Paint test apparatus

Abstract

A test kit for determining whether paint applied to a surface is oil base paint or latex base paint. The test kit comprises a housing that has a tip at one end that retains a swab and encloses a frangible reagent container. The swab extends through the tip and is divided into two contrastingly colored portions at the end. The reagent container is initially filled with denatured alcohol and is broken to allow the alcohol to flow to the tip. The tip is then wiped across the painted surface to be tested.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A test kid for testing paint on a painted surface comprising: 
 a flexible cylindrical plastic housing having an opening at one end;    a frangible vial disposed within the housing, said vial containing a liquid solvent;    a swab disposed in the opening of the housing and substantially blocking the opening; and    a cylindrical cap removably secured to the housing to cover the swab when said vial is broken to dispense the test reagent onto the swab, said cap being removed from the housing after the vial is broken to permit the swab to be rubbed on the painted surface to test the composition of the surface.    
     
     
         2 . The test kid of    claim 1    wherein the cap is formed of cardboard.  
     
     
         3 . The test kit of    claim 1    wherein the vial is formed of glass.