GB2361654A

GB2361654A - Choosing paint colours

Info

Publication number: GB2361654A
Application number: GB0010228A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Daryll Guy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-04-28
Filing date: 2000-04-28
Publication date: 2001-10-31
Also published as: GB0010228D0

Abstract

A swatch (10) for a range of different coloured paints, comprising a thin sheet (12) of material, at least a substantial part of (and preferably substantially the whole of) one side of the sheet being substantially the same colour as one of the different coloured paints once applied and dried, and at least part of the other side of the sheet being adhesive so that the sheet can be affixed to a surface to be painted. Preferably, said colour extends over an area of at least 50 cm<SP>2</SP>. Accordingly, when the sheet is affixed to the surface to be painted, it can give a better impression of the end result than a traditional colour card. Use of the swatch is not messy, and the swatch provides an instantaneous impression.

Description

2361654 TITLE Choosing Paint Colours

DESCRIPTION

This invention relates to the choosing of paint colours.

Paint colour cards are commonly freely available from paint retailers to assist a potential purchaser in choosing a colour of paint. Each manufacturer's colour card typically bears an array of small, different coloured patches, each about 20 mm x 10 mm in area, and each corresponding to a particular coloured paint in the range of paints produced by that manufacturer. Such colour cards are useful if there is a need to select a colour of paint to match the colour of an existing painted surface. However, these colour cards have their limitations when selecting a new colour, particularly for an expansive surface, such as a wall of a room. All too often, the impression given by the small area of colour on the colour card is different to the impression given by the surface once painted. A decision then needs to be made whether to put up with the result, or to choose a different colour and incur additional work and expense in re-painting the surface.

To deal with this problem, some paint manufacturers also make available small sample pots of their different paints, often with a brush incorporated into the pot lid. A part of the area is to be painted can then be painted with the sample paint so as to give a better impression of the end result. However, sample pots have their drawbacks, namely: they are relatively expensive to produce; they can be messy; the sample area needs to be left to dry because paints usually change their colour slightly as they dry, and so the result is not instantaneous; once the sample area is painted, it is then necessary to repaint (or paper) the whole wall, even if it is decided not to change its colour; and, if a different colour is subsequently chosen, it may be necessary to apply more paint than normal so as to obliterate the area of sample paint. Also, sample paints are only available for emulsion paints.

The present invention relates more particularly to a swatch, to a range of different coloured paints in combination with a collection of swatches, and to a method of painting a surface, and the invention aims to deal with the problems discussed above associated with traditional colour cards and sample pots.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a swatch for a range of different coloured paints, comprising a thin sheet of material, at least a substantial part of (and preferably substantially the whole of) one side of the sheet being substantially the same colour as one of the different coloured paints once applied and dried, and at least part of the other side of the sheet being adhesive so that the sheet can be affixed to a surface to be painted. Preferably, said colour extends over an area of at least 50 cm2, and more preferably over an area of at least 100 cm2.

Accordingly, when the sheet is affixed to the surface to be painted, it can give a better impression of the end result than a traditional colour card. The production cost of the swatch is likely to be only a fraction of the production cost of a sample pot of paint. Use of the swatch is not messy, and the swatch provides an instantaneous impression.

Preferably, the adhesive part is covered with a layer which can be peeled off to expose the adhesive part. Preferably, the adhesive part is such that, once affixed to a painted surface, it can easily be released therefrorn. Therefore the swatch, or a whole series of them, can be used without leaving a mark on the surface to be painted.

Preferably, the coloured part of the swatch has a lustre which substantially matches the lustre produced by the paint once applied and dried, such as gloss, matt, silk, satin or eggshell.

Preferably, the sheet is marked with an indication of the paint to which it relates (e.g. name, number or bar code), so that once a decision is made on the basis of the swatch or swatches as to which colour to use, selection of the corresponding paint is facilitated.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a range of different coloured paints, in combination with a collection of swatches according to the first aspect of the invention, each swatch corresponding to a respective one of the paints.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of painting a surface, comprising the steps of: selecting one of the swatches of the combination according to the second aspect of the invention; affixing said other side of the selected swatch to the surface to be painted; deciding whether or not the colour of the selected swatch is acceptable; removing the swatch from the surface; and if the colour of the selected swatch is acceptable, selecting the paint corresponding to the swatch and painting the surface with the selected paint.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a paint swatch according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a rear view of the paint swatch of Figure 1 with a part of its protective sheet peeled away; Figure 3 is a rear view of a paint swatch according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a rear view of a paint swatch according to a third embodiment of the invention; and Figure 5 is a front view of a paint swatch according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a paint swatch 10 comprises a square sheet 12 of paper, card or plastics materials. The whole of the front face of the sheet 12, except for a small rectangular is region 14 near the bottom of the sheet 12, is coloured so as to match the colour and lustre of a particular paint in a range provided by a paint manufacturer. The colour may be applied by painting the sheet 12 with the actual paint, or by printing the sheet 12 so as to simulate the colour and lustre of the particular paint. The region 14 contains an identification 15 of the particular paint by way of a reference code andlor the name of the paint andlor a bar code. The name of the paint manufacturer may also be included.

Referring to Figure 2, the whole of the rear surface of the sheet 12, except for its marginal edges, is covered with a layer 16 of adhesive. The adhesive layer 16 is, in turn, covered with a protective sheet 18 which is larger in area than the adhesive lower 16 but smaller in area than the sheet 12. The adhesive layer 16 is such that it adheres firmly to the sheet 12, such that the protective sheet 18 can easily be peeled off, and such that the swatch 10 can be readily adhered by the adhesive layer 16 to a painted wall or to wallpaper with a low tack, so that the swatch 10 including the adhesive layer 16 can subsequently easily be removed from the wall or wallpaper without damage. Suitable forms of adhesive will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

In use, a collection of such swatches 10 are provided in a paint retailer's shop corresponding to the different coloured paints on sale. A person wishing to choose a paint for painting, say, a wall, selects the swatches 10 corresponding to the colours of paint which the person is considering using to paint the wall. The person then removes the protective sheets 18 from the rear of the swatches 10 and applies the adhesive layers 16 to the wall. The person can then choose which colour they like best. The swatches 10 can then readily be removed from the wall, and the person can purchase the paint corresponding to the chosen swatch 10, with reference to the identification 15 in the region 14 on the chosen swatch 10.

Preferably, the area of the sheet 12 is not so small that it fails to give a good impression of the colour of the paint on the wall, and is not so large as to make the swatches 10 too costly. The size of the sheet is preferably at least 75 min x 75 mm, giving an area of about 56 cm, and is more preferably about 100 nun x 100 mm, giving an area of about 100 em?. If the person is unsure of the colour, they can apply an array of identical swatches 10 to the wall to obtain a better impression of the end result.

The second embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 3, differs from the first embodiment show in Figures 1 and 2 in the following respects. First, the adhesive layer 16 is provided only towards the upper edge of the sheet 12, and the protective sheet 18 is of correspondingly smaller size. Second, the identity 15 of the corresponding paint is printed on the rear of the sheet 12 in addition to, or instead of, being printed on the front of the sheet 12.

The third embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 4, differs from the first or second embodiment in that the identity 15 of the corresponding paint is printed directly onto the colour on the front of the sheet 12.

The fourth embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 5, differs from the other embodiments in that the coloured sheet 12, protective sheet 18 and adhesive layer 16 all have the same area. However, a square 20 is die cut into the coloured sheet 12 and adhesive layer 16, so that the coloured sheet 12 and adhesive layer 16 except from their marginal edges can be peeled away from the protective sheet 18.

In addition to their use in choosing paint colours, the swatches described above may also be used for a permanent decorative effect.

It should be noted that the embodiments of the invention has been described above purely by way of example and that many modifications and developments may be made thereto within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A swatch for a range of different coloured paints, comprising a thin sheet of material, at least a substantial part of one side of the sheet being substantially the same colour as one of the different coloured paints once applied and dried, and at least part of the other side of the sheet being adhesive so that the sheet can be affixed to a surface to be painted.

2. A swatch as claimed in claim 1, wherein substantially the whole of said one side of the sheet is said colour.

3. A swatch as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said colour extends over an area of at least 50 cm2.

4. A swatch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said colour extends over an area of at least 100 cm2.

5. A swatch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the coloured part has a lustre which substantially matches the lustre produced by the paint once applied and dried.

6. A swatch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sheet is marked with an indication of the paint to which it relates.

7. A swatch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive part is covered with a layer which can be peeled off to expose the adhesive part.

8. A swatch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the adhesive part is such that, once affixed to a painted surface, it can easily be released therefrom.

9. A swatch substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

10. A range of different coloured paints, in combination with a collection of swatches as claimed in any preceding claim, each swatch corresponding to a respective one of the paints.

11. A method of painting a surface, comprising the steps of: selecting one of the swatches of the combination as claimed in claim 10; affixing said other side of the selected swatch to the surface to be painted; deciding whether or not the colour of the selected swatch is acceptable; 25 removing the swatch from the surface; and if the colour of the selected swatch is acceptable, selecting the paint corresponding to the swatch and painting the surface with the selected paint.

12. A method of painting a surface, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.