Patent Publication Number: US-11043148-B2

Title: Paint tester

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/PRIORITY 
     The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/789,626, filed Jan. 8, 2019, which is incorporated by reference into the present disclosure as if fully restated herein. Any conflict between the incorporated material and the specific teachings of this disclosure shall be resolved in favor of the latter. Likewise, any conflict between an art-understood definition of a word or phrase and a definition of the word or phrase as specifically taught in this disclosure shall be resolved in favor of the latter. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Home owners will periodically desire to repaint walls in their home. However, there is no current option for quickly, easily, and reliably testing various new paint colors that the home owner may want to test before buying the paint in bulk quantities. Though this issue has presented itself innumerable times for over a century, no solution has been presented in the art. For the foregoing reasons, there is a pressing, but seemingly irresolvable need for quick, easy, and reliable paint tester. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Wherefore, it is an object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned shortcomings and drawbacks associated with the current technology. The present invention is directed to methods and apparatuses that satisfy the above shortcomings and drawbacks. 
     The present invention also relates to methods and paint testers comprising a sealed receptacle, an applicator, and a seal cutter. According to a further embodiment the paint tester comprises a cap which removablely encapsulates and provides a substantially fluid tight barrier around the applicator. According to a further embodiment the sealed receptacle includes a base, a receptacle wall, and a channel. According to a further embodiment the channel has a channel walls defining a space in fluid communication with an interior of the receptacle. According to a further embodiment a seal extending over a channel exit provides a fluid tight barrier to the interior of the receptacle. According to a further embodiment the seal cutter engages with an exterior surface of the channel walls. According to a further embodiment the seal cutter has one or more teeth extending in a direction of the seal. According to a further embodiment the seal cutter has a threaded interior surface that mates with a threaded exterior surface of the channel walls, such that when the seal cutter is rotated with respect to the receptacle, the one or more teeth will cut into and break the seal. According to a further embodiment the receptacle has first ratchet teeth that mate with second ratchet teeth on the seal cutter, such that the seal cutter may only be rotated in one direction relative to the receptacle. According to a further embodiment the receptacle has rotationally stationary first stops that engage with second stops on interior surface of the seal cutter, so as to prevent the seal cutter from being rotated relative to the receptacle to a distance sufficient to cut into the seal, until a force greater than a determined breaking force is applied. According to a further embodiment when the cutter is rotated fully, the seal cutter forms a fluid tight barrier with the exterior walls of the channel, but not with the channel exit. According to a further embodiment the seal cutter has a conduit that is aligned with a channel exit of the receptacle. According to a further embodiment the conduit extends into a crevice defined in an interior of the applicator. According to a further embodiment the conduit extends between one half and three fourths a distance from a base of the applicator to a top of the applicator, and a top end of the conduit defines a plurality of crenulations encircling a conduit exit. According to a further embodiment the applicator has a tapered shape, with a base of the applicator multiple times wider than a top of the applicator. According to a further embodiment the applicator is a foam brush. According to a further embodiment the receptacle is made of one of polypropalene or polyethylene. According to a further embodiment the receptacle base is transparent and the receptacle walls are opaque. According to a further embodiment the paint tester includes a volume of paint substantially filling an interior of the receptacle. 
     The present invention further relates to products and methods of testing paint using a paint tester having a sealed receptacle containing paint, a foam applicator, and a seal cutter, comprising rotating the seal cutter with respect to the receptacle until one or more teeth will cut into and break a seal on the receptacle, applying inward pressure to an exterior surface of a receptacle wall causing paint to flow from the receptacle through a channel exit of the receptacle, through a conduit defined in the seal cutter, out a conduit exit encircled by crenulations, through pores in the applicator, and onto an exterior surface of the applicator, and touching the exterior surface of the applicator to a surface upon which paint is desired. 
     The present invention further relates to methods and paint testers comprising a sealed receptacle having a base, a receptacle wall, and a channel, a foam brush applicator, a seal cutter, a cap which removablely encapsulating and providing a substantially fluid tight barrier around the applicator, wherein the channel has channel walls defining a space in fluid communication with an interior of the receptacle, a seal extends over a channel exit providing a fluid tight barrier to the interior of the receptacle, the seal cutter engages with an exterior surface of the channel walls, the seal cutter has one or more teeth extending in a direction of the seal, the seal cutter has a threaded interior surface that mates with a threaded exterior surface of the channel walls, such that when the seal cutter is rotated with respect to the receptacle, the one or more teeth will cut into and break the seal, the receptacle has first ratchet teeth that mate with second ratchet teeth on the seal cutter, such that the seal cutter may only be rotated in one direction relative to the receptacle, the receptacle has rotationally stationary first stops that engage with second stops on interior surface of the seal cutter, so as to prevent the seal cutter from being rotated relative to the receptacle to a distance sufficient to cut into the seal, until a force greater than a determined breaking force is applied, when the cutter is rotated fully, the seal cutter forms a fluid tight barrier with the exterior walls of the channel, while providing a fluid path from the channel exit to a seal cutter conduit that is aligned with the channel exit, the conduit extends into a crevice defined in an interior of the applicator, the conduit extends between one half and three fourths a distance from a base of the applicator to a top of the applicator, and a top end of the conduit defines a plurality of crenulations encircling a conduit exit, the applicator has a tapered shape, with a base of the applicator multiple times wider than a top of the applicator, the receptacle is made of one of polypropylene or polyethylene, the receptacle base is transparent and the receptacle walls are opaque, and a volume of paint substantially fills an interior of the receptacle. 
     In one embodiment, the paint tester is substantially the same size as a lipstick container, preferably between 2.0 and 5.0 inches in height and 0.25 and 1.0 inches in width, or more preferably approximately 3.0 inches in height and about 0.50 inch in width. 
     Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. The present invention may address one or more of the problems and deficiencies of the current technology discussed above. However, it is contemplated that the invention may prove useful in addressing other problems and deficiencies in a number of technical areas. Therefore the claimed invention should not necessarily be construed as limited to addressing any of the particular problems or deficiencies discussed herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments of the invention and together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. It is to be appreciated that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily to scale since the emphasis is instead placed on illustrating the principles of the invention. The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front plan view of the paint tester according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are respective top plan and bottom plan views of the paint tester of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the paint tester of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are respective exploded top front right isometric and exploded bottom front left isometric views of the paint tester of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the portion of  FIG. 4A  within the box marked F 5 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the portion of  FIG. 4A  within the box marked F 6 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of the portion of  FIG. 4B  within the box marked F 7 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of the portion of  FIG. 4B  within the box marked F 8 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of paint tester of  FIG. 1  along the sectional line F 9 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of the portion of  FIG. 9  within the box marked F 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be understood by reference to the following detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It is to be appreciated that the following detailed description of various embodiments is by way of example only and is not meant to limit, in any way, the scope of the present invention. In the summary above, in the following detailed description, in the claims below, and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the present invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features, not just those explicitly described. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. The term “comprises” and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, ingredients, steps, etc. are optionally present. For example, an article “comprising” (or “which comprises”) components A, B, and C can consist of (i.e., contain only) components A, B, and C, or can contain not only components A, B, and C but also one or more other components. Where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the method can include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility). 
     The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range beginning with that number (which may be a range having an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined). For example “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “at most” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a range ending with that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “at most 40%” means 40% or less than 40%. When, in this specification, a range is given as “(a first number) to (a second number)” or “(a first number)−(a second number),” this means a range whose lower limit is the first number and whose upper limit is the second number. For example, 25 to 100 mm means a range whose lower limit is 25 mm, and whose upper limit is 100 mm. The embodiments set forth the below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and illustrate the best mode of practicing the invention. In addition, the invention does not require that all the advantageous features and all the advantages need to be incorporated into every embodiment of the invention. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 1-10 , a brief description concerning the various components of the present invention will now be briefly discussed. As can be seen in this embodiment, the paint tester  2  comprises a receptacle  4 , a seal cutter  6 , and an applicator  8 . The paint tester may also include a cap  10 . 
     The receptacle  4  is a preferably elongate container with a base  12 , a wall  14  extending from the base  12 , and a channel  16 , all defining an interior  18  of the receptacle  4 . The channel  16  is connected to an upper portion of the wall  14  by a ledge  20 . The wall  14  is preferably opaque, to prevent paint  22  held within the receptacle  4  from being exposed to light. In some embodiments, the wall  14  may be all or partly transparent. In some embodiments including an all or partly transparent wall  14 , an opaque covering, such as a wrapping, may be included to block light. Where there is an opaque covering, a clear window in the wrapping, preferably with removable an opaque flap, may be provided, to allow a purchaser to see the true color of the paint  22 . In other embodiments, the receptacle  4  may have a transparent base  12 , and preferably either an opaque wall  14  or a transparent wall  14  with an opaque covering. This would allow a purchaser to lift up the paint tester  2  and turn it over to see the true color of the paint  22 , but still block light from reaching the paint  22  if the paint tester  2  was stored in an upright position, with the base  12  adjacent to a base of a storage or display box or other surface. 
     The wall  14 , base  12 , and channel  16  are preferably formed of a polymer plastic, such as, for example, polypropylene and polyethylene. Other plastics could include PLA or other biodegradable plastics. 
     The paint  22  stored inside the paint tester  2  is preferably latex paint. In other embodiments, an oil-based paint  22  could be stored in the paint tester, preferably with a metal or other lining on the inner surface  24  of the receptacle  4  that resists degradation from oil. 
     The channel  16  has channel walls  26  defining a channel space  28  in fluid communication with a remaining interior  18  of the receptacle  4 . A seal  30  extends over a channel exit  32 , and provides a fluid tight barrier to the interior  18  of the receptacle  4 . 
     The seal cutter  6  preferably has threaded radially interior seal cutter walls  34 , which matingly engage with threaded exterior channel walls  36 . The seal cutter  6  has one or more teeth  38 , aligned with and extending in a direction of the seal  30 , but preferably initially spaced from the seal  30 . When the seal cutter  6  is rotated with respect to the receptacle  4 , the mating threaded walls  34 ,  36  cause the respective rotational motion to also cause linear and downward motion on the seal cutter  6 , downward being in a direction toward the base  12  of the receptacle  4 . With continued respective rotation, the one or more teeth  38  on the seal cutter  6  will cut into and break the seal  30  that extends over the channel exit  32 , and thereby break the fluid tight barrier to the interior  18  of the receptacle  4  and the paint  22  stored within. 
     When the seal cutter  6  is rotated fully, such that the seal cutter  6  is fully screwed onto the channel  16  and further relative rotation is mechanically prevented, the seal cutter  6  forms a fluid tight barrier with the exterior walls  36  of the channel  16 , while providing an opening to the channel exit  32 . 
     Once the seal  30  is opened, the seal cutter  6  is preferably prevented from unscrewing from the channel  16 , and thereby failing to maintain a fluid barrier and allowing unintended paint  22  leakage. To prevent relative unscrewing between the seal cutter  6  and the receptacle  4 , the receptacle  4  has first ratchet teeth  40  that mate with second ratchet teeth  42  on the seal cutter  6 . The respective alignment of the first and second ratchet teeth  40 ,  42  allow the seal cutter  6  to only be rotated in one direction relative to the receptacle  4 , and thus prevent unscrewing of the seal cutter  6 . 
     To prevent the seal cutter  6  from being inadvertently rotated with respect to the receptacle  4 —before a paint tester  2  is purchased for example—and thus prematurely cutting into and breaking the seal  30 , the receptacle  4  has first stops  44  and full stops  46  disposed on an exterior of the receptacle adjacent to the threaded exterior channel walls  36 . The first stops  44 , in the form of breakable tabs  44 , engage with second stops  48  on a radially interior surface of the seal cutter  6 , and resist relative rotation of the seal cutter  6  and receptacle  4  up to a breaking force threshold. Past the breaking force threshold the tabs  44  would break or fold and allow the seal cutter  6  to continue to rotate around the receptacle  4 . Thereby, the first and second stops  44 ,  48  prevent the seal cutter  6  from being inadvertently rotated relative to the receptacle  4  a distance sufficient to cut into the seal  30 . The breaking force would be a twisting force or torque of a magnitude large enough to provide substantial tactile feedback, but small enough that an average adult could easily overcome it. The breaking force is preferably between 0.1 and 5.0 Nm, more preferably between 0.5 and 3.0 Nm, and most preferably between 1.0 and 2.0 Nm. The optional full stops  46  would engage the second stops  48  a given distance of rotation past the first stops  44 , and fully prevent the seal cutter  6  from being over tightened and striping the treads on the threaded interior seal cutter walls  34  and threaded exterior channel walls  36 . 
     In alternative embodiments, first stops  44  may be more robust, resisting folding or breaking, and be disposed on a removable stop collar that encircles the exterior of the channel walls  26 . The stop collar would be rotationally stationary with respect to the receptacle  4 , but removable, either by peeling off, or pulling up over the channel exit  32 , for example. Thereby, the first and second stops  44 ,  48  prevent the seal cutter  6  from being rotated relative to the receptacle  4  a distance sufficient to cut into the seal  30 , until the stop collar is removed. 
     The seal cutter  6  has a conduit  50  that is aligned with the channel exit  32  of the receptacle  4 . The conduit  50  extends into a crevice  52  defined in an interior of the applicator  8 . The conduit  50  preferably extends between one half and three fourths a distance from the applicator base  54  to the applicator top  56 , and a conduit top end  58  defines a plurality of crenulations  60  encircling a conduit exit  62 . Perforations may be used in place of or in addition to the crenulation  60  to help disperse paint  22  from the conduit exit  62 . 
     A snap fit is preferably formed between the cap  10  and the seal cutter  6 , when the cap  10  is fully seated on the seal cutter  6 . In the embodiment shown, the snap fit is formed with a circumferential ridge  64  on the exterior circumference of the seal cutter  2  and a mating circumferential grove  66  on the interior circumference of the cap  10 . This snap fit provides for a fluid tight barrier around the applicator when the cap is fully seated on the seal cutter  6 . In further embodiments the ridge  64  may be on the cap  10  and the grove  66  on the seal cutter  6 . In still further embodiments, other fluid tight designs allowing the removable attaching of the cap  10  to the seal cutter  6  may be provided, including mating threaded surfaces. 
     The applicator  8  preferably has a tapered shape, allowing for even paint  22  dispersion and a more natural painting motion when a user applies the paint  22  to a surface. As shown in  FIG. 9 , for example, at least one width the applicator base  54  is preferably multiple times wider than the applicator top  56 . The applicator  8  is preferably made of a porous foam, which allows fluid to pass through from the crevice  52  to an exterior of the applicator. 
     To use the paint tester, the user would first either apply a breaking force to turn the second stops  48  past the tabs  44 , as in one embodiment, or would remove the stop collar  46 , as in another embodiment. The seal cutter  6  would then be rotated with respect to the receptacle  4  until one or more seal cutter teeth  38  cut into and break the seal  30  on the receptacle  4 . The user would then apply an inward pressure to an exterior surface of a receptacle wall  14 , such as squeezing the wall  14  inwardly with his or her hand, causing paint  22  to flow from the receptacle  4  through the channel exit  32  of the channel, through the conduit  50  defined in the seal cutter  6 , out the conduit exit  62  encircled by crenulations  60 , through pores in the applicator  8 , and onto an exterior surface of the applicator  8 . The user would then touch the exterior surface of the applicator  8  to a surface upon which paint  22  is desired, causing the paint  22  previously stored in the interior of the receptacle to attach to the surface upon which paint  22  is desired. 
     In the embodiment shown, there is substantial exterior radial symmetry, and the left, right, and back plan view of the paint tester of  FIG. 1  would look identical to  FIG. 1 . In other embodiments, that exterior radial symmetry may not be present. 
     The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may explicitly be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. While various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it is apparent that various modifications and alterations of those embodiments will occur to and be readily apparent those skilled in the art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as set forth in the appended claims. Further, the invention(s) described herein is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various other related ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items while only the terms “consisting of” and “consisting only of” are to be construed in the limitative sense.