| CLAIMS 1. A cover for a paint container, the cover comprising a flexible material that is adapted to engage with an open top of the paint container and is provided with an aperture through which the handle of a painting implement may pass, wherein first tightening means is provided to tighten the cover around the open top of the paint container and second tightening means is provided to tighten the cover around the handle of a painting implement passing through said aperture. 2. A cover according to claim 1 , wherein said first tightening means comprises an elasticated material. 3. A cover according to claim 1, wherein said first tightening means comprises a draw cord. 4. A cover according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said second tightening means comprises an elasticated material. 5. A cover according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein second tightening means comprises a draw cord. 6. A cover according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said flexible material comprises polythene. 7. A cover for a paint container, the cover being in accordance with claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 8. A paint container provided with a cover according to any of the preceding claims. 9. A paint container according to claim 8, being a tray or bucket for use with a paint roller. 10. A paint container according to claim 8, being a can or kettle for use with a paint brush. 11. A method of covering a paint container according to claim 8, 9 or 10, comprising the steps of engaging the cover with the open top of the paint container with a handle of a painting implement passing through the aperture in the cover; said first tightening means tightening the cover around said open top; and said second tightening means tightening the cover around said handle. 12. A method of covering a paint container with a painting implement in it, the method being in accordance with claim 11 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. |
The present invention relates to covers for paint containers.
When carrying out a painting task, such as decorating rooms within the home, painting the external walls of a building or applying gloss to skirting boards, there are a number of different paint containers and implements that can be used. The DIY enthusiast will typically purchase a paint tray and a roller for coverage of large areas, along with a number of different sized brushes. Paint from a tin is poured into the tray, and a roller loaded with paint for application to a surface. Professional painters and decorators will often use a paint bucket, in which to pour the paint ready for roller application. A paint bucket is similar to a paint tray, only deeper in construction, and provided with a carrying handle. A roller fits within the bucket to be charged with paint.
When carrying out a painting task, it is often the case that paint remaining in a paint container and on an implement begins to dry out, having been exposed to air. A painter typically has to wait for a coat of paint to dry before applying a further coat, or the painter may take a break during the task for lunch or overnight. During such a break, if exposed to the air, a layer of skin tends to form on any paint remaining in the container. Any implements that have been used also begin to dry out. Both the container and any implements must be thoroughly cleaned before being recharged with fresh paint, and the task continued.
Cleaning both paint containers and implements is a time consuming process. It is difficult to remove all traces of the paint from the implement. Often, where an implement has become clogged with dried-on paint, it is thrown away and a new implement must be used for the task. Any paint that remains within a container such as a roller tray or bucket, which has begun to dry out, has to be washed away, and is therefore wasted.
The prior art shows a number of ways of attempting to solve these problems, both in products that are on the market and in patent literature. US 4,541,542 (Florentino) identifies the problem with the need to clean paint trays, brushes and rollers between applications, where the paint has begun to dry out. The problem has been addressed by providing a cover for the paint tray to seal the remaining paint from the atmosphere. The cover incorporates a preformed cavity to accommodate the handle of a roller or brush, allowing the head to remain in the paint between applications. However, whilst leaving the head of the roller or brush within the wet paint prevents this portion from drying out and therefore requiring cleaning, it is likely that the handle will be splashed with paint, or become submerged within the paint in the container. The handle would therefore need to be retrieved from the paint, and cleaned, before a further use. This is again inconvenient, as ideally the handle should be kept away from the paint reservoir.
US 3,406,812 (Carlton) proposes a device for simultaneously preserving the paint in an open paint can and for protecting a paint brush by suspending the bristles of the brush in the open can of paint, and then enclosing the can and brush so that the paint cannot harden, thereby providing for the temporary protection of the paint and the brush. However, whilst preventing air from circulating and drying out the paint within the can, different devices would be required for different sizes of paint container, and different lengths of paint container. The proposal utilises a paint brush support bridge that may not fit many containers. There is again the issue that the handle of any implement might also become soiled with the paint. The same disclosure also contemplates enclosing a roller and tray in a plastic bag.
US 783,363 (Bryan) discloses a device for supporting a marking implement in a container in which there is a marking fluid or a solvent therefor. A flexible diaphragm closes the container and is formed with slits through which a marking implement may pass. The diaphragm is partly flexible but with sufficient rigidity to support the marking implement when inserted through it. The size of the diaphragm has to be adapted quite closely to the size of container. The disclosure is intended to be particularly useful for use with stencil pens and, although use with paint and paintbrushes is mentioned, there is no concept of the device being of use with a paint roller and tray or bucket.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention aim to provide a cover for a paint container and painting implement, part submerged within the paint container, to prevent or inhibit air from circulating and drying out the remaining paint, whilst preventing the handle of the implement from getting soiled, thereby eliminating the need for cleaning in between applications. In contrast to known methods of covering a paint container and implement between applications, they recognise the fact that all painters, whether amateur or professional, use many different containers and implements. For example, professional painters and decorators typically use a paint bucket and long handled roller. Therefore, an aim is to provide a means of covering a paint container to restrict the circulation of air, whilst allowing the head of any implement to remain within the paint in the container. Another aim is to provide a cover that is cheap, easy to use, easy to store and easy to carry around. According to the present invention, there is provided a cover for a paint container, the cover comprising a flexible material that is adapted to engage with an open top of the paint container and is provided with an aperture through which the handle of a painting implement may pass, wherein first tightening means is provided to tighten the cover around the open top of the paint container and second tightening means is provided to tighten the cover around the handle of a painting implement passing through said aperture.
In this specification, the term "flexible material" means a material that is memoryless with zero shape recovery. This is in contrast to semi-rigid or partly flexible members that are of a generally fixed shape.
The first tightening means may comprise an elasticated material or a draw cord.
The second tightening means may comprise an elasticated material or a draw cord.
Preferably, the cover is made from polythene.
The invention extends to a paint container provided with a cover according to any of the preceding aspects of the invention.
Said paint container may be a tray or bucket for use with a paint roller.
Said paint container may alternatively be a can or kettle for use with a paint brush.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method of covering a paint container as above, comprising the steps of engaging the cover with the open top of the paint container with a handle of a painting implement passing through the aperture in the cover; said first tightening means tightening the cover around said open top; and said second tightening means tightening the cover around said handle.
For a better understanding of the invention and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates one example of a paint container cover for a tray and roller arrangement;
Figure 2 shows a further example of a paint container cover for a kettle and brush arrangement;
Figure 3 is a plan view of the paint container cover of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a plan view of the paint container cover of Figure 2; and
Figure 5 is a plan view similar to Figure 4 showing an example of draw cord engagement means about an aperture, and to engage the open top of a paint container.
In the figures, like references denote like or corresponding parts.
The illustrated covers 1 for covering a paint container 3, with an implement 2 contained within the container 3, provide a means of sealing the container 3, thus preventing the paint and implement 2 from drying out. In Figure 1, the cover 1 is rectangular in shape, thus suitable to fit over the open top of a roller tray 3 or painter's bucket. The cover 1 is made from a flexible material, with properties that allow the cover 1 to be easily compressed and folded (or scrunched) and unfolded (or unscrunched), before and after use. An example of such material is polythene, typically used for items such as carrier bags and shower caps, that in its finished form is considered to be thin and non- rigid.
The cover 1 incorporates an aperture 5 through which the handle of a painting implement 2 can pass. The painting implement 2 for use with the tray 3 of Figure 1 would likely be a roller, but could also be another painting implement such as a brush. The cover 1 is provided with engagement means 4 about its periphery to engage with the open top of a container 3. The engagement means 4 as shown in Figure 1 is an elasticated portion, about the peripheral edge of the cover 1. For example, the elasticated portion may comprise an elasticated cord held in a channel formed at the edge of the cover 1, or attached to the cover 1 in any other suitable way. The engagement means 4 is sufficient to prevent the cover 1 from coming away from the container 3, whilst preventing the ingress of air into the container 3 that will cause the paint to dry out. The engagement means 4 may be about the entire periphery of the cover 1, or might be divided into one or more sections.
The aperture 5 within the cover 1 incorporates means to engage with the handle of the implement 2, to prevent the ingress of air into the container 3. As shown in Figure 1 , the engagement means 6 comprises an elasticated portion about the aperture, which engages around the handle of the painting implement 2. As above, the elasticated portion may comprises an elasticated cord held in a channel formed in the cover 1, or attached to the cover 1 in any other suitable way. Figure 2 shows a cover similar to that shown in Figure 1, but for a cylindrical container 3, such as a paint pot - often known as a paint kettle. The cover 1 is circular in shape and incorporates engagement means 4 about the periphery to engage with the open top of the container 3. The aperture 5 through which the handle of an implement 2, such as a paint brush, can pass, can be located anywhere within the surface of the cover 1.
The covers 1 of Figures 1 and 3 are shown in Figures 3 and 4 in their unscrunched form, in both the rectangular shape and circular shape as required for the differently shaped containers 3 that are available to the user. A wide range of sizes of cover 1 might also be provided to fit different sized containers 3.
The engagement means 4 is not limited to being about the periphery of the cover 1, as shown in the figures. The cover 1 may include additional material that hangs down the side of the container 3, for anti-splash purposes. The engagement means 4 to engage with the open top of a container 3 is not limited to resilient means, but could also include a draw cord arrangement 9 as shown in Figure 5. The draw cord arrangement 9 would gather together portions of the cover 1, until the cover 1 is suitably engaged with the rim of the container 3. The engagement means 6 about the aperture 5 is also not limited to resilient means, but might consist of a loop of draw cord 10 as shown in Figure 6. By pulling the loop, the draw cord 10 closes the aperture 5 within the cover 1, to gather the material of the cover 1 about the handle of the implement 2. Either or both of the draw cords 9 and 10 may be provided with a toggle or other device to hold the cords in a desired position - e.g. when tightened about the handle of an implement 2.
It may be appreciated that the illustrated covers 1 provided a convenient means to cover up a paint container 3 and implement 2, to prevent or inhibit paint from drying out within the container and on the implement. The flexible nature of the covers 1 enables them to be folded or scrunched up and carried in the pocket until needed. In this respect, they are much smaller and easy to store and carry than some previously proposed devices. Despite this, the covers 1 fit closely around the paint containers 3 and the handles of the implements 2, to inhibit drying of the paint within. The handles of the implements 2 may remain clean.
It is to be appreciated that it is not essential for the covers 1 to form a perfect seal around the paint containers 3 and the handles of the implements 2. Provided that they fit reasonably closely, the covers 1 will be effective.
It is preferred that the covers 1 have resilient engagement means around the paint containers 3 and handles of the implements 2 to provide a good fit. Using an elasticated cord 4 at the edges of the cover 1 not only helps to provide a good fit, but affords the covers 1 a stretch-fit for use with a reasonable variety of sizes of paint containers 3. Likewise, an elasticated cord 6 around the aperture 5 affords a stretch-fit for use with a reasonable variety of sizes of implement 2 handles.
It will be appreciated that, in the illustrated embodiments, the elasticated materials and draw cords serve as tightening means to tighten, respectively, the cover 1 around the open top of the paint container 3 and the cover around the handle of the painting implement 2, passing through the aperture in the cover 1.
A cover such as the cover 1 preferably comprises a biodegradable material. In addition to the convenience to the user of inhibiting drying out of paint, painting implement and container, embodiments of the invention may also afford environmental benefits by reducing the need to tip down a sink or drain unused paint from paint kettles, rollers, brushes, etc.
In this specification, the verb "comprise" has its normal dictionary meaning, to denote non-exclusive inclusion. That is, use of the word "comprise" (or any of its derivatives) to include one feature or more, does not exclude the possibility of also including further features.
The reader's attention is directed to all and any priority documents identified in connection with this application and to all and any papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.
All or any of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/ or all or any of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/ or steps are mutually exclusive.
Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing
embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.
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