A trueing device for use in the hanging of wallpaper, which trueing device comprises first and second jaws which are biased to a closed position for gripping a longitudinal edge of the wallpaper, first and second hand grips respectively positioned one on each of the first and the second jaws, a spirit level for enabling the trueing device to give a true vertical line, and abuting means against which the longitudinal edge of the wallpaper abuts in order that the trueing device is correctly positioned along the longitudinal edge of the wallpaper. The trueing device is such that it is operable with one hand for ease of insertion and removal of the trueing device on the wallpaper during hanging of the wallpaper.

This invention relates to a trueing device and, more especially, this 
invention relates to a trueing device for use in the hanging of wallpaper. 
During the hanging of wallpaper, it is essential to get the first sheet 
that is to be hung on a wall in a true vertical position. If the first 
sheet of the wallpaper is not in a true vertical position, considerable 
difficulty can be obtained in hanging the second and subsequent sheets of 
wallpaper and it may be necessary to overlap the wallpaper sheets, which 
tends to be unsightly. It is possible to use a plumb line in order to 
ensure that the various sheets of wallpaper are truly vertically mounted 
but a plumb line is not easy to handle whilst trying to hang wallpaper at 
the same time. 
It is an aim of the present invention to provide a trueing device which 
enables sheets of wallpaper to be hung vertically and which is operable 
with one hand. 
Accordingly, this invention provides a trueing device for use in the 
hanging of wallpaper, which trueing device comprises first and second jaws 
which are biased to a closed position for gripping a longitudinal edge of 
the wallpaper, first and second hand grips respectively positioned one on 
each of the first and the second jaws, a single spirit level for enabling 
the trueing device to give a true vertical line, and abuting means against 
which the longitudinal edge of the wallpaper abuts in order to ensure that 
the trueing device is correctly positioned along the longitudinal edge of 
the wallpaper, the trueing device being such that it is operable with one 
hand for ease of insertion and removal of the trueing device on the 
wallpaper during hanging of the wallpaper, and the spirit level vial being 
a straight spirit level vial which enables the spirit level vial to be 
read when the trueing device is gripping either longitudinal edge of the 
wallpaper. 
The truing device of the invention will normally be applied to a free side 
of the wallpaper. The wallpaper can be pasted on a table and then the 
trueing device attached to a longitudinal edge of the wallpaper whilst the 
wallpaper is still on the table. With the trueing device correctly 
positioned, the sheet of wallpaper can then be hung on a wall and the 
spirit level can be used to determine when the sheet of wallpaper is in 
the correct vertical position. The trueing device can then be removed and, 
advantageously, it can be positioned once or twice more at different other 
positions along the sheet of wallpaper just to check that the sheet of 
wallpaper is hanging truly vertically. Once it has been established that 
the sheet of wallpaper is hanging truly vertically, then the trueing 
device can be removed and the sheet of wallpaper can then be firmly and 
finally adhered to the wall. Because the trueing device is operable with 
one hand, it will be appreciated that the sheet of wallpaper can easily 
initially be temporarily stuck to the wall and held in position with one 
hand, whilst operating the trueing device with the other hand. 
Preferably, the trueing device is formed in two separate parts with the 
first jaw belonging to one part and the second jaw belonging to the other 
part. 
The first and the second jaws may be biased to the closed position by 
spring means. 
The spring means preferably comprises a pair of clips which fit over a rear 
edge of the first and the second jaws. The clips may be C-shaped clips. 
Other shaped clips may be employed if desired. 
As an alternative to employing separate spring means, the trueing device 
could be formed so that the first and second jaws are biased to the closed 
position by the natural resilience of material from which they are formed. 
Advantageously, the trueing device is one in which the first hand grip is 
formed as an integral extension of the first jaw, and in which the second 
hand grip is formed as an integral extension of the second jaw. 
Usually, the spirit level will be provided on the first jaw. The first jaw 
will usually be that jaw which is farthest away from the wall to which the 
wallpaper is to be hung so that the spirit level will easily be seen. 
The spirit level may advantageously be provided in a housing provided on 
the first jaw. 
A cap may be provided for fitting to the housing to enclose the spirit 
level once the spirit level is in position in the housing. The cap may 
clip into position. 
Preferably, the straight spirit level vial is in the form of a straight 
cylinder. 
The housing can be precisely positioned on the first jaw and the housing 
can also be precisely formed with a recess for receiving the spirit level. 
Thus the spirit level can easily be assembled in a correct position with 
respect to the remainder of the trueing device. 
The abuting means may be at least one elongate wall portion. A single long 
wall portion may be employed or, for example, two smaller spaced apart 
wall portions may be employed. 
The abuting means may advantageously form a fulcrum about which the first 
and the second jaws pivot. 
The abuting means may be integrally formed on an inner facing surface of 
the second jaw. 
The trueing device may include gripper means for gripping the wallpaper. 
The gripper means is advantageously employed to stop any tendency of the 
trueing device to slide on the wallpaper, especially when the wallpaper 
has been heavily pasted with wallpaper paste. The gripping means may 
comprise at least one gripper tooth. Preferably, there are two spaced 
apart elongate gripper teeth. 
The trueing device preferably includes visual checking means for enabling a 
user of the trueing device visually to check that the longitudinal edge of 
the wallpaper is correctly abuting the abuting means. 
The visual checking means may comprise a pair of spaced apart apertures 
which are in both the first and the second jaws and which enable the 
longitudinal edge of the wallpaper adjacent the abuting means to be seen. 
The trueing device is advantageously moulded from a plastics material. Any 
desired and suitable plastics material may be employed such for example as 
polyethylene. When the trueing device is molded from plastics materials, 
it will be appreciated that it can easily be wiped clean and there will be 
no tendency for the trueing device to corrode, as might be the case if the 
trueing device is made from a metal. It is to be appreciated however that 
the trueing device can be made of any desired and suitable materials. 
Advantageously, the trueing device is so constructed that in use the centre 
of gravity of the trueing device does not extend beyond the longitudinal 
edge of the wallpaper. This stops any tendency of the trueing device to 
flap around on the edge of the wallpaper. 
Advantageously, the first and the second jaws are so shaped as to 
facilitate the fixing of the trueing device on the wallpaper. Thus, for 
example, the first and the second jaws may have cut away edges forming 
lead-in portions for receiving the longitudinal edge of the wallpaper. 
The trueing device is preferably constructed such that it can be used 
equally easily by right handed and left handed persons, and on either 
longitudinal edge of the wallpaper.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a trueing device 2 for use in the 
hanging of wallpaper (not shown). The trueing device 2 comprises a first 
jaw 4 and a second jaw 6. The first and the second jaws 4,6 are biased to 
a closed position as shown in FIG. 1 for gripping a longitudinal edge of 
the wallpaper. 
The trueing device 2 also comprises a first hand grip 8 and a second hand 
grip 10. The first hand grip 8 is formed as an integral extension of the 
first jaw 4, and the second hand grip 10 is formed as an integral 
extension of the second jaw 6. 
A spirit level in the form of a straight cylindrical spirit level vial 12 
is provided for enabling the trueing device 2 to give a true vertical 
line. The trueing device 2 will be indicating a true vertical line when a 
bubble 14 is centrally positioned along the spirit level vial 12. 
The trueing device 2 also includes abuting means in the form of a single 
longitudinally extending wall 16. The longitudinal edge of the wallpaper 
abuts against the wall 16 in order to ensure that the trueing device 2 is 
correctly positioned along the longitudinal edge of the wallpaper. The 
trueing device 2 is such that it is operable with one hand for ease of 
insertion and removal of the trueing device on the wallpaper during 
hanging of the wallpaper. 
The first jaw 4 and the first hand grip 8 form one part of the trueing 
device 2 and the second jaw 6 and the second hand grip 10 form another 
part of the trueing device 2. The first and the second jaws 4,6 are biased 
to the closed position by spring means in the form of a pair of C-shaped 
clips 18,20 which fit over a rear edge 22 of the first and the second jaws 
4,6. 
The spirit level vial 12 fits in a recess formed in a housing 24. The 
housing 24 is formed as an integral part of the first jaw 4. The housing 
24 will be accurately moulded as part of the first jaw 4. The spirit level 
vial 12 will fit into an accurately moulded recess in the housing 24. 
Thus, the spirit level vial 12 can easily be assembled in the certain 
knowledge that it is correctly positioned on the trueing device 2 for 
giving a correct reading. 
The wall 16 is integrally formed on an inner facing surface of the second 
jaw 6. The wall 16 has a pointed edge 18 which enables the wall 16 to act 
as a fulcrum about which the first and the second jaws 4,6 pivot. 
The trueing device 2 includes gripper means in the form of a pair of spaced 
apart elongate gripper teeth 28,30. The gripper teeth 28,30 are for 
gripping the wallpaper and thus stopping the trueing device 2 from sliding 
on the wallpaper, for example when the wallpaper has been heavily pasted. 
The trueing device 2 includes visual checking means in the form of a pair 
of spaced apart apertures 32,34 which are formed in the first jaw 4 and 
which enable the longitudinal edge of the wallpaper adjacent the wall 16 
to be seen from the first jaw 4 side of the trueing device 2. As shown in 
FIG. 4, the jaw 6 is also formed with visual checking means in the form of 
a pair of spaced apart apertures 35,37. The apertures 35,37 enable the 
longitudinal edge of the wallpaper to be seen from the second jaw 6 side 
of the trueing device 2. Thus, when the longitudinal edge of the wallpaper 
is abuting the wall 16 along its length, as can be determined by looking 
through the apertures 32,34 or the apertures 35,37, then the trueing 
device 2 is correctly positioned on the longitudinal edge of the wallpaper 
for giving a correct reading. 
The housing 24 is provided with a cover 52 for fitting to the housing 24 to 
enclose the spirit level vial 12 once the spirit level vial 12 is 
positioned in the housing 24. The cover 52 has a central portion 54 
through which the bubble 14 can be seen. As shown in FIGS. 6,7 and 8, the 
cover 52 is separately formed from the housing 24, and the separately 
formed cover 52 is fixed in position by means of clips 44,46. 
The trueing device 2 is so constructed that its centre of gravity does not 
extend beyond the longitudinal edge of the wallpaper. This stops the 
trueing device 2 from flapping on the edge of the wallpaper as might be 
the case if the centre of gravity of the trueing device 2 extends too far 
beyond the longitudinal edge of the wallpaper. The first and second jaws 
4,6 are cut away as shown to form lead-in portions 36,38 to facilitate 
clipping the trueing device 2 to the longitudinal edge of the wallpaper. 
The trueing device 2 is advantageously moulded from a plastics material 
which can easily be kept clean. 
When hanging the wallpaper, the trueing device 2 is clamped to a 
longitudinal edge of the wallpaper so that the jaw 4 and hence the spirit 
level vial 12 are against the front unpasted side of the wallpaper, while 
the second jaw 6 is on the pasted side of the wallpaper between the 
wallpaper and the wall which is to receive the wallpaper. It will be 
convenient if the trueing device 2 is set in place whilst the pasted 
wallpaper is still on a pasting table (not shown) with the pasted side of 
the wallpaper facing upwards, so that the trueing device 2 is ready for 
immediate use, with no fitting required, when the wallpaper is taken to 
the place where it is to be hung. When fitting the trueing device 2 at the 
pasting table as described above, the first jaw 4 will be positioned 
between the unpasted side of the wallpaper and the pasting table. In this 
case, the rear of the second jaw 6 will be visible and the apertures 35,37 
assist with visual checking of the position of the trueing device 2 with 
respect to the longitudinal edge of the wallpaper. 
It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described 
above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of 
example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, 
the shape of the housing 24 and the shape of the first and the second hand 
grips 8,10 can be varied as may be desired. Although the C-shaped clips 
18,20 are shown as being located in recessed portions 40,42 on the first 
and the second jaws 4,6, other types of locating arrangements may be 
employed. Further, the shape of the jaws 4,6 can be varied as may be 
desired. Devices other than the clips 44,46 can be employed for fixing the 
cover 52 to the housing 24. If desired, the spirit level vial 12 can be 
positioned in the housing 24 from underneath the housing 24 instead of 
from the top of the housing 24 as shown in the drawings and, in this case, 
a clip (not shown) located underneath the housing 24 can retain the vial 
12 in position and the cover 52 can be dispensed with.