Abstract:
This invention provides an adapter for holding small paint containers in a paint mixer sized to hold a large paint container. The adapter has first and second shells or members that are attached to each other by a hinge. The adapter is opened to hold a small paint container inside the two shells and the shells are held together with a spring clip when the shells of the adapter are closed.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to the field of paint mixers. More specifically, the invention relates to adapters that allow small paint containers to be used in mixers designed to mix paint in large containers.  
         [0002]     Vortex paint mixers are well known and are used to distribute colorants added to a container of uncolored or untinted paint. In addition, paint mixers are used to mix the contents of a paint container that may have separated or settled over time. Vortex paint mixers typically are sized to mix either five and one gallon paint containers.  
         [0003]     Paint is also available in smaller containers, such as a “quart container,” that contains about one quart of paint. Paint is quart containers also needs to be mixed. Quart paint containers, however, are known to have differing shapes. Common quart paint containers include generally right circular cylinders that are similar in shape to one gallon paint containers (but without trunnions or a bail) or generally rectangular shape containers with a handle that extends from one side. When these quart sized containers are mixed in a paint mixer that is sized to mix larger containers, an adapted is needed that will releasably secure the smaller paint container in the paint mixer.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     This invention provides an adapter for holding a small paint container so that the small container can be mixed in a paint mixer sized to hold a large paint container. In one embodiment of the invention, the includes first and second members that are hinged together rotatably attached to each other by a hinge. The adapter further includes a spring clip that is attached to the first member at a proximal end of the clip and is laterally biased away from the first member. The spring clip extends toward the second member. The first and second members include a longitudinal slot bounded by a bridge of material. The spring clip extends through, and is laterally constrained by the bridge on the first member. When the first and second members are rotated into a closed position, the distal end of the spring clip is capable of extending into the longitudinal slot on the second member and engaging the bridge on the second member to secure the first and second members together. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of a vortex paint mixer that holds a one gallon container.  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a paint mixer adapter of the present invention in an opened position.  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the paint mixer adapter of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the paint mixer adapter of  FIG. 2  in a closed position.  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the paint mixer adapter of  FIG. 4  taken along section line  6 - 6  illustrating a spring clip engaged in a closed position  
         [0010]      FIG. 6 . is a perspective view of a spring clip suitable for use with the paint mixer adapter of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the cross-sectional view shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a conventional gallon paint container  2 . Paint container  2  has a generally right circular cylindrical shape with a removable lid  70 . Paint container  2  has a pair of trunnions  72  positioned oppositely from each other on a cylindrical surface  74  of the gallon paint container. The pair of trunnions  72  rotatably secure a bail  76  disposed therebetween to provide a handle for carrying the gallon paint container  2 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a vortex mixer  4 . Vortex mixer  4  includes a mixer receptacle  78  that is configured to accept the paint container  2 . Mixer receptacle  78  is a generally hollow, cylindrical container having an open end  80  on one end to accept the paint container  2  and may include pair of slots (not shown) extending along a cylindrical wall  84  from the open end  80  and positioned to accept the trunnions  72  of the paint container  2  to secure the paint container and prevent it from rotating within the mixer receptacle  78 .  
         [0014]     FIGS. illustrate an adapter  10  for securing the first quart paint container  6  or the second quart paint container  8  and for mounting into the mixer receptacle  78  according to one embodiment of the present invention. Adapter  10 , when in a closed position as shown in FIG., has a shape that approximates a generally right circular cylinder with a pair of lateral projections  12  oppositely positioned from each other that closely approximates that of the gallon paint container  2 . Adapter  10  is thus sized and shaped to fit securely within the mixer receptacle  78 .  
         [0015]     Adapter  10  has a first member  14  and a second member  16 , rotatably coupled to each other by a pair of hinges  18 . First and second members  14  and  16  are made of an injection molded nylon material, although other materials may be used. When in the closed position, the first member  14  and the second member  16  are releasably secured to each other with a spring clip  20 , which is rigidly attached to the first member  14  and releasably secured to the second member  16  as will be described in more detail below. Outer surfaces  17  and  19  of first and second members  14  and  16 , respectively, collectively define the outer envelope of the adapter  10 .  
         [0016]     FIG. shows adapter  10  in an open position and reveals an inner surface  22  of the first member  14  and an inner surface  24  of the second member  16 . When the adapter  10  is in the closed position, the inner surfaces  22 ,  24  define an inner volume configured to accept and secure either of the first quart container  6  or the second quart container  8 . Each of the first member  14  and the second member  16  fit within a half right circular cylinder with the exception of the lateral projection  12  that extends from their respective outer surfaces  17  and  19 .  
         [0017]     Referring to  FIGS. 4-5 , spring clip  20  has a pair of apertures  26  located at a proximal end  28 . Apertures  26  are sized to accept fasteners  34  to secure spring clip  20  to the first member  14 . The fasteners  34  can be a rivet, screw or other suitable fastener. Spring clip  20  is positioned to extend through a longitudinally oriented slot  36  bounded by a bridge  38  of material. Spring clip  20  is biased to extend laterally away from first member  14  and such that it is contained by bridge  38 . Spring clip  20  has an “S-shaped” curve  34  near a distal end  40  to form a catch  30  with a tab  32  extending distally from the catch. When the spring clip  20  is attached to the first member  14 , the distal end  40  extends through the slot  36  so that catch  30  and tab  32  are positioned on an opposite side of the slot from the proximal end  28  of the spring clip. Second member  16  has a longitudinally oriented slot  42  bounded by a bridge  42 . Slot  42  is similarly positioned with respect to the slot  36  of the first member  14  so that when the first member and second member are rotated to a closed position (as shown in  FIG. 2 ), the slots  36  and  42  are in alignment.  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIGS. 6-7 , spring clip  20  is shown when the adapter  10  is in a closed position. Bridge  44  has an indentation  48  extending longitudinally along the bridge. The distal end  40  of spring clip  20  is fed through slot  42  on second member  16  until the catch  30  is through slot  42 . Catch  30  is seated within indentation  48  to hold adapter  10  in a closed position. Tab  32  extends through the slot  42  so that it is accessible when the adapted is closed (best shown in  FIG. 2 ). To move the adapter from a closed to an open position a force can be applied against the tab  32  to move the catch  30  from the indentation  48  and allow the distal end  40  of the spring clip  20  through the slot  42 .  
         [0019]     The present invention includes important advantages. For example, by including a spring clip to secure the adapter when it is in a closed position, the adapter is more easy to handle and prevents unintended opening of the adapter when it is being handled. Further, by restraining the clip within the bridge of material on the first member, the clip is less prone to being bent beyond its elastic limit, thereby preventing damage to the adapter.  
         [0020]     The present invention has been described above with respect to a specific embodiment of the invention. The embodiment is for illustrative purposes only. Changes in the described embodiment may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, other shapes of quart containers may be accommodated inside the adapter. In addition, the first and second members need not be formed from the same mold and therefore need not be substantially identical.