Paint mixing container
AssigneePPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
InventorsAlban R. D'Epenoux, Ignasi Roig Ferrer-Dalmau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a container (1) for mixing paint comprising a paint cup (2) comprising a base portion (3) and sidewall portions (4) enclosing a receptacle volume (5), and having an opening (6) opposite to the base portion (3); a rotatable mixing element (17) disposed in the receptacle volume (5); and a coupling means (19) for operatively connecting the rotatable mixing element (17) to an actuator (30) configured to drive the rotatable mixing element (17). A paint mixing apparatus (26) comprising one or more ports (27) configured to accommodate such paint mixing container (1) and comprising an actuator (30) configured to drive the rotatable mixing element (17) and a process for mixing paint making use of such paint mixing container (1) are also disclosed.
Claims18
A container for mixing paint comprising:
- a paint cup comprising a base portion and sidewall portions enclosing a receptacle volume, and having an opening opposite to the base portion;
- a lid forming an outlet and being detachably connected to the paint cup to seal the opening of the paint cup when closed;
- a rotatable mixing element disposed in the receptacle volume;
- and
- a coupling means for operatively connecting the rotatable mixing element to an actuator configured to drive the rotatable mixing element,
- wherein:
- the lid further includes a ventilation mechanism comprising a tube extending from the lid into the receptacle volume, the lid having the tube extending therefrom to a length that is short of the rotatable mixing element when in an upright position;
- the ventilation mechanism is in a default closed position in the upright configuration in the upright configuration during fill and mixing of paint in the paint cup, and opens in the upside down configuration during withdrawal of paint from the paint cup, providing pressure equalization during withdrawal of the paint.
A container for mixing paint comprising:
- a paint cup comprising a base portion and sidewall portions enclosing a receptacle volume, and having an opening opposite to the base portion;
- a lid forming an outlet and being detachably connected to the paint cup to seal the opening of the paint cup when closed;
- a rotatable mixing element disposed in the receptacle volume, wherein the rotatable mixing element comprises mixing blades that extend from a rotation axis of the rotatable mixing element and dimensioned to almost reach, but not contact, the base and sidewall portions, such that the distance between the mixing blades and the base and sidewall portions is below 1 mm;
- a coupling means for operatively connecting the rotatable mixing element to an actuator configured to drive the rotatable mixing element;
- and
- ventilation means provided in the lid of the paint cup, the ventilation means comprising a hollow tube connected to a ventilation valve of the ventilation means, wherein:
- the hollow tube has a position and length such that the hollow tube does not interfere with the rotatable mixing element disposed in the receptacle volume in an upright configuration of the paint cup, and
- in an upside down configuration of the paint cup, the ventilation means provides an efficient pressure equilibration without risk of paint leakage during use of the paint cup.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.