Bucket
A bucket includes a first volume defined by a continuous primary sidewall extending from a periphery of a first bottom to a primary rim and has a flattened portion extending from the periphery of the first bottom to a subjacent portion of the primary rim. An inner surface of the flattened portion of the primary sidewall is textured to form a paint roller grid. A second volume is defined by a continuous secondary sidewall extending from a periphery of a second bottom to a secondary rim and has a flattened portion extending from the periphery of the second bottom to a subjacent portion of the secondary rim adjacent the subjacent portion of the primary rim. An edge couples the subjacent portion of the secondary rim and the subjacent portion of the primary rim.
This invention relates to vessels.
More particularly, the present invention relates to buckets and painting accessories.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONContainers for carrying fluids have long been known in particular, buckets have been known for centuries. Fluids such as paint or cleaning fluids are often carried and applied from containers to such as buckets. Often, additional implements such as paint rollers, brushes and other tools are required during a painting project or other project requiring the use of a container. Keeping track of fluid supplies, such as paint, and other implements can be inconvenient. When a certain implement is required, it may have been left behind or stored in another location. Other problems specifically noticed during the painting process, is that during the use of either the roller or the brush, the user is presented with the problem of where to store the implement not being used.
Additionally, in the world today, shipping of large quantities of items is almost essential for successful distribution. Therefore, the ability to collect a plurality of items into a small space is highly desirable. Thus, stacking height becomes an important consideration. Specialty containers typically cannot be stacked to reduce the space used due to specialty interior structures.
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBriefly, to achieve the desired objects and advantages of the instant invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, provided is a bucket which includes a first volume defined by a continuous primary sidewall extending from a periphery of a first bottom to a primary rim and has a flattened portion extending from the periphery of the first bottom to a subjacent portion of the primary rim. A second volume is defined by a continuous secondary sidewall extending from a periphery of a second bottom to a secondary rim and has a flattened portion extending from the periphery of the second bottom to a subjacent portion of the secondary rim adjacent the subjacent portion of the primary rim. An edge couples the subjacent portion of the secondary rim and the subjacent portion of the primary rim.
In another aspect of the invention, an inner surface of the flattened portion of the primary sidewall is textured to form a paint roller grid. Additionally, at least one divider base can be provided, extending from second bottom. The at least one divider base extends toward secondary rim a distance less than a stacking height of the bucket. Divider panels removably engage the at least one divider base, dividing the second volume into a plurality of compartments.
In yet another aspect, a collar extends from the continuous periphery adjacent the primary sidewall and the secondary sidewall a distance defining a stacking height of the bucket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSSpecific objects and advantages of the instant invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first directed to
Bucket 10 includes a first volume 12 defined by a continuous primary sidewall 14 extending from a periphery 15 of a first bottom 16 to a primary rim 18. Continuous primary sidewall 14 includes, as a portion thereof, a flattened portion 19 extending from periphery 15 of first bottom 16 to a subjacent portion 20 of primary rim 18. Subjacent portion 20 is subjacent to (recessed below) the remainder of primary rim 18. Continuous primary sidewall 14 can also include a pour spout 21 formed in primary rim 18 opposing subjacent portion 20, if desired. As will be explained in detail subsequently, spout 21 can facilitate separation of buckets can when stacked for storage or shipping.
Bucket 10 further includes a second volume 22 defined by a continuous secondary sidewall 24 extending from a periphery 25 of a second bottom 26 to a secondary rim 28. Continuous secondary sidewall 24 includes, as a portion thereof, a flattened portion 29 extending from periphery 25 of second bottom 26 to a subjacent portion 30 of secondary rim 28 adjacent subjacent portion 20 of primary rim 18. Subjacent portion 30 is subjacent to (recessed below) the remainder of primary rim 28. An edge 32 couples subjacent portion 30 of secondary rim 28 and subjacent portion 20 of primary rim 18. While first volume 12 and a second volume 22 may vary depending upon the desired uses, second volume 22 will typically be substantially less than first volume 12 as can be clearly seen in the figures.
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In a preferred embodiment, as can be seen if
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Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof, which is assessed only by a fair interpretation of the following claims.
Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is:
Claims
1. A bucket comprising:
- a first volume defined by a continuous primary sidewall extending from a periphery of a first bottom to a primary rim;
- the continuous primary sidewall including a flattened portion extending from the periphery of the first bottom to a subjacent portion of the primary rim;
- an inner surface of the flattened portion of the primary sidewall being textured to form a paint roller grid;
- a second volume defined by a continuous secondary sidewall extending from a periphery of a second bottom to a secondary rim;
- the continuous secondary sidewall including a flattened portion extending from the periphery of the second bottom to a subjacent portion of the secondary rim adjacent the subjacent portion of the primary rim; and
- an edge coupling the subjacent portion of the secondary rim and the subjacent portion of the primary rim.
2. A bucket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the primary rim and the secondary rim form a continuous periphery about the subjacent portion of the secondary rim and the subjacent portion of the primary rim.
3. A bucket as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first bottom is spaced from the second bottom and the flattened portion of the primary sidewall diverges from the flattened portion of the secondary sidewall, from the edge to the first bottom and the second bottom, respectively.
4. A bucket as claimed in claim 3 wherein the edge includes a centrally positioned notch for receiving and supporting the handle of a paint roller.
5. A bucket as claimed in claim 1 further including a scraping rib extending from the inner surface of the flattened portion of the primary sidewall parallel to and proximate the subjacent rim thereof.
6. A bucket as claimed in claim 1 further including at least one divider base extending from second bottom.
7. A bucket as claimed in claim 6 wherein the at least one divider base extends toward secondary rim a distance less than a stacking height of the bucket.
8. A bucket as claimed in claim 6 wherein divider panels removably engage the at least one divider base, dividing the second volume into a plurality of compartments.
9. A bucket comprising:
- a first volume defined by a continuous primary sidewall extending from a periphery of a first bottom to a primary rim;
- the continuous primary sidewall including a flattened portion extending from the periphery of the first bottom to a subjacent portion of the primary rim;
- an inner surface of the flattened portion of the primary sidewall being textured to form a paint roller grid;
- a second volume defined by a continuous secondary sidewall extending from a periphery of a second bottom to a secondary rim;
- the continuous secondary sidewall including a flattened portion extending from the periphery of the second bottom to a subjacent portion of the secondary rim adjacent the subjacent portion of the primary rim;
- an edge coupling the subjacent portion of the secondary rim and the subjacent portion of the primary rim;
- the primary rim and the secondary rim, absent the subjacent portion of each, form a continuous periphery about the subjacent portion of the secondary rim and the subjacent portion of the primary rim; and
- a collar extending from the continuous periphery adjacent the primary sidewall and the secondary sidewall a distance defining a stacking height of the bucket.
- the edge subjacent the continuous periphery a distance greater that the stacking height.
10. A bucket as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first bottom is spaced from the second bottom and the flattened portion of the primary sidewall diverges from the flattened portion of the secondary sidewall, from the edge to the first bottom and the second bottom, respectively.
11. A bucket as claimed in claim 9 wherein the edge includes a centrally positioned notch for receiving and supporting the handle of a paint roller.
12. A bucket as claimed in claim 9 further including a scraping rib extending from the inner surface of the flattened portion of the primary sidewall parallel to and proximate the subjacent rim thereof.
13. A bucket as claimed in claim 9 further including a plurality of divider bases extending from the second bottom a distance equal to or less than the stacking height of the bucket.
14. A bucket as claimed in claim 13 wherein divider panels removably engage the divider bases, dividing the second volume into a plurality of compartments.
15. A bucket comprising:
- a first volume defined by a continuous primary sidewall extending from a periphery of a first bottom to a primary rim;
- the continuous primary sidewall including a flattened portion extending from the periphery of the first bottom to a subjacent portion of the primary rim;
- a second volume defined by a continuous secondary sidewall extending from a periphery of a second bottom to a secondary rim;
- the continuous secondary sidewall including a flattened portion extending from the periphery of the second bottom to a subjacent portion of the secondary rim adjacent the subjacent portion of the primary rim;
- an edge coupling the subjacent portion of the secondary rim and the subjacent portion of the primary rim;
- the primary rim and the secondary rim, absent the subjacent portion of each, form a continuous periphery about the subjacent portion of the secondary rim and the subjacent portion of the primary rim;
- a collar extending from the continuous periphery adjacent the primary sidewall and the secondary sidewall a distance defining a stacking height of the bucket; and
- the edge subjacent the continuous periphery a distance greater that the stacking height.
16. A bucket as claimed in claim 15 wherein the first bottom is spaced from the second bottom and the flattened portion of the primary sidewall diverges from the flattened portion of the secondary sidewall, from the edge to the first bottom and the second bottom, respectively.
17. A bucket as claimed in claim 16 further including a plurality of divider bases extending from the second bottom a distance equal to or less than the stacking height of the bucket.
18. A bucket as claimed in claim 17 wherein divider panels removably engage the divider bases, dividing the second volume into a plurality of compartments.
19. A bucket as claimed in claim 18 wherein an inner surface of the flattened portion of the primary sidewall is textured to form a paint roller grid.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 14, 2004
Publication Date: Apr 20, 2006
Inventor: Michael Lundy (Mesa, AZ)
Application Number: 10/965,583
International Classification: B65D 25/04 (20060101);