BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present joint compound container;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the container of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an overhead plan view of the container of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the container of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is an end elevation of an alternate embodiment of the present joint compound container;
FIG. 6 is an overhead plan view of another alternate embodiment of the present joint compound container;
FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-section view of the container of FIG. 6, taken along the line 7-7 in the direction generally indicated;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section of the container of FIG. 7, taken from zone 8 as indicated;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section of the container of FIG. 6, taken along the line 9-9 in the direction generally indicated; and
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section of the container of FIG. 6, taken along the line 10-10 in the direction generally indicated.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, a joint compound container is generally designated 10. Generally made up of opposing end walls 12 and a unitary body portion 14 made up of two generally planar side walls 16 and a planar floor 18, the container 10 has a generally trough shape. The container 10 is preferably constructed from stainless steel, but other materials are contemplated.
Positioned at opposite ends of the body 14, the end walls 12 are affixed to the body through conventional processes include welding, being integrally molded, fasteners, tabs and slots, or any similar fastening technique. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the end walls 12 diverge upwardly from the floor 18, forming an obtuse angle a with respect to the floor.
As is best seen in FIG. 4, each of the side walls 16 shares a respective common radiused edge 20 with the floor 18. That is, the preferred steel, other metal or other material used to form the body 14 is not creased to form an edge between the floor 18 and the side wall 16. Rather, the material is rolled or otherwise formed to produce an arcuate transition between the floor 18 and the side wall 16. Further, the radiused edge 20 defines an obtuse angle β, preferably between about 102° and 104°, between the side wall 16 and the floor 18.
An important feature of this configuration is that it alleviates difficulty in mixing joint compound. The radiused edges 20 prevent build up or premature setting of joint compound and allow workers to dislodge all material with a natural mixing stroke, adding to overall comfort for the workers, as well as facilitating more efficient utilization of the joint compound. Similarly, the radiused edges 20 facilitate cleaning the container 10.
Also, as can best be seen in FIG. 3, a top opening 22 is defined by an upper edge 24 of the container 10. Because of the obtuse angles β formed between the floor 18 and side walls 16, a width of the floor wf is significantly less than a width of the top opening wt. Specifically, the ratio wf/wt for this embodiment is preferably in the general range of 0.55 to 0.65. It has been found that with this configuration the top opening is large enough for a worker to use the container 10 with a natural motion, and also that the floor 18 of the container will be narrow enough to be comfortably held by workers with smaller than average hands and/or over extended periods of use. However, other ratios are contemplated for obtaining the same results.
Additionally, as can be seen in FIGS. 1-4, a reinforcing band 26 is preferably attached to the container 10, adjacent to the upper edge 24 of the container, and displaced from the upper edge a distance sufficient to define a scraping edge 28. The band 26 is attached to the container 10 by rivets 30, spot welding, or any similar fastening technology. The band 26 is constructed of a rigid, durable material, such as steel or equivalent materials, and is positioned to reinforce the end walls 12, and the side walls 16, as well as provide general structural support for the container 10. In particular, the band 26 helps to prevent bowing of the side walls 16 from repeated scraping of an applicator tool, such as a taping knife, across the scraping edge 28.
Another embodiment of the joint compound container, generally designated 40, is seen in FIG. 5. Components shared with container 10 are designated with identical reference numbers. The container 40 includes the respective common radiused edge 20 shared by the floor 18 and the side walls 16. This facilitates the mixing and cleaning processes as described above. However, the container 40 lacks the reinforcing band 26. This is the principal difference between the containers 10 and 40.
A third embodiment of the present joint compound container, generally designated 50, is shown in FIGS. 6-10. Components shared with containers 10 and 40 are designated with identical reference numbers. In the third embodiment, the container 50 is made up of a unitary body 52, which has two opposing end walls 54, two planar side walls 56 and a planar floor 18, together describing a generally trough shape as in the first two embodiments. This embodiment is preferably made from a plastic selected for its light weight, durability, low cost, and/or ease of use. The container 50 is preferably integrally molded as is known in the art, but may also be fabricated using chemical adhesive, ultrasonic welding, or the like.
The end walls 54 have a lower portion 58 and an upper portion 60, where the upper portion is substantially thicker than the lower portion to enhance the rigidity of the container 50. Stacking tabs 62 (FIG. 10) are attached to, and depend from, the upper portion 60 of the end walls 54. An advantage of the stacking tabs 62 is to maintain an air gap between multiple containers 50 when the containers are vertically stacked, as during bulk shipment. The end walls 54 diverge upwardly from the floor 18, so that each end wall forms the respective obtuse angle a with the floor.
Each side wall 56 has a lower portion 64 and an upper portion 66. The upper portion 66 is substantially thicker than the lower portion 64. This added thickness helps increase the overall rigidity of the container 50. The side walls 56 are connected to the end walls 54 and the floor 18 by integral molding, chemical adhesive, or the like as described above.
Additionally, the upper portion 66 of the side walls 56 includes a mounting groove 68 positioned laterally along the upper edge 70 of the side wall. Mounted within the mounting groove 68, secured by mounting substance 72 and extending generally vertically upward is a scraping edge is 28. The mounting substance 72 may be a chemical adhesive, plastic used for insert molding, or the like. The scraping edge 28 is made from a metal, such as stainless steel, and may either be sharpened or left dull.
The lower portion 64 of each side wall 56 shares a respective corner-free radiused edge 20 with the floor 18. Each radiused edge 20 describes an obtuse angle β, preferably between 102° and 104°, between its respective side wall 56 and the floor 18.
Also, a top opening 22 is defined by an upper edge 24 of the container 50. Because of the obtuse angles β formed between the floor 18 and side walls 56, a width of the floor wf is significantly less than a width of the top opening wt. Specifically, the ratio wf/wt for this embodiment is preferably between 0.65 and 0.75; however ratios in the general range of 0.55 to 0.75 are contemplated for this embodiment, as well as for the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5. It has been found that with this configuration the top opening is large enough for a worker to use the container 50 with a natural motion, and also that the floor 18 of the container will be narrow enough to be comfortably held by workers with smaller than average hands and/or over extended periods of use.
In summary, the present joint compound container has side walls which are connected to the floor via corner-free shared edges that facilitate mixing and cleaning by reducing crevices where joint compound can collect and set. The container is also more ergonomic, having a relatively narrow floor, and a relatively wide top opening, which allows workers with a wide range of hand sizes to hold the container comfortably for long periods of time, while still allowing for a natural motion when removing or mixing joint compound. Finally, the reinforcing band lends strength and rigidity to the container, and helps prevent unequal bowing of the side wall from extended use, and also helps prevent deformation if the container is dropped.
While particular embodiments of the present joint compound container have been described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims.
Patent Application
20080000918
