GB2089688A

GB2089688A - Paint spraying guide and shield

Info

Publication number: GB2089688A
Application number: GB8138583A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-12-22
Filing date: 1981-12-22
Publication date: 1982-06-30
Also published as: AU8031182A; DE3150579A1; IT8125719A0

Abstract

A paint spraying guide (10) is provided for spray guns (16), the guide being pivotally attached to the gun adjacent nozzle (18) and serving to guide the gun and hence the paint spray in relation to a line (50), e.g. a base of trim (52), on the surface (48) being painted. The guide (110) may include a paint shield (109) [Figure 4] to prevent paint being sprayed onto the trim (152). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Paint spraying guide The present invention relates generally to a guide for use in painting and, more particularly, it relates to a guide for use in conjunction with spray guns which are adapted to atomize the spray paint.

Very often in the painting industry it is necessary to paint along a line, which is generally a straight line, so that another colour paint can be utilized on the other side of the line. For instance, in the painting of an ordinary room, more than one and possibly a variety of colours could be used. The ceiling of the room may be a different colour than the walls, a wall may be a different colour than an adjacent wall, the moulding may be a different colour than the surface on which it is placed. Thus, it is evident that in merely painting an ordinary room where more than one colour is desired, much more care and effort is required than would be the case where only a single colour is used. One of the oldest methods of painting still in use is the method of applying paint by means of a brush.As nearly everyone familiar with painting knows, painting by means of a brush is both tedious and time consuming. But, it is also a method by which one can paint trim, moulding, corners, etc.

where more than one colour of paint is used.

Another method of painting is by means of a roller.

Although painting with rollers is quicker than by brush, brushes are usually still needed for corner work, mouldings, etc. Because of the time consumed in painting by brush or in touching up after painting by roller, the use of a brush in painting is not favoured by professionals who require methods of paint application where a large volume of paint is applied to a surface as quickly as possible. One such method of painting is spraying the paint onto the surface to be painted.

In paint spraying, the painter directs a spray of paint onto the surface by means of what is known as a spray gun, the paint being held in a container either attached to the spray gun or connected to it by means of a flexible pipe. Most commonly in the painting of building interiors and exteriors, the liquid paint is caused to be atomized and sprayed onto the work by either causing the stream of paint to come into contact with a jet of compressed air, such as air, or by causing the paint to exit a nozzle under high pressure. In the case of paint spraying by means of compressed air, the stream of air exits the spray nozzle coaxially around the paint stream and the vacuum created thereby atomizes the paint. Cross jets of compressed air cause the atomized paint to form a fan spray.In the case of hydraulic paint spraying, the paint upon leaving the nozzle is atomized because of a sudden decrease in pressure and a fan spray results. Paint spraying has thus become a method by which painting professionals and painting contractors can effectively and efficiently paint large areas of work, such as buildings and walls. However, unlike painting with a brush or a roller, it is not possible to spray paint along a defined line without spraying over the line. The edges of the paint spray are feathered, meaning that less paint appears on the edges than in the central portion of the spray. Also, there is the problem of overspray which occurs because some of the particles of atomized paint on the fringers of the fan spray break away from the main body of the spray and are carried some distance from the direction of the fan spray.

In order to spray paint a surface that requires different colours, say between adjacent walls, the ceiling and the walls, mouldings, or whatever, it is unnecessary to cause the paint spray to contact only the surface of the work to be painted along and up the line to be painted. Heretofore, in order to accomplish this, it has been necessary to mask the work along the defined line with removable tape or use a hand held piece which is held along the defined line to act as a shield. Each of these methods effectively protects and shields the covered area from the spray of paint. However, such methods cause inefficiency in the painting operation because of the time consumed in the masking procedures and in the additional manpower required in holding the shield for the painting operator.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a guide for use with paint spraying equipment which is attached to the spray gun at or near the spray tip or nozzle and which serves to guide the spray gun along a defined line such as a door jamb, window trim, etc.

The present invention is a paint spraying guide for use with a spray gun adapted for spraying paint onto a surface, said surface having thereon a defined line dividing said surface into separate painting surfaces, said guide comprising means for attaching said guide to said spray gun, a portion extending forward of said spray gun from said attaching means, and a guiding edge provided on said forward extending portion, said edge being adapted for abutting engagement with said defined line to thereby permit guiding said spray gun in relation to said defined line and spray painting one of said printing surfaces.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the paint spraying guide according to the present invention together with its attachment means; Figure 2 is a side view of the paint spraying guide of Figure 1 in a painting operation; Figure 3 is a plan view of the paint spraying guide shown in operation in Figure 2 taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of the paint spraying guide according to the present invention shown in operation; Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of the paint spraying guide shown in Figure 4 together with its attachment means;; Figure 6 is a side view of the embodiment of the paint spraying guide shown in Figure4taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 4; Figure 7 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the paint spraying guide according to the present invention; and Figure 8 is a front view of the embodiment of the paint spraying guide shown in Figure 7 taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Figure 1 a paint spraying guide, generally designated 10, which may be secured for pivotal movementto a spray tip guard 12. Guard 12 is attached, by retaining nut 14, to spray gun 16, a portion only of which is shown in Figure 2. Although guide 10 may be utilized with air operated or hydraulically operated paint spraying systems, the system as described herein is a hydraulically operated system wherein the paint is maintained under high pressure and exits the spray gun in a high velocity stream. For this reason a spray tip guard, such as that designated 12 herein, is generally provided in hydraulically operated systems so that the operator is prevented from injecting paint into his body.Also, for the purpose of the present application, guide 10 will be described in connection with an adjustable hydraulic spray tip, designated 18, which is the subject of my earlier United States Patents numbered 3,936,002,4,126,272 and 4,220,286. Guard 12 may be formed having two opposing arms, generally designated 20 and 22, with a slot 24 provided in one arm, in this case arm 20, forthe purpose of accommodating the adjusting knob 26 of spray tip 18. This arrangement has the effect of positioning the arms, 20 and 22, of guard 12 so that the fan of spray 28 issuing from spray opening 30 of spray tip 18 substantially bisects the angle established between arms 20 and 22 which do not therefore interfere with the spray of paint 28.Guard 12 may be formed of any suitable material although plastic has been found to be preferable because it is inexpensive and easily formed into the desired shape.

Guide 10 may be secured to arm 22 of guard 12 by means of nut 32 and screw 34, which passes through hole 36 in guide 10. This arrangement provides for pivotal movement of guide 10 in a plane substantially parallel to the fan of spray 28, as seen in Figure 3 where the movement of guide 10 is shown in phantom and indicated by the arrows. As clearly seen in Figure 1, guide 10 is provided with a forward extending portion, designated 37, having two sub stantially parallel side edges, 38 and 40, which extend forward of spray gun 16 to leading edge 42 sufficiently such that the high velocity stream of paint issuing from spray opening 30 of spray tip 18 forms fan spray 28.The forward extending portion 37 of guide 10 may be bifurcated as shown in Figures 1 and 3, having arms 44 and 46 defined by side edges 38 and 40 and leading edge 42 or it may be of one piece construction having side edges 38 and 40 and leading edge 42. The guide 10 may be formed of any suitable material but again, as in the case of guard 12, plastic has been found to be preferable.

Figures 2 and 3 depict the operation of guide 10.

As indicated above, it may be necessary to spray paint a surface adjacent a defined line without also painting over the line. Thus, in Figures 2 and 3 the surface to be painted is designated 48 and the defined line is designated 50. Line 50 is defined by the moulding ortrim 52 which is not to be painted.

Thus, the operator adjusts the pivotally mounted guide 10 such that the appropriate side edge, in this case edge 38, abuts the trim edge 54 of trim 52 thereby guiding the spray gun 16 so that the paint spray 28 applies a coating of paint, designated 56, onto the surface 48 only up to the line 50. An advantage to using guide 10 with the adjustable spray tip 18 is in the simplified procedure of adjusting the fan spray 28 to coincide with the line 50 without the need for exactly positioning guide 10 with respect to the fan spray. Once the operator has properly adjusted the guide 10 and, if provided, the adjustable spray tip 18, he may apply a coating of paint 56 on surface 48 without also causing paint to spray onto the trim 52. The identical procedure, only in reverse, is used when the trim 42 and surface 48 are reversed from that shown in the drawings.Thus, edge 40 would be positioned in abutting relationship with trim edge 54 such that the coating of paint 56 is applied to surface 48.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 depict another embodiment of the paint spraying guide of Figures 1,2 and 3 and similar numerals will be utilized to indicate similar elements therein. Guide 110, in addition to serving as a device for guiding spray gun 116, also serves as a shield to prevent paint from coating the moulding ortrim 152. Thus, guide 110 has a shield portion, generally designated 109, which is laterally offset from spray gun 116 and generally perpendicular to the fan of paint spray 128. Shield portion 109 extends from forward extending portion 137 which is attached by means of screw 134 and nut 132 to arm 122 of guard 112. Leading edge 142 of shield 109 extends sufficiently forward of spray gun 116 such that the high velocity stream of paint issuing from spray opening 130 of spray tip 118 forms the fan spray 128, as clearly seen in Figure 4.Guiding edge 138 of forward extending portion 137 of guide 110 abuts trim edge 154 of trim 152 to thereby serve as a guiding edge for the spray gun 116 while shielded portion 109 prevents paintfrom being applied to trim 152.

In operation, as seen in Figures 4 and 6, it may be desired to spray a coat of paint 156 onto surface 148 up to but not beyond the line 150, which is defined by the joining of trim edge 154 of trim 152 with surface 148. The operator places the guiding edge 138 of guide 110 abutting trim edge 154 such that leading edge 142 is adjacent to the defined line 150.

Thus, shield portion 109 is between spray tip 118 of spray gun 116 and trim 152. The operator then pivotally adjusts the guide 110 such that the spray 128 just touches the shield 109 adjacent leading edge 142, as clearly seen in Figure 4, or, if an adjustable spray tip is utilized, the operator need not bother too greatly with the positioning of the guide 110 but rather he can adjust the fan spray 128. The resulting effect of spray painting while using guide 110 is to apply a coat of paint 156 to the surface 148 without getting any paint whatsoever, even over spray, on an adjacent wall or piece of moulding or trim. Only a surface to be painted falling on one side of a defined line has been discussed; if a surface on the other side of the line is to be painted then a mirror image guide 110 must be utilized.

The embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8 is identical to that described in connection with Figures 4, 5 and 6 with the additional feature of being utilized in spray painting on both sides of a defined line.

Thus, guide 210 is symmetrical about its pivotal connection, defined by the attachment hole 236, to the guard or spray gun (not shown). The leading edge 242 has a mirror image opposing edge 242' as does the guiding edge 238 have a mirror image edge 238'. Each of the edges 238 and 238' can be used as the guiding edge for the spray gun by merely rotating the guide 210 one hundred eighty degrees about its pivot defined by the hole 236.

Claims

1. A paint spraying guide for use with a spray gun adapted for spraying paint onto a surface, said surface having thereon a defined line dividing said surface into separate painting surfaces, said guide comprising means for attaching said guide to said spray gun, a portion extending forward of said spray gun from said attaching means, and a guiding edge provided on said forward extending portion, said edge being adapted for abutting engagement with said defined line to thereby permit guiding said spray gun in relation to said defined line and spray painting one of said painting surfaces.

2. A paint spraying guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the forward extending portion of said guide has a length such that the paint issuing from said spray gun forms a fan spray within said length.

3. A paint spraying guide as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for attaching said guide to said spray gun is such as to permit pivotal movement of said guide in a plane substantially parallel to and offset from said fan spray.

4. A paint spraying guide as claimed in claim 3, wherein the guiding edge of said forward extending portion is perpendicular to the plane defined by the pivotal movement of said guide.

5. A paint spraying guide as claimed in claim 4, wherein said forward extending portion is provided with a second guiding edge parallel to and on the opposite side of said forward extending portion from said first guiding edge.

6. A paint spraying guide as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fan of the spray issuing from said spray gun is adjustable to thereby permit the spraying of paint onto one of said separate painting surfaces up to said defined line when said spray gun is being guided thereon by the guiding edge of said guide.

7. A paint spraying guide as claimed in claim 6, wherein said forward extending portion further comprises a shield portion extending from said guiding edge, laterally offset from said spray gun and generally perpendicularto said fan spray whereby paint being sprayed by said spray gun is prevented from going laterally beyond said shield portion and over said defined line.

8. A paint spraying guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spray gun is provided with a spray tip guard to which said guide is attached.

9. A paint spraying guide as claimed in claim 4, wherein said forward extending portion further comprises a shield portion extending from said guiding edge, laterally offset from said spray gun and generally perpendicular to said fan spray whereby paint being sprayed by said spray gun is prevented from going laterally beyond said shield and over said defined line.

10. A paint spraying guide as claimed in claim 5, wherein the forward extending portion of said guide has a width such that the opposing parallel guiding edges thereof are laterally offset on each side of said spray gun.

11. A paint spraying guide for use with a spray gun having a spray tip guard thereon, said spray gun being adapted for adjustably spraying paint onto a surface having a defined line dividing said surface into separate painting surfaces, said guide comprising means for pivotally attaching said guide to the spray tip guard of said spray gun whereby said guide is pivotally movable in a plane substantially parallel to and offset from the fan spray issuing from said spray gun, a portion extending forward from said attachment means having a length such that the paint issuing from said spray gun forms a fan spray within said length, a first guiding edge provided on said forward extending portion perpendicular to the plane defined by the pivotal movement of said guide and laterally offset from said spray gun, and a second guiding edge provided on said forward extending portion parallel to and opposite from said first guiding edge, said second guiding edge being laterally offset from said spray gun on the side thereof opposite said first guiding edge.

12. A paint spraying guide for use with a spray gun having a spray tip guard thereon, said spray gun being adapted for adjustably spraying paint onto a surface having a defined line dividing said surface into separate painting surfaces, said guide comprising means for pivotally attaching said guide to the spray tip guard of said spray gun whereby said guide is pivotally movable in a plane substantially parallel to and offset from the fan spray issuing from said spray gun, a portion extending forward from said attachment means having a length such that the paint issuing from said spray gun forms a fan spray within said length, a guiding edge provided on said forward extending portion perpendicular to the plane defined by the pivotal movement of said guide and laterally offset from said spray gun, and a shield portion extending from said guiding edge perpendicular to the plane defined by the pivotal movement of said guide, whereby paint being sprayed by said spray gun is prevented from going laterally beyond said shield and guiding edge and over said defined line when said guiding edge is positioned in abutting relationship with said defined line.

13. A paint spraying guide as claimed in claim 12, which further comprises a second guiding edge from which said shield portion also extends and which is positioned opposite said first guiding edge symmetrically about said attaching means, whereby said guide may be pivotally moved through one hundred eighty degrees to provide a guiding edge and shield portion for spray painting the painting surface on the other side of said defined line.

14. A paint spraying guide for use with a spray gun substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.