Background of the Invention

Reference to Prior Application

This application claims priority of the provisional patent application 63/218,912, filed July 7, 2021 entitled THE PAINT S LI GER CADDY by Mark Douglas Woodlief and Krista Woodlief.

Field of the Invention

[001] The field of this invention relates generally to the field of painting and more particularly toward a paint caddy to assist painters in painting interiors and exteriors of structures.

Description of the Prior Art

[002] When painting structures, either interiorly or exteriorly, a painter typically switches between using a paint brush and paint roller. The paint brush and paint roller are used depending on the surface being painted and typically both are needed for the same job. Most painters prefer to paint out of a paint can because it holds more paint that a cup or other smaller container typically used. Furthermore, paint cans arc mor sturdy, typically having a metal handle, as opposed to the plastic handles used both paint cups and other containers.

[003] During a paint job, a painter with often switch from a brush to a roller often, so both need to be handy. However, they will not both fit inside of a paint can, which is the preferred receptacle for most painters. Because of this, painters often have two paint cans that they work from. This practice leaves it so that the wet brush or wet roller not being currently used is left out in the air and can dry out.

[004] It is the object of the instant invention to provide for a paint caddy that can be attached to a paint can that allows the painter to have either the roller or the brush in the caddy and the other one in the paint can, thereby preventing the one not in use from drying out in the air. Summary of the Invention

[005] The basic embodiment of the present invention teaches a paint caddy for paint brushes and paint rollers comprising: a reservoir, said reservoir being formed by a back wall, a closed bottom, an open top and a contoured front wall; a ledge attached to said reservoir at said open top, said ledge being substantially planar and further comprising a curved edge distal from said open top of said reservoir, said curved edge being surrounded by a pair of parallel forks; a pair of hooks under each of said parallel forks; a brush wiping ledge extending across said curved edge and attached to each of said pair of parallel forks; one or more notches along said ledge over said open top of said reservoir; a roller bump extending outward from said contoured front wall; and a magnet attached said back wall of said reservoir wherein said forms attach to an inside rim of an open paint can and wherein said magnet securely attaches said back wall to an outer metallic wall of said open paint can.

[006] The above embodiment can be further modified by defining that said brush wiping ledge extends into an interior of said open paint can.

[007] The above embodiment can be further modified by defining that a removable liner is attachable on an inside wall of said reservoir.

[008] The above embodiment can be further modified by defining that said roller bump is located substantially in a center portion of said contoured front wall.

[009] The above embodiment can be further modified by defining that said roller bump is located on one of two sides of said contoured front wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[010] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings. [Oil] Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of the paint caddy of the instant invention.

[012] Figure 2 is a side perspective view of a second embodiment of the paint caddy of the instant invention as it is attached to a paint can.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment

[013] Turning to the drawings, the preferred embodiment is illustrated and described by reference characters that denote similar elements throughout the several views of the instant invention.

[014] The preferred embodiment of the instant invention provides for a paint caddy 10 that is a plastic pouch that fits on the side of a paint can 44. It includes a reservoir 12 that is substantially rectangular in shape with round bump 38, 40 either in the middle or on the side, depending on the embodiment, both described below. The reservoir 12 has a closed bottom 14, an open top 20 and a contoured wall 18 with a back wall 16 that is shaped to attach to the outer wall of a paint can 44. There is a single notch 42 or a pair of notches 32a, 32h on the side(s) of the reservoir 12, depending on embodiment, both described below, that hold a roller handle securely place while it is in the caddy 10. The caddy 10 has a ledge 22 around the open top 20 of the reservoir 12 that has a curve 24 to accommodate the open top 46 of the paint can 44. Across the curved portion 24 is a brush scraping ledge 30 to remove excess paint.

[015] The curved portion 24 of the ledge 22 has two edges 26a, 26b that have hooks 28a, 28b thereunder to allow the ledge 22 and therefore the entire caddy 10 to easily attach to the open top 46 of a paint can 44. In addition to the hooks 28a, 28b on the ledge 22, there is a magnet 34 on the back wall 16 of the reservoir 12 helps secure the caddy 10 to a metallic paint can 44.

[016] The caddy 10 has three primary purposes. First, it holds a brush or roller. Second, it has a scraper 30 to remove excess paint. Third, it eliminates the need to carry two paint cans 44 up a ladder or any other painting job location. The first embodiment holds a standard 3” or smaller brush or 4 roller. The second embodiment, slightly different in shape, better suited for interior painting, holds a 2” brush and 4” roller at the same time. The paint scraper 30 on the second embodiment is on the inside of the paint can 44. The second embodiment is slightly wider in design than the first and includes a single notch 42 on the side to hold the roller handle rather than the two 32a, 32b on the first embodiment. The roller bump 42 is on the side in the second embodiment whereas the roller bump 40 is in the center on the first described embodiment.

[017] Turning to Figure 1, we can see each element in the first embodiment of the caddy 10 which is designed for a 4” long roller (not shown) with a diameter of 2 3/8” and a 3” brush (not shown). The main portion of the caddy 10 is the substantially rectangular shaped reservoir 12 which is defined by an open top 20, a closed bottom 14, a back wall 16 and a contoured wall 18 with a bump 38 for a roller. The back wall 16 has a magnet 34 attached thereto to help secure it to the outside wall of a paint can. The interior portion of the reservoir 12 can be lined with a removable liner 36 for easy cleanup.

[018] Attached to the open top 20 of the reservoir 12 is a ledge 22. This ledge 22 is for attachment to a paint can and is substantially planar. As it extends outwardly from the reservoir 12 it forms a curve 24 with two forks 26a, 26b on either side of the curve 24. Across the curve 24 extending from either fork 26a, 26b is a brush wiping ledge 30. Underneath each for 26, 26b are a pair of hooks 28a, 28b that allow it to easily hook to the open top of a paint can. A pair of notches 32a, 32b are found on opposite ends of the ledge 22 that correspond to opposite sides of the open top 20 and allows for the placement therein and temporary storage of a paint roller when not being used. This embodiment is preferred for exterior paint due the size of the roller compartment relative to the second embodiment, described below, which is better for interior painting. [019] The second embodiment is shown in Figure 2 and only slightly varies from the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the roller bump 40 is on one end of the reservoir 12 rather than in the center. This allows for a 4” long roller (not shown) and up to a width of 1 Vf” along with a 2 ½” brush (not shown) to be in the caddy 10 at the same time. In this embodiment there is only one notch 42 located on one side of the ledge 22 proximate the open top 20 of the caddy 10. This embodiment is designed to be a little wider than the first embodiment and is better for interior trim painting. In this embodiment, it can be seen that the brushing wiping ledge 30 extends into the open top 46 of the paint can 44.

[020] The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.

[021] The discussion included in this patent is intended to serve as a basic description. The reader should be aware that the specific discussion may not explicitly describe all embodiments possible and alternatives are implicit. Also, this discussion may not fully explain the generic nature of the invention and may not explicitly show how each feature or element can actually be representative or equivalent elements. Again, these are implicitly included in this disclosure. Where the invention is described in device-oriented terminology , each element of the device implicitly performs a function. It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be made without departing from the essence of the invention. Such changes are also implicitly included in the description. These changes still fall within the scope of this invention.

[022] Further, each of the various elements of the invention and claims may also be achieved in a variety of manners. This disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of any apparatus embodiment, a method embodiment, or even merely a variation of any element of these. Particularly, it should be understood that as the disclosure relates to elements of the invention, the words for each element may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms even if only the function or result is the same. Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should be considered to be encompassed in the description of each element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled. It should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means for taking that action or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical element facilitates. Such changes and alternative terms are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.