Abstract:
A shield, which covers exposed surfaces of objects/fixtures attached to, but not limited to, walls, floors, ceilings, doors, or windows preventing coating material or dust particles from getting into or onto objects/fixtures. In construction or remodeling particle or coating material such as, but not limited to, dust, paint or plaster can enter into or get onto objects/fixtures. A pliable elastic type material further comprising a container or sleeve like structure with a minimal of one opening placed over the fixture. The elastic type container or sleeve comes in various sizes and can adapt to the different size and shapes of fixtures. The elastic material stretched over the fixture, conforming to the shape of the fixture or fixture&#39;s base, creating a tight thin seal around the perimeter edges. The thin membrane creates a very close tight seal allowing coating material to be very closely administered to the surface area next to the fixture without entering or getting onto the fixture. Once the process is completed, removing the cover/shield can be accomplished by pulling the pliable material away from the fixture or by pulling the pliable material apart along a slit causing the material to pull apart and thereby releasing from the fixture.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    When an area of a structure has one or more fixtures attached to a surface, and that area is being prepared for treatment or is adjacent a structure or fixture to receive treatment, the fixtures must be removed or protected from dust particles or coating material (e.g., paint, stain, etc.) getting into or onto the fixtures. Examples of structures include walls, doors and ceilings of a building, such as a residence or office, or body panels of automobiles or vessels. Examples of fixtures include handles (e.g., door handles), electrical outlets, lighting, smoke detectors, and emblems. Examples of treatments include sanding, painting, staining, stuccoing, and plastering. 
         [0002]    Removing a fixture from a structure so that a treatment does not get into or onto the fixture is time consuming. Also, during the removal and subsequent reinstallation process the entire fixture or portions of the fixture may become damaged or may be lost. Similarly, some fixtures are unable to be completely removed. Additionally, some fixtures such as smoke detectors are sensitive and may be inadvertently activated during removal or reinstallation and therefore may cause additional problems. Additionally, many fixtures when removed become inoperable which may cause safety or other problems and/or additional costs. 
         [0003]    Generally, protecting a fixture involves covering it. The variety of shapes and sizes of fixtures presents problems during the covering process. One common covering technique utilizes tape, such as conventional duct tape or painter&#39;s tape (blue tape), to cover a fixture. However, such tape can cause damage to the fixture upon removal of tape. Similarly, such tape often cannot be tightly molded to the shape of the fixture which can present an inadequate seal of the fixture allowing a coating material to seep between the tape, the fixture and the fixture&#39;s attachment surface creating a bond whereby upon tape removal the rigid weak quality of the tape sticks and may leave remaining remnants of the tape upon removal, or damage the painted surface. Consequently, the fixture may need to be cleaned, replaced and/or the job must be redone. Still tape may not adequately cover larger fixtures thereby requiring other material such as paper or plastic bags to be additionally attached. 
         [0004]    Another technique covers fixtures in a project area using a wide variety of covering material with an aim toward preventing such particles or coating material from entering into or onto fixtures. Known covering techniques have generally not proven satisfactory. For example, such material is often of a make shift nature, which does not lend itself to effectively and reliable covering fixtures. Many of these types of materials are remnants of used materials on the job site. Covering material such as paper, plastic bags or plastic sheets may not be of appropriate size resulting in an inadequate seal or in physical maneuvering during application of coating material. Moreover, such material can damage fixtures upon installation or removal. Similarly, this process can be time consuming and one must have two materials, bag or paper and adhesive material. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment of the invention in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and they mean at least one. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a side perspective view of an embodiment a shield apparatus. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows the apparatus of  FIG. 1  with an opening of the apparatus expanded. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a top, side perspective view of a smoke detector on a wall structure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows the apparatus of  FIG. 1  placed over the smoke detector of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a top, side perspective view of a door handle attached to a door structure with an embodiment of a shield apparatus placed over a portion of the knob. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 5  with the shield placed over an escutcheon of the doorknob assembly and the door structure receiving paint. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  shows a top, side perspective view of an electrical outlet partially detached from a wall structure and having an embodiment of a shield apparatus placed over the outlet plate. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    A generally low cost, convenient, easily installed shield for temporarily closing and covering objects such as fixtures is disclosed. The shield is particularly useful in protecting a fixture attached or otherwise protruding from a surface of a structure that is to receive a treatment, such as but not limited to a paint, a stain, a drywall mud, a plaster, or other coating material treatment, or to protect a fixture from dust particles from entering or getting onto fixtures. 
         [0014]    A representative shield includes a body constructed from an elastic material such as, but not limited to, latex or other polymer including synthetic rubber. In one embodiment, the body may take various shapes including the shape of a tube having one or more openings (e.g., a first opening and an opposite second opening) that can be placed over a portion of the fixture, fully or partially encompassing and conforming a portion of the material of the body (e.g., an entire portion) to the shape of the fixture at a contact portion where the fixture contacts the structure (e.g., the perimeter base of the fixture) and covering a portion of the fixture or the entire fixture while conforming to a contact portion (e.g., a perimeter edge). An elastic nature of a material of the body provides the conformance of the body to at least a contact portion of the fixture and possibly to a greater surface area, including an entire surface area, of the fixture. Such conformance acts as a shield of the area of the fixture and allows treatment of the structure to which the fixture is attached without the treatment spreading (e.g., getting on) the treatment or the fixture. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, a shield is in the form of a container (e.g., one opening) or sleeve (e.g., opposite openings) device which when installed on a particular fixture inhibits coating material or particles from entering into or getting onto the fixture. The shield has a minimum of one opening that can be expanded to be placed over the fixture and, once over, will contract to a shape of the fixture at least at the contact portion. The elastic material of the shield is generally impervious to the types of coating material and particle matter typically used in treating a surface of a structure including coverings that can enter into or get onto a fixture. The opening of the body exhibits an expanded or a contracted state and is biased toward the contracted state. When the body exhibits its expanded state such as by an outward extending force applied by human hands or an instrument, the opening is sufficiently large so that the opening may pass over the fixture or the fixture may be passed through the opening. After inserting the fixture into the opening or vice versa, the outward extending force is released and the opening contracts on the fixture or at least on a contact portion of the fixture and is sufficiently secure to the fixture so that a weight of the shield may be supported merely by the elastic action of the contact with the fixture. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a shield apparatus. Shield  100  includes body  110  made of an elastic material, such as natural rubber latex, nitrile, polychloroprene, polyurethene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polyisoprene, or other elastic polymer material and mixtures thereof. In the embodiment, body  110  has a generally tubular shape. A shape may be dictated by shape of a fixture to be shielded with shield  100 . A generally tubular shape offers versatility in that it may be placed over a variety of fixtures, particularly fixtures that protrude more than a few inches from a structure such as a door handle, doorstop, or lighting fixture. Other shapes for body  110  include, but are not limited to, conical, rectangular, and oval. Still other shapes include fixture specific shapes, i.e., shapes that resemble a perimeter of a fixture. An exterior dimension of body  110 , in one embodiment, is selected to be sufficient to surround at least a contact portion of the fixture (i.e., that portion), and in another embodiment, the entire exposed portion of the fixture protruding from a structure. In one embodiment, body  110  defines a lumen that is undifferentiated. An example of a body with a differentiated lumen is a glove where the fingers of the glove are differentiated from one another. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , body  110  of shield apparatus  100  is defined by first end  120  and second end  130 . First end  120  is open and second end  130  is closed defining a container structure. Alternatively, second end  130  may also be open defining a sleeve structure. Cavity  125  into body  110  through opening  120  is defined by a dimension of body  110 . 
         [0018]    A shield apparatus, such as shield apparatus  100  of an elastic material such as latex, may be formed by dip coating one or more layers (preferably multiple layers) over a form, such as a tubular form, heat treating to cross-link elastomeric materials in the layer and curing. One specific way to make a latex glove of natural rubber is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,607. A similar technique may be used to form shield apparatus  100  with the form taking a desired shape (e.g., tubular, rectangular, oval, conical, fixture specific shape). 
         [0019]    Shield apparatus  100  may optionally include a seam such as a perforated slit extending in a length direction along body  110 . Seam  135  provides a tear point to split shield apparatus  100  (split body  110 ) and facilitate removal of shield apparatus from a fixture. Seam  135  may be formed using a form having projections linearly spaced along a length of the form to which layer(s) of elastic material are not adhered during the formation process. Alternatively, seam  135  may be added after body  110  is formed, for example, by perforating body  110  with an implement (e.g., pin or laser). 
         [0020]    To be placed over a fixture, opening  120  and a portion of shield apparatus  100  may be expanded.  FIG. 2  shows opening  120  in an expanded state wherein an outward extending force indicated by arrows  135 , is applied by human hands or an instrument. In one embodiment, opening  120  may be expanded to a dimension that is larger than a perimeter of the fixture to which shield apparatus  100  is to be placed over. 
         [0021]    As noted above, shield apparatus  100  is made of an elastic material thus opening  120  may be expanded as shown in  FIG. 2 . When an outward extending force (outward extending force  135 ) is removed, the elastic nature of a material for shield apparatus  100  will return opening  120  and a portion of shield apparatus to a contracted state. The contracted state may be the natural state of the shield apparatus, such as shown in  FIG. 1 , or conform to at least the contact portion of the fixture and, in another embodiment, to the dimensions of the perimeter of the fixture. It should be noted that, although opening  120  is shown in  FIG. 2  as expanded, in one embodiment, body  110  of an elastic material may be expanded to a similar dimension so that body  110  may be placed over a fixture. 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of a fixture on a structure.  FIG. 3  shows structure  200  that is a wall or a ceiling structure. Disposed on and protruding from structure  200  is fixture  250  which, in this embodiment, is a conventional smoke detector having a tubular body  260  that protrudes from structure  200  approximately one to two inches. Smoke detector fixture  250  contacts structure  200  at contact portion  280  defining a circular perimeter. Where structure  200  is to be treated, such as sanded, painted, stained, etc., or adjacent to a structure or other element to be treated, it is often desirable to protect smoke detector fixture  250  while retaining it attached to structure  200 .  FIG. 4  shows shield apparatus  100  placed over smoke detector fixture  250 . Specifically, opening  120  of shield apparatus  100  is expanded and shield apparatus  100  is placed (moved) over smoke detector fixture  250  to, in this embodiment, encompass the protruding portion of smoke detector fixture  250  (i.e., that portion (the entire portion) that protrudes from structure  200 ). Once shield apparatus  100  is placed over smoke detector fixture  250 , the outward extending force applied to shield apparatus  100  through opening  120  is released and shield apparatus  100  contracts to conform to a shape of smoke detector fixture  250  at least at contact portion  280  where smoke detector fixture  250  contacts structure  200 . Alternatively, shield apparatus  100  may be placed on a distally protruding edge of smoke detector fixture  250  expanding shield apparatus  100  at opening  120  to a diameter of the fixture. Shield apparatus  100  may then be maneuvered in a proximal direction (by a proximal force) over smoke detector fixture  250 . Having been placed as shown in  FIG. 4 , shield apparatus  100  protects smoke detector fixture  250  from a subsequent treatment of structure  200 , such as a subsequent sanding, painting, or staining. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 5-6  show another embodiment of placing a shield apparatus over a fixture. The figures show structure  400  that is a door having door handle  350  attached thereto. Door handle  350  includes knob  360  and escutcheon plate  370 . Escutcheon  370  directly contacts door structure  400 , at contact portion  380 . Door handle  350  is attached to door  400  through screws  390  (two screws) through escutcheon  370 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , screws  390  have been loosened but not removed to allow the separation of escutcheon  370  from door structure  400 . In this manner, contact portion  380  may be separated from contact with door structure  400  but door handle  350  is still connected to door structure  400  and may still be operable.  FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of a shield apparatus (shield apparatus  300 ) including body  310  of an elastic material and having opening  320  at one end defining an interior cavity of body  310 .  FIG. 5  shows opening  320  expanded and shield apparatus  300  partially placed over door handle  350  (partially placed over knob  360  at this point). In a contracted state, shield apparatus  300  has opening  320  and body  310  defining a smaller volume and exterior dimension than a volume and exterior dimension or perimeter of door handle  350 . To place shield apparatus  300  over door handle  350 , an outward extending force is applied to shield apparatus through opening  320  to put shield apparatus in an expanded state.  FIG. 6  shows shield apparatus  300  placed completely over door handle  350 , including over knob  360  and escutcheon  370 . In one embodiment, this is achieved by maintaining an outward extending force on shield apparatus  300  so that an interior cavity of shield apparatus  300  is larger than and does not contact door handle  350  or by pulling or pushing (applying a force in the direction of structure  400 ) shield apparatus  300  over door handle  350  so that body  310  expands as necessary. When an outward extending or other force is released from application to opening  320  and body  310  of shield apparatus  300 , an elastic nature of shield apparatus  300  will cause the opening  320  and body  310  to contract to a shape of, in this case, escutcheon  370  and knob  360  of doorknob  350 . Where escutcheon  370  is separated from door structure  400 , an end of shield apparatus  300  defined by opening  320  may be positioned between escutcheon  370  and door structure  400 . When an outward extending or other force is released, shield apparatus will contract over escutcheon  370 .  FIG. 6  shows door structure  400  receiving a painting treatment. As illustrated, because escutcheon plate has been partially separated from door structure  400 , a painting operation may include that portion of structure  400  that is contacted by contact portion  380  of escutcheon plate  370 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 7  shows another embodiment of a shield apparatus. In this embodiment, shield  500  is in the form of a sleeve of body  310  with opposite openings, first opening  520  and second opening  530 . Shield apparatus  500  in this embodiment is used to protect an electrical outlet (a four-prong outlet). Because electrical outlets are generally rectangular, shield apparatus may have a generally rectangular shape with length and width dimensions on the order of three inches by three inches for a 3.5-4 inch×3.5-4 inch plate. A depth dimension may vary from a few inches to several inches (e.g., 100 inches or more) to all second opening  530  to be tied off as shown. Although a rectangular shield apparatus is described, it is appreciated that other shapes will also function in this embodiment including cylindrical and conical shapes. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , faceplate  550  of the electrical outlet is not in direct contact with wall structure  600 . Instead, one or more screws that secure faceplate  550  to the electrical outlets and to wall structure  600  are loosened but not removed. Following loosening of the one or more screws, shield apparatus  500  may be placed over faceplate  550  to cover the entire faceplate.  FIG. 7  shows wall structure  600  receiving a painting treatment on an area of the structure beneath an area covered by faceplate  550 . 
         [0026]    Fixtures typically have a portion, that is mounted or attached to a surface area. As described above and illustrated in the attached figures, a shield for fixtures during a treatment of the structure is described. In one embodiment, the shield is a disposable elastic material, which is adapted to fit over, and to be held attached to all or a portion of the fixture. The shield maybe directly installed over the fixture in its current state or the fixture may be loosened from the surface area so as to create a gap for the elastic material to constrict into, thus forming a seal around and behind the exterior and interior edges or a base of the fixture. The expanded state of the opening of the shield occurs when the shield is expanded to as much as approximately the full extent permitted by the quantity of the material surrounding the opening. In the expanded state, a body portion of the shield may be placed over a fixture or the fixture may be inserted through opening into the interior of the shield. The elastic nature of the shield will then cause a contraction so that it exhibits its contracted state by withdrawing any force applied to the shield surrounding opening and allowing the shield to contract until it clamps against a base or body portion of fixture. This clamping action provides sufficient frictional force so that a weight of the shield may be supported b fixture. 
         [0027]    Due to the flexibility provided by the shield, one size could be useful for a wide variety of different sized and shaped articles. The opening and the elasticity of the material around the opening define the size of the opening in an expanded state. The elasticity can be made to vary. The elasticity also permits easy installation and removal of the shield. 
         [0028]    In the preceding detailed description, reference is made to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the following claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.