Field of the invention

The present invention refers to a device, made of a flexible and elastic material, for scraping of fluid from a brush, wherein the device is adapted for mounting on a free edge of a container, the edge including edges provided with a rim fitted on the outside or the inside of a container and edges without a rim, and comprises a scraping section and a securing section. The device also refers to use of the device.

Background of the invention

When painting using a brush, the painter usually needs to scrape of excess paint from the brush after the brush has been immersed into the paint. The paint is kept in containers of different sizes and different materials such as metal and plastic.

It is common to use the free end of the opened container as a scraping edge since this is simple and does not require extra equipment. Often the painter holds the brush in one hand and the container in the other hand;

hence there is no room for separate scraping equipment. There are several disadvantages with scraping off excess paint on the edge of the container. Firstly, it could lead to scraped off paint running along the outside of the container, which results in any instructions or warnings eventually being covered by dried paint. Secondly, the scraped off paint could fill the grooves located at the top of the container, which results in it being difficult to reseal the container in a sufficiently tight manner. One way of avoiding these disadvantages is to fit a scraping device onto the container in question.

Such a device is shown in document GB-930,271 , where the device comprises a scraping section shaped as an open funnel and a securing section shaped as a circular hook which is slipped over the edge of a container. Two significant disadvantages with this device is that it is space requiring, both during use and when not in use, and that it has a relatively complicated shape which makes the manufacturing process difficult and hence increases the manufacturing costs. Also, the risk of paint running along the outside of the container remains, since the impenetrable funnel and the placement of the upper edge compared to the edge of the container results in its use, in this aspect, not differing much from scraping directly on the edge of the container.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate, or at least mitigate, the above problems, and to provide a device for scraping of fluid, which device prevents the appearance of dried fluid remnants on the outside of a container or on its upper edge.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, these objects are achieved by a device, made of a flexible and elastic material, for scraping off fluid from a brush, wherein the device is adapted for mounting on a free edge of a container, the edge including edges provided with a rim fitted on the outside or the inside of a container and edges without a rim, and comprises a scraping section and a securing section, characterised by the device comprising an upper and a lower long side and a left and a right short side which together define an essentially rectangular surface, wherein the scraping and securing sections are partly separated by an essentially U-shaped slot which penetrates the rectangular surface, and by one device, by means of the slot, being adapted for mounting, without being permanently deformed, onto different containers of substantially different shapes and sizes.

This embodiment provides a flexible device which can be used on different types and sizes of containers, and which is easy and cheap to manufacture, and which does not requires much space as the compact, rectangular shape enables both injection moulding and punching as the manufacturing method. Also, this embodiment prevents spill of fluid onto the outside or the edge of the container onto which the device is mounted, since the scraping surface itself is placed inside the peripheral edge of the container, and there is space enough for fluid runoff on both sides of this scraping surface, which leads excess fluid straight into the container and not along the side or the edge of the container. In one embodiment, a centre section of the U-shaped slot is concavely shaped, or the entire slot elliptically shaped, as seen from the upper long side in a direction towards the lower long side. These rounded shapes lead to a more stable connection between the scraping section of the device and the inside of the container, and between the securing section of the device and the outside of the container.

The slot may comprise an engaging recess at at least one end of the U-shape. This engaging recess increases the amount of interaction with the edge of the container and hence the stability when the device is fitted onto the container.

The engaging recess may comprise a continuation of the slot from the end of the U-shape, in a direction which is different from the direction of the end. This direction may be essentially perpendicular to the direction of the end, in a direction towards the opposing end of the U-shape. This shape results in an adjustment to the shape of the container edge, such that the stability during use increases further.

In one embodiment, the device comprises a recess which runs in parallel with, and is provided on at least a part of, the upper long side. This recess limits the area where the brush is to be scraped off, which thereby prevents paint from running all over the device or from being lead onto the container to which it is attached.

In another embodiment, at least one of the long and short sides may comprise at least one of a putty knife, a glue spreader, a graduated scale, and a brush holder. Also, at least one of the corners of the rectangular surface may have a radius corresponding to that of a caulk finishing tool. Adding several functions to the device results in the user having multiple functions, and hence tools, available at the same time, which facilitates the work underway.

The device may be made of cardboard, which results in a cheaper product, or by plastics or metal, which results in a more durable product which can be used for a longer period of time. Both materials result in a device which can be reused and cleaned. The device for scraping off fluid from a brush, according to the above, may be used with fluids chosen from the group consisting of paint, oil, lacquer, stain, and soap. Brief description of the drawings

The description will be described in more detail below with reference to the appended drawings, showing an example of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view if a scraper according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a scraper according to Fig. 1 , mounted onto a container.

Fig. 3 shows a detailed side view of a scraper according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description

The present invention refers to a device 1 for scraping off fluid, suitably paint, from a brush. The device 1 is mounted onto the edge 2 of an opened container 3, such as a paint can. Regardless of the contents, the container is usually circular or elliptical, and made of metal or plastic. It can however also be made with multiple corners, e.g. having a triangular shape.

The device 1 has an upper long side 6, a lower long side 7, a left short side 8 and a right short side 9, which together form a rectangular surface. By the denominations "upper long side" and "lower long side" are meant that the two long sides, in use, are located at different vertical positions with one long side being placed farther from the paint can, in the vertical direction, than the other long side. The thickness of the device is substantially smaller than the length of the long or short sides, providing a plate shaped appearance not unlike an ordinary credit card. This rectangular surface, i.e. the plate, is divided into an upper scraping section 4 and a lower securing section 5, and these sections are separated partially from each other through an essentially U-shaped slot 10. This slot 10 penetrates the rectangular surface, i.e. goes straight through the device 1 in the same direction as the thickness. Hence, the scraping section 4 and the securing section 5, respectively, can be bent and turned in relation to each other and in relation to the original rectangular surface, such that they together form a clamping attachment which grips both the inside and the outside of the container as described below.

The U-shaped slot 10 comprises a centre section 11 and two legs, where each of the legs originates from each of the two ends of the centre section. The centre section 11 is concavely shaped as seen from the upper long side 6 in a direction towards the lower long side 7, and it extends essentially parallel with the long sides 6, 7. The legs are approximately perpendicularly arranged against this centre section such that they extend in parallel with the short sides 8, 9. Each leg, in turn, has an end 13, which also forms the ends of the entire U-shaped slot 10.

These ends 13 are provided with an engaging recess 12 each. The engaging recess 12 is a continuation of the slot, from the end 13 of the leg and the U-shape 10 in a direction which is different from the direction of the end 13. I.e., the direction of the end 13 is parallel to the short sides 8, 9, and the direction of the engaging recess 12 is parallel to the long sides. The two engaging recesses 12 are directed towards each other, towards the short side 8, 9 which is the farthest away from each engaging recess 12.

The device 1 comprises a recess 14 which runs parallel to, and is provided on at least a part of, the upper long side. The width of this recess 14 is suitably adapted to the most common widths of brushes, since the brush is intended for running across this recess. Since there is a certain difference in height between the long side 6 and the recess 14, edges are formed where they meet, and these edges stop the paint from spreading across the entire device 1 and/or further onto the container 3. This difference in height can be chosen as the skilled person sees fit.

Each of the long and short sides 6, 7, 8, 9 may be provided with a putty knife, a glue spreader, a graduated scale, and/or a brush holder. Also, the corners of the rectangular surface, i.e. the plate, are suitably rounded such that they have radiuses corresponding to the most common radiuses of caulk finishing tools.

The device 1 is made by a flexible material, which material is chosen as the skilled person sees fit. The material can e.g. be cardboard, plastic or metal. The device 1 has a plate shaped appearance, similar to that of an ordinary credit card and it is suitably made by punching or injection moulding. Punching is, e.g., especially suitable since it is a cheap and effective manufacturing method. Further, the device 1 can be used not only for paint but also for oil, lacquer, stain, or soap. If the device is made by cardboard, the cardboard should be of a quality which can stand contact with water soluble paint, which has good tearing strength and high flexural resistance.

The device 1 is mounted onto an open container 3 by the slot 10 being opened against the edge 2 of the container 3, and the device 1 is pushed downwards over the edge 2 until the engaging recess 12 abuts the edge 2. The sections 4, 5 are then separated such that the slot edge 16 of the scraping section 4 is essentially in contact with the inside of the container 3, and the slot edge 17 of the securing section 5 is essentially in contact with the outside of the container 3. The device 1 is hence braced onto the container 3.

The upper long side 6 is, when mounted, placed at a higher vertical position than the lower long side 7, i.e. the upper long side 6 is farther from the container 3 in the vertical direction as compared to the lower long side 7. By vertical direction is meant the direction which coincides with the centre axis of the container. The entire device 1 can be essentially vertically mounted, such that the plate shape extends in a vertical plane. The device can also be mounted such that in leans somewhat inwards towards the centre of the container as seen from a vertical direction, i.e. such that the vertical distance between the two long sides 6, 7 is smaller than if the device would be completely vertically mounted. However, the device 1 is always mounted such that there is a vertical difference in height between the upper 6 and lower 7 long sides, where the upper long side is farther from the container than the lower long side.

The edge 2 of the container 3 can be shaped in several different ways without the functionality of the device 1 being impaired. E.g., there are containers 3 having an interior edge 2, which extends along the periphery of the opening of the container and inwards towards the centre axis of the container, in a direction which is perpendicular to the inside if the container 3. There are also containers where the inside of the container 3 is completely smooth, where the edge 2 extends along the periphery of the opening of the container, but outwards as seen from the centre axis of the container, in a direction which is perpendicular to the outside of the container 3.

The concave shape of the centre section 11 of the slot 10 contributes to making the securing of the device 1 stable, since a concave shape of the centre section 11 provides a larger contact surface against the rounded container 3 than e.g. a straight shape would.

The engaging recess 12 fixates the device 1 in both the horizontal and vertical directions on the container 3. The long side 6, and hence the recess 14, will thereby run, at least partially, from one location on the edge 2 of the container 3 to another location on the edge 2 of the container 3, such that parts of the long side 6, and the entire recess 14, are located within the inner peripheral edge of the container 3. The brush is swept against this recess 14, the paint hence running across the scraping section 4 and into the container. The brush can be swept against both sides of the recess 14, since there is room enough for the paint to run into the container 3 on both sides of the scraping section 4. Since the securing section 5 is constantly located at the outside of the container 3, this section is kept free from paint. This facilitates removal of the device 1 from the container 3 without the user getting messy fingers. Also, this provides a free space on the device 1 where one suitably prints advertisement text, corporate names, logotypes, or user instructions.

The above described way of mounting and using works more or less independently of the shape and size of the container. E.g., one and the same embodiment of the device 1 can be used within an interval of circular containers with a diameter of 95-220 mm, which is a large interval which extends across a large range of containers. The device 1 can also be made in a size which fits larger containers. The device can be fitted onto circular or elliptical containers, or onto containers having multiple corners such as a triangular container. In the latter case, the device 1 is attached at one of the corners such that the engaging recesses 12 engage with one edge each located at opposite sides of the corner.

As long as the device 1 is not used, the plate shape, i.e. the "credit card shape", is advantageous since it takes up little space and several plates can be easily stacked on top of each other. As previously mentioned, the device, thanks to the plate shape, can be manufactured in a simple, cheap and effective way by e.g. punching. Since the device 1 is manufactured of a flexible and elastic material it can regain its original shape even after use, such that it once again takes up little space. Since the entire device is bent rather than folded, there is no risk of the effect of repeated use leading to a break of the device 1 , e.g. that a part would be broken off. Also, the plate shape itself, without protruding parts, contributes to avoiding breaks.

It is realised that many modifications of the above described

embodiment of the present invention are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the device could be used for other fluids than the ones listed and for other tools than a brush. The device could be made by other materials than cardboard, plastic, and metal, and it could be provided with other extra functions than the ones discussed above. The U-shaped slot and its ends can be shaped in other ways, in order to fit a specifically shaped edge of a container. This is also true for the shape of the scraping and securing sections, and the shape of the long and short sides.