U.S. patent application number 09/766323 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-25 for selectively divisible liquid container with removable divider.
Invention is credited to Bertoldo, Robert, Fernandes, Charles.
Application Number | 20020096525 09/766323 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25076097 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020096525 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bertoldo, Robert ; et
al. |
July 25, 2002 |
Selectively divisible liquid container with removable divider
Abstract
A selectively divisible liquid container includes a primary
receptacle and a divider that is selectively sealably received
within the primary receptacle such that the primary receptacle is
divided into at least two liquid-tight subsidiary receptacles.
Inventors: |
Bertoldo, Robert; (Acushnet,
MA) ; Fernandes, Charles; (Acushnet, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LOUIS J. FRANCO
LAW OFFICE OF LOUIS J. FRANCO
SUITE 1515
ONE LONGFELLOW PLACE
BOSTON
MA
02114
US
|
Family ID: |
25076097 |
Appl. No.: |
09/766323 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/544 ;
220/549; 220/570; 220/736 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B44D 3/122 20130101;
B65D 25/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/544 ;
220/549; 220/570; 220/736 |
International
Class: |
B65D 001/24; B65D
001/36; B65D 025/04; B65D 057/00; B65D 085/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A selectively divisible liquid container comprising: a primary
receptacle including a closed bottom, an open top and at least one
side wall extending between the closed bottom and the open top, the
closed bottom having interior and exterior surfaces and the at
least one side wall having inner and outer surfaces, the interior
and inner surfaces defining a primary cavity; and a divider that is
selectively sealably received within the primary receptacle such
that, when the divider is sealably received within the primary
receptacle, the primary receptacle is divided into at least two
liquid-tight subsidiary receptacles, each subsidiary receptacle
including a subsidiary cavity.
2. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 1 wherein
the divider includes at least a first partition, the first
partition having first and second opposed faces and a lower edge,
an upper edge and at least one outer side edge, the lower edge
being adapted for selective liquid-tight sealable engagement with
the interior surface of the container bottom and the at least one
outer side edge being adapted for selective liquid-tight sealable
engagement with at least one of (i) the inner surface of the at
least one side wall of the primary receptacle and (ii) a second
partition.
3. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 2 wherein
each edge of a first partition that selectively sealably engages
one of the (i) interior surface of the container bottom, (ii) the
inside surface of the side wall and (iii) a second partition
includes one of a sealably interlockable groove and groove-engaging
rib and wherein each of the (i) interior surface of the container
bottom, (ii) the inside surface of the side wall and (iii) the
second partition includes the other of the sealably interlockable
groove and groove-engaging rib.
4. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 2 wherein
the divider includes at least two non-coplanar partitions.
5. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 1 further
including a selectively sealable drain aperture corresponding to
each of a selected number of subsidiary receptacle to allow a user
to drain liquid from each of a selected number of subsidiary
cavities without the need for tilting the primary receptacle, each
drain aperture being located in one of (i) the side wall of the
primary receptacle and the closed bottom of the primary
receptacle.
6. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 1 further
including at least one paint brush holder within each of a selected
number of subsidiary receptacles.
7. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 1 wherein
the divider includes at least three non-coplanar, angularly
equi-spaced partitions joined at a centrally disposed partition
joint, each partition being one of (i) removably joined to the
partition joint and (ii) permanently joined to the partition joint
and, each partition having an outer side edge adapted for
liquid-tight sealable engagement with the inside of the primary
receptacle side wall.
8. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 7 further
including a selectively sealable drain aperture corresponding to
each of a selected number of subsidiary receptacles to allow a user
to drain liquid from each of a selected number of subsidiary
cavities without the need for tilting the primary receptacle, each
drain aperture being located in one of (i) the side wall of the
primary receptacle and the closed bottom of the primary
receptacle.
9. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 7 further
including at least one paint brush holder within each of a selected
number of subsidiary receptacles.
10. A selectively divisible liquid container comprising: a primary
receptacle including a closed bottom, an open top and at least one
side wall extending between the closed bottom and the open top, the
closed bottom having interior and exterior surfaces and the at
least one side wall having inner and outer surfaces, the interior
and inner surfaces defining a primary cavity; and an insertable
divider that is selectively sealably received within the primary
receptacle such that, when the divider is sealably received within
the primary receptacle, the primary receptacle is divided into at
least two liquid-tight subsidiary receptacles, each subsidiary
receptacle including a subsidiary cavity, the insertable divider
including a first partition having first and second opposed faces
and a lower edge, an upper edge and two outer side edges, the lower
edge being adapted for selective liquid-tight sealable engagement
with the interior surface of the container bottom and the outer
side edges being adapted for selective liquid-tight sealable
engagement with the inner surface of the at least one side wall of
the primary receptacle.
11. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 1 0 wherein
(i) the bottom edge of the first partition includes one of a groove
and a groove-engaging rib adapted for sealable engagement with the
groove and the interior surface of the closed bottom includes the
other of a groove and a groove-engaging rib to sealably engage the
lower edge of the first partition; and (ii) each of the two outer
side edges of the first partition includes one of a groove and a
groove-engaging rib adapted for sealable engagement with the groove
and the at least one side wall includes one each of the other of a
groove and a groove-engaging rib to sealably engage the outer side
edges of the first partition.
12. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 1 0 further
including at least a second partition having a lower edge and two
outer side edges, the lower edge being adapted for liquid-tight
sealable engagement with the interior surface of the container
bottom and one each of the outer side edges being adapted for
liquid-tight sealable engagement with the inside surface of the
container side wall and at least one of the first and second faces
of the first partition.
13. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 10 further
including a selectively sealable drain aperture corresponding to
each of a selected number of subsidiary receptacles to allow a user
to drain liquid from each of a selected number of subsidiary
cavities without the need for tilting the primary receptacle, each
drain aperture being located in one of (i) the side wall of the
primary receptacle and the closed bottom of the primary
receptacle.
14. The selectively divisible liquid container of claim 10 further
including at least one paint brush holder within each of a selected
number of subsidiary receptacles.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Liquid-holding containers are typically single-chamber
receptacles. Some liquid containers include two or more permanent
receptacles with each receptacle adapted for holding a single
liquid at a particular time.
[0002] A painter painting a building, for example, must typically
dedicate one container for each color of paint he or she wishes to
use. When more than one color is in use, the need for separate
containers may cause inconvenience and delay as each container is
hauled up a ladder or to a different worksite location, for
example. Sometimes house painters simply dip their brushes directly
into the paint can in which a particular paint is contained. This
is not uncommon when the paint is contained in a standard
one-gallon paint can. A one gallon paint can typically includes a
handle that assists the user in hauling it, but the need to haul a
separate container for each color is still present.
[0003] Accordingly, there exists a need for a single
liquid-container capable of containing more than one type of liquid
at a time. Although such an apparatus would satisfy needs in a
diversity of fields, a particular need exists in the painting
industry for a single container that can simultaneously contain
plural colors of paint for toting around a worksite.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present invention is directed to a liquid container
capable of simultaneously containing more than one type of liquid.
Moreover, the container is selectively divisible such that the
maximum number of different liquids that the container can hold at
any one time is alterable.
[0005] Although various embodiments and versions of a selectively
divisible liquid container are described with specific reference to
the containing of paint, it will be appreciated that such a
container is equally applicable to a variety of non-painting
related applications. Accordingly, the description should not be
construed to limit the scope of the invention to paint
containers.
[0006] Various embodiments and versions of the invention may
include one or more of the following features.
[0007] In an embodiment, a selectively divisible container includes
a primary receptacle with a primary cavity for containing a liquid,
such as paint, for example. The primary receptacle includes at
least one side wall having inner and outer surfaces. The side wall
extends between a closed bottom and an open top. In one version,
the open top is selectively closeable with a lid. The selectively
divisible container includes at least one insertable divider that
is sealably receiveable within the primary receptacle such that the
primary receptacle is divided into at least two liquid-tight
subsidiary receptacles having subsidiary cavities.
[0008] In one version, each divider includes at least one
substantially planar partition having first and second opposed
faces and lower, upper and outer side edges. The lower edge of each
partition is adapted for selective liquid-tight sealable engagement
with the interior surface of the primary receptacle's bottom.
Similarly, each outer side edge of a partition is adapted for
selective liquid-tight sealable engagement with at least one of the
inner surface of the primary receptacle side wall and another
partition. In alternative versions, two partitions may be joined
edge to face or edge to edge, either directly or through a
partition joint. The insertable divider can be inserted into the
primary cavity of the primary receptacle through the open top. The
insertion and sealable engagement of one or more dividers creates
within the primary receptacle plural subsidiary receptacles, each
subsidiary receptacle defining a subsidiary cavity sealed from the
subsidiary cavities of other subsidiary receptacles. In alternative
versions, a divider includes two or more non-coplanar partitions.
For example, one version includes a divider having three
non-coplanar partitions angularly separated by 120.degree. which,
when sealably inserted, defines three subsidiary receptacles of
substantially equal volume.
[0009] In one embodiment, each of the outer and lower edges of a
partition includes a first type of interlocking member. The inner
surface of the primary receptacle's side wall, and the interior
surface of the closed bottom, include a second type of interlocking
member adapted to sealably interlock with the first type of
interlocking member at the edges of the partition. In one version,
the first type of interlocking member simply comprises a
groove-engaging rib, which may simply be the edge of the partition.
In this version, the second type of interlocking member comprises a
grooved seat including first and second laterally spaced walls and
a base surface between the first and second walls. The laterally
spaced walls and the base surface define a groove into which an
edge of the partition is sealably received. In an alternative
version, the first type of interlocking member at the partition
edges includes a grooved seat of the general type previously
described and the interior surface of the container bottom, and the
inner surface of the container side wall, include groove-engaging
ribs adapted for sealable engagement within the grooves at the
partition edges.
[0010] In another version, the side wall of the selectively
divisible container includes a selectively sealable drain aperture
corresponding to each of a selected number of subsidiary
receptacles. Alternatively, a drain aperture corresponding to each
of a selected number subsidiary receptacles may be included in the
bottom of the primary receptacle.
[0011] In still another version, the selectively divisible
container includes at least one paint brush holder corresponding to
each of a selected number of subsidiary receptacles. A paintbrush
holder may depend from a divider or from the inside of the primary
receptacle's side wall.
[0012] Another version includes a paint brush wiping ledge for each
of a selected number of subsidiary receptacles. A paint brush
wiping ledge may extend inwardly from the side wall of the primary
receptacle or out of the plane of a partition, for example.
[0013] The invention may provide one or more of the following
advantages.
[0014] An advantage of a selectively divisible liquid-container
with removable dividers is that it can retain more than one type of
liquid at a time.
[0015] Another advantage of a selectively divisible
liquid-container is that, when used to contain paint, a user need
not haul a container about a work site for each color of paint in
use.
[0016] In additional advantage of a selectively divisible liquid
container with removable dividers is that the number of different
liquids that the container can contain at any one time is alterable
by the insertion or removal of an appropriate number of
dividers.
[0017] These and other features and advantages of a selectively
divisible liquid container will be more fully understood by
reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with
the attached drawings in which like reference numerals refer to
like elements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a top and side view of a selectively divisible
liquid container;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a top and side view of a selectively divisible
liquid container with an insertable divider inserted therein;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a selectively
divisible liquid container with an insertable divider inserted
therein;
[0021] FIGS. 4A through 4F depict cross-sectional views of
illustrative structures for forming a liquid-tight seal between a
container bottom and side wall and the edges of a partition;
and
[0022] FIGS. 5A through 5F illustrate top views of various
insertable dividers sealably inserted within a primary
receptacle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] The following description of a selectively divisible liquid
container is demonstrative in nature and is not intended to limit
the invention or its application of uses. The invention is
susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms and
certain specific embodiments and versions thereof are illustrated
by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in
detail. It should be understood, however, that the description and
illustrations herein of specific embodiments are not intended to
limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed; on the
contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents,
and alternatives encompassed by the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3 and 5A through 5F, a
selectively divisible liquid container 15 is illustrated.
[0025] The selectively divisible liquid container 15 (hereinafter
"divisible container 15") of FIGS. 1 through 3 and 5A through 5E
includes a primary receptacle 20 having a side wall 22 with inner
and outer surfaces 24 and 26. The side wall 22 extends between a
closed container bottom 30 with interior and exterior surfaces 32
and 34 and an open top 36. In one version, the open top 36 is
selectively closeable with a lid 38 as shown in FIG. 1. The inner
and interior surfaces 24 and 32 define a primary cavity 50.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3 and 5A through 5E, the
divisible container 15 includes an insertable divider 60. Each
insertable divider 60 includes at least one partition 62 having
first and second opposed faces 64 and 66 and a lower edge 68, an
upper edge 70 and at least one outer side edge 72. The lower edge
68 of a partition 62 is adapted for selective liquid-tight sealable
engagement with the interior surface 32 of the container bottom 30,
while at least one outer side edge 72 is adapted for selective
liquid-tight sealable engagement with at least one of the inner
surface 24 of the side wall 22 of the primary receptacle 20 and
another partition 62. In alternative configurations, a first
partition 62 is sealably engageable with an outer side edge 72
and/or one of the first and second faces 64 and 66 of a second
partition 62, either directly, or through an intermediate element.
By the insertion and liquid-tight sealable engagement of one or
more insertable dividers 60 into and with the interior of the
primary receptacle 20, the primary receptacle 20 is divided into
subsidiary receptacles 75 that define at least two liquid-tight
subsidiary cavities 80 within the primary cavity 50.
[0027] In one version, the interior surface 32 of the container
bottom 30 includes a grooved seat 90. The grooved seat 90 includes
first and second laterally spaced walls 92 and 94 and a base
surface 96 between the walls 92 and 94. The walls 92 and 94 and the
base surface 96 cooperate to define a groove 100 with a
substantially unshaped cross-section. The lower edge 68 of a
partition 62 includes a groove-engaging rib 105 that is selectively
received between the laterally spaced walls 92 and 94 of the
grooved seat 90 to form a liquid-tight seal between the grooved
seat 90 and the partition 62. Similarly, the inner surface 24 of
the primary-receptacle side wall 22 has a grooved seat 90 including
a groove 100 for liquid-tight sealable engagement with a
groove-engaging rib 105 on the outer side edge 72 of a partition
62. FIGS. 4A through 4F depict enlarged cross-sections of
illustrative groove 100 and groove-engaging rib 105
combinations.
[0028] Although the groove-engaging ribs 105 of FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4E
are depicted as having a reduced thickness relative to the
remainder of the partition 62, these are only illustrative
configurations. In alternative configurations, the groove-engaging
ribs 105 may be thicker than the remainder of the partition 62 or
of a thickness equal to that of the remainder of the partition 62.
In the latter case, there may be no clear delineation of the
groove-engaging ribs 105 when they are not sealably seated in
grooves 100.
[0029] Furthermore, in alternative versions, each partition 62
includes a peripheral grooved seat 90 on its lower edge 68 and each
of its outer side edges 72 as in FIGS. 4C, 4D and 4F. In these
versions, the interior surface 32 of each of the container bottom
30 and the inner surface 24 of the primary-receptacle side wall 22
includes a groove-engaging rib 105 adapted for selective sealable
engagement with the groove seats 90 on the partitions) 62.
[0030] Although the figures depict interlocking grooved seats 90
and groove-engaging ribs 105 of particular configurations, it will
be appreciated that other alternative configurations are within the
contemplation of the invention. For example, grooves 100 and
groove-engaging ribs 105 of V-shaped, L-shaped and T-shaped
cross-section are possible under certain conditions.
[0031] In alternative versions, as shown in FIGS. 4E and 4F for
example, to facilitate liquid-tight sealable engagement between a
partition 62 and grooved seats 90, a resilient deformable sealing
member 120 is disposed between a sealably interlocked pair of
grooved seats 90 and groove-engaging ribs 105. A sealing member 120
may be attached to either or both of the grooved seat 90 and the
groove-engaging rib 105. When the partition 62 is urged into
sealable engagement with the primary receptacle 20, the sealing
member 120 is compressibly deformed between a grooved seat 90 and a
groove-engaging rib 105. The sealing member 120 has a memory
property tending to return it to an uncompressed configuration when
a partition 62 is not sealably engaged with the primary receptacle
20 and/or another partition 62. The sealing member 120 can be made
from a material of suitable durometer such as rubber, plastic or
some other polymer, for example. Furthermore, the sealing member
120 may be an applied layer or integrally formed with either of the
groove-engaging rib(s) 105 and the grooved seat(s) 90. In still
other alternative versions, the groove-engaging ribs 105 and/or the
grooved seats 90 themselves may comprise a material that is
sufficiently rigid to form the described structures, but
sufficiently resilient to flex and form liquid-tight seals.
[0032] FIGS. 5A to 5F depict top views of illustrative
configurations of insertable dividers 60. Each divider 60 is shown
sealably inserted into a primary receptacle of circular cross
section as viewed into a horizontal plane. In the simple case shown
in FIG. 5A, an insertable divider 60 includes a single,
substantially planar partition 62 that extends along a chord AB of
the circular perimeter of the primary receptacle 20. In this
particular case, the chord AB along which the divider extends
corresponds to the diameter of the primary receptacle 20. The
primary receptacle 20 and the primary cavity 50 have been divided
into two subsidiary receptacles 75 defining two subsidiary cavities
80 of equal volume.
[0033] Insertable dividers 60 comprising two or more non-coplanar
partitions 62, such as those shown in FIGS. 5B through 5F, are
alternatively of single-piece construction or selectively
assembleable by a user as explained further below.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 5B, a divider 60 comprises three
non-coplanar partitions 62 that define three subsidiary receptacles
75. The partitions 62 are angularly equi-spaced such that there is
120 degrees separating adjacent partitions 62. Consequently, the
partitions 62 define three subsidiary cavities 80 of equal volume
within the primary cavity 50.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 5C, a divider 60 includes four angularly
equi-spaced partitions 62 defining four subsidiary receptacles 75
having subsidiary cavities 80 of equal volume. In one version, the
divider 60 is prefabricated--by molding, for example--and
permanently configured. Alternatively, as depicted in FIG. 5C, one
or more partitions 62 of the divider 60 is removably and sealably
attachable to the others so that dividers 60 of alterable
configuration can be temporarily assembled. A liquid-tight seal may
be formed between two removably attachable partitions 62 in the
same, or substantially the same, way that a liquid-tight seal is
formed between a partition 62 and the primary receptacle 20. In
FIG. 5C, the divider 60 has been assembled using four partitions 62
joined to one another at and by a partition joint 61. In the
version shown, the partition joint 61 is a substantially
cylindrical member that is centrally located within the primary
receptacle 20 and includes four longitudinally extending L-shaped
groove-engaging ribs 105, each of which groove-engaging ribs 105 is
adapted for selective sealable engagement with an L-shaped grove
100 in an outer side edge of a partition 62.
[0036] Alternatively, two or more partitions 62 may be permanently
joined at a partition joint 61. For example, two or more partitions
62 may be molded together, adhered or otherwise permanently
connected at a partition joint 61 during manufacture of the divider
60. Regardless of whether partitions 62 are permanently or
removably attached to a partition joint 61, when a divider having a
partition joint 61 is sealably received within the primary
receptacle 20, the partition joint 61, while not necessary
centrally disposed, will typically be disposed inwardly of the at
least one side wall 22.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 5D, a divider 60 defining five subsidiary
receptacles 75 is illustrated. In this particular example, the five
partitions 62 defining five subsidiary receptacles 75 are
equi-spaced at angles of 72 degrees between adjacent partitions 62.
Moreover, the divider 60 is permanently configured.
[0038] FIG. 5E illustrates a divider 60 with six angularly
equi-spaced partitions, there being an angle of 60 degrees between
adjacent partitions.
[0039] In FIG. 5F, a first partition 62A divides the primary
receptacle 20 into two subsidiary receptacles 75. A second
partition 62B extends perpendicularly, and radially, from the
center of the first partition 62A. This configuration is sensible
if, for example, a user wishes to contain three colors of paint,
and twice as much of one color were needed as each of the other two
colors because there are three subsidiary receptacles 75, one of
which is twice the volume of each of the other two. To create two
subsidiary receptacles 75 with subsidiary cavities 80 of equal
volume, partition 62B would be removed. To create four subsidiary
receptacles 75, a third partition 62C (not shown) could be sealably
inserted between the first partition 62A and the inner surface of
the side wall 22 of the primary receptacle 20. In this particular
case, the second divider 62B is sealably secured within the primary
receptacle 20 with its lower edge 68 sealably engaged to the
interior surface 32 of the container bottom 30, one of its two
outer side edges 72 sealably engaged to the inner surface 24 of the
primary receptacle side wall 22 and the other of its outer side
edges 72 sealably engaged with the second face 66 of the first
partition 62.
[0040] Although user-assembled dividers 60 have been illustrated
and discussed in connection with dividers 60 of a particular
fully-assembled configuration (i.e., those shown in FIGS. 5C and
5F), user-assembled dividers 60 of any fully assembled
configuration are possible and within the scope and contemplation
of the invention. A "fully" assembled divider 60 is one in which
all of the partitions 62 that can be included within the divider 60
are included. The example of FIG. 5F is not in a fully assembled
configuration; the connection of one more partition 62 to the
groove-engaging rib 105 previously indicated would render the
divider 60 of FIG. 5F "fully assembled" or "fully configured."
Therefore, the divider 60 of FIG. 5F is a three-partition,
four-cavity fully assembled divider 60.
[0041] Although, in alternative versions, dividers 60 of any
configuration are either permanently configured or temporarily
assembled, one advantage of dividers 60 that are temporarily
assembled is that they are comprised of partitions 62 which, when
unassembled, consume less storage space than multiple permanently
configured dividers 60. For example, the divider 60 of FIG. 5C,
when unassembled, requires substantially less storage space than a
permanently configured four-cavity divider 60 of a size equal to
the fully assembled divider 60 of FIG. 5C.
[0042] It will be appreciated that, although the examples
illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5F show dividers 60 that divide
circular-cross-section primary receptacles 20 into subsidiary
receptacles 75 with subsidiary cavities 80 of equal volume, this in
no way limits the scope of the invention or its applications. These
illustrations are demonstrative only, and it is to be understood
that numerous alternative configurations of the primary receptacle
20 and the divider(s) 60 are within the scope and contemplation of
the invention as it is expressed in the claims.
[0043] In another embodiment, the side wall 22 of the primary
receptacle includes a drain aperture 130 corresponding to each of a
selected number of possible subsidiary receptacles 75. A drain
aperture 130 is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Each drain aperture
130 is near the container bottom 30 so that the paint from one
subsidiary receptacle 75 can be drained without having to tilt the
primary receptacle 20 and spill paint from one or more other
subsidiary receptacles 75. Drain apertures 130 can be included in
alternative locations, such as in the container bottom 30, for
example. Each drain aperture 130 is selectively sealable by a drain
stop 132 to prevent liquid within the receptacle 20, 75 from
flowing to the outside of the primary receptacle 20. The drain stop
132 may be a resilient plug or threaded shaft (not shown), for
example. Where the drain stop 132 is a threaded shaft, the drain
aperture 132 would be threaded as well. In the version shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3, the drain stop 132 is in the form of a gate 135 that
alternately slides over and away from the drain aperture 130 to
alternately block and permit the flow of liquid from inside the
receptacle 20, 75, respectively. The gate 135 shown in FIGS. 2 and
3 slides within a gate track 138. When the gate 135 is positioned
over the drain aperture 130, it forms a liquid-tight seal with the
portion of the outer surface 26 of the container side wall 22, or
the exterior surface 34 of the container bottom 30, surrounding the
drain aperture 130. Other examples of alternative drain apertures
130 and cooperating drain stops 132 include a spigot, a threaded
valve, and a slide valve such as the slide valve commonly found
near the base of a sports-drink cooler under which a user positions
a cup and depresses a valve with his or her thumb to draw liquid by
means of gravity.
[0044] In other embodiments of a selectively divisible liquid
container 15, each of a selected number of subsidiary receptacles
75 includes at least one brush holder 150 for retaining a paint
brush 200. A brush holder 150 may depend from a partition 62 or
from a side wall 22 of the primary receptacle 20, for example. As
shown in FIG. 2, one version of a brush holder 150 includes a pair
of opposed, arcuate, resilient clamping members 152 biased toward a
clamping position and which are flexed apart when a brush handle
205 is inserted between them. Alternatively, a brush holder 150 may
simply be in the form of a hook or shaft adapted for hanging
engagement with a hole in a paint-brush handle 205.
[0045] In one version, the upper edge 70 of a partition 62 includes
a brush-wiping ledge 165 that protrudes out of the plane of the
partition 62 as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. Referring to FIGS. 2
and 3, one or more inwardly-protruding, brush-wiping ledges 165 may
depend from the side wall 22 of the primary receptacle 20.
* * * * *