Patent Grant
7059375
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method and device for applying wallpaper borders to a flat receiving surface, such as walls or ceilings, which device can be attached to the receiving surface hands free to aid the user by eliminating the need for a second user or additional equipment to hold the wallpaper border in place and not damage the wall or ceiling while the user changes its position, or performs other functions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are several prior art devices disclose various tools for applying wallpaper borders, which include:
Prior art devices with anchoring devices as disclosed in Zane U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,633, and Burch, U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,432, created holes that damaged the wall or the border, which necessitate repair. Other prior art devices utilizing long poles as handles, such as Campagna U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,543 and Johnson U.S. Pat. No. 6,713,749B, can not be utilized for ceiling application. Neither can prior art devices utilizing trays, such as Johnson U.S. Pat. No. 6,713,749B, Aranjo CL al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,430, and Mazzola et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,152, be utilized for ceiling application. Prior art devices also employ a cup shaped containers with slots through which the wallpaper border is applied to a wall, such as Edney et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,630, Campagna U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,543, and Vester, U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,432, which can not be anchored to the wall or ceiling for hands free employment and which need the aid of an additional user.
Accordingly, besides the distinctions from the prior art stated above, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:
To provide for a device wherein the apparatus is contained in one easily transportable unit;
To provide for a device wherein the need for numerous sized devices is eliminated as the device can be used for any width or standard length of wallpaper border;
To provide for a device, wherein the wallpaper border can be applied vertically, as well as horizontally to walls or ceilings;
To provide for a device that can be anchored to walls or ceilings for hands free application of wallpaper borders;
To provide for a device preferably made of plastic, wherein the device is easily cleaned;
To provide for a device preferably made of plastic, wherein the device is relatively inexpensive to manufacture;
To provide for a device preferably made of plastic, wherein the device is transparent or made of plastic mesh, so the user can see when the wallpaper border role is near its end, and ready for a refill without having to stop application and look into the device;
To provide for a device preferably made of plastic, wherein the device is waterproof so as not to degrade under the wet conditions, and
To provide for a device preferably made of plastic, wherein the device is durable, not easily broken or fractured, and therefore safe.
a is a detailed expanded view showing the handle portion threadedly attached to the cylindrical cup portion's circular planar bottom surface.
b is a cross-sectional view along line a-a′ showing the male threaded bolt of the handle portion threaded though the female threaded bore of the cylindrical cup portion's bottom circular planar surface.
c is a cross-sectional view along line b-b′ showing the notched cap.
a is a perspective view showing the cylindrical cup portion (fragmented view), anchored to the wall by the dual sided push pin.
b is a cross-sectional view of the receiving surface (wall), showing the device (fragmented view) anchored to the wall.
This invention relates generally to a device for applying wallpaper borders of different widths and lengths using the same tool, whereby the user can anchor the device to a flat receiving surface (either a wall or ceiling), in order to have hands free movement to position ladders, mix glue or perform other functions, while applying the wallpaper border. The device is comprised of a cylindrical cup portion with a cup length longitudinal slot open at it top end, through which the wallpaper border is pulled through, and plurality of slits cut into the surface of the cylindrical cup portion for water access, and a handle portion.
The tool is preferably comprised of transparent solid plastic or plastic mesh material, in order to make the end of the wallpaper border roll visible to the user, so that the user does not have to stop and look inside the device to determine if the wallpaper border needs to be changed or is coming to an end. Plastic is preferable since it is safe, won't fracture, is easily cleaned and holds it shape when wet. A water resistant page of instructions is also included with the device.
Prior art devices disclose tools and kits for applying wallpaper or wallpaper borders. These devices are differentiated from the present invention, in that the prior art devices do not use pins or anchors that do not damage the wall or wallpaper. Using the present invention, any hole in the wall or ceiling (receiving surface), is covered by the wallpaper border, so no extra steps are needed to repair left behind holes in the receiving surface.
The preferred embodiment of the invention is comprised of molded plastic, with a cylindrical cup portion that can accommodate different sized widths and lengths of standard wallpaper borders. The standard range of a wallpaper border width is between 4 to 12 inches, and range of length is between 6 to 12 feet. The longitudinal slot is of a preferred range from 4–12 inches long, which accommodates the wallpaper border's width. The longitudinal slot is sufficiently wide enough (¼ inch) for the wallpaper border to be easily unrolled and pulled through, so as to be applied to the wall or ceiling. Prior art devices do not accommodate such a wide range of widths and lengths.
An alternative embodiment of the invention have handles of varying lengths to accommodate the user's height requirements. This may be a range from 6 inches to 2 feet in length. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle threadedly attaches to the base of the cylindrical cup portion by a centrally positioned threaded male bolt on the handle's top which screws into a centrally positioned threaded female bore on the cylindrical cup portion's base. Alternatively, the male bolt of the handle could be friction fit into the female bore of the cup portion's base.
The device is simple to use and applies the wallpaper border in a straight line, either vertically or horizontally, with clean edges and without air-bubbles. Therefore, professionals as well as laypersons will benefit from its use.
A plurality of side slits symmetrically cut through the cylindrical cup portion's surface allow for water to seep through the device to evenly wet the dry glued back of the wallpaper border in order to create paste. These slots also allow for even flow of water through the device to reduce water logging and degradation of the wetted wallpaper border during use. These side slits can either be longitudinally or concentrically located on the cylindrical cup portion's surface.
A notched rimmed cap can be securely friction fit to the top circular edge of the cylindrical cup portion in order to hold the wallpaper border in the device. A notch on the rim aligns with the open edge of the longitudinal slot, so when the cap is attached to the device, the wallpaper border's edge won't scrape against the cap's rim and be damaged during application
In the preferable embodiment of the invention, the device is anchored to the receiving surface by a dual sided push pin. Conventional pin devices can also be used. An upwardly slanting needle anchors the device to the outwardly facing surface of the dual sided push pin. A downwardly slanting needle attaches the inwardly facing surface of the dual sided push pin to the receiving surface. When the device is made of plastic mesh material, the upwardly slanting needle can be pushed through the pin holes or the mesh material to anchor the device to the receiving surface. After the wallpaper border is applied to the receiving surface by the present invention, the hole created by the push pin in the receiving surface, is covered with the wallpaper border, leaving no detectable holes in the wall or the ceiling that would be unsightly and need repair.
Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference, this invention relates generally to a device comprising a molded body comprising a cylindrical cup portion with a plurality of side slits and pin holes are cut into the cylindrical cup portion's surface, as well as a body length longitudinal slot open at one end, and a handle portion for applying wallpaper borders. A cap with a notched rim can also be attached to the device.
As shown in
Shown in
As shown in
The device 2 is preferably made of transparent solid plastic or plastic mesh material in order for the user 1 to see through the device to determine is the wallpaper border 5 is nearing an end. This allows for the user 1 to determine when the roll of wallpaper border 5 will need to be changed without having to stop the process and look into the device. This saves significant time and energy.
As shown in
As shown in detail in
b shows the cross-sectional view along line a-a′ of the handle portion 3 threadedly attached to the bottom surface 10 of the cylindrical cup portion 3.
As shown in
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|---|---|---|---|
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20040163753 A1 | Aug 2004 | US |
