GB2320012A - Disposable liner - Google Patents

Abstract

A disposable liner 16 is provided to line the inside of a roller bin (10, Figure 1), bucket, tray or similar vessel. The liner is preferably a polythene bag adapted to conform to the cavity of the vessel and including a means 20, for example a drawstring or elasticated cord, of tightening the bag on the vessel. Alternatively the liner may comprise punched or moulded plastics or cardboard shaped appropriately to fit. The liner may lie within the vessel and be stretched over the lip, or else entirely envelop the vessel (Figure 3). The liner may be fitted over a paint roller bin and filled with paint, the weight of which ensures that the liner conforms to the vessel. When a job is complete, the liner is removed from the bin, removing the need for cleaning.

Description

LINER This invention relates to apparatus suitable for lining roller bins, also referred to as roller scuttles, buckets, trays and other vessels, containers and the like.

A roller bin is a well known piece of equipment used by painters and decorators for containing paint in a manner which is accessible for dipping a paint roller therein. Occasionally these roller bins may be used to contain wallpaper paste or coatings other than paint and it should be appreciated herein that the present invention is not limited by the particular nature of the contents of the roller bin.

In use these roller bins require regular cleaning.

Without this, coatings such as paint will build up and harden on the bin surface diminishing the integrity of the bin. Similarly, a painter may be required to use an alternative colour of paint and therefore wish to ensure that the first coloured paint is completely removed from the roller bin.

It has been found that even when using water based emulsions, the cleaning of the roller bins is a time consuming and tedious task, and equates to "down-time" in the actual painting process.

This also applies to all other containers and vessels encompassed in this description. For example, buckets may be used to carry a wide variety of substances, many of which may be of a nature that adheres to or otherwise defaces the inner surface of the bucket if not cleaned after use. Such substances may include plaster, paste, cement and so on.

An object of the present invention is to mitigate the time required for cleaning roller bins, buckets, trays and similar equipment in a cost effective and efficient manner.

According to the present invention there is provided a disposable liner for lining the interior surface of a roller bin, bucket, tray or similar container. The liner would suitably be made from a non-porous plastics film material, such as polythene, and would optionally incorporate a tying means for fastening the perimeter of circumference, as the case may be, of the liner to the roller bin.

Alternatively, the liner may be made of moulded plastics, having a shape which conforms to the inner surface of the container.

In order to better explain the invention, two example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 shows a pictorial view of a typical roller bin; Figure 2 shows a liner in accordance with the present invention suitable for lining the roller bin shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention applied to a paste bin.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a roller bin 10 is illustrated having an internal cavity 11 adapted to receive and contain paint or the like in a manner which is accessible for a paint roller (not shown). The cavity 11 is defined by a base 12 and four walls 13, each wall 13 having a respective lip 14 formed at its upper edge.

Prior to the present invention it was normal to pour paint or the like directly into the cavity 11, the paint or the like thereafter being held in the cavity 11 and exposed for access by a paint roller. When the painting was completed, or it was necessary to change the contents of the roller bin, surplus paint or the like would be required to be cleaned from the roller bin.

However, a liner in accordance with the present invention which negates the requirements for cleaning the surface of the roller bin cavity 11 is shown in Figure 2. In the embodiment illustrated in this figure, the liner comprises of a polythene bag like structure which, in view of its physical properties, is adapted to conform to the shape of the cavity 11 when acted upon by the weight of the paint or other coating or paste which may be contained within the roller bin 10.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the polythene bag 15 is gusseted, having a seam 16 along its bottom edge.

At the upper permitter of the liner is provided a means 20 of tightening the bag to the outside lip 14 of the roller bin 10. This means may take the form of a cord or draw string sewn or otherwise seamed into the upper perimeter of the liner. Pulling on the cord 20 serves to contract the upper perimeter of the bag 15, thereby tightening it securely on the bin, in use, while also closing the liner bag with its contents when removing it for disposal. Alternatively, an elasticated cord may be used, such that, no pulling and tying of the cord is required. Rather, the elasticated cord would simply stretch over the lip 14 in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 and thereafter contract to grip firmly on the outside surface of the roller bin 10. In an alternative embodiment of the liner, a bag having seams on its vertical edges could be used. Preferably, the seams would correspond in position to the corner edges of the walls 13 of the roller bin 10.

The shape and design of the liner would most suitably be made in accordance with the shape and design of the container in connection with which it is intended to be used. In Figure 3, where a paste bin 17 is shown, the liner 16 might alternatively be in the form of a bag which envelopes the entire paste bin 17. Again, the weight of the paste or other fluid to be held in the bin 17 could be used to mould the liner 16 into the shape of the cavity of the bin 17.

Although not illustrated, the liner could be of punched or moulded plastics shaped in the form of a bucket.

With the present invention, once paint, paste, plaster or the like has been used and it is necessary to clean the equipment, it is only necessary to remove the liner from the bin and dispose of the liner. The roller bin or paste bin does not come into direct contact with the paint or other fluid in view of the use of the liner.

While bags of various sizes or dimensions have been described herein, the invention is not in any way limited to the use of a bag, or polythene material.

Rather, the invention encompasses any liner, most suitably non-porous, which is adapted to provide a barrier between the paint or other fluid and the roller bin or paste bin used for containing the paint or fluid. For example, the liner could be made of folded or punched cardboard having substantially the same shape as the cavity of the bin for which is intended.

Further modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention herein intended.

Claims (6)

1. A disposable liner for lining the interior surface of a roller bin, bucket, tray or similar container.

2. A liner as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the liner is moulded in the shape of the interior surface of the container.

3. A liner is claimed in Claim 1 wherein the liner is made of a malleable material which will conform to the interior shape of the container when loaded with a substance sought to be contained within the container.

4. A liner as claimed in Claim 3 further including a tying means for fastening the perimeter or circumference as the case may be of the liner to the container.

5. A liner as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims for lining a container wherein the container is a roller bin.

6. A liner as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 for lining a container wherein the container is a bucket.