Storage system for a paint-wet paint roller cover

Abstract

A paint roller cover storage system includes a paint roller cover container sized to store a single paint roller cover. A resealable closure selectively closes the paint roller cover container to form a generally airtight environment such that a paint-wet paint roller cover may be stored—such as overnight—until further painting will occur.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a paint roller, and more particularly to a resealable storage bag for a paint roller cover.

A paint roller provides effective application of paint over relatively large surface areas. The paint roller includes a removable paint roller cover which receives paint for application to a surface. Typically, the paint roller cover is cleaned which may be a relatively time consuming process. Oftentimes, the paint roller cover is discarded after usage.

Disadvantageously, discarding the paint roller cover may be relatively expensive. As paint rollers are typically utilized for relatively large surface areas, it is quite common to paint in multiple sessions, perhaps over a multiple of days. Even when taking a break from painting, a paint-wet paint roller cover may be rendered unusable by paint drying thereon. Cleaning the paint roller cover for such short breaks is typically more trouble than simply discarding the paint roller cover.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a storage system for a paint roller cover which permits storage of a paint-wet paint roller cover for relatively short time periods without the necessity of cleaning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A paint roller cover storage system according to the present invention includes a paint roller cover container sized to store a single paint roller cover. A resealable closure selectively closes the paint roller cover container to form a generally airtight environment for the single paint roller cover.

In use, a paint-wet paint roller cover is inserted into the paint roller cover container and sealed therein by the resealable closure. As the paint roller cover container creates a generally airtight environment, the paint-wet paint roller cover may be stored—such as overnight—until further painting will occur. Such an arrangement greatly facilitates painting without the waste associated with disposing of a paint-wet paint roller cover or the laborious and time consuming process required to clean the wet paint from the paint roller cover. The paint roller cover container being flexible permits grasping of the paint-wet paint roller cover after the paint roller cover container is installed to facilitate removal of the paint-wet paint roller cover from the roller.

Furthermore, by utilizing a paint roller cover container that stores only a single paint roller cover, the paint roller cover container may be utilized as part of a kit for sales of the paint roller cover.

The present invention therefore provides a storage system for a paint roller cover which permits storage of a paint-wet paint roller cover for relatively short time periods without the necessity of cleaning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a general perspective view a paint roller for use with the present invention;

FIG. 2A is an expanded front view of a paint roller cover container;

FIG. 2B is an expanded side view of the paint roller cover container of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is an expanded front view of another paint roller cover container;

FIG. 2D is an expanded view of a resealable seal of the paint roller cover container;

FIG. 2E is an expanded view of another resealable seal of the paint roller cover container;

FIG. 2F is an expanded view of the resealable seal of FIG. 2E in a flexed open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 illustrates a general exploded view of a paint roller 12. The paint roller 12 includes a handle 14 which supports a roller 16. The roller 16 receives a removable paint roller cover 18 which is typically a tubular member with various surfaces which retains a quantity of paint for application to a surface as generally understood.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a paint roller cover storage system 20 includes a paint roller cover container 22 sized to store the paint roller cover 18. Notably, only a single paint roller cover 18 is storable within the paint roller cover container 22.

The paint roller cover container 22 includes a resealable closure 24 mounted adjacent an end segment of the paint roller cover container 22. The paint roller cover container 22 is preferably an elongated plastic bag which is generally rectilinear in shape. Alternatively, the paint roller cover container 22′ includes a circular bottom 26 (FIG. 2B) opposite the resealable closure 24 such that the paint roller cover container 22′ closely fits over the cylindrical paint roller cover 18.

The resealable closure 24 selectively closes the paint roller cover container 22 and creates a generally airtight environment for a single paint roller cover 18 (FIG. 1). The resealable closure 24 preferably includes an adhesive flap 30 (FIG. 2D) or a zip-lock type closure 28 (FIG. 2E). With the zip-lock type closure 28, the zip-lock may be squeezed open (FIG. 2F) such that the paint roller cover 18 is readily inserted therein without requiring a user to touch the paint-wet paint roller cover 18.

In use, the paint-wet paint roller cover 18 is inserted into the paint roller cover container 22 and sealed therein by the resealable closure 24. As the paint roller cover container 22 creates a generally airtight environment, the paint-wet paint roller cover 18 may be stored—such as overnight—until further painting will occur. Such an arrangement greatly facilitates painting without the waste associated with disposing of a paint-wet paint roller cover or the significant time required to clean the wet paint from the paint roller cover. The paint roller cover container 22, being a generally flexible bag, also permits grasping of the paint-wet paint roller cover 18 after the paint roller cover container 22 is installed thereon to facilitate removal of the paint-wet paint roller cover 18 from the roller 16 (FIG. 1).

Furthermore, by utilizing a paint roller cover container 22 which stores only a single paint roller cover 18, the paint roller cover container 22 may be utilized as part of a kit for selling the paint roller cover 18. The paint roller cover container 22 not only functions as described above for relatively short term storage of a paint-wet paint roller cover 18, but because of the inexpensive nature thereof, also operates as an inexpensive storage and sale container for the paint roller cover 18 itself.

It should be understood that relative positional terms such as “forward,” “aft,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “bottom,” and “top,” and the like are relative terms and should not be considered otherwise limiting.

It should be understood that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements will benefit from the instant invention.

The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.

Claims

1. A paint roller cover storage system comprising:

a paint roller cover container sized to receive a paint roller cover; and

a resealable closure mounted to said paint roller cover container to selectively close said paint roller cover container.

2. The paint roller cover storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein said resealable closure includes a zip-lock closure.

3. The paint roller cover storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein said resealable closure includes an adhesive closure.

4. The paint roller cover storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein said resealable closure provides an essentially air-tight seal of said paint roller container.

5. The paint roller cover storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein said paint cover roller container is an elongated bag.

6. The paint roller cover storage system as recited in claim 5, wherein said elongated bag is manufactured from a clear plastic.

7. The paint roller cover storage system as recited in claim 5, wherein said elongated bag includes a generally circular bottom opposite said resealable closure.

8. The paint roller cover storage system as recited in claim 5, wherein said elongated bag is sized to receive only a single paint roller cover.

9. A paint roller cover kit comprising:

a single paint roller cover;

a paint roller cover container sized to completely receive said single paint roller cover; and

a resealable closure mounted to said paint roller cover container to selectively close said paint roller cover container to maintain said single paint roller cover in a substantially air-tight environment.

10. The paint roller storage system as recited in claim 9, wherein said paint roller cover container is an elongated bag.

11. The paint roller storage system as recited in claim 10, wherein said paint roller cover container is a generally tubular bag.

12. The paint roller storage system as recited in claim 11, wherein said generally tubular bag includes a generally circular bottom opposite said resealable closure.

13. The paint roller storage system as recited in claim 9, wherein said paint roller cover container is a generally rectangular shaped bag.

14. A method of storing a paint-wet paint roller cover comprising the steps of:

(1) inserting a paint-wet paint roller cover within a paint roller cover container;

(2) grasping the paint-wet paint roller cover through the paint roller cover container; and

(3) sliding the paint-wet paint roller cover off a roller of a paint roller; and

(4) sealing a resealable closure on the paint roller cover container to form a substantially air-tight environment for the paint-wet paint roller cover.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said step (4) further comprises

(a) zipping closed a zip lock type closure.

16. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein said step (4) further comprises

(a) adhering an adhesive flap to the paint roller cover container.

17. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising the step of:

(5) flexing open the resealable closure prior to said step (1) by placing pressure along the length of the zip lock type closure.