Handheld container with removable divider

Abstract

A handheld container includes a container body defining a cavity that can be separated by a removable divider. A handle portion extends from the container body permitting the container to be handheld. A front wall is provided with ribs on an interior surface for use with a paintbrush or a mini paint roller. The container also is shaped to provide rests for the paintbrush and the paint roller.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A handheld container comprising: 
 a container body having a plurality of walls defining an open top cavity;    a handle extending from said container body adjacent the cavity and being adapted to be grasped by a human hand;    a divider disposed in said cavity; and    said container body including means for removably retaining said divider in said cavity thereby dividing said cavity in two.    
     
     
         2 . The handheld container according to  claim 1  wherein said plurality of walls includes a front wall having a generally horizontally extending upper portion and a sloped lower portion.  
     
     
         3 . The handheld container according to  claim 2  including a rib formed on an interior surface of said front wall and adapted to retain a mini paint roller resting on said upper portion.  
     
     
         4 . The handheld container according to  claim 2  including at least one generally horizontally extending rib formed on an interior surface of said lower portion of said front wall.  
     
     
         5 . The handheld container according to  claim 1  including a front wall, a rear wall and a pair of side walls attaching said front wall to said rear wall.  
     
     
         6 . The handheld container according to  claim 5  wherein said front, rear and side walls each slope inwardly from a top to a bottom.  
     
     
         7 . The handheld container according to  claim 5  including a lip extending upwardly from an upper edge of each of said front, rear and side walls.  
     
     
         8 . The handheld container according to  claim 7  wherein said lip is displaced outwardly from said front, rear and side walls forming an inner upwardly facing step and an outer downwardly facing step.  
     
     
         9 . The handheld container according to  claim 1  wherein said handle includes a grip portion adapted to be grasped by a human hand and a connector portion attaching said grip portion to said container body.  
     
     
         10 . The handheld container according to  claim 9  wherein said grip portion has a tubular shape permitting nesting with another of the handheld container.  
     
     
         11 . The handheld container according to  claim 1  wherein said handle includes a hang tab extending therefrom.  
     
     
         12 . The handheld container according to  claim 1  wherein said divider tapers inwardly from an upper edge to a lower edge.  
     
     
         13 . The handheld container according to  claim 1  wherein said means for removably retaining includes a pair of spaced apart flanges formed on an interior surface of said container body, said flanges defining a groove therebetween for receiving edges of said divider.  
     
     
         14 . The handheld container according to  claim 1  wherein said walls include a bottom wall of said cavity and wherein said handle has a bottom wall, said bottom walls extending in a common plane for resting the handheld container on a support surface.  
     
     
         15 . A handheld painting container comprising: 
 a container body having a front wall, a rear wall, a pair of side walls and a bottom wall, said walls being connected to define an open top cavity;    a handle extending from said container body adjacent the cavity and being adapted to be grasped by a human hand; and    a divider removably disposed in said cavity and engaging said side walls and said bottom wall thereby dividing said cavity in two.    
     
     
         16 . The handheld container according to  claim 14  wherein said front wall has a generally horizontally extending upper portion and a sloped lower portion and including a rib formed on an interior surface of said front wall and adapted to retain a mini paint roller resting on said upper portion.  
     
     
         17 . The handheld container according to  claim 16  including a plurality of generally horizontally extending ribs formed on an interior surface of said lower portion of said front wall.  
     
     
         18 . A handheld container comprising: 
 a container body having a front wall, a rear wall, a pair of side walls and a bottom wall, said walls being connected to define an open top cavity;    a handle extending from said container body, said handle including a grip portion adapted to be grasped by a human hand and a connector portion connecting said grip portion to said rear wall; and    a divider removably disposed in said cavity and engaging said side walls and said bottom wall thereby dividing said cavity in two.    
     
     
         19 . The handheld container according to  claim 18  wherein said grip portion is tubular permitting nesting with another of the handheld container.  
     
     
         20 . The handheld container according to  claim 18  wherein said bottom wall of said cavity and a bottom wall of said handle extend in a common plane for resting the handheld container on a support surface.