Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Hollow or container type article – Polymer or resin containing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-21
2001-10-09
Thomas, Alexander S. (Department: 1772)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Hollow or container type article
Polymer or resin containing
C428S099000, C428S034100, C118S505000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299951
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to paint masking and more specifically it relates to a truck hub paint mask device for protecting the hub of an axle during painting the rim of a tire and providing a convenient storage device for supplies.
Conventional semi-trucks have four separate hubs in the rear portion of the vehicle that rotatably support corresponding tires with rims. The hubs are typically painted black or a color similar to the body of the semi-truck. The rim of the tire is usually painted white, gray or silver. Painting the rims while still positioned upon the hubs of a semi-truck is a difficult and time-consuming task. Hence, there is a need for a masking system that reduces the amount of time required to paint the rims of a semi-truck.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Paint masking devices have been in use for years. Typically, paint masking devices for tires comprise a ring structure that surrounds the rubber tire thereby protecting the tire during painting of the rim. However, it is often times desirable to either not paint the hub or to paint the hub a separate color. Painters are thereby required to wrap conventional masking paper about the hub and attempt to tape the masking paper near the rim to avoid removing the entire tire from the vehicle or trailer. It is difficult to properly secure the masking tape about the hub with paint from the rim often times engaging the hub.
Examples of patented masking devices for tires and rims include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,192,896 to Irving; 4,811,991 to Moreno et al.; 5,423,599 to Sherod et al.; 5,667,590 to Simons, Sr.; D340439 to Carbone; D338185 to Dowd which are all illustrative of such prior art.
While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for protecting the hub of an axle during painting the rim of a tire. Conventional masking devices do not provide a convenient masking device for protecting the hub of a vehicle from paint while painting the rim of a tire.
In these respects, the truck hub paint mask device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of protecting the hub of an axle during painting the rim of a tire.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of masking devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new truck hub paint mask device construction wherein the same can be utilized for protecting the hub of an axle during painting the rim of a tire.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new truck hub paint mask device that has many of the advantages of the masking devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new truck hub paint mask device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art masking devices, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises at least one wall, an opening, and an end member. A lumen is defined within the inner surface of the wall wherein the lumen is capable of being fit about the hub. The cover preferably includes a recessed area adjacent the end member along with a handle attached to the end member for allowing easy installation and removal of the cover from about a hub. The cover is constructed of a resilient high-density polyethylene plastic for allowing the cover to be manually deformed for allowing dried paint to be removed.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a truck hub paint mask device that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.
A second object is to provide a truck hub paint mask device for protecting the hub of an axle during painting the rim of a tire.
Another object is to provide a truck hub paint mask device that protects the hub of a vehicle or trailer from paint while painting a rim.
An additional object is to provide a truck hub paint mask device that eliminates the need to remove the entire tire from the vehicle or trailer to avoid painting the hub.
A further object is to provide a truck hub paint mask device that is easily positioned and removed about a hub of a vehicle or trailer.
Another object is to provide a truck hub paint mask device that easily removes accumulated paint without utilizing harsh chemicals.
An additional object is to provide a truck hub paint mask device that also serves as a convenient storage container for supplies.
Another object is to provide a truck hub paint mask device that decreases the overall time required to paint the rims of a vehicle or trailer thereby reducing the overall labor and costs required to paint the rims.
A further object is to provide a truck hub paint mask device that is constructed of a high-density polyethylene plastic that resists deterioration from constant contact with harsh chemicals, paint thinner, solvents and paints.
An additional object is to provide a truck hub paint mask device that fits upon the hubs of most makes and models of vehicles.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 239754 (1976-05-01), Yoder
patent: 5328723 (1994-07-01), Horiki et al.
patent: 5435630 (1995-07-01), Tucker
Neustel Michael S.
Thomas Alexander S.
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