Paint Can Agitator And Pouring Top

Abstract

A paint can agitator and pouring top including a removable top having pouring and vent openings diametrically positioned therein and including a central boss to receive a portion of the agitator in rotary engagement therein. The agitator rotates with respect to the top and includes an external crank handle and an internal agitator which is bent to a configuration suitable to mix all of the contents of a paint container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of painting accessories and more particularly, is directed to a removable paint can agitator and pouring top.

Prior workers in the field have sought to develop paint agitators for use with paint containers and prior designs of which I am familiar have included agitators adapted to be affixed to a usual paint container by utilizing spring clips to detachably engage the rim of the paint can. These prior art mixers have included a bent metal agitator but have not included a complete container cover and pouring arrangements.

Other workers in the field have designed combined containers with stirrers therein which are integrally fabricated at the time of container manufacture. This type of prior art design proved to be quite costly in use inasmuch as the entire container and mixer combination had to be discarded once the liquid contents of the container had been consumed. Other workers in seeking to solve the problem of agitating the fluid contents of paint containers have developed other mixer designs of complicated construction and configuration, all of which resulted in mixing devices that were more or less satisfactory in operation but all of which proved too costly in construction and use to achieve general acceptance by the purchasing public.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a removable lid of design to tightly close directly upon the container opening configuration of the usual paint can. The lid may be fabricated of plastic or metallic construction and includes a pair of diametrically opposed openings of similar design, one of which is employed as a pouring opening and the other cooperates during the pouring operation as a venting opening.

A central boss axially positions in the removable lid and is provided with a bearing to receive a portion of the agitator in rotatable engagement therein. An external crank connects to the agitator above the boss to provide easily turnable means to rotate the agitator from without the container. The crank may be designed as a separate article to remove from the agitator exteriorly of the container when it is so desired.

By providing a combination lid and agitator, all of the difficulties experienced by prior workers in the art can readily be overcome. Specifically, by providing a removable lid, the invention may be utilized a number of times with a plurality of paint containers. The repeated use of the device renders it economically feasible inasmuch as the manufactured cost can be distributed over a large number of repeated periods of operation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved paint can agitator and pouring top of the type set forth.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel paint can agitator and pouring top which incorporates an agitator for mixing the paint within the container and which further includes an integral pouring spout so that the mixed paint can be conveniently poured from the container.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel paint can agitator and pouring top including cooperating pouring and venting openings whereby the liquid contents of the container may be precisely poured without gurgling, spilling or dripping.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel paint can agitator and pouring top which incorporates a freely rotatable agitator extending through the top, the lower end of the agitator being receivable into a paint can for agitating the paint, and the upper end having a crank attachment for rotating the agitator either by hand or by an electric power tool.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel paint can agitator and pouring top that is inexpensive in manufacture, simple in construction and trouble-free when in use.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had by referring to the following description and claims of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the invention, partly in section, mounted upon a conventional paint container which is illustrated in the phantom lines for purposes of association.

FIG. 2 is a partial, cross sectional view of a modified type of pouring spout with the cap removed.

FIG. 3 is a partial, cross sectional view of another modified type of pouring spout.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the invention, somewhat reduced in size for operation in conjunction with a smaller container.

FIG. 5 is a partial, side elevational view of a modified form of the invention, partially broken away to expose internal construction.

FIG. 6 is a perspective, exploded view of a modified form of crank handle.

FIG. 7 is a perspective, exploded view of another modified form of crank handle.

FIG. 8 is a partial, side elevational view of the device arranged for power operation, a power tool being illustrated in phantom lines for purposes of association.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to particular structure of my invention selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, I show in FIG. 1 a paint can agitator and pouring top 10 combined in a unitary assembly 11 for use in conjunction with a conventional paint container 17 which is usually of one gallon capacity. The paint can agitator and pouring top assembly includes a lid 12 which is preferably formed of a single sheet of material having sufficient strength and pliability to co-act with the configuration at the top closure of the paint container 17, and may be formed of polyethylene plastic material. The lid 12 forms to a generally circular configuration and includes flat top 13 which terminates outwardly in a peripheral construction 14 including the downwardly extending flange 15 which is sized to closely overfit the top of the paint container 17. The lower end of the flange 15 terminates downwardly in an inwardly extending bead 16 of suitable dimensions to snap upon and lock the pouring top 10 upon the upper end of the paint container 17. A downwardly extending, annular lip 18 integrally forms in the bottom of the lid 12 inwardly from the flange 15 and is sized to fit within the usual circular groove normally formed in the top of the conventional paint container 17 about the top access opening thereto.

A pair of diametrically opposed pouring spouts 19 integrally form into the lid 12 and extend upwardly from the upward surface of the flat lid top 13 for pouring and venting purposes as hereinafter more fully set forth. Each pouring spout 19 is preferably cylindrically formed to the same dimensions and each spout 19 is provided with a closure 20 which may be a tight, sliding fit thereon. Each closure cap 20 frictionally fits over its associated spout 19 for easy removal during the paint pouring operation. It will be appreciated that either cap 20 may be removed to provide a passage from the interior of the paint container 17 through the top 13 thereby exiting the fluid contents at either pouring spout 19. During the pouring operation which is easily accomplished in well-Known manner by simply tipping the container about its axis, the fluid pours through the first spout 19 and the second pouring spout 19 readily serves as a vent by simple removing its associated cap 20 to thereby allow air to freely circulate inside the container above the liquid level of the container contents.

The lid 12 is provided with a central, upwardly extending boss 21 which is formed with a central opening 22 in axial alignment with the lid 12. If desired, a bushing (not shown) may be inserted into the central opening 22 to provide additional bearing surface for the agitator intermediate portion 50. The agitator is preferably formed of metal rod of circular cross sectional configuration with the intermediate portion 50 of the rod inserting through the central opening 22 in bearing relation therein.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the lower portion of the agitator 23 includes a top rod section 51 bent at right angles to the intermediate rod portion 50 and which is arranged to rotate in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced beneath a plane drawn through the flat top 13. The top rod section 51 terminates outwardly near the outer periphery of the container 17 in the downwardly extending leg 24 which bends at right angles to the top rod section 51. The downwardly extending leg 24 extends generally parallel to the container side wall to thereby sweep and agitate the container contents in a circular manner immediately inwardly from the container side wall. The downwardly extending leg 24 downwardly terminates in a horizontal leg 25 which extends diametrically across the lower portion of the paint container 17 near the bottom thereof to thereby agitate and mix the fluid contents of the container near the bottom upon rotation of the agitator 23. The horizontal leg 25 terminates diametrically opposite from the downwardly extending leg 24 and bends to form an upward diagonal leg 26 which extends generally diametrically diagonally from the bottom edge of the container to the upper edge of the container. The diagonally extending leg 26 diametrically extends so that during the rotational operation of the agitator 23, the leg 26 serves to sweep across and thoroughly mix a major portion of the fluid contents retained within the container 17. THus it is seen that the top rod section 51 agitates the fluid container contents near the top of the container, the horizontal leg 25 agitates the fluid contents near the bottom of the container, the downwardly extending leg 24 agitates the fluid contents peripherally about the side walls of the container and the upward diagonal leg 26 agitates the central portion of the fluid contents of the container 17.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a modified configuration of the pouring spout 27 is illustrated wherein the upper end 52 of the spout 27 is provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced, downwardly extending slots 28 to permit the terminal ends of the spout to be slightly inwardly collapsed to receive the cap 29. The spout 27 is provided with an annular bead 31 for cap securing purposes. As illustrated, the cap 29 is provided with an interior cooperating, annular, outwardly extending groove 30 near the top thereof to cooperate with the pouring spout annular bead 31. THus, upon pushing the cap 29 downwardly upon the spout 27, the cap side wall 53 will overfit the spout 27 and press downwardly and inwardly upon the extending annular bead 31 to thereby compress the upper end 52 of the spout at the downwardly extending slot 28 thereof. Upon pushing the cap downwardly, the outwardly extending groove 30 will seat upon the annular bead 31 to thus secure the cap in sealing position over the pouring spout 27.

In FIG. 3, I show a second modified spout construction including a spout body 32 extending from the flat top 13. The spout 32 terminates upwardly in a threaded nozzle which is machined or otherwise treated to provide an external thread 33. A cap 35 closes the spout 32 and is provided with internal threads 34 to cooperate with and threadedly engage the nozzle threads 33 to thereby provide a positive pouring spout closure.

The agitator intermediate portion 50 terminates upwardly in an integral, bent crank 54 which bends in right angles to the intermediate portion and lies in a plane parallel with and spaced above a plane drawn through the top rod section 51. The crank 54 terminates outwardly in an upwardly bent section 55 which is sized to receive the handle 36 thereon. The handle 36 is axially drilled to form an axially extending opening 56 which is sized to overfit the bent section 55 and to be rotatable thereon. Thus, by grasping the handle 36, the agitator 23 may be conveniently rotated about the central bearing opening 22 to thus simultaneously rotate the top rod section 51, the downwardly extending leg 24, the horizontal leg 25 and the upwardly extending diagonal leg 26 for paint agitation purposes.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, a modified type of agitator 23' is illustrated wherein the intermediate portion 50 terminates upwardly in a short vertical extension 37. The extension 37 is provided with means 40 for selectively attaching either a separate crank handle 38 (see FIG. 6) or an electric hand drill 39 (see FIG. 8) for rotating purposes. The means 40 are illustrated in a square configuration end to receive the square configuration opening 41 of the crank handle 38 for agitator rotation purposes. A set screw may or may not be included for securing the crank handle 38 to the vertical extension 37. To render the device operable by power operation, a tool 42 of usual design for rotation by a usual electric power drill 39 is provided having a socket 43 of square configuration of size and dimensions to closely overfit the square configured end 40 of the vertical extension 37. THus, the socket 43 may position over the square configuration end 40 for power rotation of the agitator 23 in the usual manner through a conventional speed reduction mechanism (not shown).

If desired, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the intermediate portion 50 may terminate upwardly in a short cylindrically configured terminal end 46 which is machined to provide a flat surface 47 for operation with the modified crank handle 45. The crank handle 45 is machined at one end thereof to provide a cylindrical opening 44 to therein receive the cylindrically configured terminal 46. A threaded opening 49 horizontally communicates with the cylindrical opening 44 and receives a thumb set screw 48 in threaded engagement therein. The thumb screw 48 serves to rigidly secure the crank handle 45 to the cylindrical terminal end 46 by engaging the thumb screw 48 onto the flat surface 47. A crank handle 36 upwardly projects from the opposite side of the crank in the usual rotative manner to provide a grasping handle for agitator rotative purposes.

It is of course to be understood that an electrical power drill 39 may be chucked directly to the end of the vertical extension 37 if high speed agitator rotation is desired.

It will be noted that the present construction as illustrated in FIGS. 5-8 permits this device to be packaged with the crank handle disassembled to thus allow the agitator 23 to be removed from the lid 12. Thus, the device can be easily packaged as a small, compact unit.

In operation, the combined paint can agitator and pouring top is designed for use with the usual 1 gallon paint container as normally purchased. The conventional lid (not shown) of the usual paint container should be removed and stored for later clean replacement to reseal unused liquid container contents after use of the device. After removal of the container lid (not shown), the lid 12 mounts upon the container 17 with the downwardly extending flange 15 positioned over the exterior top of the container. The annular lip 18 circularly fits into the usual top paint container groove and combines with the flange 15 to provide a liquid tight seal between the paint container 17 and the assembly 11. With the paint can agitator and pouring top 10 positioned as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the liquid contents can be stirred quickly and completely by rotating the crank handle 36 to easily stir and agitate all of the container contents. It should be noted, that the intermediate portion 50 of the agitator 23 extends high enough to permit the bent crank 54 to clear the top of the pouring spouts 19 during the stirring operation.

After completion of the necessary paint agitation, the lid 12 remains upon the top of the paint container 17 and both caps 20 are removed from their respective associated pouring spouts 19. With the liquid contents thoroughly agitated and the caps 20 removed, the paint container 17 can then be tilted with one of the spouts 19 in a lower position and the other of said spouts in an upper position. With the container thus tilted, the liquid contents will flow outwardly from the lower spouts. It will be evident that during the pouring process air will enter the interior of the container through the upper spout which then serves as a readily accessible vent. The paint pouring operation will thus be neater, smoother and offer less chance of paint spilling to greatly improve over prior art practices. It will also be noted that the circular lip 18 completely seals the upper paint container groove about the access opening to thereby prevent paint from entering the groove. It is contemplated that all paint required for the painting operation will be taken from the second container into which the contents of the container 17 are poured. Upon completion of the painting operation, the paint can agitator and pouring top 10 should then be removed from the paint container 17 and cleaned and stored for future re-use. With the access opening of the container 17 thus exposed, any paint remaining in the second container can then be poured back into the container 17. The lid (not shown) can then be re-installed to reseal the paint container 17.

Claims

I claim:

1. In a combined paint can agitator and pouring top for use with a cylindrical paint container having a top access opening and a peripheral groove annularly extending about the access opening, the combination of

A. a circular flat top of diameter to generally overfit the access opening of the said paint container,

1. said top terminating outwardly in a peripheral, downwardly extending flange,

a. said flange circularly overfitting the exterior of the said container,

b. said flange terminating downwardly in an inwardly extending bead,

i. said bead sealing against the exterior surface of the said container,

2. said top being provided with an annular, downwardly extending circular lip,

a. said lip having a diameter less than the diameter of the said flange,

b. said lip extending into and sealing against the said groove provided in the said paint container,

3. said top being provided with a pair of spaced pouring spouts,

a. each said pouring spout being provided with a spout closure,

i. said spouts communicating with the container interior,

4. said top being provided with an axially positioned boss,

a. said boss being drilled to provide a central agitator bearing; and

B. an agitator rotatable with respect to the said top,

1. said agitator including an intermediate portion insertable through and rotatable within the said bearing,

2. said agitator including an integral top rod section joined to the said intermediate portion,

a. said top rod section being rotatable in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced below a plane drawn through the said top,

3. said agitator including an integral downwardly extending leg depending from the top rod section,

a. said downwardly extending leg positioning in parallel relationship to the said container side walls,

4. said agitator including an integral bottom horizontal leg extending from the downwardly extending leg,

a. said bottom horizontal leg lying in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced upwardly from the bottom of the said container, and

5. said agitator including an integral upwardly diagonally extending leg extending from the bottom leg,

a. said upwardly diagonally extending leg reaching from near the bottom of the said paint container to near the top of the said paint container.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of the said pouring spouts is provided with an easily removable cap in frictional sliding engagement thereon.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein a crank integrally connects to the said intermediate portion exteriorly of the said container, the said crank providing means to rotate the said agitator within the said paint container.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the said crank connects to the said intermediate portion square connecting means having at least one flat surface.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the connecting means include a top square configured terminus on the said intermediate portion and a cooperating, square opening provided in the said crank.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the said square opening in the crank secures to the square intermediate portion terminus by means of a set screw.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the said intermediate portion terminates exteriorly of the central boss in a configured terminus and wherein an electric power drill is provided with a tool having a cooperating configured terminus to overfit the terminus of the intermediate portion for power agitator rotative purposes.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein each said pouring spout is provided near the top thereof with an outwardly extending, annular bead and wherein each said closure is interiorly provided with a cooperating outwardly extending groove to snap over and lock upon the said annular bead.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein the top of each pouring spout is provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced, downwardly extending slots.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein each said pouring spout terminates upwardly in an external thread and wherein each said closure is provided with an internal thread, the said closure threadedly engaging upon the said pouring spout.