Paint Roller Receptacle with Rim Coupling for Floor-Free Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Painters face inconveniences and safety hazards when switching between paint brushes and rollers, as they often need to crouch down to retrieve the roller from a floor-based paint tray, creating a tripping hazard.

Innovation Solution

A receptacle designed to couple with a paint container, featuring a tray with a cavity for the roller and a coupler that attaches to the container rim, stabilizers, and an abutment, allowing the roller to be retained during use and storage, eliminating the need to place it on the floor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the paint roller is placed in a floor-based paint tray, then the painter can access the roller, but it creates a tripping hazard and requires the painter to crouch down to retrieve the roller

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveEase of accessing the paint rollerVSAvoidTripping hazard

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the paint roller receptacle with the paint container by providing a receptacle that couples to the rim of the paint container. This merging eliminates the need for a separate floor-based tray, allowing the roller to be held at hand level while reducing tripping hazards associated with floor placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The receptacle acts as an intermediary device between the paint container and the paint roller. It provides a stable mounting structure with stabilizers and an abutment that contacts the paint container, enabling the roller to be positioned at an ergonomic height without creating floor-based tripping hazards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If the paint roller is placed in a floor-based paint tray, then the roller can be stored, but the painter must crouch down and pick it up to switch between brush and roller

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTime to switch between brush and rollerVSAvoidEase of switching between painting tools

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The receptacle positioned on the paint container brings the paint roller to the same ergonomic level as the paint brush, eliminating the need to crouch down. Both tools are now accessible at hand level, making transitions between brush and roller quick and effortless.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

3Reliability

If the receptacle couples to the paint container rim with a long channel, then the coupling is stable, but the structure becomes more complex and larger

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveStability of coupling to paint containerVSAvoidStructure of the coupler

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The coupler channel has a specific geometric configuration with opposed inclined surfaces that create stable contact points with the paint container rim. This localized geometric design provides reliable coupling without requiring a long channel, maintaining structural efficiency while ensuring stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12420581B2Receptacle for paint roller

Publication Date: 2025.09.23 HEISLER III JOSEPH F

AI summary

A receptacle for a paint roller includes: a tray having a base, an open top, two opposed side walls, a front wall, and a rear wall defining a cavity configured to receive the paint roller, wherein at least one groove is formed in at least one of the two opposed side walls, the groove configured to receive a portion of a handle of the paint roller; and a coupler extending from the front wall, the coupler having a channel configured to removably couple to a rim of a paint container, the channel having a length that is less than half of a length of the front wall.