1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the painting of structures (see DEFINITIONS section) and more particularly to the painting of structures using multiple kinds of paint (see DEFINITIONS section). Note that references to paint, painting and/or painters made herein will refer only to the painting of structures and not (unless otherwise indicated) refer to painting of other objects such as artist canvasses, eyelids, eyelashes, small scale models and so on.
2. Description of the Related Art
The painting of structures is known. Typically, at any given time while painting, a painter uses a single bucket of paint and a painting implement having a handle and a single paint head. Typically, when structures are to painted with multiple colors, then the painter uses multiple containers of paint, with each container having its own associated painting implement.
U.S. Pat. 11,302 (reissued, herein referred to as “Deming”) discloses a paint bucket having a partition therein so that two colors of paint may be carried in a single bucket. More specifically, the Demming bucket includes a generally planar partition across the middle of its interior space to form two compartments which are fluid tight with respect to each other. This is potentially helpful because it means that the painter can carry around and keep track of fewer paint cans (for example, one paint container, instead of two, for a two color job).
Double-ended brushes for applying facial make-up are know. An example of this is shown by U.S. Pat. D458,456 (“Dragan”). It is also believed that double-ended paintbrushes may known, as of 2008 at the latest, in the area of scale modeling for toy model airplanes, toy model automobiles and the like. It is noted that these types of painting, such as scale model painting and applying makeup are considered to be highly non-analogous to the painting of structures, largely because structure painting is performed on such a vastly larger scale.
The following published documents may also include helpful background information: (i) U.S. Pat. No. 3,142,080 (“Nelson”); (ii) U.S. Pat. No. 2,039,510 (“Anderson”); (iii) U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,633 (“Abbey”); (iv) US patent application 2008/0035650 (“Rittman”); (v) US patent application 2007/0138190 (“Byrne”); (vi) U.S. Pat. No. 6,953,128 (“Pfister”); and/or US patent application (vii) 2006/0081637 (“Lundy”).
Description of the Related Art Section Disclaimer: To the extent that specific publications are discussed above in this Description of the Related Art Section, these discussions should not be taken as an admission that the discussed publications (for example, published patents) are prior art for patent law purposes. For example, some or all of the discussed publications may not be sufficiently early in time, may not reflect subject matter developed early enough in time and/or may not be sufficiently enabling so as to amount to prior art for patent law purposes. To the extent that specific publications are discussed above in this Description of the Related Art Section, they are all hereby incorporated by reference into this document in their respective entirety(ies).
Generally speaking, the various aspects of the present invention relate to methods and systems where a structure painter uses a multiple compartment paint bucket in conjunction with a double ended brush. The conventional thinking is that structure painters should paint with only a single color at a time, to avoid mixing colors and similar potential mishaps. However, the present invention recognizes that painting a structure with only a single color at any given time requires much more time than painting the structure with two or more colors (or types of paint) at one time. The extra time required to paint with one color after another in series is so great that it is believed that many (if not most) structure painters will be more effective and efficient on many jobs if they paint with two colors at once, notwithstanding the increased potential for painting mishaps and/or errors.
This increased efficiency and/or effectiveness is especially improved if special equipment according to the present invention is used to paint with two colors at once. Still, before proceeding to an identification of this special painting equipment, it should be realized that the very idea that a structure painter might want to paint with two (or more) colors (or different types of paint) at once may be considered as an important indicia of creativity and inventiveness with respect to the present invention. To put it a slightly different way, recognizing that single-color-at-a-time-structure painting represented a problem to be solved may be considered as inventive and creative problem recognition.
One aspect of the present invention is a double ended brush, where both ends are sized and shaped to be suitable for painting structures. It is noted that small double ended brushes for applying make-up and/or painting small scale models (for example, model airplanes) are not suitable for painting structures as would be readily understood by those of skill in the art of painting structures.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a paint bucket having an outer shell and at least two removable inner sleeves. The inner sleeves are each shaped, sized and otherwise structured to hold paint, and a sufficient quantity of paint for painting structures. The inner sleeves are further sized and shaped to at least substantially fill the profile of a top opening in the outer shell. For example, if there are two inner sleeves, then each one may be sized and shaped to occupy 50% of the area of the top opening of the outer shell. Preferably, the inner sleeves are sized and shaped to collectively fill substantially the entire interior volume of the outer shell. Preferably, each inner sleeve includes a rim that extends beyond the interior space of the outer shell, when the inner sleeve is in place inside of the outer shell, with the rim being sized and shaped to allow a user to pull the inner sleeve out of the outer shell by grabbing and pulling the rim portion. In some preferred embodiments, the outer shell and each inner sleeve may be shaped in a corresponding manner so that the inner shells will only fit within the outer shell in a certain predetermined orientation, and will not move relative to the outer shell when all of the inner sleeves are in place within the outer shell. In some embodiments of the present invention, the inner shells may be secured within the outer shell to some extent by a friction or pressure fit or by a locking device, but this is not necessarily preferred. In some embodiments of the present invention, the inner sleeves may be sized and shaped to fit within an outer shell that has standard, predetermined dimensions (such as a standard paint can or a standard can of drive way asphalt). In this case the inner sleeves may be sold to consumers without the inner shell, with the understanding that the end user will separately obtain the standardized outer shell from some other source.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a painter uses the double ended structure painting brush, according to the present invention, in conjunction with the multiple sleeve paint bucket, again according to the present invention. In order to facilitate this method, kits may be sold that include at least a double ended brush and two inner shells.
Various embodiments of the present invention may exhibit one or more of the following objects, features and/or advantages:
(i) painting of structures with multiple types of paint can be accomplished more quickly;
(ii) improved quality of structure painting; and/or
(iii) improved safety due to fewer trips up and down ladders during painting.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a paint bucket assembly includes: an outer shell; and a plurality of inner sleeves. Each inner sleeve of the plurality of inner sleeves includes a peripheral wall and a bottom wall. The bottom wall and peripheral wall of each inner sleeve respectively defines a top opening and a fluid tight paint holding chamber. Each paint holding chamber has a sufficient volume so that the associated inner sleeve can be used for painting a structure. Each top opening has a sufficient area so that the associated inner sleeve can be used for painting a structure. The outer shell comprises a bottom wall and a peripheral wall. The bottom wall and the peripheral wall of the outer shell define an interior space of the outer shell and a sleeve insertion opening. The outer shell and plurality of inner sleeves are sized and/or shaped so that the plurality of inner sleeves can be at least partially inserted into the interior volume of outer shell, through the sleeve insertion opening. The outer shell and plurality of inner sleeves are further sized and/or shaped so that when all inner sleeves of the plurality of inner sleeves are inserted into the interior volume of outer shell, the inserted inner sleeves are sufficiently secured in proximity to each other by the inner sleeve so that the assembly can be used for structure painting.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a double ended painting implement includes: a first painting head; a first connection hardware set; a second painting head; a second connection hardware set; and a handle. The first paint head is structured, sized and/or shaped to be used for painting structures. The second paint head is structured, sized and/or shaped to be used for painting structures. The handle comprises a first head attachment end and a second head attachment end. The first connection hardware set is structured, located and/or connected to mechanically connect the first painting head to the first head attachment end. The second connection hardware set is structured, located and/or connected to mechanically connect the second painting head to the second head attachment end.
A painting implement includes: a first painting head (in the form of a paint brush including a plurality of parallel elongated bristles); a first connection hardware set; and a handle. The first paint head is structured, sized and/or shaped to be used for painting structures. The handle comprises a first head attachment end. The first connection hardware set is structured, located and/or connected to mechanically connect the first painting head to the first head attachment end. The first connection hardware set includes a trough.
The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
As one example, to evoke one typical way that the present invention might be used, imagine a structure painter painting fascia in a tight alleyway. Conventionally, a large chunk of her day will be spent travelling up and down a ladder, moving a ladder and switching buckets and brushes every time that paint color or paint type is switched. Painting in two colors effectively doubles the number of trips up the ladder and effectively doubles the number of times that the ladder needs to be moved. However, by using a multiple compartment paint bucket and a double ended structure painting brush, as explained in more detail below, the set of trips up and down the ladder associated with merely changing color, as well as the movements of the ladder associated with changing color, can be avoided, thereby greatly reducing the amount of work the structure painter must do. Also, while one might strongly believe that dripping paint would be an insurmountable problem when a structure painter uses a double ended structure painting brush according to the present invention, this turns out to be much less problematic than it might seem to one of ordinary skill in the relevant arts, at least in the experience of the present inventor. It is true that some extra margin of care needs to be taken when using a double ended brush, but, perhaps counter-intuitively, not so much extra care that the efficiency gains noted above are offset or rendered nugatory.
It is noted that the sleeves are sized to hold a substantial amount of paint—enough for painting structures (as opposed to being sized for painting, say model airplanes or art canvasses or watercolor paintings). The shell and/or sleeves may be made of metal, plastic and/or any other material or materials (now known or to be developed in the future) that are suitable for holding paint. In some embodiments, the sleeves may be disposable and intended only for a single use. This might potentially open up the sleeves to being constructed of non-traditional structure paint holding materials, such as paper and/or Styrofoam. An appeal of disposable sleeves is that can be discarded, and thereby avoid the need for cleaning.
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The fact that the inner sleeves are removably insertable into the outer sleeve leads to several advantages over multiple compartment paint containers that do not have removable sleeves. One advantages is that a sleeve can be removed to fill/empty it with paint, so that it does not need to be filled/emptied in close proximity to the other compartment(s) in the multiple compartment paint container. Another advantage is that the sleeve can be removed for easier cleaning. Another advantage is that several sleeves may be filled and these may be interchangeably inserted as needed as the structure painter moves from an area having one color scheme to an area having another color scheme. Providing removable sleeves in an outer shell is extremely beneficial as far as paint cleaning, paint changing and paint color changing operations go. It is much easier for the structure painter to move a shell away from the outer shell and away from the other compartment(s) prior to cleaning a shell, changing paint color (that is cleaning and refilling) and/or refilling an inner shell with paint. It should be kept in mind that because a structure is being painted, there are significant volumes of paint generally involved, with an attendant high potential for spills and splashing of paint and/or cleaning fluid. If an inner shell is removed from the outer shell, these inevitable spills and splashes will not harm the outer shell, the other inner sleeve(s) and/or the contents of the other sleeve(s).
In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the sleeves cannot turn in the angular direction A (see
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As a design alternative, the bottom wall of the outer shell may be hinged, or have two hinged segments, to allow insertion of sleeves through the bottom wall of the outer shell. As a further alternative, the sleeves could be inserted through an opening, door or recess, in the peripheral wall. However, in preferred embodiments of the present invention, the inner shells are lowered into the top opening of the outer shell.
The crenellated bristle pattern described in the preceding paragraph is believed to be helpful for preventing and/or reducing dripping. This is especially helpful in the context of a double ended painting implement because it is not good to drip on the painting head at the other end from the crenellated bristles. However, the crenellated bristles may also be useful and inventive in the context of a single ended paintbrush because it is better to prevent drips even when a single ended paintbrush is used by a structure painter painting the old-fashioned way, with a single paint color at a time. While no exhaustive study has been undertaken by the inventor to determine why the crenellations prevent dripping, it may have to do with the fact that excess paint can be more effectively wiped off the tip of the paintbrush immediately after it is dipped in the paint (for example, wiped off at the top of the inner sleeve). It also may be that the crenellations increase the effective bristle surface at the tip of the brush, thereby increasing the surface tension per unit volume of the paint at the tip of the brush. Regardless of the theory, the crenellations seem to work well. It is also believed that the crenellations may decrease the weight of the brush after it is dipped and wiped, which, if true, would help reduce the exertion required by a structure painter over the course of a work shift.
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Any and all published documents mentioned herein shall be considered to be incorporated by reference, in their respective entireties, herein to the fullest extent of the patent law. The following definitions are provided for claim construction purposes:
Present invention: means at least some embodiments of the present invention; references to various feature(s) of the “present invention” throughout this document do not mean that all claimed embodiments or methods include the referenced feature(s).
Embodiment: a machine, manufacture, system, method, process and/or composition that may (not must) meet the embodiment of a present, past or future patent claim based on this patent document; for example, an “embodiment” might not be covered by any claims filed with this patent document, but described as an “embodiment” to show the scope of the invention and indicate that it might (or might not) covered in a later arising claim (for example, an amended claim, a continuation application claim, a divisional application claim, a reissue application claim, a re-examination proceeding claim, an interference count); also, an embodiment that is indeed covered by claims filed with this patent document might cease to be covered by claim amendments made during prosecution.
First, second, third, etc. (“ordinals”): Unless otherwise noted, ordinals only serve to distinguish or identify (e.g., various members of a group); the mere use of ordinals shall not be taken to necessarily imply order (for example, time order, space order).
Mechanically connected: Includes both direct mechanical connections, and indirect mechanical connections made through intermediate components; includes rigid mechanical connections as well as mechanical connection that allows for relative motion between the mechanically connected components; includes, but is not limited, to welded connections, solder connections, connections by fasteners (for example, nails, bolts, screws, nuts, hook-and-loop fasteners, knots, rivets, quick-release connections, latches and/or magnetic connections), force fit connections, friction fit connections, connections secured by engagement caused by gravitational forces, pivoting or rotatable connections, and/or slidable mechanical connections.
Kind of paint: may be different colors of paint, or different paints of the same color that differ only in viscosity, chemical makeup, homogeneity or the like.
Painting structures: refers to painting architectural structures and does not include small scale painting such as applying paint to scale models (for example, toy model airplanes), commercial products or the application of makeup to the human body.
To the extent that the definitions provided above are consistent with ordinary, plain, and accustomed meanings (as generally shown by documents such as dictionaries and/or technical lexicons), the above definitions shall be considered supplemental in nature. To the extent that the definitions provided above are inconsistent with ordinary, plain, and accustomed meanings (as generally shown by documents such as dictionaries and/or technical lexicons), the above definitions shall control.
Unless otherwise explicitly provided in the claim language, steps in method steps or process claims need only be performed in the same time order as the order the steps are recited in the claim only to the extent that impossibility or extreme feasibility problems dictate that the recited step order be used. This broad interpretation with respect to step order is to be used regardless of whether the alternative time ordering(s) of the claimed steps is particularly mentioned or discussed in this document—in other words, any step order discussed in the above specification shall be considered as required by a method claim only if the step order is explicitly set forth in the words of the method claim itself. Also, if some time ordering is explicitly set forth in a method claim, the time ordering claim language shall not be taken as an implicit limitation on whether claimed steps are immediately consecutive in time, or as an implicit limitation against intervening steps.
The present application claims priority to U.S. design patent application No. 29/308, 717, filed on 2 Jul. 2008; all of the foregoing patent-related document(s) are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their respective entirety(ies).