This invention relates to painting implements and more particularly to an apparatus to be used in cleaning painting implements such as paint brushes, paint rollers and roller pans. It has long since been recognized that painting by professionals as well as non-professionals has been and will continue to be a very necessary activity. Because of the nature of the activity it is understood that the painting operation is not complete until the somewhat tedious process of cleaning the painting implements, that is the brush, roller and roller pan is done. It is also understood that proper cleaning of the implements extends their useful life and the need to replace them after each painting.
However, several problems arise regarding the cleaning process. First of all the cleaning process can be somewhat unpleasant because one of the more effective methods of cleaning the implements is of course by hand. This can take a significant amount of time, and can be extremely messy and result in washing spreads of paint all over the painter's body and clothing. Additionally once the cleaning process is completed the process of drying the implements and then storing them for future use can be problemsome. Accordingly it is desirable to provide an apparatus that can facilitate the cleaning process so that the messy washing spreads of paint are minimized while also allowing the implements to readily dry and be stored for future use.
Attempts have been made to provide painting tool cleaning apparatuses that minimize the messiness of the clean up process. One such apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,099. The apparatus is a paint roller washing shield. The apparatus includes a shield and a semi-cylindrical handle extending from the shield for receiving the handle of the roller. The shield receives the paint roller with a portion of the roller extending outwardly from the shield so it can be exposed to a stream of water from a water hose to facilitate cleaning while minimizing unwanted messy paint spreads.
Another arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,406,967. This invention discloses an apparatus for cleaning a paint brush. In this cleaning apparatus a paint brush is located through an exit region of an elongated cavity of a nozzle-like housing. A cleaning fluid such as water enters the housing from an entry region at the water end of the cavity.
This arrangement permits easy and gentle cleaning of paint from the bristles of the brush upon application of water.
These arrangements are suitable for the purposes intended. That is, to provide a cleaning apparatus for a paint roller and paint brush, respectively. However there is a need for an apparatus that will facilitate the cleaning of a paint roller, paint brush and paint roller pan all in a single apparatus. Additionally there is a need for this same apparatus to facilitate the drying of the painting implements and then storage for later use.
A painting implement cleaning and storage apparatus is provided. The painting implement cleaning and storage apparatus of this invention facilitates the cleaning and storage of painting implements such as rollers, brushes and roller pans. The apparatus of this invention is provided with a base support member. A rectangularly shaped support member is coupled to upper portions of the base support member A first member is coupled to first portions of the rectangularly shaped support member so that a roller can be supported thereon in an upwardly extending diagonal position.
A pair of spaced horizontally extending shields, for containing paint spreads from the roller in a predetermined confined area, are coupled to second and third portions of the rectangularly shaped support member adjacent the roller. One of the pair of shields is provided with a pair of spaced apertures formed therein which cooperates with portions of the paint roller pan to allow the paint roller pan to be supported on the shield in a diagonally descending position. The apparatus of this invention is also provided with a second member which is coupled to fourth portions of the rectangularly shaped support member for supporting a paint brush therein in a predetermined position.
Once a painting implement is supported on the apparatus of the invention, cleaning of the desired implement can be accomplished by the application of a stream of water thereto in a predetermined manner.
The details of the invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:
Referring to
The apparatus 10 includes a base support member, generally designated, by the numeral 18. The base support member 18 is provided with a rectangularly shaped base member 20 having an aperture 22 formed in an intermediate portion thereof and a longitudinally shaped extending member, generally designated, by the numeral, 24 vertically mounted in the aperture. The longitudinally extending member includes a first and second elongated member 26 and 28 respectively which are threadeably coupled together by a coupling member 30.
The painting apparatus 10 is also provided with a rectangularly shaped support bracket, generally designated, by the numeral 32. The support bracket 32 includes a pair of spaced vertically extending members 34 and 36, and upper and lower spaced horizontally extending members 38 and 40, respectively. The horizontally extending member 38 is coupled to extend between uppermost portions of the vertically extending members 34 and 36 of the support member 32 and the lower horizontally extending member 40 is coupled to extend between lowermost portions of the vertically extending members 34 and 36 so that an opening 41 is formed between the vertical and horizontally extending members. The support bracket 32 also includes a rectangularly shaped planar shaped cover member 42 having an opening 43 formed therein. The planar shaped cover member 42 is coupled to the vertically extending members 34 and 36 and horizontally extending member 38 and 40 to cover the opening 41 in the support bracket.
The elongated member 28 of the base support member 18 is coupled at an upper portion thereof to an intermediate portion of the lower horizontally extending member 40 of the support bracket 32. This allows the base support member 18 to maintain the apparatus 10 in the desired upright position.
The apparatus 10 is further provided with an upper shield, generally designated, by the numeral, 45. The shield 45 is provided with a horizontally extending planar shaped member, generally designated, by the numeral 46 which includes openings 48 (
The shield 45 is adjacently aligned with and coupled to engage the upper horizontally extending member 38 of the support bracket 32 at an innermost portion 52 thereof.
The apparatus 10 is also provided with a lower shield, generally designated, by the numeral 54. The shield 54 is provided with a longitudinally extending planar shaped member, generally designated by the numeral 56 which includes an upstanding vertically extending member 58 formed on a portion 60 thereof. The shield 54 is adjacently aligned with and coupled to engage the lower horizontally extending member 40 of the support bracket 32 at an innermost portion 62 thereof.
The apparatus 10 is also provided with a rectangularly shaped elongated support member, generally designated, by the numeral 64 which is supported on the back of the planar shaped cover member 42. The rectangularly shaped elongated support member 64 has an internal opening 66 formed therein which is aligned adjacent to the opening 43 in the planar shaped cover member 42. The rectangularly shaped elongated support member 64 is additionally provided with an opening 68 which is formed on an outer surface thereof to extend into the internal opening 66. A rectangularly shaped support member 70 is provided to support the elongated member 64 in a diagonally ascending direction on the planar shaped cover member 42. The rectangularly shaped elongated support member 64 also includes an engaging member, generally designated, by the numeral 72. The engaging member 72 includes a support block 74 and an engaging screw 76 threadely supported therein for forward and backward movement in the block. The engaging member 72 is coupled on the rectangularly shaped elongated member 66 so that the engaging screw is aligned in the opening 68 to be moved into and out of the opening 66 when desired.
The apparatus 10 is also provided with a second elongated support member, generally designated, by the numeral, 80 which is coupled to the horizontally extending support member 38 of the support bracket 32 at an outermost portion thereof. The second elongated support member 80 includes an internal elongated opening 82 formed therethrough. The second elongated support member 80 is also provided with an opening 84 which is formed on an outermost surface thereof to extend into the internal opening 82. An engaging member or screw 86 is mounted for movement in the opening 84.
When it is desired to clean the roller 12, the roller is supported in the apparatus by inserting a handle 88 of the roller in the opening 66 in the rectangularly shaped elongated support member 64 so that a portion 89 of the handle is supported around the upstanding member 58. The engaging screw 76 is then moved into the opening 66 to engage the handle 88 so that the handle is held in a stationary position. This positions the roller 12 between the shields 45 and 54 in an upwardly ascending diagonal position so that the shields 45 and 54 respectively are above and under the roller. In this position once a spray of water from, for example, a water hose, is directed against the exposed portion of the roller the roller will spin thereby allowing the paint to be washed out of the roller. While this is going on because of the position of the roller 12 under the shields the user is shielded from the paint and water spray that would normally spread over the user and other areas in proximity of the user.
Similarly when it is desired to clean the brush 14 a handle 90 of the brush is supported in the apparatus 10 by inserting the handle 90 in the opening 82 of the second elongated support member 80 so that the brush is supported upright in the opening. The engaging member 86 is then inserted through the opening 82 of the elongated support member 80 and into engagement with the handle 90. This holds the brush 14 in place in the elongated support member 80. In this instance a spray of water can be directed first at one side of the brush 14 and then at the other side until the brush is thoroughly clean.
Additionally, when it is desired to clean the roller pan 16 the pan is supported on the horizontally extending planar support member 46 of the shield 45 by a pair of legs 92 (shown in dotted) (
Once the cleaning process is completed the paint roller 12, paint brush 14 and roller pan 16 can be left in the designated position thereby allowing them to dry and be stored for future use.
Referring to
The base support member 100 is also provided with a longitudinally extending member 112 which is coupled at a lowermost portion thereof to an intermediate portion of the horizontally extending member 104 at an upper portion thereof to the elongated member 28 which is coupled to intermediate portions of the lower horizontally extending member 40 of the support bracket 32.
This base support member allows the cleaning and support apparatus 10 to be supported in the desired position by pushing the pointed end members 110 into coupling engagement with soil (dirt) in a well known manner.
Referring to
The apparatus 120 includes a base support member, generally designated, by the numeral 122. The base support member 122 is provided with a pair of vertically extending elongated legs, generally designated, by the numeral, 124 and a rectangularly shaped support bracket, generally designated, by the numeral 132. The support bracket 132 includes a pair of spaced laterally extending members 134 and 136, and spaced horizontally extending members 138 and 140, respectively. The horizontally extending member 138 is coupled to extend between outermost portions of the laterally extending members 134 and 136 of the support member 132 and the horizontally extending member 140 is coupled to extend between the other outermost portions of the laterally extending members 134 and 136 so that an opening 142 is formed between the vertical and horizontally extending members. The support bracket 132 also includes a rectangularly shaped planar cover member 143 having an opening 144 (
Each one of the pair of vertically extending legs 124 is coupled at an upper portion thereof to an outermost portion of the horizontally extending member 138 of the support bracket 132.
The apparatus 120 is further provided with a shield, generally designated, by the numeral, 145. The shield 145 is provided with a vertically extending planar shaped member 146. The shield 145 is aligned with and coupled to extend vertically upwardly from the horizontally extending member 138 of the support bracket 132.
The apparatus 120 is also provided with a shield, generally designated, by the numeral 154. The shield 154 is provided with a vertically extending planar shaped member, generally designated by the numeral 156. The shield 154 is aligned with and coupled to extend vertically upwardly from the horizontally extending member 140 of the support bracket 132.
The apparatus 120 is also provided with a rectangularly shaped elongated support member, generally designated, by the numeral 164 which is supported on the under surface of the planar shaped cover member 143. The rectangularly shaped elongated support member 164 has an internal opening 166 formed therein which is aligned adjacent to the opening 144 in the planar shaped cover member 143. The rectangularly shaped elongated support member 164 is additionally provided with an opening 168 (
The rectangularly shaped elongated member 164 also provides an additional support which, cooperates with the pair of elongated leg members 124, to properly maintain the apparatus 120 in the desired upright position.
The apparatus 120 is also provided with a second elongated support member, generally designated, by the numeral, 180 which is coupled to the horizontally extending support member 138 of the support bracket 132 adjacent one end of the shield 145. The second elongated support member 180 includes an internal elongated opening 182 formed therethrough. The second elongated support member 180 is also provided with an opening 184 which is formed on an outermost surface thereof to extend into the internal opening 182. An engaging member or screw 186 is mounted for movement in the opening 184.
When it is desired to clean the roller 12, the roller is supported in the apparatus by inserting a handle 88 of the roller in the opening 166 in the rectangularly shaped elongated support member 164. The engaging screw 176 is then moved into the opening 164 to engage the handle 88 so that the handle is held in a stationary position. This positions the roller 12 between the shields 145 and 154 in an upwardly ascending diagonal position so that the shields 145 and 154, respectively are on each side the roller. As in the first and second embodiments in this position once a spray of water from, for example, a water hose, is directed against the exposed portion of the roller the roller will spin thereby allowing the paint to be washed out of the roller. While this is going on because of the position of the roller 12 between the shields the user is shielded from the paint and water spray that would normally spread over the user and other areas in proximity of the user.
Similarly when it is desired to clean the brush 14 a handle 90 of the brush is supported in the apparatus 10 by inserting the handle 90 in the opening 182 of the second elongated support member 180 so that the brush is supported upright in the opening. The engaging member 186 is then inserted through the opening 182 of the elongated support member 180 and into engagement with the handle 90. This holds the brush 14 in place in the elongated support member 180. In this instance a spray of water can be directed first at one side of the brush 14 and then at the other side until the brush is thoroughly clean.
Additionally, when it is desired to clean the roller pan 16 (
Once the cleaning process is completed the paint roller 12, paint brush 14 and roller pan 16 (
It should be further understood that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the claim.
This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/799,357 filed on Apr. 23, 2010.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12799357 | Apr 2010 | US |
Child | 13815969 | US |