~09i~97 This invention relates to an improved version of a paint tray with a removable handle. In particular, it relates to a paint tray for use with roller applicators having a large capacity reservoir, an inclined wall for removing excess paint from the roller, and a removable handle which is substantially rigid when installed.
Although paint trays have been in use for some time, all of them have certain disadvantages in their construction or operation which cause spillage, inefficiency, and frustration.
For instance, the most common variety of roller brush paint tray in use has a long gently inclined ramp which terminates in a small reservoir for holding paint. They are frequently made out of sheet metal or plastic.
These conventional trays often have a very small reservoir which has to be constantly refilled. The plastic ~ ones tend to be flexible and unstable and therefore difficult ; ~ to plck up and carry around when they have paint in them.
The metal ones are heavier and generally require two hands to lift~them, and if care is not taken, the paint easily slops over the sides and creates a mess.
It is therefore the purpose of this invention to provide a paint tray which is more convenient and more efficient to use. ~In particular, the tray of the present ~; invention provides~ a substantial reservoir for paint, an inclined ramp for removing excess paint from a roller, legs to stabilize the paint tray when in use, and a handle which is both detachable and substantially rigid when installed in the paint tray so that the tray can be easily picked up and moved about with one hand without tipping or spilling the paint.
2~797 These and other objects and advantages are provided by the present invention which comprises a paint tray having a rectangular flat bottom reservoir with vertical walls upstanding from each side and the back edge thereof. At the front edge of the tray an inclined ramp is provided which has a steeply inclined portion rising upwardly and forwardly from the front edge of the reservoir followed by a moderately inclined portion extending further upwardly and forwardly therefrom. The underside of the front wall is provided with triangular shaped legs to prevent the tray from tipping forward in use and a handle is provided which extends upwardly from the side walls of the reservoir and across the top.
Preferably the handle is provided with a bracket which allows it to be detachably attached to the tray and has means to maintain the handle in a rigid substantially upright or vertical position when installed so that the paint tray does not swing or tip when lifted.
The invention may be better understood by a description of one embodiment thereof with reference to the following drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a paint tray and handle of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the embodiment in Figure l;
Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the embodiment in Figure l;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a variation of the paint tray;
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 4;
~ 2 ~ 7 Figure 6 is a perspective view of the handle -attachment means shown in Figures 1 to 5;
Fi~ure 7 is a side view of the handle attachment ~ means;
Figure 8 is a bottom view of the handle attchment means.
In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the paint tray has a reservoir with a bottom 2 and vertical side walls 4 and 6, and a vertical rear wall 8. It will be noted that the side walls are of s1lbstantial height but also that the longitudinal dimension of the reservoir, as defined by the base 2, is substantial so that the reservoir is capable of containing a large supply of paint.
At the front or working end of the paint tray the ramp 10 comprises a steeply inclined portion 12 upstanding from the forward end of the bottom of the reservoir which continues as a more moderately inclined portion 14. Both of which extend upwardly and forwardly from the front of the reservoir and have a series of horizontally extending ridges 16.
The upper portion of the inclined wall or ramp also has sides 18, although they are much lower than the sides of the reservoir 4, 6 and 8.
It will of course be realized that the inclined ramp 10 is designed to allow the user to spread paint on the roller and remove excess from the roller after the roller has been dipped in the paint in the reservoir.
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--` 2Q91~97 In order to prevent the tray from tipping if the user applies excessive force on the ramp portion 14, a pair of triangular shaped legs 20, formed of wire or other suitable material, are provided so that they will bear against the ground if excessive pressure is applied to the ramp.
In the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the legs are disposed at the sides of the upper portion of the ramp in a plane parallel to the side walls 4 and 6.
In an alternative version illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the single set of triangular legs 22 are located near the front edge of the ramp 10 and disposed in a plane perpendicular to the side walls of the reservoir. This configuration is somewhat simpler to manufacture but provides slightly less stability than the version in Figure 1.
Both of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5 also include a detachable handle 30 which extends upwardly from approximately the midpoint of the side walls 4 and 6 and across the top of the tray where a tubular grip 32 is provided, so that the tray may be picked up and moved about conveniently with one hand.
The handle 30 is detachably installed or connected to the tray by means of the brackets 34 mounted on the outside of the side walls of the reservoir, near the top (so that ; they will not interfere substantially with stacking a number of trays together).
The details of the attaching means are shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 where the bracket 34 has a base plate 36 which may be attached to the side wall of the tray 6 by a rivet 38, as illustrated, or by other suitable means.
2asl7~7 The base plate 36 has an outwardly projecting flange 40 with a vertically extending inwardly recessed groove 42 of a dimension suitable to receive the handle 30 as illustrated. The outwardly projecting flange 40 also has a vertical bore 44 extending upwardly from the bottom edge designed to receive the upturned end 46 of the handle.
By means of this attaching bracket, the handle 3~, which is preferably made of some convenient and easily manufactured and worked material such as a heavy gauged steel wire, can be provided with an upturned section 46 as illustrated so that the handle may be removed by pressing it down until the upturned portion 46 is removed from the bore 44 and then the vertical portion of the handles may be flexed outwardly to remove them from the slot 42 and the handle is out of the way to allow the tray to be stored in a smaller space, or to allow a number of trays to be stacked.
When the tray is to be used the handle may be attached in a reversed manner by inserting the vertical wire portion in the slot 42 and lifting it up so that the upturned portion 46 is received in the bore 44.
It should be appreciated that in this position the handle will allow the tray to be picked up even with a heavy load of paint. Furthermore, because the vertical arm of the handle is held in the recess 42, it will remain in a perpendicular position relative to the base of the reservoir and will therefore not allow the paint tray to tip and spill its contents of paint.
2~917~7 Thus/ by means of the present invention, a paint tray is provided which is capable of containing a substantial supply of paint in the reservoir, provides means for spreading the paint in a roller and removing the excess paint therefrom, as substantial stability when placed on the floor or other horizontal surface, and has a removable handle which can be attached in such a way that it will provide a stable and substantially rigid means for lifting and moving the paint tray with one hand.
Although the illustrated embodiment shows the handle employed for a paint tray, it is contemplated that this design might also be used to provide similar advantages on other containers such as water pails or baskets.
It will of course be realized that modifications and variations of the embodiment illustrated and described may be employed without departing from the inventive concept herein.