Abstract:
An apparatus for wetting a roller (e.g. with paint) includes a liquid containment area having a first side wall, a second side wall, a first end wall and a second end wall, and a sloping bottom section connected to form a rectangular container capable of holding a liquid. The sloping bottom section slopes such that a first end of the rectangular container is deeper than a distal opposing end such that the liquid tends to drain and pool in the first end. A lip extends inwardly continuously around the top edges of the side walls. The lip reduces spilling of paint, adds stiffness to the tray, and provides a base for the attachment of a roller cleaning mesh. In some embodiments, a roller cleaning mesh is mounted to the lip above the first end for rolling a roller over to remove debris from the roller.

Description:
FIELD 
     This invention relates to the field of coatings and more particularly to a system for coating using a roller device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There are many ways to coat objects. The art of coating, often referred to as painting, uses various tools to coat surfaces including brushes, rollers, sprayers, foam brushes, etc. In general, many things are coated with various materials such as paint, varnish, polyurethane, stain, etc. 
     Often, it is desired to coat a surface with a smooth coating of a material such as paint. Much attention is taken to apply a smooth coat of paint or other coatings. People who apply coatings (e.g. painters), work hard to apply clean, even coats; painting in specific patterns, using high-quality brushes and rollers, etc. No matter how hard such people work at applying clean, even coats, impurities often hamper such efforts. Paint impurities come from many sources. Old paint often congeals or fragmented pieces of dried paint often find their way into the paint and onto the paint applicator. Other sources of such contamination come from the environment, dust, hair, animal hair, dirt, soil, insects, etc. When such contamination mixes into the paint and winds up on the applicator (e.g., brush, roller, etc.), the contamination winds up on the applicator, then eventually winds up on the target that is being coated (e.g., wall). The contamination causes uneven coating on surfaces, smearing, bumps, and other marring of a quality coating. 
     When painting with a roller, contamination on the roller often transfers to the surface being coated or remains on the roller, but causes uneven coating when the contamination contacts the surface. Applying a layer of paint on an outside wall near the grass or dirt is almost impossible, as pieces of grass or dirt almost always wind up on the roller. Once the contamination finds its way onto the roller, the contamination often remains on the roller, or is transferred to the surface being coated. The person applying the paint often uses a finger or rag to remove the contamination, piece by piece, but such is messy and time consuming. 
     For commercial painters, often an inspection is made by an inspector or project manager and, should any debris be found on a painted surface, the commercial painter is often required to sand to remove the debris and repaint the entire surface. 
     In addition, roller wetting systems often lack the ability to hold substantial amounts of coating material as paint often sloshes within the containment areas and spills over the sides, limiting the amount of coating 
     What is needed is a system that reduces spillage from a roller wetting apparatus. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a system for wetting a roller is disclosed including a first side wall, a second side wall, a first end wall and a second end wall, the ends of such connected to form a rectangular wall set. A bottom section is connected to bottom edges of the first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall and the second end wall, forming a rectangular container capable of containing a liquid. A lip extends inwardly from a top edge of each of the first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall, and the second end wall, the lip for reducing spilling of paint from the system for wetting a roller. 
     In another embodiment, an apparatus for wetting a roller is disclosed including a liquid containment area having a first side wall, a second side wall, a first end wall and a second end wall, and a sloping bottom section connected to form a rectangular container capable of holding a liquid. The sloping bottom section slopes such that a first end of the rectangular container is deeper than a distal opposing end such that the liquid tends to drain and pool in the first end. A lip extends inwardly continuously around a top edge of each of the first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall, and the second end wall, The lip is for reducing spilling of paint from the system for wetting a roller and for stiffening the apparatus for wetting a roller, and optionally for supporting a mesh. 
     In another embodiment, an apparatus for wetting a roller is disclosed including a liquid containment area having a first side wall, a second side wall, a first end wall and a second end wall, and a sloping bottom section connected to form a rectangular container capable of holding a liquid. The sloping bottom section sloping such that a first end of the rectangular container is deeper than a distal opposing end such that the liquid tends to drain and pool in the first end. A lip extends inwardly continuously around a top edge of each of the first side wall, the second side wall, the first end wall, and the second end wall, the lip for reducing spilling of paint from the system for wetting a roller. A roller cleaning mesh is mounted to the lip above the first end for rolling a roller over such to remove debris/contaminants from the roller before re-wetting the roller with the coating material. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a system for wetting a roller with a coating. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the system for wetting a roller in use. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a cut-away view of the system for wetting a roller along lines  3 A- 3 A. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a cut-away view of the system for wetting a roller along lines  3 B- 3 B. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
     Throughout this description, the term roller refers to a class of devices used to coat a surface with a material. Although the surface is usually a wall, there is no restriction on the surface being a wall, as ceilings, floors, and other objects are often coated using a roller. Rollers come in many shapes and sizes and configurations, all are anticipated equally. 
     Throughout this description, the material being used to coat the wall or other surface is typically paint, but there is no restriction as to the material used to coat the surface, as rollers are used to coat various surfaces with materials such as stain, varnish, polyurethane, adhesives, etc. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective view of a system for wetting a roller  10  with a coating is shown. The system for wetting a roller  10  includes a tray portion  11  that has sides  20 / 22  and a bottom  28 . The sides  20 / 22  and bottom  28  forms a generally rectangular container for holding a liquid coating material, e.g. paint. In one embodiment, two longer opposing sides  22  are longer than the other two shorter opposing sides  20  so as to allow entry of a roller  62  (see  FIG. 2 ) between the longer opposing sides  22 , for the purpose of accumulating coating material (e.g. paint). The bottom  28  of the tray portion  11  slopes having a deep end for storing the coating material (e.g. paint) and a shallow end for rolling off excess paint from the roller  62 . The top surface of the sides  20 / 22  (opposite of the bottom surface  28 ) include lips  24 / 25 / 26 / 27  that jut inwardly towards each other forming a rim. The lips  24 / 25 / 26 / 27  reduce or eliminate spillage when the coating material (e.g. paint), especially when the system for wetting a roller  10  is moved or jostled. The lips  24 / 25 / 26 / 27  also improve rigidity of the tray portion  11  and provide a location onto which the screen system  50  is attached. 
     In prior paint trays lacking such lips  24 / 25 / 26 / 27 , the paint easily swept over the sides of such, especially when moving as the center of gravity often changes the balance of the paint tray, causing the person moving the paint tray to over compensate, often leading to spilling paint over the sides. The system for wetting a roller  10  has lips that keep the coating material (e.g. paint) from spilling over the sides and also strengthens the sides so that the system for wetting a roller  10  is sturdy enough to hold greater amounts of coating material (e.g. paint). For example, in some embodiments, the system for wetting a roller  10  is constructed of sufficient capacity as to hold one to two gallons of paint, therefore allowing an entire room to be painted without refilling of the system for wetting a roller  10 . 
     Although lips  24 / 25 / 26 / 27  are shown on all sides  20 / 22 , there is no restriction as to which sides have the lips  24 / 25 / 26 / 27 . 
     In some embodiments, the system for wetting a roller  10  includes a screen system  50  having an open mesh area  52 . After wetting the roller  62  with the coating material (e.g. paint), the coating material is applied to a surface. Afterwards, any debris is removed from the roller  62  by rolling the roller  62  over the mesh area. As contaminants in the coating material (e.g. paint) accumulate and wind up on the roller  62 , these contaminants fall of the roller  62  along with excess paint as the roller  62  is rolled over the mesh area  52 . Left to their own, the contaminants would wind up back into the system for wetting a roller  10  and then again on the roller  62 . To reduce such contaminants, in some embodiments, a filter  56  is provided beneath the mesh  52  to capture the contaminants. In some embodiments, the filter is a paint strainer material or a screen material made of any suitable material. The screen system  50  and filter  56  also remove contaminants when coating material (e.g. paint) is poured into the tray portion  11  through the mesh  52  and, therefore, through the filter  56 . 
     In some embodiments, the filter  56  is removable/replaceable, and optionally cleanable. In such, the filter  56  is positioned in/on a drawer  54  for easy replacement. As the contaminants build up on the filter  56  and the filter  56  clogs, the filter  56  is removed then cleaned or replaced with another filter  56 . In one embodiment, the screen system  50  rests on the lips  24 / 26 / 27  at the deeper end of the system for wetting a roller  10 . In some embodiments, the screen system  50  is held in place by a series of pegs (not shown) that mate with holds  40  to keep the screen system  50  in place. 
     In some embodiments, legs or ladder hooks  29  are shown interfaced to the bottom  28  of the system for wetting a roller  10 . In such, the legs or ladder hooks  29  elevate an end of the bottom surface  28  to provide the slope of the bottom surface  28 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a perspective view of the system for wetting a roller  10  is shown in use. Paint from a paint can  60  has been poured into the system for wetting a roller  10 , preferably through the mesh  52  and filter  56 . If there are contaminants in the paint can  60 , pouring of the paint through the mesh  52  filters the contaminants, as sometimes an older can of paint will include globs and/or dried paint fragments. In this view, the paint roller handle  64  rotatably holds the paint roller  62 . After applying paint from the roller  62  onto a surface, often contaminants/debris are picked up by the roller  62 . To remove the contaminants/debris from the roller  62 , the roller is rolled over the mesh  52  and the contaminants/debris are captured by the filter  56  while any paint falls back into the system for wetting a roller  10 . 
     Although any sized system for wetting a roller  10  is anticipated, in some embodiments, the system for wetting a roller  10  holds from one to two gallons of paint, suitable for painting most average sized rooms without the need to refill. In such, painting hygiene is improved as when multiple refilling&#39;s are required, paint often collects in the rim of the paint can  60  and drips down the side of the paint can  60 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , cut-away views of the system for wetting a roller  10  are shown. In  FIG. 3A , the view is along lines  3 A- 3 A of  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 3B , the view is along lines  3 B- 3 B of  FIG. 2 . 
     In  FIG. 3A , the slope of the bottom  28  is shown. The lips  25 / 27  are shown extending toward each other from the tops of the shorter sides  20 , although in some embodiments, the sides  24 / 25 / 26 / 27  are of equal lengths. The lips  25 / 27  extend inwardly creating a rim that prevents at least some paint from splashing out when the paint sloshes due to movement and/or jarring of the system for wetting a roller  10 . In some embodiments, the lips  25 / 27  are as wide as ½ inch to one inch, although there are no limitations on the size of the lips  25 / 27 . 
     In  FIG. 3B , the lips  24 / 26  are shown extending toward each other from the tops of the longer sides  22 , although in some embodiments, the sides  20 / 22  are of equal lengths. The lips  24 / 26  extend inwardly creating a rim that prevents at least some paint from splashing out when the paint sloshes due to movement and/or jarring of the system for wetting a roller  10 . In some embodiments, the lips  24 / 26  are as wide as ½ inch to one inch, although there are no limitations on the size of the lips  24 / 26 . In some embodiments, the width of the lips  24 / 25 / 26 / 27  are substantially the same, though there is no restriction that the widths of the lips  24 / 25 / 26 / 27  be the same. 
     As shown, the bottom surface  28  of the paint tray  11  slopes so that the coating material (e.g. paint) accumulates at the deeper end and the roller  62  is rolled over the shallow area to spread the coating material onto the roller  62 . Although the legs or ladder hooks  29  provide the elevation of one end of the paint tray  11  as shown in  FIG. 3A , any system for providing this elevations is anticipated, including having equal height walls  20 / 22  with the bottom surface  28  formed at an angle within the walls  20 / 22 . 
     Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
     It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.