Plastic paint can

Abstract

A paint can has a molded plastic bucket and cover which are releasably engageable with one another at a seal. The bucket has an integrally-formed handle with a cushioned grip formed therein. The handle has an enlarged central portion that facilitates knitting of the molten material fed into the handle mold. The cover has a central panel and a surrounding closure member joined to the panel by a connector. The connector supports the central panel intermediate the a first sealing surface on the closure member. The connector resiliently urges the closure member into sealing engagement with the bucket rim. The sealing surfaces have a polished finish. Grooves in a reinforcing ring on the bucket provide access for removal of the cover.

1 . A cover engageable with a bucket having a wall with inner and outer surfaces and a rim at the open end of the bucket, the cover comprising: 
 a central panel;    a closure member releasably engageable with the rim of the bucket, the closure member having an inside wall which defines a first sealing surface having an upper boundary and a lower boundary, the first sealing surface being engageable in sealing relation with a portion of the bucket wall's inner surface when the cover is assembled on the bucket; and    a connector joining the closure member to the central panel, the connector locating the central panel intermediate the upper and lower boundaries of the first sealing surface, the connector including a lead-in leg attached at a first end to the inside wall of the closure member and extending therefrom downwardly and inwardly toward the central panel.    
   
   
       2 . The cover of  claim 1  wherein the connector further comprises a standing leg joined to the lead-in leg at a location below the lower boundary of the first sealing surface.  
   
   
       3 . The cover of  claim 2  wherein the standing leg is joined to the lead-in leg by a reverse curve.  
   
   
       4 . The cover of  claim 2  wherein the standing leg extends from the lead-in leg upwardly to a point intermediate the upper and lower boundaries of the first sealing surface.  
   
   
       5 . The cover of  claim 2  wherein the connector further comprises an upturned edge formed at the perimeter of the central panel and a radial band extending from the upturned edge, the radial band being located above the central panel and below the upper boundary of the first sealing surface, the standing leg being connected to the radial band.  
   
   
       6 . The cover of  claim 1  wherein the closure member has a downwardly-open U-shaped configuration including said inside wall, an outside wall and a top wall joining the inside and outside walls, said inside, outside and top walls defining a rim-receiving channel box.  
   
   
       7 . The cover of  claim 6  further comprising at least one catch formed on one of the closure member walls and extending into the channel box.  
   
   
       8 . The cover of  claim 6  further comprising an outwardly extending bead formed at the base of the outside wall.  
   
   
       9 . A cover engageable with a bucket having a wall with inner and outer faces and a rim at the open end of the bucket, the cover comprising: 
 a central panel;    a closure member releasably engageable with the rim of the bucket, the closure member having a downwardly-open U-shaped configuration including an inside wall, an outside wall and a top wall joining the inside and outside walls, said inside, outside and top walls defining a rim-receiving channel box; and    a connector joining the closure member to the central panel, the connector including a lead-in leg attached at a first end to the inside wall of the closure member and extending therefrom downwardly and inwardly toward the central panel, a standing leg joined to the lead-in leg, an upturned edge formed at the perimeter of the central panel and a radial band extending from the upturned edge, the radial band being located above the central panel and below the top wall of the closure member, the standing leg being connected to the radial band.    
   
   
       10 . The cover of  claim 9  wherein the closure member further comprises at least one catch formed on one of the closure member walls and extending into the channel box and wherein the upturned edge supports the middle of the central panel below the catch.  
   
   
       11 . A paint can, comprising: 
 a bucket having a floor and at least one upstanding wall joined to the floor, the wall having inside and outside faces, the wall terminating at a rim which defines an open end of the bucket, the rim including a first mating surface on the inside face, and a second mating surface on the outside face; and    a cover comprising a central panel, a closure member releasably engageable with the rim of the bucket, and a connector joining the closure member to the central panel and resiliently urging the closure member into sealing engagement with the first mating surface of the rim, the closure member including an inside wall, an outside wall and a top wall joining the inside and outside walls, the inside wall having a first sealing surface engageable with the first mating surface of the rim and the outside wall having a second sealing surface engageable with the second mating surface of the rim, the first sealing surface having a height at least twice that of the second sealing surface.    
   
   
       12 . The paint can of  claim 11  wherein the connector includes a lead-in leg attached to the closure member's inside wall and extending therefrom to a point which is below the central panel and interiorly spaced from the inside wall.  
   
   
       13 . The paint can of  claim 12  wherein the first sealing surface has upper and lower boundaries and the connector further comprises a standing leg joined to the lead-in leg at a location below the lower boundary of the first sealing surface.  
   
   
       14 . The paint can of  claim 13  wherein the standing leg is joined to the lead-in leg by a reverse curve.  
   
   
       15 . The paint can of  claim 13  wherein the standing leg extends from the lead-in leg upwardly to a point intermediate the upper and lower boundaries of the first sealing surface.  
   
   
       16 . The paint can of  claim 13  wherein the connector further comprises an upturned edge formed at the perimeter of the central panel and a radial band extending from the upturned edge, the radial band being located above the central panel and below the upper boundary of the first sealing surface, the standing leg being connected to the radial band.  
   
   
       17 . The paint can of  claim 11  wherein the first sealing surface has upper and lower boundaries, the connector locating the central panel intermediate the upper and lower boundaries of the first sealing surface.  
   
   
       18 . The paint can of  claim 11  wherein the bucket's floor and wall meet at a junction and when one paint can is stacked on top of another paint can the junction of said one paint can engages only the closure member of said another paint can with the floor of said one paint can spaced from both the connector and central panel of said another paint can.  
   
   
       19 . The paint can of  claim 11  wherein the cross section of the first sealing surface and first mating surface is flat.