AU2006201973B2

AU2006201973B2 - Paint roller

Info

Publication number: AU2006201973B2
Application number: AU2006201973A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Valentino Fuda
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-05-11
Filing date: 2006-05-11
Publication date: 2011-10-06
Anticipated expiration: 2026-05-11
Also published as: AU2006201973A1

Abstract

A paint roller assembly adapted to rotatably support a paint roller sock including a frame extending from a sock support, the frame including a handle portion, and a further portion that pivotally supports a paint 5 shield. This paint shield can be moved between at least a first position in which the shield is clear of the paint roller sock, and a second position in which the shield abuts the end of the paint roller sock. (0 -~ (~ N (~I > (K~/> 1(1 > NY r 1 , ,~<> ~N N/ >L i I>,' ~ K C//Jf J ) - L , / ( -> K- j / (N CV) Cv)

Description

56300 PAB:FKD P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: VALENTINO FUDA Name of inventor: VALENTINO FUDA Address for Service: COLLISON & CO., 117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: PAINT ROLLER Details of Associated Provisional Applications: Patent Application No. 2005902351 Dated 11th May 2005 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a means and method of using a paint roller. BACKGROUND ART The standard practice for painting a surface such as a wall is to paint the perimeter edge of the wall using a brush, before painting the remainder of the wall using a paint roller (this technique is commonly referred to as 'cutting in'). The reason for this is that it is nearly impossible to paint a clean edge at a corner between two adjacent surfaces (e.g. a wall and a ceiling) using a roller, without spreading paint onto the surface you didn't intend to paint. It is an object of the present invention therefore to provide a means for rotatably supporting a paint roller that includes a paint shield. It is envisaged that this then would facilitate a roller to be used to paint an edge between a pair of adjacent surfaces. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In one form of this invention there is proposed a means for rotatably supporting a paint roller with first and second ends, the means including a frame extending from the first end of the roller, the frame including a handle portion, and a further portion of the frame extending from the frame that pivotally supports a paint shield such that the paint shield can be moved between at least a first position in which the shield will not get paint thereon when the roller is dipped into a paint tray containing paint, and a second position in which the shield abuts the second end of the roller and prevents the second end of the roller coming into contact with a first surface that adjoins a second surface which the roller is painting. Preferably, the further portion of the frame is fixed relative to the handle portion. Preferably, the paint shield is pivotally supported at or toward the end of the further portion of the frame. Preferably, the paint shield includes an arm having first and second ends, the arm being pivotally connected to the further portion of the frame at or . towards the first end, and the arrn having a wheel rotationally attached to it at or towards its second end. Preferably, the wheel comprises two thin discs, a first, innermost disc that is approximately the same diameter as the roller, and a second, outermost disc that is of a slightly smaller diameter that the first disc. In a further form, the paint shield includes an arm having first and second ends, the arm being pivotally connected to the further portion of the frame at or towards the first end; and the arm having a shield assembly fixed to it at or towards the second end. Preferably, the shield assembly includes a shield plate with at least one wheel rotatably attached to it. In a further form, the invention may be said to reside in a paint roller assembly adapted to rotatably support a paint roller sock having first and second ends, the assembly including a frame extending from the first end of the sock support, the frame including a handle portion, and a further portion of the frame extending from the frame that pivotally supports a paint shield such that the paint shield can be moved between at least a first position in 4 which the shield is clear of the paint roller sock and a second position in which the shield abuts the end of the paint roller sock. In a further form, the invention may be said to reside in a paint roller assembly adapted to rotatably support a paint roller sock having first and second ends, the assembly including a frame extending from the first end of the sock support, the frame including a handle portion, and a further portion of the frame extending from the frame that pivotally supports a paint shield such that the paint shield can be moved between at least a first position in which the shield will not get paint thereon when the roller is dipped into a paint tray containing paint, and a second position in which the shield abuts the second end of the roller and prevents the second end of the roller coming into contact with a first surface that adjoins a second surface which the roller is painting. In a further form, the invention may be said to reside in an attachment for a paint roller that is adapted to be removably attached to a portion of a paint roller sock support assembly, and which pivotally supports a paint shield such that the paint shield can be moved between at least a first position in which the shield will not get paint thereon when the roller is dipped into a paint tray containing paint, and a second position in which the shield abuts the second end of the roller and prevents the second end of the roller coming into contact with a first surface that adjoins a second surface which the roller is painting. Preferably, the attachment includes an arm, which at or toward one end is adapted to attach to a portion of the paint roller sock support assembly, and which at or toward a further, distal end, is adapted to pivotally support the paint shield. In a further form, the invention may be said to reside in a method of using the means for rotatably supporting a paint roller including the steps of placing the paint shield in the first position, dipping the roller into a paint tray 5 containing paint, removing the roller from the paint, placing the paint shield in its second position so that it abuts the second end of the roller and prevents the second end of the roller coming into contact with a first surface that adjoins a second surface which the roller is painting. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of this invention it will now be described with respect to the preferred embodiment which shall be described herein with the assistance of drawings wherein; Figure 1 is a perspective of a paint roller including a paint shield, showing the paint shield abutting the end of the roller; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the paint roller in Figure 1, showing the paint shield in a position where it will not get paint thereon when the roller is dipped into a paint tray containing paint; Figures 3 and 4 are top elevations of the paint roller in Figure 1, Figure 3 showing the paint shield abutting the end of the roller, and Figure 4 showing it in a further position where it will not get paint thereon when the roller is dipped into a paint tray containing paint; Figure 5 is a side view of the paint roller in Figure 1, showing the roller being dipped in a paint tray; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a paint roller including a paint shield according to a further form the invention, showing the paint shield abutting the end of the roller; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the paint roller in Figure 3, showing the paint shield in a position where it will not get paint thereon when the roller is dipped into a paint tray containing paint; 6 Figures 8 and 9 are top elevations of the paint roller in Figure 1, Figure 3 showing the paint shield abutting the end of the roller, and Figure 4 showing it in a further position where it will not get paint thereon when the roller is dipped into a paint tray containing paint; and Figure 10 is a side view of the paint roller in Figure 1, showing the roller being dipped in a paint tray. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to Figure 1, there is a means 1 for rotatably supporting a paint roller 2 with first 2a and 2b second ends. The means being an assembly which includes a frame 4 made from a steel rod that has been bent into shape, and which extends from the first end 2a of the roller to a molded handle 6. The roller 2 is free to rotate relative around an axis passing substantially through an axis extending along the direction of elongation of the roller 2. There is a further portion of the frame 10 extending from the handle portion 4 that pivotally supports a paint shield 20. This further portion 10 comprises a further length of steel rod that has been bent into a u-shape, with two substantially straight sides 12, and a substantially straight end 14. Where the two straight sides 12 end, this further portion of the frame 10 is welded to the frame 4. There is a second piece of steel rod 16 running between the two sides 12 so that it is very close to, and substantially parallel with the straightened end 14. In use, this piece 16 will act as a stop for the travel of the paint shield 20 when it is flipped from the second position into the first position. The paint shield 20 includes an arm 22 having first 22a and second 22b ends, the arm 22 being pivotally connected to the further portion of the frame 7 10 at its first end 22a, and the arm having a wheel 30 rotationally fixed to it at its second end 22b. The arm 22 is a small piece of thin steel plate that has been rolled around the straightened end 14 of the further portion of the frame 10 at its first end 22a, so that the arm 22 can pivot around this straightened end 14. The wheel comprises two thin discs, a first, innermost disc 32 that is approximately the same diameter as the roller, and a second, outermost disc 34 that is of a slightly smaller diameter that the first disc. The second, outermost disc 34 acts like a spacer, so that in the event that some paint works its way onto the outer side 32a of the first, innermost disc 32, this outer side 32a of the first disc does not contact the surface not being painted, the second disc 34 does. In use then, the paint shield 20 can be moved between at least a first position in which the shield 20 will not get paint thereon when the roller 2 is dipped into a paint tray containing paint (as seen in Figure 5), and a second position in which the shield 20 abuts the second end of the roller 2 (as seen in Figure 1) and prevents the second end of the roller coming into contact with a first surface that adjoins a second surface which the roller is painting. The paint shield 30 can be moved between the first and second positions by simply turning the assembly 1 over. When painting the edge between a wall that is being painted and a ceiling that is not for instance, the paint shield 20 is on the upper end of the roller. When it becomes necessary to reload the roller with paint, the roller is turned over so that the end with the shield 2b now becomes the lower end, and the arm 22 of the shield 20 hangs straight down from the further portion of the frame 10. From this position then the user continues to tilt the handle 6 downward (and the roller 2 upwards) until the paint shield falls into its position clear of the roller, in which the arm 22 rests against the stop 16.

8 Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, where a further form of the invention is disclosed. The paint shield 50 includes an arm 52 having first 52a and second 52b ends, the arm 52 being pivotally connected to the further portion of the frame 10 at its first end 52a, and the arm having a shield assembly 60 fixed to it at its second end 52b. The arm 52 is a small piece of thin steel plate that has been rolled around the straightened end 14 of the further portion of the frame 10 at its first end 52a, so that the arm 52 can pivot around this straightened end 14. The shield assembly includes a piece of thin, substantially rectangular shaped plate with a pair of wheels 62 rotatably attached to it via its inner 60a (roller adjacent) surface side. Relief shapes 64 have been cut into the shield so that the outer face of each of the wheels is substantially coplanar with the outer surface 60b of the plate. In use then, the outer surface 60b of the shield 60 runs along the edge being painted as the shield itself runs on its wheels 62, which roll along the surface being painted. This paint shield 50 can be flipped between the first and second positions in the exact same fashion as the paint shield discusses in the previous embodiment. It is considered that means for rotatably supporting a paint roller including a paint shield according to the present invention will be of particular use to those who wish to paint right to the edges of a surface using a paint roller. Being able to do this will save time 'cutting in' surfaces to be painted using a roller. Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognised that departures can be made within the scope of the invention, 9 which is not to be limited to the details described herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Claims

1. A means for rotatably supporting a paint roller with first and second ends, the means including: a frame extending from the first end of the paint roller, wherein the frame further includes a handle; a further portion of the frame that is fixed to the frame extending from the first end of the roller, wherein the further portion. of the frame pivotally supports a paint shield; the paint shield including an arm having a first and second end, the paint shield is pivotally connected to the further portion of the frame at or towards the first end of the arm, and a wheel rotationally attached at or towards the second end of the arm; the wheel rotationally attached at or towards the second end of the arm comprises two thin discs, a first innermost disc is configured to be the approximately the same diameter as the paint roller and a second outermost disc is configured to be slightly smaller in diameter of that of the first disc; wherein paint shield is movable between a first and second position such that in the first position the paint shield is positioned away from the paint roller and will not get paint thereon when the roller is dipped into a paint tray containing paint, and in the second position the paint shield is positioned against and abuts the second end of the paint roller preventing the second end of the paint roller coming into contact with a first surface adjoining a second surface when the paint roller is in use and painting the adjoining second surface.

2. The means for rotatably supporting a paint roller as in claim 1, further characterized in that the further portion of the frame is fixed relative to the handle.

3. The means for rotatably supporting a paint roller as in claims 1 or 2, further characterized in that the paint shield is pivotally supported at or toward the end of the further portion of the frame. 11

4. The means for rotatably supporting a paint roller as in claims 1 to 3, further characterized in that the handle is orientated at an angle, such that the handle is positioned substantially away from the paint shield is pivotally supported at or toward the end of the further portion of the frame.

5. The means for rotatably supporting a paint roller as in claims 1 to 4, further characterized in that the further portion of the frame includes a stop located near the end on which the paint shield is pivotally supported.

6. The means for rotatably supporting a paint roller as in claim 1, further characterized in that the paint shield includes an arm having a first and second end, the arm being pivotally connected to the further portion of the frame at or towards the first end of the arm, and the arm having the paint shield fixed to it at or towards the second end of the arm.

7. The means for rotatably supporting a paint roller as in claim 1, further characterized in that the paint shield includes a shield with at least one wheel rotatably attached.

8. A method of using the means for rotatably supporting a paint roller as in any one of claims 1 to 7 including the steps of: moving and placing the paint shield into the first position such that the paint shield is positioned away clear of the paint roller; dipping the paint roller into a paint tray containing paint; removing the paint roller from the paint; moving and placing the paint shield into the second position such that the paint shield is positioned against and abuts the second end of the paint roller; such that when the paint roller is in use it prevents the second end of the roller coming into contact with a first surface adjoining a second surface that is being painted. 12

9. A means for rotatably supporting a paint roller, substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying representations.

10. A method of using the means for rotatably supporting a paint roller, substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying representations.