GB2550367A

GB2550367A - Method and apparatus for straining paint

Info

Publication number: GB2550367A
Application number: GB1608628.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Foster Steven
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-05-17
Filing date: 2016-05-17
Publication date: 2017-11-22
Also published as: GB201608628D0

Abstract

A paint strainer 1 comprises a sheet of substantially inextensible flexible mesh 2 and a fixing 8, to releasably secure the mesh sheet over an opening of a container, such as a paint scuttle, and to secure it in position thereon in the face of a force of at least 0.25N applied to the centre of the surface of the mesh. The sheet may be rectangular or square in shape and formed of plastic, and the mesh may define holes having an equivalent diameter in the range of 0.1mm to 5mm. The fixing may comprise a substantially inelastic cord located within a guide such as a channel or a plurality of spaced apart channels positioned adjacent a periphery of the mesh sheet. Also disclosed is a method of straining paint using the paint strainer and comprises providing the paint strainer, securing the paint strainer over an opening of a container and pouring paint through the mesh sheet to remove particulate matter from the paint. The paint strainer readily conforms to containers of different size and shape.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRAINING PAINT

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to apparatus for straining paint prior to application, to remove unwanted particulate material therefrom. The invention also relates to methods of straining paint using such apparatus.

Background and Prior Art

When painters and decorators need to apply paint to a surface, they often need to strain the paint before application to remove unwanted particulate materials from the paint that might otherwise cause flaws in the final paint finish. These particulates might be in the form of flakes of dried paint from previous use of the paint tin, or foreign bodies that might have accidentally fallen into the paint. In some circumstances, especially in the amateur or “DIY” markets, the particulate material might also comprise rust from the paint tin, if it has been stored in damp conditions, or is particularly old. A number of devices have been used for this purpose in the past. For example, metal sieves, typically having a conical shape, can be placed onto the top of a receptacle and the paint tipped through it. Such receptacles are typically referred to a paint scuttles or paint kettles. Paint scuttles are often rectangular in form, designed to accept a paint roller. Metal sieves such as these are bulky and heavy to transport from site to site, and can be quite difficult to clean. They can also be prone to fall off a paint scuttle during filtering of the paint, as they cannot readily conform to different sizes or shapes of containers.

It is also known in the industry that some decorators will use a stocking (i.e. ladies’ hosiery) in an attempt to filter paint. Stockings are very elastic, and can usually be stretched over the mouth of a paint scuttle and held in position with one hand, while the other hand is used to pour paint through the stocking. However, due to the elastic nature of the stocking, the excess material present from the stocking’s length, and the relatively large diameter of paint scuttles, it is very difficult to control this method of straining without the risk of paint spillage, or the stocking slipping off the rim of the scuttle.

It is among the objects of the present invention to attempt a solution to these and other problems.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the invention provides a paint strainer comprising: (a) a sheet of substantially inextensible flexible mesh; and (b) a fixing, to releasably secure said mesh sheet over the opening of a container, and to secure it in position thereon in the face of a force of at least 0.25N applied to the centre of the surface of said mesh.

Preferably, said mesh defines holes having an equivalent diameter in the range of 0.1mm to 5mm.

More preferably, said fixing comprises a substantially inelastic cord located within a guide adjacent a periphery of said mesh sheet. Said guide might preferably comprise a channel, or a plurality of spaced-apart channels.

In any embodiment it is preferred that said mesh is formed of plastics.

In any embodiment, it is preferred that said sheet is rectangular, and more preferably square.

The invention also provides a method of straining paint comprising the steps of: (a) providing a paint strainer as described herein; (b) securing said paint strainer over the opening of a container; and (c) pouring paint through said mesh sheet; thereby removing particulate matter from said paint.

Also included within the scope of the invention is a paint strainer substantially as described herein, with reference to any as illustrated by any combination of the accompanying drawings.

Also included within the scope of the invention is a method of straining paint substantially as described herein, with reference to any as illustrated by any combination of the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Figures

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1A illustrates, in plan view, a portion of mesh material shaped to form a strainer;

Figure IB illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a strainer of the invention;

Figure 1C illustrates a plan view of a strainer of the invention;

Figures 2A and 2B illustrates a strainer being fitted to a paint scuttle;

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate alternative embodiments of paint strainers of the invention; and

Figure 5 illustrates a paint strainer of the invention in use on a paint scuttle. Description of Preferred Embodiments

Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1A showing, in plan view, a strainer before assembly, Figure IB showing a cross-section through the strainer, and Figure 1C showing a plan view of an assembled strainer.

Figure 1A shows a sheet of flexible mesh 2 cut to shape to allow a strainer to be made. The mesh has a generally square inner section 6, with projections 3 on each edge. The edge 4 of each projection may be folded along the line indicated by 5 and affixed to the inner section 6, by any convenient means e.g. sewing, gluing, heat or ultrasonic welding etc. As a result of the operation, four channels 7 are formed along each edge of the strainer, as illustrated in Figure IB.

The mesh itself is substantially inextensible, so that the force exerted on the face of the mesh when paint straining is taking place does not distort the surface to an undue degree, which would result in the mesh making contact with the previously strained paint, and reducing the flow rate of paint through the strainer.

In this embodiment, a fixing (to affix the strainer to a paint scuttle) is provided in the form of a substantially inelastic cord 8 that is passed sequentially through each of the channels 7. The strainer can then be placed over the rim of a paint scuttle and fastened there by tightening the cord 8 and securing it in position, e.g. by tying a knot. The inventor has found that the use of such an inelastic cord is preferable to the use of an elastic cord, or an elasticated edge to the mesh. It is surprisingly difficult to fix such an elasticated device over the rim of a scuttle if the elastic is too tight; and if the elastic is too loose the strainer will not be retained in position on the rim of a scuttle while paint is being strained. The fixing, therefore, needs to be able to resist the force on the strainer when paint is being strained. As a minimum, it should retain the strainer in place with the presence of 25g of paint on the strainer, equivalent to a force of 0.25N. Preferably, however, it should resist greater forces than this, to enable paint to be strained more quickly, for example, forces of 0.5, 1, 2, or even 5N.

Other fixing systems could be used, e.g. by provision of a cord having a releasable ratchet connector at each end, to allow the cord to be releasably tightened into position without needing to tie a knot. Alternatively, clips could be provided to interact with the rim of a scuttle, although this would not be as versatile as the cord solution presented herein.

Figure 2A shows a strainer 1 of the invention in position over the opening of a paint scuttle 9. In this embodiment, the strainer 1 is rectangular in shape, and so sized as to extend a short way down the side of the scuttle. A typical overhang might be as little as 1-2 cm, and perhaps up to 5-10cm. A relatively short overhang is preferred where the strainer is to be used on a scuttle with a rim having an outwardly-projecting lip, as the tightened cord 8 can then interact with the lip and provide a secure fixing.

In Figure 2B, the cord has been tightened, and knotted, to retain the strainer 1 in position on the scuttle 9.

Figure 3 illustrates, in plan view another embodiment of a strainer of the invention, generally indicated by 1. Again, a substantially inextensible mesh 2 is provided, of a size to fit over the opening of a paint scuttle, and overhang the rim by a short distance as described above. In this embodiment, the overall shape of the strainer is hexagonal - a shape that would more closely fit a circular scuttle, whilst being able to be cut from a larger sheet of mesh without undue wastage. In this case, the fixing is provided by a number of looped tabs 10 extending from the edges of the mesh. These are illustrated as being placed in the centre of each of the straight edges, but could easily be positioned on the vertices. Again, a substantially inelastic cord 8 is also provided to allow the strainer 1 to be fixed to the open top of a paint scuttle.

Figure 4 illustrates, in perspective view, a yet further embodiment of a strainer of the invention, generally indicated by 1. In this embodiment, the mesh 2 is generally circular in shape. The fixing is provided by the creation of a hem 11 extending around the periphery of the mesh, the hem creating a channel through which a substantially inelastic cord 8 may be threaded. This may then be secured over the rim of a paint scuttle in a similar way as described above.

Figure 5 illustrates, in cross-sectional view, a strainer 1 of the invention in use on a paint scuttle 9. The strainer is secured in position around the rim of the scuttle by the use of a substantiality inelastic cord 8 inside a channel 7 formed at the edge of the mesh strainer. Unfiltered paint 12 may be poured onto the strainer to retain unwanted particulate material, the strained paint 13 flowing into the interior of the scuttle 9. It can be seen that in this embodiment, the securing cord 8 has been located just below a protruding lip 14 of the scuttle.

In any embodiment, the mesh 2 is chosen to be substantially inextensible, but flexible. The flexibility is to allow it to be draped over the rim of a paint scuttle, and the inextensibility is to prevent undue sagging of the strainer into the filtered paint. This sagging is illustrated by the distance A—A' in Figure 5, between an initial location of the surface of the mesh (e.g. flush with the top of the scuttle) and the surface of the mesh when paint is flowing through it. The inextensibility of the mesh should be such that the distance is less than 10cm, and more preferably less than 5cm, or even less than 2cm.

The material of construction of the mesh is also important to the functioning of the device. Whilst the mesh could be made of any suitable material (e.g. woven cotton, or a non-woven synthetic fibre) it is particularly preferred that it is made from plastics, such as nylon or polyethylene, and more preferably from a woven plastics thread. In this way, the mesh will not absorb paint, and make it much easier to wash out for re-use without transferring pigment from one job to another.

The mesh size should be chosen to define holes with an equivalent diameter in the range of 0.1 to 5 mm, and preferably 0.2 to 2mm. By equivalent diameter, we mean the diameter of a circle having the same cross-sectional area as the holes defined in the mesh. If a substantially square mesh is used (e.g. a woven product) then the mesh holes might be approximately 0.5mm square.

As for the size of the mesh sheet itself, this may be chosen to fit typical commercially-available paint scuttles with a short overlap as described above. Typically therefore, for large scuttles, which may be up to around 40cm long and perhaps 30cm wide the size of the mesh sheet might be around 50cm x 40cm. For smaller scuttles, a size of 25cm x 25cm would be more appropriate. It is unlikely in any event that the mesh sheet would be larger than about 50x50cm, and most would be less than about 40 x 40 cm or even 30 x 30 cm. For round or hexagonal mesh sheets, the corresponding sizes would be those fitting within the rectangular limits stated.

Similarly, the cord 8 may be made of any suitable substantially inelastic material, but again, it is preferred that it is made of a plastics material to prevent absorption of paint into the cord, and unwanted transfer of pigment from one job to another.

Claims

1. A paint strainer comprising: (a) a sheet of substantially inextensible flexible mesh; and 5 (b) a fixing, to releasably secure said mesh sheet over the opening of a container, and to secure it in position thereon in the face of a force of at least 0.25N applied to the centre of the surface of said mesh.

2. A paint strainer according to Claim 1 wherein said mesh defines holes having an ίο equivalent diameter in the range of 0.1mm to 5mm.

3. A paint strainer according to either Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said fixing comprises a substantially inelastic cord located within a guide adjacent a periphery of said mesh sheet. 15

4. A paint strainer according to Claim 3 wherein said guide comprises a channel.

5. A paint strainer according to Claim 3 wherein said guide comprises a plurality of spaced- apart channels. 20

6. A paint strainer according to any preceding claim wherein said mesh is formed of plastics.

7. A paint strainer according to any preceding claim wherein said sheet is rectangular.

8. A paint strainer according to Claim 7 wherein said sheet is square. 25

9. A method of straining paint comprising the steps of: (a) providing a paint strainer according to any preceding claim; (b) securing said paint strainer over the opening of a container; and (c) pouring paint through said mesh sheet; 30 thereby removing particulate matter from said paint.

10. A paint strainer substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated by any combination of the accompanying drawings. 35

11. A method of straining paint substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated by any combination of the accompanying drawings.