초록 ▼

A method and apparatus are described for the improved application, transportation, and storage of surface coating materials including: paints, stains, cleaners, and preservatives; the present method employs a carrying and storage container in conjunction with a sealing lid; with the lid in place liq

A method and apparatus are described for the improved application, transportation, and storage of surface coating materials including: paints, stains, cleaners, and preservatives; the present method employs a carrying and storage container in conjunction with a sealing lid; with the lid in place liquid coating materials and wet tools can be stored for extended periods of time between coating application jobs without the need to empty the container or wash out the tools; both magnetic means and selective enclosure are taught by the present invention for effective wet tool storage, whereby eliminating washing up saves time and coating products, as well as conserving wash up supplies.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An improved method for applying and storing surface coating materials comprising: (a) putting a first portion of surface coating material into a container, said container having an open top, an open top angle being measured between a plane of the open top and horizontal(b) transporting said conta

1. An improved method for applying and storing surface coating materials comprising: (a) putting a first portion of surface coating material into a container, said container having an open top, an open top angle being measured between a plane of the open top and horizontal(b) transporting said container, a quantity of surface coating material and a first application tool to a first location, said first application tool having a handle section and a wettable part(c) wetting said wettable part of said first application tool with surface coating material and applying said surface coating material to a first surface proximal to said first location with said first application tool(d) having a remaining portion of said surface coating material within said container(e) securing said first application tool by securing means provided on said container, said securing means permitting said handle section of said first application tool to be supported clear of said remaining portion of said surface coating material when said container rests in a normal upright position; said securing means being selected from among the group consisting of: internally stored handle securing means, and externally stored handle securing means(f) fitting a lid to said container forming a containing assembly, said containing assembly enclosing said remaining portion of said surface coating material and said wettable part of said first application tool, said handle section of said first application tool being clear of said remaining portion of the surface coating material; said lid and said first application tool being distinct from each other; a seam being formed where said lid joins to said container, said seam having a substantially vapor tight sealing function;additionally, internally stored handle securing means comprising having said handle section of said application tool enclosed within said containing assembly when said lid is fitted, said internally stored handle securing means additionally providing convenient access, when said lid is off, through said open top, to said handle section;additionally, externally stored handle securing means comprising storing said handle section of said first application tool in a location external to said containing assembly when said lid is fitted, said application tool extending through a hole in said containing assembly, said hole being of predetermined dimensions, additionally said hole being located on said seam between said lid and said container(g) transporting said containing assembly to a suitable storage location(h) storing said containing assembly and contents for a period of time(i) removing said lid from said container(j) applying a second portion of said remaining portion of said surface coating material to a second surface with said first application toolwhereby a quantity of surface coating material may be sequentially applied to the surfaces over a period of time without having to remove the coating material from the container or having to wash the application tools, thereby saving time and materials, andwhereby the handle portions of tools remain clean of coating material during transport and storage, and whereby the lid can be fitted with the application tool already in storage position, a position where the tool is readily available for use when the lid is off. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first application tool is selected from the group consisting of: paint roller tools, and paintbrushes, and sponge tools, and faux finish rag tools, and spatulas, and spreading tools. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said surface coating material is latex paint, and said suitable storage location is free of strong drafts and has room temperature conditions averaging approximately 40 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and the period of storage time between uses of said first application tool ranges from a few minutes to a period of approximately six months. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein securing said first application tool to said containing assembly is accomplished by magnetic means. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said lid engages said container by moving downward in a substantially vertical direction, at least one downward lip on said lid making sliding contact with an upwardly protruding lip on said container. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein an inner lip and an outer lip on said lid engage either side of said upwardly protruding lip on said container, said upwardly protruding lip having the form of a generic cylinder, the defining sweeping direction of said generic cylinder being substantially vertical, whereby the lid slides off and on along the defining direction and a container part may be ejected from a zero draft section of a mold along the defining axis regardless of an angle of the top opening. 7. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising: transporting and using a plurality of additional tools in conjunction with said first application tool, said transporting being accomplished by tool holding means on the container. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said first application tool is selected from a group consisting of: paint rolling tools and tools having a substantially cylindrical shaft section; said first application tool having a handle, an intermediate shaft section of a first predetermined size and a wettable section; and further comprising: positioning said first application tool in a notch of a second predetermined size provided in said lid; said first predetermined size and said second predetermined size allowing said intermediate shaft section to fit closely in said notch clot; and allowing said handle of said first application tool to protrude from said containing assembly while said wettable section of the tool is enclosed within said containing assembly; the first predetermined size and the second predetermined size resulting in a fit providing a substantially vapor tight seal for the containing assembly;whereby said wettable section of the tool is prevented from drying out during storage and the tool handle is not in contact with the contained coating material. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said notch is provided with a moveable cover, whereby the containing assembly can be sealed against evaporation of contents more effectively when no tool shaft or handle is in the notch. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said moveable cover is captive and pivots about a predetermined axis on said containing assembly. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein said moveable cover is captive and is attached to said containing assembly by a flexible element. 12. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising temporarily attaching said lid to said container exterior in a stowage location, said stowage location being different from the position occupied by said lid when forming said containing assembly, whereby the lid is immediately available to seal up the container and the lid is less likely to get lost. 13. The method of claim 1 wherein said container is transported to said first location by means of a detachable strap assembly, whereby a person may transport materials and equipment with hands free. 14. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising utilizing said container at said first location while said container is carried by a person by means of a detachable strap assembly, whereby a person may have hands free to use application tools or support themselves. 15. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising temporarily attaching said container to a supporting element selected from the group consisting of: ladders, and scaffolding, and doors, and chairs, and fences, and knobs, and hooks, and lanyards; thereby positioning and stabilizing the container in a convenient position for use. 16. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising installing a liner in said container prior to putting the surface coating material into the container, said liner being of predetermined thickness, said liner being configured to allow substantially normal operation of the lid and permitting formation of a containing assembly with liner installed, whereby the liner may be optionally used and removed to facilitate color change or clean out. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein said liner is constructed of thin flexible plastic material of predetermined thickness, said predetermined thickness of said liner being sufficiently thick to resist puncture in normal use, yet sufficiently thin to fit between said container and said lid when said containing assembly is formed, thereby allowing optional use of a liner with the lid and the container. 18. The method of claim 1 wherein transporting said containing assembly to said suitable storage location additionally comprises placing said containing assembly into the interior of a standard 5 gallon paint pail. 19. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising adding a quantity of thinning liquid to said container prior to installing said lid and forming said containing assembly, whereby said remaining portion of said surface coating material is further protected from drying out, wherein water can be used as a thinning liquid with latex paint. 20. An improved apparatus for applying and storing surface coating materials comprising: (a) a transportable container with an open top, said transportable container being capable of holding a quantity of surface coating material and at least one application tool, said application tool having a handle section and a wettable section, said transportable container having an interior and an exterior, and said transportable container having a bottom part providing means of supporting the container and providing stability when said transportable container sits normally on a substantially flat and level surface(b) a lid of predetermined shape and size, said lid being configured to fit over said open top of said transportable container(c) a containing assembly formed by the joined combination of said container and said lid, said containing assembly being substantially vapor-tight and said containing assembly being configured to prevent the drying out of any enclosed surface coating material when the assembly is stored in a suitable location for a period of time, a seam being created between said lid and said transportable container when said containing assembly is formed(d) a first securing means for supporting said application tool in a manner which allows said wettable section of said application tool to be enclosed within the substantially vapor-tight containing assembly, said first securing means additionally positioning said handle section of said application tool such that said handle section is clear of any surface coating material that is within said containing assembly when the assembly is sitting normally, said first securing means additionally comprising handle storage means selected from among the group consisting of: internally stored handle means, wherein said handle section of said application tool is enclosed within said containing assembly when said lid is installed, said internally stored handle means additionally providing convenient access, when said lid is off, to said handle section,and externally stored handle means, wherein said handle section of said application tool is external to said containing assembly when said lid is fitted, said application tool extending through a hole in said containing assembly, said hole being of predetermined dimensions, additionally said hole being intersected by said seam between said lid and said transportable container(e) transporting means providing for convenient movement of the container from location to location by a personwhereby the lid can be installed with the application tool already in storage position, and whereby surface coating material may be efficiently stored and applied to diverse surfaces over a period of time without having to remove the coating material from the container or having to wash application tools, thereby saving time and materials. 21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said open top is inclined to the horizontal at an angle of up to approximately 45 degrees, whereby easier access is provided to the surface coating material inside. 22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said first securing means are magnetic means of temporarily attaching said application tool to said containing assembly. 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said magnetic means comprise an individual magnetic element, said individual magnetic element being configured and placed in a region where magnetically attractable objects may be held on both said interior of the container and said exterior of the container, whereby wet paintbrushes may be held inside the container and dry scraping tools on the outside by the same magnet at the same time. 24. The apparatus of claim 23 additionally comprising a lineal flexible element terminating in a magnetically attractable section at a first end, and being attached to said transportable container at a second end; said magnetically attractable section being detachably attachable to said individual magnetic element, said lineal flexible element having some slack when said magnetically attractable end is attached to the magnet, whereby a roll of tape may be transported by putting the attractable end of the lineal element through the roll and attaching the end to the magnet. 25. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said application tool has a handle section, an intermediate shaft section and a wettable section; and the apparatus additionally comprising a notch of a predetermined size provided in said lid; the predetermined size being suitable for allowing through passage of the shaft section of said application tool and providing a substantially vapor tight seal therewith, whereby said wettable section of said application tool can be enclosed within said containing assembly and protected from drying out while said handle section of said application tool is exterior to said containing assembly. 26. The apparatus of claim 25 additionally comprising a moveable cover for said notch, said moveable cover being capable of blocking said notch in said lid when no tool handle is therein, said moveable cover providing a substantially vapor tight sealing of the containing assembly, whereby surface coating material may be stored inside said containing assembly and be protected from drying out for periods of time when no tool handle is occupying the notch. 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said moveable cover is captive and pivots about a predetermined axis. 28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said moveable cover is captive and is attached to said containing assembly by a flexible element. 29. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein additionally said lid is configured to temporarily attach to said exterior of said transportable container in a stowage location, said stowage location being different from the position occupied by said lid when forming said containing assembly, whereby the lid can be easily kept with the container and is immediately available to seal up the container, also whereby the lid is less likely to get misplaced or lost. 30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said lid has extensions configured to fit within receiving elements on the exterior of said transportable container when said lid is installed in said stowage location. 31. The apparatus of claim 20 additionally comprising a detachable strap assembly allowing a person to carry said transportable container without gripping it in their hands, whereby the person may have hands free to use application tools, support themselves, or perform other actions. 32. The apparatus of claim 20 additionally comprising means of temporarily attaching said transportable container to a supporting element selected from the group consisting of: ladders, and scaffolding, and doors, and fences, and knobs, and hooks, and lanyards; thereby allowing the container to be positioned and stabilized in a convenient position when in use. 33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said means of temporarily attaching said transportable container to a supporting element comprises a mechanism selected from the group consisting of: hooks, and clips, and flange extensions of predetermined shape. 34. The apparatus of claim 20 additionally comprising a plurality of tool receiving extensions around the exterior of said container, whereby tools may be transported and used in conjunction with said transportable container. 35. The apparatus of claim 34 additionally comprising at least one tool stop toroid, said tool stop toroid being constructed of elastic material and of predetermined size and shape, said predetermined size and shape being such that the tool stop securely engages a shaft of a substantially cylindrical tool section, said tool stop being of sufficient size and shape to engage said tool receiving extensions on said transportable container, whereby a tool stop around said cylindrical tool section can prevent the tool from sliding past said tool receiving extensions on the container. 36. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said application tool is selected from the group consisting of: paint roller tools, and paintbrushes, and sponge tools, and faux finish rag tools, and spatulas, and spreading tools. 37. An improved apparatus for applying and transporting surface coating materials comprising: (a) a transportable container with an open top, said transportable container being capable of holding a quantity of surface coating material and at least one application tool, said application tool having a handle section and a wettable section, said transportable container having an interior and an exterior, and said transportable container having a bottom part providing means of supporting the container and providing stability when said transportable container sits normally on a substantially flat and level surface(b) multifunctional magnetic means for supporting said application tool in a manner which provides easy access to said handle section of said first application tool and said manner allowing said wettable section of said application tool to drain back into said interior of said transportable container when the container is sitting normally, said multifunctional means additionally providing temporary magnetic securing of magnetically attractable items on said exterior of said container, whereby a wet application tool can be temporarily secured inside the container and a dry article temporarily attached on the outside by the same magnetic means,(c) transporting means providing for convenient movement of the container from location to location by a person,whereby multiple tools may be secured by a single magnet during transport and between uses. 38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein a wall section forms part of said transportable container, and said multifunctional magnet means comprise at least one magnet incorporated into said wall section of said transportable container, said magnet being positioned in said wall section so that magnetically attractable objects may come in close proximity to said magnet without being impeded by other material in said wall section, whereby getting closer to the magnet provides stronger magnetic attraction for the tool or other item.