Paint bucket with integral brush holder

1 . A paint bucket with an integral brush holder adapted to hold a paint brush with a handle having a narrowed portion between the bristle portion of the brush and the tip of the handle, the paint bucket comprising:

a bottom;

at least one side wall ending in an upper lip; and

at least one slot defined by spaced slot side walls provided through at least a portion of the width of the lip and communicating with the interior of the bucket and extending downwardly along a portion of the side wall;

wherein a brush can be held in a slot, with the narrowed portion of the handle located between the slot side walls and the brush bristles hanging into the bucket.

2 . The paint bucket of claim 1 , wherein the slot is further defined by a rear wall that is an integral part of the side wall.

3 . The paint bucket of claim 2 , wherein the side wall proximate the slot generally defines a perimeter shape, and the slot rear wall projects outwardly from such perimeter shape.

4 . The paint bucket of claim 1 , wherein the slot side walls are generally parallel to one another.

5 . The paint bucket of claim 4 , wherein the slot is generally rectangular in shape.

6 . The paint bucket of claim 1 , wherein the slot side walls generally come closer together as they descend from the rim toward the bottom of the bucket.

7 . The paint bucket of claim 6 , wherein the slot is generally “V” shaped.

8 . The paint bucket of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the slot side walls define integral projections jutting out from the walls, to narrow the gap between the walls.

9 . The paint bucket of claim 8 , wherein the projections taper toward the side walls from top to bottom.

10 . The paint bucket of claim 1 , further comprising an integral hand grip in the bottom of the bucket.

11 . The paint bucket of claim 10 , wherein the hand grip comprises an elongated protrusion in the bottom that defines a hollow in the outside of the bottom adapted to receive several fingers of a user's hand.

12 . The paint bucket of claim 1 , further comprising an integral paint roller holder.

13 . The paint bucket of claim 12 , wherein the integral paint roller holder comprises an opening in the upper lip.

14 . The paint bucket of claim 13 , wherein the integral paint roller holder further comprises a widening of the lip along side the opening.

15 . A paint bucket with an integral brush holder adapted to hold a paint brush with a handle having a narrowed portion between the bristle portion of the brush and the tip of the handle, the paint bucket comprising:

a bottom;

at least one side wall ending in an upper lip; and

at least one slot defined by a rear wall that is an integral part of the bucket side wall and further defined by tapered, spaced slot side walls provided through at least a portion of the width of the lip and communicating with the interior of the bucket and extending downwardly along a portion of the bucket side wall;

wherein a brush can be held in a slot, with the narrowed portion of the handle located between the slot side walls and the brush bristles hanging into the bucket.

16 . The paint bucket of claim 15 , wherein one or both of the slot side walls define integral projections jutting out from the walls, to narrow the gap between the walls.

17 . The paint bucket of claim 16 , wherein the projections taper toward the side walls from top to bottom.

18 . The paint bucket of claim 15 , further comprising an integral hand grip in the bottom of the bucket comprising an elongated protrusion in the bottom that defines a hollow in the outside of the bottom adapted to receive several fingers of a user's hand.

19 . The paint bucket of claim 15 , further comprising an integral paint roller holder.

20 . The paint bucket of claim 19 , wherein the integral paint roller holder comprises an opening in the upper lip, and a widening of the lip along side the opening.