Patent Application
20200037741
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The field of the present invention generally relates to paint containers and the like and, more particularly, to paint containers for relatively small quantities of paint such as for paint samples, touch-up, and the like.
When trying to decide which color to paint walls, ceilings etc. in a home, homeowners often compare paint samples side by side to get a preview of the differences between the paint colors and how the wall, ceiling or other item will appear once painted. The types of paint samples typically available are paint chips, paint fans, and paint testers. Paint chips are loose squares or rectangles having the paint color. They are typically printed paper and do not have actual paint so there can be a wide variation from the actual paint color. Paint fans are pallets of bound paint swatches arranged in graduated form. The swatches are actually painted so there should not be any variation from the actual paint unless it is old and faded etc. However, it is still difficult to see what the actual wall would look like when painted in each color. Paint testers are small containers of paint that can be used to paint a portion of the actual wall to be painted. Thus, it provides a realistic view of what the wall will look like once fully painted.
While the paint testers may provide the most realistic view of what the wall will look like once fully painted, paint samples or testers are currently sold in cans or bottles in sizes typically ranging from 8 ounces to a quart. Therefore, most of the paint is discarded after using only a small fraction of the quantity of paint supplied. This is wasteful and not environmentally friendly.
Additionally, the paint testers are typically produced onsite at a retailer when requested by a consumer. Since each color of the paint must be custom mixed and packaged it can be very time consuming and thus the consumer may need to with a considerable period of time or return for pick-up at a later time. It also takes up the time of the retail clerk who must prepare each order on site.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for improved paint samples and the like and/or methods of preparing and providing paint samples.
Disclosed are containers and methods for providing paint that overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art described above. Disclosed is a pre-packaged paint applicator comprising, in combination, a vacuum sealed package, and a new paint applicator sealed within the vacuum-sealed package and having a paint receiving portion pre-loaded with paint.
Also disclosed is a method for providing a paint sample comprising the steps of, in combination, pre-loading a paint receiving portion of a new paint applicator with paint, placing the pre-loaded paint receiving portion of the new paint applicator into a package, withdrawing air from the package and vacuum sealing the pre-loaded paint receiving portion of the new paint applicator within the package, and distributing the pre-packaged and pre-loaded paint applicator.
Further disclosed is a kit comprising, in combination, a plurality of pre-packaged paint applicators each comprising a vacuum sealed package and a new paint applicator sealed within the vacuum-sealed package and having a paint receiving portion pre-loaded with paint.
From the foregoing disclosure and the following more detailed description of various preferred embodiments it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention provides a significant advance in the technology and art of containers and methods for providing paint. Particularly significant in this regard is the potential the invention affords for providing small quantities of paint that not only reduce waste, but also can be shipped easily and inexpensively to retail establishments and directly to consumers. Additional features and advantages of various preferred embodiments will be better understood in view of the detailed description provided below.
These and further features of the present invention will be apparent with reference to the following description and drawings.
It should be understood that the appended drawings are not necessarily to scale, presenting a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features illustrative of the basic principles of the invention. The specific design features of the paint samples as disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions and shapes of the various components will be determined in part by the particular intended application and use environment. Certain features of the illustrated embodiments have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate visualization and clear understanding. In particular, thin features may be thickened, for example, for clarity or illustration. All references to direction and position, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the orientation of the paint samples illustrated in the drawings.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, to those who have knowledge or experience in this area of technology, that many uses and design variations are possible for the paint samples disclosed herein. The following detailed discussion of various alternative and preferred embodiments will illustrate the general principles of the invention with regard to paint samples. Other embodiments suitable for other applications will be apparent to those skilled in the art given the benefit of this disclosure, for example a loaded paint brush head or the like.
The illustrated vacuum-sealed package 12 is a vacuum-sealed bag but any other suitable type of vacuum-sealed package can alternatively be utilized. The illustrated vacuum-sealed bag 12 is formed from two generally planar side walls or sheets 20 of plastic which are each rectangular shaped but any other suitable shape or configuration can alternatively be utilized. The two plastic sheets 20 are positioned generally back-to-back and sealed together about the perimeter to form a vacuum-sealed interior cavity between the two plastic sheets 20 for holding the pre-loaded new paint applicator 14. The illustrated plastic sheets 20 are sealed or secured together with four thermal or heat welds 22 with one of the four heat welds extending along each of the four edges of the rectangular-shaped plastic sheets 20. It is noted that the plastic sheets 20 can alternatively be sealed together in any other suitable manner and/or the thermal or heat welds 22 can alternatively have any other suitable configuration.
The illustrated plastic sheets 20 comprise a non-porous material having a low oxygen transmission rate (OTR) including but not limited to nylon, EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol), Biax-nylon-6, OPET (oriented polyester), and the like. A material is considered a “high oxygen barrier” if its oxygen transmission rate is less than 1 cc/100 in2/24 hr. The plastic sheets 20 preferably have an OTR of about 3 cc/100 in2/24 hr or less, more preferably have an OTR of about 2 cc/100 in2/24 hr or less, and most preferably have an OTR of about 1 cc/100 in2/24 hr. The plastic sheets 20 can have any suitable thickness and any suitable number of one or more layers. For example, but not limited to, each plastic sheet 20 could have a single layer of nylon or can have multiple layers of nylon and poly-ethylene. The plastic sheets 20 can also be enhanced by coating or metalizing to enhance the OTR such as, for example, metallized OPET, PVOH-coated OPP (AOH), metalized Biax Nylon-6, PVdC-coated OPET, high barrier PVdC-coated OPP, PvDC-coated Biax Nylon-6, metallized OPP, scalable PVdC-coated OPP, and the like. It is noted that the plastic sheets 20 can alternatively comprise any other suitable material and/or have any other suitable configuration.
The illustrated new paint applicator 12 is in the form a roller cover 24 but any other suitable type of new paint applicator 12 can alternatively be utilized such as, for example, a paint pad cover 26, a brush head 28, and the like. The illustrated roller cover 24 has an interior support tube 30 and the paint receiving portion 16 secured to an exterior surface of the support tube 30. The support tube 30 is sized and shaped to cooperate with a paint roller frame 32 having a handle 34 and a laterally extending roller 36 supported thereby. The roller 36 is rotatable relative to the handle 34. The roller cover 24 is selectively installed onto and removed from the roller 36 of the paint roller frame 32 and rotates as desired with the roller 36 during a painting operation (best seen in
The paint receiving portion 16 can be any suitable material that can absorb or soak up paint and then release a layer of the paint on surface to be painted when rolled along the surface to be painted. The rolling action creates a vacuum that pulls the paint off the roller cover 24. The paint receiving portion 16 of the paint roller cover 24 is typically a fiber such as, for example, lamb's wool, mohair, synthetic fabric, and the like, or foam such as, for example, Ethylene-vinyl acetate foam, urethane foam, and the like. Lamb's wool roller is best for oil-based paints and painting on any surface texture. Synthetic fabric is best for water-based paints and work for any surface textures. Foam is best with oil or high-gloss latex paints, and work best for smooth or textured surfaces. The thickness or length of the paint receiving portion's pile or nap can be any suitable thickness but is typically 1/16-inch to 1½-inch. It is noted that the paint receiving portion 16 of the paint roller cover 24 can alternatively be any other suitable material, size and/or have any other suitable configuration.
The illustrated new paint applicator 14 is pre-loaded with desired paint 18. That, is, the paint receiving portion 16 of the new paint applicator 14 has absorbed the desired amount, type and color of the paint 18 and is ready for painting prior to being sealed into the vacuum-sealed package 12. The paint 18 can be of any suitable type such as, for example, an oil-based paint, a water-based paint, a stain, and the like. The paint 18 can also be of any suitable color. The paint receiving portion 16 of the new paint applicator 14 is preferably pre-loaded with about 3 ounces or less of the paint 18, is more preferably, pre-loaded with about 2 ounces or less of the paint 18, and most preferably pre-loaded with about 1 ounce or less of the paint 18. The small quantity of paint 18 reduces waist when used as sample paint, touch-up paint, or the like.
The illustrated vacuum-sealed package 12 also includes content information 38 content information provided thereon. The Illustrated content information 38 is printed or marked onto a label 40 secured to an outside surface of the package with adhesive or the like but it is noted that the content information 38 can alternatively be directly printed or marked on the outside surface of the vacuum-sealed package 12. The illustrated content information 38 can include (1) paint brand; (2) paint product number; (3) paint name; (4) paint type (such as exterior or interior); (5) packaging date, and/or (6) expiration date or use by date. It is noted that the content information 38 can alternatively include any one or more of these items of information and/or can additionally include any other suitable item(s) of information relating the vacuum-sealed package 12 or its contents.
A method of making the pre-packaged and pre-loaded paint applicator assembly 10 includes the steps of obtaining the new paint applicator 14 such as the paint roller cover 24, and obtaining a suitable quantity of the paint 18 desired to be supplied for sampling or touch-up etc. The paint receiving portion 16 of the new paint applicator 14 is then loading with the paint 18. The new paint applicator 14 can be loaded with the paint 18 by soaking, dipping, rolling, spraying, rubbing, wiping, and/or the like. The pre-loaded new paint applicator 14 is then placed entirely within the package 12 such as the illustrated plastic bag through an opening. The pre-loaded new paint applicator 14 is then vacuum sealed within the package 12. The open end of the package 12 is placed within a vacuum chamber where a vacuum generating device removes air from the package 12. With the air removed, the flexible walls of the bag 12 collapse to closely conform to the shape of the pre-loaded new paint applicator 14. Once the air is removed from the package 12, a sealing device seals the open end of the package with the final thermal or heat weld 22. The pre-packaged and pre-loaded paint applicator assembly 10 can then be distributed or sold directly to consumers or to retailers for distribution or sale to consumers. The consumers can tear open the vacuum-sealed package 12, remove, the pre-loaded new paint applicator 14 from the package 12, attach the pre-loaded new paint applicator 14 to the handle 34, and use the relatively small quantity of paint 18 pre-loaded onto the paint receiving portion 16 of the new paint applicator 14 as a paint sample or as touch-up paint etc. The one-time use package 12 can be discarded. The above illustrated method enables relatively small quantity paint samples to be prepared and stored in advance of sale or distribution to consumers and/or off site of the location of sale or distribution to consumers.
The illustrated new paint applicator 14 of the second embodiment is in the form a paint pad cover 76. The illustrated paint pad cover 76 has a rigid backing plate 42 covered with the paint receiving portion 16 on one side. The backing plate 42 is sized and shaped to cooperate with a paint pad frame 44 having a handle 46 and an attachment portion or pad 48 supported thereby. The backing plate 42 can be selectively installed onto and removed from the attachment portion or pad 48 of the paint pad frame 44 so that the paint pad cover 26 moves with the paint pad frame 44 during a painting operation (best seen in
The paint receiving portion 16 can be any suitable material that can absorb or soak up paint and then release a layer of the paint on surface to be painted when rubbed or wiped across the surface to be painted. The wiping action rubs the paint off the paint pad cover 26 onto the surface to be painted. The illustrated paint receiving portion 16 is a pad of plastic foam faced with nylon fiber pile. However, the paint receiving portion 16 can alternatively comprise brush bristles, open cell foam, woven fabric, and/or various other fluid absorbing or wicking material suitable for painting. It is noted that the paint receiving portion 16 of the paint pad cover 26 can alternatively be any other suitable material, size and/or have any other suitable configuration.
The illustrated new paint applicator 14 of the third embodiment is in the form a paint brush head 28. The illustrated paint brush head 28 has a rigid bristle holder 52 with the paint receiving portion 16 in the form of a plurality of bristles 54 extending from one side. The bristle holder 52 is sized and shaped to cooperate with a paint brush frame 50 having a handle 56 and an attachment portion 56 supported thereby. The bristle holder 52 is selectively installed onto and removed from the attachment portion 58 of the paint brush frame 50 and moves with the paint brush frame 50 as desired during a painting operation (best seen in
The paint receiving portion 16 can be any suitable plurality of bristles 54 that can absorb or soak up paint and then release a layer of the paint 18 on surface to be painted when rubbed or wiped across the surface to be painted. The wiping action rubs the paint off the bristles 54 onto the surface to be painted. The bristles 54 can be any suitable natural or synthetic material. Natural bristles are typically made from some sort of animal hair, such as hog or badger. Synthetic bristles are typically made from nylon, polyester, or a combination of both. Natural-bristles are best for applying oil-based alkyd paints, and synthetic-bristles are best for applying water-based latex paints. It is noted that the paint receiving portion 16 of the paint brush head 28 can alternatively be any other suitable material, size, and/or have any other suitable configuration.
As shown in
Any of the features or attributes of the above-described embodiments and variations can be used in combination with any of the other features and attributes of the above-described embodiments and variations as desired.
From the foregoing disclosure and detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent that the illustrated pre-packaged and pre-loaded paint applicators provide an efficient and inexpensive way to distribute a small quantity of paint such as, for example, paint color samples, touch-up paint, and the like. It will also be apparent that the illustrated pre-packaged and pre-loaded paint applicators provide an efficient and inexpensive method to produce paint color samples, touch-up paint, and the like in advance and/or off-site so that retail employees are not required to prepare cans of color sample of touch-up paint on-site and on-demand. Additionally, the above-described packages and methods are more environmentally friendly than prior art because there is less wasted paint that must be disposed.
From the foregoing disclosure and detailed description of certain preferred embodiments, it will be apparent that various modifications, additions and other alternative embodiments are possible without departing from the true scope and spirit of the present invention. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the present invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the benefit to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
