Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to volumetric measuring apparatus and methods and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for accurately measuring the liquid ingredients of a paint mixture being prepared.

Background of the Invention The prior art is replete with apparatus for making liquid volumetric measurements such as transparent measuring cups and graduated cylinders which enable one to determine the amount of a material in the cup or cylinder by visually observing the material's surface level and then comparing the level to a mark printed on the cup or graduated cylinder.

In addition, U.S. Patent No. 4,388,839 to Benisti discloses a blender-like device which is provided with fixation means for attaching a recipe card to the side of the device. The recipe cards have liquid levels printed on the card which enable a user of the device to pour the correct amount of the recipe's liquids into the device which are designated on the card.

While the Benisti device undoubtedly works as intended, it would appear that considerable time and effort would have to be spent determining where to print the levels on the recipe cards since the Benisti device does not have a uniform shape, but rather a tapered shape with an extremely small cross-section at its bottom. It also appears that it would be somewhat difficult to manufacture the recipe cards since the

ends of the cards have to be provided with flange-like extensions which attach the cards to the device's fixation means. The process of attaching or affixing a recipe card to the device also appears to be unnecessarily complicated since the user has to first attach the bottom of the recipe card to the bottom fixation means before affixing the top of the card to the upper fixation means. The user also has to bend the flexible card along its longitudinal axis in order to attach it to the fixation means. In addition, to remove the card, the aforementioned sequence has to be performed in reverse. Other apparatus for enabling one to measure ingredients being poured into a container are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 645,875 to Strauss; 765,611 to Carr; 2,507,684 to Smith; 2,720,114 to Truffa; 4,262,535 to Anderson; 4,445,370 to Whitmire; 4,531,293 to Grinde; and U.S. Patent No. 4,550,602 to Burke, Sr., et al.

As will be appreciated, none of the aforementioned apparatus are concerned with the preparation of paint mixtures, particularly automotive paint mixtures, which generally comprise a color base, a reducer and an activator. Complicated systems such as that disclosed in Benisti which are difficult to use as described above are not typically used by many auto body technicians, many of whom even refuse to use conventional measuring sticks provided gratis by many paint manufacturers.

A conventional measuring stick as referred to above is typically used by holding it upright in the interior of conventional mixing can and then pouring the paint ingredients

into the container. While doing this, the technician tries to read the marks on the stick. Because it is obviously difficult to do all of this at once, many auto body technicians simply refuse to use the sticks. In addition, paint ingredients often splash on the measuring stick as they are poured into the container, thereby covering the marks printed on the measuring stick. As a result, the sticks are often difficult if not often impossible to read, thereby providing the technician with another reason for not using them. Paint mixtures prepared in this manner, i.e. without using the sticks, also often contain incorrect proportions of color base, reducer and/or activator which can produce a poor quality paint that might crack or flake off easily, or not dry properly.

Disclosure of the Invention

The present invention addresses the deficiencies of the prior art measuring apparatus by providing an extremely user- friendly apparatus for accurately measuring the amount of each ingredient of a desired paint mixture to prepare a selected volume of the desired paint mixture.

The apparatus includes an elongated, generally rectangular measuring stick, many of which are already commercially available and produced by the various manufacturers of automotive paint. The sticks are provided with marks which indicate the amounts of each paint ingredient required to properly prepare selected volumes of a desired paint mixture.

The apparatus of the present invention further includes a container having a sidewall and a bottom for receiving a plurality of generally liquid paint ingredients. The container further includes measuring stick receiving means referred to as a sleeve which is preferably integral with a transparent portion of the container sidewall for slidably receiving a lower end of the measuring stick. When the lower end of the stick is received in the sleeve, the stick's lower end will be flush with the inner surface of the container's bottom and the stick will be maintained in an upright position with respect to the container, thereby making it easy for a technician to read the stick while adding paint ingredients to the container.

In a preferred embodiment, the height of the measuring stick is substantially greater than the height of the container so that an upper end of the measuring stick projects out of the sleeve and is capable of being grasped when the lower end of the stick is slidably received in the container's sleeve. The ability to grasp the upper end of the stick makes it extremely easy to insert the measuring stick into the sleeve and remove it therefrom, the ease of which will appeal to most automotive body shop technicians and result in the apparatus' use by most technicians.

The present invention also provides a method using the aforementioned apparatus for accurately measuring the amount of each ingredient of a desired paint mixture to prepare a selected volume of the desired paint mixture. The method includes providing the aforementioned apparatus, and then

slidably inserting the measuring stick into the container's sleeve so that the stick is positioned in an upright position in the container and the stick's lower end is flush with the inner surface of the container's bottom. The first ingredient of the desired paint mixture, typically a color base, is then poured into the container until the surface level of the first ingredient is flush with the mark on the measuring stick for the first ingredient which indicates that the correct amount of the first ingredient has been poured into the container for the selected volume of the desired paint mixture.

The second ingredient, typically a reducer or thinner, is then poured into the container (which already contains the first ingredient) until the surface level of the combined ingredients is flush with the mark on the measuring stick for the second ingredient which indicates that the correct amount of the second ingredient has been poured into the container for the selected volume of the desired paint mixture.

The third or final ingredient of the paint mixture, typically the activator or hardener, is then poured into the container until the surface level of the now three combined ingredients is flush with the mark on the measuring stick for the third ingredient which indicates that the correct amount of the third ingredient has been poured into the container and that- the desired paint mixture is now prepared and ready to be mixed or shaken.

As will be appreciated, since the sidewall of the container is transparent a user of the apparatus of the present invention is able to easily determine when the surface

level of an ingredient being poured into the container is flush with its corresponding mark on the measuring stick by simply observing the surface level through the transparent sidewall of the container and comparing it with the mark.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout the drawing figures, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the container of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the container of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation view of the container of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a front elevation view of the container of Figure 1. Figure 6 is a side elevation view of the container of Figure 1 similar to Figure 3 showing a measuring stick 12 inserted in the sleeve of the container.

Figure 7 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 6, however, showing the container partially filled with a first ingredient of a paint mixture.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of another container of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the container in Figure 8

Figure 10 is a side elevation view of the container of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a rear elevation view of the container of Figure 8. Figure 12 is a front elevation view of the container of Figure 8.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Figures 1 through 7, specifically Figures 6 and 7, illustrate an apparatus or a system 10 for accurately measuring the amount of each ingredient of a paint mixture to prepare a selected volume of the paint mixture.

As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, system 10 includes a measuring stick 12 which is provided with marks a, b and c on its surface for indicating the amount of each ingredient of the paint mixture which are required to prepare a selected volume such as 2 quarts of the mixture. As shown, measuring stick 12 is also provided with marks d, e and f for preparing a smaller volume of the desired paint mixture such as 1% quarts. The use of the stick and marks thereon to prepare a selected volume in accordance with the present invention is discussed in detail below.

System 10 also includes a container 14 having a sidewall 16 and a bottom 18 which define a uniformly cross-sectioned receiving chamber 20, best shown in Figures 1 and 2, for receiving the paint ingredients of the desired paint mixture. As shown in Figures 1 through 7, sidewall 16 of container 14 is transparent, the importance of which will become clear from

the following description. In addition, container 14 is provided with a pouring spout 22.

In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, container 14 is also provided with a measuring stick receiving means referred to herein as a sleeve 24. As best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, sleeve 24 is defined by an opposing pair of grooves 26, which are spaced from each other a distance which is slightly greater than the width of measuring stick 12 so that sleeve 24 is capable of slidably receiving the measuring stick. As also shown, sleeve 24 is further defined by a planar outwardly facing surface 28 which integrally joins opposing sides (not numbered) of the opposing grooves 26. As also shown, each other opposing side of grooves 26 terminates along an edge 30 which together define an opening (not numbered) which facilitates easy viewing of the measuring stick's marks when the stick is received in the sleeve.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, sleeve 24 is further defined by a bottom 32, the surface of which is flush with the inner surface of the container's bottom 18 so that when the measuring stick is slidably received in sleeve 24, the measuring stick's lower end 34 will be flush with the inner surface of the container bottom 18. It is important that the surfaces of bottom 32 and bottom 18 are flush with each other so that commercially available measuring sticks which are designed for use inside a container, that is, in the chamber such as chamber 20 can be used in the sleeve of the present invention.

It is also important that the container, that is container 14, have a height which is less than the height of the measuring stick so that the measuring stick projects outwardly or upwardly from the container when its lower end 34 is slidably received in sleeve 24. This provides a body shop technician with an area identified as upper end 36 of the measuring stick which can be easily grasped which will hopefully facilitate the present invention's use by body shop technicians. As previously explained, most technicians refuse to use the conventional system which requires use of the measuring stick inside the chamber 20 of the container since it is difficult to use as previously explained, as well as messy since the stick has to be cleaned every time it is used. To use system 10 to prepare a selected volume of a desired paint mixture, one first selects the appropriate measuring stick 12 for the desired paint mixture. One then decides how much paint is necessary for the particular job to be painted. For example, measuring stick 12 illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 can prepare two different quantities of its designated paint mixture. Marks a, b and c will prepare a two quart volume of the paint mixture, whereas marks d, e and f are to be used if the technician desires to prepare only 1% quarts of paint. Most commercially available measuring sticks similar to stick 36 are provided with marks for preparing at least four different volumes of a desired paint mixture.

In any event, after deciding on the quantity of paint to be prepared, one then slidably inserts the measuring stick into sleeve 24 so that its lower end 34 is against bottom 32

of the sleeve, and therefore flush with bottom 18 of the container. One then pours the first ingredient of the paint mixture designated on the stick into the container until the surface of the first ingredient, typically a color base, is flush with the first mark on the measuring stick, i.e. mark a as shown in Figure 7, which indicates that the proper amount of the first ingredient for the selected quantity of paint, i.e. two quarts, has been poured into the container.

One then pours the second ingredient of the paint mixture designated on the stick into the container, which is typically a reducer, until the level of the combined ingredients, that is the base and reducer, is flush with a second mark (shown as mark b in Figures 6 and 7) on the measuring stick which indicates that the proper amount of the second ingredient, i.e. reducer for the selected volume of the desired paint mixture has been poured into the container.

The technician then pours in the third and final ingredient of the paint mixture, typically an activator, (for hardening or drying the paint after it has been sprayed onto an automobile) until the surface level of all three ingredients is flush with the third and final mark, i.e. mark c as shown in Figures 6 and 7, for the selected volume, i.e. two quarts of the desired paint mixture. As previously indicated, if less paint is desired one would use marks d, e and f in the same manner as described with respect to marks a, b and c which will prepare 1% quarts instead of 2 quarts.

Those skilled in the automotive paint art will appreciate that an auto body technician will be able to very easily

determine when the surface level of the ingredients being poured into the container is flush with its corresponding mark on the measuring stick by visually observing the surface level of the ingredient being poured into the container through the transparent sidewall of the container and simply comparing the observed surface level with the appropriate mark. As previously mentioned, when the observed surface level is flush with the mark, one stops pouring the ingredient and begins pouring the next ingredient indicated on the measuring stick. Figures 8 through 12 illustrate a container 114 which is very similar to container 14 of Figures 1 through 7. It will be appreciated, however, that container 114 is additionally provided with a handle 140. As also shown, container 114's spout 122 is located below the rim of the container as opposed to spout 22 which is positioned at the rim. In addition, sleeve 124 of container 114 is flush with the outer surface of sidewall 116 which is in contrast to sleeve 24 which projects outwardly somewhat from the surface of sidewall 16. The remaining components of container 114 are very similar to the corresponding components of container 14 and are numbered similarly but with a value of one hundred more than the corresponding components.

From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention provides an extremely user-friendly method and system for accurately preparing a selected volume of a desired paint mixture by enabling the technician to accurately measure the amount of each ingredient of the mixture. The method will appeal to

most auto body shop technicians since it does not require use of a measuring stick inside the container where it would come in contact with the paint being prepared. Thus, there is no need to clean the measuring sticks. The measuring sticks are also very easily inserted into and removed from sleeve 24, and it is very easy to observe the surface level of the paint mixture through the transparent sidewall of the container, which will also appeal to most technicians.

The invention has been described in detail with reference to particular embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that various other modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of this invention.