Fluid seal for a pour spout of a paint container lid member

• US 6,290,110 B1
• Filed: 10/13/1999
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: X-Pert Paint Mixing Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: X-Pert Paint Mixing Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Boers, Arie
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US09/416,871
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 222/144, 222/153.01, 222/153.03, 222/164, 222/166, 222/470-474, 222/559, 222/562, 222/563, 222/570, 222/571
• US Class Current: 222/559
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 27/88 with a separate receptacle-stirrer unit that is adapted to be coupled to a drive mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/5011 portable during use, e.g. hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/84 Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/45 Closures or doors specially adapted for mixing receptacles; Operating mechanisms therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B44D 3/127 Covers or lids for paint cans covers or lids for containers of general type B65D
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 39/00 Closures arranged within necks or pouring openings or in discharge apertures, e.g. stoppers lids or covers B65D43/00; with additional securing elements B65D45/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/286 between planar parts

Abstract

Disclosed is a lid member for an original container of a liquid paint component. The lid member is usable with a system for dispensing the paint component from its original container into a paint receptacle according to a paint formula to form a liquid paint mixture. The lid member includes a base portion that is adapted to releasably engage an open top of the paint component container. The base portion has a pour spout through which the paint component can be dispensed, and a movable cover element. The cover element is movable between a closed state, wherein the cover element covers the pour spout, and an opened state, wherein the pour spout is uncovered and the paint component can be dispensed from its original container and into the paint receptacle. A resilient seal mechanism is positioned between the pour spout and the movable cover element. The resilient seal mechanism prevents leakage of the paint component, upon tilting of the original container, out of the pour spout past the cover element in the closed state of the cover element.

Claims

1. A lid member for an original container of a pourable component, the lid member being usable with a system for dispensing the pourable component from its original container into a receptacle according to a formula to form a mixture of pourable components, the lid member comprising:

a base portion adapted to releasably engage an open top of a side wall of the original container of the pourable component;

a pour spout on the base portion through which the pourable component can be dispensed from its original container, the pour spout having a circumferential, planar edge surface;

a cover element for the pour spout, the cover element having a planar lower surface and being movably mounted to the base portion such that the cover element is movable between a closed state, wherein the cover element covers the pour spout, and an opened state, wherein the pour spout is uncovered and the pourable component can be dispensed from its original container through the pour spout into the receptacle upon tilting of the original container; and

resilient seal means mounted to the circumferential, planar edge surface of the pour spout at an engagement interface between the circumferential, planar edge surface of the pour spout and the planar lower surface of the movable cover element, the resilient seal means preventing leakage of the pourable component, upon tilting of the original container, out of the pour spout past the cover element in the closed state of the cover element.

2. The lid member of claim 1 wherein the circumferential, planar edge surface of the pour spout includes a circumferentially extending channel, and wherein the resilient seal means is mounted in the channel.

3. The lid member of claim 2 wherein the resilient seal means is an O-ring.

4. The lid member of claim 3 wherein the O-ring is made of rubber.

5. The lid member of claim 1 wherein the resilient seal means is a U-shaped resilient seal member having an engagement channel for receiving the circumferential, planar edge surface of the pour spout for mounting the resilient seal member to the pour spout.

6. The lid member of claim 5 wherein a sealing surface of the resilient seal member includes a circumferential ridge that engages and conforms to the shape of the planar lower surface of the cover element.

7. The lid member of claim 5 wherein the resilient seal member includes a circumferential extension that engages and conforms to the shape of the planar lower surface of the cover element.

8. The lid member of claim 7 wherein the circumferential extension is directed exterior to the pour spout.

9. The lid member of claim 5 wherein the resilient seal member is made of rubber.

10. The lid member of claim 1 wherein the pourable component is a liquid paint component, the receptacle is a paint receptacle, the formula is a paint formula, and the mixture of pourable components is a liquid paint mixture.

11. A lid member for an original container of a pourable component, the lid member being usable with a system for dispensing the pourable component from its original container into a receptacle according to a formula to form a mixture of pourable components, the lid member comprising:

a base portion adapted to releasably engage an open top of a side wall of the original container of the pourable component;

a pour spout on the base portion through which the pourable component can be dispensed from its original container, the pour spout having a circumferential, planar edge surface;

a cover element for the pour spout, the cover element having a planar lower surface and being movably mounted to the base portion such that the cover element is movable between a closed state, wherein the cover element covers the pour spout, and an opened state, wherein the pour spout is uncovered and the pourable component can be dispensed from its original container through the pour spout into the receptacle upon tilting of the original container; and

resilient seal means mounted to the cover element so as to cover the planar lower surface of the cover element at an engagement interface between the circumferential, planar edge surface of the pour spout and the planar lower surface of the cover element so that the resilient seal means engages and conforms to a shape of the entire circumferential, planar edge surface of the pour spout, the resilient seal means preventing leakage of the pourable component, upon tilting of the original container, out of the pour spout past the cover element in the closed state of the cover element, the resilient seal means including;

a first substrate of a resilient foam that engages the planar lower surface of the cover element; and

a second substrate of a smooth polyethylene that engages the circumferential, planar edge surface of the pour spout to allow the cover element to readily move between the closed and open states.

12. The lid member of claim 11 wherein the resilient seal means covers the entire planar lower surface of the cover element.

13. The lid member of claim 11 wherein the pourable component is a liquid paint component, the receptacle is a paint receptacle, the formula is a paint formula, and the mixture of pourable components is a liquid paint mixture.