Barrier Devices and Related Methods

BACKGROUND
1. Technical Field

Aspects of this document relate generally to protective barriers for baseboards and other items.

2. Background Art

Many homes and buildings include baseboards running along the bottoms of walls near floors, door frames, and other similar items. Such baseboards and door frames and other items often get scuffed, stained, nicked, or otherwise marred during activities such as carpet installation or removal, wall painting or paint removal, floor or wall tile installation or removal, floor laminate installation or removal, wallpaper installation or removal, and other activities that occur near the baseboards or other items. There therefore exists a need to protect the baseboards and other items from damage during these and other activities.

SUMMARY

Implementations of barrier devices may include: a horizontal portion formed of a polymer, the horizontal portion having a largest substantially planar surface and a thickness perpendicular to its largest substantially planar surface; and a vertical portion formed of a polymer and coupled with the horizontal portion, the vertical portion forming a substantially 90-degree angle relative to the horizontal portion, the vertical portion having a largest substantially planar surface and a thickness perpendicular to its largest substantially planar surface; wherein the thickness of the vertical portion is substantially equal to the thickness of the horizontal portion; and wherein a width of the horizontal portion, perpendicular to the vertical portion, is shorter than a height of the vertical portion perpendicular to the horizontal portion.

Implementations of barrier devices may include one or more or all of the following:

The vertical portion may include at least two slits at least partially defining a tab.

The tab may be configured to allow the barrier device to attach to a second barrier device.

The tab may be configured to interlock with a tab of the second barrier device.

The at least two slits may each have a length no greater than two inches.

All slits formed in the vertical portion, including the at least two slits, may be of equal length.

The vertical portion may have at least four slits (including the at least two slits). Two of the at least four slits may be on a first side of the barrier device. Two of the at least four slits may be on a second side of the barrier device opposite the first side.

Each of the at least two slits may have a longest length substantially parallel with a longest length of the vertical portion.

The vertical portion may have an opening therein sized sufficiently large to receive a user's hand and configured to be used as a handle.

The horizontal portion may be configured to fit between an installed baseboard and a surface beneath a bottom of the installed baseboard, while the vertical portion covers a front of the installed baseboard, to protect the installed baseboard.

The barrier device may be flexible enough to allow elastic deformation such that the formed angle can be manually adjusted from 60 degrees to 120 degrees. After such manual adjustment, the formed angle may automatically revert back to a resting position of substantially 90 degrees.

The width of the horizontal portion may be no more than one third the height of the vertical portion.

The width of the horizontal portion may be no more than one fifth the height of the vertical portion.

A surface area of the largest substantially planar surface of the horizontal portion may be smaller than a surface area of the largest substantially planar surface of the vertical portion.

The surface area of the largest substantially planar surface of the horizontal portion may be no more than one third the surface area of the largest substantially planar surface of the vertical portion.

The surface area of the largest substantially planar surface of the horizontal portion may be no more than one fifth the surface area of the largest substantially planar surface of the vertical portion.

The vertical portion may have a substantially rectangular shape. The horizontal portion may have a substantially rectangular shape.

Implementations of barrier devices may consist of: a polymer having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, the horizontal portion being substantially rectangular and the vertical portion being substantially rectangular; one or more slits formed in the vertical portion and at least partially defining at least one tab; and an opening through the vertical portion sized large enough to receive a user's hand and to be used as a handle; wherein the vertical portion forms an 80-degree to 100-degree angle relative to the horizontal portion; wherein the horizontal portion has a largest substantially planar surface and a thickness perpendicular to its largest substantially planar surface; wherein the vertical portion has a largest substantially planar surface and a thickness perpendicular to its largest substantially planar surface; wherein the thickness of the vertical portion is substantially equal to the thickness of the horizontal portion; wherein a width of the horizontal portion, perpendicular to the vertical portion, is shorter than a height of the vertical portion perpendicular to the horizontal portion; and wherein the horizontal portion is configured to fit between an installed baseboard and a surface beneath a bottom of the installed baseboard, while the vertical portion covers a front of the installed baseboard, to protect the installed baseboard.

Implementations of methods of barrier device use may include: placing a horizontal portion of a first barrier device between an installed baseboard and a surface beneath a bottom of the installed baseboard such that a vertical portion of the first barrier device, coupled with the horizontal portion at an angle between 80-100 degrees, covers a front of the installed baseboard; installing a floor covering on the surface, such that a portion of the floor covering resides between the surface and the horizontal portion, while the vertical portion covers the front of the installed baseboard; and after installing the floor covering, removing the horizontal portion from between the installed baseboard and the floor covering; wherein the horizontal portion and the vertical portion are each formed of a polymer; and wherein the horizontal portion and the vertical portion are each substantially rectangular.

Implementations of methods of barrier device use may include one or more or all of the following:

The method may include interlocking the first barrier device with a second barrier device, at least partially by using a tab of the first barrier device, the tab at least partially formed by a plurality of slits in the vertical portion.

General details of the above-described implementations, and other implementations, are given below in the DESCRIPTION, the DRAWINGS, the CLAIMS, and the ABSTRACT.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Implementations will be discussed hereafter using reference to the included drawings, briefly described below, wherein like designations refer to like elements. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a rear, right-side partial perspective view of an implementation of a barrier device (barrier);

FIG. 2 is a rear, right-side partial perspective view of the barrier of FIG. 1 and a baseboard;

FIG. 3 is a rear, right-side, close-up view of the barrier and baseboard of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a close-up front view of a portion of the barrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a right-side view of the barrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a right-side view of the barrier and baseboard of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a bottom, front, right-side, close-up, partial see-through view of a left-side portion of the barrier and baseboard of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a bottom, front, right-side, close-up view of a left-side portion of the barrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a rear, right-side perspective view of another implementation of a barrier device (barrier);

FIG. 10 is a front view of an environment of use including an installed door frame and an installed baseboard; and

FIG. 11 is a front view of a plurality of barriers installed to protect the door frame and baseboard of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION

Implementations/embodiments disclosed herein (including those not expressly discussed in detail) are not limited to the particular components or procedures described herein. Additional or alternative components, assembly procedures, and/or methods of use consistent with the intended barrier devices and related methods may be utilized in any implementation. This may include any materials, components, sub-components, methods, sub-methods, steps, and so forth.

Implementations of barrier devices (barriers) relate to devices used to provide a protective barrier for a baseboard and/or for other items.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-8, a first implementation of a barrier device (barrier) 100 is shown. FIG. 1 shows a rear, right-side perspective view of the barrier. The barrier includes a vertical portion 102 which includes a plurality of tabs 104. Each tab is at least partially defined and facilitated by two slits 106 in a side of the vertical portion. The slits could also be referred to as slots in implementations. The vertical portion includes an opening or handle 108 therein at or proximate a center of the vertical portion. A horizontal portion 110 is coupled with the vertical portion and forms a degree of (or of about) ninety degrees relative to the vertical portion. In implementations “about ninety degrees” or “substantially ninety degrees” as used herein means a range between and including eighty to one hundred degrees. In implementations the horizontal portion and vertical portion form an angle relative to one another of, or of about: eighty-one degrees to ninety-nine degrees; eighty-two degrees to ninety-eight degrees; eighty-three degrees to ninety-seven degrees; eighty-four degrees to ninety-six degrees; eighty-five degrees to ninety-five degrees; eighty-six degrees to ninety-four degrees; eighty-seven degrees to ninety-three degrees; eighty-eight degrees to ninety-two degrees; and eighty-nine degrees to ninety-one degrees.

The barrier device may be formed of any material such as a metal, polymer, composite, and so forth. In the implementations shown in the drawings it is formed of a polymer. The vertical and horizontal portions could be formed separately and attached together, in implementations. In other implementations the vertical and horizontal portions are formed from a single unitary piece of material. For example the entire barrier could be extruded in the general shape shown in the drawings, with the about ninety-degree angle formed therein, and the slots and handle could be cut or stamped out. In other implementations the barrier could be molded in the shape and configuration shown in the drawings, with the bend between the horizontal and vertical portions present, and with the slits and handle formed therein during the molding process.

In implementations a living hinge could be formed between the horizontal and vertical portions, or in other words the material between the vertical and horizontal portions could be thinner than the rest of the material, to allow some bending and flexibility of the horizontal portion relative to the vertical portion. This may be useful for situations in which a perfect ninety-degree angle is not preferred or is not as useful for protecting a specific baseboard or other element. In some instances, however, a ninety-degree angle is preferred. Accordingly, in implementations, as in the versions shown in the drawings, the horizontal portion and vertical portion do not have a living hinge therebetween, but are relatively fixed in rigid positions relative to one another, to maintain the ninety-degree (or about ninety-degree) angle in a resting position though still having flexibility allowing for some elastic bending as discussed above.

The tabs are useful to allow the alignment and interlocking of multiple barriers at their sides for protection of a longer portion of a baseboard or the like. To accomplish this, two barriers are simply manually slid so that the vertical portion of a first barrier is in front of the vertical portion of a second barrier, and so that the horizontal portion of the first barrier is on top of the horizontal portion of the second barrier, but the tab of the first barrier is slid behind the tab of the second barrier, with the slots aligned. In implementations a friction fit may keep the two interlocked barriers coupled together until they are manually separated again by a user.

Some example dimensions for barrier implementations are given below—these are only example dimensions and other dimensions could be used. However, these dimensions are considered useful for keeping the barrier simple and of a convenient size for use in a variety of situations and circumstances. Referring to FIG. 1, the barrier may have a thickness 103j of, or of about, 800 microns (or 0.023 inch). Referring to FIG. 5, the horizontal portion may have a width 103k of, or of about, 1.5 inches. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the vertical portion may have a height 103a of, or of about, 10 inches. A height 103b from a bottom of the horizontal portion (or, in implementations, from the top of the horizontal portion) and the lower slit may be, or may be about, 2.5 inches. The slits may have lengths 103i and 103h of, or of about, 0.5 inch, and widths 103e and 103f of, or of about, 0.125 inch. A height 103c from the top of the lower slit to the bottom of the upper slit may be, or may be about, 4.75 inches. A height 103d from a top of the top slit to a top edge of the vertical portion may be, or may be about, 2.5 inches. A total length 103g of the barrier may be variable, meaning that the length may be varied according to the desired implementation. In some cases a plurality of barriers may come in a kit of different lengths 103g. In some cases a user may purchase custom lengths 103g of the barriers as desired.

As used above, the term “about” for dimensions may in implementations mean: 50%, 51%, 52%, 53%, 54%, 55%, 56%, 57%, 58%, 59%, 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 100%, 101%, 102%, 103%, 104%, 105%, 106%, 107%, 108%, 109%, 110%, 111%, 112%, 113%, 114%, 115%, 116%, 117%, 118%, 119%, 120%, 121%, 122%, 123%, 124%, 125%, 126%, 127%, 128%, 129%, 130%, 131%, 132%, 133%, 134%, 135%, 136%, 137%, 138%, 139%, 140%, 141%, 142%, 143%, 144%, 145%, 146%, 147%, 148%, 149%, 150%, 151%, 152%, 153%, 154%, 155%, 156%, 157%, 158%, 159%, 160%, 161%, 162%, 163%, 164%, 165%, 166%, 167%, 168%, 169%, 170%, 171%, 172%, 173%, 174%, 175%, 176%, 177%, 178%, 179%, 180%, 181%, 182%, 183%, 184%, 185%, 186%, 187%, 188%, 189%, 190%, 191%, 192%, 193%, 194%, 195%, 196%, 197%, 198%, 199%, and/or 200% of the identified dimension value, or any other value or range between 20%-400% of the identified dimension value. Even where “about” or “substantially” are not used herein in reference to any specific dimension, any example dimension disclosed herein may have any of the range percentages, or value percentages, relative to the recited value(s), indicated above. This includes values of “less than,” “equal to or less than,” “greater than,” and “equal to or greater than” any of the individual recited percentages, and any range between any of the recited percentages.

While the dimensions for the top and bottom slits are given as identical, in other implementations they could have different values. Additionally, while the right-side and left-side slits and tabs and associated dimensions may have identical values (as depicted in the drawings), in other implementations they could have different values. For example, each right-side top slit could be longer than each right-side bottom slit by some amount, each left-side top slit could have the same length as each right-side bottom slit, and each left-side bottom slit could have the same length as each right-side top slit, so that when two barriers are interlocked the total length of the interlocking top slits (left-side plus right-side) and the total length of the interlocking bottom slits (left-side plus right-side) is equal. There are other variations, and this is just one example.

The barrier may be used for a variety of uses. One example use is representatively illustrated in FIG. 2, where the barrier device is being used to protect a baseboard 200, such as a baseboard that runs along a bottom of a wall in a residential or commercial building. In practice the horizontal portion of the barrier may be placed directly below (and in contact with) a bottom of the baseboard, but for ease of viewing all the elements some space is shown between the horizontal portion and the bottom of the baseboard. A back 204 and side 210 of the baseboard are visible in FIG. 2.

The barrier is useful for protecting a baseboard during a variety of circumstances. As one non-limiting example, when a baseboard is present in a carpeted room the carpet generally extends underneath the bottom of the baseboard (into a gap between the bottom of the baseboard and the floor), and an installer may have to press the underside of the carpet down against the baseboard to force the edge of the carpet below the baseboard. The underside of carpet is extremely rough. During such a process the baseboard can be scratched, scuffed, blemished, marred, or otherwise damaged. If the baseboard is finished or painted, such a process can remove finishing or paint from the baseboard. The baseboard can similarly be damaged if carpeting is removed from a room while the baseboard is in place. Baseboards are similarly subject to damage merely from installers or their tools/implements or other items (ladders, hammers, screwdrivers, nails, glue containers, knives, etc.) bumping or rubbing against them while the installers are working in the room. Thus, in a variety of circumstances, it is useful to protect the baseboard. The barrier is one way to provide such protection.

The shape and thickness of the barrier allows it to be easily slid underneath the bottom of the baseboard, and pressed up against the front of the baseboard. This may be done before carpeting is installed, for example, and later when the carpet is being slid under the bottom of the baseboard the carpet will press up against the barrier instead of the front of the baseboard. The baseboard will therefore be protected during carpet installation, and after the carpet is fully installed (or locally installed under some section of the baseboard such that the carpet at or near its edge is underneath the horizontal portion), the barrier may be removed. In some implementations a single barrier could be used for carpet installation of an entire room, being occasionally slid along the baseboard in advance of the uninstalled portions of the carpet and away from portions where the carpet has already been installed under the baseboard. In this way an installer may use only one barrier to protect the entire baseboard (or all baseboards) of a room during carpet installation. In other implementations an installer could use multiple barriers, interlocked together with tabs as discussed above, to protect a larger portion (or all) of the baseboard(s) before any portion of the carpet is placed underneath the baseboard(s).

In implementations the barrier is thin enough that, once the carpet is installed underneath the baseboard, the barrier can simply be slid out away from the wall/baseboard and easily removed. The handle may help the user have additional leverage during this step and/or while inserting the barrier under the baseboard and/or while sliding the barrier from side to side.

While the above example details use of the barrier during carpet installation, similar and/or somewhat modified methods may be used for carpet removal, or floor or wall tile installation or removal, or laminate installation or removal, or wallpaper installation or removal, and/or so forth, as will be understood and easily practiced by the practitioner of ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 3 shows a slightly different and close-up angle, relative to FIG. 2, of the barrier and baseboard—showing the top 206 of the baseboard in addition to its back and side.

For ease of illustration, while some of the elements of the figures are shown in perspective view, some are not. For example, in FIGS. 1 and 2 the slits/slots 106 are not shown in perspective view, and in FIG. 2 the top and bottom edges of the baseboard closest to the left side of the page are not shown in perspective view, while the rest of the elements are shown in perspective view. For these reasons, FIGS. 1 and 2 are described as being partial perspective views.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of the opening or handle. Any shape could be used for the opening, but in the implementation shown it is seen to have a relatively oval general shape with further recessed/rounded portions at each side. Other dimensions are possible, but example dimensions are: a distance 108a of, or of about, 1.0 inch from the central top of the opening to the top of the vertical portion, a height 108b of, or of about, 1.5 inches, and a width 108c of, or of about, 4.5 inches.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the barrier. FIG. 6 shows a side view of the barrier proximate the baseboard, with the side of the baseboard visible. In implementations the horizontal portion may have a width 103k less than a corresponding width of the baseboard, so that the distal edge of the horizontal portion does not touch the wall below the baseboard when the vertical portion is pushed up against and abuts the front of the baseboard. In other implementations the horizontal portion may have a width 103k greater than the corresponding width of the baseboard so that the distal edge of the horizontal portion contacts the wall below the baseboard before the vertical portion can contact the front of the baseboard—thus leaving some space between the vertical portion and the front of the baseboard when the barrier is installed in a protective configuration.

FIG. 7 shows a front and bottom close-up view of the left side of the barrier and baseboard, from a right-side angle, with the front 202 and bottom 208 of the baseboard visible. The barrier is shown in transparent fashion so that the baseboard can be more easily seen (for this reason FIG. 7 is described as being a partial see-through view). In some implementations the barrier may, in fact, be formed of a transparent polymer, which may allow the baseboard to remain visible even with the barrier installed. In other implementations, however, the barrier may be opaque, or it may be translucent without being transparent. FIG. 8 shows the barrier in the same position (and viewed from the same angle and position) as FIG. 7 but with the baseboard removed, for reference.

FIGS. 9-11 show another version of a barrier device. Barrier device (barrier) 300 is similar in some ways to barrier 100, having a vertical portion 302 and a horizontal portion 304, and all of the description herein relative to barrier 100 applies to barrier 300 except that barrier 300 does not have an opening/handle and does not have slits/slots to form any tabs. Barrier 300 may nevertheless be used in much the same way as barrier 100. When multiple barriers are desired to cover a long length of baseboard, the barriers may simply abut one another or slightly overlap at the juncture of the barriers (in implementations barriers 100 could also simply abut one another or be overlapped in similar fashion, if desired—use of the tabs for interlocking is optional).

FIG. 9 shows a rear right-side perspective view of barrier 300.

While a variety of materials may be used, in implementations the barriers are formed of polypropylene, or polyethylene, or some other polymer of sufficient rigidity and sufficient flexibility to retain an about ninety-degree resting positing but to allow for some elastic bending. From the side the barriers are seen to form an L shape, in implementations. In implementations forming the barriers out of a flexible polymer allows for some elastic (non-permanent) deformation during use of the barriers. For example, after a barrier is installed and carpet is installed under the horizontal portion of the barrier (in the gap between the bottom of the baseboard and the floor), the barrier can in some implementations be removed by a user pressing the vertical section down so that it is flat (in other words so that it is relatively coplanar with the horizontal section) and sliding the barrier away from the wall and baseboard. This allows for quick removal of the barrier from the protective position. In some implementations it is also useful to remove the barrier with this downward force on the vertical portion in order to further protect the baseboard. A lot of force can be applied on the front/bottom edge of the baseboard if the barrier is simply pulled away from the baseboard using the handle, or is pulled upward, because the horizontal portion fits pretty tightly between the carpet or other floor covering and the baseboard bottom. Thus, the downward force on the vertical portion helps to slide the barrier out while also applying downward force on the carpet or floor covering, instead of upward on the baseboard, to allow the barrier to slide out while not causing any damage or the like to the baseboard. Once removed, the elasticity of the barrier results in the horizontal portion bending back to the ninety-degree or about ninety-degree angle, by itself, relative to the vertical portion.

In some instances carpet is installed in a room when the baseboards are freshly finished (the paint or finishing may be dried, but not cured or hardened). Painted/stained/clear-coated/lacquered/varnished/etc. baseboards can be “soft” and at severe risk of damage during room renovations. This risk can be especially prevalent during the installation of carpet due to the extremely stiff, sharp, and rough backing-material of carpet—as well as markings caused by errant tool-strikes. After installing carpet, scratches and tool marks on baseboards may need to be touched up with paint or finish, especially in a professional setting. Touch up can be costly, both in time and money. The type of finish or paint used, the sheen of the finish or paint, and the style of application (sprayer, brush, wiping, etc.) can change how, or if, the touchup blends well (or at all). Touchups often produce rather ineffective and imperfect results.

The barriers disclosed herein create a protective barrier between the already-installed baseboard and the carpet during the carpet installation process. Prior placement of the barrier in front of the baseboard to buffer the baseboard and protect against carpet contact with the baseboard will protect the finished baseboard. Utilization of the barriers will prevent inevitable damage to finished baseboards during carpet installation and will reduce the need for touchup painting/finishing during the final stages of remodeling. The barriers thus save time, money, and protect the look of baseboards.

There are uses for the barriers other than to protect baseboards during carpeting installation/removal. Baseboards can also be protected during: installation/removal of other flooring/substrates such as wood, tile, laminate flooring, and so forth; or during wallpapering, wall painting, or wall tile installation/removal; or during any work in any room in which tools, stain, paint, and any other implements are being used that could mar or damage or stain the baseboards or other materials/items.

The barriers can also be placed with the vertical portion flat on a floor to protect the floor while moving heavy wheeled objects across the floor, or while wheeling heavy objects using a dolly, effectively using the barriers as tracks for wheels. For example refrigerators, washers, dryers, desks, and so forth may be transported in such a way that wheels roll on top of the barriers, the barriers being between the wheels and the floor, in a way that the floor is protected. This is useful to protect delicate wood flooring, tiles, and laminate, and can protect against staining or marring carpeting, and so forth—and laying the barriers with the vertical portions flat on the floor provides wider tracks for wheels to help protect the floor. The barriers may provide protection during a baseboard preparation process (such as while sanding the baseboard or placing spackle on the baseboard, painting or finishing the baseboard, etc.) by being placed between a painter's knuckles and the exposed tack-strip that is often present before carpet is installed. This can be done by laying the vertical portion relatively flat, atop the tack strip, or by laying the barrier so that the top edge of the vertical portion and the distal edge of the horizontal portion touch the floor and the tack strip is below the barrier and located within the space formed by the junction between the vertical and horizontal portions. The barriers can also be used by a painter as a quick barrier between surfaces (for example instead of tape).

The barriers also aid in carpet installation/removal by reducing friction/resistance. The folded shape of the barriers, or in other words the L shape, allows the horizontal portion (or “foot”) to provide base support for the vertical or upright portion during use, and the flexible nature of the barrier allows for easy removal after use.

Several variations or options are possible for the barriers, such as: the corners of the barriers could be rounded such as for increased safety, the edges could be beveled such as for easier installation and removal, the polypropylene or polyethylene or other polymer could be translucent both for aesthetic appeal and so the user can see the baseboard and/or other protected element and/or see the barrier working/functioning, a mark/brand or logo or other stylistic elements or even advertising may be embossed or marked or otherwise placed on the barrier, and so forth.

The barriers are also useful to protect flooring and/or walls when sanding, painting, or finishing a door without removing the door. The barrier could be placed, for example, with the vertical portion flat on the ground/floor so that any sanded residue, paint, or finish does not contact the floor. This can protect carpeting, tile, wooden flooring, any other floor material, transitions at doorways between carpeting and hardwood or tile or other flooring, and so forth.

The barriers can also be useful for protecting baseboards when flooring itself is sanded, stained, painted, or otherwise worked on. For example baseboards can be protected using the barriers when a wooden floor is sanded and re-stained or painted, or while a concrete floor is etched and then stained to form stained concrete, and so forth.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show another use of the barriers. In FIG. 10 a baseboard 200 and a door frame 400 are shown. There is an area below baseboard 200 which is a gap between the baseboard and the bare (non-carpeted) floor. In other words the floor in FIG. 10 has no carpet, tile, laminate, etc.—but is the bare concrete or bare subfloor. The door frame is seen to extend all the way to the floor, without any gap. In implementations such as this, a barrier device may not be able to extend below the door frame, as there is no gap below it. In other implementations in which there is a gap between the bottom of the door frame and the floor, the barrier can simply be slid underneath the door frame to protect the bottom portion of the door frame in the same way that the baseboard is protected. For implementations where the door frame reaches all the way to the floor however, or far enough towards the floor that there is not enough of a gap to slide a horizontal portion of a barrier underneath, a configuration such as that of FIG. 11 can be used to protect the lower portion of the door frame.

In FIG. 11 a barrier 100 is coupled together with a barrier 300. The full barrier 100 is not visible but extends beyond the edge of the drawing. Barrier 300 in FIG. 11 is a short version of a barrier and has no tabs or handle. Barrier 300 is placed on its side, so that its vertical portion mates with the tabs 104 of barrier 100, as seen in FIG. 11. The horizontal portion of barrier 300 is on the opposite side of the vertical portion as the tabs of barrier 100, and extends towards the door, either between the door and the door frame, or otherwise. Because the horizontal portion is short, even if it is not situated between the door and door frame it may not cause the barrier 300 to be positioned at an awkward or undesired angle relative to the barrier 100. If there were an implementation wherein the position and/or size of the horizontal portion were such that it pushed the barrier 300 to an awkward or undesired angle relative to barrier 100, barrier 300 could instead be flipped so that the horizontal portion extends in the other direction (out of the page instead of into the page). In either case, the ability to mate two barriers together, one on its side (rotated at a ninety-degree angle) for the door frame, allows both the baseboard and door frame to be protected. In implementations two barriers 100 could be used in a similar fashion (instead of a barrier 100 and a barrier 300), and if desired one of them could be sized conveniently to cover just a lower portion of a door frame, as in FIG. 11. In other implementations the barrier covering the door frame could be longer, extending further upwards (such as up to and/or beyond the doorknob or even to the top of the door frame), as desired. Because the barriers are in some implementations formed of flexible polymers, in some implementations a user could cut one or more barriers to desired lengths either to protect door frames or baseboards of different lengths, and so forth. In implementations two barriers 300 could be used similarly to the barriers of FIG. 11 but without mating the two together (since there would be no tabs) by placing the two barriers close to or abutting one another, with one on its side (at a ninety-degree angle relative to the other) to protect the baseboard and the door frame.

In some implementations the horizontal portions could have slits/notches therein allowing the vertical portion to be curved inward or outward, as desired. This may be useful for walls and baseboards that are not fully flat or planar but which have some overall curvature to them (for example, an oval-shaped room). It may also be useful for bending a barrier at a corner so that one barrier can protect portions of both baseboards forming the corner. In implementations the barrier could be flexible enough to allow the barrier to be rolled up when not in use, and unrolled to be used (the slits/notches in the horizontal portion helping to facilitating this). In other implementations, a dedicated corner barrier piece could include a ninety-degree bend in the vertical portion itself, and a corresponding ninety-degree bend in the horizontal portion itself, in addition to the ninety-degree bend between the horizontal and vertical portions. These dedicated corner barrier pieces could be shorter than other barriers and meant to cover just a corner-such as extending a half foot or one foot in each direction from the corner, or the like. In other implementations a user may simply abut two barriers at a corner, one on one baseboard and one on the other, to effectively protect each of the two baseboards at and near the corner.

It is pointed out that, while the barriers are discussed herein as protecting baseboards, in some implementations a barrier could also protect a portion of a wall above a baseboard, depending on a height of the vertical portion. Some barriers could have an extended vertical portion for this purpose—to protect a lower portion of a wall above a baseboard.

Many other uses for the barriers will be understood by the practitioner of ordinary skill in the art and are intended to be encompassed within this disclosure so that the uses and methods are not limited to the specific examples given herein. The specific examples given herein are only to provide a few representative examples.

As can be seen from the drawings, the width 103k of the horizontal portion is shorter than the height 103a of the vertical portion. It may also be said that the width of the horizontal portion, perpendicular to the vertical portion, is shorter than the height of the vertical portion perpendicular to the horizontal portion. It may also be said that the width of the horizontal portion, perpendicular to a largest planar surface of the vertical portion, is shorter than a height of the vertical portion perpendicular to a largest planar surface of the horizontal portion. In implementations the said width of the horizontal portion may be anywhere between 70% to 1% the magnitude of the said height of the vertical portion or, in other implementations, 69%, 68%, 67%, 66%, 65%, 64%, 63%, 62%, 61%, 60%, 59%, 58%, 57%, 56%, 55%, 54%, 53%, 52%, 51%, 50%, 49%, 48%, 47%, 46%, 45%, 44%, 43%, 42%, 41%, 40%, 39%, 38%, 37%, 36%, 35%, 34%, 33%, 32%, 31%, 30%, 29%, 28%, 27%, 26%, 25%, 24%, 23%, 22%, 21%, 20%, 19%, 18%, 17%, 16%, 15%, 14%, 13%, 12%, 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, or 2% the magnitude of the said height of the vertical portion. This includes values of “less than” or “equal to or less than” any of the individual recited percentages, and any range between the recited percentages.

It may also be said that a surface area of a largest planar surface of the horizontal portion is smaller than a surface area of a largest planar surface of the vertical portion (the largest planar surface of the horizontal portion would be its underside, which has a slightly larger surface area than the topside of the horizontal portion visible in FIG. 1—and the largest planar surface of the vertical portion would be its front side, which has a slightly larger surface area than the rear side of the vertical portion visible in FIG. 1). In implementations the said largest surface area of the horizontal portion may be anywhere between 70% to 1% the magnitude of the largest surface area of the vertical portion or, in other implementations, 69%, 68%, 67%, 66%, 65%, 64%, 63%, 62%, 61%, 60%, 59%, 58%, 57%, 56%, 55%, 54%, 53%, 52%, 51%, 50%, 49%, 48%, 47%, 46%, 45%, 44%, 43%, 42%, 41%, 40%, 39%, 38%, 37%, 36%, 35%, 34%, 33%, 32%, 31%, 30%, 29%, 28%, 27%, 26%, 25%, 24%, 23%, 22%, 21%, 20%, 19%, 18%, 17%, 16%, 15%, 14%, 13%, 12%, 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, or 2% the magnitude of the largest surface area of the vertical portion. This includes values of “less than” or “equal to or less than” any of the individual recited percentages, and any range between the recited percentages.

Any relative size dimensions, of lengths or widths or heights or surface areas, may be selected so as to be useful for various circumstances. For instance, when using the barrier to protect a baseboard, it is useful for the horizontal portion to have a width shorter than a height of the vertical portion, and for the largest surface area of the horizontal portion to be smaller than the largest surface area of the vertical portion, so that the barrier fits well against the baseboard while protecting it and without overly interfering with other elements (for example not sticking out from the wall so much that it makes it more difficult to install or remove carpet, as one example).

In the versions in the drawings the width 103k of the horizontal portion is less than one-third the height 103a of the vertical portion, and is further less than one fifth the height 103a of the vertical portion. In the versions in the drawings the largest surface area of the horizontal portion is less than one-third the largest surface area of the vertical portion, and is further less than one-fifth the largest surface area of the vertical portion. These size dimensions help with the usefulness of the device, to allow it to cover a baseboard while also not sticking out so far as to hinder a user installing or removing carpet or the like, as discussed above.

While the slits could have varying lengths, lengths 103h and 103i (for both left-side and right-side slits) that are all identical ensures ease of manufacturing and use. Additionally, lengths 103h and 103i that are relatively short (for example, equal to or less than two inches, or equal to or less than 1.5 inches, or equal to or less than one inch, equal to or less than 0.5 inch, and the like) allows for interlocking while not requiring too much length of the barrier devices for interlocking (thus helping to maximize baseboard coverage of interlocked barriers). In implementations, only one side (right side or left side) of the barrier device could have slits, and these could be used to mate with a non-slitted edge of another barrier (not unlike how the baseboard 100 mates with baseboard 300 in FIG. 11). In other implementations, as in FIG. 1 and other figures, both the right side and left side of the barrier include slits/tabs.

In implementations the vertical portion comprises the same thickness as the thickness 103j of the horizontal portion. In other implementations the thickness of the vertical portion comprises a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the horizontal portion. “Substantially equal” is defined herein as at least 80% equal or, in other words, one having a thickness that is at least 80% the thickness of the other. The thicknesses are measured perpendicular to the largest planar surfaces of each portion, such that the thickness of the vertical portion is measured perpendicular to a largest planar surface of the vertical portion and the thickness of the horizontal portion is measured perpendicular to a largest planar surface of the horizontal portion.

As can be seen in the images, in implementations the vertical portion includes four slits, each of equal length, with two located on the left side of the barrier and with two on the right side (opposite the left side) of the barrier in locations and positions symmetric to the locations and positions of the two slits on the left side (locations here referring to their vertical placement along the side of the vertical portion and positions referring to the angles of the longest lengths of the slits). As can be seen in the figures, in implementations the slits each have a longest length (103h and 103i) that is parallel with a longest length (103g) of the vertical portion. In other implementations they may be substantially parallel, which is defined herein as being no more than twenty degrees offset from perfect perpendicularity.

The vertical portion and horizontal portion are seen to have substantially rectangular shapes. A “substantially rectangular” element is defined herein as an element which has at least 80% of the area of the smallest rectangle that would fully circumscribe the element.

As used herein, the term “floor covering” refers to any item used to cover a floor or subsurface, including carpeting, a foam pad material that would go beneath carpeting, tile, laminate, a rug, wood flooring, and so forth.

The phrase “largest planar surface” is used herein in a few places. Unless explicitly defined otherwise in any instance, the term “largest” in that phrase refers to planar surfaces of the element itself, and not to planar surfaces of any other element. For example, even though the horizontal portion is smaller than the vertical portion, the horizontal portion nevertheless has its own “largest planar surface” similar to how the vertical portion also has its own “largest planar surface.” Additionally, with respect to any element, the phrase “largest planar surface” is not exclusive—an element having two planar surfaces, each of which have exactly the same surface area, and having no larger planar surfaces, effectively has two “largest planar surfaces” each of which may rightly be called “a largest planar surface” of that element. Finally, “planar surface” refers to any surface that exists in a common plane—in other words, a flat, two-dimensional plane. The term “substantially planar” may refer to any surface defining a surface area at least 80% of which exists in a single, flat, two-dimensional plane. Accordingly, a “largest substantially planar surface” refers to the largest surface of an element which is at least substantially planar—in other words, at least 80% of its surface area lies in a single, flat, two-dimensional plane. In the example barrier devices in the drawings the largest planar surface of the vertical portion lies in a single, flat, two-dimensional plane and the largest planar surface of the horizontal portion similarly lies in another single, flat, two-dimensional plane. Such surfaces are accordingly both “largest planar surfaces” and “largest substantially planar surfaces,” as those terms are defined herein.

In places where the phrase “one of A and B” is used herein, including in the claims, wherein A and B are elements, the phrase shall have the meaning “A and/or B.” This shall be extrapolated to as many elements as are recited in this manner, for example the phrase “one of A, B, and C” shall mean “A, B, and/or C,” and so forth. To further clarify, the phrase “one of A, B, and C” would include implementations having: A only; B only; C only; A and B but not C; A and C but not B; B and C but not A; and A and B and C.

In places where the description above refers to specific implementations of barrier devices and related methods, one or more or many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Details of any specific implementation/embodiment described herein may, wherever possible, be applied to any other specific implementation/embodiment described herein. The appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this disclosure.

Furthermore, in the claims, if a specific number of an element is intended, such will be explicitly recited, and in the absence of such explicit recitation no such limitation exists. For example, the claims may include phrases such as “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim elements. The use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of any other claim element by the indefinite article “a” or “an” limits that claim to only one such element, and the same holds true for the use in the claims of definite articles.

Additionally, in places where a claim below uses the term “first” as applied to an element, this does not imply that the claim requires a second (or more) of that element—if the claim does not explicitly recite a “second” of that element, the claim does not require a “second” of that element. Furthermore, in some cases a claim may recite a “second” or “third” or “fourth” (or so on) of an element, and this does not necessarily imply that the claim requires a first (or so on) of that element—if the claim does not explicitly recite a “first” (or so on) of that element (or an element with the same name, such as “a widget” and “a second widget”), then the claim does not require a “first” (or so on) of that element.

Method steps disclosed anywhere herein, including in the claims, may be performed in any feasible/possible order. Recitation of method steps in any given order in the claims or elsewhere does not imply that the steps must be performed in that order unless they are explicitly required be performed in that order—such claims and descriptions are intended to cover the steps performed in any order except any orders which are technically impossible or not feasible. However, in some implementations method steps may be performed in the order(s) in which the steps are presented herein, including any order(s) presented in the claims.

Barrier Devices and Related Methods

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CPC

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Abstract

Description

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CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Provisional Applications (1)