Adapter ring for a paint can

The present invention provides an adapter for use inconjunction with a paint can having an opening at one end and an inwardly extending rim adjacent the open end of the can. A continuous groove is provided around the rim and this groove has a preset width and a preset depth. The adapter includes an annular body which is dimensioned to be insertable into the can groove and to form a seal between the adapter and the paint can rim. The precise dimension of the body may vary between different can manufacturers. An annular channel is provided around an outwardly facing side of the body and this channel is adapted to receive and sealing engage a sealing flange on a standardized lid for the can.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
I. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an adapter to enable a standardized lid to 
be used with different-sized cans. 
II. Description of the Prior Art 
Conventional paint cans typically comprise a tubular cylindrical casing 
having an opening at one end. An inwardly extending rim is provided 
adjacent the open end of the paint can and this rim includes an annular 
and inwardly extending groove. This groove is adapted to cooperate with 
the sealing flange on the lid provided with the paint can. 
In many operations, however, it is impractical to repeatedly remove the lid 
provided with the paint can and, after use, replace the paint can lid 
provided with the paint can. For example, in automotive body shops it is 
necessary that paint of many different colors be mixed and ready for 
application without any appreciable time delay. The time required to 
remove the paint can lid provided with the paint can, mix the paint and 
thereafter replace the paint can lid unacceptably increases labor cost. 
Consequently, many body shops and the like use paint mixing equipment 
having a plurality of shelves in a rack which supports paint cans of 
different colors. Additionally, the conventional lid of the paint can is 
replaced by a substitute lid having both a stirring element and a spout. 
Upon insertion of the paint can into the paint can rack, mechanical means 
engage the stirring element so that the paint in the paint cans is 
continuously mixed or stirred while the can is positioned in the rack. 
Thus, when paint in the can is required, the paint can is removed from the 
rack with this lid, dispensed through the dispenser on the lid and then 
replaced within the rack so that mixing of the paint continues. 
One difficulty in manufacturing paint mixing equipment of the type used in 
body shops is that there is little standardization of the size of the 
paint can rims even for the same quantity of paint, e.g. quart size or 
gallon size. Thus, a quart size paint can from two different manufactures 
may have different size rims. This is particularly true in Europe where 
liter paint cans are employed and there is virtually no standardization 
from one country to the next. 
Consequently, in order to provide paint mixing equipment capable of 
accepting cans from different paint manufacturers, it has been previously 
required to separately manufacture a different paint can lid with the 
mixing element and dispensing spout for each different manufacturer. 
Typically, these lids include a sealing flange which extends into the 
paint can opening and is secured in place by locking feet. The size of the 
sealing flange, however, still varies from one manufacturer to the next. 
The previously known requirement of separately manufacturing different lids 
for different manufactures increases the overall costs of the paint mixing 
equipment. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The present invention provides an adapter which overcomes all the above 
mentioned disadvantages of the previously known paint mixing equipment. 
In brief, the adapter includes an annular body which is dimensioned to be 
insertable into the can groove. Thus, the precise shape and dimensions of 
the annular body will vary from one paint can manufacturer to the next. 
An annular channel is provided around the outwardly facing side of the 
annular body. The diameter and shape of the annular channel, however, is 
substantially the same regardless of the particular adapter so that a 
standardized lid having a sealing flange dimensioned to be received within 
the annular channel can be used with each different adapter. 
Consequently, even though a plurality of different adapters are required to 
accommodate paint cans having different size rims, once the adapter is 
positioned within the can groove, a standardized lid can be utilized to 
accommodate the paint cans from different manufacturers. 
The rims are preferably inexpensively manufactured from plastic and are 
preferably of a one piece construction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
With reference first to FIG. 1, a conventional paint can 10 includes a 
radially inwardly projecting rim 12 at its upper end 14. This rim 12 forms 
a circular opening 16 through which the paint in the can is dispensed. 
The paint can rim 12 includes a generally U-shaped groove 18 which faces 
outwardly from the upper end 14 of the paint can 10. This U-shaped groove 
18 normally receives the sealing lip on the paint can lid (not shown) 
provided by the manufacturer of the paint can. 
Still referring to FIG. 1, in certain applications, such as automotive 
repair shops, the lid for the paint can 10 is removed, disgarded and 
replaced with a new paint lid 20 having both a stirring element 22 (only a 
portion of which is illustrated) as well as a dispensing spout 24. The lid 
20 also includes a generally circular cover portion 26 having a downwardly 
projecting annular lip 28. The replacement lid 20 can be constructed of a 
metallic material, such as zinc, or of non-metallic materials, such as 
plastic. 
In order to obtain proper operation of the replacement lid 20, it is 
necessary that the lip 28 on the lid 20 sealingly engage the U-shaped 
groove 18 on the paint can rim 12. Unless proper sealing is obtained 
between the lip 28 and rim 12, paint solvent evaporation as well as 
leakage while dispensing the paint from the can occurs. 
As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, there is little standardization of the 
precise size of the rim 12 or of its U-shaped groove 18. For example, in 
FIG. 3, the U-shaped groove 18 is spaced more radially outwardly from the 
center of the can 10 than the U-shaped groove 18 of the paint can 
illustrated in FIG. 4. Consequently, it has not been previously possible 
to use a single replacement lid 20 for different paint cans from different 
manufacturers, even though the paint cans are of the same liquid quantity, 
e.g. quart size or gallon size. 
With reference now to FIGS. 1-3, in order to overcome this problem, the 
present invention provides an adapter 30 having an annular body 31 which 
is dimensioned to be insertable into the groove 18 of the paint can rim 
12. As best shown in FIG. 3, the adapter 30 is generally U-shaped in cross 
action thus having an upwardly facing channel 32. This channel 32 is at a 
predetermined distance R with respect to the center of the ring 30 and 
this distance R corresponds with the radius of the lip 28 on the 
replacement lid 20. 
Consequently, with the adapter 30 positioned in the channel 18 as shown in 
FIG. 3, the adapter ring 30 not only sealingly engages with the can rim 
12, but also sealingly engages the lip 28 on the lid 20 when the lid 20 is 
attached to the top 14 of the paint can 10. 
With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will, of course, be apparent that 
different adapters 30 and 30' (FIG. 4) are necessary to accommodate paint 
cans having different rims 12 as frequently occurs with paint cans from 
different paint can manufacturers. However, in each case, the upwardly 
extending groove 32 in the adapter ring is at a predetermined distance R 
with respect to the center of the ring. Consequently, a seal is still 
formed between the adapter ring 30 or 30' when using the same substitute 
lid 20. 
The adapter 30 is preferably made of a synthetic material, such as plastic, 
for both low cost manufacture and also for its resilient qualities which 
enhances the seal between the lid 20 and the adapter 30. Other materials, 
however, can alternatively be used. 
Even though it is necessary to manufacture different adapters for different 
paint can specifications, substantial cost savings are achieved since a 
single substitute lid 20 can be used with numerous different paint can 
manufacturers. It is much less expensive to manufacture different adapter 
rings 30 for different paint can manufacturers than to manufacture 
different substitute lids 20 for different paint can manufacturers due to 
the complexity of the paint can lid 20. 
Having described my invention, however, many modifications thereto will 
become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without 
deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the 
appended claims.