US2674391A - Attachment for paint cans - Google Patents

Description

April 6, 1954 Filed July 7, 1952 Rob er! 8. Davis JNVENTOR.

Wynn; E

Patented Apr. 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ATTACHMENT EOE PAINT CANS Robert B. Davis, Richmond, Calif.

Application July 7, 1952, Serial No. 297,472

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a novelly constructed and performing. attachment for paint cans, buckets and the like, said attachment being especially constructed to provide a surplus paint scraping'and removing member and providing, in addition, a satisfactory paint brush holder.

More specifically, novelty is predicated on a surplus paint scraping and drip return member which takes the form of a ring-like collar, bracket means being provided for applying and retaining the collar in a position elevated above the top of the can and. situated within the perimeter limits of the can in order that the surplus paint, which is wiped from the brush bristles, will gravitate and return itself to the interior of the can.

Another object has to do with the above mentioned bracketed collar which is in the form of a resilient flat metal band with interconnected overlapping ends, whereby the diameter of the collar may be regulated and set to accommodate paint cans and containers of differing diameters.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention the stated adjustable collar is attached to the top portion of the can through the medium of specially constructed adapter brackets. Each bracket is unique in that it is fashioned from a piece or strip of flat strap metal having a collar embracing sleeve at the inner end, an in verted U-shaped spring attaching clip at the outer end and. a depending vertical U-bend intermediate its ends, said bend being adapted to fit into an existing channel in the type of a can which has an annular channeled lid supporting flange at its top.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of drawmgs.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a conventionaltype paint can with the improved attachment means, the subject of the instant invention, applied thereto and in readiness for use;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on the irregular line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an exploded type showing the essential components which go to make up the overall or complete paint can attachment.

' 4' Claims. (Cl. 22090) It will be clear that the expression can is used to comprehend any suitable container such as a bucket or similar receptacle. For the most part, however, the improved attachment means is more satisfactorily applicable and usable in connection with a paint can such as shown in the drawings and which is denoted by the numeral 4, this being the type in which the lid (not shown) is removably keyed in a channel 6 provided therefor in the customarily provided annular encirclement flange 8. The channel provides a key-way for an annular key on the lid (not shown) and advantage is taken of this arrangement in constructing the brackets to utilize the channel for bracing and stabilizing results.

Taking up first the surplus drip return and paint scraper, this is satisfactorily referred to, it is believed, as a circumferentially expansible and contractible collar. The collar is denoted by the numeral II] and is generally in the form of a flat faced metal band l2 of proper flexibly resilient properties. Since it is desirable that the collar be usable in connection with cans of varying diameters the co-acting ends [4 and I 6 are overlapped and adjustably interconnected by way of encircling metal or equivalent loops l8 and 20. Portions of the band are shiftably supported in co-acting parts of the adapter brackets. A plurality of circumferentially spaced brackets are used and each is the same in construction and each one is denoted by the numeral 22. With reference to the bracket seen at the left in Figure 3, it will be seen that this comprises a flat metal strip having a horizontal inner end portion 24 provided with a rectangular sleeve 26 which serves as a support for the collar. Alternate and reversely disposed U-bends are provided and the outer one is denoted at 28 and this provides a spring clip which fits over the bead 30 of the paint can in the manner shown. It has an extended flaring free end portion 32 to facilitate application and removal. This portion 32 may be perhaps described as a fingerpiece. The intermediate bend 34 functions as a stabilizing detent and it is pressed or snapped into the existing channel 6 of the can flange 8. The horizontal straight portion or inner end portions 24 project beyond the opening means in the flange and position the sleeves 26 so that they support the collar inwardly of the perimeter limits of said opening means and, in fact, space the collar from the inner peripheral edge of the flange so that surplus paint is allowed to gravitate back into the interior of the can in an unobstructed and obvious manner.

The brush holder is denoted by the numeral 36 and is a channel construction, made up of parted sections 38 and 40, the section 38 being fixed at 42 to the clip and a wingnut 44 and bolt 46 being used to yieldably interconnect the sections so that they function as gripping jaws for the handle 48 of the brush, 50, as shown best in Figure 3.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in the shape, size and arrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. For use on and in conjunction with a paint can, a surplus paint scraping and drip return attachment for the upper open end of said can, said attachment embodying a circular collar, said collar being a resilient broad band of metal of rectangular cross-section 'having adjustably overlapped and interconnected ends, and a plurality of adapter brackets for attaching and supporting said collar, at least one bracket comprising a fiat metal strap having a slidable rectangular sleeve at its inner end adjustably embracing said collar, said strap having complemental U-bends, one at the intermediate portion of the strap and the other one at the outer end of the strap, said bends being vertical and the last named bend providing a spring clip.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, and a brush holder carried by said one bracket, said brush holder being horizontal and channelshaped in cross-section and projecting at one end over the cooperating sleeve and secured at its opposite end to said spring clip.

3. The structure defined in claim 1, and a brush holder carried by said one bracket, said brush holder being horizontal and channelshaped in cross-section and resting at one end atop the cooperating sleeve and secured at its opposite end to said spring clip, said channel being centrally parted in a lengthwise direction and providing gripping jaws.

4. For use on and in conjunction with a paint can, a surplus paint scraping and drip return attachment for the upper open end of said can, said attachment embodying a circular collar, said collar being circumferentially expansible and contractible, a plurality of adapter brackets, each bracket having a spring clip at its outer end attachable to the can, a sleeve at its inner end slidably and removably embracing said collar, a lateral bend midway of the respective ends of the bracket, said bend being resilient and adapted to wedge and retentively seat itself in a channel with which said can is provided, at least one 5 bracket being provided with an adjustably mounted brush holder, the latter embodying a pair of gripping jaws, said jaws being horizontal and serving to receive and hold a brush handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 332,043 Brien Dec. 8, 1885 820,081 Alley et a1 May 8, 1906 835,131 Geer Nov. 6, 1906 2,435,036 Ferguson Jan. 27, 1948 2,454,474 Nance Nov. 23, 1948 2,535,260 Braswell Dec. 26, 1950

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