Paint can holster

Abstract

The present invention comprises a Paint Can Holster that securely holds a standard one-gallon paint can at the waist of the user. The paint can may be placed into the holster from the horizontal direction allowing the user to easily holster and unholster paint cans while wearing the invention. The holster further features a paintbrush holder that positions the bristles of the brush directly over or into the paint can to avoid dripping paint. The paint can holster further features a swiveling mechanism that allows the user to ascend and descend a ladder and to make a wide range of motions without tilting the paint can over and spilling paint.

Claims

1. A belt attachment device comprising: a. A flat panel with an inner side, an outer side, a top end when said flat panel is oriented in the vertical plane, and a bottom end when said flat panel is oriented in the vertical plane; b. a belt loop attached to the flat panel on the inner side, said belt loop attached to the flat panel towards the top end of the flat panel; c. two fasteners, the first attached to the flat panel on the inner side towards the bottom end and the second attached to the belt loop and facing substantially the same direction as the first fastener; and d. a pad secured to the flat panel and belt loop by the two fasteners.

2. A paint can holster for wear by a user comprising: a. A flat panel with an inner side, an outer side, a top end when said flat panel is oriented in the vertical plane, and a bottom end when said flat panel is oriented in the vertical plane; b. two arms attached to the flat panel on the outer side and extending outward substantially perpendicular from the flat panel to an end of each arm, said two arms each curved into a semi-circle, spaced in width an appropriate distance to accept a cylindrical shaped object, and made of springy material able to flex outward, away from each other, and naturally return to a position closer to each other; c. a base plate, attached to the flat panel at the bottom end and extending outward from the outer side substantially perpendicular from the flat panel and substantially the length of the two arms, with a horizontal surface facing toward the two arms for providing support for the cylindrical shaped object; d. a belt loop attached to the flat panel on the inner side, said belt loop attached to the flat panel towards the top end of the flat panel; e. two fasteners, the first attached to the flat panel on the inner side towards the bottom end and the second attached to the belt loop and facing substantially the same direction as the first fastener; and f. a pad secured to the flat panel and belt loop by the two fasteners.

3. The paint can holster of claim 2 where the flat panel and the base plate are formed from a single piece of material.

4. The paint can holster of claim 2 further comprising a paintbrush holder attached to the flat panel on the outer side and towards the top end of the flat panel spaced on said flat panel such that a paintbrush is can be held with bristles of the brush within the cylindrical shaped object secured in the paint can holster.

5. The paint can holster of claim 2 further comprising a cap on the end of each arm.

6. The paint can holster of claim 2 where the fasteners securing the pad are hook and loop fastening.

7. The paint can holster of claim 2 further comprising one or more attachment point(s) on the top end of the flat panel suitable for accepting a S-hook, carabiner, coupling, shackle, clasp, or other attachment mechanism.

8. The paint can holster of claim 7 further comprising a shoulder belt attached to the flat panel at the attachment point(s) and comprising a front portion and a back portion.

9. The paint can holster of claim 8 further comprising an under arm strap attached to the shoulder belt, at both the front portion and the back portion, at chest height for a user.

10. The paint can holster of claim 2 further comprising a belt to encircle a user at the waist and to which the belt loop attaches.

11. A paint can holster comprising: a. A L-shaped angle bracket with a long leg in the vertical plane and a short leg in the horizontal plane; i. where the long leg of the L-shaped angle bracket has an inner side, an outer side, a top end with one or more attachment point(s) suitable for accepting a S-hook, carabiner, coupling, shackle, clasp, or other attachment mechanism, and a bottom end from which the short leg extends outward from the outer side; ii. where the short leg in the horizontal plane has a surface facing upward towards the top end of the long leg and designed to support an object from below; b. two arms attached to the long leg on the outer side and extending outward substantially perpendicular from the long leg and substantially parallel to the short leg to an end of each arm, said two arms each curved into a semi-circle, spaced in width an appropriate distance to accept a cylindrical shaped object, and made of springy material able to flex outward, away from each other, and naturally return to a position closer to each other; c. two caps, one on the end of each arm, said two caps providing a gripping surface; d. a flat plate attached to the long leg on the inner side and connected by a swivel to a second flat plate such that the plates turn independently; e. two spacers, elongated in shape, sized to fit parallel to each other on the second flat plate leaving a gap large enough for a belt to fit smoothly between the two spacers, and attached to the second flat plate opposite the swivel; f. a flat belt plate, substantially the same dimensions of the second flat plate, attached to the two spacers that are attached to the second flat plater; g. a fastener attached to the flat belt plate; h. a pad secured to the fastener; i. a belt, lying between the flat belt plate and the second flat plate, able to slide freely through the slot created by the flat belt plate and the second flat plate, to encircle a user at the waist and attach the paint can holster to said user; j. a shoulder belt attached to the long leg at the attachment point(s) and comprising a front portion, a back portion, and an under arm strap attached to the shoulder belt, at both the front portion and the back portion, at chest height for a user; k. a paintbrush holder attached to the long leg on the outer side and towards the top end of the long leg spaced on said long leg such that a paintbrush can be held with the bristles of the brush within the cylindrical shaped object secured in the paint can holster.

12. The paint can holster of claim 11 where the fasteners securing the pad are hook and loop fastening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the subject invention fully assembled and attached to the user in the standing position.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the subject invention showing the invention fully assembled and without the user.

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the subject invention, featuring a pad, showing the invention fully assembled and without the user.

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembled simplest embodiment of the invention including the paintbrush holder.

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the assembled invention including a wedge shape pad and paintbrush holder.

(7) FIG. 6 is an orthogonal view of the simplest embodiment of the subject invention in assembled form.

(8) FIG. 7 is an orthogonal view of one embodiment of the subject invention shown with the optional wedge shaped pad disassembled.

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the subject invention, featuring the under arm strap, fully assembled and attached to the user in the standing position.

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the subject invention showing the invention fully assembled and without the user.

(11) FIG. 10 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the subject invention including a swivel and belt loop for attachment to the user.

(12) FIG. 11 is an orthogonal view of one embodiment of the subject invention with the assembled swivel and belt loop included.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(13) Darrell Andrew Joye has invented a Paint Can Holster for the purpose of securing a standard, one-gallon paint can (15) to the waist of the user (17) and holding said can (15) in a vertically upright position during movement by the user (17). The Paint Can Holster can be scaled to accept other sized cylindrical objects. At it's core, the Paint Can Holster consists of a flat panel (42) that features on the outer side two arms (12) and a base plate (14), each protruding out from the flat panel (42) roughly perpendicular from the outer side, used to secure a paint can (15), and on the inner side a mechanism to attach the Paint Can Holster to the user. Said mechanism may be a belt loop (41) or a swivel attachment device (101 to 105) with a belt loop built in.

(14) The flat panel (42) is the center of the invention to which all other pieces are attached. The flat panel (42) features a an inner side, a an outer side, a top end that orients up when the flat panel (42) is in the vertical position, and a bottom end that orients down when the flat panel (42) is in the vertical position. An exploded diagram of one embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 10. Attached to the flat panel (42) on the outer side are two arms (12). Said arms (12) may be formed from a single piece of material that is U-shaped in nature with the nadir of the U attached to the flat panel (42). The two arms (12) extend roughly perpendicular from the flat panel (42) and end across from each other, open, with a width narrower than the diameter of the cylindrical object designed to be held, i.e. a standard paint can (15) in a preferred embodiment. The use of roughly to describe the perpendicular extension of the two arms (12) from the flat panel (42) is used to mean within a degree recognizable to a layman as perpendicular but not necessarily mathematically perpendicular. Elsewhere herein approximately or substantially may be substituted for roughly, and each time the term is used to imply that exactness is not required but that a recognizably close approximation is acceptable. Each arm (12) is semi-circle in shape with the inside of the semi-circles facing each other. The ends of each arm (12) may be covered with a cap (13). Said cap (13) may be merely a coating applied directly to the arm (12) or may be a separate object that is slid onto or otherwise affixed to the arm (12). In lieu of a cap (13) the arms may be bent upon themselves to eliminate sharp edges. The arms (12) should be made from a flexible, springy material that can be forced apart but yet snaps back into shape. Said material could be a plastic, metal, or any other medium with the appropriate qualities. The shape and springing quality of the arms (12) allow for the acceptance of a cylindrically shaped object within the arms (12), and such object includes, but is not limited to, paint cans (15).

(15) The arms (12) are affixed to the flat panel (42) at a height above the base plate (14) that allows for a secure grip upon a standard one-gallon paint can (15) at or near the center of gravity for said can (15) when full. The base plate (14) protrudes from the bottom of the flat panel (42) roughly perpendicular from the flat panel (42) and is oriented such that a flat surface of the base plate (14) faces up and is in the horizontal plane substantially parallel to the arms. In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 10, the flat panel (42) and base plate (14) are integrated and made from a single piece of material which is bent substantially 90 degrees at the point of intersection of the flat panel (42) and base plate (14). In other embodiments, the flat panel (42) and base plate (14) may be fastened together at the bottom of the flat panel (42).

(16) The positioning of the arms (12) and the flat base plate (14), in combination with the spring-like qualities of the arms (12), allow the user (17) to insert a paint can (15) into the Paint Can Holster in the horizontal direction. That is, the paint can (15) is inserted into the Paint Can Holster by sliding the paint can (15) along the base plate (14) and towards the user (17). The arms (12) of the Paint Can Holster are forced open and around the paint can (15). The arms (12) then spring back into shape and the tension exerted by the arms (12) helps to secure the paint can (15) within the Paint Can Holster. The end caps (13) of the arms (12) provide additional gripping surface to secure the paint can (15) and prevent it from sliding out.

(17) In a preferred embodiment, the inner side of the flat panel (42) features a swivel attachment device (101-105). This device consists of a swivel (101) attached directly to the flat panel (42) by two fasteners (102) such as screws, rivets, bolts or similar fasteners. The swivel (101) is positioned upon the flat panel (42) such that the center of gravity for a full standard one-gallon paint can (15) is below the center point of the swivel (101). The swivel (101) is then attached to a belt loop formed by two spacers (103) and a belt loop plate (104). The two spacers and the belt loop plate are attached to the swivel (101) by four additional fasteners (102-A). The spacers (103) are opposite each other and parallel along the edges of the swivel (101). The spacers (103) separate the belt loop plate (104) from the swivel (101) enough distance to allow a regular belt (11) to run between the swivel (101) and the belt loop plate (104.) The side of the belt loop plate (104) facing-the-user may feature a hook-and-loop or other fastener covering (105) to accept an optional pad (31), which may be wedge shape.

(18) In an embodiment without a swivel attachment device (101-105), a basic belt loop (41) may be substituted as the means of attaching the Paint Can Holster to the user. The belt loop (41) is attached to the flat panel (42) on the inner side. The belt loop (41) may feature an integrated spacer or a standalone spacer, such as the spacer (103) used in the swivel attachment device (101-105). In either formation, the belt loop (41) is offset from and parallel to the flat panel (42) to accommodate a regular belt (11). The belt loop (41) is shown in FIG. 7 without a bottom anchor to the flat panel (42) allowing the Paint Can Holster to be slid onto a belt (11) already worn by the user. This embodiment allows for the easy on and off of the Paint Can Holster.

(19) The fit of the Paint Can Holster may be improved through the use of an optional pad (31). The pad (31) may be wedge shape with the narrow end facing towards the top end of the flat panel and the wide end facing towards the bottom end of the flat panel. Such shape of the pad (31) offsets the natural curve of the human waist and tilts the Paint Can Holster slightly into the user at the top end thereby helping to secure the paint can (15) within the holster. The pad (31) is attached to the Paint Can Holster through the use of hook-and-loop or other fastener coverings (32 and 105). The pad (31) may be used with either the swivel attachment device (101-105) or the belt loop (41). When used with the swivel attachment device, the hook-and-loop or other fastener (105) is attached to the side of the belt-loop-plate (104) facing the user. In the embodiment with a belt-loop (41), the hook-and-loop or other fastener (32) is attached to the flat panel (42) and belt-loop (41) on the side facing-the-user.

(20) In a preferred embodiment the Paint Can Holster includes a paintbrush holder (21) attached directly to the flat panel (42). The paintbrush holder (21) is attached to the outer side of the flat panel (42). The paintbrush holder (21) is positioned towards the top end of the flat panel (42) and above the lid of a holstered paint can (15). As shown in FIG. 3, the paint brush holder (21) is positioned such as to hold the paint brush (16) with the bristles of the brush contained within an open paint can (15). In this manner, the paintbrush (16) is both secured and contained preventing dripping paint within the work environment.

(21) In a preferred embodiment, the flat panel (42) features one, or two attachment points (43) for the purpose of attaching a shoulder belt (10). The attachment points (43) may be as simple as a hole formed in the flat panel (42) sized to accept a fastener (22) such as an s-hook, carabiner clip, clasp, swivel clasp, spring snap, hook clasp, shackle, coupler, etc. The attachment points (43) should be near the top of the flat panel (42) but may be positioned slightly below the paintbrush holder (21) in an embodiment that minimizes the height of the flat panel (42). The shoulder belt (10) connects to the flat panel (42) at the attachment point (43), goes across the front of the user (17), over the opposite shoulder, around the back, and connects again to the flat panel (42) at the attachment point (43). The use of the shoulder belt (10) both removes weight from the user's waist and pulls the Paint Can Holster into the body of the user (17).

(22) In a preferred embodiment, the shoulder strap is connected with a swivel clasp or other sliding connector and the belt loop is sized to allow the belt to slide easily through the loop permitting the user to freely slide the paint can holster from side to side or to the front of the user. In such configuration the user may readily reposition the paint can holster without removing the device and reattaching.

(23) The shoulder belt (10) may be augmented with an additional under arm strap (81) that attaches to the shoulder belt (10) in two locations. This configuration is shown in FIG. 9. The under arm strap (81) attaches to the shoulder belt (10) at chest height of the user (17) as shown in FIG. 8. The under arm strap (81) then runs across the chest of the user (17) under his arm, and around his back where it again attaches to the shoulder belt (10). The under arm strap (81) helps in securely holding the shoulder belt (10) in place and the Paint Can Holster against the user.