CONTENTS OF A CONTAINER

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for minimising liquid drips and/or build up from contents of a container.

The invention has been primarily developed for use in minimising paint drips and/or paint build-up from a can of paint, and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, the invention is not limited to this particular use and is also suitable for use with open ended containers of various liquid products including honey and glues or liquid bonding agents.

Background of the Invention

Known cans for paint, and other products, have a rim around an openable end that includes a recess. The recess receives and engages a flange on the underside of the lid of the can, when the lid is applied to the can to close the openable end. The process of painting with a brush and a can of paint involves: removing the lid; dipping the bristles of the brush in the paint contained within the can; wiping excess paint from the bristles along an inner edge of the can's rim and then applying the brush to a surface to be painted.

There are several disadvantages associated with this process. Firstly, some of the excess paint wiped from the bristles often flows into the recess in the can's rim, and this paint is wasted. Secondly, when the excess paint in the recess dries, it can prevent the lid's flange from correctly engaging and/or sealing with respect to the recess. This can expose the paint in the can to air, which can prematurely render the paint unusable. Thirdly, an incorrectly applied lid can dislodge and result in spillages in the event that the can is dropped or overturned. Fourthly, the dried paint build up can also act as an adhesive and make the lid difficult to subsequently remove from the can. Fifthly, the paint wiped from the bristles can also flow over the can's rim and down the outside of the can. This paint is also wasted, and can mark or stain the surface the paint can is sitting on.

Object of Invention

It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages. Summary of Invention

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a device for minimising liquid drips and/or buildup from contents of a container, the device includes:

an engaging part adapted for releasable engagement with a rim adjacent an openable end of the container, the engaging part at least partially covering the rim; and

a wiping part disposed, in use, at least partially inwards of the engaging part.

The engaging part preferably totally covers the rim.

The wiping part is preferably disposed, in use, totally inwards of the engaging part.

The engaging part preferably includes a cylindrical engaging surface, sized to be a snug fit around the exterior of the reservoir. The engaging part preferably includes an inwardly facing recess, sized to be a snug fit around the outermost edge of the rim. The engaging part preferably includes a radial flange, having a radial dimension equal to or greater than that of the rim.

The wiping part preferably includes a cylindrical wiping surface. The wiping part preferably includes an inwardly directed radial wiping flange. The wiping surface preferably has a smaller diameter than that of the inner diameter of the rim.

The device preferably includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs between the engaging part and the wiping part.

The device is preferably moulded from plastics material, most preferably a flexible plastics material. The engaging part, the wiping part and the ribs are preferably integrally moulded.

In another embodiment, the device includes a spout, for pouring. Most preferably the spout is attached to, or forms part of, the wiping part.

In a yet further embodiment, the device includes a lid, adapted to engage with and seal against the engaging part.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a device for minimising paint drips and/or paint buildup from a paint can, the device includes:

a generally cylindrical engaging part adapted for releasable engagement with a rim around an openable end of the paint can, the engaging part substantially covering the rim; and

a generally cylindrical wiping part attached to, or forming part, of the engaging part, the wiping part having a smaller internal diameter than the internal diameter of the rim.

The wiping part preferably has a smaller internal diameter than the internal diameter of the engaging part. The engaging part preferably includes a cylindrical engaging surface, sized to be a snug fit around the exterior of the paint can. The engaging part preferably includes an inwardly facing recess, sized to be a snug fit around the outermost edge of the rim. The engaging part preferably includes a radial flange, having a radial dimension equal to or greater than that of the rim.

The wiping part preferably includes a cylindrical wiping surface. The wiping part preferably includes an inwardly directed radial wiping flange. The wiping surface preferably has a smaller diameter than that of the inner diameter of the rim.

The device preferably includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs between the engaging part and the wiping part.

The device is preferably moulded from plastics material, most preferably flexible plastics material. The engaging part, the wiping part and the ribs are preferably integrally moulded.

In another embodiment, the device includes a spout, for pouring. Most preferably, the spout is attached to, or forms part of, the wiping part.

In a yet further embodiment, the device includes a lid, adapted to engage with and seal against the engaging part.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of a device for minimising liquid drips and/or build up from contents of a container;

Fig. 2 is an upper perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional side view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional side view of the device shown in Fig. 1 along line 4-4 of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a paint can and a paint brush;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the can and brush shown in Fig. 5 with the can's lid removed;

Fig. 7 shows the device shown in Fig. 1 before it is applied to the can shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 shows the device shown in Fig. 1 applied to the can shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 shows the device of Fig. 1 in use while applied to the can shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a top view of a second embodiment of a device for minimising liquid drips and/or build up from contents of a container; Fig. 11 is an upper perspective view of the device shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional side view of the device shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 shows the device shown in Fig. 10 before it is applied to a paint can;

Fig. 14 shows the device shown in Fig. 10 applied to the can shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 shows the device of Fig. 10 in use while applied to the can shown in Fig. 13; and Fig. 16 shows the device shown in Fig. 10 applied to the can shown in Fig. 13 positioned for pouring of contents from the paint can.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Figs. 1 to 4 show a first embodiment of a device 10 for minimising liquid drips and/or build up from contents of a liquid reservoir. The device 10 is for minimising paint drips and/or paint build up from a can of paint. The device 10 includes an engaging part 12 and a wiping part 14.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the engaging part 12 is cylindrical in shape and includes an inwardly facing cylindrical engaging surface 12a. The surface 12a is sized to be a snug fit around the exterior of a can of paint. The engaging part 12 also includes a cylindrical inwardly facing recess 12b, which is sized to receive, and be a snug fit around, the outermost edge of the rim on the top of a paint can. The engaging part 12 also includes a radial flange part 12c, which is sized to cover the rim (and its recess) of a paint can and an angled flange part 12d.

Fig. 4 also shows that the wiping part 14 is cylindrical in shape and includes an inwardly facing wiping surface 14a and a small inwardly facing radial wiping flange 14b. The wiping surface 14a is positioned inwardly of the engaging part 12 and connected thereto by six angularly spaced apart ribs 16. In the embodiment shown, the wiping surface 14a is positioned approximately 8mm inwardly from the engaging surface 12.

The device 10 is injected moulded, as a single component, from a flexible plastics material in a range of sizes to suit application to standard paint can sizes including half litre, one litre, two litre and four litre. In other embodiments, the number of rib 16 can be varied and the inward positioning of the wiping surface 14a relative to the engaging surface 12 can be varied.

The use of the device 10 will now be described with reference to Figs. 5 to 9. Fig. 5 shows a paint can 20 and a paint brush 24, both of standard construction. The can 20 has a lid 22. The paint brush 24 has a handle 26 and bristles 28.

Fig. 6 shows the can 20 after removal of the lid 22 from the can's upper openable end. The removal of the lid 22 exposes the rim 30 of the can 20. The rim 30 is of standard constructions and includes a recess 30a which receives and engages a flange 22a on the under side of the lid 22.

Fig. 7 shows the can 20 just prior to the application of an appropriately sized device 10 to the rim 30.

Fig. 8 shows the can 20 after application of the device 10 to the rim 30. The engaging surface 12a of the engaging part 12 is a snug fit around the exterior of the can 20, and the outermost edge of the rim 30 is snugly received within the recess 12b. The flange part 12c covers the recess 30a and prevents paint from being able to flow into and block the recess 30a.

Fig. 9 shows the can 20 and the device 10 whilst excess paint is being wiped from the bristles 26 of the brush 24. More particularly, as the bristles 26 are wiped along the wiping surface 14a and the wiping flange 14b, any excess paint drips back along them into the interior of the paint can 20. Any drips of paint that flow over the wiping part 14 also drip back into the interior of the can 20, as the wiping part 14 is positioned inwardly of the can's rim 30.

As a result, any excess paint wiped from the bristles 26 flows back into the interior of the can 20. Any paint which dries on the device 10 after it has been removed from the can 20 can be easily removed by either washing the device 10 or allowing the paint to dry and thereafter twisting and distorting the device 10 to flake off the dried paint.

The device 10 has many advantages. Firstly, it avoids paint wastage. Secondly, it avoids paint drying in the recess 30 and thereafter preventing incorrect engagement and/or sealing of the lid's flange 22 into the rim's recess 30a. This prevents premature curing of the paint.

Thirdly, as the rim's recess 30a remains clean, the lid 22 can be correctly applied to the can 20. There is thus less chance that paint will be spilled in the event the can 20 is dropped or overturned. Fourthly, the lid 22 can also be subsequently easily removed from the can 20 due the absence of any paint in the rim's recess 30a. Fifthly, paint does not flow over the can's rim 30 and down the outside of the can 20, which avoids paint wastage and avoids marks and stains on the surface on which the can 20 is sitting.

Figs. 10 to 13 show a second embodiment of a device 40 for minimising liquid drips and/or build up from contents of a liquid reservoir. The device 40 is similar to the device 10 described above and like reference numerals have been used to indicate like features. However, in the device 40, the wiping part 14 does not extend around the entire periphery of the can 20 as it includes a spout 42 for part of the periphery.

As Figs. 13 to 15 show, the remaining wiping part 14 is used in a similar manner as to that previously described and provides the same advantages as were described with reference to the device 10. Further, as shown in Fig. 16, the spout 42 advantageously allows the contents of the can 20 to be poured in a relatively less messy manner.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms. For example, in another embodiment (not shown), the engaging part extends only partially around the exterior of the container. In yet another embodiment (not shown), the wiping part and/or wiping surface extends only partially around the rim of the container. In these embodiments, care must be exercised to only wipe the bush's bristles on the device and not any exposed parts of the rim. In a further embodiment, the device includes . a lid, which engages with and seals against the engaging part so that the original lid of the can does not need to be used until the work is complete.