Why is a groove provided in a saucer pan?
Answers
Explanation:
A container lid is adapted to fit over the top or bottom of a liquid container, such as a paint can, and to form a seal with the top or bottom rolled outer rim of the container. The lid is provided with an outwardly extending flange in a central portion of the outer surface of the lid. A drip pan having integral side and bottom walls is provided with a groove in the upper surface of the bottom wall adapted to receive and seat the flange of the lid and to retain the lid in substantially fixed relationship with respect to the drip pan when the flange is received and seated in the groove.
Images (2)
Classifications
B44D3/128 Wiping bars; Rim protectors; Drip trays; Spill catchers
US4733790A
United States
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InventorDonald P. Stein
Worldwide applications
1981 US
Application US06/283,272 events
1981-07-14
Application filed by Stein Donald P
1981-07-14
Priority to US06/283,272
1988-03-29
Application granted
1988-03-29
Publication of US4733790A
2005-03-29
Anticipated expiration
Status
Expired - Fee Related
InfoPatent citations (15) Cited by (39) Legal events Similar documents Priority and Related ApplicationsExternal linksUSPTOUSPTO AssignmentEspacenetGlobal DossierDiscuss
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for catching drips from open liquid containers during use of the containers, and more particularly to a combined liquid container lid and mating drip pan, the drip pan being matable with a plurality of lid sizes to stabilize a liquid container and to catch liquid drips from the container when the lid is fixed to the bottom of the container and the drip pan is mated with the lid.
Liquids, such as paint, are commonly sold in standard sized containers having a large upper opening. For example, paint is commonly sold to the public in pint, quart and gallon-size metallic cans having an upper opening essentially the diameter of the can. In use, a paint brush is typically dipped into paint in the can and then removed, frequently resulting in dripping of paint onto the outside of the can and surrounding surfaces. As paint, or other liquid, runs down the outside of the can, it can collect on a supporting surface for the can causing clean-up problems or damage to the supporting surface.
Many prior attempts have been made to mitigate the problems associated with liquid drips
Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, the drip pan 10 is preferably further provided with means, such as raised projections or nodes 62, for facilitating alignment of the flange 52 of container lid 12 and groove 20 of the drip pan in use of the apparatus of the invention. The nodes 62 are radially spaced on the upper surface of the bottom wall 14 of the drip pan and are oriented so as to cause alignment of the flange 52 and the groove 20 when a lower portion of the sidewall 42 of the container lid is placed in abutting engagement with the nodes, as shown in FIG. 5. The drip pan is preferably provided with a plurality of alignment means, each being adapted to facilitate alignment of different standard sized container lids. Thus, drip pan 10 is provided with an outermost series of nodes 64 adapted to facilitate alignment of, for example, the gallon size container lid of FIG. 4A, an intermediate series of nodes 66 adapted to facilitate alignment of the quart size container lid of FIG. 4B, and an innermost series of nodes 68 adapted to facilitate alignment of the pint size container lid of FIG. 4C. Although each series is shown in FIG. 1 to comprise four radially spaced nodes, it is apparent that three nodes or five or more nodes may be used for this purpose. In addition, other alignment means, such as raised ribs or the like, may be employed.
In use of the invention, the container lid is placed on the bottom of a container 70 with the lower rim 72 of the container in the groove 50 of the lid. The container and lid are then placed in the drip pan with the flange 52 being inserted into and seated in groove 20 of the drip pan. As further shown in FIG. 5, the container lid may also be used to provide a convenient temporary closure for the container by placing the lid over the upper rim 74 of the container.
The drip pan 10 may be made of cardboard or like materials designed for economy and a limited number of uses, or it may be made of treated cardboard, resilient plastic materials, metallic materials or other suitable materials. For example the drip pan may be made of plastics such as polyethylene, polystyrene, urethanes, vinyls, etc. The container lid 12 is preferably made of lightweight plastic materials such as polyethylene, etc.
While the invention has been described in connection with various presently particularly preferred embodiments, various modifications may be
8. The apparatus of claim 6 which further comprises alignment means on the bottom wall of the drip pan for fascilitating alignment of the flange and the groove.
Answer:
A container lid is adapted to fit over the top or bottom of a liquid container, such as a paint can, and to form a seal with the top or bottom rolled outer rim of the container. The lid is provided with an outwardly extending flange in a central portion of the outer surface of the lid. A drip pan having integral side and bottom walls is provided with a groove in the upper surface of the bottom wall adapted to receive and seat the flange of the lid and to retain the lid in substantially fixed relationship with respect to the drip pan when the flange is received and seated in the groove.
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