Abstract:
The main components of the Paint Pal assembly is an oversized an inner paint pan, an organizer tool tray for storing tools, and a storage container with an airtight sealed lid. The container is adapted and dimensioned to store the inner paint tray and the organizer tool tray therein. The organizer tool tray has a plurality of compartments for storing several brushes and a specific compartment designed to store the paint roller. The inner paint tray is larger than the conventional paint tray and has legs which allow the pan to sit level on a flat surface. The inner tray is tapered and walled. The assembly further comprises specially designed ergonomic paint brushes.

Description:
This patent is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 12/265,679 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to painting accessories. Many people engage in do-it-yourself home improvements. The present invention is a tool designed to allow the painter to leave wet painting tools sealed in a container for a period of time without drying out. 
     SUMMARY 
     One of the main advantages of this invention is to provide a storage container that allows a painter to store their wet paint tools for an extended period of time without drying out. 
     The main components of the Paint Pal assembly is an oversized an inner paint pan, an organizer tool tray for storing tools, and a storage container with an airtight sealed lid. The container is adapted and dimensioned to store the inner paint pan and the organizer tool tray therein. The organizer tool tray has a plurality of compartments for storing several brushes and a specific compartment designed to store the paint roller. The inner paint pan is larger than the conventional paint pan and has legs which allow the pan to sit level on a flat surface. The inner tray is tapered and walled. The assembly further comprises specially designed ergonomic paint brushes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1 a -1 d    illustrates top view, bottom view, side view, and end view of the body of the storage container. 
         FIG. 2 a -2 d    illustrates top view full, top view elongated, end view and side view of the paint roller tray. 
         FIG. 3 a -3 d    illustrates top view full, top view elongated, end view and side view of the paint roller tray lid. 
         FIG. 4 a -4 d    illustrates top view, bottom view, side view, and end view of the tool tray organizer. 
         FIG. 5 a -5 d    illustrates top view, bottom view, side view, and end view of the cover of the storage container. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates side perspective view of the paint pal assembly. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of lid of the alternative embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of lid of the alternative embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the compartment for the alternative view. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the housing unit for the alternative embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a cutaway view of the container of the alternative embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a cutaway view of the tray of the alternative embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a cutaway view of the paint compartment from the front view. 
         FIG. 14  is a cutaway view of the paint compartment from a side view. 
         FIG. 15  is a cutaway view of the paint compartment from a top view. 
         FIG. 16  is a side view of the paint compartment. 
         FIG. 17  is a top view of the paint compartment. 
         FIG. 18  is a top view of the paint compartment. 
         FIG. 19  is a top view of the paint tray within the container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , there is shown a perspective view of the present invention, paint pal assembly  10 . Paint pal assembly  10  further comprises organizer tool tray  100  and paint tray  200 , and storage container  20 . 
     Storage container  20  further comprises a detachable connected cover  25  with the outer peripheral edge is configured to mate with in an airtight seal arrangement with body  30 . Body  30  is adapted and dimensioned to store organizer tool tray  100  and paint pan  200  therein. 
     In the preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 a - d   , body  30  comprises a rectangular shape with a plurality of interconnected walls defining a front wall  32 , back wall  33 , side wall  34  and an opposing side wall  35 . Front wall  32  and back wall  33  runs the width of the body  30 . Side wall  34  and opposing side wall  35  runs the width of body  30  The interior space of body  30  forms a cavity  36  dimensioned to received organizer tool tray  100  depicted in  FIG. 4  and paint tray  200  depicted in  FIG. 3 . Ridge  37  surrounds the perimeter of cavity  36 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 5 a - d   , cover  25  comprises a rectangular shape with a plurality of interconnected walls defining a front wall  42 , back wall  43 , side wall  44  and an opposing side wall  45 . Front wall  42  and back wall  43  runs the width of the body  30 . Side wall  44  and opposing side wall  45  runs the width of body  40 . Ridge  47  surrounds the perimeter of cover  25  and is adapted to engage with ridge  37  of body ( 30 ) shown in  FIG. 1B  in an airtight seal arrangement. The airtight seal or vacuum seal can be further secured by fasteners attached to each wall of both cover  25  and container body  30 . A vacuum port  41  can be situated on cover  40  to support the vacuum seal or airtight seal. In an opened position, cover  40  is removed from body  30  to allow for the entry and removal of organizer tool tray  100  and paint tray  200 . A sealing mechanism such as a rubber seal ( 49 ) can encompass ridge seal ( 49 ). Pump  51  can be stored on the external surface of body ( 30 ) and works in conjunction with each vacuum port allowing the air to be extracted from each port. A plurality of vacuum ports can be disposed upon the surrounding walls of the container body  20  or upon the cover  25 . In this embodiment, a recessed area can be configured upon the external surface area of cover  25  to receive pump  51 . In other embodiments, the recessed area for the pump  51  can be configured upon the external wall of body  30 . In use, the vacuum pump can be operationally engaged with a vacuum port  41  to extract the air from the housing unit. When the outer peripheral edge of cover  25  is engaged with the upper outer peripheral edge of body ( 30 ) a housing unit is formed to receive the paint tray and the tool organizer therein. After the air is pumped out of the housing unit, a vacuum seal is formed. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 4 a -4 d   , organizer tool tray  100  is designed with a plurality of compartments for receiving a plurality of paint tools. Tray body  101  comprises a rectangular shape with a plurality of interconnected walls defining a front wall  102 , back wall  103 , side wall  104  and an opposing side wall  105 . Front wall  102  and back wall  103  runs the width of the body  101 . Side wall  104  and opposing side wall  105  runs the length of body  101 . The interior space of body  101  forms a cavity divided into the plurality of compartments. Near the back wall  103  of tray body  101  cavity section  120  is horizontally aligned near the upper end of tray body  101 . Cavity section  121  is disposed above and abuts cavity section  122 . Both cavity section  121  and cavity section  122  are aligned vertically below cavity section  120  on one side of tray body  101  near side wall  104 . Cavity section  125  is disposed above and abuts cavity section  126 . Both cavity section  125  and cavity section  126  are aligned vertically below cavity section  120  near the opposing side wall  105  of tray body  101 . Center cavity  127  is centrally situated along the longitudinal axis below cavity section  120  and extends linearly downward therefrom to near the opposing end of the tray body  101  near front wall  102 . Cavity section  101  forms a well for receiving a paint roller and center cavity  127  is adapted to receive the paint roller handle therein. The other cavities are designed to store paint brushes, scrapers, or other tools. 
     The present invention further comprises a specially designed ergonomic paint brush tool. The head of the brushes are also made out of a plastic that has micro grooves that hold more paint and the handle an ergonomic design. 
     In the preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 a -2 d   , paint body  201  comprises a rectangular shape with a plurality of interconnected walls defining a front wall  202 , back wall  203 , side wall  204  and an opposing side wall  205 . Front wall  202  and back wall  203  runs the width of the body  201 . Side wall  204  and opposing side wall  205  runs the length of body  201 . The interior space of body  201  forms a cavity  206  that is segmented into paint well  215  and roller platform  220 . Ridge  207  surrounds the perimeter of cavity  206  running the length and width of the paint tray body  201 . In this embodiment paint tray body  210  is larger than the conventional paint pan. 
     Paint well  215  is the region near the back wall  203  of interior cavity  206  and is the region with the lowest elevation in the interior cavity  206  of the body  201 . Paint well  215  is intended to house the paint and to support the paint roller. The underside of paint well  215  acts has legs for the paint tray  200 . 
     Paint platform  220  slopes downward within the interior cavity  206  from paint well  215  to the front wall  202  from the highest elevation level to the lowest elevated region. Along the interior surface of platform  220  are raised ribs that functions to remove excess paint from the paint roller. Disposed below front wall  202  is a leg member  235  that allows paint tray  200  to sit level on a flat surface. A plastic lining can be used to cover interior cavity  206  during use to allow for quick clean up. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 a -3 d   , paint tray  200  further comprises a rectangular shape detachable connected lid  240 . The perimeter edges running the length and width of lid  240  has a seal  209  adapted to mate with ridge  207  running the length and width of paint body  201  shown in  FIG. 2 . Vacuum port  208  is situated on lid to create a vacuum seal or in the alternative an air tight seal during storage. The vacuum seal maintains the moisture of the paint brushes and tools between use. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7-19  there is shown an alternative embodiment of the present invention. As depicted the alternative embodiment comprises multiple stackable compartments wherein each engagement therebetween is in a vacuum seal arrangement. As shown the outer peripheral edge of lid ( 300 ) is configured to engage with the upper peripheral edge of upper storage compartment ( 360 ) in a vacuum seal arrangement. The organizer tray ( 360 ) is configured to seat within the upper storage compartment ( 360 ). Paint tray ( 400 ) is configured to seat within the lower storage compartment ( 350 ). The perimeter of the underside of upper storage compartment ( 360 ) is configured to seat upon the outer peripheral edge of lower storage compartment ( 350 ) in a vacuum seal arrangement. Paint tray ( 400 ) is configured as depicted in  FIG. 2 ) and organizer tray ( 360 ) is configured as depicted in  FIG. 4A ). Laches  351  and  352  are attached to the outer peripheral edge of upper storage compartment ( 360 ) and laches  372  and  412  are attached to the outer peripheral edge of the lower storage compartment ( 350 ).