U.S. patent application number 15/653673 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-31 for lid with hinged compartments for joint compound container.
The applicant listed for this patent is UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY. Invention is credited to Tyler KINCAID.
Application Number | 20180148220 15/653673 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 62193536 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180148220 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KINCAID; Tyler |
May 31, 2018 |
LID WITH HINGED COMPARTMENTS FOR JOINT COMPOUND CONTAINER
Abstract
A container and lid assembly is provided, including a main
container defining a chamber with a base joint compound; and a
container lid constructed and arranged for closing the main
container, the lid having a main hinged lid door openable to
provide access to the chamber; and at least one supplemental lid
door hinged to the lid and openable to a supplemental compartment,
the supplemental compartment being isolated from the chamber.
Inventors: |
KINCAID; Tyler; (Chicago,
IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY |
Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
62193536 |
Appl. No.: |
15/653673 |
Filed: |
July 19, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62426813 |
Nov 28, 2016 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2543/00296
20130101; B65D 21/02 20130101; B65D 43/00 20130101; B65D 81/3216
20130101; B65D 43/16 20130101; A45C 11/20 20130101; B65D 2543/00194
20130101; B65D 51/28 20130101; A45C 11/00 20130101; B65D 25/04
20130101; B65D 1/24 20130101; B65D 2543/00379 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 21/02 20060101
B65D021/02; A45C 11/20 20060101 A45C011/20; B65D 25/04 20060101
B65D025/04; B65D 43/16 20060101 B65D043/16 |
Claims
1. A container and lid assembly, comprising: a main container
defining a chamber with a base joint compound; and a container lid
constructed and arranged for closing said main container, said lid
having a main hinged lid door openable to provide access to said
chamber; and at least one supplemental lid door hinged to said lid
and openable to a supplemental compartment, said supplemental
compartment being isolated from said chamber.
2. The container and lid assembly of claim 1, wherein hinges of
said main hinged lid door and said at least one supplemental hinged
lid door are adjacent each other on said container lid.
3. The container and lid assembly of claim 2, wherein said hinges
are parallel to each other.
4. The container and lid assembly of claim 1, wherein said main
hinged lid door and said at least one supplemental hinged lid door
engage said lid in a snap-fit configuration.
5. The container and lid assembly of claim 1, wherein said
supplemental compartment is integrally formed with said container
lid.
6. The container and lid assembly of claim 1, wherein said main
hinged lid door is larger in area than a single said at least one
supplemental hinged lid door.
7. The container and lid assembly of claim 1 wherein said chamber
has a base joint compound, and said at least one supplemental
chamber has an additive for use with said base joint compound.
8. The container and lid assembly of claim 7, wherein said additive
is taken from the group consisting of retarders, accelerators,
activators, pigments, adhesion promoters and dust reducers.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a Non-Provisional of, and claims 35 USC
119 priority from, U.S. Application No. 62/426,813 filed Nov. 28,
2016, the contents of which are incorporated by reference
herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates generally to container
closures with compartments, and more specifically to containers
designed to package compositions such as joint compound, which are
activated by separately packaged additives for improved
operation.
[0003] Walls and ceilings made from gypsum wallboard are
conventionally constructed by attaching the wallboard panels to
framing members or studs, and filling and coating the joints
between the panels with a specially formulated paste composition
called a joint compound. Joint compounds may be supplied as
powdered compositions (to be mixed with water at the jobsite) or
may be premixed with water at the factory to yield a ready mixed
(or paste) joint compound. A paste joint compound (Taping grade) is
placed within and over the joint formed by the abutting edges of
the wallboard panels, and a paper reinforcing tape is embedded in
the joint with the joint compound which is then permitted to dry.
Alternately, the reinforcing tape may be of non-cellulose
composition, but of a size and shape similar to strips of paper
joint tape. Alternately, the reinforcing tape may be of a
fiberglass weave requiring the use of chemically setting type joint
compounds. When the joint compound is dry, a second joint compound
(Topping or Finishing grade) is applied over the joint, and it too
is permitted to dry. It is usually necessary for a third
application of a joint compound and, after the third coat is dry,
it may be lightly sanded and may be conventionally finished with a
decorative material (paint, texture or wallpaper) then applied to
the wall. All three coats of joint compound may alternately be
applied with an All Purpose grade of joint compound.
[0004] Ready mixed joint compound is typically supplied to the
customer in either cardboard cartons or plastic pails in units
having volumes of 3.5 to 4.5 gallons (13.25-17.03 L) for large
applications, or 1 to 3.5 quarts (0.95-3.3 L) for smaller
applications. Joint compound is supplied at a viscosity typically
higher than what is applied at the jobsite. This allows the
contractor to mix in additional water using a power drill and
mixing paddle to achieve the desired application viscosity.
[0005] Ready Mix joint compound production is typically
accomplished by blending the wet and dry ingredients in a mixer
until smooth, adjusting the viscosity to a desired level through
water addition, then filling and sealing containers to be shipped
to customers. This process can be disrupted by use of ingredients
which thicken very rapidly and take longer periods of time to fully
wet out and drop in viscosity, leaving the combined wet and dry
ingredients in the mixer competing for water through the typical
mixing cycle and at a higher than desired viscosity. The above
process results in mechanical limitations and problems such as
binding of the wet mixer and overloading of the mixer motor. The
higher than desired viscosity at the completion of the mixing cycle
affects the ease of pumping and moving the material out of the
mixing system and through the packaging line and also interferes
with the lidding and closing of the container.
[0006] Thus, there are mechanical limitations on the types of raw
materials that can be used within a typical wet mixing system for
manufacturing ready mix joint compound. Depending on the particular
product requirements, including long pre-use shelf life, fast
setting, low viscosity of application and others, several options
have been proposed to provide joint compounds with separated
additives that enable the user to obtain enhanced or more desirable
joint compound performance characteristics when the mixture is
finalized just prior to application. U.S. Pat. No. 6,476,099,
incorporated by reference, discloses the addition of surfactant
additives to joint compound to generate performance with improved
cracking, improved shrinkage and reduction of surface finish
defects after application to wallboard surfaces. U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,228,163 and 5,746,822 also incorporated by reference, disclose
joint compounds formulated with a base joint compound that is
relatively inert until an extra additive is provided, functionally
serving as an activator.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 8,822,566, incorporated by reference,
discloses providing a nonhomogeneous formulation of an additive
with a ready mix base joint compound for ultimate mixing by the
user on the jobsite.
[0008] Thus, there is a need for an improved joint compound package
that provides the user with the ability to incorporate additives as
desired prior to use.
SUMMARY
[0009] The above-listed needs are met or exceeded by the present
lid with hinged compartments for a joint compound container, which
features an inset compartment on the lid constructed and arranged
for containing any separate additive conventionally used in joint
compound formulation. In a preferred embodiment, a main hinged lid
door provides access to a main container chamber enclosing the base
joint compound. At least one secondary storage compartment is
integrally formed with the lid and has a separate, secondary hinged
lid door. It is preferred that the two hinged lids have their
hinges adjacent each other on the lid, so that the respective
hinged lid doors open away from each other. Additives contemplated
for the secondary storage compartment include but are not limited
to accelerators, retarders, activators, pigments, adhesion
promoters and dust reducers.
[0010] More specifically, the present invention provides a
container and lid assembly, including a main container defining a
chamber with a base joint compound; and a container lid constructed
and arranged for closing the main container, the lid having a main
hinged lid door openable to provide access to the chamber; and at
least one supplemental lid door hinged to the lid and openable to a
supplemental compartment, the supplemental compartment being
isolated from the chamber.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment, hinges of the main hinged lid
door and the at least one supplemental hinged lid door are adjacent
each other on the container lid, and are further preferably
parallel to each other. Further, the respective doors are snap-fit
upon the lid. It is contemplated that the at least one supplemental
compartment is integrally formed, as by molding, with the container
lid. It is further preferred that the chamber has a base joint
compound, and the at least one supplemental chamber has an additive
for use with the base joint compound. Suitable additives are taken
from the group consisting of retarders, accelerators, activators,
pigments, adhesion promoters and dust reducers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present container
and lid;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top perspective of the present lid;
and
[0014] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a plurality of
containers equipped with the present lid.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the present container and lid
assembly is generally designated 10, and is contemplated as
referring to a package for a settable composition, such as
ready-mix type wallboard joint compound, which is well known in the
art. Included in the assembly is a main container 12 and a lid 14.
Such containers 12 are conventionally made of plastic, however
coated cardboard with plastic liners is also an acceptable
construction. As is known in the art, the main container 12 is
typically provided in sizes ranging from volumes of 3.5 to 4.5
gallons (13.25-17.03 L) for large applications, or 1 to 3.5 quarts
(0.95-3.3 L) for smaller applications. The lid 14, also preferably
made of plastic, with other materials contemplated.
[0016] Referring now to the main container 12, a floor 16 is
preferably integrally joined to a generally vertically extending
sidewall 18 to define a chamber 20 (shown hidden). Most preferably,
the sidewall 18 is slightly inclined, and wider near the lid 14 or
drafted to facilitate both injection molding as well as stacking of
empty containers in warehouses prior to being filled with the
desired composition, here a base joint compound 22 (shown hidden
FIG. 3). The properties of base joint compound 22 are well known in
the art. Most preferably, the base joint compound 22 is the ready
mix type.
[0017] The container lid 14 is constructed and arranged for closing
the main container 12, and has a peripheral edge 24 provided with a
lip or clip formation to facilitate the lid closing the main
container until a user desires access to the joint compound 22 as
is known in the art. Included on the lid 14 is a main hinged lid
door 26 openable to provide access to the chamber 20; and at least
one supplemental lid door 28 hinged to the lid and openable to a
supplemental compartment 30 (FIG. 2). It is especially preferred
that the supplemental compartment 30 is isolated from the chamber
20. Also, the supplemental compartment 30 is preferably integrally
formed with the container lid 14, as by injection molding,
thermoforming or the like.
[0018] Both the main lid door 26 and the supplemental lid door 28
are provided with hinges, respectively 32 and 34. Any sort of hinge
is considered suitable for the hinges 32 and 34, including integral
"living" hinges, separate molded pin and socket or snap-fit
formations, and the like which are well known in the art of molded
container closures. The hinges 32 and 34 are preferably adjacent
each other on the lid 14, and more preferably are parallel to each
other. As such, the respective lid doors 26, 28 open away from or
opposite each other.
[0019] As is depicted in FIGS. 1-3, the main door 26 has a
significantly larger surface area than the supplemental door 28. In
the case of multiple supplemental doors 28, each such door is
contemplated as being smaller than the main door 26.
[0020] A joint compound additive 36 (shown hidden, FIG. 2) is the
preferred ingredient for placement in the supplemental compartment
30. The additive 36 is taken from the group consisting of
retarders, accelerators, activators, pigments, adhesion promoters
and dust reducers. However, other additives 36 are contemplated, as
well as each supplemental compartment 30 potentially containing
different additives. Further, the additive 36 is optionally
packaged in pouch to be opened separately by the user for
incorporation into the base joint compound 22, or is provided in
granular or loose format, for distribution with a spoon or scoop
(not shown). Another option is that the pouch is water soluble and
dissolves upon mixing in the base joint compound 22.
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 3, a plurality of the containers 10
are depicted, in various sizes or volumes, and with the lid 14 in
various orientations. It is also contemplated that the containers
10 are provided with a handle 38, preferably generally "U"-shaped
and pivotally mounted to the wall 18. While other materials are
contemplated, the handle 38 is preferably made of plastic.
[0022] While a particular embodiment of the present lid with hinged
compartments for a joint compound container has been described
herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing
from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the
following claims.
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