Abstract:
A coating masking system comprising a member having face and reverse sides is disclosed. This member is magnetically adhered to a hinge over which a coating is not to be applied.

Description:
This application claims priority to provisional application No. 60/087,431 filed Jun. 1, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to temporary masks and protective coverings useful for preventing paint or other coatings from being deposited on ferromagnetic objects or surfaces. 
     2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98. 
     During painting or coating operations of a home&#39;s interior, it is necessary to keep certain areas, such as, door hinges, light and socket covers, or any other surfaces free from being painted or coated. The standard method for preventing a door hinge or some other area from being coated with paint or stain involves using different types of adhesive-backed tapes to cover or “mask off” the areas over which a coating is undesirable. Even if the areas are to be covered with some other type of “mask” such as plastic sheeting or masking tape that material still needs to be taped into place. In any event the covering these selected surfaces is a slow, tedious and expensive process. 
     Not masking the door hinges or doing a poor job in masking them leads to unsightly coating of the hinges which could lead to the door not opening or closing properly. Eventually, the coating covering the hinges will have to be removed. Removal can be accomplished in two ways. The first method involves physically removing the coating by scraping it off or using an abrasive such as steel wool. The second methods involves chemically removing the coating using harsh solvent. In utilizing either time consuming and labor intensive method, the underlying metal surface is likely to be marred. 
     If chemical solvents are used to remove paint or stain, they may also pose a threat to the safety and health of the user. Most common wood stains are oil-based and must be removed with commercially available stain removers. These stain removers typically contain methylene chloride which causes damage to the central nervous system if inhaled over prolonged periods. They are also eye and skin irritants and can be potentially fatal if swallowed. 
     Alternatively, a door and its hinges could be removed from the door jamb altogether. However, if the door itself needs to be painted or stained, the hinges must also be removed from the door. A standard interior door in a residential building has three hinges each held in place by at least three screws. Removal of the hinge from this door is a time-consuming process. 
     Therefore, there is a substantial need for a means to mask the hinges of a door in place, which is quickly and easily applied and removed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention solves the problem of masking door hinges or other metallic surfaces which need to be covered during interior home painting. It also provides economy of time in the painting or coating of doors insofar as the hinges are left free of any deposit which must be removed after a coating is applied. 
     This invention contemplates a coating masking member having a face side and a reverse side. The face side is a vinyl film, and the reverse side is a magnetic backing. The coating masking member conforms to the shape of an area over which a coating is not to be applied. The coating masking member may contain a handle or handles to effect easy removal of the coating masking member from the surface to which it is applied. 
     Alternatively, the coating masking member may contain two planar members having face sides and reverse sides, the face sides having a vinyl film disposed upon them and the reverse sides having magnetic surfaces disposed upon them. The two planar members are connected by a flexible sheet having a face side and a reverse side. The flexible sheet conforms to the shape of a hinge pin that connects the first and second hinge plates of a hinge. This coating masking member may conform to the shape of a door hinge. 
     Furthermore, this coating masking member may contain at least one handle connected to it to effect easy removal of the coating masking member from a surface. 
     The invention further contemplates a method for using the coating masking member. This method involves the placing of the coating masking member onto a door hinge, coating the surface of the door or its surrounding area, and then removing the coating masking member once the coating has dryed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the inventive system constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of the inventive system wherein a handle is utilized to effect easy removal from a surface to which the inventive system is applied; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the inventive system illustrated in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the inventive systems as they are applied to the plates of a hinge; 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the inventive systems applied to the plates of a hinge; 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the inventive system which contains a flexible sheet connecting the planar members and is utilized for covering a hinge pin and its connected hinge plates; 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the inventive system illustrated in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of the inventive system illustrated in FIG. 6 containing handles to facilitate easy removal of the system from a hinge; 
     FIG. 9 is a c ross-sectional view of the inventive system illustrated in FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the alternate embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 as it is applied to a hinge; 
     FIG. 11 is an isometric view of the alternate embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 applied to a hinge; 
     FIG. 12 is an isometric view of an alternate embodiment similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6 but having rounded corners corresponding to the shape of a hinge having rounded corners; 
     FIG. 13 is an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of the inventive system having a business logo printed on it. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, an inventive magnetic coating masking member is illustrated. Coating masking member  10  is a planar member comprising a face side  12  and a reverse side  14 . Face  12  has disposed on it a coating  13 . Coating  15  may be formed from a polyvinyl film or coating. Reverse side  14  is formed from material  15 . Material  15  is a backing sheet with magnetic properties, such as a synthetic rubber or elastomer having magnetized barium or strontium ferrite particles interspread within. 
     In practice the inventive magnetic coating masking member is cut to its desired dimensions from pre-manufactured sheets of magnetic sheeting. These pre-manufactured sheets are commercially available. 
     Coating masking member  10  is of planar dimensions that correspond to the planar dimensions of the hinge plate of a hinge. Commercially available hinge plates are available in a variety of shapes and sizes; therefore, coating masking member  10  can be manufactured in a variety of shapes and sizes. A hinge plate with corners having ninety degree angles would require coating masking member  10  to have corners having ninety degrees. Similarly, as in FIG. 12, a hinge plate having rounded corners would require coating masking member  10  to have rounded corners. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, a handle  16  may be attached to the face side  12  of coating masking member  10 . Handle  16  may be centered on coating masking member  10 , or it may be placed off-center, or at the end to allow the user ease of placement and removal. Handle  16  is used to effect easy removal of the coating masking member  10  after it has been magnetically applied to the surface of a hinge plate and after a coating has been applied. Handle  16  may be constructed of wood, plastic, or similar material. An adhesive material can be used to attach handle  16  to coating masking member  10 . Furthermore, handle  16  may be in the shape of a peg, a knob, or any similar shape that lends itself to being utilized as a handle. A plurality of handles may be utilized on a single coating masking member  10 . 
     The coating masking member  10  may also be of varying thicknesses to accommodate for differences between spraying the coating and brushing the coating onto the surface around which the coating masking member  10  is situated. The thickness of coating masking member  10  if a coating is to be brushed on should preferably be between 0.050 and 0.078 inches. The thickness of coating masking member  10  if a coating is to be sprayed on may be substantially less and preferably between 0.020 and 0.048 inches. 
     The coating masking member can have a company logo or a slogan printed on it. FIG. 13 illustrates a coating masking member  10  having such a logo. 
     As illustrated and FIGS. 4 and 5, when it is desired to use the inventive coating masking member in accordance with the present invention, a pair of coating masking members  10  are placed over a door hinge  20  in the direction of arrows  22 . Paint or other coating can then be applied to the surrounding areas of the surface to which door hinge  20  is mounted. The paint can be applied liberally as coating masking member  10  protects the surface of door hinge  20 . After the paint or other coating material has dried coating masking member  10  can be removed from door hinge  20 , leaving behind a hinge free from coating. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG.  6 . The inventive magnetic coating masking member  110  in FIG. 6 is comprised of two planar members each having a face side  112  and a reverse side  114 . Similar to the earlier described embodiments, face sides  112  have disposed on them coatings made of vinyl or plastic. Reverse sides  114  are magnetic backings. Face sides  112  are joined by a flexible piece of material  118  corresponding to the shape of the hinge pin of a hinge. 
     Flexible piece of material  118  is attached to face sides  112  along one edge of each face side  112  by using an adhesive. Alternatively, flexible piece of material  118  can be melted onto the edge of face side  112 . In either case, flexible piece of material  118  should fit snugly over the hinge pin of the hinge that coating masking member  110  is masking. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of coating masking member  110  showing a bead  120  of adhesive material along the edge of flexible piece of material  118 . 
     The alternative embodiment of coating masking member  110  may also have a handle  116  or a plurality of handles  116  to facilitate the removal of coating masking member  110  from a metal surface. FIGS. 8 and 9 show isometric and cross-sectional views of coating masking member  110  having handles  116 . Handles  116  are attached to surfaces  112  in the same manner as in FIG.  2 . 
     Coating masking member  110  is applied to a hinge by placing it onto the hinge as in FIG.  10 . In this manner, the entire embodiment covers the entire hinge. FIG. 11 illustrates coating masking member  110  in place on the hinge. 
     FIG. 12 illustrates coating masking member  210  having rounded edges. Coating masking member  210  is applied to a hinge in the same manner as coating masking member  10  is applied in FIG.  4 . Furthermore, an embodiment with rounded edges may be of the form as coating masking member  110 , which comprises two planar members connected by a flexible sheet. Such an embodiment would be applied to a hinge in the same manner as in FIG.  10 .