CA1329174C

CA1329174C - Sheet material for masking apparatus

Info

Publication number: CA1329174C
Application number: CA000581798A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Dan B. Pool
Original assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: 3M Co
Priority date: 1987-11-02
Filing date: 1988-11-01
Publication date: 1994-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2011-05-03
Also published as: AU605923B2; AU2416288A; JPH072556B2; EP0315410A1; EP0315410B1; JPH01150674A; DE3880259D1; ES2039641T3; DE3880259T2

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

An elongate sheet of flexible, fluid impervious material is folded into longitudinally extending pleats and coiled into a roll for use with masking apparatus of either the stationary or the hand held type. The sheet is coiled in a direction for continuous application of tape to overlap an edge of the outer surface of the roll as the folded sheet and the tape are dispensed. The first pleat is provided with a laterally projecting terminal portion to receive the tape and prevent contact between the underlying sheet material and the tape.
After a length of the material is dispensed, severed from the roll and adhesively affixed to the surface to be masked, the sheet is extended laterally to unfold the pleats.

Description

(``~ 29174 1 SHEET MATERIAL FOR MASRI~G APPARATUS

Field o~ the ~nvention 7 This invention relates to material for masking surfaces 8 preparatory to pain~ing or application of other coatings.

~ore particularly~ the present invention relates to 11 i~provements in coiled sheet material especially adapted for use 12 in connection with mas~ing apparatus of the type for dispensing 13 tape and sheet material.

In a further and more specific aspect, the instant 16 invention concerns sheet material.capable of masking a surface 17 of greater width than the width of the roll of coiled material.

1~ The Prior Art 2~ Apparatus for dispensing tape and paper for the purpose of 22 masking a surface preparatory the application of paint or other 23 treatmen~s are- well known. In ge~eral, the devices are 24 commercially available in two basic configurations. One form, frequently termed an apron taper~ tends to be relatively bulky 26 and is ~onsidered a stationary device. The other, bein~
27 sufficiently compact ~or portable manipulation, is usually 28 referred to as a hand held maGking machine.
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.329~74 .. ,,,~ 1 2 Commonly, both varieties include a frame having means for l 3 rotatably supporting a roll of coiled sheet material and for :- 4 rotatably supporting a roll of pres~ure sensitive tape. The roll of tape is positioned for continuous application along an .
6 edge of the sheet material as the tape and sheet material are i 7 uncoiled during dispensing. U~ually, the devices also include a 8 blade for severing the dispensed masking material.

~he frame of the apron taper is provided with feet. During 11 use, a taped edged sheet or apron of appropriate length is shown 12 from the stationary apparatus and then applied to the surface to 13 be masked. A handle is integral with the portable device. The 14 tape is applied as the machine is drawn along the surface during the masking procedure.

, i .! 17 Conventionallyl the width of the surface which can be 18 masked is dictated by the width of the roll of sheet material.
~, 19 Whil8 sheet material of various widths are usually ,, interchangeably dispensab~e from a single masking apparatus, the 21 ultimate width is finite as determined by the capacity of the 22 device. For example, the stationary dispensing apparatus 23 usually includes a pair of spaced apart frame m~mbers between 24 which the roll o~ sheet material must fit. A portable device is usually limited by the physical capability of the user. For 26 purposes of reference, forty-eight inches is considered the 27 practical limit for apron tapers while portable machines re ., .. ,, :
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1 limited to twenty-four inches. Even ~o, operation becomes 2 increasingly cumbersome as sheet width increases.

4 In an attempt to provide a remedy and mask surfaces of greater width than the width o~ the sh~et material, the prior 6 art has provided rolls of folded sheet material. After the tape 7 has been secured, the material is unfolded to drape over an 8 extended surface. However, such sheet material which has been 9 folded prior to being coiled is not usable in connection with conventional tape and paper dispensing apparatus of the type 11 under immediate consideration.

13 The application of the tape to the sheet material requires 14 great precision. Otherwise, the tape will adhere to more than one pleat of the folded sheet material rendering unfolding 16 impossible. Therefore, the application of the tape to the sheet 17 material has been limited to the manufacturing process where ¦ 18 exacting tolerances can be exercised. Accordingly, the ~asking 19 material ha~ been available only as pre-ta-ped rolls.
21 In addition to not being suita~le for use in connection 22 with tape and sheet material dispensing apparatus, other 23 deficiencies are readily apparent. Exemplary islthe fact that 24 the relatively thick masking tape is responsible for an j 25 enlargement at one end of the roll whi~h presents difficulty in ,~ 6 pack~ging and limitæ the length of material which can be 27 practically coiled. Since tape tends to deteriorate with time, , 28 shelf or storage life is limited. Further, utilizing a roll not ~: :

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supported by a dispensing apparatus is cumbersome and unwieldy to manipulate.
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE I~VENTION
The invention provides a roll of masking material having an axis, said roll of masking material comprising a coiled elongate thin flexible sheet having opposite first and second untaped elongate edges, and said roll of masking material having first and second axially spaced ends with said first end of said roll being defined by the first elongate edge of said sheet;
said roll of masking material being adaptecl to be used in combination with a tape roll comprising a coiled leng~h of tape having opposite first and second elongate edges and comprising a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive; and a dispensing apparatus comprising: a frame; first and second spindles mounted on the frame and having spaced generally parallel axes, the first spindle including means for receivlng the tape roll for rotation coaxially about the axis of the first spindle and for positionlng the first edge of the length of tape at a first predetermined position axially with respect to the first and second spindles, and the second spindle including means for receiving said roll of masking material for rotation coaxially about the axis of the second spindle and for positloning the first edge of the sheet at a ~econd predetermined position axially with respect to the first and second spindles with the width of the length of tape extending from the first posltion past the second position and the width of :.
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the masking material extending from the second position past the first position so that a portion of the length of tape along the f irst edge of the length of tape and a portion of the sheet along the first edge of the sheet are both positioned between the first and second positions; and path defining means defining a path for the length of tape from the tape roll and a path for said sheet from said roll of ma~king material, the pa~hs including a tape path portion for the tape from the tape roll to the periphery of ~., said roll of masking material and a common path portion beginning -:
along the periphery of said roll of masking material where, in . :
response to the tape and said masking material being pulled from . the dispensing apparatus, the pressure sensitive adhesive along :, : the first edge of the length of tape adheres to said portion of the sheet along the first edge of the sheet to form a tape and : sheet composite having opposite edges defined by the second edges of the length of tape and said sheet and an exposed portion of the ~ coating of pressure sensitive adhesive along the second edge of :
the length of tape; said coiled elongate thin flexible sheet ,~ having a longitudinally extending first fold at the second end of said roll of masking material and between said first and second :: edges of said sheet, said flrst fold defining a second edge of a :. first pleat-like portion of said sheet extending between said first fold and said first edge of said elongate sheet, said first :~ pleat-like portion having opposite inner and outer major surfaces i with said outer major surface being disposed radially outwardly on said roll of masking material with respect to said inner major ~3 `` surface, and said first fold defining a ~irst edge of a second ., ,, ~f ~ .

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pleat-like portion of said sheet extending from said flrst fold toward the first end of said roll of masking material along the inner major surface of said first pleat-like portion and having a second longitudinally extending edge adjacent the first end of said roll of masking material, said second longitudinally extending edge of said second pleat-like portion being spaced along said first pleat-like portion from said first edge of said .:
shee~ by a distance of at least abou~ 0.003 inch to restrict contact of the pressure sensi~ive adhesive on the tape with the : 10 second edge of said second pleat-like portion when the tape is adhered to the outer surface of the first pleat-like portion of the sheet on the roll of masking material, and no greater than about 0.312 inch so that the second pleat-like portion w:Lll help . to provide support radially of the roll of masking material for the first pleat-like portion of the sheet closely adjacent the first edge of the sheet to assure firm engagement of the pressure sensitive adhesive with the sheet adjacent said first edge as the ;. tape and sheet are pulled from the dispensin~ apparatus to form the tape and sheet composite.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the elongate sheet includes a plurality o~ spaced apart folds including a first fold nearest the first edge and a last fold nearest the second edge. The plurality of folds define a . ;, , - . . : , . :
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1 redoubled sheet including a pleat intermediate adjacent ones of 2 the plurality of folds, an initial pleat intermediate the first 3 edge of the first old and a terminal pleat intermediate the 4 last fold and second edge. The folds are in alternating directions wheraby respective sides of adjacent pleats lie in 6 substantial jux~aposition. Further, the plurality of folds are 7 periodically spaced whereby alternate ones are substantially 8 aligned in respective planes generally perpendicular to the axis 9 about which the redoubled sheet is coiled.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

3 The foregoing and further and more specific objects and 4 advantages of the instant invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed 6 description of preferred embodiments thereof taken in 7 conjunction with the drawings in which:

9 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a roll of coiled sheet lo material constructed in accordance with the teachings of the 11 instant invention as it would appear when being used in 12 connection with a conventional masking apparatus;

14 Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the inventive sheet material in greater detail;

18 Fig. 3A is a view generally corresponding to the view of 19 FigO 3 and showing the sheet material as it would initially appear after being applied to a surface to be masked.

22 Fig. 3B is a view generally corresponding to the view of 23 Pig~ 3A and showing the initial step of unfolding the material;

Fig. 3C is a view generally corresponding to the view o~
26 Fig. 3A and showing the material as it would appear during an 27 intermediate stage of being unfolded;

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1 Fig. 3D is a view generally corresponding to the view of 2 Fig. 3A showing the material as it would appear whe~ completely 3 unfolded and draped over the masked surface;

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`.~ 5 Fig. 4A is a view generally corresponding to the 6 illustration o~ Fig. 3A and showing an alternate embodiment 7 thereof;
, 8 9 Fig. 4B is a view-generally corresponding to the view o~
~ig. 4A and showing the initial step of unfolding the material;

-,~ 12 Fig. 4C is a view generally corresponding to the view of 13 Fig. 4A and showing the material as it would appear during an ls intermediate stage of being unfolded;
~, 15 16 Fig. 4D is a view generally corresponding to the view of ~; 17 Fig. 4A showing the material as it would appear when completely 18 unfolded and draped over the masked surface;
..,, , 19 ; ZO Fig. 5A is a view generally corresponding to the view of :! 21 Fig. 3A and showing yet another embodiment o~ the invention;
~'1 22 23 Fig. 5B is a view generally corresponding ~o the view of 24 Fig. 5A and showing ~he initial step of unfolding the material;
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1 Fig. 6 is a respective view of a coiled roll o~ sheet 2 material illustrating yet another embodiment incorporating the . 3 principals of the instant i~vention.
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~c ~ 329~74 3 Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference 4 characters indicate corresponding elements throughout tha several views, attention is fixst directed to Fig. 1 which ; 6 illustrates a masking apparatus, generally designated by the 7 reference character 10 for dispensing sheet material and 8 pressure sensiti~e adhesive. Herein chosen or purposes of 9 illustration as being o~ the portable or manually manipulatable type, masking apparatus 10 includes frame 12 having first holder 11 13, second holder 14 and handle 15. Holders 13 and 14, more 12 specifically, are in the Porm of rotatably mounted spindles Por 13 supporting a roll of coiled sheet and a roll of pressure 14 sensitive, respectively. Cutting blade 17 is also carried by frame 12. A roll of conventional masking tape is shown as being . 16 mounted upon second holder 14. .
`. 17 18 A roll of coiled sheet material, generally designated by 19 the reference character 20, having first end 22 and second end 23 and incorporating the principals of the instant invention is 21 carried by ~irst holder 13. It is noted that the width of roll 22 20, the distance between ends 22 and 23, generally corresponds i 23 with the length of cutter blade 17. Further details of roll Z0 24 will be discussed presentlyO
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26 As will be immediately understood and appreciated by those 27 skilled in the art, a ribbon of tape 2~ ~rom roll 18 extends 28 ovPr and is secured to roll 20. The ribbon of tape 2~ overlaps 11 :
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1 end 22 of roll 20. That is, that portion of the ribbon adjacent ~; 2 the inner edge is secured to the outer surface of roll 20 while 3 that portion of the tape adjacent the outboard edge remains free4 to be affixed to the surface to be masked. As the apparatus is -~ 5 moved in the direction indicated by the arrowed line A, the 6 masking material 20 and the tape 18 are progressively uncoiled 7 for continuous dispensing. The direction of uncoiling of roll 8 of tape 18 and of roll 20 are designated by the arrowed lines B
1 9 and C~ respectively. The exposed edge of ribbon 24 is -`~ 10 continuously af~ixed to the surface 25 either by manual pressure 11 or by applicator 27 integral with frame 12. When the desired ~ 12 length of material has been dispensed, blade 17 is employed toA~ 13 sever both the tape and the masking sheet.
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The foregoing brief description is specifically directed to 1 16 a masking apparatus of the type usually referred to as a hand - 17 held masking machine. The struc~ure and principals of operation - 18 are equally analogous to the stationary device commonly re~erred 19 to as an apron taper. The foregoing is set forth for purposes of orientation and reference in connection with the ensuing i 21 description. Details not specifically illustrated nor described ;~ 22 will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.
,., ;i 23 24 In the foregoing description, roll 20 was treated as a conventional prior art roll of masking sheet commonly used in 26 connection with machines vf the type. The conventional roll 27 consists of a single roll of paper having a sheet width 28 corresponding to the width of the roll. Accordingly, the area ` 12 . .

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f~ - 1 3291 74 l which can be masked also corresponds to the width of the roll.
It is a principal of the instant invention that the inventive ,:
- 3 sheet material is utilized as a conventional prior art roll . .
. 4 during the above described masking procedure.
~ 5 ; 6 With reference to Fig. 2, it is seen that the coiled sheet 7 material of roll 20 comprises an elongate sheet, generally 8 designated by the reference character 30, having first 9 longitudinal edge 32, second longitudinal edge 33 and first and ~.j, lO second sides 34 and 35, respectively. Sheet 30 is divided by a '~,' 11 plurality of folds which, for purposes of reference, may be 12 considered ~o be first folds 37 and second folds 38, into a :~ 13 plurality of pleats 39 residing intermediate adjacent ~olds. An .~ 14 initial pleat 40 resides intermediate first edge 32 and the "! 15 first of the first folds 37. A terminal pleat 42 resides ~ 16 intermediate the last of the second pleats 38 and second edge `., 17 33.
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lg Each of the first folds 3~ are made in a direction which i~
.,~ 20 opposite to the direction of each of the second folds 38.
21 Accordingly, respect~ve sides of the adjacent pleats lie in 22 juxtaposition. That is, side 35 of initial pleat 34 is adjacent , 23 side 35 of the second pleat. Similarly, sid~ 341 o~ the second :, 24 pleat is adjacent side 34 of the third pleat. A terminal ;~ 25 portion 43 of initial plsat 40 adjacent first edge 32 projects ., ::~ 26 beyond the second folds 38.
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f `- ~ 32gl 74 1 The several folds and pleats define a redoubled sheet which 2 is coiled into roll 20 in a direction such that first side 34 of 3 initial pleat 40 is continuously presented as the outer surface.
4 Accordingly, ~he ribbon of tape 2~ is continuously applied to side 34 of terminal portion 43 durlng dispensing. Particularly 6 noted in the instant illustration, is ~:he fact ~hat a portion of 7 the rihbon 24 is secured to the side 34 of sheet 30 while a portion of the ribbon 24 is free to be affixed to the surface to 9 be masked. It is also noted, that in accordance with the immediately preferred embodiment, each of the first folds 37 are 11 aligned in a plane which is generally perpendicular to the axis 12 about which the redoubled sheet is coiled. Similarly, each of 13 the second folds 38 are aligned in a second plane which is also 14 perpendicular to the axis about which the redoubled sheet is coiled.

17 The thickness of the pleats seen in Fig. 2 is greatly 18 exaggerated for purposes of illus~ration. Preferably, sheet 30 19 is fabricated of a relatively thin, plastic ilm. The thickness of the ~ilm is in the range of .0002 inches to ~0400 inches, 21 while the generally preferred thickne~s is .0004 inches.

23 As clearly illustrated in Fig. ~, ~erminal~portion 43 is 24 cantilevered. That is, the terminal portion o one coil of roll 20 is separated from the terminal portion of the succeedinq coil 26 by the thickness o~ the intervening pleats. For proper receipt 27 of the tape, terminal portion 43 must be provided with at least 28 minimal support ~s is obvious, the support of the terminal . ` , . :~

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~: : f; ~ ~ ! 1 3 ~, 1 portion i5 inversely proportioned to the width. For this 2 reason, the maximum prefarred width of terminal portion 43 is 3 .312 inches. The minimum width can be anything greater than o 4 for reasons which will be explained presently. A range of .063 to .188 has found to have performed most satisfactorily.
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, 7 After being applied to surface 25 by tape 24, redoubled `,'A, 8 sheet 30 will appear as generally illustrated in Fig. 3A. For 9 clarity of illustration, the plea~s have been slightly expanded lo and the length of terminal portion 43 exaggeratecl. It being 11 understood that in actuality, the surface 25 and the several 12 pleats will lie in close juxtaposition. The number of ~olds and 13 pleats in sheet 30 are selected such that the ends 32 and 33 i 14 extend in opposite directions. Further noted is the fact that ,! 15 terminal pleat 42 and second end 33 lie adjacent surface 25.

17 The unfolding and draping procedure is begunt a~ viewed in 18 Fig. 3B, by urginy terminal pleat 42 in the directioll of arrowed 19 line D. During actual use, terminal pleat 42 is grasped by the user proximate edge 33 and pulled in the indicated direction.
21 In response to continued pulling, each successive fold is 22 unfolded as seen in Fig. 3C~ The pulling and unfolding $ 23 continuous until, as viewed in Fig. 3D, thel sheet 30 is ;24 completely unfolded and draped over the sur~ace to be masked.

'"t 26 It is noted that during the procedure described in 27 connection with Figs. 3~ - 3D, each of the second folds 38 were 28 readily free to move. That is, none were inadvertently secured ! 15 :i ,:~

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: . ~if~ 3 2 9 1 7 4 1 under ~he ribbon of pressure sensitive adhesive tape 24. This 2 is attributed to tha fact that terminal portion 43 projects ~ 3 beyond any sacond fold 38. It has been determined that the `' 4 minimal width of terminal portion 43 may be any dimension . 5 greater than 0.000 inches. A suggested minimal measurement is 6 0.003 inches.
~l 7 The number o~ folds and pleats in a given sheet o~ masking 9 material is selectively variable. With reerence to Fig. 4A
~X 10 there is seen an alternate embodiment of the invention including 11 sheet 50 having first edge 52, second edge 53, first side 54 and 12 second side 55. Sheet 50 is divided by first folds 57 and 13 second folds 58 into a plurality of pleats 59. Initial pleat 60 extends between first edge 52 and the first of the first folds , 15 57. A terminal pleat 62 extends between the last of the first :~ 16 pleats and the second edge 53. Also included iæ a terminal :1 17 portion 63 carried by initial pleat 60 adjacent first edge 52 , 18 and projecting beyond the seff-ond folds 58.

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7 20 Sheet 50 is redoubled by a number of fold~ and pleats 21 selected such that first end 52 and second end 63 extend in the 22 same direction. In all other aspects not specifically ` 23 described, sheet 50 is analogous to sheet 30. , Again, in general similarity to the previously described 26 embodiment, the unfolding of sheet 50 is initiated by drawing f27 the terminal pleat 62 in a direction away ~rom tape 24 as 28 indicated by ~he arrowed line E. The un~olding procedure ~-.
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1 continuous until the sheet 50 is substantially straightened to 2 lie over the surface 25 as seen in Fig. 4D.

4 Referring now to Fig. 5A there is seen yet another embodiment of the invention including an elongate sheet, 6 generally designated by the reference character 70, having first 7 longitudinal edge 72, second longitudinal edge 73, first side 74 8 and second side 75. In contrast to ~he previously described 9 embodiments, sheet 70 is divided by a single fold 77 into a ~irst plea~ 78 and a second pleat 79. Fold 77 is turned in a 11 direction such that first side 75 of first pleat 78 lies in 12 juxtaposition with second side 75 of second pleat 79. Terminal 13 portion 80 carried by first pleat 78 projects beyond second edge 14 73.

16 The sheet 70 is unfolded over surface 25 in a ~anner 17 generally analogous to the previously described embodiments as 18 seen in Fig. 5B.
', 19 The elongate sheets described in connection with the 21 several embodiments of the invention are fabricated of a 22 flexible, fluid impervious material. Especially preferred is a 23 thermal plastic resin such as polyethylene, polypropyl~ne or 24 polyester. The embodiments may also ~e fabricated of conventional materials such as paper products. The light 26 transmisslon o~ the sev~ral materials is readily variable in 27 accordance with the user's desires. The material may be opaque, 28 translucent or transparent. The transparent and opaque `' : ' ' ' , . ' `' ''` `, ' ~

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1 materials provide for light transmission whereby, for example, a 2 large surface having windows or lighting fixtures, may be - 3 continuously masked without substantially diminishing 4 illumination within a room or other enclos2lre. Opaque or translucent material provides a readi:Ly visible indication that 6 an area has been masked.
8 Referring to Fig. 6 there is seen a roll of coiled sheet, ! 9 embodyin~ ~he principals of the instant invention a.s ~' 10 specifically set forth in the foregoing detailed description, 11 having indicia 92 printed thereon. The indicîa may be of any ` 12 selected wordage and in any predetermined pattern. The indicia 13 may be selected to convey a particular message such as "wet 14 paint~, the manufacturer's logo or other designation. When used in combination with transparent sheet material, the indicia 16 serves as a readily visible indicator that an area has been ., 17 masked.

~-` 19 Various changes and modifications to the embodiments herein for purpose of illustration will readily occur to those skilled 21 in the art. To the extent that such modifications and 22 variations do not depart from the spirit from the invention, 23 they are intended to be included within the scope thereof which 24 is limited only by a fair assessment of the following claims.

26 Having fully described and disclosed the present in~ention 27 and alternately pre~erred embodiments thereof in such clear and , , : :' ' ' ' ., . ;; ` :
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. concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to practice and understanù the same, the invention claimed is:

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A roll of masking material having an axis, said roll of masking material comprising a coiled elongate thin flexible sheet having opposite first and second untaped elongate edges, and said roll of masking material having first and second axially spaced ends with said first end of said roll being defined by the first elongate edge of said sheet;
said roll of masking material being adapted to be used in combination with a tape roll comprising a coiled length of tape having opposite first and second elongate edges and comprising a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive; and a dispensing apparatus comprising: a frame;
first and second spindles mounted on the frame and having spaced generally parallel axes, the first spindle including means for receiving the tape roll for rotation coaxially about the axis of the first spindle and for positioning the first edge of the length of tape at a first predetermined position axially with respect to the first and second spindles, and the second spindle including means for receiving said roll of masking material for rotation coaxially about the axis of the second spindle and for positioning the first edge of the sheet at a second predetermined position axially with respect to the first and second spindles with the width of the length of tape extending from the first position past the second position and the width of the masking material extending from the second position past the first position so that a portion of the length of tape along the first edge of the length of tape and a portion of the sheet along the first edge of the sheet are both positioned between the first and second positions; and path defining means defining a path for the length of tape from the tape roll and a path for said sheet from said roll of masking material, the paths including a tape path portion for the tape from the tape roll to the periphery of said roll of masking material and a common path portion beginning along the periphery of said roll of masking material where, in response to the tape and said masking material being pulled from the dispensing apparatus, the pressure sensitive adhesive along the first edge of the length of tape adheres to said portion of the sheet along the first edge of the sheet to form a tape and sheet composite having opposite edges defined by the second edges of the length of tape and said sheet and an exposed portion of the coating of pressure sensitive adhesive along the second edge of the length of tape;
said coiled elongate thin flexible sheet having a longitudinally extending first fold at the second end of said roll of masking material and between said first and second edges of said sheet, said first fold defining a second edge of a first pleat-like portion of said sheet extending between said first fold and said first edge of said elongate sheet, said first pleat-like portion having opposite inner and outer major surfaces with said outer major surface being disposed radially outwardly on said roll of masking material with respect to said inner major surface, and said first fold defining a first edge of a second pleat like portion of said sheet extending from said first fold toward the first end of said roll of masking material along the inner major surface of said first pleat-like portion and having a second longitudinally extending edge adjacent the first end of said roll of masking material, said second longitudinally extending edge of said second pleat-like portion being spaced along said first pleat-like portion from said first edge of said sheet by a distance of at least about 0.003 inch to restrict contact of the pressure sensitive adhesive on the tape with the second edge of said second pleat-like portion when the tape is adhered to the outer surface of the first pleat-like portion of the sheet on the roll of masking material, and no greater than about 0.312 inch so that the second pleat-like portion will help to provide support radially of the roll of masking material for the first pleat-like portion of the sheet closely adjacent the first edge of the sheet to assure firm engagement of the pressure sensitive adhesive with the sheet adjacent said first edge as the tape and sheet are pulled from the dispensing apparatus to form the tape and sheet composite.

2. A roll of masking material according to claim 1, wherein said second longitudinally extending edge of said second pleat-like portion is defined by the second edge of said sheet.

3. A roll of masking material according to claim 1, wherein said coiled elongate sheet has a plurality of longitudinally extending folds including said first fold and a second fold at the second longitudinally extending edge of said second pleat-like portion, said folds defining a plurality of pleat-like portions of said sheet disposed radially inwardly of said roll of masking material from the inner major surface of said first pleat-like portion and having longitudinally extending generally radially aligned edges adjacent the first end of said roll of masking material and spaced from said first edge of said sheet by a distance in the range of 0.063 to 0.188 inch.

4. A roll of masking material according to claim 3, wherein said coiled elongate sheet has four longitudinally extending folds including said first fold and a second fold at the second longitudinally extending edge of said second pleat-like portion, said folds defining four pleat-like portions of said sheet disposed radially inwardly of said roll of masking material from the inner major surface of said first pleat-like portion and having longitudinally extending generally radially aligned edges adjacent the first end of said roll of masking material.

5. A roll of masking material according to claim 1 wherein said elongate sheet is of polymeric material and has a thickness of about 0.0004 inch.

6. In combination, a roll of masking material having an axis, said roll of masking material comprising a coiled elongate thin flexible sheet having opposite first and second untaped elongate edges, and said roll of masking material having first and second axially spaced ends with said first end of said roll being defined by the first elongate edge of said sheet;
a tape roll comprising a coiled length of tape having first and second elongate edges and comprising a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive; and a dispensing apparatus comprising:
a frame;
first and second spindles mounted on said frame and having spaced generally parallel axes, said first spindle including means for receiving said tape roll for rotation coaxially about the axis of the first spindle and for positioning the first edge of the length of tape at a first predetermined position axially with respect to said first and second spindles, and said second spindle including means for receiving said roll of masking material for rotation coaxially about the axis of the second spindle and for positioning the first edge of the sheet at a second predetermined position axially with respect to said first and second spindles with the width of said length of tape extending from the first position past the second position and the width of the masking material extending from the second position past the first position so that a portion of the length of tape along the first edge of the length of tape and a portion of the sheet along the first edge of the sheet are both positioned between said first and second positions; and path defining means defining a path for said length of tape from said tape roll and a path for said sheet from said roll of masking material, said paths including a tape path portion for said tape from said tape roll to the periphery of said roll of masking material and a common path portion beginning along the periphery of said roll of masking material where, in response to the tape and said masking material being pulled from the dispensing apparatus, the pressure sensitive adhesive along the first edge of the length of tape adheres to said portion of the sheet along the first edge of the sheet to form a tape and sheet composite having opposite edges defined by the second edges of the length of tape and the sheet and an exposed portion of the coating of pressure sensitive adhesive along the second edge of the length of tape;
said coiled elongate sheet having a longitudinally extending first fold at the second end of said roll of masking material and between said first and second edges of said sheet, said first fold defining a second edge of a first pleat-like portion of said sheet extending between said first fold and said first edge of said elongate sheet, said first pleat-like portion having opposite inner and outer major surfaces with said outer major surface being disposed radially outwardly on said roll of masking material with respect to said inner major surface, and said first fold defining a first edge of a second pleat-like portion of said sheet extending from said first fold toward the first end of said roll of masking material along the inner major surface of said first pleat-like portion and having a second longitudinally extending edge adjacent the first end of said roll of masking material, said second longitudinally extending edge of said second pleat-like portion being spaced along said first pleat-like portion from said first edge of said sheet by a distance of at least about 0.003 inch to restrict contact of the pressure sensitive adhesive on the tape with the second edge of said second pleat-like portion when the tape is adhered to the outer surface of the first pleat-like portion of the sheet on the roll of masking material, and by a distance of no greater than about 0.312 inch so that the second pleat-like portion will provide support radially of the roll of masking material for the first pleat-like portion of the sheet closely adjacent the first edge of the sheet to assure firm engagement of the pressure sensitive adhesive with the sheet adjacent said first edge as the tape and sheet are pulled from the dispensing apparatus to form the tape and sheet composite.

7. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said second longitudinally extending edge of said second pleat-like portion is defined by the second edge of said sheet.

8. A combination according to claim 6, wherein said coiled elongate sheet has a plurality of longitudinally extending folds including said first fold and a second fold at the second longitudinally extending edge of said second pleat-like portion, said folds defining a plurality of pleat-like portions of said sheet disposed radially inwardly of said roll of masking material from the inner major surface of said first pleat-like portion and having longitudinally extending generally radially aligned edges adjacent the first end of said roll of masking material and spaced from said first edge of said sheet by a distance in the range of 0.063 to 0.188 inch.

9. A combination according to claim 8, wherein said coiled elongate sheet has four longitudinally extending folds including said first fold and a second fold at the second longitudinally extending edge of said second pleat-like portion, said folds defining four pleat-like portions of said sheet disposed radially inwardly of said roll of masking material from the inner major surface of said first pleat-like portion and having longitudinally extending generally radially aligned edges adjacent the first end of said roll of masking material.

10. A combination according to claim 6 wherein said elongate sheet is of polymeric material and has a thickness of about 0.0004 inch.

11. A combination according to claim 6 wherein said dispensing apparatus is portable, and said frame includes a handle adapted for manual engagement to manipulate said dispensing apparatus.