Protective Cover For Paint Can

Abstract

Protective covers for cans of paint or wood stain having a circular cap with an inner and an outer lip, wherein the inner and outer lips are downwardly disposed to cooperatively and frictionally engage a lid rim of a paint or wood stain can, and a circular flange extending upwardly from the circular cap and extending circumferentially around the lid rim of the can, wherein the circular flange curves inwardly toward the center of the can to define an opening through which the contents of the can may be accessed, and wherein a portion of the outer edge of the flange extends a shorter distance upward from the cap than the rest of the flange to provide a recessed edge against which excess liquid may be scraped from a paint brush and drain back into the can.

1 . A protective cover for a can with contents comprising paint or wood stain, said cover comprising:
 a circular cap having an inner and an outer lip, said inner and outer lips being downwardly disposed to cooperatively and frictionally engage a lid rim of a paint or wood stain can; and   a circular flange extending upwardly from the circular cap and extending circumferentially around said lid rim of the can, said circular flange curving inwardly toward the center of said can to define an opening through which the contents of the can may be accessed;   wherein a portion of the outer edge of said flange extends a shorter distance upward from said cap than the rest of said flange to provide a recessed edge against which excess liquid may be scraped from a paint brush and drain back into said can.   
   
   
       2 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein said recessed edge of said flange is essentially parallel to the plane defined by said circular cap. 
   
   
       3 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein said recessed edge of said flange forms an acute angle with the plane defined by said circular cap. 
   
   
       4 . The protective cover of  claim 3 , wherein said acute angle of said flange is sufficiently shallow to permit the flange to define an inwardly curving spiral around the top surface of said circular cap. 
   
   
       5 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of recessed edges are provided comprising a first recessed edge essentially parallel to the plane defined by said circular cap and a second recessed edge forming an acute angle with the plane defined by said circular cap 
   
   
       6 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein said recessed edge is dimensioned to receive the width and thickness of a paint brush. 
   
   
       7 . The protective cover of  claim 6 , comprising a plurality of recessed edges with different width dimensions that are dimensioned to accommodate a variety of brush width sizes. 
   
   
       8 . The protective cover of  claim 6 , consisting of a single recess with a width dimension large enough to accommodate essentially any brush having a common width. 
   
   
       9 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein said circular cap or inwardly curving upward flange comprise a plurality of apertures positioned to permit any excess paint or wood stain falling to the exterior of said flange to drain back into the can. 
   
   
       10 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , further comprising a pouring spout integral with said circular cap and said upward flange. 
   
   
       11 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , further comprising a means for holding a paint brush above the opening in the can, wherein said brush holding means is affixed to said circular cap. 
   
   
       12 . The protective cover of  claim 11 , wherein said brush holding means is adapted to secure the brush above the contents of said can to permit paint or wood stain on the brush to drip back into said can contents. 
   
   
       13 . The protective cover of  claim 11 , wherein said brush holding means is adapted to secure the brush so that the bristles are immersed in the can contents to prevent the brush from drying out. 
   
   
       14 . The protective cover of  claim 11 , wherein said brush holding means is adapted to raise and lower the brush, so that the bristles can be raised out of or lowered into the can contents.