Artist{3 s palette
Barnett, Jr,  
 Apr. 1, 1975 ARTIST S PALETTE [76] Inventor: Roy C. Barnett, Jr., 2416 McKinney, Dallas, Tex. 75201 [22] Filed: Sept. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 396,489  
 [52] US. Cl 206/1.7, 117/155 UA, 312/31 [51] Int. Cl B44d 3/02 [58] Field of Search..... 206/1.7, 1.8; 312/31, 31.01, 3l2/31.06; 117/155; 35/26 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 294,591 3/1884 Dellenbaugh 206/l.7 1,871,419 8/1932 McKee 312/31v 3,589,955 6/1971 Edwards 35/26 3,633,541 10/1970 Andrews 35/26 3,732,972 5/1973 Israel 206/1.7 3,779,369 12/1973 Lang 206/1.8 3,786,913 1/1974 Crawford 206/1.8  
 Primary ExaminerWilliam I. Price Assistant ExaminerAllan N. Shoap Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richards, Harris &amp; Medlock [57] ABSTRACT An artists palette is provided which maintains waterbased colors in a fresh and workable condition while in use or in storage and includes a palette surface which supplies a controlled amount of moisture to colors deposited thereon. A specific structure includes a palette base member having a finely textured surface, and a liner for the textured surface which has a lower absorbent side in contact with the textured surface and an upper treated side which is water permeable but substantially impermeable to the water-based pigments which are applied thereto. Water supplied to the textured surface will pass between the surface and the liner by capillary action and furthermore will permeate the liner to provide moisture for water-based colors deposited on the upper treated surface.  
 11 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED APR 1 I975 SEIZZT 2 BF 2 ARTISTS PALETTE This invention relates to paint palettes. In another aspect. this invention relates to novel palettes for waterbased colors which will maintain the colors in a moist condition on the palettes surface. Artists conventionally use palettes for blending colors as a means for maintaining a readily accessible supply of the desired colors while engaged in their painting activities. A problem which artists have faced when using waterbased colors is that the colors will dry and harden on the palette if not utilized in a relatively short period of time.  
  Thus, it is necessary for an artist to either completely utilize water-based colors he places on the palette within a short period of time or endure wastage of the colors. For example, it has generally not been possible for an artist to prepare water based colors on a palette and allow the palette to set overnight before the colors are completely utilized. This drying problem is particularly severe when using the more rapidly drying acryliccontaining colors which will not resolubilize in water after they have dried. Generally, this rapid drying characteristic of acrylic colors is desirable on the art work, but has caused problems on the artists palette. As a result. many artists do not use the acrylic colors.  
  One object of this invention is to provide a novel artists palette which will protect water-based colors deposited thereon from drying.  
  Another object of this invention is to provide a novel palette means which will supply moisture to waterbased colors deposited thereon in a controlled amount such that the quality of the color is not impaired and the colors will not migrate on the palette in an unwanted manner.  
  According to the invention, an artist&#39;s palette for water-based colors is provided which comprises a paintreceiving palette surface which is water permeable and substantially impermeable to color pigment and which will supply a controlled amount of water to artist&#39;s colors deposited thereon.  
  According to one embodiment of this invention, an artist&#39;s palette for water-based paints is provided which includes a flat substrate member having a finely textured water-receiving surface, and a water-permeable but .-.t|bstantially pigment-impermcable liner which fits over the finely textured water-receiving surface for reeel-mag deposits of artist&#39;s colors thereon.  
  According to another embodiment of this invention, the artist&#39;s palette of said one embodiment further comprises a water reservoir means for supplying a controlled amount of water to the finely textured waterreceiving surface of said flat substrate member.  
 According to a further embodiment ofthis invention,  
 the finely textured water-receiving surface of said one embodiment comprises a porous substrate which retains water therewithin.  
  According to still another embodiment of this invention. a flexible artist&#39;s palette member is provided which comprises a woven water permeable textile material having a lower finely textured surface which is used in contact with any suitable water-impermeable flat substrate, and an upper water-permeable, pigmentimpermcable surface liner for receiving artists colors thereon.  
  This invention can be more easily understood from a study of the drawings in which:  
 FIG. I is a perspective view of a studio-type artists palette of the subject invention;  
 FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the artists palette of FIG. 1; 5 FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the water reservoir for the palette shown in FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the palette of FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another artist&#39;s palette of the subject invention which comprises a rectangular hand-held palette with thumb hole;  
  FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another hand-held palette of the subject invention which has a classic oval shape;  
  FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a water reservoir of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;  
  FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the reservoir of FIG. 7:  
  FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an artist&#39;s palette made in accordance with the subject invention which includes a water-retaining base pad; and  
  FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the subject invention.  
  All of the embodiments shown in the drawing include a palette surface means for depositing artists colors thereon, which surface is substantially impermeable to the pigments of artists water-based colors but, will supply nioisture to such colors at a controlled rate and prevent the colors from drying and hardening. For examplc, the palettes of the subject invention can be utilized to maintain any water-based artists color moist and workable such as acrylic colors, gouache, casein, poster colors, and water colors.  
  Now referring to the drawings, several embodiments of the invention will be described in detail.  
  Referring first to FIGS. I-4, a studio-type artists palette I0 of the subject invention is shown. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the artists palette I0 basically comprises a palette base member 12, which includes a finely textured upper surface 14 supported by sidewalls 16, and an upwardly extending lip 18 positioned around the periphery of finely textured surface I4.  
  As shown in FIGS. I and 2, water reservoir 20 fits along one side of surface 14 and liner 22 covers the majority of surface 14. Liner 22 comprises a thin, flexible water-permeable, pigment-impermeable membrane which includes a water adsorbent bottom surface which rests upon finely textured surface 14, and an upper color-receiving surface, which is water permeable but yet substantially impermeable to pigments in the artists colors.  
  Water reservoir 20 comprises any suitably shaped enclosed reservoir having an opening 24, on the bottom side thereof, as shown in FIG. 3. Opening 24 is sufficiently small that the natural surface tension of the water will prevent water from spilling out of the reservoir 20 when the reservoir 20 is inverted and placed upon the upper finely textured surface 14 of base mem- 60 ber 12.  
  As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the lower peripheral portion of sidewall 16 is offset vertically to form rim 26. Rim 26 will allow several of the paint palettes l0 carrying liners 22 and water reservoirs 20 to be vertically stacked in a nested relationship.  
  Finely textured surface 14 provides a firm base support which will withstand both brush and palette knife manipulation. It is noted that the phrase finely textured&#34; as used in the scope of this invention to describe surface 14 means surfaces which are not smooth and flat as a mirror surface, for example, but are generally planar with a slightly roughened feel. Generally, the texture of surface 14 is equivalent to that of sandpaper, for example, ranging from fine to coarse, or woven fabric for example, ranging from fine broadcloth to canvas and in general includes a series of closely spaced and either randomly or non-randomly shaped slight protrusions which will enhance capillary action of water passing between surface 14 and the lower absorbent side of liner 22. It is noted that palette base member 12 can be made of any suitable material such as rigid molded plastic. Finely textured surface 14 can be formed by molding operation, or can comprise a sheet material such as a roughened plastic or cloth-plastic laminate cemented in place on base member 12 as shown in FIG. 4.  
  Liner 22 can conveniently comprise any waterpcrmeable fibrous material, such as wet strength paper, for example. A suitable such paper for use as structural material for liner 22 includes No. 2 ground wood pulp paper which is commonly used as wallpaper. Any other suitable wet strength water-permeable paper can be used in the scope of this invention as liner 22 for paint palette 10. The upper surface of liner 22 is treated with a water-permeable material which will resist permeation of the pigments in water-based artists colors, such as acrylic colors, gouache, casein, poster colors and water colors.  
 Preferably, an aqueous polymeric emulsion is utilizedfor treating the upper surface of liner 22. Any suitable aqueous polymer emulsion known in the art will dry to form a hard adherent deposit which is not resolubilizcd by water can be used in the coating composition for the treatment ofthc upper surface of liner 22. Most preferably, the emulsion includes a white pigment. such as titanium dioxide to yield a uniformly white surface for blending colors thereupon. Generally, any aqueous polymeric latex which is normally used in paints and/or glues can be used in the scope of this invention. Suitable such latexes include the acrylic latexes, vinyl latexes and latexes containing mixtures and copolymers thereof, and the like. The most preferred coatings include the latexes of the acrylate resins which are polymers or copolymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, derivatives thereof, and esters thereof. The aqueous latex which is used to form the coating on liner 22 can conveniently comprise from about 9 to about 30 weight percent of the polymer which is preferably an acrylic resin, with the remainder being a mixture of pigment, such as titanium dioxide and the like, and a volatile carrier such as water which can contain minor amounts of alcohols or glycols or the like. Suitable such coating materials which have been used successfully in the practice of the subject invention include: white latex paint sold under the trademark of Vapex by Pratt and Lambert, which includes 36.l weight percent pigment, 12 weight percent acrylic resin, and 51.9 weight percent volatile carrier (water); the white latex paint sold under the trademark of True Test Supreme by General Paint and Chemical Co., which includes 39.0 weight percent pigment, 12.2 weight percent acrylic resin, and 48.8 weight percent volatile carrier (water); and white latex paint formulations sold by Sears, Roebuck &amp; Company under the trademark of Semi Gloss 7844 which includes 28.5 wt. 7r pigment, l9.8 wt. &#39;71 acrylic resin, and 51.7 Wt. volatile carrier (water) and the composition sold under the trademark of Latex Flat 8l 1 1A which has 40.9 wt. pigment, 9.7 wt. 7( vinylacrylic resin, and 49.4 wt. volatile carrier (water).  
  Generally, the upper surface of liner 22 is prepared by applying one uniform coat of the above-described white latex paint thereto and allowing it to dry and harden.  
  In the operation of the paint palette as set forth in FIGS. l-4, water reservoir 20 is initially filled with water and inverted on the finely textured surface 14 of base member 12. In addition, liner 22, which is preferably pre-moistened, is placed in its position over finely textured surface 14, as illustrated in FIG. 1. A suitable manner in which to position liner 22 over the finely textured surface 14 includes initially saturating the liner 22 on both sides, such as with a wet sponge or under a faucet. Next, for easier handling of the wet liner 22, liner 22 can be rolled with the white side or the paintreceiving side up into a tight cylinder. Next, the textured surface 14 is liberally wetted by suitable means such as a sponge. After this, one edge of liner 22 can be aligned properly on textured surface 14 and liner 22 unrolled onto the palettes surface while pressing out all the air bubbles. Next, the water chamber 20 full of water is positioned with opening 24 in the lower position as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this position, a thin continuous or discontinuous water layer 27 exists between textured surface 14 and the lower side of liner 22. Water-based paints can then be deposited or mixed on the upper surface of liner 22. As water evaporates from the upper surface of liner 22 and water-based paints deposited thereon, capillary action draws the water out of water chamber 20. Thus, in this manner, any moisture loss due to evaporation is rapidly replaced. An occasional air bubble will enter water chamber 20 at the edge of opening 24 to replace water which has been drawn out through the capillary action.  
  The coating on the upper surface of liner 22 is not soluble when wet, but yet will conduct moisture from the underside of liner 22 at a controlled rate, thereby maintaining a constant degree of humidity at the surface. This controlled humidity at the liner surface prevents water-based colors which are placed thereon from drying out by evaporation of the water carrier therefor. Furthermore, the humidity level imparted to the upper surface of liner 22 is not so great as to cause the colors to become wetter. Furthermore, the layer on the upper surface of the liner 22 is substantially impermeable to the pigments within conventional water-base colors. Therefore, deposits of colors on the upper surface of liner 22 will neither permeate the liner 22 nor will they spread unwantedly over the surface of liner 22. Furthermore, the coating on the upper surface of liner 22 protects the paper substrate from eroding under brush and palette knife manipulations. Thus, col- -ors do not disperse into the surface. Furthermore, colors can be wiped off the upper surface of liner 22 with a damp sponge or cloth, or the like.  
  Several of the studio palettes illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 can be utilized simultaneously. Two or more of such palettes can be stored by stacking vertically in a nested arrangement such that the rim 26 of an upper palette l0 encircles the upper periphery of sidewall 16 of a lower palette 10 and the reservoir 20 of the lower palette fits within the interior of the upper palette. Thus, various color combinations can be formed on as many of the palettes as desired to complete a particular painting. If work on the painting is interrupted, the palettes can merely be stacked in a nested arrangement as described above, and the colors thereon preserved so long as water is maintained within the reservoir of each of the palettes.  
  Other embodiments of the subject invention are schematically depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6. More specifically, FIG. 5 illustrates a rectangular hand-held palette 28 which is made in accordance with the subject invention and includes a base member 30, which generally comprises a generally rectangular working surface which carries a thumbhole 32 and handgrip 34 adjacent one end thereof. The upper surface3l of palette base member is finely textured in a manner similar to surface 14 of palette 10, which was illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 above. Liner 36 again, is a water-permeable pigment-impermeable liner, which can comprise the same construction material as described in relation to liner 22 above. Liner 36 has a shape which is substantially the same shape as that of palette base member 30 and extends under water reservoir 38 which is clamped onto the extending side portion 40 of palette base member 30, as illustrated in the drawing.  
  FIG. 6 discloses another embodiment of this invention which includes another type of hand-held palette 42, which has a classic oval shape. As illustrated, palette base member 44 has the shape of the classic oval hand-held style and comprises a thumbhole 46 and a handgrip 48. The upper surface 50 of hand-held palette 42 again comprises a finely textured surface which is similar to surface 31 ofpalette 28 and surface 14 of palette 10, as described above. Liner 52 is made of the same material as liner 36 of palette 28 and liner 22 of palette I0 but it has the shape of the classic oval handheld palette. Again. a portion of liner 52 extends beneath water reservoir 38a as it overlays portion 52 of palette base member 44.  
  Water reservoirs 38 and 38a for hand-held palettes 28 and 42, respectively, have the same basic construction. and water reservoir 38 is shown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8. As shown in FIG. 7, which is a side elevational view of water reservoir 38, and in FIG. 8, which is a bottom perspective view of water reservoir 38, clamp 56 extends substantially parallel to the bottom surface 58 at a spaced distance therefrom which is only slightly smaller than the thickness of the combination of palette base member 30 and liner 36, or palette base member 44 and liner 52. Aperture 60 is carried on the bottom side ofwater reservoir 38 and is of a sufficient size such that the natural surface tension of water prevents the water from spilling out when the reservoir chamber is inverted. Water reservoir 38 with the integrally attached clamp 56 can be made of any suitable material but is preferably made of a rigid plastic material.  
  While various embodiments ofthis invention can utilize a water reservoir to controllably supply water by capillary action in the manner described above to replenish water which has evaporated from the moist upper surface ofthe liner, FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of the subject invention which does not rely on a water reservoir such as reservoirs 38. 38a or reservoir 20 as shown in the drawing. As shown in FIG. 9, palette 62 comprises a flat, rectangularly shaped body which includes a water-supplying palette base member 64 and a liner 66 of the character described in relation to the above embodiments. Palette base member 64 can comprise any rigid water absorbent material known in the art. For example, base member 64 can comprise a thick pad or porous absorbent paper, or a porous body of flexible foam material, such as a foamed polymeric material, c.g., poly urethane or foam rubber which preferably has open cells at least on the upper surface of the palette base member 64. The bottom and sides of palette base member 64 can be treated or coated with water impermeable material. Palette 62 is utilized by initially supplying water to the upper surface 68 of palette base member 64 and&#39;uniformly distributing the water therein so that the proper absorption of water or retention within the open cells of the polymeric foam will occur. Thereafter, the premoistened liner 66 can be applied thereto and the palette utilized as described above for receiving and/or blending of artists colors.  
  Still a further embodiment of the subject invention is schematically illustrated in FIG. 10. More specifically, palette 70, as illustrated in FIG. 10 comprises a flexible palette surface. Palette member 72 can comprise a flexible sheet of textured fabric which can include cotton fabric or a fabric made of artificial fibers which has had at least its upper finely textured surface 73 waterproofed. Liner&#39;74 is made of the same material as the liners in the above embodiments and comprisesa water-permcable-pigment-impermeable upper palette surface. Reservoir 76 is illustrated as a generally cylindrical shaped enclosed body having an aperture 78 at the lower end thereof which will supply water to liner 74 at a controlled rate. In the operation of palette 70, palette member 72 is rolled onto any suitable rigid supported surface. Liner 74 is thoroughly wetted in the manner described above and placed onto palette member 72 and reservoir 76 can be positioned thereover. As a result, water will be supplied to the upper surface of liner 74 by capillary movement of water between the underside of liner 74 and the upper finely textured surface 73 of palette member 72.  
  Thus, all of the embodiments of the subject invention provide a palette surface for the artist to deposit and blend water-based colors. However, once the colors are deposited on the surface of the palette, moisture is supplied from the underside thereof at a controlled rate, thereby maintaining a constant degree of humidity at the surface. The controlled humidity at the inner liner surface prevents colors which are placed on the palette from drying out. Furthermore, the humidity level is not so great as to cause the colors to become wetter. When the artist is through with the particular colors on the surface of the liner, they can be merely wiped off with a damp sponge. However, when a liner has become damaged or excessively dirty, it can be easily replaced with a new liner. The improved palette of the subject LII invention will allow the usage of the more modern water-based acrylic colors. Acrylic colors have the unique characteristic of drying very quickly and not being resoluble in water. However, this unique characteristic of the acrylic colors has accounted for a widespread resistance to their use because the rapid drying has been a problem when the colors are applied to a palette. In essence, rapid drying is a problem on the palette, but is usually very desirable on the work itself. The use of the novel artist&#39;s palette of the subject invention will allow the artist to obtain the benefits of rapid drying acrylic polymer colors on the artistic work but not be hampered with the nuisance of the material becoming dry and unworkable on the palette surface.  
  While this invention has been described in relation to its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof will now be apparent to one skilled in the art from reading this specification and it is intended to cover such embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims.  
 I claim:  
 1. An artist&#39;s palette for water-based colors comprisa. a palette base member having an upper finely textured surface for receiving a water coating; and  
 b. a thin water permeable liner for covering said finely textured surface of said palette base member comprising a lower water absorbent surface for contacting said finely textured surface and an upper water-permeable pigment-impermeable surface for receiving water-based artists colors thereon.  
  2. The artists palette of claim 1 wherein said liner means comprises paper having its upper surface coated with a thin water-insoluble layer of dried latex paint.  
  3. The artist&#39;s palette of claim 2 wherein said latex paint coating is formed from a liquid latex, comprising a major effective amount of a volatile carrier, and minor effective amounts of polymeric latex and pigment.  
  4. The artists palette of claim I wherein said palette base member is made of water absorbent material.  
  5. The artist&#39;s palette of claim 1 further comprising a water reservoir means for supplying a controlled flow of water to said finely textured surface.  
  6. The artists palette of claim 5 wherein said water reservoir member comprises an enclosed chamber having aperture means for supplying a controlled flow of water to said finely textured surface.  
  7. The artists palette of claim 6 wherein said water reservoir means further comprises a clamp means for retaining said reservoir to said palette base member.  
  8. The artist&#39;s palette of claim 7 further comprising handgrip means for holding said palette.  
  9. The artists palette of claim 5 wherein said palette base member comprises sidewall means for supporting said finely textured surface forming an internal recess below said finely textured surface and rim means at the base of said sidewall means for receiving the upper portion of a sidewall member of a second identical artist&#39;s palette stacked in nested relationship such that the water reservoir means of said second palette fits within said recess.  
  10. The artist&#39;s palette of claim 9 further comprising an upwardly extending lip means carried by said sidewall means and extending a uniform distance above said finely textured surface.  
 11. The artists palette of claim 5 wherein said palette base member comprises a thin flexible member.