U.S. patent application number 10/216762 was filed with the patent office on 2003-02-06 for paint can holder.
This patent application is currently assigned to HIPHOOK INC.. Invention is credited to Armstrong, William Edward.
Application Number | 20030024959 10/216762 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46204559 |
Filed Date | 2003-02-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030024959 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Armstrong, William Edward |
February 6, 2003 |
Paint can holder
Abstract
The paint can holder provides an attachment plate with hook, and
an attachment device for attaching the paint can holder to a
painter's body or fastening the paint can holder to a painter's
clothing, for example a pair of openings through which a strap or
belt is disposed. The hook may be provided with a movable retaining
device that closes the hook to retain the handle of the paint can.
The attachment plate is preferably contoured to the shape of the
painter's body and may be provided with ridges that reinforce the
plate and help to stabilize the paint can.
Inventors: |
Armstrong, William Edward;
(Barrie, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Dimock Stratton Clarizio LLP
Suite 3202
20 Queen Street West
Box 102
Toronto
ON
M5H 3R3
CA
|
Assignee: |
HIPHOOK INC.
|
Family ID: |
46204559 |
Appl. No.: |
10/216762 |
Filed: |
August 13, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10216762 |
Aug 13, 2002 |
|
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09721925 |
Nov 27, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
224/148.4 ;
224/148.7; 224/242; 224/268; 224/270; 224/678 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 5/02 20130101; B44D
3/14 20130101; A45F 5/021 20130101; A45F 2200/0566 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/148.4 ;
224/148.7; 224/678; 224/242; 224/268; 224/270 |
International
Class: |
A45F 003/16; A45F
005/00; A45F 003/18; B65D 025/10; A45C 001/04; F41C 033/02; F42B
039/02 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A paint can holder for attaching a paint can to a person's body
or clothing, the paint can holder comprising: an attachment plate;
a hook supported by said attachment plate, said hook comprising a
movable retaining device, movable between a closed position and an
open position, wherein in said closed position said movable
retaining device creates an upper barrier to a paint can handle
retained within the hook; and an attachment device for attaching
the attachment plate to the person's body or clothing, whereby when
the attachment plate is attached to the person's body or clothing,
a paint can may be suspended by the hook and a handle of the paint
can retained within the hook by the movable retaining device in the
closed position.
2. The paint can holder of claim 1, wherein the attachment plate is
contoured to conform to the person's body.
3. The paint can holder of claim 1, wherein the attachment device
comprises a pair of openings on the attachment plate.
4. The paint can holder of claim 3, wherein the attachment device
further comprises a strap disposed through the openings.
5. The paint can holder of claim 4 wherein the openings comprise
slots configured to allow a strap to be inserted therethrough.
8. The paint can holder of claim 1 wherein the movable retaining
device is a lever pivotable about a web on said attachment
plate.
9. The paint can holder of claim 8 wherein the movable retaining
device is hinged to said hook.
10. The paint can holder of claim 1 wherein at least one ridge
projects from the attachment plate.
12. A paint can holder for attaching a paint can to a person's body
or clothing, the paint can holder comprising: an attachment plate;
a hook supported by said attachment plate, said hook comprising a
movable retaining device movable between a closed position and an
open position, wherein in said closed position said movable
retaining device creates an upper barrier to a paint can handle
retained within the hook; and a strap for attaching the attachment
plate to a person's body, whereby when the attachment plate is
attached to the person's body, a paint can may be suspended by the
hook and a handle of the paint can retained within the hook by the
movable retaining device in the closed position.
13. The paint can holder of claim 12, wherein the attachment plate
is contoured to conform to the person's body.
14. The paint can holder of claim 12, wherein the attachment device
comprises a pair of openings on the attachment plate.
15. The paint can holder of claim 14 wherein the openings comprise
slots configured to allow a strap to be inserted therethrough.
18. The paint can holder of claim 12 wherein the movable retaining
device is a lever pivotable about a web on said attachment
plate.
19. The paint can holder of claim 18 wherein the movable retaining
device is hinged to said hook.
20. The paint can holder of claim 12 wherein at least one ridge
projects from the attachment plate.
21. A paint can holder for attaching a paint can to a person's body
or clothing, the paint can holder comprising: a hook, an attachment
plate for supporting the hook, said attachment plate comprising a
movable retaining device movable between an open position and a
closed position, wherein in said closed position said movable
retaining device creates an upper barrier to a paint can handle
retained within the hook; and an attachment device for attaching
the attachment plate to the person's body or clothing; whereby when
the attachment plate is attached to the person's body or clothing,
a paint can may be suspended by the hook and a handle of the paint
can retained within the hook by the movable retaining device in the
closed position.
22. The paint can holder of claim 21 wherein the movable retaining
device is a flexible flange affixed to the attachment plate.
23. The paint can holder of claim 22 wherein the flexible flange
has a barbed tip disposed in opposition to a barbed tip of the
hook, whereby in the closed position the barbed tips interlock.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.
09/721925 filed Nov. 27, 2000.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to paint can holders. In particular,
this invention relates to a paint can holder that can be strapped
to a painter's body or fastened to a painter's clothing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is a concern of painters that they have free mobility
while painting. Painters will often carry their paint can in one
hand while painting, thereby restricting their ability to use both
hands to support themselves when climbing ladders or painting at
awkward angles. This inability to use both hands can lead to
accidents and spillage of paint from the paint can as the painter
moves about. This also reduces the efficiency of the painting
process, because it is more difficult for the painter to switch
hands in order to increase the reach of the paint brush from a
single position, which increases the risk of spillage or results in
wasted time moving the ladder more frequently than would be
necessary if the painter had both hands free to paint with.
[0004] In some cases the painter might choose to place the paint
can on the ground, which requires the painter to step down from
their ladder and to bend over in order to dip their paint brush.
This exercise becomes tedious when the painter is painting a large
surface area that requires the painter to repeatedly re-dip their
paint brush.
[0005] There therefore remains a need to provide a paint can holder
that makes it easy for a painter to carry their paint can while
painting and to climb ladders and paint in awkward situations with
the use of both hands.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The paint can holder of the present invention overcomes
these disadvantages by making it easier for the painter to carry
their paint can while painting, freeing both of the painter's hands
while climbing ladders and applying paint. The paint can holder
thus helps to alleviate some of the accidents that are likely to
occur by carrying the paint can in the painter's hand while
painting.
[0007] The present invention thus provides a paint can holder for
attaching a paint can to a person's body or clothing, the paint can
holder comprising: an attachment plate; a hook supported by said
attachment plate, said hook comprising a movable retaining device
movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in
said closed position said movable retaining device creates an upper
barrier to a paint can handle retained within the hook; and an
attachment device for attaching the attachment plate to the
person's body or clothing, whereby when the attachment plate is
attached to the person's body or clothing, a paint can may be
suspended by the hook and a handle of the paint can retained within
the hook by the movable retaining device in the closed
position.
[0008] The present invention further provides a paint can holder
for attaching a paint can to a person's body or clothing, the paint
can holder comprising: an attachment plate; a hook supported by
said attachment plate, said hook comprising a movable retaining
device movable between a closed position and an open position,
wherein in said closed position said movable retaining device
creates an upper barrier to a paint can handle retained within the
hook; and a strap for attaching the attachment plate to a person's
body, whereby when the attachment plate is attached to the person's
body, a paint can may be suspended by the hook and a handle of the
paint can retained within the hook by the movable retaining device
in the closed position.
[0009] In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a
paint can holder for attaching a paint can to a person's body or
clothing, the paint can holder comprising: a hook, an attachment
plate for supporting the hook, said attachment plate comprising a
movable retaining device movable between an open position and a
closed position, wherein in said closed position said movable
retaining device creates an upper barrier to a paint can handle
retained within the hook; and an attachment device for attaching
the attachment plate to the person's body or clothing; whereby when
the attachment plate is attached to the person's body or clothing,
a paint can may be suspended by the hook and a handle of the paint
can retained within the hook by the movable retaining device in the
closed position.
[0010] In further aspects of the invention: the attachment plate is
contoured to conform to the person's body; the attachment device
comprises a pair of openings on the attachment plate; the
attachment device further comprises a strap disposed through the
openings; the openings comprise slots configured to allow a strap
to be inserted therethrough; the movable retaining device is a
lever or is hinged to the hook; the movable retaining device is a
flexible flange affixed to the attachment plate; the flexible
flange has a barbed tip disposed in opposition to a barbed tip of
the hook, whereby in the closed position the barbed tips interlock;
at least one ridge projects from the attachment plate; and/or the
attachment plate comprises a lip along an upper edge thereof.
[0011] Various other advantages with be apparent to the person
skilled in the art from the following description of the present
invention read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] In drawings which illustrate by way of example only a
preferred embodiment of the invention,
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the
paint can holder,
[0014] FIG. 2 is a front view of the paint can holder of FIG.
1,
[0015] FIG. 3 is a back view of the paint can holder of FIG. 1,
[0016] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the paint can holder of FIG.
1,
[0017] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the paint can holder of FIG.
1;
[0018] FIG. 6a is a side view of the paint can holder of FIG. 1
with the hook in the closed position;
[0019] FIG. 6b is a side view of the paint can holder of FIG. 1
with the hook in the open position;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the
paint can holder;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the paint can holder of
FIG. 7;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the paint can holder of FIG.
7;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the paint can holder of
FIG. 7;
[0024] FIG. 11a is a side elevational view of a further embodiment
of the paint can holder with a hinged hook attachment in an open
condition,
[0025] FIG. 11b is a side elevational view of the embodiment of
FIG. 1 a with the hinged hook attachment in a closed position,
[0026] FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the paint can holder
of FIG. 1 holding a paint can,
[0027] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the paint can holder of
FIG. 1 showing the strap,
[0028] FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment
of the paint can holder of the invention, and
[0029] FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of a further manner of
supporting a paint can using the paint can holder of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] Referring to FIG. 1, the paint can holder 1 includes an
attachment plate 5, a hook 10 and an attachment device for
attaching the paint can holder 1 to a painter's body.
[0031] The attachment plate 5 is preferably generally square or
rectangular in shape. It has an upper portion 20 and a lower
portion 25. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the attachment plate 5
may be contoured to fit to a person's body. The attachment plate 5
is either molded in a contoured form or is made from a suitable
flexible material that allows it to conform to the contour of the
person's body upon attachment.
[0032] In a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1,
the hook 10 is disposed generally at the lateral middle of the
upper portion 20 of the attachment plate 5. The hook 10 functions
as a lever and can be pivoted about a web 22 from a closed position
to an open position. The hook 10 is comprised of three integrally
connected segments tip 30, upper hook segment 40 and lower hook
segment 45. The tip 30 is a movable retaining device. It is angled
inwardly helping to secure a paint can handle within the hook 10
when the hook 10 is in use. The lower hook segment 45 extends
downward from upper hook segment 40 and preferably lies generally
parallel to the attachment plate 5 when the hook is in the closed
position as best shown in FIG. 6a.
[0033] The hook 10 is attached to a reinforcement bar 52 at web 22.
Reinforcement bar 52 is connected to the upper portion 20 of the
attachment plate 5 and extends the length of the upper portion 20
of the attachment plate 5. Tip 30 abuts the reinforcement bar 52
when the hook is in the closed position (FIG. 6a).
[0034] To unhook a paint can handle from within hook 10, the lower
hook segment 40 is depressed, pivoting the hook 10 about web 22 and
moving upper hook segment 40 and tip 30 outwardly and away from
reinforcement bar 52. In this configuration, the hook 10 is in the
open position (FIG. 6b). When the lower hook segment 45 is
released, the tip 30 pivots back toward the reinforcement bar 52
returning the hook 10 to the closed position.
[0035] In another embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the hook 50 is
generally J-shaped. The tip 60 is angled inwardly, but does not
abut the attachment plate 5 (FIG. 8).
[0036] The lower hook segment 80 is integrally attached to the
upper portion 20 of the attachment plate 5 at right angles, thereby
creating an opening 90 in front of the attachment plate 5 as best
seen in FIG. 8. The opening 90 is configured to provide sufficient
room to allow a handle 4 of a paint can 2 to be easily inserted
into the hook 50, as shown in FIG. 15.
[0037] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the hook
10 of the preferred embodiment can be molded directly to the
reinforcement bar 52 and the hook 50 can be molded directly to the
attachment plate 5 or affixed separately. The hook 10, 50 can be
constructed of any number of suitable materials, but must be sturdy
enough to withstand the weight of the paint can against the lower
hook segment 30, 80.
[0038] In order to attach the paint can holder 1 to a painter's
body or clothing, an attachment device is provided. In an
embodiment of the invention, the upper portion 20 of the attachment
plate 5 includes openings, in the embodiments shown in the form of
slots 15 configured to receive a strap 6.
[0039] One of the slots 15 is located on each side of the hook
adjacent to the edges of the upper portion 20 of the attachment
plate 5. When the paint can holder 1 is in use, therefore, the
paint can holder 1 can be strapped to a painter's body by a strap
or belt 6 worn around the painter's hips by fitting the strap or
belt 6 through the slots 15 (see FIG. 13).
[0040] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the
attachment plate 5 could also be conveniently adapted to support
other attachment devices that can be used to attach the paint can
holder to the painter or the painter's clothing without deviating
from the invention as claimed.
[0041] In use, a belt or strap 6 is inserted through the slots 15,
preferably from front-to-back as shown in FIG. 13, so that the
attachment plate 5 bears against the painter's body. The painter
attaches the paint can holder 1 to his or her body by placing the
paint can holder 1 against the painter's hips so that the contour
of the attachment plate 5 conforms to the painter's body. The strap
or belt 6 is then tied, buckled or otherwise fastened to support
the paint can holder 1 against the painter's body.
[0042] When the paint can holder 1 is in place, the handle 4 of the
paint can 2 may be inserted into the hook and the paint can 2 is
thus suspended from the paint can holder 1, as shown in FIG. 15, in
a position accessible to the painter.
[0043] In order to maintain the handle 4 of the paint can 2 more
securely within the hook 50, the tip 60 may be hinged to the upper
hook segment 70 as at knuckle 75, as illustrated in FIGS. 11a and
11b. The tip 60 may thus be pivoted between an open position,
illustrated in FIG. 11a, and a closed position, illustrated in FIG.
11b in which the opening 90 is closed to prevent dislodgement of
the paint can handle 4 during use.
[0044] In a further embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14, a flexible
locking flange 53 is located across the top of the upper portion 20
of the attachment plate 5. The locking flange 53 has a barbed tip
57 disposed in opposition to a barbed tip 59 of the hook 50, so
that depressing the locking flange 53 against the hook 50 causes
the barbed tip 57 to cam over and interlock with the barbed tip 59,
thereby closing the opening 90 to the hook 50. Locking flange 53 is
a movable retaining device and retains the handle of the paint can
within the hook 50 by providing an upper barrier to the paint can
handle 4 if the paint can 2 is jostled or moved suddenly when in
use.
[0045] The paint can holder 1 may include at least one ridge 60
disposed across the attachment plate 5. The ridge 60 may reinforce
the attachment plate 5 to help retain the contour of the attachment
plate 5. Providing more than one ridge 60 across the attachment
plate 5 as shown would then increase reinforcement of the
attachment plate 5.
[0046] Additionally, the upper edge of the attachment plate 5 may
be provided with a lip 55, which further reinforces the attachment
plate 5 and in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 10 provides a partial
barrier against dislodgment of the handle 4 of the paint can 2.
[0047] FIG. 16 illustrates an alternative manner of supporting the
paint can 2, in which the rim of the paint can 2 abuts and is
stabilized by the lower ridge 60. This can be achieved by
positioning the lower ridge 60 according to the size of the handle
4.
[0048] Various embodiments of the present invention having been
thus described in detail by way of example, variations and
modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The
invention includes all such variations and modifications as fall
within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *