HANDHELD PAINTER FINISHING BUCKET

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to vessels. More particularly, the present invention relates to buckets and painting accessories.

BACKGROUND ART Containers for carrying fluids have long been known, and in particular, buckets have been known for centuries. Fluids such as paint or cleaning fluids are often carried and applied from containers to such as buckets. When applying fluids to large areas, large containers are employed, and are often set in a specific area to which the applicator returns periodically. Large areas are typically covered using large tools which can hold a relatively large volume of fluid. This reduces the frequency of trips to the bucket containing the fluid. However, when the large areas are sufficiently covered, the edges and trims often require finishing using smaller tools for more detailed work. Often, additional implements such as paint rollers, brushes and removal sponges are required during the finishing of a painting project or other project requiring the use of a container. These smaller finishing tools do not hold as much paint as the larger tools do, requiring more frequent trips to the bucket of paint. Additionally, areas in which finishing is required can often be difficult to access, such as high up on a ladder near a ceiling and the like. Keeping track of fluid supplies, such as paint, and other implements and returning frequently to the paint bucket can be inconvenient .

Additionally, in the world today, shipping of large quantities of items is almost essential for successful distribution. Therefore, the ability to collect a plurality of items into a small space is highly desirable.

Thus, stacking hate becomes an important consideration.

Specialty containers typically cannot be stacked to reduce the space used due to specialty interior structures.

It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Briefly, to achieve the desired objects and advantages of the instant invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, provided is a painter finishing bucket including a first vessel having a bottom, a continuous sidewall extending from a periphery of the bottom and terminating in a rim. The bottom and sidewall define a volume accessed through an open top defined by the rim. A second vessel has a bottom, a continuous sidewall extending from a periphery of the bottom and terminating in a rim. The bottom and sidewall define a volume accessed through an open top defined by the rim. The sidewall includes a flattened portion extending from proximate the bottom to proximate the rim, an inner surface of the flattened portion of the sidewall being textured to form a paint roller surface. A bridge member has a first end coupled to the sidewall proximate the rim of the first vessel and a second end coupled to the sidewall proximate the rim of the second vessel. A grip extends from a bottom of the bridge intermediate the first vessel and the second vessel. The grip defines a volume therein and has an opening accessing the volume. The opening originates in a top of the bridge.

In another aspect of the invention the painter finishing bucket includes the bridge having opposing sidewalls extending from the first end to the second end forming a trough. The trough communicates with the volume of the first vessel at the first end by a depression of the rim of the first vessel. The trough abuts the

flattened portion of the sidewall proximate the rim of the second vessel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and further and more specific objects and advantages of the instant invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a finishing bucket according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rotated perspective view of the finishing bucket of FIG. 1 with accessories carried thereby;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the finishing bucket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the finishing bucket of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the finishing bucket of FIG.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first directed to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 which illustrate a painter finishing bucket generally designated 10. While bucket 10 is intended to be employed in various operations such as application of fluids like paint, varnish, polyurethane, etc., it will be understood by those skilled in the art that bucket 10 may also be used as a general use bucket in cleaning operations, maintenance, and the like. Bucket 10 may be fabricated in many manners, but a preferred method includes integrally molding the entire bucket 10 from plastic materials. While plastic materials are preferred, it will be understood that bucket 10 can be constructed of other materials such as metals, ceramics, etc.

Painter finishing bucket 10 includes a first vessel

12 having a continuous sidewall 14 extending from a periphery 15 of a bottom 16. Continuous sidewall 14 terminates in a rim 18, and, along with bottom 16, defines a volume 20. Volume 20 is accessed through an open top 22 defined by rim 18. Sidewall 14 extends from the entire periphery 15 of bottom 16 completely enclosing volume 20 other than at open top 22, allowing for the retention of fluids therein. A second vessel 30 includes a continuous sidewall 34 extending from a periphery 35 of a bottom 36. Continuous sidewall 34 terminates in a rim 38, and, along with bottom 36, defines a volume 40. Volume 40 is accessed through an open top 45 defined by rim 38. Sidewall 34 includes a flattened portion 42 extending from proximate bottom 36 to proximate rim 38. An inner surface 43 of flattened portion 42 of sidewall 34 is textured to form a paint roller surface for facilitating the removal of excess paint from a roller. It will be understood that various textures can be employed, but in the preferred embodiment includes rows of raised chevron shaped protrusions . Flattened portion 42, and thus, inner surface 43 of sidewall 34 is sloped to provide an acceptable surface upon which to roll a roller for removal of excess paint. Sidewall 34 adjacent edges of flattened portion 42, extends longitudinally outwardly therefrom to provide additional space for a paint roller. Sidewall 34 extends from the entire periphery 35 of bottom 36 completely- enclosing volume 40 other than at open top 45, allowing for the retention of fluids therein. One or more spouts 48 can be formed in sidewall 34 at rim 38 to permit pouring of fluids from volume 40.

A bridge member 50 couples first vessel 12 to second vessel 30. Bridge 50 has a first end 52 coupled to sidewall 14 proximate rim 18 of first vessel 12 and a second end 53 coupled to sidewall 34 proximate rim 38 of

second vessel 30. In a preferred embodiment, bridge member 50 includes opposing sidewalls 54 and 55 extending upwardly from opposing edges of a base 56. Sidewalls 54 and 55 each extend from first end 52 to second end 53. Base 56 and sidewalls 54 and 55 form a trough which interconnects first vessel 12 and second vessel 30. The trough communicates with volume 20 of first vessel 12 at first end 52 by a depression 58 formed in rim 18. Thus, fluids on base 56 within the trough can enter first vessel 12.

Second end 53 of bridge member 50 is coupled flattened portion 42 of sidewall 34 proximate rim 38 of second vessel 30. Thus, the trough abuts second vessel 30 and fluids on base 56 within the trough cannot enter second vessel 30 as sidewall 34 prevents fluid communication. Bridge member 50 is preferably coupled to second vessel 30 at flattened portion 42 to provide overall balance to finishing bucket 10. When inner surface 43 of flattened portion 42 is employed to remove excess paint from a roller, bridge 50 and first vessel 12 function to counteract and stabilize bucket 10 against the force of the paint roller. One skilled in the art will understand that while second end 53 of bridge member 50 is preferably coupled to flattened portion 42 of sidewall 34 it is feasible that second end 53 can be connected to other portions of sidewall 34 instead.

As can be seen in the preferred embodiment illustrated, rim 18, rim 38 and sidewalls 54 and 55 are formed generally on a plane and create an outer periphery of bucket 10. The peripher of the combined rims is larger than the periphery at the bottoms 16 and 36 and base 56. The various sidewalls taper slightly outwardly from the respective bottom to the associated rims. This enlargement at the top permits nesting of one bucket 10 within another bucket 10. In this manner, multiple buckets 10 can be stacked for storage or transport.

A grip 60 extends from a bottom 62 of bridge member

50 intermediate first vessel 12 and second vessel 30. Grip 60 defines a volume 63 therein. An opening 64 provides access to volume 63 for purposes which will be described presently. Opening 64 originates in a top of bridge member 50. In the preferred embodiment, opening 64 is formed through base 56 between sidewalls 54 and 55 and grip 60 extends downwardly therefrom as an integral element. Thus, a small reservoir is created between first vessel 12 and second vessel 30.

Referring specifically to FIG. 2, finishing bucket 10 is utilized with a finishing paint brush 70 carried in first vessel 12, a finishing roller 72 carried in second vessel 30, and a removal sponge 74 carried in volume 63 of grip 60. Paint or similar fluid is deposited in second vessel 30 for absorption by paint roller 72. Excess paint is removed by utilizing inner surface 43 of flattened portion 42. Painting errors or erroneously placed paint can be removed with the removal sponge 74 which is kept damp by water deposited in volume 63. Finishing bucket 10 can be easily carried by a painter using grip 60.

Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof, which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of the following claims .

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is :