Patent Publication Number: US-2010116834-A1

Title: Protective Cover For Paint Can

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to scraping excess paint from paint brushes and more specifically to a brush scraping apparatus including embodiments for attachment to an open paint can installed by the user after the can has been opened for use. 
     Using a brush and a can of paint to paint any surface is a routine practice. The painter typically applies paint to the brush by dipping the bristles of the brush in the paint can. Painting has typically been a very messy job. Usually, there is excess paint on the brush after it is taken out of the paint can. Painters usually scrape the excess paint from the brush before applying the paint to the surface that he or she is painting. In many cases, painters will pour about half of the can of paint into a second can. This allows the painter to scrape the paint from the brush on the rim of either can to remove excess paint from the brush. 
     The inside upper edge or rim of the paint can is normally the most convenient place to scrape excess paint from the brush and it is the rim of the can that most painters normally use to scrape off excess paint before applying the paint brush to the surface that he or she is painting. The design of the conventional paint can is not designed to allow the painter to unload excess paint off the brush properly. Wiping the brush on the side of the paint can cause several problems. This action causes paint to flow into the rim channel and over the side of the paint can. The paint often ends up on the carpet or other surface where the can is placed. Once the rim of the can has been contaminated with paint, it is very difficult to seal the can properly. The paint in the rim also acts like cement making the subsequent opening of the can very difficult. 
     Another problem arises when the painter puts the lid back on the can with the rim section full of paint. When the painter strikes the lid to seal the can, the paint in the rim is projected outward and can cause substantial damage to the surrounding area. The paint is often projected onto the painter, and can cause physical damage if expelled into the eyes. 
     There remains a need for a protective device for paint lids that is simple to manufacture and provides a surface against which brushes may be scraped in a manner that permits excess paint to drip back into the can. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This need is met by the present invention. The present invention provides a protective cap for a paint or wood stain can having an inwardly curving upper flange with recessed portions against which paint brushes can be scraped with excess paint or wood stain flowing back into the can. The protective cap is effective yet very simple to mold from inexpensive polymers to provide a product that cleans up easily for re-use. 
     Thus, according to one aspect of the present invention, a protective cover for a paint or wood stain can is provided in the form of a circular cap having an inner and an outer lip, with the inner and outer lips being downwardly disposed to cooperatively and frictionally engage a lid rim of a paint or wood stain can. A circular flange extends upwardly from the circular cap around the lid rim of the can and curves inwardly toward the center of the can to define an opening through which the contents of the can may be accessed. A portion of the outer edge of the flange extends a shorter distance upward from the cap than the rest of the flange to provide a recessed edge against which excess liquid may be scraped from a paint brush and drain back into the can. The circular cap can be prepared in a variety of diameters to accommodate the standard sizes of cans available for paint and wood stain. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the recessed edge of the flange is essentially parallel to the plane of the circular cap. This provides an optimal surface for wiping from a brush excess liquids with the viscosity of oil-based and latex paints. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the recessed edge of the flange forms an acute angle with the plane of the circular cap. In one aspect of this embodiment, the acute angle of the flange is sufficiently shallow to permit the flange to define an inwardly curving spiral around the surface of the circular cap. This provides an optimal surface for wiping from a brush excess liquid with the viscosity of a wood stain. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the invention, two recessed edges are provided, a first recessed edge essentially parallel to the plane of the circular cap and a second recessed edge forming an acute angle with the plane of the circular cap. This allows the protective cover to be suitable for use with both paints and wood stains. 
     In another embodiment the present invention provides protective covers with recessed edges dimensioned to receive the width and thickness of a paint brush. A plurality of recessed edges with different width dimensions may be provided to accommodate a variety of brush sizes, or a single recess may be provided with a width dimension large enough to accommodate essentially any brush having a common width. Such recesses define side edges against which the brush may also be wiped. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, apertures are provided in the circular cap or the inwardly curving upward flange. The apertures permit any excess paint or wood stain falling to the exterior of the flange to drain back into the can. 
     According to another embodiment, the cap is provided with a pouring spout integral with the upward flange. This permits the can contents to be dispensed neatly without contaminating the rim of the can with paint or wood stain. For example, the paint or wood stain may be dispensed by means of the spout into a tray for application with a paint roller. 
     According to another embodiment, the circular cap may be provided with means to hold a paint brush above the opening in the can. The means can be adapted to secure the brush above the contents to permit paint or wood stain on the brush to drip back into the can, or the means can be adapted to secure the brush so that the bristles are immersed in the can contents to prevent the brush from drying out. 
     The present invention thus provides a washable and reusable product for keeping excess paint and wood stain off of cans and brushes to prolong brush life and maintain a neater job. Other features of the present invention will be pointed out in the following description referencing the drawings and claims, which disclose the principles of the invention and the best modes which are presently contemplated for carrying them out. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a protective cover according to one embodiment of the present invention in relation to a paint can; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the protective cover depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the protective cover depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , viewed from the opposite side; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the protective cover depicted in  FIGS. 1-3 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is perspective view of a protective cover according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The embodiments of the protective cover of the present invention are illustrated in combination with a one gallon cylindrical paint can. However, the protective covers of the present invention can be manufactured for use in combination with essentially any size can of paint or wood stain. In addition to one gallon cans, paints and wood stains are also commonly sold in one pint and one quart cans, as well as in five gallon bucket. Equivalent metric-size containers of products are also manufactured and sold. 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 , protective cover  10  includes circular cap  20  having an inner lip and an outer lip that are disposed downwardly so that they cooperatively frictionally fasten protective cover  10  to circular channel  11  of paint can PC. The inner and outer lips of circular cap  20  co-operatively seal circular channel  11  of paint can PC so that excess paint cannot collect and dry in circular channel  11 . One purpose of the protective cover of the present invention is to prevent excess paint from accumulating and drying in circular channel  11 . The accumulation of dried paint in circular channel  11  prevents proper reattachment of the paint can lid. This allows evaporation from the paint can interior so that the remaining paint dries out. The dried paint cannot be subsequently used and is wasted. 
     An arcuate flange  21  extends upwardly from circular cap  20  and inwardly toward the center C of paint can PC to define an opening  22  through which the contents of paint can PC may be accessed. A portion  24  of the outer edge  26  of flange extends a shorter distance upward from the circular cap  20  than the rest of the flange  32  to provide a recessed edge  34  against which excess liquid may be scraped from a paint brush and drain back into paint can PC. 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , recessed edge  34   a  of flange  21  is essentially parallel to the plane defined by circular cap  20 . This provides an optimal surface for wiping from a brush excess liquids with the viscosity of oil-based and latex paints. According to the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , recessed edge  34   c  of flange  21  forms an acute angle AA with the plane defined by circular cap  20 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , acute angle AA of flange  21  is sufficiently shallow to permit flange  21  to define an inwardly curving spiral  25  around the circumference of circular cap  20 . This provides an optimal surface for wiping from a brush excess liquid with the viscosity of a wood stain. 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 , two recessed edges  34   a  and  34   c  are provided, a first recessed edge  34   a  essentially parallel to the plane defined by circular cap  20  and a second recessed edge  34   c  forming an acute angle with the plane defined by circular cap  20 . This allows the protective cover to be suitable for use with both paints and wood stains. 
     Recessed edge  34   a  of protective cover  10  is dimensioned to receive the width and thickness of a paint brush. A plurality of recessed edges with different width dimensions can be provided to accommodate a variety of brush sizes. In the alternative, a single recess can be provided with a width dimension large enough to accommodate essentially any brush having a common width. Such recesses define side edges against which the brush may also be wiped. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 1-4 , apertures  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   c , etc., are provided in circular cap  20  and flange  21 . The apertures permit excess paint falling to the exterior  42  of flange  21  to drain back into paint can PC. 
     The protective cover of the present invention can also be provided with a pouring spout integral with the circular cap and flange. This permits the can contents to be dispensed neatly without contaminating the rim of the can with paint. 
     As seen in  FIG. 5 , cover  10  is provided with means  60  that is molded separately and assembled to hold paint brush  70  above the opening  12  of paint can PC. In particular, posts  61  and  62  frictionally engage the neck  72  of brush  70  so that the bristles  74  extend over the opening  12  parallel to the surface of the paint in the can. 
     In alternative embodiments, one or two longer posts are used that bend 90 degrees and extend over the center of the can, with a first post portion parallel to the can opening and a second post portion perpendicular to the can opening. When one post is used, the paint brush is affixed to the post by a clamp. When two posts are used, clamps or other means may be employed so the two posts co-operatively secure the brush to the posts. The second portion or portions of the post or posts may telescope to raise and lower the paint brush bristles into and out of the paint in paint can PC. 
     Alternative means of affixing the paint brush to the post or posts may be provided, such as a hook formed on the end of either or both post. The hook is insertable through the aperture typically provided in brush handles to hang the brush therefrom so that it may be raised and lowered by the telescoping post or posts. 
     This embodiment thus serves to secure a paint brush above the paint can opening to permit excess paint on the paint brush bristles to drip back into paint can PC, or the post or posts can be telescoped so that the paint brush bristles are immersed into the paint in the paint can to prevent the paint brush bristles from drying out. 
     Can cover  10  can be formed by injection molding from thermoplastic polymers by conventional means. The brush attachment means may be separately molded, and the recesses and apertures in the cap cover can be integrally molded or die cut after molding. 
     The polymers are selected and the molding compositions preferably formulated to ensure that paint or wood stain can be easily removed from can covers molded therefrom. Such molding formulations are well known to those of ordinary skill in the injection molding art and require no further description here. The can cover can be readily molded from recycled plastics, including plastics into which waste paint has been recycled. 
     The description of the preferred embodiments should be taken as illustrating, instead of limiting, the present invention as defined by the claims. As will be readily appreciated, numerous combinations of all features set forth above can be used without departing from the invention set forth in the claims. Such variations are not regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims