Paint receptacle

A paint brush receptacle engageable with the peripheral edge of an open paint can comprising a bottom wall, front, back, and a pair of side walls upstanding from said bottom wall and terminating at an open end for receiving paint brushes therein; the bottom wall having an extension projecting exteriorly outwardly therefrom; a leg depending from said extension and spaced from said back wall for insertion into said paint can and releasably engageable with said peripheral edge of said open paint can; a scraper extending outwardly from said extension for scraping paint off said paint brush into said open paint can.

FIELD OF INVENTION 
This invention relates to paint brush receptacles adapted to accommodate 
paint brushes and in particular relates to paint receptacles engageable 
with the peripheral inner edge of an open paint can. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Persons who generally paint articles or buildings typically insert a paint 
brush into an open paint can and scrape excess paint therefrom against the 
inner peripheral edge of the open paint can. Such action usually results 
in spillage of paint into the rim channel of the paint can making it 
difficulty and messy to close. 
Furthermore, it becomes difficult for a user of an open paint can to grasp 
the handle of an open paint can in one hand while holding a paint brush in 
either the same or other hand while climbing a ladder. 
Various devices have heretofore been devised in order to minimize the 
spillage of paint onto the rim channel of a paint can as well as the 
transporting a paint brush. 
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,688,943 relates to a plastic ring provided at 
its outer edge with a flange or other clamping mechanism to fit over and 
to attach securely to the circular rim of an open paint can and includes a 
container which is secured to the plastic rim by means of a hooking 
mechanism. 
Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,431 illustrates an assembly comprising a 
paint tray with a paint brush attachment for simultaneously accommodating 
both a paint roller and a paint brush. 
Yet another arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,322 which relates 
to a tool holder which holds tools within a container such as a 5 gallon 
bucket. 
Yet another arrangement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,581,904 which relates 
to a paint sieve having a top opening to receive a brush and adapted for 
variable height attachment inside a paint bucket so that the sieve can be 
raised or lowered in the bucket to remain partially emersed in the paint 
during painting. 
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,472 illustrates a bucket attachment tool 
holder for mounting on a conventional bucket having a loop handle. 
These and other prior art devices present relatively complicated structure 
having limited utility. 
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved paint brush 
receptacle which is easy to use and construct. 
The broadest aspect of this invention relates to a paint brush receptacle 
adapted to engage the peripheral edge of an open paint can comprising: a 
bottom wall presenting upstanding wall formations terminating at an open 
end for receiving paint brushes therein; one of said wall formations 
having a concave surface so as to conform to and contact the side of said 
paint can, said one of said wall formations having an extension projecting 
outwardly away from said concave surface and terminating along a convex 
edge; a leg having a convex surface depending from said convex edge of 
said extension and spaced generally equally from said one of said wall 
formations for insertion into said open paint can and releasably 
engageable with said peripheral edge of said open paint can and for 
insertion of a thumb between said depending leg and said back wall to 
stabilize the receptacle when said receptacle is separated from said paint 
can; and scraper extending outwardly from said convex edge of said 
extension and beyond said extension for scraping paint off said paint 
brush into said open paint can; a peripheral edge projecting downwardly 
from said bottom wall in the region remote from said extension. 
It is another aspect of this invention to provide a paint brush receptacle 
engageable with an open paint can having a cylindrically shaped exterior 
surface and a round peripheral inner edge, a round peripheral outer edge 
and a rim channel, said receptacle comprising: a bottom wall; a back wall, 
a front wall and a pair of side walls vertically upstanding from said 
bottom wall and terminating at an open end for receiving paint brushes 
therein; wherein said back wall is concave so as to conform to and contact 
said exterior surface of said paint can; an extension projecting 
horizontally outwardly from said back wall and terminating along a convex 
edge; a leg depending vertically downwardly from said convex edge of said 
extension, spaced from said back wall, said leg having a convex surface 
generally spaced equally from said back wall for insertion into said open 
paint can and releasably engageable with a portion of said peripheral 
inner edge of said open paint can and for the insertion of a thumb between 
said depending leg and said back wall to stabilize the receptacle when 
said receptacle is separated from said paint can; a scraper edge extending 
angularly upwardly from said convex edge of said extension and extending 
outwardly beyond said extension and said leg for scraping paint off said 
paint brush into said paint can; said extension overlaying a portion of 
said rim channel so as to present a barrier against paint dripping onto 
said rim channel; and a peripheral edge projecting vertically downwardly 
from said bottom wall in the region remote from said extension.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
Like parts have been given like numbers throughout the Figures. 
FIG. 1 illustrates the paint brush receptacle 2 releasably secured to open 
paint can 4. 
The open paint can contains paint 6 and has an outer peripheral edge 8, an 
inner peripheral edge 10, and a rim channel 12 for reception of a cover 
(not shown). 
The paint brush receptacle 2 may be comprised of a variety of materials 
including plastic polypropylene and the like. 
The paint brush receptacle 2 includes a bottom wall 14 having a pair of 
spaced apart side walls 16 and a front wall 18 and back wall 20. 
The back, front, and side walls 20, 18 and 16 respectively extend 
vertically upwardly from the bottom wall 14 and terminate at an open end 
22 for insertion of paint brushes or the like within the confines of the 
receptacle 2. 
One of said upstanding walls and in particular the back wall 20 presents a 
horizontally extending extension or angular ring portion 24 which projects 
exteriorally outwardly from the back wall 20. The extension 24 is 
connected to the back wall 20 in the vicinity of the open end 22 and 
terminates at the other end thereof so as to present a depending leg 26 
which is adapted to be inserted into the interior of the open paint can 4. 
The depending leg 26 depends vertically downwardly from the extension 24. 
Furthermore, a scraper edge or lip 28 projects vertically upwardly from 
the extension 24 so as to present a scraper edge adapted to scrape excess 
paint from a paint brush into the open paint can. 
The paint brush receptacle 2 presents a vertical upstanding back wall 20 
which has a curved surface 30 adapted to conform to and contact the outer 
surface of paint can 4. In particular, the back wall 20 has a concave 
surface designed to contact and conform the outer surface of the paint can 
4. 
The extension 24 has an annular horizontal shape which is adapted to overly 
a portion of the rim 12 as best illustrated in FIG. 3. In particular, the 
extension 24 presents a barrier to the dripping of paint 6 into the rim 
channel 12. 
The depending leg 26 presents a space 32 within the confines of the back 
wall 20, extension 24 and leg 26 for accommodating the thumb of a user. In 
particular, the receptacle 20 may be removed from the paint can 4 and a 
brush (not shown) may be inserted within the receptacle 2 for painting of 
an article or wall or the like whereby the user would grasp the receptacle 
2 in a fashion so as to insert the thumb within the space 32 and the 
fingers would grasp the front wall 18. Such use would stabilize the 
receptacle 2 during use thereof when separated from the paint can 4. 
The front wall 18 also includes a convex surface and the corners 40 of the 
receptacle are rounded so as to facilitate a production thereof. The 
depending leg presents a convex surface 42 as best illustrated in FIG. 3 
which is adapted to contact the inner peripheral edge 10 of the open paint 
can 4 so as to releasably secured or hang the receptacle 2 from the paint 
can 4. 
The leg 26 depends vertically downwardly from the underside of the 
extension 24 and presents a convex surface which contacts the inner 
peripheral edge 10. 
The scraper 28 projects outwardly from the upper surface of extension 24 
and is also convex shaped and adapted to scrape excess paint from a paint 
brush (not shown) back into the open paint can 4. More particularly, the 
lip 28 extends outwardly from the extension or angular portion 24 so that 
the excess paint scraped against lip 28 drips back into the paint can 
rather than extension 24. 
The upstanding front, back, and side walls 18, 20 and 16 respectively are 
tapered so as to assist in the stacking thereof. 
The paint brush receptacle 2 as described herein provides a place to carry 
or store the paint brush (not shown) while transporting the open pail of 
paint 4. Moreover, the paint brush receptacle 2 provides the user with a 
place to wipe excess paint while painting, as the unwanted or excess paint 
returns to the original source for further use. 
Moreover, the paint 6 no longer collects in the rim 12 of the paint can 4 
thus avoiding spillage when the lid (not shown) is put back onto the paint 
can 4. 
Furthermore, the paint brush receptacle 2 provides a location to store a 
brush (not shown) if painting is interrupted and the user plans to 
continue painting in a reasonable amount of time. Moreover, the paint 
brush receptacle 2 provides the user with an area to put the brush into 
while the user is climbing a ladder or scaffold so that the user will be 
able to manipulate one hand to firmly grasp the rungs of the ladder or 
scaffold. 
The paint brush receptacle 2 can also be used to store a small amount of 
paint as a painting source for doing touch up work as the concave shape as 
described above lends itself to securely grasp the receptacle 2 by 
inserting the thumb into space 32. Moreover, the thumb of the user into 
the space 32 can be equally used by right or left handed persons. 
The paint brush receptacle 2 can also be used to house a cleaning solvent 
to completely clean and soak a brush once painting is completed or one can 
store a brush (once cleaned) therein. 
Furthermore, the dimensioning of the paint brush receptacle 2 facilities 
the ability to use 2 receptacles at one time on a paint can 4. 
Finally, the paint brush receptacle can be used to store additional brushes 
as different brushes need to be used and can also be used to store water 
for latex painting so that the brush is already soaking while another 
brush is being used. 
FIG. 8 illustrates a cover 50 which may be used in connection with the 
paint brush receptacle. The cover 50 is made of polypropylene and is 
dimensioned so as to frictionally engage an upstanding wall formation and 
includes two receiving slots 52 and 54 which are dimensioned so as to 
frictionally engage and secure brush handles 56. The cover can be used in 
cases where it is desired to retain a brush in receptacle 2 with cleaning 
solvent or the like. 
The bottom wall 14 presents a peripheral edge 70 projecting outwardly or 
downwardly from the bottom wall 14 in the region remote from the 
extension. 
Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described 
herein, it would be apparent to one skilled in the art the variations may 
be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the 
scope of the appended claims.