US3173573A - Collapsible paint bucket - Google Patents

Description

March 16, 1965 .1.w. Dom-:GAN 3,173,573

COLLAPSBLE PAINT BUCKET Filed Jan. 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l IIIIU ll Z W l l JAB/55s W. Do/vEGA/v March 16, 1965 J. w. DoNEGAN coLLAPsIBLE PAINT BUCKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 29, 1963 INVENTOR. JA MES W DONEGA/v United States Patent O 3,173,573 COLLAPSIBLE PAINT BUCKET James W. Donegan, 149 Prospect Ave., Middletown, N.Y. Filed Jan. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 254,765 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-93) The present invention relates to containers generally and in particular to a collapsible bucket for use as a container for paint or the like.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible bucket for paint or the like which may be partially collapsed as the paint is used up so that the surface of the paint is not exposed to air.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible bucket which lends itself -to ease of manufacturing, one sturdy in construction and of simple structure, one which may be manufactured in quantity at reasonable cost, and one which is highly effective in action.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view partially in section showing the collapsible bucket according to the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a view taken on the line 2 2 of FIG- URE l,

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the upper end portion of the bucket,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a component of the bucket, and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 3 showing a modified form of the bucket.

With reference to the drawings in detail, the bucket of the present invention comprises an outer shell having a rim 12 on the upper end thereof, the rim 12 being crimped to the edge portion of the outer shell 10.

The outer shell 10 is provided with vertically disposed diametrically opposed slots 14 and the outer shell 10 is formed so as to have external threads running from the top to the bottom.

An inner shell 16 having a bottom 18 formed integrally therewith, is positioned within the outer shell 10 and has its upper end edge portion Secured to the outer shell 10 by crimping together with the rirn 12.

The inner shell 16 is provided with a plurality of annular fold lines, as at 20 in FIGURE 1, the fold lines 20 permitting collapse of the inner shell 16 upon upward movement of the bottom 18 towards the rim 12.

The present invention provides a support member 22 having tab elements 24 projecting outwardly from opposed points thereof. The tab elements 24 are received in the slots 14 and they connect the support member 22 to the outer shell 10 for upward and downward movement relative .to the shell 10.

A ring actuator 26 is provided conformably shaped to fit the threads of the outer shell 10 and is threadably enice l gaged therewith. As shown in FIGURE 1, the actuator 26 forms a support for the support member tab elements 24 and as the actuator 26 is turned on the threads of the outer shell 10 it serves to raise the support member 22 with respect to the outer shell 10.

In FIGURES 1 and 3 it will be seen that a portion of the outer shell 10 adjacent the upper end thereof is struck outwardly to form an ear 28 through which is projected an end portion of a bail 30.

In FIGURE 5 a different form of bail 30 is shown in which an end portion 32 is inserted through a hole pro vided in the outer shell 10'.

In use, as paint or other material is used up from the bucket of the present invention, the actuator 26 is turned on the outer shell 10 so as to raise the support member 22 and thereby collapse the inner shell 16.

In a preferred form of the invention the inner shell 16 may be fabricated of soft pliable plastic or the like.

In addition to using the bucket of the invention for paints, other uses may be found, such as a container for food from which air is to be excluded after opening of the bucket.

While only preferred embodiments of the invention are shown and described, other embodiments are contemplated and numerous changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible bucket comprising an outer shell having threads on an external surface thereof and vertical slots in the external surface thereof, an inner shell having a bottom and a continuous wall extending from the bottom, the wall of said inner shell having a plurality of annular fold lines, means for supporting the bottom of said inner shell and including tabs each slidably disposed in a respective one of the slots, and means threadably engaged with the external surface of said outer shell for moving each of the tabs within a respective slot.

2. The bucket of claim l wherein said moving means is for providing an indication of the position of the bottom with respective to said outer shell.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,235,550 8/17 Carmody 220-386.5 1,699,873 1/29 Brodsky 222-390 2,009,761 7/35 Calderara 222-390 2,492,058 12/ 49 OConnor 222-390 2,611,512 9/52 Fashay 220-93 2,649,995 8/53 Muskin Z22-386.5 2,771,220 11/56 Claps 220-63 2,912,136 11/59 Redmond et al. 220-63 3,052,371 9/ 62 Van Bemmelen 220-63 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

EARLE J. DRUMMOND. Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A COLLAPSIBLE BUCKET COMPRISING AN OUTER SHELL HAVING THREADS ON AN EXTERNAL SURFACE THEREOF AND VERTICAL SLOTS IN THE EXTERNAL SURFACE THEREOF, AND INNER SHELL HAVING A BOTTOM AND A CONTINUOUS WELL EXTENDING FROM THE BOTTOM, THE WALL OF SAID INNER SHELL HAVING A PLURALITY OF ANNULAR FOLD LINES, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE BOTTOM OF SAID INNER SHELL AND INCLUDING TABS EACH SLIDABLY DISPOSED IN A RESPECTIVE ONE OF THE SLOTS, AND MEANS THREADABLY ENGAGED WITH THE EXTERNAL SURFACE OF SAID OUTER SHELL FOR MOVING EACH OF THE TABS WITHIN A RESPECTIVE SLOT.

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