Abstract
A liquid-storing container is produced having holes punched during manufacturing into the plug type lid-receiving groove(s) of the container to mitigate the accumulation of excess liquids therein. During normal use, after initial opening of the container, liquids that would otherwise gather in said groove(s), either through pouring or the “brushing” of an applicator across the inner edge of the lid-receiving groove(s) to remove excess liquid, such as a paint brush, will now flow through said “pre-fab” holes and return to the interior of the container. In this invention, liquids that previously would overflow from the lid-receiving groove to the exterior wall of the container will be significantly limited, assuring minimal wasted liquids and a much cleaner exterior wall of the container and surrounding workspace. Additionally, after each use dried liquids cannot accumulate in the lid-receiving groove that would otherwise compromise the effectiveness of the reusable sealed lid of the container.
Claims
1. A liquid container of varying size, particularly a paint can, differentiated only by a plug type lid-receiving groove or grooves wherein one or more through hole penetrations are prefabricated into said groove or grooves to mitigate the accumulation of liquid in the lid-receiving groove or grooves of the liquid container, further comprised of a tubular wall, a closed bottom, and an open top, the groove typically located between an inner lip and an outer lip of the top of the liquid container and having a first wall depending from the inner lip, a second wall, and a groove width, and wherein a shoulder is located between a third wall depending from the outer lip and the second wall, the through hole penetrations having a dimension dependent on the dimensions of the lid-receiving groove or grooves and sufficient to allow the continuous flow of excess liquid that gathers in the groove or grooves back into the liquid container.
1. One or more through penetrations (“holes”) of varying dimensions prefabricated into the plug type lid-receiving groove(s) in the rim of a liquid-storing container to mitigate accumulation of excess liquid therein and the flow of said excess liquid to the exterior wall of the container and the surrounding workspace. Said liquid-storing container being fabricated from metal, plastic or other materials and being of various sizes, having a tubular wall, a closed bottom, and an open top, with one or more grooves located between an inner lip and an outer lip of the top of the container to receive the corresponding shape of a plug type lid to create a tight seal in order to contain and protect the liquid contents of the container.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a close-up cross-sectional elevation view of a lid-receiving groove 3 and shoulder 9 of a liquid storing container 1, particularly a paint can;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a close-up cross-sectional elevation view of a lid-receiving groove 3 and shoulder 9 of a liquid storing container 1, particularly a paint can, depicting a liquid 10 collecting in the lid-receiving groove 3 and shoulder 9;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a close-up cross-sectional elevation view of a lid-receiving groove 3 and shoulder 9 of a liquid storing container 1, particularly a paint can, depicting a liquid 10 collecting in the lid-receiving groove 3 and shoulder 9 overflowing that groove 3 and shoulder 9 and the outer edge 5 of the liquid container 1 and spilling over onto the outer surface 2 of the liquid container 1;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a close-up cross-sectional elevation view of a lid-receiving groove 3 and shoulder 9 of a liquid storing container 1, particularly a paint can, with prefabricated through holes 13 in the lid-receiving groove 3, depicting a liquid 10 that would otherwise collect in that groove 3 and shoulder 9 flowing through those holes 13 back into the liquid container 1, and no longer spilling over the outer edge 5;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a “Top View” of a liquid container 1 depicting prefabricated opposite “pole” through penetrations 13 of the lid-receiving groove 3.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a “3D” top and side view of a liquid container 1 depicting a liquid 11 that gathers in lid-receiving groove 3 and shoulder 9 flowing back into the liquid container 1 through opposite “pole” prefabricated penetrations 13 in the lid-receiving groove 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] According to embodiments herein, through hole penetrations 13 are fabricated through the lid-receiving grooves 3 of a liquid container 1, particularly a paint can, to mitigate the accumulation of excess liquid and other debris in the lid-receiving groove 3 and shoulder 9 of the liquid container 1.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, a liquid container 1 of varying sizes, particularly a paint can, storing variable volumes of different liquids 11, typically comprises a tubular wall 2, a closed bottom, an open top, and a lid-receiving groove 3 located between an inner lip 4 and an outer lip 5 at the top of the liquid container 1. The groove 3 is defined by an inner first wall 6 depending from the inner lip 4, and a medial second wall 7 depending from a shoulder 9 and adjoining the first wall 6. Shoulder 9 is located between an outer third wall 8, depending from the outer lip 5, and the second wall 7 to accommodate a peripheral edge of the liquid container plug type lid (not shown). Dimensions “W1” and “W2” are variable, dependent largely on the overall size of the liquid container.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, once the lid (not shown) of the liquid container 1 is removed, through normal use of the liquid container 1, either through pouring of the stored liquid 11 or the “brushing” of an applicator/brush (not shown) against inner lip 4, excess liquid 10 collects in the groove 3 and shoulder 9.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 3, the excess liquid 10 that collects in groove 3 and shoulder 9 typically overflows in normal use, spilling the liquid 10 over shoulder 9 and outer lip 5 onto the exterior of tubular wall 2 which, in normal usage, spreads the liquid 10 undesirably to the surrounding workplace and/or clothing and wastes the liquid 11 unnecessarily. If not otherwise prevented or removed, the excess liquid 10 that gathers in groove 3 and shoulder 9 can become dry and sticky prior to the resealing of the removable lid (not shown) into the groove 3 and shoulder 9, thus inhibiting the proper air tight seal necessary to preserve the quality of the stored liquid between uses.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 4, the current invention embodies the pre-fabrication of one or more through holes 13 in groove 3, wherein any excess liquid 10 that would otherwise collect in groove 3 will return through holes 13 into the liquid container 1, thus minimizing undesirable spillage over shoulder 9 and outer lip 5 and the unnecessary waste of the stored liquid 11. Dimension “W3” of one or more of each through hole 13 is variable, dependent largely on the dimension of the groove 3 of the liquid container 1, which is largely dependent on the dimension of the liquid container 1 itself. By continuously removing the liquid 10 that would otherwise gather in the groove 3 and shoulder 9 and returning it into the liquid container 1, this assures a vastly improved airtight seal when the detachable lid (not shown) is reinserted into the groove 3 and shoulder 9, thus preserving the quality of the stored liquid 11.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a “Top View” of a liquid container 1 with a lid-receiving groove 3 with adjoining shoulder 9 and outer rim 5, storing a liquid 11 and depicting four prefabricated through holes 13 in groove 3.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a “3D” side and top view of a liquid container 1 demonstrating liquid 11 that would otherwise collect during normal use in groove 3 and shoulder 9 returning to the interior of the liquid container 1 through one or more prefabricated penetration holes 13 in groove 3, thus significantly eliminating the undesirable spillage over the outer edge 5 to the exterior wall 2 of the liquid container 1, avoiding unnecessary waste of the stored liquid 11, and preserving the quality of the stored liquid 11.
