WATER-SOLUBLE POUCH FOR COLORING A WATER-BASED COATING

Abstract

A water-soluble pouch for coloring a water-based coating, such as a paint or a stucco, is disclosed. The water-soluble pouch includes first and second sheets of water-soluble material that are plastically deformed and at least partially joined together such that interior surfaces of the first and second sheets cooperate to define at least one interior chamber. The first and second sheets are at least partially joined together by way of a bonding process. One or more pigments are contained within the at least one interior chamber. The water-soluble pouch is configured to dissolve and release the one or more pigments into the water-based coating when mixed with the water-based coating for at least a predetermined period of time. A method for coloring a water-based coating is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A water-soluble pouch for coloring a water-based coating, the water-soluble pouch comprising: a first sheet having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface, the first sheet comprised of a first water-soluble material; a second sheet having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface, the second sheet comprised of a second water-soluble material, the first and second sheets being plastically deformed and at least partially joined together such that the interior surfaces of the first and second sheets cooperate to define at least one interior chamber; and one or more pigments contained within the at least one interior chamber; wherein: the one or more pigments are selected from a group consisting of a primary blue pigment, a primary red pigment, a primary yellow pigment, a black pigment, a white pigment and combinations thereof, the first and second sheets are at least partially joined together by way of a bonding process, and the water-soluble pouch is configured to dissolve and release the one or more pigments into the water-based coating when mixed with the water-based coating for at least a predetermined period of time.

2. The water-soluble pouch according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sheets are plastically deformed by way of a thermoforming process.

3. The water-soluble pouch according to claim 1, wherein the bonding process is selected from a group consisting of heat sealing, solvent welding, wet sealing and combinations thereof.

4. The water-soluble pouch according to claim 1, wherein the at least one interior chamber comprises two or more separate interior chambers, and each of the two or more separate interior chambers contain the one or more pigments selected from the group of pigments.

5. The water-soluble pouch according to claim 4, wherein the two or more separate interior chambers have respective interior volumes which are substantially equal relative to one another.

6. The water-soluble pouch according to claim 4, wherein the two or more separate interior chambers have respective interior volumes which vary relative to one another.

7. The water-soluble pouch according to claim 1, wherein the first and second water-soluble materials each comprise a water-soluble polymer.

8. The water-soluble pouch according to claim 1, wherein the first and second water-soluble materials each comprise a material selected from a group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylamide, polysaccharide and cellulose ether.

9. The water-soluble pouch according to claim 1, wherein the one or more pigments are in the form of a powder.

10. The water-soluble pouch according to claim 1, wherein the one or more pigments are in the form of a liquid.

11. The water-soluble pouch according to claim 1, wherein the one or more pigments are in the form of a powder and liquid combination.

12. The water-soluble pouch according to claim 1, wherein the water-based coating is a paint.

13. The water-soluble pouch according to claim 12, wherein the paint is a latex paint.

14. The water-soluble pouch according to claim 13, wherein the latex paint is an acrylic latex paint.

15. The water-soluble pouch according to claim 1, wherein the water-based coating is a stucco.

16. The water-soluble pouch according to claim 15, wherein the stucco is one of an acrylic stucco, an elastomeric stucco and a synthetic stucco.

17. The water-soluble pouch according to claim 1, wherein the water-based coating is a protective or decorative coating configured to be applied to a surface with at least one of a roller, a brush, a sprayer and a trowel.

18. A method of coloring a water-based coating, the method comprising the steps of: (A) providing a container holding a predetermined amount of water-based coating; (B) providing a predetermined quantity of water-soluble pouches, wherein the predetermined quantity of water-soluble pouches is determined based on the predetermined amount of water-based coating held in the container, each water-soluble pouch of the predetermined quantity of water-soluble pouches comprising: a first sheet having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface, the first sheet comprised of a first water-soluble material; a second sheet having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface, the second sheet comprised of a second water-soluble material, the first and second sheets being plastically deformed and at least partially joined together such that the interior surfaces of the first and second sheets cooperate to define at least one interior chamber; and one or more pigments contained within the at least one interior chamber; wherein: the one or more pigments are selected from a group consisting of a primary blue pigment, a primary red pigment, a primary yellow pigment, a black pigment, a white pigment and combinations thereof, and the first and second sheets are at least partially joined together by way of a bonding process; the method further comprising the steps of: (C) providing a mixing device; (D) inserting the predetermined quantity of water-soluble pouches into the predetermined amount of water-based coating held in the container; and (E) operating the mixing device to mix the predetermined quantity of water-soluble pouches with the predetermined amount of water-based coating held in the container for at least a predetermined period of time.

19. The method of coloring a water-based coating according to claim 18, wherein the predetermined amount of water-based coating is a predetermined amount of protective or decorative coating configured to be applied to a surface with at least one of a roller, a brush, a sprayer and a trowel.

20. A method of coloring a latex paint, the method comprising the steps of: (A) providing a container holding a predetermined amount of latex paint; (B) providing a predetermined quantity of water-soluble pouches, wherein the predetermined quantity of water-soluble pouches is determined based on the predetermined amount of latex paint held in the container, each water-soluble pouch of the predetermined quantity of water-soluble pouches comprising: a first sheet having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface, the first sheet comprised of a first water-soluble material; a second sheet having an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface, the second sheet comprised of a second water-soluble material, the first and second sheets being plastically deformed and at least partially joined together such that the interior surfaces of the first and second sheets cooperate to define at least one interior chamber; and one or more pigments contained within the at least one interior chamber; wherein: the one or more pigments are selected from a group consisting of a primary blue pigment, a primary red pigment, a primary yellow pigment, a black pigment, a white pigment and combinations thereof, and the first and second sheets are at least partially joined together by way of a bonding process; the method further comprising the steps of: (C) providing a mixing device; (D) inserting the predetermined quantity of water-soluble pouches into the predetermined amount of latex paint held in the container; and (E) operating the mixing device to mix the predetermined quantity of water-soluble pouches with the predetermined amount of latex paint held in the container for at least a predetermined period of time.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] One or more embodiments of the present disclosure are pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. However, other features of the one or more embodiments will become more apparent and will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a water-soluble pouch used for coloring a water-based coating;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an interior chamber of the water-soluble pouch shown in FIG. 1; and

[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a container holding a predetermined amount of water-based coating, the predetermined amount of water-based coating being mixed with the predetermined quantity of water-soluble pouches by a mixing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] As required, one or more detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a water-soluble pouch 10 for coloring a water-based coating is shown. The water-soluble pouch 10 may color any water-based protective coating, including sealers, water-based decorative coating or derivatives thereof. As non-limiting examples, the water-soluble pouch 10 may color a water-based protective or decorative coating configured to be applied to a surface with at least one of a roller, a brush, a sprayer and a trowel. As further non-limiting examples, the water-based coating may comprise a paint, such as a latex or acrylic latex paint or any other water-based paint. As further non-limiting examples, the water-based coating may comprise a stucco, such as an acrylic stucco, an elastomeric stucco, a synthetic stucco or any other water-based stucco. In any case, the water-based coating, before being colored by at least one water-soluble pouch 10, is typically available in a white, pastel, light, medium, deep or clear base and in a variety of sheens and/or textures.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the water-soluble pouch 10 may comprise a first sheet 20 having an interior surface 69 and an opposing exterior surface 79, and a second sheet 30 having an interior surface 70 and an opposing exterior surface 80. The first and second sheets 20, 30 may be comprised of respective first and second water-soluble materials. The first and second water-soluble materials may be any suitable water-soluble material. As a non-limiting example, each of the first and second water-soluble materials may comprise a water-soluble polymer. As further non-limiting examples, each of the first and second water-soluble materials may comprise a material selected from a group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylamide, polysaccharide and cellulose ether.

[0019] The first and second sheets 20, 30 may be plastically deformed along respective portions 24, 25 of the first and second sheets 20, 30, and may be at least partially joined together such that the interior surfaces 69, 70 of the first and second sheets 20, 30 cooperate to define at least one interior chamber 40. The first and second sheets 20, 30 may be plastically deformed by way of a thermoforming process, although any suitable process for plastically deforming the portions 24, 25 of the first and second sheets 20, 30 may be used. The at least one interior chamber 40 may comprise a single interior chamber 40 or two or more separate interior chambers 40, such as shown in FIG. 1. In the case where the at least one interior chamber 40 comprises two or more separate interior chambers 40, it should be appreciated that the respective two or more separate interior chambers 40 may have interior volumes which are substantially equal relative to one another, or conversely, the respective two or more separate interior chambers 40 may have interior volumes which vary relative to one another. As non-limiting examples, the interior volume of the at least one interior chamber 40 may be measured in liters, milliliters, cubic centimeters, pints, fluid ounces, or other suitable units to measure volume. The first and second sheets 20, 30 may be at least partially joined together by way of outer peripheral edges 90, 91 of the respective first and second sheets 20, 30 being joined together and sealed. The outer peripheral edges 90, 91 of the respective first and second sheets 20, 30 may be joined together and sealed by way of a bonding process, which may take place simultaneously with or immediately following the thermoforming process. Any suitable bonding process for joining together and sealing the outer peripheral edges 90, 91 of the respective first and second sheets 20, 30 may be used. As non-limiting examples, the bonding process may be selected from a group consisting of heat sealing, solvent welding, wet sealing and combinations thereof.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one or more pigments 50 may be contained within the at least one interior chamber 40, and therefore, one or more pigments 50 may be contained within a single interior chamber 40 or two or more separate interior chambers 40. The water-soluble pouch 10 is configured to dissolve and release the one or more pigments 50 into a water-based coating when mixed with the water-based coating for at least a predetermined period of time. As disclosed above, the first and second sheets 20, 30 may be plastically deformed along respective portions 24, 25 of the first and second sheets 20, 30, such as by way of a thermoforming process. As a non-limiting example, one or more pigments 50 may be dispensed into at least one cavity defined by at least one of the respective portions 24, 25, during the thermoforming process, which may utilize a heated mold and further comprise a vacuum-forming process. Once the one or more pigments 50 are dispensed into at least one cavity defined by at least one of the respective portions 24, 25 of the plastically-deformed first and second sheets 20, 30, the first and second sheets 20, 30 may be at least partially joined together such that the interior surfaces 69, 70 of the first and second sheets 20, 30 cooperate to define the at least one interior chamber 40 with the one or more pigments 50 contained in the at least one interior chamber 40. The outer peripheral edges 90, 91 of the respective first and second sheets 20, 30 may be joined together and sealed by way of a bonding process, as previously described above, which may take place simultaneously with or immediately following the thermoforming process, so as to sufficiently seal the one or more pigments 50 within the at least one interior chamber 40.

[0021] The one or more pigments 50 may be any suitable pigment or pigments capable of coloring water-based coatings, such as pigments produced and/or used by manufacturers of water-based coatings, hardware stores, home improvement stores or paint stores. The one or more pigments 50 may be in the form of a powder, a liquid or a powder and liquid combination. The one or more pigments 50 may be available in a wide variety of predetermined standard or custom colors, which may be produced by employing traditional color theory. In traditional color theory, typically relied upon when using one or more pigments to color water-based coatings, colors of one or more pigments may be derived from a color group including the three primary colors of blue, red and yellow, along with black, white and various combinations thereof. As non-limiting examples, the primary colors of blue, red and yellow may be combined to produce the secondary colors of green, orange and purple. Furthermore, tertiary colors of yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green and yellow-green may be produced by combining primary and secondary colors, and so on. Therefore, a color group including the three primary colors of blue, red and yellow, along with black, white and various combinations thereof may selectively produce any desired color possible within the boundaries of traditional color theory. As non-limiting examples, such desired colors may include numerous shades of black, blue, brown, gray, green, orange, pink, purple, red, white and yellow. Therefore, based on at least traditional color theory and the vast number of colors which may be derived from it, the one or more pigments 50 contained within the at least one interior chamber 40 of the water-soluble pouch 10 may be selected from a group consisting of a primary blue pigment, a primary red pigment, a primary yellow pigment, a black pigment, a white pigment and various combinations thereof.

[0022] Referring now to FIG. 3, a method of coloring a water-based coating 102 will be described in detail. The method may comprise the step of providing a container 100 holding a predetermined amount of water-based coating 102. It may be appreciated that the container 100 may be of any standard or custom size, categorized in both English and Metric units. Additionally, it may be further appreciated that the container 100 need not be provided at a store, but at a variety of flexible locations, such as at a home or a commercial job site. As non-limiting examples, the container 100 may hold one-pint, one-quart, one-gallon or five-gallons of water-based coating 102. The water-based coating 102 may include sealers, water-based decorative coating or derivatives thereof. As non-limiting examples, the water-based coating 102 may be a water-based protective or decorative coating configured to be applied to a surface with at least one of a roller, a brush, a sprayer and a trowel. As further non-limiting examples, the water-based coating 102 may comprise a paint, such as a latex or acrylic latex paint or any other water-based paint. As further non-limiting examples, the water-based coating 102 may comprise a stucco, such as an acrylic stucco, an elastomeric stucco, a synthetic stucco or any other water-based stucco. In any case, the water-based coating 102, before being colored, is typically available in a white, pastel, light, medium, deep or clear base and in a variety of sheens and/or textures

[0023] Additionally, the method may further comprise the step of providing a predetermined quantity of water-soluble pouches 10. Each water-soluble pouch 10 of the predetermined quantity of water-soluble pouches 10 is as previously described herein, and therefore will not be further explained in detail. The predetermined quantity of water-soluble pouches 10 may be determined based on the predetermined amount of water-based coating 102 held in the container 100. As a non-limiting example, based on specific recommendations from the manufacturer of the water-soluble pouch 10 and in conjunction with other factors such as the desired color of the water-based coating 102, the selected base of the water-based coating 102 and the predetermined amount of water-based coating 102 held in the container 100, a quantity of the water-soluble pouches 10 needed to be mixed with the predetermined amount of water-based coating 102 to achieve the desired color may be calculated or otherwise determined. This is particularly advantageous since larger or smaller amounts of water-based coating 102 may be colored as needed, which may increase efficiency and reduce waste of unused water-based coating 102 or eliminate the need to return to a store to obtain more colored water-based coating.

[0024] Additionally, the method may further comprise the step of providing a mixing device 105. As a non-limiting example, the mixing device 105 may be an attachment including a rotatable shaft 110 configured to attach with a powered mixer (not shown). The powered mixer may be any suitable manually-powered, electrically-powered or pneumatically-powered device capable of mixing the predetermined number of water-soluble pouches 10 together with the predetermined amount of water-based coating 102. Additionally, the method may further comprise the step of inserting the predetermined quantity of water-soluble pouches 10 into the predetermined amount of water-based coating 102 held in the container 100. Finally, the method may further comprise the step of operating, or otherwise causing rotation of the mixing device 105 to mix the predetermined quantity of water-soluble pouches 10 with the predetermined amount of water-based coating 102 held in the container 100 for at least a predetermined period of time. The predetermined period of mixing time may be recommended by the manufacturer, or alternatively, may be the time needed for the predetermined quantity of water-soluble pouches 10 to fully dissolve and release the one or more pigments 50, such that the desired color and/or color consistency of the colored water-based coating 102 held in the container 100 is achieved.

[0025] While one or more exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the disclosure. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the disclosure.

[0026] With regard to the processes, systems, methods, heuristics, etc., described herein, it should be understood that, although the steps of such processes, etc., have been described as occurring according to a certain ordered sequence, such processes could be practiced with the described steps performed in an order other than the order described herein. It should be further understood that certain steps could be performed simultaneously, that other steps could be added, or that certain steps described herein could be omitted. In other words, the descriptions of processes described above are provided for the purpose of illustrating certain embodiments, and should in no way be construed so as to limit the claims.

[0027] As used in this specification and claims, the terms for example, for instance, such as, and like, and the verbs comprising, having, including, and their other verb forms, when used in conjunction with a listing of one or more components or other items, are each to be construed as open-ended, meaning that the listing is not to be considered as excluding other, additional components or items. Other terms are to be construed using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.