Special receptacle or package – For artist equipment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-07
2001-10-16
Luong, Shian (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For artist equipment
C206S001800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302267
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to providing a palette system for use in storing and holding substances such as paint or glue. More particularly, this invention concerns providing a palette system which maintains the paint in a workable condition longer than that provided with current palette systems.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typically, paint palettes are used to provide a platform on which dabs of acrylic-type paints may be placed. Since acrylic-type paints are water-based emulsions, it is important to maintain the paint dabs in a moist condition during use, transport, and short term storage on the palette. To this end, prior art attempts have been made to provide paint palettes which are structured and arranged to maintain the paint dabs in a moist condition for extended periods of time. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,933 issued to applicant teaches the use of a stackable palette system consisting of a plurality of box-like palettes. Within these palettes are disposed a water-retentive layer, e.g., a sponge-like material, and, on the upper surface of the water-retentive layer, a sheet of porous material on which dabs of paint are placed. In operation, the moisture in the water-retentive layer is absorbed by the porous layer, thereby maintaining the paint dabs in a moist and useable condition.
Applicant is aware of other prior art attempts to provide paint palettes which are structured and arranged to maintain the paint dabs in a moist condition for extended periods of time. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,638,909 and 4,444,306 issued to, respectively, Ford and Benaquista teach paint palettes which use moisture reservoirs, comprising sponge-like materials, to prevent rapid drying of the paint. Although both of the above-referenced palette systems may be adequate for their respective intended uses, neither teaches a palette that provides a uniform moisture distribution to the entire palette surface when the paints are being used. For example, both teach the placement of their respective sponges at an end of the palette, thereby providing non-uniform moisture distribution to the paints when the respective lids are removed and the paints are used.
Applicant is further aware of one prior art attempt in which the moisture reservoir is arranged in such manner as to provide uniform moisture to the entire palette surface. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,874,499 issued to Barnett, Jr. teaches an artist's palette in which the palette's base portion comprises a rigid water absorbent material such as polyurethane or foam rubber. Although this system may also be adequate for its intended purpose, it fails to teach that its water absorbent material may comprise a wood-fiber or cellulose material exhibiting “wicking” power or the ability to draw and concentrate moisture to the absorbent material's surface adjacent the paints.
Generally, in terms of availability and cost concerns, palette systems which utilize a water-retentive layer typically use a plastic sponge material. Although these types of sponges are adequate to maintain the paint dabs in a useable condition for short periods of time, they have a tendency to dry from the top of the sponge, thereby necessitating the user to add water to the palette in order to maintain the porous paper, and hence the paint dabs, in a moist condition. In addition, paint palettes are often transported to the various locations in which the painting activity will be conducted. If the travel time is extensive, the user may even have to stop to refill the palette, which is inconvenient.
Thus, there exists a need for a palette system which maintains such substances as paint or glue in a moist and useable condition for longer periods than has been accomplished by prior art paint palettes.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to fulfill the above-mentioned needs by the provision of an improved palette system for maintaining paint or glue dabs in a moist condition. A further primary object of the present invention is to provide such an improved palette system which is efficient, easy to use, inexpensive and easy to maintain. Other objects of this invention will become apparent with reference to the following invention description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this invention provides a palette system for holding useable substances such as paint dabs, glue dabs, or the like, comprising, in combination: a substantially-flat wetting means, having a top surface and a bottom surface, for providing a moisture supply; atop and adjacent such top surface of such wetting means, a moisture-permeable holding means for holding such useable substance; and a chamber means for containing such wetting means, such chamber means having an interior space, such interior space having a lower surface adjacent and below such bottom surface of such wetting means; such wetting means comprising a substantially-sponge-like material whose cell structure provides a “wick effect”; whereby, when such holding means and such wetting means are both moist, and when moisture evaporates from such holding means, such holding means thereby drawing off top moisture from such top surface of such wetting means, replacement moisture from within such wetting means “wicks up” to replace such top moisture, whereby such wetting means dries from the bottom up.
Additionally, it provides for such a palette system further comprising a useable substance, atop such moisture-permeable holding means, selected from the group consisting of paint and a glue-type material; and, wherein such useable substance comprises paint; and, further, wherein such useable substance comprises a glue-type material. Also, it provides such a palette system wherein such wetting means has a dry thickness from about {fraction (1/16)}-inch to about ⅛-inch. And, it also provides for such a palette system wherein such wetting means has a dry thickness of {fraction (1/16)}-inch. This invention also provides fir such a palette system wherein such wetting means has a water-saturated thickness of about ¼-inch; and, wherein such wetting means has a water saturated thickness of about ¼-inch. Further, it provides for such a palette system wherein such wetting means comprises a substantially-wood-fiber material.
Even further, in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, this invention provides for a palette system for holding paint dabs, comprising, in combination: a wetting means, comprising a porous substantially-wood-fiber material, for providing a moisture supply; atop and adjacent such wetting means, a moisture-permeable holding means for holding such paint dabs; a chamber means for containing such wetting means, such chamber means having an interior space, such interior space having a bottom surface for supporting such wetting means. And, it provides for such a palette system wherein such chamber means comprises an open-top box structure, such open-top box structure comprising a plurality of planar wall portions, each such planar wall portion having a top wall end. Also, it provides for such a palette system further comprising a sealing means for sealing such chamber means, such sealing means being structured and arranged for attachment to each of such top wall end of such planar wall portions.
Yet further still, this invention provides for such a palette system wherein such moisture-permeable holding means comprises a sheet of paper-type material; and, wherein such wetting means is substantially flat. Also, it provides for such a palette system wherein such wetting means has a dry thickness from about {fraction (1/16)}-inch to about ⅛-inch; and, even further, wherein such wetting means has a dry thickness of {fraction (1/16)}-inch. Additionally, this invention provides for such a palette system wherein such wetting means has a water-saturated thickness of about ¼-inch; and, even further still, wherein such wetting means has a water-saturated thickn
Luong Shian
Stoneman Martin L.
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