US2673918A

US2673918A - Electric wallpaper remover

Info

Publication number: US2673918A
Application number: US245396A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jerral E Lawton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-09-06
Filing date: 1951-09-06
Publication date: 1954-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 1971-03-30

Description

March 30, 1954 J. E. LAWTON 2,673,918

ELECTRIC WALLPAPER REMOVER Filed Sept. 6, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q W Q INVENTOR.

ATTD RN EYE March 30, 1954 w oN 2,673,918

' ELECTRIC WALLPAPER REMOVER Filed Sept. 6, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I o -g--- IN VEN TOR.

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ATTCI R N EYS Patented Mar. 30, 1954 UNI TED S 'lA'l ES PATENT OFF-I CE ELECTRIC WALLPAPER REMOVER .lerral' E. Lawton, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application September 6, 1951, Serial No. 245,396

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to machines and devices for removing wallpaper wherein the wallpaper issaturated with steam or th lilre, and in particular, a steam applying device in which Wateris converted into steam after it is applied to the wallpaper surface.

The purpose of this invention to eliminate the hazard of carrying live steam through pipes or tubes to an applicator as a wallpaper removing device and thereby eliminate the possibility of burning the hands of the operator and also the inconvenience of having excessive quantitiesof 'live steam escaping around the device, and also eliminates the hazard of dangerous carbon monoxide fumes-oi all previous wallpaper removers.

"With the-conventional type of steam applying device live steam is carried through tubes or pipes to a head or ejector and when leaks develop in-the tubing or the tube breaks the live steam burnsthe operator and is, therefore, dangerous. Inthe type of steam applicator wherein steam is generated from water supplied by a small tank in the device, the quantity of water is not suihcient for continuous use such as removing wallpaper and the like. With these thoughts mind this invention contemplates a steam applicator wherein an unlimited supply or water is sprayed in small quantities directly against the wallpaper and steam is instantly generated by the movement of the heated face plate over the dampened wall surface.

The object of the invention is therefore, to provide a wallpaper remover in which cold water is applied directly to the wallpaper where it is instantly converted into steam by the passing of the'heated face plate over the dampened surface of wallpaper.

' Another object of'the invention is to provide a wallpaper remover in which the device is ready for immediate use as an electric cord extended therefrom is plugged into a socket for supplying current to the device.

Another object of the device is'to provide a wallpaper remover in which the possibility of fire from fuel required for heating the device is removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wallpaper remover-that of light weight therebyfacilitating transportation. and operation and in which all outside parts are completely insulated from the heating elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wallpaper remover in which means is provided .for adjustably controlling the amount of watersprayed on the wallpaper.

vA still further object of the invention is to .provide an improved wallpaper remover which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodiesa wallpaper remover comprising a substantially flat casing having electric heating elements therein, with the heating elements positioned in close proximity to-a face plate in a cover, with a backing plate of insulating material and with a manually controlled water spray nozzle positioned to spray cold water against the wallpaper and connected to means for supplying water under pressure.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the improved wallpaper' remover head.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section throughthe device taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view looking upwardly toward the under surface of the device.

Figure 4 is a cross section through the applicator taken on line d-E of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the control valve and spray nozzle showing the parts on an enlarged scale.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved wallpaper remover of this invention includes a substantially flat casing [0, a face plate ii, a plurality of electric heating e1ements I2, l3 and M, a control valve l5'having a perforated cap It on the lower end providing a spray nozzle, and a trigger IT for actuating the valve stem 8.

The casing H3 is provided with a cover plate is of insulating material and the plate I9 is'secured in position by cap screws 26. A continuous flange 2!, also of insulating material extends around the inner surface of the outer wall'of the casing Ill, as shown in Fig. 4.

The face plate ii is provided with a frustroconical shaped section 22 at the center in which the nozzle is is positioned and the plate is held in the casing by studs 23.

The electric heating elements l2, l3 and M are positioned directly againstthe face plate H and when current is supplied to these elements the face plate is heated to a dull red whereby water sprayed against the wall is instantly converted into steam.

Thecasing it is provided with a handle formed with'two sections it and 25 andthe'sectionsare secured together by a bolt 25 which extends through'the handle. The threaded end of the bolt isprovided with a not 2?, as shown in Fig. 4. The sections of the handle are provided with

flanges

28 and 29 through which the handle .is secured to the casing ill by cap screwsSii.

The electric heating elements I2,'|3 and M are connected by bus bars 3iv andti to terminals, as indicated by the numerals t3 and 34, and .an electric supply cord 35, which extends through the handle, is connected to the terminals. The outer end of'the cord 35 is provided with a plug-35 and a hollow not 3? maybe provided in the handle, through which the cord extends, .as shown in -Figure'Z.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, the body of the valve I5 is provided with a valve seat 38 against which a point on the lower end of the valve stem seats and the point is urged against the seat by a spring 40, the upper end of which is held by a cap 4| threaded on the upper end of the valve body and the lower end by a pin 42 extended through the valve stem H3. The upper end of the valve body is provided with a packing gland 43 and the gland is adjusted by a packing nut 44.

The lower end of the valve body is provided with a threaded section 45 with a shoulder 46 at the end of the threaded section and the upper wall 41 of the casing l0 and also the inner edge of the section 22 of the face plate H is held against the shoulder by a nut 49. A pin 49 is extended through a part of the face plate and casing and into the valve body for retaining the parts in position in relation to the valve body. The valve body is also provided with a threaded nipple 50 on which the cap l6 having the perforations 5| therein is threaded.

The body of the valve I5 is also provided with a threaded opening 52 into which a coupling nut 53 is threaded, also as shown in Fig. 5 and a water supply tube 54 extends from the nut 53 to means for supplying water under pressure. In the design shown the tube 54 extends through the handle mounted on the casing l0 and the end of the tube is provided with a threaded coupling member 55.

It is preferred to extend the tube 54 to a water supply tank having a hand operated pressure pump therein and in which the tank is provided with a pressure gauge and filling plug. By this means the air pressure may be retained in the tank so that the water may be supplied at constant pressure continuously.

The handle of the casing, which is formed by the

parts

24 and 25 is also provided with a thumb screw 56 that is threaded into a nut 51 positioned on the inner surface of the handle and these parts are located whereby the inner end of the thumb screw engages the end of the valve stem l8 to limit upward or opening movement of the valve stem whereby the amount of water sprayed through the spray nozzle is controlled.

The trigger H, which is positioned on the underside of the handle is pivotally mounted in the handle with a bolt 58 having a nut 59 on a threaded end thereof and the trigger which is formed of an arcuate sheet of material is connected to the valve It by a pin 69 which extends through the sides of the trigger and through the stem. As the trigger is drawn upwardly by the fingers of a hand gripping the handle the stem is raised against the spring at whereby the valve is opened.

With the parts arranged in this manner cold water is sprayed directly onto the wallpaper and instantly generated into steam by the passing of electrically heated face plate H over the wet surface of the wallpaper, whereby the paste or other adhesive is completely dissolved or disintegrated so that it is freely removed by the operator with a putty knife or other broad edged implement. If moisture only is required, a device may be used as a spraying implement only with the electric feature turned on.

It will be undertsood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the inven tion.

What is claimed is:

1. A wallpaper remover comprising a casing having a back with a continuous flange, a face plate positioned in the casing and spaced inwardly from the edge of the flange providing an open area between the plate and a surface against which the edge of the flange is positioned, an electric heating element positioned against the inner surface of said face plate, said face plate covering the entire area of the casing and said electric heating element covering substantially, the entire area of the face plate whereby a shallow heated area is provided over the face plate of the casing, a water spray nozzle mounted in the casing and positioned to spray water directly against the wallpaper, and a manually controlled valve also positioned in the casing for controlling the flow of water to the spray nozzle.

2. A wallpaper remover as described in claim 1 wherein means is provided for adjusting the opening movement of said control valve.

3. In a wallpaper remover, the combination which comprises a comparatively thin casing having a back and a continuous peripherial flange, a face plate having a frusto-conical shaped center section mounted in the casing and positioned with the outer surface thereof spaced inwardly from the edge of said peripherial flange, a plurality of electric heating elements positioned against the inner surface of said face plate, a lining of insulating material positioned between said electric heating elements and casing, a valve mounted in the casing and having a spray nozzle on the end thereof positioned in the frusto-conical shaped section of said face plate, a handle mounted on the casing positioned over said valve and extended laterally toward one side of the casing, a trigger pivotally mounted in the handle and positioned to open the valve, resilient means urging the valve toward the closed position, and means supplying water under pressure to said valve.

4. In a Wallpaperremover as described in claim 3, means adjusting the opening movement of said valve, for controlling the amount of water admitted to said spray nozzle.

5. A wallpaper remover as described in claim 3, wherein the means for urging the valve to the closed position includes a spring in the body of the valve.

6. A wallpaper remover as described in claim 3, wherein the valve is provided with an extended valve stem and the handle is provided with a thumb screw positioned to engage the end of the valve stem for limiting opening movement of the valve.

7. A wallpaper remover as described in claim 3, wherein the water supply means includes a tube extended through the handle and the electric heating elements are supplied with current by an electric cord extended through said handle.

JERRAL E. LAW'ION.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 989,608 Jackson Apr. 18, 1911 1,518,320 Gates Dec. 9, 1924 2,137,876 Hudson Nov. 22, 1938 2,208,850 Mayer July 23, 1940 2,226,426 Gallagher Dec. 24, 1940 2,281,819 Atkinson May 5, 1942 2,306,766 Van Tries Dec. 29, 1942 2,612,586 Berarducci et al. Sept. 30, 1952