Storage device for liquid containers

Described herein is a device comprising a liquid container mounting structure and a support structure. The liquid container mounting structure securely holds liquid storage containers. The liquid container mounting structure is movably mounted to the support structure. The liquid container mounting structure may be configured to move the liquid container mounting structure relative to the support and/or include a crank handle or motor, such as an electric motor. The liquid container mounting structure is removable from the support structure to allow for reconfiguration and/or transport of the liquid container mounting structure.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the storage and mixing of protective or decorative materials suspended in a liquid medium.

BACKGROUND

Over a period of time, a container of protective or decorative materials (e.g., paint, stain, varnish or the like) suspended in a liquid medium of any viscosity becomes hardened or discolored when stationary. The quick or frequent use of the liquid medium can mitigate the hardening issue. Most users, however, only use a portion of liquid at a time, while the rest remains in the container for possible later use. Frequently, the liquid medium product becomes unusable after a long period of time and discarded. The life of the liquid medium product could be extended significantly if the liquid is moved periodically or even continuously by external kinetic motions to the container.

Related art devices for the mixing of paint, etc. focus on the one-time pre-use mixing of the colorant or active ingredient into the liquid medium, not the long term sustainability of the product. The other mixing devices either require a mixing assembly placed directly into the liquid which requires cleaning or are able to only mix one container of liquid at a time.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Overview

Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a paint or the like substance, storage, mixing, and carrying device and the assembly method thereof. According to example embodiments described herein is a device comprising a liquid container mounting structures, and a support structure. The liquid container mounting structure is movably mounted to the support structure. The liquid container mounting structure may be configured to move the liquid container mounting structure relative to the support structure and/or include a manual crank handle or a motor, such as an electric motor, to drive the motion of the liquid container mounting structure relative to the support structure. The liquid container mounting structure may include attachment device that allow liquid containers to be securely attached to the liquid container mounting structure, and more specifically to secure the containers to the liquid container mounting structure during the motion of the container mounting structure. For example, a liquid container mounting structure may comprise a lower member and an upper member between which the liquid containers may be securely arranged. According to other example embodiments, the attachment device may comprise threaded clamps among others. Due to the motion of the liquid container mounting structure relative to the support structure, the liquid within the liquid container will move relative to the liquid container, providing kinetic energy to the liquid and preventing solidification of the liquid.

According to example embodiments, each liquid container mounting structure may hold containers of the same height to allow for uniform pressure on the container lids. The bottom portion of the liquid container mounting structure features a lip on one side to prevent container slippage when rotating or removal. The top portion of the liquid container mounting structure may contain a padded portion to aid in securing the container and also seal the container from air contamination.

According to example embodiments, the liquid container mounting structure is removable from the support structure to allow for reconfiguration of various size containers or transporting of the containers. The support structures allow for vertical stacking.

According to example embodiments, described herein is a storage, mixing, and carrying device that also keeps a liquid medium product fresh from hardening and discoloration, which would be useful to the individual homeowner as well as organizations interested in extending the life of their expensive liquid medium products.

The device described herein will optimally rotate the contents a full rotation every half to one second when mixing. When storing containers in the device for a longer period of time, a periodic half rotation of one to four times a day is the optimal frequency to enhance the longevity of the container contents.

Example Embodiments

Depicted inFIG. 1is a support structure100, which may be composed of wood, plastic, metal and/or a combination thereof. Device100is comprised of four horizontal brace connections120,125,130, and135. The horizontal brace connections attach to vertical parts101and110. Vertical part101contains a centered round hole105and vertical part110contains round hole115. Holes105and115receive a ball bearing (not shown). Each vertical part101and110contain receive slots140and145on the top and corresponding slots on the bottom (not shown) used when stacking multiple units. The bottom of vertical parts140and145also feature receive slots on the bottom of each (not shown). The support structure100may support one or more liquid container mounting structures shown inFIG. 2.

Depicted inFIG. 2is a liquid container mounting structure200configured for gallon containers. Other example embodiments may be configured for smaller or larger sized containers, including standard quart and five gallon containers. The structure200contains two vertical side parts240and245. Each vertical side part contains a square shaft mounting part250to receive a square drive shaft (not shown) and which is the rotation pivot point of the liquid container mounting structure200within the support structure100. A mounting part250is square in shape to receive the square drive part520(SeeFIG. 5). A square drive greatly reduces any rotational slipping when a rotational force is applied to the part. Each vertical side part240and245contain holes like275which are at consistent elevations to secure bottom shelf part205perpendicular to the side parts via part270at adjustable elevations. Vertical side parts240contains a top guide groove220and bottom guide groove215into which male portion221of top shelf part201and male portion216of bottom shelf part205(see,FIG. 4) are arranged to allow top shelf part201and bottom shelf part205to move in a vertical direction relative to vertical side parts240and245. Vertical side part245also contains guide grooves not seen in this view. For the gallon configuration the bottom shelf part205is fixed to side parts240and245via part270at the lowest setting. Bottom shelf part205contains four holes in which the clamping rods are placed through. Shown in the example embodiment show inFIG. 2are the holes for the gallon configuration225and226. The other two holes in the bottom shelf part205are used for alternate configurations. Fixed to the bottom shelf part205is the back lip part210which provides a physical stop for the containers held in the liquid container mounting structure200. Top shelf part201contains hole two receive holes for the gallon configuration280and281. The clamping rod265is inserted into holes225and280along with clamping rod266inserted into holes226and281for the gallon configuration. The clamping rods are offset from the edges to provide equal pressure on the containers within liquid container mounting structure. Secure nuts and washers255and256are used to apply constant pressure via secure part265and266to the containers (not shown) between top shelf part201and bottom shelf part205. Attached to the top shelf part201is cushion part235which provides added motion stability to the containers held in the liquid container mounting structure200. Cushion part235also provides the benefit of sealing the container lids from external air intrusion. Accordingly, cushion part235may also be referred to as seal235. Attached to top shelf part201is a carry handle290to allow for transportation of the liquid container mounting structure200when it is removed from the support structure100.

Depicted inFIG. 3is the opposite perspective view fromFIG. 2of the liquid container mounting structure200configured for quart containers. From this perspective the other square shaft mounting part310is shown to receive a square drive shaft (not shown). Identical holes to hole325are used to receive secure part320to secure bottom shelf part205to vertical parts240and245at the higher setting. The groove guide315on vertical side part245to guide the bottom shelf part205can be seen from the perspective. The clamping rod330is inserted into holes305and340along with clamping rod331inserted into holes301and345for the quart configuration. Secure nuts and washers (not shown) are used to apply pressure via secure part330and331to the containers (not shown) between top shelf part201and bottom shelf part205.

Depicted inFIG. 4is an exploded view of the liquid container mounting structure200. In this view groove guide405is visible in which top shelf part201rides.

Depicted inFIG. 5is the liquid container mounting structure200moveably mounted to the support structure100. Parts505and510provide the liquid container mounting structure200support and alignment with the square drive shaft hole when removing or reloading from the support structure100. Parts505and510also provide a spin locking mechanism for the liquid container mounting structure200when moveably mounted to the support structure100. A ball bearing525outer race is securely attached within the receiving hole115on the support structure vertical part110. Ball bearings reduce rotational friction when the liquid container mounting structure200rotates on the radial axis. The ball bearings also support the axial load of the liquid container mounting structure200by transferring the load to the rolling balls within the two races resulting in a much lower coefficient of friction than if two flat surfaces were rotating against each other.

A ball bearing insert530with a set screw535is mounted within the inner race of the ball bearing525. The inner race of the ball bearing with the ball bearing insert rotates relative to the outer ball bearing race with a low coefficient of friction. A removable square drive shaft520is placed into the ball bearing insert530and through to mount to the shaft mounting part310on the liquid container mounting structure200. The set screw535when tightened holds the square drive shaft520in place. As would be understood by the skilled artisan, support structure vertical part101may contain structures analogous to ball bearing525, ball bearing insert530, set crew535, and square drive shaft520. A manual crank handle515mounts to the square drive shaft520to provide for manual rotational energy. The manual crank handle515may be mounted on either or both of support structure vertical part110or support structure vertical part101.

Depicted inFIG. 6is a side view of support structure100with an electric motor drive601. Electric motor601may be attached to the side of the support structure100. The electric motor may drive a gear605that is mounted to the square drive shaft520to provide rotational motion to the liquid container mounting structure at a configured speed and frequency. A motor controller610controls electric motor601. Motor controller610may alter or determine the voltage to the electric motor601, thereby altering the motion and/or speed at which electric motor drives gear605. Controller620may receive user input via620or user interface screen615. According to some example embodiments, controller620may be preprogrammed to control motor601based on, for example, the type of liquid arranged within support structure100. Controller620may also adaptively control motor610based upon, for example, sensors measuring the fluid flow within liquid containers810(seeFIG. 8). Power to the motor controller610is provided via electric chord625. Electric power may be supplied to the electric motor via standard 120V, 60 Hz alternating current (AC) power. Other example embodiments may utilize battery powered motors and/or controllers. For example, electric power may be provided to motor601and controller610via a rechargeable battery. Any power conversion between AC and direct current (DC) is done via an internal transformer in motor controller610and/or motor601. The motor601and controller610may be mounted to either side of the structure.

Depicted inFIG. 7is an exploded view of the support structure100and rotational parts around the liquid container mounting structure200. The ball bearing insert530and set screw535can be seen in relation to the ball bearing525. The ball bearing525attaches into hole115. Drive shaft520inserts through ball bearing insert530and into square shaft mounting part310(not shown) on the liquid container mounting structure200. On the opposite side of the unit, the ball bearing insert710and set screw715can be seen in relation to the ball bearing705. The ball bearing705attaches into hole105. Drive shaft720inserts through ball bearing insert710and into square shaft mounting part250(not shown) on the liquid container mounting structure200. Ball bearing inserts530and710also feature a lip that act as a spacer to keep the liquid container mounting structure200adequately separated from the support structure100and also keeps the ball bearing inserts530and710from slipping within the ball bearings525and705while rotation occurs. The drive shafts520and720are accessible from the outside of the support structure100for attachment of crank handles or motors and for gripping to remove the drive shafts.

Depicted inFIG. 8is an example of two units consisting of a support structure100and a liquid container mounting structure200stacked upon each other. The top unit100aand200acontains an example configuration with quart containers805. The bottom unit100band200bcontains an example configuration with gallon containers810.

Depicted inFIG. 9is a flow chart illustrating a method for loading a container in the liquid container mounting structure such as module200ofFIG. 2. The process begins in step910where the clamping mechanism of the mounting structure is loosened enough to allow shelf parts201and205to separate adequately enough to store container. In step920the container(s) are placed within the liquid container mounting structure as to rest on shelf205ofFIG. 2. Finally in step930the clamping mechanisms255and256are tightened as to apply pressure on shelf201to the containers and onto shelf205. The result is the containers are securely held in place within the liquid container mounting structure. A removal of the containers from the liquid container mounting structure follows the same method depicted inFIG. 9but in reverse.

Depicted inFIG. 10is flow chart illustrating a method for removing the complete liquid container mounting structure200from the support structure100, reconfiguring the liquid container mounting structure, and replacing the liquid container mounting structure200into the support structure100. The process begins in step1010where the liquid container mounting structure is locked and supported in place via locking parts505and510. In step1020the drive shaft set screws535and715are loosened to allow the drive shafts520and720to be removed from the ball bearing inserts530and710and square shaft mounting parts310and250. Step1020results in the liquid container mounting structure sitting freely on parts505and510. In step1030the entire liquid container mounting structure200is removed from the support structure100and may be transported via carry handle290. In step1040, if the liquid container mounting structure is empty of any containers, the bottom shelf part205may be moved and remounted to the liquid container mounting structure side parts240and245at the desired setting using the mounting holes and parts such as parts320and325ofFIG. 3. In step1050the appropriate sized clamping rods265and266or330and331for the configuration is placed in corresponding clamping rod holes225and226or305and301. Secure nuts and washers255and256are then attached to the clamping rods. In step1060the reconfigured liquid container mounting structure200is replaced into the support structure100resting on locking parts505and510with the ball bearing inserts530and710and square shaft mounting parts310and250lined up. In the final step1070the square drive shafts520and720are inserted through the ball bearing inserts530and710and into the square shaft mounting parts310and250. The drive shaft set screws535and715are tightened to securely hold the square drive shaft in place. When locking parts505and510are removed the entire liquid container mounting structure200is allowed to freely rotate about the horizontal axis supported by the support structure100.

In other words, described herein is a method of storing a liquid in which kinetic energy is transferred to the liquid through the motion of the storage device to which a container for the liquid is mounted.

While the techniques illustrated and described herein are embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.