GB2388359A

GB2388359A - Paint kettle

Info

Publication number: GB2388359A
Application number: GB0210570A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Owen James Warren Evans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-05-09
Filing date: 2002-05-09
Publication date: 2003-11-12
Also published as: GB0210570D0

Abstract

A container in the form of a paint kettle includes a fixed integral handgrip 1 at the base, and one or more brush holders 3 incorporated into the rim. The rim also includes at least one flat edge 5 for straining paint brushes against. Preferably, the container is disposable and made from moulded pulp paper with waterproofing elements to minimise environmental damage.

Description

1 2388359

PAINT KETTLE

The invention relates to the field of containers for paints or other liquid substances,

commonly known as paint kettles.

Existing paint kettle designs suffer from numerous drawbacks. The placing of the handle (usually metal wire or plastic) over the top of the kettle makes it difficult to put the brush into the paint within and this often results in paint getting onto the hand which is holding the kettle. Existing designs offer only one or two ways of holding the paint kettle, resulting in fatigue for the user: they can either be held by the handle, or held with the fingers of the hand under the bottom of the kettle and the thumb supporting the side wall. This method of holding gives good access to the paint within, but makes it difficult to place to kettle down on a flat surface for refilling or when taking a break, and it can be an unstable way of holding the kettle. When painting is stopped, there is no means of supporting or holding the brush while it is not in use. When using a large flat brush (a 6" inch brush for example) with an existing paint kettle, it is difficult to strain the excess paint from the middle of the brush, due to the curvature of the kettle rim. Lastly, existing paint kettles (whether metal or plastic) require regular cleaning, usually at the end of each day's painting, and when the period of decorating is over, the kettle is often discarded into the household waste, thereby causing unnecessary environmental damage.

An object of this invention is to address all these issues.

The invention comprises a container for paint or other liquids. In a preferred embodiment, the container may be disposable, thereby avoiding the need for cleaning At the base of the container is a recessed area that provides a comfortable handgrip.

Placing this grip at the bottom of the kettle means that the paint contained within is readily accessible, and the kettle can easily be placed down after use. Further, the tendency of existing paint kettle designs to swing while being carried by a handle is removed. The rim of the kettle provides the user with one or more straight edges, against which the excess paint can be strained from any typical size of brush.

Included in the design of the rim are one or more slots of various sizes for holding paint brushes when not in use. The brushes are held in place by friction and the bristles of the brushes are held over the inside of the kettle to contain any drips.

Preferably, to minimise cost, the paint kettle may be made from moulded pulp paper (with waterproofing elements added), but could be made from any material, such as thermoplastics or other mouldable materials.

Advantageously, multiple kettles can be stacked together, thereby minimising storage and handling costs.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the paint kettle Figure 2 is a perspective view of the paint kettle from above, also showing a paintbrush in one of the brush holders Figure 3 is a perspective view of the paint kettle from below Referring to the drawings, the paint kettle includes a recessed hand grip at the base ( 1), the opening of which (2) is large enough to allow the users' fingers to pass into the grip while the kettle is resting on a surface.

Included in the rim of the kettle are one or more wedge shaped cut outs (3) of either the same or differing sizes, that can be used as paint brush holders, into which a range of brush of different sizes can be placed and will be held in place by friction between the surfaces of the kettle and the brush (4).

The rim of the kettle further includes at least one flat edge (5) to enable the effective draining of excess paint from paintbrushes against this edge.

The outer rim of the kettle is wider then those of existing designs, to minimise the chance of paint drained on the inner edge (5), running down the outside of the kettle, and to provide enough material for the brush holders to work effectively.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is ostensibly rectangular, but any of the features described above could be incorporated into kettles of differing overall shapes (square, triangular or any other)

Claims

]. A container comprising of a single part including an integral hand grip.
9. A container as claimed in 1, the rim of which includes one or more integral inrush holders.
3. A container as claimed hi 1, the rim ot which includes at least one flat edge for straining a paintbrush against.
4. A container according to any preceding claim, which is made trom pulp paper, or flexible or rigid plastics material.
5. container substantially ax herein dcscriLcd and illustrated ilk the accompanying drawings.