Abstract:
The disclosure relates to a reusable spray shield that can be used in painting applications such as the painting of residential and commercial buildings to protect an object that is not to be painted from paint overspray or errant paint particles. The reusable spray shield includes a frame and a membrane. The membrane can be a flexible plastic sheet that is attached to the frame with a number of attachment devices, such as VELCRO® pads bonded to both the membrane and the frame. The membrane can be quickly removed and replaced. The used membrane can be disposed of with the paint supplies according to local disposal guidelines. In addition, the frame can be quickly put together and taken apart. The frame, in its component parts, permits the frame to be easily transported from one location to the next.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This disclosure relates to a spray shield for use in painting applications, in particular, the painting of residential and commercial buildings.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Spray painting, painting with a brush, or painting with a roller are some common ways to apply paint. One priority with any of these application techniques is to keep stray or errant paint particles from landing on nearby objects that are not intended to be painted.  
         [0005]     In one example, painting a wooden deck that is surrounded by flora can pose difficulties for painters. When attempting to paint the balusters of the wooden railing, the painter must be careful to not allow paint particles to land on the surrounding flora. A common method for protecting flora is to cover it with large tarps or canvas sheets. Over time, however, accumulated paint on the tarps makes them heavy and stiff. In addition, tarps that are wet with paint are difficult to move and are prone to create even more of a mess unless the painter waits until the tarp dries.  
         [0006]     Painters typically must have about 10-20 tarps available for a typical job. The tarps take up critical space in the painter&#39;s work vehicle, the dried paint on the tarps chips and peels off when the tarps are opened at the next job site, and the tarps must be continually unloaded, unfolded, refolded, and reloaded into the work vehicle at each job site.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The disclosure herein provides for an easy to assemble/disassemble and maneuverable spray shield for painting applications. The spray shield includes a lightweight, spray shield frame and a flexible membrane. The membrane is easily attachable and detachable from the frame and the membrane can be reused or discarded. The spray shield frame includes quick connect/disconnect features so that the frame can be quickly assembled and disassembled at a job site.  
         [0008]     In one aspect, a reusable spray shield includes a frame having a plurality of frame members to include at least a first member and a second member detachably coupled by at least one transverse member, the at least one transverse member configured to maintain the first and second members spaced apart from each other; a membrane sized and shaped to extend from the first member to the second member; and attachment means for removably attaching the membrane to a first side of the frame.  
         [0009]     In another aspect, a method of using a reusable spray shield to protect an object from overspray includes assembling a plurality of frame members to form a spray shield frame; attaching a membrane onto the spray shield frame to form the spray shield; holding the spray shield in a first position to substantially prevent paint particles from contacting the object that is being shielded; detaching the membrane from the spray shield frame, and disassembling the frame members. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not necessarily drawn to scale, and some of these elements may be enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility. Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn, are not intended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of the particular elements, and have been solely selected for ease of recognition in the drawings.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front, right isometric view of a spray shield according to one illustrated embodiment of the invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of the spray shield of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a front, right isometric view of a spray shield having only one transverse member according to another illustrated embodiment of the invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an exploded, isometric, partial view of the spray shield of  FIG. 1  showing one method of assembling the spray shield frame members according to one illustrated embodiment of the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is an exploded, cross sectional view of a frame member receiving an insert and a bolt according to one illustrated embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a front right isometric, partial view of the completed assembly of two frame members of a spray shield according to one illustrated embodiment of the invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a front right isometric view of the spray shield of  FIG. 1  being used to intercept paint particles and shield an object during a deck painting operation. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without all of these details. In other instances, well-known structures associated with painting systems, painting materials, and various types of tooling used in painting applications have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments of the invention.  
         [0019]     Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as, “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense, that is as “including, but not limited to.” 
         [0020]     The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not affect the scope or meaning of the claimed invention.  
         [0000]     Reusable Spray Shield  
         [0021]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a spray shield  10  according to one illustrated embodiment of the present invention. The spray shield  10  is comprised of a frame  12  and a membrane  14 . The illustrated frame  12  includes two laterally oriented frame members  16 ,  18  and two vertically oriented frame members  20 ,  22 . The described orientations are provided in relation to the respective figures; however, it is understood that the orientations of the various components of the spray shield  10  will vary during usage, storage, and transit. In addition, the frame  12  can include at least one intermediate member  24 . Two intermediate members  24  are shown in the illustrated embodiment. Handles  26  are attached to the illustrated intermediate members  24  for manipulating and transporting the spray shield  10 .  
         [0022]     The frame  12  can be made from wood, plastic, foam, a composite material such as fiberglass, or some other suitable material. In the illustrated embodiment, the shape of the frame  12  is rectangular. One skilled in the art will appreciate and understand, however, that the frame may have rounded corners, may be square, or may be shaped in a variety of ways depending on the specific type of painting application.  
         [0023]     The membrane  14  of the spray shield  10  is attachable to and detachable from the frame  12 . The membrane  14  can be made from a plastic sheet, synthetic or non-synthetic fabric material, or some equivalent substance that is capable of receiving paint spray. In one embodiment, the membrane  14  is made from an absorbent material such as canvas. One skilled in the art will appreciate and understand that the amount of flexibility in the membrane  14  can be altered by the user depending on a particular painting application or depending on certain conditions. For example, a thin-walled plastic panel covered with a thin layer of canvas could be used during windy conditions in which the added stiffness of the plastic panel would reinforce the canvas.  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  illustrates a spray shield  100  according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. The spray shield  100  is comprised of a frame  102  and a membrane  104 . The illustrated frame  102  includes two frame members  106 ,  108  connected by a transverse frame member  110 . The frame  102  can be assembled and disassembled as described below. Again, it is understood that the orientation of the frame  102  may vary during usage, storage, and transit. A handle  112  is attached to the transverse member  110  for manipulating and transporting the spray shield  100  in the illustrated embodiment. In an alternate embodiment, a handle  112  (or handles) can be attached to the frame members  106 ,  108 . The membrane  104  is removably attachable to a first side  114  of the frame  102 . In addition, the membrane  104  is sized and shaped to extend from the one frame member  106  to the other frame member  108  and also extend substantially along the length of the frame members  106 ,  108 .  
         [0025]      FIGS. 4-6  illustrate particular methods of assembling a spray shield, with reference being made to the embodiment of the spray shield  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . One skilled in the art will appreciate that the described methods are applicable to any of the spray shield embodiments described herein or formed from the teachings provided herein. For each of the methods, the ends of the two vertically oriented frame members  20 ,  22  and the ends of the intermediate frame members  24  are provided with bolts  28 . A first end  30  of the bolt  28  is recessed into an opening  32  located in the end of the respective frame member  20 ,  22 ,  24 .  
         [0026]     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the bolts  28  can be secured in the openings  32  by being mechanically fastened or bonded. Additionally or alternatively,  FIG. 5  shows an insert  34  pressed into the opening  32 . The insert  34  can provide a more robust and durable connection. Anti-rotation tabs  36  positioned on a head  38  of the insert  34  are used to penetrate the end of the frame member  22 . These anti-rotation tabs  36  prevent the insert  34  from torquing-out when the bolt  28  is inserted. One advantage of using inserts  34  is that damage to an insert  34  would not necessarily require replacement of the entire frame member  22 . The damaged insert  34  could be removed and replaced with a new insert provided that there was sufficient material integrity at the end of the frame member  22  to receive the replacement anti-rotation tabs  36 .  
         [0027]     Referring back to  FIG. 4 , the two laterally oriented frame members  16 ,  18  include through openings  40  for receiving a second end  42  of the bolts  28 . The second end  42  of the bolts  28  can be secured with a nut  44 , for example a wing nuts as shown in the illustrated embodiment. Although not shown in the illustrated embodiment, lock washers can be provided under the nuts  44 . The nuts  44  can be sufficiently tightened by hand without a need for a wrench or other tools. One advantage of using wing nuts  44  is that no tools are needed, which decreases the time required to assemble and disassemble the spray shield  10 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 6  shows an assembled joint of the spray shield  10  with the attachment means for attaching the membrane  14  with the frame  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment means  46  are VELCRO® pads  46  adhered onto the frame members  16 ,  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 , at desired locations. The membrane  14  includes VELCRO® pads positioned thereon to interact with the pads  46  located on the frame members  12 . VELCRO® is a hook and loop fastening system and the name is derived from Velour Crochet, which is the French phrase for velvet hook. One skilled in the art will appreciate and understand that the “hook” style pads can be placed on either the frame members  12  or the membrane  14  while the complementary “loop” style pads are placed on the other respective frame members  12  or membrane  14 .  
         [0029]     In another embodiment, the membrane  14  is attached to the frame members  12  with a water-soluble adhesive. At the end of a painting job, the spray shield  10  can be sprayed with water to release the membrane  14  from the frame members  12 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  shows a spray shield  10  having one intermediate member  24  and one respective handle  26  in use during a painting application. As one painter  50  applies paint to the balusters  52  of a wooden deck  54 , another painter  56  maneuvers and positions the spray shield  10  to prevent any paint particles from contacting and thus discoloring the shrubbery  58  adjacent to the deck  54 . The reference to the shrubbery  58  is used for exemplary purposes only and one skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that the spray shield  10  can be used to a variety of ways to protect a variety of different objects from paint particles and paint overspray.  
         [0031]     One advantage of the spray shield  10  is that different size shields  10  can be made for different painting applications. Smaller spray shields  10 , for example, can be used for confined or tight spaces. Larger spray shields  10  can be used for larger jobs such as painting a wooden deck as described above.  
         [0032]     Another advantage of the spray shield  10  is that the overall weight of the spray shield  10  may actually be less than a conventional canvas tarp, especially after the tarp has been covered with paint from a number of painting jobs. The low weight of the spray shield  10  permits the painter holding the spray shield  10  to easily maneuver and hold the spray shield  10 .  
         [0033]     The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. Any U.S. patents, patent applications and publications referred to in this specification are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ devices, features, and concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.  
         [0034]     These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all devices and systems for shielding objects from paint particles and/or paint overspray that operate in accordance with the claims. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the disclosure, but instead its scope is to be determined entirely by the following claims.