BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention herein, it is believed that the present invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a self-contained paint color selection system in accordance with the present invention including two base color paint containers, eight color tint containers, a plurality of paint mixing sticks, a paint brush, an instructional video disc, a match book styled booklet comprising a plurality of selectively removable coded sheets and a correspondingly matched plurality of selectively removable coded self-adhesive stickers, and a plurality of mixing containers wherein all components are selectively contained within said carrying box;
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the two containers of base color paints incorporated in FIG. 1 removed from the carrying box;
FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the eight containers of color tints incorporated in FIG. 1 removed from the carrying box;
FIG. 4 is a side view of the booklet incorporated in FIG. 1 removed from the carrying box in a closed position;
FIG. 5 is a front view of the booklet incorporated in FIG. 1 removed from the carrying box and in a partially open position, which shows the top one of the plurality of coded sheets and the correspondingly matched plurality of self-adhesive stickers;
FIG. 6 is a back view of the booklet incorporated in FIG. 1 removed from the carrying box and in a partially open position;
FIG. 7 is a front view of the booklet incorporated in FIG. 1 removed from the carrying box wherein the plurality of coded sheets have been removed to show a plurality of descriptive self-adhesive stickers.
FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the separate coded sheets of the present invention removed from the matchbook styled booklet;
FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of two portions of a wall surface and two coded sheets being painted and labeled in accordance with the method of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring first to FIG. 1, a self-contained paint color selection kit generally designated by reference numeral 10 is shown. Kit 10 comprises a carrying box 12 which includes a carrying handle 14. A sealable flap 15 of carrying box 12 is depicted in an open position to show the contents of carrying box 12. Carrying box 12 includes a paint brush 16, a plurality of paint mixing sticks 18, a first base color paint container 20, a second base color paint container 22, and eight color tint containers designated by reference numerals 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, and 34. Paint brush 16, paint mixing sticks 18, base color paint containers 20 and 22, and color tint containers 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32 and 34 are selectively secured within carrying box 12 by means of elastic bands 35. It will be readily noted by those skilled in the art that instead of utilizing elastic bands 35, the various elements contained within carrying box 12 can be selectively secured by means of twisted secured wires, cut-outs within the material comprising carrying box 12, glued tabs, or by many other known means. There is also no absolute requirement that the listed elements be secured within carrying box 12; however, it is preferable in order to minimize the risk of breakage.
Carrying box 12 preferably also incorporates an instructional digital video disc 36 that is packaged within a slot 37 of carrying box 12. In alternative and foreseen embodiments, instructional information can instead be provided in a paper format or an instructional website address can be provided. A means for mixing colors in accordance with the present invention can be provided by including mixing containers 38 and 40 in carrying box 12. As depicted in FIG. 1, paint mixing containers 38 and paint mixing containers 40 are conveniently provided in cut-out slots within carrying box 12. However, mixing containers 38 and 40 can alternatively be provided in other sections of carrying box 12. Moreover, although not depicted, carrying box 12 can also contain items such as additional base color paints, gloves, drop cloths, etc.
Additionally, and of significant import to the system and method of the present invention, is the incorporation of a match book styled booklet 42 within carrying box 12. Booklet 42 can preferably be selectively incorporated into carrying box 12 by a series of gummed tabs or by providing an appropriately sized slot in box 12 to engage booklet 42. The utility of booklet 42 will be described in greater detail in connection with the description of FIGS. 4-8.
It should be readily noted that all of the components contained within carrying box 12 can easily and selectively be removed and replaced from carrying box 12. Moreover, although a specific number of items have been depicted, there is no limitation as to how many paint brushes, paint mixing sticks, base color paints, color tints, etc. (or what combinations thereof) can be provided.
Carrying box 12 can be comprised of numerous materials and take countless forms. For instance, carrying box 12 can be comprised of cardboard, wood, plastic, and the like. Moreover, the inside of carrying box 12 can take numerous shapes to contain varying components. Carrying box 12 can also incorporate printed instructional information, marketing data, or recommended paint combinations. While carrying box 12 has been depicted having handle 14, no such item is required. Handle 14, when incorporated, can be comprised of plastic, decorative rope, or any other materials known in the art capable of supporting the contents of carrying box 12.
Paint brush 16 can be of any type known in the art, including paint brushes made of wood, plastic, natural fibers, synthetic fibers, etc. Alternatively, paint brush 16 can be a roller or a paint pad; for purposes of the present application the term “paint brush” will incorporate all such devices. Similarly, although paint mixing sticks 18 have been depicted in FIG. 1 as having a shape similar to a nail file, any elongated shape would be suitable. Paint mixing sticks 18 can be comprised of wood, plastic, or any other suitable material know in the art. Paint mixing containers 38 and 40 can be comprised of plastic, glass, paper, or other suitable materials. Furthermore, paint mixing containers 38 and 40 can either be disposable or reusable. It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that kit 10 can take various forms such as eliminating paint mixing sticks 18 and, instead, replacing paint mixing containers 38 and 40 with containers that include sealable lids to allow the mixed color combinations to be shaken instead of stirred.
FIG. 2 depicts a first base color paint container 20 and second base color paint 20 container 22. As provided for in the preferred embodiment, first base color paint container 20 is comprised of a bottle 44 and a screw-off cap 46. First base color paint container 20 will also typically include a glued label 48 that may incorporate information such as marketing data, color contents, and/or instructional information. As shown in FIG. 2, second base color paint container 22 similarly includes a bottle 50 a screw-off cap 52, and label 54. Both bottle 44 and bottle 50 can be comprised of glass, plastic, or any other suitable material for holding liquids. Bottle 44 and bottle 50 will be filled with certain base paints, which are typically white or beige color schemes.
FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative design for color tint containers 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32 and 34. The color tint containers typically include different color tints across a wide array of the color spectrum. Moreover, the containers used in the preferred embodiment incorporate a bottle 56 and a screw-off cap 58. However, screw-off cap 58 is slightly more complex than screw-off cap 46 and screw-off cap 52 exemplarily utilized in connection with first color base paint container 20 and second base color paint container 22. Specifically, screw-off cap 58 includes a narrow nozzle 60 and a corresponding and removable cap 62. The more elaborate design allows better control for mixing of the color tints into the base color paint. As shown in FIG. 3, a label 63 is also provided on each color tint container that may incorporate marketing data, color information, and/or instructional data.
FIGS. 4-8 depict various views and elements of booklet 42. FIG. 4 is an illustration of booklet 42 in a closed position similar to a closed match book. The outer binding of booklet 42 can be made of a composite material (such as paper, cardboard, flexible plastic, etc.) having a reinforced engaging flap 64, a top edge 66, a right surface 68, a bottom edge, 70 and an insert flap 72. Insert flap 72 is shown in FIG. 4 as engaged within reinforced engaging flap 64. A plurality of coded sheets 74 are contained within booklet 42, yet are easily removable from booklet 42 by means of perforations (perforated edges) 76. Coded sheets are typically comprised of paper, but any suitable porous material to absorb paint can be used. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inside of right surface 68 and the inside of insert flap 72 will incorporate removable self-adhesive stickers whose usefulness will be described below.
Turning to FIG. 5, booklet 42 is shown in a partially opened position. The inside of insert flap 72 is shown as having alphabetically coded and separately removable coded self-adhesive stickers 78 that are labeled “A-Z.” Although, in FIG. 5, only the coded sheets 74 labeled “A” is clearly visible, in actuality, there are, in the presented embodiment, twenty-six alphabetically coded sheets overlaying each other. The separately labeled coded sheets are shown in FIG. 8. Each of the plurality of coded sheet 74 is removable from booklet 42 by means of perforations 76. FIG. 6 shows a back view of booklet 42 in a partially open position as shown in FIG. 5.
As a further enhancement of the usefulness of the system and method of the present invention, the inside portion of right surface 68 also includes selectively removable self-adhesive stickers 80 that are descriptive in nature. Although exemplary forms of descriptive self-adhesive stickers 80 are shown in FIG. 7, countless variations are possible. In fact, even blank self-adhesive stickers might be provided to allow a user to adopt customized descriptions. As shown in FIG. 7, self-adhesive stickers 80 suggest the person who likes or dislikes a particular color, whether a slightly lighter or darker tone is desired, and descriptions relating to the room upon which a color is to be utilized.
FIG. 8 will be used to describe how a user would utilize the system and method of the present invention. After opening kit 10, the user would place selected base color paints from either first base color paint container 20 or second base color paint container 22 into paint mixing container 38. Next, the user would incorporate one or more color tints from containers 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32 and 34 into the paint mixing container 38. A user would then stir the contents of paint mixing container 38 with mixing stick 18. After visually determining that a resultant color could be desirable, the user would utilize paint brush 16 to paint a small (and typically hidden) portion 84 of wall 82 and also paint one of the plurality of coded sheets 74. If the user had painted the coded sheet 74 labeled “A,” he would also remove the correspondingly coded self-adhesive sticker 78 that was labeled “A” and put it on wall 78 near painted portion 84. After the paint on painted portion 84 of wall 82 dried, if the user was satisfied with the resultant color, he could remove coded sheet 74 labeled “A” from booklet 42 and bring it to a retailer to manufacture sufficient quantities of paint to cover wall 82. However, if the user was not satisfied with the color or wished to create a second color to compare with painted portion 84, the process could be repeated such that the new color was created. The user would again create a painted portion 86, also paint a second coded sheet 74 labeled “B,” and remove the similarly coded self-adhesive sticker 78 labeled “B” and place it next to painted portion 86. This process could be repeated until a desired result was achieved. By utilizing the method of the present invention, a minimal amount of wasted paint is incorporated, thus providing a significant environmental waste disposal advantage. In fact, even undesirable colors can be mixed with additional color tints to then achieve desirable results. An unlimited array of results is possible.
When working in multiple rooms, the user could use a single kit 10 to likewise create and select a desired color for each room to be painted. Moreover, as colors were tried, but rejected, the user could place self-adhesive stickers 80 on desired coded sheets 74 so that similar colors were not repeated and to keep track of prior results. Another significant advantage of utilizing coded sheets 74 is that the ultimately selected color can easily be maintained by storing the correct coded sheet. In this way, “color matching” at a later date is as simple as locating the properly coded sheet.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, base color paint container 20 contains a color known as basic snow whereas base color paint container 22 contains a color known as basic sand. Color tints containers 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, and 34 preferably contain colors known as cobalt, scarlet, butter, topaz, kale, clay, mocha, and ebony. From these base colors and tint colors, countless paint chip colors can be created. Additionally, the kit of the present invention can include pre-determined formulations to replicate certain popular colors.
It is deemed unnecessary to describe the specific chemical compositions of the base paint or the color tints since such information is readily known and available in the art. Moreover, various compositions can be incorporated depending on factors such as the surface to be painted, environmental conditions, etc. Similarly, the actual computer programs utilized to match and create the desired paint color is known in the art. These systems exist at multiple locations and are available from many vendors.
It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the present invention incorporates a valuable system and method of creating and selecting paint colors. However, many variations of the preferred embodiment are clearly envisioned. For instance, although the plurality of coded sheets and the correspondingly matched coded plurality of self-adhesive stickers have been incorporated into a single booklet, no such combination is required. For instance, individual sheets could be provided that have a particular code and a correspondingly coded selectively removable self-adhesive sticker directly on that sheet. Moreover, although described as contained in booklet form herein, and having perforations, coded sheets having attached gummed tabs (such as POST-IT® notes) can also be incorporated.
Although the described embodiment of the present invention has utilized alphabetically coded sheets and correspondingly alphabetically coded matched self-adhesive stickers, other possibilities exist. For instance, in order to actively engage a child in selecting his/her room color, correspondingly coded sheets and self-adhesive stickers can incorporate animals, symbols, colors, etc. It will also be noted that although an example of painting a wall has been described, the paint color selection system and method of the present invention can be utilized to select colors for any surfaces.
While there has been shown and described what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of this invention. It is, therefore, aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true scope and spirit of the invention.
Patent Application
20080026347
