Abstract:
A painting device is disclosed that is simple and easy to use to produce a faux brick appearance on domestic and commercial walls. The painting device has a base plate with a handle. An absorbent layer is attached to the base plate to absorb and hold paint that is to be applied to a wall. The painting device preferably also has vertical and horizontal spacing guides and a leveling device. The base plate and absorbent layer are preferably formed in the shape of the cross-section of a brick but may be formed in many shapes. The painting device is able to produce exacting, ordered results. In addition, there is no need for the operator to be highly skilled. The invention is used in combination with a paint tray and multiple colors of paint to produce an end result of an ordered brick appearance.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a device for painting walls with a decorative pattern. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Recently there has been an increased popularity in decorating walls with more than one colors. While printed wall paper has been one solution to applying more than one color to walls, including applying more complex designs to walls, it is often expensive and needs a relatively high level of skill to apply. The application of two or more colors to walls is generally done by painting techniques imploying brushes, rollers and rags. These methods produce a random chaotic application of color. While this is often pleasing to the eye, a more ordered appearance is also appealing. 
         [0005]    Devices to apply ordered color schemes to walls by paint are known such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. D402,474 entitled “Brick printing apparatus” issued to Lee Danielson on Dec. 15, 1998; U.S. Pat. No. 1,449,856 entitled “Method of Stippling Surfaces” issued to C. G. Hampson on Mar. 27, 1923; U.S. Pat. No. 3,817,178 entitled “Apparatus for Ornamenting Walls and Ceilings” issued to Dean C. Hagen on Jun. 18, 1974. These devices, as well as stencils, are often cumbersome and not exacting in use. A high level of operator skill is usually required to produce uniform results. 
         [0006]    From the above, it can be seen what is needed is a painting device that is easy to use to produce a faux brick appearance on domestic and commercial walls to enhance the warmth and appearance of the wall. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is a painting device that is simple and easy to use to produce a faux brick appearance on domestic and commercial walls. The painting device has a base plate with a handle. An absorbent layer is attached to the base plate to absorb and hold paint that is to be applied to a wall. The base plate and absorbent layer are preferably formed in the shape of the cross-section of a brick (i.e., a 2 dimensional form of a brick) but may be formed in many shapes. The painting device is able to produce exacting, ordered results. In addition, there is no need for the operator to be highly skilled. 
         [0008]    The improved painting device to produce a faux brick appearance, according to the present invention also has vertical and horizontal spacing guides and a leveling device. The invention is used in combination with a paint tray and multiple colors of paint to produce an end result of an ordered brick appearance. 
         [0009]    The method employed is comprised of painting the back ground wall with a first color of paint. Then the desired shape is painted on the wall by loading the absorbent layer with the desired paint and then applying the paint to the wall in a horizontal fashion, row by row. Texture and alternate color effects come from dripping small amounts of texture or color into the paint tray of the paint that is to be applied by the painting device. 
         [0010]    It is therefore an object of one embodiment of the invention to provide a device that creates a faux-brick appearance on a wall. 
         [0011]    It is therefore an object of one embodiment of the invention to provide a device that simply and easily creates a decorative patterns in paint on a wall. 
         [0012]    It is therefore an object of one embodiment of the invention to provide a device that creates decorative patterns in paint on a wall in a horizontal or vertical pattern. 
         [0013]    It is therefore an object of one embodiment of the invention to provide a device that creates a faux-brick appearance on a wall where the individual bricks are spaced from each other by amounts equivilant to the spacing of “real” bricks on a wall. 
         [0014]    Not all of these objects need be present in a single embodiment. Instead, a particular embodiment may have one or more of these objects. These and other objects of the invention will be clear from the following detailed description of the invention in connection with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    The invention will be described hereafter in detail with particular reference to the drawings. Throughout this description, like elements, in whatever embodiment described, refer to common elements wherever referred to and referenced by the same reference number. The characteristics, attributes, functions, interrelations ascribed to a particular element in one location apply to that element when referred to by the same reference number in another location unless specifically stated otherwise. In addition, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength and similar requirements will be within the skill of the art after the following description has been read and understood. Furthermore, when the terms “top”, “bottom”, “side” and similar terms are used herein, it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing the embodiments. 
           [0016]    All Figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the Figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form examples of the various embodiments will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following description has been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following description has been read and understood. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the faux brick painting device of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the painting device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the painting device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of step one of the method of using the device of  FIG. 1  to paint a wall. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of step two of the method of using the device of  FIG. 1  to paint a wall. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is plan view of step three of the method of using the device of  FIG. 1  to paint a wall. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of a portion of the wall that has been painted according to the method of using the device of  FIG. 1  to paint the wall. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of a portion of the wall that has been painted according to the method of using an alternate embodiment of the device of  FIG. 1  to paint the wall. 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of a portion of the wall that has been painted according to the method of using an alternate embodiment of the device of  FIG. 1  to paint the wall. 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a plan view of a portion of the wall that has been painted according to the method of using an alternate embodiment of the device of  FIG. 1  to paint the wall. 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a plan view of a portion of the wall that has been painted according to the method of using an alternate embodiment of the device of  FIG. 1  to paint the wall. 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is a plan view of a portion of the wall that has been painted according to the method of using an alternate embodiment of the device of  FIG. 1  to paint the wall. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only and not to limit the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The painting device of the present invention is shown in the drawings generally labeled  10 . The painting device  10  includes a base plate  12 , an absorbent layer  14  attached to the base plate  12  and a handle  16  attached to the base plate  12 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the painting device  10  includes a level  18 . 
         [0030]    The base plate  12  is preferably relatively thin and planar and dimensioned or made of a material to be rigid. ( FIG. 3 ) The base plate  12 , in its preferred embodiment, has a front  20 , a back  22 , a top  24 , bottom  26  and opposed sides  28 . In the preferred embodiment of the painting device  10 , the base plate  12  is rectangular. As a result, the corners of the base plate  12  in preferred embodiment will be right angles. 
         [0031]    Although the base plate  12  has been described in its preferred embodiment is being rectangular in shape, base plate  12  may take any number of shapes, examples of which will be described hereafter, but which also include known geometric shapes, with or without opposed sides  28  and whether having parallel or even straight sides or not. The function of the base plate  12  is to define the shape of the absorbent layer  14  and consequently the pattern  30  of paint applied by the painting device  10  as will be described in detail hereafter. 
         [0032]    The absorbent layer  14  is attached to and covers substantially all of the back  22 . The absorbent layer  14  is attached to back  22  by means including, but not limited to, adhesives, clamping, mechanical connection or hook and loop fasteners. As a result, the absorbent layer  14  may be either permanently or removably attached to the base plate  12 . The function of the absorbent layer  14  is to absorb paint  32 , for example from a paint tray  34 , and transport the paint  32  to a wall  36  where the paint  32  can be deposited on the wall  36 . Consequently, the absorbent layer  14  should have dimensions, particularly a thickness, and absorbent characteristics sufficient to absorb a desired amount of paint  32  without having the paint  32  drain from the absorbent layer  14  before the paint  32  can be applied to the wall  36 . Examples of absorbent layer  14  include, but are not limited to, artificial or natural sponge, cloth, leather, batting or fur. 
         [0033]    A handle  16  is attached to the front  20  of the base plate  12 . The function of the handle  16  is to allow the user to manipulate the base plate  12  and absorbent layer  14  so that paint  32  may be applied to the absorbent layer  14  and then applied to particular desired locations on a wall  36  as will be described hereafter. Handle  16  may take any form including, but not limited to, a handle allowing the user to place his or her fingers between a portion of the handle  16  and the base plate  12  whereby the user grasps a portion of the handle  16  ( FIG. 1 ), a handle connected at one end to the base plate  12  and one or more knobs. 
         [0034]    As mentioned above, the painting device  10  includes a level  18 . The function of the level  18  is to indicate to the user when the painting device  10  has a particular orientation. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the level  18  indicates when the base plate  12  has a horizontal orientation. As a result, level  18  is preferably attached to the front of the base plate  12  near the top of the base plate  12  and equally spaced between the opposed sides  28 . However, level  18  may also be located anywhere on the base plate  12  or attached to the top  24 , bottom  26  or opposed sides  28 . 
         [0035]    In addition, the level  18  may be oriented to indicate when the base plate  12  has a vertical orientation. This is done by placing the level  18  in a substantially vertical orientation. In a further alternate embodiment, the painting device  10  may include two levels  18 , one level  18  indicating when the painting device  10  has a horizontal orientation and the other level  18  indicating when the painting device  10  has a vertical orientation. In the preferred embodiment, level  18  is a bubble level such as is commonly used in carpenter levels or similar devices. 
         [0036]    Also in the preferred embodiment of the painting device  10 , the painting device  10  includes a pair of vertically directed spacing indicator bars  38  having ultimate ends  40 . Preferably, these spacing indicator bars  38  extend upward from the top  24  of the base plate  12 . The function of the spacing indicator bars  38  is to assist the user in creating the proper vertical spacing between the individual patterns  42  formed by each individual use of the painting device  10  ( FIG. 6 ) as will be explained in detail hereafter. 
         [0037]    Alternately, or in addition, the painting device  10  may also include at least a pair of horizontally directed spacing indicator bars  44  having ultimate ends  46  ( FIG. 6 ). In embodiments of the painting device  10  that include these horizontally directed spacing indicator bars  44 , the horizontally directed spacing indicator bars  44  aid the user in creating the proper horizontal spacing between the individual patterns  42  formed by each individual use of the painting device  10 . Although the preferred embodiment of both the vertically directed spacing indicator bars  38  and the horizontally directed spacing indicator bars  44  include at least two of each such bars,  38 ,  44 , a single bar  38 ,  44  or more than two bars  38 ,  44  may also be used. 
         [0038]    In the preferred embodiment of the painting device  10 , the base plate  12  and absorbent layer  14  are sized and dimensioned to have the approximate size and shape of the peripheral dimensions of a brick on the face of a wall  36 . As a result, as will be described hereafter, the painting device  10  will produce a pattern  30  on the wall  36  having the appearance of or suggesting that the wall  36  is made of brick. ( FIG. 7 ) 
         [0039]    Although the preferred embodiment of the painting device  10  has the base plate  12  and absorbent layer  14  sized and dimensioned to approximate the peripheral dimensions of a brick on the face of a wall  36 , other patterns for the size and shape of the base plate  12  and absorbent layer  14  are also within the scope of the invention. For example, the base plate  12  and absorbent layer  14  may take the form of one or more fish scales so that by appropriate location of the painting device  10  on a wall  36  as will be described hereafter, a pattern  30  of overlapping scales is presented. ( FIG. 8 ) 
         [0040]    Other exemplary forms of the base plate  12  and absorbent layer  14  are shown in  FIGS. 9 through 13  where patterns  30  of or suggesting rock, chevrons and squares in a lattice form or overlapping form are shown, respectively. The forms of the base plate  12  and absorbent layer  14  shown in  FIGS. 7 through 13  are exemplary and not intended to be limiting. It is clear that an almost infinite variety of forms and shapes for base plate  12  absorbent layer  14  will occur to those skilled in the art and are intended to fall within the scope of the invention. 
         [0041]    The method of using the painting device  10  of the present invention will now be described. The first step, shown in  FIG. 4 , is to paint the wall  36  with a base color of paint  48 . Any standard method of applying paint to a wall  36 , as well understood in the art, may be used. 
         [0042]    The next step, shown in  FIG. 5 , is taking the painting device  10  and moving the absorbent layer  14  into contact with paint  32  in the paint tray  34  having a different color than the paint  48  that was originally applied to the wall  36 . In order to minimize the mess of having paint  32  contact the front  20  of the base plate  12 , handle  16  or level  18 , the user should dip only the absorbent layer  14  in the paint  32 . 
         [0043]    Thereafter, the painting device  10  with the paint  32  held on and within the absorbent layer  14  is moved to the wall  36  where the absorbent layer  14  is pressed into contact with the wall  36  thereby transferring paint  32  from the absorbent layer of  14  to the wall  36 . ( FIG. 6 ) The level  18  aids the user in horizontally aligning the base plate  12 , and consequently the absorbent layer  14 , on the wall  36  so that the resulting individual pattern  42  on the wall  36  will also be horizontally aligned. Alternately, where the level  18  is vertically aligned, the level  18  aids the user in vertically aligning the base plate  12 , and consequently the absorbent layer  14 , on the wall  36  so that the resulting individual pattern  42  on the wall  36  will also be vertically aligned. 
         [0044]    The vertically directed spacing indicator bars  38  have a height sufficient that when the user places their ultimate ends  40  at the bottom of the brick individual pattern  42  immediately above the location where the user desires to place a new brick individual pattern  42 , the new brick individual pattern  42  will be spaced below the brick individual pattern  42  immediately above a distance corresponding to the distance that a “real” brick would be spaced from the other “real” bricks above by a distance approximating the thickness of mortar between the two brick layers. In the example just given, the brick pattern  30  was started by placing brick individual patterns  42  horizontally in a row. Thereafter, brick individual patterns  42  were moved downward from the original row of brick individual patterns  42  and placed one at a time in a horizontal direction. 
         [0045]    However, the user may apply a horizontal pattern of brick individual patterns  42  and then move upward by turning the painting device  10  so that the vertically directed spacing indicator bars  38  point downward instead of upward as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0046]    Further, where horizontally directed space indicator bars  44  are used, the brick individual pattern  42  to be applied to the wall  36  may be spaced from another previously applied brick individual pattern  42  by a distance corresponding to the thickness of a layer of mortar that typically separates “real” bricks in a side by side arrangement. In using horizontally directed spacing indicator bars  44 , the ultimate ends  46  of the spacing indicator bars  44  are placed up to but not touching the vertical edge of the existing brick individual pattern  42 . As a result, the currently applied brick individual pattern  42  will have the desired spacing, approximating the thickness of a layer of mortar, from the existing brick individual pattern  42 . 
         [0047]    In a variant of the method described above, texture and alternate colors may be applied to the pattern color paint  32  by tripping small amounts of paint or texture  50  into the paint  32  in the paint tray  34  prior to dipping the absorbent layer  14  in the paint as described above. 
         [0048]    The scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. The description contained herein is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. Many variations and alternatives of the described technique and method will occur to one of ordinary skill in this art. Variations in form to the component pieces described and shown in the drawings may be made as will occur to those skilled in the art. Further, although certain embodiments of a painting device  10  have been described, it is also within the scope of the invention to add other additional components such as a laser leveling device or gyroscopes to aid in orienting the painting device  10  or to remove one or more of certain components such as the level  18 , vertically directed spacing bars  38  or horizontally directed spacing bars  44 . All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the attached claims. Those familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto. As a result, while the above description contains may specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention but rather as examples of different embodiments thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.