US2295128A - Stenciling mask - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1942. c. RADTKE Er). 2,295,128

STENCILING MASK Original Filed Oct. 1'7, "1938 Y INVENTORS c///;e4 58 E40 7165 #4710? Y SEA 1. MAN

Patented Sept. 8, 1942 UNETED ST tics STENCILING MASK Charles Radtke, West New York, and Henry Bellman, Wood-Ridge, N. J., assignors to Lorr Laboratories, Paterson, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus employed in stenciling articles for decorative purposes and has particular reference to a mask adapted for application to an article while the latter is having a coloring substance or the like sprayed thereon, the present application being a division of a copending application Serial No. 235,438, filed October 17, 1938.

More specifically, the present mask is adapted for the application of vari-colored liquid fingernail polishes or lacquers to parts of bottle stoppers each shaped to simulate a finger-nail, said part on each stopper to be sprayed with a liquid colored the same as that to be enclosed in the container so that prospective purchasers may determine the color or tint of the contents of said container by observance of the nail simulation on the stopper thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved mask of simple and practical construction in which means are provided for accurately mounting the mask on an article, such as a bottle stopper or closure, preparatory to stenciling the same and for securely retaining said mask in proper position during the stenciling operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide guiding means on a stenciling mask and on an article to which the mask is to be applied, whereby the mask will be accurately guided into place on the article.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions one of which, for purposes of illustration, is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an apparatus, such as shown in the above identified application, showing the masks in position for spraying.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation showing a container and its closure or stopper in position on a supporting member of the apparatus and in which liquid is to be sprayed on to a portion of said closure.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a portion of said supporting member showing a mask in position thereon and ready to receive the closure of a container.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the mask constructed in accordance with the present invention, and

Figure 6 is an elevation of the container and its closure in an upright position after application of liquid to a defined area of said closure.

The spraying apparatus partially shown in Fig. 1, and illustrated in more detail in said copending application, briefly comprises a frame I2 upon which is rotatably mounted a sectional supporting ring 19 provided with a series of openings 22 each having its lower end reduced to form a supporting flange 23. Each of said openings is adapted. to receive the closure 8 of a container 9 in its inverted position preparatory to the spraying operation. One or more spraying devices 29 of any conventional construction are employed to spray a liquid, such as a nail polish, onto the exposed areas [0 of the closures 9 as they are rotated by the ring l9. To prevent excess diffusion of the spray and fumes therefrom, a suction head 30, connected to a fan (not shown), may be arranged in opposed relation to each of the sprayers 29.

In order that liquid directed toward the closure 8 will be sprayed only upon the area In, there is provided a. mask 24 shaped substantially to conform to the contour of the closure 8 and adapted to fit over the same when said closure is inserted into an opening 22 in one of the supporting sections I9. At the open end of the mask 24 the same is provided with a laterally extending annular flange 25 which rests upon the flange 23 within the opening 22 so as to support the mask in its normal inverted position, as best shown in Figure 3. The mask is provided in the body portion thereof with an opening 26 shaped similarly to the offset portion of the area In so that said portion will be exposed through said opening when the closure 8 is introduced into the mask. Opposed to the opening 26 in the mask there is also provided a slot 21 which extends through the flange 25 and which is adapted to receive an elongated key 28 projecting from a surface of the closure 8 diametrically opposite the area Ill. When the key 28 is inserted into the slot 21 the area I0 is registered with the opening 26 in the mask and said key and slot cooperate to prevent any turning movement of the closure 8 relative to the mask which might otherwise expose a portion of the closure 8 not intended to be sprayed with the liquid.

The convenience of this construction will be apparent. An operator loading the frame [9 with the containers 9 need merely insert the end portion of the closure 8 thereof into one of the openings 22 and turn it therein until the key 28 thereof enters the slot 21 of the mask, after which a downward push will serve to seat the closure 8 within the mask in its correct position, with only the offset portion l0 exposed. It will be observed that the operator may rely entirely on feel, instead of on vision, once the end of the enclosure 8 is inserted into the opening, because the closure 8 cannot be seated in the mask until the key 28 engages the slot 21, which engagement is accomplished by the feel of the operator. Thereafter the key 28 automatically guides the closure accurately and unfailingly into its seat in the mask.

What is claimed is:

A mask for shielding portions of anarticle to be decorated, said article being of generally cylindrical contour and having a first offset portion thereon to which color is to be applied and further having a second portion offset from the surface thereof, said second offset portion being in the form of a key extending axially of the article, said mask being generally in the form of a cup closed at one end having its inner surface contoured to closely engage the surface of the article, and having an opening in the wall thereof provided with edge portions in close registration with the edge portions of said first offset portion so as to expose said offset portion while shielding the portions contiguous thereto, and

said mask having a second opening in the walls thereof, said second opening being in the form of a slot in close registration with said key and extending to the rim of the mask, the edges of said slot being in close registration with the sides of said key, and said key and slot being positioned so as to interengage before the mask assumes its final positionon the article, whereby on insert- -ing the end of said article into the mask and manipulating it so that the end of the key enters the slot, on further manipulation the article will be guided accurately into its correct final position in the mask.

CHARLES RAD'I'KE. HENRY BELLMAN.

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