Paint guard for use with trim and molding

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6315831
  • Patent Number
    6,315,831
  • Date Filed
    Friday, August 6, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 13, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Edwards; Laura
    Agents
    • McGuire; George R.
    • Hancock & Estabrook, LLP
Abstract
The present invention provides a guard that may be attached to molding or trim during painting operations to prevent paint from dripping or splashing from a surface to be painted one color onto a surface to be painted a different color or which will remain unpainted. In its primary embodiment, the present invention provides an elongated strip of material, preferably plastic, having a cross-sectional shape consisting of a terminal first end which extends around in a generally U-shaped hook pattern, a relatively straight central section integrally extending from the non-terminal end of the hook section, and a curved section that extends along a predetermined radius and terminates with a relatively straight portion that extends essentially perpendicularly to the central section.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates generally to painting accessories, and more particularly to accessories for preventing paint from dripping onto or otherwise coating molding and trim while painting a wall.




Molding extending along a wall adjacent to the floor and/or ceiling, and wooden trim framing doors and windows are common architectural features found in homes and buildings. For aesthetic reasons, it is typical for the molding and trim to be painted a different color than the major surface of the wall to which they are attached. Thus, in order to prevent paint being applied to a wall from dripping onto the molding or trim, it is necessary to position a barrier between the molding or trim and the wall.




Most often this barrier is created by adhering masking tape to the molding or trim at the interface of the wall. Although this tape barrier effectively protects molding and trim from being coated with the wall paint, it is difficult and time consuming to accurately run the tape along the entire length of the molding and trim, often requiring multiple efforts to properly align the tape. In addition, adhesive material sometimes remains on the molding and trim after the tape is removed, thereby requiring cleaning and/or scraping to remove the adhesive material. Accordingly, the time consuming, laborious effort of taping molding and trim is an undesirable procedure for creating a barrier to prevent paint being applied to a wall from dripping onto or otherwise coating the molding and trim.




A readily available alternative to taping is a spatula-like instrument that may be held in one hand by a painter at the interface of the wall and molding or trim, while he or she paints the wall with the other hand. Notwithstanding the inconvenience and dexterity needed to hold the tool in one hand while holding a brush or roller to paint the wall in the other hand, the blades on these tools are generally less than a foot long, thereby requiring it to be constantly moved during the course of painting the wall. As the blade is moved, often paint will drip onto its edge resulting in paint being transferred therefrom to the molding or trim. Thus, not only is use of this type of tool difficult, it is also ineffective in many instances.




It is therefore a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a device that creates an effective barrier between a wall and the molding and trim attached thereto when the well is being painted.




It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a paint guard that may be easily and quickly attached to molding and trim in order to prevent paint from coating them as a result of paint dripping or splashing from a wall.




It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide a paint guard that may be securely attached in complete covering relation to molding or trim without scratching or otherwise damaging the same.




It is an additional object and advantage of the present invention to provide a paint guard that prevents paint from dripping on floors in addition to a strip of molding to which the guard is attached.




Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious, and in part appear hereinafter.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides a guard that may be attached to molding or trim during painting operations to prevent paint from dripping or splashing from a surface to be painted one color onto a surface to be painted a different color or which will remain unpainted. In its primary embodiment, the present invention provides an elongated strip of material, preferably plastic, having a cross-sectional shape consisting of a terminal first end which extends around in a generally U-shaped hook pattern, a relatively straight central section integrally extending from the non-terminal end of the hook section, and a curved section that extends along a predetermined radius and terminates with a relatively straight portion that extends essentially perpendicularly to the central section. Extrusion has been determined to be the most efficient and cost effective method for manufacturing the guard, although other manufacturing methods, such as injection molding or casting, certainly could be employed.




In use, when painting a wall and desiring to prevent paint from dripping onto molding and the floor, the guard is positioned in complete covering relation to the molding by placing the guard's hooked end in engaging relation to the upper edge of the molding, with the central section extending in covering relation to the body of the molding, and the curved section extending outwardly from the molding in overlapping relation to the floor (or in underlapping relation to the ceiling if protecting crown molding). The relatively thin cross-section of the guard permit is to be securely engaged with the molding with no appreciable gap between the wall and molding.




The guard may also be used to prevent paint from coating a wall when painting molding. In this application, the guard is positioned with its curved portion inserted between the wall and molding, the central section extending outwardly therefrom in at least partially contacting relation to the wall, and the U-shaped hook portion positioned in laterally spaced relation to the wall and in overhanging relation to the molding.




In addition, the guard may be used to prevent paint from dripping onto the floor (or ceiling) when painting the molding. For this application, the guard is positioned with its curved end positioned between the molding and floor (or ceiling), and the central section extending outwardly therefrom in covering relation to the floor (or ceiling).




In an alternative embodiment to be used with trim around doors and windows, the cross-sectional shape is defined by a first section that extends along a straight path from a terminal end to a bend where it integrally transitions to a central section that extends along a straight path before it bends at a second predetermined, acute angle which is greater than the first angle, and integrally transitions to a third section which extends along a straight path before terminating. In use, this embodiment is positioned in complete covering relation to a length of trim with the first section being positioned between the wall and trim, the central section positioned in covering relation to the trim, and the third section extending around the edge of the molding that is not in contact with the wall. As with the primary embodiment, this embodiment is also preferably made of plastic and manufactured by an extrusion process, although other materials and manufacturing processes could also be used.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The present invention will be more fully understood by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:





FIG. 1

is an end elevational view of the primary embodiment of the present invention, effectively illustrating its cross-sectional shape;





FIG. 2

is a rear elevational view thereof;





FIG. 3

is a front elevational view thereof;





FIG. 4

is a perspective view illustrating use of the primary embodiment in a first application;





FIG. 5

is a perspective view illustrating use of the primary embodiment in a second application;





FIG. 6

is a perspective view illustrating use of the primary embodiment in a third application;





FIG. 7

is an end elevational view of a second embodiment of the present invention, effectively illustrating its cross-sectional shape;





FIG. 8

is a front elevational view thereof;





FIG. 9

is a rear elevational view thereof;





FIG. 10

is a perspective view illustrating use of the second embodiment with trim around a door jamb; and





FIG. 11

is a perspective view illustrating use of the second embodiment with trim around a window pane.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION




Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in

FIGS. 1-6

a primary embodiment of a paint guard, designated generally by reference numeral


10


, for use with molding


12


(see FIGS.


4


-


6


). Molding


12


is illustrated as extending along a wall


14


, adjacent a floor


16


, but guard


10


could equally be used in the same manners described hereinafter with crown moldings, shadow boxes, and the like.




Guard


10


is of a predetermined cross-sectional shape, as illustrated in

FIG. 1

, defined by a U-shaped hook section


18


which continuously extends from a first, terminal end


20


around the hook to a central section


22


which, in turn, extends along a relatively straight path from the non-terminal end of section


18


until it integrally transitions along a bend


24


of predetermined radius R into a final section


26


which extends essentially perpendicularly to section


22


until it terminates in second, terminal end


28


. The width W of section


18


, height H of section


22


, length L


1


of section


26


and length L


2


of guard


10


are predetermined, and may be changed depending upon the type of molding on which guard


10


is to be used, but in standard form would be sufficient to essentially, completely cover a


4


′ section of standard


4


″ molding. While the preferred material for guard


10


is plastic and method of manufacture is extrusion, other materials and manufacturing methods could be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.





FIG. 4

illustrates a first application of guard


10


, employed when painting a wall


14


and desiring to prevent the wall paint from dripping or splashing onto molding


12


or floor


16


. For this application, guard


10


is positioned with hook section


8


engaged with the upper edge of molding


18


and end


20


positioned between the molding and wall


14


; central section


22


extending in covering relation to the body of molding


12


; and bend


24


and section


26


extending outwardly from molding


12


in partially covering relation to floor


16


. Accordingly, any paint that may splash or drip from wall


14


will be prevented from contacting molding


12


and floor


16


in those areas where guard


10


is positioned.





FIG. 5

illustrates a second application of guard


10


employed when painting the lower portion or body of molding


12


and desiring to prevent paint from dripping onto floor


16


. For this application, guard


10


is positioned with section


26


extending between molding


12


and floor


16


, and section


22


extending outwardly therefrom. Accordingly, any paint that may drip from molding


12


will be collected by guard


10


instead of contacting floor


16


.





FIG. 6

illustrates a third embodiment of guard


10


employed when painting the upper portion of molding


12


and desiring to prevent paint from splashing on wall


14


. For this application, guard


10


is positioned with section


26


extending between molding


12


and wall


14


; central section


22


extending upwardly therefrom; and hook section


18


positioned in laterally spaced relation to wall


14


. Accordingly, when positioned in this manner, guard


10


will collect any paint that would otherwise contact wall


14


(e.g., when painting molding


12


).




Referring now to

FIGS. 7-11

, there is seen a second embodiment of the present invention consisting of a paint guard, denoted generally by reference numeral


30


, for use with trim


32


positioned around a window pane


34


(see

FIG. 10

) or a doorjamb


36


(see FIG.


11


). Guard


30


is of a predetermined cross-sectional shape defined by a first section


38


that extends along a relatively straight path from a terminal end


40


to a transition point


42


; a second section


44


extending along a relatively straight path from transition point


42


to transition point


46


; and a third section


48


that extends along a relatively straight path from transition point


46


to terminal end


50


. First section


38


is integral with, and offset at a predetermined acute angle α from second section


44


, and second section


44


is integral with, and offset at a predetermined acute angle θ from third section


48


. Angle α is less than angle θ, but the precise degrees are custom chosen to best fit around the trim, although standard angles of about 55 degrees and 80 degrees have been found to fit well with standard trim packages. In addition, the periphery of guard


30


is shaped in the form of a trapezoid with the edges of section


44


tapering inwardly at about 45 degree angles from section


48


to section


38


, in order to match the miter cuts typically used in cutting trim to properly frame windows and doors.





FIGS. 10 and 11

show guard


30


in use with window trim and door trim, respectively. For each of these applications, guard


30


is positioned with section


48


engaged over the outer edge of trim


32


with end


40


being positioned between wall


52


and trim


32


; section


44


in covering relation to the body of trim; end section


38


engaged over the inner edge of trim


32


with end


40


positioned between trim


32


and window pane


34


or door


36


. Accordingly, guard


30


will prevent any paint from coating trim


32


while wall


52


is being painted.




As with guard


10


, guard


30


is preferably made of plastic and manufactured by an extrusion process, although other materials and manufacturing processes can also be employed.



Claims
  • 1. A guard for preventing a first colored paint used to coat a first surface from contacting a second surface which is positioned in contacting relation to said first surface said guard comprising;(a) an elongated member extending along a longitudinal axis and having: (i) a first section extending parallel to said longitudinal axis and having a terminal edge, said first section adapted to be positioned in engaging relation to said second surface with said terminal edge positioned between said first and second surfaces; (ii) a second section integral with and offset from said first section and at a first predetermined angle, extending parallel to said longitudinal axis, and adapted to be positioned in covering relation to said second surface when said first section is in engaging relation to said second surface; and (iii) a third section integral with and extending at a second predetermined angle from said second section, opposite said first section, said third section being adapted to engage said second surface when said second section is positioned in covering relation thereto.
  • 2. The guard according to claim 1, wherein said first section is of a U-shaped cross-sectional shape.
  • 3. The guard according to claim 1, wherein said first predetermined angle is about 55 degrees.
  • 4. The guard according to claim 1 wherein said second predetermined angles is about 80 degrees.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number Name Date Kind
695965 Taylor et al. Mar 1902
1434903 Manning Nov 1922
2754799 Crawford Jul 1956
3565038 Barriger Feb 1971
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
695572 Aug 1953 GB