Dripless Paint Container

Abstract

The one-piece molded plastic paint container has four bosses molded integral with the inside thereof, two on each side, provided with grooves in the top thereof to receive two snap-in wire rods in diametrically opposed parallel relation to serve as wipers for the brushes enabling drainage of excess paint therefrom without any spillage. These rods also serve as shelves on which to rest the brush or brushes when not in use, as when working off a ladder. A snap-on lid is provided for protection of each container, and a handle has upwardly directed hook ends that engage in holes provided therefor in downwardly extending portions on the rim of the container at diametrically opposed points thereof.

Description

This invention relates to a dripless paint container and has for its principal object the provision of a container that can be molded in one-piece of plastic material at low cost providing four integral bosses vertically of the container on the inside thereof, each pair of bosses having aligned grooves in the top to receive snap-in wire rods to serve as brush wipers for drainage of excess paint from the brushes without spillage, and also serve as shelves on which to rest a brush or brushes when not in use, as when working off a ladder.

In accordance with the invention, a wire handle having upwardly bent hook ends, has these ends engaged in holes in diametrically opposed downwardly projecting portions molded integral with the rim portion of the container, and a plastic snap-on lid fits on top of the container and serves to exclude dirt from the inside of the container after each use thereof.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dripless paint container embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view showing the handle swung to a horizontal plane to better disclose the features of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, illustrating how the snap-in wire rods serve as shelves on which to rest brushes when not in use, there being also illustrated in dotted lines, a portion of a plastic snap-on lid to show how it snaps in place on the rim of the container, and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2, showing the pivotal connection of the handle with the rim portion of the container .

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout these views.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral 10 designates the paint container of my invention generally, which is of one-piece molded plastic construction for economy as well as for durability and for easier cleaning, the container being of tapered form, as shown, and having a downwardly flanged annular rim portion 11 over which the downwardly projecting curved annular flange 12 of a plastic snap-on lid 13 is adapted to fit to seal the container against ingress of dirt and dust when the container is not in use. The flange 12 is, of course, cut away at diametrically opposed points where the ends of the wire bail 14 connect with the diametrically opposite sides of the container, as seen in FIG. 4. The wire handle bail 14 has inwardly and upwardly bent hook ends 15 engaged in holes 16 provided in downwardly extending lugs 17 molded integral with the rim portion 11 of the container in laterally spaced relation to the sidewalls of said container, the extremities 18 of the hooked ends bearing at 19 on the underside of the rim 11 to relieve the portion 17 and the holes 16 therein of any strain other than pivotal support of the handle.

Four downwardly tapering bosses 20 extending vertically on the inside of the container are molded integral therewith, each having a groove 21 provided in the top thereof in alignment with a similar groove provided in the top of a companion one of these bosses so that two wire rods 22 can be snapped into place in these bosses in parallel relationship to one another to serve as brush wipers on which excess paint on a brush may be rubbed off without danger of any spillage and onto which brushes may be laid as on shelves, as shown in FIG. 3, when they are not in use, as when working off a ladder.

In operation, any suitable plastic material having the degree of flexibility and resilience necessary for snap-in assembling of the rods 22 may be used. It should be obvious that in wiping excess paint from a brush on either of the rods 22, there is no danger of the rod being thereby displaced from its grooves 21 inasmuch as the entrance ends of these grooves is slightly narrower than their lower ends, as seen clearly in FIG. 3, and also indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2. Also, it is evident that the pressure against the rods 22, when they are used as wipers for the brushes, is usually very light and exerted in a generally horizontal direction, or even slightly downwardly from the horizontal, toward the sidewall of the container, giving little likelihood of either of these rods being displaced when used as intended. Also, it must be remembered that after any use of the container the grooves 21 are quite apt to contain some dried paint, thereby further reducing likelihood of displacement of the rods. The rods also serve, as shown in FIG. 3, as shelves on which to rest a brush or brushes, like that indicated at B. This is a very handy feature, especially when working off a ladder. The construction with the grooves 21 opening upwardly, as distinguished, for example, from opening laterally inwardly, is designed with a view to simplicity of molding and, accordingly, minimum cost. The downwardly tapered form of the bosses 20, as best appears in FIG. 1, 3, and 4, as well as the structural details elsewhere on the container 10 are all designed with the same ends in view.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, this is only for the purpose of illustration, and it is to be understood that various modification in structure will occur to a person skilled in this art.

Claims

I claim:

1. In an open top container for paint or the like, two horizontally spaced supports secured to the inside of the container in downwardly spaced relation to the open top, said supports having aligned horizontal grooves provided therein, and a brush wiper rod extending horizontally between said supports and having its opposite ends supported in said grooves, the container being molded in one-piece of flexible resilient plastic material with the supports molded integral with and projecting inwardly from the sidewalls of said container, the grooves opening upwardly and being slightly narrower at their upper ends than at their lower ends, whereby said rod is adapted to be snapped into place in said grooves.

2. A paint container as set forth in claim 1 wherein there is a second brush wiper rod mounted the same way as the first rod in substantially parallel relation thereto in the diametrically opposite side of said container. Said rods cooperating with the rim of said container to define shelves on which to support a brush or brushes extending transversely of the open top of said container.

3. A paint container as set forth in claim 1 wherein said container is of downwardly tapered form for easy removal from a mold in the molding of said container, and said supports have substantially vertical inner sides with a view also to easy removal from a mold, the supports tapering downwardly on their outer sides which are integral with the downwardly tapered sidewall of said container.