Paint tray accessory and assembly

摘要

A paint tray accessory and assembly provides a membrane cover for use with a paint tray and paint roller of conventional manufacture. The membrane cover comprises a first frame member, a second frame member and a fluid regulating membrane. The membrane is flexible and stretchable which provides means for more evenly coating the sleeve of a paint roller during use of the assembly. The membrane also provides a tractive surface for the paint roller sleeve. The frame members are configured to retain the membrane within the frame members and to protect the membrane during use. The first frame member is intended to remain in position while the second frame member is flexibly rotatable relative to the first frame member at the points of certain “breaks” between the two frame members, also considered a “hinged” point.

主权项

1. A paint tray accessory that is capable of functioning with a paint tray, the paint tray comprising an access opening defined by a front wall portion, a back wall portion and a pair of opposing side wall portions, each wall portion comprising an upper margin, the upper margins being adjoined about the access opening, and the paint tray accessory being removably attached to the paint tray when used with the paint tray, the accessory comprising a subcombination, the subcombination comprising:
a membrane cover, the membrane cover comprising a first frame member comprising a substantially U-shaped frame member, a second frame member comprising a substantially U-shaped frame member, the first and second frame members being removably attached to the adjoining upper margins of the wall portions but separated at two break points along the opposing side wall portions of the paint tray and opposite one another relative to the access opening such that the second frame member can be separately detached from the wall portions and rotated upwardly about the break points, and a membrane, the membrane comprising a flexible and stretchable fluid regulating material that is secured to and suspended between the first and second frame members, the first and second frame members being complementary to one another to form a framework for the membrane that is suspended between them; wherein the first frame member of the membrane cover comprises a first longitudinally-extending leg, a second longitudinally-extending leg and a third longitudinally-extending leg, the legs being integrally formed and the second leg being disposed between the other two legs of the first frame member, and wherein the second frame member of the membrane cover comprises a first longitudinally-extending leg, a second longitudinally-extending leg and a third longitudinally-extending leg, the legs being integrally formed and the second leg being disposed between the other two legs of the second frame member; wherein the two break points comprise a first break and a second break, the first break being disposed between the first leg of the first frame member and the first leg of the second frame member, the second break being disposed between the third leg of the first frame member and the third leg of the second frame member, and wherein a portion of the membrane disposed within each break provides a hinged relationship between the frame members; wherein each of the legs of the first and second frame members of the membrane cover comprises an inverted and substantially U-shaped structure thereby creating a channel for receiving a peripheral edge of the membrane and a portion of an upper margin of a paint tray wall therein; andthe subcombination further comprising:
means for fastening the peripheral edge of the membrane within the substantially U-shaped channels of the first and second frame members wherein a compliant seal is formed between the peripheral edge of the membrane and a portion of the upper margin of the wall of the paint tray to which the accessory is removably attached.