Patent Publication Number: US-2012024872-A1

Title: Paint can extender

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/368,916 filed Jul. 29, 2010; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates to containers for mixing and pouring substances contained therein. More particularly, this invention relates to selectively expanding the volume capacity of two differently sized containers. Specifically, this invention relates to a paint can extender which may removably snap-fit into two differently sized opening of two paint cans, thereby extending the cylindrical height of the paint can to allow a user to add and mix a volume increasing agent to the substance contained therein without overflowing the container. 
     2. Background Information 
     Heretofore, there have existed paint can pour spouts which attach to the opening of the paint can to allow a user to more easily pour the contents into another container for containing the paint. These may incidentally increase the cylindrical height of the paint can as a necessary consequence of adding a portion to the opening of the paint can. However, recently it has been discovered that after-market paint additives are desired by consumers which may change the thermal properties of the paint. For example, a paint additive may be offered which increases the insulation properties of the paint, thereby allowing heat to stay trapped in a painted room longer in the winter, or repelling heat from outside of the painted room in the summer. As such, by adding these thermal additives to the paint, the overall volume of the paint increases. This leads to an overflowing of the paint when the additives are administered. Therefore, a need in the art exists to allow a user to extend the volume of the paint can. 
     Additionally, while metal paint can dimensions have been fairly standardized over the preceding years, manufacturers have begun developing newer plastic paint can designs which incorporate the latest injection molding technology. This has resulted in plastic paint cans, which may have slightly different diameters in the openings of the can. As such, commercial pour spout devices are snuggly fitting only into one particularly sized opening. A larger or smaller diameter opening on the paint can cannot provide a snug snap fit connection as a necessary consequence of changing the diameter of the opening. Without a snug snap fit connection between the pour spout and the paint can, paint will spill out of the container when it is tipped to pour the paint. Therefore, a need exists in the art to provide a paint can extender or pour spout which may snuggly snap fit onto more than one paint can openings, whereby the openings have different sized diameters. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a paint can pour spout and volume extending device. This device snuggly snap fits onto more than one sized opening in a paint can, thereby allowing the user to snuggly snap fit the device onto different sized paint cans. Multiple annular shoulders are disposed on the base of the device to allow a snap-fit connection between the device and the paint can, whereby each annular shoulder is sized to fit a particularly sized paint can opening. Furthermore, elements of each snap-fit connection have been overlapped and interconnected to reduce space and material, and thereby provide a more efficient configuration for forming the two snap-fit connections 
     On the inner surface of the device, there exists a raised portion corresponding to the annular extending shoulders on the external surface of the device. These raised portions are smoothed to provide a gradually sloping surface on the raised portion to more efficiently allow funneling of an additive over these sloped surfaces into the paint can. All severe shoulders or raised portions on the inner surface of the device have been eliminated to prevent the particles of an additive from collecting on such an area. 
     The device of the present invention also increases the available volume of the paint can, whereby a user may apply a volume increasing agent to the paint without overflowing the paint. The cylindrical shape of the paint can is axially extended to provide for an increased volume capacity. 
     This extender device includes a broad pour spout which aids in pouring of the paint, and a looped portion for hanging the pour spout when not in use or to grasp the pour spout for movement. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the top of the paint can extender; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bottom of the paint can extender; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view thereof; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevational view thereof; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the paint can extender and a first paint can with portions in section; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the paint can extender engaged with the first paint can; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the paint can extender and a second paint can with portions in section; 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view of the paint can extender and the first paint can substantially filled with paint; 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view similar to  FIG. 11  whereby a volume increasing agent is being added to the paint; and 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view of the paint can extender and paint can of  FIG. 12  with the pain being poured therefrom. 
     
    
    
     Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The paint can extender of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-13  and is indicated generally at  1 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , paint can extender  1  is integrally molded of a plastic material and is formed as a one-piece member, and has a generally cylindrical shape which includes an upper end  3 , a lower end  5 , an outer surface  7 , and an inner surface  9  defining an inner channel  11  therethrough. A main body  13  extends from two annular stepped portions proximate lower end  5 , whereby the two annular stepped portions define a first connection member  15  and a second connection member  17 . Proximate upper end  3 , main body  13  includes a pour spout  19  defined by an angled surface  20  and a pour lip  21 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , main body  13  terminates proximate upper end  3  in a flared edge  23  which extends substantially around the periphery of the top-most portion of paint can extender  1  terminating at pour lip  21 . Flared edge  23  is defined by the intersection of outer surface  7  and an upper surface  27 . A loop  29  defining an opening  31  is spaced diagonally apart from pour spout  19  and is formed proximate upper end  3  and provides a hanger for storing or hanging paint can extender  1  on a nail or other hanging element. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  6 , second connection member  17  extends from main body  13  in an annular stepped orientation relative to main body  13 . Similarly, first connection member  15  extends from second connection member  17  in an annular stepped orientation relative to second connection member  17 . First connection member  15  includes a first cam surface  33  positioned adjacent to a first lower shoulder  35 , and a first annular surface  37  positioned intermediate first upper shoulder  39  and a first lower shoulder  35 . The position and orientation of first lower shoulder  35 , first annular surface  37 , and first upper shoulder  39  forms an annular groove  34 , wherein groove  34  is sized to receive a particular annular lip of a paint can, whereby the lip has a particular profile. As shown in  FIG. 4 , first cam surface  33  is formed with a notch  49  for allowing paint to drain back into the paint can after pouring. 
     Similarly, second connection member  17  includes a second cam surface  41  positioned adjacent to a second lower shoulder  43 , and a second annular surface  45  positioned intermediate second upper shoulder  47  and a second lower shoulder  43 . The position and orientation of second lower shoulder  43 , second annular surface  45 , and second upper shoulder  47  form an annular groove  42 , wherein groove  42  is sized to receive a particular annular lip of a paint can, whereby the lip has a particular profile. Second upper shoulder  47  is disposed on main body  13  proximate lower end  5 . First upper shoulder  39 , second cam surface  42 , and second lower shoulder  43  define an annular ring  48  extending around the periphery of paint can extender  1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , first annular surface  37  has a diameter D 1 , second annular surface  45  has a diameter D 2 , and outer surface  7  of main body  13  proximate lower end  5  has a diameter D 3 . As can be readily determined from  FIG. 3 , diameter D 1  is smaller than diameter D 2 , and diameter D 2  is smaller than diameter D 3 . Furthermore, first annular surface  37 , second annular surface  45  and outer surface  7  of main body  13  proximate lower end  5  are all parallel with one another, as well as parallel and co-axial with imaginary longitudinal axis  52  extending through inner channel  11  ( FIG. 5 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the lower portion of inner surface  9 , indicated generally at  51 , is defined by a first slope  53  and a second slope  55 , whereby the generally longitudinally flat nature of inner surface  9  is interrupted. While first slope  53  and second slope  55  transition inner surface  9  from upper end  3  to lower end  5  of paint can extender  1 , inner surface is free of any right angles, ledges with corners, or sharp edges extending therefrom or formed thereon. Thus, there is a gradual longitudinal smooth transition on inner surface  9  from diameter D 3  to diameter D 2  to diameter D 1 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , paint can extender  1  is configured to fittingly and removably engage with a top opening  59  defined by a first paint can  53  to form a substantially fluid-tight seal. First paint can  53  is a typical off-the-shelf paint can which includes an outer surface  58  extending from an upper end  55  to a spaced apart lower end  57 , with opening  59  located proximate upper end  55 . First paint can  53  includes an annular lid recess  61  sized to receive a lid (not shown) and is defined on one side by a flexible lip  63 . Lip  63  includes a flexible lower portion  65  and an upper portion  67  extending from lower portion  65 , whereby upper portion  67  includes a top surface  69 , a bottom shoulder surface  73 , and an inner surface  71  extending therebetween. Inner surface  71  has a diameter D 4 , as shown in  FIG. 5  and is shown as a flat surface. However, inner surface  71  may alternatively be bowed outwardly to form a “P” shaped lip  63 , or lip  63  and inner surface  71  may be formed in any other lip profile commonly used in the art. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , paint can extender  1  is also configured to fittingly and removably engage with a top opening  77  of second paint can  75  to form a substantially fluid-tight seal. Second paint can  75  is also a typical off-the-shelf paint can, substantially similar to first paint can  53 . Second paint can  75  includes a flexible lip  79  having an upper portion  81  and a flexible lower portion  82 , wherein the upper portion includes a top surface  83 , a bottom surface  85 , and an inner surface  84  extending therebetween. Surface  84  has a diameter D 5 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . The notable difference between first paint can  53  and second paint can  75  is that diameter D 4  is slightly smaller than diameter D 5 . In operation, paint can extender  1  is configured to selectively, fittingly, and releasably engage with either first paint can  53  or second paint can  75 . Paint can extender  1  is removably secured to first paint can  53  to form a generally fluid-tight first connection, or alternatively, removably secured to second paint can  75  to form a generally fluid-tight second connection. The first connection is formed through the snap-fit interaction of first connection member  15  with upper portion  67  of flexible lip  63  on first paint can  53 . Alternatively, the second connection is formed through the snap-fit interaction of second connection member  17  and upper portion  81  of flexible lip  79  on second paint can  75 . 
     The formation of the first connection is shown in  FIGS. 5-8 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , paint can extender  1  is lowered towards opening  59  with first connection member  15  directed towards upper end  55  of paint can  53 , and generally aligned with opening  59 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , paint can extender  1  is moved in the direction of Arrow A such that upper portion  67  of flexible lip  63 , and in particular, top surface  69  is cantilevered along first cam surface  33  to direct upper portion  67  of flexible lip  63  into groove  34 . Groove  34  is sized and dimensioned to fittingly receive upper portion  67  of flexible lip  63 , such that the cross-sectional shape of groove  34  is complementarily shaped to receive the cross-sectional shape of upper portion  67  of flexible lip  63  and releasably hold upper portion  67  therein. Groove  34  extends annularly around the circumference of first connection member  15 , thereby complementarily receiving annular upper portion  67  entirely along opening  31 . 
       FIG. 8  shows the relative position of flexible lip  63  while the first connection is engaged. First upper shoulder  39  prevents paint can extender  1  from being further moved in the direction of Arrow A due to the abutting relationship between first upper shoulder  39  of first connection member  15  and top surface  69  of upper portion  65 . When the first connection is engaged, top surface  69  firmly abuts first upper shoulder  39  to prevent paint can extender  1  from continuing in the direction of Arrow A. Likewise, first lower shoulder  35  releasably prevents upper portion  67  of flexible lip  63  from retreating back along first cam surface  33 , due to the abutting relationship between bottom surface  73  and first lower shoulder  35 . However, this abutment may be overcome by applying reasonable pressure to move paint can extender  1  in the opposite direction of Arrow A, thereby releasing paint can extender  1  from first paint can  53  by reversing the cantilevered interaction with lip  63 . 
     During the engagement of the first connection, first annular surface  37  abuts inner surface  71  along the entirety of both elements. As such, diameter D 1  of first connection member  15  is configured to be substantially identical to diameter D 4  which defines opening  59 . If a user wishes to remove paint can extender  1  from the first connection with first paint can  53 , the user simply moves paint can extender  1  in the opposite direction from Arrow A thereby flexing lip  63  and sliding bottom surface  73  and inner surface  71  along first cam surface  33  to release paint can extender  1  from first paint can  53 . 
     Referring particularly to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , paint can extender  1  removably engages second paint can  75  using the same general method as described above for first paint can  53 . However, diameter D 5  defined by inner surface  84  is sized such that first connection member  15  bypasses an engagement with flexible lip  79  as paint can extender  1  is lowered in the direction of Arrow A. First connection member  15  passes through opening  77  and is located inside second paint can  75  when the second connection is engaged. Thereafter, second cam surface  41  engages top surface  83  and inner surface  84  thereby camming upper portion  81  of flexible lip  79  outwardly away from imaginary longitudinal axis  52 . As inner surface  84  passes second cam surface  41 , the second connection is formed by the engagement of upper portion  81  of flexible lip  79  with second connection member  17 . This results in an abutting relationship between top surface  83  and second upper shoulder  47 , between inner surface  84  and second annular surface  45 , and between bottom surface  85  and second lower shoulder  43 . As such, diameter D 2  of second connection member  17  is configured to be substantially identical to diameter D 5  which defines opening  77 . 
     Paint can extender  1  is prevented from further movement in the direction of Arrow A by the abutting relationship between top surface  83  and second upper shoulder  47 . Likewise, paint can extender  1  is prevented from further movement in the opposite direction of Arrow A by the abutting relationship between bottom surface  85  and second lower shoulder  43 . However, the abutting relationship between bottom surface  85  and lower shoulder  43  may be overcome with sufficient force in the opposite direction of Arrow A, which thereby releases paint can extender  1  from engagement with second paint can  75 . 
     As shown particularly in  FIG. 6 , it can readily be seen that first upper shoulder  39 , second cam surface  41 , and second lower shoulder  43  define annular ring  48 . Incorporating first upper shoulder  39 , cam surface  41 , and second lower shoulder  43  into annular ring  48  creates an overlapping between first connection member  15  and second connection member  17 , which saves material costs and generally provides an efficient method for disposing first connection member  15  and second connection member  17  on paint can extender  1 . It is one of the primary features of this invention that annular ring  48  provides a lower abutment or shoulder for one snap-fit connection, while simultaneously providing an upper abutment or shoulder for a second snap-fit connection. 
     It can readily be seen from  FIGS. 8 and 10  that first connection member  15  is configured to receive a particular profile of a flexible annular lip, and second connection member  17  is also configured to receive this same profile. This profile may be any profile common in the art, including a generally “P” shaped lip. Inasmuch as contemporary paint cans typically provide this profile to define the paint can opening, paint can extender  1  is particularly suited to provide an annular snap-fit connection between paint can extender  1  and conventional paint cans. It will be readily understood, that lips  63  and  79  are described herein as flexible, however, paint can extender  1  may alternatively be the flexing member to complete the cantilever snap-fit connection. Lower end  5  may flex inwardly to allow lips  63  or  79  to cantilever into first connection member  15  or second connection member  17 . 
     Recently, manufacturers have begun producing paint cans having an opening of either diameter D 4  or diameter D 5 . Therefore, to be usable across both sizes of paint can openings, paint can extender  1  must provide first connection member  15  as well as second connection member  17 . Inasmuch as first annular surface  37  of first connection member  15  defines a diameter of D 1 , which is substantially identical to diameter D 4 , paint can extender  1  may be removably secured to paint cans having an opening of diameter D 4 . Furthermore, inasmuch as second annular surface  45  defines a diameter of D 2 , which is substantially identical to diameter D 5 , paint can extender  1  may also be removably secured to paint cans having an opening of diameter D 5 . As such, a user does not have to purchase two separate paint can extenders because paint can extender  1  is configured to removably engage either opening  59  or opening  77 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11-13 , paint can extender  1  is used to increase the volume capacity of a paint can. The paint can shown in  FIGS. 11-13  is first paint can  53 , however, it will be readily understood that second paint can  75  may also be used in the same general method. As shown in  FIG. 11 , paint can extender  1  is moved in the direction of Arrow A to engage paint can extender  1  with first paint can  53 . First paint can  53  is substantially filled with a substance  87 , heretofore referred to as paint  87 , having a first volume  88 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , a volume increasing agent  89  is added to paint  87 , thereby creating a hybrid substance  91  and increasing the volume of the overall mixture to a second volume  90 . It will be readily understood that second volume  90  of hybrid substance  91  is greater than first volume  88  of paint  87  due to the addition of volume increasing agent  89  to paint  87  to form hybrid substance  91 . 
     Volume increasing agent  89  may be in liquid or powder form, however, it is highly desirable for either form to be completely transferred and mixed into paint  87 . Commercial pour spouts have the disadvantage of having ledges or edges on the interior wall. Any edge or ledge extending along inner surface  9  would thereby catch and hold volume increasing agent  89  thereon, thus disrupting the desired mixing. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , inner surface  9  is particularly designed to be free of an edge or ledge by gradually transitioning between diameter D 3  and D 2  using second slope  55 , and gradually transitioning between diameter D 2  and D 1  using first slope  53  when a transition is required along the longitudinal length of paint can extender  1 . As volume increasing agent  89  is poured into first paint can  53  through inner channel  11 , all particles of volume increasing agent  89  are transferred into paint  87  without catching or being disposed on an edge or ledge on inner surface  9 . Inner connection portion  51  provides a smooth longitudinal transition on inner surface  9  between upper end  3  and lower end  5 , and particularly between main body  13 , second connection member  17 , and first connection member  15 . Inasmuch as paint can extender  1  and volume increasing agent  89  work in conjunction, paint can extender  1  and volume increasing agent  89  may be distributed and sold together as a kit. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , after paint can extender  1  is engaged with first paint can  53  and hybrid substance  91  has been mixed and formed, first paint can  53  is tilted in the direction of Arrow B, which prompts hybrid substance  91  to move in the direction of Arrow C, thereby flowing through pour spout  19  and outwardly in the direction of Arrow D. Thus, paint can extender  1  facilitates an engagement with first paint can  53  such that paint  87  or hybrid substance  91  must flow through inner channel  11 . Paint can extender  1  is sufficiently removably locked onto first paint can  53  such that no spilling or leaking occurs around lower end  5  while paint can extender  1  is engaged with first paint can  53 . 
     Paint can extender  1  must be sufficiently longitudinally capable of holding hybrid substance  91  with second volume  90  therein. The length requirement is necessary not only to hold second volume  90 , but to allow agitating and mixing of paint  87  and volume increasing agent  89 , which typically results in the mixture flowing up and down in paint can extender  1  as agitating occurs. Thus, present commercial pour spouts do not supply the necessary volume increasing capability of paint can extender  1 . As such, it is a desirable feature of a preferred embodiment of paint can extender  1  to have a general length of between 2 to 4 inches, measured from the top surface of the paint can opening, shown in  FIG. 12  as top surface  69  of upper portion  67 , and preferably to have a length of approximately 3 inches. The preferred embodiment also includes an overall width proximate upper end  3  of paint can extender  1  of between 5 and 7 inches, and preferably to have a width of approximately 6 inches. Furthermore, the preferred embodiment of paint can extender  1  is formed of a one-piece molded member formed from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) requiring a single mold to form the entire device. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.