Patent Publication Number: US-9849719-B1

Title: Container liquid catch rings

Description:
FIELD 
     Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to liquid-containing containers such as paint cans and the like. More particularly, illustrative embodiments of the disclosure relate to container liquid catch rings which can be placed on a liquid container to catch and collect residual liquid from the container. 
     SUMMARY 
     Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to container liquid catch rings which can be placed on a liquid container to catch and collect residual liquid from the container. An illustrative embodiment of the container liquid catch rings may include a ring body configured for placement on the liquid container in surrounding and substantially liquid-sealing relationship thereto. A ring opening may be formed by the ring body. The ring opening may be substantially sized and configured to accommodate the liquid container. A catch channel may be provided in the ring body in exterior concentric relationship to the ring opening. 
     Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are further generally directed to liquid container and container liquid catch ring combinations. An illustrative embodiment of the liquid container and container liquid catch ring combinations may include a liquid container having a container bottom and a container wall extending from the container bottom. A container liquid catch ring may be provided on the liquid container. The container liquid catch ring may include a ring body on the liquid container in surrounding and substantially liquid-sealing relationship to the container wall. The ring body may be positional at a selected height on the liquid container. A catch channel may be provided in the ring body in exterior concentric relationship to the container wall of the liquid container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the container liquid catch rings, deployed in place on a liquid container in typical application of the container liquid catch ring; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the illustrative container liquid catch ring and liquid container illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the illustrative container liquid catch ring; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the illustrative container liquid catch ring; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the illustrative container liquid catch ring; 
         FIG. 6  is a transverse sectional view of the illustrative container liquid catch ring, deployed in place on a liquid container in typical application of the container liquid catch ring; 
         FIG. 7  is a transverse sectional view of the illustrative container liquid catch ring; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded front view of the illustrative container liquid catch ring and liquid container, more particularly illustrating initial expansion or stretching of the container liquid catch ring preparatory to deployment of the container liquid catch ring on the liquid container, followed by placement of the container liquid catch ring around the liquid container and release and recoil of the container liquid catch ring in place against the liquid container according to some methods of deploying the container liquid catch ring on the liquid container; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the illustrative container liquid catch ring, deployed in place on the liquid container, more particularly illustrating vertical positional adjustment of the container liquid catch ring on the liquid container; 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of an alternative illustrative container liquid catch ring, more particularly illustrating deployment of the container liquid catch ring on the liquid container by lowering the liquid container in place through the container liquid catch ring; and 
         FIG. 11  is a transverse sectional view of the container liquid catch ring of  FIG. 10 , deployed in place on the liquid container. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-9  of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the container liquid catch ring, hereinafter ring, is generally indicated by reference numeral  1 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and will be hereinafter described, the ring  1  may be deployed in place at a selected height on a liquid container  20  which contains a supply of liquid (not illustrated). In some applications, for example and without limitation, the liquid container  20  may be a commercially-available paint can which contains a supply of liquid paint. The liquid container  20  may have a cylindrical container wall  22  which extends from a container bottom  24 . A removable container lid  26  may be placed on the container wall  22  to close the interior of the liquid container  20 . The container lid  26  may be removed from the container wall  22  to open and access the liquid in the liquid container  20 , typically in the conventional manner. The ring  1  may be suitable for catching residual liquid in the event that the liquid spills over the upper end of the container wall  22  and runs down the container wall  22 . Accordingly, the ring  1  may be effective to prevent the liquid from accumulating on a floor (not illustrated) or other supporting surface on which the liquid container  20  is placed during and/or after use. The ring  1  may be selectively height-adjustable on the liquid container  20 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3-7 , the ring  1  may include a ring body  2 . In some embodiments, the ring body  2  may be annular in shape to match a cylindrical container wall  22  of the liquid container  20 . In other embodiments, the ring body  2  may have other shapes for liquid containers  20  of alternative shapes. The ring body  2  may be suitably configured for placement on the liquid container  20  in surrounding and substantially liquid-sealing relationship to the liquid container  20 . In some embodiments, the ring body  2  may include a stretchable and elastic material having recoil memory, such as rubber, silicone and/or silicone-based materials, for example and without limitation. In other embodiments, the ring body  2  may include a substantially rigid or semi-rigid material such as rubber, plastic and/or composite materials, for example and without limitation. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , in some embodiments, the ring body  2  may include a ring bottom  3 . The ring bottom  3  may be flat or planar. A ring outer wall  4  may extend from the ring bottom  3 . The ring outer wall  4  may have an outer wall edge  5 . In some embodiments, the ring outer wall  4  may be generally perpendicular to the ring bottom  3  in cross-section. In some embodiments, a ring inner wall  8  may extend from the ring bottom  3  in spaced-apart relationship to the ring outer wall  4 . The ring inner wall  8  may have an inner wall edge  9 . A catch channel  14  may be formed by and between the ring bottom  3 , the ring outer wall  4  and the ring inner wall  8 . 
     A ring opening  12  may be formed by the ring body  2 . The ring opening  12  may be substantially sized and configured to accommodate the liquid container  20 . The ring opening  12  may be disposed in interior concentric relationship to the catch channel  14 . In some embodiments, the ring opening  12  may be formed by the ring inner wall  8  of the ring body  2 . As further illustrated in  FIG. 7 , in some embodiments, the ring inner wall  8  may be disposed at an obtuse angle  36  with respect to the ring bottom  3  and may gradually angle into the ring opening  12  from the ring bottom  3  to the inner wall edge  9 . Therefore, the diameter of the inner wall edge  9  on the ring inner wall  8  may be less than the diameter of the container wall  22  on the liquid container  20 . Upon deployment of the ring  1  on the liquid container  20 , the liquid container  20  may deform the ring inner wall  8  outwardly toward the ring outer wall  4  and into the catch channel  14 . Thus, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the inner wall edge  9  of the ring inner wall  8  may recoil against and snugly engage the exterior surface of the container wall  22  of the liquid container  20  to form a substantially liquid-tight seal between the ring inner wall  8  and the container wall  22 . This expedient may prevent seepage of the residual liquid between the exterior surface of the container wall  22  and the inner wall edge  9  of the ring inner wall  8 . 
     As further illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, the inner wall edge  9  of the ring inner wall  8  may be recessed with respect to the outer wall edge  5  of the ring outer wall  4 . Thus, in the event that the liquid fills the catch channel  14  to the level of the ring inner edge  9  on the ring inner wall  8 , the portion of the container wall  22  above the ring inner edge  9  may serve as the inner wall of the ring body  2  until the level of the residual liquid reaches the outer wall edge  5  on the ring outer wall  4 . In other embodiments, the inner wall edge  9  of the ring inner wall  8  may be at the same level as or at a higher level than the outer wall edge  5  of the ring outer wall  4 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3, 5 and 7 , in some embodiments, multiple wall spacers  16  may protrude from at least one of the ring outer wall  4  and the ring inner wall  8  into the catch channel  14 . The wall spacers  16  may be arranged in spaced-apart relationship to each other around the circumference or perimeter of the ring body  2 . The wall spacers  16  may protrude from the ring outer wall  4 , as illustrated. Alternatively, the wall spacers  16  may protrude from the ring inner wall  8 . Still further in the alternative, the wall spacers  16  may protrude from the ring outer wall  4  and the ring inner wall  8  in alternating or other relationship to each other. In some embodiments, the wall spacers  16  may be formed as protrusions from the ring outer wall  4 , the ring inner wall  8 , or both. During use of the ring  1 , in the event that the ring outer wall  4  is inadvertently bumped or otherwise deformed toward the ring inner wall  8  while the residual liquid is contained in the catch channel  14 , the wall spacers  16  may bridge the catch channel  14  and engage the ring inner wall  8 . The wall spacers  16  may thus limit narrowing of the catch channel  14  to prevent forcible expulsion of the liquid from the ring body  2 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 8 and 9 , in typical application, the ring  1  may be deployed in place on a liquid container  20  which contains a supply of paint or other liquid (not illustrated) which is to be accessed and removed from the liquid container  20 . Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in embodiments in which the ring body  2  is fabricated of a stretchable and elastic material having recoil memory, the ring body  2  may initially be held above the liquid container  20  and stretched outwardly, as indicated by the stretch arrows  30  in  FIG. 8 . The stretched ring body  2  may then be lowered in place over the liquid container  20  as the ring opening  12  in the ring body  2  receives the liquid container  20  until the ring body  2  is positioned at a selected height on the liquid container  20 . Next, the ring body  2  may be released such that the ring body  2  recoils against the container wall  22  of the liquid container  20 , as indicated by the recoil arrows  32  in  FIG. 8 . Thus, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the inner wall edge  9  of the ring inner wall  8  may recoil against and snugly engage the exterior surface of the container wall  22 , forming a substantially liquid-tight seal with the container wall  22 . In embodiments in which the ring body  2  is fabricated of a rigid or semi-rigid rubber, plastic, composite and/or other material, the ring body  2  may be snapped in place in a friction-fit against the container wall  22  at a selected height on the liquid container  20 . 
     After the ring  1  is deployed in place, the liquid container  20  may be opened to access the liquid in the liquid container typically by removal of the container lid  26  from the container wall  22 . During the course of removing the liquid from the liquid container  20 , residual liquid may spill over the upper edge or rim of the container wall  22  and run down the exterior of the container wall  22 . Accordingly, some of the residual liquid may run down into the catch channel  14  in the ring body  2  of the ring  1 . Thus, the ring  1  may stop the flow of the residual liquid down the container wall  22  and prevent the residual liquid from running down the remaining portion of the container wall  22  onto the floor or other supporting surface (not illustrated) on which the liquid container  20  rests. 
     In some applications, the residual liquid may accumulate in the catch channel  14  until the residual liquid reaches the level of the inner wall edge  9  on the ring inner wall  8 . Therefore, the portion of the container wall  22  of the liquid container  20  which extends above the ring inner edge  9  may serve as the inner wall of the ring body  2  until the level of the residual liquid reaches the outer wall edge  5  on the ring outer wall  4 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the substantially liquid-tight seal between the inner wall edge  9  on the ring inner wall  8  and the exterior surface of the container wall  22  may prevent the residual liquid from seeping between the ring inner wall  8  down the remaining portion of the container wall  22  onto the floor or other supporting surface. In the event that the ring outer wall  4  is inadvertently bumped or otherwise deformed toward the ring inner wall  8  while the residual liquid is contained in the catch channel  14 , the wall spacers  16  may bridge the catch channel  14  and engage the ring inner wall  8 , thus limiting narrowing of the catch channel  14  and preventing forcible expulsion of the residual liquid from the ring body  2 . 
     After use, the ring  1  may be removed from the liquid container  20 , the residual liquid emptied from the catch channel  14  and the ring  1  washed preparatory to subsequent use. Alternatively, the ring  1  may remain in place on and ultimately be discarded with the liquid container  120 . 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 10 and 11  of the drawings, an alternative illustrative embodiment of the container liquid catch ring is generally indicated by reference numeral  101 . In the ring  101 , elements which are analogous to the respective elements of the ring  1  that was heretofore described with respect to  FIGS. 1-9  are designated by the same respective numerals in the  101 - 140  series in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , in the ring  101 , the ring inner wall (reference numeral  8  in  FIGS. 1-9 ) may be omitted from the ring body  102 . A sealing bead  140  may terminate the interior edge of the ring bottom  103  of the ring body  102 . Accordingly, the sealing bead  140  may form a substantially liquid-tight seal with the container wall  122  of the liquid container  120 . 
     Application of the ring  101  may be as was heretofore described with respect to the ring  1  in  FIGS. 1-9 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the ring  101  may be deployed in place on the liquid container  120  by initially placing the ring  101  on a floor or other supporting surface (not illustrated). The liquid container  120  may be lowered in place through the ring opening  112  of the ring body  102  until the container bottom  124  rests on the floor or other supporting surface. The ring  101  may then be raised to the selected height on the liquid container  20 . The sealing bead  140  may snugly engage and form a substantially liquid-tight seal with container wall  122  of the liquid container  120 , as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . Thus, the container wall  122  may perform the same function as the ring inner wall  8  of the ring  1  which was heretofore described in  FIGS. 1-9 . After use, the ring  101  may be removed from the liquid container  120 , the residual liquid emptied from the catch channel  114  and the ring  101  washed preparatory to subsequent use. Alternatively, the ring  101  may remain in place on and ultimately be discarded with the liquid container  120 . 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the container liquid catch rings of the disclosure can be fabricated of any of various materials including but not limited to rigid or semi-rigid rubber, plastics and/or composite materials or stretchable and elastic material having recoil memory such as rubber, silicone and/or silicone-based materials, for example and without limitation. The container liquid catch rings may be fabricated using conventional molding and other techniques known by those skilled in the art. The container liquid catch rings can be fabricated in a variety of different sizes for placement on liquid containers of various sizes. Moreover, the container liquid catch rings can be fabricated in various shapes to accommodate different shapes of liquid containers. It will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art that the height of the container liquid catch ring on the liquid container can be selected depending on such factors as the viscosity of the liquid which is in the liquid container. For example, thinner or less viscous liquids may have a tendency to travel farther down the container wall than thicker or more viscous liquids, thereby necessitating a lower placement of the container liquid catch ring on the liquid container. Conversely, thicker or more viscous liquids may have a tendency to travel a shorter distance down the container wall, thereby necessitating a higher placement of the container liquid catch ring on the liquid container. 
     While certain illustrative embodiments of the disclosure have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made to the embodiments and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.