Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Implements – Fabric
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-14
2001-01-09
Spisich, Mark (Department: 1744)
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Implements
Fabric
C015S228000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170114
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to liquid coating applicators for applying liquid coatings such as paints, varnishes, liquid sealants, stains and the like to surfaces. In particular, the present invention relates to a liquid coating applicator having an arcuate convex application surface for spreading liquid coatings across larger surface areas.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Liquid coating applicators are typically used to apply and spread liquid coatings such as paints, varnishes, stains and liquid sealants to different surfaces such as walls, ceilings, and floors. Floors, such as decks and driveways, are coated using a relatively large liquid applicator. Liquid applicators used to apply coatings to floors, decks and driveways comprise either an elongate roller or a flat pad. Roller applicators typically comprise an elongate, cylindrical roller having a covering of liquid absorbing cloth or nap and mounted to the end of an elongate handle or pole. As the roller is pushed across the floor, deck or driveway, the roller rolls and dispenses the coating across the surface. Because the roller rolls along the surface, the roller is easy to push with very little friction. However, due to its circular shape and practical size limitations, the roller maintains contact with the surface along only a single line having a severely limited surface area. As a result, the roller applicator does not consistently spread the coating across the surface.
Flat pad applicators typically comprise an elongate, generally rectangular flat foam or sponge pad mounted to the end of an elongate handle or pole. In contrast to roller applicators, flat pad applicators have a large surface area adapted to contact the surface being coated. Unfortunately, to maintain the large surface area of the flat pad applicator in contact with the surface being coated requires that the flat pad be perfectly parallel with the floor, deck or driveway. During the back and forth sweeping motion of the applicator, it is extremely difficult to maintain the flat pad perfectly parallel with the surface being coated. The difficulty of maintaining the flat pad perfectly parallel with the floor, deck or driveway is further increased because conventional flat pad applicators are not designed to accommodate users having different heights. It has been found that extremely tall or extremely short users tend to elevate either the front or the rear of the flat pad relative to the floor, deck or driveway. If the flat pad is not maintained perfectly parallel with the floor, deck or driveway, the flat pad contacts the surface being coated along only a single line of contact. Consequently, despite having a large surface area adapted to contact the surface being coated, flat pad applicators rarely achieve greater surface contact than roller applicators. Thus, neither roller applicators nor flat pad applicators consistently spread coating across surfaces.
Thus, there is a continuing need for a liquid coating applicator that contacts the floor, deck or driveway with a relatively large surface area and that is easily maintained in contact with the floor, deck or driveway during to and fro movement of the applicator across the floor, deck or driveway, regardless of the user's stature. There is also a continuing need for a relatively large liquid coating applicator which is easily moved across a floor, deck or driveway with minimal frictional resistance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a liquid coating applicator which includes a support and a pad coupled to the support. The pad has a front side, a rear side and a lower arcuate convex surface between the front side and the rear side to spread coatings.
According to first aspect of the present invention, the arcuate convex surface has a radius of at least 5 inches and less than 27 inches. According to a more preferred embodiment, the arcuate convex surface has a radius of between about 12 inches and about 20 inches.
According to a second aspect of the liquid coating applicator, the pad includes a backing configured to be coupled to the support and a flocking material coupled to the backing. The pad preferably additionally includes a substrate coupled to the backing, wherein the flocking material is coupled to the substrate. The backing and the substrate are preferably flexible. In addition, the support preferably includes at least one pad engaging surface configured to engage the pad and to support the pad in an arcuate convex cross-sectional shape. The support preferably includes a plurality of spaced ribs, wherein each rib has an arcuate convex surface in engagement with the pad.
According to a third aspect of the coating applicator, the pad is removably coupled to the support. Preferably, the pad slidably mounts to the support. In one exemplary embodiment, the pad includes a plurality of resiliently flexible pads that form a channel to releasably receive the support.
According to yet a fourth aspect of the coating applicator, the applicator includes an elongate pole and a support includes a mounting portion configured to be coupled to the pole.
According to yet a fifth aspect of the coating applicator, the support includes a first wall portion extending from the pad, a second wall portion extending from the pad and a third wall portion interconnecting the first and second wall portions opposite the pad.
The present invention is further directed to a coating applicator support for use with an applicator pad. The support includes a body having at least pad engaging surface. The at least one pad engaging surface is configured to engage the pad and to support the pad in an arcuate convex cross-sectional shape.
Preferably, the applicator support includes a plurality of spaced ribs. Each rib includes at least one pad engaging surface. The at least one pad engaging surface is preferably configured to support the pad in an arcuate convex cross-sectional shape having a radius between 5 inches and 27 inches. Preferably, the at least one pad engaging surface supports the pad in an arcuate convex cross-sectional shape having a radius of between 12 and 20 inches.
The present invention is also directed to a coating applicator pad for use with a pad support. The pad includes a backing configured for being removably coupled to the support, a substrate having a front arcuate side, a rear arcuate side and a lower surface between the front and rear sides and flocking coupled to the substrate. The backing and the substrate are configured so as to have an arcuate convex shape upon being coupled to the support. Preferably, the backing and the substrate are resiliently flexible so as to resiliently deform to the arcuate convex shape upon being coupled to the support.
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Biba Scott I.
Lindeman William C.
Shehow Kenneth L.
Sullivan Scott P.
Woodnorth Brian E.
Foley & Lardner
Newell Operating Company
Spisich Mark
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