U.S. patent number 3,590,416 [Application Number 04/775,817] was granted by the patent office on 1971-07-06 for paint tray and pail combination.
This patent grant is currently assigned to EZ Painter Corporation. Invention is credited to Erik Henningsen.
United States Patent |
3,590,416 |
Henningsen |
July 6, 1971 |
PAINT TRAY AND PAIL COMBINATION
Abstract
A paint tray for use in loading paint rollers and painting pads
which can be or is assembled with a pain pail to receive a proper
amount of paint directly therefrom. The tray has a sealing system
on the bottom for removably sealing it to the pail and also has a
valveless inlet properly disposed for permitting flow of the paint
from the pail directly into the tray upon tipping the tray and pail
assembly, and the tray also includes an end hood portion for
containing the paint during tipping. The inlet can also function as
an overflow return for returning paint to the can.
Inventors: |
Henningsen; Erik (Milwaukee,
WI) |
Assignee: |
EZ Painter Corporation
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
25105596 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/775,817 |
Filed: |
November 14, 1968 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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616892 |
Feb 17, 1967 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
15/257.06;
222/424.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B44D
3/126 (20130101); B44D 3/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B44D
3/12 (20060101); B44d 003/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;15/257.06,257
;401/5,121,125,126,118 ;220/85 ;215/100
;222/109--111,584,164,324,332,424,424.5,454--456 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Scheel; Walter A.
Assistant Examiner: Machlin; Leon G.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation in part of my copending
application Ser. No. 616,892, filed Feb. 17, 1967 and now
abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A paint holding tray for use in loading a roller or pad which
comprises a tray member including a bottom wall and a container
portion for holding paint in the tray with the tray tipped to
dispose the bottom wall generally vertically, an inlet through said
bottom wall, means for sealing said bottom wall as a cover across a
paint pail opening with said inlet forming an outlet of the paint
pail for pouring of paint from the pail to said container portion
with said bottom wall in tipped position, said inlet being located
in the bottom wall so as to be adjacent the edge of the paint can
and dam means at said inlet for retaining paint in the tray with
the tray in nontipped position.
2. The tray of claim 1 including a vent through said bottom
wall.
3. The tray of claim 1 wherein said container portion comprises an
end wall of the tray extending inwardly to overlie a portion of the
tray bottom wall.
4. The combination comprising the tray of claim 1 and a paint pail
removably secured to said bottom wall by said sealing means.
5. A paint holding tray for use in loading a roller or pad which
comprises a tray member including a bottom wall and a container
portion for holding paint in the tray with the tray tipped to
dispose the bottom wall generally vertically, an inlet through said
bottom wall, means for sealing said bottom wall as a cover across a
paint pail opening with said inlet forming an outlet of the paint
pail for pouring of paint from the pail to said container portion
with said bottom wall in tipped position, and a paint pail
removably secured to said bottom wall by said sealing means,
wherein said sealing means comprises a threaded portion of said
pail received in an inside threaded circular flange extending
downwardly from the tray bottom wall and including a circular
backup ring for the pail lip comprising a ring on said bottom wall
concentric with and spaced inwardly from said circular flange, said
ring having a frustoconical outer surface for backing the pail lip
as the pail is threaded into said flange.
6. A paint holding tray for use in loading a roller or pad which
comprises a tray member including a bottom wall and a container
portion for holding paint in the tray with the tray tipped to
dispose the bottom wall generally vertically, an inlet through said
bottom wall for delivering paint to the container portion and a
vent through the bottom wall having a stack upstanding to an upper
level at least to the intended paint level of the tray.
7. The paint holding tray of claim 6 including means for sealing
said bottom wall across a paint pail opening.
8. The paint holding tray of claim 1 wherein said inlet is in said
container portion and including lateral passage means in said dam
means for directing paint laterally into said container portion
during pouring and forming a passage for easier return of paint
through said inlet.
9. A paint holding tray for use in loading a roller or pad which
comprises a tray member including a bottom wall and a container
portion for holding paint in the tray with the tray tipped to
dispose the bottom wall generally vertically, an inlet through said
bottom wall, means for sealing said bottom wall as a cover across a
paint pail opening with said inlet forming an outlet of the paint
pail for pouring of paint from the pail to said container portion
with said bottom wall in tipped position, said inlet being located
in the bottom wall so as to be adjacent the edge of the paint can,
and dam means at said inlet for retaining paint in the tray with
the tray in nontipped position, said sealing means comprising a
circular threaded flange depending from said bottom wall for
threaded engagement with a threaded paint pail lip and ring means
associated with said circular flange for rigidifying the paint pail
lip with the flange threads threaded thereon.
10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said circular flange is
internally threaded and the paint pail lip is externally threaded
and said ring means is a backup ring on the bottom wall of the tray
concentric with and spaced inwardly from the circular flange and
has a frustoconical outer surface for backing the pail lip as the
pail is threaded into the flange.
11. The combination of claim 9 including a handle secured to said
tray for supporting said tray and in turn supporting the pail
through the threaded connection.
12. A paint holding tray for use in loading a roller or pad which
comprises a tray member including a bottom wall and a container
portion for holding paint in the tray with the tray tipped to
dispose the bottom wall generally vertically, an inlet through said
bottom wall, means for sealing said bottom wall as a cover across a
paint pail opening with said inlet forming an outlet of the paint
pail for pouring of paint from the pail to said container portion
with said bottom wall in tipped position, said inlet being located
in the bottom wall so as to be adjacent the edge of the paint can,
dam means at said inlet for retaining paint in the tray with the
tray in nontipped position, a vent through the bottom wall separate
from said inlet and a standpipe around said vent extending above
the bottom wall of the tray member.
13. The paint holding tray of claim 12 including crossing ribs on
the bottom wall of the tray extending upwardly about the same
height as said standpipe.
14. A paint holding tray for use in loading a roller or pad which
comprises a tray member including a bottom wall and a container
portion for holding paint in the tray with the tray tipped to
dispose the bottom wall generally vertically, an inlet through said
bottom wall, means for sealing said bottom wall as a cover across a
paint pail opening with said inlet forming an outlet of the paint
pail for pouring of paint from the pail to said container portion
with said bottom wall in tipped position, said inlet being located
in the bottom wall so as to be adjacent the edge of the paint can,
dam means at said inlet for retaining paint in the tray with the
tray in nontipped position, a paint pail removably secured to said
bottom wall by said sealing means and a handle secured solely to
said tray for supporting the combined tray and pail, said sealing
means being sufficient to support the pail full of paint from said
tray.
15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said handle comprises a
rectangular hook for hooking the handle to a rectangular rung of a
ladder.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to paint trays for use in loading paint
rollers, painting pads and the like and to a combination of such a
tray with a paint pail.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years paint rollers have become more and more popular for
use in painting, not only in industrial use but especially by the
householder. Such popularity, together with increasing popularity
of the more recently introduced painting pads, has resulted in an
increased need for conveniently usable paint trays for loading
paint onto the paint rollers and painting pads. Although such paint
trays may differ in appearance, there are generally two types of
trays in popular use. First is an open tray which has a trough at
one end for containing a limited supply of paint and includes a
sloping roll out surface leading away from the trough toward the
other end of the tray. The second is similar to the first but
includes a hood over the paint holding end of the tray.
The first type of tray, termed a simple tray, has several
shortcomings, It is relatively shallow and holds only a limited
paint supply. It is filled by pouring paint from a pail and this
introduces the hazard of spilling; once filled it is difficult to
carry without further spilling. Additionally, under some
conditions, e.g. outdoors on a hot windy day, evaporation of paint
solvents from the large open paint surface in the simple tray tends
to thicken the paint supply. The second type of tray, termed a
hooded tray, lessens storage hazards and evaporation but usually
not enough to warrant the additional expense, and this tray has
therefore been used primarily for special industrial use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a combination of paint pail and tray
wherein the tray is removably mounted by sealing means to the pail
top.
Also provided is a paint tray which can be used in the combination
and overcomes the drawbacks of the present popular paint trays as
outlined above. The paint tray is of suitable size for loading a
roller or painting pad and a connection is provided between the
tray and pail such that the tray can be filled by tilting the
combined tray and pail assembly to a sufficient angle for a period
of time to deliver the desired amount of paint from the pail to the
tray through the connection. When the assembly is returned to its
normal use position with the pail upright, a desired quantity of
paint remains in the tray.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different
forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described
in detail specific embodiments of the invention with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the paint tray of
this invention shown assembled with a paint pail;
FIGS. 2 through 4 illustrate the assembly of FIG. 1 in cross
section taken along line 2-2;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the paint tray
shown exploded from a paint pail; and
FIG. 6 illustrates the assembled paint tray and pail of FIG. 5 in
cross section.
Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the paint tray 12 is secured and
sealed to the open top of a paint pail 14 by a suitable sealing
system at 16 (FIG. 2). The sealing system 16 is shown in the form
of a resilient sealing ring secured to the bottom of tray 12 and
properly sized to be force or tight fitted into the drip lip of the
paint pail 14. The ring forms a seal to close the pail in much the
same manner as the paint pail lid forms such a seal.
For loading the tray 12 with paint from pail 14, a connection
through the bottom wall of tray 12 is provided in the form of a
standpipe pour spout 18. Tray 12 is of the type having a hood
portion 20 enclosing one end thereof to define a container for
containing paint during filling of the tray as will be described. A
vent 22 is also provided spaced beyond spout 18 away from the hood
portion 20 and the container defined thereby. The form of vent 22
illustrated is a vent tube which upstands through the bottom wall
of tray 12 and extends upward and away from spout 18 to a position
spaced well above the normal paint level in the tray. The direction
of the vent 22 away from spout 18 decreases the possibility of
discharge of paint from pail 14 through vent 22 while tray 12 is
being filled.
It will be apparent that the tray 12 can readily be filled with
paint from pail 14 by tipping the assembled tray and pail as shown
in FIG. 3 to pour paint from pail 14 through spout 18 and into the
container portion of tray 12 as defined by hood 20. Once sufficient
paint has been poured into tray 12, the assembly is returned to its
upright position as shown in FIG. 4. Any excess paint at a level
above the upper edge of the standpipe pour spout 18 overflows
through the pour spout and returns to pail 14 leaving the proper
amount of paint in tray 12 as shown in FIG. 4. Because the center
of gravity of the assembled tray and pail is low, especially where
an appreciable quantity of paint remains in the pail, a stable,
balanced device is provided.
The combined assembly of tray and pail can be placed on any level
or approximately level surface during use and can be equipped with
a hanger system such as the hanger 24 for transport and for hanging
on a ladder. The tray can be sized so that the hanger will pass
over both ends thereof or at least over the end opposite hood 20 so
that the hanger can be used to hold the assembly during filling of
tray 12. A larger hanger than normally supplied on a paint pail may
be required, and this can be supplied as a replacement hanger
together with the tray.
Although the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 has been described as
an assembly of a separate tray and pail with a releasable seal 16
therebetween, it is contemplated that the seal 16 can be a
permanent seal providing a complete preassembled unit including
both a tray and paint reservoir or pail. In such a combined unit,
the pail portion can be readily filled by a funnel or the like
through spout 18. The spout and vent can be sealed, if desired, and
the device can be used as the original container for marketing the
paint.
Where it is intended that a paint roller be loaded from the tray,
it may be desirable to provide a sloped roll out surface. This can
conveniently be done by placing an insert in tray 12 as indicated
in phantom at 26 in FIG. 2.
Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, a preferred form of the paint tray 30
is shown in combination with a paint pail 32. Paint tray 30 is
especially useful for loading painting pads and is designed to
provide the proper amount of paint in the tray for use in loading a
paint pad. Tray 30 is connected to pail 32 by a threaded connection
which seals the tray bottom wall across the pail opening. The
threaded connection includes a female threaded circular flange 34
depending from the bottom wall of tray 30 and a male thread 36 at
the upper portion of pail 32. The pail can be sold in combination
with the tray or the tray can be sold alone for use with a paint
pail supplied full of paint from a paint manufacturer. In the
latter case, the pail would be manufactured specially with threads
properly sized for fitting the threads of the tray and can be
covered with a suitable screw top lid and marketed separately for
use with the tray.
Referring especially to FIG. 6, a circular flange 38 is provided as
a backup ring for stiffening the pail lip during threading of the
paint tray on to the pail. Circular flange 38 has a tapered or
frustoconical outer surface for engaging the inside portion of the
pail lip to rigidify the pail lip and minimize distortion of the
pail due to the weight of the paint contained in the pail during
assembly or use. A handle 40 is provided on tray 30 shaped to fit a
ladder rung so that the assembly can be hung from a ladder,
circular flange 38 retaining the pail lip from deforming and
becoming disengaged from the threads so that the pail remains
supported from the tray.
The tray bottom wall is provided with an inlet 42 partially
surrounded by an upstanding dam or wall 44 for delivering paint
from the pail to the tray. A hooded container portion 45 is again
provided in the tray and the bottom wall of the tray is provided
with crossing ribs 48 to assist in proper paint loading. The vent
46 through the bottom wall has a short standpipe 50 about the same
height as ribs 48. Vent 46 is small enough that it does not
function as a drain to return surplus paint from tray 30 to pail
32.
Tray 30 and pail 32 can each be molded as an integral one-piece
plastic member. Handle 40 is preferably made separately of metal
and secured to tray 32 by a pair of suitable pivotal connections so
that the tray, with the paint pail attached, is free to swing from
the handle in normal fashion.
It will be evident from the foregoing that I have provided a paint
tray which is combined or combinable with a paint holding reservoir
or pail. The tray has a hooded portion at one end and a relatively
large open planar area with a relatively shallow depth as required
for practical paint loading of a paint roller or painting pad. The
paint within the pail portion is properly protected from the drying
effects of the atmosphere, and the combination of tray and pail is
interconnected with a simple valveless transfer connection which
permits the paint to be poured from the pail into the tray in a
very convenient manner and which minimizes paint spillage. The
paint transfer system can be used to also automatically control the
maximum paint depth in the tray. Further, the pail portion adds
physical stability and balance to the combined unit.
* * * * *