Uniform pan holder assembly method and apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides a uniform pan holder assembly adapted to receive a drywall pan and including a support having a pair of uprights spanning a cross member and terminating at an arcuate edge, the uprights and cross member defining a supporting area. Each arcuate edge is generally associated with the top edge and adapted to retain the pan within the supporting area.

1 . A uniform pan holder assembly adapted for receiving a pan with a top edge opposite a bottom surface, said uniform pan holder assembly comprising:
 a support including a pair of uprights spanning a cross member, each said upright extending vertically from said cross member and terminating at an arcuate edge, said pair of uprights and cross member defining a supporting area, and   each said arcuate edge being generally associated with said top edge and being adapted for retaining said pan within said supporting area.   
   
   
       2 . The uniform pan holder assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said pair of uprights and cross member are angularly orientated and define a supporting area adapted for supporting said pan. 
   
   
       3 . The uniform pan holder assembly according to  claim 2  wherein said supporting area further includes a receiver extending from said cross member, said receiver including front and rear spaced members mounted on said cross member and configured for aligning said pan. 
   
   
       4 . The uniform pan holder assembly of  claim 3  wherein said receiver further comprises at least two prongs, a first prong extending forwardly from said cross member and a second prong extending rearwardly from said cross member said first and second prongs being perpendicular to said cross member and adapted to align said pan bottom surface with said cross member. 
   
   
       5 . The uniform pan holder assembly of  claim 4  wherein said prongs further comprise a vertically extending portion associated with a distal end, opposite said cross member and associated with a sidewall extending from said bottom surface towards said top edge. 
   
   
       6 . The uniform pan holder assembly of  claim 1  wherein said uprights angularly rotate from a vertically biased orientation to an operational orientation with said pan supported between said uprights. 
   
   
       7 . The uniform pan holder assembly of  claim 1  wherein said uprights further include a distal end and a proximate end, said distal end associated with said arcuate edge and said proximate end associated with said cross member. 
   
   
       8 . The uniform pan holder assembly of  claim 7  wherein said distal end further includes a ridged structure and said proximate end further includes a socket adapted to receive said ridged structure. 
   
   
       9 . The uniform pan holder assembly of  claim 1  wherein said support further includes a handle connected to and extending downwardly from said cross member. 
   
   
       10 . The uniform pan holder assembly of  claim 1  wherein said cross member further comprises an upper arm and a lower arm in spaced relations and forming a v-shaped slot adapted for releasably receiving a drywall tool. 
   
   
       11 . In combination, a pan having a top edge and bottom surface, a uniform pan holder assembly adapted to receive said pan and a drywall tool retrievably stored within said uniform pan holder assembly, comprising:
 said pan,   said drywall tool, and   said uniform pan holder assembly including a pair of uprights spanning a cross member having an upper and lower arm in spaced relation and forming a v-shaped slot adapted for releasably receiving said drywall tool, wherein each said upright extends vertically from said cross member and terminates at an arcuate edge, said pair of uprights and cross member defining a supporting area adapted for receiving said pan, said arcuate edge adapted for releasably engaging said top edge.   
   
   
       12 . The combination of  claim 9  wherein said supporting area further including least two prongs, a first prong extending forwardly from said cross member and a second prong extending rearwardly from said cross member said first and second prongs normal to said cross member and adapted to align said bottom surface with said cross member. 
   
   
       13 . A method for applying drywall compound from a pan to a wall material comprising the steps of:
 providing a uniform pan holder assembly including a pair of uprights spanning a cross member, each said upright extending vertically from said cross member and terminating at an arcuate edge, said pair of uprights and cross member defining a supporting area,   positioning said pan within said supporting area, said pan having a front and rear generally parallel to each other and separated by a bottom surface, said front and rear joined by a pair of sides, a top edge located opposite said bottom surface,   said side, front and rear forming a sidewall around said bottom surface adapted for receiving the drywall compound,   aligning said pan transversely within said supporting area by a receiver having at least two prongs, a first prong extending forwardly from said cross member and a second prong extending rearwardly from said cross member said first and second prongs being perpendicular to said cross member,   engaging said top edge of said pan within said uniform pan holder assembly at said arcuate edge,   grasping said uniform pan holder assembly using a handle connected to and extending downwardly from said cross member,   releasably storing a drywall tool within a v-shaped slot of said cross member formed at the overlap of an upper arm spaced from a lower arm extending into said handle,   rotating said uniform pan holder assembly using said handle for manipulating said drywall compound received within said pan, by applying pressure with said drywall tool until the desired drywall compound consistency is achieved, and   spreading said manipulated drywall compound upon said wall material with said drywall tool.