Patent Application
20050218011
This invention relates generally to artist's paint trays, palettes and paint boxes. More specifically, it relates to a device for maintaining water-based paints in a functionally hydrated and workable condition during both storage and use.
Water based paints tend to dry out when exposed to the atmosphere. This situation is exacerbated by conditions of low humidity, high temperature, and long exposure. Many types of water-based paints are known and all are subject to the same general limitations of use. Examples include water colors, tempera, distemper, gouache and aquarelle. A typical solution is to use dry pigment, hydrating only at the time of use. Another solution is to use tubes of hydrated ready-to-use paints; however once exposed to air, the paints must be used quickly or kept fully hydrated or else they will become useless.
Watercolorists are faced with the challenge of keeping their paints fully moistened and hydrated during use and storage. Several attempts have been made to provide an apparatus that keeps water-based paints hydrated, but each has its drawbacks and limitations. McIntosh (U.S. Pat. No. 4,901,850) teaches an artists palette that provides air-tight storage for any painting medium, however the effectiveness of the device is negligible when the lid is open. Ford (U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,909) teaches a container for retaining artists' paints and preventing them from drying by providing a box and a lid with a gasket, but suffers from the same deficiency as McIntosh. Similarly, Crawford (U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,913) teaches an artist's paint box which utilizes a sponge as a water reservoir, but with the same limitation.
Tanaka (U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,159) teaches a tray assembly for maintaining paint with a moisture content which wicks water from a reservoir to each paint well, however, the port which provides entry of the wick to the well is a source of potential leakage and the paint in the well is subject to a hydrating gradient radiating out from the wick port. Rubel (U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,843) teaches a dual purpose humidifier for palettes containing air drying paints which also uses a wick.
Finally, Barnett (U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,499) teaches an artist's palette which utilizes a water permeable palette base which must be used in conjunction with a disposable palette liner, and lacks the ability to separately store different paints.
The instant invention describes an artist's paint box comprising a base with a palette. The base is adapted to hold multiple removable paint cups, or alternatively, a paint trough with multiple compartments, and also includes a water reservoir below the cups which keeps water in contact with the cups. The paint cups are porous, generally fabricated from ceramic material, and sit in contact with the water in the reservoir. A lid is provided which snuggly fits over the base during storage. Water in the reservoir is in constant contact with the cups and consequently water is wicked into and permeates the cups. Water-based paints are kept within each cup for both use and storage. Paint from the cups may be mixed on the palette during use. Between uses placement of the lid on the base keeps paint in the cups and on the palette in a hydrating atmosphere.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an artist's paint box for the storage and use of water-based paints while maintaining hydration.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an artist's paint box and mixing palette that prevents dehydration of water-based paints.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an artist's paint box with multiple, removable and replaceable paint reservoirs.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-reservoir artist's paint box which prevents the formation of a hydration gradient within each paint reservoir.
It is an object of the present invention to provide water permeated cups for the storage and open air use of water-based paints.
In accordance with the above objectives and other described herein, a device for maintaining the hydration of multiple aqueous-based paint reservoirs is provided which comprises a base adapted to receive a multiplicity of removable porous cups. The device further comprises a multiplicity of cups each for holding a quantity of aqueous-based paint and each having an inside and outside surface. The device further comprises a water-containing reservoir within the base adapted to stably hold the cups with the outer surfaces of the cups in contact with the reservoir water. Finally, the device comprises a removable lid adapted to snuggly fit over the reservoir and cups thereby providing a humidifying atmosphere within the space created by the lid and the base.
Reference is made to
The product can also be fabricated by injection molding, a method well known in the art. Alternatively, the base and lid can be made from a non-rusting metal such as aluminum or stainless steel.
The lid fits snuggly on the base. In a preferred embodiment, the lid is held in place on the base by a friction fit. However, additional fastening devices well know in the art, such as but not limited to snaps, buckles or bands, can be added.
As shown in
In a preferred embodiment at least one palette (40) is incorporated into the base design. In the example shown in the figures, two separate palettes are provided. The palettes are used to mix different colors during a paint session and can then be wiped clean.
Water Reservior
An essential feature of the instant invention is the reservoir capacity (50) incorporated into the base. The reservoir (50) may be singular or multiple. As shown in
As described here and below, when the reservoir is filled with the water, outer bottom side of the cups and troughs are in constant contact with the water and water permeates the porous cups and troughs.
This insures that water soluble, aqueous based paints placed in each cup will not dry out even when exposed to the air during use. During storage, the snugly fitting lid (20) minimizes air circulation and creates a humidified atmosphere over the hydrated paints, troughs and palette.
Cups and Troughs
Another essential feature of the instant invention is the cups (31) and troughs (30). Each cup (31) is intended to hold a different color paint. For convenience as shown in
Attention is now directed to
A cup, or trough of cups, is fabricated as a ceramic unit. Ceramic is the preferred material, however it will be appreciated that any water permeable material can be used. Examples of other materials are cardboard, fritted glass, wood, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the exterior dimensions of the ceramic pieces are approximately 150 cm long, 40 cm wide and 20 cm deep. The interior dimensions of each cup are 30 cm square and 15 cm deep. The pieces are made using clay mixed with water. The pieces are then shaped. Alternatively, a mold could be used to obtain the desired shape. The pieces are then allowed to air dry and then placed in a kiln and heated step wise up to 1000 degrees Centigrade. The pieces are then allowed to cool in the kiln for 4 hours down to a temperature of 600 degrees Centigrade. Then kiln is then opened and the pieces are allowed to continue to cool to room temperature. This method provides the desired porosity of the pieces. Other conditions might be used so long as equivalent porosity of the pieces is provided.
The embodiment illustrated in
In the foregoing, the present invention has been described with reference to suitable embodiments, but these embodiments are only for purposes of understanding the invention and various alterations or modifications are possible so long as the present invention does not deviate from the claims that follow.
