APPARATUS FOR COVERING A PAINT TRAY

Abstract

An apparatus for a paint tray cover according to various aspects of the present invention comprise a covering surface that is configured to be positioned over a paint tray to reduce the rate at which any paint contained within a paint tray reservoir dehydrates. The paint tray cover may be configured with one or more conforming sections adapted to receive an object such as a paint application device located within the paint tray.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/530,883, filed Sep. 2, 2011, and incorporates the disclosure of the application by reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Paint and paint application devices are subject to oxidation, dehydration, and contaminants when being used or stored. To avoid dehydration after use, paint is often stored in an air tight container and paint application devices are cleaned when not in use. During a painting process, there are often instances when the painting process is temporarily interrupted or halted for minutes or hours at a time. During these times it is necessary to protect the unused paint from drying out. A common method is to return the unused paint to its air tight container and clean the application device. This method may be time consuming and wasteful.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus for a paint tray cover according to various aspects of the present invention comprise a covering surface that is configured to be positioned over a paint tray to reduce the rate at which any paint contained within a paint tray reservoir dehydrates. The paint tray cover may be configured with one or more conforming sections adapted to receive an object such as a paint application device located within the paint tray.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the following figures, like reference numbers refer to similar elements and steps throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 representatively illustrates a prior art paint tray and paint application device;

FIG. 2 representatively illustrates a top view of a cover in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 representatively illustrates a side view of a cover in accordance with representatively an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 representatively illustrates the cover positioned over a paint tray and a paint application device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 representatively illustrates a top view of the cover positioned over the paint tray and the paint application device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 representatively illustrates a front view of the cover and the paint tray in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present invention may be described in terms of functional block components and various processing steps. Such functional blocks may be realized by any number of components configured to perform the specified functions and achieve the various results. For example, the present invention may employ various types of covers, seals, storage equipment for various types of painting materials and the like, which may can out a variety of functions. In addition, the present invention may be practiced in conjunction with any number of processes such as temporary covering and protection of a paint tray, the protection and storage of paint and paint supplies, and providing a covering to prevent paint from drying out, and the system described is merely one exemplary application for the invention. Further, the present invention may employ any number of conventional techniques for preventing materials from drying out, spilling, providing protection against damage, and/or secure storage.

An apparatus for covering a paint tray according to various aspects of the present invention may operate in conjunction with any suitable paint application system and/or paint material. Various representative implementations of the present invention may be applied to any system for covering and storing paint supplies.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cover 200 may comprise any suitable device for covering an object having an interior volume. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention the cover 200 may be adapted to cover a paint tray 100 to help protect a volume of paint contained within a paint well 102 at least partially defined by four side walls 110, 112, 114, 116 of the paint tray 100 and/or one or more a paint applicator tools such as a paint roller 104 from oxidation, dehydration, contaminants such as dust, and/or inadvertent waste of the paint caused by object falling into the paint well 102. The cover 200 may comprise an suitable device for covering the paint tray 100 such as a lid or a cap. For example, in a representative embodiment, the cover 200 may comprise a body having a substantially rectangular covering surface 202 and a securing end element 204.

The cover 200 may be comprised of any suitable material or materials such as plastic, rubber, metal, cardboard, or the like. Further, the cover 200 may be formed by any suitable method such as by extrusion, molding, or assembled from multiple sections. For example, in one embodiment, the cover 200 may comprise a polyvinyl chloride or similar thermoplastic polymer molded to form a substantially flat surface. The material used to form the cover 200 may also be suitably adapted to provide sufficient strength such that the cover 200 can withstand the application of weight or similar loading to the covering, surface 202. For example, in one embodiment, the cover 200 may be formed to be substantially rigid such that when the cover 200 is positioned over the paint tray 100, the cover 200 may withstand the application of a load applied to the covering surface 202 without any permanent and/or temporary buckling or other similar deformation. Alternatively, the material forming the cover 200 may be configured to be semi-rigid and light weight and may experience some plastic deformation under an applied load.

The covering surface 202 is adapted to cover the paint tray 100 and any contents therein such as paint or the paint roller 104. For example, referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, in one embodiment, the covering surface 202 may have a top side 304 and a bottom side 302, wherein at least a portion of the bottom side 302 is configured to engage a top edge or surface of one or more side walls 110, 112, 114, 116 of the paint tray 100 to cover and seal an interior portion of the paint tray 100, including the paint well 102, from the ambient air. The covering surface 202 may also comprise additional elements suitably adapted to conform to and/or fit around portions of the paint tray 100 and/or paint roller 104. For example, referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5, in a representative embodiment, the covering surface 202 comprise a conforming section 206 and a notch 208.

The cover 200 may also comprise any suitable device or system for selectively coupling the covering surface 202 to the side walls of the paint tray 100. For example, the bottom side 302 of the covering surface may comprise a clip, tab, or clamp that is configured to secure the covering surface 202 to the paint tray 100.

The conforming section 206 may comprise arty suitable structure or device adapted to account for items such as the paint roller 104 that may be on or in the paint tray 100 when the cover 200 is positioned over the paint tray 100. The conforming section 206 may comprise a raised, portion disposed in the covering surface 202. The conforming section 206 may be formed integrally with the covering surface 202 as a single one-piece unit or the conforming section 206 may comprise a separate structure suitably adapted to be coupled to the covering surface 202.

The conforming section 206 may be formed in any suitable shape or size. The conforming section 206 may be disposed at any suitable location on the covering surface 202. For example, in one embodiment, the conforming section 206 may comprise a substantially concave section that rises outwardly from the top side 304 of the covering surface 202, wherein the concave section may be oriented substantially perpendicular to a centerline 108 extending between the inclined surface 106 and the paint well 102 of the paint tray 100. The conforming section 206 may also be of sufficient height to account for a paint roller 104 of up to several inches in diameter. The conforming section 206 may also be sized to conform to a particular width or length cit paint roller 104 or the conforming section 206 may be configured to receive any number of different sized paint roller 104 of up to a width of the covering surface 202.

The notch 208 may comprise a recessed area, which provides a section in the cover 100 allowing the paint roller 104 to extend outwardly from the paint tray 100 through the cover 200 allowing the cover 100 to sit substantially flush against an upper surface of the paint tray 100. The notch 208 may comprise any suitable element for allowing passage of structural elements of the paint roller 104 Referring now to FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, in one embodiment, the notch 208 may comprise an opening in an end portion of the cover 100 and/or the conforming section 206. The opening may comprise any suitable size or shape. For example, the notch 208 may be sized to allow a frame member of the paint roller 104 to fit through but not a handle portion of the paint roller 104 thereby helping to secure the paint roller 104 within the space formed by the cover 100 and the paint tray 200.

The cover 200 may also comprise a sidewall portion (not shown) forming a lip along one or more edges of the covering surface 202. The sidewall portion may comprise any suitable element for extending one or more sides of the covering surface 202 past the top edge of the paint tray 100 when the cover 100 is positioned on the paint tray 100. The sidewall portion may he formed integrally with the covering surface 202 or the sidewall portion may comprise a separate structure suitably adapted to be coupled to the covering surface 202.

The securing element 204 helps secure the cover 100 to the paint tray 200 and may comprise any suitable device or structure. Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, in one embodiment, the securing element 204 may comprise and edge piece configured to extend downward from the covering surface 202 and engage an edge of the paint tray 100. The securing element 204 may also comprise a portion of the notch 208. The securing, element 204 may be formed integrally with the covering surface 202 forming a single one-piece unit or the securing element 204 may comprise a separate structure suitably adapted to be coupled to the covering surface 202.

The particular implementations shown and described are illustrative, of the invention and its best mode and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Indeed, for the sake of brevity, conventional manufacturing, connection, preparation, and other functional aspects of the system may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or steps between the various elements. Many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made, however, without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims. The specification and figures are illustrative, rather than restrictive, and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by the claims and their legal equivalents rather than by merely the examples described.

For example, the steps recited in any method or process claims may be executed in any order and are not limited to the specific order presented in the claims. Additionally, the components and/or elements recited in any apparatus claims may be assembled or otherwise operationally configured in a variety of permutations and are accordingly not limited to the specific configuration recited in the claims.

Benefits, other advantages and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to particular embodiments; however, any benefit, advantage, solution to problem or any element that may cause any particular benefit, advantage or solution to occur or to become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required or essential features or components of any or all the claims.

As used herein, the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “having”, “including”, “includes” or any variation thereof, are intended to reference a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, composition or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements recited, but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, composition or apparatus. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-described structures, arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials or components used in the practice of the present invention, in addition to those not specifically recited, may be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters or other operating requirements without departing from the general principles of the same.

Claims

1. A cover for a paint tray having a paint well, an inclined surface adjacent to the paint well, and four side walls, comprising:

a substantially flat covering surface configured to engage an upper surface of the four side walls;

a conforming section extending upwardly from a top side of the covering surface, wherein the conforming section is configured to accommodate a paint roller sleeve positioned on the inclined surface of the paint tray when the covering surface is engaging the upper surface of the four side walls; and

a notch disposed along an end portion of the covering surface proximate to the conforming section, wherein the notch is configured to allow a portion of a paint roller frame member to pass through the covering surface and allow a handle portion of the paint roller to extend outward from the covering surface when the covering surface is engaging the upper surface of the four side walls.

2. A paint tray cover according to claim 1, wherein the conforming section is oriented substantially perpendicular to a centerline ext riding between the inclined surface and the paint well of the paint tray.

3. A paint tray cover according to claim 1, wherein the conforming section comprises a substantially concave protrusion extending outward from the top side of the covering surface.

4. A paint tray cover according to claim 1, further comprising a securing element disposed along the end portion of the covering surface, wherein the securing element is configured to extend below the upper surface of at least one of the four side walls.

5. A paint tray cover according to claim 4, wherein the securing element extends downward from a bottom side of the covering surface.

6. A paint tray cover according to claim 4, wherein the securing element comprises at least a portion of the notch.

7. A paint tray cover according to claim 1, wherein the notch is configured to prevent the handle portion of the paint roller from passing through when the covering surface is engaging the upper surface of the four side walls and the frame member is positioned within the notch.