Patent Publication Number: US-10766012-B2

Title: Paint mixing device and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/461,901, filed Feb. 22, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to a system and method for mixing paint or colorants. More particularly, the present application is directed towards a system and method for mixing paint or colorants in, for example, cylindrical, rectangular, square and tapered square containers. 
     The present invention relates to apparatus and devices for mixing and agitating flowable material such as paint and the like in closed containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to paint container holders and the like which are capable of rapidly and efficiently mixing and agitating without requiring removal of the materials from their original containers and without requiring the containers to be cumbersomely clamped or otherwise inconveniently mechanically secured in place in the mixing or agitating apparatus. 
     Many flowable or fluidized materials such as paints, powdered materials, fungible particulates and the like, both in cans or other containers contain liquids of differing specific gravities as well as solids and/or powdered materials dispersed thereon. In many instances, the different constituents of the mixture require a thorough mixing and blending before the mixture is suitable for use in order to insure an even dispersion of the various constituents throughout the whole mixture. This is particularly important with paints, colorants, varnishes and other finishing agents wherein pigments are often solids and are usually much denser than some of the other liquid constituents. Oftentimes, after only a short time in a container on a ledge, the denser or heavier materials gravitate out from the lighter constituents and collect on the bottom of the can or container. Subsequently, when a can is opened, the material must be tediously mixed and agitated, often for extended periods of time before it is suitable for use. Even during the application process, the heavier materials in some mixtures may settle out and accordingly, periodic intermixing and agitation during use or application is required. 
     Recently such paint or colorants have become available in rectangular, square or tapered square-shaped containers, giving rise to the need for paint container holders to blend colors for paint in such containers that are not conventional cylindrical-shaped containers. To accommodate square or rectangular paint containers, a new holder can be provided in the paint mixer, suitable for receiving and retaining the conventional cylindrical container as well as the rectangular, square, or tapered square container. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure describes embodiments comprising a paint or colorant (paints, colorants and tints are collectively referred to as paint in this disclosure) container holder or a paint mixing holder device adapted for agitating and mixing flowable materials such as paint and the like in a container such as, for example, a cylindrical, square or tapered square container. The paint container holder or paint mixing holder device includes a base for supporting a container of paint that is mixed in conventional paint mixers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will be further described with reference to the appended Figures, wherein like structures are referred to by like numerals throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a tapered square paint container; 
         FIGS. 2-3  illustrate example embodiments of conventional cylindrical and square paint or colorant containers; 
         FIGS. 4-5  illustrate an example embodiment of a perspective top view showing an interior of a paint container holder as described and depicted herein; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an example embodiment of a side view of a paint container holder as described and depicted herein; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an example embodiment of a top view of a paint container holder as described and depicted herein; and 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an example embodiment of a perspective bottom view of a paint container holder as described and depicted herein. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an example embodiment of a perspective side view of a paint container holder having a safety clip as described and depicted herein. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now more particularly to the drawings, therein is illustrated a new and improved paint container holder constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention and referred to generally by the reference numeral  10  in  FIG. 4 . 
     A paint container holder as described herein is adapted to receive a paint container, wherein the paint container may be generally square, cylindrical, or a tapered square container. The paint container holder comprises a generally square base portion comprising a tapered portion extending upright, upright sides extending from the tapered portion of the base, and openings at the tapered portion. 
     In an embodiment, the upright sides comprise at least one outwardly flaring flange. Alternatively, or in addition to, the uprights sides may comprise a tab comprising a slit, wherein the slit is adapted to receive a handle of the paint container. The tapered portion of the base or bottom as well as the flaring flange facilitate insertion of a paint can into the paint container holder using only the weight of the paint container without applying added force to insert the paint container or using only gravity to allow the paint container to freely slide into position in the holder. 
     In another embodiment, the base portion comprises a ledge extending from the base portion and upright sides. 
     In yet another embodiment, the upright sides meet to form a rounded corner. 
     Another disclosed embodiment is a paint container and a paint container holder or a paint mixing holder device as described herein that is adapted to receive a paint container, wherein the paint container holder may be a square, cylindrical, or tapered square container. The paint container holder comprises a generally square base portion comprising a tapered portion extending upright, upright sides extending from the tapered portion of the base, and opening at the tapered portion. The paint container is adapted to fit within the upright sides of the paint container holder. 
     Paint container holder  10  is configured to fit in standard paint mixers. Paint mixers (not shown) are used to mix paint within the paint container. 
     Paint container holder  10  is designed to hold square, cylindrical, and tapered square paint containers as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . Further, paint mixing holder  10  is also capable of holding paint containers that have a handle. While paint container holder  10  is sized and shaped to hold conventional one gallon paint containers, a larger version of the paint container holder  10  may be capable of holding similarly shaped five gallon paint containers. 
       FIGS. 4-8  illustrate paint container holder  10  that comprises a generally square body  12 . Body  12  has four sides  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c , and  32   d , connected to base  14 . Base  14  comprises a generally tapered bottom  16 . Top  34  is open, which allows a user to insert and remove the paint container. 
     Each side  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c , and  32   d  comprises an upper edge  20  on an end opposite the base  14 . Each upper edge  20  includes at least one flaring flange  22  that flares outward from the center of the paint container holder  10 . Alternatively, each upper edge  20  includes two or more flaring flanges  22  that flare outward. Flaring flange  22  may extend from upper edge  20  at an angle of about 45°. Alternatively, angles smaller than 80° may be utilized. Flaring flange  22  may be at least 1 inch long and 0.25 inches tall. Alternatively, flange  22  may be up to 2 inches long and 1 inch tall. Flaring flanges  22  function to guide the paint container into paint container holder  10 . Flaring flanges  22  may be made from a stiff material, such as metal, or a flexible material such as plastic or rubber. Flaring flange  22  facilitates insertion of a paint can into the paint container holder  10  using only the weight of the paint container without applying added force to insert the paint container. 
     A first side edge of side  32   a  is connected to a first side edge of side  32   b  at corner  30   a , a second side edge of side  32   b  is connected to a first side edge of side  32   c  at corner  30   b , a second side edge of side  32   c  is connected to a first side edge of side  32   d  at corner  30   c , and a second side edge of side  32   d  is connected to a second side edge of side  32   a  at corner  30   d . Sides  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c , and  32   d  form a generally square shape with an open interior. As shown in  FIGS. 4-9 , corners  30  may be rounded, or alternatively, sides  32  may come together at corner  30  to about a 90° angle (not shown). 
     Base  14  comprises a generally tapered bottom section  16 . Alternatively, the sides  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c , and  32   d  and corners  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c , and  30   d  comprise a tapered section  16  as they extend toward the base  14 . The tapered section  16  allows the tapered square paint container as shown in  FIG. 1  to slide into the paint container holder using only the weight of the paint container without applying added force to insert the paint container or using only gravity to allow the paint container to freely slide into the interior of the paint container holder. 
     Each corner  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c , and  30   d  comprises an opening  18  at an edge near base  14 . Openings  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c , and  18   d , as shown in  FIG. 7 , are sized and shaped to accommodate a tapered square paint container within the interior of the paint container holder  10 . For example, openings  18  may be triangular in shape. 
     Alternatively, openings  18  may be located at the tapered bottom  16  of the base  14 . Opening  18  allows the corners of a rectangular paint container to extend outside of the interior of the paint container holder  10 . 
     Paint container holder  10  may also comprise at least one ledge  26  illustrated, for example, in  FIGS. 4 and 7  located on the base  14  and inner upright sides  32 . Ledge  26   a  and  26   b  shown in  FIG. 4  (ledges  26   c  and  26   d  not shown) enables a circular paint container to be at predetermined height in the paint container holder  10  and that is fitted in the paint container holder to prevent the container from being ejected from the paint container holder during the mixing process. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 8 , for example, sides  32  may also comprise tabs  24  located on an end opposite the base  14 . Tabs  24  comprise a slit  26  that is capable of receiving the handle of a paint container. Each side  32  may include one tab  24  located halfway between each end of the side  32 . The four upright sides  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c , and  32   d  each comprise the four tabs  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c , and  24   d  that are located at 90° increments around the body  12  of the paint container holder  10 . See also  FIG. 8  as shown and described herein. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of paint container holder  10 . The side view shows two of the openings,  18   a ,  18   b  located on side  32 . Two flaring flanges  22  are located on a top of the upper edge  20  of the side  32 . Slit  28  extends vertically in tab  24  on side  32 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a top view of the paint container holder  10 . As shown, all four openings  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c ,  18   d  are located at corners  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c , and  30   d , in between sides  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c , and  32   d , as well as four ledges  26   a ,  26   b ,  26   c , and  26   d.    
       FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom view of paint container holder  10 . Extending from base  14 , are sides,  32   a  and  32   b  ( 32   c  and  32   d  not shown). Openings  18   a  and  18   b  are located at tapered bottom  16 , in between sides  32   a ,  32   b  at corners  30   a  and  30   b.    
       FIG. 9  illustrates an embodiment of a paint container holder comprising a safety clip  36  attached to at least one of the upright sides  32 . The safety clip serves to lock the paint container, for example a circular paint container, in the paint container holder during mixing. 
     Sides  32  may be formed from the same piece of material as base  14 , or sides  32  may be secured to base  14  by any conventional means, such as welding. Alternative materials used to construct paint container holder  10  may be conventional materials such as metals or industrial polymers. 
     In use, a user inserts a paint container into paint container holder  10  through the top  34  into the interior of the holder. The paint container sits atop the base  14  (tapered square container), the ledge  26  (cylindrical container), or rests on the tapered bottom  16  (square container) while paint container holder  10  is fitted in a mixing device to mix the paint. If the paint container has a handle, the handle is placed through slits  28  in tabs  24 . The paint container slides freely into the body  12  of paint container holder  10 . The paint container holder  10  maintains the paint container in place while a paint mixer is shaking without ejecting the paint container. When it is desired to remove the paint container from the paint container holder  10 , the user simply pulls the handle of the paint container to remove it. 
     Each differently shaped paint container is able to be placed and maintained within paint container holder  10  during mixing without causing excessive vibration. Ledge  26  supports a cylindrically shaped paint container so that it is held securely within paint container holder  10 , while openings  18  and sides support a tapered square shaped painted container from vibrating within paint container holder  10 . Further, ledge  26 , openings  18 , and upright sides  32  prevent the paint container from ejecting from paint container holder  10 . In some embodiments safety clip  36  fits over the cover of the paint container serving to lock the paint container in the paint container holder. 
     The disclosed paint container holder is configured to be used with differently shaped containers. A square shaped paint container fits within the paint container holder  10  on top of the ledge  26  within the interior of the holder. A cylindrically shaped paint container also fits within the paint container holder  10  on top of the ledge  26 . A paint container that has a tapered square shape comprises edges that extend through the openings  18  of the paint container holder  10 . The safety clip  36  can be a redundant device. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,165,879 and 6,767,125 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     The present invention has now been described with reference to several embodiments thereof. The entire disclosure of any patent or patent application identified herein is hereby incorporated by reference. The foregoing detailed description and examples have been given for clarity of understanding only. No unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes can be made in the embodiments described without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the structures described herein, but only by the structures described by the language of the claims and the equivalents of those structures.