Patent Application
20140102041
This invention relates to an easy to use repair kit for repairing a hole in drywall and/or plaster.
Oftentimes it is necessary or desirable to fix a hole (e.g., a screw hole or a nail hole) in drywall and/or plaster structures such as ceilings and walls. Heretofore, a user desiring to repair such holes would insert wet joint compound or a wet plaster mixture into the hole or opening to fill the same. However, inserting the wet compound or mixture into the hole could be both time consuming and messy, and oftentimes results in excess compound or mixture being inadvertently applied to the surface of the structure adjacent the hole or opening which must then be cleaned.
Following the application of joint compound or plaster mixture, the user must then wait until the wet compound or mixture dries and hardens, which can also be time consuming and take a day or more. Further, during the drying process, joint compound and plaster mixtures tend to shrink or contract leaving a slight indent in the structure being repaired, which often requires that the user apply a second application of the joint compound or plaster mixture to the structure to achieve a smooth finish. Of course, a second application further requires a second waiting period for the newly applied joint compound/plaster mixture to dry and harden. Once the second application of joint compound/plastic mixture has hardened, the user must typically then sand the surface to prepare the same to be primed and painted, all of which further lengthens the repair process.
Consequently, there exists in the art a long-felt need for a drywall/plaster repair kit that eliminates the waiting time typically associated with other drywall/plaster repair methods and devices. There also exists in the art a long felt need for a drywall/plaster repair kit that enables a user to repair a hole or opening in drywall and/or plaster with a single application, thereby saving time. Finally, there is a long-felt need for a drywall/plaster repair kit that accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and safe and easy to use.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, is a drywall repair kit that enables a user to repair a hole or opening in drywall and/or plaster with a single application, and without the wait times typically associated with other drywall/plaster repair methods and devices. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the drywall repair kit comprises one or more gypsum pencils, a sharpener, and a cutting device. A user can use the kit to repair relatively small openings in a drywall or plaster surface by: (i) inserting a sharpened tip of the gypsum pencil into the opening to be repaired; (ii) using the cutting device to score the exterior surface of the gypsum pencil at its intersection with the surface; and (iii) breaking the gypsum pencil at the score line, thereby ensuring that the portion of the gypsum pencil that remains in the structure is relatively flush with the surface of the structure. Upon completion, the repaired surface can immediately be primed and/or painted without the traditional wait times associated with permitting the wet joint compound/plaster mixtures to dry, harden and be sanded. Moreover, the remaining portion of the gypsum pencil may be sharpened with the sharpener and reused to fill another opening. Finally, no prior construction or specialized knowledge or know-how is required to use the drywall repair kit of the present invention.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details.
Referring initially to the drawings,
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, pencil like structure 110 is between three and seven inches in length, as measured between first end 112 and second end 114, and between ¼ and ¾ of an inch in diameter. Nonetheless, it is contemplated that pencil like structure 110 could come in other shapes and sizes without affecting the overall concept of the invention.
Sharpener 130 can be any type of sharpener known in the art, such as a pencil sharpener or other sharpening device used to sharpen the end of an instrument (e.g., a wooden pencil) to a point. In a preferred embodiment, sharpener 130 is comprised of a housing 132 with a generally conically shaped opening 134 therein and a blade 135 partially positioned within said opening 134 so that when, for example, first end 112 of pencil like structure 110 is inserted into said opening 134 and rotated in a clockwise direction, blade 135 shapes first end 112 into a point 118.
As best illustrated in
As previously stated,
Second compartment 190 may further comprise a bottom 192, a wall 194 extending therefrom, and a top 198 that defines an interior space 196. Interior space 196 may house sharpener 130 and a continuous opening 199 in top 198 as shown in
Having described the overall structure and contents of a preferred embodiment of repair kit 100, the use and usefulness of the same will now be summarized. A user (not shown) desiring to repair a small opening 210 in a structure 200, such as a drywall or plaster wall or ceiling, would simply insert point 118 of pencil like structure 110 into opening 210, as best illustrated in
Accordingly, the drywall/plaster repair kit 100 of the present invention eliminates the waiting time typically associated with other drywall/plaster repair methods and devices. The drywall/plaster repair kit 100 also enables a user to repair a hole in drywall and/or plaster with a single application, thereby saving time. Finally, the drywall/plaster repair kit 100 is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and safe and easy to use.
Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/714,780 filed on Oct. 17, 2012.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61714780 | Oct 2012 | US |
