Mud Pan for Use in Drywall Finishing

Abstract

A mud pan includes a container having a bottom wall, a mounting structure, a handle and a supporting structure. The mounting structure is connected to the bottom wall of the container and extends downward from the bottom wall of the container. The handle is connectable to the mounting structure to define a connected position and a disconnected position. The supporting structure is connected to the container. The supporting structure is operable to levelly support the container with respect to a surface when the handle is in the disconnected position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of handheld containers for holding drywall joint compound during drywall finishing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drywall finishers typically use mud pans to hold and dispense drywall joint compound while applying the drywall joint compound to an unfinished section of drywall. The most common type of mud pan comprises a trough fabricated from metal or plastic, where the trough is either trapezoidal or substantially U-shaped in cross-section. Typically, these drywall mud pans are not provided with handles, but rather, the drywall finisher holds the bottom of the mud pan in one hand while applying the joint compound to the wall using a taping knife that is held in the drywall finisher's other hand.

Provision of a handle on a mud pan is problematic. Handles that extend horizontally outward from the pan cause undue fatigue for the user. Handles that extend downward prevent the mud pan from being set down upon a surface in a level manner.

One mud pan design incorporating a handle includes an elongated handle that is connected to and extends perpendicular to a magnetic panel that is connectable to the mud pan. However, since the magnetic panel that is similar in size to the bottom of the mud pan, this design does not lend itself to convenient storage of the handle when the handle was not in use.

It would be desirable to have a drywall mud pan having a detachable handle that may be easily stored when not in use, wherein the structure of the mud pan does not prevent the mud pan from sitting level on a flat surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A mud pan includes a container having a bottom wall, a mounting structure, a handle and a supporting structure. The mounting structure is connected to the bottom wall of the container and extends downward from the bottom wall of the container. The handle is connectable to the mounting structure to define a connected position and a disconnected position. The supporting structure is connected to the container. The supporting structure is operable to levelly support the container with respect to a surface when the handle is in the disconnected position.

The supporting structure may be operable to space the bottom wall of the container from the surface. Furthermore, the mounting structure may extend a first distance downward from the bottom wall of the container and the support structure may extend a second distance downward from the bottom wall of the container, wherein the second distance is equal to or greater than the first distance.

The supporting structure may include a plurality of feet. Alternatively, the supporting structure may include a rim that extends downward from the bottom wall of the container at an outer periphery of the bottom wall of the container.

The handle may extend substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall of the container when the handle is in the connected position. Furthermore, the bottom wall of the container may be substantially planar. Additionally, the container may have a substantially trough-like configuration.

The mounting structure may have a threaded rod, and the handle may have a threaded collar that is threadedly engageable with the threaded rod of the mounting structure to define the connected position. Alternatively, the mounting structure may have a threaded collar, and the handle may have a threaded rod that is threadedly engageable with the threaded collar of the mounting structure to define the connected position.

One or more hooks may be connected to the container for suspending the container from an elevated structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like referenced numerals refer to like parts throughout several views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the mud pan according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view showing the mud pan according to the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view showing the mud pan according to the invention having an alternative supporting structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the disclosed embodiment.

FIGS. 1-2 show a mud pan 10 according to the invention. The mud pan 10 includes a container 12 and a handle 14 that is removably connected to the container 12. Accordingly, the container 12 may be handheld while the handle 14 is connected to the container 12, or the handle 14 may be disconnected from the container 12 to allow the container 12 to be set down upon a surface 1. The mud pan 10 is particularly useful for holding joint compound (not shown) during drywall finishing. However, it should be understood that the mud pan 10 is not limited to use with joint compound or limited to the application of drywall finishing, but rather, the mud pan 10 could be used to hold and mix various flowable materials for any desired application.

The container 12 may be elongated in shape, having a substantially trough-like configuration. In particular, the container 12 may includes a substantially planar, rectangular bottom wall 16 having a first side wall 18 and a second side wall 20 extending upward therefrom along the long sides 17a of the bottom wall 16. The first side wall 18 and the second side wall 20 each extend slightly outward from the bottom wall 16, thereby creating a trapezoidal shape for a first end wall 22 and a second end wall 24, each of which are connected to the bottom wall 16, the first side wall 18, and the second side wall 20 at the short sides 17b of the bottom wall 16. Together, the bottom wall 16, the first and second side walls 18, 20, and the first and second end walls 22, 24 define an interior 26 of the container 12, along with an open top 28 of the container 12. The open top 28 of the container 12 is bounded by upper edges 30 of the first and second side walls 18, 20 and the first and second end walls 22, 24. The upper edges 30 are stiff and substantially straight so that the user may scrape excess joint compound from his tool.

In order to connect the container 12 to the handle 14, a mounting structure 32 is provided on the bottom wall 16 of the container 12, on the exterior thereof. The mounting structure 32 may be any structure suitable to engage a portion of the handle 14, as will be explained herein. For example, the mounting structure 32 could include a base plate 34 and a threaded post 36. The base plate 34 is connected to the bottom wall 16 of the container 12 by any suitable means such as welding or riveting. The threaded post 36 is connected to the base 34 and extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 16 of the container 12. Other structures could be provided in lieu of the threaded post 36, such as a threaded collar. It should be further understood that a threaded connection is not necessary, but rather, the handle 14 could be connected to the container 12 by friction fit, a slip joint, resilient retainer means, or other structures that are well known in the art.

The mounting structure 32 is centrally located on the bottom wall 16 of the container 12 and extends downward therefrom by a first distance 38. In order to prevent the mounting structure 32 from rendering the container 12 incapable of sitting level with respect to the surface 1, a supporting structure 41 is provided on the bottom wall 16 of the container 12. The supporting structure 41 spaces the bottom wall 16 of the container 12 to support the container 12 with respect to the surface 1 when the handle 14 is not connected to the container 12. For example, the supporting structure 41 could include a plurality of feet 42, wherein the feet 42 have bottom walls 44 that engage the surface 1. The bottom walls 44 of the feet 42 are spaced from the bottom wall 16 of the container 12 by a second distance 40 that is greater than the first distance 38. Thus, the feet 42 support the container 12 with respect to the surface 1 such that the mounting structure 32 is not in contact with the surface 1. However, it should be understood that the mounting structure 32 could contact the surface 1, as long as it did not prevent the feet 42 from holding the container 12 in a substantially level fashion with respect to the surface 1. For example, the supporting structure 41 could be provided in the form of a rim 142 that extends downward from the bottom wall 16 of the of the container 12 in a substantially continuous manner around the outer periphery of the bottom wall 16 of the container 12 and has a bottom surface 144 that is spaced from the bottom wall 16 of the container 12 by the second distance 40, as shown in FIG. 3.

In order to allow the container 12 to be hung from an elevated structure, such as a ladder (not shown), at least one hook, and preferably, a pair of hooks 48 may be provided. The hooks 48 each include a first leg 49a connected to either of the first side wall 18 or the second side wall 20 of the container 12. A second leg 49b extends outward from the first leg 49a in a substantially horizontal fashion for engagement with the ladder. A third leg 49c extends downward from the second leg 49b to retain the hooks 48 in engagement with the ladder.

The handle 14 is substantially cylindrical and provides a convenient structure by which the user can grip the mud pan 10. A connecting structure 52 may be provided at an upper end 50 of the handle 14. The connecting structure 52 is adapted to engage the mounting structure 32 of the container 12 to removably secure the handle 14 with respect to the container 12. For example, the connecting structure 52 may include a threaded collar 54 for threaded engagement with the threaded post 36 of the mounting structure 32. Alternatively, the connecting structure 52 could include a threaded post (not shown) or other suitable structures, as are well known in the art. In order to provide further comfort for the user, a cushion 56 fabricated from foam or similar material may be provided at the upper end 50 of the handle 14 around the outer periphery thereof to prevent contact of the user's hand with the bottom wall 16 of the container 12.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but to the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications or equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.

Claims

1. A mud pan for providing a flowable material to a tool, comprising:

a container having a bottom wall and at least one substantially planar side wall having an upper edge, wherein the container is adapted to receive the flowable material and the upper edge of the side wall is stiff and substantially straight to allow excess flowable material to be scraped from the tool;

a mounting structure connected to the bottom wall of the container, wherein the mounting structure extends downward from the bottom wall of the container;

a handle connectable to the mounting structure at an upper end of the handle to define a connected position and a disconnected position, the handle having a cushion that extends radially outward from an outer periphery of the handle adjacent to the upper end of the handle and is configured to prevent contact of a user's hand with the bottom wall of the container; and

a supporting structure connected to the container, wherein the supporting structure is operable to levelly support the container with respect to a surface and is operable to space the bottom wall of the container from the surface when the handle is in the disconnected position.

2. (canceled)

3. The mud pan of claim 1, wherein the mounting structure extends a first distance downward from the bottom wall of the container and the support structure extends a second distance downward from the bottom wall of the container, and the second distance is equal to or greater than the first distance.

4. The mud pan of claim 3, wherein the bottom wall of the container is substantially planar.

5. The mud pan of claim 1, further comprising:

the supporting structure including four feet, wherein the bottom wall of the container is substantially rectangular, the bottom wall of the container defines four corners, and each of the four feet is positioned adjacent to a respective corner of the four corners of the bottom wall of the container.

6. The mud pan of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall of the container is substantially rectangular, the bottom wall of the container defines a substantially rectangular outer periphery, and the supporting structure includes a substantially rectangular rim that extends downward from the outer periphery of the bottom wall of the container.

7. The mud pan of claim 1, wherein the handle extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall of the container when the handle is in the connected position.

8. (canceled)

9. The mud pan of claim 1, further comprising:

the mounting structure having a threaded post; and

the handle having a threaded collar that is threadedly engageable with the threaded post of the mounting structure to define the connected position.

10. The mud pan of claim 1, further comprising:

the mounting structure having a threaded collar; and

the handle having a threaded post that is threadedly engageable with the threaded collar of the mounting structure to define the connected position.

11. The mud pan of claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of hooks that are connected to the side wall of the container at spaced locations along the side wall of the container for suspending the container from an elevated structure, each hook having a first leg that is connected to and coplanar to the side wall, a second leg that extends outward from the first leg and the side wall, and a third leg that extends downward from the second leg to a free end.

12. A mud pan for providing a flowable material to a tool, comprising:

a container having a substantially planar, generally rectangular bottom wall, first and second elongate, substantially planar opposed side walls that extend upwardly and outwardly from the bottom wall and each have an upper edge, and first and second substantially planar opposed end walls that each extend upward from and perpendicular to the bottom wall and are narrow relative to the side walls, wherein the container is adapted to receive the flowable material and the upper edges of the side walls are stiff and substantially straight to allow excess flowable material to be scraped from the tool;

a mounting structure connected to the bottom wall of the container, wherein the mounting structure extends a first distance downward from the bottom wall of the container;

a handle connectable to the mounting structure to define a connected position and a disconnected position;

a supporting structure that is connected to the container and extends a second distance downward from the bottom wall of the container, wherein the second distance is equal to or greater than the first distance, and further wherein the supporting structure is operable to space the bottom wall of the container with respect to a surface when the handle is in the disconnected position; and

first and second hooks that are connected to the side wall of the container at spaced locations along the side wall of the container for suspending the container from an elevated structure, each hook having a first leg that is connected to and coplanar to the side wall, a second leg that extends outward from the first leg and the side wall, and a third leg that extends downward from the second leg to a free end.

13. The mud pan of claim 12, further comprising:

the supporting structure including four feet, wherein the bottom wall of the container is substantially rectangular, the bottom wall of the container defines four corners, and each of the four feet is positioned adjacent to a respective corner of the four corners of the bottom wall of the container.

14. The mud pan of claim 12, wherein the bottom wall of the container is substantially rectangular, the bottom wall of the container defines a substantially rectangular outer periphery, and the supporting structure includes a substantially rectangular rim that extends downward from the outer periphery of the bottom wall of the container.

15. The mud pan of claim 12, wherein the handle extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall of the container when the handle is in the connected position.

16. (canceled)

17. The mud pan of claim 12, further comprising:

the mounting structure having a threaded post; and

the handle having a threaded collar that is threadedly engageable with the threaded post of the mounting structure to define the connected position.

18. The mud pan of claim 12, further comprising:

the mounting structure having a threaded collar; and

the handle having a threaded post that is threadedly engageable with the threaded collar of the mounting structure to define the connected position.

19. (canceled)

20. A mud pan for use in drywall finishing, the mud pan adapted to provide a flowable material to a tool, the mud pan comprising:

a container having a substantially planar, generally rectangular bottom wall, first and second elongate, substantially planar opposed side walls that extend upwardly and outwardly from the bottom wall and each have an upper edge, and first and second substantially planar opposed end walls that each extend upward from and perpendicular to the bottom wall and are narrow relative to the side walls, wherein the container is adapted to receive the flowable material and the upper edges of the side walls are stiff and substantially straight to allow excess flowable material to be scraped from the tool;

a mounting structure connected to the bottom wall of the container, wherein the mounting structure extends a first distance downward from the bottom wall of the container;

a handle connectable to the mounting structure at an upper end of the handle to define a connected position and a disconnected position, the handle having a cushion that extends radially outward from an outer periphery of the handle adjacent to an upper end of the handle and is configured to prevent contact of a user's hand with the bottom wall of the container, wherein the handle extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall of the container in the connected position;

a supporting structure that is connected to the container and extends a second distance downward from the bottom wall of the container, wherein the second distance is equal to or greater than the first distance, and further wherein the supporting structure is operable to space the bottom wall of the container with respect to a surface when the handle is in the disconnected position; and

first and second hooks that are connected to the side wall of the container at spaced locations along the first side wall of the container for suspending the container from an elevated structure, each hook having a first leg that is connected to and coplanar to the side wall, a second leg that extends outward from the first leg and the side wall, and a third leg that extends downward from the second leg to a free end, wherein the first hook is located adjacent to the first end wall of the container and the second hook is located adjacent to the second end wall of the container.