WO2019232633A1

WO2019232633A1 - A straight edge painting device, method, and kit

Info

Publication number: WO2019232633A1
Application number: PCT/CA2019/050790
Authority: WO
Inventors: William Randy DUMONT
Original assignee: Ranmi Inc.
Priority date: 2018-06-07
Filing date: 2019-06-06
Publication date: 2019-12-12

Abstract

Described is a straight edge painting device to help a painter paint straight edges that includes a panel that has a front panel face, a back panel face, and a panel perimeter containing at least one straight edge, a temporary adhesive layer that is applied to at least a portion and preferably all of the back panel face, and a removeable backing. The removeable backing removably covers the temporary adhesive layer on the back panel face. A related method and kit to help painters paint straight edges using a series of straight edge painting devices is also described.

Description

A STRAIGHT EDGE PAINTING DEVICE, METHOD, AND KIT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to devices to help with painting and, more particularly, to a straight edge painting device, method, and kit to help painters paint straight edges along walls, floors, ceilings, door frames, and windows.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In the past, painters typically have used painter’s tape to help with painting straight edges, such as has been offered in association with the 3M, FROGGERTAPE, and ETLINE trademarks.

[0003] The use of painter’s tape for painting edges (or for“edging” or“cutting”, as it is sometimes called) can be physically strenuous in some circumstances. For instance, when a painter is required to get on his or her hands and knees on the floor or climb up on a chair to tape a ceiling line.

[0004] Additionally, painter’s tape is flexible, which makes it difficult to apply in a straight line in order to protect the desired surface. Further, failing to apply painter’s tape in a straight line may cause the resultant painting job to be irregular or poorly done, reflecting poorly on the skills of the painter.

[0005] Accordingly, there remains a need for improvements in the art to make it easier for a painter to consistently and accurately paint straight edges along walls, floors, ceilings, door frames, and windows. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a straight edge painting device, method and kit to help painters paint straight edges along walls, floors, ceilings, door frames, and windows.

[0007] The device, method and kit may simplify edging for a painter and may reduce problems which otherwise may have been associated with edging or painting straight edges or lines along walls, floors, ceilings, door frames and windows, for both amateur and professional painters.

[0008] The device, method and kit may make the painting of straight edges more accessible to the user irrespective of their skill or ability. According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a device, method and kit which uses a substantially rigid straight edge for painting straight edges along walls, floors, ceilings, door frames, and windows.

[0009] The device, method and kit may help reduce physical strain or exertion, which is sometimes associated with using painter’s tape, and help facilitate the ready or quick application, positioning, and painting of straight edges along walls, floors, ceilings, door frames, and windows.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a straight edge painting device to help a painter paint straight edges, comprising: a panel including a front panel face, a back panel face, and a panel perimeter containing at least one straight edge; a temporary adhesive layer applied to at least a portion of the back panel face; and a removeable backing, whereby the removeable backing removably covers the temporary adhesive layer on the back panel face. [0011] According to a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of painting straight edges, the method comprising: placing a straight edge of a straight edge painting device parallel against a straight edge of a substrate to be shielded from painting; and painting a surface adjacent to the straight edge of the straight edge painting device.

[0012] According to a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a kit for painting straight edges, comprising a plurality of straight edge painting devices to help a painter paint straight edges packaged together in which the straight edge painting device comprises: a panel including a front panel face, a back panel face, and a panel perimeter containing at least one straight edge; a temporary adhesive layer applied to at least a portion of the back panel face; and a removeable backing, whereby the removeable backing removably covers the temporary adhesive layer on the back panel face.

[0013] Other aspects and features according to the present application will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, embodiments of the invention, and how they may be carried into effect, and in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a straight edge painting device according to an embodiment, showing alignment markings on a front face thereof; [0016] FIG. 2 is a back plan view of a straight edge painting device according to an embodiment, showing an approximate placement of one adhesive strip on a back face of the device;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a back plan view of a straight edge painting device according to an embodiment, showing an approximate placement of two adhesive strips on a back face of the device;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a top front perspective view of a plurality of the straight edge painting devices of FIG. 1, shown covering and applied to a floor to be shielded in the process of painting wall baseboards or trim adjacent thereto;

[0019] FIG. 5 is a top front perspective view of a plurality of the straight edge painting devices of FIG. 1, shown covering and applied to a floor to be shielded in the process of painting wall baseboards or trim adjacent thereto;

[0020] FIG. 6 is a top front perspective view of a plurality of the straight edge painting devices of FIG. 1, shown covering and applied to a floor to be shielded, for painting wall baseboards or trim adjacent thereto;

[0021] FIG. 7 is a front view of a plurality of the straight edge painting devices of FIG. 1, shown covering and applied to a wall to be shielded, for painting a door frame or molding adjacent thereto;

[0022] FIG. 8 is a front view of a plurality of the straight edge painting devices of FIG. 1, shown covering and applied to a wall to be shielded, for painting a door frame or molding adjacent thereto; [0023] FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a plurality of kits of straight edge painting devices, according to an embodiment; and

[0024] FIG. 10 is a back plan view of the straight edge painting device according to an embodiment, showing an adhesive covering the entire back face of the device.

[0025] Like reference numerals indicated like or corresponding elements in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0026] According to an embodiment, the straight edge painting device, method, or kit may preferably, but need not necessarily, afford one or more of the following advantages over the prior art: ease of usage; superior outcome for users, as compared to painter’s tape or otherwise; less physical strain; reduction in the amount of time required to prepare for painting; enabling the painting of straight lines regardless of the painters’ experience; and protecting surfaces from being inadvertently painted.

[0027] Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description with reference to the figures which accompany this application.

[0028] Embodiments of the invention are contemplated for use as straight edge painting devices, methods, and kits for helping painters with painting straight edges along, for example, walls, floors, ceilings, door frames, and windows. Further embodiments of the invention, however, need not be so limited. Other embodiments, which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed, may be provided. [0029] This disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, may include one or more dimensions or may or may not be drawn to scale and, in any event, are illustrated by way of example. It may bear repeating, in this respect specifically, that such drawings and disclosures are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

[0030] Additionally, one or more of the directional terms (e.g., front, top, back, bottom, side) or other terms used herein, and in the accompanying drawings, may be otherwise regarded or referenced using other terms.

[0031] According to embodiments of the invention as shown in FIGs. 1 to 10, there is disclosed a straight edge painting device, method, and kit for painting straight edges along walls, floors, ceilings, door frames, and windows. Preferably, the straight edge painting device, method, and kit may simplify edging and the painting of straight edges and lines along walls, floors, ceilings, door frames and windows, for amateur and professional painters alike. The straight edge painting device, method and kit may make the painting of straight edges more accessible to the user irrespective of their skill or ability.

[0032] According to an embodiment, the straight edge painting device, method, and kit may employ a rigid, or substantially rigid, straight edge for painting straight edges along walls, floors, ceilings, door frames, and windows. The straight edge painting device, method, and kit involve relatively little or no physical strain or exertion, and helps facilitate the ready and quick application, positioning and painting of straight edges along walls, floors, ceilings, door frames, and windows. [0033] While the finished size and configuration of such materials may vary to suit any particular utilities and functionalities which fall within the scope of the invention, the straight edge painting device 1000 may comprise a panel 1050, which according to embodiments as shown in FIGs. 1 to 10, may be a paper sheet constructed from a heavy stock paper material, such as card stock, and may have a straight edge 1100 along at least one side thereof. According to an embodiment, the straight edge painting device may also include a temporary adhesive layer 2100 on a back face 2200 of panel 1050 to help secure straight edge 1100 in place against a covered substrate to be shielded from painting.

[0034] According to embodiments as shown in FIGs. 1 to 10, the heavy stock paper material of panel 1050 may have a material thickness, which may preferably, but need not necessarily, be between three points and eight points. According to a further embodiment, panel 1050 may be constructed from materials which provide the rigidity, durability and impermeability to utilize panel 1050 to help a painter paint a straight edge. Front panel face 1200 of panel 1050 may further contain an impermeable cover or layer, such as plastic laminate, that protects a substrate from a variety of paints types, such as oil or latex paint. Manufacturing costs, desired lifespan, and reusability may be considerations in informing the choice of materials and other design choices of panel 1050.

[0035] According to embodiments as shown in FIGs. 1 to 10, a perimeter of panel 1050 may contain at least one straight edge 1100. Straight edge 1100 may preferably, but need not necessarily, be between about 12 inches and about 18 inches long. According to a further embodiment, straight edge 1100 may be parallel to a second straight edge 1100, such that the perimeter of panel 1050 may define a trapezoid. Alternatively, panel 1050 may contain two parallel straight edges 1100, such that the perimeter of panel 1050 defines, for example, a parallelogram, square or rectangle. The number and alignment of straight edge 1100 may depend on the configuration of the wall, floor, ceiling, door frame, or window requiring straight painted edges. According to an embodiment shown in FIGs. 5 and 6, straight edge 1100 may be placed perpendicular to a surface being painted, for example, by placing panel 1050 on the floor adjacent to a baseboard to be painted. According to an embodiment shown in FIGs. 7 and 8, straight edge 1100 may be place parallel to the surface to be painted, for example, by placing panel 1050 on the wall adjacent to a door or window frame to be painted. Further, where there is a gap between baseboards and flooring, because of the rigid nature of panel 1050, straight edge 1100 may also be positioned in this gap, thereby protecting the visible line of the floor in the gap area at the bottom of the baseboard.

[0036] According to an embodiment, panel 1050 may preferably, but need not necessarily, be defined by a perimeter having approximate dimensions of between about 1 ¾ inches and about 3 ½ inches wide, by between about 12 inches and about 18 inches long.

[0037] According to an embodiment as shown in FIGs. 1 and 4 to 8, alignment markings 1300 may preferably, but need not necessarily, be printed or presented on a front face 1200 of panel 1050. In use, panel 1050 may preferably, but need not necessarily, be selectively aligned adjacent to one another, preferably in such a way that alignment markings 1300 on adjacent panels 1050 align with one another. Preferably, with alignment markings 1300 so aligned, straight edge 1100 may preferably, but need not necessarily, be aligned with other straight edge 1100 to present a substantially continuous straight panel edge, for painting a substantially continuous straight line, along the aforesaid at least one side of panel 1050. [0038] According to an embodiment, temporary adhesive layer 2100 may preferably, but need not necessarily, comprise one or more among a wide range of adhesive material formulations. Adhesives such as rubber-based, acrylic-based, and silicone-based may be used.

[0039] According to an embodiment, the temporary adhesive layer 2100 may preferably, but need not necessarily, be provided over the entire back face 2200 of panel 1050 as shown in FIG. 10 or in one or more strips of adhesive material along back face 2200 of panel 1050 as shown by way of example in FIGs. 2 and 3. According to an embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, one of the strips may be aligned substantially along or substantially adjacent to straight edge 1100. According to an embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, another or a first one of the strips may preferably, but need not necessarily, run at least part way along, and may preferably be inset back about 1 ½ inches from a side opposite straight edge 1100, preferably to help secure straight edge 1100 in place against the covered substrate. According to a further embodiment, temporary adhesive layer 2100 may be covered by a removeable backing, whereby removing the removeable backing uncovers temporary adhesive layer 2100. Temporary adhesive layer 2100 may be uncovered by peeling the removeable backing and this may ensure that temporary adhesive layer 2100 retains its adhesive quality and is protected against adhering to surfaces that do not require shielding from paint. The removeable backing may further contain instructions, indicating how and where to remove the removeable backing to reveal temporary adhesive layer 2100.

[0040] According to an embodiment as shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of the straight edge painting devices 1000 may preferably, but need not necessarily, be packaged together, in a kit 9100, to provide between about 100 and about 200 linear feet of straight edge per kit 9100, or enough to paint the edges of a medium to large sized room, preferably including walls, floors, ceiling, door frames, and window frames. Kit 9100 may preferably, but need not necessarily, contain between about 100 and about 300 of the straight edge painting devices 1000.

[0041] The foregoing description has been presented for the purpose of illustration and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed.

[0042] Naturally, in view of the teachings and disclosures herein, persons having ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that alternative designs or embodiments of the invention may be possible (e.g., with substitution of one or more components for others, with alternate configurations of components, etc.). Although some of the components, relations, configurations and steps according to embodiments of the invention are not specifically referenced in association with one another, they may be used, or adapted for use, in association therewith. For example, features may be discussed herein in the context of the device, which clearly could be recast as steps of a method. All of the aforementioned and various other features, steps, interworkings, structures, configurations, relationships, utilities, and the like (any of which may be depicted or based hereon) may be, but are not necessarily, incorporated into and achieved by embodiments of the invention. Any one or more of the aforementioned features, steps, interworkings, structures, configurations, relationships, utilities and the like may be implemented in or by the invention, on their own, and without reference, regard or likewise implementation of any of the other aforementioned features, steps, interworkings, structures, configurations, relationships, utilities and the like, in various permutations and combinations, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the disclosed invention.

[0043] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Certain adaptations and modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the presently discussed embodiments are considered to be illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A straight edge painting device to help a painter paint straight edges, comprising: a panel including a front panel face, a back panel face, and a panel perimeter containing at least one straight edge; a temporary adhesive layer applied to at least a portion of the back panel face; and a removeable backing, whereby the removeable backing removably covers the temporary adhesive layer on the back panel face.

2. The straight edge painting device of claim 1, wherein the panel is rigid.

3. The straight edge painting device of claim 1, wherein the panel is made of heavy stock paper material.

4. The straight edge painting device of claim 3, wherein the heavy stock paper material has a material thickness of between 3 points and 8 points.

5. The straight edge painting device of claim 1, wherein the panel is a rectangle having dimensions of between 1 ¾ inches and 3 ½ inches wide and 12 inches and 18 inches long.

6. The straight edge painting device of claim 1, wherein the at least one straight edge is between 12 inches and 18 inches long.

7. The straight edge painting device of claim 1, wherein the front panel face is coated with an impermeable coating.

8. The straight edge painting device of claim 1, wherein the front panel face contains at least one alignment marking.

9. The straight edge painting device of claim 1, wherein the temporary adhesive layer covers the entire back panel.

10. The straight edge painting device of claim 1, wherein the temporary adhesive layer covers the back panel in one or more strips.

11. The straight edge painting device of claim 10, wherein the one or more strips is adjacent and parallel to the at least one straight edge.

12. The straight edge painting device of claim 11, wherein the one or more strips is inset and parallel from a side opposite the at least one straight edge.

13. The straight edge painting device of claim 1, wherein the removeable backing contains instructions indicating to remove the removeable backing from the temporary adhesive layer.

14. A method of painting straight edges, the method comprising: placing a straight edge of a straight edge painting device parallel against a straight edge of a substrate to be shielded from painting; and painting a surface adjacent to the straight edge of the straight edge painting device.

15. The method of painting straight edges of claim 14, wherein the straight edge of a plurality of straight edge painting devices are aligned to create a continuous straight panel edge.

16. The method of painting straight edges of claim 15, wherein the plurality of straight edge painting devices consists of at least one alignment marking and the alignment marking is selectively aligned adjacent to one another to create a continuous straight panel edge.

17. The method of painting straight edges of claim 14, wherein a removable backing is removed to reveal a temporary adhesive layer of the straight edge painting device and the temporary adhesive layer better enables a panel of the straight edge painting device to be placed against a straight edge of a substrate to be shielded from painting.

18. The method of painting straight edges of claim 16, wherein a straight edge of a panel of the straight edge painting device is placed perpendicular to the straight edge of the substrate to be shielded from painting.

19. The method of painting straight edges of claim 17, wherein a straight edge of the panel is placed perpendicular to a straight edge of the substrate to be shielded from painting.

20. A kit for painting straight edges, comprising a plurality of straight edge painting devices of claim 1 packaged together.

21. The kit for painting straight edges of claim 20, wherein the plurality of straight edge painting devices of claim 1 packaged together provide between 100 and 200 linear feet of straight panel edge.

22. The kit for painting straight edges of claim 21, wherein the plurality of straight edge painting devices of claim 1 packaged together is between 100 and 300 panels.