US3346899A - Edge trimming device for paint roller - Google Patents

Description

1967 F. .J. MURPHY 3,346,899

EDGE TRIMMING DEVICE FOR PAINT ROLLER Filed March 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. FREDERICK J. MURPHY ATTORNEYS F. J. MURPHY Get. 17, 1967 EDGE TRIMMING DEVICE FOR PAINT ROLLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1965 the line 44 of FIG. 2.

United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE I A painting and trimming roller type applicator having a resilient sponge-like trimming applicator opposite a handle and which has an outwardly exposed trimming edge and an associated outwardly exposed stop engageable with a ceiling or other intersecting wall.

Background of invention This invention relates to roller devices for applying paint and other liquid surface coating compounds and to improvements in attachments therefor.

Summary of invention A paint roller can be used to paintclose to an inside corner formed by two intersecting surfaces, such as a Wall and a ceiling, but it cannot be conveniently employed to accurately trim or edge a surface at such an inside corner intersection. A brush is customarily used to paint a corner surface; however, where a corner is formed by a wall and ceiling which are to be of different colors, brush trimming the edges adjacent the intersecting surfaces is a difficult and time consuming operation.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a roller applicator device adapted to rapidly, neatly and accurately paint an inside corner surface and the edge of a surface adjacent an intersecting surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide a roller applicator device adapted for trim painting a surface border which is spaced from an intersecting surface such as a Wall border surface adjacent a corner molding strip or the like. v

A still further object of the invention is to provide a roller applicator painting-device having a spray guard thereon to control the paint spray or splatter from the roller applicator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a universal paint roller applicator attachment incorporating the features set forth in the aforestated objectives.

The drawings show preferred embodiments of the invention and such embodiments will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the constructions disclosed, and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is, a perspectiveview of a paint roller device embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along FIG. 5 is a plan view of a roller applicator device showing another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the device of FIG. 5.

a roller applicator device embodying the present invention. For purposes of present illustration, the device is shown as an attachment for a typical paint roller. However, it should be apparent from the description which follows that the device of the present invention may be incorporated in the construction of a paint roller as an integral part thereof, and such construction is considered to be within the scope of the invention.

Typically, a paint roller employed in practicing the invention comprises an applicator roller 12, a supporting means or frame 14 supporting the roller 12 for rotation about an axis, and a handle means 16 connected to the frame 14. The roller 12 has a surface of revolution 18, which is preferably generally cylindrical. The surface 18 is adapted to pick up and spread liquid coating compounds. The frame means 14 preferably includes a first portion or axle 20 extending from one end of the roller 12 which is journaled thereon, a second portion 22 paral leling the axle and a third portion 24 perpendicularly extending from the second portion. Connected to the third portion 24 is the handle 16, adapted to be manually grasped for moving the device relative to a surface to be coated.

The first, second and third portions 20, 22 and 24 and the handle 16 are conventionally coplanar to facilitate effective control in guiding the device over a surface. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the roller 12 is retained in position on the axle 20 by a wing nut 26, threadably engaging the free end of the axle, and by a pair of diametrically opposed lugs 28, 28 struck out on the axle, as shown in FIG. 2.

The aforedescribed roller device typifies a paint roller to which the device of the present invention may be attached. However, it should be understood that paint rollers which deviate from this construction may also be employed in practicing the invention. In this regard, particular reference is made to applicator roller constructions in which the axle 20 terminates Wit-bin the roller and does not extend therethrough.

The attachmentembodying the present invention preferably comprises an applicator pad 30, a pair of limit stops 34, 34, a securing means or bracket 32, and an adjustment means or clip 36.

Sponge rubber is preferably employed as a fabricating material for the applicator pad '30, because it has been found to provide a very satisfactory surface for picking up and spreading liquid compounds such as paint. The pad 30 is elongated and generally rectangular having a substantially uniform rectangular cross section throughout its entire length. The pad preferably includes a longitudinally disposed applicator surface 38 having a rectilinear edge portion 39 and also includes a contact surface 40 in spaced parallel relation thereto, each of the aforedescribed. surfaces having a longitudinal dimension approximately equal to the axial dimension of the roller 12. Also included on the pad 30 is a rigid backing strip 42, which may be formed from wood, plastic, metal or other suitable material. The backing strip holds the pad in place'on the bracket 32 in a manner to be hereinafter described. A suitable bonding compound is employed to secure the backing strip 42 to the contact surface 40 with which it is aligned. Included on the backing strip is a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending side surfaces 44, 44 which are normal to the contact surface 40. For a purpose to be hereinafter apparent, the side surfaces 44, 44 define a pair of parallelly aligned longitudinally extending recesses 46, 46 which are best shown in FIG. 4.

Means for securing the pad 30 in position relative to the roller 12 is provided by the bracket 32, which in its presently preferred form is generally U-shaped. The bracket includes an elongated intermediate surface portion 48 having a relatively large surface area adapted to be positioned generally between the roller 12 and the handle 16. When so positioned, the portion 48 serves as a spray guard for controlling the paint spray or splatter from the roller. The longitudinally extending intermediate portion 48 is axially aligned with the roller 12 when the attachment is in its normal use position.

The bracket 32 further includes a pair of spaced apart end portions 50, 50 radially extending from the intermediate surface 48. A pair of longitudinally aligned apertures 52, 52 adapted for journalling the axle 20 are defined by the end portions 50, 50. Thus, the bracket 32 is adapted to receive the roller 12 generally interjacent the end por tions 50, 50 with the axle 20 extending therethrough. The bracket 48 is thus arranged to pivot on the axle 20.

A generally C-shaped channel 60 opening outwardly or away from the axle 20 is positioned above the roller 12 in axial alignment therewith and extends longitudinally between the end portions 50, 50 being secured .therebetween by an appropriate fastening operation suchas spot welding. The channel 60 includes a pair of spaced apart longitudinally disposed outwardly extending sideportions 62, 62 having opposed inwardly turned longitudinally ex tending end portions 64, 64. The channel is adapted to receive the backing strip 42 in longitudinally sliding engagement therein with the end portions 64, 64 engaging the recesses 46, 46. Thus, the bracket 32 and the channel 60, which forms a part thereof, cooperate to hold the applicator pad 30 in a fixed position relative to the roller 12 with the outer or rectilinear edge portion 39 in parallel alignment therewithand the applicator surface 38 in a plane 66 generally tangential thereto, as best shown in FIG. 3 where the tangential plane 66 generally corresponds to the plane of a wall surface.

At least one limit stop 34 is preferably provided to adapt the device for trimming an edge surface adjacent a molding strip or the like. In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, two longitudinally spaced limit stops 34, 34 are provided above the roller 12 in radially spaced relation thereto. Each of the stops 34, 34 is an inverted generally L-shaped angle section which includes a radially disposed side portion 68, and an axially disposed upper surface 70.

A radially extending slot 72.defined in each of side portion 68 cooperates with a threaded fastener 74 to secure an associated stop 34 to the bracket 32 andto provide means for selectively positioning the stop relative to the roller 12.

Adjustment means for selectively positioning the bracket 48 relative to the frame 14 is provided by the elongated clip 36, which includes an elongated adjustment slot 54 defined therein and a spring clip 56 formed on one end portion thereof. The clip 56 is adjustably secured to the bracket 32 by a threaded fastener 58 which extends through the slot 54 and engages the intermediate portion 48. Anjadjustable connection between the frame 14 and the bracket 32 is completed by the spring clip portion 56 which is adapted to engage and releasably retain the second portion 22. Tightening the fastener 58 retains the bracket in a fixed position relative to the frame. This adjustment feature enables the user to secure the handle means in a comfortable working position relative to both of the applicators.

Both the roller 12 and the pad 30 may be used to pick up paint and spread it on a surface to be coated. However, in painting with the device it has also been found that highly satisfactory results may be obtained by picking up paint with the roller applicator only and thereafter redistributing it with the applicator pad, which is employed to finish the marginal portion of the surface to be painted.

The aforedescribed device embodying the invention includes a pad having a rectilinear outer edge portion 39 and is, therefore, particularly adapted for trimming rectilinear edges. However, it should be apparent that the adjusting the limit stops radially outwardly from the.

roller, it is possible to limit the maximum upward travel of the applicator on a wall relative to a ceiling. This feature is particularly useful in painting the edge of a wall adjacent the lower edge of a molding strip which lies on the wall adjacent a ceiling.

It should also be noted that the invention may be practiced with limit stop means integral with the securing means or bracket 32. For example, in the embodiment.

shown in FIG. 1 a pair of upper edges 34a, 34a on the end portions 50,50 may serve as limit stops in the absence of the adjustable stops 34, 34. Thus when the device is used to paint a wall, the edges 34a, 34a are positioned so as to contact the ceiling when the edge portion 39 of the pad 30 reaches the line of intersection between the wall and the ceiling. This arrangement facilitates the rapid, neat, and accurate trimming of wall marginal edges.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 wherein another embodiment of the invention is shown, an applicator device for painting and edge trimming corners is indicated generally by the numeral 10a. In this embodiment the device of the present invention is incorporated in the construction of a roller applicator. The device shown comprises a roller applicator 12a, an applicator pad 30a, a supporting means or frame 14a supporting the roller 12a for rotation about an axis, and a handle means 16a connected to the frame. The roller of-this embodiment preferably takes the form of a pair of generally frusto-conical sections joined at their respective bases to define a surface of revolution 13 including surface portions 15, 15 adapted to pick up and spread paint or other surface coating material on an inside corner surface such as the surface formed by the intersection of two walls. The roller 12a preferably has a resilient surface which effectively compensates for any slight irregularities in the surface to be coated; thereby assuring the uniform application of coating material.

It should be noted that the frame 14a and the handle means 16a form an integral part of the roller applicator structure.

A longitudinally extending intermediate portion 48a is included in the frame 14a and serves as a splash or splatter guard in the manner aforedescribed. The frame 14a also has a pair of longitudinally spaced end portions 50a, 50a radially extending from the intermediate sur-v face 48a. A pair of longitudinally aligned apertures 52a, 52a adapted for journalling an axle 28a are defined by the end portions 50a, 50a. Thus, the frame 14a is adapted to receive the roller 12a generally interjacent the end portions 50a, 50a, with the axle 28a extending therethrough.

For purposes of present illustration, the handle means 16:: is shown as being secured in a fixed position relative to the frame 14a; however, the handle means may also be arranged for adjustable positioning relative to the frame and such modification is intended to be within the scope of the invention.

The pad 30a includes an applicator surface having two approximately right angularly arranged parts 38a, 38a.

adapted to complement the surface of an inside corner. Each surface part 38a preferably includes a rectilinear outer edge portion 39a adapted for trimming an associated marginal portion of the corner surface to be coated. The pad 30a is in all other respects generally similar to a the aforedescribed pad 30.

A generally C-shaped outwardly opening channel 600 positioned above the roller 12a extends longitudinally between the end portions 50a, 50a and is secured therebetween by an appropriate fastening operation such as spot welding. In like manner with the aforedescribed channel 60, the channel 60a is adapted to receive and hold the pad 30a with the rectilinear edges 39a, 39a in general parallel alignment with the axle 28a and with each surface part 38a in a plane generellay tangent an associated roller surface portion 15.

This modified form of the device also includes at least one limit stop indicated generally by the numeral 34b and preferably includes two limit stops 34b, 34b which are generally similar to the corresponding limit stops 34, 34 of the aforedescribed attachment, both in structural arrangement and function. It should also be understood that a limit stop means may be integral with the supporting means or frame 14a. As shown, the upper portion 34c of the frame 14a may serve this function, in the absence of the adjustable stops 34b, 34b.

The roller applicator 12a in this embodiment is adapted to paint the surface of inside corners such as formed by two intersecting walls, whereas the applicator pad 30a is adapted to trim or edge the corner surface, along an edge formed by a third intersecting surface, such as a ceiling.

I claim:

1. A roller type applying and trimming device for paint and other liquid surface coating compounds comprising an applicator roller having a surface of revolution and rotatable about an axis to pick up and spread liquid coating compounds, means supporting said roller for rotation about said axis, elongated handle means adapted to be manually grasped for moving the device relative to a surface to be coated, said handle means being connected with said supporting means and extending generally radially from one side of said roller, a resilient sponge applicator and trimming pad having a generally flat surface adapted to pick up and spread liquid compounds, means securing said pad adjacent said roller and on a side thereof opposite said handle means with its said surface in a plane tangent to the roller for enabling said roller and pad surface to engage a first wall surface to be coated, said pad having one generally rectilinear edge disposed at an outer margin of said pad surface and which is exposed outwardly to closely approach a second wall surface which intersects with said first wall surface engaged in common by said roller and pad surface, and adjustable stop means adjacent said pad and having a stop surface exposed outwardly and extending beyond said pad edge to engage said intersecting second wall surface and thereby positively to prevent the application of said coating compound to the second wall surface.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by adjustment means for selectively positioning said pad relative to said handle means.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by said supporting means include a surface portion having a longitudinal dimension approximately equal to the axial dimension of said roller, said surface portion being in general parallel alignment with said axis and radially spaced from said roller to provide splatter protection.

4. The combination defined in claim 1 further char- 50 acterized by means for adjustably positioning said stop means relative to said pad edge.

5. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said roller and said pad surface have corresponding angularly related intersecting first and second portions adapted respectively to apply coating compound simultaneously to said first wall surface and a third angularly arranged and intersecting wall surface.

6. In an attachment for a paint roller having a generally cylindrical applicator roller and frame means supporting said roller for rotation about an axis, which frame means includes a first portion axially extending from one end of the roller, a second portion parallel to the axis of the roller and a third portion perpendicularly extending from the second portion and including handle means, the combination comprising an elongated generally rectangular applicator pad of substantially uniform rectangular cross section including a longitudinally disposed applicator surface and a contact surface in spaced parallel relation thereto and having a longitudinal dimension approximately equal to the axial dimension of said roller, said pad including a rigid backing strip secured to said contact surface in alignment therewith, said backing strip including a pair of parallel spaced apart longitudinally extending side surfaces normal to said contact surface, said side surfaces defining a pair of parallelly aligned longitudinally extending recesses, a bracket having an elongated intermediate surface portion adapted to be positioned generally between the roller and the handle means and including an elongated generally C-shaped channel having a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending side portions including opposed inwardly turned longitudinally extending end portions, said channel being adapted to receive said backing strip in longitudinally sliding engagement therein with said end portions in gripping engagement with said recesses, said bracket being adapted for attachment to the frame means with said intermediate portion and said pad axially and radially aligned with the roller and said applicator surface in a plane generally tangent thereto, and clip means adjustably secured to said bracket and adapted to engage and releasably retain the second portion for adjustably positioning said bracket relative to the frame means.

References Cited DANIEL BLUM, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A ROLLER TYPE APPLYING AND TRIMMING DEVICE FOR PAINT AND OTHER LIQUID SURFACE COATING COMPOUNDS COMPRISING AN APPLICATOR ROLLER HAVING A SURFACE OF REVOLUTION AND ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS TO PICK UP AND SPREAD LIQUID COATING COMPOUNDS, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID ROLLER FOR ROTATION ABOUT SAID AXIS, ELONGATED HANDLE MEANS ADAPTED TO BE MANUALLY GRASPED FOR MOVING THE DEVICE RELATIVE TO A SURFACE TO BE COATED, SAID HANDLE MEANS BEING CONNECTED WITH SAID SUPPORTING MEANS AND EXTENDING GENERALLY RADIALLY FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID ROLLER, A RESILEINT SPONGE APPLICATOR AND TRIMMING PAD HAVING A GENERALLY FLAT SURFACE ADAPTED TO PICK UP AND SPREAD LIQUID COMPOUNDS, MEANS SECURING SAID PAD ADJACENT SAID ROLLER AND ON A SIDE THEREOF OPPOSITE SAID HANDLE MEANS WITH ITS SAID SURFACE IN A PLANE TANGENT TO THE ROLLER FOR ENABLING SAID ROLLER AND PAD SURFACE TO ENGAGE A FIRST WALL SURFACE TO BE COATED, SAID PAD HAVING ONE GENERALLY RECTILINEAR EDGE DISPOSED

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