the canister.

Preferably the canister may comprise a displacement mechanism, wherein the displacement mechanism may displace the canister partially or wholly. Preferably the securement means comprises the displacement mechanism and is arranged to secure the canister to the container in a first condition and to release and displace the canister from the container in a second condition. Preferably the sleeve extends from proximate the distal end of the container to proximate the open end of the container. A proximate distance from the distal end of the container or open end of the container is about a tenth of the distance from the distal end of the container to the open end of the container. The open end of the container is defined by the rim of the open end of the container. Preferably the sleeve extends from the distal end of the container or container bottom toward the open end of the container or container rim to guide the canister straight between the distal and open ends of the container when the canister is displaced therefrom.

Preferably the trough may be sealed at a first end to the sleeve proximate the base of the sleeve, and proximate where the canister and container are joined. Preferably the trough is also sealed to the container proximate to the rim of the container opening.

Preferably the sleeve is as long as or longer than the canister from the canister opening to the distal end of the canister. When the canister is placed in the sleeve, the rim of the open end of the sleeve may extend to the same height or above the rim of the canister opening.

Preferably when the canister is in the sleeve, the sleeve surrounds the canister.

Preferably the container and trough surround the sleeve. Preferably the sleeve and preferably the canister are located centrally within the container.

Preferably the closable cover is arranged to seal off the open end of the sleeve with the canister docked inside the sleeve. The liquid coating in the canister is thereby sealed from air outside the sleeve and prevented from drying in the canister.

Preferably the securement means comprises a ferromagnetic portion on a base of the canister or within or on the sleeve. For example the base may comprise a ferromagnetic portion and the canister bottom comprise a mating ferromagnetic portion. Preferably the base's ferromagnetic portion may be aftermarket, for example placed underneath the base.

The securement means may be arranged to secure a standard paint canister for use with the device, in particular ferrous material containers. Preferably the canister comprises a second lid distinct from the closable cover, arranged so as to seal the canister.

Preferably the device comprises a canister ejection means to eject or assist ejection of the canister from the sleeve. Preferably the ejection means comprises resiliently deformable displacement means or pair of repelling magnets arranged to act on the canister within the sleeve. Preferably the securement means comprises the resiliently deformable means or at least one of the repelling magnets to displace the canister from the container.

Preferably the displacement mechanism may comprise a spring mechanism, wherein the canister may be arranged to spring upwards when the closable cover is removed.

Preferably the device comprises a frame connected to the container proximate the container opening. Preferably the frame supports a wipe surface over the trough outlet.

Even a small quantity of coating liquid that spills into the trough off of the wipe surface from a brush rises to a high level in the trough where the trough volume of the trough is less restricted. The brush may then be dipped into the coating liquid in the trough so that advantageously all coating liquid is used without waste.

Preferably the container's upper surface which is proximate the rim of the container opening comprises an extending frame. Preferably the frame is arranged to allow a user to skim or wipe their brush thereon. The frame may therefore provide a wipe surface that is extended from the container upper surface. The frame may be extendable in use or have a fixed length from the upper surface.

Preferably the frame is connected to the container proximate the rim of the container open end; the frame supports a wipe surface over the container opening. Preferably the frame is resiliently deformable.

Preferably the wipe surface is permanently spaced or displaced in use vertically from the container rim by the frame. The wipe surface is spaced or displaced by a wipe surface displacement means. Preferably the wipe surface displacement means of the frame comprises a spring means. The spring means is biased to displace the frame when the lid is removed from the device. Preferably the frame comprises a lacuna between the container upper surface and the wipe surface, such that drips from the wipe surface may fall under gravity back into the trough.

Preferably the frame provides a lacuna intermediate the wipe surface and the container. Preferably the wipe surface is offset inwardly from the container.

Preferably the frame spaces and/or supports the wipe surface radially inwardly from the rim of the container opening so as to ensure that coating dripping off the wipe surface is not liable to touch the external walls of the container, but rather to drip into the trough.

Preferably the frame with the wipe surface is displaceable from the container for replacement or cleaning. Preferably the outer wall comprises a window to access an enclosed void enclosed by the trough wall, the outer wall, and the base of the container. The void is another useful storage space for tools. The void also lightens the device because the void is separated from the trough and does not hold coating liquid. The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Brief Description of Figures Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a first embodiment of the device according to the present invention, with lid off;

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of a second embodiment of the device according to the present invention, with lid off; Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of a third embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 with cover on; Figure 6 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 with cover on;

Figure 7 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 with cover off;

Figure 8 shows a section view of the embodiment shown in Figure 3 with cover on;

Figure 9 shows a cut-away view with a virtual cut-away of through the outer wall of the container to show into the device according to the present invention;

Figure 10 shows a section view of the device according to the invention illustrating protrusions and depressions on the interior surface of the trough wall.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the Figures there is shown a portable device 100 for containing a volume of liquid, comprising: a canister 200, which canister is temporarily situate within an open ended sleeve 91 joined to a distal end of an open ended container 300 so that the open ends of the container 300 and sleeve 91 face away from the distal end of the container; and a trough 1 1 for liquid intermediate the sleeve and container; characterised in that the trough is increasingly constricted volumetrically from an outlet intermediate the open ends towards the distal end of the container. With reference to the Figures there is also shown a device 100 comprising an open ended canister 200 for a coating liquid within an open ended container 300. The distal end 24 of the canister is joined to the distal end of the container 2 so that open ends of the container and canister are in register and facing away from the distal end of the container. An upright sloping surface of a trough wall 82 is inclined from the container proximate the container opening edge or rim 10 to the device proximate where the canister and container are joined forming a trough 1 1 bounded by the canister and the trough wall 82.

The trough cross sectional area is greatest at the opening of trough between the rim 10 of the container opening and the rim 49 of the canister opening. The trough cross sectional area is minimum at the distal end from the trough outlet as the trough is increasingly constricted volumetrically towards the distal end of the container.

The canister and container are joined by a securement means arranged to allow their unjoining for displacement of the canister from the container.

In an embodiment shown in Figure 2, the securement means comprises a spring 40 fixed to the base 2 of the device. The spring fits into a ring 42 on the exterior of the canister distal from the canister opening. The bottom of the canister is secured to the container by the spring in the ring.

In an embodiment shown in Figure 3, the securement means comprises a sleeve 91 fixed to the base 2 of the container. The sleeve 91 extends from the base toward the container opening. The sleeve opening is in register with the container opening. The canister is received into sleeve 91 in a slip fit between the sleeve and side 16 of the canister. The canister is secured to the container by the slip fit as the canister is easily docked into the sleeve. The canister is easily removable from the dock and container by sliding it out of the dock.

The container with the canister are formed at manufacture by stamping or moulding. In an embodiment they are moulded as a single unit.

Figure 1 shows the container comprising a cylindrical form with a continuous outer wall 1 extending from a closed base 2 to a container opening distal from the closed base 2. A closeable cover 3 to close the container and sleeve is shown in Figures 1 and 7 and in cross section in Figures 2 and 8. The closable cover forms a displaceable lid 3 which is arranged to seal closed the container opening and the sleeve with the canister in the sleeve when attached to the container.

The closable cover 3 comprises a planar top 6 and depending side 4 shown in Figure 1 , which side comprises a resiliently deformable arrangement.

The closable cover comprises an inner flange 22 depending from the planar top 6 to engage around the sleeve's upper and open end proximate the rim 25 of the sleeve. The inner flange 23 comprises a catch ring 23 which holds an annular rubber or silicone seal 25 to seal to the rim 25 of the sleeve opening.

A lip 21 shown in Figures 7 and 8 is at the end of the depending side 4 of the closable cover 3. The lip 21 engage with another lip 10 on the outer rim of the container outer wall. Through interference fitting, the lips 21 , 10 of the closable cover seal closed the container opening.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, The depending side of the closable cover 3 comprises a depending flange 67 inwards from a resiliently deformable hook 68 around the perimeter of the cover 3. To close the container opening securely, the flange 67 and hook engages with a catch 10 at the rim of the container opening to hold the cover 3 attached to the container. The cross section in Figure 2 illustrates the container, canister, and cover 3 as either cylindrical as shown in Figure 1 or square or rectangular. The device cross section is cylindrical, square, or rectangular or other because the cross sections of Figures 2 and 8 and the isometric view in Figure 9 show that the lid seals the container by use matching lips.

The outer wall 1 of the container comprises a depending collar 5 around the outer wall 1 and which provides anchor points 20 for a pivoting band handle 7 formed in thermoplastics. The collar 5 shown in Figure 6 and 7 has a top edge 8 shown in Figure 5. An inner side inclined inwards towards the outer wall 1 of the container. The collar is tapered by the inner side making the top edge a narrow tip. Advantageously run-off the top edge 8 of the collar is inwards to be trapped between the collar and outer wall 1 .

As illustrated in Figure 5, the top edge 8 is raised to 5mm in height above the bottom of the channel formed by the inner surface of the collar and the outer wall 1 of the container. The top edge has a 7mm offset from the outer wall 1 , and slopes or inclines inwards towards the outer wall 1 .

The inner surface of the collar leads from the top edge 8 to an inner upstand 9 on the outer wall 1 as can be seen in Figures 1 , 5, and 6. The upstand 9 has a topmost rim 10 of the container as can be seen in Figure 1 . The rim 10 may comprise a cap inclining outwards and inwards in a resiliently deformable lip. The lip of the rim 10 of the container is arranged for engagement with a resiliently deformable hook 68 of the cover 3. Advantageously coating liquid run-off drips towards a coating trough 1 10 bounded by the outer wall 1 of the container and the side 16 of the canister.

Radially inward from the upstand 9 of the outer wall 1 is an annular ring 12. The ring is mounted upon the rim 10 of the container opening by a frame. The frame is illustrated connected to the rim 10 of container in Figure 1 and a separate piece from the container in the separate view of Figure 3. The frame extends above the rim 10 of the container opening.

The frame comprises a plurality of upstanding members 14 from the rim 10 supporting an annular wipe surface 13 above the rim. 10. The wipe surface 13 consequently comprises a subdivided horizontal lacuna 15 below the annular wipe surface 13 and intermediate the upstanding member 14. The lacuna are divided horizontally by the upstanding members 14. The upstanding member 14 displaces the wipe surface 13 about 5 mm from the annular ring 12. The upstanding member also displaces the wipe surface 13 about 7 towards the centre of the container so that coating liquid off the wipe surface drips into the trough.

The wipe surface 13 is inclined from a vertex above container opening down to overhang either side of the upstanding members so as to promote run-off into the trough and channel. The canister has a cylindrical, rectangular, square, or other cross section form bounded by a side. In Figures 1 , 3 - 7, and 9 the canister is illustrated with cylindrical form. The canister has a continuous outer wall 16 and closed bottom 24. Regarding Figures 1 , 3 - 7, and 9 the canister is cylindrical with a circular section, centrally located in the container and separated from the coating trough 1 1 by the side 16,

The base 2 of the container comprises a central circular moulded sleeve with a raised side 91 as a securement mechanism for the canister 200. The sleeve engages with the distal end 24 of the canister opening shown in Figure 4. The canister rests on the container base 2. The bottom of the canister is secured into this sleeve by a friction fit thereby by providing a convenient docking mechanism. In Figure 8 an alternative arrangement of the securement mechanism is shown. The securement mechanism comprises a docking sleeve 91 that extends from the base 2 to the opening of the container. The securement mechanism is the sleeve surrounding the sides 16 of the canister which hold the side 16 from proximate the bottom of the canister to the canister opening. The canister comprises a reduced diameter bottom section 19, so as to dock into the sleeve.

In some other embodiments, the canister comprises a different shape, for example an arcuate section for placement adjacent the container wall and non-central to the portion. The trough accordingly may be arranged in a non-uniform manner, for example lowering and volumetrically narrowing to a single point or plural low points.

The canister comprises a displaceable covering lid 17, which lid 17 comprises a hinged handle 18, which may be used to displace the canister from the container. The internal volume 70 of the canister is shown in Figures 2 and 8.

With reference to Figure 8 and Figure 9, the canister is inserted into a sleeve dock 91 comprising , such that the canister may be removed therefrom and inserted thereinto, without transference of coating from the trough. The canister lid 17 is tolerance fitted into the canister to seal it. With reference to figure 2 the canister and frame are arranged to displace upwards from the container, driven by a central compression spring 40 located beneath the canister and held by a central coaxial extender 41 between the canister bottom 24 and container base 2 in a depending cupwall 42 opening downward from the bottom. An annular spring 43 around the rim of the container opening is supported on the collar 5 around the rim, and arranged inner to an upstand 9 extending up from the collar.

With reference to Figure 2, the trough wall 82 wall slopes inward into the interior of the container from proximate the distal end of the container. The trough wall 82 is also the sleeve in which the canister is docked by a slip fit which supports and stabilizes the canister. The slip fit is formed where the upper rim 30 of the trough wall 82 closes around the side wall 16 of the canister 200. The trough wall 82 is sloped as a staircase of steps 27, 28, 29 that is a boundary of the trough. Although the trough wall is only illustrated as staircase in the embodiment of Figure, it is also possible for the trough wall in other embodiments, such as the embodiments of Figure 1 , and Figures 3 to 9 to have the trough wall stepped as the staircase.

The bottom step 26 is either the base 2 of the container as shown in Figure 2, or the or formed in the trough wall as in Figure 9.

The annular spring is supported on the top edge of annular ring 12 of the collar 5 depending from the outer of the container, having an outer upstanding upstand 9 with a topmost outwardly projecting catch rim 10.

The lid 17 comprises a depending rim 67 which pushes down the frame 69, and has a resiliently deformable lip 68 which engages with the catch to hold the lid in place.

The trough wall 82 comprises the upright sloping surface shown in Figure 8. The incline of the trough wall 82 allows the coating liquid in the trough to be easier accessed by brush. The trough wall 82 is separate from the sleeve wall 91 . The trough wall 82 and the sleeve wall 91 join at a joint proximate the base 2 of the container. The length of the sleeve wall in the region 19 intermediate the base 2 and the joint is about one tenth of the distance from the base to the container opening. The rim 59 of the sleeve is distal from the joint.

Further shaping of the trough profile may be envisaged to encourage full use of available coating, with commensurate variation in device size to accommodate standard or known paint pot sizes or similar. For example, said trough 1 1 may be envisaged to level out at the bottom - so coating sediment is stirrable. Bigger containers may not need this incline because it may be envisaged to be possible to get brush into all parts of the trough.

An enclosed void is defined between the trough wall 82 and the outer wall 1 and the base 2 of the container. The enclosed void is visible in Figures 9 and 10. A window through the outer wall provides access to the void. Figure 10 illustrates two examples of further shaping of the trough wall 82. There are protrusions 33, 34, 35 on the interior surface of the trough wall which protrude into the interior of the trough. There are also depressions 36, 37, 38, 39 on the interior surface of the trough wall 82. The protrusions and depressions are dimple shaped or ripple shaped

The canister in all preferred embodiments comprises internal space suitable for a brush and roller. In this way in some usages the canister may be displaced from the container so as to be used for clean-up or touch-up. In some embodiments the canister has a height appropriate to a 3 inch roller or a 9 inch roller.

The invention has been described by way of examples only. 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 claims.

Claims

Claim

A device according to claim 1 wherein the canister and container are joined by a securement means arranged to allow their unjoining for displacement of the canister from the container.

A device according to claim 2, wherein the securement means comprises a ferromagnetic portion on a base of the canister or within or on the sleeve.

A device according to claim 2 wherein the securement means comprises screw-thread on an internal wall of the sleeve to engage screw thread on the exterior of the canister.

A device according to any preceding claim comprising a canister ejection means to assist ejection of the canister from the sleeve, the ejection means comprising resiliently deformable displacement means or pair of repelling magnets arranged to act on the canister within the sleeve.

A device according to any preceding claim, comprising a frame connected to the container proximate the container opening; the frame supports a wipe surface over the trough outlet.

A device according to claim 8, wherein the frame provides a lacuna intermediate the wipe surface and the container.

A device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the wipe surface is offset inwardly from the container.

9. A device according to any of claims 6, 7, or 8, wherein the frame with the wipe surface is displaceable from the container for replacement or cleaning.

10. A device according to claim 6, 7, 8, or 9 wherein the frame is resiliently deformable.

1 1 . A device according to any preceding claim comprising a closable cover to form a first seal of closure of the container and a second seal of closure of the sleeve, the first and second seals sealing the trough.

12. A device according to any preceding claim comprising a closable lid to close the canister.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the closeable lid comprises a handle.

14. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the canister is received in the sleeve with an open end of the canister facing away from the distal end of the container. 15. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the sleeve extends from proximate the distal end of the container to proximate the open end of the container.

16. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the container and trough surround the sleeve.

17. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the container comprises an outer wall extending from a base located at the distal end. 18. A device according to claim 17 wherein the outer wall, the base, and/or the sleeve is a boundary of the trough.

19. A device according to claim 17 or 18 wherein the trough has a trough wall sloping away from the outer wall of the container, wherein the trough wall is a boundary of the trough.

20. A device according to claim 18 or 19 wherein the trough wall, and/or the sleeve is sloped as a staircase of steps that is a boundary of the trough.

21 . A device according to claim 19 or 20 wherein the trough wall is sealed to the container.

22. A device according to claim 19 or 20 wherein the trough wall slopes inward into the interior of the container from proximate the distal end of the container.

23. A device according to claim 19 or 20 wherein the trough wall slopes inward into the interior of the container from proximate the open end of the container. 24. A device according to claim 19, 20, 21 , 22, or 23 wherein the trough wall is sealed to the sleeve.

25. A device according to claim 19, 20, 21 , or 22 wherein the trough wall comprises the sleeve.

26. A device according any preceding claim wherein the canister is received into the sleeve in a slip fit.

27. A device according to any preceding claim wherein an interior surface of the trough comprises protrusions into the interior of trough.

28. A device according to any of claims 1 to 19 wherein an interior surface of the trough comprises depressions away from the interior of the trough. 29. A portable device for containing a volume of liquid, comprising: an open ended canister, which canister is situate within an open ended container, the distal end of the canister joined to the distal end of the container so that the open ends of the container and canister face away from the distal end of the container; and a trough for liquid between the canister and container; characterised in that the trough is increasingly constricted volumetrically towards the distal end of the container.