Ergonomic tint plug

Abstract

A tint plug made of resilient plastic (such as LDPE) fits sealingly into an aperture in the deck of a plastic closure for a paint container. The plug has a recessed or concave upper surface spanned by a cross bar handle having a smoothly curved lower surface which one contacts with the fingers to remove the plug. Optional resilient legs allow the handle to raise slightly from the plug body when pulled.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to tint plugs for use in combination with removable closures for paint containers and the like wherein the closure has an aperture of regular shape formed therein to receive a tint plug. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] It is known to provide separately removable plugs in the decks of closures for paint containers. These removable plugs, commonly referred to as “tint plugs,” permit a paint mixing facility to gain access to the contents of a factory-filled paint container without removing the primary closure in order to add pigment or coloring to the base paint within the container. Examples of tint plugs are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,813, assigned to Letica Corporation of Rochester, Mich., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,302, assigned to Rieke Corporation of Auburn, Ind. [0003] The prior art tint plugs are designed with integral pull rings. The Letica design provides for a relatively large diameter pull ring which surrounds but i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004] The present invention provides an ergonomically and operationally improved tint plug for use in combination with the removable closures of paint containers and the like. In the form hereinafter described, the tint plug has a body of such size and shape, typically but not necessarily round or circular, to sealingly fit within the aperture in the deck of the closure with which the plug is to be associated. In the preferred form, a flange and undercut are formed in the sides of the body of the tint plug so as to snap into the aperture of the closure in conventional fashion. The tint plug body has a planar perimeter bounding a recessed or concave upper surface and a strap-like lifting member is integrally attached to the planar perimeter at opposite points so as to extend across the concave surface in upwardly spaced relationship thereto. This combination provides room to insert one's fingers directly beneath the lifting member and comfortably pull it upwardly to remove the ting plug.

[0005] In the preferred form, the entire body of the tint plug is made of a more resilient plastic material such as LDPE so as to deform slightly when the lifting member is pulled upwardly, whereas the closure itself is made of a more rigid material such as HDPE. Optionally, the legs of the lifting member which join the cross bar of the lifting member to the plug perimeter can be made in a resiliently curved type design so as to stretch slightly and allow additional clearance when the cross member of the lifting ring is pulled upwardly.

[0007] Also in the preferred form, the cross bar of the lifting member is curved in cross section so as to provide a convex lower surface and a concave upper surface. The convex lower surface is the surface which is contacted by the fingers of the person lifting the ring and the smooth curved design is ergonomically correct and provides comfort to the user when lifting the plug out of the aperture.

Problems solved by technology

The dimensions of the rings are such that the pulling operation can cause discomfort to the user.

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