Paint palette system

Abstract

A paint palette system for holding and dispersing paint wherein a painter can pour paint into a low profile receptacle for later removal with a paintbrush or like tool is provided. A disposable and removable paint retaining fabric retains the paint in a drip-less and mess free fashion. The paint can be transported and stored in an improved manner allowing for a faster and more efficient painting effort.

Claims

1. A paint palette comprising: a flat bottom base comprising an interior side, an exterior side, and a perimeter; sidewalls comprising an inner side and an outer side, the sidewalls extending from the perimeter of the flat bottom base in a direction of the interior side of the flat bottom base, the inner side of the sidewalls and the interior side of the flat bottom base forming a cavity; and paint retaining bristle fabric comprising a fabric-like material having a bristle filament, the paint retaining bristle fabric coupled to and entirely covering the interior side of the flat bottom base within the cavity.

2. The paint palette of claim 1, comprising a liner disposed on an entirety of an interior side of the flat bottom base, wherein the paint retaining bristle fabric is affixed to the liner and coupled to the flat bottom base by the liner.

3. The paint palette of claim 2, wherein the paint retaining bristle fabric is affixed to the liner by hook and loop fasteners.

4. The paint palette of claim 2, wherein the liner is detachably coupled to the sidewalls.

5. The paint palette of claim 4, wherein the flat bottom base comprises a central opening extending through the flat bottom base.

6. The paint palette of claim 5, wherein the liner is removable from the cavity by at least the central opening.

7. The paint palette of claim 1, wherein the sidewalls are concave.

8. The paint palette of claim 1, wherein the sidewalls are perpendicular to the flat bottom base.

9. The paint palette of claim 1, wherein the sidewalls extend outwardly at a 15 degree angle.

10. The paint palette of claim 1, wherein one or both of the interior side and the exterior side of the flat bottom base comprises a rough textured surface.

11. The paint palette as claimed in claim 1, wherein the exterior side of the flat bottom base comprises extruded feet.

12. The paint palette of claim 1, comprising a handle extending across a width of the flat bottom base.

13. The paint palette of claim 12, wherein the flat bottom base comprises fastening support extrusions, and wherein the handle is fitted through the fastening support extrusions.

14. The paint palette of claim 12, wherein the handle is affixed to the sidewalls on opposite ends of the flat bottom base.

15. The paint palette of claim 12, wherein the handle is non-adjustable.

16. The paint palette of claim 12, wherein the handle comprises rigid connectable ends.

17. The paint palette of claim 1, wherein the sidewalls form a circular shape.

18. The paint palette of claim 1, wherein the sidewalls comprise at least one extended wall section configured to hold a paintbrush.

19. The paint palette of claim 1, comprising one or both of: a squeegee, and a snap on lid configured to detachably couple to the sidewalls.

20. The paint palette of claim 1, wherein when the paint retaining bristle fabric is loaded with paint, the paint retaining bristle fabric retains the paint without spillage when the cavity is facing down to ground.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a top plan view;

(2) FIG. 2 is a right end view, the opposite side being a mirror image;

(3) FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view;

(4) FIG. 4 is an end view taken from FIG. 3, the opposite side being a mirror image;

(5) FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view;

(6) FIG. 6 is an assembled perspective view;

(7) FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken from FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken from FIG. 1;

(9) FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing a second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of the basic embodiment of the paint palette system 10 wherein the main body of the paint palette system 10 comprises an open-top circular structure 20 comprising an open receptacle 30 constructed of a semi-rigid plastic material.

(11) In the preferred embodiment, the paint palette system 10 has several fitting components including a semi-rigid outer structure comprising an open low profile structure designed for complementary receiving a liner 60 constructed of a thinner and lighter plastic material. The liner 60 may snap into the paint palette system 10. The liner 60 may be removable from the paint palette system 10.

(12) The liner 60 shall be designed to receive and have affixed within its interior a cut and formed bristle fabric 70 fitted within the interior cavity 80 of the liner 60 shown in FIG. 5. In the preferred embodiment, bristle fabric 70 is a formed cavity that is securely fitted and affixed to the interior side of the liner 60 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 6. FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of the bristle fabric 70. The paint retaining fabric 70 may be adhered by hook and loop fasteners 62 for removal and cleaning.

(13) The bristle fabric 70 is a commercially available paint retaining material typically used on paint application devices and is a fabric like material comprising a short bristle filament or like material.

(14) A paint pad material, such as a flocked material, acrylic canvas pad, open cell foam material, a memory foam, sponge, woven carpet or similar like materials may be used in place of the bristle fabric 70.

(15) In the preferred embodiment, the bristle fabric 70 may have an adhesive backing for quick assembly and attachment. In a second embodiment shown in FIG. 9 the bristle fabric is supplied in a die cut sheet form. A fitted circular section 78 is affixed to the interior of the bottom of the interior cavity 80 and a matching cut strip 75 is affixed to the interior of the outer edge of the liner 60.

(16) Additionally, in a second embodiment, a pair of extended wall sections 82 may be added to the sidewall 50 and shaped accordingly to support a brush handle from sliding, shown in FIG. 9. The pair of extended wall sections 82 are each placed at a ninety degree angle from a snap-in mechanism of the liner 60.

(17) Although the preferred embodiment allows for a liner 60 fitted into the open-top circular structure 20, the paint palette system 10 may be used without a liner 60 and bristle fabric 70 may be applied directly into the open receptacle 30. The liner 60 allows for more functionality and easier cleaning.

(18) The open receptacle 30 shall be preferably constructed of a semi rigid plastic or like material comprising a substantially flat bottom base 40 with enclosing sidewalls 50 shown in FIG. 3. Sidewalls 50 preferably formed in a concave shape or similar shape as best seen in FIG. 3.

(19) Sidewalls 50 shall be rigid and may be outwardly inclined or angular in shape with complementary design features for securely receiving and fitting liner 60. Sidewall 50 may in some embodiments have a guide rigid 140 that may be used for additional add-on tools such as a paint squeegee 150.

(20) The open receptacle 30 shall have a central opening 90 in the central base of the bottom section in embodiments that require a liner 60 for ease in removing the liner 60. In embodiments without the liner 60 an opening is not required.

(21) The flat bottom base 40 shall be constructed of a rigid material and may have on the exterior bottom side extruded design features 42 to better grip a surface that may include extruded feet or gripping ridges. The bottom 40 may additionally be slightly depressed in reference to sidewalls 50. The base interior may have a rough textured surface 44 for holding paint.

(22) Some embodiments of the invention may include a formed attachment for attaching brushes, tools, and other utility items that may be used by an amateur or commercial painter and feature attachment opening 100 shall be included on the paint palette system 10 for future features.

(23) The paint palette system 10 shall also have a handle 110 extending across the length of the flat bottom base 40 and shall be affixed by a plurality of fastening support extrusions 120 shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 8.

(24) In one embodiment, handle 110 may be threaded thru a complementary receiving ring 130 as shown in FIG. 8. Handle adjustable options may include D-Ring, strap adjustment connectors or hook and loop fasteners (e.g., VELCRO) adjustment means.

(25) In other embodiments, handle 110 may not be adjustable and be affixed directly to the flat bottom base 40. For example, the handle 110 may be affixed by glue, snaps, or fastening commercially available hardware. Handle 110 may also be removable for replaceable as required.

(26) Handle 110 shall be constructed of a flexible material and may be made of a durable cloth fabric or like material. In other embodiments a flexible plastic or rubber like material may be used. Handle 110 may also include metal or plastic ends for secure attachment to handle receiving connections (Not Shown).

(27) The handle 110 shall be designed to easily facilitate handling and transportation. Additionally, the handle may also act as a gripping component and keep the paint palette system 10 from sliding off a steep incline such as a roof or like surface.

(28) In use the paint palette system 10 is utilized by pouring paint into the open receptacle 30 and then sliding the users hand between the strap handle 110 and flat bottom base 40. The paint palette system 10 may then be used to dispense paint to a paint brush or like tool. The paint palette system 10 may be used at any angle and has been tested while upside down without paint spillage.

(29) The paint palette system 10 in the preferred embodiment includes a small attached paint squeegee 150 that helps pull all the paint from the bristle fabric 70. The squeegee 150 may also be used as a hard paint separator.

(30) In use the paint palette system 10 may have multiple colors of paint in the open receptacle 30 or liner 60 and the paint colors will not run together. In use it has also been discovered that multiple brushes can also be carried using the strap handle 110.

(31) In between uses, the paint palette system 10 may be easily stored in a readily available 1½ gallon sealable plastic bag (Not Shown) and may be easily stacked when multiple paint palette systems 10 are used.

(32) Additionally, multiple liners 60 may be stored in plastic bags and may be interchangeably inserted into the open receptacle 30 in cases where many different paint colors are utilized and this offers the user a simpler way to view and use multiple colors.

(33) In some embodiments a plastic divider may be inserted into the liner 60 and may be used to better separate paint colors or materials that may be utilized. The paint palette system 10 may additionally be used for other materials besides paints where a hard divider is required to keep separate material apart such as glue and paint.

(34) Although applicant has described applicant's preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be understood that the broadest scope of this invention includes such modifications as diverse shapes and sizes and materials. Such scope is limited only by the below claims as read in connection with the above specification. Further, many other advantages of applicant's invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above descriptions and the below claims.

(35) From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides for a novel and improved paint palette system 10 and whereas the present invention has been described in a particular fashion, it should be understood that other and further modifications apart from those shown or suggested herein may be made within the scope of the invention.