Coating implements with material supply – Supply container and independent applicator – Applicator includes container closure or overlies material
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-29
2003-12-23
Huson, Gregory L. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Supply container and independent applicator
Applicator includes container closure or overlies material
C401S126000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06666606
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a storage container for containing a coating tool to be used for applying relatively highly viscous liquid. More particularly, the present invention relates to a storage container for containing liquid to be used for protecting images of recorded products obtained typically by means of an ink-jet recording method.
2. Related Background Art
Coating tools for applying relatively highly viscous liquid such as car waxes, water-repellent glass coating agents, paints, cosmetics and cooking oils are known. Coating tools normally comprise an absorbing member for absorbing liquid to be applied and a support member supporting the absorbing member. The support member is provided with a handle.
For applying a coating liquid by means of such a coating tool, firstly the absorbing member of the coating tool is made to absorb the coating liquid, which is then applied to an object to be coated. When the absorbed the coating liquid is running out, again the absorbing member is made to absorb the coating liquid and the absorbed coating liquid is applied to the object. The object will be entirely coated with the coating liquid by repeating this cycle of operation.
As pointed out above, it is necessary that the coating liquid is absorbed by the absorbing member before starting the use of the coating tool. Therefore, to quickly start a coating operation, the absorbing member is desirably in such a state that the coating liquid is already absorbed by it when the coating tool is held in storage. Thus, it may be a good idea that the coating tool is stored in such a state that the absorbing member is dipped in the coating liquid contained in a storage container.
However, if the coating tool is stored in such a state that the absorbing member is dipped in the coating liquid contained in a storage container, some of the coating liquid contained in the storage container may adhere to the support member of the coating tool to smear the handle of the coating tool. When the handle of the coating tool is smeared, the user not only feels unpleasant when he or she uses it but also is forced to clear the handle by wiping it clean so as to prevent the coating liquid that has already been moved from the handle to the hand from sticking to some other object. Then, the efficiency of the coating operation will inevitably be decreased. Particularly, if the coating liquid is nonvolatile, it will persistently stick to the hand to remarkably reduce the efficiency of the coating operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above identified circumstances, it is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a storage container for containing a coating tool that can prevent a coating liquid from sticking to the handle of the coating tool.
According to the invention, the above object is achieved by providing a storage container comprising a holding container adapted to hold a coating tool for applying a liquid and a closure member adapted to close said holding container holding said coating tool, said coating tool being provided with a handle section to be used for gripping said coating tool, said closure member being provided with an opening through which said handle section passes, said storage container having such a structure that said handle section projects outward through said opening when closing said holding container by means of said closure member with said coating tool held in said holding container.
With a storage container having the structure as described above, the handle section of the coating tool projects outward from the storage container during storage of the coating tool so that the coating liquid contained in the storage container does not stick to the handle section of the coating tool during storage and hence the efficiency of coating operation is prevented from decreasing. Additionally, if the user tries to place the storage container upside down by mistake with the closure member disposed at the bottom, the handle section calls for attention on the part of the user, requesting the user to place the storage container properly because it is unstable and easily topples down if it is held upside down.
Preferably, said coating tool is provided with a rib adapted to abut the inner edge of said closure member along the entire boundary of said opening when said holding container is closed by means of said closure member with the coating tool held in said holding container, and said holding container is provided with a rib adapted to abut the entire outer edge and/or the vicinity thereof of said closure member when said holding container is closed by means of said closure member. With this arrangement, the gap separating the holding container and the closure member and the gap separating the handle section of the coating tool and the edge of the closure member defining the opening are tightly closed when the holding container containing the coating tool is closed by means of the closure member so that no coating liquid would leak out from the container through the gaps.
Preferably, the rigidly of said closure member is less than that of the rib of said coating tool and that of the rib of said holding container. With this arrangement, the ribs abutting the closure member are elastically deformed and held tightly in contact with the closure member when the closure member is fitted firmly to the holding container containing the coating tool to close the latter. Then, the gap separating the holding container and the closure member and the gap separating the handle section of the coating tool and the edge of the closure member defining the opening are reliably and tightly closed
Alternatively, it may be so arranged that said closure member is provided with a seal member adapted to abut both the rib of said coating tool and that of said holding container when it is fitted to the holding container to close the latter. With this arrangement, again, the gap separating the holding container and the closure member and the gap separating the handle section of the coating tool and the opening of the closure member are reliably and tightly closed.
Preferably, said closure member is provided along its inner edge defining said opening with a reinforcement rib. With this arrangement, the strength of the closure member is intensified in the vicinity of the opening.
Preferably, said handle member of said coating tool is provided along the lateral surfaces thereof with a sealing member surrounding said handle member to seal the closure member at the opening, and said closure member is provided along the opening thereof with a rib adapted to abut said opening seal member along the entire periphery thereof when said holding container containing said coating tool is closed by said closure member.
Preferably, said handle member is made to have a substantially cylindrical profile at the part provided with said opening seal member, and the part located closer to the front end relative to said part provided with said opening seal member is provided with two substantially parallel planar areas. With this arrangement, the sealing effect of the opening seal member and the rib of the closure member surrounding the opening can be enhanced at the part having a substantially cylindrical profile, and the part having two substantially parallel planar areas provides such an advantage that user can easily grasp the handle section at those areas.
Preferably, the inner surface of said holding container is provided with a stepped section, and said coating tool is provided with an abutting section adapted to abut said stepped section when said coating tool is contained in said holding container.
Preferably, said coating tool is provided with a rib for supporting said abutting section. With this arrangement, when the closure member is fitted to the holding container containing the coating tool, the coating tool is prevented from being deformed to warp if it is pushed by the closure member.
Preferably, said coating tool is provided at the bottom thereof w
Suzuki Yoshiaki
Takenouchi Masanori
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Huson Gregory L.
Le Huyen
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