GB2579236A

GB2579236A - Improvements in surface protection shields and masking covers used during painting

Info

Publication number: GB2579236A
Application number: GB1819270.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rowlands Peter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-11-27
Filing date: 2018-11-27
Publication date: 2020-06-17
Also published as: GB201819270D0

Abstract

There is a surface masking shield for multiple applications when covering subjects 5E during painting, with a planar surface 7E having folding sections to form applicable shapes. Scored edges and folding sections provide adaptable full covering and means to attach the shields to the subjects. Smaller shield sections 46, 47 may be linked together via means of tabs 26 and tab holes 25 which may also accommodate fixtures such as fencing bolts. The shields may be suitable for masking fence posts, gravel boards or drain pipes.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION

OF

PETER ROWLANDS

FOR

IMPROVEMENTS IN SURFACE PROTECTION SHIELDS AND MASKING COVERS

USED DURING PAINTING

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the masking or covering of surfaces during painting, to include but not exclusively; fencing and their surrounding fixtures.

Background

The use of a cover or masking device to prevent paint or wood stain from splashing and marking unwanted areas during painting is known.

Common ways to do this include the use of a masking tape which comes on a reel and can be applied to edges where two planar or similar surfaces meet, to prevent paint or stain from marking a section which does not require painting. An example of this would be when painting a skirting board and the unwanted marking of the carpet.

This type of masking has extended to other areas of the home including external applications. These include more ridged devices which are hand held and shield the surfaces, to be moved along during the painting process and cleaned after use.

When painting an external fence, a person does not normally want wood stain splashing onto the vertical posts of the fence or the gravel boards which seat below the wooden panels. Therefore a user may take a piece of wood ply or cardboard in a narrowed rectangle, for example, and hold it over the posts and boards as a 'shield' to prevent marking them. This piece is then moved along as they paint.

The problems with this are the discomfort of use because the person is having to hold it throughout and it will certainly not always be the correct size or shape to fit into corners or tight areas, leaving them exposed.

Various attempts have been made to provide a solution to these types of paint masking problems and these can be seen in the prior art.

This is shown in patent GB2477524 (PALMER) which discloses a fence paint guard unit that can be mounted on the fence to shield an adjacent property from paint splashes when painting or spraying, the guard being movable along the top of the fence during the painting. Ideally the guard unit is made of a rigid board 1 supported by shaped brackets 2 which fit onto the top of a wooden fence. The brackets 2 may have bolts and wina-nuts facilitate the paint guard/ mask being secured to the fence once it is mounted onto the fence top. Additionally, compression springs or interchangeable rubber dampers may be provided on the bolts to accommodate for different fence thicknesses. The guard unit may alternatively be made as a single-unit from a sheet of corrugated plastic (figure 3) with adjustable folding sides 11 having cut-outs 10 that fit the top of a fence. The integral unit ideally has fold-lines.

Patent US 9649652 (ZIMMERMAN) discloses a paint shield which includes an arcuate portion terminating in a first edge and an elongated portion comprising a first section and a second section, the first section disposed at an angle from the second section, the first section positioned between the arcuate portion and the second section, the second section terminating in a second edge.

Patent US 4193375 (LIGHTFOOT) discloses an elongate floor protecting door painting shield that may be removably secured to a wood door under the lower horizontal edge surface thereof to define two elongate areas on each side of the door to receive spilled paint and prevent the latter defacing the floor surface over which the door is disposed. The shield is preferably formed from a resilient sheet material, and the resiliency of this sheet material being used to maintain the shield in place on the door as the latter is pivoted during a painting operation.

Patent GB 2278073 (MORRIS) discloses a painting shield which is provided having parallel spaced apart bend lines 16, 17 one adjacent a side edge, to enable skirtings 11 to be painted whilst protecting floor coverings 18. In addition the opposite side edge may have a detachable strip 12 applied with adhesive for separate use in painting window frames. The bend lines may be in the form of creases or perforations. The shield may be formed as a continuous roll and bendable transversely for painting stair skirting (20, Fig. 4). The strip 12 is detachable by means of perforations 14.

Patent US4085703 (GLOWACKI) discloses an extremely versatile spray painting shield which includes a flat reinforcing member attached to an elongate handle. The shield permits a painter or his assistant to properly support the shield while keeping his arms and hands out of the spray pattern. The reinforcing member is attached to rotate relative one end of the handle. A spring clip mounted on the reinforcing member is used to hold large flat shields, many of which are disposable, for preventing paint from falling on selected areas. The flat shields may be cut or combined to conform with the perimeter of protected items, and the reinforcing member may convenient!y include a metal edge used for scraping or occasional brush work.

Patent CA1171273 (IZZO) discloses a door knob shield for use in painting a door; the tool is composed of an elongate handle having a skirt coaxially arranged and secured to one end of said handle; the skirt which has an open end is sized to be positioned over a door knob with the terminal end of the skirt positioned in abutting relation to a door with the skirt jacketing the door knob nested within the skirt so that the zone of the door about the door knob may be painted rapidly without masking tape to avoid the problem of partially painting the door knob base.

The prior art therefore shows a need for a more effective delivery of a painting shield for external use on fencing areas but also application to other locations around the home; such as covering drainpipes, is required. The disclosed information shows that an improved method which is more adaptable is also needed when compared to those cited previously.

The present invention aims to provide an improved paint shielding method which can be adapted to suit various usages externally and possibly internally.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a planar plastic or cardboard paint shield which takes varied forms to provide masking to differing areas.

The shield may come in single lengths, as shown covering the fence post in Figure 1, for example, and also other sections which cover areas such as gravel boards, as shown in Figure 4.

These planar shield sections are shaped similar to subjects areas onto which they are to be used but can adapt using scoring and folding sections. The scoring is shown in Figure 1, for example, where the vertical body of the shield for a fence post has long vertical scored lines forming folding edges. These scored areas will arrive as a single flat rectangle and be easily bent and shaped to wrap around the fence post, as shown in the accompanying Figures.

One particular folding edge which is the culminating edge vertically to each side of the shield, is a narrow section which holds the shield onto the post, as it folds behind the recess in the 'H' profile of the concrete post. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Thus the scoring lines and edges provide the ability for the shield to be stored flat and then form a shield shape when folded, as shown.

The method of the planar shield is repeated in a shape to cover the gravel boards which seat under the wooden fence panels. These include a frontal surface and folding edges, using the scoring lines method, to fold edges to form flaps to push under the wooden fence bottom rail. As shown in the accompanying Figures.

The use of folding edges and scored shaping of shield panels is repeated with the added advantage of smaller linked sections. These offer the alternative to have the full length shield in a shorter section by section method, to enable them to adapt to any surface length and size and be cut to suit. The examples shown in Figures 6 and 9 are able to attach to each other using uniformly spaced tab holes which have semi-circular lift up tabs which slide into the adjacent hole therefore. These tabs and tab holes are shown as close up views in Figure 7 and 8.

The use of holes in this way also allows for any structure bolts on the fencing posts to pass through when the shields are applied onto the fence post. This is shown in Figure 12.

The use of linkable shield sections with frontal and side tabs and tab holes is therefore unlimited and so is the linking of these sections and the sections being of any origin size.

The use of these single part of linked smaller sections extend to any location where paint is not wanted to contact with a particular surface, including using a length to wrap around drain pipes as shown.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such; those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception:, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology; to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application; which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scooe of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved surface masking shield for painting which has all the advantages of the prior art protective methods and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new surface masking shield for painting which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved surface masking shield for painting which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved surface masking shield for painting which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour; and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a product available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved surface masking shield for painting which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of figures

Figure 1 shows a dimensional view of the surface masking shield being applied to a vertical fence post.

Figure 2 shows a dimensional view of the surface masking shield being applied to a vertical fence post, in a further advanced stage of application.

Figure 3 shows a dimensional view of the surface masking shield fully installed on a vertical fence post.

Figure 4 shows a dimensional view of the surface masking shield being installed onto a gravel board on a fencing ensemble.

Figure 5 shows a dimensional view of the surface masking shield being installed onto a further gravel board on a fencing ensemble.

Figure 6 shows a dimensional view of the surface masking shield in smaller linkable sections being applied to a vertical fence post.

Figure 7 shows the hole and tab attachment method provided on the smaller linkable sections of the surface masking shield.

Figure 8 shows the hole and tab attachment method fully inserted together.

Figure 9 shows a vertical fence post fully covered by linked sections of the smaller shield sections.

Figure 10 shows a vertical fence post and gravel boards fully covered by:inked sections of the smaller shield sections.

Figure 11 shows a vertical drain pipe being covered by a surface masking shield.

Figure 12 shows bolts end on a fence passing through the holes provided on the surface masking shields.

Detailed description of figures

A typical embodiment of the surface masking shield is shown in Figure 1. It comprises a frontal surface 7 with folding edges 9 and 10 forming side sections 1 and 2.

Side sections 1 and 2 have folding edges 11 and 12 forming holding tabs 3 and 4, with lower tab ends 13 and 14.

The holding tabs have final edges 6 and 8. The surface masking shield is applied to the vertical fence post 5.

Figure 2 shows the frontal surface 7A contacting with the vertical surface of the fence post 5A. The side sections 1A and 2A are further folded around the fence post 5A to its sides, as shown, with holding tabs 3A and 4A folding behind the fence post 5A.

Figure 3 shows the surface masking shield fully installed on the fence post 5B, with the side sections 1B and 2B; the frontal surface 7B and holding tabs 3B and 4B all fully installed.

The fence panels 15 are installed into the post 5B and the lower gravel boards 16 and 17 are also in place.

Figure 4 shows the top rail 18 of the fence 15C inserted into the fence post. Surface masking shields 19 and 20 are shown being installed to cover gravel boards 16C and 17C.

Figure 5 shows surface masking shields 19D and 21D being applied to gravel boards, with 16D showing. The frontal surface 7D is also shown on the post application of the shield.

These surface masking shields have thinner top folded edges 45, to accommodate gravel boards which are almost fully level with the bottom rail of the fence panel. Vertical fence panels are shown in this figure.

Figure 6 shows smaller shield sections 46 and 47 which has a frontal surface 7E and can be linked together by way of tab 26 and tab hole 25 interlocking. The linking of smaller shield sections 46 and 47 creates an overlap 28 of the two smaller shield sections, as shown. The smaller sections also have multiple side tabs; for example, 23 and 36.

The fence post 5E can be covered down to the bottom 27, if further smaller shield sections are linked together.

Figure 7 shows the tab 26 being inserted into tab hole 25F, tab 26 has been pressed out to form tab hole 29 thereto.

Tab 24 has been pressed out to reveal tab hole 25F.

Figure 8 shows these as a multiple, side by side with tab holes 25G, tabs 24G raised out and tab holes 29G.

Figure 9 shows the fence post 5H covered in smaller shield sections, 47, 46, 31, 33 and overlaps of 35, 28, 30, 32 and 34.

The last shield 33 has been cut to a shorter length to fit the post. As posts will vary in height any shield can be cut to size.

Figure 10 shows the fence post 51 fully covered by smaller shield sections linked together. The fence panel 151 and top rail 181 are installed.

Smaller shield sections 191 and 211 are installed and linked with overlap 37.

Figure 11 shows a drainpipe 39 which is covered by a surface masking shield comprising of folding sections 38, 41, 42 and 42, which wrap around the drainpipe.

Figure 12 shows the aforementioned fence post bolts 44 being accommodated by lifting tabs 24J.

Claims

Claims 1) A surface masking shield for multiple application; with a planar surface having folding sections to form applicable shapes; via means of scored edges, smaller shield sections may be linked via means of tab and tab holes, together defining a surface masking shield system for use when painting.
2) A surface masking shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the masking shield has folding sections to enable it to hold onto subjects.
3) A surface masking shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein, a planar surface and folding sections cover the subject.
4) A surface masking shied as claimed in claim 1 wherein, all masking shields are shaped to fit various subjects.
5) A surface masking shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein, all masking shield can be adaptively cut to size and shape.
6) A surface masking shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein, tabs are pre-cut in the masking shield surface.
7) A surface masking shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein, tab holes are created when a tab is pressed out or raised.
8) A surface masking shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein, tabs are inserted into tab holes to hold smaller shield sections together.
9) A surface masking shield as claimed in claim 1 wherein, tab holes allow fence post bolts to pass through.
10) A surface masking shield according to any preceding claim including varied shaped sections for all surface coverings including fence posts, gravel boards, drain pipes.
11) A surface masking shield as substantially herein described with reference to the figures.