Paint storage container

Abstract

A reusable paint container is disclosed which may include a tub to which a lid is removably attached and lockable thereto by a handle pivotably attached to the tub. The tub can be manufactured to include a side wall which flares outwardly and upwardly from a bottom wall to an upper rim. In so doing, the containers are nestable when not in use and easily stackable when in use. Moreover, the upper rim can be provided so as to include built in pouring spouts and brush wiping edges to facilitate use of the container.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A reusable paint container, comprising: 
 a tub, the tub having a bottom wall from which a side wall upwardly extends and terminates at a rim defining an open top;    a lid removably attached to the tub rim, the lid including a flange; and    a handle pivotably attached to the tub, the handle including a groove and being movable between locked and open positions, the flange being held within the handle groove when in the locked position, the flange being removed from the groove when in the open position.    
     
     
         2 . The reusable paint container of  claim 1 , wherein the tub sidewall is substantially cylindrical proximate the bottom wall, and substantially rectangular proximate the rim.  
     
     
         3 . The reusable paint container of  claim 1 , wherein the rim includes at least two arcuate corners defining pouring spouts.  
     
     
         4 . The reusable paint container of  claim 1 , wherein the rim includes at least one substantially linear edge defining a brush wiping surface.  
     
     
         5 . The reusable paint container of  claim 1 , wherein the tub further including a locking flange radially extending outwardly from the tub sidewall proximate the rim, and the lid includes planar top surface from which a lip downwardly extends, the lip including a circumferential notch adapted to receive the tub locking flange when the lid is attached to the tub.  
     
     
         6 . The reusable paint container of  claim 5 , wherein the lid further includes a plurality of locking cleats extending radially inward from the lid lip below the notch, the locking cleats engaging a bottom surface of the tub locking flange.  
     
     
         7 . The reusable paint container of claims  1 , wherein the handle hubs extend from the tub sidewall at corners of the rim between the pouring spouts, the handle is pivotably attached to the handle hubs, and the lid lip includes first and second recesses adapted to receive the handle hubs.  
     
     
         8 . The reusable paint container of  claim 1 , wherein the tub side wall includes graduation indicia.  
     
     
         9 . The reusable paint container of  claim 1 , wherein the tub side wall flares upwardly from the bottom wall.  
     
     
         10 . The reusable paint container of  claim 1 , wherein the reusable paint container is manufactured from plastic.  
     
     
         11 . The reusable paint container of  claim 10 , wherein the plastic is transparent.  
     
     
         12 . A method of storing paint, comprising: 
 pouring paint into a tub;    attaching a lid to the tub and substantially sealing the paint therein; and    locking the lid onto the tub by rotating a handle, pivotably mounted to the tub, into engagement with the lid.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the lid includes a top surface from which a lip downwardly extends from a perimeter thereof, a locking ledge extends radially outwardly from the lip, and the handle includes a locking channel, the locking step being performed by rotating the handle so as to engage the locking ledge in the locking channel.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pouring step is performed by pouring paint from a manufacturer's can into the tub.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the pouring step is performed by pouring paint from a paint roller tray into the tub.  
     
     
         16 . A reusable paint container, comprising: 
 a tub; and    a lid removably attached to the tub;    a handle pivotably attached to the tub;    means associated with handle for locking the lid onto the tub.    
     
     
         17 . The reusable paint container of  claim 16 , wherein the means includes a channel adapted to pinch the lid.  
     
     
         18 . The reusable paint container of  claim 17 , wherein the channel is provided in the handle.  
     
     
         19 . The reusable paint container of  claim 16 , where the tub includes a bottom wall from which a side wall flares upwardly.  
     
     
         20 . The reusable paint container of  claim 19 , wherein the side wall includes an upper rim, the upper rim including first and second pouring spouts.