US20100320107A1 - Large paint roller sleeve storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

A storage container for a large sized paint roller sleeve such as but not limited to an 18 inch paint roller that includes a cylinder formed of two joining portions that includes for each portion a set of flutes on at least two opposing sides of an interior surface for stabilizing a roller cover in place from rattling inside of the housing and for holding said roller cover in place when extracting a roller handle from said roller cover.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This is a continuation in part of nonprovisional application Ser. No. 12/456,454 filed Jun. 17, 2009, under 35 U.S.C. 120. This is also a nonprovisional application of provisional application Ser. No. 61/284,790 filed Dec. 24, 2009 by Mowe, et al. for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. 119(e).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• During a standard workday a painter may use one or more paint roller sleeves. Further, in many jobs more than one coat of paint is required. Moreover, if the job is not finished prior to a lunch break or at the end of the workday, the sleeve must be cleaned or discarded. There is a need for a device in which a freshly used, yet to be cleaned, paint roller sleeve can be stored overnight, ready for reuse the next day.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The object of this invention is to provide a container for a just used paint roller sleeve in which it can be stored and kept in such a condition that it can be used again immediately, for the same color paint, without first being cleaned. The container is formed of two portions that connect together so as to form a lager sized container for housing herein a large sized paint roller where the point of connection for the two portions is the middle portion of the thus formed larger sized container. The portions can be connected to each other either by having one portion flare out and be slightly wider at the point of joining and have a cut portion and the second portion fitting within the flared out end of the larger portion with a latch or pin that engages the cut out section to removably lock and engage the flared out portion and hold the two portions together in place as one large sized container when the large sized paint roller is inserted therein. Alternate ways to removably fastening the two portions together are possible such as having one end with external threading and the other with internal threading so that the two portions can be threadably connected to each other. The use of other fastening mechanisms known in the art can also be employed and the present disclosure is not limited to any one mechanism or technique. An additional object of this invention is to provide a means for removing a wet paint sleeve from the roller without the painter's hand, whether gloved or otherwise, coming into direct contact with the sleeve. In particular, it is desirable to be able to store a large paint size roller such as but not limited to an 18 inch paint roller in a suitably sized container.
• In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an improved storage container which comprises two generally cylindrical tubular structures each having a thin wall made of a flexible, resilient plastic and at least one pleated wall section joined thereto. The two structures are formed to join together when a paint roller is housed inside of each of these containers. The two containers together are removably connected to each other to form a single container housing a large sized paint roller such as but not limited to an 18 inch paint roller.
• Formed of a hinged-type plastic, the pleated wall section can be pressed inwardly by hand. When the pleated wall section is so pressed, teeth-like projections on its inside surface are brought into contact with any paint roller sleeve housed temporarily within the storage container and can be used to grip the sleeve firmly.
• Means for keeping the paint roller sleeve from resting on the bottom surface of the container preferably includes a standoff. The height of the standoff determines the depth of the reservoir defined by the container for receiving excess paint, which drains from the sleeve during storage.
• The joining portion of each component terminates upwardly in an opening for receiving the sleeve and preferably tapers outwardly forming a funnel to facilitate insertion of the sleeve into the container and to capture any paint dripping from the sleeve which might otherwise drip outside the container during the insertion process.
• Longitudinal ribs, preferably but not limited to four, extend inwardly from the inner walls of the tubular structure help to center the sleeve within the container and keep the sleeve, regardless of thickness of its nap from rattling around in the container. The ribs are rounded off at proximate with the opening in each component near the end where joining of the two components is so as to help guide the sleeve into the container. The ribs span the length of each portion.
• In a typical use, the just used sleeve while still on the roller is inserted into each of the openings (joining ends) of the portions of the storage container. Next the user grasps the sides of the container and presses the pleated wall section inwardly, in such a way to hold it while the roller is being slipped out of the sleeve. The container is then closed by locking the two portions together by way of the previously described mechanisms such as threadably connecting the portions together, or with a latch on one of the portions engaging the cut out section of the other portion thus forming an airtight closure which keeps the paint from drying on the sleeve, even after a long storage. To reuse the sleeve, the two portions are removed from each other. The user is ready to proceed with the paint work.
• The bottom of each portion is closed and has a reservoir to permit excess paint to collect. The reservoir can either be an extended ring forming a circle into which paint from the roller can collect or have a number of raised ribs such as but not limited to four ribs forming an X shaped pattern at the interior bottom of each closed portion of the container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paint roller sleeve storage container according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, the storage container being shown formed of two portions configured to contain a large sized paint roller sleeve, such as but not limited to an 18 inch paint roller sleeve, within;
• FIG. 2 illustrates a fastening mechanism for the strap to the container according toFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 illustrates the flutes preferably four and an embodiment of a reservoir for one of the portions of the container inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 4 is a close up view of the reservoir shown inFIG. 3;
• FIG. 5 shows how the flutes taper off at opening end—the joining end of the components of the container in accordance with the present disclosure;
• FIG. 6 is a sectional view of one of the two components illustrating how the flutes of each portion span the interior length of each portion wall and taper out and how the open joining ends of the portions flare out to permit the paint roller to easily be inserted therein;
• FIG. 7 shows an alternate embodiment of an X shaped reservoir for each closed end of each portion of the container in accordance with the present disclosure; and
• FIG. 8 is paint roller sleeve storage container according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the storage container being shown formed of one part with the container opening along a longitudinal surface of the container and pivoting about a longitudinal hinged surface side of the container to permit opening and closing of the container to place or remove a large sized paint roller therein.
PREFERRED DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• Referring to the drawings, inFIG. 1 a storage container for apaint roller sleeve10 includes twoportions10aand10bthat are joined together at themiddle10cof theentire container10. Thecontainer10 is designed to house large sized paint rollers50 (seeFIG. 16 in dashed lines) therein such as but not limited to 18inch paint rollers50.
• Thecontainer10 is formed of twoportions10aand10bthat connect together so as to form a larger sizedcontainer10 for housing herein a large sizedpaint roller50 where the point of connection for the two portions is themiddle portion10cof the thus formed larger sizedcontainer10. Theportions10aand10bcan be connected to each other either by having both portions flare out and one portion be slightly wider at the point of joining and have a cut out portion and the second portion fitting within the flared out end of the larger portion with a latch orpin12 that engages the cut out section to removably lock and engage the flared out portion and hold the two portions together in place as one large sizedcontainer10 when the large sizedpaint roller50 is inserted therein. Alternate ways to attach/detach the two portions together/apart are possible such as having one end with external threading and the other with internal threading so that the two portions can be threadably connected to each other. The use of other fastening mechanisms known in the art can also be employed and the present disclosure is not limited to any one mechanism or technique. An additional object of this invention is to provide means for removing a wet paint sleeve from the roller without the painter's hand, whether gloved or otherwise, coming into direct contact with the sleeve. In particular it is desirable to be able to store a largepaint size roller50 such as but not limited to an 18inch paint roller50 in a suitably sizedcontainer10.
• In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an improved storage container which comprises two generally cylindricaltubular structures10aand10beach having a thin wall made of a flexible, resilient plastic and at least one pleatedwall section13 joined thereto. The twoportions10aand10bare formed to join together when apaint roller50 is housed inside of each of theseportions10aand10b. The twoportions10aand10btogether are detachably connected to each other to form a single container housing10 a large sizedpaint roller10 such as but not limited to an 18inch paint roller10. In other words the twoportions10aand10bcan be connected to each other to form onecontainer10 or detach from one another to disassemble thecontainer10 into its twoconstituent portions10aand10b.
• As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, astrap15 can be attached to the container. Thestrap15 can be fastened withslits16 andbutton17 or by any other known mechanism e.g. hooks and loop fasteners, etc. or thestrap15 can be integrally attached to near ends of thecontainer10 so that each portion has an end of thestrap15 attached to it.
• FIG. 3 shows how theflutes20 on the interiors walls of each component stabilize the roller contained therein. In addition one embodiment of areservoir25 for paint is shown. Theflutes20 are longitudinal ribs preferably but not limited to four, that extend inwardly from the inner walls of thetubular structure10 to help to center thesleeve50 within thecontainer10 and keep thesleeve50, regardless of thickness of its nap, from rattling around in thecontainer10. Theribs20 are rounded off at proximate with the opening in each component near the end where joining of the two components is so as to help guide the sleeve into the container. Theribs20 span the length of each portion (10a,10b) of thecontainer10. As shown InFIG. 5, theflutes20 taper off at the open, joining ends e.g. the ends of each portion that joins with the other portion when thepaint roller50 is inserted within each and then closed together. Theflutes20 taper off and the open ends of each portion flare out to permit thepaint roller50 to more easily be guided into each of the portions of thecontainer10.
• Theflutes20 span the length of the interior wall of each portion to thecontainer10 as shown inFIG. 6.
• FIG. 7 shows analternate reservoir25 with an X shape for the bottom of each portion of the container, but it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to any particular reservoir shape or structure.
• FIG. 8 is another embodiment of the present disclosure showing an alternativepaint storage container10 for storing a largesized paint roller50 where thecontainer10 resembles a clam shell. Thecontainer10 opens along a longitudinal side and pivots about ahinge54. Thecontainer10 when open permits insertion of a largesized paint roller50 such as but not limited to an 18″ paint roller that extends along an opposite longitudinal side as shown inFIG. 8.Latches51a,51b(preferably two) on each side of thecontainer10 lock thecontainer10 in the closed position. Thelatches51a,51bcan be any known latch mechanism preferably a two partcomplimentary components51a,51bthat engage each other from opposing sides of the container about the longitudinal opening to lock the container closed. Theopenings54 which permit the removal of the roller frame from thepaint roller50 can be plugged when thecontainer10 is closed byplugs52 inserted into theopenings53 on both the surface ends of thecontainer10. Thus thiscontainer10 allows for storage of thepaint roller50 on and off the frame. In addition flutes20, preferably but not limited to threeflutes20 can be added to the interior on each side of thecontainer10 similar to that describes in the embodiments ofFIGS. 1-7 of this application and that description is incorporated by reference thereto herein.
• While the above describes the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is possible that other embodiments thereof may be made by those skilled in the art that fall within the scope of the following claims:

Claims (5)

1. A storage container for large sized paint roller sleeve, comprising:

(a) a flexible, resilient tubular housing for removably storing the sleeve there within;

(b) the tubular housing being formed of two portions, each portion including a centrally disposed chamber and a sealed end which defines a reservoir for holding excess paint, distal from the sealed end, the housing terminating in an enlarged funnel-like opening for facilitating insertion of the sleeve into the chamber; and

(c) a set of flutes on at least two opposing sides of an interior surface of said cylinder for stabilizing a roller cover in place from rattling inside of said housing and for holding said roller cover in place when extracting a roller frame from said roller cover;

(d) a mechanism for joining the two portions together when said paint roller is housed therein.

2. A storage container for large sized paint roller sleeve, comprising:

(a) a flexible, resilient tubular housing for removably storing the sleeve there within; and

(b) the tubular housing long enough to accommodate housing a large sized paint roller therein, said housing having a longitudinal opening along one side and a hinged surface on an opposing longitudinal side so that said housing can open and close at its opening side by pivoting about its hinged side thereby permitting a paint roller to be placed therein or removed therefrom.

3. The storage container according toclaim 2 wherein said container has openings on each end surface of the container to permit a roller frame to extend there through or to be removed from a roller housed in said container.

4. The storage container according to claim34 further comprising plugs for sealing aid openings when said frame is removed form said roller housed in said container.

5. The storage container according toclaim 1 wherein said container includes latches on both sides of said longitudinal opening of said container to seal said container in a closed position to prevent the container from opening.

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