Floating Liquid Material Distribution Device

Abstract

A floating liquid material distribution device having a plurality of apertures arranged in a grid pattern is disclosed. The device floats on top of liquid material within a container. When a person applies force to the device with an applicator, the device allows liquid material to be evenly distributed through the apertures to the application surface of the device and onto the applicator. As the liquid material is used up, the device follows the top of the surface of the liquid, and thus follows the liquid material to the bottom of the container, always a distance off the paint. Also disclosed is an actuation device that works in combination with a container lid. When the actuation device is actuated, a liquid material distribution device drops down onto liquid contained within the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for the application of liquid material, comprising:
 a application surface having a plurality of apertures arranged in a grid pattern, the surface having two sides, the surface having a first perimeter to match the shape of a container;   a ring of closed cell foam affixed to one side of the surface at the surface's edge so as to create a cylindrical volume of space within the ring, whereby the ring causes the apparatus to float on top of liquid material contained within a container; and   an amount of space between the ring and the surface to define the extent of the cylindrical volume.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of bumps along the other side of the surface, whereby the respective bumps may aerate an applicator that is receiving a supply of liquid material through the nearby apertures as the applicator moves over the surface of the apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures are of a size that controls the volume of liquid material being distributed when forcing the apparatus into the liquid material. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures are sized to accommodate the viscosity of the liquid material being used. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures are sized depending on the number of apertures. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the grid is a radio grid. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is sized to cover nearly all of the top liquid material surface inside the container from the top of the container to the bottom of the container. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for the application of liquid material, comprising, in a single-piece construction:
 a floating application surface having a plurality of apertures arranged in a grid pattern on the surface, the surface having a first perimeter to match the shape of a container;   a ring having hollow volume disposed at the edge of the surface and extending axially therefrom, the shape of the ring depending on the shape of the container;   wherein the surface and the ring together comprise a single unitary piece of injection molded material.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of bumps along the side of the surface opposite the ring, whereby the respective bumps may aerate an applicator that is receiving a supply of liquid material through the nearby apertures as the applicator moves over the surface of the apparatus. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the apertures are of a size that controls the volume of liquid material being distributed when forcing the apparatus into the liquid material. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the apertures are sized to accommodate the viscosity of the liquid material being used. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the apertures are sized depending on the number of apertures. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is sized to cover nearly all of the top liquid material surface inside the container from the top of the container to the bottom of the container. 
     
     
         14 . A liquid material container comprising:
 a liquid material distribution apparatus part comprising a floating application surface having a plurality of apertures arranged in a grid pattern, a foam float ring that attaches to the bottom surface which causes the apparatus to float on top of liquid material contained within the container and defines an amount of space between the apparatus and the liquid material;   a pop lid holding the liquid material distribution apparatus, the pop lid coupled to an actuation device such that when the device is actuated, the liquid material distribution apparatus drops down into liquid material that is contained within the container.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of bumps along the side of the surface opposite the ring, whereby the respective bumps may aerate an applicator that is receiving a supply of liquid material through the nearby apertures as the applicator moves over the surface of the liquid material distribution apparatus.