CONTAINER FOR HOLDING A SUPPLY OF A LIQUID MEDIUM, SUCH AS PAINT

Abstract: A container for holding a supply of a liquid medium, such as paint, is provided with members (9) by means of which it may be releasably attached to a strap or the like for fastening around the waist of the operator. The container (1) has a mainly kidney-shaped cross-section inasmuch as it comprises two comparatively long lateral surfaces (2, 3) curving to the same side but with different radius of curvature, and two relatively short end surfaces (4, 5) formed like circular arcs serving to connect the two lateral surfaces (2, 3). By giving the container a kidney-shaped cross-section, it is possible to attach it to the lower part of the operator's stomach in front of same, whereby the centre of gravity of the container, including its contents, is placed as closely as possible to the user's body.

Description: CONTAINER FOR HOLDING A SUPPLY OF A LIQUID MEDIUM, SUCH AS PAINT TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a container for holding a supply of a liquid medium, such as paint, said container com¬ prising members by means of which it may be releasably at¬ tached to a strap or the like for fastening around the waist of the operator. BACKGROUND ART A container of this type is described in the Swedish patent specification No. 411,870. The known container is an ordi¬ nary cylindrical paint pot the top of which is provided with bearing holes for receiving the free ends of a fork which is secured to the user by means of a belt or strap fastened around his waist. This known arrangement ensures that the paint container maintains a substantially hori¬ zontal position, irrespective of the movements of the operator. In practice, however, the arrangement known from the Swed- ish patent specification No. 411,870 has proved to be im¬ paired by a number of drawbacks. In the first place, if the operator makes a sudden violent movement, this will cause the paint to splash over the paint container, as every movement is intensified by the relatively long fork arms. In the second place, there is a great risk that during the operation the paint container which hangs at a considerable distance from the operator bumps into obstacles, such as the steps of a ladder. Consequently, the suspension device known from the Swedish patent specification No. 411,870 is awkward and therefore, as far as we know, not widespread. From the German patent specification No. 337,976 an arrange¬ ment is known which consists of a belt adapted to be fast- ened around the waist of the user, and an additional strap adapted to be inserted through loops provided in the belt and to embrace cylindrical paint containers and, for in¬ stance, hand tools to be used in connection with the painting. The cylindrical paint containers and hand tools are to be fastened between the belt and the strap. An important drawback of this known arrangement is that no means are provided to ensure a reliable fastening of the paint containers and/or the hand tools, as these objects are held solely by means of the friction produced between the belt and the strap. Thus, it will be understood that a paint container which may have a weight of several kilo¬ grammes when filled is apt to disengage very easily. In addition, it is very unpleasant for the operator to carry such a belt, because the comparatively heavy paint con- tainers, due to their cylindrical form, abut against the operator along a line. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The object of the invention is to provide a container for holding a liquid supply, such as paint, in such a manner that the operator has the supply within easy reach all the time, without any risk of the contents splashing over, or being dropped together with the container. According to the invention, this object is achieved b -α ^ ., container of the type mentioned in the introduction and characterized in that it has a mainly kidney-shaped cross- section inasmuch as it comprises two comparatively long lateral surfaces curving to the same side, but with dif- ferent radius of curvature, and two relatively short end surfaces formed like circular arcs serving to connect the two lateral surfaces. The advantage gained by this specific embodiment is that the container can be carried on the lower part of the oper- ator's stomach in close abutment against his body, whereby the weight of the fluid or paint in the container will be ' equally spread over a large contact area between the inner side of the container and the user's stomach. At the same time, it is achieved that the centre of gravity of the container, including its contents, is placed as closely as possible to the body of the operator. In a preferred embodiment of the container according to the invention, the members for releasable attachment to a strap are formed as loops or eyes placed on the lateral surface of the container facing the operator. In this way, it is achieved that the container can be used in connection with any kind of straps or belts. The sus¬ pension from loops or eyes also ensures a reliable fast¬ ening and, further, it gives the possibility of exact ad- justment to the figure of the user by displacing the con¬ tainer in the longitudinal direction of the strap. According to the invention, the outside of the container can be provided with members for securing hand tools and the like in a releasable way. The utility value of the container is thereby increased considerably as it is possible in connection with painting, for instance, to place brushes, scrapers, etc., in the above-mentioned members, thereby freeing the hands of the user for other purposes, for instance, when climbing up or down a ladder. In another preferred embodiment of the container according to the invention, the container is divided into several sections which are separated from each other. This makes it possible to use one and the same container, for instance, for such painting that presupposes the use of several paints within a limited area. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention is illustrated in more detail in the following by reference to the drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows a container according to the invention placed on the operator's stomach in front of same, and Fig. 2 is a top view of the container. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In Fig. 1, the container is placed on the user's stomach in. front of same. The container 1 consists of an inwardly curved front lateral surface 2, and a likewise inwardly curved back lateral surface 3. The ends of the two lateral surfaces 2 and 3 are connected by end surfaces 4 and 5 which are substantially formed like circular arcs. Thus, the container 1 has a mainly kidney-shaped cross-section. As shown in Fig. 1, the front side of the container is equipped with a flap 6 which is provided with holes or openings 7 for receiving the handles of hand tools 8 in order to secure these objects in a releasable way. Fig. 2 is a top view of the container 1 from which it ap¬ pears that the internal lateral surface 3 has a longitudi¬ nally decreasing curvature, which further increases the close abutment between the container and the user's body. The internal lateral surface 3 is provided with channels 9 to be pierced by a belt or strap 10. The container shown in the drawing is preferably formed of a single piece and made of plastic, for instance, by means of die casting. In the drawing, the container is illustrated without inter- nal partitions, but, according to the invention, a suitable number of partitions may be used to divide the container into several compartments for the purpose of holding paints of various colours. It should be noted that a container according to the inven- tion also permits one or more ordinary cylindrical paint containers to be placed side by side in the container.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Container for holding a supply of a liquid medium, such as paint, said container comprising members (9) by means of which it may be releasably attached to a strap or the like for fastening around the waist of the operator, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it has a mainly kidney- shaped cross-section inasmuch as it comprises two compara¬ tively long lateral surfaces (2,3) curving to the same side but with different radius of curvature, and two relatively short end surfaces (4,5) formed like circular arcs serving to connect the two lateral surfaces. 2. Container according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that the members for releasable attachment to a strap are formed as loops or eyes (9) placed on the lateral surface of said container facing the operator. 3. Container according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r ¬ i z e d in that the outside of said container is provided with members (6) to secure hand tools (8) or the like in a releasable way. 4. Container according to any one of the foregoing claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the container is divided into several compartments which are separated from each other.

Inventors: MYRUP ERLAND, MYRUP, ERLAND
Applicants: DHS HANDELS APS
Application year: 1982
Main classification: B44D3
IPC codes: B44D3