Patent Application
20090106892
The present invention relates to draining devices, and more specifically to a sink cover formed with a tray having a drain connectable to the drain of a sink and having a shroud extending therefrom to cover the interior of the sink.
When applying a coat of paint to a desired surface, many different types of implements are employed to enable the paint to be more easily applied to the surface, including various types of brushes and rollers. After these implements have been used, they need to be cleaned in order to remove any remaining paint on the implements such that they can be used again to apply a different coat and/or color of paint to a surface.
When these implements are being cleaned, most often the implements are placed within a sink so that the paint can be washed off of the implements to flow down the drain of sink after being removed from the implement. However, the paint being removed from the implements, when contacting the surface of the sink, can stain the sink surface, which is a highly undesirable situation.
As a result, it is desirable to develop a device that enables the painting implements to be cleaned in a sink but that also prevents the paint being removed from the implements from contacting and staining the surface of the sink.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, a sink cover is provided that includes a tray that can be positioned within a conventional sink and which has a drain opening that can be engaged with the drain formed in the surface of the sink. By positioning the tray in the sink in connection with the drain in the sink, any paint removed from the brushes and rollers over the tray is collected by the tray and directed through the drain opening in the tray into the drain for the sink without contacting the surface of the sink.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a shroud is connected to the tray to expand the coverage of the sink surface by the device. The shroud is connected opposite the tray to the sides of the sink, such that the shroud completely covers the entire surface of the sink to completely prevent any paint removed from the brushes and rollers from contacting the surface of the sink.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, a collar is rotatably secured to the tray around the central drain opening in the tray. The collar is dimensioned to be securely positioned within a conventional sink drain, thereby holding the tray in position with regard to the sink drain. Further, because the tray is rotatably connected to the collar, when the collar is engaged with the sink drain, the tray can be rotated within the collar to position the tray in the desired angular position within the sink.
According to still a further aspect of the present invention, the tray includes a number of engaging surfaces formed thereon that assist in removing the paint from the brushes and rollers.
Numerous other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the drawing figures.
The drawings illustrate the best mode currently contemplated of practicing the present invention.
In the drawings:
With reference now to the drawing figures in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the disclosure, a sink cover tray constructed according to the present invention is indicated generally at 10 in
The sloping surface 22 can also include a number of engagement members 24 disposed thereon. The engagement members 24 can have any desired configuration and can be formed integrally or separately from the sloping surface 22 on the body 12. The members 24 protrude outwardly from the sloping surface 22 in any desired configuration to engage an implement (not shown) being cleaned over or on the tray 10. Preferably the members 24 are disposed on the sloping surface 22 in a manner that conforms generally to the slope of the surface 22 on which the members 24 are formed, such that the members 24 assist in directing any fluids or other materials on the sloping surface 22 towards the central aperture 20. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the engagement members 24 are shaped similarly to the ridges (not shown) present on conventional paint trays (not shown) to aid in the removal of paint or other fluids from the implements being cleaned on the tray 10. Also, the members 24 are formed or disposed on the surface 22 in an angled orientation that directs any fluid or materials thereon along channels 25 defined between the members 24 that are directed towards the center of the body 12, and the central aperture 20. The body 12 can also include a number of collection chambers 27 thereon that are disposed at location spaced from the central aperture 20 in order to collect any fluid or materials on the sloping surface 22 that do not flow directly to the aperture 20.
Referring now to
The ring 30 provides an attachment point for a locating collar 32 that can be releasably engaged with the ring 30. The collar 32 is formed as a separate component from the body 12, of the same or similar materials used to form the body 12, and includes an upper flange 34 and a lower conduit 36 extending away from the flange 34. The conduit 36 defines a central passage 37 therein and includes a number of inwardly extending sections 38. The sections 38 are pivotable with respect to the remainder of the conduit 36 and include a recessed portion 39 that operates to engage the ring 30 and secure the collar 32 to the sleeve 14, while also providing a small amount of clearance between the collar 32 and the sleeve 14 between each of the sections 38. Additionally, the recessed portions 39 on each of the sections 38 can also slide along the ring 30, such that the collar 32 can rotate with regard to the sleeve 14. The conduit 36 also tapers inwardly from the upper flange 34 downwardly along the conduit 36, similarly to the sleeve 14.
The lower end of the conduit 36 is sized to be easily insertable and engageable within the drain opening of the sink, such that the conduit 36 will be securely held by the frictional engagement of the conduit 36 with the interior of the drain opening. Additionally, the ability of the sections 38 on the conduit 36 to slide along the ring 30 enables the sleeve 14 and the body 10 to rotate within the conduit 36, such that the body 10 can be positioned in a desired rotational position within the sink.
Looking now at
Also, the outer periphery 44 of the shroud 40 includes a number of attachment members 48 that are securable to the edge or outside of the edge of the sink. Due to the shape of the shroud 40 conforming to the shape of a conventional sink, the attachment members 48 can be positioned directly over the edge of the sink with which the cover tray 10 is utilized. By securing the attachment members 46 and 48 to the collar 32 underneath the body 10, and the sink, respectively, the shroud 40 forms a continuous surface with the collar 32 over the entire sink, such that no paint, or other fluids or materials, can pass between the shroud 40 and the collar 32, thereby protecting the entire surface of the sink.
In addition, when a fluid or material falls onto the shroud 40 instead of onto the body 12 of the tray 10, the fluid is not directed onto the tray 10, as the shroud 40 is secured to the collar 32 beneath the sloping surface 22 of the tray 10. However, due to the space defined between the conduit 36 and the sleeve 14 by the inwardly extending sections 38 on the conduit 36, any fluid that falls onto the shroud 40 will be directed inwardly towards the collar 32, and can flow downwardly along the shroud 40 and through the space between the conduit 36 and the sleeve 14, and ultimately into the sink drain.
Various alternatives are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention.
