Coating apparatus – Work holders – or handling devices – Gripper or clamped work type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-06
2001-11-13
Edwards, Laura (Department: 1734)
Coating apparatus
Work holders, or handling devices
Gripper or clamped work type
C118S504000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315831
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to painting accessories, and more particularly to accessories for preventing paint from dripping onto or otherwise coating molding and trim while painting a wall.
Molding extending along a wall adjacent to the floor and/or ceiling, and wooden trim framing doors and windows are common architectural features found in homes and buildings. For aesthetic reasons, it is typical for the molding and trim to be painted a different color than the major surface of the wall to which they are attached. Thus, in order to prevent paint being applied to a wall from dripping onto the molding or trim, it is necessary to position a barrier between the molding or trim and the wall.
Most often this barrier is created by adhering masking tape to the molding or trim at the interface of the wall. Although this tape barrier effectively protects molding and trim from being coated with the wall paint, it is difficult and time consuming to accurately run the tape along the entire length of the molding and trim, often requiring multiple efforts to properly align the tape. In addition, adhesive material sometimes remains on the molding and trim after the tape is removed, thereby requiring cleaning and/or scraping to remove the adhesive material. Accordingly, the time consuming, laborious effort of taping molding and trim is an undesirable procedure for creating a barrier to prevent paint being applied to a wall from dripping onto or otherwise coating the molding and trim.
A readily available alternative to taping is a spatula-like instrument that may be held in one hand by a painter at the interface of the wall and molding or trim, while he or she paints the wall with the other hand. Notwithstanding the inconvenience and dexterity needed to hold the tool in one hand while holding a brush or roller to paint the wall in the other hand, the blades on these tools are generally less than a foot long, thereby requiring it to be constantly moved during the course of painting the wall. As the blade is moved, often paint will drip onto its edge resulting in paint being transferred therefrom to the molding or trim. Thus, not only is use of this type of tool difficult, it is also ineffective in many instances.
It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a device that creates an effective barrier between a wall and the molding and trim attached thereto when the well is being painted.
It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a paint guard that may be easily and quickly attached to molding and trim in order to prevent paint from coating them as a result of paint dripping or splashing from a wall.
It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide a paint guard that may be securely attached in complete covering relation to molding or trim without scratching or otherwise damaging the same.
It is an additional object and advantage of the present invention to provide a paint guard that prevents paint from dripping on floors in addition to a strip of molding to which the guard is attached.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious, and in part appear hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a guard that may be attached to molding or trim during painting operations to prevent paint from dripping or splashing from a surface to be painted one color onto a surface to be painted a different color or which will remain unpainted. In its primary embodiment, the present invention provides an elongated strip of material, preferably plastic, having a cross-sectional shape consisting of a terminal first end which extends around in a generally U-shaped hook pattern, a relatively straight central section integrally extending from the non-terminal end of the hook section, and a curved section that extends along a predetermined radius and terminates with a relatively straight portion that extends essentially perpendicularly to the central section. Extrusion has been determined to be the most efficient and cost effective method for manufacturing the guard, although other manufacturing methods, such as injection molding or casting, certainly could be employed.
In use, when painting a wall and desiring to prevent paint from dripping onto molding and the floor, the guard is positioned in complete covering relation to the molding by placing the guard's hooked end in engaging relation to the upper edge of the molding, with the central section extending in covering relation to the body of the molding, and the curved section extending outwardly from the molding in overlapping relation to the floor (or in underlapping relation to the ceiling if protecting crown molding). The relatively thin cross-section of the guard permit is to be securely engaged with the molding with no appreciable gap between the wall and molding.
The guard may also be used to prevent paint from coating a wall when painting molding. In this application, the guard is positioned with its curved portion inserted between the wall and molding, the central section extending outwardly therefrom in at least partially contacting relation to the wall, and the U-shaped hook portion positioned in laterally spaced relation to the wall and in overhanging relation to the molding.
In addition, the guard may be used to prevent paint from dripping onto the floor (or ceiling) when painting the molding. For this application, the guard is positioned with its curved end positioned between the molding and floor (or ceiling), and the central section extending outwardly therefrom in covering relation to the floor (or ceiling).
In an alternative embodiment to be used with trim around doors and windows, the cross-sectional shape is defined by a first section that extends along a straight path from a terminal end to a bend where it integrally transitions to a central section that extends along a straight path before it bends at a second predetermined, acute angle which is greater than the first angle, and integrally transitions to a third section which extends along a straight path before terminating. In use, this embodiment is positioned in complete covering relation to a length of trim with the first section being positioned between the wall and trim, the central section positioned in covering relation to the trim, and the third section extending around the edge of the molding that is not in contact with the wall. As with the primary embodiment, this embodiment is also preferably made of plastic and manufactured by an extrusion process, although other materials and manufacturing processes could also be used.
REFERENCES:
patent: 695965 (1902-03-01), Taylor et al.
patent: 1434903 (1922-11-01), Manning
patent: 2754799 (1956-07-01), Crawford
patent: 3565038 (1971-02-01), Barriger
patent: 695572 (1953-08-01), None
Edwards Laura
Hancock & Estabrook, LLP
McGuire George R.
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