GB2426943A

GB2426943A - Applicator assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2426943A
Application number: GB0511525A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Constantine
Original assignee: Flock Dev and Res Co Ltd
Current assignee: Flock Dev and Res Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-06-07
Filing date: 2005-06-07
Publication date: 2006-12-13
Also published as: GB0511525D0

Abstract

An applicator assembly (10) for applying coating materials such as paint to a substrate (26) includes a pad (11) which in use contacts the substrate(26) and a guide formation (60). In use, the guide formation (60) contacts a side surface (28) which adjoins or is adjacent to the substrate (26) to guide movement of the pad (11) against the side surface (28).

Description

ADrIicator Assembly The present invention relates to an applicator

assembly, particularly but not exclusively an applicator assembly for applying a coating material such as paint to a substrate.

The use of applicator assemblies such as paint pads is well known for applying coating materials such as paint to substrates such as internal wall surfaces. Conventionally the shape of such paint pads is rectangular, which shape allows the paint pad to be aligned against and moved along an adjoining surface, and also allows use of the paint pad into corners where three surfaces meet.

It has been found that the painting of the edges of a surface takes up a relatively large proportion of the time taken in painting the whole surface. The rectangular shape of the paint pad suffers a number of disadvantages when painting the edge of a substrate alongside an adjoining surface. When one side of the paint pad is aligned and in contact with the adjoining surface, then the length of the one side in contact causes a relatively high frictional drag on the motion of the paint pad. If the side of the paint pad is slightly out of alignment with the adjoining surface, then it is likely that one of the corners of the paint pad will catch on the adjoining surface, causing damage to the paint pad and snagging the motion of the paint pad. This is particularly likely if the adjoining surface is uneven or irregular.

According to the present invention, there is provided an applicator assembly for applying a coating material such as paint to a substrate, the assembly including a pad which in use contacts the substrate and a guide formation which in use contacts a side surface which adjoins or is adjacent to the substrate to guide movement of the pad against the side surface.

Preferably, the guide formation extends from the pad and may be formed as part of the pad.

Preferably the assembly includes a pair of guide formations, which may extend from opposite sides of the pad.

Preferably, the pad includes a perimeter. Preferably, the or each guide formation forms part of the perimeter.

Preferably, the perimeter includes one or more vertices.

Preferably, the or each guide formation is arranged to permit presentation of the pad against the side surface within a predetermined range of orientations.

Preferably, within the range of orientations, the perimeter is presented against the side surface without contact between the side surface and the or any of the vertices of the perimeter.

Preferably, the pad is substantially planar.

Preferably, the or each guide formation is in the form of a convex curved part of the perimeter. Preferably, the convex curved part has a length of at least 20mm, and more preferably has a length of between 40mm and 120mm. Preferably, the convex curved part is in the form of an arc of a circle having a radius of at least 25mm. Preferably, the convex curved part is in the form of an arc of a circle having a radius of between 75 and 175mm, and more preferably a radius of between 115mm and 135mm.

Preferably, the perimeter includes a plurality of edges, and the convex curved part may form part or all of one of the edges.

Preferably, the perimeter includes a pair of spaced substantially parallel edges, which may extend between the one edge and an opposite edge. Preferably, the parallel edges are of substantially the same length, and may be shorter than the one edge.

Preferably, the one edge includes a concave curved part, which may extend from the convex curved part. Preferably, the concave curved part is in the form of an arc of a circle having a radius substantially similar to or greater than that of the convex curved part.

Preferably, a first vertex is formed by one of the parallel edges and the one edge, which may be substantially at 90 to each other. Preferably, a second vertex is formed by the said one of the parallel edges and the other edge, which may be substantially at 900 to each other.

Preferably, the pad is symmetrical about an axis, which may be the longitudinal axis.

Preferably, the pad includes a contact face, which in use contacts the substrate and which may have a perimeter of substantially similar size and shape as the pad perimeter.

Preferably, the contact face is formed by a pile layer, which may be resiliently deformable. Preferably, the pile layer is mounted to a resiliently deformable backing layer, which may have a perimeter of substantially similar size and shape as the pad perimeter. Preferably, the backing layer is mounted to a relatively stiff backing member, which may have a perimeter of substantially similar shape as the pad perimeter. Preferably, the perimeter of the backing member is smaller than the perimeter of the pad to permit deformation of the perimeter of the pad against the side surface.

Preferably, the assembly includes stiffening means to stiffen the backing layer. Preferably, the stiffening means is in the form of a pair of spaced substantially parallel flanges, which may extend along the backing member.

Preferably, the assembly includes mounting means for mounting a handle. Preferably, the mounting means include a support plate, which may be receivable between the flanges and the backing member, and may be adjustably receivable, and may be removably receivable. Preferably, the mounting means include a mounting on which the handle is mountable.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an applicator assembly in use; and Fig. 2 is a schematic view in plan of part of the applicator assembly of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows an applicator assembly 10, the assembly 10 including a pad 11 and a handle assembly 19.

The pad 11 includes a relatively stiff, substantially planar backing member 12, a relatively soft, resiliently deformable, substantially planar backing layer 14 which is bonded to the underside in use of the backing member 12, and a pile layer 16 which is bonded to the underside in use of the backing layer 14. The pile layer 16 comprises a plurality of pile fibres.

The pad 11 includes a pair of spaced, elongate, substantially parallel flanges 18 extending along the upper surface in use of the backing member 12. Each flange 18 comprises a first portion extending upwardly in use from the backing member 12 and a second portion extending from the first portion, the second portions extending inwardly towards each other. The flanges 18 form stiffening means to stiffen the backing member 12.

The handle assembly 19 includes mounting means including a substantially planar handle support plate 20 which locates between the flanges 18 and the backing member 12. The mounting means include a handle mounting 22 which extends from the support plate 20 and which mounts a handle 24. The handle support plate 20 is substantially square in plan, so that the handle 20 can be positioned in any one of four positions relative to the pad 11.

The mounting 22 could include a pivot to permit angular adjustment of the handle 24 relative to the plane of the backing member 12, and could include locking means for locking the handle 24 in position.

The backing member 12 and flanges 18 are integrally formed of a relatively stiff plastics material. Similarly, the handle support plate 20 and handle mounting 22 are integrally formed of a plastics material. The handle support plate 20 is arranged to be a tight but movable fit between the flanges 18 and the backing member 12, permitting sliding movement of the handle 24 along the flanges 18, and disengagement of the handle support plate 20 from between the flanges 18 and the backing member 12 by sliding out of an open end of the flanges 18.

The relatively soft backing layer 14 could be formed of a foam plastics material.

The pile layer 16 forms a substantially planar contact face 17 having a perimeter 54. The backing layer 14 has a perimeter 56 of substantially the same size and shape as the face perimeter 54.

The backing member 12 has a perimeter 58 of substantially the same shape but slightly smaller than the backing layer perimeter 56 and the face perimeter 54, so that the pad 11 has a relatively soft, resiliently deformable perimeter 30 formed by the contact face perimeter 54 and the backing layer perimeter 56. The backing member perimeter 58 is set back from the pad perimeter 30 along the whole length of the pad perimeter 30 to form a compressible perimeter border 62. In one example, the perimeter border 62 could be approximately 5mm in width.

Fig. 2 shows the outline of the shape of the pad 11 in plan. The perimeter 30 of the pad 11 includes an outer edge 36 and an inner edge 38, the terms "inner" and "outer" being relative to a side surface 28. First and second substantially parallel edges 32, 34 extend between the outer edge 36 and the inner edge 38. The inner and outer edges 36, 38 are symmetrical about a longitudinal axis 50 of the pad 11, and thus for the sake of brevity only one of the edges 36, 38 will be described in detail.

The outer edge 36 includes a guide formation 60, the guide formation including a first convex curved part 40 and a second convex curved part 42. The first convex curved part 40 extends from a vertex 51 formed with the first parallel edge 32, outwardly from the longitudinal axis 50 to a point of outward extremity 48. The second convex curved part 42 then extends inwardly towards the longitudinal axis 50.

The outer edge 36 includes a concave curved part 44 which extends from the second convex curved part 42 to a straight part 46, which extends from the concave curved part 44 to the second parallel edge 34.

The straight part 46 extends substantially in parallel with the longitudinal axis 50, so that the straight part 46 forms a substantially 900 vertex 52 with the second parallel edge 34.

In one example, the parallel edges 32, 34 are approximately 60 - 70mm in length, and the length of the pad 11 along the longitudinal axis 50 is approximately 140- 150mm. The first convex curved part 40 has a length of approximately 55 - 60mm and the second convex curved part 42 has a length of approximately 35 - 40mm. The concave curved part has a length of approximately 30 - 35mm and the straight part 46 has a length of approximately 15 - 20mm. Each of the curved parts 40, 42, 44 is in the form of an arc of a circle having a radius of approximately 120mm.

The applicator assembly 10 is used in a conventional manner when painting a substrate 26 such as an internal wall which is free of obstructions.

The user grips the handle 24 and dips the pile layer 16 into a reservoir of paint to load the pile layer 16 with paint. The applicator assembly 10 is then applied to the substrate 26 so that the pile layer 16 contacts and sweeps across the substrate 26, transferring paint from the pile layer 16 to the substrate 26.

In Figs. 1 and 2, paint is being applied in the vicinity of a side surface 28 which adjoins or is adjacent to the substrate 26 and adjacent the applicator assembly 10. An example of such a side surface 28 could be where the substrate 26 is a wall, and the side surface 28 is formed by an adjoining wall.

Alternatively, the side surface 28 could be formed by any obstruction protruding from the substrate 26 such as electrical fiftings, skirting boards, pelmets, cornices, picture rails etc. In the vicinity of the side surface 28, the user moves the applicator assembly across the substrate 26 until either the first curved part 40 or the second curved part 42 contacts the side surface 28. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the contact between the applicator assembly 10 and the side surface 28 is at the outward extremity 48 of the perimeter 30, and the longitudinal axis 50 is substantially parallel with the side surface 28.

However, the first and second convex curved parts 40, 42 allow the applicator 10 to be presented against the side surface 28 with the longitudinal axis 50 aligned within a predetermined range of orientations to the side surface 28. The range of orientations is determined by the sizes and shapes of the first and second curved parts 40, 42 and the sizes and shapes of the concave curved part 44 and straight part 46.

Within the range of orientations, the user can present the applicator assembly 10 to the side surface 28 without the risk of one of the vertices 51, 52 contacting and snagging the side surface 28 and damaging the pad 11.

As the user moves the applicator 10 along the side surface 28 as indicated by double headed arrow A-A, the first and second convex curved parts 40, 42 provide a lead into the contact point or area between the pad 11 and the side surface 28, easing the movement of the applicator assembly 10 along the side surface 28.

The user can hold the pad 1 1 against the side surface 28 with a degree of pressure, so that the relatively soft backing layer 14 and the pile layer 16 are deformed against the side surface 28, so that any unevenness in the side surface 28 is accommodated.

The contact point or area between the applicator assembly 10 and the side surface 28 is relatively small in comparison with the total length of one of the edges of the pad 11, thus reducing the frictional drag of the side surface 28 on the movement of the assembly 10 in comparison with conventional rectangular pads.

The relatively large curvature of the first and second convex curved parts 40, 42 ensures that a sufficient area of pile layer 16 passes over the substrate 10 in the vicinity of the side surface 28 to ensure that a sufficiently thick layer of paint is applied.

As the user moves the applicator assembly 10 along the side surface 28 as shown by the double headed arrow A-A, the user can vary the alignment of the pad 11 relative to the side surface 28 within the range of orientations, as shown in Fig 2 by arrows BB. In one example, the pad 11 as shown in Fig. 2 could be rotated anticlockwise through an oblique angle 64 of approximately 20 - 25 and clockwise through an oblique angle 66 of approximately 5 - 10 . The clockwise oblique angle 62 is smaller because the edges 36, 38 are not symmetrical about the outward extremity 48.

Within the range of orientations, the "feel" of the applicator assembly against the side surface 28 will remain substantially constant even if the alignment of the applicator assembly 10 relative to the side surface 28 varies.

The straight parts 46 of the outer and inner edges 36, 38 permit use of the applicator assembly 10 to apply paint into corners between three surfaces by deformation of the perimeter border 62 of the pad 11 at one of the vertices 52.

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The pad 11 could have a shape which is different to that shown and described above, and could be provided in a range of different sizes. For instance, the perimeter 30 could include only one convex curved part. Alternatively, the perimeter 30 could be in the form of a single curved edge.

The curved parts could have different lengths. For example the convex curved part could have a length of at least 20mm, and more preferably a length of between 40 and 120mm. The curved parts could be in the form of arcs of circles of different radiuses. For example, the convex curved part could be in the form of an arc of a circle having a radius of between 75 and 175mm, and more preferably a radius of between 115 and 135mm.

The backing member, backing layer and pile layer could be formed of any suitable material. The arrangement of the handle assembly and the mounting of the handle assembly to the backing member could be different.

There is thus provided an applicator assembly with a number of advantages over known arrangements. The assembly can be applied to the edge of a substrate against a side surface, with less care and more rapidly than hitherto, since the applicator assembly is tolerant of a range of alignments relative to the side surface. The risk of damage to the pad is reduced and the movement of the applicator along the side surface is easier since the frictional drag of the side surface on the pad is reduced.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. An applicator assembly for applying a coating material such as paint to a substrate, the assembly including a pad which in use contacts the substrate and a guide formation which in use contacts a side surface which adjoins or is adjacent to the substrate to guide movement of the pad against the side surface.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, in which the guide formation extends from the pad.

3. An assembly according to claims 1 or 2, in which the guide formation is formed as part of the pad.

4. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the assembly includes a pair of guide formations.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, in which the pair of guide formations extend from opposite sides of the pad.

6. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the pad includes a perimeter, and the or each guide formation forms part of the perimeter.

7. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the or each guide formation is arranged to permit presentation of the pad against the side surface within a predetermined range of orientations.

8. An assembly according to claim 7 when dependent on claim 6, in which the perimeter includes one or more vertices, and within the range of orientations, the perimeter is presented against the side surface without contact between the side surface and the or any of the vertices of the perimeter.

9. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the pad is substantially planar.

10. An assembly according to claim 6 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the or each guide formation is in the form of a convex curved part of the perimeter.

11. An assembly according to claim 10, in which the convex curved part has a length of at least 20mm.

12. An assembly according to claim 11, in which the convex curved part has a length of between 40mm and 120mm.

13. An assembly according to any of claims 10 to 12, in which the convex curved part is in the form of an arc of a circle having a radius of at least 25mm.

14. An assembly according to claim 13, in which the convex curved part is in the form of an arc of a circle having a radius of between 75 and 175mm.

15. An assembly according to claim 14, in which theconvex curved part is a radius of between 115mm and 15mm.

16. An assembly according to any of claims 10 to 15, in which the perimeter includes a plurality of edges, and the convex curved part forms part or all of one of the edges.

17. An assembly according to claim 16, in which the one edge includes a concave curved part.

18. An assembly according to claim 17, in which the concave curved part extends from the convex curved part.

19. An assembly according to claims 17 or 18, in which the concave curved part is in the form of an arc of a circle having a radius substantially similar to or greater than that of the convex curved part.

20. An assembly according to any of claims 16 to 19, in which the 1 0 perimeter includes a pair of spaced substantially parallel edges, which extend between the one edge and an opposite edge.

21. An assembly according to claim 20, in which a first vertex is formed by one of the parallel edges and the one edge.

22. An assembly according to claims 20 or 21, in which a second vertex is formed by the said one of the parallel edges and the other edge,

23. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the pad is symmetrical about an axis.

24. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the pad includes a contact face, which in use contacts the substrate.

25. An assembly according to claim 24 when dependent on claim 6 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the contact face has a perimeter of substantially similar size and shape as the pad perimeter.

26. An assembly according to claims 24 or 25, in which the contact face is formed by a pile layer, which is resiliently deformabJe.

27. An assembly according to claim 26, in which the pile layer is mounted to a resiliently deformable backing layer, which has a perimeter of substantially similar size and shape as the pad perimeter.

28. An assembly according to claim 27, in which the backing layer is mounted to a relatively stiff backing member, which has a perimeter of substantially similar shape as the pad perimeter.

29. An assembly according to claim 28, in which the perimeter of the 1 0 backing member is smaller than the perimeter of the pad to permit deformation of the perimeter of the pad against the side surface.

30. An assembly according to claims 28 or 29, in which the assembly includes stiffening means to stiffen the backing member.

31. An assembly according to claim 30, in which the stiffening means is in the form of a pair of spaced substantially parallel flanges, which extend along the backing member.

32. An assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the assembly includes mounting means for mounting a handle.

33. An assembly according to claim 32, in which the mounting means include a support plate, which is receivable between the flanges and the backing member.

34. A the assembly according to claims 32 or 33, in which the support plate is adjustably receivable.

35. An assembly according to any of claims 32 to 34, in which the support plate is removably receivable.

36. An assembly according to any of claims 32 to 35, in which the mounting means include a mounting on which the handle is mountable.

37. An applicator assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

38. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.