Patent Application
20110123718
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to roller brushes, and more particularly, to a handheld roller device for painting perpendicularly joined walls different colors without contaminating the paint of either wall with paint from the adjacent wall.
2. Background Of The Prior Art
Hand held roller devices for painting relatively large, planar surface areas are well known. Roller devices can apply paint to walls and ceilings relatively close to corners, but cannot completely cover a first wall that forms a corner without engaging and applying paint to the second wall forming the corner. Thus, the roller device is manually urged upon the first wall relatively close to the second wall, resulting in a relatively “thin” strip of unpainted first wall that forms the corner.
To complete the painting of the thin strip and corner, a corner device must be utilized that slides upon the first wall sufficiently close to the second wall to apply paint only to the first wall, while avoiding engagement with the second wall, resulting in the painting of the thin strip and the first wall without applying paint to the second wall.
The problem is that switching back and forth between the roller device and the corner device to paint a relatively large wall surface and a corner is time consuming, and wastes paint and money. A need exists for a roller device that paints a relatively large surface area on a first wall, and that engages a second wall portion that forms a corner with a first wall portion, such that paint is applied from the roller device to the first wall sufficiently close to the second wall portion to completely cover the first wall portion forming the corner without applying paint to the adjacent second wall portion forming the corner.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome many of the disadvantages associated with prior art devices for painting perpendicularly joined walls different colors without contaminating the paint of either wall with paint from the adjacent wall.
A principal object of the present invention is to provide a device that engages a first wall while applying paint to a second wall perpendicularly joined to the first wall. A feature of the device is a roller assembly for applying paint to the second wall. Another feature of the device is a handle member secured to the roller assembly, the roller assembly being secured to the handle member by an angle bar. Yet another feature of the device is a first ball transfer member for rotationally engaging the first wall, the first ball transfer member being secured to a wall engagement end of the roller assembly. An advantage of the device is that a user can manually apply paint to the second wall while the first ball transfer member engages the first wall such that the paint being applied to the second wall is not applied to the first wall.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device with two separated portions that engage a first wall, the two separated portions cooperating to guide the roller assembly upon the first wall such that only a second wall that is perpendicular to the first wall receives paint thereupon. A feature of the device is a second ball transfer member secured to an end portion of the angle bar, the angle bar being orientated to dispose the second ball transfer member upon the first wall. An advantage of the device is that the first and second ball transfer members cooperatively engage the first wall to guide the roller assembly such that only a second wall that is perpendicular to the first wall receives paint thereupon, thereby allowing a second color paint to be applied to the adjacent second wall while maintaining the integrity of a first color paint on the first wall when the user operates the handheld roller device.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device that urges the roller assembly toward the first wall while a user applies paint to a second wall. A feature of the device is a spring member disposed between a spring retainer and an inner end portion of the roller assembly to urge the roller assembly and the first ball transfer member upon the first wall while paint is applied adjacent to the first wall and upon the second wall. An advantage of the device is that the spring member is dimensioned and configured to provide sufficient force to urge the roller assembly toward the second wall such that the first ball transfer member maintains engagement with the second wall, irrespective of the user inconsistently positioning the handheld roller device relative to the second wall, thereby maintaining a constant distance between the first wall and an edge portion of the paint applied to the second wall via the handheld roller device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device with a handle member that is adjustably secured to the angle bar. A feature of the device is a handle adjustment member that snugly slides upon the angle bar. An advantage of the device is that the handle member is adjustably secured circumferentially about and longitudinally upon the angle bar to assist the user when orientating the handheld roller device relative to the second wall.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that prevents the roller member from falling from the roller assembly. A feature of the device is a circumferentially channeled inner end portion for receiving a retaining clamp therein. An advantage of the device is that the roller member is maintained upon the roller assembly irrespective of the orientation of the device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that maintains the position of the first ball transfer member in an end portion of the roller member. A feature of the device is an inner clamp portion for securing a first ball transfer retainer to a cooperating retaining bar portion of in roller assembly. An advantage of the device is that the first ball transfer retainer is prevented from escaping a recess in a wall engagement end of said the roller member irrespective of the orientation of the device.
Briefly, the invention provides a handheld roller device for painting corners comprising: a handle member; a roller assembly secured to said handle member by an angle bar; a first ball transfer member secured to a wall engagement end of said roller assembly such that said first ball transfer member engages a first wall; and a second ball transfer member secured to an end portion of an extension rod, said extension rod being orientated to dispose said second ball transfer member such that said second ball transfer member engages the first wall, whereby said first and second ball transfer members cooperate to guide said roller assembly upon the first wall such that only a second wall that is perpendicular to the first wall receives a second color paint thereupon, thereby allowing a second color paint to be applied to the second wall while maintaining the integrity of the first color paint on the first wall when the user operates said handheld roller device.
Further, the invention provides a method for painting perpendicularly joined walls different colors without contaminating the paint of either wall with paint from the adjacent wall, said method comprising the steps of: providing a roller assembly with a handle attached thereto; securing a first ball transfer assembly to an outer end portion of said roller member such that said first ball transfer assembly engages a first wall, whereby said first ball transfer assembly guides said roller member upon the first wall such that a second wall receives a second color paint thereupon, while the adjacent first wall that is perpendicular to the second wall is not defaced with the second color paint, thereby maintaining the integrity of the first color paint upon the first wall; and securing a second ball transfer assembly to an end portion of an extension rod such that said second ball transfer assembly engages the first wall, whereby said first and second ball transfer assemblies cooperate to guide said roller member upon the first wall such that the second wall receives the second color paint thereupon, while the adjacent first wall does not receive the second color paint thereupon.
Also, the invention provides a device for painting a ceiling a first color and a wall a second color without commingling the first and second colors comprising: a roller member having a first ball transfer member removably secured to a wall engagement end of said roller member; a handle member secured to said roller member such that said roller member rotates while said handle member is manually supported; and a second ball transfer member secured to an end portion of an extension rod, said extension rod being orientated to dispose said second ball transfer member such that said second ball transfer member engages the wall, whereby said first and second ball transfer members cooperatively engage a wall surface while said roller member engages a ceiling surface adjacent and perpendicularly disposed relative to the wall surface, said first and second ball transfer members guiding said roller member while a user manually urges a first color paint from said roller member upon the ceiling surface such that the first color paint is disposed adjacent to the second color paint upon the wall surface without engaging the second color paint upon the wall surface.
These and other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention, as well as details of an illustrative embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following detailed description and attached drawings, wherein:
Referring now to figures, a handheld roller device for painting corners in accordance with the present invention is denoted as numeral 10. The device 10 includes a handle member 12, a roller assembly 14 secured to the handle member 12 by an angle bar 16, a first ball transfer retainer 18 forcibly and removably inserted into a recess 20 in a wall engagement end 22 of a rotating roller member 24 which is part of the roller assembly 14, and a plurality of first ball transfer members 26 secured in the first ball transfer retainer 18. The first ball transfer members 26 are symmetrically disposed about a central axis 28 of the first ball transfer retainer 18 such that the first ball transfer members 26 ultimately engage a first wall 30 (see
To increase the stability of the device 10 when manually urged to paint perpendicular corners, the device 10 further includes a rotational second ball transfer member 34 secured in an end portion 36 of an extension rod 43 that is integrally joined to a channel member 42 that is forcibly secured upon a bend portion 48 of the angle bar 16. The bend portion 48 inserts into a channel 47 in the channel member 42, whereupon, a bolt 44 inserts through an aperture 49 in the channel member 42 and a nut 45 is rotationally secured upon the bolt 44 to “pinch” opposing channel walls 51 together, thereby securing the channel member 42 upon the bend portion 48 such that the second ball transfer member 34 is positioned to engage the first wall 30 simultaneously with the first ball transfer member 26 when the roller member 24 engages the second wall 32.
Although the extension rod 43 is depicted as being detachable which allows the rod 43 to be used with a new device 10 or for retrofitting prior art roller devices, a myriad of attachment techniques may be used, including but no limited to welding, soldering, adhesives and coupling mechanisms all well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The preferred attachment technique is to use coupling mechanisms that allow the extension rod 43 to be slightly adjustable upon a longitudinal portion 46 of the angle bar 16, such that the longitudinal axes of the extension rod 43 and longitudinal portion 46 remain aligned as the rod 43 disposes the second ball transfer member 34 closer to or farther from the first wall 30 as required orientate the device 10 as depicted in
The angle bar 16 is configured and dimensioned to cooperate with the channel member 42 and extension rod 43 to dispose the second ball transfer member 34 such that the second ball transfer member 34 engages the first wall 30 together with the first ball transfer members 26 when a longitudinally axis of the roller member 24 is orientated perpendicularly to the first wall 30. Ultimately, the first and second ball transfer members 26 and 34, and the handle 12 and angle bar 16, cooperate to guide the wall engagement end 22 of the roller member 24 parallel, adjacent and unobstructed relative to the first wall 30, while the roller member 24 is manually urged to apply a second color paint upon the second wall 32 such that the second color paint does not engage a first color paint on the first wall 30.
The handle member 12 includes a plastic hand grip portion 38 that receives an anchor portion 40 of the angle bar 16. The channel member 42 ultimately engages the anchor portion 40 and the bend portion 48 such that the channel member 42 can be slidably positioned upon the angle bar 16 to ultimately dispose the second ball transfer member 34 upon the first wall 30 in aligned cooperation with the first ball transfer member 26 as illustrated in
The angle bar 16 may be fabricated from myriad of materials but stainless steel is preferred. The angle bar 16 is comparable in configuration and dimension to a standard angle bar 46 as illustrated in
The roller assembly 14 may include an inner bias member 52 (see
The spring member 62 is dimensioned and configured to provide sufficient force to urge the roller assembly 14 toward the second wall such that the first ball transfer member 26 or multiple first ball transfer members 26 maintain engagement with the second wall 32, irrespective of the user inconsistently positioning the handheld roller device 10 relative to the second wall 32, thereby providing paint upon the first wall 30 that is sufficiently close to the second wall 32 such that a painted corner is seen with a first color paint only on the first wall 30 and a second color paint only on the second wall 32 with no “unpainted” space between the first and second walls 30 and 32. The amount of movement of the handle member 12 away from the second wall 32 that the bias member 52 can accommodate and still maintain engagement of the first ball transfer members 26 and the second wall 32 corresponds to the axial compression of the spring member 62. For example, if the spring member 62 is compressed one inch with the handle member 12 being three inches from the second wall 32, then the maximum distance that the user can move the handle member 12 away from the second wall 32 and still maintain contact between the first ball transfer members 26 and the second wall 32 is four inches.
The roller member 24 is typical to a prior art roller that is disposed upon the first bias member 52, except for the recess 20 in the wall engagement end 24. The recess 20 is dimensioned to snugly receive the first ball transfer retainer 18 such that the retainer 18 is centrally disposed in the recess 20 with the roller member 24 providing sufficient holding force to prevent the retainer 18 from falling from the recess 20 irrespective of the position of the roller member 24. The retainer 18 is a relatively light weight portion of plastic having a cylindrically configured inner portion 66 that inserts into the recess 20, and a relatively “thin” cylindrically configured outer portion 68 that engages the wall engagement end 22 of the roller member 24 and snugly receives one axially disposed first ball transfer member 26 or a plurality of first ball transfer members 26 symmetrically and circumferentially disposed about the central axis 28 of the first ball transfer retainer 18.
The roller member 24 may include a circumferential channel 70 (see
The first and second ball transfer members 26 and 34 are manufactured by a myriad of companies including Hudson Bearings, Inc, located at 13 Colton Road, East Lyme, Conn. 06333. When using single first and second ball transfer members 26 and 34, the preferred part number is NMBT. When using a plurality of first and/or second ball transfer members 26 and 34, correspondingly smaller members 26 and 34 are used, that are manufactured by competing suppliers. The members 26 and 34 are readily disposed in the first ball transfer retainer 18 and the end portion 36 of the angle bar 16 by drilling recesses (not depicted) in the first ball transfer member 18 and the end portion 36 of the extension rod 43 if the rod is solid bar stock. Obviously, if the extension rod 43 is tubular, the rod 43 need not be drilled. The drilled recesses are dimensioned and configured to snugly receive respective first and second ball transfer members 26 and 34 such that the members do not escape the recesses irrespective of the orientation of the handheld roller device 10.
In operation, a handheld roller device 10 is dimensioned to accommodate a user's ability to paint corners formed by perpendicularly joined first and second walls 30 and 32. A relatively small device 10 will include a single first ball transfer member 26 disposed in a first ball transfer retainer 18, and a second ball transfer member 34 disposed in a recess in an end portion 36 of an angle bar 16. If a relatively large device 10 is used to paint the first and second walls 30 and 32, then a plurality of first ball transfer members 26 will be circumferentially disposed about a central axis 28 of the first ball transfer retainer 18, and a plurality of second ball transfer members 34 will be circumferentially disposed about a central axis 35 of a second ball transfer retainer 37. The retainer 37 will be secured to the extension rod 43 via a rod portion 39 of the retainer 37 being snugly inserted into the recess in the end portion 36 of the extension rod 43.
After selecting the optimum first and second ball transfer members 26 and 34, the user positions the handle member 12 for optimum leverage by sliding and securing the channel member 42 upon a longitudinal portion 46 of the angle bar 16. The user then dips the roller member 24 in a second color paint then disposed the roller member 24 against a second wall 32 such that the first and second ball transfer members 26 and 34 engage the first wall 30. The user then rotates the roller member 24 upon the second wall 32 while maintaining engagement between the first and second ball transfer members 26 and 34 and the first wall 30, until a predetermined portion of the second wall 32 forming a corner with the first wall 30 is coated with the second color paint.
After the second color paint has dried upon the second wall 32, and the device 10 has been cleaned of the second color paint, the roller member 24 is then coated with a first color paint. The roller member 24 is then disposed against the first wall 30 such that the first and second ball transfer member 26 and 34 engage the second wall 32. The user then rotates the roller member 24 upon the first wall 30 while maintaining engagement between the first and second ball transfer members 26 and 34 and the second wall 32, until a predetermined portion of the first wall 30 forming the corner with the second wall 32 is coated with the first color paint, thereby completing the painting of the corner formed by the perpendicularly joined first and second walls 30 and 32.
The foregoing description is for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of protection accorded this invention. The scope of protection is to be measured by the following claims, which should be interpreted a broadly as the inventive contribution permits.
