Storage and dispensing container for paint

• US 6,634,525 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2002
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sherwin-Williams Company
• Original Assignee: Sherwin-Williams Company
• Inventors: Mascoli, Gregory J., Lee, Corrina, Scott, Mark W., Sullivan, John P., Rowles, Craig M., Slack, Robert, Bravo, Michael H., Markham, David, Van Buiten, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUECHNER, PATRICK M
• Application Number:
  US10/313,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20030111489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• Field of Search: 222/571, 222/568, 222/567, 222/556, 222/561, 222/143, 215/305, 215/304, 220/837
• US Class Current: 222/143
• CPC Class Codes: B44D 3/127 Covers or lids for paint cans covers or lids for containers of general type B65D
• CPC Class Codes: B44D 3/128 Wiping bars; Rim protectors; Drip trays; Spill catchers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/104 Handles formed separately
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/108 Bail handles, i.e. pivoted handles of generally semi-circular or loop shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/2876 fixed by means of a collar
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/32 Bail handles, i.e. pivoted rigid handles of generally semi-circular shape with pivot points on two opposed sides or wall parts of the conainter
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/42 Integral or attached nozzles or spouts
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00092 circular
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00296 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/005 both cup and skirt
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00537 on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00555 on both the inside and the outside
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/0087 outside of the lid
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00972 Collars or rings
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/0099 Integral supplemental sealing lips
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/0231 only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth of the container B65D43/0227 takes precedence

Abstract

An improved container for storing, dispensing and handling viscous and semi-viscous fluids such as paint and the like, having novel spout and other design features that enable substantially dripless dispensing and improved handling and storage.

Claims

1. A paint storage and dispensing product comprising:

(a.) a plastic body defining an interior volume, said body comprising;

a bottom portion including a bottom wall and at least one side wall; and

a top collar joined to the bottom portion, said collar having an enlarged opening extending therethrough for accessing the interior volume;

(b.) a bail-type swing handle connected to the body for holding the container, said swing handle having a grasp portion that is movable between a downward stowed position, wherein the grasp portion is disposed against the body and an upward carrying position, wherein the grasp portion is spaced above the body;

(c.) a pouring guide disposed in the collar and including a pour spout extending upwardly above the collar to enable pouring of paint over the collar; and

(d.) a cap engageable with the collar to close the opening, said cap having an interior height sufficient to accommodate the pour spout when the cap is engaged with the collar.

2. The product of claim 1, wherein the at least one side wall comprises two pairs of opposing side walls, said side walls being joined at rounded corners to provide at least part of the bottom portion of the body with a rectangular cross-section with rounded corners.

3. The product of claim 2, wherein an integral handle is formed in the bottom portion of the body at one of the corners.

4. The product of claim 2, wherein the cross-section of the bottom portion of the body is square with rounded corners.

5. The product of claim 4, wherein the product further comprises an architectural paint composition disposed in the interior volume of said body.

6. The product of claim 5, wherein the width of the bottom portion of the body between the side walls is about the same as the diameter of a conventional paint can.

7. The product of claim 5, wherein the collar is cylindrical and has a peripheral exterior surface with a thread formed therein, and wherein the cap has an interior thread for mating with the thread of the collar to secure the cap to the collar, over the opening.

8. The product of claim 7, wherein the pour spout is arcuate and is spaced from the collar so as to form a drip catch groove therebetween.

9. The product of claim 8, wherein the swing handle further comprises a pair of legs joined to opposing ends of the grasp portion, and wherein the legs and the grasp portion are composed of plastic.

10. The product of claim 9, wherein the swing handle further comprises a circular base joined to the legs, said base being disposed around the collar of the body, beneath the thread.

11. The product of claim 5, wherein end portions of the swing handle are pivotally attached to opposing portions of the body.

12. The product of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the swing handle is composed of metal.

13. The product of claim 5, wherein the opening in the collar has a cross dimension of at least 102 millimeters.

14. The product of claim 1, wherein the pour spout is arcuate and is spaced from the collar so as to form a drip catch groove therebetween, and wherein the cap further comprises an interior surface having a circular splash seal extending downwardly therefrom, said splash seal being disposed radially inward from the pour spout when the cap is secured to the collar.

15. The product of claim 1, wherein the pour spout is arcuate and is spaced from the collar so as to form a drip catch groove therebetween, and wherein the cap further comprises an interior surface having a circular splash seal extending downwardly therefrom, said splash seal extending below the drip catch groove when the cap is secured to the collar.

16. A consumer paint product comprising:

(a.) a plastic body defining an interior volume, said body comprising;

a bottom portion having an integral hollow handle formed therein, said bottom portion further including a bottom wall and two pairs of opposing side walls, said side walls being joined at rounded corners to provide at least part of the bottom portion with a rectangular cross-section with rounded corners, said integral handle not extending beyond the rectangular cross-section of the bottom portion; and

a top cylindrical collar joined to the bottom portion, said collar having an enlarged opening extending therethrough for accessing the interior volume and including a peripheral exterior surface with a thread formed therein;

(b.) an architectural paint composition disposed in said interior volume of said body; and

(c.) a cap having an interior thread for mating with the thread of the collar to secure the cap to the collar, over the opening.

17. The consumer paint product of claim 16 further comprising a pouring guide disposed in the collar and including an arcuate pour spout spaced inwardly from the collar so as to define a drip catch groove therebetween.

18. The consumer paint product of claim 17, wherein the pour spout extends upwardly above the collar to enable pouring of the paint composition over the collar.

19. The consumer paint product of claim 16 further comprising a bail-type swing handle connected to the body for holding the container, said swing handle having a grasp portion that is movable between a downward stowed position, wherein the grasp portion is disposed against the body and an upward carrying position, wherein the grasp portion is spaced above the body.

20. The container of claim 19, wherein the swing handle further comprises a pair of legs joined to opposing ends of the grasp portion, and wherein the legs and the grasp portion are composed of plastic.

21. The consumer paint product of claim 16, wherein the integral handle is formed in the bottom portion of the body at one of the corners.

22. The container of claim 21, wherein the cross-section of the bottom portion of the body is square with rounded corners and the width of the bottom portion of the body between the side walls is about the same as the diameter of a conventional paint can.

23. A container for holding paint, said container comprising:

(a.) a plastic body defining an interior volume, said body comprising;

a bottom portion having a hollow integral handle formed therein, said bottom portion including a bottom wall and at least one side wall, said at least one side wall providing the bottom portion with a cross-section within which the integral handle is disposed;

a top collar joined to the bottom portion, said collar having an enlarged opening extending therethrough for accessing the interior volume;

(b.) a bail-type swing handle connected to the body for holding the container, said swing handle having a grasp portion that is movable between a downward stowed position, wherein the grasp portion is disposed against the body and an upward carrying position, wherein the grasp portion is spaced above the body; and

(c.) a cap engageable with the collar to close the opening.

24. The product of claim 23, wherein the collar is cylindrical and has a peripheral exterior surface with a thread formed therein, and wherein the cap has an interior thread for mating with the thread of the collar to secure the cap to the collar, over the opening.

25. The container of claim 24 further comprising a pouring guide disposed in the collar and including a pour spout extending upwardly above the collar to enable pouring of paint over the collar.

26. The container of claim 25, wherein the pour spout is arcuate and is spaced from the collar so as to define a drip catch groove therebetween.

27. The container of claim 23, wherein the at least one side wall comprises two pairs of opposing side walls, said side walls being joined at rounded corners to provide at least part of the bottom portion of the body with a rectangular cross-section with rounded corners.

28. The container of claim 27, wherein the integral handle is formed in the bottom portion of the body at one of the corners and is hollow.

29. The container of claim 28, wherein the cross-section of the bottom portion of the body is square.

30. The container of claim 29, wherein the width of the bottom portion of the body between the side walls is about the same as the diameter of a conventional paint can.

31. A consumer paint product comprising:

(a.) a plastic body defining an interior volume, said body comprising;

a bottom portion including a bottom wall and at least one side wall, said bottom portion having an integral handle formed therein; and

a top cylindrical collar joined to the bottom portion, said collar having an enlarged opening extending therethrough for accessing the interior volume and including a peripheral exterior surface with a thread formed therein, said enlarged opening having a cross dimension of at least 102 millimeters;

(b.) a paint composition disposed in the interior volume of the body;

(c.) a pouring guide disposed in the collar and including an arcuate pour spout spaced inwardly from the collar so as to define a drip catch groove therebetween, said pour spout extending upwardly above the collar to enable pouring of the paint composition over the collar; and

(d.) a cap having an interior thread for mating with the thread of the collar to secure the cap to the collar, over the opening, said cap having an interior height sufficient to accommodate the pour spout when the cap is secured to the collar.

32. The consumer paint product of claim 31, wherein the at least one side wall comprises two pairs of opposing side walls, said side walls being joined at rounded corners to provide at least part of the bottom portion of the body with a rectangular cross-section with rounded corners.

33. The consumer paint product of claim 32, wherein the integral handle is formed in the bottom portion of the body at one of the corners and is hollow.

34. The consumer paint product of claim 33, wherein the cross-section of the bottom portion of the body is square with rounded corners.

35. The consumer paint product of claim 34, wherein the width of the bottom portion of the body between the side walls is about the same as the diameter of a conventional paint can.

36. The consumer paint product of claim 31 further comprising a bail-type swing handle connected to the body for holding the container, said swing handle having a grasp portion that is movable between a downward stowed position, wherein the grasp portion is disposed against the body and an upward carrying position, wherein the grasp portion is spaced above the body.

37. The consumer paint product of claim 36, wherein the swing handle further comprises a pair of legs joined at first ends to the grasp portion and joined at second ends to a circular base, said base being disposed around the collar of the body, beneath the threads.

38. The consumer paint product of claim 31, wherein the pour spout is disposed concentrically within the collar.

39. The consumer paint product of claim 38, wherein the pour spout is semi-circular.

40. The consumer paint product of claim 39, further comprising at least one planar wiping extension disposed within the collar, said at least one wiping extension being spaced from the pour spout and having at least one inner edge against which a paint brush may be wiped.

41. The consumer paint product of claim 31, wherein the cap further comprises an interior surface having a circular splash seal extending downwardly therefrom, said splash seal being disposed radially inward from the pour spout when the cap is secured to the collar.

42. The consumer paint product of claim 31, wherein the cap further comprises an interior surface having a circular splash seal extending downwardly therefrom, said splash seal extending below the drip catch groove when the cap is secured to the collar.

43. A consumer paint product comprising:

(a.) a plastic body defining an interior volume, said body comprising;

a bottom portion having a hollow integral handle formed therein, said bottom portion including a bottom wall and two pairs of opposing side walls, said side walls being joined at rounded corners to provide the bottom portion with a square cross-section with rounded corners, said integral handle being formed at one of the corners and being within the cross-section of the bottom portion;

a top collar centered above and joined to the bottom portion, said collar having an enlarged opening extending therethrough for accessing the interior volume;

(b.) a paint composition disposed in the interior volume of the body; and

(c.) a cap engageable with the collar to close the opening.

44. The consumer paint product of claim 43, wherein the cap has substantially the same lateral cross-dimension as the bottom portion of the body.

45. The consumer paint product of claim 44 further comprising a pouring guide disposed in the collar, said pouring guide narrowing the opening to guide the paint composition over the collar.

46. The consumer paint product of claim 45, wherein the width of the body between the side walls is about the same as the diameter of a conventional paint can.

47. The consumer paint product of claim 45, wherein the collar is cylindrical and has a peripheral exterior surface with a thread formed therein, and wherein the cap has an interior thread for mating with the thread of the collar to secure the cap to the collar, over the opening.

48. The consumer paint product of claim 47, wherein the pouring guide includes an arcuate pour spout spaced inwardly from the collar so as to define a drip catch groove therebetween, said pour spout extending upwardly above the collar to enable pouring of paint composition over the collar.