The Wooster Brush Company

Rubbermaid Specialty Products Inc.

Rubbermaid, Inc.

David G Mann

Matthew P Williams

Kevin Rausch

Rainer B Teufel

Joel C Haas

Michael D Howell

Charles E Wagner

Steve Paletti

A grip for an extension pole has an opening at one end sized to receive the inboard end of the extension pole, and another opening at the other end communicating with a storage compartment inside the grip for storing at least a portion of an adaptor. A gripper inside the grip engages the adaptor when inserted into the storage compartment to prevent the adaptor from inadvertently falling out of the storage compartment.

Pole grip with storage compartment

Paint roller grid includes a pair of hooks each including a rearwardly extending upper portion and a downwardly extending inturned lip having a forwardly facing inwardly angled surface for engaging an outer cylindrical surface of a container below the container rim when the hooks are hooked over the container rim and the grid is inserted into the top opening of the container. The hooks may be spaced from a bottom edge of the grid a distance slightly greater than the height of the container, whereby when the grid is inserted into the container opening and the hooks are hooked over the container rim, the bottom edge of the grid will engage the inside bottom surface of the container. A pair of feet may extend rearwardly from the grid for engagement with the inner cylindrical surface of the container to prevent the grid from moving within the container during rolling of a roller cover on the grid wiping surface.

Paint roller grid

Paint roller frame cage

Paint brush cleaning tool

A collapsible container (10) includes a first wall (12) and a second wall (14) connected by a collapsible and expandable third wall (16). The third wall (16) includes an interior wall (20) and an exterior wall (22) that are each collapsible and expandable. At least one spring (60) extends between the first wall (12) and the second wall (14) between the interior wall (20) and the exterior wall (22) to urge the first and second walls (12, 14) apart. Straps (62) also extend between the first wall (12) and the second wall (14) to counteract the force of the spring (60). The length of the straps (62) between the first wall (12) and the second wall (14) is adjustable between a fully collapsed and fully expanded position. The length of the straps (62) is adjustable because the straps (62) slidingly engage the second wall (14) and are held with respect to the second wall (14) by locking devices (64). The locking devices (64) normally engage the straps (62) to lock their position with respect to the second wall (14) but may be released to allow the second wall (14) to move away from the first wall (12). The locking devices (64) are also configured such that they do not need to be released for the second wall (14) to be moved toward the first wall (12).

Collapsible container

Storage container

Lid for storage container

A container (20) suitable for use as a truck box for a pick-up truck, includes a base container portion (21) having an open top, and a cover (22) to close the open top. The cover (22) is pivotally attached to the base (21) by hinge mechanisms (23) which are uniquely formed by combining a hinge pin assembly (101) with a pin retaining assembly (102). The cover (22) may also be latched to the base (21) by a latch assembly (24) which includes pivotable handles (56, 57) on each end of the base (21) which, when either is pivoted, rotates latch hooks (68, 74) from a position engaging the cover (22) to a position releasing the cover, without moving the other handle. The container (20) may also receive a tray (150) therein positionable on a ledge (30) and positively located in one direction by ribs (159) and in the other direction by feet (162) positioned in depressions (38) formed between ribs (37) on the inside of the base (21). Divider plates (170) may also be positioned in those depressions (38) to divide the base (21) into compartments. The plates (170) are reinforced by one pattern of intersecting ribs (178) on one side and by a different pattern of intersecting ribs (179) on the other side.

Truck box

Growing community of inventors

Wooster, OH, United States of America

David G Mann