# US 9,038,674 B2 · Paint can cover assembly with paint return port

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 9,038,674 B2
- Document ID: US9038674B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/918,037
- Filed: 2013-06-14
- Published: 2014-12-18
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2013-06-14
- Assignees: SPS Lid Technology II, LLC
- Applicants: Shane Steele
- Inventors: Shane Steele
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038674B2

## CPC

- B67D 3/0061: {of liquid containers, e.g. filling, emptying, closing or opening means}
- B05B 7/2408: {characterised by the container or its attachment means to the spray apparatus}
- B44D 3/127: {Covers or lids for paint cans (covers or lids for containers of general type B65D)}
- B05B 7/2478: {Gun with a container which, in normal use, is located above the gun}
- B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F)
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- 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 paint can lid assembly having a universal paint cup port member adapted to receive and retain a paint spray cup in an inverted position such that unused paint will drain from the paint spray cup back into the paint can. The paint cup port member has a tubular main body that extends through the upper surface of the mixing lid, the internal bore of the main body being sufficiently sized so as to receive the mating spout of any type or brand of paint spray cup. In a preferred embodiment, the paint cup port member is provided with an annular locking shoulder to better secure paint spray cups possessing retention clip members.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of returning unused paint from a paint spray cup to a paint can through a paint can lid assembly affixed to a paint can, the paint spray cup having a mating spout, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a paint can lid assembly comprising a handle, a pouring spout, spout closure member actuated by a trigger assembly, a lid upper surface and paint spray cup port member extending through said lid upper surface, said paint spray cup port member comprising a tubular body and an inner bore;
affixing said paint can lid assembly atop a paint can;
inserting the mating spout of the paint spray cup into the inner bore of said paint spray cup port member; and
allowing paint within the paint spray cup to drain through said paint spray cup port member and into the paint can.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, said paint spray cup port member further comprising an annular locking shoulder and said paint spray cup further comprising retention clip members, whereby said step of inserting the mating spout of the paint spray cup into the inner bore of said paint spray cup port member comprises mating said retention clip members with said annular locking shoulder.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said paint spray cup port member is disposed at a non-vertical angle, whereby said paint spray cup port member is inserted into the inner bore of said paint spray cup port member and retained at non-vertical angle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of drilling a hole through said lid upper surface of said paint can lid assembly and inserting said paint spray cup port member into said hole.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein said paint spray cup port member is screwed into said lid upper surface.