EP1533137A1

EP1533137A1 - Tool for handling paint

Info

Publication number: EP1533137A1
Application number: EP04078095A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ditmar Alexander Van Dam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-11-18
Filing date: 2004-10-29
Publication date: 2005-05-25
Also published as: NL1024804C1

Abstract

The invention relates to a strip (1) with which paint may be stirred in a paint tin. The strip is provided with notches (3a,3b,3c), such that it can be attached in a horizontal position above and onto the paint tin and may be used as a support for a paint brush and for wiping off the paint brush, in which case the paint that drips off the paint brush will flow back into the paint tin, while the edge of the paint tin remains clean.

Description

The invention relates to a tool for handling paint, comprising a strip with which paint in a paint tin can be stirred. A tool of this kind is a well known usually wooden strip with which paint is stirred, so as to obtain paint having a homogeneous constitution, in order to prevent problems like a bad covering or sagging.
The aim of the tool according to the invention is amongst others to constitute a support for a brush, in such a way that paint possibly dripping off the brush will land inside the paint tin, while the edge of the paint tin remains clean. The tool is thereto characterised in that the strip is provided with means of attachment for attaching the strip in an at least substantially horizontal position onto the paint tin.
An embodiment which can easily be realised and with which the strip can be attached and released again is characterised in that the means of attachment consist of at least two notches, made in a first long side of the strip, for receiving an edge of the paint tin. The notches are preferably provided with a profile that can cooperate with the profile forming the edge of the paint tin. It is possible then to hook a first notch to the edge of the paint tin and next to hook the second notch to an opposite part of the edge. Preferably, this is performed in such a way that the strip slightly bends in a longitudinal direction, which safely secures the strip to the edge.
A favourable embodiment is according to another aspect of the invention characterised in that the tool is provided with a recess in a second long side, positioned opposite to the first long side. In this recess, the brush may be put down and wiped off, in this way preventing the brush from taking up too much paint, while excess paint will flow back into the paint tin.
A further favourable embodiment is characterised in that the recess is provided with a row of teeth, which makes wiping off excess paint more effective.
A further favourable embodiment is characterised in that the strip is near a first short side provided with a hole, which will cause more turbulence during stirring, which improves the mixing process.
A favourable embodiment is according to another aspect of the invention characterised in that a first short side of the strip is pointed, so that while stirring also paint can be stirred that is caught in a corner of the paint tin, between the bottom and the wall, which improves the mixing process. Also residues of paint may be scraped out off the corner and used in this way.
A further favourable embodiment is characterised in that a cross section of the strip is curved near a second short side, opposite to the first short side, to the extent that it can be inserted between the paint tin and the lid and can be used for opening the paint tin. Preferably, the strip is near the second short side provided with one or more curved ribs, extending across the strip, which may cooperate with a raising edge of the paint tin, so as to provide a stable turning point.
An embodiment which may be produced at low price is characterised in that the strip is made of a synthetic material.
The invention also relates to a tool as disclosed in the previous paragraphs, in which the tool moreover comprises a sleeve made of paper and/or a synthetic material, into which the strip may be put, in such a way that the second short side projects outside the sleeve. It is possible then to stir the paint with the strip placed in the sleeve, after which the sleeve can be thrown away and further work can be done with a clean strip.
The invention will now be further explained with a reference to the following figures, in which:

Fig. 1A: shows a possible embodiment of a tool shaped as a plastic strip in top view;
Fig. 1B: shows this embodiment in a view from below;
Fig. 2A: shows an alternative embodiment of a tool shaped as a plastic strip in top view;
Fig. 2B: shows an embodiment consisting of a plastic strip and a sleeve in top view;
) Fig. 3A: shows a plastic strip in front view;
Fig. 3B: shows a plastic strip in side view;
Fig. 4A: schematically represents a connection between a double sealed paint tin and a strip placed on the paint tin;
Fig. 4B: schematically represents a connection between a single sealed paint tin and a strip placed on the paint tin.

Fig. 1A shows a possible embodiment of a tool shaped as a plastic strip 1 in top view, provided with a first long side 2, in which three notches 3a,3b,3c have been made which can be fixed onto an edge of a paint tin and a second long side 4, in which a recess 5 is made in which a hairy part of a brush, not shown, may be placed or wiped off. With notches 3a,3c, strip 1 may be fixed onto a relatively large paint tin, while with notches 3b,3c it may be fixed onto a relatively small paint tin. Important is the position of recess 5, which is chosen such that paint dripping of the brush will land up in the paint tin. Notches 3a,3b,3c have been shaped such that they may be fixed onto paint tins having a relatively small edge with a single seal between the paint tin and the lid as well as on paint tins having a relatively wide edge with a double seal between the paint tin and the lid. Recess 5 is provided with a row of teeth 6a,..,6g with which excess paint may be wiped off effectively from the brush. Strip 1 may be used for stirring the paint in the paint tin, in the process of which especially the part near a first short side 7 is used. In this embodiment short side 7 is of a convex circular shape and provided with a hole 8, by which the flow round the strip obtains a more turbulent character, which promotes the mixing process. The second short side 9 may be used for opening a paint tin, in the process of which this short side is inserted between an edge of the paint tin and the lid, after which the lid can be easily removed by using strip 1 as a crowbar. In order to obtain a good fit with the lid, second short side 9 is of a concave circular shape, with a radius which is approximately the same as the radius of a lid of a paint tin. Fig. 1B shows this embodiment in a view from below, so as to make a number of ribs 10 visible which are made on the bottom side of strip 1, each having a radius is approximately the same as the radius of a paint tin, so that during opening the edge of the paint tin is caught by one of the ribs.
Moreover, it is of commercial interest that a relatively large area of the strip is well-suited for affixing a commercial message to it. For that reason the strip may be distributed very well as a present, for example when a tin of paint is bought. The strip is preferably manufactured in a dy-casting process, in which a commercial message can be affixed in relief or as an inmold label. It is also possible to print the commercial message afterwards onto the strip.
Fig. 2A shows an alternative embodiment of a tool shaped as a plastic strip 1 in top view, which embodiment is practically the same as the embodiment described with a reference to Fig. 1, but in which teeth 6a,..,6g in the recess 5 have sharp points. Teeth of this type penetrate deeper into the hairy part of a brush during wiping off, due to which less paint will be absorbed by the brush and the possibility of sagging is reduced. Moreover, short side 7 is pointed here, which implies that stirring and scraping is also possible in the corner of the paint tin, between the bottom and the wall.
Fig. 2B shows in top view an embodiment consisting of a plastic strip 1, corresponding with the strip shown in Fig. 1 and a sleeve 11. Sleeve 11 is for example made of paper and is partly slid over strip 1. The paint tin is opened with the aid of short side 9, after which the paint in the paint tin may be stirred with the combination shown here. Once the paint is sufficiently homogeneous, sleeve 11 is drained and thrown away. Strip 1 may now be attached to the paint tin and may be used for wiping off or putting down the brush. The result is a clean paint tin, which may after being used can be closed and stored away. On a paper sleeve 11 one may print with simple means a commercial message, which means that the tool may be individualised by small enterprises and sold or given away as a special offer.
Fig. 3A shows a plastic strip 1 in front view, as seen against the second short side 9. Visible is the slightly bended shape of strip 1, at least near short side 9, thanks to which strip 1 can be easily inserted between the edge and the lid of a paint tin. Moreover groove 10 is made visible with a dotted line. Fig. 3B shows a plastic strip 1 in side view, near second short side 9. Visible is that strip 1 is slightly tapered on that spot, which makes it easier to insert it between the edge and the lid of a paint tin.
Fig. 4A schematically represents a connection between a double seal 12 of a paint tin and a strip 1 placed on the paint tin. The relatively wide double seal 12 can be placed in the lowest recess 13 of notch 3 without any problem. Fig. 4B schematically represents a connection between a single seal 14 of a paint tin and a strip 1 placed on the paint tin. The relatively small single seal 14 can be placed in the slightly smaller highest recess 15 of notch 3.

Claims

Tool for handling paint, comprising a strip with which paint in a paint tin can be stirred, characterised in that the strip is provided with means of attachment for attaching the strip in an at least substantially horizontal position onto the paint tin.
Tool according to claim 1, characterised in that the means of attachment consist of at least two notches, made in a first long side of the strip, for receiving an edge of the paint tin.
Tool according to claim 2, characterised in that the tool is provided with a recess in a second long side , positioned opposite to the first long side.
Tool according to claim 3, characterised in that the recess is provided with a row of teeth.
Tool according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the strip is near a first short side provided with a hole.
Tool according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that a first short side of the strip is pointed.
Tool according to claim 1, characterised in that a cross section of the strip is curved near a second short side, opposite to the first short side.
Tool according to claim 1, characterised in that the strip is near the second short side provided with one or more curved ribs, extending across the strip.
Tool according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the strip is made of a synthetic material.
Tool according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the tool moreover comprises a sleeve made of paper and/or a synthetic material, into which the strip may be put, in such a way that the second short side projects outside the sleeve.