Abstract:
A paint guard for protecting a stair covering during the painting of a skirtboard on a staircase, the paint guard having a plurality of interconnected and generally perpendicular planar surfaces, including a surface for covering a portion of a stair tread, a surface for covering a portion of a stair riser, and a plurality of surfaces for covering the edges of the stair covering nearest the skirtboard. The paint guard also includes a concave portion attached to the surface for covering a portion of a stair tread, the concave portion covering a forward edge portion of a staircase tread. The paint guard is either rigidly made or constructed of a durable material that can be bent and folded into the final shape, and is adjustable in size to fit on staircases of varying dimension.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE EFS-WEB 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR 
       [0005]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    (1) Field of the Invention 
         [0007]    The present invention relates to a skirtboard paint guard, more particularly, to a paint guard which is suitable to protect stair carpeting when painting the skirtboard on a staircase. 
         [0008]    A skirtboard, as is known in the building trades, is a trimboard which runs with the rake, pitch or incline of the stair against a wall on a closed side of a staircase. While usually nonstructural, a skirtboard protects the drywall or other wall surface and adds to the decor of the staircase. It is often desirable to paint the skirtboard of a staircase at the same time as, or in a corresponding color with, other trim pieces on and around the staircase (for example, baseboard molding, chair rail molding, or crown molding). 
         [0009]    When paint is applied to the skirtboard, whether by brush or roller or other means, it is necessary to protect the staircase itself from dripping, splattering, or splashing of the paint. This is important because the staircase surface material usually comprises carpeting or finished hardwood. It is laborious and often difficult to remove paint drips and splatters from these materials. 
         [0010]    Moreover, both the risers (the vertical boards) and the treads (the horizontal boards) of the staircase must be protected from the paint applied to the skirtboard. 
         [0011]    (2) Description of Related Art 
         [0012]    Although various paint guards for baseboards have been proposed in the prior art, such as the paint guard disclosed by Ivankovich in U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,654, no paint guard designed specifically for the skirtboard of a staircase has been proposed. 
         [0013]    Prior art devices for protecting the staircase surface when painting a skirtboard include the use of painter&#39;s tape and/or the use of a trowel (a flat piece of metal or plastic). 
         [0014]    Painter&#39;s tape is labor intensive, as several strips must often be applied in order to obtain the necessary width of protective coverage. The tape must be applied to both the risers and the treads, adding more time and effort. When painter&#39;s tape is removed upon completion of the staircase painting job, it very often is messy and introduces paint drips onto the surface being protected. 
         [0015]    Trowel usage requires the use of one of the painter&#39;s hands for placement, leaving only the remaining hand for all other tasks related to the painting. The trowel must continuously be moved from a horizontal to a vertical orientation because of the presence of both riser boards and tread boards. It must accordingly be continually cleaned or wiped free from paint as it is moved from one orientation to the other. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a skirtboard paint guard which is easy to use and which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art paint guard devices. 
         [0017]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a skirtboard paint guard which will protect the stair surface while painting the skirtboard on a staircase, and which can be quickly moved from one step to the next of the staircase. 
         [0018]    It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a skirtboard paint guard which can be quickly and easily removed from the staircase after painting, quickly and easily cleaned, and then reused in another painting application. 
         [0019]    In accordance with the present invention, a skirtboard paint guard is provided for protecting the surface material of the risers and treads of a staircase when painting the skirtboard of the staircase. The skirtboard paint guard of the present invention comprises a unitary structure having a horizontal component, a vertical component, and a curved component. The horizontal component, which comprises the greatest amount of surface area of the paint guard device, is designed to lie flat on the surface of a tread of the staircase being painted. The vertical component is designed to fit flat against the surface of a riser of the staircase, while the curved component is designed to cover the surface of a front lip of the tread. The paint guard components covering the tread and the riser also include, respectively, perpendicularly oriented portions for protruding downwardly along the edge of the staircase surface material (for example, carpeting). The unitary structure is thus designed to fit tightly against the skirtboard being painted. 
         [0020]    After placement, the portion of the skirtboard adjacent to the tread, riser and lip covered by the paint guard is painted with no dripping, splattering, or splashing of paint onto the respective surfaces of the tread, riser, and lip. The skirtboard paint guard is then moved to the next tread/riser/lip of the staircase and the process repeated. Alternatively, a plurality of the inventive skirtboard paint guards are used, one placed on each tread/riser/lip of the staircase, so that the entire length of the staircase skirtboard can be painted at once. 
         [0021]    In a particularly preferred embodiment, the skirtboard paint guard includes a small tab or roughened surface area on the side of the horizontal component farthest from the skirtboard being painted. This feature allows the painter to gently tug on the paint guard, creating a small gap to ensure complete paint coverage between the skirtboard and the covering material of the staircase. 
         [0022]    In another particularly preferred embodiment, the skirtboard paint guard includes an adjustable feature to accommodate staircase treads of any depth. In this preferred embodiment, the horizontal component of the paint guard receives an insert which is slidably adjusted to any desired length. The insert is tightly received in slots formed on the underside of the horizontal component. The insert is frictionally held in place after being adjusted to the desired length. The skirtboard paint guard can thus be used on any staircase, regardless of the depth of the tread thereof. 
         [0023]    In another particularly preferred embodiment, the skirtboard paint guard includes an adjustable feature to accommodate staircase risers of any height. In this preferred embodiment, the vertical component of the paint guard includes a plurality of scored lines across its width so that the user may break off a portion of the vertical component to match the height of the riser. 
         [0024]    In yet another particularly preferred embodiment, the skirtboard paint guard is formed as a single structure having a plurality of scored lines which allow the user to bend the various paint guard components into the shape of the staircase, allowing its use on any staircase, regardless of specific dimensions of tread depth and/or riser height. According to this particularly preferred embodiment, the vertical component is bent upwardly into place, the curved component is bent downwardly into place, and the perpendicularly oriented portions are bent downwardly from the other components into place. The customized paint guard is then placed on the stair covering of the staircase. 
         [0025]    The skirtboard paint guard according to the present invention therefore allows a painter to quickly and easily prepare and paint the skirtboard of any staircase without concern for dripping, splattering, or splashing of the paint onto the staircase surface (such as carpeting). In addition, the time for preparation of the staircase is greatly reduced compared to conventional methods such as taping. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    Other aspects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description which refers to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a typical staircase, showing a skirtboard and staircase covering thereof, along with a skirtboard paint guard according to the present invention in place; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention showing the adjustable insert in an extended position; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is a bottom perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention showing the adjustable insert in an extended position; 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention showing the adjustable insert in a retracted position; 
           [0033]      FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention prior to assembly by a user; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention after assembly by a user. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a staircase  10  provides access between different levels of a house, apartment, or similar building structure. The staircase  10  consists of a series of steps, each step being formed with a tread  12  and a riser  14 . The series of treads  12  and risers  14  provide a walking pathway for an individual to easily move between the bottom level of the staircase  10  and the top level thereof. 
         [0036]    To provide for reasonable ease in traversing the steps of a staircase, standards have been developed governing the depth of a staircase tread  12  and the height of a staircase riser  14 . These standards vary slightly with locale, but generally require the tread depth to range from 12 to 15 inches, and the riser height to range from 7 to 9 inches. A rule of thumb for building a staircase is that the sum of a tread depth and its two adjacent risers should be between 24 and 26 inches. 
         [0037]    The staircase  10  is often provided with a skirtboard on one or both sides for decorative and/or structural reasons. In the illustration of  FIG. 1 , the skirtboard  20  is provided on the left side of staircase  10 , but can be provided on both sides if desired. While the main portions of the staircase  10  are usually provided with a covering material  18 , such as carpeting, the skirtboards  20  remain covering-free, and thus require occasional painting in the same manner as other baseboards, moldings, and trim. 
         [0038]    The covering material (carpet)  18  runs continuously from the top to the bottom of the staircase  10 , and forms a rounded edge or nose  16  as it traverses the outer edge of each tread  12 . When the skirtboard  20  is painted, all of the adjacent covering material (carpet)  18  must be protected from dripping, splattering, or splashing of the paint. This includes the material (carpet)  18  covering the treads  12 , the risers  14 , and the noses  16 . 
         [0039]    A paint guard  100  is placed onto a portion of the staircase  10  for this purpose. As seen in  FIG. 1 , paint guard  100  is placed onto a side of staircase  10  nearest a skirtboard  20 . Paint guard  100  covers a tread  12 , a riser  14 , and a nose  16 . After painting the section of skirtboard  20  adjacent paint guard  100 , the paint guard  100  is moved to the next tread/riser/nose sequence. The paint guard  100  is thus sequentially moved until the entire skirtboard  20  is painted. Alternatively, a plurality of paint guards  100  may be placed on the staircase  10  simultaneously in order to protect covering material (carpet)  18  along the entire span of staircase  10 . This arrangement allows the painting of the entirety of skirtboard  20  to proceed uninterrupted. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , paint guard  100  is shown in greater detail. Paint guard  100  is a unitary structure comprising three major planar surfaces arranged generally perpendicularly. The first major surface, tread plate  101 , covers a portion of covering material (carpet)  18  on tread  12  of staircase  10  nearest skirtboard  20 . The second major surface, riser plate  102 , covers a portion of covering material (carpet)  18  on riser  14  of staircase  10  nearest skirtboard  20 . The third major surface, nose plate  103 , covers the nose  16  of covering material (carpet)  18  on the outer edge of tread  12  nearest skirtboard  20 . 
         [0041]    Paint guard  100  further comprises three minor planar surfaces formed as perpendicular extensions of the three major planar surfaces. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the three minor surfaces are labeled as side plates  104 , extending perpendicularly, respectively, from tread plate  101 , riser plate  102 , and nose plate  103 . Side plates  104  provide additional protection for covering material (carpet)  18 , as the side plates  104  penetrate the gap between the covering material (carpet)  18  and the skirtboard  20 . The presence of side plates  104  on paint guard  100  allows painting of skirtboard  20  completely to the bottom thereof without any paint drips or splatters getting on covering material (carpet)  18 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , in order to facilitate painting of skirtboard  20  completely to the bottom thereof as just described, a pull feature  105  is integrally formed on tread plate  101  of paint guard  100 . Pull feature  105  is formed on tread plate  101  near the edge of tread plate  101  farthest from side plates  104  at any point along that edge. Pull feature  105  allows a user to give a gentle tug on paint guard  100 , thus pulling covering material (carpet)  18  away from skirtboard  20  by means of side plates  104 . This feature allows the user to easily and quickly paint skirtboard  20  completely to the bottom thereof without any paint drips or splatters getting on covering material (carpet)  18 . 
         [0043]    The pull feature  105  is illustrated in  FIG. 3  as a tab oriented perpendicularly to the surface of tread plate  101 . Alternative implementations for the pull feature  105  are possible, however. One such alternative implementation is the roughening of a portion of the surface area of tread plate  101  in the general vicinity of where pull feature  105  is shown. By having the surface area roughened in this vicinity, a user&#39;s finger can gently tug on the paint guard  100  by means of friction between the finger and the roughened surface area, thus moving the paint guard  100  and pulling covering material (carpet)  18  away from skirtboard  20  by means of side plates  104 . 
         [0044]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an adjustable embodiment of paint guard  100  is illustrated. As mentioned earlier, depending on locality, there may be variations in the depth of treads  12  of staircase  10 , as well as variations in the height of risers  14  of staircase  10 . In order to accommodate these variations, tread plate  101  and riser plate  102  are adjustable. 
         [0045]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 4-6 , nose plate  103  of the previously described embodiments is replaced by an adjustable sliding arrangement allowing for variations in depth of the tread  12  of staircase  10  being covered. Sliding insert  106  is received in a pair of slots  108  formed on the underside of tread plate  101 . The dimensions of slots  108  and the thickness of sliding insert  106  are determined so that a tight fit is achieved, sliding insert  106  being held in a desired position through frictional engagement with slots  108  and the underside of tread plate  101 . This allows the user to cover a tread  12  of any particular depth. 
         [0046]    Sliding insert  106  is provided with its own nose plate, identified as nose plate  107  in  FIG. 4 . Sliding insert  106  is also provided with a side plate  104  which aligns with side plate  104  of tread plate  101  to allow painting of skirtboard  20  completely to the bottom thereof without any paint drips or splatters getting on covering material (carpet)  18 .  FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate sliding insert  106  in an extended position, whereas  FIG. 6  illustrates sliding insert  106  in a retracted position. 
         [0047]    Referring once again to  FIG. 4 , riser plate  102  is provided with a series of breakoff lines  110  extending completely across riser plate  102  and associated side plate  104 . Lines  110  are preferably scored into the material of which paint guard  100  is formed, but may also consist of perforations into the material. In either case, a user can bend and break off a length of riser plate  102  and side plate  104  such that the height of riser plate  102  and side plate  104  then equals the height of riser  14  of staircase  10 . This feature allows the user to cover a riser  14  of any particular height. 
         [0048]    The combination of the adjustable sliding insert  106  on tread plate  101  and the series of breakoff lines  110  on riser plate  102  allows the paint guard  100  to be usable for staircase tread/riser arrangements of any particular dimensions. 
         [0049]    Turning now to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , a paint guard  100  comprises a sheet of material  150  which is flat and planar except for a generally half-tubular nose plate  103  formed on one end thereof. In  FIG. 7A  nose plate  103  is on the lower end of the sheet of material  150 . A series of scored or perforated breakoff lines  110  are formed on the sheet of material  150  at the end of the sheet farthest from nose plate  103 . As will be explained further, these breakoff lines  110  allow adjustment for a riser  14  of any particular height. A series of scored or perforated bend lines  111  are also formed on the sheet of material  150  intermediate the nose plate  103  and the series of lines  110 . As will be explained further, these bend lines  111  allow adjustment for a tread  12  of any particular depth. A scored or perforated bend line  113  is formed on the sheet of material  150  perpendicular to the series of lines  110  and  111 . The bend line  113  extends along the entire length of the sheet of material  150 . As will be explained further, bend line  113  provides for formation of the side plates  104  of the paint guard  100 . 
         [0050]    The sheet of material  150  may comprise a very thin metal, various types of plastic or vinyl materials, or even a thin cardboard. Any material that can be scored or perforated, bent into the appropriate shape, and then remain relatively rigid after bending and shaping, is suitable for use in the present invention. The description herein is not intended to be limited to the use of any particular material, but is rather intended to encompass all suitable materials. 
         [0051]    To quickly and easily transform the sheet of material  150  into a paint guard ready for placement on the covering material (carpet)  18  of a staircase  10 , a user first bends the sheet of material  150  along a selected one of the series of bend lines  111  to form a generally L-shaped structure. The particular one of the series of bend lines  111  is selected in accordance with the depth of the tread  12  of the staircase  10  being painted. The portion of the selected bend line which traverses the portion of sheet of material  150  that will become side plates  104  is then cut so that side plates  104  can later be bent into position. 
         [0052]    Next the user determines the height of the riser  14  of the staircase  10  being painted, and selects one of the series of breakoff lines  110  that corresponds to that height. In other words, the distance between the previously selected one of the series of bend lines  111  and the selected breakoff line  110  will cause riser plate  102  of the paint guard  100  to correspond to the height of the riser  14  of staircase  10 . The user bends the sheet of material  150  on the selected breakoff line  110  until the excess length of material breaks completely off. The excess material is discarded. 
         [0053]    The user then bends side plates  104  into position by bending the sheet of material  150  along bend line  113 . Each side plate  104  is bent downwardly in  FIG. 7A  into an orientation that is generally perpendicular to the plane of tread plate  101  and riser plate  102 , respectively. Note that the smallest side plate  104  associated with nose plate  103  may be pre-formed so that it does not need to be bent into position by the user. 
         [0054]      FIG. 7B  illustrates paint guard  100  after the user has performed the bending and cutting steps just described. The device can then be placed onto the covering material (carpet)  18  of a staircase  10  as described with respect to earlier embodiments. Tread plate  101  protectively covers tread  12  of staircase  10 ; riser plate  102  protectively covers riser  14  of staircase  10 ; nose plate  103  protectively covers nose  16  of covering material (carpet)  18  on staircase  10 ; and side plates  104  protectively cover the edges of the covering material (carpet)  18  closest to skirtboard  20  of staircase  10 . 
         [0055]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  show paint guard  100  with the side plates  104  formed on the left side of the apparatus (as viewed in the Figures) for painting the left-hand side of staircase  10 . The invention described and claimed herein is intended to encompass, however, embodiments which are mirror formed for painting the right-hand side of staircase  10 . In addition, paint guard  100  can be implemented in a sheet of material  150  with both left-hand and right-hand sections thereon, allowing the user to select between left-hand and right-hand orientations. 
         [0056]    The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of the principles of construction and operation of the invention. Such reference herein to specific embodiments and details thereof is not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made in the embodiment chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0057]    The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following claims.