Flexible drywall mud pan

Abstract

A flexible mud pan or trough constructed from a structurally supporting material, within which is held a volume of a viscous and settable compound. Upon setting and drying of remnants of the compound not applied, the pan is collapsed or otherwise folded/twisted, causing the flaked remnants to be forcibly disengaged from the flexible surfaces of the pan, the pan subsequently returning to a pre-existing physical configuration reconditioned for future use.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A container for holding a volume of a settable material, comprising:
 a body having an interior supporting reservoir defined by a bottom and interconnected sides and which is adapted to hold a volume of a fluidic and settable compound;   said body being constructed from a flexible and structurally supporting material such that, upon any remainder of the settable compound drying into flakes, said bottom and sides are forcibly deflected relative one another as a result of at least one of being folded and torsionally twisted in order to collapse inner volume defining surfaces and to assist in forcibly disengaging the flakes; and   said body subsequently reverting to an original un-deflected shape.   
     
     
         2 . The container as described in  claim 1 , said body further comprising four interconnecting sides surrounding said bottom. 
     
     
         3 . The container as described in  claim 2 , each of said interconnecting sides further comprising a folded over portion defining an upper lip. 
     
     
         4 . The container as described in  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of removably secured and end to end connecting rigid supports engaged underneath said folded over portion associated with said upper lip, said supports collectively defining a contact ledge. 
     
     
         5 . The container as described in  claim 4 , each of said supports further comprising angled prongs arranged in spaced apart and downwardly directed fashion along an exterior surface associated with each of said supports, said prongs gripping against each of said folded over portions. 
     
     
         6 . The container as described in  claim 1 , said body having a specified shape and size and further comprising at least one selected from the group including natural and composite materials exhibiting a Durometer rating of less than 100. 
     
     
         7 . The container as described in  claim 6 , said body having a specified shape and size and being constructed from any of the group including polymeric or polyurethane materials. 
     
     
         8 . The container as described in  claim 7 , said body further comprising at least one of a neoprene or a sanoprene material. 
     
     
         9 . The container as described in  claim 3 , further comprising a notch cutout defined in each of a plurality of corner locations associated with said folded over lip portion such that said body is adapted to being nested in an outer rigid pan while being supported along said lip edges. 
     
     
         10 . The container as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a magnet secured to said body along at least one side thereof and which is adapted to secure a blade of a drywall knife. 
     
     
         11 . A flexible drywall mud pan, comprising:
 a body having a bottom and four upwardly angled and interconnected sides, each of said bottom and sides being constructed from a flexible and structurally supporting material;   each of said interconnecting sides further comprising a folded over portion defining an upper lip, a notch cutout defined in each of a plurality of corner locations associated with said folded over lip portion such that said body is adapted to being nested in an outer rigid pan while being supported along said lip edge; and   upon a viscous and settable compound adapted to being contained within said body drying into flakes, said flexible pan being removed from said rigid outer pan and said bottom and sides being forcibly deflected relative one another such as by folding and torsionally twisting in order to collapse inner volume surfaces associated with said sides and bottom and to forcibly disengage the flakes from surfaces associated with said body, said body subsequently reverting to a shape exhibited prior to said sides and bottom being forcibly deflected.   
     
     
         12 . The container as described in  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of removably secured and end to end connecting rigid supports engaged underneath said folded over portion associated with said upper lip, said supports collectively defining a contact ledge. 
     
     
         13 . The container as described in  claim 12 , each of said supports further comprising angled prongs arranged in spaced apart and downwardly directed fashion along an exterior surface associated with each of said supports, said prongs gripping against each of said folded over portions. 
     
     
         14 . The container as described in  claim 11 , said body having a specified shape and size and further comprising at least one selected from the group including natural and composite materials exhibiting a Durometer rating of less than 100. 
     
     
         15 . The container as described in  claim 14 , said body having a specified shape and size and being constructed from any of the group including polymeric or polyurethane materials. 
     
     
         16 . The container as described in  claim 15 , said body further comprising at least one of a neoprene or a sanoprene material. 
     
     
         17 . The container as described in  claim 11 , further comprising a magnet secured to said body along at least one side thereof approximate said lip and which is adapted to secure a blade of a drywall knife. 
     
     
         18 . A flexible drywall mud pan, comprising:
 a body having a bottom and four upwardly angled and interconnected sides, said body being constructed from a flexible and structurally supporting memory foam;   each of said interconnecting sides further comprising a folded over portion defining an upper lip;   a notch cutout defined in each of a plurality of corner locations associated with said folded over lip portion such that said body is adapted to being nested in an outer rigid pan while being supported along said lip edge;   a plurality of removably secured and end to end connecting rigid supports engaged underneath said folded over portion associated with said upper lip, said supports collectively defining a contact ledge; and   a magnet secured to said body along at least one side thereof approximate said lip and which is adapted to secure a blade of a drywall knife;   upon a wallboard compound adapted to being contained within said body drying into flakes, said body being removed from the rigid outer pan and said bottom and sides subsequently being forcibly deflected relative one another and including folding and torsionally twisting of both sides and bottom so as to collapse inner surfaces associated therewith in order to forcibly disengage the flakes from surfaces associated with said body, said body subsequently reverting to a shape exhibited prior to said sides and bottom being forcibly deflected.