Paint Tray Roller

Abstract

A paint tray roller system that has a paint tray with an upper circumferential land having an upwardly projecting dowel at each corner. A paint tray liner has a medial portion substantially conforming to an inside surface of the paint tray and a peripheral liner lip extending over the land makes painting and rolling walls much easier. The paint tray roller system has four wheels, giving the user flexibility and accessibility. The present invention is portable.

Claims

1. A paint tray roller with wheels for use with a paint roller comprising: a central paint well adapted to contain paint; an inclined roller ramp extending outwardly and upwardly from said paint well; a plurality of traction ridges extending upwardly from said ramp for engagement with the roller; whereby said paint tray allows for a proper application of paint to the roller with portability.

2. The paint tray of claim 1, wherein said paint tray roller includes wheels to support said tray well-off of the ground.

3. The paint tray roller of claim 2, wherein said wheels supports include a plurality of braces to stabilize supports and movement over varied surfaces.

4. The paint tray roller of claim 3, wherein said leg supports are adapted to accept wheels to raise said tray off the ground.

5. A paint tray roller as in claim 1 including first and second side walls and a paint channel defined between said roller ramp and one of the said side walls, said channel operative to allow paint removed from a roller end to flow back to said central paint well.

6. A paint tray roller for use with a paint roller comprising: a paint well adapted for containing paint; at least one roller ramp extending outwardly and upwardly from said paint well; first and second drainage channels positioned one each side of said roller ramp to allow for the drainage of paint; said roller ramp includes a plurality of traction ridges adapted to engage the paint roller.

7. The paint tray roller of claim 6, wherein said at least one roller ramp includes a plurality of traction ridges adapted to engage the roller.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The drawing figures reflect a preferred embodiment of the paint tray roller, as is intended for use with a paint roller, but, the paint tray roller and its preferred embodiment is not limited to such use, and may, e.g. be used in a smaller or larger size, and with differing paint tools. The preferred embodiment of the paint tray, as shown in the drawing figures, is also intended for the optional use with a standard size paint tray liner, which will fit within the tray body of the paint tray.

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a front top view of the preferred embodiment of the paint tray roller, with a paint roller within said tray, and protruding from said tray.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment of the paint tray roller, without the paint roller and insert. FIG. 3 shows a top side full view of our Invention. FIG. 4 shows a side full view of our Invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] While the present invention will be described fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a particular embodiment is shown, it is understood at the outset that persons skilled in the art may modify the invention herein described while still achieving the desired result of this invention. Accordingly, the description which follows is to be understood as a broad informative disclosure directed to persons skilled in the appropriate arts and not as limitations of the present invention.

[0017] A preferred embodiment of the paint tray of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The paint tray is rectangular and includes a paint well and angularly inclined roller ramp. The roller ramp respectively drops off into the paint well. The paint well is located at the end of the paint tray and is designed to act as a reservoir and to allow paint to be placed therein for dipping a paint roller. The paint tray is preferably fabricated out of molded plastic, but other materials can be used. The preferred width for the tray is eighteen inches, which is the width of commercial paint rollers but can be sized to accommodate alternative sizes. The tray includes a right-side wall and a spaced apart left side wall. The paint well is rectangular in shape and is defined by the right-side wall and left side wall of the paint tray as well as the bottom edges and of the roller ramp. The paint well is dimensioned to hold a large quantity of paint, as for example half a gallon, so the well can be filled less frequently.

[0018] The roller ramp is located on the opposing side of the paint well and provides a surface for evenly applying the paint to the roller. The roller ramp is sloped upward as it approaches the opposing end of the tray. The roller ramp is designed so that excess paint can be removed from the roller and can drain back into the paint well. The ramp includes evenly spaced traction ridges. During the normal use of a paint tray, the roller ramp becomes covered with wet paint. When the paint roller is dipped into the paint well, paint is only applied to one half of the roller. The paint on the roller is evened out by rolling it up and down the ramp.

[0019] Due to the inherent nature of paint, the roller ramp becomes slippery, preventing the paint roller from rotating on the ramp. Also, the paint on one side of the roller creates an uneven weight balance, discouraging full rotation of the roller on the ramp. The traction ridges of the present invention aid in the rotation of the roller as it moves up and down the ramp. The traction ridges are designed to engage the nap of the roller, allowing the roller to freely move up and down the ramp.

[0020] By using traction ridges to engage the nap of the roller, even paint coverage on the roller is possible. It is not necessary the that the ridges be painted but any configuration of projection that will engage the nap of the roller and cause it to rotate, rather than slide, as it moves up and down the ramp will be sufficient for purposes of the present invention. On the outside edge of the roller ramp are drainage channels, positioned between the side wall and the side edge of the ramp, that allow paint from the edges of the rollers to drain back to the paint well without accumulating near the ends of the roller.

[0021] The paint tray roller also has four outboard wheels, one located at each corner of the tray as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, that are used to support, as shown in FIG. 1, to elevate the entire tray off the ground or other support surface. The weight of the tray is evenly distributed over the four wheels. Since the wheels have a smaller surface area than the bottom of the paint well, the force per unit of surface area exerted onto the ground is increased. This increase in force aids in preventing the tray from moving when the roller is rolled up and down the ramps.

[0022] Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, however, it must be understood that these particular arrangements merely illustrate, and that the invention is to be given its fullest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.