Disposable paint tray liner

Nov. 24, 1964

3,157,902

T. L. HARDWICK

DISPOSABLE PAINT TRAY LINER

Filed Jan. 4, 1963

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United States Patent Office

3,157,902

Patented Nov. 24, 1964

3,157,902

DISPOSABLE PAINT TRAY LINER

Thomas L. Hardwick, Buffalo, N.Y. (P.O. Box 153, West Seneca, N.Y.)

Filed Jan. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 249,479 5

Claims. (CI. 15—257.06)

This invention relates to a lining for containers, and more specifically, to a disposable liner for a paint tray or the like. ₁₀

The use of roller type apparatus in the application of paint conventionally requires the use of a paint tray for holding the paint in order to supply the roller. These trays provide a surface area of sufficient size to permit the roller to be uniformly coated with a supply of paint 15 prior to rolling, but must be carefully cleaned between uses to provide a clean surface for each use and prevent undesired mixture of colors. To obviate the necessity for such cleaning, it has been previously proposed to supply disposable trays, and disposable linings for non-dispos- 20 able trays. The former have been costly and lacking in sufficient rigidity and resistance to moisture, while the latter have required modifications of the basic structure— neither having found general acceptance.

To overcome these objections, and to provide a readily 25 disposable, improved tray liner, this invention provides a molded liner for use with conventional metallic paint trays without any modification of the tray, the liner being formed of an inexpensive plastic, or the like.

An important object of the invention is to supply a 30 paint tray liner of the character indicated which is securely held in place within the tray when in use, but is adapted to be readily disengaged and discarded.

Another objective is to provide a tray liner adapted for mass production of inexpensive material, non-com- 35 plex in construction and use, and of sufficient durability for its intended usage.

Other and further objects -and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction 40 with the annexed drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a disassembled perspective view of a tray and liner in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal cross-sectional 45 view through a paint tray with a liner of this invention placed thereon;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail sectional view along the line 3—3 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and 50

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, the liner being shown removed from the tray.

Proceeding to a more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drawings illustrate at 10 a conventional paint fray formed of metal 55 or the like providing the environment of the present invention. The tray 10 includes a substantially rectangular bottom wall 12 having a first end 14 and a second, opposite end 16. The tray is conventionally provided with a plurality of upwardly struck paint distribution ribs 60 18, and has a pair of legs 20 adjacent the first end 14 of the bottom wall 12. The bottom wall 12 is supported by legs 2® and its ends 16 such that, when rested on a horizontal support, it is slanted downwardly from the first end 14 to the second end 16. The end 16 merges 65 into an upwardly and outwardly inclined end wall 22, and side walls 24 complete the tray enclosure. The upper peripheral edge of the tray 10, including end 14 of bottom wall 12, side walls 24 and end wall 22, has a continuous rolled flange 26 extending thereabout. The 70 foregoing description of the tray relates to conventional structure not per se a part of the present invention, this invention relating to a liner structure for use in combination with a conventional tray.

As best seen in FIGURE 1, the tray liner of this invention, generally identified by reference character 28, comprises a molded tray-like device having an outer configuration conforming with the interior shape of the tray 1®. The liner 28 includes a liner bottom wall 3® having a first end 32 and a second end 34, the bottom wall having a plurality of upwardly projecting liner ribs 36 which engage the distribution ribs 18 and aid in correctly positioning and holding 'the liner within the tray. A liner end wall 38 merges into the bottom wall 30 at the second end 34 thereof, and upstanding liner side walls 48 are located along the sides thereof.

The liner 28 is provided with a peripheral snap brim 42 which extends around the full extent thereof, including the first end 32, the upper edges of the liner side walls 40 and the liner end wall 38. As seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, the snap brim 42 is outwardly and downwardly arched to provide a trough or continuous slot 44. The snap brim 42 is resilient relative to 'the flange 26, and is dimensioned to securely grip the same within the slot 44 upon the application of the snap brim 42 to the tray flange.

In use, the liner 28 is manually positioned in the tray 1® with the liner bottom wall 30 overlying the tray bottom wall 12 throughout the full length and width of the latter, and with the side walls and end wall of the liner in covering, flush relation to the respective side walls and end wall of the tray, the snap brim 42 being engaged over the tray flange 26. Upon completion of use or when it is desired to change to a different color, the liner 28 is removed by lifting it from the tray 10 upon manual disengagement of the snap brim from the flange. The soiled liner is then discarded and may be replaced with another liner.

Having described and illustrated an embodiment of this invention in detail, it is to be understood that this description and illustration are offered merely by way of example, and that the invention is to be limited in scope only by the appended claims.