LID WITH HINGED COMPARTMENTS FOR JOINT COMPOUND CONTAINER

Abstract

A container and lid assembly is provided, including a main container defining a chamber with a base joint compound; and a container lid constructed and arranged for closing the main container, the lid having a main hinged lid door openable to provide access to the chamber; and at least one supplemental lid door hinged to the lid and openable to a supplemental compartment, the supplemental compartment being isolated from the chamber.

Claims

1. A container and lid assembly, comprising: a main container defining a chamber with a base joint compound; and a container lid constructed and arranged for closing said main container, said lid having a main hinged lid door openable to provide access to said chamber; and at least one supplemental lid door hinged to said lid and openable to a supplemental compartment, said supplemental compartment being isolated from said chamber.

2. The container and lid assembly of claim 1, wherein hinges of said main hinged lid door and said at least one supplemental hinged lid door are adjacent each other on said container lid.

3. The container and lid assembly of claim 2, wherein said hinges are parallel to each other.

4. The container and lid assembly of claim 1, wherein said main hinged lid door and said at least one supplemental hinged lid door engage said lid in a snap-fit configuration.

5. The container and lid assembly of claim 1, wherein said supplemental compartment is integrally formed with said container lid.

6. The container and lid assembly of claim 1, wherein said main hinged lid door is larger in area than a single said at least one supplemental hinged lid door.

7. The container and lid assembly of claim 1 wherein said chamber has a base joint compound, and said at least one supplemental chamber has an additive for use with said base joint compound.

8. The container and lid assembly of claim 7, wherein said additive is taken from the group consisting of retarders, accelerators, activators, pigments, adhesion promoters and dust reducers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the present container and lid;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top perspective of the present lid; and

[0014] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a plurality of containers equipped with the present lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the present container and lid assembly is generally designated 10, and is contemplated as referring to a package for a settable composition, such as ready-mix type wallboard joint compound, which is well known in the art. Included in the assembly is a main container 12 and a lid 14. Such containers 12 are conventionally made of plastic, however coated cardboard with plastic liners is also an acceptable construction. As is known in the art, the main container 12 is typically provided in sizes ranging from volumes of 3.5 to 4.5 gallons (13.25-17.03 L) for large applications, or 1 to 3.5 quarts (0.95-3.3 L) for smaller applications. The lid 14, also preferably made of plastic, with other materials contemplated.

[0016] Referring now to the main container 12, a floor 16 is preferably integrally joined to a generally vertically extending sidewall 18 to define a chamber 20 (shown hidden). Most preferably, the sidewall 18 is slightly inclined, and wider near the lid 14 or drafted to facilitate both injection molding as well as stacking of empty containers in warehouses prior to being filled with the desired composition, here a base joint compound 22 (shown hidden FIG. 3). The properties of base joint compound 22 are well known in the art. Most preferably, the base joint compound 22 is the ready mix type.

[0017] The container lid 14 is constructed and arranged for closing the main container 12, and has a peripheral edge 24 provided with a lip or clip formation to facilitate the lid closing the main container until a user desires access to the joint compound 22 as is known in the art. Included on the lid 14 is a main hinged lid door 26 openable to provide access to the chamber 20; and at least one supplemental lid door 28 hinged to the lid and openable to a supplemental compartment 30 (FIG. 2). It is especially preferred that the supplemental compartment 30 is isolated from the chamber 20. Also, the supplemental compartment 30 is preferably integrally formed with the container lid 14, as by injection molding, thermoforming or the like.

[0018] Both the main lid door 26 and the supplemental lid door 28 are provided with hinges, respectively 32 and 34. Any sort of hinge is considered suitable for the hinges 32 and 34, including integral living hinges, separate molded pin and socket or snap-fit formations, and the like which are well known in the art of molded container closures. The hinges 32 and 34 are preferably adjacent each other on the lid 14, and more preferably are parallel to each other. As such, the respective lid doors 26, 28 open away from or opposite each other.

[0019] As is depicted in FIGS. 1-3, the main door 26 has a significantly larger surface area than the supplemental door 28. In the case of multiple supplemental doors 28, each such door is contemplated as being smaller than the main door 26.

[0020] A joint compound additive 36 (shown hidden, FIG. 2) is the preferred ingredient for placement in the supplemental compartment 30. The additive 36 is taken from the group consisting of retarders, accelerators, activators, pigments, adhesion promoters and dust reducers. However, other additives 36 are contemplated, as well as each supplemental compartment 30 potentially containing different additives. Further, the additive 36 is optionally packaged in pouch to be opened separately by the user for incorporation into the base joint compound 22, or is provided in granular or loose format, for distribution with a spoon or scoop (not shown). Another option is that the pouch is water soluble and dissolves upon mixing in the base joint compound 22.

[0021] Referring now to FIG. 3, a plurality of the containers 10 are depicted, in various sizes or volumes, and with the lid 14 in various orientations. It is also contemplated that the containers 10 are provided with a handle 38, preferably generally U-shaped and pivotally mounted to the wall 18. While other materials are contemplated, the handle 38 is preferably made of plastic.

[0022] While a particular embodiment of the present lid with hinged compartments for a joint compound container has been described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims.