Embodiments described herein generally relate to container lids, and in an embodiment, but not by way of limitation, paint container lids.
When a person opens a five-gallon pail of paint, the paint or other product in the pail is exposed to many environmental conditions that could possibly contaminate the product. This is especially the case when the five-gallon pail of paint is placed under an airless paint sprayer and left for long periods of time while the sprayer draws paint or other product out of the pail. For example, moisture, wind, debris, and other contaminants can enter the five-gallon pail, thereby decreasing the life of the paint or other product. Additionally, when left for long periods of time, the paint in the pail can dry out.
In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.
The following description and the drawings sufficiently illustrate specific embodiments to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments may incorporate structural, process, and other changes. Portions and features of some embodiments may be included in, or substituted for, those of other embodiments.
An embodiment is a lid for a five-gallon paint pail, container, or bucket. While this embodiment is directed to a five-gallon paint pail, other embodiments are directed to containers of different sizes and containers for other products besides paint. In this embodiment, the lid is made of a cardboard material and is stamped in a shape that is very similar to the top of a standard five-gallon pail. Users can temporarily, but thoroughly, cover and protect the product in the five-gallon pail even while an airless sprayer or other implement is inserted in the pail. The lid prevents moisture, wind, debris, and other contaminants from entering the pail, thus providing a longer and cleaner life of the product while also allowing the sprayer or other implement to function better with less contaminants entering the system. The lid also prevents the paint from drying out. The embodiment is simple to use and easy to install.
The embodiment further includes an integrated tab on each side that grasps the underside of a rim of the pail to hold the lid in place. There is a series of punch-out holes that can be removed by the user to fit a variety of paint sprayers and/or other devices or implements. When the side tabs are utilized to secure the lid to the pail, there are slots for the handle of the pail so the handle can still be utilized. In an embodiment, the lid can be temporarily used and then discarded.
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The above detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments that may be practiced. These embodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.” Such examples may include elements in addition to those shown or described. However, also contemplated are examples that include the elements shown or described. Moreover, also contemplated are examples using any combination or permutation of those elements shown or described (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to a particular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein.
Publications, patents, and patent documents referred to in this document are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, as though individually incorporated by reference. In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and those documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in the incorporated reference(s) are supplementary to that of this document; for irreconcilable inconsistencies, the usage in this document controls.
In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one, independent of any other instances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device, article, or process that includes elements in addition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to suggest a numerical order for their objects.
The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with others. Other embodiments may be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. However, the claims may not set forth every feature disclosed herein as embodiments may feature a subset of said features. Further, embodiments may include fewer features than those disclosed in a particular example. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with a claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment. The scope of the embodiments disclosed herein is to be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.