Paint can holder

Abstract

The paint can holder provides an attachment plate with hook, and an attachment device for attaching the paint can holder to a painter's body or fastening the paint can holder to a painter's clothing, for example a pair of openings through which a strap or belt is disposed. The hook may be provided with a movable retaining device that closes the hook to retain the handle of the paint can. The attachment plate is preferably contoured to the shape of the painter's body and may be provided with ridges that reinforce the plate and help to stabilize the paint can.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A paint can holder for attaching a paint can to a person's body or clothing, the paint can holder comprising: 
 an attachment plate;    a hook supported by said attachment plate, said hook comprising a movable retaining device, movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in said closed position said movable retaining device creates an upper barrier to a paint can handle retained within the hook; and    an attachment device for attaching the attachment plate to the person's body or clothing,    whereby when the attachment plate is attached to the person's body or clothing, a paint can may be suspended by the hook and a handle of the paint can retained within the hook by the movable retaining device in the closed position.    
     
     
         2 . The paint can holder of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment plate is contoured to conform to the person's body.  
     
     
         3 . The paint can holder of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment device comprises a pair of openings on the attachment plate.  
     
     
         4 . The paint can holder of  claim 3 , wherein the attachment device further comprises a strap disposed through the openings.  
     
     
         5 . The paint can holder of  claim 4  wherein the openings comprise slots configured to allow a strap to be inserted therethrough.  
     
     
         8 . The paint can holder of  claim 1  wherein the movable retaining device is a lever pivotable about a web on said attachment plate.  
     
     
         9 . The paint can holder of  claim 8  wherein the movable retaining device is hinged to said hook.  
     
     
         10 . The paint can holder of  claim 1  wherein at least one ridge projects from the attachment plate.  
     
     
         12 . A paint can holder for attaching a paint can to a person's body or clothing, the paint can holder comprising: 
 an attachment plate;    a hook supported by said attachment plate, said hook comprising a movable retaining device movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein in said closed position said movable retaining device creates an upper barrier to a paint can handle retained within the hook; and    a strap for attaching the attachment plate to a person's body,    whereby when the attachment plate is attached to the person's body, a paint can may be suspended by the hook and a handle of the paint can retained within the hook by the movable retaining device in the closed position.    
     
     
         13 . The paint can holder of  claim 12 , wherein the attachment plate is contoured to conform to the person's body.  
     
     
         14 . The paint can holder of  claim 12 , wherein the attachment device comprises a pair of openings on the attachment plate.  
     
     
         15 . The paint can holder of  claim 14  wherein the openings comprise slots configured to allow a strap to be inserted therethrough.  
     
     
         18 . The paint can holder of  claim 12  wherein the movable retaining device is a lever pivotable about a web on said attachment plate.  
     
     
         19 . The paint can holder of  claim 18  wherein the movable retaining device is hinged to said hook.  
     
     
         20 . The paint can holder of  claim 12  wherein at least one ridge projects from the attachment plate.  
     
     
         21 . A paint can holder for attaching a paint can to a person's body or clothing, the paint can holder comprising: 
 a hook,    an attachment plate for supporting the hook, said attachment plate comprising a movable retaining device movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein in said closed position said movable retaining device creates an upper barrier to a paint can handle retained within the hook; and    an attachment device for attaching the attachment plate to the person's body or clothing;    whereby when the attachment plate is attached to the person's body or clothing, a paint can may be suspended by the hook and a handle of the paint can retained within the hook by the movable retaining device in the closed position.    
     
     
         22 . The paint can holder of  claim 21  wherein the movable retaining device is a flexible flange affixed to the attachment plate.  
     
     
         23 . The paint can holder of  claim 22  wherein the flexible flange has a barbed tip disposed in opposition to a barbed tip of the hook, whereby in the closed position the barbed tips interlock.