# US 4,398,690 A · Elevated support for pails, paint trays, and the like > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,398,690 A - Document ID: US4398690A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/274,235 - Filed: 1981-06-16 - Granted: 1983-08-16 - Earliest claimed: 1979-11-05 - Inventors: Wayman R. Rutledge - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4398690A ## CPC - F16M 11/38: by folding {, e.g. pivoting or scissors tong mechanisms} - B44D 3/14: Holders for paint cans - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - B44D: PAINTING OR ARTISTIC DRAWING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PRESERVING PAINTINGS; SURFACE TREATMENT TO OBTAIN SPECIAL ARTISTIC SURFACE EFFECTS OR FINISHES (surface treatment in general, see the relevant places, e.g. applying liquids or other fluent materials B05) ## Abstract A tripod supported platform has mounted thereon a plurality of arms, each being extensible against the force of a tension spring. The distal ends of the arms are releasably engageable with the rim of a pail or like container for holding the pail on the platform. The arms are removable and the depending brackets adjacent one end of a paint tray may be hooked under the edges of the platform with the other end of the tray overhanging the platform. A retainer is attachable slidably to the platform to permit seating of the tray on the platform and then slidable against the one end of the tray to force the brackets under the platform and securely support the tray on the platform, and to provide for securing different length trays on the platform. One of the tripod legs is pivotable under the platform for storage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A container support comprising: a platform having a top surface; a plurality of legs depending from said platform for supporting said platform; first means for releasably holding a pail-type container on said surface; second means attached to said platform for releasably holding a paint roller tray to said top surface; third means for removably attaching said first means to said platform; fourth means for movably attaching said second means to said platform. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of said legs is pivotally mounted to said platform and having a first pivotal position for supporting said platform and a second pivotal position for storage and transportation; the remaining legs being fixed to said platform. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said third means comprises a plurality of resiliently extensible elongated arms each having one end removably attachable to said platform; the other ends of said arms being releasably engageable with the rim of a pail-type container to releasably hold the container against the top surface of said platform. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of said arms comprises a sleeve having a hook attached at one end and an internal annular rim formed at the other end; a tube being reciprocable in each of said cylinders; each of said tubes having at one end an external annular lip seatable on said rim to prevent said tube from exiting from said sleeve other end; the other end of said tube being pivotably attached to said platform; a tension spring being within said cylinder and tube and being stretched between said sleeve one end and said tube other end to resiliently urge said tube into said sleeve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second means is slidably attached to said platform for accommodating trays of different sizes and for facilitating tray installation on said platform. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second means is removably attached to said platform. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second means comprises a retainer having a step formed on one side thereof; said tray having transversely spaced depending L-shaped brackets adjacent one end of said tray; each bracket engageable with a respective side edge of said platform and the underside of said platform; said retainer being attachable to said platform so that said step is abuttable with said one end of said tray to hold said brackets in engagement with said platform edge and underside of said platform and said retainer being movable relative said platform to permit disengagement of said brackets from said respective edges and underside of said platform for removal of said tray from said platform. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7 with said platform being triangular in shape; said brackets being urged against said respective side edges of said platform and underside of said platform when said retainer is attached to said platform adjacent the apex of the angle formed by said respective side edges. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second means comprises a pair of elongated slots in at least one of said retainer and said platform; a pair of bolts, a bolt being slidably inserted in each slot and through the other of said retainer and platform, whereby said retainer is slidable relative to said platform and slidable snugly against said one end of said tray; a pair of nuts, a nut being threaded on each of said bolts to hold said retainer in position on said platform. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3 with a hole being formed in said platform; a spacer block having a post depending therefrom that is insertable in said hole whereby containers of varying vertical dimensions may be resiliently held by said arms. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 with latching means for latching said one leg in each of the supporting and storage positions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 including a plurality of eye bolts; each of said eye bolts being inserted through said platform at spaced intervals and having a nut threaded on the eye bolt shank above said platform and a nut threaded on the eye bolt shank below said platform to hold said eye bolt in fixed relation to said platform; the lower ends of each of said springs being attached to a respective eye bolt. ### Claim 13 A support for an elongated paint roller tray having transversely spaced depending L-shaped brackets adjacent one end thereof; a platform having a top surface, at least one of the depending L-shaped brackets engageable with a side edge of said platform and the underside of said platform; a plurality of legs depending from said platform for supporting said platform; a retainer having a step formed on one side thereof; means for movably attaching said retainer to said platform so that said step is abuttable with said one end of said roller tray to hold said at least one bracket in engagement with said platform edge and underside of said platform, and said retainer being movable relative said platform to permit disengagement of said at least one bracket from said edge and underside of said platform for removal of said tray from said platform. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13 wherein each of said brackets is engageable with a respective side edge of said platform and underside of said platform. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means comprises a pair of elongated slots in one of said retainer and said platform; a pair of bolts, a bolt being slidably inserted in each slot and through the other of said retainer and platform, whereby said retainer is slidable relative to said platform and slidable snugly against said one end of said tray to force said L-shaped brackets against the side edges of and beneath said platform; a pair of fastening members, a member being attached on each of said bolts to hold said retainer in position on said platform. ### Claim 16 A container support comprising: a platform having a top surface; a plurality of legs being pivotally connected at an intermediate point to said platform and having a portion extending below said platform for supporting said platform; each of said legs having a second portion extending above said platform; means resiliently extensible from each of said portions for releasably engaging the edge defining the container opening to hold the container against said platform and hold said legs in a corresponding pivotal position.