Abstract:
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, is a portable combination bucket device comprised of a bucket portion with an opening therein leading to an interior space, a sprinkler plate at least partially covering said opening and enabling a user to more evenly distribute the contents of the bucket, a sprayer device in fluid communication with the interior space of said bucket portion, and a handle for transporting and handling the bucket combination. Because the combination bucket is capable of performing multiple functions, it eliminates the need for, and associated expense of, purchasing, operating and storing multiple devices.

Description:
[0001]    CROSS-REFERENCE 
         [0002]    This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/728,361 filed on Nov. 20, 2012. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    This invention relates to a combination bucket device that functions as a bucket, a sprinkler and a sprayer thereby eliminating the need to purchase, store and operate multiple devices. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    Many buckets and other containers have a traditional pour spout that concentrates, as opposed to distributes, the material being poured or dispensed therefrom, such as water, chemicals, seeds, etc. However, dispensing materials in a concentrated manner may not always be desirable. For example, dispensing water in a concentrated manner from a bucket can damage plants or disturb soil. Consequently, many bucket users, such as gardeners and the like, will also have a separate watering can or sprinkler, in addition to the bucket, to enable the user to more evenly distribute the contents of the watering can or sprinkler. Some users may also own and maintain a sprayer for applying liquids, such as water and/or chemicals, in a more precise manner. However, the need to purchase, maintain and store multiple devices can be expensive, time consuming and require additional storage space. 
         [0005]    Consequently, there exists in the art a long-felt need for a combination bucket that functions as a bucket, a sprinkler and a sprayer, thereby eliminating the need for multiple devices and/or buckets. There also exists in the art a long felt need for a bucket that can be useful for storing tools and other articles when not in use, and that can function as a number of other devices (e.g., a bait bucket, oil bucket, etc.). Finally, there is a long-felt need for a combination bucket that accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and safe and easy to use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
         [0007]    The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, is a combination bucket device that not only functions as a bucket, but also as a sprinkler, a portable sprayer, and a storage device, thereby eliminating the need for multiple devices. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bucket combination device comprises a bucket with an opening therein and an interior portion, a sprinkler plate covering at least a portion of said opening, a repositionable sprayer device in fluid communication with said interior portion and a handle for transporting and/or handling the bucket combination device. 
         [0008]    The unique design of the combination bucket of the present invention is useful for performing multiple functions including, without limitation: (i) transporting materials (e.g., water, dirt, seeds, etc.) from one place to another; (ii) sprinkling materials (e.g., water, dirt, seeds, etc.) in a more evenly distributed manner via the sprinkler portion; (iii) spraying the contents of the bucket (e.g., chemicals, etc.) via the repositionable and portable sprayer; and (iv) storing items (e.g., tools, materials, etc.) in the interior portion of the bucket. Additionally, the combination bucket device is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and safe and easy to use. 
         [0009]    To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the combination bucket device of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the combination bucket device of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the combination bucket device being used as a sprinkler to more evenly distribute the contents of the bucket. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the combination bucket device being used as a sprayer. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the combination bucket device being used as a storage device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. 
         [0016]    Referring initially to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the combination bucket device  100  of the present invention. Combination bucket device  100  is preferably comprised of a bucket  110 , a sprinkler plate  140 , a sprayer device  160  and a handle  180 . Unless otherwise stated herein, the various components of combination bucket device  100  are preferably made of a durable plastic, though it is contemplated that other suitable materials could also be used without affecting the overall concept of the present invention such as aluminum, and the like. Without limiting the forgoing, it is contemplated that bucket device  100  will be comprised of a material that is relatively easy to clean to prevent cross contamination from prior uses. 
         [0017]    Bucket  110  can be any bucket commonly known in the art and is preferably comprised of a sidewall  112 , a bottom  114 , and an opening  116  with an associated spout  118 . Sidewall  112 , bottom  114  and opening  116  define an interior space  120  in which substances and/or materials (e.g., water, dirt, seed, tools, etc.) can be placed in and transported from one location to another. Bucket  110  can come in a variety of sizes, shapes, designs and colors to suit user preference or demand. 
         [0018]    As best shown in  FIG. 2 , opening  116  is preferably generally circular in shape, with the exception of spout  118 , which extends outwardly therefrom. Spout  118  is similar to other bucket spouts known in the art, and is useful for pouring or dispensing the contents of bucket  110  in a concentrated manner. However, as previously stated, pouring of the contents of bucket  110  in a concentrated manner is not always desirable. For example, the concentrated pouring of water out of bucket  110  via spout  118  could be harmful to plants or other vegetation because of the force of the water exiting bucket  110 . Sprinkler plate  140  of combination bucket device  100  is useful for alleviating this and other problems associated with prior art buckets. 
         [0019]    As best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , sprinkler plate  140  is a generally elongated plate like structure comprised of a body  142  with a plurality of spaced apart continuous openings  144  therein. Sprinkler plate  140  may be integrally formed with bucket  110 , or it may be a stand alone device that can be removably attached to a top portion  113  of sidewall  112  by any means commonly known in the art. Sprinkler plate  140  may be located anywhere along top portion  113 , but is preferably located opposite of spout  118  so that a user can selectively use either spout  118  or sprinkler plate  140  to discharge or dispense the contents of bucket  110 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, sprinkler plate  140  spans or covers between 20% to 40% of opening  116  and enables a user to more evenly distribute the contents of bucket  110  as the same are being dispensed. More specifically, and by way of example, a user can more evenly distribute water from bucket  110  by discharging it through openings  144  in sprinkler plate  140  as best illustrated in  FIG. 3 . It is also contemplated that other materials such seeds, fertilizer, etc. could also be dispensed through openings  144  in sprinkler plate  140 . 
         [0020]    Sprayer device  160  can be any type of pump sprayer commonly known in the art, and is preferably comprised of a base plate  161  for attachment to spout  118 , a pump  162  that is activated by a squeeze trigger  164 , a securable inlet hose  166  and an outlet  168 . More specifically, base plate  161  can be removably mounted to spout portion  118  as best shown in  FIG. 1  to support sprayer device  160 , and inlet hose  166  can extend into interior space  120 . Pump  162  is in fluid communication with both the outlet  168  and inlet hose  166  such that when a user  200  squeezes trigger  164 , pump  162  draws the material being sprayed (e.g., water, liquid pesticides, fertilizer, etc.) from bucket  110  through inlet hose  166  and dispenses the material through outlet  168 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, inlet hose  166  is movably secured to base plate  161  and is long enough to permit handheld pump  162  and trigger  164  combination to be removed from base plate  161  for easy handling and remote use, but still remain in fluid communication with the contents of bucket  110 , as shown in the FIGS. 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the combination bucket device  100  being used as a storage device. More specifically, when combination bucket device  100  is not being used to transport materials (e.g., water, dirt, feed, seed, etc.) or as a sprinkler or sprayer, it can be used to store or transport a plurality of tools  300  or other objects in a neat and orderly fashion. To that end, sprinkler plate  140  may even be temporarily removed from top portion  113  to increase the size of opening  116  so that it may provide even more storage space. Combination bucket device  100  can also function as a number of other devices including, without limitation, a bait bucket (e.g., to change water without losing minnows due to the presence of sprinkler plate  140 ), an oil bucket (e.g., to use sprinkler plate  140  to filter debris out of used oil), etc. 
         [0022]    As stated above, combination bucket device  100  may also comprise a handle  180  for conveniently transporting device  100 . Handle  180  may be any handle commonly known in the art for transporting a pail, bucket, basket or the like, and is typically attached to sidewall  112  as best illustrated in the FIGS. 
         [0023]    Having described the overall structure of combination bucket device  100 , the use and usefulness of the same will now be summarized. A user  200  desiring to spray or sprinkle water, for example, would simply fill interior space  120  of bucket  110  with water to a desired level. To sprinkle the water in a more evenly distributed fashion (as opposed to pouring the water through spout portion  118 , which could injure plants, flowers, etc.), the user  200  would tilt bucket  110  such that the water contained therein would pass over top portion  113  of sidewall  112  and through openings  144  in sprinkler plate  140 . Similarly, a user  200  desiring to spray the water contained in bucket  110  would simply insert the end of inlet hose  166  opposite of pump  162  beneath the surface level of the water in bucket  110 , point outlet  168  in the general direction of the object to be sprayed and repeatedly squeeze trigger  164  to activate pump  162 . Pump  162 , which is in fluid communication with both inlet hose  166  and outlet  168 , will cause water to pass through inlet hose  166  and exit through outlet  168 . As in known in the art, outlet  168  may further comprise a control (not shown) for controlling the amount of fluid dispensed through outlet  168  as well as the type of stream. Finally, a user  200  desiring to use spout portion  118  to discharge the water in a more concentrated fashion can simply remove sprayer device  160  from top portion  113  of spout portion  118 , and utilize said spout in a traditional fashion. 
         [0024]    Further, as previously mentioned, when combination bucket  100  is not being used to transport materials (e.g., water, dirt, feed, seed, etc.) or as a sprinkler or sprayer, it can be used to store or transport a plurality of tools  300  or other objects in a neat and orderly fashion. Alternatively, combination bucket device  100  can also function as a number of other devices including, without limitation, a bait bucket (e.g., to change water with losing minnows), an oil bucket (e.g., to use sprinkler plate  140  to filter debris out of used oil), etc. 
         [0025]    Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. 
         [0026]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0027]    Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.