Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a lid and container apparatus, in particular apparatus for liquid containers; more particularly but not exclusively apparatus for containing paint or varnish or other liquid requiring stirring for maximal effectiveness.

Background

Increasing numbers of people enjoy improving the aesthetics of their environments, as aesthetic awareness improves along with disposable income in many societies.

An easy way to improve one’s aesthetic environment is to use liquid coverings such as paint or varnish.

Paint or varnish or similar typically needs to be mixed thoroughly, and many users may struggle with this, through incorrect tools or laziness or physical inability. As a consequence paint can be problematic to apply well, and in addition or the alternative full use of paint in a container can also be difficult to achieve.

Prior Art

EP 2 260 933 (NOSSBAUM et al) discloses an assembly of paint receptacle and mixing device is provided, wherein the paint receptacle comprises a receptacle body for receiving paint with an open top and a lid removably attachable to the top of the receptacle body for closing said open top. The mixing device comprises mixing means connected to and extending below the lid and being rotatable relative thereto. The mixing device further comprises a connector pin extending through a central opening in the lid and having an upper part projecting above the lid adapted for a releasable connection to a drive means. The connector pin further has a lower part connected to the mixing means in a torque transmitting manner. US 5 857 772 (WASHINGTON) discloses a paint stirring apparatus comprising: a. a lid having a first side, and a second side opposite the first side; b. the lid adapted to cover an opening of a paint can such that the second side faces an inside of the paint can; c. an internally threaded first shaft mounted to the lid such that the first shaft is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof with respect to the lid; d. a paddle connected to the first shaft on the second side of the lid; e. an externally threaded second shaft partially received within the first shaft and extending generally perpendicularly outward from the first side of the lid; f. the second shaft on the first side of the lid being surrounded by an extendable and collapsible sleeve; and g. wherein the first shaft is rotated when the second shaft is translated along the first shaft.

US 5 251 979 (LARSEN) discloses a paint can cover with mixer comprising a circular member forming a cover for a paint can, a rotatable member extending through said circular member, means rotatably supporting the rotatable member and sealing the rotatable member in relation to the circular member, said rotatable member having an upper end provided with means receiving rotational power from a power source to rotatably drive the rotatable member, and paddle means mounted on a lower end of said rotatable member and extending into a paint can for mixing paint in the can, said circular member including a central adapter portion having said bore formed therein, said adapter portion including a cylindrical body having a generally cylindrical vertical bore receiving said rotatable member with said rotatable member having a bottom extending below said body, said bore including first seal means mounted therein intermediate the ends in sealing engagement with the rotatable member and second seal means bridging the rotatable juncture between the rotatable member and a bottom end of said cylindrical body, each of said seal means being an O-ring seal, said first seal means being positioned in a groove in said body in communication with said bore and sealingly engaging the periphery of said rotatable member, said second seal means being positioned in a groove in the periphery of said rotatable member and sealingly engaging a lower end of said body, said body including a larger diameter bore at the upper end of said bore with the larger diameter bore defining an upwardly facing shoulder, said rotatable member including a peripheral, radially outwardly extending flange at an upper end thereof, said flange being received in the larger diameter bore and engaging said shoulder thereby limiting inward movement of the rotatable member into said body. The present invention arose in order to overcome problems suffered by existing devices.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a lid and container apparatus, the lid comprising an engagement socket for an independently provided electric driver, and the container containing a paddle, wherein a spindle joins the socket to the paddle in use.

In some embodiments the lid and container comprise a single part, for example welded or moulded as a whole during manufacture. The apparatus may comprise a single-use apparatus, or may be flushed or flushable after use, and may for example comprise a drain. According to another aspect of the present invention therefore the invention may comprise a system of recycling and reusing the apparatus.

In some embodiments the socket is offset on the lid. In this way the spindle may be offset and/or the paddle may be offset in use, wherein the spindle or paddle may describe an eccentric circular movement. This may advantageously describe a pattern of movement better suited to thoroughly mixing any contents of the container.

In some embodiments the spindle may move during rotation, for example describing a circular movement. For example in some embodiments the socket may comprise a mechanism for converting rotatory movement into a circular movement for the spindle.

The lid may comprise an exit for accessing the contents of the container without removal of the lid from the container.

Such exit may comprise a displaceable cap. Such cap may be displaced using a screwthread or other reversible mechanism.

The apparatus may comprise a handle, for example a pivoting handle attached in two places to the container’s wall, in a manner known in the art. In some embodiments the lid and container are formed as a whole and the lid may not be removed from the container at any time.

The invention thereby provides a mixing apparatus for paint, stains, varnish etc which may be integrated into paint containers at the time of manufacture.

In some embodiments the lid comprises all the parts to enable mixing and the container comprises a container similar to as known in the art. In this way the lid of the present invention may be added to a known paint container or similar.

In some embodiments the socket can be covered when not in use, so as to limit chances of fluid ingress and subsequent compromise of the socket’s effectiveness.

For example the socket may comprise a cap or similar. The cap may be hinged to the lid, screw thread engaging, or friction, tolerance or interference fitting. It may be envisaged that the cap has a top surface contiguous or largely contiguous with the rest of the lid’s top surface, so as to provide a substantially flat surface.

An area on the top of the container can be uncovered to allow and electric screwdriver/drill to be attached and operated.

In some embodiments an adaptor or adapting tool may be provided for connection of the driver to the socket.

In this way the electric driver may be connected to turn the spindle through the socket. The spindle may be connected to an impeller paddle which is located internally at the base of the container to mix the paint.

Where the paddle is located at the base of the container the paddle is enabled to ensure all paint is accessed.

In some embodiments the paddle comprises a circular perimetric edge joined to the spindle by spokes. In some embodiments the spokes may have elevated parts arranged to move paint. In this way the apparatus of the present invention prevents users from having to buy a separate mixing tool, and prevents disposing and cleaning of unnecessary hazardous waste.

Additionally or alternatively and advantageously, by making the apparatus self- contained the apparatus of the present invention also eliminates any risk of spilling paint whilst it is being mixed.

In some embodiments the socket may comprise a sealing means, for example a silicone gaiter.

The lid may comprise a raised lip, which lip may comprise a reinforced connection between the lid and container, for example so as to provide a robust construction.

In some embodiments the lid and container enables different sized containers with the same mechanism and identical adaptor for each container and lid size.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 shows a reverse isometric exploded view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 with driver adaptor tool engaged in the socket; Figure 6 shows a reverse isometric view of the lid, spindle and paddle from the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

And

Figure 7 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 with a section removed of the wall.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of the apparatus 99 generally comprising a lid 79 and container 80, the lid comprising an engagement socket 76 for an independently provided electric driver (not shown), and the container containing a paddle 77, wherein a spindle 75 joins the socket to the paddle in use.

The container is cylindrical having a continuous outer wall 8.

In particular reference to the embodiment shown the embodiment comprises a combined lid and container formed in thermoplastics such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) as a permanently welded together whole.

The embodiment is an adaptation of a paint container which contains a rotary mechanism built into the lid 79 which will allow the user to easily stir or mix their paint prior to use.

The mechanism consists of an offset spindle 75 with an impeller paddle 77 fixed at one end thereof and a socket 76 with a hex adaptor 78 for a power drill connection at the other.

As the lid and container are not separable the lid 79 also features a pouring collar 7 with a screw cap 3 to allow the paint to be easily poured from the container. The screw cap 3 is over an easy pour collar 7 and is enabled to screw tight to create a seal to make the container contents last longer. The embodiment comprises a separate socket adaptor 78, which is secured in us in the driver chuck, and acts to connect the driver chuck to the socket.

The screw cap is screwed over a collar projecting from an indentation 4 in the lid surface 79, which indentation 4 is semi-circular and extending in from the perimeter 1 of the lid. The socket 76 is a circular indentation 9, with space for the adaptor 78.

The indentation 4 around the cap allows the user’s hand space to unscrew the cap in use.

The indentations form a consistent lower level of the lid where the top of the lid, and cap 3 is flush with the edges to ensure that the embodiment is stackable.

The remainder of the edge or majority of the lid is reinforced with a clip over edging strip 1.

The socket is located in an indentation 9 in the lid, with a wholly displaceable cap or top 5. The top 5 is circular and fills into the indentation 9 through a friction fit. The indentation 9 allows space around the socket for storage of the adaptor and access to the socket.

The indentation and spindle are offset from the geometric centre of the container.

The tool is stored in the indented socket when not in use, below the top 5.

The socket comprises a silicone sealing gaiter 13 below the lid’s bottom surface. The spindle comprises an elongate cylindrical rigid part, with the paddle located at the bottom end of the spindle, against the interior of the container’s base.

The embodiment comes in three sizes and is designed to fit 2.5L, 5L and 10L containers.

The paddle comprises a circular outer perimetric edge 10 and three spokes 1 1 , wherein the paddle or impeller for the 2.5 and 5L containers features elevated parts on the spokes comprising small fins 12. Other sizes or capacities may be envisaged to be implemented as a part of the device of the present invention. In the pictured embodiment the elevated parts comprise vertically extending fins 12 which decrease in height from the circumferential edge 10 and slope off to finish near to the centre or spindle 75.

In some other embodiments the elevated parts are arranged to scoop liquid upwards, for example comprising a helical arrangement in a clockwise direction, and/or anti clockwise direction.

A handle 2 is attached on opposite sides of the container wall on two pivots, similar to paint containers known in the art.

Figure 3 shows the silicone sealing gaiter 13 in place on the socket 76 and in other embodiments the socket and the gaiter may be combined as a stop block so as to act as a stop to prevent the spindle 75 from rising up.

In Figures 7 and 2 there is shown a support spigot 88, comprising a frustoconical projection from the base 6 of the container, on the interior face thereof. This acts to locate the spindle and maintain its position when turning.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims, in particular but not solely combination of features of described embodiments.