Abstract:
The present invention sets forth a painting implement which enables the user to mix paint and to clean conventional paint rollers utilizing a hand drill. The painting implement is selectively adjustable to be configured to mix paint and to support a paint roller for cleaning, thereby being capable of providing several functions. Implements of different diameters may be provided, for cleaning and using an assortment of sizes of paint rollers. The implement is provided with a paddle member that is perforated and of a geometric wave-like form to enhance mixing.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This is a Continuation-in-Part of Ser. No. 09/621,079, filed Jul. 21, 2000, entitled Paint Cleanup Kit; which is a Continuation-In-Part of Ser. No. 09/273,473, filed Mar. 22, 1999. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to painting accessories, and more particularly to a painting implement that assists in diverse operations of hand painting, such as mixing and stirring paint solutions, as well as aiding in cleaning the used paint roller.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    Painting by hand, particularly building walls and partitions and other large objects, requires different tools such as brushes and rollers for applying paint to surfaces being painted. When a painter interrupts his or her work for any reason, it is a wise precaution to clean brushes and rollers so that paint will not dry and cake thereon. Frequently this is done by wiping brushes and even rollers on a convenient surface, such as the inner flange of a paint can. However, wiping leaves a considerable amount of paint on the brush or roller.  
           [0006]    The prior art has taken note of the problem of efficient cleaning paint supplies, and has proposed apparatus to expedite cleaning. The prior art as seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,925,908 (issued to Kirkley J. Dunn on Dec. 16, 1975); U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,473 (issued to Takehiko Koyama on Jan. 11, 2000); U.S. Pat. No. 3,460,268 (issued to Carl F. Greathouse on Aug. 12, 1969); U.S. Pat. No. 4,545,395 (issued to Kolb on Oct. 8, 1985); U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,518 (issued to King et al. on Nov. 16, 1999); and U.S. Pat. No. 2,931,661, (issued to Joseph N. Harris on Apr. 5, 1960) as cited in the copending parent application Ser. No. 09/621,079 are all incorporated herein as reference.  
           [0007]    The prior art is replete with devices designed to address the problems of adequate paint mixing as shown in the references to Cooke (U.S. Pat. No. 4,054,272), Silverman (U.S. Pat. No. 2,799,485), Gibson (U.S. Pat. No. 1,841,435); and Place (U.S. Pat. No. 2,896,925). These disclosed patents provide novel means of mixing paint solutions however none of these devices may also be used during the painting process serving as a paint solution mixer in addition to a paint roller cleaner.  
           [0008]    None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The present invention sets forth a painting implement which enables the user to mix paint and to clean conventional paint rollers utilizing a hand drill. The painting implement is selectively adjustable to be configured to mix paint and to support a paint roller for cleaning, thereby being capable of providing several functions. Implements of different diameters may be provided, for cleaning and using an assortment of sizes of paint rollers. The implement is provided with a paddle member that is perforated and of a geometric wave-like form to enhance mixing.  
           [0010]    It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an implement for painting that performs several painting related functions including mixing and cleaning.  
           [0011]    It is another object of the invention that the implements engage a hand drill for imparting rotation for paint mixing, and cleaning of paint rollers.  
           [0012]    It is a further object of the invention that the implement engage paint rollers of different dimensions, thereby cooperating with standard painting tools.  
           [0013]    It is an object of the invention to provide a painting implement for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.  
           [0014]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a painting implement that assumes two different functional positions with ease.  
           [0015]    It is an object of the invention to provide a painting implement that is effective but simple in design resulting in lower manufacturing costs. 
       
    
    
       [0016]    These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1A is a front view of the inventive painting implement in a first position.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1B is a side view of the inventive painting implement in a first position.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2A is a front view of the inventive painting implement in a second position.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2B is a side view of the inventive painting implement in a second position.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a back view of the inventive painting implement with arrows indicating movement between two positions.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4A is an environmental view of the inventive painting implement in accordance with the present invention in use as a paint mixer.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4B is an environmental view of the inventive painting implement, in accordance with the present invention, in use as a paint mixer for quart-sized, or small, paint cans and/or containers.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is an environmental view of the painting implement in use as a support for a paint roller in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 6 is an environmental view of the paint implement in use cleaning a paint roller.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 is a front view of the paint implement being connected by a two-part rod, in accordance with the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]    [0028]FIGS. 1A and 1B show the inventive, geometrically shaped painting implement  100 . As seen in FIG. 1A, the inventive painting implement  100  has a paddle member  10  that is perforated and has a geometric wave-like form. FIG. 1B better illustrates the geometric, spiral, wave-like characteristic in the side view of the implement  100 .  
         [0029]    The paddle member  10  is attached to a rod shaft  16  preferably at the center of said paddle member  10  by a pivoting fastener  14 . The fastener  14  may comprise any suitable means of connection allowing the paddle member  10  to move between two positions, discussed further below. For instance, the fastener  14  may include known rivets, pivots, bolts, nuts, etc. which provide selective movement of said member  10 .  
         [0030]    The inventive painting implement  100  may be set at two functionally distinct positions depending on the operation being performed with paddle member  10 . FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate the first position, which is employed when the implement  100  is used as a paint mixer/stirrer. As shown in FIGS. 4A &amp; 4B, the rod shaft  16  is an elongated, rigid shaft coupling the paddle member  10  to an electrically operated hand drill  50 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the painting implement  100  in a second position wherein the paddle member  10  is positioned substantially parallel, with an offset of an acute angle with respect to the rod shaft  16  (described further below). In this second position, the implement  100  functions as an element for directly supporting a paint roller  60 , as shown in FIG. 5. The paddle member  10  is inserted into the interior wall  62  of paint roller  60 .  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 3 illustrates the movements between the two functional positions with arrow  20 . Longitudinal axis Y is indicated by a dotted line adjacent shaft  16 . The paddle member  16  has a major axis M indicated by a dotted line. When the paddle member  10  is in the first position, the major axis of the paddle member, M, is perpendicular with respect to the shaft axis Y. When the paddle member  10  is in the second position, shown in phantom, the longitudinal axis Y of shaft  16  is aligned substantially parallel at an acute angle, α, with respect to the major axis M of the paddle  10 . This small displacement, affording a small offset from actual parallel alignment allows for frictional fitting of the paddle member  10  within a paint roller  60 .  
         [0033]    The two functional positions of the paddle member  10  are maintained in a locked position by friction. While in either the first or second position, a set of protrusions  13   a  and  13   b  are formed on the interior side  11  of the paddle member  10  (FIG. 3). These protrusions  13   a  and  13   b  are specifically formed on particular locations of the interior side  11  such that their locations provide a stopping means locking the paddle member in either the first or second position.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIGS. 4A &amp; 4B show the implement  100  in use stirring a paint solution  42  within a paint container  40 . The arrows indicate movement currents of the paint solution  42  as it is being mixed. The perforations  12  within paddle member  10  in conjunction with the spiral, wave-like form of paddle member  10  both play a major part in further assisting with the mixing i.e., stirring motion) of paint solution  42  when the paddle is in motion.  
         [0035]    In addition, as best seen in FIG. 3, diagonal orientation of shaft  16  provides a skewed, offset of shaft  16  to not only ensure secured placement within a paint roller  60 , but also to enhance the rotational movement of implement  100 . The proximal end  16   p  of shaft  16  is formed with a twist resulting in a diagonal shift from axis Y along the length of the shaft  16 , thus forming angle α. This shift also produces a diagonal shift from normal with respect to the major axis M, thus forming angle β. Due to the skewed offset design of shaft  16 , centrifugal forces are greatly increased as an oscillating “whipping” action results when torque is applied via mechanical driving means  50 . Conceivably, in the absence of a mechanical driving means (such as a drill  50 ) the proximal end  17  of the shaft  16  may be clasped between the hands of a user and rotated or spun within the paint solution  42  for mixture.  
         [0036]    Additionally, this second position may also be employed to assist with the cleaning of a paint roller  60 . As shown in FIG. 6, paint roller  60  may be inserted in a container  70  containing a cleaning solution  72 . A hand drill  50  coupled to the paddle member  10  (by way of shaft  16 ) spins the roller  60 , as indicated by arrow  75 . The centrifugal forces produced by the offset shape of the paddle member  10  during the spinning aids in the removal of paint embedded within the fibers of roller  60  by producing a whipping action. This oscillation greatly enhances the cleaning process. The spiral, wave-like form of the paddle member  10  also further enhances the circulation of fluid within container  72 .  
         [0037]    The present invention is susceptible to variations and modifications which may be introduced thereto without departing from the inventive concept. For example, paddle member  10  may be removable from rod shaft  16 , rather than having a rivet  14 . Instead, paddle member  10  could be retained by friction in the two operative positions if desired. Additionally, the size of the paddle member  10  may vary so that each it may be usable with paint rollers  60  of different dimensions. The paddle member  10  may have edges formed in a beveled manner (not shown) to facilitate other uses of the paddle  10  such as opening paint cans, etc.  
         [0038]    In an alternate embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the shaft may be configured as a two-part shaft having proximal part  16   a  and a distal part  16   b.  This two=part shaft embodiment facilitates attachment of painting element  10  to very small paint rollers, or the sort. Herein, the proximal part  16   a  is formed with a hollow interior  162  having a mating section  160   a  (such as threads, grooves, lip-snaps, and the like). The distal part  16   b  has an elongated stem-like portion  165  that is received by hollow interior  162  of the proximal part  16   a.    
         [0039]    Distal part  16   b  may also have a threaded portion  160   b  which mates with thread portion  160   a  of proximal part  162  for secured attachment of the two parts. As in the preferred embodiment, this two-part shaft ( 16   a  &amp;  16   b ) may be configured with a skewed offset resulting in a diagonal orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis to similarly aid in increasing centrifugal forces for enhanced stirring motions. Although shown in one position, the two-part embodiment also allows the paddle member  10  to assume both functional positions.  
         [0040]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.