Protective Cover For Paint Can

Abstract

Protective covers for cans of paint or wood stain having a circular cap with an inner and an outer lip, wherein the inner and outer lips are downwardly disposed to cooperatively and frictionally engage a lid rim of a paint or wood stain can, and a circular flange extending upwardly from the circular cap and extending circumferentially around the lid rim of the can, wherein the circular flange curves inwardly toward the center of the can to define an opening through which the contents of the can may be accessed, and wherein a portion of the outer edge of the flange extends a shorter distance upward from the cap than the rest of the flange to provide a recessed edge against which excess liquid may be scraped from a paint brush and drain back into the can.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to scraping excess paint from paint brushes and more specifically to a brush scraping apparatus including embodiments for attachment to an open paint can installed by the user after the can has been opened for use.

Using a brush and a can of paint to paint any surface is a routine practice. The painter typically applies paint to the brush by dipping the bristles of the brush in the paint can. Painting has typically been a very messy job. Usually, there is excess paint on the brush after it is taken out of the paint can. Painters usually scrape the excess paint from the brush before applying the paint to the surface that he or she is painting. In many cases, painters will pour about half of the can of paint into a second can. This allows the painter to scrape the paint from the brush on the rim of either can to remove excess paint from the brush.

The inside upper edge or rim of the paint can is normally the most convenient place to scrape excess paint from the brush and it is the rim of the can that most painters normally use to scrape off excess paint before applying the paint brush to the surface that he or she is painting. The design of the conventional paint can is not designed to allow the painter to unload excess paint off the brush properly. Wiping the brush on the side of the paint can cause several problems. This action causes paint to flow into the rim channel and over the side of the paint can. The paint often ends up on the carpet or other surface where the can is placed. Once the rim of the can has been contaminated with paint, it is very difficult to seal the can properly. The paint in the rim also acts like cement making the subsequent opening of the can very difficult.

Another problem arises when the painter puts the lid back on the can with the rim section full of paint. When the painter strikes the lid to seal the can, the paint in the rim is projected outward and can cause substantial damage to the surrounding area. The paint is often projected onto the painter, and can cause physical damage if expelled into the eyes.

There remains a need for a protective device for paint lids that is simple to manufacture and provides a surface against which brushes may be scraped in a manner that permits excess paint to drip back into the can.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This need is met by the present invention. The present invention provides a protective cap for a paint or wood stain can having an inwardly curving upper flange with recessed portions against which paint brushes can be scraped with excess paint or wood stain flowing back into the can. The protective cap is effective yet very simple to mold from inexpensive polymers to provide a product that cleans up easily for re-use.

Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention, a protective cover for a paint or wood stain can is provided in the form of a circular cap having an inner and an outer lip, with the inner and outer lips being downwardly disposed to cooperatively and frictionally engage a lid rim of a paint or wood stain can. A circular flange extends upwardly from the circular cap around the lid rim of the can and curves inwardly toward the center of the can to define an opening through which the contents of the can may be accessed. A portion of the outer edge of the flange extends a shorter distance upward from the cap than the rest of the flange to provide a recessed edge against which excess liquid may be scraped from a paint brush and drain back into the can. The circular cap can be prepared in a variety of diameters to accommodate the standard sizes of cans available for paint and wood stain.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the recessed edge of the flange is essentially parallel to the plane of the circular cap. This provides an optimal surface for wiping from a brush excess liquids with the viscosity of oil-based and latex paints.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the recessed edge of the flange forms an acute angle with the plane of the circular cap. In one aspect of this embodiment, the acute angle of the flange is sufficiently shallow to permit the flange to define an inwardly curving spiral around the surface of the circular cap. This provides an optimal surface for wiping from a brush excess liquid with the viscosity of a wood stain.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, two recessed edges are provided, a first recessed edge essentially parallel to the plane of the circular cap and a second recessed edge forming an acute angle with the plane of the circular cap. This allows the protective cover to be suitable for use with both paints and wood stains.

In another embodiment the present invention provides protective covers with recessed edges dimensioned to receive the width and thickness of a paint brush. A plurality of recessed edges with different width dimensions may be provided to accommodate a variety of brush sizes, or a single recess may be provided with a width dimension large enough to accommodate essentially any brush having a common width. Such recesses define side edges against which the brush may also be wiped.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, apertures are provided in the circular cap or the inwardly curving upward flange. The apertures permit any excess paint or wood stain falling to the exterior of the flange to drain back into the can.

According to another embodiment, the cap is provided with a pouring spout integral with the upward flange. This permits the can contents to be dispensed neatly without contaminating the rim of the can with paint or wood stain. For example, the paint or wood stain may be dispensed by means of the spout into a tray for application with a paint roller.

According to another embodiment, the circular cap may be provided with means to hold a paint brush above the opening in the can. The means can be adapted to secure the brush above the contents to permit paint or wood stain on the brush to drip back into the can, or the means can be adapted to secure the brush so that the bristles are immersed in the can contents to prevent the brush from drying out.

The present invention thus provides a washable and reusable product for keeping excess paint and wood stain off of cans and brushes to prolong brush life and maintain a neater job. Other features of the present invention will be pointed out in the following description referencing the drawings and claims, which disclose the principles of the invention and the best modes which are presently contemplated for carrying them out.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a protective cover according to one embodiment of the present invention in relation to a paint can;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the protective cover depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the protective cover depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, viewed from the opposite side;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the protective cover depicted in FIGS. 1-3; and

FIG. 5 is perspective view of a protective cover according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of the protective cover of the present invention are illustrated in combination with a one gallon cylindrical paint can. However, the protective covers of the present invention can be manufactured for use in combination with essentially any size can of paint or wood stain. In addition to one gallon cans, paints and wood stains are also commonly sold in one pint and one quart cans, as well as in five gallon bucket. Equivalent metric-size containers of products are also manufactured and sold.

In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-4, protective cover 10 includes circular cap 20 having an inner lip and an outer lip that are disposed downwardly so that they cooperatively frictionally fasten protective cover 10 to circular channel 11 of paint can PC. The inner and outer lips of circular cap 20 co-operatively seal circular channel 11 of paint can PC so that excess paint cannot collect and dry in circular channel 11. One purpose of the protective cover of the present invention is to prevent excess paint from accumulating and drying in circular channel 11. The accumulation of dried paint in circular channel 11 prevents proper reattachment of the paint can lid. This allows evaporation from the paint can interior so that the remaining paint dries out. The dried paint cannot be subsequently used and is wasted.

An arcuate flange 21 extends upwardly from circular cap 20 and inwardly toward the center C of paint can PC to define an opening 22 through which the contents of paint can PC may be accessed. A portion 24 of the outer edge 26 of flange extends a shorter distance upward from the circular cap 20 than the rest of the flange 32 to provide a recessed edge 34 against which excess liquid may be scraped from a paint brush and drain back into paint can PC.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, recessed edge 34a of flange 21 is essentially parallel to the plane defined by circular cap 20. This provides an optimal surface for wiping from a brush excess liquids with the viscosity of oil-based and latex paints. According to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, recessed edge 34c of flange 21 forms an acute angle AA with the plane defined by circular cap 20. As seen in FIG. 2, acute angle AA of flange 21 is sufficiently shallow to permit flange 21 to define an inwardly curving spiral 25 around the circumference of circular cap 20. This provides an optimal surface for wiping from a brush excess liquid with the viscosity of a wood stain.

In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-4, two recessed edges 34a and 34c are provided, a first recessed edge 34a essentially parallel to the plane defined by circular cap 20 and a second recessed edge 34c forming an acute angle with the plane defined by circular cap 20. This allows the protective cover to be suitable for use with both paints and wood stains.

Recessed edge 34a of protective cover 10 is dimensioned to receive the width and thickness of a paint brush. A plurality of recessed edges with different width dimensions can be provided to accommodate a variety of brush sizes. In the alternative, a single recess can be provided with a width dimension large enough to accommodate essentially any brush having a common width. Such recesses define side edges against which the brush may also be wiped.

As seen in FIGS. 1-4, apertures 40a, 40b, 40c, etc., are provided in circular cap 20 and flange 21. The apertures permit excess paint falling to the exterior 42 of flange 21 to drain back into paint can PC.

The protective cover of the present invention can also be provided with a pouring spout integral with the circular cap and flange. This permits the can contents to be dispensed neatly without contaminating the rim of the can with paint.

As seen in FIG. 5, cover 10 is provided with means 60 that is molded separately and assembled to hold paint brush 70 above the opening 12 of paint can PC. In particular, posts 61 and 62 frictionally engage the neck 72 of brush 70 so that the bristles 74 extend over the opening 12 parallel to the surface of the paint in the can.

In alternative embodiments, one or two longer posts are used that bend 90 degrees and extend over the center of the can, with a first post portion parallel to the can opening and a second post portion perpendicular to the can opening. When one post is used, the paint brush is affixed to the post by a clamp. When two posts are used, clamps or other means may be employed so the two posts co-operatively secure the brush to the posts. The second portion or portions of the post or posts may telescope to raise and lower the paint brush bristles into and out of the paint in paint can PC.

Alternative means of affixing the paint brush to the post or posts may be provided, such as a hook formed on the end of either or both post. The hook is insertable through the aperture typically provided in brush handles to hang the brush therefrom so that it may be raised and lowered by the telescoping post or posts.

This embodiment thus serves to secure a paint brush above the paint can opening to permit excess paint on the paint brush bristles to drip back into paint can PC, or the post or posts can be telescoped so that the paint brush bristles are immersed into the paint in the paint can to prevent the paint brush bristles from drying out.

Can cover 10 can be formed by injection molding from thermoplastic polymers by conventional means. The brush attachment means may be separately molded, and the recesses and apertures in the cap cover can be integrally molded or die cut after molding.

The polymers are selected and the molding compositions preferably formulated to ensure that paint or wood stain can be easily removed from can covers molded therefrom. Such molding formulations are well known to those of ordinary skill in the injection molding art and require no further description here. The can cover can be readily molded from recycled plastics, including plastics into which waste paint has been recycled.

The description of the preferred embodiments should be taken as illustrating, instead of limiting, the present invention as defined by the claims. As will be readily appreciated, numerous combinations of all features set forth above can be used without departing from the invention set forth in the claims. Such variations are not regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims

Claims

1. A protective cover for a can with contents comprising paint or wood stain, said cover comprising:

a circular cap having an inner and an outer lip, said inner and outer lips being downwardly disposed to cooperatively and frictionally engage a lid rim of a paint or wood stain can; and

a circular flange extending upwardly from the circular cap and extending circumferentially around said lid rim of the can, said circular flange curving inwardly toward the center of said can to define an opening through which the contents of the can may be accessed;

wherein a portion of the outer edge of said flange extends a shorter distance upward from said cap than the rest of said flange to provide a recessed edge against which excess liquid may be scraped from a paint brush and drain back into said can.

2. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein said recessed edge of said flange is essentially parallel to the plane defined by said circular cap.

3. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein said recessed edge of said flange forms an acute angle with the plane defined by said circular cap.

4. The protective cover of claim 3, wherein said acute angle of said flange is sufficiently shallow to permit the flange to define an inwardly curving spiral around the top surface of said circular cap.

5. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein a plurality of recessed edges are provided comprising a first recessed edge essentially parallel to the plane defined by said circular cap and a second recessed edge forming an acute angle with the plane defined by said circular cap

6. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein said recessed edge is dimensioned to receive the width and thickness of a paint brush.

7. The protective cover of claim 6, comprising a plurality of recessed edges with different width dimensions that are dimensioned to accommodate a variety of brush width sizes.

8. The protective cover of claim 6, consisting of a single recess with a width dimension large enough to accommodate essentially any brush having a common width.

9. The protective cover of claim 1, wherein said circular cap or inwardly curving upward flange comprise a plurality of apertures positioned to permit any excess paint or wood stain falling to the exterior of said flange to drain back into the can.

10. The protective cover of claim 1, further comprising a pouring spout integral with said circular cap and said upward flange.

11. The protective cover of claim 1, further comprising a means for holding a paint brush above the opening in the can, wherein said brush holding means is affixed to said circular cap.

12. The protective cover of claim 11, wherein said brush holding means is adapted to secure the brush above the contents of said can to permit paint or wood stain on the brush to drip back into said can contents.

13. The protective cover of claim 11, wherein said brush holding means is adapted to secure the brush so that the bristles are immersed in the can contents to prevent the brush from drying out.

14. The protective cover of claim 11, wherein said brush holding means is adapted to raise and lower the brush, so that the bristles can be raised out of or lowered into the can contents.