Abstract:
A forearm supported tray (33) includes one or more compartments (37a, 37b), a corrugated roll-on area (50) and handle means (39, 42) allowing securement and control by hand or part thereof. The tray is designed to add convenience and improve safety when used for painting, touching-up or similar applications particularly those performed on hard to reach areas when using a ladder or similar means.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates generally to trays and particularly to those constructed to be easily portable and adapted to carry a small cargo especially in form of paint and/or paint applicators. 
     Commonly used paint trays are designed to contain a certain amount of paint and to provide an area to distribute the paint evenly onto the paint roller. The size of those conventional paint trays is such, as to receive a large paint roller. However the size and shape of mentioned paint trays, especially when filled to capacity, does not allow them to be moved above ground without great risk of spill. 
     The common remedy to this problem, practiced among professionals and amateurs alike, is using a nearly empty paint can, paint can cover or a small container filled with paint when touching-up all the &#34;hard-to-reach&#34; places. However, this is not a solution, since accessing those &#34;hard-to-reach&#34; areas with a paint brush and a paint container in your hands, i.e. via a ladder, is not only very cumbersome but also very dangerous. 
     This shows that there is a great need for a paint tray, which in an ideal case, would not restrict hands at all. 
     SUMMARY 
     Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a tray that is portable and light weight. It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a forearm supported tray that is easy and safe to use. 
     It is a still more particular object of the present invention to provide a forearm supported tray that allows virtually unrestricted use of both hands under the conditions relating to painting &#34;hard-to-reach&#34; areas especially while using a ladder or similar means. 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a tray to be held over the forearm, the tray comprises one or more compartments large enough to hold several ounces of paint and wide enough to receive a small paint roller and a medium size paintbrush. 
     Further, the tray comprises a corrugated roll-on area. Means is provided to secure the tray and to be controlled by a hand or part thereof to prevent uncontrolled movement of the tray in any direction. 
     The control means is either or both of a thumb ring attached to the tray or a handle for gripping by the fingers. The thumb ring extends forwardly of the tray and the handle depends downwardly from a top portion of the tray. 
     The compartments are preferably sufficiently deep to extend significantly below the bottom of the forearm, when the forearm is in place supporting the tray. The bottoms of the reservoir compartments are flat so that the tray can stand stably on a foundation and independently of external support when the forearm is removed from the tray. Both the reservoir compartments extend in depth about an equal distance from the forearm support. 
     The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the forearm supported tray constructed comprising two symmetrical compartments and a thumb ring positioned on the forearm showing a virtually free hand; 
     FIG. 2 is a section view of the forearm supported tray along section lines 2--2 in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the forearm supported tray comprising two compartments and a depending handle; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the forearm supported tray comprising a single compartment, flat roll-on area and a handle; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the forearm supported tray comprising two symmetrical compartments, a thumb ring and a handle. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1 and 5 show a perspective views of the forearm supported paint tray 33 resting on the forearm showing a virtually &#34;unoccupied&#34; or free hand 100. 
     The tray 33 includes two symmetrical tapered reservoir compartments 37a and 37b terminating upwards in a rim 34 which defines rectangular aperture 32. Interior corrugated walls of compartment 37a and 37b define an arch 35, which is shaped as a forearm support to rest on the forearm and forward portion of forearm 101. The outside portion 53 of the topmost portion of the arch 35 is generally rounded so that the top of the forearm can fit comfortably under the arch 53. The inside surface of the arch 35 provides a roll-on area 50 to the inside of the tray 33. The top 51 of the arch 35 is set below the level of the rim. Accordingly, paint or liquid 52 inside the compartments 37a and 37b can be transferred to the adjacent compartment without spilling over the rim 34. 
     A horizontal thumb ring 39 originates forwardly from and ahead of rim 34 medially on the forward end 151 of the tray 33. The thumb ring 39 is aligned with arch 35 and defines a centrally located aperture 40 sized to comfortably receive an average thumb 102 in order to secure and control the position of the tray 33 on the forearm and/or forward portion of forearm 101. A web construction 54 is provided to either side of the ring 39 to reinforce the connection of the ring 39 with the rim 34. 
     The preferred profile of compartments 37a and 37b provides a corrugated roll-on face of spaced ridges 135 to facilitate the action of a roller and/or brush in applying the correct amount of paint 52 to the roller or brush applicator. The depth of the compartments 37a and 37b is significantly greater than the diameter of an average adult-sized forearm as shown in phantom by line 103. The depth from the rim 34 to the base 60 is about three times the diameter of forearm 103. The height of the top 51 of arch 35 is about two and one-half times the diameter 103. About one-half diameter of forearm 103 extends above the top 51 to the rim 34. The base 60 for each compartment 37a and 37b is flat thereby facilitating the stable location of the tray 33 when the forearm 103 is removed. 
     FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the forearm supported tray 33a with a downwardly depending handle 42 in place of thumb ring 39. The end 43 of the handle 42 is raised above the flat base 60 of each compartment 37a and 37b. The handle 42 extends forwardly of the front end 151 and ahead of rim 34. The tray 33 can be located on a foundation 80 when not supported by the forearm 103. The corrugated surface 135 in FIG. 3 are bumps 235 over the surface. 
     FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the forearm supported tray 33b with single compartment 37a, a flat roll-on area 47 and handle 42 extending forwardly of the rim 34. 
     In FIG. 5 the embodiment of a tray 33d is shown with a thumb ring 39 and a forwardly depending handle 42. This provided for handling by the hand in either one or both modes, namely thumb ring and/or handle. 
     The forearm supported trays 33, 33a, 33b, 33c provide a portable, comfortable and easy to use device for painting and many other applications. Trays 33 and 33a can center the weight of the cargo over the forearm, thus lessening the strain on the hand and forearm muscles. Furthermore, the forearm supported tray literally frees the hands and increases safety when used for work on areas accessible by ladder or similar means. Also the paint application such as a brush and roller, can be contained in a reservoir, with the paint in the other reservoir, thereby facilitating use of the tray. 
     While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of preferred embodiments. 
     Many other variations are possible. For example, the number and shape of compartments, various other means with which the tray can be secured by the hand, forearm or secured to the forearm, or other attachments like covers, handles are possible. The forearm support can be either on the lower portion of the arch or an additional member. By the term &#34;forearm&#34;, the applicant means the wrist and/or arm of the user. 
     The scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the following claims.