Patent Publication Number: US-6336740-B1

Title: Cover assembly with improved locking feet

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to cover assemblies for use with automated paint stirring equipment and, more particularly, to such a cover assembly with improved locking feet. 
     II. Description of Related Art 
     There are many previously known cover assemblies which are particularly designed for use with automated paint stirring equipment. These cover assemblies typically comprise a lid dimensioned to overlie an open top of a paint can. The paint can, in turn, includes a radially inwardly extending chime formed around its open top. 
     These previously known cover assemblies typically comprise a spout formed along the outer periphery of the paint can lid and a handle attached to the lid and diametrically opposed from the spout. A paint stirrer is then rotatably mounted to the lid so that, with the lid disposed over the open top of the paint can, the stirrer is positioned within the interior of the paint can. 
     In order to secure the cover assembly to the paint can, the previously known cover assemblies typically include at least two, and oftentimes more, locking devices. Each locking device, furthermore, typically comprises a cylindrical stem which is pivotally mounted to the lid and movable between a locked and unlocked position. A locking foot is secured to the end of the stem while a handle is secured to the opposite or upper end of the stem. 
     With the locking device in its locked position, the stem is pivoted so that the locking foot moves underneath the can chime. Furthermore, a compression spring is typically disposed between the lid and the handle and this spring urges the locking foot towards the lid thus compressibly sandwiching the can chime in between the lid and the locking foot. 
     Conversely, in its unlocked position, the locking foot is pivoted so that the entire locking foot is spaced radially inwardly from the can chime. In this position, the cover assembly can be freely removed from or positioned over the paint can. Furthermore, a resilient seal is conventionally sandwiched in between the paint can chime and the lid in order to fluidly seal the bottom of the lid to the paint can. 
     One disadvantage of these previously known cover assemblies, however, is that, since the spring urges the locking feet against the bottom of the paint can chime, rotation of the locking feet between their locked and unlocked position causes the locking feet to scrape along the bottom of the chime. This, in turn, can abrade the protective coating found on the interior of paint cans. When the protective coating is abraded, oxidation of the paint can can occur which can cause contamination of the paint within the can. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a cover assembly for a paint can of the type used with automated paint stirring equipment which overcomes all of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the previously known devices. 
     In brief, the cover assembly of the present invention comprises a lid which is dimensioned to overlie the open top of a paint can. In the conventional fashion, the paint can includes a radially inwardly projecting chime around its open top. The paint can lid includes a spout at its outer periphery as well as a handle secured to the lid and diametrically opposed from the spout. A paint stirrer is rotatably mounted to the lid so that, with the lid positioned over the open top of the paint can, the stirrer is positioned within the interior of the paint can. 
     At least one, and more typically two or more locking devices are provided for removably securing the lid to the paint can when the lid is positioned over the open top of the paint can. Each locking device includes a stem which is pivotally mounted to the lid and pivotal between a locked position and an unlocked position. A radially outwardly extending locking foot is secured to the lower end of the stem while a handle is secured to the opposite or upper end of the stem for moving the stem with its attached locking foot between the locked and unlocked position. A compression spring is also sandwiched in between the handle and the lid which urges the stem upwardly towards its locked position. 
     In its locked position, the locking foot protrudes underneath the can chime so that the chime is compressed in between the locking foot and a lower side of the paint can lid. An annular resilient seal is disposed around the outer periphery on the bottom of the paint can lid which sealingly engages the top of the paint can. 
     Conversely, when the handle rotates the stem from its locked position to its unlocked position, the locking feet are pivoted so that the locking feet are spaced radially inwardly from the chime. With the locking feet in the unlocked position, the paint can cover may be easily disposed over or removed from the paint can. 
     Unlike the previously known cover assemblies, however, a circumferentially and annularly extending groove is provided in the outer periphery of the locking device stem which, in turn, forms an axially and circumferentially extending ramp surface along the stem. Additionally, a pin attached to the paint can lid protrudes inwardly into the stem groove and abuts against the ramp surface. Consequently, rotation of the locking device stem from its locked position and to its unlocked position axially displaces the locking foot downwardly away from the paint can chime due to the mechanical interaction between the pin and the ramp surface. This axial displacement thus minimizes the amount of abrasion which occurs between the locking feet and paint can chime as the locking device stem is pivoted thus minimizing the possibility of damaging the protective coating on the paint can chime. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The present invention will be better understood upon reference to the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded elevational view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating the locking device in an unlocked position; 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the locking device in a locked position; 
     FIG. 4 is a view taken substantially along line  4 — 4  in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a portion of the locking device; 
     FIG. 6 is a view taken along line  6 — 6  in FIG. 5; and 
     FIG. 7 is a view taken along line  7 — 7  in FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     With reference first to FIG. 1, a cover assembly  10  of the present invention for use with automatic paint stirring equipment is shown having a generally circular lid  12 . The cover assembly  10  includes a spout  14  formed along the outer periphery of the lid  12  as well as a handle  16  secured to the lid  12  and generally diametrically opposed from the spout  14 . A paint stirrer  18  is also rotatably mounted to the lid  12  in the conventional fashion. 
     With reference now to FIGS. 1-4, at least one, and preferably two or more locking devices  20  are provided to detachably secure the lid  12  to a paint can  22  when the lid  12  is positioned over an open top  24  of the paint can  22  as shown in FIG.  4 . Furthermore, in the conventional fashion, the paint can  22  includes a radially inwardly projecting chime  26  around its open top  24 . 
     With reference now particularly to FIG. 4, the locking device  20  includes an elongated stem  28  which is pivotally mounted to a generally tubular and cylindrical boss  30  formed on the paint can lid  12 . A locking foot  32  is secured to the lower end of the stem  28  so that the locking foot  32  extends radially outwardly from the pivotal axis of the stem  28 . Furthermore, a handle  34  is secured to the opposite or upper end of the stem  28  and the handle  34  is used to pivot the stem  28  with its attached locking foot  32 . Preferably a splined coupling is formed between the handle  34  and stem  28  to lock them together. 
     With reference again to FIGS. 2-4, the handle  34  pivots the stem  28  with its attached locking foot  32  between a locked position, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, and an unlocked position, illustrated in FIG.  2 . In its locked position, a portion of the locking foot  32  extends under the can chime  26  so that the can chime  26  is sandwiched in between the locking foot  32  and the can lid  12 . Conversely, rotation of the stem  28  with its attached locking foot  32  by the handle  34  to its unlocked position, illustrated in FIG. 2, moves the locking foot  32  so that the locking foot  32  is spaced radially inwardly from the chime  26 . With the locking foot  32  in the unlocked position, the cover assembly  10  can be freely removed from the paint can  22  or placed over a new paint can  22 . 
     With reference again to FIG. 4, a compression spring  40  in a state of compression is sandwiched in between the lid boss  30  and the handle  34  so that the spring  40  resiliently urges the locking foot  32  towards the lid  12 . In doing so, the can chime  26  is compressibly sandwiched in between the lid  12  and locking foot  32 . Furthermore, a resilient seal  38  is preferably sandwiched in between the chime  26  and the lid  12  in order to provide a fluid seal between the lid  12  and chime  26 . 
     With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 4, any conventional means can be used to secure the handle  34  to the stem  28 . However, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper end of the stem  28  includes circumferentially spaced splines  42  which mesh with a splined recess  34  (FIG. 4) formed in the handle  34 . A fastener, such as a screw  46  (FIG.  1 ), then secures the handle  34  to the stem  28  so that the handle  34  and stem  28  move in unison with each other. 
     With reference now to FIGS. 4-7, a circumferentially and axially extending groove  50  forming a circumferentially and axially extending ramp surface  51  is provided along an intermediate section of the stem  28 . A flat  52  is formed at the end of the ramp surface  51  closest to the stem spline  42  for a reason to be subsequently described. Similarly, a flat  44  is also preferably formed at the opposite end of the ramp surface  51 . 
     With reference now to FIG. 4, a pin  56  is secured to or formed as a part of the boss  30  so that the pin  56  protrudes into the groove  50  on the stem  28 . Furthermore, the compression spring  40  ensures that the pin  56  remains in contact with the ramp surface  51  regardless of the pivotal position of the stem  28 . 
     In practice, the mechanical interaction between the pin  56  and the ramp surface  51  axially displaces the stem  28 , and thus the locking foot  32 , downwardly away from the can chime  26  as the stem  28  is pivoted from its locked position, illustrated in solid line in FIG. 4, and to its unlocked position, illustrated in phantom line in FIG.  4 . In doing so, abrasion between the locking foot  32  and the can chime  26  is minimized as the locking device  20  is moved between its locked position and unlocked position. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover assembly lid  12 , boss  30  and pin  56  are all of a one-piece plastic construction for inexpensive cost yet durable operation. 
     From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention provides a simple and yet effective cover assembly for use with automated paint stirring equipment which minimizes the abrasion between the locking feet and the paint can chime as the locking feet are moved between the locked and unlocked position. Having described my invention, however, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.